Righteous Reign Page 7

  After the official promotion and award ceremony in the Theatre Command's giant amphitheater, there is a reception with a lot of great food and booze. I keep it light; though. I have been ordered to a meeting with Nichols and Bryant; to be convened, immediately after this shindig. We sit about the boardroom table; once all the formal courtesies are complete.

  "Kurt - I think I speak for both of us when I say - good job.' There is admiration in Nichol's voice as his arm motion indicates he is including himself and Bryant. 'We also want to congratulate you on the award and the promotion. You're on the fast track list, now. We'd like to offer you a new command. Your rank would remain, as is; but, your responsibility would change. We'd give you a carrier. That means you'd have six thousand on board and nearly four thousand within your Command and a lot of expensive hardware. The negative trade-off is that; you'd fall under a Group Commander. You wouldn't be autonomous, anymore. But, carrier command is essential experience to a Flag level field command. On the other hand, there isn't any rush - we'd just like to see your name moving further up the list, sooner than later. How do you feel about it?' He finishes as I notice how intently Admiral Bryant is observing my reaction to the offer. I take pause to think it over and to frame my answer.

  "Admirals, I am truly flattered by all of this. And, I don't want to pull my punches. I do want a major tactical command like a Theatre, some day. And, I know I owe you gentlemen for the second chance I was given by you in 2248. Some of the others in that notorious group have done well, too; but, half the group is gone; because, they did not recover from the incident, when given the opportunity.

  But, I am only thirty-two; and, I haven't even had the Shenzhen a year. Detached frigate duty is a great place for a captain to hone tactical skills needed in flag rank postings. It sharpens your ability to cut through all the chaos and sum up a situation, quickly. So, I think that, I want to stay where I am for just a little longer, if you don't mind. I'd snap up a carrier command; if, you'll repeat the offer, in another six months." I finish as I feel my face flush. I hope I have not insulted these two very special men.

  "I think we’ve just been snubbed, George; but, I'm not really sure." Nichols says to Bryant with feigned confusion and a smile.

  "I am!' Bryant declares with a laugh. 'Consider the offer on auto-repeat in six months. We'll expect you to accept a carrier command, the end of next January. And, we'll be looking for your application to the War College within a couple of months of accepting a carrier. But, something you said struck a chord with me. We have always considered fighter pilot experience a prerequisite to a carrier command; and, the carrier command a prerequisite to a Flag position. But, you've made me scratch my head in thought. I think that, I will be suggesting to the C & C that, detached command experience should be a requirement of field flag commands, too. It will give the Flag Officer that much more experience to draw from; and, it will let us see, in advance, if an officer has what it takes for a tactical command.

  Kurt, I just want to reinforce that, I think you've got the right attitude; regarding managing your own career. It takes a lot of self-discipline to know when to leap and when to hold back. Your point score just went up another ten points with me - and, I'm sure the same is true for Admiral Nichols." Bryant concludes with a smile.

  "Ditto, for me' Nichols pipes in. 'You're going to make a fine Admiral, someday soon." He adds.

  "Thank you, Admirals" I stood and offered my hand to Nichols first. We all shook hands. I step back, salute and exit the room.

  Now, I'm sitting in my own office reexamining the orders regarding this joint exercise. For the Shenzhen, it is still business as usual. I am still to patrol random areas in the current Theatre 9 locale. Opening my data pad, I call up the current "Deployed Fleet Positional Chart" to see where everyone's at, now. We've been out of circulation for a couple of days. 45 Bootis is currently unpatrolled; so, I ordered the bridge to set a course for the system, which is about twenty light years from our current position. We'll be in the vortex for about four days. My pad says it is nearly time for the next training session; which, I'd reschedule to the 25th; because of all the activity, over the past week.

  …………………………………………………………………………

  "Captain on the deck." Someone yelps as I enter the training room.

  "As you were, ladies and gentlemen!' I snap back, before they can all rise. 'I'm glad to see you all looking so perky and ready to learn a little more. Who's got the answers to last week's questions?" I ask.

  Hands went up all over the room. I picked a very young looking ensign to do the honors.

  "Let's see if I can do as well as Gabe did, last week.' She said with a smile; then, continued. 'First you asked, what motivated the formation of the OESA? My short answer is necessity; but, it was really more than that. The world was devastated and its population was decimated. The people that survived had strong memories of the system that was gone. They remembered the constant economic roller coaster, the gridlock caused by partisan politics, the constant wars and terrorist attacks and the environmental negligence that led to most of the apocalyptic events. So, formation of the Empire was predictable. The two major founders of the Empire were both believers in scientific research of all types; but, seemed to understand that humanity had come too close to the brink. I think they believed we needed to be out in space to hedge our bets. If we have humans on several worlds, it is unlikely that, we will end up as an extinct species. In Old Tom's case, I believe he had an unquenchable curiosity about space. I think he was enchanted, curious, enthralled and scared about it, all at the same time.

  Then you asked, what one man is responsible for interstellar space travel? The easy answer is Dr. Black; but, I don't really give him the credit. He definitely worked out all the technical kinks; but, the real driving force was Tom McCracken. He was the one who steered Edward I towards research. He was the one who ensured the recovery of the old NASA system. He influenced a lot of things, during the early days; but, I think he was a visionary who really loved the thought of interstellar travel. I believe if he was alive today, he'd be out here with us." I cut her off with an interjection.

  "That is a great answer. Most would have said Dr. Black; but, you found a way to get two people in, when I asked for the one man who was responsible for our ability to travel interstellar space. But, I have to say you're right. Old Tom was responsible for a lot; but, he really seemed to have an affinity for space travel. He wanted our people to spread their wings. Good answer! Continue on." I finished.

  "Your next question was; what one man is responsible for molding the OESA into the configuration employed today? Admiral Williamson is the first C&C to really modify the service to the form it is right now; but, I think Simmons had already put us on this track before he retired. By then, we had the four levels of field commands we use today. We've beefed them up and added technology to strengthen everything; but, we still operate in the same way; as, we did in Simmons day.

  Your last question was, who is the C&C of the OESA? This answer requires two names; since, today, the service is headed by two Fleet Admirals. It is too big for one person to run; and, it's getting bigger. The C&C is Admiral Brian Dickinson and Admiral David Williamson." Ensign Glish sat down as she finished.

  "Very good Ensign. Now we're going to move on into the recent past; where one man really made things start to pop for the OESA.

  ...............................................................................................

  A communications drone with an encrypted folder for Commodore Bryant appeared off the Canada's bow on Saturday May 26, 2247. He enlisted the Canada's Captain to witness that, he decrypted the message without it going through other hands. It was from Admiral Dickinson who commanded Quadrant Three which was parent to Theatre Five and the Borealis Fleet. There was a text file and a video file. He opened them both to find, he was ordered to report to Dickinson by nine hundred hours on June 1, 2247, at Theatre Five Co
mmand. He was to be awarded the OESA Award for Tactical Merit on June 2; and would be elevated one level in the same ceremony. He noted on the memo that accompanied the order that, Blackman was copied on it. It just so happened that both the Borealis Fleet Groups were together at Rho Corona Borealis. After his return from Earth, Blackman had ordered Espanola Group to Rho to help out with the post operation cleanup and planetary recovery. So, George texted him that; he was going to Shuttle over to the Espanola, immediately. Moving between ships always bothered Bryant in those days. It was written in the regulations and common practice for a full color party to meet a visiting Flag officer and pipe him aboard. It was fine for a first time entry of a visiting Flag Officer; but, it was a formality he had never liked for flag officers travelling between ships in their own fleet. There are ways to show respect without so much pomp and ceremony; and, it is not very efficient to tie up all those people because one person was coming aboard.

  He saluted and greeted Vice Admiral Blackman in the shuttle bay, once the bosun was finished piping him aboard; then, turned to the Espanola's Captain, returned his salute and asked permission to board the vessel. Permission was granted.

  George and Blackie quietly made small talk as they took elevators and negotiated corridors to get to his office just behind the Flag Bridge. In the office, they discussed the order. Blackman said the C&C, all four Quadrant Commanders and the Theatre Commander were incredibly impressed with his quick decisive handling of the Rho problem. He would receive the tactical award and would be promoted to Rear Admiral. He would also be reassigned as Assistant Borealis Commander to justify the rank; though, he would still directly control Canada Group. The Vice Admiral also explained that the entire Fleet had been invited to the ceremony and relieved of normal responsibilities, until after the promotion. Three of the five shifts would be allowed to attend, at each individual’s discretion.

  Theatre Five was now sitting off 59 Virgo, thirty-six-and-a-quarter light year away. That is normally a six-and-a-half-day trip; but, Blackman authorized an increase to twenty-five percent of light speed, through the vortex, to decrease the travel time to five-days, six hours - they would just get there on time. He sent orders to the entire Fleet; commanding the ships to jump to 59 Virgo, immediately. Meanwhile, Bryant sent orders of his own to his quarter master. He was setting up a surprise of his own for Theatre Command.

  By the time they exited the jump, Bryant's yeoman had a complete dress uniform, a mess uniform and two sets of daily work uniforms cleaned and pressed. In the normal working environment, officers wore creased gray slacks and a grey shirt with no tie. The shirts bore epaulettes with shoulder marks indicating rank and displayed the rank on both collar points. Flag officer’s shirts also bore a single fine gold braid around the top of the cuffs. The uniform was completed by black leather boots. The dress uniform consisted of the same color gray creased slacks with a fine black braid down each outer seam, from waistband to the cuff bottom. The shirt was the same color as the slacks with epaulettes and the rank insignia on the collar points. A black silk tie and black jacket completed the ensemble. The tie was always accompanied by a fine silver jeweled tack bearing the Fleet's Pennant and the jacket’s cloth epaulettes bore ceremonial shoulder boards bearing a crown and the rank insignia. He would need at least one set of dailies for meetings and work and one set of dress for the ceremony. Having two sets of each ready meant that, he would never have a problem if there was an accident. The Quartermaster had his special materials ready; and, invitations had been sent to two twenty-five person teams of Officers and Enlisted men throughout the Entire Fleet; along with a special request to Admiral Gogorra, the theatre commander.

  The entire Fleet parked in space amongst at least ten other visiting craft and the six vessels attached to the India, the Super Carrier classed vessel that served as Theatre Five Command. The mayhem at its docking bays would be incredible, when everyone started transferring over. It took a ten-person team with lift trucks to move Bryant's special materials to Hangar Two aboard the super carrier, where they would be used. Hangar Two stores and launches half of the vessel's two hundred twenty fighter craft. There is enough space on its deck for service pits capable of repairing up to twenty fighters at a time. In addition, several spaces are designated as refueling stations on the deck. In all, it occupies a portion of the deck that is two hundred fifty by one hundred twenty-five meters and thirty-five meters in height. For the visit, most fighters had been moved to Hangar One with the exception of twenty readied ones parked in the two launch chutes of both Hangars. A knee-wall set up to section-off a large central area of the empty hangar was surrounded by elevated bleachers to seat up to seven hundred personnel – over a thousand would fit; including those standing. Another five hundred would fit on the bleachers assembled on the mezzanine surrounding the entire area. The floor inside the walls had been completely covered in an aggregate that resembled silica sand. All was ready for Bryant's team to take over.

  George and his personal entourage went to the carrier immediately. George was piped aboard and his crew was accompanied to quarters, while he went straight to Admiral Gogorra's office. They exchanged the normal military courtesies; then, Dickinson greeted and welcomed him warmly and personally.

  'George, you really impressed a lot of people. You have a fine record; but, that last action really separated you from the pack. Your being awarded the OESA Award for Tactical Excellence in the Field. It is a rare one. As far as I know, it’s been handed out only twice before. But, that was truly a great decision and a fine tactical operation; so, you deserve it. We want to promote you to Rear Admiral and assign you as Deputy Fleet Commander of Borealis. It's not really much of a change. You will still run Canada Group and Bill will still run the Fleet. But, it will make a difference, when Bill is away or if he's incapacitated. You will automatically step in as Fleet Commander; because, of rank and position. Otherwise, it's a fair raise in pay. But, most important, it makes you the next man in line for a fleet, when a job opens up. We all agree that, you should be on a fast track to the top. Are you in for it?' Dickinson finished it all with his usual bluster.

  "Yes sir, I do want my own Fleet. If that means, I have to take on a position you made up for me; then, so be it. I will still be in tactical command of a Group; so, I'm sure I will be happy until the next step. Thank-you, sir. I also wanted to thank Admiral Gogorra for the preparations in Hangar Two. My people tell me that, things could not be better." George responded to a somewhat bewildered Dickinson.

  "Good. I'm glad that's settled. Tomorrow's ceremony will be at ten hundred hours. The whole thing will take about an hour and a half. There'll be a light lunch, at noon. At fifteen hundred hours we'll be holding a reception for you. There are a few people coming who really want to meet you, personally. The press will be there. Everyone back home is all fired up. The major electronic and smaller paper outfits are all calling you a hero. Everyone wants to meet you. I thought I should give you a heads up; so, you don't get a surprise."

  "Thanks Admiral. I will be on my best behavior. But, I really don't feel like a hero. And, even though I know I did the right thing, under the circumstances; and that, I would do it again; I can't help wishing I didn't have to kill so many people to stop so many more from being murdered. But, I would do it again; if faced with the same conditions." George repeated as he rose from his seat.

  'That's why we like you. You think quick. Your tactical instincts are great. And, you can make the hard decisions. That's what it takes, at the top." The bluster was there, again as Dickinson finished.

  "If you'll excuse me, sir." Bryant said as he stiffened to attention.

  "Your dismissed, Commodore." Dickinson responded.

  Bryant found his way to his quarters. The super carriers are massive ships that house a huge group of command staffs; so, there is considerably more living quarters then on a standard one. Correspondingly, there is more room on every other deck, too. Minimum ship displacement is determined by the gravity gen
erator; which requires the accelerator streams to be fired along a minimum one kilometer length to achieve ninety percent of the speed of light to form a gravity field eighty percent the strength of earth. A CCIA had long ago determined that, the most efficient space to put it in is a rectangular shape with wide radius corners. Three hundred eighty-four meters long by two hundred meters wide, with forty-five-meter radius corners is the optimum minimum outside footprint required to attain eighty percent of earth's gravity. So, this size was chosen for the frigate. Cruisers are based on a platform one hundred forty percent of the frigate. Carriers and supply vessels have an elongated platform that is one hundred and fifty percent of the frigate length; but only one hundred and ten percent of its width.

  Frigates are nine decks in height. Cruisers have eleven decks. Carriers are fifteen decks including three small decks stacked as an island to the port mid-ship portion of the vessel. The lowest of these three decks is the Flag Bridge. The middle island deck contains the navigation bridge. The top most deck contains the flight control tower. Each of those decks contain stations and offices for the officers involved. The Navigation Deck contains the Captain’s quarters and quarters for all the senior bridge officers; while the Flag Deck has quarters and offices for up to six personnel. The upper deck has only its bridge.