Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) (46 page)

Nestor knew Hazon. They had served together. He admired Hazon’s energy and inventiveness. He knew that inventiveness was required if they were to avoid another disaster over Cheklin. That and numbers. Thankfully his uncle had realised the latter need too and had ramped up production. The real bottleneck was getting the necessary trained crew. Fighter pilots were a particular shortage.

He was going to have to do something about recruitment but that was not the next item on his agenda. He had moved into the palatial residences of his erstwhile uncle. He even kept his personal assistant, Benchin. After all he had been a loyal servant of his uncle and the family. There were things about the residence that he did not like. The ornate master bathroom would have to be redecorated. Other things too, but he would make those changes in due course.

He searched the terminal in front of him keen to find that signal Benchin had said required urgent attention. There it was, from the commander of the 13
^th
RIF. Nestor read it twice. He was sure it must be wrong.

“Benchin” he called “how can there be no transports within that sector?”

Benchin appeared at his new master’s office with all the sombreness of an undertaker. Nestor shook his head when he saw Benchin’s expression and wondered whether perhaps he should let him go after all. But he knew he did not have time to find another assistant.

“You don’t have to look miserable on my account” said Nestor. “We both know he was a terrible person.” For the first time in a long time Benchin was actually surprised and it showed on his face. “Now that’s much better” said Nestor. “Come, tell me why there are no transports.”

“I have confirmed the fact.  All of the large transports in that sector were contracted from the Likta Corporation and they were withdrawn two weeks ago.”

Nestor slumped back into the chair. But he was by nature an energetic person and he pulled himself back up. Unlike his uncle, he knew there was no point in lambasting over spilt milk. “What about the next sector? How long…”

“None Sir. In fact there are none that we can get to them within the next three weeks. They will have to come from here. There won’t be enough for the Jinggazel Corps – one of its divisions maybe.”

Nestor winced with pain.

“So do you want the 13
^th
to warp now or wait?” asked Benchin.

“How long will they take to get here?”

“Three weeks.”

“Better be now then. Leave two frigates as escort for the transports.”

“As you wish.”

Nestor added another item to his list – raise another division.

Chapter 48. Neeblo 1710, 6 October

It had taken Felis two hours to secure a meeting with Meelanda. To say he was anxious was an understatement. He received the signal from Angina reporting on Evie’s recent brush with death.

He had been so annoyed. His fears about her father had materialised and he knew he should have been more forceful with her and prevented her from going. Then he realised that Evie herself had not sent him a message. So then he was annoyed that he had to learn about this from Angina. But then he was overcome with anxiety for her safety and wellbeing.

He had stewed over it all during lunch and finally formulated a plan of action. Then he got annoyed again when he had been told the earliest he could see Meelanda was 1700. That was two hours ago now and his emotions had flipped back to anxiety.

But now that it was ten minutes past his appointment he was starting to get annoyed again. Hence when Meelanda’s new assistant, who Felis had never met, appeared his face was a contortion.

“Yes Felis” said Meelanda, as he was ushered in, “what is it that is so important?” She too looked a little annoyed as she had had to squeeze him in amongst a busy schedule.

“I think we need to appoint an Imperial Admiral…I mean a Fleet Admiral to coordinate the combined fleets and they must go with you to Istridium” he blurted out. He felt somewhat relieved at having got that out.

“Yes” said Meelanda drawing out her response with an obvious tone of wariness. “And what’s changed your mind on this matter?”

Felis had a canned response but his ability to deliver it failed him, in part due to his anxiety and in part because he knew already that Meelanda wouldn’t buy it.

“Wouldn’t have anything to do with what happened to Evie would it?” asked Meelanda in a knowing tone.

Felis opened out with his hand, palms upwards, in a gesture of coming clean. “Well yes it does. But you were right before. We do need someone of sufficient authority to command the combined fleets.”

“Well we need someone senior to Yomoto you mean” said Meelanda.

Felis had to admire the way Meelanda just cut through all the bullshit. “Yes” he stated simply.

“And you see yourself filling that role, do you?” Meelanda’s eyes bored into him. She actually enjoyed doing so.

“Yes” said Felis. He straightened his back now that he was playing a straight hand with her. It was his natural modus operandi anyway and he felt more comfortable doing so. His eyes bore back at her.

She realised the change in his demeanour. She smiled and said “Well about time. You’re going to need a new uniform. You must get a better tailor this time. A rogan in your new position must look the part.”

A smile came over Felis for the first time that day. “I must, mustn’t I?”

“Good, we have that matter settled. Now Fleet Admiral if you wouldn’t mind, you’ve taken up far too much of my time already” and she stood up and guided him out.

Chapter 49. Audacity over Q2 1800, 6 October

Rihan entered their suite with a worried look on her mind. Dave was coming out of the shower, saw her, assessed her state and asked “what’s wrong.”

“That wretched ALS.”

“What in particular?” asked Dave as he started getting dressed for dinner.

Rihan sat on the bed and took off her shoes. “Well it worked perfectly up to the wing but we just couldn’t get it working properly for the group. It seems to get overwhelmed with that many craft.”

“Mmm” said Dave as he buttoned up his shirt “well we need to get that sorted, one way or another.”

Silence ensued as Dave pulled on his trousers and Rihan took off hers. “It’ll be the AI in the software” Dave finally muttered. “Get Julian onto it. If anyone can get it to work, it will be him.”

Rihan’s face lightened and she turned to Dave and said “You’re not just a pretty face.” She threw her blouse on the bed and even though she was only in her underwear, she grabbed her communicator and hailed Julian.

“Yes Maam” responded Julian, who was himself getting changed for dinner in his cabin further along the deck.

“I need you” said Rihan as she looked at Dave do up the buttons on his shirt. Dave tilted his dead and gave her a frown. “I mean I need your help on the ALS.”

“What is an ALS?” responded Julian.

“Never mind Julian we can talk over dinner. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Right you are” said Julian. He put down the communicator with a puzzled expression on his face.

True to her word Rihan was showered, dressed and sitting down at a table with Dave on her side, when Julian walked in. She waved for him to come over. When he did, she launched into a brief explanation of the ALS and the nature of their problem.

The steward came and took their order and Dave got some drinks. All the while Rihan and Julian were in deep discussion. Well it was more a question and answer session with Julian doing the interrogation.

Dave passed them their drinks and looked on without joining in. He got stuck into his meal when it arrived and sipped on some wine. At one point he had to remind his fellow diners that the food was going cold. They ate mouthfuls now and then but spent most of the time talking.

Dave finally drained his glass and asked “Got it sorted then?”

“Well I wouldn’t be so bold as to say that” said Julian. He gave one of his trademarked big smiles to Dave and added “But it is a challenge worthy of my focus. I’ll give you that.” He then turned to Rihan. “You want this done yesterday, don’t you?” She nodded. He swallowed another mouthful of his food, washed it down by draining most of his glass in one continuous swallow, stood up and said “better get cracking then” and marched off.

Dave just shook his head as he smiled.

“Oh there’s one other thing Dave” said Rihan as the thought popped into her mind.

“Yes” said Dave drawing out the word slowly.

“I would like to promote Crystal to head battle systems. She’s got the most…”

“Of course. Do it!”

“Just like that?” said a surprised Rihan who had expected to have to justify her reasons for the promotion.

“Just like that!” said Dave with a smile.

A big smile came over Rihan’s face. She turned to scan for Crystal, found her and in a semi-official fleet tradition announced in a voice loud enough for others to hear “Lieutenant Commander Wong it would appear you are incorrectly dressed. I do insist that my Battle Systems commander be properly attired.”

A cheer went up from those at the tables as Crystal mouthed a thank you to Rihan.

Chapter 50. Audacity over Q2 2130, 6 October

Sheldon looked pleased as he walked into Dave’s office. “Nice ship Sir” he said even before throwing Dave a salute.

“Good to have you back Sheldon” said Dave who rose and shook his hand. “You’ve eaten haven’t you?”

“Oh yes Sir. I’m good.”

“So tell me how did it look over Istridium?”

“Busy. It’s as busy as earth overhead. I was relieved when we pulled out of there.”

“We’ll be here till the end of the month while we work up this new fleet of ours. I have scheduled a planning conference tomorrow at 1000. I need you and your XO to attend. But before that please log into the fleet intel database and update it with anything you have on Istridium.”

“Sure. I can tell you one thing right now. Nestor Quazor isn’t going to win any popularity contest. The indie media was all negative on him and that was before he took over and all those executions.”

“Yeah, he’s a bad bastard all right. That will do for tonight. Make sure you get resupped tomorrow morning and I’ll see you at 1000.”

“Any chance of a squiz at your ship?”

Dave laughed. “We won’t have enough time tonight to walk all 20 clicks of it” said Dave as he stood up. “But we can drop in on the bomber deck on your way out. What hull did you come in on?”

“Starboard.”

“Right” said Dave and he took out his communicator as they left his office. As they walked to the elevator he input their objective into ShipNav. He showed the screen to Sheldon as they descended in the elevator.

“Neat new toy” observed Sheldon.

“I’d be lost without it. I can tell you.”

They arrived on the upper Marauder deck a good ten minutes later. Dave had to gain access through the security doors. When they opened he realised there was no one here save for two droids on guard duty. One of these recognised Dave and announced “Admiral on deck” in a loud synthetic voice. It startled Dave just as he had been earlier in the day.

“I haven’t quite got used to that yet” said Dave and Sheldon smiled. They jumped onto a walkway that took them to the launch bays. They got off at the first one. Sheldon stared down the hangar. “How many have we got?” he asked.

“Ninety six all up” said Dave. They walked around the rear end of the bomber. It was on a launch rail with its wings retracted to their minimum position. That allowed them to fit into the bay. “So that’s how they do it” said Dave as he studied how the bomber fitted into the launch bay. “It’s a tight fit.”

“Admiral?” came a voice near the entrance they came in. It was a young one pipper who had been alerted by the access granted to this deck. He was moving quickly on the walkway. Despite his exertions he was not out of breath by the time he came up to Dave. He snapped a salute. “Sorry Sir we were unaware you wanted to inspect this deck.”

“That’s all right then” said Dave “this isn’t an inspection…just a little evening stroll.”

The young officer wasn’t sure how to take that and was clearly struggling to work out what he should do next. Dave took pity and said “We’re just leaving anyway. I’ll let you close up shop.”

“Right Sir…of course.”

Dave and Sheldon hopped back in the elevator to go down to the shuttle deck where Sheldon’s shuttle would be waiting. “How long’s it been since you were a one pipper Sheldon?” asked Dave.

“Ooh…eight years” answered Sheldon.

“It’ll be sixteen for me next February. Gee I’ll be 41 then.”

“Still pretty young, especially for a rear admiral.”

“Maybe” said Dave. They walked onto the walkway that would take them to Sheldon’s warthog. “You know Sheldon I reckon I’ve aged more in the last couple of years than in all the preceding ones.”

Sheldon could see that Dave was in a reflective mood. He too pondered what Dave had just said as they got into the rhythm of the walkway. Without turning to look at Dave, Sheldon said “War does that to you.”

“I think you’re right” said Dave. “I think you’re right.”

Chapter 51. Audacity over Q2 1000, 7 October

It was a bleary eyed but not a wearied Julian that walked into Rihan’s office on A deck. He had a big smile on his face which instantly cheered Rihan. “Good news I hope?” she asked.

“I believe so, but we need to test my solution” he responded. “Do you want a detailed explanation or would you rather just see it in action?” he asked.

That brought another smile to Rihan’s face. “How about a brief layman’s explanation and then the demo” said Rihan.

“I think a laywoman’s explanation is in order then” said Julian with a self-congratulatory grin. “The problem was in the interaction with ancillary craft.” Julian could see that Rihan had no clue as to what an ancillary craft was so he added “those craft interacting within the ALS zone but which are not actually landing.” He got a nod from Rihan, so he continued.

“Well I worked up a small simulation, couple of hundred craft…nothing more.” He saw Rihan looking at him askance but ignored it. “I added some diagnostics to the code, ran it and determined from the resulting log that every time you added another ancillary craft to the mix it processed it in relation to every other craft.” He finished with a look of expectancy but saw that it had meant nothing to Rihan.