Retribution (The Federation Reborn Book 3) (93 page)

She had put in a request for a Marine recon or cadre unit to go along for the ride in case of ground OPS. She knew she needed to launch her plan before Captain Shelby finished getting her
Prometheus
expedition underway however; otherwise, the ships earmarked for her might get poached and then she'd be forced to wait as more ships came online or came back to Pyrax.

She was getting Third Fleet's First Battle Cruiser Squadron as her main component. She had lobbied for the second and third as well, but Admiral Subert had been adamant against it. That had put a bit of a crimp in her plans and forced her to scale back her objectives. She also made it clear to the admiralty that if she ran into too much resistance she'd be forced to stand down or raid only, not perform the orbital scorched earth tactics they desired.

Her calculations had to be adjusted when a familiar ship returned to Pyrax space.

:::{)(}:::

Caroline
returned to Pyrax without much fanfare. Once the light cruiser docked at the Naval Annex, the additional personnel debarked with the crew; Commander Garretaj was on hand to greet them. The senior officers were mildly put out that they weren't the big splash. They had turned into minor news given the coverage of Protodon. Captain Perth was amused, “No bands, no ticker tape parades. Nothing. So we've had our ten seconds of fame and the galaxy has moved on, apparently,” Captain Perth said.

“Apparently so, sir,” Lieutenant Brock agreed in an annoyed but amused tone of voice as he shifted his duffle.
Caroline
needed a refit after that last crossing. The Admiralty hadn't been thrilled about it but both Commander Galavant and the skipper had been adamant about it. Apparently they'd convinced Captain I'rll after they'd sent the Veraxin their logs and data. “I guess it's a good thing in a way, sir,” the navigator said.

“Oh?” the Neochimp captain demanded. “How do you figure?”

“If it's common place, which hopefully it will be, I'll take an uneventful ride over hoopla any day, sir,” Brock stated sagely.

The captain grunted then nodded. “True.”

“Apparently politics are getting complicated with Bek, sir,” Lieutenant Oppenheimer stated, coming up behind them. The captain and navigator turned and stopped.

“How so?” the captain asked, cocking his head at the Neoorangutan.

“I just got word from a friend. It hasn't hit the news yet, but Commodore Logan got a less than stellar reception after we dropped him off. He essentially got exiled out of the star system. The powers that be are
not
amused,” Oppie said, shaking his head.

The captain's eyes narrowed. “How do you know this? And how did he exit the star system without us?” the captain demanded.

“Remember all that cargo we dropped off?” Oppie asked. The captain nodded, pursing his lips in thought. “Most of it has been sitting in storage collecting dust since we dropped the first load off,” she said. The captain blinked. “He used it to rebuild a ship when they signed off on the Harbor Station idea. He took a crew over to B102C. Just got there actually. He's been talking to Admiral Irons through it.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” the captain murmured. “It explains the reception now I think,” he said thoughtfully. He turned back to see the Veraxin flag officer talking with the commander. It was apparent from the rear admiral's buzzing tone that she wasn't amused.

“Come on. Let's get settled in officer's country. First drink is on me,” the captain said. “That'll give me time to track down some people and let them know I'm in town if they haven't already heard.”

“I'm all for that, sir. We had some hairy bits there, and my parched throat is long overdue,” Brock replied heartily.

Both apes snorted. Oppie clapped the navigator on the shoulder with his long arm and hand. “And no bombshells,” the navigator growled.

“Awee …,” Oppie protested with wide-eyed innocence.

:::{)(}:::

One of the unenviable tasks of a chief of staff's job was to handle problems as diplomatically as possible. That fell onto Saul's shoulders as he did his best to obey his boss while keeping the man from stepping on his own sword unnecessarily.

Admiral Subert hadn't been happy about interrupting his schedule to meet and greet the new arrivals and had opposed it to the point where he'd made himself unavailable. He'd also just received word about what was going on in Bek and wasn't happy. So, he was snubbing the new arrivals.

Saul had been ordered not to put on a reception, which was why they were standing in the entry to the station. He'd exchanged salutes with the senior officers and shook hands, but he realized right off that he hadn't brought enough people. And the Veraxin was the prickly type. Dealing with the annoyed Veraxin rear admiral turned out to be somewhat tricky. Prostrating himself in front of her and the other senior officers was galling, but he had to do it.

“I'm sorry, ma'am, Admiral Subert was inadvisably detained,” he said patiently. “He had to log keys in the yard and is still en route. I am his chief of staff so he detailed getting you settled in and up to speed to me in his absence,” he explained.

“I see. I expected a better turnout, at the very least a formal reception,” the Veraxin buzzed, looking around with her eye stalks. “I am senior officer in the star system now I understand?”

“Yes, in the star system,” Saul said slowly. He glanced at Commodore Ortiz who seemed to be put out at the reception or lack thereof as well. “I am … not sure what sort of command Admiral Irons has in mind for you yet though, ma'am. We need to get you up to speed on current events first,” he said.

The Veraxin clacked her mandibles in annoyance. She signaled second-level resignation mixed with first-level annoyance. “Very well.”

The commander extended his arm. “This way to the BOQ, ma'am,” he offered. “So we can get you settled in. I …,” he frowned as he tried to access her implants. “Ma'am? Is your ID implant encrypted?” he asked carefully.

“I don't have one,” the Veraxin stated. “Is that a problem, Commander?” she asked pointedly.

“Well, some areas can only be accessed with implants for security reasons, ma'am—the same for files. We um …”

“Figure it out,” the Veraxin buzzed, signaling rising anger.

“Yes, ma’am. As I was saying, this way,” the commander stated, leading her and the other officers off.

“I guess that leaves the rest of you with me?” Chief Petty Officer Lafayette asked, eying the others once the senior officers had departed. There were seven noncoms of all three branches standing at parade rest, 24 middies, and what looked like 8 civilians. “I'm sorry, I don't have your implant IDs …”

“We don't have any,” a woman said snippily.

“Okay and judging from your dress you are a civilian, ma'am?” the CPO asked her. She nodded once. He turned to the other four. “And you are as well?”

“My, nothing gets past you,” the woman said nastily.

The chief looked at her briefly, shooting her a low-voltage quelling look before he looked at the enlisted and … middies.

“Okay, Middies, I believe you can report to academy processing. Captain Firefly?” he asked, looking up to the ceiling.

“Who are you …,” the woman looked around them.

“I'm accessing my implants, ma'am,” the chief replied.

“Yes, Chief. I've been monitoring the situation since Barry is busy. I'll direct the middies to processing. They are coming midterm, so that will be fun to deal with. We also do not have their records on file, and obviously they don't have implants or … I'll handle them.”

“Thank you, sir. And the civilians, sir?”

“I think someone from the government should step in. I just received a download from ensign Caroline. She informs me three are from Nuevo, the rest are from Bek. The Nuevo delegation are family or friends of the previous delegation it seems. There is some implied interest about college.”

“You were thrown into the deep end, ma'am,” the chief said, addressing the woman. “The A.I. are consulting now. For the moment I can escort you to a hotel for housing while they sort things out,” he stated.

“Very well,” the woman said, lifting her nose. “I suppose I'll have to send one of your flunkies for my things?” she demanded.

“I … can get with
Caroline's
bosun to arrange it, ma'am,” the CPO stated. He turned to the 24 middies. “You sirs are destined for the academy. Since you don't have implants, we can't direct you and you can't access parts of the annex without them. We'll have to detail an escort,” he said.

“I'm on that, Chief,” the A.I. stated.

“Captain Firefly just stated he's detailing one now.” He turned to the noncoms. “I suppose the same problem of ID is with you?” he asked.

“Yes, Chief,” a Gashg stated. He had a greenish sash and waistband. They did nothing to cover the scars all over his body. “Nuevo. Army Reserve,” he said helpfully.

“Okay,” the chief said with a nod. “We'll get you temporary billets. Marines and army will most likely be shipped out on the next flight to Agnosta however,” he said with a nod to them. Both groups signaled they understood. He turned as a Veraxin sailor came down the corridor. “R'v'r, you just got tapped for a special assignment. Escort the enlisted here to temporary enlisted housing. I'll take the civilians,” he said.

“I'm, um … yes, Chief,” the Veraxin said, cutting off his protest when he saw the set expression on his senior's face. One of the enlisted chuckle, but sobered before the chief could turn back to look his or her way. “Very well. Let's get this parade on the road then,” he said, nodding to the sailors, and then to the civilians. He extended his hand to them. “If you'll follow me ladies, and gentlemen, I'll show you to the hotel we have on base and get you set up there.”

“Yes let's get going,” the woman said with a sniff.

“What a clusterfisk,” one of the new Marine noncoms muttered just loud enough for those near to hear before the group split up.

:::{)(}:::

Admiral Subert eyed his chief of staff. “Are they all settled in?”

“Yes, sir and already making waves,” the commander replied with a grimace as he entered the office. The admiral waved a hand as he leaned against his desk and crossed his arms. “So?”

“So, the captain we can put to use. The same for some of the others, though two of the officers are on the flag officer's staff.”

“Less we have to supply I suppose.”

“Yes, sir. And the Marine colonel and the enlisted are headed out on the next ship to Agnosta with the army officer and enlisted.” Saul said, checking his notes. “The chief settled the civilians in the annex's hotel. I've passed on a request for help concerning them.”

“You'll be lucky if you get a response in your lifetime,” the admiral said with a sniff. He shook his head and went behind his desk. “What else?”

“Here is where things get dicey. The two flag officers are … raring to go I guess you could say, sir.”

“And no ID implants, I've heard that part.”

“Yes, sir. It hasn't stopped them it seems. Commodore X'll'rr has already been informed that the rear admiral will be taking over Battle Fleet once she is ready. In fact, she wanted to transfer to First Squadron and relieve the commodore last night, but First is out on maneuvers and won't be back for another two days. She did order them back early though.”

“She had no authority to do that,” Admiral Subert growled.

“Apparently she does, sir. She's got you by date of rank,” the commander said. The admiral scowled blackly. Saul nodded slowly. “She's been a flag officer for a decade, sir. Six years as a rear admiral,” he explained.

“So? She has me by date of rank. I'm still the commander of this star system not her!”

“Yes, sir. But she is a senior officer. Last order by a senior officer applies in this case. Commodore X'll'rr requested input but put her command on a course to return anyway since you were asleep at the time,” he said.

“Damn it,” the admiral growled. “She doesn't have implants; she's throwing her weight around … and what about the other one?”

“Commodore Ortiz. He stepped up right off to get his ID implants. Oddly, none of the officers, enlisted, or civilians got them on
Caroline
. I put in an inquiry to Doctor Naroob. He replied that he asked while doing their health checkup, but they all declined. But now that he's here and sees the need, Commodore Ortiz has seen fit to get them.”

“Well good for him I suppose,” the admiral growled.

“Yes, sir. He marched in to the medical admin wing and ordered the implants,” the chief of staff said with a shake of his head.

“Oh, spare me,” the admiral sighed, scrubbing at his face. He glowered at the bulkhead for a moment. “I bet Lieutenant Taylor was thrilled.”

“It wasn't his shift, sir. Commander Fox was about to go off shift. He didn't know the commodore and a stranger in uniform marching in and demanding an implant didn't go over well. Fortunately, Barry stepped in and verified the commodore's identity before the SPs arrived.”

“Lovely,” the admiral growled, now thoroughly disgusted. “But he got the implants?”