We Put To Sea!
"When will the ship be ready to leave?" asked the woman.
"We estimate another four days" replied the man in uniform.
"Admiral Jackson, why the delay and estimate?"
"We have been experiencing some problems with the Dauntless's Fire Control systems, Susan" said Jackson. He was being interviewed by a reporter about the delay in launching the first of the Dauntless class of Battlestar.
"Can we know what these problems are?" asked the reporter.
"Some details are being kept secret for now, as I am sure that you can understand. What I can say is that the ship is in good order. The problem lies in the software which takes a day to unpick, solving the problem which takes two days and then reinitialise the whole package. She will be commissioning on time, but not at Picon Fleet Headquarters. It was thought more fitting she be commissioned into the service whilst in her home port"
"Thank you, Admiral. We'll be right back after these messages"
#
"Sir?" a crewman was standing at the door to George Henderson's office. He was the first Commanding Officer of the Dauntless, and he was chest high in paperwork that needed to be completed before the ship joined the service.
"If that is another report I have to see, you paint the hull without a suit" he shook his head.
"Sort of a report, Sir" the crewman said. "Chief Engineer is refusing to do any work until you go down and see him – his words, Sir"
"What is the problem?"
"It's the CO2 scrubbers, Sir" the crewman said. "I was unpacking them to be installed when I noticed they were the round ones"
"And?"
"We take square scrubbers"
"Oh boy…" Henderson shook his head again. "Please tell me this isn't a government operation. Just tell the Chief to put in for the right ones"
"We tried that, but the dock says we were to get scrubbers, and we got scrubbers. They think it isn't their fault we got the wrong ones" he handed over the sheet listing all of the other items.
"No turbo regulators, spare coil units not aboard, spare fuel pumps non existent…" Henderson muttered to himself before looking up. "You may leave, Crewman. Tell the Chief Engineer that I will take care of this myself"
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir" and saluted before hurrying away. Henderson dialled the Chief Engineer's office and waited for it to be answered.
"Chief Engineer"
"Bill? This is George. I hear you are having a spot of trouble"
"I should say so. I assume you've had my message about the mix up?"
"Have it in my hand now" Henderson replied.
"We've been waiting for some time for these parts, George, but the Galactica's refit was of greater importance than our fitting out. Luckily we have been on the station's power supplies for power, air, water and heating"
"How long have you been waiting for the replacements?"
"A while now. We've applied for replacements through the usual channels, Sir"
"And?"
"Well, the usual channels appear to be clogged"
"Are they? Well, We'll ruddy well unclog 'em!"
#
Henderson picked up his phone and dialled the Communications station in CIC.
"Dauntless Cable and Wireless. Ensign McCall speaking, how may I help you?"
"Ensign, get me the Quartermaster on the station. Tell him it is urgent that I speak to him"
"Aye, Sir" and he waited only a few minutes.
"Quartermaster"
"This is Commander Henderson on the Dauntless. I understand you are refusing to supply us with the right parts we have requested"
"I am afraid that you have not followed proper procedure" asked the Quartermaster.
"I want the tools and equipment for Dauntless, and I want them now"
"I can't produce them on demand"
"Very well. What is the hold up?"
"The paperwork"
"To blazes with your paperwork! I want that stuff, and I want it pretty damned fast!"
"The books says I have to wait three months until hastening a new issue"
"Frack you" and Henderson slammed the phone down before dialling the CIC again. "Ensign, do you have full communications online yet?"
"Yes, Sir" McCall said.
"Very well. First of all, I want you to write this in your log that this is a direct order"
"Aye, Commander"
"Send the following message to Admiral Jackson - Message reads: Battlestar Dauntless operational with regards officers and crew. Battlestar Dauntless non operational – REPEAT NON OPERATIONAL – with regards to parts. Ship will remain non operational until issue has been resolved. Henderson, Dauntless"
"Aye, Sir"
"When done, repeat message to Admiral Kronus as well. Use standard repeat terms on dispatch of copy. That is all"
"Yes, Sir. McCall out"
"That should take care of them" Henderson turned back to his paperwork and wondered how long it would be until he was called to account.
#
"Commander Henderson, reporting as ordered"
"Henderson…" Jackson looked at the man as he returned the salute. "What is the meaning of this extraordinary signal?"
"It means exactly what it says, Sir" Henderson said. "Dauntless will remain non operational until we get the parts we need"
"You know, you just can't do this"
"Well I've gone and done it, Sir. I'll take any kicks that come this way"
"You can't do this" said Jackson again, looking at the signal and Henderson alternately.
"Too late to do anything about it now, Sir"
"They'll be an awful row at Headquarters" said Jackson.
"They'll be an awful row at Colonial Fleet Headquarters as well, Sir – I sent them a copy too!"
"Your Battlestar will get either new parts or a new CO. I wouldn't like to bet on which" Jackson said. "Dismiss"
#
The next call came that evening whilst Henderson was meeting with his senior officers in the unused pilots briefing room. He was discussing the last minute changes to the commissioning ceremony. Instead of having a display by the Battlestar's entire air group, as was custom, there would be a display by the Red Arrows – Viper II's stripped of armour for extra turning speed. The closing piece was a full burn through both flight pods at the same time – coming out to proximity charges set off from the Battlestar – making it look as if the Vipers had come from the flames.
"Henderson"
"Commander Edwards. What's the meaning of this signal?"
"This Battlestar is out of action until I get some tools and parts"
"You can operate with what you've got"
"I've told you what I want. Until I get it, this Battlestar remains non operational"
"You don't seem to care, but this will bring you a whole load of trouble. The Admiral's furious"
"Oh clot!" and Henderson slammed the phone down.
"Well, that's telling 'em, Skipper" said his Executive Officer – Commander Rosie Golden.
#
"Commander Henderson?" a Major on the staff of the Admiral stood in the doorway of the office. "The Admiral will see you, Sir" and Henderson walked in, went to the desk and came to attention – saluting as he did so.
"Henderson…" Admiral Kronus returned the salute. "What is all this about equipment and your signal?"
"My crew have done everything to get our spares and tools. If the Cylons attacked, I wouldn't be able to fight a simple fire in the head"
"I see" Kronus said slowly. "And those remarks on the telephone to Commander Edwards. Did you think that would help?"
"It was an argument between officers of equal rank. He tried to shake me by saying you'd be furious" said Henderson. Kronus looked at Henderson closely before turning the Major.
"He said I was furious? I won't have officers taking my name in vain or predicting my emotions - I'll see Edwards later"
"Very good, Sir"
"You must not short-circuit the usual channels, Henderson"
"No, Sir" Henderson said in a contrite voice.
"What do you want?" asked Kronus – proving he was still a spit, polish and deck officer despite being a desk Commander for some time now.
#
"Chief Richards?" the voice made Richards turn from where he had been speaking to one of the Deck Chiefs.
"Yes?"
"Courtesy of the Quartermaster, Sir. Seems your paperwork was … 'lost'. If you'll sign for all of this" the Chief Petty Officer handed over the delivery form.
"I want to check everything" said Richards. He made them unpack every item so he could personally check it against what was supposed to be on the list.
"I could build a new Battlestar from this lot" said a crewman, watching as more parts and tools turned up through the docking ports.
#
"Communications"
"This is the Commander. Send the following message to the Yard and Fleet Command at Headquarters Picon. Battlestar Dauntless now fully operational"
#
"Engineering, CIC. Power up manoeuvring jets"
"Aye, Aye, Sir"
"All hands, this is the Commander. Standby to cast off" the Commanding Officer of the Dauntless looked around at his newest command's CIC. Everything was so new you could smell the paint – even if it had taken a few years to build. "Officer of the Watch, cast off"
"Aye, Sir. Disengaging capture latches fore and aft" the lights on a display turned green. "Mooring lines cleared. Helm, back us out, nice and easy"
"Nice and easy – Aye" and the Battlestar eased out of her docking space slowly, turned to port and inched away.
"Dock control reports a good separation" the Communications Officer said.
"Sir, we are clear and free to navigate"
"Very well" Henderson nodded at his subordinate. "Navigation, plot us a course for Ash Ketchum Air Station"
"Plotting now, sir" and the woman started work on her computerised charts.
"All hands, this is the Commander. Start the first watch"
"I have the course you requested, Sir" the Navigator said. "Course is 214 carom 853"
"Helm, turn to that heading. Set speed for one half power for the first two hours, then increase to three quarters. The XO has the deck" and Henderson left the CIC for his quarters.
#
"Attention all hands, this is the CIC. Condition 2 is now set for Fire and Rescue Crews. Condition 2 for the Fire and Rescue Crews" the Duty officer said a day and a half later. "Standby to receive incoming aircraft – Squadrons embarking!"
#
"Viper 89, you are cleared to land port flight pod. Be advised that Auto Landing is offline at Commander Officer's insistence" the LSO said.
"Roger that, Dauntless" the little blip came closer to Dauntless. Sharpe and the duty staff were watching in the CIC as the Squadrons embarked on Dauntless. "Viper 89 approaching port pod. Hands on approach" the pilot said.
"Maintain course and speed, Helm" Henderson said.
"Aye, Sir"
"Dauntless, reaching outer marker"
"Roger that, Viper 89"
"Hard to starboard!" Henderson said suddenly. "All back starboard engines – full ahead port" and the Dauntless suddenly swerved to one side as the Viper pulled away and went around for another go. It was traditional for Battlestars to pull a joke on the first pilot when he or she landed to remind them that, despite how good a pilot they might be, they would never be as good as the ship they landed on. Their lives, in an emergency, would depend on the skills and abilities of the Dauntless's crew.
#
The entire Air Wing landed on without a hitch and the various squadrons found their assigned places in the ready rooms and quarters given to them. They would always have the honour of being the first people to occupy them.
"Major Ken Odell, reporting as ordered, Commander" the CAG saluted Henderson.
"At ease, Major" Henderson returned the salute. "Before we start, I just want to say I'll throw you in the brig if you do anything like your landing again!" and Odell was about to reply before he realised it was another of the traditional jokes on a CAG. He had already found a cardboard coffin in his office marked 'Just In Case'. "I understand that this is your first time as a CAG"
"Yes, Sir" Odell sat down in one of the chairs in Henderson's office.
"Reading your service jacket, it appears you were passed over for promotion twice already. Care to explain?"
"I was Squadron Commander on the Galactica, Sir, and I had an accident with one of my pilots during a training mission" Odell said. "We were on the training range near Triton for a comex. I approached one of the pilots with full throttle – simulating a Cylon Raider. Before I knew anything, he was on my tail and firing missiles at me. Should have been training shots, Commander, but they turned out to be live birds. I followed procedures and launched a counter measure, but a pair of missiles missed them, swung round and…" Odell fell silent.
"I presume they returned to sender?" Henderson asked, and Odell simply nodded.
"Galactica was monitoring everything and saw that I did as the rule book laid out. It was determined in the investigation that one of the deck gang must have loaded the wrong missiles in the internal bay. Given the fact I didn't launch the missiles, did nothing but follow the text book evasion moves and was the one that had been locked on, I was cleared of any wrong doing"
"Relieved of your command?" Henderson pressed.
"Oh, that would have been too easy" Odell said. "I was 'transferred' to an Air Station for cadets and pilots converting to newer Vipers and Raptors. I hold, by the way, qualifications for both, Sir. It wasn't until we had an inspection and tour by a couple of politicians that I found out that the person who had pushed for my 'transfer' was the father of the dead pilot. He was on the senate committee for Defence, and threatened to veto any plans unless I was taken off the ship. Fleet had no choice but to do so"
"And so, and I read your jacket, you took a Viper out of the training wing and blew his car up"
"That was not my fault, Commander" Odell said.
"You said yourself that you did it"
"Oh, I admit that I did it, Commander" the CAG replied, "But his car was on the bombing range at the time – pure accident, Commander"
"You'll do…" Henderson shook Odell's hand warmly and handed the man a drink.
#
"All hands, this is the Commander. Stand down from Damage Control stations. The exercise is over with" Henderson ended the drill he had been running involving a decompression of the forward compartments with fire near the magazines for the nose cannons. The results looked good, but there would have to be additional training before Henderson would be happy enough. It was three weeks after the ship had commissioned, and they had been sent on a short cruise around the local system to get some of the kinks out of themselves.
"Incoming message from Colonial Fleet Headquarters" said the duty communications officer.
"Put it through here" Henderson picked up the handset.
"The message is for the Commander only" the young woman replied.
"I'll take it in my quarters" Henderson said. "XO has the deck"
"Aye" Golden said. "I have the deck"
#
"Commander Henderson. What is your situation?" asked Admiral Kronus.
"Aside from a slight toothache, I'd say pretty good, Admiral"
"How do you rate your ship, Commander?"
"Alright, Sir. Still one or two things we need to work on, but we haven't been in service that long. With respect, Sir, you didn't call for a friendly chat"
"Correct. One of our scouts was following a ship we believe belongs to the SRA"
"Tom Zarek's group?"
"The scout was disabled in an ambush before it could get away, but it did report the ships headed off in the rough direction of the Piladies system"
"That is awfully near the Cylon Armistice Line, Sir. Do we know if Zarek made a crossing?" Henderson asked.
"As far as we know, he didn't. DRADIS picked up increased activity on the other side of the boarder, but we have not been able to speak to the Cylons"
"Typical"
"The problem is that we have a number of bases, abandoned since the war ended, that the SRA could use as a base. The largest one has a number of orbital drydocks he could use to repair and rearm his ships" Kronus said. "Your orders are to investigate the area from the location of the disabled scout"
"Aye, Aye, Sir. What do I do if I find them, Admiral?"
"Eliminate them"
"But take Zarek into custody?"
"I said eliminate them, Commander" Kronus said darkly. "Go to Glen Larson base to stock up on as much fuel and ammo as you require, Commander. Contact me when the job is done"
"One thing, Sir. What happened to the scout ship? What kind of opposition did it face?"
"You will get all the details in an encrypted packet sent to you later, Commander. Don't call me again until the job is done and Zarek is dead" and Kronus left the screen.
"Wonder what is up with him…" Henderson mused as he reached for the intercom and passed on their new orders.
"Anything else, Commander?" asked Golden after she had confirmed the orders.
"Have the Records Officer go over all of the information we have to do with Tom Zarek and cross it with all information we have involving Admiral Kronus. And Rosie…?"
"Sir?"
"Give the order to her yourself. I don't want this going on record"
"Aye, Sir. CIC, out"