Chapter 38 – Conditions

About a half hour later, aboard the UNSS Vigilance…

Captain Renee Lopez stood looking over the shoulder of Sensor Specialist Quincy Wren. He turned to look at her as he waited to see if she saw an error in his findings.

Renee said, "Hell Quin, I just needed to see it for myself."

"Sorry ma'am. Believe me when I say I wish the bloody sensors were wrong, but I've checked it three times."

Renee nodded and just as she started to turn to go back to her seat she whispered, "Me too."

A moment later she sat back down in her command chair. With a hint of anxiety in her composure, she glanced over at the countdown clock. It read: T-Minus 28 minutes and counting.

Renee activated the ship wide 1MC from her chair console, "Attention all hands. This is the Captain. We're over half way through our final parabolic orbit, and we've continued to build inertial speed over these past few hours. Very soon now, we'll be powering up to leave orbit. I want you to know; no, you deserve to know, that the Black Jack appears to be powering up her reactors as well; all of them. Based on the sensor data, they won't be at full power before we make our move but nonetheless they will be more formidable because of it. We don't know the reason but in the endgame it doesn't change our timetable or objectives."

Renee paused to consider her next words carefully. "You may wonder why I'm not worried about this news. That's because I serve with the best crew Earth has ever sent to the stars, aboard a ship with a just mission. We have Providence on our side. Therefore, I give you my word: if the enemy tasks us, we will meet them and they shall be ours. Now stand to your duties and never forget the source of Vigilance's strength," she paused for effect and finished, "the unwavering dedication of her crew." She switched off the 1MC.

I asked, "Renee, you there?"

"I'm here. I was about to call you."

"I know. I called in while you were talking to the crew. Jamison put me on the line and I heard most of what you told them. He also told me about the Black Jack's status. Is there anything we can do at this point?"

Renee said, "No. We're less than a half hour out."

"In that case, carry on and in my humble opinion that was a mighty fine pep talk for the crew. Short and to the point."

Renee laughed, "Thanks, Nathan. Giving speeches wasn't at the top of my resume for this job, but I make do. We'll be in touch."

"Roger. Godspeed, Vigilance."

Renee sat quietly for a few minutes in her command chair. She looked around the bridge and made mental pictures of those around her. She hoped and prayed they would still be here when this was over.

Renee said, "IVAiN."

"Yes, Captain?"

"The clock shows15 minutes. What's our status?"

"All systems are in standby awaiting the power up order. Hull integrity is 100%. Engines are 100%. Conventional Weapons and Defense systems are at 83% and primary and secondary Coil Cannon batteries remain nonfunctional at this time. However, Engineering still has crews working on them."

Renee said, "Thank you."

Renee continued to watch the clock while she checked in with Doctor Koszuta. "Jen, what's the status of your special patients?"

"I show Pearce at 100% synchronization and no connection at all with Danza. As I've said before, I suspect his avatar is deceased or not in the area. Otherwise, he would have connected the same as Pearce once we were in range."

"That's all I needed to hear Doctor. I'll try not to send you too many customers today."

Jen's voice rippled with anxiety as she replied, "Please don't, but if must we're ready to receive."

"Understood Doctor."

Deep within the ship, three decks below the bridge; Ensign Heidi Lim monitored the combat interface chamber, commonly referred to as the Battle Sphere. It served as the interface between human and machine and formed the ship's adaptive combat intelligence.

Heidi heard the airtight door behind her unseal and start to open. As the door rose up she saw the slender yet athletic legs of a woman in a dark grey, skintight suit. She knew it was Commander Evelyn Rolfe. As the door finished rising Evelyn stepped into the room. Her more feminine features stood out as she strolled into the room. The skintight suit was layered with sensors and wires running up and down her arms and legs. The sensors covered every part of her suit, high-heeled boots, and gloves all the way up to the back of her neck where the tiny wires appeared to literally blend into her skin. She nodded at Heidi as she walked in, "Ensign Lim."

Heidi nodded and replied, "Commander."

The airtight door closed behind Evelyn and sealed.

Evelyn paused a moment and then walked over to Heidi. "Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Evelyn grinned and continued, "Although, I have to admit the women's version of the emitter suit fits a little snugger than the men's version." She turned to pose at different angles for Heidi to see.

Heidi grinned as she replied, "If you don't learn anything else from this experience, you'll at least have a new-found appreciation for why we take our wardrobe so seriously." Evelyn just stared at Heidi for a few seconds as Heidi's demeanor started to show signs of nervousness, not sure if she'd just offended the Commander.

Finally, Evelyn broke out in laughter and commented, "I won't argue with that." Heidi's nervousness morphed into a relieved smile.

Evelyn said, "This has been a difficult experience for me, but I'd like you to know I've appreciated your patience. If not for yours and Jen's help, I'd probably have broken an ankle by now." She glanced down at her high-heeled boots.

Heidi commented, "Yaa, that was a challenge. If the sensors hadn't been built directly into the boots we could have switched them out, but you finally got the hang of it."

Evelyn nodded, "True, and it's nice to feel a little taller."

Heidi couldn't hide the grin on her face; "with a little more time we might have turned you into a lady."

Evelyn and Heidi grew quiet as if neither were sure how to proceed with the conversation. After a moment of awkward silence Evelyn said, "I guess it's time."

Heidi added, "By the way, I like the short hair."

This time Evelyn grinned, "Thanks. Getting used to a woman's body has been demanding to say the least but the long hair was getting in the way of my work." Evelyn pointed behind her at the hatch to the chamber. "I tried pulling it back, but it still didn't feel right. So it had to go."

Heidi added, "Now you know why I keep mine short." She ran a hand through her own hair.

They both smiled as Evelyn pulled herself up and slid through the hatch into a near weightless chamber beyond. Inside Evelyn said, "Comms check!"

Heidi replied, "Sounds good."

Evelyn added, "By the way, don't worry about the lady comment. I know what you meant. I guess there's something to be said for walking a mile in someone else's shoes, or heels in this case."

Heidi replied with obvious relief in her voice, "Thank you, Commander."

As Evelyn began to activate the chamber and bring its integrated systems online, Commander Burton's voice rang out over the ship's 1MC. "Attention all hands. Set Condition Yoke throughout the ship. Seal all airtight doors and bring all reactors online. We are T-Minus two minutes to zero hour."

Evelyn opened her comms channel to the bridge, "Captain? This is Commander Rolfe. My Battle Sphere is online."

Giles chimed in, "Tactical is synched as well."

Renee replied, "Roger. We'll be going to General Quarters shortly after the burn is over."

In the final moments before the clock ran out Captain Lopez stated with pride. "Mr. Burton, activate the Vigilance's transponder beacon. It's time we made our presence known.

"Aye Captain, transponder activated."

Just then the bridge door opened and Ambassador Kuval Chokshi hurriedly made his way to his seat next to Captain Lopez and strapped himself in. Renee said, "Ambassador, I thought you'd decided to remain in your quarters with your staff?

He anxiously replied, "I decided I'd rather see it with my own eyes."

Renee glanced at him with a prideful grin and replied, "Glad you decided to join us, sir." He nervously nodded as he focused his attention on the main viewer.

IVAiN said, "Captain, we are T-Minus one minute and counting. Fail Safe Protocols have engaged. Please reconfirm your orders to continue countdown. Renee stated, "IVAiN, disengage Fail Safe and proceed with countdown." "Thank you Captain, countdown continues at T-Minus 51 seconds and counting."

"Helm, status?"

Lt. Miller responded, "Captain, we've almost reached our orbital apex on final orbit and are entering the departure window."

"Navigation?

Lt. Samadi responded, "Course confirmed to engage Black Jack. With our inertial multipliers plus thrust we'll reach flank speed in 89.4 seconds after burn initiation.

Renee replied, "Understood."

IVAiN said, "T-Minus 20 seconds and counting. All reactors are at 100% power." The deck plates began to make an ominous hum in the background as the ship's powerful reactors returned to full power for the first time since the ship began its deceleration into the system.

Giles spoke out, "All decks report secure and ready for burn, Captain." Renee replied, "Very good, Commander."

Zero hour had arrived as IVAiN verbalized the final countdown: "Five. Four. Orbital apex reached. Two. All engines. Full Thrust."