The Rise before the Fall
Chapter 16: A New Command
Aboard the Orta Hone Hone, Aisha's new first officer escorted her to her quarters.
"Your personal items have already been delivered to your quarters. If you wish for anything to eat or drink simply press 9 on the communicator and you'll be connected directly to the galley. They will bring you anything you desire Lady Aisha. To check on the ship's status, press 1 and to establish a commlink outside the ship, press 3. All necessary information concerning Terran laws as pertaining to the Terran Trade Treaty of Sector 31 are accessible from your computer. If you need me for anything, simply press zero on the communicator and I'll be paged. Is there anything the Ambassador would like at this time?"
"Hmm, yes, I would like to go to the bridge and see my senior officers in action."
"That's not really necessary..."
"What?" Shocked by her first officer's response.
"The route to the Terran colony, Blue Heaven, has been preprogrammed into the navigation and engineering computers. Currently, the bridge officers are simply monitoring their systems. Not much to watch."
"Well at least I can give them a few words of encouragement with regards to the importance of our mission."
"Lady Aisha, it is a long trip from our home world to the Terran colony, perhaps such words of encouragement would have greater impact the closer we get to our destination?"
She considered this for a moment. "Perhaps you're right."
"To be honest Ambassador, there really isn't much for you to do until we reach our destination. Perhaps it would be best for the Ambassador to use her time resting and familiarizing herself with the Terran Trade Treaty so you will best be ready to handle any interference the Terran Space Forces may attempt to throw our way?"
"Am I hearing correctly? Are you telling me what I should do Lieutenant?"
"Not at all ma'am. I am merely, humbly suggesting."
She looked her first officer up and down, trying to determine his level of sincerity.
"Here we are."
Her first officer came to a stop and opened the door for her. As on her destroyer the lights came on instantly. These quarters were far more luxurious than what Aisha was used to on her destroyer. But these quarters were intended for Commodores and Admirals and in her case an Ambassador.
'Its going to take some time to get used to that title.'
She looked around her quarters. It was equipped with a sleeping area and bath as her old quarters were but here there was also a dining/living area that could accommodate up to 5 guests comfortably, and a personal office area as well with a desk and computer.
"Isn't there a separate ready room for the commander?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am. The ready room is just off the bridge and is directly connected to the commander's conference room if you wish to be briefed in person by your senior staff."
She nodded approvingly.
"Is there anything that you require at this time Lady Aisha?"
She was still looking around her quarters as she considered his question.
"I would like a tour of the ship."
The lieutenant paused for a moment.
"Perhaps the Ambassador would like something to eat first and to get some rest."
Aisha shot him a look; that was the second time he was trying to tell her what to do.
Anticipating her protest, the lieutenant added.
"Lady Aisha, you have had a rather hectic week, what with the battle at Alpha 63 and all that has followed since."
Again she considered the sincerity of his words.
'Well, if he's not sincere at least he's logical.'
"Yes, I think a good meal would do me well right about now. I'll page you when I'm ready for my tour."
"Very good Lady Aisha."
He headed for the door. "I'll have the chef send a sampling of some of his finer cuisine."
"That would be fine. Thank you."
"Think nothing of it Lady Aisha. Till later then."
He raised his hand in salute.
She saluted him back and watched him walk out the door and close it behind himself.
She walked over to the desk. "Hmm, a video-communicator, nice."
She smiled thinking how nice it will be to talk with Augusta and be able to see him at the same time.
**********
As Aisha's first officer turned the corner down the corridor, he mumbled under his breath.
"Spoiled brat."
He pulled out his pocket palm and typed in a message to the comms officer to have transmitted to Governor Jiudus then proceeded to the galley.
**********
The Governor was at his estate watering his plants when special agent Viveri entered.
"Governor, a communiqué from the Orta Hone Hone."
He walked over to the Governor and handed him a letter.
The Jiudus read the letter to himself.
'Orta Hone Hone under way. Ambassador resting comfortably. Scheduled arrival time at Blue Heaven, 20 days 16 hours.'
"Send a reply. 'Contact me upon arrival at Blue Heaven. Inform me of any unusual occurrence.'
"That is all." The Jiudus paused for a moment. "Oh, Viveri, have my ship readied."
"Governor?"
"And assemble an inspection team to accompany me. I wish to inspect the battle sight at Alpha 63, personally."
Viveri bowed to the Governor and exited his home.
The Governor went back to spraying his plants.
**********
"Very impressive." Aisha said. "You should be very proud."
"Thank you ma'am." The chief engineer replied, saluting. She returned his salute then headed out of main engineering.
"Would the Ambassador care to see our main weapons array next?" Her first officer asked.
"Actually I'd prefer a look at our navigation systems first."
"Of course, right this way Lady Aisha." The lieutenant directed her down the corridor, which lead to main navigation.
Upon entering the navigation systems control room the eight crewmembers on staff stopped what they were doing.
"Officer present!" They all saluted.
The navigation chief stepped forward.
"Lady Aisha, it is an honor to have you in our control room. What may we do for you?"
"I'm familiar with how the navigation systems work on a destroyer. I had heard that it was considerably more advanced on the battle cruisers. I wanted to see for myself."
"Yes ma'am right this way." The navigations chief escorted Aisha over to a large table which had a three dimensional holographic image of several star systems and a bright red ball moving through its field of space.
"This is the Empire's most advanced navigation and sensor reading system to date. Currently only one other ship in the fleet has this system installed, the El Co Hone Hone. The system employs six supercomputers, four that constantly provide all known astrological information that allows us to generate this three-dimensional hologram and two others that provide continuous triangulation of our current and projected position using this astrological information. As the Ambassador is aware, there is still much of the universe that is still uncharted and that which is known is in a constant state of change. For this reason we have two more systems that gather input from the sensors systems and update our astrological database as well as relaying the updates to the nearest space station or signaling buoy so the most current data can be relayed to all ships in the Fleet. It also checks the data from the space stations and signaling buoys for any new astrological data we may not have.
"The system allows navigation control to be far more accurate than ever before, where with the standard systems a ship can come out of sub-ether space as far as 10 kilometers off course, this system enables us to reduce course error to as little as 500 centimeters."
The navigation chief concluded proudly.
"Amazing!" Aisha responded, marveling over the hologram and the technology behind it.
"In addition, sensors are enhanced by 140% over the existing systems."
"This is truly amazing. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you Lady Aisha, we will do our best."
The chief saluted and Aisha saluted back.
As the ambassador and her first officer proceeded down the corridor, she told him.
"It's been four days since we left space dock. I would really like to go to the bridge now."
"Of course Lady Aisha, but may I suggest that we stop at the main weapons array? It is on the way."
She sighed, "very well."