Part 5
"Welcome to the EAS Titans" Captain Ivanova announced, and for the first time she felt a sense of pride as she said it.
Marie stepped down from the shuttle and looked around the bay in awe. She didn't speak for a full five seconds, taking in the size of one of the largest ships in the fleet.
"Oh Wow!" She said, "You could fit a Whitestar in here."
"Not quite," Susan chuckled, "but this is the largest landing bay outside a space station. At least, on Earth ships."
"I think you've beaten the Minbari. How have you managed to increase the structural integrity to mass ratio? I always understood that was the restricting factor in building open areas within space going ships. Above a certain point, the shell isn't strong enough to withstand the pressures of a vacuum."
"Well, the Titans is larger than other ships, but if you want to know any more you will have to talk to one of our engineers. I just command this thing"
Susan knew that Marie would have a very long discussion with the engineers when she finally spoke to one. In the few days that they had spent together, a strong friendship had begun to develop and Susan had discovered that Marie was a very quiet person, not only because of her survive and hide instinct, but because she was incredibly shy. She had let Susan take the lead wherever they had gone on Mars, and they had done almost the entire tourist trail; shopping, museums, theatres. It had been Susan who had talked to the store assistants when they had gone shopping; Susan who had asked for directions when they were lost; Susan who had ordered in the restaurants. The only people that Marie felt immediately comfortable with were children, and now that Amy had been returned to her aunt, Marie had become almost timid when in public.
What Susan had also discovered was that although shy, Marie was almost fanatically inquisitive. She continually studied the details of her surroundings, striving to discover how things worked or were put together. She had enthused over the construction of the American patchwork quilts that were displayed in the Mars museum, entranced by the tessellation of the individual patches to the point of sketching the patterns. Marie also had a great love for art and music, something Susan suspected came from her Father, and they had attended a concert just the night before to commemorate Susan's last day of planet leave.
And now, Captain Ivanova was going to give Marie a guided tour of her ship.
As Captain, it was her duty to board a day before the rest of her crew and so the bay was almost deserted when they arrived. Susan was glad. She enjoyed being in the company of Marie, just doing ordinary things and being treated as an equal, not a superior. That had not happened for such a long time and if they had been met by a member of her command staff, she would have had to adopt a formality, which would have felt awkward.
Together, they shouldered Susan's luggage, which had increased dramatically due to shopping trips, and made their way across the bay. More than once Marie almost tripped up from not looking where she was going as she was trying to take in everything at once.
They entered Susan's cabin to the same smell of fresh paint that permeated the whole ship, and dropped the bags in the middle of the floor.
"I'm afraid it's rather small," Susan apologised, "and I've never got round to personalising it. There didn't seem much point."
Marie cast a look around the room, "The beauty with small is that it won't take much. You could put that Monet poster over there," she pointed to the wall opposite the bed, "Add a rug or two; the Brakiri make some wonderful ones." She sighed with regret. "If only we could have bought one of those quilts. It would have really brightened things up."
Susan smiled in agreement, "I know. I actually wanted one when I was small, but Mama always said that there was no point cutting up good cloth just to sew it back together again."
"What a shame." Marie said.
At that moment, Susan's link bleeped. After almost a week without its interruptions, she jumped at the sound. With a look that made Marie giggle, she spoke sharply to the back of her hand,
"Ivanova. Go."
"Captain," the voice on the other end sounded very nervous, "We have a call coming through from Doctor Franklin on Earth."
"Put it through to my quarters."
A few seconds later, the face of Stephen appeared on the wall monitor.
"Hello Susan, Marie." He smiled at them both. "The fact that you are both there together means that either I am safe, or you are planning the most excruciating tortures to subject me to."
Susan looked at Marie and raised an eyebrow. Marie managed not to giggle but grinned evilly. Together, they turned back to the monitor. Stephen swallowed.
"I think I'll stay on Earth for now."
"Coward." Susan taunted him, then she laughed. "Why did you call Stephen?"
"To see how you are doing, and the fact that you are laughing speaks volumes." Stephen was smiling again. "It looks like you've been eating properly for the last week as well. Keep that up and you'll soon be at your proper weight."
"Just don't put me on one of your diets."
"Food plan."
"Whatever."
"Fine." Stephen agreed, "I've scheduled regular check ups with your ship's doctor. Don't skip any as I will be keeping an eye on you."
"Yes Doctor." Susan playfully replied.
"Well, I look forward to seeing you in a couple of days. You can fill me in then with all the juicy details of what you two have been getting up to."
"You already know about the fun parts." Susan said, "But I'll gladly tell you the rest if you really want to know."
"You do that." Stephen turned his gaze towards Marie, "Michael Garibaldi will be here as well. I can introduce you if you still want to talk about investments."
"I'm afraid I can't come to Earth right now," Marie said, sharing a sideways glance with Susan, "I've got something important to do. But if you could ask his advice I'll be grateful."
"OK, I'll do that. Look after yourself."
"I will." Marie thanked him.
Stephen glanced at the clock on his desk.
"I've got a meeting to get to so I must go. See you soon Susan, and you Marie. I'm glad you two are getting along."
Once Stephen had severed the connection, Susan turned to Marie.
"I am sorry you can't come to Earth. I could have given you a lift."
Marie shook her head.
"It's all right. I'm absolutely no good at social occasions like that. I would have been at the edge of the crowd all the time. No, I have to concentrate on this entrance exam, considering the trouble you went to, to get me the chance."
"I didn't mean them to set it on the same day as the anniversary." Susan said, "I'm sure you will sail through it though."
"I hope so." Marie wrung her hands nervously.
Susan looked at her squarely in the eyes.
"Don't worry about it now." She said, "Worry about it tomorrow. Now is the time that I show you around the best ship in the fleet."
OoOoO
The tour took hours.
With the ship being virtually empty, Susan was able to take Marie to sections that would have been inaccessible at other times. The gun emplacements located at the furthest corners of the ship; the cockpit of a Starfury in the launch bays; the fusion reactors that powered the engines. Marie was fascinated by everything. It wasn't long before she relaxed and began asking questions, a number of which Susan struggled to answer. She was like a child, seeing new marvels at every turn and her wonder infected Susan as she discovered what an amazing ship she had been commanding for five years.
When they eventually arrived on the bridge, the lieutenant that was on standby duty was so unnerved by his captain's change of appearance, attractive guest and strange good humour that he forgot his work and just stared. Luckily for him, Susan was busy explaining what each station controlled or he would have found out that the Ice Maiden hadn't melted entirely.
By the time the tour reached his station, the lieutenant was once again immersed in the information on his screen.
"And this is ops." He heard the Captain say behind him, "Lieutenant Collins, what is our status since the refurbishment?"
Collins was caught out by the question and stammered a little before answering,
"W..well, all the work crews have left and the re-supply shipments are on schedule. Mr French has complained five times about the quality of foodstuffs he has been sent."
"He should be grateful that he has fresh food for once to cook with." Susan commented.
"All Starfuries have been serviced," Collins continued, "and the weapons and tracking systems overhauled. Engineering is beginning to power up the engines for our jump to Earth. We currently have fifty-three crew aboard, with another two-hundred and sixty returning tomorrow. The rest of the crew will board when we reach Earth."
"Good." Susan said, "Everything seems to be in order. Good work Lieutenant."
"Th..Thank you." Collins was surprised by the praise. The Captain never complimented anyone! He didn't dare turn around as Ivanova issued her next order.
"Keep me informed if there is any change of status. I shall be sampling the delights of Mr French's culinary skills."
OoOoO
Judging from the meal that Susan and Marie were served with, the ship's chef seemed to be enjoying himself with the real ingredients that were so rare on Earthforce destroyers.
"I am so going to miss real food." Susan announced as she finished off a fruit sorbet. "I wonder if I can schedule some extra stops to pick up supplies."
"You are always welcome to visit me on Mars." Marie said, "Assuming that I get on a course and find a place to stay."
"I might just do that."
Marie jumped in her seat excitedly as an idea struck her,
"Or you could come with me to Minbar during the holidays. Tuzanor is right up in the mountains. The scenery is phenomenal!"
Susan considered the proposal. Tuzanor, the home of the Rangers.
"I don't know." She replied, "I shall have to think about that one. I've never been to Minbar."
Marie didn't push the subject. Maybe she could see how much the idea disturbed her; visiting the place where he had spent so much time, had trained to become the Ranger who had affected her life so dramatically. She was not ready for it. Just as she would need time before she could listen to his last message, so she needed to let her heart heal some more before she could visit Minbar. She had only just begun to listen to her heart again anyway.
"So," Marie changed subject, "What's the crew compliment on this thing?"
"Twleve hundred, working on a three shift rotation. There should be four hundred on duty at any one time, though we can maintain combat readiness with just over half that. That is better than the Dreadnoughts can manage."
"Do you think the Warlocks will replace the Dreadnoughts?"
"In time, yes, because everything has to be replaced eventually. At the moment Earthforce is still building up its forces after the civil war. It takes more than five years to build a fleet and anything that is spaceworthy will be up here for a while yet."
"But you've got the best ship of the lot." Marie said, "I would love to have a go at flying this."
Susan sighed, "The Warlocks are not perfect. These ships have some real nasty secrets that scare the hell out of me."
Before Marie could inquire further, Susan's link bleeped.
"Ivanova. Go."
"Captain, this is Lieutenant Collins. There is a message coming through on Gold Channel."
Susan frowned. Everything had been arranged weeks ago concerning their passage to Earth. What could have come up for a priority message to be sent out? Was there a problem with security in hyperspace? Or were they just being asked to ferry a VIP? She shared a look of concern with Marie.
"I'm on my way to the bridge. Ivanova out."
Together they rose from the table and strode from the mess hall.
"What do you think it is?" Marie asked.
"I have no idea. Damn! I knew it was too quiet around here."
OoOoO
"At the request of President Sheridan, all ships that are able, are to rendezvous in Earth orbit immediately. There are unconfirmed reports of an alien attack fleet heading for Earth space. Flagship is the EAS Hermes, under the command of Genr..."
Susan didn't hear anymore. Dozens of different memories and emotions crowded into her head. The Battle of the Line. Even though she had not been there at the line, she still remembered the fear that had settled over the world. No one imagined that they could win. That day they teetered on the edge of annihilation. Corianna VI. Another seemingly hopeless engagement in which they had all prepared to die, yet miraculously they survived. And her last skirmish, against the advanced destroyer group. She should have died there.
Yet here she was about to go into combat once more and the familiar knot of fear had appeared in her stomach. Once, she would have also had a tingle of anticipation as she waited for her opponent, but not anymore. She knew what was out there, what the universe could throw at them. Too many times she had witnessed the firepower of a superior force, and she had dodged death one time too many.
John Sheridan had ordered the fleet to stand ready. He knew better than her what adversaries were out there in the darkness between worlds. If he said he needed all the ships, then he meant it. That scared Susan more than anything else.
All the ships.
Susan had to sit down as the dreadful reality struck her. Most of the ships in orbit around Mars were practically helpless, their engines powered down, their crews on planet leave. Only a handful were scheduled to jump to Earth, and they were still only manned by skeleton crews. They and the Earth were going to be sitting ducks.
"What's going to happen?"
Marie's voice cut into her thoughts. Susan looked up at her.
"We are going to get our butts kicked." She shook her head, "I had a bad feeling about this planet leave. Lieutenant, how many of the other ships are signalling confirmation of the order?"
"Only six." His voice wavered with apprehension, "The others are not able to get their engines on line in time."
"What about our engines?"
Collins stood up from the communications console to move to navigation, but Marie had settled into the seat before he had taken a step.
"Engines are online and at eighty percent power." Her fingers passed over the console, tapping at the controls, "Jump engines are powering up and will be online in seven minutes."
She looked back at Susan for orders.
Captain Ivanova slowly looked around the virtually empty bridge.
"Long odds are better than no odds I suppose." She stated, "Open ship's tannoy."
Susan's voice echoed around the Titans.
"All crew report to your nearest duty station. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. We are about to enter combat with an unknown enemy and every one of you is needed in the defence of this ship. We may be few in number, but we can still pack a punch. Captain out."
She turned back to Collins.
"Lieutenant; you have the time of the jump to Earth space to find out exactly who is on board and get them to the position where they will be the most effective. Lets see what fifty-three people can do with this thing."
"Fifty-four." Marie interjected.
They exchanged looks.
"You were trained on Whitestars?" Susan inquired.
"Three duties, including war games. I have also logged time on a number of simulators, including Earthforce destroyers." At Susan's raised eyebrows, she added, "The Rangers make sure we're prepared."
"Consider yourself drafted. Plot a course to Earth."
Marie spun her chair back to her console and set to work.
"Course computed and set," She noted her progress out loud so that Susan did not need to ask. "Jump engines will be online in five minutes."
Susan settled into her command chair. At that moment, she realised just how much she missed him. Just about every battle that she had fought during the Shadow war and the fight for Earth had been with Marie's father beside her. They had worked so well together, discussing battle plans; and other things. They had developed an understanding that Captains and their First Officers very rarely did. There was no one to stand by her in this battle. She would be making the decisions alone.
But she had a Ranger Cole at the helm. That had to count for something.
"Take us out of orbit"
to be continued...