Fresh Beginnings #3
Episode 9: First Impressions
Few have strength of reason to overrule the perceptions of sense, and yet fewer have curiosity or benevolence to struggle long against the first impression: he who therefore fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences or essential qualities.
- Samuel Johnson -
1010 HOURS – 04 APRIL, 2214
Warrant Officer Winnie Kok had fulfilled her obligations as ordered, bringing the incoming squadron commander on a guided tour of the carrier. Alvin Ng had followed the young officer politely, indulging her with his attention as she brought him through the ship's more important compartments, declining her repeated offers to take his bag.
Lieutenant Alvin Ng knew he had certainly spent far more time aboard Forge-class carriers than his present guide. It was likely that he had been serving on such vessels longer than Winnie had actually been in the JAF. But he had not wanted to waste the opportunity to evaluate one of his officers so soon and so he had gone along with the tour, knowing that Winnie was also buying time for Lieutenant Chan to vacate the squadron commander's quarters.
He noted that Winnie's voice held no bubbling pride for her ship as she went about explaining things as she went along. In fact, he was hard-pressed to find even a shred of pride in the woman. She wasn't proud of the fact that she was an officer, or an exo pilot or of being in the JAF at all. In fact, she seemed to have a certain fatalistic aura about her.
"This is ah . . . the airlock that . . . um . . . leads to the 'Tube'." Winnie explained in that halting, sheepish fashion that Alvin was growing used to. "If you'll ah, just step this way, sir." She hit the touchpad next to the thick, double-doors which hissed open to reveal a long tunnel with windows interspersed at regular intervals.
"After you, Winnie." Alvin said with a disarming smile and the younger woman nodded jerkily before gliding into the 'Tube'.
Presently they were moving through the ship's spine, which ran from bow to stern, passing through the six hangar and launch bays that had been arranged around it in hexagonal fashion. The area of the spine which passed through the hangars and launch bays was more commonly known as the 'Tube'. On a good day, a fortunate visitor would be able to catch glimpses of exo armors and fighters as they rushed through the launch bay and out into space. Other windows offered a view into the hangar bays where those very same crafted were maintained, repaired and readied for launch.
"Well, sir, stepping this down the Tube will . . .ah . . . bring you to the Ops deck . . . um, as well as the accessway to the habitat ring . . . um . . . where your quarters are located . . ." Winnie paused as if on instinct and looked over her shoulder, realizing that her charge was no longer following her. She had floated down the length of the Tube and had almost reached the other end and she saw that Alvin was further back, staring out one of the windows that allowed a view of one of the hangars.
Winnnie glided soundlessly over to him and noted that he made no sign of noticing her approached. He was staring into the hangar, looking almost entranced. "Ah, sir? Is there something, um, wrong?"
"It's been awhile," Alvin said slowly, never turning his eyes away from the view of the hangar. "God knows how much I've missed it." There was a pang of pain in his voice and for a moment Winnnie wondered if she should asked, then decided against it since she would never find the right words anyway.
Instead she said, "I see, sir. Well, would you, um . . . care to go down and well, uh . . . take a look?" She tried her best to smile encouragingly, not knowing what the man might have been thinking at this point in time.
"Well, why not?" Alvin said, finally turning away from the window to follow Winnie's lead till they came to a series of doors. Winnie deliberated for a moment, revealing that she hadn't really been on Fantasia that long. Then she opened the hatch that led into Bay Two.
It was always disorienting to someone who had not spent much time on a carrier, or any warship for that matter. Since a warship was built like a skyscraper and exos and fighters were arrayed facing upwards, stepping into a hangar produced the effect of making an exo appear to be hanging overhead or facing the visitor directly, depending on how one 'swam' into the bay.
There was a Pathfinder Alpha in storage in Bay Two. A few deckhands were floating about, tending to the machine which had numerous access panels open. The first thing that struck Alvin as he stepped into Bay Two was the sheer size of the exo armor. He had known these machines ever so intimately all his adult life but he never got over the initial sense of awe whenever he saw one. And having spent some months 'on the beach' had produced a similar sense of awe to be in the presence of one of these awesome machines once more.
He blew a low whistle as he floated towards the Pathfinder. Reaching out with his right hand, he touched the cool metal hide of the exo-armor almost reverently. Winnie hung back, content to leave him some time to be alone.
"John, you stupid cow!" A high-pitched shirek ripped through the relative silence of Bay Two and Alvin's eyes flicked up to the source of the disturbance immediately. Winnie had come to recognize that voice in the time she had spent in the squadron and couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"Come on . . . I had a friend in the Flying Circus who did the same thing!" Another voice, a masculine one this time spoke almost pleadingly. "It's just a tiny change."
"You are so not touching my exo!" The woman snarled in reply.
"Well, I'm already standing on it."
"How about I push you off, then?" The female voice said menacingly.
The lieutenant squinted against the bright, overhead fluorescent lighting and could make out two figures standing atop the Pathfinder's bulky shoulder pad. Judging from their posture, it looked as if they were just moments away from exchanging blows. Alvin cleared his throat and spoke loudly enough to be heard. "Excuse me, is there a problem?"
"And what's it to y . . ." The woman started as she looked down from her lofty perch. She must have noticed the rank tabs on Alvin's shoulder since she stopped in mid-sentence." Uh, no problem, sir. Just a very minor disagreement, sir."
"Didn't sound that way to me, Private." Alvin replied, folding his arms across his chest.
"Uh, guys, there's someone I want you to meet." Winnie cleared her throat as she stepped forward. "So perhaps if you could both um, drop whatever you're doing for now . . ."
"Uh, ok . . . I knew that . . ." The man said as he began to clamber down the side of the exo gingerly.
"I'm not a guy." The woman, as if in mocking her compatriot leapt off the Pathfinder's shoulder pad and rode the reduced gravity down onto the deck with almost unbelievable grace. There was something almost ethereal about the way she moved and Alvin realized that he was probably staring at a naturally exo pilot.
"Apologies for the disturbance, sir." The woman said and she touched down delicately. "I did not mean to cause a stir."
"Neither did I." The man said as he landed without anything that resembled the grace of his companion. Even in the reduced gravity, he managed to land heavily on the deck in front of Alvin.
"Guys . . ."
"I'm not a guy." Breanna repeated. "Especially if that's what John is."
"Alright, then," Winnie replied with a slight trace of exasperation mixed with amusement. "John, Bre, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Alvin Ng. Our new squadron CO."
The two privates exchanged surprised looks but it was the female who looked more surprised and she spoke up first. "What happened to Adelene?"
"Lieutenant Chan has been replaced . . . by me. I am in command now." Alvin replied in a flat, emotionless tone that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
"So she will be leaving us?" It was the male private's turn to ask.
"No, she will be remaining with us as the squadron's XO."
"Oh."
"So . . . what seems to be the problem, Private . . ." Alvin allowed his voice to trail off as he stared at the man.
"Cheah. Private John Cheah, sir. At your service. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"I'm not so sure you'll think that way if you knew me better." Alvin replied without smiling. "And it will be I who decides if you are of any service to me."
John recoiled slightly at the commander's reply, swallowing as he did. Winnie shifted nervously next to Alvin, suddenly feeling uneasy standing so close to him. "Well, um, of course, sir. My apologies for my oversight."
"Make sure it doesn't happen again." Alvin's tone was icy, making him far scarier than anything Lieutenant Chan had been during her relatively short reign as squadron commander. "You have a big mouth, Private. I'd be doubly careful to make sure it doesn't get you into trouble."
Alvin saw John's female companion look to him, sniggering softly and slipping him a nasty look. He whirled on her immediately. "And what's so funny, Private . . .?"
"Chan, sir. Private Breanna Chan, sir."
"Um, both Breanna and John are exo pilots, sir." Winnie said, choosing that moment to step in an attempt to defuse the situation. "And they're both pretty good."
"I will be the judge of that, thank you." Alvin told the younger officer brusquely. "I believe that is still my prerogative?"
"Uh, of course, sir. I didn't mean to . . ."
"I know, you didn't." Alvin nodded curtly, flashing her a ghost of a smile. For the first time since he had met her, Winnie's unchanging façade had slipped to reveal a tinge of stress and worry. "What did you say your name was again?" Alvin asked as he turned to Breanna once more.
"Breanna Chan." Breanna replied with a slight frown.
Alvin's brows shot up slightly at that. "Any relation to Lieutenant Chan?"
Lieutenant Ng saw Breanna try . . . and ultimately failed to keep her face from darkening. When she spoke, her tone was just as devoid of emotion as his had been moments ago. "She is my sister."
"I see." For a few moments, he actually remained silent, unsure as to how to continue. Then finally, after the seconds had dragged on into an uncomfortable near-eternity, he asked, "So what were you and John arguing about just now?"
"Oh, we weren't arguing, sir." Breanna replied with a slight trace of sarcasm. "I was merely explaining to John why one of his stupid suggestions wouldn't work."
"Oh, and what would that suggestion be?" Alvin directed his unsettling gaze over at John who shifted nervously.
"A minor disagreement over the settings of the apogee motors, sir." John answered awkwardly. "It's really nothing, sir . . ."
"How . . . minor?" Alvin asked, directing the question to either one of them.
"This . . . moron . . . was suggesting removing the output regulator for the thruster nozzles." Breanna explained, barely able to conceal the fact that she was still seething. "He claims it'd give me more maneuverability." She shot him a skeptical look.
"Well, Private Chan . . . truth be told, it will." Alvin answered in a measured tone and saw John turning slightly to slip her an 'I-told-you-so' look. "But it'd also burn out those thrusters real quick and you might be a sitting duck at a most inopportune moment."
"Ha! See?" It was Breanna's turn to give John the 'look. Alvin shot a glance over his shoulder, partly to cover his reaction and partly to shoot Winnie an inquiring look. But the warrant officer only shrugged elaborately and he resisted his own temptation to roll his eyes.
1015 HOURS – 04 APRIL, 2214
With a low, angry growl, Adelene thrust the last of her gear into the cargo module that she had laid on the floor. Satisfied that the lockers in what had till recently been her personal quarters were empty, she sealed the module with a frustrated sigh.
Since Lieutenant Ng had arrived to take over as squadron leader, she was no longer entitled to personal quarters. Normally, the only ones aboard a JAF warship who were entitled to personal accommodations were the ship's captain, executive officer and the onboard squadron commander if there was any. The other officers were assigned to twin-sharing quarters while enlisted crew received four-bed cabins.
Exo and fighter pilots, regardless of rank, were normally assigned to officer berths to denote their special status. The only exception to this convention was if a more important guest was being entertained aboard the vessel, which bump everyone from the XO downward to other quarters. But whatever the case, JAF crew quarters aboard ships were far more spacious and comfortable than those of it's greatest rival, the CEGA Navy.
But it wasn't the loss of size or fittings or even the privacy that bothered Adelene now as she tested the weight of the sealed cargo module. It was the prestige and honor of occupying that cabin and all it stood for.
She was no longer a squadron leader.
Given her age and rank, even the appointment as the squadron's Executive Officer was considered prestigious and highly coveted amongst her peers. But it wasn't squadron command. And having tasted it and lost it in such short order and with such ignominy was indeed a very difficult pill for her to swallow.
Part of her struggled to understand what it could possibly be that the powers-that-be saw in Alvin that they didn't see in her. As far as she was concerned, she had a cleaner record that he had with all the checks in the right places. There really wasn't any reason for a disgrace like him to take over her. In fact, she was surprised that they were even letting him near an exo again after what he had done.
She gave the cabin one last look to make sure she hadn't missed anything, than hefted the cargo module in her arms and made her way over to the door. She stopped to tuck the box under one arm, balancing it on the thigh of one raised leg which had it's knee pressed against the wall so her other arm was free to hit the hatch release patch.
The hatch swooshed sideways and she almost dropped her box when she saw the form of Lieutenant Ng standing in the doorway with his bag in hand. While she wasn't all that shocked, his appearance had been mildly startling though she managed to grasped the box firmly with two hands while still balancing it on her thigh.
"Don't you believe in knocking?" Adelene snapped at him purely on instinct.
"I was going to. But you opened the door." The other lieutenant replied in a vaguely friendly and disarming tone. "Say, you need any help with that?"
Adelene noticed that her leg was still up and she was grasping the cargo module in a rather awkward way so she left the leg fall in order to show that the box wasn't really all that heavy. "No, it's ok. I can manage. Besides, I believe you'll be busy moving in." She simply hadn't been able to resist that last barb.
If he had detected the insult, Alvin didn't show it. Instead, he seemed even more helpful than before. "You sure? It's okay, I don't really have all that much to unpack. I'm sure it won't take long to help."
"It's ok, squadron commander, sir. I can manage." She grated through gritted teeth. "If you'd just get out of my way now . . ."
"Oh, sure. Sorry . . ." He held up his hands in surrender as he sidestepped to the left. But Adelene didn't wait from him to clear the hatchway before bulling her way out, the heavy cargo module brushing him roughly in the chest as she passed. She heard him grunt more out of surprise than actual pain. She didn't linger to apologize and she had probably turned the corner at the nearest bisecting passageway before he had recovered his breath to call out after her.
For a brief moment, she thought she felt tears coming as she hurried down the corridors. She ran into Private Grace Fong in the corridor, ignoring the other woman's salute and breezing past her so she wouldn't be able to see the look on her face.
She was now in 'Officer Country', the section of the habitat ring where the two-bed officers' staterooms were all located. Specifically, she was now where the Olympian Thunderbolts were accommodated. She glanced at the electronic nameplates on the doors as she went by.
Corporal Joshua Loke shared quarters with Sergeant Ryan Tan while Officer James Wong ws bunked in with Private John Cheah. For the women, Privates Adora Cheong and Candice Yap were assigned together while her sister Breanna was paired up with Grace Fong. So that had left only one choice for her.
She paused as she came up to the door that had only one name on it. This was certainly going to be awkward. Considering their working relationship over the past few weeks, it was going to be a difficult room assignment. As squadron XO, she still had the power to switch around bunk assignments but that would only complicate things and leave far too much open to needless speculation by the rest of the squadron.
She placed her palm on the scanner at the doorway and punched the keys to indicate that she was a new occupant for the room. It took a few seconds for the device to check with the ship's central computer to confirm that she had indeed been assigned that stateroom. Moments later, confirmation was received and the electronic nameplate altered itself to read: Lieutenant Adelene Chan / Warrant Officer Winnie Kok. Satisfied to have that chore out of the way, she thumbed the hatch release switch and stepped into her new home.
Stepping into the stateroom and dumping her cargo module onto the hard metal deck, she was surprised at how spotlessly clean and unbelievably neat the room was. Winnie's space bag, which still bore markings from her time as a cadet sat untouched in an open locker and was apparently the only sign that the room was actually occupied. Glancing at the double-decked bed, it was impossible to tell whether Winnie used the top or bottom deck. The sheets were folded to perfection, the pillows showed no sign of ever having being used.
Perhaps it had to do with the fact that she had kept the young officer as busy as she could during her every waking hour and sometimes beyond that. With no other exo pilots of officer rank, Winnie had been in command of the exo component of the squadron by default, though 'command' would not have been the word Adelene would have chosen. Winnie had spent more time trying to get things running and it was there that her inexperience really showed. Adelene never felt she was picking on Winnie. She simply believed the woman had brought in upon herself since she wasn't doing a good job. With time and experience, that would probably change though it probably wouldn't be in her hands anymore, Adelene thought darkly to herself.
Since she could not tell which bed Winnie was using, she decided she would have to settle that later. For some reason or another, that irked her but she tried to channel those negative thoughts away, focusing instead on unpacking her things and placing them in the other personal locker that was not in use.
She heard the swooshing of the hatch behind her and she whirled in a flash to confront the intruder, only to be greeted by the sight of Winnie's lanky frame in the hatchway, the junior officer looking equally startled to see the XO in her quarters.
"Ma'am." Winnie said, her posture shifting into an approximation of attention. She was still clad in her stained overalls, lending a sense of perpetual shabbiness to her. If one did not glance at the tiny, muted rank tabs on her shoulders, one could easily mistake her for one of the deckhands. The look of surprise on Winnie's face gave way to something more apologetic.
"I'll be moving in here." Adelene made no effort to disguise her bitterness and displeasure at the new bunking arrangements. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Why, no, ma'am. Um . . . of course not . . ." Winnie sputtered like a fish out of water, as if unable to believe what she had just heard. She gulped visibly and shifted uneasily on her feet, struggling to say something else. "I mean, um, it's your prerogative, um, isn't it, ma'am?"
"Just so you don't forget it." Adelene said more harshly than she had really intended to. "I trust Lieutenant Ng had a good tour?"
"Well, uh, I believe he's um . . . actually far more knowledgeable than I am." Winnie admitted with complete honesty and a touch of embarrassment. "He was fascinated with the flight deck though."
"I see. So I guess that means he enjoyed himself?"
"Um, I guess so, ma'am." Winnie shrugged. "Not that I'm any real judge. He didn't say. Anyway, he should be moving into his quarters now."
"You don't say . . ." The XO of the Olympian Thunderbolts replied sarcastically. Quarters that has until this morning been mine, was the dark, unexpressed thought rising in Adelene's mind. "Oh, come on then. We ought to get our stuff unpacked while he's doing the same. No telling when he's going to start making life hell on us."
Adelene turned back to the cargo module which now sat open on the floor in front of the locker she had claimed as hers, never quite seeing the grin on Winnie's face as she realized the irony of the whole situation.
1439 HOURS – 04 APRIL, 2214
The mood in the Fantasia's bridge was tense. A spherical chamber buried in the ship's heart under heavy armor and several decks to prevent a lucky shot from crippling the vessel's ability to fight, the bride was truly the heart of the ship's operations.
With all the simulator software running, on would be have difficulty telling that the ship was actually still safely in port and not cruising the Solar System's inky black void. Not all of the seats were occupied though the main consoles were manned. The captain's chair in the center of the circular compartment was noticeably empty.
Even though they were just running another drill, the faces of the crew members participating in the simulation was grim. A testament to the realism of the training software being used and the professionalism of the Fantasia's bridge crew.
"Tracking new contact. Bearing one-four-seven, fifteen degrees up-star. Designating at Alpha Two." The was Sergeant Chen Shu Huey, the Fantasia's senior sensor operator. The carrier was truly fortunate to have a woman of her caliber aboard. So far, few things had ever escaped her vigil and she was an expert at getting the best out of her sensor suite. "IR signature indicated possible warship."
"Give me a full spectrum scan now." Lieutenant Kallie Chang said calmly. Chang noted that the sensor operator was already working on it even before she had given the instructions to use the Fantasia's full gamut of sensory equipment which included infrared, ultraviolet, lidar, magnetometers, motion detectors, radcounters, electronic telescopes and the old reliable radars
"Navigator, how's that course calculation coming along?" Chang turned to green navigator who was struggling at her console. Warrant Officer Janice Chan looked back at the XO with a classic look of horror on her face.
"Ma'am . . . I-I'm not ready yet."
Chang's eyes narrowed at the navigator's response and a scowl appeared on her face. "Well, then hurry up before you get us all killed."
"I . . . I . . . yes, ma'am!" Janice turned back to her console, working frantically to complete the calculations for the course she had been plotting.
"Alpha One now identified as a Hachiman-class destroyer. Contact Two still unidentified. Possible corvette or frigate class vessel."
"Done!" Janice said with an immense sigh of relief. "Course plotted."
"Then don't keep it to yourself. Tell the helm where you want us to go." Chang replied sardonically in an effort to hide her exasperaration.
Sergeant Clarice Seah, the senior helmsman was looking over expectantly at the navigator. Private Valerie Tay, Clarice's understudy watched nervously as well, hands gripping the helm controls tightly, waiting for instructions to come from anyone senior to her which in her case was everyone else on the bridge.
"Helm, come to new course, one-three-"
"Fresh contacts! Separating from Alpha Two and accelerating fast!" The sensor operator cried out excitedly. "Designating as Bravo One and Two!"
"Identify!" The XO snapped without a moment's hesitation. "Navigator! Plot new course. Take us under Alpha One, full speed. I want a clear run at Alpha Two!"
"B-But . . ."
"You're wasting time." Lieutenant Chang said flatly to the young navigator who was peering back over her shoulder at the XO with her jaw hanging.
"Y-Yes, ma'am." Janice stammered and once more resumed her frantic calculations.
"Tagging Alpha Two as a Tengu-class escort carrier. Probably standard configuration." Sergeant Chen was speaking calmly, almost in monotone now. "
"Damn it!" Private Christina Lai sang out from her communications station as she reached for her comm headset. "Someone's trying to jam us!"
"Confirmed." Sergeant Chen nodded. "Computer is tagging Bravo One and Two as Syreens. Believe Bravo One to be Commander variant with ECM pod."
"Very well then." Kallie Chang took in all the information calmly. "Navigator?"
"A few seconds more! I need a few seconds . . ."
"We don't have a few seconds, officer." Kallie snapped and she groaned inwardly as she watched the navigator panic.
1445 HOURS – 04 APRIL, 2214
"Ah, Alvin." Captain Andy Ho smiled expansively as the exo pilot stepped through the hatchway and into the Officer's Mess. He was quite amused to see the exo pilot glance at his wristwatch briefly before looking up to acknowledge the Fantasia's skipper with a nod.
A few other officers were already there, standing around the ship's skipper, chatting idly with him before Alvin had arrived. "Everyone, may I have your attention, please." Ho got it and went on. "This is Lieutenant Alvin Ng, the new commander of the Olympian Thunderbolts."
Alvin forced a smile as he clasped the captain's extended hand, conscious of the looks he was getting from the other officers. He sniffed somewhat distastefully as the scent of alcohol that permeated the air and he saw several of the officers sipping from drinking bulbs that contained some form of amber liquid or the other. He was never one for mess functions or parties of any sort, due mostly in part to his allergy to alcohol and also because of his aversion towards social interaction, a trait that had been with him since young.
"Could we get you something to drink?" The captain asked as he released Alvin's hand, gesturing to the drinking bulbs that sat on the nearby bar counter. All held either amber or clear fluids that looked suspiciously like alcohol. "We have whiskey, bourbon and gin. Unless you want something else. I could get the steward."
"No, thank you, sir." Alvin declined as politely as he could. It was never a good idea in conventional wisdom to refuse an offer from a senior officer but Alvin knew himself and alcohol intimately well and it would have been a worse idea to accept the drink at all. "I'm not much of a drinker."
"Ah, my apologies then." Captain Ho said with a look of understanding and a tinge of apology. The Captain actually looked slightly embarrassed by his own suggestion. "Will water be fine then?"
"Certainly, sir." No sooner had he answered did a raven-haired lady with golden rank tabs of a Warrant Officer (O) press a drinking bulb of clear, cool liquid into his hands. He took the bulb and looked up into those animated and almost-mischievous eyes.
"Here you go, sir." She grinned impishly.
"Ah, Lieutenant, allow me to introduce Officer Felicia Rusali first." The Fantasia's skipper gestured to the woman with a smile that had come as a result of seeing hers. "She is one of our Deck Officers."
Alvin noticed that she was still staring at him with those large, laughter-filled eyes. He shifted uncomfortably under that gaze and looked down self-consciously at his uniform, checking to see if anything was out of place. He wondered briefly if it was the service ribbons and decorations that he had on the left breast of his uniform jacket. He had at least as many of those as Captain Ho. Finally he managed, "Pleased to meet you, Felicia."
"The pleasure is all mine, sir," she purred. Then without warning, she took his hand in hers and pumped it twice, slipping him a wink at the same time.
"Well . . . I, uh . . ." Alvin's features flushed involuntarily.
"Don't worry, Lieutenant." Captain Ho was saying now. "She does that to all the guys. Enjoys putting them off balance and just pull their leg every once in awhile."
"Oh, ah . . ." Alvin showed a look of understanding and hid the rest of his embarrassment with a hasty sip of his drink. Confident that the redness had subsided, he lowered the bulb and added, "She's apparently quite good at it too."
"That she is, Alvin. That she is." Andy nodded in agreement gesturing to the officer who happened to be standing next to Felicia. "Let me introduce you to the others. Lieutenant Hadi Witanto, Chief Engineer."
The man who now extended his hand was the complete opposite of Officer Rusali. While he couldn't exactly have been described as cold, he was certainly missing the warm intimacy displayed by the female officer.
"Pleased to meet you." Despite the crisp, precise and almost mathematical quality of the Chief Engineer's tone, Alvin could still sense the sincerity behind it. "Welcome aboard the JSS Fantasia."
"Glad to be aboard." Alvin replied reflexively as he shook hands with Witanto. He was never really one for small talk and Witanto was clearly not the sort who would indulge in idle chit-chat either. Alvin grinned inwardly. As an old joke went, he was convinced that there existed no engineers in the entire Solar System who enjoyed engaging in leisurely conversation. In fact, it seemed apparent that like Alvin himself, Lieutenant Witanto wished he were somewhere else other than sipping drinks and socializing in the Officer's Mess.
"Oh, let me introduce you to someone else then." Witanto said almost as an afterthought. He gestured to the familiar man who had been talking to him before Alvin had shown up. Where the Chief Engineer was a short, grizzled veteran (who looked like a mustang who had worked his way up from the enlisted ranks to earn a commission), who was getting round on the edges, his companion was lanky and intense, his work overalls hastily tidied up for the occasion. "Officer Joshua Wong. He is my . . ."
"DCO." Alvin completed as he extended his hand to the taller of the two officers. "We've already met when I first came aboard."
"Ah, I see." Witanto nodded curtly.
"It's an honor to have you aboard, sir."
"Yeah, well, whatever." Alvin shrugged as he released his grip on Joshua's hand, ignoring the somewhat crestfallen look on the junior officer's face as he looked to the next officer in line. To be exact, he looked down at the next man in line.
"Chief Warrant Officer Alfred Sim," the scrawny man with the pallid, bloodless complexion said by way of introduction. The man wore his hair like a little bush atop an angular face and his voice had a distinct nasal twang to it. "Chief Gunner aboard the Fantasia, sir." Despite the man's sickly and emaciated appearance, there was firmness and strength in his handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Chief." Alvin paused suddenly and squinted at the man before him, studying his features more carefully. "Have we met before?"
The Chief's forehead wrinkled as he tried to recall, then he nodded curtly. "I believe we have indeed, sir. Back on the Godsfire 2210. Battle of Elysée. I was Senior Gunner in the Railgun Section."
"And I was still a flight leader then." A small smiled creased Alvin's features at the recollection. He nodded more firmly. "Ah, yes. I do remember you now. Congratulations on your promotion, Chief. It's a pleasure to be serving with you again. Let's just hope our second trip out together will be just as successful as our first."
"Well, we could do with fewer hits this time." Fantasia's Chief Gunner said wryly. "The Fantasia is one hot ship as it is, but she's no Godsfire."
The Godsfire had been the first of a new class of ships bearing the same name. Built in line with Jovian commanders strategic thinking which called for each of the three Divisions to possess an invasion fleet capable of launching preemptive strikes or retaliatory missions against any aggressor, the Godsfire had been truly revolutionary at the time of its launching. It was by far the largest warship in the Solar System at the time and serving aboard her was considered a great honor for anyone in the JAF.
The original Godsfire had featured a large 'weapons block' where its formidable firepower had been centralized. However, this section had proved particularly prominent and the Godsfire had been heavily damaged during the Battle of Elysée when it went up against the Scylla, the Poseidon-class battleship that had served as the rogue CEGA Admiral Kleb's flagship.
Alvin had recalled how he had scrambled from a still pristine supercarrier to intercept CEGA forces that were threatening the Confederation's capital then returning later to a vessel that bore the horrendous scars of battle. Much of the Godsfire's weapons block had been devastated by repeated enemy volleys and majority of the Jovian flagship's casualties were inflicted on the weapons crews. That would have meant that Alfred Sim was one of the few lucky survivors. Looking into the other man's eyes, Alvin could see that they were still haunted by the memory of the ordeal. He had witness the horrific aftermath for himself, visiting the shattered weapons decks after the Battle. But to have lived through it was certainly something else . . .
"Yes, indeed." Alvin sobered. "Let us hope for that."
""Lieutenant Josephine Liu, Tactical Officer." Captain Ho said, gesturing to the woman who was next in line in an effort to break the uneasy silence that followed.
The Fantasia's Tactical Officer was a beautiful woman with large full lips that would probably have given way to a winsome smile, large brooding eyes that could have been dreamy at times and finely-plucked arched brows that lent her an aristocratic air. And she would probably been irresistibly attractive if not for the frown on her face that was almost a scowl and the superior air of severity that Alvin was almost sure she had erected for reasons known only to her.
"Hello, Josephine." Alvin said guardedly, trying to read the woman's thoughts and gauge her mood as he offered his hand.
She didn't take it. Instead, she looked him over and sniffed almost disdainfully before nodding. "That will be 'Lieutenant' to you." Her tone was harsh and frigid. "Lieutenant Josephine Liu, Tactical Officer."
"A pleasure to meet you then, Lieutenant." Alvin almost stammered as he replied. The words left his mouth hollow and forced.
"Then it must most certainly be yours since I see no pleasure in meeting you or having you aboard." She told him bluntly.
At that exact moment, the temperature in the Officer's Mess seemed to plummet and even Captain Ho looked stunned by his Tactical Officer's reply, his mouth seeming to move but no words coming forth.
Alvin blinked exactly twice. "Excuse me, Lieutenant?" Alvin had trouble giving her rank the proper respect it deserved as he spoke. "Did you just say you're not happy to have me aboard?"
"Your words, not mine." Josephine answered, arching one of those well-kept brows at him. "I merely said that there was no reason to find pleasure in meeting you or having you aboard."
"I see. My apologies for my misinterpretation." Alvin said, finally recovering from his initial surprise and slipping into the deathly formality that he used whenever he encountered someone whom he found problematic.
"Now, now, Jo. Lieutenant Ng is a highly skilled exo commander and he comes highly recommended." Captain Ho intervened, finally regaining enough of his composure to trust himself to speak.
"By who? The Deathwings?"
Even though he had heard such things many, many times since the Battle of Kurtzenheim, it still stung each and every time. He felt his heart ache as the memories that were unlocked by Josephine's simple statement came flooding back, flashing before his mind's eye.
"And what kind of 'highly skilled' commander gets his entire squadron killed?"
Alvin felt his jaw twitch with the urgings on an angry retort but instead he kept chose to keep quiet. After all, Josephine's question did echo the ones that he had been asking himself even since the ill-fated peacekeeping mission to Mars even though he had been all but acquitted at the court martial.
"Now, now, Jo. Alvin's last action was at Kurtzenheim and as you know . . ." Captain Ho was beginning to explain to Josephine but Alvin wasn't listening anymore. A quick glance at the ribbons on her uniform jacket revealed that she had missed out on Kurtzenheim. How do you explain to someone who was not there? How does one try to convey the depth of the horror to someone who has not experienced it firsthand? It was strange. He had asked himself that question not all too long ago at his court martial.
As the Captain continued his attempt to win Josephine over to his side, Alvin's mind wandered. Back to memories he had tried to bury for months. Back to the baleful, war-torn void over the Red Planet.
1638 HOURS – 04 APRIL, 2214
Lieutenant Kallie Chang was tired. The string of simulated combat scenarios that she had just run through with the bridge crew had been exhausting to say the least. There wasn't any dramatic change in the overall performance today which was good in some ways and bad in others.
She thought about the people who had worked with her only minutes before. Private Christina Lai may have been preparing for her very first cruise but that she didn't seem to let that serve as an excuse for making mistakes. She had demonstrated an adequate understanding of her communications and electronic warfare systems and was able to react with sufficient speed to scenarios which called upon her to do use her limited expertise.
As usual, there was no problems from Sergeant Chen. She was as good as they came. Normally shy and softspoken, Chen was a true professional in her chosen field. Watching her divine meaning from the myriad symbols displayed on the sensor repeaters was akin to watching a talented artist at work. Such was her quiet competence on the Fantasia's bridge.
Private Valerie Tay, the junior helmsman, wasn't too bad as well. From the way she handled the carrier, Kallie was surprised that the woman hadn't been assigned to handle something a little more nimble, such as a Corsair or better yet, an Athena. There was no denying that Valerie Tay was a hot pilot. She had a good feel for moving through space. The only thing she lacked at the moment was confidence. Something which her upperstudy, Sergeant Clarice Seah, the senior helmsman aboard the carrier, had plenty off and wasn't fussy in passing on. But for now, they'd still have to make do with the occasional over-controlling whenever Valerie got a little too excited.
Warrant Officer (O) Janice Chan was the wild card now. She was the senior navigator aboard by default due to her rank as there was only one officer in the navigation team aboard most Jovian warships. Kallie had seen her plot courses before. There was nothing wrong with the way Janice did her calculations. She was promising, in fact. But every time she had to do things on the fly or under stress, the young officer tended to lose a chunk of the confidence that she displayed elsewhere. It was almost as if she had become another person completely. And Kallie Chang knew that no matter how good an officer may have been at their job, they were next to worthless if they panicked under pressure.
That wasn't the entire bridge crew, but those had been the ones present for her snap exercises which she liked to hold to test how sharp they were. She, for one, did not relish the thought of waiting until they were in combat to find out just where each one of their strengths and weaknesses lay. And of course there was another reason for holding such a sudden drill . . .
Alvin Ng was aboard the Fantasia. She had seen it on the video and she knew at once that it was him.
Others may have had their reasons for feeling uncomfortable with his presence aboard the carrier, particularly after what had transpired at Mars. Kallie had tried to suspend judgment on that since she hadn't been seen it for herself. And besides, there were a lot of other things for her to be mad at Alvin for.
As if on cue, she froze. There was a familiar sound coming from the passageway she was about to turn into. Her heart almost stopped as she trained her ear to the sound which was receding down the passageway. It sounded like . . . it probably was . . .
She edged up to the corner and snuck a peek, looking down the passageway that led to the officer's quarters. She was just in time to catch a fleeting glance of the side profile but she knew immediately, even after so many years, that it was him.
Alvin Ng, now a lieutenant, was truly aboard her ship. He hadn't seen her since he was engrossed in conversation with Officer Yeo, the Marine Detachment commander and that was just fine with her. The longer they could delay their meeting, the better.
"Um . . . excuse me, is something wrong?" A voice came from behind, causing her to jump and whirl on the intruder. She barely managed to suppress a yelp which would certainly have drawn Alvin's attention.
Then she realized she was standing face to face with Corporal Jerel Tan, a member of the carrier's security team, who was on his rounds. He looked almost as startled to see her as she was. "Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't realize . . ."
"No, it's ok, Corporal."
"Is something the matter, ma'am?"
"No, no, everything's fine." Kallie replied, forcing herself to smile at him reassuringly.
"If you say so, ma'am." The man eyed her skeptically. It was not everyday that one found senior officers peering around corners as if they were in some cheap spy flick.
"Well, I've got to run along now." Kallie said, moving past him and back in the direction she had just come. "Keep up the good work." She nodded at him solemnly, then took off in a hurry, not bothering to look back to see Jerel shrug, then peer round the corner just to be sure.