21. The Amerit

"Captain . . . Nikos," Cadet Yanako choked out, trying hard to cover her disdain, "sensors are picking up readings of a Tryvuulian freighter."

"Bearing? Class? Power readings?" Nikos prompted sharply when this pertinent information wasn't immediately supplied.

"Koorll-class," she said, as if the information hadn't been in front of her from the start. "Bearing 034.78 by 227.09. It appears to be a derelict."

Avocato, first officer for the day's scenario, gave her a searing look. "The captain asked for the power readings, not your opinion, Lieutenant."

Scenarios were the spice – or bane – of their existence now. Held twice weekly, the situations ranged from routine to impossible and everything in between. The cadets rotated through positions, giving everyone a taste for every position and rank and the responsibilities that accompanied each. It wasn't until their third year that their roles would start specializing and the scenarios would be tailored for specific cadets. Until then, they might be assigned triage at a field hospital one day, command of a flight wing the next, prisoner escorts another, and then cleanup after a battle. Sometimes they won, sometimes they lost, sometimes they did both or neither. Every situation had challenges that forced them outside their zone of comfort, teaching them to listen, cooperate, follow orders, and use their initiative.

Avocato was one of the few who thrilled to each scenario regardless of his assigned role, and he threw himself wholeheartedly into every situation. Even though the settings were mock ups or improvised – their field hospital might be in the midst of the fourth-year drills, their fighters were simulators, and their drill instructor prisoners might get escorted through the gardens versus a jungle – the danger felt very real and their anxiety levels were often off the charts. Many cadets found the play-acting extremely nerve wracking, which was the point of the exercise. A few - mostly the handful of cadets in the command track - were thriving. Avocato almost got himself drawn and quartered when he voiced a hope they have similar activities in their upcoming field exercises.

"Stand down there, cadet! Bad enough we have no plumbing or decent food in the field," FannFee had admonished, standing up to whap him in the head with the handiest padd - his own - before returning it to him, "but now this madman wants to drag in some unknown dilemma and dump it in our laps."

He rubbed his head in a show of impenitence. "Field rations are decent," he muttered, generating groans and eye rolls all around.

"Says the man who ate bugs," Kedi replied in kind.

Avocato glared. "You ate them, too, Kotik."

And today, Nikos was the captain of a minesweeper clearing the spaceways in the aftermath of a minor skirmish. Three Tryvuulian corvettes escorting a large freighter had been ambushed by two Ventrexian battle cruisers. The freighter had been damaged and was seemingly inert. The corvettes had been destroyed, and the cruisers had reported the freighter's position before continuing on their mission. The Amerit minesweeper had orders to investigate, salvage, or destroy the freighter now drifting into Ventrexian space and clear any debris that might block the route. The Amerit had sustained heavy damage when a faulty torpedo, hastily ejected before it could explode, had detonated just outside the ship. Repair crews had worked round the clock to get the ship battle ready again.

Caught, Yanako shifted in annoyance and snapped, "Power readings are negligible, Commander Avocato. Main engines are dead. Backup systems are dead. There appear to be a few automated systems running at minimal power, probably self-contained battery systems."

"Any signs of life?" asked Nikos, overlooking the hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"Negative." She caught Avocato's lethal glare and grudgingly added, "Sir."

"Shields," ordered Nikos. "Status report, Commander Avocato."

"Lightfold 90% repaired," Avocato replied, checking the readings before his station. "We should have limited lightfold capability within five minutes. Main guns are back online. Aft torpedo tube has been destroyed; we'll need a shipyard to restore functionality. All others are functional. Shields at 82%. All other shipboard systems are functioning at minimum until repairs are complete. Medical reports five casualties, only one of them serious."

Eyes fixed on the image of the Tryvuulian ship, Nikos ordered, "Do another sensor sweep of that ship. Check for life pods."

Yanako looked about to argue, then thought better of it as Avocato turned her way. She frowned. "Scan is . . . inconclusive, sir."

"The Koorll-class freighters have a similar silhouette as the Chot dreadnoughts," Nikos reasoned aloud, glancing at Avocato to chime in. "They wouldn't abandon a dreadnought."

"And a freighter wouldn't have heavy enough shielding to block a scan. They want us to come closer."

Eyes narrowing sharply, Nikos nodded his agreement. "Arm weapons. Load torpedoes. Target life support, gravity control, and weapons. I want gravity locks at either end of that ship. Lieutenant Yanako, send a commburst to the flagship detailing our location and findings. Ensign Currant, bring us around to minimize our profile, but keep your distance. They might have a cloudburst."

"Weapons locked," said their gunner, an engineering student named Kip.

"Bringing us around to bearing .040," Currant said, intent on his navigation panels. "Increasing distance to Tryvuulian ship by seventy klicks." He glanced at Avocato, and before the acting first officer could ask, softly said, "Puts us right outside maximum range of a cloudburst."

Knowing full well a close-range cloudburst would incapacitate them, Avocato nodded in satisfaction, glad to see such competency and initiative. "Gravity locks deployed, Captain," he said aloud. "No change to readings."

"You're going to tow it?" demanded Yanako in disbelief, favoring her command team with a quizzical and disapproving look.

Avocato glanced over at this interruption, then frowned. "Lieutenant, have you sent the commburst?"

Flustered, caught, Yanako hastily complied. "Sending now, Commander."

Avocato rose and ordered, "Call Ensign Mochi to the bridge immediately."

"Sir? He's . . . not in this scenario," she ventured in an aside.

He knew perfectly well Mochi was just outside the simulator, finishing his report from the previous session. "You have your orders, Lieutenant."

"How soon until we can lightfold?" asked Nikos.

"Two minutes, sir," said Avocato.

"Tell engineering I want that coil spooling as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir."

The door opened and Mochi, confused and more than a little flustered since he hadn't been assigned to this scenario, reported to the mock-up bridge. He also hadn't been an ensign in his last scenario, so the rank didn't come smoothly.

"E-ensign Mochi reporting?"

Avocato gestured. "Take over comms. Lieutenant Yanako, you are relieved of duties until further notice. Report to your quarters. Captain, the gravity locks are in place."

"What?" Yanako demanded in shock, turning in her seat to face him. In a tight growl she hissed, "You can't do that!"

"I just did. Security, remove her," snapped Avocato, gesturing for another cadet to get Yanako off the bridge.

Nikos deliberately ignored the shift in bridge crew as his first officer did his job and kept discipline. Nikos would not, could not interfere lest he undermine Avocato's authority. Yanako was one of many students who had problems with anyone but the nobility attending the royal academy, and this was not the first time she had let her contempt leak into her conduct towards him. This was, however, the first time she had tangled with the resident Blue Imperial, and Cadet Lady Yanako of House Yana was about to learn a harsh lesson. Aloud he said, "Activate gravity locks. Mochi, scan that ship!"

Mochi practically hip-checked Yanako out of her seat as he hastened to follow orders. "Captain, getting multiple life form readings! Laser systems, torpedoes - they raised shields! Weapons are powering up!"

"Activate gravity locks again!" ordered the captain.

"You can't just throw me out of here!" Yanako insisted, completely breaking out of the scenario and stomping up to Avocato. Her hands were clenched and she was furious, but as far as the others were concerned, she didn't exist.

"Fire!" barked Nikos. "All weapons!"

"They're trying to block our torpedoes," Kip called out.

"Scramble frequencies!" Avocato immediately replied, too focused to so much as glance at Yanako.

On the screen, the scenario allowed for several hits on the Tryvuulian ship.

"Aye, sir," Kip said. "Weapon locks holding. Direct hits with two torpedoes. The third one was shot down. Looks like we hit life support, but only hard enough to damage it. It's still functional."

Relentlessly, Nikos snapped, "Forward lasers, lock onto their life support and fire at will. Reload torpedoes."

"This isn't fair!" insisted Yanako, stamping her foot.

"Captain, shields at 70%. Minor damage to decks four and five, no injuries, no hull breach, automated systems repairing," reported Avocato. His excitement and pleasure were complete, and he didn't even see Yanako struggle against the security officer's hold. "Lightfold engine spooling. Mochi, prep and send another commburst for command."

"Sent, Commander. Their engines are powering up," Mochi squeaked. "I'm getting an energy reading building up in the forward phase coils. Massive reading."

"Cloudburst," concluded Nikos softly. "Lay in a course 452.8 by 340.9. On my signal."

"They're coming about, closing in," called Currant, intent on his panels. "Sir, they're in range."

"Fire torpedoes," the captain ordered sharply. "Engage lightfold!"

The Amarit was thrust backwards at a sharp angle as the lightfold engine snatched them away from the Tryvuulian dreadnought. Caught in the moment between being defenseless and being unstoppable, the torpedo impacted the dreadnought and ended the ship in a spectacular array of light and debris. Normally they would not have witnessed the explosion, but since this was a simulator, they got to see the results of their labor.

A chime sounded, signaling the end of the scenario, and the lights grew brighter. Nikos let out a sigh of relief and suddenly everyone was crowding around, congratulating him on successfully outmaneuvering the Tryvuulians and bringing them back alive. They quieted down - but were still grinning happily - when the instructor joined them on the mock-up bridge.

"Well done, cadets," said Captain Lulah. She was actually smiling, a rare event. "That was a recreation of an encounter that happened six years ago in Sector 5. The Tryvuulians sustained damage, but drifted into the gravity stream running through that sector and decided to see how far they could penetrate into Ventrexian space. Interestingly, you escaped with less damage than the actual Amarit." She zeroed in on Nikos. "Excellent reasoning and communication to determine the freighter's true nature. Acting Captain, explain your deployment of the gravity locks."

"Yes, Ma'am," said Nikos. "The metal plating on older Tryvuulian ships can be magnetized with their shielding to block our scans. Multiple gravity locks used in conjunction can negate the magnetism for a few moments, allowing for a scan."

"An old technique, but effective if you can get the gravity locks deployed." She was clearly pleased he had done some research and paid close attention in class. "And the second time you activated them?"

Nikos shrugged. "Most Tryvuulians soldiers have prosthetic weapons grafted on. Magnetizing the inner hull would pin a lot of them in place for a few moments and buy us some time."

Quiet laughter rippled through the cadets.

Lulah turned to the newest member of the Amarit's crew. "Cadet Mochi, you'll be credited with a second scenario for this week. You have the option of skipping your scheduled scenario tomorrow, or completing it. It's your choice."

Mochi, finding himself the unexpected hero of the moment, rode the wave of glowing approval. "Ma'am, I rather get the experience."

"Good. You'll also need to complete the report for this scenario. Nikos will send you a copy. Are there any questions? Good. An outstanding performance by everyone here. Dismissed. Cadet Avocato, with me."

By his hangdog expression, it was obvious Nikos had hoped Avocato would be able to avoid any repercussions for his command decisions. He hadn't overstepped his acting authority, but . . .

"Worth it," Avocato sang in a whisper, leaning close in as he passed his roommate. He was smiling, though he wiped the expression from his face as he joined Lulah. Together, in silence, they walked through the halls to her office. Avocato wasn't sure what to expect, but regardless, he had no regrets and he was confident he could defend his decision to have Yanako removed from the scenario.

A familiar figure was waiting at the door to Captain Lulah's office. Avocato felt a twinge of anxiety at the sight of Colonel Cataloupe, but if there was anyone who would appreciate what Avocato had done and why, it was he.

At least, he hoped.

"Thank you for joining us, Colonel," Captain Lulah said, opening the door. "Please, come in."

She gestured to Cataloupe to sit across from her desk, and once she was in her own seat, they looked to Avocato, left to stand in the small space available.

"Cadet Avocato," Lulah said crisply, "For the record, I have a very upset cadet who is in danger of failing today's assessment due to an incomplete score. Kindly explain to me and the colonel why you relieved Cadet Yanako of her duties."

"Colonel. Captain. I relieved Cadet Yanako of duty because her conduct was endangering the ship, the crew, and the success of our mission."

"And there was no personal element or animosity to your decision?" pressed the captain.

Avocato blinked as if surprised. "None at all, ma'am. At least from my side of the equation. From the first day we were told to approach these scenarios as if newly appointed to our positions and unacquainted with our crew mates. I've made it a point to do so every time."

Unlike others went unsaid, though it was understood. By the looks on their faces, Avocato could tell they were well aware of the hostility Nikos faced from some of the nobles attending the academy. It was no excuse for misconduct, but he was glad they were alert to the prejudice his friend had to deal with.

"You reprimanded her twice."

"I did," he agreed, internally rather proud of that fact. "The first time she failed to deliver a full report and had to be prompted by the captain to relay the information that was displayed directly in front of her, causing delays, and then she offered an opinion that was out of line and without any basis. The second time was non-verbal when she failed to show respect in her address and attitude. When I relieved her of duty, it was because she questioned the decisions of the captain and had failed to obey his direct order."

"What order?" asked Cataloupe, deadly serious.

"The captain ordered her to send a commburst to the flagship detailing our location and findings."

Cataloupe shifted, concerned. That was no small matter. He glanced at Lulah for confirmation, and the captain nodded grimly.

"There's also the question of you summoning Cadet Mochi to your scenario," Lulah continued.

There was no anger, Avocato was relieved to see, just curiosity. Quickly he explained,

"We couldn't do without the comm station being covered, Captain. A minesweeper has a crew of fifty-five officers and men, with two certified comm officers and three backups. I know Cadet Mochi is specializing in communications and I knew he was close by since he had just completed a scenario. I know it's unprecedented, but in the heat of the moment, it made sense. He was a logical choice given I had no confidence in Cadet Yanako's competence to fulfill her duties."

It was damning testimony, but he was speaking the truth, at least, the truth as he saw it. Besides, he knew and they knew that he could have had Yanako arrested on charges of mutiny for fighting the security officer, refusing to leave the bridge when ordered to do so, and interfering with his duties. Lulah finally sat back in her chair.

"That will do, Cadet Avocato. You have until tomorrow to submit your report. You have just enough time to get some lunch. Dismissed."

He saluted. "Yes, Ma'am."

Mochi cornered him first as Avocato was finishing a hasty meal. His friends had already eaten and departed for drill, and he was surprised when Mochi dropped into the chair next to him.

"Thank you," Mochi said before Avocato could swallow his mouthful of food. He swiped a berry from atop the bowl of fruit Avocato had taken for dessert. "For calling on me, I mean. For even thinking of me first, actually, especially with hotshots like Menti on my team. It was a good scenario, and Nikos handled it nicely. I've seen Yanako try the same routine with me and anyone else who wasn't born to her high standards."

"Thank you for coming. Menti might be a hotshot, but I can't see him throwing himself into the scenario the way you did. If you hadn't responded, I'm not sure what I would have done. That was the first time I was with Yanako, but Nikos and Kedi have told me the same thing."

"Well, payback was sweet to watch, but be careful. She's petty and thinks she's the victim."

"Hopefully our teachers can set the record straight."

"Doubtful." Mochi smiled wryly. Popping the berry into his mouth, he gestured to the dining hall at large. "Everyone's talking about what you did. I think you've started a trend, and I think it'll be all to the good for adjusting certain attitudes. Still, Yanako will probably try to set you or your friends up to fail. Watch your back."

Later that same evening, he was almost back to his quarters after tutoring some first- and second-year cadets in Standard when Yanako confronted him. She wasn't alone - trailing her were two of her female cronies. Tired by the stress of the day and knowing he still had classwork and studying to complete before lights out, Avocato just walked around her when she blocked his path.

"Oh, no, you don't," she growled, circling around to get in his way again.

Avocato paused, waiting. "Well?" he finally asked.

Yanako glowered, not used to anyone else being in command of a situation before her. "I got in a lot of trouble because of you!"

"I did my job. If you had done yours, you wouldn't have gotten in trouble," he responded, and kept walking.

"You'll be happy to know I failed today because I didn't complete the scenario." She jogged to keep up with his long strides. "Thanks to you, I have extra duties, a report on the chain of command due three days from now, and I have to retake three of the scenarios."

"For your information, Yanako, it doesn't make me happy," he said. "But I didn't do any of it. You did all that to yourself. Like right now. Your report could have been written already if you weren't skulking around here waiting for me to pass by just so you could . . . what?" He paused, one hand on the door to the dormitory. "Berate me for your lack of respect? Accuse me of something I didn't do? Is it so hard to deliver a complete report? To follow standard protocols? To listen and not argue?"

"If you hadn't-"

"Thank you, Cadet," he said, interrupting a woman for, perhaps, the first time in his life. "You make my case for me."

Yanako paused, mouth open as she realized her instinct for defensiveness had sprung the trap he'd laid. She closed her mouth, then glared as her so-called friends twittered softly at her dilemma. Avocato shook his head, then turned and entered the building, leaving her and her impotent fury behind.

In the closet-sized room he shared with Nikos, Avocato finally was faced by the only person whose opinion really mattered to him at the moment. Nikos was across the hall, reading a textbook with his feet propped over the edge of the bed as he helped Toshi perfect bandaging ankles for an upcoming practical. Spotting his roommate, Nikos hobbled over. Immediately gauging Avocato's mood, he pointed and said,

"I made tea. Some of the stuff your mother sent."

It was exactly what he needed to unwind. Avocato relaxed, grateful for the small and thoughtful gesture. He was fairly certain neither of Yonaka's friends would done anything like. Nikos maneuvered around him to fetch his thermal cup, and Avocato sighed as he took a sip of the warm, fragrant tea.

"How was it?" Nikos pressed hesitantly, meaning the aftermath of the Amerit.

A fair question. Avocato paused, thinking over the day, and smiled faintly as he replied.

"Worth it."