Chapter 6

After the tour of the station, the group made their way towards the President's shuttle bay and he asked Rachel what she thought of it. She knew her opinion was worth little really, but she thought it looked like what Blackbird Yard or Hephaestus looked like before the stations were destroyed.

"It has everything people working or living here would ever need or want. The restaurant on the third deck had some delicious smells as we walked by."

"That's The Blue Nova, it's the most popular place down on the planet," Brannon said. "What's your favorite food?"

"Steak," she answered.

"We're having seafood tonight; I hope that's all right?" Vivian asked.

"Seafood is my second favorite food," Rachel replied with a smile.

Cora, the youngest, took her hand. "I'll show you my room when we get back! I got a new fish tank!"

"That sounds great, why don't you tell me about it," Rachel suggested and winked at Vivian.

"She doesn't want to see your stupid fish!" Dannica fussed. "She's here doing important navy stuff!"

"Shut up! She said she wants to see it!" Cora protested.

Both admirals looked back and chuckled.

"Girls, please," the President urged and looked at them sternly.

Vivian spoke. "My apologies, Rachel. Only my girls would get into an argument, on a space station, over a fish tank!"

"Ma'am, I'm the oldest of nine children, I completely understand," Rachel replied.

At the end of a long corridor, one of the President's guards opened and the group stepped through, into a shuttle bay where the Presidential shuttle waiting. No tube to swim through. She glanced around and didn't see where a shuttle would leave. The President pointed overhead.

"The doors will slide open," he said.

Rachel nodded. "Are all of the boat bays like this, sir?"

"No, these are for the smaller craft," he explained. "These bays are an older design, but if it still works, there's no point in changing it."

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it?" Rachel asked.

"Precisely," the President said, and everyone boarded the craft.

When everyone was seated, the flight engineer ensured the passengers were securely settled and the shuttle ascended the bay. Hipper gave a grumpy chirp and bumped her chin.

"What's wrong?" Cora asked and gave him a pat on the head.

"It's the change in pressure, it makes his ears uncomfortable," Rachel explained.

Hipper shook out his head and fur and bumped against the girl's hand.

"I don't like it either," the girl commiserated and rubber her ears.

Ten minutes later, the presidential shuttle arrived at a pad adjacent Sidemore Mansion. The president's security listened through their earpieces and the head of the detail nodded.

"All clear, sir," he said.

President Retallick nodded and stood. The hatch opened and he stepped out, holding out his hand for his wife. He held her hand until she reached the bottom of the ramp and waited for his daughters, chuckling as Cora hopped down the ramp. His son followed more sedately, rolling his eyes at his little sister. Next were the admirals with their Marines, and finally Rachel with her armsmen. The President pointed to the west and explained the ongoing expansion of Sidemore Field. Fifty meters later, they entered Sidemore Mansion.

Vivian spoke to the chief housekeeper as aides scuttled around the group. "Dinner is ready, if you'll come this way?"

#

Halfway through supper, Rachel knew she had an audience in the President's son. She was used to being stared at, and a few times during dinner his mother hinted that he pay attention to his dinner. However, the President decided that it had gone on long enough. He wiped his mouth and stood.

"If you'll excuse me…and my son will join me," the President stated.

The two went to an adjoining room for a few minutes and returned. Brannon's ears were red and he was looking anywhere but the dining table. At the table, he picked up his plate and glass and walked to the other side of the table.

"I'm to switch places with you, mother," he sighed.

Vivian winked at her husband, gave her son a pointed look, stood, and stepped back. A dining room attendant removed her plate and glass and followed. Vivian sat down on the other side of the table, smiled at Rachel, and asked how she liked the fish. After dinner and dessert, Cora asked to be excused from the table and then asked if she could finally show Rachel her fish tank. Rachel wiped her mouth and stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll excuse me," she said as Cora took her hand and led her from the dining room, Hipper trotting beside them.

"I apologize," the president said. "She's proud of that fish tank, and before Miss Mayhew leaves, she'll know the name of each fish."

"She's rather good with children," Vivian pointed out.

Admiral McDonnell chuckled and took a sip of his brandy. "She's the oldest of nine. On Grayson, the older siblings of large families play a big part in helping with the younger ones."

Rachel returned twenty minutes later and politely declined a brandy. The president stood and bid them all to join him in his office to formally take possession of the new ships. He opened a file folder with a paper contract and swiped the screen on his tablet. He extended an ink pen to the admiral and tapped where he was to sign to acknowledge the transfer. Admiral McDonnell signed and passed the pen to the president, who signed the document with a flourish. He stamped it with his seal and gave it to the admiral with a handshake. A photographer took a picture of the moment, and they pressed their thumbs on their tablets which held the digital copy of the contract. After the signing, the president walked his guests back to the shuttle to return them to Sidemore Station.

"Admiral Terekhov, it's been an honor to host you this evening," the president said.

"The honor was mine, sir," the admiral replied.

"Miss Mayhew, I know this wasn't supposed to be part of your cruise, but I'm pleased that you accepted the invitation," the President said.

"It was an enjoyable evening, sir. My father extends his best wishes and hopes that you'll come to Grayson sooner than later, as his guest."

"I look forward to it," the president returned and took Rachel's hand for a Grayson-style kiss.

#

Rachel flew Admiral Terekhov back to his ship, where he thanked her and Commander Newberry for a good flight and instructed her to continue her hard work. When the shuttle departed the Intolerant, she let out a breath and relaxed in her seat. The commander chuckled.

"That bad?"

"No sir. The president and his family were welcoming, dinner was good, and I now know the names of Cora Retallick's fish."

"What do you think of the president?"

She pursed her lips. "I think it would be wrong to underestimate him."

"Like your father?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Perhaps."

June 27th, 1924 P.D.

At lunch, Rachel was discussing the Life System Certification Specialist certification test with Lt. Herrera.

"There was an emphasis on upgradable components, so as not to keep tearing out the entire—"

They were interrupted by the sound of general quarters sirens, and they jumped to their feet.

"Engineering, seven minutes!" the lieutenant called out and everyone in the mess hall left quick, fast, and in a hurry.

Rachel scooped up Hipper and hurried to her berthing. Inside, she stripped quickly, put on her skinsuit, and put her uniform back on. She gave Hipper a hug and kiss between the ears and he hopped into his life support module. With one last look at him, she left the berthing and headed toward her station. In Engineering, the only time she had seen all three shifts present was at drills. She went to her assigned battle station, Life Support Two and Damage Control Team Bravo. Commander Wofford trotted into the bay, took his station, and pressed a loudspeaker sensor for everyone to hear.

"All right everyone, this is not a drill. Apparently, a rogue Peep heavy cruiser attempted to take the station of Sachsen's second moon, named Essen Station, two hours ago. Anderman asked for our assistance until the arrival of their task force. One of our squadrons went ahead to take out the Peep cruiser and take back the station. When that's done, the rest of the fleet will follow. Welcome to Silesia, carry on."

The personnel who had been in Silesia before chuckled and everyone continued with their duties. Spacers arrived with carafes of coffee and water for the stations.

"Just how many Peeps are still out there?" Rachel asked.

Lt. Patino shrugged. "Who knows."

"Between pirates and Peeps, enough to keep the galaxy lively," Commander Duffey said from behind them.

"Is your treecat in his module?" she asked Rachel.

"Yes ma'am."

"Was he very grumpy about it?"

"A little, but he understands. All 'cats on ships do."

"Very good…status?"

Rachel cleared her throat and pressed buttons for the commander to see. "Um…damage control remotes are at full charge and ready to go. Aft life support sensors are a go as well."

The commander nodded. "Carry on."

"Aye, ma'am."

She let out a breath when the commander departed to check in on propulsion station three, and mentally ticked another first off her list, giving an official status report.

#

An hour later, Commander Wofford announced they were entering Sachsen space and that the station had been secured. The Peep cruiser had been destroyed with all hands, except for twenty-seven personnel that had been recovered from life pods. Apparently, they weren't interested in going down with their ship. Commander Wofford's voice was heard from the loudspeaker again.

"Away teams two and three, gather your gear and meet in shuttle bay two in twenty minutes. This is what we're here for, we have the people to spare. Fleet Marines and medics are on Essen Station now, but the environmental systems on the station needs work. Lieutenant Commander Duffey will lead the away teams. Carry on."

Rachel, on away team three, joined Lt. Patino, Ensign McNight, three petty officers and two spacers in shuttle bay two for her to perform a pre-flight inspection. Away team two arrived as she was inspecting the shuttle's struts.

"Any problems ma'am?" Chief Miley asked.

"Chief, good to see you," she said and shook his hand. "Are you joining the mission?"

He nodded to his personnel gathering their gear. "Just going to make sure the boat bays are ready for traffic. Need a flight engineer?"

After her pre-flight was done, she reported to Commander Duffey that the shuttle was ready for departure. All the members of the away team checked their sidearms, Nate double-checked hers, and the away team boarded the shuttle. She took her place in the pilot seat and started pre-flight procedures while her co-pilot, Ensign McNight, made sure the personnel and gear were secure in the passenger area. When he was done, he took the co-pilot seat and racked his helmet.

"All secure back there," he said.

Rachel nodded. "Thank you."

"This is my first away mission," the ensign said.

"You never had one on your snotty cruise?" she asked.

"No, one never came up," he said.

"Control, this is delta tango zero two, comms and signal check, over," she reported.

"Good comms, zero two."

"Roger control, transmitting flight plan, time now."

"Transmission received, over."

She finished pre-flight and powered up the shuttle. "Control, I am good for departure. Request permission to proceed, over."

"Zero two, you are cleared for departure. Safe mission, control out."

Thirty-three minutes later, Rachel slowed the shuttle approach when the mangled hull of the rogue Peep cruiser was seen. Debris was drifting around the ship, fleet shuttles were darting around debris, and chatter was heard over the radio.

"I've got the beacon for the station shuttle bay," she said.

"May I?" the ensign asked.

"Go ahead," she said.

"Essen station, this is delta tango zero two, request permission to approach," he requested.

"Delta tango zero two, granted. We have you at bay one, power down thrusters for standard approach speed, over."

"You can take it in if you want," Rachel offered.

"Thanks!" the ensign said and took the controls.

#

Once inside the station, they formed up in front of Commander Duffey and two Anderman station officers. She and the officers beside her had their helmets hanging down their back.

"People, meet Kapitainleutnant Stitz and Oberleutnant Heiler. They were here when those Peep idiots tried to take the station. It's safe to breath, but if you'll look to your monitors, it's a little too humid here and there's a metallic fragrance in the air that shouldn't be here. We're here to help with that while the Anderman personnel get back to the station. If you'll look on your boards, your teams will diagnose and repair the environmental stations that you've been assigned. Let's get to it."

And with that, her armsman followed her, PO Graves, and a spacer to Environmental Control Station 3-A. They slid off their helmets and twitched their noses.

"Not to worry, ma'am, I'm not just gonna take off and leave for the rest of the day," Graves said. "Not mad about that, are you?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, of course not."

She followed her station map until they arrived at Station 3-A and stood in front of the control and monitoring panel. She tapped some sensor lights that were blinking furiously. She rested a palm on the control screen and it was hot to the touch.

"Too much heat?" Graves asked.

She nodded. "All right, let's get these bolts off, we need to pull the panel."

#