Chapter 4 (departure)
The Manticore was based off the Kestrel in design but featured a yellow paint job, not that it mattered much this ship was designed not to be seen. Cadet Smith had seen to it, just four years ago cloaking while in warp was considered impossible but he had challenge that theory. His professors and most of his peers alike thought he was wasting his time, only humoring because he was top of his class. Then he surprised everyone when he came up with a working prototype, now he and his prototype was selected for a top secret mission. Who knows, if he plays his cards right he might be the first cadet to earn a full commission without graduating since the war. It was this though that drove him to work now, he was just caring the last of his supplies on to the small ship when the last truck came into the hanger bay. 'Time to shine," he thought to himself. He knew the captain was on that truck and that his first impression would greatly impact how the man judged him and his recommendations for the young cadet.
Charles saw the young man in the hanger bay, he had to be only eighteen years old. He noted how nervous the boy looked as he snapped to attention. Before he got out of the truck he whispered to Crystal, "Watch me fuck with this cadet, might cheer you up,"
Crystal looked concerned, "What are you going to do Chuck, play nice he's only a boy!"
Charles ignored her and walked up to the boy stopping right in front of him saluting, "Captain Charles Roberts, requesting permission to come aboard!"
The color from Cadet Smith's face drained, what should he tell the commanding officer? He was just a lowly cadet, who was he to deny or grant the request. "Um, sir, I ugh…"
Crystal almost fell out of her seat while attempting not to laugh, what made it funnier was that Charles kept a complete straight and serious face void of emotion. Charles dropped his salute, grinned, and extending his hand as he replied to the nervous cadet, "Relax son, I'm having fun with you." Not convinced the boy slowly took his hand and shook it, "Now that wasn't so hard was it Cadet?"
By now Crystal reached the two, grinning, "Don't mind the Captain Cadet, he likes to have his fun. You think that's bad, try being his friend," extending her hand to the boy she continued, "I'm Commander 'Eeman, executive officer." They shook hands, than she turned her attention to Charles, slapping him on the shoulder, "Now as for you, Chuck, what did I tell you about harassing new crew members!"
Charles rub his shoulder in mock hurt, "I forget dear, that's why I have you around to keep me in check. Now we have a job to do, Cadet can you give us the grand tour? I'll have someone else finish this for you," he tapped his ear activating his comm, "Private Mendez, get out here and finish loading up the supplies," he killed the comm after receiving a positive response from the private. "Ok son lead the way,"
"Aye sir, if you will follow me, I will take you towards the cockpit first." He walked up the ramp, the two officers following him. "This is the cargo hold, it holds roughly 150 m3 plenty of space to store your supplies and house your team, behind the hold is the engine room, to the right is the torpedo bays, and to the left is the cockpit and officer quarters." He turned left and continued walking, "As we make our way to the cockpit you will notice three rooms, these are the officer quarters, you too and Contre-Amiral Berret will each have your own quarters, the strike team will have the cargo hold, my cadets and I will have the engine room," they continued down the short hallway that ended in a bend to the right which lead to the cockpit. It was a small room, only two chairs in front of the glass and behind it room for only one person to stand comfortably. In front of both the chairs were a control stick, pedals, and systems computers, "here is the cockpit, if you would take a moment to confirm your arrival onboard we can get the registered with the fleet and have the public registry removed."
Charles took some time to enter in his command codes to officially have command of the ship over to him. The final step was entering a ship name, "This ship will make us great again, it will teach our enemies not to fight with us, it will be the paradise we have been fighting for. I'm going to name the ship Paradise Found,"
The rest of the tour went without incident, the missile systems were simple enough but the technology in the engine room made his head spin. He decided it was best to leave the engineering to the cadet, this kid's intelligence was already impressing him. They hadn't even left the station yet and he was already strongly considering putting in a request for his transfer to the Gra'ika once this mission was complete.
It was now 20:50 and Charles decided it was time to leave dock and get under way. He ordered everyone to performing the final checks before undocking. The strike team was in the cargo hold, the engineers were in the engine room, Charles and Crystal were in the pilot and co-pilot chairs respectively with Berret standing behind them. Technically speaking he was useless until it was time to board the Nyx, he had no knowledge of Caldari ships or computer systems and had no authority in the chain of command. Once they did get on board the mothership everything would change, he would become an invaluable tool because he knew the ship inside and out he could bypass any security system onboard making them virtually invisible.
Charles was finished with his check list but had to make sure everyone else was ready, "All stations, sit-rep"
Crystal, Major Steele, Doctor Felix, and Cadet Smith each replied in turn,
"Weapons online"
"Cargo secure and ready for takeoff"
"Sickbay prepped"
"Sub-light and warp drives are hot, cloak is fully operational"
That was just what Charles wanted to hear, it was time to go, he quickly dialed up the station control tower, "This is Paradise Lost, requesting permission to undock"
The flight controller replied instantly, "Permission granted, give them hell Captain!"
Charles punched a few buttons on the panel causing the ship to take off from the landing pad and turn towards the now open hanger door. "All hands, this is the Captain, we are officially on our way," with that he eased the ship out of the station. They were off, and nothing would stop them now!
