Now Captain Patterson was sitting in a room in Geneva, legs crossed one another as he read an old style magazine as he was waiting to see his commanding officer. It was now 2295, so long after the battle of Earth, and he rose to a rather comfortable position within Earth Force.
He was flipping through the pages, absentmindedly wondering as to the reason he was called here. But he suspected he knew, a new assignment would have been nice, anything really.
It had been seven months since his last real assignment, and that was to be the commanding officer on a shakedown cruise for a small corvette style ship. 18 people made up the crew, and for two months he was the only officer, as he got the ship ready for full on active duty.
He looked up at the presence of a pretty young aide who came up, with black hair, he folded his hands in his lap and gave her his most inquisitive look that he could currently muster. Which was not difficult to pull off because he did feel inquisitive.
"General Baker will see you now." She said with a voice that had a hint of southern Mississippi in it.
He nodded as he got up, closing the magazine and putting it under the table where he found it. He then picked up his auburn folder, and his best Navy hat, sticking both under one arm as he straightened out his uniform with a mighty and uncomfortable twist. He then straightened out his neck and proceeded to march through the double gray doors.
He hated the Earth Force Dress Blues, with a passion. The Navy had not generally changed their style for either of their uniforms in well over 70 years, while the army and marines did so, and recently. The only addition was with the Explorer ships and even those were over fifty years old. Those were comfortable, as he had found out by serving on an explorer ship for six years after the last major war. One of his favorite assignments, but it virtually dead-ended his career for six years, despite his assignment as chief of the ships tactical wing. The Uniforms he wore were….most uncomfortable, as if they were designed to cause the most pain, and the most uneven space, bunching up here and there at times. And they did not even look nice! Unlike those 'Army of Light' Uniforms that the rangers sometimes wore to this day. With their history drawn back to when Babylon 5 seceded from the Earth Alliance. Now even that station had been destroyed. He has been there five times, three of those as a tourist without any official duty. Amazed each time by the sense of wonder and accomplishment permeating the walls.
He entered the doors, the aide, a young Ensign, pushing them open. He walked down the long exotic hall way, with glass windows on one side that reveled the existence of Geneva sprawling out before them. Book shelves to the left of him, and his polished dress shoes skirted the carpeted floor, hughes of blue and black making boxes and patterns on it.
He reached his destination, another double wooden door, this time with simulation oak instead of real wood or plastic. He entered himself and saw that the General was just seeing a fellow officer out, she looked old and gray, but oddly familiar. But he did not have time to relax, at all.
General Baker turned on him and gave him a toothy grin, that struck Patterson as being a good deal false, but his obvious warmth radiating at his next words convinced him otherwise.
"Ah, Captain, how are you? Do sit down, may I get you anything, tea, coffee, Col Simms just brought in some Centauri Crumpets."
"No thank you I am fine sir" He waved his commander off with a small shake of the head, sitting down in the large plush chair.
"Down to buisness then" He said with what seemed to be a grave nod.
He hit a button on his desk and the wall monitor behind him lit up. "I am sure that you recognize that ship Captain?"
He looked at the ship curiously, for a few seconds longer then he really needed to, as a smile lit his features and he nodded to himself. "Yes, of course I do, one of the latest models to the most advanced version of a Warlock class Destroyer if I am not mistaken?" He turned to his officer and he smiled.
"Correct"
He stroked the gray stubble on his chin before continuing with his offer. "Specifically, this is the latest of the Warlock's to come off the assembly line….they are still building them you know?"
Patterson nodded yet again, his eyes lightening up as he did not dare to think what he was being offered, with his lack of real experience? This was a dream come true for hundreds of officers.
"Now, you do have command experience in your file is right?"
"Yes sir." He said simply.
"No family or children?"
"No sir."
"Good."
"Sir, if I may ask, why me?"
"Well during your seven month sojourn into unemployment you spent a lot of time in the bridge simulators. I watched your stuff, you have great tactical instincts it seems."
"Thank you sir." He nodded, feeling a little light hearted.
"Oh, and as is tradition you are going to be able to pick at least most of your command crew, as well as anyone else who you might think of that would make good candidates for your ship"
Patterson nodded, finally bringing up a grin, General Baker responded slightly with the same, then they moved to clasp each other's hand.
Hours later he was arrived back in his apartment building in the suburbs of Boston, he entered the room as the lights turned on almost automatically. He laid his duffle bag down on the couch, and collapsed next to it. Rubbing his hands through the rich brown hair that made him look about fifteen years younger then he was, and about thirty years younger then he felt. The trip had been highly draining on him.
His Dog came up and stuck his nose in between his owner's legs. "Hi Bobby" He greeted the loyal pet enthusiastically as he scratched him behind the ears, and then frowned as he realized that he was going to have to find a place to stick the young pup now that he had a star ship command that would be taking up most of his free time.
He leaned back, still managing to absentmindedly scratch the dog as he pondered the issue. A sudden idea occurred to him that would likely work, but his frown almost morphed itself into a scowl. The only person that he could think of that would do it, an animal lover to boot herself, was his half sister who was 25 years his junior.
He himself was an only child, but his father remarried a much younger woman then himself later on, and had three kids with her. Jeff was Scott's personal favorite, right next to admittedly Jennifer, whom he liked, its just that there was something odd about his relationship with his half sister that he never was quite able to pin down.
She was just starting out on her own, in college for a few years getting her degree in comparative history.
He gave her a call, and her face lit up on the screen from her tiny New York apartment. "Scott!" She yipped enthusiastically.
His smile softened a bit as he responded with a simple "Hey Jen, how is life?"
"Busy, my studies are really taking up a lot of my time right here and right now. Yours?"
Scott almost doubted himself that he made the right decision, but he plowed right on ahead. "Actually that is what I wanted to call about, Earth Force just gave me a new command, a starship too."
"Oh that is wonderful news!" She yipped again spreading her arms wide.
"Which brings me to Bobby…"
"The Dog? You want me to take him in right?" Before he could respond she said most enthusiastically, "of course I will do it!"
He grinned at her response and eagerness. "That is settled then." They then talked for a half-hour before she went back to her studies.
He then went over and fed the dog, then took him for a walk, and then sat back down into a chair facing the com unit, pondering a thought that he just had.
He leaned in the chair and typed in his command, and the word connecting flashed before it. Then the image changed to a man in white pajamas, with a white crown of hair across his features. "What do you want?" He announced in his usual crotchety manner that was only amplified by the fact that it was nearly 2300, and Scott had obviously just woken the poor sod up. "Oh, hi Scott." He said in false softness.
"Howdy Colonel, sorry about the hour." He said wincing to himself and giving the gruff old marine and shipmate a sympathetic smile.
"Eh…its not a problem in the world Captain, how are things by the way?"
"Earth Force gave me a new ship, the…" he checked the name. "Gandalf" He then realized, who the heck named this ship he was quite familiar with the Lord of the Rings, but naming an advanced Destroyer after a character….odd.
"My congratulations" He said bluntly.
Scott's smile grew slightly wider. "I want you to be my first officer."
The Marine's mouth moved slightly agape, as he was wondering the reason why, for him to show any surprise at all, the Marine had to have been positively dumbstruck.
"….why? The standard is to have an officer that understands military tactics, and starship operations…and besides he needs to be more of a peoples person then the grouch of a Captain" He smiled at his last joke.
"All this is true, but come on, its been so long since the Pluto hasn't it? And we rarely see, or get to serve with the other, what you being on Caspius Station for the last eight years commanding the military detachment."
"True, and it seems that they are content to just sit here and let me
rot now that my usefulness is at an end." He grumped, then turned thoughtful. A rare expression for this particular Marine, who was his best friend. "Alright, I'll do it." He said, agreeing.
The com turned off, and Scott tried to get some sleep, rolling over numerous times, disturbing the Dog as he tried to battle with all the plans that were racing across his head.
Later the next day and he went aboard his new command, taking in the barely finished ship, as he walked through the still white corridors most of them, paint still needed to be added to many sections. He toured it. The command deck, the fighter bay, the med decks, the cargo hold, taking nearly 6 hours to tour the whole vessel. Passing a few working parties on his way around.
He found his way to the mess hall, as he grabbed himself a turkey sandwhich and went over to sit at one of the metal tables, painted a gunmetal black color. He ate it slowly, processing the state of his current ship. They were a bit behind schedule he noticed, that was OK though, he knew they would have it ready on launching day in two weeks.
He then went over to meet his Colonel friend, as he was about to come on board.
He did, and the Marine entered his presence, looking around most impressed with his surroundings, taking in the launch bay as if he had never actually seen one, which as it turns out "wow….this is really amazing. The first time I have ever been aboard one of these ships, the closest I came was when one visited the station that I was currently occupying." He said, then looking at his friend.
"James" He nodded and the gestured.
"Gladly sir." The Marine said leading the way.
They arrived in the briefing room fifteen minutes later, having walked there, and then going into the room that was located just behind the bridge as it was with most modern starships.
Like most of the rest of the ship, its interior was spartan, and was not decorated enough yet. Nor would it really be, it would serve a utilitarian purpose.
He sat at the head of the table closest to the door, and his first officer sat down uneasily. The realization setting in that this was the first time that he was able to do this on a naval vessel. Usually he was the commander of Marines, or on board for some special service, and not for this task. The thought had not even occurred to him, yet, that Captain's could pick their own command crews in peacetime. If they were available that was.
"Well….welcome on board Colonel." He said gesturing around.
"Thank you, it is quite….grand sir. Any business to get to today?"
"Yeah, there is still a command crew to pick for this ship, the best and the brightest out of all officers that we can attempt to find for this august mission" He smiled crookedly at his poor joke.
He then got up and got a computerized note pad that he sat down, and opened up, looking at the book like binding of the digital files, thinking of who they should go for first, which position to fill, there was just so many. And now he felt so alone trying to get this ship ready for its respective mission, and running a shake down crew.
"Engineering" He muttered as if to himself. The Colonel leaned in philosophically, trying his best to pick up on the thought processes of his friend, and now commanding officer, despite him being four years the senior of the man sitting across from him.
"Uh sir, are you going to let me in this, or am I just going to be here and watch and observe."
"Oh, sorry James." The Captain said with a regretful smile and look at his friend. "Want some coffee or something?"
"Sure, black if you got it" The Colonel said gratefully leaning back in his chair as he stretched out waiting for Patterson to hunt down a metal pot of that steaming liquid.
"So…how are Molly and the grandkids?" He asked pouring it into a cup as he found what he was looking for from somewhere behind the old warrior Marine.
"Fine thank you." He said as he took the proffered mug. "And they are wonderful, Sarah is now one year old. Already she is showing signs of military greatness. Apparently she ordered a mail man off of her property when he showed up at the wrong time."
"She can talk?"
"Oh hell no, just squawked at the guy, and pounded her little foot into the carpet until he left."
"And he did?"
"Most assuredly." He chuckled. The continued on, "and, what about the work?"
"Yes. Right we should find an engineer."
He smiled "And I have no idea where to start….you sure you want me around for this?"
Scott nodded "Yes. Yes I do." Then when no response was forthcoming "I want a solid disciplinarian, someone who can put the crew to work. And a grumpy old war horse like yourself is exactly what I need."
The Marine chuckled gruffly. "OK then, besides I can put the Marines through a rather ingenious training regime."
"See, better and better." He said flipping back to his page. "not a lot of engineers are available at the moment I see." He absentmindedly started to tug on his chin as he began to scroll through the list of names. "Hmmmmmmm…Stacia Clarke. Hyperspace repair expert. Did a stint on the Warlock way back five years ago. Says here that she knows our systems quite inside and out."
"Sounds like the perfect girl"
"Small boned, small in general, five foot five even, but she can get into any of the crawl space, and is up to date on the most modern of technologies."
"Sign her up then"
"Indeed, I think that would be most appropriate." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "A good Nav officer would be next."
"No, not neccessarilly, I always find that it is best to have several nav officers that can run the department, a few good ones that are pretty much equal with no real superior. Besides there are so many on the market that I would rather have them surprised." He said glancing side ways, and coming up and out of the paper, sipping at his own coffee as he did so. " A good commander of our airgroup is what we need right now." He said more to himself then anyone else around him. He began looking through his list of candidates again, his Marine friend sat back in the chair boredly. "Do not worry, you will have to train this crew into proper shape."
After several long minutes he looked up from the pad a curious expression on his face as he shoved the pad over to his friend. "Take a look at that? Thoughts"
On it was a picture of a young, unshaven face, a scraggily beard was formed all around his face, no mustache at all. He was in this late twenties, bordering on thirties, well built, and tall for a pilot at around 5'11". It said that his physical shape and piloting was excellent serving on several deep range Warlock's, Victory's, and Nike's, having combat experience against the Hand, and participated in the botched first contact Coleman affair that almost brought memories of the Minbari war.
"Says here he is a firebrand, a discontinued mal content. I do not want to lead someone like that."
"True, but it also says that he is mellow on board, and not quite as confident. Odd mix for a fighter pilot but we might need to make him that as this mission progresses. Besides, in a fighter pilot hot headedness is usually a good thing….trust me I should know." He reminded his friend with a slight smile. James just tipped his cup at Scott in acknowledgement.
"Fine"
"That is settled then."
The Captain went back to his list of officers continuing to look.
"We should probably look for the Marine next I guess?" His friend asked suddenly. Scott smiled at that looking at him stretching again slightly.
"Sure. Any ideas?"
"Not a clue" A wry smile spread slowly throughout his face. "I would not want to subject anyone to such a duty as this."
"I know that feeling. What about you personally?"
"Well…." He looked thoughtful. "I will be your XO, I should be on and aware, that will take up most of my time that I will have available to me throughout most of this commission. They deserve a good officer in over all command to lead them personally."
"OK, what I thought, but I was just making sure about that."
The Marine began looking through his own list trying to find the person that he wanted to find for over all command of one of the most vital parts of a ship, at least in his estimation. Only the techs and engineers were really more important. Not even the command staff was really as important as the Marines, as long as no one ever explained that fact to the Marines.
His finger scrolled down the rather lenghthy list, there was a lot of starship GROPOS waiting for assignment with the current configuration of the fleet. But none of them seemed to be exactly what the old war weathered marine was looking for. He looked up as he noticed Scott watching him boredly. And realized that his Captain was about as interested in ground operations as he was in the over all effects of pioloting or manuevering a starship. And for the tenth time he wondered whether his friend has made some kind of mistake. Though he did trust his new Captain's judgement. More so then he trusted his own.
His name stopped on a rather long, and intriguing name. It went by the name of Jose Kurylenko, he was of a mixed Eastern European, Columbian, almost exactly half and half if his bio was any indication. The Marine toggled the rest of the information,bringing it up along with a rather intimidating picture, of the severe looking marine Captain. The information revealed that he was in Special Forces for the longest time. A Marine recon team, that he led. Going as far as working with the Rangers on a number of missions on the edge of all known space, fighting the forces of The Hand on numerous occasions. One of the only grunts to achieve that. Him and his 12 man team.
He showed the information to Scott, who nodded his consent and agreed. Which only left only one major position to be filled. The chief of the medical staff. Always limited on all of Earth's Advanced Destroyers.
This position was filled by an aging man on the cusp of his 60s, white hair, balding in places, tall and lanky from working in the field for so many years. His work went as far back as the war between the Centauri and the Narn, and the brief relief missions that Earth sent deep into occupied space. He was just a young and eager LT. at that point. Now he had a full qualification as a Naval reservist with the equivalent rank of only a Lt. Cmdr, able to be activated at any notice. His name was Stewart Albright.
The senior staff was picked, and now was the time to finish getting the ship ready for commissioning.
Two weeks later Scott Patterson was standing on the observation deck of the Earth Alliance Destroyer Gandalf. As she was now ready for flight, everything on board her was finished. His hands were folded behind his back as he watched the shuttle dock with his doctor on board, his engineer, and some last minute support personnel. The rest of the crew would arrive slowly over the next three days. Ending with the pilots and the fighter squadrons.
A slight boom sounded in the bowels of the 2 decks below, as the shuttle docked and pressurized the seal. Scott unclenched his hands, adjusted his uniform, and then headed on down to the main shuttle bay.
He found a surprise down there, not only was all of the rest of his crew that he was expecting, but also his official CAG, Michael Keegan.
Stacia was looking around with a curious awestruck smile spread across her face, glancing around eagerly at the flight deck as she came up to her captain, finally approaching her captain, then after several seconds finally noticing him.
She straightened up despite her bag and tried to shoot off a salute, doing a rather sloppy job at it. "Permission for me and my crew to come aboard sir." She said softly.
"Permission granted Lt. Cmdr. Welcome aboard." He said returning the salute perfectly before lowering it and offering his hand, which she accepted quickly and eagerly.
Keegan gave him a disciplined but laid back salute, and the doctor did not bother, which Scott could not blame him for being recalled to active duty, and not really being apart of the military in the first place.
They stepped out into the painted and clean corridor. "Well, welcome again." The Captain said presently.
"Thank you sir, been looking forward to his assignment for the longest time now, trying to get onto many a ship in my time to do this, despite my qualifications." She said glancing sideways, keeping both the captain and the corridor in perfect alignment.
They arrived in the engine room, her eyes lit on her engine and she smiled giddily. "Welcome to your room." He said, as he smiled too to her obvious reactions of pleasure.
They then went down to the med deck, and the doctor checked out his digs as well. As they were…spartan. As the Doctor grumbled about the general misapportionment of the universe.
That just left the captain and the pilot.
"Sir?"
"Yes Lieutenant?" and as the man obviously was not going to continue the Captain decided to ask, while gesturing for them to continue. "What are you doing aboard ship, you are not due for another two days?"
He leaned forward in acknowledgement. "I usually like to get a feel for exactly what I have to work with, and this is it. What exactly, before anything else gets here, to try and see exactly how fighter operations work"
"Ah. That is excellent then. Good show of initiative."
"I know. I am worried though that with me being only a LT, and a CAG, that it is going to be difficult performing my current duty assignment."
"I have confidence."
"Yes sir. As do I. In the cockpit, but here, this is new for me….and to be honest sir, I am not sure I am ready."
"Well, there is a first time for everything. Besides your flying days will not last much longer."
"I know that sir."
"I am sure you will get used to it, I know I did back when I was on the Victoria back a few years ago."
With that the two separated.
At the end of their preparations the ship was getting ready to depart, the crew was now fully on board. And as with all of the activities for getting the ship ready was causing a hub bub, and bustle of activity as the crew made the ship ready.
Scott Patterson was marching down, hands clasped behind his back, looking straight ahead. He turned left into the engine room, and but twenty five people were present, all getting the ship ready here as well, the most that would ever be here at one time, hopefully.
He paused briefly admiring his crew working on all of the tasks that they were currently assigned to, before moving through the bustle to look for his chief engineer.
He found her on a scoot board underneath one of the main parts of the engine, with only her midriff and legs sticking out as the rest of her was obscured. He could however hear the whirring of a laser torch, and other mechanical parts as she ran her diagnostic.
She finally got up and out of her cubby and jolted up agilely and gracefully, but almost was knocked down again as she started in surprise at her Captain standing over her. She snapped to rigid attention, but did not salute as her hands were covered in grease colored gloves. Her hair, though in a bun, was a blackened mess, and a smear ran across her left hand cheek. She smiled at Captain Patterson giddily.
"At ease Commander."
"Thank you sir." She said and softened perceptibly.
"Just coming on to check and make sure that we will still be ready and waiting on schedule"
"Oh we are going to beat that sir, by a good half an hour. We are even about ready to bring the main reactors online"
"Very good, thank you."
He left the room not having time to stay and chat as he had to make sure of everything else, the responsibilities of those under his command. He bumped into a female crewman who was carrying a computer pad on her own way.
He entered the lift car on his way to the next destination on the other side of the ship toward the front.
He arrived at his destination and stepped off, walking another four meters and turning right as he entered the spartan room that he was looking for. He watched again, looking around, finding his CAG at the front bay window, hunched over a small console as Starfurries began to arrive. Those new fighters that Earth just created virtually last year, now in full-scale production, though that was relatively minor considering their cost. He knew next to nothing about the new bird.
Lt. Keegan chose that moment to turn around and stretch as he noticed his Captain watching him. He stiffened, but not quite in attention, as his eyes looked a little weary. But it passed within moments as he saluted. "Sir, this is the last batch sir. We will be ready on time."
Scott stiffened as that, a simple thank you would have been more then necessary, but with his checks made and things running so completely smooth, he had no where else to go. And it was quite obvious the pilot was bored as well.
The CAG seemed to notice this and brought up a slightly wry smile. "Sir, if you may follow me I think a fighter pilot like your self would want to see this." He gestured at the door on the other end of the bay, that led down to the fighter hangars and maintenance areas below, also was a rather round about way of getting to the hardened armory.
He nodded slightly and followed his officer.
They got down to the lower area, and sitting at the other end was one of the new fighters. The SA-42A Raptor. Designed as with all main fighters by a large group of companies. "Lightning bird" was emblazoned across the main fuselage. "That is my call sign." Keegan said following the gaze of his commanding officer.
He then went over and started moving his hand appreciatively over the smooth mottled hull of the new fighter, modeled on the same pattern, and in the same color scheme, as the White Stars, and Minbari Niahls.
"The Raptor. The latest in a long line of proud warriors, stretching back to the begginings of our fighter program. The latest incarnation of technology, and the melding of the Aurora, its replacement." There was a twinkle in his eye as he relayed the specs, looking completely content as to what others might consider a very boring recitation of basic facts. "It has twelve missile ports mounted in internal bays right by the thruster assemblies, and two high yield pulse cannons that can fire in single shot, or multiple bursts. It is capable with tangoing with any fighter that is in the galaxy. That is with its maneuverability, and with the acquisition of that stealth technology by the Earth Force, and the addition of some of our own stealth features makes her hard to detect by many races except for the Minbari."
Captain Patterson looked at the fighter anew, genuinely impressed now by the new ship that was virtually still an experimental design. He whistled appreciatively, he joined his CAG over by the ship and also began to stroke the fine textured and smooth feeling vessel. This war fighter in the long and proud line.
Later that same afternoon, night actually, the ship was calm, and reserved, the stations were manned by reflective members of her crew. As she was finally about to launch on her first assignment, General Baker gave him that just ten minutes earlier, patrol along the ISA Centauri border. Things were getting a bit tense, particularly between the Narns and the Centauri, and it was hoped that the appearance of a Warlock ship, and several White Stars, might show Earth's unanimous support for either side, officially any way.
Captain Patterson sat down in his chair and wiggled in it, nothing like the first time of his career that he got to do this in this way. He twisted in it observing each and every station, making sure everything was in perfect order before setting off. And he did not see a signal problem.
'All crew compartments are showing green and ready for launch Captain, sickbay just checked in and they confirm that they are a go." His Com officer said right behind him.
He hit a switch on his chair. "Engineering, this is the bridge, we are ready and available, stand by to ignite the reactors."
"Aye aye Captain." She said evenly over the intercom, revealing herself to be as excited as any of the rest of the crew, but trying to keep it in.
"Mark" He said, he then heard the light hum through the ship as it began to pulsate with a newly found energy.
"Get me the dock master general of this facility," he ordered twisting around in his seat and facing the com officer, she nodded to him. "This is the Gandalf to docking station three, we are prepped and ready for launch, do we proceed?"
"Affirmative, good luck and good hunting ship." The line clicked off.
"Helm, bring the three main engines on line on the top for a full one third."
"Aye."
"Navigation, plot a course to the Io jump gate, then lay in a course for the main patrol area."
"Yes sir."
The ship left its moorings and proceeded quickly into deep space, its main engine then fired and she accelerated nimbly into the deep dark black of space, heading deeper and deeper within the passing seconds. Heading into an unknown, and surprising future.
Disclaimer and Authors notes: All technical descriptions are provided for by , a B5 technical site. The Raptors are my own invention and creation. This is based on Babylon 5 as created by JMS.