Chapter Ten
Berganmister Portinmire fingered the rank insignia on the right side of his collar. It was going to take some getting used to having it on both sides. It was one of many changes he was adjusting to. He placed the last of his PADDs in the crate. He was going to miss this office on the Indefatigable, but as a Commodore he needed to place his flag on his squadron's principal ship, the Carrier Stargazer.
He took one last look before turning to exit the office. The Indefatigable's new Captain stood waiting outside the door. "Antonio, the room is yours now, but I want the chair shipped over to the Stargazer," Portinmire said. "I'm not giving up the most comfortable chair in the fleet."
"It will be waiting in your new office on the Stargazer," Luciani said, as they began to walk together to the transporter room. "May I say that I never expected this."
"Antonio, you've deserved a command for over a decade, maybe more," Portinmire said. "I really should have pushed you into the center seat a lot earlier, but you've always been my reliable right-hand man. I've been loathe to have to look for a new number one when you seemed perfectly willing to stay where you were."
"I was, sir," Luciani said. "Not that I'm not honored and willing to succeed you here."
"It's a tough job," Portimire said. "Command is a different animal to being First Officer, but you've got a good staff. True, you are inheriting the Lieutenant problem, but I think you can handle it."
"It would be a little easier if you weren't stealing Pizarro for your Flag Lieutenant," Luciani smiled. "Not that I don't think he deserves the job. He's been very good for our Command Track Ensigns in the week since he came back from the Stargazer. I don't know who I'll find to replace him."
"Look in Engineering," Portinmire advised, as they entered the Transporter Room. "There might be a couple there worth something until the Indefatigable can get some fresh ones. They may not be command track, but they don't have to be."
"I'll look into it, sir," Luciani said, as Portinmire moved to stand on the platform.
"It has been an honor serving as your Captain, Antonio," Portinmire said. "One to beam to the Stargazer. Chief, Permission to disembark, Captain?"
"Permission granted, Commodore," Luciani said. "Godspeed. Energize."
The transporter room of the Excelsior Class Starship dissolved and reformed into the smaller one on the Stargazer. Captain Washington and Lieutenant Pizarro were standing in front of the console, waiting. Off to the side was a petty officer, raising the bosun's whistle to his lips. The two tone welcome rang out before he spoke.
"Permission to come aboard, Captain?" Portinmire asked.
"Permission granted, sir," Washington said. "Welcome to the Stargazer."
Portinmire took the single step down from the platform, and approached the two. "How are the modifications going, Captain?"
"Nine more hours, and it will be done. I've had your Flag Lieutenant informed as to the details," Washington said as they walked out of the Transporter Room.
"Lieutenant, status update on my Squadron?" Portinmire ordered. "Captain, I'll see you at dinner, perhaps." Washington took a side corridor as Portinmire and Pizarro headed towards his new office.
"Most of the Meduim Cruiser division has now arrived," Pizarro informed. "The Phoenix was delayed due to a plasma transfer conduit malfunction, but the Zhu Rong and the Pele have joined the Prometheus here already. Our new Light Cruisers, no ETA yet on the Kukri, the Stiletto is due in at 1900 hours, and the Rapier arrived two minutes ago. Captain Kant of the Pele has requested permission to report aboard."
"We got Kant? Gregory Kant?" Portinmire asked. "What happened to Captain Thak?"
"He apparently died last week," Pizarro said. "Admiral Necheyev assigned Kant to take his place on the Pele before sending the Pele to us."
"Give me some good news," Portinmire ordered, coming to a halt in front of his new conference room and office.
"Lieutenant Commander Picard has turned in six sims, that she said you requested," Pizarro said, trying to find something good on the list.
"Six? I asked for three," Portinmire said, opening the door. The conference room was set up, but its walls were still the peeling gray of a well-used storage room. "Put a paint job for this room on the to-do-list. See if there are any muralists on board. If there aren't talk to Captain Luciani to see if he knows of someone who can provide me with some old American War paintings."
"May I ask, why American, sir?" Pizarro said.
"Because the old American War Paintings are gritty, un glorified depictions of the type of combat which doesn't tend to occur in Star Fleet," Portinmire said, entering the room. He ran his finger over the edge of the brand new conference table. It was squeaky clean. "We're too bound in the clean fire of ship versus ship, not realizing the entrails of war that seep from the wounds we inflict. War is not clean, Lieutenant. It doesn't consist of perfect charges into battle. It's gritty, dirty, and haphazard. It's best we remember that."
Pizarro followed Portinmire in. There was silence for a while as Portinmire examined the room. "I'll see to it, Commodore," Pizarro said, after a moment. "I have a note from Admiral Ross that he'll be on board at 2100 to present the Medal of Valor to Yellow Wing. Lieutenant Gordon wants to know if you'll be present."
"I will, and ask all the Commanding Officers in the Squadron to attend," Portinmire said. The presentation could make his new Captains realize his expectations of them. "Schedule our first sim for an hour after we're done. Make sure that Lieutenant Commander Picard has somewhere to serve as OpFor commander. Ask Captain Luciani to send three of the Indefatigable's Command Track Ensigns to assist her. Picard, Gordon, and you will prepare post sim analysts. Do not mention who the OpFor commander is to anyone, save Captain Washington. I'll see you at the presentation, unless there is anything urgent."
"Not that the moment, sir," Pizarro said.
"Then, dismissed, Lieutenant," Portinmire said, as he opened the far door from the conference room. It was his office. As his Flag Lieutenant left, he went to sit in his chair. It was a darn good chair.
...
Jay surveyed the crowd arranged in the Stargazer's fighter bay. Besides Admiral Ross, who would pin the award, there were three other Admirals. Commodore Portinmire and the Stargazer Squadron's Commanding Officers were seated next to them, filling that row and the one behind it. His fellow Fighter Commanders were flanking him, as he walked up to the podium. All of the fighter pilots, and a fair amount of the rest of the crew were seated in the twelve rows of chairs arrayed in front of the podium.
Behind the podium stood fifteen security officers in dress whites, with sheathed sabers perfectly up right left hand resting on their pommels, standing at unmoving attention. Behind them was the sole surviving Yellow Wing Fighter. Everything was arranged perfectly for the cameras, and Jay hoped that the reporters on the upper Fighter Storage row wouldn't spot his nervousness, or worse, record it. He stepped up behind the podium.
"Two days ago, we gathered aboard this ship, in a room just to the port of here to mourn the lost of one of the Stargazer's best units, nearly wiped out in a single act of bravery," Jay began. "Today we gather here to honor them. Akabayshi, Chin, Nguyen, Fukamori, Asamizu, Kobayshi ... six names ... six honored dead, and one honored survivor. Admiral Ross?"
The stout Admiral took Jay's place at the podium, as Jay moved to stand beside the closed presentation case. "We're gathered here not just to honor the seven members of Yellow Wing Individually," Admiral Ross said, "but to honor the unit itself. A unit citation is generally given in Star Fleet to a ship, rarely to another type of group. Today, however, we break that to honor specifically a unit that gave of itself the last full measure of devotion. So it is with great honor that I present to the Yellow Wing of the Carrier USS Stargazer, the Captain Pike Medal of Honor, not just as individuals, but as a Fighter Wing. I ask that Ensign Kasumi Akabayshi, as last surviving member of Yellow Wing, and the sister of its late Wing Leader please step forward.
Jay watched as Kasumi walked up, with parade precision, from her seat behind the Admirals and Captains. Her head was held high, and her tears barely held back. She came to a stop with a sharp scuff of her boots, standing at attention. Jay stood next to the Admiral, opening the case. A smaller glass case with the unit citation award incased in it lay in the center of it, with seven more Captain Pike Medals arrayed around it on red velvet. At the bottom was a single black rank pip.
"Ensign Kasumi Akabayshi, on behalf of your unit, will you accept this honor?" Admiral Ross said, picking up the small glass case.
Kasumi crossed her palms in front of her. "On behalf of my brother's unit, and on his behalf, I accept this honor, and can only hope that I may serve the remainder of my career in as honorable fashion as he did." Admiral Ross laid the case in Kasumi's open hands. He then picked up another medal and pinned it to her breast, just below her wings on the dress whites.
Admiral Ross then stepped aside, and Captain Washington took his place. "Kasumi Akabayshi, it is my honor to bestow upon you the rank of Lieutenant junior grade," Washington said, picking up the pip and placing it on her collar.
Jay closed the case, and took to the podium again. When Kasumi began to return to her seat, following the Captain and Admiral, he stopped her. "Lieutenant, your duty this day is not yet done. Front and center, please."
"While others looked to honor the deeds of the past for Yellow Wing, it is my job to look to its future," Jay said, after taking a deep breath. "Such a unit should not, can not, lay fallow, without anyone to continue its traditions, to extend the honor of Ichiro Akabayshi's Kami. And who better to lead that, to extend the honor, than his younger sister, Kasumi. Effective immediately, I am assigning Lieutenant Kasumi Akabayshi as Yellow Leader, the second Yellow Wing Commander." A round of applause interrupted his announcement.
"But, a good wing must have good wingmates," he continued once the clapping had died down. "I can not assign just anyone to such a unit. Fortunately, I do not have to. My two fellow Fighter Commanders, Lieutenant Matthew Grubb of the Victory and Lieutenant Jirani of the Hathaway, have chosen to give me two of their best each, and the Combatant of Essex Fighter Academy has given me the two top graduates of his latest class."
As Jay announced them, each of the officers entered from behind a fighter craft. "From the Victory, to serve as Wing Second, Ensign Gan Jinn; Also from the Victory, Ensign Kwan Jaehwa; From the Hathaway, Ensigns Ayanna Mishra and Rosario Sin; and newly graduated one and two in their class, Ensigns Hitoshi Nelson and Navas Syres. These young officers will have the duty of carrying on the honor and legacy of Yellow Wing. For them, it is an honor. The glory remains with Akabayshi, Chin, Nguyen, Fukamori, Asamizu, and Kobayshi."
Jay stepped back from the podium, and Lieutenant Ross Lochard stepped forward from the stationary security officers. "Company! Present arms." In unison, all fourteen officers drew their swords, thrusting forward to maximum extension, before bringing them back to rest perfectly vertical, against their shoulders. "Form escort." Ross ordered. His officers formed two columns on either side of the center row, and turned to face the center. Ross drew his own sword and rested it neatly centered in front of him, his hands folded over the pommel.
"Yellow Wing. The Security Officers of the Stargazer Squadron wish to honor you with an escort to your quarters," Lieutenant Ross Lochard announced.
"The honor is yours, as our worthiness only stands on the backs of our predecessors," Kasumi said.
"We bestow our honor where it is deserving, Yellow Leader," Lochard said. With that he raised his sword and took his place at the head of the columns. Yellow Wing quickly formed up on the inside, swordsman on each side of each officer. With the steady beat of their feet, they marched out of the Fighter Bay.
Jay took a side exit as soon as they disappeared out the main bay doors. They would be escorted around deck seven the long way, and he had to be waiting at the door of the Yellow Wing Barracks. He barely made it.
The escort disbanded at the door, leaving the six new wingmates standing in front of the door, their Wing Leader and Fighter Commander flanking it. "Welcome to your new quarters. Assignment to rooms is by mutual consent," Jay said. "Lieutenant?"
"Follow me," Kasumi said, entering the room. Everyone took a moment to look around once they entered.
The far wall was no longer silver, but a deep red, and appeared to be composed of painted wooden planks, fitted tightly together. In the center were two Japanese Kanji, painted in gold, with the words "Yellow Wing" written in white below them. Under that were six more sets of Kanji, which Jay recognized as being that of the deceased members of Yellow Wing.
"This wall contains a list of our honored predecessors," Kasumi said. "It serves to honor them, and to remind us that honor, is something that is like paint, it can be stripped away. This wall may look like wooden planking, painted red, but it is just paint. The wall is metal, just like any other wall. We serve in an honored unit, which we should never forget. However we should also never forget that our honor is their honor, not our own, and we are not worthy to tarnish that honor. Someday, other names will join those written in gold on the blood red of their sacrifice. May it not be soon."
Kasumi lapsed into silence. In that silence, Jay somehow left the room, without making a sound. The day of tribute was over for him.
...
Captain T'Gwen Washington stood on the Stargazer's new Flag Bridge, looking out the window down to the fighter bay. She could see the new fighter craft arriving. It looked like they'd managed to score all Essex 10-Cs this time. She counted as they entered, sixteen of them. That would bring them up to seven spares, even after Jay implemented his eighth wing plan. Some Dominion Battle Group was going to be surprised by those extra seven fighters exiting the Stargazer's bays, especially since the poor performance of Orange Wing in the past had led to speculation that the Stargazer was a wing down to start.
This was not where Washington had expected to be. The Stargazer was her second command, her first being the underpowered Science Frigate Miranda. It was true that when the Miranda had been launched, she'd been considered a medium cruiser, but as her hull number would attest, NCC-1800, she wasn't far removed from Kirk's Enterprise, construction wise. By the time Washington had taken her over, she hadn't had a weapons upgrade in four decades, and a good percentage of what weapons she had originally been outfitted with had been stripped out for additional sensor palettes. She was, at her heart, a Scientist, trained to command a vessel dedicated for that purpose.
How her name had come up to command a converted Carrier, a vessel of war, she'd never really figured out. Admiral Necheyev had said they wanted a level head to command the Stargazer back when she was a joint operations carrier with the Cardassians. Washington supposed that she fit that, but at the time she had very little tactical instinct.
Natural tactical talent was the phrase she'd been looking for as in Fighter Commander and Second Officer. She lacked it, so Washington had been determined to find the person with the best such instincts to study at close range. Her choices had been somewhat limited. There were only thirty-three officers who had completed the Fighter Command Training Course at Star Fleet's Essex Fighter Academy. Nine of them had been too low ranked to fill the post, though Jay Gordon would step into the role later. One had outranked Washington, and now commanded the Stargazer's sister ship, the Hathaway. Another ten were unavailable for various reasons. That left thirteen names, all Lieutenants. Marrissa had actually been Washington's third choice, but on in hindsight should have been the first.
Washington looked down at the controls by the window. Even with its Flag Bridge role, the room would still have to handle some of its former fighter bay control functions. The panel listed all the fighter craft with their status. At the top of the list was Marrissa's personal fighter craft, Sweet Success. The name of the fighter was a perfect descriptor for Washington's performance in the just completed simulated drill. She had managed to command the last surviving ship in what she was sure was the most grueling first simulated training battle a squadron had suffered in history.
It was assured that the analysis that was going on right now would give Washington a good dozen or so things she had done wrong, but she'd done it on her own with no coaching or help from either of her tactical gurus. Finally, she was beginning to feel comfortable with her tactical senses, no longer just going through the motions that duty had compelled her to take on.
There were no illusions of glory, Washington knew she'd never be a Nelson, Nimitz or Kirk. She took command of the Stargazer because it was her duty. Duty was something that shouldn't be easy. It had to be worked on. Duty was why Marrissa was still standing watches after her experience on the Indefatigable. Duty was why Portinmire had given up command of a ship that Washington knew he loved to command for command of a Squadron. Duty was why this room was now the command nexus of a squadron ready to go into battle.
Duty was Washington's life now, and its meaning had changed so much since she'd left the center seat of the Miranda. The Federation was at war. Scientific fascination would wait, for now.
"Bridge to Captain Washington," a familiar voice said over her combadge.
"Washington, what can I do for you, Usagi?" She'd put the Purple Leader in the center seat as part of a rotation through the Wing Leaders while the Squadron was still at the Star Base. It was a good time to see how young officers handled the bridge. Usagi had been one of the more nervous when she'd gotten the call.
"You asked to be informed when the last Captain had arrived. Captain Luciani arrived via shuttle craft in the lower bay a minute ago."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll make sure that Jay comes up to relieve you immediately following the meeting. Washington out." As the door opened for her exit from the Flag Bridge, she though that it would be interesting to see if any of the other Captains had figured out exactly who the Commodore had running the OpFor. It was time to see just where she went wrong.
...
Lieutenant Commander Marrissa Picard arrived just a little bit early to the post-sim debriefing. Her analysis of the forces she'd destroyed as OpFor Commander was already done, and turned in. She'd hoped to avoid presenting its high points, but Commodore Portinmire had insisted that she do so, even though she wasn't going to be identified as OpFor Commander.
Most of the Captains she had defeated hadn't ever gone up against her before. In fact, only Captain Washington had ever been on the opposing side of a sim from her. Washington had taken shameless advantage of her fore-knowledge of who was OpFor Commander, and ruined a couple really good tactics that Marrissa had tried on the Squadron. Fortunately, the Flag Captain had been severely hampered be the lack of coordination on the Squadron's part, and Marrissa's call for her third wave had done the Stargazer in.
Captain Luciani entered the room, carrying two paintings. He was the last Captain to arrive. Portinmire took the paintings from the Captain, and hung them on the wall. They appeared to be pictures of old gunpowder battles on Earth. Then he turned around and addressed the captains in his squadron. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I haven't seen so little coordination between ships in a sim since my first in Tactics 310," Portinmire said, standing behind his chair at the head of the table. "Now, I do realize that it was our first, and traditionally that one is a no-win, no-holds-barred fight against the best OpFor Commander the Squadron Commander can find. This was that. Still, there are no excuses for a few moves I saw. Lieutenant Commander Picard has outlined the good, the bad, and the ugly moves seen in this sim. Commander?"
"Thank you, Commodore," Marrissa said, standing up from her seat behind Captain Washington. Portinmire took his seat, folding his arms across his chest as Marrissa proceeded to the large view screen at the end of the table, opposite Portinmire. "We'll start with the formation issues. The Commodore deployed Division 3, our medium cruiser division at point, in front of the convoy. This division chose a diamond formation, which did not turn out to be a good initial position. Division 2, our light cruisers, were deployed to guard our flanks, and split two on two. Division 1, our mixed division, was deployed right around the convoy itself, with the Stargazer taking rear, and the Indefatigable just above the convoy. Our Intrepid Class Starships covered the lower half of our formation."
The image on the screen highlighted the rear ship of Division 3. "Much of the early problems in the sim are related to the Pele and her position. When the sighting of the first Jem'Hadar Attack Ships occurred, the Pele was blocked in by her division mates, and the Indefatigable. She did have a route out, towards the bottom of the formation, relative to the galactic plane. Unfortunately, she didn't take that route. Time index sixty-four, the Pele attempted a short range warp jump towards the targets designated Alpha One through Six."
Marrissa had been wondering what was going through Captain Kant's mind when he made that order, and overruled his First Officer and Helmsman's objections. It had to be the worst move she'd ever seen anyone take, especially as an opening move. The Warp Field of the Pele had entirely destroyed the Indefatigable.
"Time index seventy-two, the convoy scattered to avoid the explosion of the Pele and Indefatigable. Alpha One and Two have set their sights on the Wayfarer. The Stiletto alters course to go after Alpha One and Two, as does the Zhu Rong. The Stargazer details Blue Wing to go after the Wayfarer and guide her back to wear the rest of the convoy is reforming."
Marrissa pointed out another ship. "Everyone seems to have forgotten the Antimatter Tanker Einsteinium, however. So at time index eighty-three, when Beta One though Three arrive, she's a sitting duck." The Einsteinium was a ship currently in mothballs that had been built way beyond the Federation's need. Thac's Folly could hold a year's worth of the entire Federation's antimatter production. The Einsteinium icon winked out.
Marrissa continued with her explanation of the battle, through the loss of the Rapier by antimatter pods from the Einsteinium. The Crocket was lost to enemy fire. It wasn't a very challenging section of the battle, as the earlier mistakes had made her job almost too easy. Then Captain Washington provided the first glimmer of challenge.
"Alpha Three and Five were working together to get rid of both of our Intrepids, however, at time index one thirty-seven, Captain Washington deployed Green Wing, and took the Stargazer in on a close pass as well," Marrissa said, pointing out several different forces. "Both Alpha Three and Five were destroyed, with only some fighter losses." She'd been somewhat unprepared for Washington's move. It had been the first time someone had gotten the better of her in the sim. It had been a relief.
The Gamma targets were highlighted now, having closed in on the Phoenix. "Time index one forty-two. Gamma One through Five open fire on the Phoenix. The Phoenix attempts multi-vector attack mode. It is disrupted almost immediately by Gamma Three making a suicide run on the lower section. The Phoenix is completely destroyed without firing a single shot."
"Captain Granish, please remember not to let them get so close next time," Portinmire said. "And note that the Phoenix's destruction was when the Gamma targets were spotted for the first time, save on the Stargazer whose Tactical Officer reported them to its Captain at time index one thirty-five."
This bit of brilliance was followed by more bad moves by the other Captains. The Phoenix's multi-vector attack mode was neutralized by a suicide run by a Jem'Hadar that shouldn't have been allowed to get that close. The Zho Rong ended up embedded in an asteroid.
"Halfway point of the exercise, who made it?" Portinmire asked.
"At this point, we still have the Stargazer, the Sacagawea, the Dagger, the Prometheus, and the Kukri," Marrissa said, looking down at her PADD.
"Carry on," Portinmire said. Marrissa was glad she wasn't one of the Captains that hadn't made it. She had just noticed that as she announced a ship being lost, Portinmire was staring right at the commanding officer of that vessel. It was one of those intense stares of disappointment that you didn't want directed at you.
"Time index one seventy-six," Marrissa picked up, as the screen highlighted the Beta Targets and the Prometheus. "The Prometheus has come under heavy fire, and requests assistance." Two more ships are highlighted, as well as two in the convoy. "The Kurki and the Dagger have formed up together and respond. The Beta Targets are destroyed. However, this left these two exposed and those cargo ships were lost." Marrissa really didn't blame the Kurki and Dagger for the loss. The cargo ships were low priority as targets went, unlike the Einsteinium. Plus, saving the Prometheus helped out later.
She went on to describe the losses of two of the Stargazer's Fighter Wings, the Sacagawea, and a congo ship by her fourth wave of Jem'Hadar. They apparently had been ignored if they'd been seen at all until they opened fire. She hoped that fact would be noted by all the Captain's present.
"Captain Washington orders a speed increase to the convoy and escorts. The speed change results in the remaining Gamma targets having to change course, right through the remaining antimatter pods from the Einsteinium's destruction. Gamma One and Five were destroyed, Gamma Four seriously damaged."
Marrissa had credited that move as intentional. Certainly, she'd forgotten about the remaining antimatter field when she'd set the Gamma forces on that course. The two remaining Gamma Targets closed in while the Delta Targets were held back. Two ships were highlighted. "The Kukri and the Dagger started to break off to go after the remaining Gamma Targets at time index two sixty-five. Captain Washington ordered them back in formation. At time index two eighty-two, they closed in to fire. Return fire from all remaining Star Fleet Vessels destroyed the remaining Gamma Targets, but the Kurkri was destroyed."
"Time index two ninety-four," Marrissa said, as the Delta Targets were highlighted. "Delta Targets are coming in on the formation's weak side. The Dagger is shifted across the formation to cover, and the Prometheus shifts towards the oncoming forces. The convoy is kept to the starboard. Time index two ninety-nine, Delta Targets open fire at the same time as the remaining members of the Squadron. The Dagger is swiftly destroyed, and Delta splits the remaining, going through the resulting hole to the convoy."
"Time index three oh five, the convoy is destroyed along with the Prometheus. The Stargazer manages to evade destruction until time index three fourteen," Marrissa finished. She remained by the view screen though.
Portinmire unfolded his arms, and looked up and down his twelve captains. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we can do better than that," he said. Marrissa thought his glare could go right through any of those Captains. "There were a few good moves. While overall coordination was poor, towards the end, I did see some nice coordination with the last four ships. I expect that all weaknesses shown today will be addressed. Our next sim is tomorrow afternoon at the same time. I will be using my Beta OpFor Commander. Any questions?"
"Commodore, what is the first thing we can do to improve cohesion?" Washington asked. Marrissa was surprised that Washington had gotten the first question in. She'd expected Captain Luciani, due to his prior relationship with the Commodore.
"First, it's clear that seniority is not working for division commanders," Commodore Portinmire said. Marrissa saw Captain Kant frown at that. He was senior in Division Three. "This sim showed me exactly who our Division Three Commander should be. Captain Ignatius, the division is yours."
Marrissa looked over at Captain Ignatius. It was hard to tell if the Horta was pleased with the announcement. Actually, Marrissa couldn't tell much about the rock, at all. "Thank you, Commodore," the Captain of the Prometheus said.
A sharp exhale caused Marrissa to look over at Captain Gregory Kant of the Pele. She could read that Captain quite easily. It was clear from the man's frown, stiff posture, and glare directed at Captain Ignatius that he was not pleased with the announcement.
"With a good designated Division Commander, that division can work out coordination on that level," Portinmire said. "Then we will build the three divisions together."
"Sir, I must point out that we lack the luxury of training to perfection. Will this squadron continue to have access to logistics?" Captain Kant asked.
"We will be remaining at Starbase 375 for the next two weeks, Captain," Portinmire said. Marrissa felt the Commodore's tone was dry, as if he was trying to explain something obvious to someone who he'd explained it to a hundred times. "Access to repairs and resupply, will continue to be provided while we are here."
"Sir, will there be another sim dealing with forced-warp tactics to separate the fighters from the squadron?" Captain Luciani asked. Marrissa looked at the new Captain. There was some blue paint next to his communicator.
Portinmire glanced at Marrissa. After a moment's silence, she nodded slightly. "Pizarro, get with Picard and Gordon to see about an appropriate sim," Portinmire said.
The Andorian Captain of the Stiletto, Takt asked, "These results are worrying, especially as the Gamma wave of adversaries performed subpar relative to documented attacks. Which of our weak spots do you consider easiest to plug?"
This question Marrissa knew was going to be directed her way. It wasn't going to be an easy question to answer either. After a moment she answered the question, taking a deep breath. "Formation discipline could have prevented most of the problems," she said. The break up of the starting formation had given her way too many good openings.
"Commander Picard, may I ask you one question?" Lieutenant Commander Bradstreet asked. The auburn haired officer was the new commanding officer of Sacagewea. It's former commanding officer, Commander Caithness Quillon had moved to the Dagger. The command was a reward for him taking charge when that ship had lost it's entire bridge crew. Marrissa had to admit to being a little jealous of Bradstreet's good fortune.
Marrissa looked over at Commodore Portinmire, who nodded. "Go ahead," she said.
"What was the biggest mistake that the OpFor Commander made?" Bradstreet asked.
Marrissa paused for a full minute. This was not a question she had expected to be asked. She reflected on her moves as OpFor Commander for a moment. The poor moves on her opponents' parts had not stretched her talents much, at least in the early going. She could think of a couple places that she could have been countered, but wasn't. There was, however, just one that she could rank her biggest mistake.
"The OpFor Commander failed to remember the placement of the Antimatter field left behind by the destruction of the Federation's largest Antimatter tanker," Marrissa said. Marrissa tried to keep her tone even, but wasn't entirely sure she had. She was somewhat upset that she'd lost ships to what was effectively an antimatter mine field. "It made Gamma Force greatly reduced in its final run. Credit was given to Captain Washington for ordering the course change which caused Gamma Force to run into the field."
"I believe we've covered everything necessary," Commodore Portinmire said. " Captain Washington, Captain Ignatius, stay behind please. Everyone else, dismissed."
The Captains and First Officers filed out of the room, rather quickly. Marrissa took longer, having to pick up several PADDs. It hadn't been as bad as Marrissa had thought. In fact, she was well satisfied with how well she had done. Once she cleared the door and was sure she was out of sight of the other officers, she skipped to her quarters.