Chapter XVIII. At the Admiralty.

Commander Adona stood on the outer decking of his ship with Subcommander Soren as they watched the final legion troops depart his craft.

"Finally we have completed this ferry mission of troops back to home worlds," he mused. Turning to the subcommander, he said, "Well Lucinda, are you ready for our meeting with the high command?"

"Sic, Commander. Let us pray to the Lady that it does not take days to complete and we can depart for Gondor and then Weytahn."

"Hoping to get rid of me so soon? Surely having a reserve commander could not have been too bad," jested Adona.

Lucinda smiled and she replied, "Commander, it has been good serving as your executive officer. Yet you would agree it is time to be home?"

"Sic, I agree," answered the commander smiling. "Well, they said to report to the Admiralty ASAP once we unloaded. I suppose I should brief the crew and clue Subcommander Agar on our plans and have her take the com while we are occupied."

"I anticipated your orders Commander and have briefed Subcommander Agar and the junior officers and the chiefs as to our plans. They are aware of the standing orders, sir."

Commander Adona looked at his executive. Subcommander Soren was very capable and proactive. His job had been so easy because of her and the other officers that she had trained prior to his assuming the command. He thought to himself, "If she stays in as an active, she should receive this ship. She is more than capable."

"Then, since you have seen to this, let us not tarry but head for our meeting with High Admiral Brigida and her staff. Perhaps we will get an audience prior to the noon meal and maybe we on our way by tomorrow afternoon."

"Doubtful, sir, since the four said we would need to replenish classes I, III, V, VIII and IX prior to leaving Hellas. He projected three days if CIF was organized."

Adona sighed and shook his head as he and Lucinda left the ship and walked toward the auto coach that had been sent to fetch them both to the military high command. He saluted the awaiting tesserarius as they neared the vehicle. The trip was slow due to the congestion from the returning troops. Luck was with them as the Admiral Brigida was awaiting their arrival.

"Commander Adona," said a young antecenturion aide in the outer officers of the military high command. "The High Admiral will see you now. You may wait here Subcommander." He indicated a chair in the outer office. Subcommander Soren wearily sat and watched her boss enter the High Admiral's office.

High Admiral Brigida was around seven hundred years old. She was tall and lean, typical of Latins, atypical was her brown eyes and darker hued hair. Like the majority of Latin women that stayed in the military she cut her hair short so it just rested upon her shoulders, rather than hanging long down her back. She had a pixie like look, rather cute when she was not occupied with business. Today, her brown eyes were sharp and piercing, yet friendly as she surveyed Commander Adona. She was a major force on the military high command and was the most senior naval officer in the empire. She was superior at her job, probably why she stayed in the active corps and her husband did not. Someone needed to aid their daughter in running the House and estate and raise the grandchildren. Admiral Brigida had served as the chair of the military high command twice in her career and was on first name basis with The Empress. She was well respected by personnel in the navy, the legion, and the church.

She had made it her habit to meet and talk to all returning commanders of space ships, large or small. Commander Adona she was well acquainted with, since in his youth, he had served under her when she was a commander of a starship. They had experienced many minor skirmishes with Klingons, Ferengi, and others during those early years.

Commander Adona approached her desk and saluted her. He stood at attention before her and remembered the good times of their youth when he had been active. The admiral returned the salute, rose from her chair and walked about her desk. She placed her right hand on his left shoulder and said,

"Well, Maximus, you have returned; successful, safe, and apparently very happy by the smile on your face."

"Sic, Admiral Brigida. I thank you for the opportunity to command such a fine ship," replied Commander Adona as he returned the traditional greeting to the Admiral.

"Non, thank me not. You were deserving. Please sit Maximus. Let us talk about the future and your career."

Both seated themselves. Adona took the plush leather chair facing her desk and Brigida returned to her seat behind the desk. Adona noted that she had his file, Subcommander Loren's file and a letter from the Legate of the IX all open on her book.

"I suppose it is silly of me to ask if you would like to remain in the active service instead of returning to the reserve and home on Gondor. I am certain that your spouse, Leah expects you to return shortly."

"Sic, Admiral. You are correct. I loved the time I was on the ship but my promise to Leah still holds. But again thank you for the opportunity to command a ship."

"Max, let's be informal here. We have served together many times. You were my executive officer back in my command days. I am good friends with your spouse, Leah. I have had your children serve on various ships under my command."

Adona felt comfortable with Admiral Brigida; they had a good history together, but he did not think he could be so relaxed and informal as to refer to her by her first name of Alexina. Alexina Brigida Antonia was her full name and she had been born on Cormallen, eldest daughter of the House of Brigida. She had always planned on staying in the navy. Her husband, Clurus Lucania Sophronius, had been in the XVIII Legion located on Cormallen. They had been childhood sweethearts and married earlier than most Latins, long before they were two hundred years of age. Adona knew Clurus quite well and liked him. He thought it odd that Alexina had stayed active but that was not his business. It obviously worked for her since she had risen so high in the military.

"Admiral, I would feel…," started Adona.

But he was interrupted by Admiral Brigida.

"Please, Max we have been friends and colleagues for many years. Talk freely and forgot protocol at this moment. I wish to discuss your feelings about your executive officer and your future plans."

"As you wish Lexis, but it seems odd for me to address you so informally. I am somewhat uncomfortable in this action."

Alexina just smiled and said, "That is better and be relaxed, no need to feel uncomfortable. In the past we often had informal discussions. Anyway as I said earlier, I am sure that Leah wishes you home and I can in no way influence you to remain in active service."

"Sic, Lexis. I made a promise to her and my eldest daughter to be home with them. This war caused hardship for my House and family. Although I will admit that I was happy for it, just so I could receive a ship and an excellent crew."

Alexina poured each a tumbler of Cormallen wine. She handed him a glass and they toasted the empire and The Empress. After finishing their drinks, she said, "Tell me briefly about the last five years off the record of course."

So for the next hour Commander Adona told the admiral about the major events during his command and the actions of his officers and crew. She asked questions and he answered. Finally she asked, "Tell me more about your executive officer, Subcommander Soren. Legate Brutus Linux sang nothing but praises for her and her actions, ability, and demeanor. I could go on but he was very lavish in his description of her abilities. That in itself is unusual for the big ape. Would you concur with his assessment?"

Adona laughed softly at Lexis's referring to the legate as an ape, all too well did he also know of Brutus' reputation across the empire. Yet, Adona found he liked Brutus. He was competent and an ear to The Empress. He also noted a touch of humor in her remark. Admiral Brigida was a close friend to Legate Linux.

"Sic, Lexis. I found her very competent and proactive. Her abilities were instrumental in my success. She had trained the officers and non coms excellently. I can take no credit for this; she was the driving force behind the success. She even integrated the reserve personnel that arrived about departure into the mix. She is dedicated to her role and a loyal intelligent officer. Her actions particularly at the battle of Morska with the delivery of the IX Legion guaranteed our victory. I feel she is ready for a full command of a ship."

"Max, surely you cannot be suggesting that she command the current ship? She is very young; capable it is apparent, but at this point in her career, especially with five young children, it would not be appropriate. She would pass over many senior officers who are as fine as she. No I intend to offer her a command of a corsair that patrols near Weytahn and the Andorian system. That would probably entice her into staying and she would be near home. You think like a man, I know how a woman thinks. Besides, we both know that politics always plays a role even if we pretend it does not exist in the empire."

"Actually Lexis I was suggesting just that she have the command of "Fields of Pelennor', but you know the politics of the navy and the lists of officers all awaiting commands of ships in the fleet. Tis a shame though, she is excellent. "

"I have no doubt that she is given your opinion of her along with the legate's. So as to you I assume you wish to be off to Gondor as quickly as possible?"

"Sic, Lexis. It has been over five years."

"Well, you will not get to leave as quickly as you would like I am afraid. But it is probably best told to you both."

The admiral used her book and told her aide to have Subcommander Soren enter. Shortly after the formalities of rank, Lucinda Soren was seated beside Commander Adona.

"I need you both here to inform you of two pressing concerns. One is routine and hopefully the Creator smiles on us and we follow that course. The second is very serious and could cause us to remain in the service to Empress Alivia longer than we had planned."

Admiral Brigida paused and looked at both her junior officers. Questioning looks were on their faces. She sighed and then said,

"The intel section of the XX legion along with naval patrols near the Rihannsu space border has detected a buildup of spaceships, warbird class."

"How many?" asked Adona.

"Enough to suggest to The Empress that it appears due to our weakening of the Klingons that our sundered brethren have designs upon some of the planets along that edge of the Klingon Empire. Granted compared to our vessels they seem to be nothing more than flying tin cans with gun ports. But I was briefed that they have broken warp factor."

"Really," said Adona surprised. "How much over?"

"Minimal, about point six past life speed. So they would appear to be crawling through space even at their top speed. The concern is that they also have developed a marginal cloaking technology."

"How advanced?" asked Adona.

"Nothing so fine that even cloaked, we can easily track them at warp or impulse. Intel suggests that it is a major power drain upon the ships systems. They need to decloak to fire weapons. Yet these two developments have the military high command concerned that it may cause the Rihannsu senate and its fleet to be rash, over confident. Obviously they must have known that the Klingon fleet had no cloaking technology. We ourselves cannot be complacent or over confident. It will be tense."

"High Admiral," asked Subcommander Soren. "Has any contact been made with the Rihannsu senate or the Praetor?"

"Non, contact is always difficult with our taciturn brothers, tomorrow will be the day of reckoning with them. I trust that they will be as cautious as they have been in the past. A pity, the separation long ago on Vulcan precipitated by the Orions has caused them to be very suspicious of all attempts by us to extend a hand of peace. So tomorrow The Empress will need to be firm."

"How is this contact to be made?"

"Well, that is classified so I cannot say. Just know that the senate at Dartha on ch'Rihan will be surprised early tomorrow."

"Is the entire fleet on alert?" asked Sub Commander Soren.

"Sic, though they are not being pulled together. I can say that three carrier groups have already been dispatched toward the Rihannsu. Their fleet will be surprised at about the same moment as the senate."

"Three carriers, fully loaded with the entire support elements," replied Adona surprised. "Admiral that is over four hundred ships with literally over forty thousand personnel."

"True, it was a logistical nightmare when we first determined the action of the Rihannsu, yet we managed. Any other questions Commander Adona?"

"If all does not go as planned and the Rihannsu are eager for war, what will our role be?"

"To stay here temporally and note what transpires. I am not certain; the situation will dictate your role. Your ship will probably be held as a reserve force element. Plan for that now. Yet I would not worry over much, the size of our fleet uncloaking in front of the Romulan fleet should unsettle them greatly. Overwhelming force is our motto. It usually works particularly with a cautious foe."

Both Adona and Soren nodded. Commander Adona noted that his subcommander's eyes appeared to be in the planning mode almost immediately.

After a moment, the admiral said, "Well, hopefully cool heads prevail. The Empress can be persuasive."

Commander Adona said, "I imagine though that if all does not go well we will be plunged into another war so quickly after the end of the last."

He looked thoughtful but a little dejected at this moment.

"And," asked Adona after digesting the information from the admiral, "if all goes well and they return to their worlds, what is the other matter of concern?"

"Refitting of course. Your ship 'Fields of Pelennor' needs a refitting. That will probably take six months or more. She is to be dry docked on Gondor. A minimum crew is required, so extended leave for the remainder. We will not know which until after tomorrow. Not ideal for a ship needing refitting to be sent to the front if the first scenario occurs. That's why we will hold you along with others in similar condition as the reserve. It will allow for some repairs and restocking. Questions?"

Adona turned and looked at Subcommander Soren. She indicated she had no more questions.

"Then, Commander Adona," said Admiral Brigida. "You are dismissed and be on standby. Subcommander Soren, I need you to remain for a moment as I have business to discuss."

Adona rose, saluted Brigida and left.