Here is the next chapter to Rebirth. Hopefully you all will like it.
It was the day before Rick was scheduled to return to space and the SDF-1. He had spent the last week in meetings about his engagements against the alien fighters and ships. He also had a couple briefings on what he knew about the outpost they established and the life forms discovered on the planet. Rick wasn't the only one having these meetings. The ship captains of the cruiser and destroyers were being briefed as well.
Today though he was going to see his sister in the hospital. Admiral Hayes let him know his Aunt Sally was here visiting Rebecca. The Admiral told Rick that he did not inform his aunt that he was planet side. Figured Rick would want to Suprise her.
When Rick arrived at the hospital he spoke to Rebecca's doctor for a few minutes. Rick was told while Rebecca had not woken from her comma, there was an increase in brain activity. The doctor said while they hoped that maybe she was starting to come around didn't mean she would. Rick thanks the doctor before heading to his sister's room.
When Rick arrived, he found more than his aunt Sally. It seems like his aunt Judy had also come along with her daughter Mary. He had not seen the 2 for a couple years. Aunt Sally was telling the two what she knew of Rebecca's condition. None of them notice Rick as he stood in the door watching his family.
R/L
Lisa was at her station running diagnostics. The Admiral had ordered full systems check. They were folding back to the Sol system near Saturn tomorrow and he wanted to make sure everything was working. She still did not hear if the ships that went back to Earth would be meeting up with them or not.
A few days ago, a small fleet that consider of three heavy cruisers and nine destroyers folded in the system. They would be taking over guarding the outpost and surveying the other planets in the Alpha Centauri systems.
They had brought back all the SDF-1's fighters except Rick. He was staying to brief RDF command on their mission. She wished he had come back, not that she would admit it to anyone. Least of all Claudia. Claudia would try to read more into it then Lisa was willing to admit, eve to herself.
Captain O'Conner asks for a status report. All stations reported they were ready fo the fold tomorrow and their equipment was operational.
"Listen up everyone. When we fold near Saturn, we expect there is a good possibility that the alien fleet will find us. We will not engage unless we are attacked first. When we fold, we will be at battle stations.
Lisa half the fleets fighters will be deployed before the fold and the rest will launch once we defold. We do not know if the alien fleet has any ships near Saturn, but the Admiral does not want to take any chances. Section leaders make sure your people are ready. That's all I have." announced O'Conner.
"Sir, will the ships that went back to Earth be rejoining the fleet?" Lisa heard Claudia ask.
"Not that I am aware of." Lisa, you have the bridge." Lisa stood from her station while Sammy took her place. Lisa took the captain station and did a quick check. Behind Lisa the bridge door opened and Sammy's replacement arrived.
R/L
Roy was also giving a briefing to all the squadron commanders and CAG's. He looked around to everyone and wishing his little brother was there. Jack Archer was taking Rick's place as acting CAG while Lt. Commander Samuel, who was taking over for Rick as squadron commander.
"So that is it everyone. Expect things to get ruff once we arrived but hope there is nobody waiting for us. Does anyone have anything?"
Lt. Commander Samuel asked. "Sir, Will Commander Hunter be returning to the ship once we reach Saturn?"
"I have not been told he will, but I don't see why he and the ships that went to Earth will not rejoin the fleet. I imagine that RDF Command had a lot of questions so that may be why they have not yet returned." Rick informed the group. "Anything else?"
Jack Archer asked, "Yes Sir, do we know when the next squadron of Alpha fighters will be ready for deployment and who gets the new planes?"
"The new squadron of fighters will be ready in about 2 weeks. They have been built and are being double checked before being handed over to the airwing. As for who is next to swap from the Valkyries to the Alpha's is up to Rick. He did not tell me before he left. Ok, everyone, let's get to work."
With that everyone in the briefing room filed out while those joining the meeting by video conference disconnected.
R/L
Rick was still watching his family when his Aunt Sally turned around and saw him. Her eyes went wide in Suprise and her hand covered her mouth. She said a quiet "Rick" that had the other two turn around quickly.
"Hi, I heard you were in town Aunt Sally but didn't know you brought Aunt Judy and Mary with you."
"Richard Hunter, just where have you been. I haven't heard from you in moths." growled Sally.
Rick not phased at all replied, "Oh, you know just flying around the stars and seeing the sites."
"That's not funny Rick" she then hugged her nephew followed by her sister and niece. "Would you like to tell us what you are doing here. Donald said you were not expected back for a while and how is Roy doing? Claudia keeping him in line?"
"To answer your questions. Yes, Roy is fine, and Claudia is trying but you know how Roy is. Needs lots of training.
As to where I have been, all I can say is not in the Sol system. We out exploring the vast universe at the moment and that is all I can say.
What about you all. Aunt Judy the Admiral didn't tell me you and Mary were here."
"We were visiting Sally and John. I'm getting ready to move back." at Rick's questioning look "Dan and I are divorced. He was cheating on me with his secretary. Mary is also moving back and will be helping your Uncle John and Aunt Sally with the air circus. I got a job lined up at the hospital in town."
"Sorry to hear that."
"You have been busy, so I didn't want you to worry so I had everyone keep it quiet till I could tell you myself after things quieted down. Of course, this alien fleet arrives, and you and Roy disappear. Why don't you tell us what you have been doing, well as much as you can."
So, they all sat around Rebecca's bed as Rick told him what they had been doing. He couldn't tell them where he had been, just the basics of what the fleet was doing.
None of them noticed the monitor that monitored Rebecca's brain activity increase during the story. They were laughing as Mary teased Rick about any lady friends he might have. Of course, Rick denied anything, but Sally could tell there was someone her nephew was interested in.
R/L
Rick walked on the bridge of the heavy cruiser Repulse and stood by the captain's station.
"Commander Hunter, welcome aboard."
"Thanks Captain. Thanks for the ride."
"Are you ready to return to the SDF-1?"
"Yes but dreading all the paperwork I'm going to have to catch up on. I'll probably be snowed under with it and not leave my office for a couple weeks."
"No one to do it for you while you were away."
"Yes, but weather he did it or not is another story. Archer is a good pilot but a little arrogant. I'm also not his biggest fan after our first meeting."
Rick went on to tell the captain about his first meeting with Jack Archer. "So, he thought he could just jump in a fighter he knew nothing about and fly it?"
Be for Rick could reply a crew member called out. "Captain the task force is ready."
"Navigation set course for the fold point. Once we reach it fold to Saturn's orbit and bring us in close to the rings."
The task force of seven ships moved out. 30 minutes later the folded out. Then they arrived at their destination they still had a 2-hour cruising time till they reached Saturn.
Rick had stayed on the bridge till they reached Saturn and then headed down to the hanger. He would be flying CAP with another 2 squadrons of fighters from the Cruisers airwing.
The captain ordered a scan of the area. Once they determined that they were alone he ordered the task force to lower its electronic emissions and to head for the rings. The ships would be cruising close to Saturn's rings in order to hide them better.
They would be there for a few hours before the SDF-1 and her fleet were due to arrive. They were headed to Saturn early to see if the alien fleet followed them.
R/L
"Admiral, we just received a burst transmission from the Repulse. They are on station and waiting." a captain at the communications station reported.
"Has there been any reaction from the enemy fleet."
The shift duty officer reported. "Negative Admiral, none of their ships look like they are heading out to follow the task force. We do have an increase in chatter between ships."
"Their fleet commander must know that those were the same ships that folded back here a week ago after the skirmish. Let's watch them and see what they do. The SDF-1's fleet will be folding in at Saturn in a few hours. It will creat a bigger fold field.
If the enemy doesn't detect it, then we can move our ships around more without worrying about them sending ships out after them. Then we will send out a couple task forces out and have them setup a satellite network around the system so we can monitor their movements better."
R/L
A few hours later Admiral Gloval was on the SDF-1's bridge. His fleet had spent the last 2 hours cruising away from the planet that they orbited for several months. The Admiral did not want to fold from the planet and increase the chance of the alien fleet finding the outpost.
"Communications, signal fleet. We will fold to Saturn in 5 minutes. Claudia make sure all ship navigation systems are synced. Lisa status of the CAP."
"Sir, the CAP is well with in the area covered by the fleets fold sphere. All fighters report they are ready for fold."
5 minutes later the SDF-1 and her fleet folded out of the Alpha Centauri system. A few minutes later they appeared near Saturn.
"Report."
"Sir all ships are present, and the area is clear of any other ships."
"Admiral all fighters report they are good."
"Very well, Kim open that communications channel I asked for."
"Channel open Admiral."
"Thank you." hit a button at his station Gloval spoke. "Repulse report."
On the main monitor on the bridge Captain Welch of the cruiser Repulse appeared. "Admiral, welcome back to the Sol system. RDF Command reports no movement from the alien fleet. We have not detected any ships in the Saturn system since we arrived 4 hours ago."
"Good work Captain, you may rejoin the fleet."
Lisa and everyone else were look at the Admiral wondering what he was talking about. They detected no ships in the area when the folded in.
Venessa called out a minute later, "Admiral I am detecting 7 ships moving away from the rings. I also have 19 fighters. One of which is moving towards us at an accelerated speed and will reach the fleet in two minutes."
"Very well, signal the fleet that the Repulse and her destroyer escort will be rejoining the fleet. All ships are to adjust positions."
Lisa watched her screen as the CAP flew. She saw the single fighter reach the CAP and continued on towards the SDF-1. Its transponder was transmitting Wraith 1. Rick was back.
"Wraith 1 this is command."
A second later Rick's face appeared on her screen. "Command, Wraith 1. It is good to be home. Permission to land."
"Permission granted Rick and welcome back."
So, Rick has rejoined the fleet. He also got to spend some time with his 2 aunts and one of his cousins.
Now that Rick is back with the fleet Lisa can stop worrying about his. Maybe also she will finally admit that she is ready to see if a romantic relationship will work between the two.
While the Zentraudi fleet cannot detect a fold that far away doesn't mean they won't find the SDF-1 and her fleet. They do have ships searching the Sol system for them.