The strength of twice three thousand horse
That seek the single goal;
The line that holds the rending course,
The hate that swings the whole;
The stripped hulls, slinking through the gloom,
At gaze and gone again - -
The brides of death that wait the groom - -
The chooser of the slain
"The Destroyers"
Rudyard Kipling
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Thinking just how difficult it is to deal with General Artemis, while heading to my office on board the Helios. It took a lot of convincing and negotiating on my part, to get what I wanted, but I got it. I step in to my office and Mandy, Basha and the Marine escort are there, just as I had asked them to be. I walk around my desk and take my seat, I turn my attention to the escort. "Corporal Bates, would you please wait just outside the door for a bit." He looks at me and then at Basha, with some concern clearly I expressed on his face. "It's alright Corporal, I'll take full responsibility."
The Corporal closes the door as he leaves, and I turn my attention back to Mandy and Mr. Ahmadi. "Well, as you know it has come down to this." I look directly at Mr. Ahmadi. "The U.E.A. wants some assurance that you will not spread the information, that you have. There are a few ways to deal with this; I feel that I have found the best way to do it."
He studies me for a moment, as if trying to guess what it might be. "What do you want of me?" He asks.
I look at him then at Mandy, who nods her agreement. "We would like to invite you to become a member of this crew." Basha sit there staring blankly at me; not sure how to respond. "What do you say?"
"I - I'm not sure what to say." He struggles and wrestles with the thoughts in his head. I can clearly see it on his face. Come on Man this is a once in a life time opportunity!
"Listen." I say. "There are only a few options for you to take." He sits rubbing his chin still considering the offer; this is crazy!
Finally he looks up at me. "I accept, but how is this going to work? After all I was the one responsible for the wrong people knowing."
"I understand." I answer. "However, this is the best option for you. You'll maintain your freedom and still be of service and do what most only dream of." A smile forms on Basha's face as he realizes that he will be free, on a trip that may be his last anyway. He will finish his time attempting to save the world.
"Yes." He says. "I will be of great service to you and your crew. Whatever may lie ahead Allah will guide us through this perilous trial."
"Good; it's settled then." I look at Mandy. "Please have the ships personnel chief draw up the paperwork and have Mr. Ahmadi sign them." Mandy smiles getting up and taking Basha with her and just before she steps out she looks at me and winks her eye making me smile. She'll be waiting for me later. I sit back now that this is resolved we will be on our way at sixteen hundred hours, which is in two hours. We will go to our appointment with destiny; I don't know if we'll come back, though I know that we will do our best.
I view the report from the Hyperion again getting the coordinates that were transmitted, before the Hyperion went silent. I get up from my chair and step out of the office and just stand there in the passage, for a moment I picture this ship Gallantly riding into battle. I shake that thought from my head; there is no glory in war only survival. I turn to the right and start to make my way to engineering, passing by crew members who stand at attention when I go by. "As you were." I don't know how many times I say this, but it's fine that they know that I'm the captain because I don't want to have to endlessly repeat that.
I finally reach the engineering section entering the hatch I step through, standing on a catwalk a birds eye view of the four Cherenkov generators the power the ship; and all her systems. I look down watching the twenty five man engineering team prep the engines, for the main reason this ship was built. I think that perhaps it's best for me to go back to the bridge, so I start to leave. "Captain!" I turn back and spot the chief engineer headed my way.
"Yes Mr. Bocage, what can I do for you?" He climbs the stairs up to the catwalk clasping his hands behind him, with a huge smile on his face.
"Well Sir, would you like a tour of the engine room?" He says maintaining that smile, that always seems genuine. He's as tall as I am; with dark hair that is starting to grey at the temples, with crows feet at the corner of his eyes that are a sharp piercing blue. An angular face that looks like it could express quite a severe temper, as I have already seen.
"Yes, don't mind if I do." We go down to the heart of the engine and he begins to explain the inner workings of the Cherenkov generator, and he has already lost me. I have a very basic knowledge of how the particles become charged and can be visible to the naked eye, however how propulsion is achieved is far beyond me. But, I listen attentively and do my to keep up. "Mr. Bocage, if ever a generator was compromised; say a in a battle, how would that be handled?" I ask.
He looks at me nodding; I can see and even feel the rebuke that is in his eyes, at my lack of knowledge. "Well each one of the generators can be individually ejected from the ship so it can detonate safely away from us." I look at the generator and it's like looking at a small house.
"I see." I look at my watch and I realize that it's time for me to head back to my quarters and rest for tonight's shift. "Mr. Bocage, fascinating as always, but I need to get going."
"Yes Sir, of course." He quickly turns and spots someone who is not doing what he's supposed to be; he goes on the war path . I feel bad for the kid that Just transgressed.
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As I make my way towards my quarters I stop into the Med bay. Dr. Batista steps out of his office. "Captain, it's been a while." He says.
"Yes it has." Dr. Batista is a good natured man, about my age. Light colored hair and Little shorter than I am; with a prominent nose and a broad face with bushy eyebrows and dark colored eyes. But, he always has a friendly disposition. "I just came in to see how everything is, if there's anything you might need."
He smiles at me studying me for a moment. "You know there is something that I need to speak to you about; would you mind stepping into my office?" Good Lord What can it be? I look around and there is no one here to distract him with.
"Alright Doc, I don't see why not." We step by into his office and he closes the door and walks around taking his seat. On his desk are several files form crew members, who have seen the Dr. recently. There's a picture of his family as well. His wife an attractive brunette and his daughter. "So Doc What do you want to talk about?"
He sits there looking at me with his elbow on the table, his hand curled into a fist leaning his face on it. He his curiously studying me, as if trying to find the right way to start the conversation. "Well, I don't see an easy way to say this, so I'll just cut through the chase and just come out and say it." He takes a breath. "What are you doing Captain? You and Major Roberts; What are you doing?"
"What do you mean Doc?" I ask cautiously.
"Please don't play dumb with me." He say
I don't like the way he said that, though I can see why he had to think about it for a minute. I have to stay calm and not get into a fight. "Ok Doc; I get it, but there are no regulations against our relationship. You know that's true." I reason with him.
"You're absolutely right Captain, there isn't one. But, the example you're setting? Your crew is watching. What must they be thinking."
A solid point.
"I understand what you mean, but we have made sure to keep a very professional manner in front of the crew." He sits back looking at me wondering probably what he can say to dissuade from continuing with the relationship. "Listen Doc, we were together some years ago. So, it's difficult to stay separate. I know what you're thinking, it's a set up, but I know her well and she's not the one who set this in motion." I say.
He leans back into his chair folding his hands across his mid section; looking at me thoughtfully pursing his lips. "Well, I felt we should talk about this and maybe find a way for a positive solution; but it seems you've put a lot of thought into it." He says scratching behind his ears.
I look at my watch and it's almost time for me to really get some rest. "Well Doc, listen, I need to head out, but it was good to talk to again." I stand up, as does the Doc. I nod my head turning and head out. I understand his point, but I'm not going to give her up again; this time I will fight for Mandy. If by some miracle we make it back, I will take the step that missed before.