Retribution (The Federation Reborn Book 3) (64 page)

“Now that we're moving, you …,” Oppie heard a familiar groan. He grinned slightly. “Now now, Ensign, you know it's for the best.”

“If you say so, sir. I just think you like pounding me into sushi,” the fishman protested. But he already had the tactical sim program loaded Oppie noted.

“You know you have to keep up with your studies. And since dawdling along in subspace is dead easy for you, you can work on catching up on your training. We can't have you falling behind can we?”

“Sure,” the chimera drawled. “Keep telling yourself that, sir,” he sighed theatrically as the Neoape loaded a favorite one on one scenario.

:::{)(}:::

Admiral Subert paused his morning briefing with Commander Garretaj and Captain Firefly to read the
Caroline
report. He reacted initially with amusement and approval, which quickly changed to something else as he read on. The idea of new unknown and untried flag officers induce mixed feelings in him.

He couldn't help but express some contempt for those who thought that they were on the same level as he was.

“Admiral, is that the attitude you want to project with them?” Saul asked carefully.

Admiral Subert eyed his chief of staff for a moment before he shrugged. “No. I suppose not, not if I want to appear diplomatic.”

“All one big happy Navy, sir?” Saul reminded him.

“As close as we can get,” Admiral Subert replied.

“It would be nice,” Captain Firefly interjected, making the organic officers stiffen. “Forgot I was here?” the A.I. asked.

“Something along those lines, Captain,” Admiral Subert replied.

“I'm not going to talk out of turn if that is what you are concerned about, sir,” Firefly stated. “I too have some misgivings about these fresh senior officers. I suggest tossing them at the academy and crusher so they can show their skillset as soon as practical, sir,” he stated.

Admiral Subert frowned thoughtfully then nodded. “Good idea. We're splitting the group as evenly as possible between the three fleets.”

“Seven naval officers, I understand the two commanders are chief of staffs for the flag officers, sir. The three captains can be split between the First and Third fleets, but the other two?”

“I'll take one; Admiral Irons can take the other for the moment,” Admiral Subert replied with a diffident shrug, “unless we launch the eastern offensive.”

“And if we do as planned, we'll lose him or her there,” Firefly stated.

“True, Captain,” Saul replied. “I understand there is a promotion's board meeting next week, sir?” he asked, looking at their boss.

Admiral Subert nodded. Saul of course had to know; he was his chief of staff and therefore tapped into his schedule. His yeoman had cleared entire sections so he could review the personnel records and then deliberate them with the other flag officers.

What he didn't like was that his choice for a person to be on the list had been left off. Saul might be his chief of staff but he was doing an excellent job at it, even though he'd had to learn the process along the way. But he had little ship experience and virtually no combat experience under his belt. Those were multipliers for other officers.

He'd also recently been promoted to full commander after the last round of promotions six months ago. Technically he had at least a year or more before he could be slipped on the captain's list. But that didn't stop the admiral from resenting that he couldn't. Saul was good people.

Admiral Irons' choice of one of them had him torn. He didn't like the nepotism involved, though he knew John would take a step back and abstain from deliberations with her.

“It's … going to be a headache and a half. We'll see how it goes. For the moment we don't have to worry about the Bekians since they went to Nuevo. So, I need to check on progress with the yard, then the latest exercise with Third Fleet. Any problems at the academy, Captain?” he asked.

Firefly shook his holographic head. “No, sir. Recruiting is up for the quarter. Most of it is coming from our system though. I think we've reached a saturation point in system … at least until the next generation grows up.”

“Which will be a while,” Phil replied with a frown. “No new intelligence from the prison?”

“No sir. Captain Teague would have alerted us.”

“Okay, there is that,” the admiral replied. “And the political front is shockingly quiet for once. I'm almost afraid to ask why.”

“Don't, sir. Don't look gift horses in the mouth, sir,” his chief of staff warned.

“It's not so much that as getting bit in the ass by not seeing something coming. I hate the idea of being blindsided, so keep an ear out, will you?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Fine then. Moving on,” the admiral drawled, ticking off points on his internal list.

:::{)(}:::

Admiral Irons stopped what he was doing when Iab brought him news of the
Caroline
report. “I'm glad they made it, though we already knew they'd gotten through the rapids.”

“Yes, sir,” Sprite stated.

Admiral Irons scanned the report and then grunted. “So, two more flag officers: a commodore and a rear admiral. Glad to hear it. The more the merrier,” he said with a nod. “We need them. I'm betting both are Battle Fleet officers. Amadeus could use them,” he said.

“I'm pretty sure some won't agree with that, Admiral,” Sprite said.

The admiral raised an eyebrow in surprise. He turned to face her holographic avatar. “Oh?”

“A lot of people may feel threatened by them. Suddenly unknown people put in charge of them? No background, no foundation … and remember, some like Harris were looking forward to moving up through the ranks. This will slow things down. There will be some resentment over it.”

“It might. We're still planning on promotions, remember? The board meets this week,” he reminded her.

Sprite nodded. She had access to the file. She'd noted her own name was on it. “True.”

“Then they don't have much to worry about. We're talking a pair of flag officers, not an army of them. Though I could use that too.”

“I'd say we'd be in a case of having too many chiefs and not enough Indians if we did hit that scenario, sir,” Protector stated.

Both Admiral Irons and Sprite cracked a smile at the quip. “Point. So, get the staff to go over the report. I know it's going to take time to come in. Let public affairs know
Caroline
reported in and is on its way to Nuevo. Just something light, they don't need all the details,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” Sprite replied with a nod.

“After that, you had a brief for me to read?”

“Yes, sir. Several actually. I know you have bios to read over as well. But there are several proposals in your inbox. And we have one minor dilemma.”

“Oh?”

“We received a complaint from a delegation. Public affairs handled it, but apparently not well enough it seems. It was passed over to Secretary Sema who just sent it back to us. A minor HEAT round, sir,” Sprite warned.

“About?” the admiral asked cautiously.

“It's not what you think. Apparently, we have a destroyer with a name that the delegates and senators from New Texas and Syntia's World, as well as Avalon are in objection to.” She put a name list up. The name that was second from launch blinked at him.

“Nate Champion
? It doesn't ring a bell. Okay, I'll bite, why?”

“History, Admiral,” Sprite said. “You don't know the story?”

“Forgive me if I don't know everyone,” the admiral replied dryly.

“Okay, it is ancient Earth history in this case.”

“And you know this …”

“It is in the Encyclopedia Galactica. The story has been referenced many times due to problems during the colonization period.”

“Okay … still lost,” he said as she put an image of a man in western clothing up with a bio.

“Nathon D. Champion became a martyr in the ancient territory of Wyoming in North America during the Johnson Cattle War of 1892. That's the Earth year.”

The admiral pursed his lips.

“He was a rancher who stood up against the cattlemen and cattle barons who claimed the cattle on the range. He stood a heroic last stand in a cabin and held off twenty-three men with just a revolver for an entire night before they set fire to the cabin. He wrote a moving letter during that period while under fire.”

“Hence the martyr. The little guy standing up to big brother?”

“Or in this case, a group of corrupt, self-serving, ruthless people. The barons got off even though they had drawn up an assassination list of seventy names. They bribed court members, witnesses, and even killed or intimidated witnesses.”

“So there is a big edge of sympathy there,” the admiral said with a nod.

“Correct. And so we have a problem. Nate Champion standing off a group of armed men is a good story. But the people in charge of those planets, and probably a few others, don't like it. They don't like the reminder. And since two of the delegates and one of the senators from New Texas are cattle barons …”

“We have a diplomatic problem. I'd tell them to go pound sand, but you have something else in mind?” he asked.

“Yes. We need to do a bit of horse trading with them. We get them to back off on the crap they are pulling in Congress, and we in turn dump the name down a rabbit hole.”

“I'm not comfortable … hell,” Irons sighed. “Okay, it's just a name.” He waved a hand.

“So you are okay with it?”

“If they are willing to give up their first amendment rights on their own accord … without any pressure from us.”

“It's their idea actually.”

“Fine then,” the admiral said.

As he watched the name blinked and then was deleted. A new name was put into its place.

“Now you get to tell Vestri why we did that and BUPERS, and anyone else who calls to ask why without mentioning the deal so it doesn't go public,” Protector stated.

“Wrong, the commander gets to do that. I've got other things on my agenda,” the admiral said, waving them away as he picked up a tablet. “I've got …,” he checked the time, “an hour to go through these briefs and check the bios before lunch. Enjoy,” he said.

“Aye aye, sir,” Protector and Sprite said in unison. Sprite visibly winced.

“And here we go with the inquiries,” Sprite murmured.

Irons ignored her. Instead he propped his feet up on the edge of his desk and hummed as he read the brief.

Chapter 26

Admiral Irons had enough captains to keep his hands out of the lower rank promotions board. He was glad that he had to only contend with the flag rank promotion board. It had taken a lot of patience and some politicking to get the other officers to finish deliberating and vote on the three candidates they'd had narrowed it down to.

Once they finished BUPERS passed the news to the Public Affairs Department who then announced the lists in the
Fleet Times
publication the following morning. The actual promotion ceremonies were to be carried out by the end of the week. Where possible they would be done in a lump sum to simplify things.

Technically he knew that everyone deserved their day to shine individually. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time or patience to handle individual ceremonies. He'd be at it all day every day for a week if they tried that.

There would be promotion ceremonies held in each star system that had people who had been promoted. Admiral White's command had been sent the list of personnel to promote. The list had been based on their last performance reviews.

Along with the promotions list had come an award ceremony for those found worthy. Many of the awards went to those in Second Fleet. Amadeus would have to attend to them when he had time. Those that were awarded posthumously would be sent to the person's family along with the flag of the federation.

There was one ceremony he relished attending however. Commander Sprite had been promoted to Captain Junior Grade. Sprite's ceremony was simple. Nata'roka, Fletcher, Protector, Proteus, Mnemosyne, and others who couldn't be physically present attended virtually. Captain Thornby and others were there in person.

When the ceremony was complete, Sprite's rank insignia changed to a captain's insignia. The symbol was a silver Terran eagle with a shield. Embedded on the shield was the flag of the federation. Her formal uniform changed slightly as a new rocker was added to her shoulder boards and her cuffs.

Doctor Thornby was one of the first to congratulate her once the applause died down. “I wish for once I could shake your hand, Captain. You've more than earned it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the A.I. replied. “Thank you.”

“One more A.I. captain. It's about time, Admiral,” Mnemosyne stated, eying Admiral Irons.

The admiral shrugged such comments off. “They walk their own road and earn the rank just like everyone else. Some take a bit longer than others, but they know it,” he said, nodding to Fletcher, Protector, Proteus, and Sprite. The A.I. officers nodded back. “I'm proud of them and their achievements. Many more to come,” he said, pitching his voice to the group as a whole.