BOOK III: Chapter 19

DOVER SYSTEM

We entered Dover System ten hours before the deadline.

Har-Hi who stood next to me sighed.” I wished it would have taken longer. This is what I am born to do! Be aboard a ship and roam the stars!”

I knew all to well what he meant and nodded.” Me too!”

Wetmouth came onto the bridge and sat behind her console she had dedicated to science. Mao at OPS dedicated sensors to her ,without speaking a word. Muhammad slowed down responding to a hand sign of mine.

Not that Dover System would pose any threat. It was deep in Union space, had a large Navy base and Saran one of the most important Main worlds was only 70 light years away, Elfi was basically home. However it was standard procedure to enter a system outside it’s outmost planetary orbit and scan it and gather sensor information about traffic, solar activity and the like.

I said.”Hey Elfi do you want to call home?”

“Already did this morning from my GalNet terminal.”

“No sense of delaying it.” I said more to myself than anyone in particular.” I wish I could prolong this too. Elfi hail Newport and give me a channel.”

“you’re on Eric.”

“this is the Dev Auxillery Ship Baracuda One under command of Midshipman Eric Olafson calling Newport Control and request landing instructions. We are here for the Contest.”

“This is Newport Control. Get of the channel Midshipman and let me talk to your Commanding officer.”

“Sir I am the Commanding officer of this ship.”

“Transmit your authorization codes and verification data. I never heard of a Midshipman commanding a Destroyer.”

I nodded to Elfi and she pushed our new Order chip in the transmit reader and I keyed my Command codes.

The channel was still open and I heard the voice on the other end say. ”That crazy Captain Harris. That Midshipman out there is indeed in command of a Destroyer. The codes and orders have been authenticated.”

The screen came on and we got a visual transmission.” This is Commader Becker, Midshipman Olafson you are to land your ship near the Academy. Our landing field is filled and we where not prepared to accommodate a Destroyer. Land it gentle and don’t bruise the grass to much!” Elfi said I am tranfering you the landing coordinates Muhammad.

And I stood sighed and said. “Take her down and you heard the man, don’t bruise the grass!”

Muhammad nodded. He took the ship down and approached the landing field. I checked the readouts he kept the ship only 0.5 % under the legal speed limit for atmospheric occupied worlds and maintained that speed all the way down. The landing field was just a large duro-crete field and there where indeed seven D12’s and a three D 30 shuttles as well as  a Leyland. He slowed down in the last possible moment and  set the ship down still on the duro-crete, I doubted there was more than 30 centimeters space to the next ship. He made an elegant move with his hand, pushing engine controls to zero and said “Landing maneuver complete, all landing gear on duro-crete no bruised grass!” ”I think you caused a few hearts to miss a beat. If they saw you land I bet they expected to see a fireball next!” I smiled.

Muhammad shrugged.” It was a perfectly legal maneuver.”

But he had a hard time to keep a stern face, too!

“Cirruit shut her down and lock her up. We got company!” I said pointing at an approaching fast ground effect skimmer with four green dressed beings in it.

So we took our gear and tromped down the ramp. Cirruit was last and said .”Barracuda lock down, security level 3.”

The ramp closed and a purple film like contur hugging force field engulfed the entire ship. No one unauthorized could open it.

The Ground Effect Skimmer stopped a few feet away and Commander Becker, human. A Saran Lt Commander and a Midshipman with senior stripes stepped out. He had light green skin and I knew this man it was Wintsun! The fourth was the pilot and he remained behind the controls.

I said.” Officer on deck! Attention!”

And we all ,even Krabbel displayed our finest parade stance.

Becker inspected us clearly disapproving but then his eyes caught my ribbon panel and now he stood in attention and saluted.” Medal of Honor recipient present!”

The Saran officer saluted as well Wintsun saluted but he could barley keep quiet.

Commmander Becker stepped closer and shook my hand.” I do not approve of the theatrics you just displayed when landing, but it is always an honor to meet a man so highly decorated. At ease!”

He kept looking at my ribbon display.” I have not seen many officers even many years in service with such a display.”

Wintsun said.” Commander Decker Sir, I know this man. I know he earned each of them.”

Decker turned.” You have met before?”

“Yes Sir we went through basic together and Olafson is a friend of mine.”

Becker said.” We do not use the term midshipman here. You are called Cadets. I know you are used to it while serving on a ship, but this is not a ship. Mr. Wintsun is one of the best Cadets we had here and I value his opinion. Maybe the flagship sent us a group this time that is good enough to get a second place.”

He said to Wintsun.” See that they accommodated and situated.”

“Yes Sir!”

The Saran Officer bowed before Elfi.” Your Majesty. What an honor! Is this an incognito visit?”

Elfi said.” I am just a Cadet here, Sir!” Becker was annoyed.” Lt Commanders do not bow before Cadets!”

The Saran said.” Sir they do, if in presence of our Majesty’s daughter Princess Elfiarta. I like to remind you sir, we are not just in union space we are inside the Saran Empire, and her Mother is the Empress!”

Becker was clearly angry. Technically Elfi’s social status made no difference in the Navy and we where all the same. But as the Lt Commander just said I too realized who Elfi really was. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful persons in the Galaxy. Queen Celotrix ruled over the Saran Empire. The Sarans where the ones that gave Earth Faster than light technology and the Saran Empire one of the founding members of the Union. Almost a third of the fleet was maintained by Saran contribution. Elfi’s mother was the undisputed absolute ruler of that Empire. Elfi’s heritage elevated her to levels of importance I could not begin to comprehend, but I began to get a glimpse of it.

Elfi suddenly radiated authority almost physically detectable as she said. “ Your recognition and devotion pleases she who is the Princess. I command you however to disregard this aspect of her person. She who is the princess is a Cadet in this navy and you will act upon me as any other Cadet.”

Elfi was suddenly Elfi again and smiled disarmingly.

The Commander grinded his teeth but he too bowed.” It is an honor to meet you, your Majesty. He then turned and left

The Saran Lt Commander followed the Commander after bowing once more

Wintsun slung his arms around me and almost cried.” It is so good to see you again!”

I returned the warm welcome with the same intensity.” I missed your chlorphyl face for sure!”

Wintsun slapped my shoulder.” You know Galmy is here too and Limbur!”

“NO joke?”

“Galmy and Limbur came yesterday with their team from the USS AVALON. The Battle Ship landed over there and I was certain no one could top that, but then you show up in your own Destroyer. Landing it like a maniac.”

“Wintsun. Let me introduce you to my friends!”

I just introduced him to Har-Hi when the skimmer came back and the driver said.” Lt Commander Antoni send you this Skimmer with his personal regards.”

So we loaded our gear and the little skimmers lift grav protested with a high pitched hum as Hans stepped aboard, but the skimmer made it.

The local academy buildings where completely different from Arsenal II. They where built from rock with slanted roofs, in the way houses where built thousands of years ago. No taller than three stories, with small rectangular windows, stone stairs and immaculate tended lawns and trees. Small duro crete paths and no slide ways.

We stopped at one of the long buildings and Wintsun said.” That is dorm building C and your dorm will be on the second floor.” He helped us with our gear and showed us the way.

The doors where made of wood and did not slide but had to be opened manually. The floors inside where polished stone and the walls paneled with wood. It smelled of something I smelled last on Nifleheim. Floor wax! A flight of stairs also non mechanical led to an identical looking second floor and Wintsun  opened a door leading into a large dorm as primitive furnished as the dorm in basic training. No auto beds, wooden chairs, and the obligatory table.

Wintsun shook his head.” You ended up on the Devastator. I should have known. Especially since I expected you to be here at Newport!”

“This place is odd. It looks so retro!” ”Oh and it is for the most part. No open IST, no GalNet terminals except in the main building. Cadets spend a lot of their time waxing floors, tending lawns between training and no robots either!”

“So you are competing in this Contest?”

“Yes and we are expected to win it, but now that you are here I am not so sure we will!”

“ Well now that I know that you are here, I think we really have to work to get second!”

“Look at those uniforms! And you got the Ace batch! Oh I wish they would sent me to a ship too. But it is an honor to be here and leads always to command. At least that’s what they tell us everyday. The Admiral who runs this place would not like to see me being friendly to you. He brainwashes us everyday what scum other cadets are and not worth kissing our boots and all that!”

“That sounds indeed just like Stahl described him!”

“You met the Immortal himself?”

Har-Hi crossed his arms.” Admiral Stahl gave Eric command over the Devastator and that is no joke. He even fought a space battle against a whole Dai Clan!”

Wintsun gasped but then he smiled.” That sounds like Eric alright!”

“So how are you dealing with this place?” I asked.

“Commander Becker made me his assistant and he is strict but a real officer, much like Letsgo and that makes this place bearable. He is second in command here.”

Wintsun went to the door.” Got himself the Princess of the Saran empire no less. Well I got to go if someone sees me being to friendly with you I might get kicked of the team. But I find Limbur and Olia and send them here!”

Wintsun waved from the door.” Good luck Eric. Was good to see you! We catch up later!”

Elfi came real close.” Got yourself a Princess?”

“Hey those where his words not mine. I haven’t talked to him since I left Basic.”

She kissed me on the cheek.” Oh don’t be so shy this princess could fare much worse!”

“What is this? Does he get all the attention?” Complained Mao.

Elfi kissed him too

Har-Hi still looked at the open door.” He seems nice.”

“I don’t know. He acts the same and yet he is different. I guess we both grew up.”

Mao said.” Now what? What are we supposed to do? I am hungry!”

“Let’s make this hole livable. Cirruit you see if you can organize extra mattresses so we can make Hans a bed. Those bunk beds never hold his weight. Take Krabbel with you. Mao you go snooping. Intel mission if you will and report back in an hour. Wetmouth see if you can find a library or GalNet terminal and reference all past competitions. Let’s see what they are exactly demand from us and how we go by winning this trophy.”

“I am way ahead of you on that one, Eric. “ She said.” I did that already. She then said.” But you are right it wouldn’t hurt to check the local sources.”