For Honor We Stand (37 page)

The young man—in fact, the youngest man in the room—relaxed a bit.  “OK.  That helps a bit.  Well, I was thinking about trying to balance the competing considerations or needs here.  On one hand, this ship needs these men out there in the trenches doing their jobs.  That’s one of the biggest problems with these
Khyber
class cans.  One of the things sacrificed to get all that speed and stealth is crew compliment.  We’ve got two hundred and fifteen men doing the work of three hundred, maybe more.  The increased workload that would shift to other men in the Engineering department if we took these guys out of the duty rotation, especially when the whole section is working extra watches trying to correct what these guys did, would be huge.  So, considerations of ship’s efficiency say we can’t put these men in the brig.”  There were general nods of assent around the room.  The XO’s reasoning, so far, was sound.

DeCosta continued, “On the other hand, you know how the rumor mill works on this ship.  Senior officers may talk about this ship’s comparatively low efficiency, but the efficiency of information transfer among the enlisted men in this ship makes it one of the most efficient communication networks ever devised in the history of the human race.  If we let these people return to duty without any immediate consequences, every man on board will know about that by the end of watch.  I’m concerned that if we put these men back on normal duty, we would communicate a message about dereliction of duty and betrayal of one’s shipmates that I don’t think we want to send.  So, I was thinking about how to keep these men working and send the message that we expect every man to do his utmost.  It occurred to me that, maybe, we can put them in the doghouse.”

Three heads around the table nodded in approval, not approval in the sense of wanting to adopt the idea without further discussion, but approval in the sense of recognizing the idea as a good suggestion—particularly as coming from an officer of such youth and inexperience—and worthy of serious consideration.  One head, however, shook rapidly in confusion.  “Surely,” said the doctor, “there is not a literal doghouse somewhere on this vessel into which you intend to put these men.”

Almost out of reflex, everyone looked at Max.  Max, however gave a “go ahead” gesture to DeCosta.  His idea, his explanation.  “Of course not,” said the XO.  “The doghouse isn’t a real place.  It’s just the slang term for what we call a “Punitive Duty Rotation.”  When a man is in the doghouse, he works a four hour watch, has one hour off for meals or go to the head and so on, works another four, has another hour off, works another four, and then has eight hours off for sleep and bathing and hygiene.  Then he starts over again.  It is punitive because the man is working twelve hours a day every day with only one hour between watches except for the eight hour sleep interval.  Plus, the cycle is twenty-two hours long rather than twenty-four so he is kept out of step with the normal watch cycle, which means he is taking his meals and his rest breaks separately from just about everyone else.  And, on top of that, he gets no ‘short day,’ the one day of the watch cycle all the men look forward to—when his watch has to stand only one regular watch and one dog watch, which is just six hours out of the twenty-four. 

“What I was thinking,” added DeCosta, “was that we might put these men in the doghouse and assign them full time to undoing the damage they caused.  It’s incredibly dull, boring, repetitive work, and they’d be doing it twelve hours a day, day in and day out.  They’d almost look forward to being attacked by the Krag, going to General Quarters, and facing violent death, as a break from the routine.” 

“From a psychological point of view it is ingenious,” said Doctor Sahin.  “First, it fits the Mikado’s maxim of letting the punishment fit the crime.  It seems a singularly appropriate consequence, with a close and apparent logical relationship to the offense, Second, the crew in general will not have their burdens increased by confining these men; rather, crew will see the wrongdoers experiencing punishment in the form of righting the wrongs they have wrought and, in the process, lightening the load on the rest of the men.  And, as
lagniappe
, a useful expression I learned from our skipper, the malefactors themselves will reap a substantial benefit as well.”

“Benefit?”  Max looked genuinely perplexed.  “What benefit could these men get from this kind of scut work?”

The doctor looked at Brown.  “They feel guilty, do they not?  Do they experience shame, regret, remorse?”

Brown nodded.  “Yes, they do.  And, if I am any judge of men, it is genuine, too.  I don’t think it excuses their actions or minimizes their guilt, but, yes, they are truly sorry for what they have done.”

“Then they will benefit by having the opportunity to experience some measure of difficulty and, to a limited degree, even suffering as an anodyne for their remorse.  They can assuage their guilt by working diligently to ameliorate the consequences of their guilt.  It is penance.  Their labors shall take away the stain of their sins.”

Max made up his mind, a sharp pat of the flat of his hand to the table serving as an auditory punctuation mark to this thinking process.  “XO, I like that idea extremely.  I don’t know if it’s brilliant or not, but to me it looks at least close enough for naval purposes.  What happens to these men in the long term is a ferry we’ll ride when we get to the river.  Until then, they go into the doghouse.  For the good of the ship.  Who knows?  Maybe even for the good of their souls.  All right.  Next item, we’ve had the Sweet Seventeen out of the mix for six hours or so now.  Any effect yet?”

“The hull hasn’t come apart at the nanowelds, if that’s what you mean,” said Brown.  “It’s been too short a time to see much of an effect.  There are, however, some signs that may be harbingers of good things to come.  Two men who I thought were probably not up to the job managed to diagnose and repair subnominal output from a string of gravity generators on C deck.  The malfunction was a pretty oddball one, too.  When I read the summary of the problem in their log I was surprised they managed to figure it out.”  In response to DeCosta’s questioning look he explained, “A sensor emitter had a graviton leak that was interfering with one of the generators, which then amplified the spurious output throwing the whole string out of calibration.  There were three similar incidents, with results somewhat less surprising but equally felicitous, elsewhere in my department.  In each case, crewmen who normally would be calling for assistance were rolling up their sleeves and solving the problem themselves.  Of course, it’s taking them from three to ten times as long to do the job as it would take otherwise, but they are getting it done, and are having to dig in and learn the systems better besides.  Hits on the ship’s Engineering, Maintenance, and Repair database so far today are nearly double the average for those watches.”

“Out.  Stand.  Ing.  And here are two other things they’re learning,” said Max.  “Number one:  how to figure out how to solve problems on their own when they don’t know the answer off the top of their heads.  It’s a process, you see.  All of you know how to do it but a lot of these men have yet to master it:  how to dig for answers and put them together from bits and pieces and hints and guesses.  That’s one of the major parts of knowing how to be a crewman of a Navy fighting ship who can improvise in a pinch, adapt to new conditions, and overcome obstacles.  And, number two:  confidence.  Without confidence, all the competence in the world is useless because you don’t think you are competent
enough
.  You’re not up to the challenge until you
believe
you are up to the challenge.  These men need that.  And I think they’re about to find it.”  He took his napkin out of his lap, folded it, and placed it on the table with a gesture of finality.  “Well, gentlemen, unless you have anything we need to discuss, that’s all I have.”

“Captain?”

“Yes, doctor.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something, sir?”

“Such as . . . ?”

“Such as those two Krag warships about one Astrometrical Unit behind us.”

“Astronomical.  That’s
Astronomical
Unit.”

“Very well.  Astronomical.  But, it should be ‘Astrometrical Unit.’  It is a unit for measuring distances in space, which would call for the Greek term ‘metros,’ meaning ‘to measure’ rather than ‘nomos’ referring to ‘binding rules or culture.’”

“A fit subject for you to take up with the Interstellar Astro
nomical
Association in your copious free time.  Until then, what to do about our pink-eared friends is not our call.  As of our receipt of Admiral Hornmeyer’s order, we’re not on detached service any more.  We’re attached to Frigate/Destroyer Group Tango Delta dash Two-Zero-Zero-Eight, Gerard Duflot, Commander.  I don’t have discretion to engage targets of opportunity any more.  Instead, regulations require that I communicate with Duflot and get instructions.  So, as soon as we get past this supernova remnant that’s blocking the line of sight so I can get a direct comm signal through to Commander Duflot, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

***

07:02Z HOURS 21 MARCH 2315

URGENT:  IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUESTED

TO:  DUFLOT, GERARD, CMDR USN, CO FRIGDESGRU TD-2008

FROM:  ROBICHAUX, MAXIME, LCDR USN, CO USS CUMBERLAND

RE:  PROBABLE ENEMY TARGETS

1.  THIS SHIP HAS MADE COMPRESSION PROXIMITY DETECTIONS OF TWO VESSELS, IDENTIFIED AS PROBABLE KRAG WARSHIPS, UNKNOWN TYPE, BASED ON SPECIES-SPECIFIC TACTICS EMPLOYED BY CONTACTS.

2.  CONTACTS ARE TRAILING THIS SHIP MATCHING COURSE AND SPEED AT A RANGE OF 1.116 AU.

3.  ETA THIS SHIP AT RENDEZVOUS COORDINATES 19:34Z HOURS 25 MARCH 2315.

4.  RECOMMEND THAT WE ENTRAP, ENGAGE, AND DESTROY ENEMY VESSELS USING KUIPER HYPER DIAPER RUSE.

5.  REQUEST ORDERS RE THESE VESSELS.

***

11:49Z HOURS 21 MARCH 2315

URGENT:  FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION

TO:  ROBICHAUX, MAXIME, LCDR USN, CO USS CUMBERLAND

FROM:  DUFLOT, GERARD, CMDR USN, CO FRIGDESGRU TD-2008

RE:  PROBABLE ENEMY TARGETS

1.  RECEIPT OF YOUR COMMUNICATION 07:02Z HOURS THIS DATE ACKNOWLEDGED.

2.  THIS COMMAND DOES NOT CONCUR IN PURPORTED IDENTIFICATION OF TARGETS AS KRAG WARSHIPS.  REGULATIONS SPECIFICALLY PRECLUDE SUCH AN IDENTIFICATON BASED ON A SINGLE PHENOMENOLOGY.

3.  ACCORDINGLY, KUIPER HYPER DIAPER RUSE INAPPROPRIATE IN THAT IT CALLS FOR ATTACK ON TARGETS BEFORE AMBUSH FORCE COULD POSIDENT THEM.  ATTACK WITHOUT POSIDENT IS VIOLATION OF SPECIFIC ROE SET DOWN BY NORFOLK FOR THIS THEATER OF OPERATIONS.

4.  YOU ARE ORDERED TO PROCEED AT BEST PRUDENT SPEED TO RENDEZVOUS COORDINATES.  IF TARGETS FOLLOW YOU TO RENDEZVOUS AND IF THEY ARE POSIDENT AS HOSTILES, I WILL EVALUATE TACTICAL SITUATION AND GROUP UNDER MY COMMAND WILL EITHER ENGAGE USING CONVENTIONAL TACTICS OR WITHDRAW, DEPENDING UPON CORRELATION OF FORCES.

5.  YOU ARE FURTHER ORDERED, ONCE YOU ARE WITHIN 80 AU OF RENDEZVOUS COORDINATES, TO NOTIFY ME ON CHANNEL 70609 AND TO MONITOR THAT CHANNEL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. 

 6.  GIVEN THE OBVIOUS DEFICIENCIES IN YOUR SUGGESTION, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THIS COMMAND DESIRES SUGGESTIONS FROM A SUBORDINATE COMMANDER, WE WILL REQUEST THEM EXPRESSLY.  YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE SUCH A REQUEST AT ANY TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 

***

14:18Z HOURS 21 MARCH 2315

URGENT:  IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUESTED

TO:  DUFLOT, GERARD, CMDR USN, CO FRIGDESGRU TD-2008

FROM:  ROBICHAUX, MAXIME, LCDR USN, CO USS CUMBERLAND

RE:  PROBABLE ENEMY TARGETS

1.  MY ORDERS FROM ADMIRAL HORNMEYER SPECIFICALLY DIRECT ME TO ACQUAINT YOU WITH CONDITIONS IN THIS SECTOR.  TO THAT END, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, I AM CONSTRAINED TO POINT OUT THAT CONDITIONS IN THIS SECTOR ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE UNDER WHICH YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO OPERATE.  WARSHIPS IN TASK FORCE TANGO DELTA ROUTINELY CLASSIFY VESSELS AS HOSTILE BASED ON A SINGLE PHENOMENOLOGY WHEN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES STRONGLY INDICATE THAT THE CONTACT IS KRAG.  SEE AFTER ACTION REPORTS ## 86407, 89114, 90437, AND 92225.

2.  I AM FURTHER CONSTRAINED TO POINT OUT THAT THE OPERATIONAL PATTERNS OF THE TARGETS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF MY EARLIER SIGNAL THIS DATE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE KRAG TACTIC OF FOLLOWING ONE SHIP TO A RENDEZVOUS AVOIDING DETECTION BY STAYING IN THE LEAD SHIP’S COMPRESSION WAKE, THEN LURKING OUTSIDE OF SENSOR RANGE AND STALKING THE GROUP WHEN IT LEAVES THE RENDEZVOUS, ATTACKING IT WHEN CONDITIONS ARE MOST FAVORABLE TO THE ATTACKERS.  SHIPS EMPLOYING THIS TACTIC WILL NOT BLUNDER BLINDLY INTO AN ENGAGEMENT AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT BUT WILL BIDE THEIR TIME AND ATTACK WHEN AND WHERE THE ODDS ARE MOST IN THEIR FAVOR.  SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER ACTION REPORTS ## 65888, 67950, 99582, AND 100224.

3.  TO FAIL TO TURN THE TABLES ON THESE VESSELS BY DICTATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ENGAGEMENT IS TO CONCEDE TO THEM THE TACTICAL ADVANTAGES OF INITIATIVE AND ABILITY TO CONTROL THE TIME, PLACE, AND CONDITIONS OF BATTLE AND, VERY LIKELY, ALSO CONCEDING TO THEM THE ADVANTAGE OF TACTICAL SURPRISE.  SO MANY CONCESSIONS OF SUCH ENORMOUS TACTICAL MAGNITUDE COULD VERY WELL COST THIS GROUP AT LEAST ONE OF ITS SHIPS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM.

4.  ACCORDINGLY, I URGE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS THAT WE CONTROL THE TIME, PLACE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF BATTLE BY HAVING THIS VESSEL LEAD ENEMY INTO TRAP SET BY TWO REMAINING VESSELS CONCEALED IN SYSTEM’S KUIPER BELT AS I SUGGESTED IN MY FIRST SIGNAL TO YOU THIS DATE OR UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES DIRECTED BY YOU.  ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER THAN HAVING TO FEND OFF THESE SHIPS AS THEY STALK US AND ATTACK US AT THEIR LEISURE.