Star Rover-Chosen to Die (Lens of Time) (9 page)

Dizzy tilted her head and bowed to the landing bay crew. The cheers grew louder. Angel watched her in the ship’s monitor and smiled. Captain Banks had a real sense of presence. Bret was right, she was something special.

• • •

Dizzy was led to Angel’s office and she entered and saluted the Admiral. She saw Angel and was shocked at how young she was. Angel returned her salute and smiled, “You can close your mouth, Captain; I’m not as young as you think.”

Dizzy lowered her hand and said, “I think you’re about eighteen years old.”

Angel chuckled, “Well, maybe I am. I’ll be nineteen in three months. Please, sit down.”

Dizzy sat down and continued to stare at Angel, “I’ve seen the recording of the fight you had with the six invading ships. I don’t remember seeing any images of you in that recording.”

“My brothers and I have been promoted rather quickly. I think my father is concerned that everyone will believe that it was done just because we’re his children.”

“Were you flying this ship an hour ago?” Angel nodded. Dizzy shook her head, “Skills are not something you can just give someone. I guess you’re as good a pilot as your father.”

Angel looked around, leaned forward and whispered, “Don’t tell him; I have a higher score at the Academy than he did.” Dizzy laughed out loud and heard Angel say, “You also have a higher score than he did.” Dizzy’s laugh abruptly stopped. Angel leaned back in her chair and looked out of the port for a moment. Dizzy saw her staring at her Rover. She turned back to Dizzy and smiled, “Captain, I know the things that great pilots think about. I know that you’ve now seen how good this marvelous ship is and that it’s superior to yours; now every time you see a Jukebox not being used to its full capability, you’ll wince. You’ll look at them and know if you were in the pilot’s chair you could outfly them; you’ll know that the ship is going to waste in the hands of an average pilot. You’ll never be satisfied flying Rovers again, Captain. Can you see that?”

Dizzy stared at Angel and knew she was right. Damn her, she was right. “What is it you want me to do, Admiral?”

“I have ten thousand brand new out the box Jukebox Battleships. I currently have four of us capable of molding them into something special. I need you to make it five.”

“What would be my assignment?”

“You will command one third of those ships and do your best to make them the best of the three units. You will be promoted to Commodore and work with us to find and train the pilots to fly our battleships.”

“Commodore Stone could do this as well as I could.”

“Yes, you’re right. However, Commodore Stone’s talents are in what he can make happen that improves all of us.”

Dizzy’s eyes narrowed, “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

“Commodore Stone was tasked with finding another Fleet Officer that could take his place commanding the third unit. He found you. He can get things done when no one else can and that is where he would best be used. Plus, he and I working together are much more effective than either of us working alone. I fly and he operates the weapons; I want to keep him on board for selfish reasons. Quite honestly, I didn’t think he would be able to find anyone near his ability; I was wrong. You are something special, Captain.”

Dizzy stared at the teenage Admiral and couldn’t help but like her; she was refreshingly open. “I don’t think my current Commander is going to allow me to leave.”

“He won’t allow us to take you; however, you have enough seniority to request a transfer that he would have to honor.”

“If you promote me, he would have to honor the transfer. Fleet regulations wouldn’t allow him to stand in the way of an officer’s career.”

Angel smiled, “Do you know what I would do if someone offered you a promotion to go to another fleet?” Dizzy shook her head. “I’d promote you to the same rank in my unit and that would put a stop to the transfer. Admiral Kune will do the same thing.”

Dizzy sighed, “Then if I’m promoted where I am, why would I move?”

Angel smiled, “I have the better ships, Captain. Some things are more important than rank to great pilots.”

Dizzy stared at Angel and said, “May I take her out for a spin?”

Angel smiled and put on her combat helmet. “All hands to battle stations. We will start high Gee maneuvers in two minutes.” Dizzy walked out of Angel’s office and on the bridge and Angel nodded toward the command chair.

“All stations report ready, Sir.”

Dizzy looked at Stone and said, “They moved to battle stations that fast?”

Stone nodded, “They would have been four seconds faster but battle stations were announced rather than sounding the alarm.”

Dizzy looked at Angel, “You have a good crew, Admiral.”

“I know it and they know I know it. They never stop trying to amaze me and they constantly leave me shaking my head in wonder at how really good they are.”

Dizzy sat down in the command chair and looked at the controls, “These are very much like the ones on my Rover.”

“The main difference is the two pedals under your console. You use them to turn left and right. The main wheel controls up and down as well as acceleration and braking.”

Dizzy nodded and used the wheel to lift the nose of the ship. It jerked up abruptly before she made a smaller input. She looked at Angel, “These controls are tight.”

“Start slowly until you get a feel for it.”

Dizzy moved the ship forward and began a series of spirals, climbs, dives and stops. She was smiling and Angel knew she had her. Dizzy said, “Let’s see what you’ve got old girl.” The Jukebox exploded forward and Dizzy pulled back on the wheel and the ship instantly went vertical. She pressed the right foot petal and the giant ship instantly turned right as it continued moving vertical. Dizzy screamed and said, “This is incredible.”

Angel looked at Bret and he slowly shook his head. He had failed to land the fish; it required a better angler to do it. The Wellington flew through space and the scream of the gravity compensators sounded like screams of joy to Dizzy. Two hours later, Angel gave the transfer forms to Dizzy and she signed them. An hour later, Admiral Kune was screaming at Admiral Gibbs.

“I
WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!!! DO YOU HEAR ME!?!”

Gibbs saw his old friend was absolutely furious. “Kunny, I didn’t go over your head on this. Admiral Arvolo requested someone to work with their Rovers and I sent the highest rated pilot to assist them. Your officer requested the transfer.”

“YOU KNOW THAT WAS A SUBTERFUGE TO INTERVIEW HER AND GET AROUND ME.”

“Well, you know what to do to stop it.”

“I’ve already offered to promote her two levels and she has refused the offer. What happened to cause this; I know she was happy commanding Rovers?

“You need to ask her. Admiral Arvolo has sent in papers to promote her to command one of her Jukebox squadrons. I can’t delay acting on them much longer.”

“Where is she now?”

“She’s with Admiral Arvolo.”

“Don’t sign anything until I speak directly with her.”

“You have twenty four hours, Kunny.”

• • •

Bret looked at Angel, “Admiral, we have a problem.”

“What is it?”

“Fleet Admiral Kune is arriving in twenty minutes and asks that his officer be available for a meeting at that time.”

Angel sighed; you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. “Contact Captain Banks and have her waiting for him in the conference room.”

“Don’t we need to be there?”

“No, if her heart isn’t sure; she should leave.” Bret looked at Angel and lifted his communicator. The bridge crew hoped the new Commodore wouldn’t leave; they had already grown fond of her.

• • •

Dizzy waited in the conference room and stared out at the stars. Some of them were so far away that their light had left before Earth was a planet. Such a huge universe. “Captain, would you mind telling me why you’ve chosen to betray me!!”

Dizzy turned around and saw Admiral Kune. She came to attention and saluted. Kune returned her salute and said “Answer me!”

“I’d rather show you, Sir.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know you like taking a good bet…”

“Only ones I know I’ll win.”

“Well then, this one should be one you’ll take. Are you here in your Rover?”

Kune’s eyes narrowed, “I am.”

“If you will take your ship a thousand yards from this ship and increase the distance three hundred yards while I chase you, I’ll turn down this promotion and return to your fleet.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Dizzy.”

“Admiral, I really hope you can win this bet.”

“It’s a fool’s wager; you stand no chance.”

“Then let’s do this so I can get back to work.”

Kune activated his communicator, “Admiral.”

“Yes Sir.”

“My officer wants to chase me in this ship; does that meet with your approval? It shouldn’t take long.”

“Yes Sir, my ship is always available for you, Sir.”

Kune looked at Dizzy and smiled, “Is your Rover on board?”

Dizzy’s face showed her sorrow, “Yes Sir.”

Kune wondered what was making her so sad but he laughed as he left for the landing bay. An hour later he was back in the conference room with Angel, Bret, and Dizzy.

• • •

Kune stood at the viewport staring out at the stars as Angel, Bret, and Dizzy sat at the table in silence waiting for him to turn around. Bret looked at Angel and she shook her head. He was going to say something but saw Angel wanted him to remain silent. Dizzy felt awful. She had just destroyed Kune’s confidence in his ships. She knew how it felt. The emotion was still raw from the drubbing Angel had given her.

Kune continued to stare out of the port and said, “Gibbs has been trying to get me to move to the Jukebox fleets; I’ve told him no for years; I commanded the best ships in the Realm and would not take a step backwards.” He lowered his head a moment and turned around and looked at Dizzy, “I’ll approve your transfer.”

Dizzy sighed, “Sir, would you approve bringing my squadron to be the Defense Rovers on my ship?”

Kune slowly nodded, “I will. They’ll probably find a use for them.” He looked at Angel, “Admiral, I saw the specs on the new Jukeboxes and nothing in them indicated the abilities I’ve just witnessed.”

“That’s because no one really pushed them during their evaluations.”

“I see that they’re going to make the Rovers obsolete.”

“You’re probably right about their role in combat; however, I’m going to modify those my ships carry to perform a different role.”

Kune’s eyebrows came together, “Modify them in what way?”

“You know that the newest Advance Probes we’re using are about the size of a Rover?” Kune nodded. “We have confirmed that the Aliens that attacked us can’t detect them. The new fields around the probes are a new development and can’t be made larger than the one used to hide the probe; that new field will surround a Rover.”

Kune thought for a moment, “How would you use them?”

“You’ve seen the expansion blasters we use to send out a protective screen?”

“I have.”

Well, if our Rovers are invisible to the enemy, they can scout their forces prior to combat operations and also launch barrages to defend the Jukeboxes during fleet combat operations. Their barrages could blind the enemy’s ships long enough for a Jukebox to move in or escape if necessary. The ships could also be used to take our best infiltration troops into enemy territory and pick them up without being seen.”

Kune nodded, “They could also perform the function of a sensor probe.” Angel nodded. Kune sat down, “The Expansion Blaster would also allow the ship to escape if it’s discovered. Any missiles or beams fired at it would be stopped by the wave of the barrage.”

Angel nodded, “Their role as a combat weapon will change; they will become the scouts or defenders of the battleships in the fleets. They will unfortunately have to fend for themselves during combat operations…”

Kune finished Angel’s statement, “…they couldn’t keep up with the Jukeboxes.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Have you talked to your father and Admiral Gibbs about the new Jukeboxes’ capabilities?”

“I have, Sir.”

“And?”

“They agree with my recommendation.”

“You’ve recommended that every good pilot in the Rover Fleets be moved to pilot a Jukebox.”

Angel nodded, “It’s going to take a pilot accustomed to making radical maneuvers in the smaller ships to really get the most out of the new Jukeboxes, Sir.”

“Why haven’t they started making the change?”

Angel remained silent and lowered her eyes. Dizzy said, “I think they respect you too much to do that to what you’ve built, Sir.”

Kune nodded slowly and sighed, “They need to do it for the welfare of the Union.”

Dizzy nodded, “Yes Sir; they do.”

Kune slowly shook his head and said, “Admiral Arvolo, build something special here. I can see you’re on the right path to make it happen.” He turned to Dizzy, “Make me proud.”

Dizzy fought hard to prevent her tears but her eyes were moist, “You know I will, Sir.”

Kune walked toward the door and Angel said “Attennnshun!” The three officers stood and saluted. Kune returned their salute and left for his Rover in the landing bay.

Dizzy sat down and sighed, “I hated every moment.”

Angel put her hand on Dizzy’s shoulder, “It’s the only way to get him to see it, Commodore. Plan to meet with the entire Senior Staff in three hours.” Angel turned to Bret, “Leave immediately for Fleet Headquarters and get Commodore Banks copies of the personnel folders on the ships in her command.” Angel looked at the helmsman, “Plan to move the ship back to our formation as soon as Commodore Young jumps away and clears the area.”

“Yes Sir.”

Angel left the room and Dizzy looked at Bret, “I can see why you love her.” Bret’s eyes went wide. “Yes it’s obvious. You made an excellent choice, Bret.”

“Thanks Dizzy. I also made a good choice selecting our newest officer.” Bret left the room for a Rover and it took Dizzy a few moments to see that he was talking about her being selected to join Angel’s team. Dizzy smiled; Angel came out pretty good as well. Bret was a keeper.