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Chapter 10 - A Long Journey[]
14 June 2784
Terra (Terran Hegemony)
Commodore Patricia Mitchell and Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell shared an awkward hug in zero g. He had taken a shuttle over from one of the still new smelling Monolith Jumpships that had been assigned to his task group. "Good to have you back, Sis, we have so much to get caught up on. Our plan has developed more than we even thought it would."
"Good to see you too, Sammy. I would love to get caught up, but I really have to go make my report." Commodore Patricia Mitchell replied
"Before you go, how many collars do you have open? I am going to need some." Lieutenant General Mitchell asked
"Right now? Ten collars are open, could be more if they want me to pull the recovered ships off, it will all depend on that, but you cannot dock anything until I find out maintenance. Not that we really need any, we had a good maintenance stand down before we pulled out a few months ago. Now, I really have to go." Commodore Patricia Mitchell said as she pushed off towards the shuttle bays leaving him floating in the hallway.
23 June 2784
Colonel Colin Blaine performed his last action on the Terran surface and once completed he pull the third and last data stick from the computer and erased all trace that he had been in the system at all. He pocketed the data sticks and turned out the lights to his office for the last time. He had a shuttle to catch to the Nadir Jump Point.
6 July 2784
<<"Commodore Mitchell, prepare to receive three Mule Dropships. The crews will depart via shuttle after they are docked. The doors will be locked and sealed. No entry is allowed. Confirm the orders verbally.">> The voice of General Aleksandr Kerensky said
"Orders received, three Mule Dropships docking. Crews departing via shuttle, door locked and sealed with no entry allowed." Commodore Patricia Mitchell repeated
<<"Very well.">> General Aleksandr Kerensky said as he signed off.
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Mule Class Cargo DropShip
Commodore Patricia Mitchell shared a look with Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell and Colonel Colin Blaine. "That was weird, Task Group commanders are usually informed of any and all cargo being transports on their ships. And I can only think of one item that being hauled where doors are locked and sealed even while docked on a Jumpship."
Colonel Colin Blaine said it out load "Nukes. Standard protocol when those are around."
"What the hell does General Kerensky want or need with nukes?" Lieutenant General Mitchell asked
"Sammy, nukes are the best warship killer. All SLDF warships carry nuclear tipped missiles, always have and always will." Commodore Patricia Mitchell replied
"Well, my people have been on the receiving end of nukes and the survivors don't like them at all. Neither do I because I lost a bunch of good people to them when Amaris nuked the landing zones near Seward in Alaska." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
"Feel free to tell General Kerensky you object to three Mule Dropships that YOU suspect have nukes on them being docked with us. That will probably result in a bunch of marines being placed aboard, which is going to endanger our plans. Best to just dock them, we haul them until we are ready to depart the fleet and jettison them. Of course then we need to be ready for the guilt every time a nuke goes off anywhere in the known universe cause it might be one that we set adrift. At least here, they are no threat to anyone." Commodore Patricia Mitchell said
"There is that drawback. Okay, we take them with us, all the way. When we get to Mackolla, we figure out what to do with them, but at least we control them." Lieutenant General Mitchell as he turned to leave the bridge then said "How many nukes can three Mules carry?"
"You really don't want to know, Sammy. Leave it alone, better to not think about it." Colonel Colin Blaine said
8 July 2784
The journey began with a single word "EXODUS". From 50 locations the massive fleet carrying the SLDF began leaping from their staging areas.
28 August 2784
Matar (Draconis Combine)
As the SLDF fleet once again started moving after recharging their drives, the ships carrying the 322nd Armored Division leaped in another direction.
Led by SLS Second Chance, Vigilant Class Corvette, the ships of Commodore Patricia Mitchell materialized at the Zenith Jump Point and prepared for recharging operations. When hailed by the system garrison, 14th Avalon Hussars, Commodore Patricia Mitchell tried to keep their secret as long as they could.
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Vigilant Class Corvette, Second Chance
"This is Commodore Patricia Mitchell, Star League Defense Force, Commander of the 83rd Fleet Recovery and Salvage Squadron. We are just recharging our drives and will depart when that is completed. We will be launching a normal Combat Air Patrol for local security. Please notify AFFS Command that our destination is the Periphery on Star League business and currently do not need any assistance."
She looked at her brother, Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell and said "Standard procedure. If it works, we should make it almost all the way to Mackolla without any trouble. At least the Federated Suns is usually friendly to SLDF movements. But then again, everyone is on edge right now due to General Kerensky's movements. But the subterfuge might cost us down the road by not being honest about our intentions."
"We take the risk and get as far as we can before tipping our hand." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied.