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Strategos (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!) - Part 3 - A Light In The Black -
Chapter 4[]
Mission: Planning[]
"These charts…
…have data we didn't have." Billie Hoel stated. "Somewhere around fifteen to twenty additional systems not on the per-Reunification War charts or anywhere up to the current."
"Well, yeah." Amanda said. "Obviously you're not going to put caches or rallying points where the SLDF is going to look for or find them."
"The blue markers?"
<<"Those are Outworlds Resistance sites.">> Amanda/Desmond stated. It was clear her AI was 'driving' during this conversation. <<"Like this one, or like the site where we salvaged Evanescent.">>
"The red ones?"
<<"Unknown. Some are probably SLDF sites, some are simply survey locations. The Database flagged most of them as targets.">>
"Targets?"
<<"Targets, for the Resistance. Devil's Breath was on the listing, so was Grankum and Fallry. We presumed them to be SLDF sites, but the additional coordinates aren't… well… they're not on your databases, so there's no telling, only that the Remnant charts from the Snow Ravens don't show them either.">>
“There is a possibility that Kerensky did keep some things off the record then. But many of these sites that clearly were SLDF should be on our charts despite that. I find that troubling.”, Helena Cameron nodded.
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Lady Helena Cameron
"Foster and Nichols think at least the site at Joan's Post was SLIC, not SLDF, and what we found under the HPG site on Johnson suggested something similar." Amanda added. "Did we show you that one?"
Helena nodded idly. "Wait, you should remember that!"
<<"Defective installation.">> Amanda/Desmond reminded her. <<"There are sometimes conflicts in recollection.">>
“I suppose in my case the laser pistol to the head I was lucky to survive accounts for my lost and conflicted memories instead of botched installation.” Helena looked over at Amanda.
<<"You've also been in constant operation for the last few centuries.">> Amanda's mouth spoke. <<"There likely should be buffering errors…994.">>
Helena felt Simon try to answer, but clearly hers did not have that much ability to simply… take over.
"Why aren't you using the transceiver?" she boldly asked.
Amanda's shoulders shrugged, "I still have secrets. The green karats are probable locations for Spacer burrows or colonies. Free Stars had to plan for escape routes when Richard Cameron ordered the arrest of their leadership in the Sol system. The probability for the motive behind the Word of Blake's use of mass bombardment of fault lines on the world of Kowloon in the Lyran Commonwealth, was cover for the destruction of the burrows founded in that system's outer reaches."
“Fair enough. I still have a few I need to keep close to the chest myself. So it is looking like there is an increased probability that the Sons of Plunder have been getting help from possibly as far back as pre-schism Comstar. I can’t think of how else they could have SLIC star charts when we don’t,” Helena frowned.
"The Communication Ministry worked hand-in-glove with SLIC." Desmond said, there was a clear difference in cadence and even pronunciation from Amanda. "Several of the assets I terminated in Glasgow were publicly employees of one, while working for the other… in addition to the military penetrations I scrubbed."
“I always wanted to believe it was post-Jerome Blake when they lost their way, but I think you are right. They had to be involved and deeply for this to even be possible. Too much had to go through the HPG nets.”
"Amanda, this world should be our next mission," Desmond lifted the girl's hand, and pointed at an uncharted system one jump coreward. "There may be information there we can use."
Amanda's expression shifted, "You did that for them, didn't you?" she scolded, then blinked. "Okay, fine…This system's likely to be occupied, but it's got coding for a monitor site belonging to the Resistance, if the site's still there, they'll have data records and recording equipment, and probably archives, since the shade indicates it was active before the fall."
“How about I let you borrow Stacey to go check it out since your ship is still in dock for repairs. She’ll keep you out of trouble. Or if it finds you anyway she’ll be able to get you out of it well enough.” Helena offered.
"I think Stacey for backup. Amanda said. "Our jump signature's half the emergence of a Lola, and we're a smaller lidar and radar return, we pull Stacey in at the outer limit and she can stand by for a close-pass if trouble's in play." Amanda was negotiating, adding, "Desmond, hush."
“Still doesn’t solve the problem of your corvettes being in dock for repairs and will be for some time. No the smart play is jump in farther out than normal, use the comm scanner to take a look, and then go from there.” Helena smiled.
Amanda looked pained, then, "Foster always wants me to write up an operations plan… Will Stacey's crew listen to me? It's important, okay?"
“They will. In fact it might be a little awkward at first but they will listen.”
"I want to pick the rest of my team," she asserted. "I'll need Mister Seron, Mister Bedwyr, Nichols, Sam, and Lori, can your people handle that?"
“Should not be a problem.”
"Then, It's time to break out the bureaucracy tablets." Amanda stated. "Foster won't accept anything short of a proper order of battle and operations plan for any expedition, and he's the man the President put in charge of ME… probably to stem my less… well thought out urges."
.
“There is such a thing as being too successful. It makes one rush when sometimes patience is needed…”
"Yeah, I know. It's how Johnny died," Amanda said. "I didn't think it through and we lost good people." Her expression was grieving and haunted. "I'm trying to do better now."
“I really stepped in it there. That was an unkind reminder.” Helena frowned.
"Unkind reminders are necessary sometimes," the girl said. "I don't hold it against you, because you're right, but also because I was almost wrong…so, let's get to work on writing. I'll take the lead on how Foster likes op plans laid out, and you can help me fill in details, okay?" she smiled.
“Deal. I have surprisingly little experience with paper work. Helps having an AI driven fleet that makes much of it unnecessary I guess.”
"Pshaw! Mister Nichols pointed out to me that the Clan 'Paperless' systems generate more paper than the AFFS!!" Amanda said with a grin. "YOU just got insulated from having to do it by way of being the person it gets forwarded to instead of the one having to generate it."
“There not a insubstantial amount of ‘Fleet’ in mothball. No status update needed.’”
"Ahem…'Maintenance and upkeep reports'," Amanda said. "Even if you didn't see them, I bet if you asked Truk or Billie, someone did."
“That would explain why Truk was extra grumpy during the Jihad.” Helena laughed.
"Exactly. ALICE, can I have a word-processor on this terminal please, Geneva Font, ten point, one centimeter margins?"
“I did bring spare human remotes if ALICE and Erin want them. They’re very easy to customize. But no pressure if they aren’t into that either. Not every one of my AIs do.”
"Ask Alice, right now, watch over my shoulder, you get to help me write an operations order," Amanda stated. "Then Larry will review it, correct it, hand it back, and we get to do the REAL bureaucracy of bringing up all those reports you haven't read to make sure the details are laid out."
“Well ALICE, what do you say? No pressure,” Helena said, looking at ALICE’s camera.
"It might be interesting," ALICE answered. "I don't know why not, but I have my Spiders (drones) is the software similar?"
“It does differ a bit since they are bipedal but it is really easy to get used to.” Billie Hoel smiled.
.
"Lady Cameron? Terminal? Billie, can you and Alice discuss this out in the hallway? I need your boss for the next few hours." Amanda urged.
“Of course. Have fun planning to storm the castle.” Billie walked out.
"Okay, first, you went to school right??" Amanda wasn't looking up as her fingers began typing in commands to generate a specific format. "So you know how to manipulate a database?"
“Been a while, but yes.” Helena set to work.
"Good, then we'll start with linking database fields so we don't have to look everything up fifty million times. Since this is your first, and Foster's going to have refinements, we'll start with the basic ‘FRAGO’ fragmentary order…"
“Well good thing we also have highly sophisticated AIs in our heads to feed us data real time. Help us not screw it up or make duplicate entries.”
"Oh yeah, well, we're doing it in triplicate, one copy for the Fleet Captain, one for Loremaster Howe, and one for the President… and that doesn't include the original we'll be working from," Amanda explained. "Navies operate on Bureaucracy and Logistics, we're going to be covering everything from wear rates to burn times to ration packs before we're done." She paused. "And Fleet Captain Foster likes Contingency plans."
“See that is one advantage of having an AI fleet. You only need one copy. The rest can be digitally referenced. Only us fleshbags need paperwork.”
"You also don't have to report to another Civilian Authority, and probably haven't had to report to a senior military authority either," Amanda countered. "If you were inside a chain of command, instead of being on top? You'd want to know what your subordinates are up to. Trust me on that."
“Starting to think being worshiped as the Eternal Princess is not so bad afterall…” Helena laughed.
Amanda laughed and started showing Helena how to write the order.
Horror stories of MRE cuisines[]
Four Hours Later…
…and Helena was getting the distinct impression that Amanda had been 'taking it easy' as Nichols started marking areas that needed clarifying definitions, highlighting passages that needed contingency planning, and marking down questions about details they'd missed.
"It's not bad, Captain," he said, handing the notecomputer back to Amanda. "but you know Foster's going to ask about those."
"I know… especially the Temporary Duty assignments."
"Yeah… Did… did you help her write this, Lady Cameron? I didn't have to fix any of her punctuation this time."
“Yes. Miss Stuart would have risen from the grave and found the biggest ruler to smack on Amanda’s knuckles for all the punctuation errors. I had to help her with if such a thing were possible,” Helena teased.
"You should see the first time Amanda tried it on her own." His tone was almost fatherly. "I spent six hours fixing spelling and punctuation errors."
"So I'm not a writer!!" Amanda said defensively. "The ideas worked!"
“Neither was I until Miss Stuart nearly broke my knuckles. Dad almost pitched a fit about that, but he decided I deserved it after nearly breaking Lord Kurita’s vase that he sent as a diplomatic gift the same day.” Helena chuckled.
"Amanda broke her grade seven teacher instead," Larry said. "It would be a funny story if the man wasn't a Blakist terrorist."
“Sounds like you got all the worst luck possible Amanda. Well I intend to make that change from here on out.” Helena smiled.
"I have a cool hat, and an imaginary friend who knows card tricks!" Amanda asserted with mock snootiness. "Besides, how many nineteen year olds own a Corvette?"
“Well I suppose I technically owned a fleet at 17, but somehow that makes me feel like a slave owner even thinking about it that way.” Helena flattened her expression.
"Royalty doesn't count," Amanda mock-sulked. "I got mine through hard work and risk-taking!"
"You got yours by having the location given to you by an AI and if I remember right....you had to steal the contents of the galley… and stole the worst MRE's known to man to eat." Larry reminded her. "After which, I had to teach you how to get decent food and talk to people."
“Please tell me the Davion MREs are still good. The ones out of the Hegemony weren’t the worst, but terribly bland. However, the best really came out of Regulus,” Helena offered.
"Meal Ready to Eat, Series 11, 14, and 16." Larry said. "Also known among the Clans as ‘meals rejected by civilians'. Even Davion Field Rations aren't as bad as the Snow Raven take on Chicken a la King, Scrambled Eggs with Sausage, and Cheddar Macaroni with White Sauce Gravy."
"But I liked all those!" Amanda whined.
"NOBODY ELSE DOES!!" Larry boomed before laughing.
“That settles it. I’m breaking out a Regulus MRE. Those things will blow your mind.” Helena laughed.
"Make sure you pick the foodstocks," Larry said. "Trust me, if you want your crew back and not fit to mutiny. YOU pick the food stocks, not Captain Roberts."
“Oh trust me. My fleet is well stocked with the best MREs from across the Inner Sphere. How do you think I know Regulus makes the best MREs?” Helena smiled.
"I'm gonna guess because you've had them," Amanda muttered. "At least let me bring the Party Bucket."
"GOD NO!" Larry shook his head. "Amanda, I think part of the damage they did to you is making you think Orem Industries' 'authentic Mexican cuisine-freeze-dried' is actual FOOD, and not pellets of concentrated herbicide and diuretics."
“That bad?” Helena was clearly shocked.
"Four words: Fart, in, a, Suit." Larry pronounced. "A space suit is a closed environment, the refried bean meal in particular is very good for clearing your lower intestines… and it doesn't care if you're suited up on a twelve hour EVA."
“I’m pretty sure that’s an Ares Conventions violation…”
"If it isn't, it should be." Larry asserted. "So…no ‘party bucket', Captain. I'll go to Foster directly if I have to."
"Alright…"
“Could be worse, could be Folk tofu.” Helena laughed.
"Vacuum dried noodles," Larry reminded her. "with those nasty little almost-tomatoes."
"You're complaining about all the stuff I like, Larry!" Amanda complained. "And didn't you make authentic Bagro? I loved that! That's a Folk tofu dish!!"
"Because I know how to cook it, Amanda." he told her. "Most people don't...and we'll need to move some cargo from the Evanescent to the Stacey, Helena."
"What cargo?"
"About eighteen cubic meters of hardwood." he told her, "Close grain, with root patterns, furniture grade. If there's a Folk or spacer settlement near the zone…"
“It’ll be a nice sweetener for diplomacy.” Helena nodded.
"Exactly."
With the documents corrected (after another two hours), they carried them up to the Station's CIC.
“I have asked Billie Hoel to stay with you, Fleet Captain Foster. In case trouble comes here and to be at your disposal until your vessel is repaired.”
"Generous, you can update the Billie Hoel with your itinerary and have her on the hotline for backup," Foster told her. "I don't like sending solo ships after that ****** over Grankum, so you'll damn well have someone on call, if not in the system with you."
“I have Lucy Heerman as in-system backup and Ottillie Lee Dennis setting up one jump out. The others will be free-roaming no more than one jump from here to respond to counter attacks.”
He nodded along, then, "Mission approved, also the Temporary assignments are approved. Don't get too bold and don't get killed."
“Understood, Fleet Captain. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure everyone comes back safe.” Helena saluted.
He returned it.
Amanda gaped. "You… you never… he never-"
"Helena Cameron's an experienced senior leader, Captain Roberts, I don't have to teach her." Foster stated. "YOU are still learning the job. And I'm actually responsible for you, as your direct senior. Besides, I know you wrote most of this. Sooner or later I have to take the training wheels off and just trust you not to screw it up."
"And that's now?"
Foster nodded. "Go get ready for your recon."
“Come on. You know I think this is the first time I have actually broken my flag in Lucy Heerman? I do it so much in Victoria, but I need to be close enough to keep an eye on you and she’s on other duties.” Helena took Amanda under one arm.
"Yo ho ho." Amanda muttered.
“If everything goes right? Yes, we’ll get to be pirates, with robots.” Helena smiled.
When your Hero takes you under their wings[]
”Welcome aboard…
…Mister Nichols. I know it can be a bit disorienting going from a Corvette to a Destroyer, but Destroyers are the workhorses of any navy so we have to be able to do a little bit of everything. So I am sure once you get to grips with the finer details everything will be real familiar real fast.” Stacy was ecstatic.
She was going to be spending a lot of time with her hero. So she wanted to make a good impression.
She had already briefed her human crew. There would be growing pains no doubt but even among the best crews that was unavoidable when crew rotations happened.
“The Honored one has informed us of what to expect. We are honored to serve.”, Nichols told her.
Larry Nichols looked over the officer, then, "Address me as 'Mister Nichols', you'll address Director Roberts as 'Captain' or 'Skipper'," he said uneasily. "The rest of the embarking staff will be 'Mister' or 'Miss' regardless of rank. If you have any problems with any order you bring it to me. Which ones of you are department heads?"
“I understand, Mister Nichols. You will have to forgive us our peculiarities. It is just our form of military discipline mixed with local culture. We are not slaves or like the Blakists.”
"Then I'll work on understanding," he said with a forced smile. "But I do need to meet with your senior people in each department before the rest of the staff comes aboard, and we'll be holding a 'staff call' before Captain Roberts comes aboard."
“Of course. I think you will find our Commander Air Group more comfortable to deal with. I think I shall arrange for her to be your main point of contact.”
"So long as your CAG can get along with Bedwyr, we'll be fine." Larry said cautiously. "We have six hours-that's how long she's detailed to sleep, before Captain Roberts comes aboard, and as XO, I need to know things before she asks for them. Have you ever worked with an Executive Officer before?"
“As I understand the more traditional structure that would describe my previous role.”
"Good, then you can brief me on your crew, any ongoing internal disagreements, and your procedures. Let's get started, I have six hours to learn this stuff. We'll start with your Watch Rotation and internal shipboard security arrangements."
“Of course. Here is the service manual. Jyestha is our Commander Air Group here. Chief Engineer is Kyle Wittman. Also Ellen Martins commands our marine compliment.”
This was the moment. My god… they don't know. Larry Nichols felt transported back to a shuttle bay, after the MS Larry's Wife had to be scuttled, watching a sixteen year old girl enthusiastically demonstrate absolutely no knowledge of how to keep the ship she'd salvaged working… beyond what she could skim from the tech manuals. "We… have a lot of work to do." Larry said, and sighed. "How much do you rely on the automatics?"
“Oh the Honored one does indeed do most of the work. We help out as best we can.”
No. No. No. Noooo… This is going all wrong… Stacey was in an absolute panic.
Larry paused, "Stacey Roberts, can you hear me?"
“Yes…” Stacey replied sheepishly.
"On the way out, we're going to be conducting drills, practice, and classes, to help you integrate with the Privateer service. This is not going to be criticism or condemnation, but it is going to help you perform the mission better. Do you understand?"
“Yes, sir.” Stacey answered.
"Good, Stacey, I will be serving as your executive officer for this operation. Captain Roberts will be the person in command. Do you accept this?"
“Of course. I hope I can make a better impression with her…”
"Stacey, first thing-you didn't do anything wrong. A few things the wrong way, and we can fix that…but nothing you did is worth being ashamed of. You're an AI, you were built not to have a crew, so nobody taught you, and I guess that's why we're here. So you can learn to do it the right way. Do you understand?"
“I do. Her Ladyship set this up on purpose I think. She knows how much I admire Stacey, her Ladyship's daughter. I will do my best for her.”
"As the ship, you do the best for her. By doing the best you can for the crew and the mission," Larry explained. "You're the only officer who can't be transferred out if they fail, screw up, or get people killed. In a sense, Amanda might be the Commander, but you've got the role of both ship and skipper. So basically my role, but with thicker skin, so I'm going to teach you how to officer, and teach your staff how to be a crew. Are you okay with this? It's important that your consent be genuine, because Amanda has a hot-button around anyone forced into labor, and she'll freak if she thinks you're being coerced."
“I am prepared, Mister Nichols. I have been working at this a long time. I cannot go back to what I was before.”
"Good answer. Do you have the SLDF shipmaster's manual in your data?"
“Of course.”
"Good, does it still have chapters 51 through 55?" he asked. "The title of the section is 'ramming operations'. Does it still have that?"
“Technically yes, but I crossed those out with big red letters saying ‘stupid idea’”
"Wise, delete the sections entirely, then prep to delete 'orbital bombardment' pages 171 through 200, we don't do those either." he told her.
“Understood. I think this would be a good time to specify all special munitions are secured as per Ares Conventions guidelines. I hope we do not need to use those either but when one of our foes is a Texas having canned sunshine is a prudent precaution.”
"Okay, now, do you have on-board printing facilities to make that manual about…" he held his hands apart. "This big?"
“I understand the request, but not being designed for a human crew. Well not much need to actually physically print things. I can put them on notecomputer.”
"Fine, I'll have the printer brought over from my quarters on the Evanescent. We're going to make a manual, and distribute it to the crew," Larry explained. "The cover will be called 'The Smartbook' and it's printed, because hardcopy doesn't need batteries and can't be set in 'edit mode'."
“Of course. One would think I would have learned a few lessons since her Ladyship first saddled me with a human crew 40 or so years ago…”
"Stacey, there are 'admirals' in the AFFS who failed to learn those lessons because their career never demanded it of them. So they didn't bother to learn it in the Academy. OUR job is to make YOU successful."
“Her Ladyship knew this was all going to happen… She really must have… Mister Nichols, I am your pupil.” Stacey seemed much more chipper.
"Not just mine, we're bringing an ace team over. Call it 'Six months of the academy they should have given you' and call it good," he said with a smile to the cameras. "At least you aren't freaking out and getting hysterical. My first day with Captain Roberts had her crying over what was done to her. Anyway, we'll start with going over your department heads, then I'll need to interview them…"
Toast to the Future[]
”It is a huge…
…gamble you are taking mixing crews like that.” Foster grumbled at Helena.
“I know but it has to be done and the sooner we do it the better. At least it’s a reasonably low risk op and they’ll be good for each other. Your Mister Nichols will get Stacey and her crew sorted out, Stacey will make sure they don’t bite off more than they can chew.”
“I still do not like it. A good way to tempt fate. I am only letting it go forward because you are right about us needing to start mixing crews to grow the officer pool and that you will be there with plenty of help nearby.” Foster grabbed at his tumbler of whiskey.
“There is that.”
Of course I have only personally led two actions and am actually green as hell in my own way. Been getting rather lucky with my calls so far.
“Still I know you will help Billie Hoel do the same. There are some things I can not teach that my fleet needs to learn.” Helena continued.
“I think I fear for us all should you turn that mind of yours against humanity.” Foster raised his tumbler.
“I am not infallible. I make tons of mistakes.” Helena countered.
“None of that changes the fact you clearly have an incredible intellectual advantage over us mere mortals.”
“Not immortal.” Helena raised her own tumbler.
“Close enough in my book.”
Impossible woman, Helena Cameron[]
“Don’t know how…
… my panties got there. I mean Simon is actually making damned sure I know. But I am pretty sure we broke at least two laws of physics to do it.” Helena was cuddling with Leon.
“You are an impossible woman, Helena Cameron. I think I shall never fully comprehend you and all that you are capable of. So for me there are no limits as to what feats you can perform.” Leon rubbed her shoulder gently.
“This is all so new for me. I have never had to do this before. Leave someone behind I have grown to care for. Quite deeply at that.”
“The Clan way does not teach about romantic love. Paternal love, courage, camaraderie yes, but not romantic love. So this is new for me too. I find I wish I could go with you.” Leon kissed her.
“But we both know how that could be a huge mistake just waiting to happen.” Helena kissed Leon back.
“I think I am beginning to understand that. We would not be able to do our duties properly. It would also be terrible for discipline.” Leon reasoned.
“I can not wait for this war to be over.” Helena sighed.
“As much as my colleagues would be shocked to hear me admit, I find I must agree.”
“Well since you get to stay here I call dibs on the shower.” Helena stuck her tongue out at Leon.
“You truly are an impossible woman.” Leon grunted.
Dealing with the guilt of command[]
"So, since our last appointment…
…how have you been feeling?" Dr. Stettler wasn't on any ship's particular staff, he was assigned directly to the base.
"Well…I still have the nightmares," Amanda said. "Seeing Johnny sliding over the telescope array, screaming in hyperspace… seeing my crew die."
"And…?"
"It's always my fault," she said. "Every time."
"What do you think these nightmares are trying to tell you?" he asked neutrally.
"That my screw up got them killed, and it can happen again," she said quietly. "I planned the Grankum operation, Doctor. It was my mistakes that made that happen."
"Is this impacting your ability to perform your duty? Have you felt hesitation or uncertainty because of it?"
She wavered her palm, "Maybe. Foster seems to trust me MORE..."
"Perhaps he has a point?"
"I don't know, I'm not sure. They're giving me an AI to babysit on this recon mission coming up… I don't know if I'm babysitting her, or she's supposed to be babysitting me, maybe they don't trust me so much now?"
"Does your crew?"
She was silent, then, “I think so?"
"Doubt, including self-doubt, is normal for an officer in your position, Captain." he said. "These feelings are normal. They may not be justified, or they might be, but it is normal to question your judgment, especially after a shock." He paused.
"What if it isn't justified?"
"That's up to you. I can only help you recognize problems and offer suggestions, whether you take the next steps or not, is entirely on you. I don't think you need to be removed from duty, I'm going to sign you off as 'fit', but suggest you consider this new caution to be an asset, instead of a liability."
She was uncertain.
"Remember to keep up your journal entries, Captain, since you'll be away." he added. "Remember to read them back to yourself from time to time, it actually does help when you can't speak with a professional."