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Chapter 21 - The Broken Commonwealth[]
Freiheit Salon Bordello
Gibbs Star System, Lyran Commonwealth
Late 3146
The doors opened, and the bouncer stumbled backward.
Duchess Sharon Ngo stepped forward through the doors, Full Dress overgarment with long overcoat flapping in the temporary breeze caused by the violent act. "Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, this establishment has been published as off-limits to Lyran Commonwealth Naval Personnel." she took another step forward, as the bouncer tried to rise. She dropped him with an open-handed slap to the side of his head.
Behind her, a four man team in Gray Death Light Scout armor carrying the markings of the LCAF's provost stepped in, their weapons mounts sporting non-lethal suppression weapons.
"You can't do that here!" the receptionist squeaked.
"Funny, I'm doing it. Everyone out of the rooms, now please. Non-military personnel and employees will be compensated. If there are any and I mean any Commonwealth naval personnel using your services, they will be removed."
"We paid the bribe!!" said the receptionist
"Dear, you may pay the city officials whatever bribes you wish. It is no concern of mine." Sharon stated, "Having officers unfit for duty with venereal diseases, or being blackmailed? that is my concern. As I stated, employees discomfited by this necessary disciplinary action will be compensated, and civilians may go as they wish. I am only here for my officers."
A further squad of LCAF military police entered from the rear, and spread out, opening doors with the announcement "Hands Behind Your Neck!!"
Within a few minutes several patrons of the establishment were being hustled into the anteroom, though one was being dragged by his neck in a frog-march with his pants around his knees, face painted in makeup.
"Ah, Admiral Fleist." Sharon said, "Interesting makeup, I think the plum makes you look pallid. Do you know who I am?"
The man's frustration and indignity gave way to stark horror. "You- You are Sharon Ngo!!"
"That's right, I'm also your boss. I have determined that the progress at the naval refit yard is unsatisfactory. Your assurance that everything that can be done is being done, strikes me as hollow. As your claim of devotedly focusing all efforts on meeting standards..." she looked around, "...I remain unimpressed. Kaporal, you may release Herr Fleist." she reached into her overcoat, and drew out a stack of papers, "This is your resignation. You will sign it. Now, or you will be relieved for cause and face charges of gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and..." she looked him over, "..gross moral violations. Kaporal, did you check the identity of the whore he was with? Is she of age?"
"He is, Mum." Koporal reported
"Well, we can forget the morals charges then." she said casually, "Sign the form, Admiral. I believe your lady wife may find your conduct...of interest. It's a shame I simply don't care."
She turned to the next man. "Colonel, you're ground forces. Kaporal, let him go. He is Reinhardt Steiner's problem, not mine."
She stepped to the next person in line. "Commander, leather suits you. Your vessel is unfit for service, your duties are incomplete."
She eyed four more officers, including the aforementioned ground forces officer, "Let me make this perfectly clear-all passes are revoked until the Gibbs Squadrons are up to the standard, including officer's privileges. This conduct is abhorrent to the values of the Lyran Commonwealth Navy. I will not tolerate dereliction, gold-bricking, nepotism, or misconduct by those entrusted by this nation with positions of leadership."
She swiped a backhand at the next senior officer, knocking him to the floor. "We are under wartime discipline. The next violation will see formal charges and subsequent violations will be dealt with under Admiralty Law as sabotage with appropriate sentencing. My grandmother shot a man for malfeasance, and that was in peacetime. do not test me." she turned to the Provost team's Lieutenant. "Escort them to their place of duty, in the condition they are presently in. Be certain to inform watch officers what has transpired here...in detail. dismissed."
Next Day
The wave of reliefs for cause really began on the second day, as Sharon set to work reorganizing the fleet. It began with the arrival of a cadre of junior officers and senior NCO's carrying questionnaires.
Very quickly, this became known as 'The Archon's Inquisition'.
Jumpship and warship commanders who could not calculate a transitory jump point, engineering officers who couldn't balance the magnetics in a powerplant, and weapons officers who could not balance thermal output or explain procedures for manual targeting were relieved immediately.
Dropship officers who could not plot burn-days without mechanical aids were relieved. Fighter squadron commanders unfamiliar with basic tactics, communication protocols, or who did not know how their fighters operated joined a growing number of commissioned men and women down at the loading docks with a new assignment: Carrying boxes and crates from one place to another.
Under guard.
Meanwhile, ships and crew were down-checked and another cadre. This time in skin-suits with blank rank patches, moved in to begin refresher training.
Every pass and every leave was cancelled. Personnel ON leave were rounded up by Provost and brought to their duty stations post-haste, sometimes without their clothes.
For fifty years, the Lyran Commonwealth Navy was little more than a mix part-time taxi service and full time gentleman's club. The arrival of Chief of Naval Operations Sharon Elizabeth Ngo gave the old boys club a punch right to the groin and she wasn't finished punching yet..