Read Online Rust Bucket by Atk. Butterfly - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Atk. Butterfly
Ads: Link
still the junior officer, I remained in hydroponics.
      Because of our poor showing, I hoped that the other two ships would be repaired before we went out again, but such wasn't to be. We left port before they were ready as a four ship squadron. Our ship was in the lead when we came across an enemy scout that we proceeded to blow to pieces. I didn't need combat videos to know whose gun tore the scout to pieces, but I kept my mouth shut when it seemed that everyone was trying to claim credit. It was just as well for their attitude of superiority wasn't to last long. The scout managed to get off a warning message despite the fact that we dispatched him to his grave in record time for Navy units. It was nowhere near what the company ships could do, but that was apples and oranges. Our ships should have sent a message at that time, as well, since our position was known to the enemy and given out information to our forces that might have helped.
      We continued on to our patrol area, too confident within our command structure for our own good. We ran into eight heavy ships of the alien forces who proceeded to tear into our squadron from ambush. Only the fact that Frank was piloting kept us from being hit at first. I also pulled my first insubordination by announcing "battle stations" the old way. The Pennyweight personnel understood my meaning immediately and fired at the eight enemy vessels as Frank did his best to evade their shots and continue on. We lost two of our ships outright while the other ship was damaged heavily. Somehow the other ship managed to stay by our side as we fought our way through the ambush and out beyond them. At that point, we were cut off from our base when the Commander of the Squadron called me to the bridge.
      "By what authority did you give the command for battle stations and open fire?" he demanded angrily.
      "By what authority do you have the gall to even demand to know why I bothered to save this ship and your hide?" I answered just as angrily, upset that he had taken us into a trap and was too frozen in his command chair to give the orders for us to open fire. "Right now, you can court-martial me, though I doubt that you'll be able to explain it when the combat videos are processed. You can do that or you can take credit for saving what little command you have left and I'll keep my mouth shut when we get to port."
      He looked at me with almost the same frozen behavior that I learned of on the way to the bridge. Evidently, he must have decided to back off and take what credit could be salvaged from the whole mess. At least, if we could get back, we could report losing two ships and destroying two in the ambush, provided that the other ship with us could make it back. I didn't wait for his decision and walked out on him, leaving him to ponder his own fate, now that he was still alive, while I went back about my duties. To make it even worse, the moron didn't have the sense to try to chew me out in private, so our conversation got around to the rest of the ship in no time at all.
***
At the staff meeting the next morning, our situation was discussed a little more rationally.
      "We're here in the Lima Juliette Quadrant. The Avenger is heavily damaged with casualties equalling almost half her crew. Any suggestions, gentlemen?" the Captain asked.
      "Yes," I answered. "Have them land on a suitable planet to make repairs. If they can't, then we'll land to pick up their personnel. Their ship can be recovered later for repairs by Navy salvage teams. In their condition, they can't defend themselves. We can't afford to be tied down to them in space when we need to be fluid in battle. That's the only way to give their personnel the best chance for survival and the Navy the chance to re-use their skills."
"But we'll be alone. . ." he almost whined
      Because of our poor showing, I hoped that the other two ships would be repaired before we went out again, but such wasn't to be. We left port before they were ready as a four ship squadron. Our ship was in the lead when we came across an enemy scout that we proceeded to blow to pieces. I didn't need combat videos to know whose gun tore the scout to pieces, but I kept my mouth shut when it seemed that everyone was trying to claim credit. It was just as well for their attitude of superiority wasn't to last long. The scout managed to get off a warning message despite the fact that we dispatched him to his grave in record time for Navy units. It was nowhere near what the company ships could do, but that was apples and oranges. Our ships should have sent a message at that time, as well, since our position was known to the enemy and given out information to our forces that might have helped.
      We continued on to our patrol area, too confident within our command structure for our own good. We ran into eight heavy ships of the alien forces who proceeded to tear into our squadron from ambush. Only the fact that Frank was piloting kept us from being hit at first. I also pulled my first insubordination by announcing "battle stations" the old way. The Pennyweight personnel understood my meaning immediately and fired at the eight enemy vessels as Frank did his best to evade their shots and continue on. We lost two of our ships outright while the other ship was damaged heavily. Somehow the other ship managed to stay by our side as we fought our way through the ambush and out beyond them. At that point, we were cut off from our base when the Commander of the Squadron called me to the bridge.
      "By what authority did you give the command for battle stations and open fire?" he demanded angrily.
      "By what authority do you have the gall to even demand to know why I bothered to save this ship and your hide?" I answered just as angrily, upset that he had taken us into a trap and was too frozen in his command chair to give the orders for us to open fire. "Right now, you can court-martial me, though I doubt that you'll be able to explain it when the combat videos are processed. You can do that or you can take credit for saving what little command you have left and I'll keep my mouth shut when we get to port."
      He looked at me with almost the same frozen behavior that I learned of on the way to the bridge. Evidently, he must have decided to back off and take what credit could be salvaged from the whole mess. At least, if we could get back, we could report losing two ships and destroying two in the ambush, provided that the other ship with us could make it back. I didn't wait for his decision and walked out on him, leaving him to ponder his own fate, now that he was still alive, while I went back about my duties. To make it even worse, the moron didn't have the sense to try to chew me out in private, so our conversation got around to the rest of the ship in no time at all.
***
At the staff meeting the next morning, our situation was discussed a little more rationally.
      "We're here in the Lima Juliette Quadrant. The Avenger is heavily damaged with casualties equalling almost half her crew. Any suggestions, gentlemen?" the Captain asked.
      "Yes," I answered. "Have them land on a suitable planet to make repairs. If they can't, then we'll land to pick up their personnel. Their ship can be recovered later for repairs by Navy salvage teams. In their condition, they can't defend themselves. We can't afford to be tied down to them in space when we need to be fluid in battle. That's the only way to give their personnel the best chance for survival and the Navy the chance to re-use their skills."
"But we'll be alone. . ." he almost whined
Similar Books
![Siren in Bloom [Texas Sirens 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/601901/thumbs/152x264/siren-in-bloom-texas-sirens-6-siren-publishing-menage-everlasting.png)
