ASC Chesapeake
In orbit of Vega II
November 14, 2505
11:30 Hours GST-Z
Harrigan looked over another set of crew rosters for *ASC Galaxy *at the XO station. *Chesapeake *was still in orbit of Vega II, and Astra was in orbit as well. Both cruisers were on a bread run, filling their cargo holds with grains, fruits, and vegetables bound for the Astro Corps bases at Proxima 3 and Alpha Centauri 4. Brenda would be in his life at least for the next few days. Would he want to see her again?
He really cared for her, but she only seemed to reciprocate when she needed someone to spend the day or night with. John was not a casual person. He wanted a relationship with Brenda. They had been on and off throughout the Academy years. Once they earned their postings, she broke it off, and hard. He remembered going back to his dorm that night and trying not to be crushed by her.
"Sir?" Ensign Rodriguez handed him a kelocite fuel-consumption report on a datapad. Harrigan took it, looked it over, and double-checked the numbers. The calculations from engineering did not match his own.
"Ensign, these numbers aren't matching my figures. Have the engineers double-checked their work." Harrigan handed the pad back.
"Sir, your calculations are from last week. Begging your pardon, sir, but I don't think you've done them for this week yet." Rodriguez pointed at the date on Harrigan's screen.
"You're right, Ensign. Good catch." Harrigan opened his files, quickly and efficiently ran the day's numbers, and made his corrections. "They match now, Ensign. Tell Commander Dregon we'll need to take on a load of kelocite at Proxima 3." He thumbed the datapad and handed it back.
Rodriguez turned to go, but Harrigan called him back. "Ensign, do you have a minute?"
"Sir?" Rodriguez furrowed his brow, bracing for a correction.
"What's your position here?"
"Supply clerk under Lieutenant Haskins, logistics department."
"What job do you really want, if you had a choice?"
"I'd like to be an operations officer, sir. I'd even take Delta shift work."
"You have an operations rating? Logged any CC time at ops?" Harrigan met the young man's eyes.
"No, sir, not yet."
"Damn. I can't offer you a promotion until you log those hours on the CC. Let me talk to Captain Braggart. You've got an eye for detail, and we can always use that up here, especially on the CC." Harrigan nodded at him.
"I'd be grateful, Commander."
"I know you would. Rodriguez, I have a Delta shift ops position open for my new command in March. If I can get you the time, it'll be tight, but if you can log the hours by February 27. You do that; I'll offer you a commission as lieutenant and make you my Delta-watch ops officer aboard ASC Galaxy. You familiar with her?"
Rodriguez's eyes widened and a bright smile spread across his face. He could barely contain himself. He stepped back before answering.
"Yes, sir, a Saturn-class cruiser? Me? Are you sure, sir? Me?"
"I don't make mistakes, Ensign. If you do the work, I'll give you the job." Harrigan turned back to his screen and punched in Rodriguez's name with the rank of lieutenant, pending. "Does that look good to you, Juan?" Harrigan surprised him by using his first name.
"Yes, sir, I won't let you down."
"I know you won't. Better get that report and my message to engineering."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir." Rodriguez saluted. Harrigan returned the salute, and Rodriguez bounded down the command island toward the lift with renewed purpose. Harrigan watched him go and turned back to his rosters, satisfied.
"Made his day, John." Braggart's voice boomed from the direction of his office. He walked up the steps and dropped into the captain's chair. "You didn't actually take the conn while I was working in the office?"
"No, sir, just rosters. I've got a December first deadline, and I'm trying to get it done early in case I need to make adjustments."
"John, don't apologize. We're on a food run. Not much is happening. But we should make the transfer official. Technically, you still have the conn." Braggart smiled.
"Of course, Captain. I stand relieved."
"You are relieved, Commander."
"ASC Chesapeake command transfer from Commander John Michael Harrigan to Captain Ezekiel Morgan Braggart, 11:38 hours GST-Z," the ship's AI announced and logged.
"So, you're poaching Rodriguez? Last-minute decision?"
"No, sir. I've seen his work ethic. Haskins is keeping him trapped in logistics because he knows a gem when he finds one. I expect Dan will be pissed when he hears about it, if you approve, sir."
"Hell yeah, I approve. Juan's a good kid. Delta shift, huh? Going to keep him there?"
"For a bit. He'll earn his way up. I, like you, Captain, believe in the 'economy of merit' concept they drilled into us at the Academy."
"That's great. Make sure they earn it, though. You have your senior staff picked yet?" Braggart leaned over, trying to see Harrigan's screen.
"Almost. I need an Alpha shift ops officer. I think I have my XO figured out."
"Who'd you pick?" Braggart tapped his own console to pull up logs.
"I picked Daniel Masterson from the ASC Dunkirk."
"I served with Dan years ago under Pinkerton back in his captain's days. Good tactical officer. I hear he's a ball-busting XO, though."
"I figured with me being inexperienced, I could use one like Dan."
"It's a way to go, John. But consider this. Dan's fifty-two. You're thirty-five, soon to be thirty-six. If you were a second or third commissioned captain like me, I'd say Dan's a perfect pick."
Harrigan turned toward Braggart, giving him his full attention. "Sir, you think I'd get run over by him?"
"John, I've seen it happen plenty of times. Men like you get run over and around by the XO. Oh, he'll do what you want, but men like him become the proper authority on the ship. You're a first-time captain at thirty-six. That rank's usually handed out between twenty-eight and thirty-four."
"Yes, sir, but my situation's not uncommon."
"No, John, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying you should pick a younger XO you can mold into what you want. Make Galaxy your ship. Then, when that XO gets promoted, reach out to a man like Dan."
"I hadn't considered that angle. Thank you, Zeke."
"John, I want you to succeed. I held you back like a selfish ass. The least I can do is make sure you're successful." Braggart tapped him on the shoulder.
"Thank you, sir. Held me back? Sir, I loved working for you. Still do. I'll miss you and this ship." Harrigan nodded, confirming the bond forged through years of service.
"I'll miss all of you, too. Now before we blubber, let's get some damn work done." Braggart smiled.
"Aye, sir." Harrigan turned back to his roster. He removed Dan Masterson and slotted his second choice, Commander Bryan McKenzie, currently serving as comms officer aboard the ASC Orion.
"Commander Harrigan, a communique for you, sir, from Captain Nelson on the Astra."
Braggart looked over out of the corner of his eye, trying to hide a smirk. He knew the history between Harrigan and Nelson and suspected how Harrigan's liberty had gone. It was no wonder the commander had been quiet since returning. Harrigan put on his headset and tapped into the comm line.
"Put her through, Commander McDonald."
"Aye, sir," McDonald answered, punching in the routing codes.
Captain Brenda Nelson filled the monitor. She smiled. She looked great as usual, her eyes bright and her grin brighter. God, she's so beautiful. But she knows it too, Harrigan thought.
"Captain Nelson, what can I do for you?" he asked, as clipped and professional as he could manage.
"Taking this call on the CC? That's a ballsy move, Johnny." She winked and gave him that mischievous grin.
"Taking risks is the name of the game, ma'am." Harrigan knew eyes and ears around the CC were straining to hear. Great. So my love life's the entertainment now. February first can't get here fast enough, he thought as she began speaking again.
"Looks like Astra and Chesapeake are heading for Proxima 3. Then we're off to Io Shipyards. We'll be there two days with you guys."
"That's what my schedule says, Captain."
"Zeke trying to listen in? The rest of your CC crew?" she teased.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh damn, I have to make this good then. Look, Johnny, there's a hotel with formal ballrooms, dancing, and all that corny bullshit you like. I want to treat you, since you showed me such a great time the other night. What do you say?"
He winced, visibly enough for her to notice.
"I didn't think it was that bad an offer, Johnny." Her eyes flashed with hurt. She was clearly calling from the privacy of her captain's office.
"No, ma'am, it's a great idea. Just, well, you know."
"John, I want a good time with a distinguished man who'll make me feel special for the night. I'd prefer it be you, but it can be someone else if that's your preference." That last barb cut deep.
"Captain, that's a command decision only you can make. It's above my pay grade."
"Johnny, don't frag with me. You'll be at the Hotel Celestica on Proxima 3 tomorrow night at twenty-hundred hours. If you're not, do me the courtesy of calling. Can you at least do that at your pay grade?"
"Yes, Captain, that I can and will do for you. Plan on my attendance." He saw Davy at the helm, shaking his head.
"Very good, Commander. Oh, and Johnny, dress uniform. It's a black-tie kind of place, but they'll tolerate dress blacks."
"Very good, ma'am."
"See you then. Nelson out." Her face faded from the screen.
Harrigan looked up to find Miller, McDonald, and Braggart all watching him. He rolled his eyes at Zeke.
"Brenda Nelson? How many times do you have to let her burn you before you learn not to touch?" Braggart asked quietly.
"Have you seen her, Captain? I don't blame him," Davy piped up from helm.
"While I'm pleased you're all so concerned for my love life, or whatever the hell this is, can we please just do our work?" Harrigan pleaded for mercy from the CC court.
"Don't worry, Commander. What's said on the CC stays on the CC," Katie Miller said from ops. She sent him a private text on his wrist comm. Every officer had their own frequency.
John, I know your feelings for her, but she's always going to love you and leave you. You will not be my superior much longer. I can make you forget Captain Nelson.
Harrigan turned to face Miller at ops. She winked, and he blushed, turning back to bury himself in his rosters.
"It's complicated, Captain. That's all I can say."
"Okay, John. I just don't need you brooding around here after we leave Proxima 3."
"I won't, sir. So, I picked Commander McKenzie," John said, eager to change the subject.
"I saw his file. An outstanding officer. Impetuous, but solid. Should make a good XO with proper guidance."
"Yes, sir. I had an exemplary model to pattern myself after." Harrigan looked Braggart in the eyes. Braggart understood. In a few months these men would lead vastly new lives. The inevitable march of progress had intruded upon both, but they felt ready for what came next.