Io Shipyards–Berthing Bay 48
ASC Galaxy in dock
February 1, 2506
0600 hours GST-Z
The shuttle pod soared toward the massive, ringed facility encircling Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, a fitting place for the Alliance's main shipyard. Jupiter's great red eye stood guard while Io's violent surface glowed beneath. Awe came naturally in such a place.
Harrigan stood, unable to contain the excitement rising in his chest. His palms were damp, his throat dry, but his nerves remained steady. Today he came aboard as captain. The shakedown crew was rotating off.
Only one of his officers was already aboard: Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Lasiter. He had studied her file with Captain Braggart, and it was impressive. They had exchanged a few messages but today would be the actual test. He had ordered his senior staff to report by 0800 tomorrow, though he intended to see who showed early. That would tell him who he could rely on.
The pod swept over the berthing bay, and there she was. Galaxy. Sleek and new, her rounded bow swept back into the diamond-shaped vortex-drive housing. On her topside near deck one gleamed the lettering ASC Galaxy SC-2499. Fresh armor plating shone in the floodlights while warm interior light spilled from her viewports. Her lower decks were fitted with barracks and training facilities. Harrigan's pulse quickened. She would carry six hundred crew and up to four thousand troops.
"Io Shuttle 118 requesting dock with ASC Galaxy. Bringing crew and Captain Harrigan aboard."
"Shuttle 118, this is Galaxy Control. Decelerate to one-quarter port speed and stand by for tractor beam. Once engaged, cut engines."
"Aye, Galaxy Control. Reducing to one-quarter port speed, standing by for tractor."
Harrigan strapped back into his seat. The beam caught, pulling the shuttle smoothly into the cavernous bay. It settled onto magnetic rails and slid to the central turntable. A moment later, green lights winked across the pilot's panel.
"You're cleared, sir," the pilot said.
"Thank you, pilot."
"Godspeed, Captain."
Harrigan stepped down onto the deck. Even now, the sheer scale of his new command pressed on him. Seven hundred fifty meters long, three hundred fifty wide. The largest cruiser the Alliance had built, though rumor said the next class would make even these look small.
A young ensign waited at attention. When Harrigan approached, the officer snapped, "Attention on deck."
The nearby crew stiffened, and Galaxy's AI carried the announcement ship wide. "Attention, crew of the* Galaxy*. Captain John Harrigan arriving."
The ensign saluted.
"Ensign," Harrigan said with a faint smile. "Not much of an honor detail for a new captain."
The young man blanched. "No, sir. Commander Maddox has rotated most of the officers ashore. I did not intend any offense."
He thinks he's already stepped wrong. Harrigan softened his tone. "I'm joking, Ensign. I came early to avoid the pomp. Is Commander Maddox on the command center?"
"Yes, Captain. He's waiting to turn the ship over to you."
"Then I'll see him there." Harrigan glanced back at the bay crew. "As you were. Carry on."
They bent back to their tasks at once.
"Do you need directions, sir?" the ensign asked.
"No. I've spent a month in simulators. I know my way."
"Very good, Captain. Welcome aboard. Godspeed."
"Thank you, Ensign. Good luck on your next posting."
Harrigan crossed to the lift and keyed deck one. The car thrummed upward from the belly of the ship. He smoothed his tunic and set his shoulders. Project authority until it feels natural.
The doors parted onto the command center. A Marine guard snapped to attention and called out, "Captain on deck."
Watch standers turned from their stations. Harrigan strode to the command island. "As you were," he ordered.
A broad-shouldered officer stepped forward, hand extended. "Captain Harrigan, Commander Maddox, sir."
Harrigan returned the handshake.
"Would you like to assume command now, or wait until more of your crew arrives?"
"I'll wait, Commander. No point interfering with your people while you transition off."
Maddox chuckled. "Appreciated, sir. No offense, but most new captains make this day a royal pain."
"Then I'll do my best not to join that list." Harrigan smiled.
"I can already tell I'll like you, sir. Your crew will embark from Io. They'll muster thirty minutes before report time. The officer of the watch will check them in. Do you know who that will be?"
"Depends who shows up early."
"Fair enough. Senior officers usually do. Everyone wants to impress the new captain."
"I hope so. I'll be in my cabin. Call me if I'm needed."
"Aye, sir. Welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Commander."
Harrigan moved toward the lift, pausing at the dedication plaque. The service date remained unetched. Until the crew came aboard and he took full command, Galaxy was not truly a ship of the line.
He rested a hand on the cold metal. "Hello, my friend. We'll be running soon. And when we are, we'll make history together."
He stepped into the lift and keyed deck eight, officers' quarters.
He still had several hours before his officers reported aboard. Time enough to see how the ship's heartbeats were running.
ASC Galaxy Shuttle Bay
0730 Hours GST-Z
Dr. Lasiter hurried through the corridor and stepped onto the landing bay deck. Marines were forming up boarding transports bound for their next posting. Lasiter had debated whether to come, but at last decided she had to. She needed to say goodbye to Corporal Rourke.
Lasiter scanned the lines until she found him, waiting near the second to last transport.
"Robert," she called, jogging to his side.
Rourke turned, breaking into a wide smile. "Doc, I didn't expect to see you today." His grin carried a warmth she rarely felt from men in uniform.
"I wanted to say goodbye before you shipped out. And to thank you."
He tilted his head. "Thank me? For what?"
"For being my friend and making me feel like I mattered here. Most people overlook me, but you never did." She steadied herself, fighting the pull of emotion.
"Just doing my duty, ma'am. Truth is, I'm not happy about leaving. I could have gotten used to serving here. She's a grand ship, and you're an important part of her crew."
"That's kind, Robert." Her voice faltered. "So, I suppose all that's left is goodbye."
He reached out, lifting her chin so her eyes met his.
"I don't do goodbyes, Doc. I'll just say until next time. Who knows, we may meet again."
His smile masked the pain behind it. He leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips.
Surprised by the kiss, she froze. He was gentle and warm. When they separated, she looked into his eyes. He loved her. She could see it as clearly as if he had spoken the words aloud. Rourke was safe, and in another time and place she could give herself to a man like him. The thought stirred something inside her, a small ache she had not expected.
However, the universe had already written the coming separation, and she accepted it with quiet reluctance.
"I guess until next time, Robert."
She hugged him and rested her head against his chest. Despite the love in his eyes, her heart held back. She was hurting with the upcoming separation, but she did not let it show.
He turned to board the shuttle. He did not look back for fear of breaking in front of her.
Dr. Lasiter stood and watched as he climbed aboard. Her heart ached, not with crushing loss, but with the sting of parting from a dear friend. If time and circumstances had been different, perhaps it could have been something more. For the rest of today she would feel that ache. Ideally, she would go to her quarters, eat chocolate or ice cream, listen to melancholy music, and return to work tomorrow. However, she was a CMO now, and she did not have that luxury. Duty called.
Hurt all the way out of the shuttle bay and to the lift, Jennifer. Once you get on the lift, duty is your focus. Hurt tonight on your own time. Right now you're on Corps time, she thought. Duty beckoned.
Word was already spreading that the new captain had come aboard. Perhaps she would meet with him before the command team arrived. She still had problems with the quartermaster to resolve. By the time she left the shuttle bay and stepped into the lift, her thoughts were already shifting back to her duty, but the ache was still there.
ASC Galaxy Infirmary
1230 hours GST-Z
Harrigan entered the infirmary and felt immediate admiration. While the ship's corridors were still cluttered with crates and crew storing supplies, the infirmary was stocked and orderly. Clean, pristine, and ready. He had expected some preparation, but not to this level.
Dr. Lasiter, he thought, was a thorough and efficient leader. He liked that. If she ran her infirmary as well as she had organized it, his crew would be in expert hands. Harrigan never understood why some captains warred with their medical staff. A ship's fighting ability suffered without medical staff.
He spotted a young officer, Lieutenant Ramos, who saluted sharply. Harrigan returned the salute and asked where the doctor was. Ramos pointed him to the central office. Logical placement, Harrigan thought. He pressed the door chime.
"Come in," a crisp voice answered.
Dr. Lasiter sat behind her desk, chewing a stylus and reviewing three datapads at once, none of which seemed to satisfy her. She looked up, spotted the stars and bars on his collar, and quickly rose to salute.
"Captain, I am sorry, I—"
"Looks busy enough to me. I like that, Doctor. I just wanted to introduce myself. At the moment, you're the only senior officer aboard." He smiled and extended his hand.
She shook it firmly. Her green eyes sparkled, her brunette hair pulled into a neat ponytail beneath her white doctor's coat. She projected confidence and competence, and that put him at ease. He had always been a little uneasy around doctors. Authority of a different kind.
"Nice to meet you, Captain Harrigan," she said, returning the smile.
"Doctor, I am impressed. Very organized, and it looks ready for launch."
She winced slightly. "Thank you, sir, but we're far from launch ready. I've been having trouble with the quartermaster's office on Io."
Harrigan sat in the chair opposite her desk. She moved the datapads aside. "I requested a full stock up. With minimal crew aboard, I figured it would be easier for the loaders to move about the ship."
"Sensible. Practical. Officer thinking, Doctor." Harrigan gave her a reassuring smile.
"I thought so, but Ensign Merryman is stalling me. I think he's hiding behind regulations because he doesn't want the paperwork."
"Has he said this to you?"
"No, sir. He keeps telling me we're not an active ship of the line and that they will supply us when we go active. I didn't know active status mattered." She slumped, frustration written across her face.
"It only does if multiple ships are leaving port. With just three launches this week, it shouldn't matter. I can see this is upsetting you."
"I've found that many in the service feel comfortable overlooking or sidestepping their medical officers."
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I see you and I hear your frustrations. There's no justification for the QM to put you off. Would you like to visit him in person? I'll tag along and step in if needed."
She studied him for a moment. He was offering to help, rare in her experience. The QM had been rude, and she would not mind seeing how her new captain handled such things. She nodded.
"Yes, sir. I'd like that."
"Good. After you, Doctor." Harrigan rose and gestured toward the door.
She walked ahead, and he followed, curious to see just how formidable his new medical officer could be.
Io Shipyards–Quartermaster's Office
1320 Hours GST-Z
Ensign Merryman looked exactly as Harrigan had pictured him. He lingered just outside the office door while Dr. Lasiter entered. Merryman had the look of a man born to shuffle papers, every inch the supply clerk.
"Good afternoon, Ensign," Dr. Lasiter said.
"Commander Lasiter," Merryman replied without saluting or standing. The lack of respect was plain. Harrigan's jaw tightened.
"I'm resubmitting my requisition list," she said, placing the datapad on his desk.
Merryman picked it up and handed it back. "Keep your list, Commander. I have four ships ahead of you. They're the priority. You're not even active duty yet."
"We will be within two days. I want to stock everything fully so we can launch on the first day."
"I will not order this. You need to wait. Why can't you understand? I have a priority list, and you're not on it."
Harrigan had heard enough. Not on my ship or hers.
"Ensign Merryman," he said evenly as he stepped into the room. "Captain John Harrigan of ASC Galaxy."
Merryman bolted upright and saluted, his face turning red. Harrigan returned the salute calmly, seizing the initiative.
"I see you know proper respect for the chain of command, Ensign. Did you not realize Commander Lasiter is your superior?"
"Sir, I—"
"Clearly you missed her insignia. She wears commander's bars. She is my CMO, but she carries rank. Dr. Lasiter, would you come here a moment?"
Dr. Lasiter stepped closer, her lab coat still showing the pins clearly. Harrigan's voice stayed calm, but it carried steel.
"I thought perhaps her coat hid her pins. But no, you saw them. So, tell me, Ensign, are you only rude to officers you think you can bully?"
"No disrespect intended, sir. I was just explaining the priority list."
"Those regulations apply to ships slated for combat actions, not peacetime loadouts. Did you know that, Ensign?"
"No, sir. My lieutenant told me to prioritize active cruisers."
"Then your lieutenant is a man of order, and I respect that. But you should know ASC Galaxy has completed trials. The shake-down crew is departing, and the new crew arrives tomorrow. Dr. Lasiter requested resupply while the corridors were empty. It is sound officer thinking. And as far as I can tell, commander's bars outrank a lieutenant's double bars. Do you agree?"
"Yes, sir."
"So, you understand she is Astro Corps. She wears the uniform. She is an officer of the Corps. Yet I heard you dismiss her with disrespect. That is unacceptable. You will see to her requisitions."
"Captain, you're strong-arming me. You imply disciplinary action if I don't comply?"
"Not an implication, Ensign. A certainty. The smartest thing you've said all day." Harrigan's voice sharpened just enough to draw sweat from Merryman's brow.
Merryman shifted uneasily. "Maybe I overstepped, Commander Lasiter. I apologize, ma'am. I'll process your requests."
Dr. Lasiter stepped forward, offering the pad again. Merryman reviewed it and typed into his console, his face pale.
"Your full requisition will be ready for loading by 1400. Does that work, ma'am?"
"That's perfect, Ensign. Thank you." She smiled pleasantly, twisting the knife with grace.
"Anything else, sirs?"
"No, Ensign. I am satisfied," Dr. Lasiter said.
"Thank you, Ensign. Have a good day," Harrigan added.
They walked out together. Once they were clear, Dr. Lasiter spoke.
"Captain Harrigan, thank you."
"Doctor?"
"For helping me. I think Merryman will respect me now."
"He's a fool not to have from the start. But no one gets to abuse my crew and walk away from it." Harrigan's chest lifted with quiet pride.
"I appreciate it, sir. I need to prepare my staff for the supplies. It will be a busy afternoon."
"Very good, Doctor. If I can be of further help, my door is open. Medical staff included."
"Thank you, sir. I'll remember that."
She walked away down the corridor. Harrigan watched her go, smiling. She was pleasant enough, and now he had some cachet with her. He had defended her and made the quartermaster capitulate. At least one of his senior staff was off to a good start.
ASC Galaxy Crew Mess
February 1, 2506
1435 Hours GST-Z
Harrigan took lunch in the regular crew mess. There were few people aboard yet. A shuttle was due to arrive at 1530, bringing three of his command staff. He still had to decide his operations officers and assign one to Alpha shift, the other to Beta. It was a close and difficult call.
He spotted Dr. Lasiter sitting alone at a corner table, the only one at the four top. Grabbing a tray, he walked over. She was reviewing supply manifests, her stylus gliding smoothly over a datapad. She looked up and offered a professional but friendly smile.
"Captain, can I do something for you?"
"May I join you for lunch, Doctor?"
"Absolutely, sir." She stacked her datapads neatly and returned her focus to her chef's salad. He sat across from her, eating his ham and cheese sandwich and tomato soup. After a few minutes, he pulled out the datapad he had brought to lunch.
"I see I'm not the only one working through lunch," she said, taking another bite of salad.
"A hazard of the job. It goes everywhere with you. Kind of like your stack of work there," he replied, nodding at her datapads.
"Yes, a doctor works from sun to sun, but her datapad work is never done," she said with a grin.
"I like that saying. I may have to steal it."
"Oh no, sir, pay for that. I don't hand out my good ones for free."
"Good to know, Doctor. Maybe you can help me."
"With what?"
"I have to decide my Alpha shift operations officer."
"Alpha shift? That's the one you inhabit. Yikes." She chuckled at his raised brow.
"You always show this much sass toward the ship's captain?"
"I'm sorry, sir. My last posting, med staff were second-class citizens. The snark and comments are a defense wall, I suppose."
"No need to apologize, Doctor. Some captains think our departments should be at odds. I don't. But the banter, the sparring, I can handle that. It can be our thing."
"We'll see how it develops. Anyway, Alpha shift ops, who do you have?"
"It's down to two young officers. Ensign Bates and Second Lieutenant Bartok." He slid the datapad toward her.
"I'm familiar with them," she said, holding up one of her own. "I was reviewing the crew's medical files."
"Bates has had an unremarkable career since graduation. She only earned an ensign's rank on leaving the Academy. Bartok is a second lieutenant and missed making full lieutenant by a few percentage points."
"So, the driven achiever and the slow starter?"
"Not exactly. Bates is competent, just hasn't stood out yet. I think the right commander could bring out her potential. Bartok is sharp, but green. Fresh out of the Academy."
"Which one trusts faster?"
"Bates," he said, finishing his sandwich.
"Which one thinks faster?"
"Bartok."
"Then the question isn't who's better. It's who you want beside you when things go wrong."
"You have a knack for simplifying command decisions, Doctor."
"It's triage, Captain. My kind just does it with patients instead of officers."
"I see. Sounds simple enough." He finished his coffee and stood. "Are you finished?"
"Yes."
He gathered both trays and carried them to the conveyor leading to the galley's wash station. When he returned, he picked up his datapad.
"Duty still calls," he said, letting out a slow breath.
"Go with your instincts. You already know who it is."
"You're right, Doctor. I guess I knew the answer all along. I just wanted someone to say it for me."
"Always happy to help, Captain Harrigan. And sir, thank you again for helping with the quartermaster earlier."
"No problem, Doctor. I hate when those supply depot clerks build their little kingdoms and expect people to beg for what they need. It was fun watching him stammer."
She smiled. "It was."
They walked toward the corridor junction. Harrigan stopped and nodded pleasantly. "This is where I take my leave, Doctor. I'm off to meet my XO and a few officers. Shuttle bay lift is down this way." He pointed down the left corridor.
"Thank you for the company, sir."
"Tonight, Doctor. Captain's mess at 2000. All senior staff will be there."
"You want me there, sir?"
"Are you not one of my department heads, Doctor?"
"Sorry, sir. I forget this is not the Aegis."
"Oh yes, Captain Betancourt. Met him a few times. Good captain, but a bit of a horse's ass, isn't he?"
"Sir, I'd rather not express an opinion on the record."
"Understood, Doctor. See you this evening then?"
"Absolutely, sir."
Harrigan nodded and walked down the corridor. Behind him, Dr. Lasiter neighed softly and stomped her foot three times. He understood the meaning and laughed all the way to the lift. He liked her already.