| Chapter Five |
| All But One |
| 12:00 SER 2195 Over the course of three days, each major crewmember from the Stealthlon was rounded up and convinced the same as Captain Cain had been, with help from Cain himself. Each one had requested and was granted shore leave. Currently, all of them were on board the Explorer; some enjoying the astonished looks of the crew of the Explorer, some not. At the moment, all were in Mansel’s office, holding a meeting. “Now, all we’re missing is one person,” said Commander Vaughn. “Admiral Blackbird.” “Who?” asked the alternate Stephen DaNastie. Captain Cain explained it to him. “We may not have to get Blackbird off his ships,” Brungess stated. “As long as he knows our intentions to get home are good, he’ll help. And, hopefully, when he helps, the Force-A helps.” “Jim, I had a better idea,” Mansel piped up from his position at the head of the table. “We’re going to borrow the Stealthlon and put these pond reflection on the ship.” “Steal the Stealthlon!” exclaimed Commander Hayes. “How are we going to do that?” “Not sure yet, but we’ll make up something,” Mansel answered, receiving a nod of approval from Lieutenant Commander Fleury. “When is the Stealthlon scheduled to launch?” Commander Vaughn asked the alternate members. Cain answered for them. “Two days.” “The we have two days to think of a plan,” said Mansel. “Let’s get started.” |
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| While Cain, Vaughn, and Mansel set to working on finding the mirror Captain Blackbird, Lieutenant Commander Fleury and Commander Hayes were charged with the task of finding a way to steal the Stealthlon. General Brungess was getting some much-earned rest. A few ideas had been kicked around, even the possibility of the Explorer opening fire on the Starbase. That option, however, had been quickly ruled out. “We could send in a skeleton crew,” Lieutenant Ingle had suggested after two hours of brainstorming. “Have them go and hijack it and lead it to a safe place until a semi-full crew could board her.” “How would they take the Stealthlon,” the alternate Commander Hays asked. “That’s our problem; we have no idea how to get it out of the Spacedock. Not without attracting any noticeable attention.” “Secondly,” added Lieutenant Commander Fleury, “I doubt we’ll be able to place a semi-full crew on the Stealthlon. I think a skeleton crew is all we can afford.” “Whatever the case may be,” Lieutenant Commander Talaj said, “we’re rapidly running out of time. We have no idea when Maradine is going to strike again.” “Had we all the resources on hand,” commented Ingle, this wouldn’t be hard at all.” No time for wishful thinking, Lieutenant,” responded Fleury. Then an idea struck. “Has the Stealthlon had its shakedown cruise yet?” The parallel Lisa Hayes shook her head. “That’s what’s in two days. It launches for the first time on its shakedown cruise.” “I’ve got it!” the Chief Engineer exclaimed, proud of himself for thinking of such an innovative plan. Mansel would have to submit a reference letter on Fleury’s behalf for the Original Thinking award, Lieutenant Commander Talaj thought. She sat back and listened as Fleury unveiled his masterpiece. USS Force-A, Sol Sector 08:14 SET 2195 On the bridge of the USS Force-A, the UNSF flagship, Captain Beckerd A. Benson sat in his command chair, sipping his morning coffee. Things at the moment were pretty crummy within UNSF ranks. With the exception of a few strong resistance pockets, Maradine had taken Earth while the Force-A was elsewhere. Even with its superior speed, the UNSF flagship couldn’t reach the seized planet in time to stop the galactic terrorist for placing a firm hold on his new conquest. The UNSF capitol had been lost. Now, after a hurried evacuation (which had been practiced many times), the United Nations Security Force was barely functioning out of Saal one system away. And as a result, his nearly flawless career was quickly going down the drain. He needed something to establish his merit once again, something big. “Captain,” the Ensign at Communications called. “There’s a secure transmission coming through for you.” “I’ll take it in my quarters,” the fleet commander noted, rising out of his plush blue chair. “Commander Burly, you have the bridge in your command.” |
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