Retired

I'm told that my chapters are too short, there are times when you need to do this to set the stage, I believe it's time to fully raise the curtain on this story. I am the sole originator of this story, and any mistakes are of my own doing. This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental and unintended, this story may not be reproduced, copied or retransmitted in any way known or unknown without the permission of the author. If you like what you read, please remember to like, follow. vote and comment below. Have a safe New Year and be careful out there.

I will be telling this story from the first-person perspective from here on out in order to make it easier to read.

A bit of explanation about watches, they are generally broken up into 4-hour segments except for the 2 dog watches. They are set when a ship deploys or is in port or something out of the ordinary is being done like hot work (i.e. welding or grinding anything that could possibly cause a fire.) They are usually divided as such. 0000-0400 Midwatch, 0400-0800 Morning watch, 0800-1200 Forenoon watch, 1200-1600 Noon watch, 1600-1800 1st dog watch, 1800-2000 2nd dog watch, 2000-2400 Last watch. There are those that stand longer or shorter watches depending on where they are working at on the ship or what they are doing at the time the watch is assigned. The military has a watch for nearly everything that can happen and if you piss off the Chief or senior PO, they might have you doing something really stupid like mail buoy watch or the sea bat watch. And to clarify things, no I never had to stand one of those watches.

Now on with the story.

Date: 13 August 2419

Time: 0645 Ships time

Location: Command Bridge, O-4 Level

My staff found me sitting in my command chair dressed in an old flight suit and leather jacket, drinking coffee and reading the latest intel reports. I'd already read the latest readiness reports, and I really didn't like what I had read, if it was even half true, we were in deep shit and we only had about 5 or 6 days to turn these people into fanatics. We were also about 8 hours from our rendezvous with the DesCru Squadron 21, we would be the flag ship and if the shit hit the fan right now, I wasn't too optimistic about our chances for survival.

B'nan was followed in by CDR. Sunn and Maj. Taylor, they came through the armored hatch and headed for my chair after spotting me just sitting there. CDR. Xun came in just a few minutes later and walked over to my chair at once and saluted. 'Sir, Commander Xun reporting to the Admiral as his Combat Control Officer, Sir.' He said, his voice a deep gravely growl. I waved a hand in the general direction of my right eye and launched into what I had planned.

"Ladies and Gentlemen this ship has about 5 days, 6 tops to become a combat unit. It seems that for the last 9+ years the only thing that most of the higher up cared about was how pretty and shiny these ships looked, not how ready they were for actual combat.' I said then sat back and stared out the forward view screen and the stars streaking by.

'We're going to have to run GQ drills until these children understand that speed means life and you need to move your ass when the buzzer sounds. Commander, how set is combat to actually run a major battle and actually protect a carrier task force?' I asked looking directly at Xun. 'I want your honest opinion of where we are.'

He came to attention and proceeded to give me the strengths and as he saw it the weaknesses of those who sat down in combat, He had been working with the crews for the last 4 days and they were coming up to speed fairly quickly in his opinion. 'Another 4 days Sir and they might be able to hold their own against those we are headed to fight, Sir.'

I sat back and nodded then looked at the ships chronometer that was mounted above the center most view screen and took note of the time. 'Well boys and girls it is now 0701.25 and as of this moment we are all out of uniform, B'nan get with F'let and see if she's free to come down right now. There's no time like the present to start shaking things up.' I said as he turned and grabbed an IC phone and called the bridge and spoke to someone for a few seconds then hung up and turned back to me.

'She'll be down in a few minutes Sir, she's getting her morning briefing, I did speak with the OOD, and he'll let her know as soon as she's free.' He said and pulled out his data pad and quickly paged through it to see if something should be brought to my immediate attention.

I chatted with Major Sasha Taylor the Marine commander, and she gave me a quick rundown of the readiness of the 60 "man" company that acted as ships security when in port. Commander Michael Sunn my comms officer let me know that I now had access to a special code to pass messages between flag officers and ships commanders only.

Being able to talk to other flag officers was important and it allowed us to pass information to each other securely especially if it was mission critical or personal and it really didn't need to be known by everyone. 'Mike, I want a message sent to K'fal on the HP-10. Tell her that I'm back in the saddle again and will be there in a few days, also remind her not to get her tits in the wringer if she can avoid it.' I told him. B'nan started chuckling as the others just looked at him and then at me like we had both lost out minds.

'She'll get the message, just send it as is Mike.' B'nan said when he finally got himself under control. Most Marlin women had very small breast unless they were in their last month of pregnancy, at which point they grew fairly large ones that tended to last for nearly a years' time.

'Human men and your fascination with breast, really Admiral.' I heard from the rear of the assembled officers. 'What would the under Admiral say Sir?' F'let said and stepped forward with a smirk on her face. I looked over at her with a completely straight face. 'She'd tell me to keep my nuts out of the very same wringer Captain.' I replied as the chuckles started again. 'Admiral K'fal spent many years around me and knows my sense of humor.'

She smiled and walked up to my chair, I could see that she had a data pad in her left hand and held it up for me to read through. 'The XO, DCO and CMC stayed up late last night to revamp the training schedule for the next several days Sir.' She said. 'CDR B'nan informed me that you were very much a stickler for DC and staying alive in a battle.'

I was really very much for staying alive in battle and getting hit in space tended to result in a very messy death for those who got hit and/or had their hull compromised. If the reactor/engineering section remained intact you could generally get home or at least stay alive until you were rescued.

The laws of thermodynamics in space were brutal, space, especially deep space was a cold place, not quite -459.67*F but fairly close. No power no heat, no heat you froze to death in about a day or 2 depending on the size of your ship.

I looked her right in the eye and asked the 64 million credit question. 'Is this crew ready to go into battle Captain? Tell me honestly because above all else I hate those who know the truth and then lie to hide the truth.' I said. She really didn't look happy.

'I am not happy to report Admiral that I have failed in my duties to make this a combat ready ship, Sir. We are woefully ill-prepared to fight anything other than a paper ship.' She told me with a bit of sadness in her voice. She then spent the next 20 or so minutes listing the shortcomings and other minor problems that had happened sense my retirement. I really didn't like what I heard but when you don't have the credits to do live launches or train hard things get slack, fast.

I looked up at the chronometer again and made a quick discission. 'I want a meeting of the ship's Officers, Chiefs and all POs not on watch on the aft mess deck at 0830, I especially want those who like us who have seen the beast to be there. Before the noon watch everyone and I do mean everyone to be in their combat suits and they might as well get comfy in them because unless they are in their racks of showering, they will be in those suits from today on.' I looked over to see fingers flying across the data tablet screen that they each possessed as they listened to me intently.

I spent the next few minutes telling them what I need to say then sent them on their way to change as I did the same, I had never really liked wearing my combat suit, but I needed to set an example for all to follow. It took me about 20 minutes to pull it out, strip and pull it on, yep still hated it even after all these years.

I grabbed my helmet and gloves and headed for the aft mess deck where I found several people starting to assemble. I just pulled out a seat at a table where several older chiefs were sitting and just waited.

I continued to sit as someone called attention and all but me stood up, Many looked at me with disbelief as the captain called at ease and seats then started talking about the changes that were going to happen in the next few hours. 'To explain why we're going to be running everyone raged I give you Admiral Jack Storr.' She said as several people began to look around. I simply let everyone wonder and stew for a few minutes.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, dying time is here yet again and unless we fix what's wrong fast and today then come out first battle, we're going to be well and truly fucked. People I hold no delusion about being able to walk home from where we're going.' I said as heads and eyes focused on me as I continued to stay seated in the midst of the assembled crew members. 'People from this moment onward I do not want to hear word fucking one about how you can't do things. I want to know how you're going to turn this gaggle of cublings, into a pack of razor-sharp fanatics who are looking for a fight and don't care about the odds.'

I could hear the pinging of the ship's hull flexing as we moved through hyperspace, I'd stunned them into silence and now it was time to make them start screaming. 'You'll notice that my staff, and the ships senior officers are wearing combat suits, before the noon watch, today, this ship will be dressed for battle unless they are sleeping or showering. This ship will be doing DC drills until you drop and then I'll kick your asses, and you'll run it again until I fell that you might make it through your first battle.'

I could hear the voices starting to talk back and forth more or less saying the same thing, who the fuck was this crazy old man and what in the fuck was he talking about. 'If you don't know who the fuck I am, I suggest you look me up and then get on the train with me boys and girls. Because one of two things are going to happen, you're going to get with the program, or you're going to get run over by the train and I won't even bat an eyelash when I crush your ass under the wheels.' I looked around with a cold glint in my eyes. 'Fuck with me, and you'll find out how far I'm willing to go to crush your ass just to make my point.'

The silence was back again. 'Make it happen people and we'll all get home to enjoy our retirement once again.' I said, got up and walked out of the area, I could hear the screams of anguish and disbelief.

I sat in my chair watching the chromometer tick down to 1000 then looked over at B'nan and nodded, he walked over to the "bitch box" and pressed a button then depressed the lever. 'Bridge, Flag Bridge.' He said and released the lever. 'Go ahead Flag.' came the reply. He depressed the lever again. 'Execute.' B'nan said and after releasing the lever pushed another button on the box.

Less than 20 seconds later I heard the first trill of the boatswains' pipe and a few seconds after that the gong of the General Quarters alarm going off. I got up and went out the hatch and head for the second deck, it took only a few seconds for the lift to drop us the 5 decks and to open on to general chaos as people were bumping into each other, others were yelling out contradictory orders. I just hung my head and closed my eyes, I just knew, knew mind you that we were going to die. What a fucking mess.

'Bridge, this is Flag, just stop everything and send me a few people to the second deck by the lifts.' I say and Capt. F'let quickly responded to my call to her. I heard over the ships 1MC for everyone to hold position and standby for further orders. I walk up to a scared sailor still dressed in a set of coveralls and looking very lost and confused. 'Young lady where's your GQ station?' I ask. She looked around still very confused. 'Umm, I don't know sir, I barely know where I am on this ship.' She replied.

I closed my eyes yet again and popped my helmet off and rubbed them, then my head as I tried to figure out just how far beyond fucked up, we really were, I took a few deep breaths trying not to explode at this poor girl. 'Where's your duty station?' I asked, she pointed towards the personal office as one of the chiefs walked out in his combat suit. 'Chief.' I said and motioned him over to me.

He walked over and remembered my face from just a few hours ago, he quickly saluted and stood at attention. 'Yes sir how may I be of service to the Admiral?' He said then glanced at the young girl standing there looking dumbfounded. 'What have you done this time Gammon?' He growled. I just looked at him and smiled. 'Tell me chief, where is her GQ station and where's her combat suit?' I ask nicely, I made sure he heard the steel under the sweetness.

He punched a few buttons on his wrist pad and flicked his finger a few times to find name. 'Ah, 2 Foxtrot sir, second deck, frame 59, port side. That way recruit.' He said pointing foreword. I gave him a blank look that spoke volumes about what I thought of his general stupidity. 'Chief, I want you to gather all your people up and then take them to their GQ station and then find out if they have a battle suit or not. Then I want passed to every fucking Chief on this boat, after they get their people to their GQ stations that I want to see them on the flag bridge in 90 minutes from right now. Understand?' I asked with a growl in my voice. He nodded. 'Aye, aye sir, 90 minutes.'

I knew that I needed to get a handle on this mass cluster fuck before they killed me, I thought and headed back to the lift as I heard chiefs calling divisions to them in the passageways. B'nan was right behind me, and muttering into his earpiece as he passed commands, orders and entered data to be put into the flag log. I was not smiling as we started back up, todays reading would prove very colorful to someone in the future.

I watched the last 2 Chiefs come pounding up the Port ladder and squeeze in to the sardine can with the rest of the fish, the Command Master Chief stood next to me and finally turned to me and nodded. 'All Chiefs present and accounted for Sir.' He said and I returned his nod the looked at the small sea of faces. 'We have grown sloppy and slow in our old ages people and have forgotten the number one rule of being in space.' I quietly said. 'Everyone from the top down depends on everyone else to not only simply know but to have them be able to do their jobs when the chips are down to the last 1.'

'1000 did not happen, it was a disgrace that will be expunged from any and all logbooks, after this meeting we will never speak of it again. You have failed yourselves and your fellow sailors because we and I include myself in this we, have failed you as leaders. At 1330 we are going to try this again, you have between now and then to make 100% sure that everyone has a combat suit, Supply Chiefs I don't care about signatures, we can sort it out later if they don't have one issue it to them and check their name off.'

I could hear murmurs from the assembled Chiefs. 'Make sure that Supply has their name and once they get back, they put the damn thing on and understand that they are about to live in it until they hear otherwise. Let me make one thing crystal clear, if you are unwilling, unable, or simply desire too no longer do your jobs or think that I am perhaps too harsh in my desire to stay alive and keep you in the same condition. Then I shall have you removed for Cause and discharged from this ship at its earliest convenience. That is all.' I said and started through the armored hatch; behind me I heard the CMC growling. 'All right you sacks of protoplasmic shit listen the fuck up...' was the last thing I heard before the hatch closed.

And here I end this portion of the story, I do hope that you enjoyed reading it and please remember to like, follow, vote and comment below thanks and Happy 2025 to all.