"I wouldn't worry about your crew too much Ron. Most of them already know what's coming. The engineers that are helping Kendra to get the Constellation ready for you came from the Vengeance. Kendra insisted they work with her on it so that they would know and understand the changes she's making to the ship. I know you're anxious to get back to the Vengeance and check on your crew. Before you go though, I need you to brief me on everything you know about the Beta Quadrant including all the things you didn't put in your official report."
"Okay, but there really isn't an official record. The whole mission was classified top secret. As far as fleet was concerned; it never happened. Your father didn't want the Groms finding out we were exploring the Beta Quadrant. Mission security was our number one priority. The only reason the information was on your GO7 computer is because your father ordered me to draw up a short report and put it there the last time you were in spacedock.
We chose an entry point that roughly corresponded to the center meridian of the Beta quadrant relative to Atlantia. The fleet engineers had come up with some high gain, extended range forward and lateral sensor arrays that they wanted to test under actual field conditions. The good news is that the new sensors worked great. They increased our sensing range by at least twenty five percent with an equal gain in clarity of detail. The bad news is that the arrays consumed a horrendous amount of energy. Their drain on our power resources was so bad that we lost around ten percent of our total flight distance. That's the main reason why we couldn't get any short range scans of sectors seventeen and eighteen. We had to turn back when we did or risk violating mission security protocols by calling for a fuel resupply on the return trip.
As far as the Beta Quadrant itself goes; there isn't much to tell. Besides the three planets you already know about, there were half a dozen more along the route we took that had breathable atmospheres. They were all rejected for various reasons, not enough water, too much gravity, temperatures too far outside our comfort range, that kind of thing. All of the planets with breathable atmospheres showed signs of lower lifeforms, animals, birds, and fish. But only the planet in sector seventeen showed any signs of intelligent life. I can't say the whole Beta quadrant doesn't have any races with interstellar capabilities because even with the extended range of our scanners we were only able to check about a dozen star systems in each direction at any given time. I realize that you'll have three fully operational combat ready starships but it might be prudent to follow the same route I originally took just to play it safe.
I'd also suggest that you talk to the engineers about taking those damn tachyon cannons off of those Groms gunboats. You'll have a ready-made planetary defensive system whenever we get to whatever planet you decide to start over on. It may even be a good idea to see if some of them could be mounted on that Groms carrier. From what you've told me she's plenty big enough to carry most if not all of those cannons. She'd make one hell of a gun platform and she'd really boost your combat capabilities. I'm sure the engineers can work out some kind of semi-automated targeting and firing control systems. Which reminds me, I think you should give her an Atlantian name. It'll make the people serving aboard her a whole lot more comfortable."
"Thanks for the briefing Ron. You've made some great suggestions and you can bet your butt I'm gonna use every one of them starting with renaming that Groms carrier. I'm gonna rename her the 'H.M.S. Atlantia's Revenge.' The only problem I've got with turning her into a dreadnought is that I'm a little short on experienced officers to command her. Do you think your Lieutenant Thomasin would be up to the task?"
"Amy? Oh hell yeah! She's one of my best junior officers. She understands strategy and tactics as good if not better than most of my senior officers. She also thinks quicker on her feet than I do most of the time, which is why I'd hate to lose her. But unfortunately for me, Amy IS perfect for the job, and she would be my first recommendation."
"Well, with that kind of a recommendation, I absolutely HAVE to meet her. Have her shuttle over as soon as you board the Vengeance. But don't tell her anything except that I want her to report to me ASAP."
As soon as Ron left, Sue asked Lyssa, "How in the hell are you gonna pull this one off? You only have about two hundred and twelve people to spread between all the salvaged ships including the five man watches already aboard them."
"I haven't worked it all out quite yet. We have a total of seven ships to move. Ron's taking command of the Constellation. But his whole crew's transferring with him. So we break even there. Lieutenant Thomasin will be assuming command of the Atlantia's Revenge. That leaves us five battlecruisers and the Vengeance to worry about. As far as mounting and controlling those tachyon cannons on board the Atlantia's Revenge, I'm pretty sure we can do it. The Groms were using them on small patrol craft and our engineers are a hell of a lot better trained than theirs were."
"You're right about the cannons, I don't see any major problems there. If the Groms could do it, we can too," Sue replied. She sipped her coffee then asked, "Lain, do you think a class one battlecruiser could tow another one all the way to the Beta Quadrant?"
"I can't answer that with any certainty Sue. The engineering manuals do say that they're able to tow and be towed, but they don't cite a maximum distance. However, there are some recommended procedures to follow when towing. Both ships should have their structural integrity fields tied into their auxiliary engines which will increase structural integrity by approximately twenty five percent. Antimatter temperature should be constantly monitored on the towing ship and her warp core should be checked for signs of stress every six hours. If recommended procedures are adhered to, I'd estimate that the chance of success is around ninety percent. Both ships are capable of moving under their own power so you could just swap them around if the need arises. Although the engineering manuals don't say anything about a maximum towing speed, I'd recommend a gradual increase while monitoring critical systems until the optimal towing speed is established as well."
Sue looked at Lyssa and grinned. "A ninety percent chance of getting all six ships to the Beta Quadrant in one piece sounds pretty damn good to me Lys! We can have two of the battlecruisers tow the other two and the Vengeance is only a light cruiser so the fifth battlecruiser shouldn't have a problem towing her."
"Good thinking Sue! That's a great idea, I love it. I'll take ninety percent odds in our favor any day!"
The door chiming interrupted their conversation. Lyssa yelled, "Come in Lieutenant."
Amy Thomasin entered, strode purposefully up to the table, snapped to attention, saluted Lyssa, and Sue smartly then said, "Lieutenant Amy Thomasin reporting as ordered, My Queen!"
Lyssa smiled and said, "Stand easy Lieutenant, you're not in any trouble. From the reports I've received, you're an outstanding officer and a credit to the uniform. As a matter of fact that's why I've asked to meet you. We're in my private quarters and this is just an informal meeting, so please, have a seat and relax. In here I'm just Lyssa, and Admiral Sullivan is just Sue. Okay?"
Amy sat down, looked at Lyssa while chewing her bottom lip nervously then said, "As you wish...Lyssa."
Lyssa let out a soft, short chuckle then said, "It's okay Amy. We realize you're a bit nervous. Try to remember that Sue and I are only women just like you. I've re-commissioned that Groms carrier we salvaged. She's now the H.M.S. Atlantia's Revenge. I plan on turning her into a sort of dreadnought by mounting as many of those tachyon cannons as she can carry on her exterior upper deck and having the engineers install some semi-automated tracking and firing controls on her command deck. She's also gonna have the same defensive shielding as our battlecruisers. All in all, she's gonna be one hell of a flying gun platform. I need a commanding officer for her. Your captain tells me that you're not only ready, but that you're more than capable of handling the job. So, effective immediately, I'm promoting you to full commander and ordering you to assume command of the H.M.S. Atlantia's Revenge."
Amy sat in stunned silence as a quick telepathic message passed between Lyssa and Sue. Sue stood, walked over to a dresser, opened a drawer and took out a small three by three inch square box. She closed the drawer, strode back to the table and handed the box to Lyssa as she sat back down.
Lyssa handed the box to Amy and said, "These were mine. I hope they bring you as much luck as they have me."
Amy opened the box and her eyes grew saucer like as they misted over with unshed tears. "OH. MY. STARS. Your rank insignia! I...um... I don't know what to say. I'm honored, thank you. But why me? I've only been out of the academy for three years. There are other officers with far more experience than I have."
