Phase Change (2180)

By B.B. Irvine

Phase Change (2180): Commander Xiu-Li Chen, after mulling over her situation en route to a metting with Admiral Matisou, is made a captain in Space Aliance Systems Space Fleet at last.
Captain Xiu-Li Chen is given command of a new COURIER Class ship, SAS JAGUAR, and an operational mission to act as a ferry captain (“a well armed ferry captain, sir!” she tells Admiral Matisou.)
After taking the Admiral to Sol NORCLIP Plat, her first deep space assignment is to bring Braxton Thurgoode, Assemblyspeaker for the Human Sphere, out to PORTAL Platform, for an Assembly of Sentients diplomatic meeting over a Qet Sphere challenge to the planet now called Deepstrike, where Qet and Human met in 2173.
She was one of two survivors of that Qet Encounter and now is Xiu-Li must return to the planet where it happened, to be diplomatic with the species that killed eight of her fellow crewpers, two of them very close friends. She is also now “the Captain,” and must adapt to that singular life niche on board a starship, helped along by Commander Ecurba, Doctor Daria Ki, and veterans like Bugs Kimonetti.
At the edge of the Deepstrike system, JAGUAR responds to a ship alert beacon indicating ship problems related to either alien life or hazmat conditions and finds a ship of raiders/“salvagers” frantically departing an airless, lifeless SAS starship. JAGUAR must salvage SAS ROSALIND FRANKLIN after first seizing the raiding ship GRANDE REGENCY, which seems torn by a mutiny.
Commander Ecurba boards GRANDE REGENCY and is wounded by a deranged Niv female, whose psychic storm knocks out Lieutenant Priti Fareyes. Once the effects of a drug she was given wear off, Sibella Dirge reveals she is an undercover operative for Niv Intelligence Division, and that she is also “a Niv assassin.”
During first entry to ROSALIND FRANKLIN an unconscious survivor on board is rescued by a team Xiu-Li is part of. She returns to JAGUAR with the survivor, but soon Xiu-Li is back living on FRANKLIN as it is explored and repaired by her crew. Besides the mysterious Sibella Dirge, Xiu-Li also has some of her best junior crew on JAGUAR with her, all trying to solve the mysteries on board.
Where is ROSALIND FRANKLIN’s crew, and the ship’s commander, an old friend of Xiu-Li’s?
What killed GRANDE REGENCY’s boarding raiders, etching their shadows into hull metal, turning them into ash?
The realspace emergence of cargo ship SAS LA GAZZA LADRA complicates things. It is owned and operated by Captain Bartolo Catsmile, and older brother Antonin. They are “Niv businessmen,” although Ecurba and Priti Fareyes determine their ship is rigged for smuggling; Lieutenant Fareyes is their niece (her mother was their sister). Xiu-Li is very aware of Bartolo’s piratic charms.
Very soon after the Catsmiles emerge near Deepstrike Beacon, eight moderate sized ships emerge, soon determined to be friends of the raider ship GRANDE REGENCY, and taking an approach for hostile actions against the small group of ships around it (LA GAZZA LADRA, JAGUAR, and ROSALIND FRANKLIN).
Xiu-Li loses three crew to the anomaly they discover on ROSALIND FRANKLIN and must somehow neutralize it while they are under attack, in an unarmed science ship.
As Ensign Sam Millet devises a risky plan for wrangling up an alien hazmat, Ecurba takes JAGUAR into battle on an audacious plan; while Xiu-Li watches helplessly (“commands from FRANKLIN,” is what outsiders will say later), her crew now on GRANDE REGENCY takes a critical liberty with her orders.
Great risks taken, great success gained.
Soon after, a huge Niv repair ship shows up to assist with repairs and provide crew watch relief and stand down. At the Ship Dinner aboard NSS THOMAS A. EDISON, Commander Ecurba discovers Major Sibella Dirge (who slashed him during the taking of GRANDE REGENCY) is actively seeking to make peace for past actions; and Xiu-Li finds that Captain Bartolo Catsmile proves charming in person as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.B. Irvine
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301234578

B.B. Irvine

B.B. Irvine was born in New York City in 1959. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art N.Y. (1976 music), New York State University at Stony Brook (1980 B.A. liberal arts), and in 1982 received a certificate as a Physician Assistant from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in North Carolina. He has worked in settings including emergency medicine, AIDS research, and addiction treatment in New York City where he lives. In 1994 he earned a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do from Grandmaster Richard Chun. His novels and screenplays evidence his knowledge of people and frequently weave medicine, science, history, romance, and martial arts into the action.

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Phase Change (2180)

Spacer Series Book 05: Captain Chen

by B. B. Irvine

Copyright 2022 B. B. Irvine

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Chapter 01 - Initial Conditions

Earth Orbital Campus, Space University-Earth

Earth, Sol System

10 August 2180 - Friday

XIU-LI

The request to attend the Admiral upon receipt was easy enough: just drop out of orbit on the daily shuttle. She left the senior pilots some new sims; the other instructors could handle the routine orientation of their new junior trainers. There wasn’t much else for Commander Xiu-Li Mariposa Chen to turn over to Lieutenant Commander Danilo Chaves, her second in school operations command.

She easily made a noon shuttle drop from the orbital campus platform of Space Alliance Systems Space University-Earth (formerly Earth Space University) down to the Earth NorAm Campus, where Admiral D. Bert Matisou was located.

As Xiu-Li watched the clouds rushing by, she tried to calm herself. Was she so bored these days that a simple trip down to Earth was heart pounding? Or was she angry – simmering? That word had banged around her head for the past five months, ever since Marco had broken up with her.

She frowned. This would not stop bothering her, no matter how busy she was. Work never suffered – rest did. Every time she tried to relax, it came up again.

Marco had complained about her simmering anger, and this had cut her so deeply it left her worried it might be true. A mere insult or even a stinging insight she could generally acknowledge pretty calmly, and respond appropriately. That she might have a simmering anger was too subtle a flaw for her usual outright rejection of someone’s character reading of her, because Xiu-Li knew her anger had to go somewhere, after all. There were also some things to be angry about at the time – most of which had not changed (except to worsen) over the past five months. So maybe I just need a change of scene.

She thought the shuttle pilot had let his gaze linger a bit – maybe she should linger by the hatch and see if he might linger for dinner later…? Then she realized she had forgotten to change her hair back, and her blood froze cold as her face burned red hot. Fekkdamnit, Jool!!!

Xiu-Li swallowed and then took a deep breath before she reached up and matter-of-factly pulled off the rubber bands she had used to pull her hair into two tufts on top of her head, one on each side, two dark black fountains of hair erupting out from her thick black hair into bushy antennas. She had to admit that wearing her hair like an ancient Manga anime cartoon character was – well, not precisely professional irreverence, but it was perhaps a bit petulant of her.

In fact, justifying it as operationally permitted (it keeps my helmet from banging on my head, like shock absorbers) was a rather short, sharp, even a bit snide you’re annoying me explanation, and not exactly professional either.

And any pilot would gawk at a woman with two black hair fountains on her head.

She fingercombed her thick hair flat now, making it look as though it was a casual ritual and not something she had forgotten to return to Standard before leaving work. No one was going to tell a much decorated commander how to wear their hair, and her blithe justification had been made one night while relaxing with her work friends, after a week of teaching lab classes in deep space search and rescue and emergency combat medical care.

Danilo Chaves teased her about it and was usually funny, which she liked. She happened to be most senior section officer, so it wouldn’t seem she needed career advice about hair grooming from anyone, and her local friends were not going to tell her not to wear her hair like an anime character, because they saw that as, Xiu-Li being political, colorful, and different.

And sort of stupid looking, like a SciFi Martian or something like that... She froze. Or possibly cute? Xiu-Li knew men found her pretty, just not easy to be with: she had bad dreams which disturbed sleep, and she was usually very busy doing her job. For some men, she was intimidatingly good at her job, and they were threatened; for others, she was a little too low maintenance, and she didn’t seem to need them as much as they wanted her to (i.e. she wouldn’t change careers for them, which you would if you really loved me.)

The one sister she had been with (briefly) was a frisky junior sister in these things, and it had been what the British still called a mad passion, a crush developing into something short, intense, and ended once the junior sister returned back to Milan to pursue her doctoral studies in zero G combat systems.

That had been a year ago, just before Xiu-Li met Marco. He was working in the Earth StarYards engineering and Interior Structures Design Unit, which was refurbishing older space vehicles being rebuilt due to damage, age, or other design assets which were worth keeping available. Marco was staying on the orbital platform for meetings with various otherwise Earth-bound clients (and via lasercomm/satlink with ones on Earth itself) before going back out to the Yards area.

They had started talking about the IWG VICTORY disaster (still recent at the time) in terms of immediate needs (building a new flight control system to actually input commands to fly the ship), and she learned that refurbishing VICTORY was possible, even if the entire Drive Section had been removed, and the still damaged, driveless ship was parked in the hulks lot. It was nice to know VICTORY’s legs were still walking, at least. Of course Marco knew who she was, but he was so casual about it that she fell for him fairly fast.

Blockade duty earlier in her career had been boring because it was static and slow. Now Xiu-Li was always busy, yet the grind endless of classes coming through was numbing despite much higher risks being faced. Every vacuum exercise was a chance for someone to die for real if they made the wrong learning mistake, and maneuvering small ships around for tricky docking practices was a potential crash every time.

Xiu-Li wasn’t bored (she was too busy doing something she loved), but elements of the grind had made her restless to try doing something else she might love, some other area of the Service. Meanwhile, meeting a bright, good looking guy who had used the slow play she always fell for, at a time in her life when she was otherwise getting bored and numb – well, her friends knew it would happen before she did. Xiu-Li still didn’t know how.

They had gotten together quickly after meeting for coffee and then dinner a few times. After only a few weeks, Marco was a bit spooked by her nightmare one night – one of the VICTORY ones, as it happened (not one about the Qet, at least, which were even worse). After she had another one about ten days later, the next few times when Marco stopped by to spend cuddletime with her, he wasn’t able to sleep over – some schedule problems, he said, as if someone else was in charge of his schedule.

Sleeping over for actual cuddling, not just sex, was really what Xiu-Li wanted from him, and it was well within his ability to do it. After the fourth episode they had their fight, and then his sleeping over was a moot problem.

His comment about her simmering anger had been attached to a never seem to need me, except for sex complaint.

She didn’t know why else she would need a man who was only coming by to have sex and then leaving, except to have sex. That wasn’t all Xiu-Li wanted; she wanted to cuddle. Having sex led to cuddling, the simple human bonding from hugging. In space, humans are driven to cuddle was the adage, and for her, it had only gotten stronger over the years.

Marco was warm, bright, and cheerful, all excellent qualities for a potential cuddling partner, and he was physically fit and attractive. After they started spending time together, it was working out well in all areas, until her nightmares. After the second episode, Marco began to withdraw. The next three times that he went on his way right after they fooled around, his rationales had been reasonable – she knew he was busy as well, working in the architectural redesigns unit. But she also knew there were no meetings so late at night, and no projects so critical that he had to go and work late on them.

The fourth time, she had challenged his behavior, and their last fight began. Although she’d concluded (again and again) that he was just full of fekk, Xiu-Li was still left wondering (again and again) about any simmering anger.

Just not now. Xiu-Li finished smoothing her hair back into something closer to Standard, sighed, closed her eyes and pressed her head back into the cushion pad on the passenger flight chair. I wonder what the Admiral wants? She was confident it was not about her work, unless she was doing too much.

Commander Xiu-Li Chen had been senior Search and Rescue Instructor for just over a year now; with thirty S.A.R. students per five week cycle, it had been an intense series of sessions repeating endlessly through the school year, continuing over holidays and summer breaks, with slots for any Fleet crewpers or ensigns who needed them for a deep space rating. Thirty students per cycle, with no more than a three day break between cycles, and sometimes just a regular weekend’s two.

She had gotten to experience some family life: Danilo’s wife and their two children were living on the Plat, so Xiu-Li was Aunt Jooli three or four times a month for a large meal and a Family Night, but she was otherwise working, and mostly alone when she was off… No, not the job – not even the silly hair. Maybe he’s heard I’m simmering. Well, I’m thinking about my love life and its last disaster – that rarely helps. Xiu-Li smiled. I guess I’ll never find out about the shuttle pilot. I’m on a deadline here!

She found the Admiral’s office door open, the window inside as well, and Admiral D. Bert Matisou at his desk. He looked up and smiled. Ahh, Commander Chen! It’s good to see you. The same enthusiasm she had always responded to was still there, undimmed by Conflict or command.

Xiu-Li saluted, and smiled. Thank you, Admiral Matisou. I trust you are well?

He nodded. "Well enough... Frankly, I’ve missed space. But my NORCLIP rotation is coming up soon – and then I’ll miss a planet again. Matisou chuckled. I’m sorry, Commander; I haven’t asked you here to throw old men’s laments at you. He looked at the chrono. It seems, however, that we will be running late. While we’re waiting – He flicked on a holospace array wallscreen. I’d like your field opinion about some new designs."

As a new admiral in 2178, Matisou was Chief of Operations under Admiral Ray in the IWG Space Fleet Southern Ecliptic Command Divison, and director of the R and D Section. That duty had extended through the 2179 Peace Alliance. With Fleet Reconsolidation, on 30 June 2180, Space Alliance Systems Space Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Admiral C. Ray had promoted Admiral D. Bert Matisou to Commander-in-Chief, Northern Ecliptic Command Division, while the Southern Ecliptic Command Division was given to Admiral Barbara Garney.

That was a little over a month ago. Xiu-Li Chen had served under each of them when they were captains, and was very pleased that two of the most critical Fleet commands were now in such good hands.

The Space Alliance Systems logo vanished: a GREATSTAR Class starship now hung in the holospace. These are all in the pipeline, so it’s too late, said Matisou. But please indulge me.

Her stomach lurched. My opinion of a ship...?

The first GREATSTAR designs were funded after the Battle of Hellhole (Van Maanen’s Star) on 29 February 2176. It was during the early phases of the Conflict, when tactical actions against the Organization of Planetary Projects terror forces were far more common on the ground than in space – until that day in orbit at Van Maanen’s Star.

The first GREATSTAR was to be a superweapons platship of sorts, as large as two or three Heavy Tactical Cruisers in mass, gear, and ordnance cargo, and was supposed to deliver a huge punch all at once, during a high vector velocity run – exactly as the Organization of Planetary Projects terror forces Heavy Tacs had done at Hellhole, but with a larger payload of more ordnance delivered during a fast pass at 1/4 to 1/2 the speed of light.

The next round of GREATSTAR designs were as troopships, in response to the DRAGON Report, issued after IWG Operation NESTKNOCK on 4 July 2176. That IWG attack on an O.P.P asteroid based training center and on-going analysis of the Battle of Hellhole both suggested that space-based operations (asteroid bases, platform, platships and ships) were all too easily damaged and too easily disrupted to be a winning strategy. The anonymous DRAGON Report analysts predicted that ground operations would once again be the O.P.P.’s plan of operations. They would keep their Heavy Tactical Cruisers in hyperflight or out in nowhere, keep their troops on board and train them there, and all resupply would use intermediate ships.

Now the O.P.P. threat became the sudden presence of several thousand troops in a city or an area after a landing from orbit, with the O.P.P.’s goal depending on the total number of troops which could actually be deployed. Better IWG pre-landing orbital intercept tactics (leading to the VIPER Attack Runner Program) and rapid mass landings of IWG troops were then contemplated as responses.

Ninety small VIPERs were built. Five GREATSTAR ship frames were started and built, and hullwork begun.

The Peace in 2179 meant that all of those ship frames were now being converted: two into colony movers, one into a Large Cargo Carrier (which could always be troops, if they were needed someday), and two into deep space starships. SAS BUCKMINSTER FULLER would enter service soon – a captain and crew were training daily on engineering and bridge virtuSims in the new Engineering Center here on the Earth NorAm Campus grounds of SAS Space University-Earth, while the second GREATSTAR starship, SAS SIR FRANCIS BACON, was starting in-system shakedown flights this week, and might even be flight certified for deep space in a few months.

Xiu-Li had been in the field and lost touch – was the new GREATSTAR design one of Matisou’s? A favorite, perhaps? But Matisou had always respected her and challenged her to do better (plus, he had said, so it’s too late.) Very well. She would tell him her true feelings.

GREATSTAR class. I have been told the spherical primary hull is easier to shield, although I have not seen any hard specs of the systems gear to prove that to me. There are also supposed to be some tactical advantages to the design, which have an appeal. Xiu-Li crossed her arms. "But it looks like a basketball with a handle and some sticks glued onto it."

Matisou looked at her, then at the holo GREATSTAR. He tilted his head. His hair had grayed nicely and he looked no older nearly seven years after that day back in December 2173 when she had entered his bridge on IWG-SS JOHN A. WHEELER.

JOHN A. WHEELER was a first generation graviton field CALIPER Class science ship of the old flying brick design, also known as meatloaf, loaf boat or long layercake ships by those who found utilitarian, long rectangular box shaped ships boring – the same ones who had spent extra millions of credits on the universal, soaring, heartfelt design of the GREATSTAR.

Is that all? Matisou finally asked. That’s your whole ‘field opinion’? He seemed slightly dismayed.

She shrugged. Sir, the only design advantages of the GREATSTAR over most other designs are theoretical at this time. Given the changes in the ship’s purpose made during the GREATSTAR development history, the final design is sort of an uneasy half colony ship, half warship, with some disadvantages of both, redesigned for politely armed exploration. The e-mag shields may be better, and some of the firing points may offer some superior tactical options, but none of these have been fully integrated and battle tested yet. Nor has the shielding – and I am very curious myself how that turns out.

"What would be your fear, Commander? As a tactical expert."

Xiu-Li Chen took a deep breath. It had been some time since anyone in Space Fleet had made her sweat, and of course the last time it had been Matisou as well.

That had been during last year’s June 2179 Promotions. Xiu-Li had arrived back at Earth’s StarYards in the patched-back together IWG VICTORY on 31 May, her twenty ninth birthday. Admiral Matisou had come up to the Drives Slipway assigned to VICTORY to greet the ship and crew, then he took her aside and told her that there was going to be a ceremony at the upcoming 30 June Promotions. She and her crew were all to receive Merit Stars for their actions and survival of the last known space battle of the Conflict, the "Attack on VICTORY" (as a documentary shown at the ceremony had called it).

Matisou had wisely asked her in advance about any sort of other award for her. Some folks are saying you should get a Bronze Star, even a Silver, he said.

Please don’t put me in a position where I have to refuse such an honor, sir, she replied. "It was only pure luck I wasn’t on the bridge, and after that, I would have died if the crew hadn’t done exactly what they were supposed to. And I was a first officer, sir, not a lieutenant stepping into a breach or anything. I think I’m sort of expected to step up like that. My ‘inspiration’ had nothing to do with it."

Matisou had sighed, because that was not what he had heard from the crew who Xiu-Li had rallied after IWG VICTORY’s bridge was destroyed in a major combat collision, killing everyone on it, also not what the ops records that were available indicated upon analysis. Xiu-Li had never done well with accepting praise – she had always disliked notice or being given an award for just doing her job (except for the Silver Star in 2176 after Hellhole).

So you won’t let me have the honor of making any nominations above Merit Star? He was slightly disappointed.

Her face fell. I feel like I’m ten and letting my dad down. She took a deep breath. But no, sir, a Merit shared with my crew is all I want. A bitter grin. I think the records will speak for themselves, if anyone is that interested. That’s enough for me.

Matisou rubbed his chin. "I know a young man who refused quite an honor because of ‘ethical politics,’ I’d call it. He later found out there was a lot he wasn’t told then about who he was rescuing, and it was quite a recasting of events for him. Although you are extremely shy about your own accomplishments, your own people certainly expect you to be honored, because in their eyes, you were an inspiration."

They just didn’t want to let me down, she mumbled. I learned that art from you, sir.

"Well – exactly! And like it or not, it worked. And you know how I am about these Fleet traditions as well, Xiu-Li. Can you at least tolerate a Bronze Star? It’s not like you personally went under enemy fire to rescue anybody, or defeat a hostile tactical force, I must technically agree – but really, young lady. Even mild sarcasm was so rare from Bert" Matisou that it was always three or four times as effective.

Xiu-Li had squirmed, rolled her eyes and sighed. His simple observation on Fleet traditions was irrefutable, and she was too senior an officer now to be selfishly shy. "Okay, sir, but just a Bronze. She had grinned. And thanks for putting it that way."

Matisou had chuckled. I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Mariposa, he’d said, but he had clearly been relieved.

That exchange had made her re-examine her response to praise in the past, the new present, and the future. It had been an uncomfortable few nights as she worked through her thoughts and feelings about being a hero over her years of Fleet service to date. Xiu-Li had been polite and poignant at the 30 June 2179 Promotions when it was time for the VICTORY Service Awards ceremony. With so many of the crew and families present to accept the VICTORY Merit Star, it was tremendous, and powerful.

She knew there had been survivor’s guilt for some and Combat Stress Disorder for all (except possibly Bugs Kimonetti, the Quartermaster and impromptu Ship Response Officer she’d relied on while organizing survivors and getting the ship assessed after the debris collision destroyed the bridge and killed a third of the crew). Bugs seemed to have experienced so much combat that he was either now on some higher plane of C.S.D. or had been baked through like one of his cakes (he was also the Chef on VICTORY), and was immune to it at this point.

Ship postings had been frozen by the Peace since no one knew what to do with such a large, expensive fleet of tactical ships now that The Conflict was over. Xiu-Li was a highly specialized asset the Fleet didn’t want to lose but had no ship slot for – so she was going to be Chief S.A.R. Instructor, SAS Space University (Earth).

It made a lot of sense if she couldn’t get a ship posting. She was good at search and rescue, she was a good teacher, and it was thought of as a career reward when Space Fleet arranged a posting in Sol System.

There had been nice parties and dinners, and even some older friends from her service at Hellhole and Jade, present for awards, promotions, or reassignment. Her experience in June 2179 had helped Xiu-Li learn how to manage that part of her career, giving her the corporate skills she then used a year later during the June 2180 Promotions, just over a month ago. She had used her short speech to name every other instructor when she had accepted Unit Honors for her Orbital Training Group.

She had kept on going, even when she looked out into the audience and saw Danilo Chaves counting the names off on his fingers, an innocent look on his face, until his wife elbowed him. Unlike in 2179, the parties this past June 2180 had all been for Admiral Matisou, just named Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Ecliptic Command Division.

As a captain, Bert Matisou had begun Xiu-Li’s Fleet education with technical ship skill training on board IWG-SS JOHN A. WHEELER, and finished her training as an Admiral himself, teaching her the ethics, traditions, and etiquettes of being a senior officer. It was a final prep for her eventual captaincy, no matter how long the delay in her actual promotion… Xiu-Li now gave her Space Fleet mentor a nod.

The size itself concerns me, sir, she said. "I’m not certain I could defend that many personnel. A sphere may be easier to shield, but any shield failures leave one fairly hung up like a balloon, no matter which way the ship is oriented. And the size of this one is difficult to defend from within. A loss of gravity generation would also prove especially disorienting. She got his eye. My fear, sir, would be managing to save the life of a very large crew inside this large structure if it were boarded by an enemy force. Performing a search and rescue mission to get a crew out of one under severe conditions would be a daunting exercise as well. Then Xiu-Li shook her head. To be fair, sir, without a real look at the specs, I don’t know how these obvious concerns about the sheer size and numbers have been addressed through design detail or crew operations protocols. It’s the first time I’ve ever been asked about them."

Matisou frowned and looked at her. Now that you’ve said that it looks like a basketball with sticks glued to it, I can’t see it any other way!

Had he even been listening?

He shook his head. As I said, the GREATSTAR class is well along in the pipeline, and they’re not making any more. He gave her a sly look. If a seat had been open, would you have taken it, although it looks like a basketball with sticks glued to it?

Sir, I would be honored with any opportunity. She had been with Captain Matisou from crewperson through lieutenant (junior grade), returning as a lieutenant commander to serve briefly with him. He was her mentor, and a friend, and Xiu-Li decided she’d earned a liberty. I’d fly a chair hanging off a solar sail, if Space Fleet felt that would help.

"Hm… I don’t think any of those are in service at present, and all of the GREATSTAR seats are spoken for. But there are many new changes with the Alliance. Matisou broke off as the outer entry alert beeped. Well, now we’re getting somewhere… Anyway, the big seats are always political, but there may be some staff openings out there. He looked at her. Or maybe you want to stay on here at the University and continue to teach?"

No, sir. I think I would prefer to serve the Fleet in the field at this time.

Matisou looked at his desk viewer. "Perhaps your talents might be put to use on Admiral Baptiste’s Portal Zone Group staff out at PORTAL Plat? Lots of work there, get some notice... What?" The look on her face was not one he had seen before.

Captain Gronez, said a voice.

Xiu-Li shot up from her seat, but before she could salute him, Captain Jason Takaguchi was waving her back down.

Matisou smiled at his oldest friend (and now his Flag Captain) and at Xiu-Li’s discomfort as she struggled to not formally salute Takaguchi. Then Matisou frowned. Gronez?

Takaguchi leaned over. That little ‘Niv Incident’ after the cease fire, Bert? He’s Baptiste’s main Captain. He frowned. Why’d you even bring him up?

Matisou looked at Takaguchi. While we waited, I was thinking about where Commander Chen might put her talents to use.

Takaguchi nodded. Oh. I see. He looked at Xiu-Li. What do you think of the GREATSTAR, Jool?

"Frankly, sir, I prefer a WHEELER configuration overall, and I think the GREATSTAR looks like a basketball with a handle and some sticks glued to it."

Takaguchi’s face went red; he began to chuckle.

Matisou shook his head. The outer entry alert chimed, and he smiled.

This time Xiu-Li stood up the moment she heard footsteps, snapping off her salutes: Commander Manda... Captain Threnody! She knew that Tania Manda had been teaching at the University while on the Admiral’s staff, in advance of his rotation to the Northern Ecliptic Command, but Aria Threnody was an unexpected surprise.

Commander Chen, Captain Aria Threnody replied with a nod, cool and correct as ever. Originally from Niv, JOHN A. WHEELER’s first Chief Engineer was now based in the Gem Isles, at Procyon A/B, in the R and D Yards there. Her dark brown eyes sparkled; she was pleased to see Xiu-Li.

Matisou stood up. Now that we are together again at last, let me say welcome, and thank you all for coming. He nodded to Takaguchi. Jason? Takaguchi went over to a cabinet by the wall as Matisou went on: I asked you all here to help me figure out what to do with Commander Chen’s talents.

Xiu-Li’s heart fluttered for a second. Oh, space... it’s not possible!

It’s apparent they’re under-used in an Earth setting, observed Matisou.

Takaguchi nodded solemnly as he set up a tray of drinks.

There are a few staff groups worthy of her insights... But they have no openings. Matisou shook his head. All of the GREATSTAR Class crew officers have been set, and anyway, most are not leaving until next year. He looked at her. I’m going out soon, but the S.A.S. has already filled my staff positions. Matisou shook his head. "‘It’s a real problem to place a talented commander in this busy peacetime with so many fine officers available’ – He slapped his desk. That’s what they told me! So naturally, I told them that in my experience –"

Our experience, broke in Takaguchi.

"Yes, Jason – our experience – you were a ‘problem’ at every rank so far, Xiu-Li, ever since we couldn’t seem to get you through a mission without getting you hurt, or almost getting you killed, or having to kill – Matisou raised his hands – even though it was always justified! And so I proposed promoting you, since placing a captain might be easier –"

Oh... oh... oh, deep SPACE!!

"– and of course, they pointed out all the GREATSTAR seats were filled. That’s a piece of luck, since you think they look like a ‘basketball with a handle and some sticks glued on it.’"

Tania Manda smirked, Takaguchi chuckled again, and Aria Threnody’s lip curled ever so slightly, then she laughed softly – at first. Xiu-Li flushed, her face getting red.

Okay, okay, settle down! Anyway, in the end, they realized they’d be better off with this particular ‘problem commander’ permanently out of the way, so it is one of my greatest honors yet to inform you, Commander Xiu-Li Chen, that you are herewith promoted to Captain in the Space Fleet of the Space Alliance Systems, with all of the responsibilities and duties accompanying that position.

The room swayed.

Xiu-Li took a deep breath. Okay now... She came to attention.

Everyone had become serious and stood at attention now as well.

Matisou stepped forward and saluted. Congratulations, Captain Chen.

She saluted him and took the traditional parchment envelope containing her documents of promotion. As she turned and saluted Threnody, Takaguchi, and Manda, she wondered if she would have just the office, or a ship as well... But that didn’t matter, as they gathered around congratulating her while Takaguchi circulated with glasses to raise in toast.

As they started to drink and talk, Matisou pulled her aside. "I tried to get the Lone Wolf here too, but he’s just a little busy out there at the moment."

Sir, I... I... Xiu-Li shook her head, speechless.

Matisou smiled, eyes crinkling. This should’ve happened last year. He didn’t have to say more; with the peace frenzy following establishment of the Peace, unemployed warriors were all over the place and the diplomats wanted to demilitarize and hopefully forget them as quickly as possible. The new Space Alliance and establishment of Space Fleet universities provided work for many, but there were a limited number of non-Tactically outfitted starships, especially the bigger ones like the defensively armed GREATSTAR class, or even a converted science ship like JOHN A. WHEELER. Tactical ships were being put into slips for conversion, parked for the moment in a StarYard, or just scrapped!

On the other hand, said Matisou, Things happened last year that took time, and now we are left with a situation Captain Threnody would likely call ‘quite intriguing.’ He checked his chrono. There are some things I need to review just now... An invitation to the Captain’s Table is traditional on promotion. I hope you are a traditionalist in this area, Captain?

Hey, he means ME! Y-yes, sir.

Excellent! I’ll download you directions; 1930 for drinks, meal at twenty-hundred. Everyone will be there afterward. Matisou checked his chrono. I hope you had no immediate plans; your first new mission will be to check in with the Records and Personnel Division gnomes for ident collection and updates.

N-no, sir.

Matisou grinned. Then get moving, Captain Chen!

Aye-aye, sir!

1.2

She finished with the RecPerDiv gnomes just before 1700. As Xiu-Li was leaving the building, Tania Manda walked up. Do you have something to wear? asked Manda, without preamble, then she grinned. Or do you feel a need to... Go shopping? she inquired hopefully.

Xiu-Li laughed. Same old Tania Manda – thank Space!

Deciding what to wear was a pleasant diversion she hadn’t had for – too long, if she couldn’t remember! Her belongings left stored on Earth when she had launched for JOHN A. WHEELER almost seven years earlier had been destroyed long ago (in an earthquake, fire, and flood), and all of her current clothes and other things were in her orbital quarters. All she had up there anyway were a few wardrobe basics. When it came to fancy clothes she had never gone beyond a black all-purpose dress, so, anything would help, as Xiu-Li put it. "Tania, let’s buy anything you think I should have. Spend down some of that fortune in hazardous duty pay I’ve earned over the past seven years."

First, Tania brought her to see Sergé, for just a shaping.

Sergé clipped her split ends, shortened and shaped her hair so it was perfectly even, and Xiu-Li got away with only one sniff from Sergé over the way she had been ignoring it, along with a rather dry: Another of Tania’s Fleeters, too busy to keep up with their hair.

Between the hair cut and the clothing stores, they filled each other in on many old shipmates, recalling past times as they bought Xiu-Li two drawersful and six hangers’ worth of clothes. The time flew, even though she spent forever trying on the next outfit Tania wanted to see her in. For this evening, they settled on a very nice dark red Shantung silk pants suit with a pair of black shoes (flats) Xiu-Li could dance in (they tested them, dancing a few turns together – totally ignored by everyone else in the store, of course).

It was getting late. Why not go there with me? said Tania Manda. I’m nearer than you are – both from here, and then to there. C’mon – you can see my place. Her apartment was tucked up in the hills above the newly re-dedicated Space University grounds. The Admiral’s staff is all quartered up here, said Tania, opening the front door. He’s a little further up the hill.

You’ll be going back out with him? Xiu-Li followed her in.

Tania closed the door. Yes. She waved her hand. The livingroom –

They toured the place (Very nice, Tania!) then each showered, (Xiu-Li went second, having rested while Manda took hers), and then they relaxed.

For the moment Tania Manda was going to NORCLIP and wouldn’t worry about it, but she was faced with a decision about what sort of Captain she would be, because that final promotion step would end her role as Admiral Matisou’s communications officer. She could still serve on his staff, but as a staff captain her duties were related to administrative, organizational, teaching, and testing, not actual communications operations.

You’d be a good teacher, said Xiu-Li.

Tania shook her head. I’d get over-involved with students.

Xiu-Li was startled Tania Manda said that.

Tania saw the surprise on Xiu-Li’s face and just shrugged. "I like to have fun when I’m not working. You know that hasn’t changed."

They both laughed.

Tania shook her head. "No, I think I’d better leave the teaching to people like you and Admiral Matisou, Captain Takaguchi – even Enronn’s doing it now. He’s on WHEELER, made captain last round. Tania giggled. His first officer is definitely the sort of student I’d like to teach! Hooooo!" Somehow, neither mentioned their old boyfriend Orlando Timbers once.

Matisou’s place was befitting an Admiral, even a minor one, as he had always put it. Set in moderate-sized grounds, with nice grassy lawns, it had a two story main house and a small guest house, with a long flagstone patio between them, and a pool. It was here that they drank cold champagne, then had a fine meal. There was broiled lemon fish, an Italian Chicken with red sauce, risotto, green beans, a Niv vegecasserole, three different salads, and French sourdough bread. The moonlight sparkled in the waters of the pool as they talked and ate.

Xiu-Li did not see Aria Threnody present and felt a little disappointment; but that was easy enough to sublimate with her other old friends. Danilo Chaves was even there, invited by the Admiral. Minerva’s with the kids up on the Plat, but she says ‘hi,’ she’s really impressed and happy, and she’ll make sure all your stuff there gets squared away. Chaves grinned.

I don’t have a ship, Danilo. I’m not going anywhere yet.

He shrugged. "Just in case, then."

Xiu-Li looked down. Sorry.

He laughed. You don’t have to be sorry, Captain.

She shook her head. I just can’t believe it.

Chaves laughed again. Jool, you shoulda been a captain a year ago. But I’m really glad I had the chance to work with you this past year.

Thanks, Danilo. I’ll put the word in for you.

Tea, coffee and fruitmeade were drunk as glasses of wine were circulated. Then it was time for the Toasts.

Admiral Matisou raised his glass. To Captain Chen. Everyone drank.

Captain Chen, a toast! called Captain Takaguchi.

Xiu-Li raised her glass. I have made mistakes. I have had great success. I have felt pain, and fear – also the triumph of victory, and the joys of discovery. I have not been blessed, however. She looked at them. "As all of you know, I have been lucky – just barely lucky – to survive. I have been lucky my mistakes and injuries didn’t get me or you killed, and that my other little mistakes here and there weren’t discovered."

There was a murmur of knowing chuckles.

"But my greatest luck was my serving with all of you, my colleagues – who became first my friends, and then my family. I would not be here today without you – and many others… Eyes watering, Xiu-Li took a deep breath. To absent friends."

Absent friends, they intoned, and drank.

By tradition the most junior officer present always gave next toast.

Matisou looked over at Danilo Chaves. Commander Chaves?

Danilo Chaves looked puzzled. Sir?

Matisou nodded. "Commander Chaves, he said. Would you do the honors?"

Stunned, Chaves said automatically, To the service – past, present and future.

To the Service!

Takaguchi now turned to Chaves (who still looked uncertain) and raised his glass. "To the new Chief Instructor, Space Alliance System Space University Earth Orbital Campus, Commander Danilo Chaves. You have a very high mark to best, sir, but if anyone can do it, you can."

Here here! yelled Xiu-Li, and everyone toasted Chaves, who was now looking very serious indeed.

Takaguchi refilled Xiu-Li’s glass before she could stop him. Didja tell her yet?

Matisou rolled his eyes.

Ooops! Sorry, Admiral! Takaguchi darted away as Matisou shook his head in mock exasperation and then motioned toward the house. A moment, Captain?

People waved as she went. They seemed quite happy for her. What now?

They went to his study. Matisou waved her to the couch.

She slid onto it gratefully – Xu-Li was feeling rather giddy as she nervously anticipated – what?

What does the future hold, Captain Chen? Matisou turned on the wall screen holospace and an SAS logo appeared within it. In a time of fresh peace – the turmoil of change. He sighed. The Assembly Of Sentients corridor, the Alliance itself, all the new base platforms and system stations – there’s going to be a lot of travel around our new Alliance. You remember what it was like to deal with those local planetside dignitaries – now they’ll all be on the move. We’ll have ambassadors, political royalty – He grinned. "Even Space Fleet admirals. Do we use our newest ‘ship of the line’ starships? Well... sometimes yes, but their main missions are usually going way out, somewhere. We need a safe and secure local ship which can move these characters around, and also do some exploring and survey charting along the way, not the other way around. He looked at her. It’s quite a step from space warrior and search-and-rescue expert to ferry captain."

She didn’t care. Armed ferry captain, sir. Xiu-Li grinned.

Matisou studied her gravely, then he smiled. "And a really, really big ferry." He activated the holofile.

Xiu-Li gasped. In the array was an orbital view of a starship that looked much like JOHN A, WHEELER had, except for some subtle detailing differences, and a different name: SAS JAGUAR.

Her ship!? From a great distance she heard Matisou:

"Base frame begun in December 2174 but work delayed during the Conflict... Frame finished late 2178... First designed as a light tactical cruiser, then some weapons were changed, then it was turned over to me in R and D and re-designed as a courier and explorer (don’t worry, we left in the best weapons)... Finished the main hull in 2179... Main drives came off IWG VICTORY in mid 2179 – you may recall the VICTORY, ha-ha... She left the Fleet yard on July 4, 2180 for certification flight testing as SAS JAGUAR."

My ship! The image blurred – there were tears in her eyes! "It looks like WHEELER, sir. It was a classic loaf-brick ship, not fancy or inspiring to the eye," and Xiu-Li instantly fell in love with it.

Matisou nodded. Five decks, though. Sort of the testbed prototype for the fast cat COURIER class. He grinned at her. "You’ll be glad to know, by the way, that it appears the future of SAS design is moving away from basketballs. Nobody can justify another budget like GREATSTAR again. He looked back at the holo. Still, at this point, with BUCKMINSTER FULLER and SIR FRANCIS BACON and three others in the pipeline before we are done with the GREATSTAR Class run, and plenty of new private cargo and passenger lines opening up to cash in on inter-Sphere runs, there’s a big demand for good captains. No one wants the duty and no one wants JAGUAR. At least, not on a service salary! So SAS Space Fleet suddenly has a pretty big ferry boat –"

– or a ‘swift, armed courier ship,’ sir. As the class has been named. Xiu-Li smiled, thinking how British Royal Navy from the Napoleonic Era that sounded.

He nodded. That does sound fancy. Still... hmm. He looked at her. "I do like that much better than ‘ferry.’ Yes… You’ll be on courier ops and exploration emergency response duty missions for Space Fleet, via NorClipComDiv. Matisou grinned. Once we got VICTORY’s drive section, I’m afraid that Chief Taz’ri’an’s teams went overboard and did a pretty thorough re-construction ‘inspection’ that matched it in perfectly with a dozen other final refinements. He cleared his throat. I do have one more element to review as part of your mission... concerning personnel."

He changed the array to a deck schematic. As a ship on – courier duty, there are some modifications in both design and crew complement specific to the mission profiles. Design first: the original ordnance reserves which a full Tac cruiser carries were the areas turned into extra quarters, but all the additional armoring and shielding are retained from the wartime specs, as are the Tactical weapons. He looked at her. "All of them. We’ve left some in an ‘inactive’ state, and maybe now they’re not as visible as they were. There is also a generous supply of ordnance remaining. He cocked an eyebrow. I think we both know how raiders like to take advantage of chaotic