The Adventures of Gordon Rogers: Episode 3

By Ash Nom DePlume

This is the 3rd episode in The Adventures of Gordon Rogers. What happens when a 21st century retired teacher has to fight a future war. Will the bureaucrats prevent victory will our hero find a workaround? Little things like the integrity of time line are not a problem if you don't let them be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ash Nom DePlume
• Release date: May 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005022754

Ash Nom DePlume

Pen Names are useful for separating the part of me that needs the day job and paycheck from the naughty fun of writing fiction. Between my day job and dyslexia, writing has been a challenge but you cannot keep a good story down. I hope you enjoy the stories. If you do, tell everyone, if you do not, tell me at the contact information in the book. Free access codes for the first Angry Brothers based story, the rest have a small honorarium though from time to time there are free. The Angry Brothers is a free show that can be found on YouTube and in many other places.Hidden in my stories are actual science facts, as well as a mystery or two when I can. I always try to keep the elements of a good story, A little religion, a royal figure, a little sex (sometimes a lot), and a mystery. This makes the shortest story that meets these requirements is, "Good God, the Queen is pregnant; who did it?"I hope the readers like my stories enough to come back for more and, better yet give favorable recommendations to their friends. Please check out my newest website http://www.ashnomdeplume.com to get more detail on books. If you are interested in proofreading or commenting on a galley copy let me know. It is all good fun and I do enjoy honest feedback even when it is you missed this error.Ash

Book preview

The Adventures of Gordon Rogers: Episode 3

Copyright March 2020 Ash Nom DePlume

Cover Art by: Todd Myzia ([e-mail])

ISBN: 9781005022754

All Rights Reserved, no part may be used, reproduced, or story characters without the permission of the copyright holders of those characters. Contact can be made via the contact information found at the end of this work. Email [e-mail] is also available to reach the copyright holder of this work.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. In short, this is fiction even if some things are based on facts, so relax and enjoy the story.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Preface - Phoenix 3

Rose Three

Gordon Twenty-Seven

Wrench Ten

Gordon Twenty-Eight

Rose Four

Wrench Eleven

Gordon Twenty-Nine- Murphy’s Law.

Princess-Three

Spencer One

Gordon-Thirty

Rose Five

Wrench Twelve

Spencer Two

Princess Four

Spencer Three

Gordon-Thirty-One

Princess Five

Gordon Thirty-Two

Spencer Four

Sabrina One

Princess Six

Sabrina Two

Gordon Thirty-Three

Princess Seven

Wrench Thirteen

Sparky One

Acknowledgments

Other books by this Author

Connect with Ash Nom DePlume

Prologue

A thousand years or more in the future, time, relativity, Colony collapse followed by resurrection play havoc with records; the human race leads an Empire under threat from an outside insect race. The Empire that has withstood the AI war, plagues, and a violent warring period birth, resembles a cross between Ming Dynasty China with Roman elements, with a Constitutional hereditary Emperor with the Legislative Representative and Colonial Governors are elected or appointed for life. The Empire is comprised of the Central Kingdom thousand planets and ten Outer Realms and Territories of an ever-evolving larger number of sparsely populated star systems. A series of never-ending border skirmishes with other non-humanoid races keeps things interesting on the Frontier.

The long-time enemy, the Wo, has always been a low-level threat, sufficient to keep the need for a strong Fleet and Empirical bureaucracy. Now it has developed into a severe threat. Projections are a loss of fifty to one hundred planets in the Central Kingdom planets within the next twenty years.

Gordon Rogers, our heroic science teacher from the past, surviving cancer, and certain death. Now that he has the girl and Command of the Attack Fleet for the war with the Wo, how will he survive the bureaucrats and restrictions that threaten the Empire? It is time for some outdated tech and little know-how.

Preface - Phoenix 3

"My sweet Daddy, I am giving those who took you from me, lessons in pain. Once again, they are being taught a lesson of Wo. The systemic subjugation of their will to my desires will continue for many generations. When this over, the traitor to the family will fall. One of our family will assume the throne of the Empire's realms to reclaim the throne for our family’s honor, even if I am to be punished for being slow in obeying your instructions," Biljana said to the token of her Daddy.

Rose Three

"Did you reset the negative gravity after the Tokamak shield went active as it has a lot of hot mass, which has got to do something to calculations?" Gordon asked of Wrench.

We are mid-jump. Sir, you’re a little late. Yes, I did, or we would be dead. Transition jump time depends on Volume, Mass, Displacement in the linear distance, and transitional velocity, all of which make this a very long jump. We are six hours and change on this jump for this award-winning jump, movie night, or water volleyball? Wrench replied.

"We can discuss over lunch. Shall we see what the Central Park ‘outdoor’ café ala mess hall serves up?" Rose suggested.

Is that part of the original design? the Princess asked.

The plans have them built, but over the last hundred years, of sitting empty and just doing nothing, it has been in storage the whole time. I discussed Ahmed’s with Lizzie, and Tina asked a few questions, which led to more questions, which leads to a bistro district, Rose replied.

Was that why everyone was talking about wanting a park side bistro with sidewalk café for the outdoor dining feeling? Spencer asked.

We are in the middle of a dimensional shift. Don’t you need to concentrate on that or something? the Princess asked.

Once I set the jump in motion, we are helpless until it completes. As long as I am not killed, it should all be good. The food better be very good, and who wants to be the taste tester, Spencer said with the bravado that pilots enjoy as they are all mostly nuts and get worse with time and number of jumps. Nobody wants to dwell on Dimension jumps require a sentient consciousness to initiate. If the initiator comes to harm or is rendered unconscious during the jump, it is bad.

As big as the Yachts are, why didn’t you do this before? Rose asked.

"Combat flexible thinking and ready for a fight. We have been at full tilt for a hundred days now. This is the first opportunity to catch a breath. Personally, I could use a nice week at the back end of the Velorum cluster. A leisurely turnaround and go back in six easy steps. Take a day or two in each to finish a month from now fully loaded for our assault on the Wo at ν-Eri-4," Gordon said.

"As the Royal Observer, I believe being the host for the special social occasions is my bailiwick if I have the term correct," Rose offered.

Unless the Princess and consort to the Admiral whose flagship this is want to upstage, the Princess teased.

Why don’t you both go down there and test out the appetizers while the Admiral and myself check the math on the power-generation, mass, and super shield with Sparky, Wrench suggested.

Rose, I say we go walk in the park and get settled in, and if they don’t make it by 6:030 for the midday meal, we let them be hungry, Princes Michelle offered.

Done, meet you at Park station three as it is nearest to the restaurant? Rose replied.

Yes, though we need to have our entourage as security report that they are still collecting the feral populations, she replied.

Tina, have Buddy assemble a team to protect both of our Royal guests, Wrench said as he helped Rose out of her command lounge chair.

Buddy, Sharpe, Warde, Mulhall, Constance, Karen, Hanna, and Gina, will meet her at starboard dock one, Tina replied.

Why do I feel like she expects I know who these people are? Rose said with a laugh.

The running gag is Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, early twentieth-century movie serials for the visual looks and names, which I will explain later. You can pull them up and watch them, Wrench said.

Is this one of your all-day jokes before the punch line? Rose asked as she gave him a peck on the cheek and headed towards the starboard dock of the Heron to Ford.

It is the Admiral’s and Princess’s joke, and they get to tell it, Wrench said while chuckling to himself as Tina followed.

Rose went to the dock while pulling up information to find her escort looked like the movie serial's ancient actors, now that her HUD knew to reference them. She will have to watch the shows to catch up on the joke.

Lieutenant Ramsey and Dr. Tuo joined her at transport pickup and three movie star looking crewbots that deliberately dressed down their looks, which drew even more attention. The Princess arrived with the transport, and everyone joined her and her six bots, who also had that look of being drawn from science fiction action movies and TV shows. They were also dressed down with a touch of makeup, which once again attracted attention.

Yes, the discontinuity of the packaging to the natural looks is deliberate as you are not looking for their weaponry or our personal defenses, yet they are undistractible. It is an old trick that still works and easily forgotten, Dr. Tuo said.

Upon arrival and seeing the delightfully realistic skyline and city bistro café and smelling the ‘Persian’ cuisine, Rose knew it will be a popular attraction.

Buddy, get Commander Jackson and Lieutenant Ramsey here immediately with all the crowd control or recruitment people he can. Inquire on how fast the food service can increase food preparation if we have a lot of unexpected guests, Rose ordered, doing her imitation of MoMo not looking nervous.

Rose? the Princess asked with concern.

"We are about to get a lot of hungry guests from all the ‘empty’ apartments around here," Rose said.

Diana, scanning and full security considerations, the Princess said, knowing not to fight intuition.

"Ramsey will be here in seven minutes. Jackson is twenty out, so stall. The level below is food preparation, and every restaurant on this quaint dining district is hooked into it. Prepared food delivery in a bistro motif allows for a thousand meals per hour on this two-block restaurant row set up. Buffet settings can go to thirty thousand per hour within a half hours’ notice with a hundred thousand on two hours’ notice while serving the first dinners. Mass mess halls exist and can be operated for a million meals per hour with three hours’ notice. But then maintaining full production on the bistro row will have to be reduced," Buddy said to the two ladies.

"Four thousand feral people are in the six closest buildings, based on ships security sensors and cameras, now that they know to look there. The grocery store row on the next block has been steadily restocking food stores sufficient to keep about three thousand healthy. Or five thousand alive in a food insecurity situation, assuming they are adults," Diana added.

Shall we prepare to withdraw through the restaurant through the kitchen to the level below, which is securable, Buddy asked.

Keep the path open as we are going to eat outdoors and welcome our guests with large-quality meals as is expected of a host to her guests, Rose replied. Privately she was thinking of how long she can doing an imitation of Momo.

Catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar, Doctor Princess said as she consulted her HUD display on the sizes of the guest arriving.

The Maître d'hôtel arrived, How many will be in your party? he asked, though he already has been speaking with Buddy.

Four at our table, two other guests, and four thousand to-go orders are in the offering, Rose said with levity.

Wrench is wearing off on you? Michelle replied.

More likely I am on him; I have always had an odd sense of humor; it allows me to deal with the absurdity of life, Rose replied.

May we please have some Turkish coffee and Baba Ghanoush, Humous appetizers. We can examine your menu and have a dedicated waiter awaiting mass short order request until we direct otherwise, the Princess said to the Maître d'hôtel.

As you command, your Majesty, Maître d'hôtel replied.

Madame will suffice in front of our guests at this time, she replied.

May I suggest table three, which enjoys a lovely view of the canal, lake, green areas and has a clear escape route to the kitchen? Your security forces are inside the doors at the ready. The three waiters and their assistants are combat-capable. Please allow them to intervene if you need to leave, the Maître d'hôtel replied. He then set up his stand for reservations as the entrance to the bistro row to welcome the guest that had yet to make themselves visible.

Are you two sure about this? Diana asked of the Princess.

Is that fresh butter and honey, Princes asked as some rolls, shortbreads, and the Turkish style coffee was delivered.

Yes, Madame, we can also provide spiced varieties, Mead, and a small selection of luncheon wines if you desire as well, the waiter replied. As he delivered the items, the assistants removed the decorative dish wear for the ones for use.

Can you vent more of the lovely food aroma toward the hungry guests' approach? Which should further whet their appetites, and make sure you have plenty of appetizers on hand to assure they enjoy the meal as much as possible? Rose suggested.

Does Mademoiselle have a suggestion as to what would be in demand? the waiter replied.

Six young children are approaching faster than the rest who are keeping hidden and have melee weapons, no projectiles detected at this time, Buddy replied.

Juices, soft drinks, sweets, spaghetti with meatballs, and lots of garlic bread, might be the easiest to get going for a young crowd, and if I am wrong, someone else will want them, Princess Michelle said.

"Have that table adjacent to us ready for six, as seeing children being fed and well treated is a good start. It looks like they all need to be welcomed guests. This should reduce any disagreeableness that may be in the crowd as we don’t know the situation," Rose, having lived and slept rough for the last six years, replied with authority.

I will have the concern next door prepare that at once, the waiter said as the assistant moved deliberately towards the staff next door with an Italian motif and cuisine selection.

At what rate of delivery would you desire your meal delivered? the waiter asked.

If things go as planned, this will be an extended social meal and gathering while we welcome lost friends that we have yet to meet. Expedite the needs of hungry guests, especially the children, the Princess replied. Her HUD was going nuts, with Rogers being concerned and complementary of the attempt to bribe the ‘locals’ with food.

The ladies were sipping their coffee and having some hummus while watching a young red-headed boy with freckles. An underfed look crept along with the boulevard’s bushes and other decorations.

Stefan Ramsey arrived and walked up to the Maître d'hôtel who said, Welcome, Lieutenant Ramsey, you and Commander Jackson’s table is this way, he said loudly for the young boy to hear as well as he showed them to the table near the ladies but closer to the entrance.

Thank you, a mint tea, please, while I pay my respects, he replied.

Stefan, come over here and tell me about your day, the Princess said, saving the herald announcement ceremony and such.

I am glad you asked. Cullen and I were having an interesting debate about some math figures and the ship's mass with the overly generous fuel supply we have taken on board. When a sudden urge to eat a meal with guests overcame me, he said with levity as he watched the boy approach.

"Funny, I felt the same urge. We do need to test out the dining on the bistro row now that the ship is under new management. I am so concerned that we cannot find any children to help with the taste testing of spaghetti and meatballs," Rose said to be overheard by the hungry children hiding nearby.

Sounds good, but what about soups, and sometimes, you just want a good combat ration meal all to yourself. Especially the ones with decks of cards and chocolate bar, he said, remembering when he was being trafficked and early in his rescue.

"No reason, one could not have a hot meal and place a to-go order," the waiter suggested.

What are the pricing arrangements? Stefan asked, knowing that was on the mind of those who have been living outside the system.

"All that register as guests and abide by the rules and regulations may eat without charge. Those with reservations are served first. Currently, we have sufficient seating available along bistro row to accommodate many diners before we need to concern ourselves with such matters," the Maître d'hôtel replied with an elevated voice for the true audience.

Pardon me, Maître d'hôtel said as he went to his station, keeping in character as he was also a heavy infantry shield transport crewbot designed for hand to hand combat.

The young redhead was at his station hiding behind it. The large infantrybot squatted down to meet the young boy face to face and said, Young Master, will you be dining alone or will our five friends be joining you at the same table? he said formally while waiting for an answer.

What is the parley for the grub? Wendell asked.

You have to obey the rules, wash your hands before and after the meal, and no disturbing the other guest, the Maître d'hôtel said as if this was a normal everyday conversation instead of a first contact between ‘cultures’ as it were.

The boy looked confused when Diana stepped forward with her movie-star looks, bright smile and said, I’ll show you were to wash up. What is your name? she said as he offered a hand to the boy who did not take it. Looking nervous at being invited indoors. Yes, a ship is all indoors, but the motif of the central park was it was a large outdoor park with a sky and weather containing twenty-story buildings.

How about the warm towels to wash up presented at the table where you can see there is lots of room? Stefan said, knowing the child needs feel he can escape.

Do you want juice or soda to drink, Rose said as she squatted down to meet the boy face to face.

What kind of juice? he said.

Why don’t you tell the Maître d'hôtel your name so when your friends arrive, he can deliver them to the correct table, Rose said with a hint of humor as it was obvious that the place was empty except for them.

Wendell, how can they not see me, he said with a raised eyebrow.

The Maître d'hôtel gets paid to do this, don’t blow his scam, she said with a conspiratorial wink as she pointed him to the table.

The O juice in CB MRE 2 is one of my favorites, though I like CB 3 main course best, I never get the desert, Wendell said.

Would you like hot fresh spaghetti or a CB MRE, and do you want your O juice room temperature or chilled? the waiter asked on cue.

Chilled would be nice. Is it like meal 6 spaghetti or meal 17 sauce? Wendell asked.

We can provide either, though the red number 6 is more popular with the younger diners. Would like to try fresh and place a to-go order for a CB MRE, though Bistro street will be open all 12 hours of the day and all ten days of the week for guests who register with management, the waiter said.

What does register mean? he asked warily, not yet willing to take the offered seat as that would reduce his escape ability.

Captain Kim just accepted command of this ship, and Admiral Rogers has decided to make it his flagship. The former management neglected to mention you and your friends are on board. We need to make housing, food, and other arrangements for your health and wellbeing while you are our guest, Rose said.

Who are you? Wendell said as he climbed into the chair as the O juice arrived. The waiter presented warm towels to wash his hands while the plate of spaghetti was waiting with the assistant waiter to be informed of which of the sauces to offer.

The Trustees won’t like that, he said as Diana indicated the towels with a nod of her head.

Maybe you can help us meet them to explain, Stefan said, having an idea of the slave culture that is likely to have existed while he wiped his hands clean and had a juice as well.

Good orange juice, you should clean up and try it and your spaghetti before it gets cold, he suggested.

A moment later, the kid had clean hands, half a juice down him, and enough spaghetti with the sauce to feed three in front of him, but he still wasn’t trying it. Rose reached over with a fork and tried some. Hey, that is mine, Wendel said, claiming his food and grabbing a fork seeing that it was safe to eat.

Then don’t be slow, Rose said as she smiled and went to her table while the Princess was suppressing a laugh. Lieutenant Ramsey went to his table to get his tea as two little girls who could not be more than a year older than the six-year-old looking Wendel were at the Maître d'hôtel stations. He was asking if they were joining someone or were their own party.

It is a good thing they can keep a straight face as I would break character given enough time, Michelle said to Rose. Commander Jackson arrived with three hundred troops, who waited near the other eating establishments as if they were arriving for mealtime.

"Stefan, I see you saved me a spot,’ he said.

Well, we had to get a jump on all your staff. Did they make reservations? Stefan said, staying in character.

The two girls joined Wendell, one of which ordered the ration meal 12 prepared according to directions, and they better not snag the toy was in the order.

Jackson met the first adults to show up, including some Fleet personal with debilitating injuries that had not received medical treatment and looked inflicted by torture. The Maître d'hôtel arrived, Will that meal or medical services first, so I may keep seating flowing soothingly? he asked.

Is he joking, Commander? a long-suffering Lieutenant Junior Grade who had been branded with a mark of R on his face said.

"Fleet is back in control, though vetting out troublemakers may take little time, CrossRoads and this mothballed fleet are under direct Empire Control. There is enough food, medical and fair treatment for everyone," Rose said as the Princess started waiving her medical scanning watch over the many injuries.

I feel I should know you, he said as others started approaching.

Give it time. You are in no condition to kowtow, so you are excused. I recommend a nice soup and salad and let one of the Commander's nice troops take you to medical, the Princess said while returning to her meal with Rose.

The Trustees are armed and have control of the armory and food lockers. How is this place open? Simon said as he sat painfully in the chair offered.

The Maître d'hôtel then said, Captain Kim, welcome your party is expecting you. Who do I inform about two of my waiter-designated crewbots that were seriously damaged when we opened for operation, as the daily report time is not for two more hours?

Any of us are acceptable or anyone of higher rank than you. Are the bots being repaired, and what of the forces that injured them? Wrench asked calmly though he was now