Fiction: The Girassian Debacle Chapter 4: This is Not Impressive

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Previous Chapter 3: And So It Is https://onthebeachatnightalone.com/2022/08/26/fiction-the-girassian-debacle/

All of the London’s crew had seen, one might say met, the odd, little biodroid pilot that Central Command had provided for their voyage. The bridge crew awaited the arrival of Captain Angelique Plotkin of the ULE Chicago, who, most inconveniently, was going to be an observer of the London’s first trial run with Yoshi, their biodroid pilot, plugged into the ship.  

“What do you think, Song? Should we make the trial run with our BDP on the bridge, or let Freihoff have him present in Engineering?”

“Bring him onto the bridge, Captain. There’s more to check out with him than just how he’s managing Engineering. Like, how he looks when he responds to commands and functions.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Maureau said. “With Captain Plotkin joining us from the Chicago, we can show him off.”

“He definitely will get her attention,” Song said.

“I want her to know exactly what we were given by Central Command,” Maureau said. 

No one on a ship needs a distraction during check-out procedures for a voyage. Maureau and Song would have preferred to find out what problems they had to fix without being observed by their companion ship’s captain. But Admiral Rankin insisted that Plotkin accompany them to familiarize herself with Maureau and the London. But it felt like Plotkin was to serve as his eyes and ears aboard their first trial run with a biodroid pilot new to the ship .

Maureau and Song decided to approach the visit as an opportunity to develop a good working relationship. While they did not have their orders for Girassian space yet, they assumed Plotkin’s Chicago would be under Maureau’s direction in any mission that involved the two corvettes alone.  

Plotkin was late. Anxious to begin the trial flight, people spoke in subdued voices as if at a memorial gathering. A bright arc of sunlight swept across the earth, the reflected light brightening the bridge and the spirit of the crew. 

Lieutenant Akhtar-Gatewood laughed. “Who are we waiting for with more suspense, Captain Plotkin or our BDP?” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

“That’s easy,” said the XO, Song. “Plotkin is just along for the ride. Yoshi is the ride.”

Finally Plotkin arrived at the gantry gateway. Maureau awaited there to greet her. She stepped into the airlock bay surveying the chamber carefully, sizing up the bay’s crew and the security contingent before she looked at Maureau with a quizzical smile painted upon her face. 

“Quite a greeting team, Captain Maureau.” Plotkin wore a remarkably non-regulation g-suit, bright scarlet with customized styling.  Noticing his attention to it, she said, “I came prepared. I expect your new biodroid will need to do some hard flying and challenge us with some gravitational forces.”

“We plan to set a new speed record to five-hundred thousand kilometers per hour. Glad to see you’re prepared.”

“Is that a good idea, trying  to set a record when on a first trial run with a new BDP?”

“I’m confident all will go well,” Maureau said. “These new biodroids are more advanced than anything we have had before.” 

“Well, I’ll have to count on your Chief of Engineering knowing exactly what it’s capable of doing safely.”

“We are all counting on Chief Freihoff,”Maureau said locking eyes with one of the security team while subtly shaking his head. 

On the bridge, Plotkin stood off from Song appraising the work of all the officers. She ignored Song who stood waiting to introduce herself. 

“Captain Plotkin, you will want to make the acquaintance of Lieutenant Commander Song, my XO” Maureau said. 

Plotkin finally acknowledged Song. “Lieutenant Commander,” she said with a nod. “I’ve heard about you from Admiral Rankin.”

Song frowned. Maureau wondered why the Admiral would be briefing Plotkin on his XO. What’s this about? 

“It’s good to hear the Admiral has expressed an interest in the career of Commander Song. I will have Song give you a tour of our ship on our return leg to Alpha One so you can get to know her.”

Plotkin’s short blond hair fanned out behind her ears and, catching the sunlight, produced the effect of a halo behind her head.  Almond-shaped eyes, dark as pitch, contrasted the fairness of the rest of her face with its high cheekbones. 

Maureau was reminded of classical drawings of aliens supposedly encountered on earth. Her appearance made him think. Maybe she’s one of the Hidden. She sure makes me feel like she’s from another world.

When Yoshi arrived with Chief Freihoff there was a palpable stir amongst the crew as they paused to turn and smile at him. He wore a bicorn captain’s hat with the edges cocked at an angle.

Plotkin’s mouth was agape. “I heard your BDP was misshapen, but it is bizarre,” Plotkin said.

“Chief. This is Captain Plotkin of the Chicago,” Song said.

“This is hardly a regulation appearance,” Plotkin said to Maureau, ignoring Song and Freihoff.

Maureau looked at Yoshi as if seeing him for the first time and smiled. “You are so correct,” he said with conviction. “Chief, our Yoshi needs to wear that hat correctly. Have him straighten it out.”

Freihoff spoke to Yoshi in a low voice, indiscernible to the crew. Yoshi straightened the bicorn corner straight forward and announced, “Yoshi is here to pilot the ULE London.” He walked up to Plotkin, took off his hat with a sweeping gesture while bowing, and then stood straightened up. Yoshi held his hat waiting for some acknowledgement by Plotkin.

“Humor. Humor goes a long way on these voyages,” Song said. 

Plotkin ignored Yoshi and maintained a disapproving expression. “I did not know a BDP had a sense of humor.”

“Apparently, ours does,” Song said.

“Sir, we need to allow Yoshi to fly the London in a unique, novel manner.”

“Why are we hearing about this now?” Maureau said.

“Yoshi just told me about a special program he can run to maximize our crew’s acceleration tolerance,” Freihoff said. “It should work, and it’s safe.  We should try it out before we leave on the Task Force mission.”

“Propulsion of the ship is your area,” Song said. “Will we need g-suits on right away?” she said looking at Plotkin’s garish g-suit.

“Right away,” Freihoff said. “The point of the novel mode is to push the crew to the edge of their acceleration tolerance. Maybe even beyond it.”

“Beyond the crew’s acceleration tolerance! So, how many unconscious in the crew is acceptable?” Plotkin said.

The bridge was still. Breathless. Maureau felt he did not have to answer that question. Plotkin apparently felt in a position to step in and challenge a decision that was in the making.

Yoshi was walking around the bridge looking at everyone’s console. He stopped and turned to Plotkin. “Of course we don’t want anyone passing out, Captain Plotkin. Yoshi’s goal is to set the speed record without a single star-sailor of the crew passing out.” He said this while slowly, deliberately setting his hat back on his head. 

“Chief, I’ll accept your recommendation to let Yoshi fly the ship with his new program,” Maureau said. “You’ve spent a lot of time with Yoshi and your confidence in him is enough for me. 

“Yoshi. We will allow you to run the program as soon as there is confirmation of your equilibration with the ship,” Maureau said. 

Yoshi stopped at each officer’s console and studied the output. Occasionally he would make an observation, the officer nodding and discussing something with him.

“I am impressed how all of your officers interact with the BDP,” Plotkin said. “They appear very informal, almost unprofessional.”

I know my crew. Keep criticizing them like that in front of them and they’ll be high-fiving Yoshi next to put it in your face.

“Everyone has spent time with Yoshi and gained an appreciation of how he can help them.”

“You refer to the BDP as “him.” What makes it a male?”

Maureau saw Song’s explosion coming. She had been holding back her temper but had had enough. “Captain Plotkin, you are a guest on our bridge. Leave our biodroid alone. I’m sure you will agree, we have other priorities to attend to.” 

That is why you need a  good XO! To handle the shit you would prefer not to.

“After all, Captain. We don’t want you to hurt Yoshi’s feelings just before he unites with the ship.” Song continued, laughing humorlessly. “We need him to focus all of his attention on the ship.”

Yoshi looked over his shoulder at Plotkin, eyes squinted. A knowing look.

Somehow, I know this is going to be trouble.

**********

Yoshi strapped into the  jump seat directly in front of the holographic navigation display and pulled out two cables from the back of his head to plug into the ship. He sat in Maureau’s seat. He said nothing. This time, I’ll let it go. Especially with Plotkin questioning everything about him.

“He’s a captain, too?” 

“For this training run, I want him in a central spot. This is the best. You disagree?”

“Very irregular,” Plotkin said waving him off.

You didn’t just wave me off? Is that possible?

The ship detached from their gantry and a tug attached to it, immediately accelerating the London away from Alpha One Station. Everyone stretched their arms above their head in the increased gravitational force, some shaking their hands out.

Yoshi chirped up. “The London is all systems go. Nice job, crew.” 

“Thank you, Yoshi,” Song said, leaning towards Plotkin, daring her to say something.

Chief Freihoff gave Yoshi a power bar, then abruptly excused himself to go to Engineering. Yoshi tucked the bar into a pocket of his jumpsuit and closed his eyes. He appeared asleep, his consciousness now united with the ship. His breathing was slowed. Biodroids spoke over the intercom or directed communication specifically into individual headsets. 

Maureau sensed a tension on the bridge. It was too quiet. Song was quiet. Waiting an uncomfortable amount of time, Maureau finally spoke, saying loudly to the mainframe computer, “Yoshi. How is your union with the London?” 

“Very strong, Captain,” Yoshi verbalized from his reposed body. 

“Shit!” Plotkin said with a startle.

“The ship fits like a favorite pair of slippers.”

“I forgot to warn you,” Song said. “When plugged in, he’s still able to communicate verbally, not just through the speakers. I know its weird. Yoshi. Use the speakers for Captain Plotkin.”

“He is also poetic,” Maureau said. “I trust the slippers aren’t too old or loose?”

“No, Captain Maureau. The systems are up to date and the variances are tight,” Yoshi said.

“Let’s go London, what’s our status?” Maureau wanted to show off the crew.

Song spoke up first. “T-3 minutes before we ignite impulse. Engineering, status?” With this announcement to the ship, Song triggered a cascade of reports on the bridge and from the ship’s sections. Each report was especially crisp and precise. All systems were a go, as Yoshi had reported. They had been ready for hours. 

Nice job. Setting a standard for the Chicago. Maureau was pleased. He nodded at Plotkin.

The tug released them. The London’s rockets ignited and the ship gradually accelerated towards the moon.

“Captain Plotkin. What level of cadets do you have aboard?” Maureau said.

“We have fifteen Midshipman, First Class. Just promoted from Second Class.”

“Top of their class, I expect, to be on this elite mission,” Maureau said. 

“We’ll have to take it easy on them,” Song said.

“I will push them hard,” Plotkin said. “They are expected to function at the highest level for a ship in Admiral Rankin’s historic Task Force.”

“I’m sure of that,” Song said.

“When do we go on the clock for a speed test?” Maureau said.

“Engineering. Let us know when we are ready for a speed test,” Song said.

“Let Yoshi take the helm for awhile and then he can let us know when the ship is ready,” Freihoff responded from Engineering. 

“The London is ready for transferring control,” Song said.

“Execute transfer, now,” Maureau said.

“Yoshi,” Song said loudly and clearly. “Take control of the London’s navigation.”

**********

Yoshi did not take long to report equilibration and readiness to take complete control of London’s navigation. “Captain Maureau!”Yoshi burst out  in a jarring, metallic voice over the speakers, making Plotkin jump again. “Lieutenant Commander Song,” he said softer. 

“This is Yoshi through the your comms as requested. I now am one with the ship. Equilibrium has been established.”

“Good to hear that,” Maureau said. “Does the London check-out to safely push for a speed record.”

“All systems are solid, steady and within tolerances to safely push Yoshi’s acceleration program. Your ship is wonderful! It is not as powerful as some I have tested, but it is very responsive. That is more important for the crew than just having power.”

“What are you rated for acceleration, Captain?” Plotkin said.

“One hundred and eighteen on the Standard gravitation tolerance scale.”

“I would have expected higher for an experienced crew. The Chicago is rated one hundred and thirty.” Plotkin said.

“Not with those cadets aboard,” Song said.

Chief Freihoff in Engineering spoke up. “Yoshi says with alternating the rocket acceleration with the vector angle, the overall Rating for a ship can be increased.”

“That has been tried many times before,” Plotkin said. Again an uncommon stillness fell on the bridge.

“Chief. You’ve checked the tolerances on propulsion variance with Yoshi?” Song said. 

“Yes. More than once.  And Yoshi just checked them again.”

“We are ready to go,” Yoshi said over the speakers. “The London should get ready for high-G acceleration.”

“No need to make this a high alert drill,” Maureau said. “Have the crew report in when they are ready.”

Song gave the order for the crew to get into their g-suits and strap into their jump seats for high-G acceleration. The bridge crew rapidly put on the standard deep blue g-suit of the United League of Earth’s Star Force. The rest of the crew reported in “all ready” simultaneously with the bridge’s completion of their suit-up. It would not have been completed faster had they been under attack. Maureau held Plotkin’s gaze and did not look away before she had to break her stare.

**********

Though to an observer Yoshi’s physical activity usually was quite animated, he was normally in a near sleep-mode dealing with people. Interacting with people did not take much neuroprocessing. Once plugged-into the London he activated an inconceivable high level of  awareness through all of the ship’s sensors.  He also processed every bit of data generated by the entire ship all at once. He sensed the vacuum of space. The inside pressure of the ship set against it. The warmth of the ship’s internal climate in contrast to the crystallizing cold of space.  The heat of the reactors. The push of the rockets.

Yoshi would also sense the beating of his heart, sometimes the throbbing pulse in his temples. When plugged into the ship, everything flowed. The flow of oxygen and the air intake to scrub out the carbon dioxide.  He sensed the movement of electricity flowing throughout the ship. Nodes of warmth where it met the the resistance of devices. The buzz of the many computer boards formed a cloud of charges guiding the multitude of systems. He monitored and controlled them all.

He wanted to close his eyes and let the buzz take him over. Oh, but his eyes were already closed on the bridge! Now, this was cognitive dissonance that would need to be assessed and resolved. He sensed his body separate from the ship. It was not an easy fix. His physical body’s consciousness would not shut down and it was definitely affecting the efficacy of his mainframe awareness. Yoshi considered if the inefficient, cognitive dissonance was the reason why Central Command thought Yoshi was an unstable, flawed biodroid.

An anomaly appeared in the ship’s internal environment. Captain Plotkin’s thermo-image stood out from everyone else’s on the ship. Her sympathetic output was cool compared to the others. When possible, Yoshi reconciled anomalies, so he needed to do a deep dive on her. He accessed her medical files, a second time, and found an interesting physiologic finding.

It was time to go to Yoshi’s trusted source of information with his findings. He reported his findings on Captain Plotkin to Chief Freihoff. The Chief was not impressed with the discrepancy. He told Yoshi that he would expect something like this. “She does not care if we set a speed record,”Freihoff said to him directly in a closed channel. “In fact, she has the opposite of anticipation. She is hoping for our failure. She is already in her g-suit and has no adrenaline of anticipation. That’s my theory.”

“Why does she not want success, Chief?”

“She believes her Chicago is superior to the London in the domain of speed,” Freihoff said.

“That is not accurate if one takes account of what I can do with this crew.”

“Well, Yoshi, your order is to demonstrate that the London can not only exceed any records that the Chicago has established, it is to exceed the speed record for all of Star Force. You told me you can do this within acceptable safety parameters. Do it only if you can without any of the London’s crew losing consciousness.”

“Order received and acknowledged. It will be executed per your parameters.”

Yoshi monitored the crews’s biometrics. Their g-suits transmitted heart rate and blood pressure. He had the capability to assess their skin’s blood flow using the video sensors of the  ship. He used information from the medical records of each crewman. As Yoshi started to accelerate, he analyzed the  flow of biometrics against the exercise stress test data every crewman had performed before embarkation. This ongoing, realtime analysis allowed him to manage the physical stress he generated against the physiologic response of the entire crew. He used the stress test data to adjust the ship’s accretion level to protect the weakest, most susceptible crewmen to vascular collapse. 

It would take some luck to set a Star Force speed record. He checked the data on ULE Chicago’s speed tests. It would not be hard to exceed the best acceleration of the Chicago. Yoshi was the biodroid for the job and this Plotkin does not belong here Yoshi thought. Yoshi would make sure she was impressed with Yoshi’s flight plan. Freihoff would want that.

Yoshi started humming  a tune.

**********

Maureau looked over at Yoshi when he started to hum. He looked asleep but Maureau thought he saw him smile.

“Engineering. Should a biodroid be able to smile?”

“Not really, Captain,” Freihoff said from Engineering. “This is a question that I would like to know the answer to. Why? Did Yoshi smile?”

“I think he did,” Maureau said. “Not really sure. Mark the time at 09:25. After our training run, you can interrogate the system to see what was going on at this point.

“Yoshi, you have navigation. Start the clock at the point we are at 1-G.” 

Song confirmed the crew was in their jump seats for an acceleration run.

The ship accelerated gradually, from one half a gravitational force to two times the standard gravitational force experienced on the surface of earth. The crews’ g-suits kicked in at this point. A number of the crew had g-suits transmitting less than an optimal response to the acceleration. Yoshi was able to adjust the compression of their suits to counter the pooling of blood in the legs and abdomen. 

“Navigation. “How far out are we going from earth?” Maureau said.

“If we accelerate, as planned, on reaching five hundred thousand kilometers per hour, we will be four-hundred thousand kilometers out from earth. This will be at the one hour one minute mark.” Ahktar-Gatewood said. 

“Will that be the record we are seeking?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“What is the record?” Maureau said.

“Five-hundred thousand kilometers per hour at one hour five minutes, Sir.  From Navigation’s standpoint, there is nothing complex or complicated. Our protective shields against cosmic dust and gas will only need to be at thirty percent of their maximal capacity.” 

“Where will we be in relation to the moon when we hit our target speed?” Maureau said.

“We will pass by the moon at an elevation from the surface of fifty thousand kilometers, the same height Alpha One Station is in relation to the earth. We hit the record one hundred thousand kilometers past the moon,” Akhtar-Gatewood said.

“Everyone report status” said Song. The bridge crew all reported-in feeling well. All departments reported-in stable. “Captain Plotkin?  You feel well?”

She guffawed under her breath over the question. “You have not even reached three point zero G. I am used to four point zero accelerations.”

“Yoshi, what are we going to push to?” Maureau said.

“I will hold at four and one half G’s for as long as I can with the crew,” Yoshi said.

“That will push everyone, Captain Plotkin,” Maureau said. “Even you may feel something.”

**********

Yoshi road the overall physiologic condition of the London’s crew like a surfer on a wave. He slid one way in direction, then dropped down the crest of acceleration, backing off slightly. It was done rapidly and the crew did not seem aware of what he was doing. They were tolerating the acceleration levels well.

The shields of the ship were holding  at near thirty percent of their maximal tolerance. Plenty of room for pushing to one million kilometers per hour some time in the future. 

**********

“Shields holding at twenty-nine percent,” Freihoff reported.

Navigation reported, “Closing on five hundred thousand kilometers per hour, sir. Record time of one hour one minute anticipated.”

Yoshi backed off on  acceleration. The g-suits decompressed some. The record should be accomplished with just one more burst.

“Yoshi, should we anticipate your last burst and activate our g-suits in advance?” Song said.

“Yoshi’s run up will be gradual and not require it, but it is a good precaution,” he said. 

The countdown to the last acceleration commenced. Song gave the order to activate the g-suits just before the acceleration initiated. She noticed that Plotkin did not activate her own suit. 

“Captain Plotkin?” Song said. The burst commenced. It was intense.

“Captain Plotkin? Captain Plotkin?”

Plotkin’s eyes had rolled back. Her pulse had dropped to twenty-nine. Her breathing was a sputtered choking.

“Yoshi. We lost Captain Plotkin. Go to steady speed.” Song said with an affected drawl.

Maureau unbuckled himself as the ship stopped accelerating and zero gravity took hold. He moved over to Captain Plotkin and swung her jump seat up. The brief wave of nausea he fought passed. He hoped Plotkin did not vomit in zero gravity. This was always a mess. Song gave him an emesis bag while he shook her, watching her closely. As she regained consciousness he could see Plotkin was trying to fight off nausea. 

“Whoa, that was unexpected!” Maureau said.

“I guess our biodroid’s precaution was more necessary than optional,” Song said. “I did not realize I should have triggered everyone’s suit myself.”

Plotkin had to use the emesis bag. Anger flared in her as she saw the bridge crew looking from her to one another. They were seasoned in their tolerance of rapid shifts in acceleration from their multiple battle engagements.

“Well, y’all be happy to know we exceeded the record for acceleration time to five hundred thousand kilometers an hour,” Song said. “One hour and thirty-seven seconds.”

Plotkin was not happy. 

**********

Song asked Yoshi to take it “easy on the crew” on the return trip to Alpha One Station, holding the deceleration well under the standard of one point five G’s. At this level, most of crew felt like they weighed no more than one hundred fifty kilograms. They were seventy-kilogram lean for the most part. Song asked Plotkin if she was comfortable. After a second enquiry, Plotkin ordered her not to ask again. It would take several hours to return to Alpha One. 

She showed Plotkin around the ship as they eased back to Alpha One. News of Plotkin’s  conduct on the bridge had circulated throughout the ship. Everyone was particularly animated in their headset communications while the two of them were in their area.

As the London returned to base, there was a lot of communication with the Operations Center, both regarding their acceleration accomplishment and how to certify it. While Plotkin smiled, she appeared to still have dyspepsia, a sour disposition manifested. Maureau got his friends in the Operations Center to allow the London a flyby of the Station. Yoshi added the flare of slowly rotating the ship end-over-end.

When Yoshi unplugged from the ship a tug took over. He got up out his jump seat and crouched on it, blinking his eyes as if they were blurred. “You are dismissed, Yoshi,” Song said.

He bowed to Captain Maureau, and then to Plotkin, before leaving the bridge.

**********

The ship’s officers gathered on the bridge for the debrief. For the most part, things had gone well. Some torpedoes had loosened up in their carriages but, thankfully, not gotten free. Some of the g-suit transmitters were faulty. Sausages had escaped the refrigerator in the galley. No one mentioned Captain Plotkin.

“Commander Song, you did not make a friend of Captain Plotkin,” Maureau said.

“And she did not make any friends here on the bridge,” she said. “Chief, that was a cute idea with the captain’s hat”

“No, that was Yoshi’s idea. He had the hat in his sack.”

“Freihoff, we set parameters for Yoshi which he did not meet.”

“Captain,” Freihoff began, then hesitated. “Yoshi pointed out to me that Captain Plotkin is not, technically, a member of the London’s crew.”

“Oh now, our biodroid is defining our parameters?”

“May I observe that Captain Plotkin invited her mishap by not activating her g-suit as ordered,” Song said. “It was not a suggestion. I’m afraid she felt it was beneath her. Her attitude was one of being in command of the London.”

“I sure hope that’s not the case,” Ahktar-Gatewood said. 

Maureau displayed no emotion. “We will get the job done, no matter who is in command,” he said. “All in all, this was an excellent trial run. We have time for one more short trial run in eight hours. I want to run through our tactical maneuvers with Yoshi. You all should get some rest. But before you are dismissed, to help you relax, at least for a while, Song?”

Song opened a box she had brought to the bridge. In it were ten shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey. She poured a shot for each of the bridge officers. “To the ULE London’s success on its mission with Task Force Renewal.” They all toasted with an “Aye.” Freihoff sipped thoughtfully.

After they were dismissed, Freihoff remained and approached Maureau, half of his shot glass still full.

“Captain. A moment with you privately.”

“Sure, Chief.” They stepped into the Ready Room. Freihoff finished his whisky before speaking. “I spoke to Yoshi about Captain Plotkin’s, ah, accident. He did have her monitored,  and reported that he did an analysis of her medical record. He found she had a susceptibility to a change of acceleration with a certain change in direction.”

“Which is what he executed?” Maureau said.

“I believe so, sir.”

“So he purposely hurt a Star Force crewperson? Why? There is no justification for that.”

“I do believe it was intentional, sir. He said she was an anomaly on the ship and that after the incident she scanned normally like the rest of the crew.”

“This is dangerous. Frightening. Artificial Intelligence taking action on its own.”

“I said that to him. He said it was not dangerous. She had no function on the ship, other than, and I quote, ‘Making inaccurate comments about the ship and its crew.’”

“Were you able to check the system activity at 09:25 on the clock?”

“Yes, sir. Yoshi had just repeated a comprehensive modeling of Plotkin’s medical data with her biometric responses up to that time on our training run.”

“Yoshi intentionally found a way to have her pass out. How can a biodroid act in this manner? This is scary. Chief, you have to find out if Yoshi will follow orders.”

“Yes, Sir. I will. Did Central Command know this about this biodroid pilot?” Freihoff said.

“I don’t know. This could be very dangerous for us. On the other hand, her conduct, getting sick and all. This is not impressive for leading a mission. I think Yoshi may give our ship an edge in whatever we end up needing to do. We don’t have time to get another droid and I suspect Central Command would not give us one anyways.”

“Will you report this, sir?”

“What? That one of our Task Force Captains did not tolerate a maneuver? No way.”

Next Chapter 5: A Magnificent Flyby https://onthebeachatnightalone.com/2022/10/26/fiction-the-girassian-debacle-chapter-5-a-magnificent-flyby/?fbclid=IwAR1GnZw9aRupaVbheyo_IrrgmkvDSx-FU_u6eM-fMVcjd7brz7H6dWwoGf0