Fiction: The Girassian Debacle Chapter 7: A Great Team

Previous Chapter 6: Time for Most https://onthebeachatnightalone.com/2022/11/27/fiction-the-girassian-debacle-chapter-6-time-for-most/

When Lieutenant  Gray arrived on the bridge she relieved Lieutenant Ikram Ahktar-Gatewood on watch. He went immediately to Engineering. The London held its earth orbit in synchrony with Alpha One Station, seven kilometers from the Station with the rest of the Task Force five kilometers.  The damaged Poseidon and Diomedes had moved into dock. He went to join Chief Freihoff and Yoshi in Engineering to go over all of the data from the accidents. 

“We’ve lost our XO,” Ahktar-Gatewood said shaking his head. 

“She is not lost. When I check the ship I find she is in the Security Division,” Yoshi said.

Freihoff and Ahktar-Gatewood looked at Yoshi. “I’m kind of worried about you, Yoshi,” Freihoff  said. “You’re always accurate and Lieutenant Commander Song is not our XO anymore.  That is why Ikram said we lost her. We lost her as our XO. You can only have one XO and now it’s Lieutenant Gray.”

“Chief Freihoff, you are now the one being inaccurate. Madelaine Gray is acting XO. She is a lieutenant and fulfilling a provisional assignment.”

“Don’t change the subject, Yoshi. How do you explain not being accurate about Song?” Yoshi squat on his chair with eyes closed. They could see he quietly worked to solve the question.

The BDP frowned. “Yoshi needs to run a full analysis of its decision algorithms. Somehow Yoshi’s decision matrix placed Song as an XO that could not be replaced by a lieutenant.”  

“The last thing we need to do right now is misunderstand each other,” Ikram said. “Use of the word ‘lost’ is an idiom of sorts, Gerhard. Yoshi obviously was responding to ‘lost’ as needing to locate Song. Unfortunately, for us all of us, she’s been removed from her command.” 

Yoshi brightened, opening his eyes and said, “The explanations have been found. Lieutenant Ahktar-Gatewood is correct. The statement regarding Song being lost triggered my search for her. No crew member has been lost. All are accounted for. 

Secondly, Commander Song is a promoted, real XO. She is my XO. Lieutenant Gray is only XO in a temporary function.”

“Yoshi, you’re not being asked to assess the relative attributes of Gray and Song against the skills needed for XO. You must stay precise to the command structure.” Freihoff shook his head.  “Put this in your database. Lieutenant Gray is the acting XO, the voice of Captain Maureau, Unless you are given a change in her status as acting XO., she is to be obeyed without hesitation or questioning. Do you have that?

“Yes. Yoshi will obey without questioning.  Chief Freihoff? Is it proper to offer alternatives that might be better than her proposed actions?”

“Run them through me, Yoshi. Or Ikram, if it has to do with navigation. I will filter the ones I believe the commanders will want to be aware of. You are not to act contrary to orders!”

“Calm down, Gerhard,” Ahktar-Gatewood said. “I think we’re all stressed out,” said Akhtar-Gatewood.

“Yoshi is not stressed out,” Yoshi said closing his eyes again.

Freihoff sighed. “No kidding. Let’s work together and find out if we made any  mistakes. We may be able to support both Maureau and Song with analysis of what happened and how we fit into it.”

__________

They were able to compare Yoshi’s projections with data generated from the actual events of the  collision and explosion. Yoshi’s projection of Poseidon’s drift exactly matched what happened. They worked the data over several times, repeatedly confirming that Yoshi’s recommendation for Diomedes to break and yaw starboard would have prevented it’s collision with the Poseidon.  The BDP had accurately predicted the accident and the means of avoiding it.

Censoring her action for not using the correct navigation channel did not make sense. Her warning was not a standard recommendation. It was an “O-day alert,”one calling for immediate action by another ship. She did not have time to run her alert through the standard navigation channel. Every second had counted. But the watch of the Diomedes was turning her communication back against her.  Her warning, it was argued, caused a delay in their firing of the Diomedes’ impulse rockets as it was considered. Yoshi’s work demonstrated this to be a specious argument. His modeled data showed that if Diomedes had accelerated earlier, at the moment her communication had been received, Diomedes would have hit the Poseidon harder and taken off more of the ship than it did.

The analytic work Freihoff, Akhtar-Gatewood, and Yoshi did regarding Song’s decision to race to catch Maureau presented a problem for Song. She ignored the order of Admiral Rankin by acting on what turned out to be only a forty-five percent chance that the London would not collide with Alpha One station, subjecting the Station to destructive forces far greater than the rocket blast that buckled its plastiglass hull. That was way too high a probability for disaster for a commander on the bridge to accept. She made a decision that clearly put many people at risk for death. Maureau was expendable compared to the risk she took. His death was a risk every star sailor accepted and she should have allowed him to collide unimpeded with Alpha One.

_________

Captain Maureau arrived on the Poseidon before the rest of Rankin’s command and sat in the front of the tiered briefing room. If the London felt like a funeral home with the mourning of its lost marines, the Poseidon felt like a morgue. At least there were caring people on his ship who were supporting one another. The Poseidon was cold and silent. 

The officers of the Diomedes were trying to save face, offload some of the blame for colliding into the Poseidon. Everyone could see that. But Admiral Rankin’s indictment of Song for disobeying a direct order and endangering the Station and its delegation of some of the most powerful people on Earth was not something that could be dismissed. Maureau could not argue against the analysis of his own navigation team.

Maureau had watched the video of the London’s stop just short of the Station. He marveled at how Yoshi had predicted what would happen. Close, but not perfect. “The hull’s plastiglass will hold for one minute and twenty-five point six seconds,” Yoshi reported. The collapse of the plastiglass occurred in one minute and twenty-three seconds. Yoshi delivered projections with precise numbers that one might rely on, thinking them to be near-perfect. But of course, they were probability estimates and this needed to be taken into account in decision making.

Chief Freihoff told Maureau that Yoshi’s analytics were more powerful than the other BDP’s in the fleet. Maureau thought about how relying on him, without confirming things could lead to disaster in the future. Thank God for this marine, Nicholas Hall. He probably saved the lives of a dozen delegates and notables. And Song’s career. 

And she saved me. I owe her my life. Yoshi’s assures me that his calculations for hitting the Station head first, at one hundred seventy kilometers per hour, would have killed me. While not perfect, I’ll trust he is close enough on this projection . Maureau would do everything he could to protect Song’s career. 

Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Robert Gladman, sat on his left. The doctor had insisted on accompanying Maureau, anticipating that things might get very tense for Maureau, and that he could make  the case that Maureau needed to be dismissed for medical reasons. Things don’t work that way, Doctor. You won’t be able to get a word in if things get to that level of confrontation. But, Maureau gave in to Gladman. He had no energy for resisting his officers on unimportant things. 

Lieutenant Madelaine Gray sat on his right. He noticed both Gladman and Gray turned around and watched people arrive. They both seem more concerned over making contact with the Task Force’s senior leadership than in being there for me, their captain. That’s like Gladman. But Gray? I guess she’s excited over being the functioning as XO, something she always wanted. Approved by Rankin. That’s a big accomplishment for her.

Captain Angelique Plotkin sat down next to Gray. She smiled sadly. “Pretty messed up, isn’t it?”

“Many things have gone wrong to get here,” Maureau said.

Gray introduced herself to Plotkin as the acting XO. “Our ships will need to work together.  I will work closely with your bridge,” Gray reassured Plotkin, who simply smiled without saying anything.

The room filled and there was quiet conversation, like at a wake, as they waited for Rankin.  The room became ever more quiet the longer they waited. People could hear the people around them breathing. Finally, Rankin stepped into the room with his XO from the Poseidon. Everyone stood and saluted like they were cadets. He looked tired, but retained the angry energy to glare at them, avoiding directly looking at Maureau.

“Be seated.  I will cut to the chase. The Poseidon drifted towards the Diomedes. The Diomedes in its response to avoid being hit was unable to power up soon enough and move out of the way. When it did accelerate it was unable to clear the Poseidon and we collided.”

Rankin paused and surveyed the room. Still, he avoided Maureau’s look. “We have had casualties. Deaths. There are several things we are looking into to unravel this catastrophe. This deadly fiasco. First, the tugs failed to execute. That may be all there is to it. Several pilots are being questioned now regarding their response to their instrument data.

“Second. There was a problem with the Diomedes’ BDP integrating with the Action Information Center. The margin for error should never have been an issue during this operation.

“Last. Communication from the London was not through the Navigation channel so it could not be acted upon. It confused the response. Had they used standard Navigation channels this problem might have avoided.”

Maureau could not believe his ship was being called out in front of the Task Force captains and XO’s. He was happy Song was not there. He waited to be acknowledged by Rankin.  Not everyone here can be so biased they will not consider the facts. He wants to call out my ship in front of everyone. Well, here goes nothing.

He stood up and before Rankin had time to wave him to silence, Maureau said, “With respect, Sir. The record shows our O-day warning came into Diomedes twenty-five seconds before their aft rockets were fired launching it into the Poseidon. We identified our call as an emergency communication, and it should have been considered as such.We repeated it and Diomedes had time to consider it and chose to dismiss it.”

Plotkin looked alarmed looking over at Maureau. Gray pulled herself up in her seat and looked straight ahead. Dr. Gladman had his worried face on, showing concern over Maureau’s sanity, or at least his judgement.

“Twenty-five  seconds! Is that all the time you give a cruiser to change its planned course?” Rankin had finally turned his gaze to Maureau and it was dark with rage.”

“Our BDP had just completed the analysis. I told our XO to broadcast the information as an O-day warning. I take responsibility for that message. I do not take responsibility for the collision.”

There was audible shifting in the room. “This is not the place where the facts will be reviewed,” Rankin said.

“Thank you, Sir. I agree that the facts should not be reviewed here.” Maureau sat down.

Rankin paused, looking out over the room. Then he said, “The London was involved in the explosion that damaged the Poseidon beyond repair for this Task Force mission. Again confusion between its marines and the repair team. And keep seated, Maureau.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Maureau said, choosing to speak from his seat. “Again the voice recordings clearly document a warning that was dismissed. I was there and saw it first hand. Confusion does not dismiss acting before things are straightened out. The London lost six marines while saving seventeen crewmen of the Poseidon.”

“You did not need to go space side. A captain belongs on the bridge during a crisis,” Rankin retorted.

“My XO is more than qualified to keep the London on pointe.”

“Your XO? Your XO directly disobeyed my order to halt in chasing you, putting the Station and the review delegation in mortal danger. It’s only luck that saved the delegation.”

Maureau did not know what to say to this. A forty-five percent probability of stopping was less than a coin flip. 

“Captain Maureau, every officer takes a risk of dying, especially when they choose to go space side. I regret to say, saving you was a rash decision and yes, you might not be here had she made the right decision. No more interruptions. Do not chose to disobey an order from me as your XO did.”

Maureau knew Rankin was being defensive now in front of his command. What am I? Some schoolboy being dismissed from class? You brought it on yourself. Asked for it. You’re not used to anyone standing up for themself?

He became very lightheaded and nauseated, pale and clammy. Gladman was right. He did need to take it easy. Plotkin looked over at Maureau. She looked frightened. Doctor Gladman grabbed his arm. “Are you all right, Captain?”

“Why shouldn’t I be?” he said under his breath, fighting not to gag.

Gladman helped him up and looked at Rankin, nodding to indicate he was stepping in as Medical Officer. Maureau felt he had had enough and let Gladman help him out of the hall. 

Passing Gray he said, loud enough for those around her to hear, “Cover our ship, and me, Lieutenant.”

Once in the passageway Gladman said, “Let’s go back to the ship.”  

“No. We wait for Gray. Their officer’s mess will be open to us. Let’s go there.”  They sat for half an hour, Maureau completely expecting he would be relieved of his command. Gladman went through the line and brought him some tea. Maureau appreciated the doctor’s care.  

“You know, you should not have gone to this meeting,” Gladman said. “It’s too soon. Irritability may have affected your responses.”

“And it isn’t too soon for Gray?”

“Gray was less affected by the blast than you were. Her sensorium cleared shortly after we brought her in from space. Almost immediately.”

“Maybe Rankin will give her a field promotion to captain of the London while I sit here,”  Maureau said.

“Anthony, you know, anything is possible. With a promotion to lieutenant commander, she could captain a corvette.  Under supervision, I would expect, it’s plausible she could captain the London.” 

Maureau did not like it when Gladman called him by his first name.  “Doc, I’m still captain. Address me as Captain.”  Gladman was like that, going from a caring officer to someone who wanted to let you know you were vulnerable. He finished his tea, silently waiting for Gray. Gladman did not say anything more.  

___________

Gray caught up with Maureau in the mess. In meditation, he had fallen asleep and her call over his ear piece jarred him. She showed up with Captain Plotkin. Plotkin’s appearance with Gray confirmed his fear that he had been relieved of command. Rankin had not even the decency to deliver the message himself.

“Captain.” Gray stood straight, formal, as if on inspection. Plotkin stood behind her. “I will ask Doctor Gladman to excuse himself so that we may discuss orders in private.”

“Let’s sit down,” Plotkin said, sitting opposite Maureau. Gray sat down to his right.

“Admiral Rankin will await the arrival of the ULE Athena to use as his flagship. It will arrive in one day and he is going to give it five days to re-provision.” Gray spoke forcefully, like she was giving orders. “I am to continue as your XO, Captain.”

“Excellent. Have you been given a field promotion, to Lieutenant Commander?”

“Yes, Sir.” Gray looked at Plotkin.

“Congratulations, on being promoted to Lieutenant Commander,” Maureau said. 

Maureau turned and looked across to Plotkin. “Captain Maureau, I do not believe you bear responsibility for Poseidon’s collision or for the explosion. I am sure there are others that see it this way and are behind you.”

“Thank you.” He wondered if this was actually true, but it still was nice she said it. The last time they had met, things were unpleasant between her and the crew.  “Captain Plotkin, you must be here for more than consoling me.”

“I am. I am here to inform you that  Rankin has assigned me command when the London joins my Chicago on our side-mission.”

He showed no emotion. “I trust, as a peer in experience, you will be open to recommendations from me. When will we get our orders on this side-mission you are leading?”

““We’ll review the mission together after we get through the Portal into Girassian Space. Of course, Anthony, we both want our mission to go well. Madelaine and I have spoken just now, before our meeting here with you. I know we will have no problems working together.”

Maureau sensed Plotkin was worried about his reliability. She knew what the side-mission was, but she would not, or could not, give him any information about it before they were through the Portal. That’s great, the two of them meeting without me to confirm they will have a good working relationship. Conferring before I even knew of the promotion and the new command structure? Initiative by Gray? Or working behind my back? Probably both.

“That’s good. I’ll want you to be able to work with my XO when I delegate to her.”

“I assure you, Captain Maureau, we will be a great team,” Plotkin said. 

He stood up, bracing himself momentarily on the table. “Captain, thank you for letting me know about all these things in person. I trust we are  done here.”

Maureau, Gladman, and Gray flew back in silence to the London. Maureau’s countenance invited no conversation. Once onboard the London, Maureau headed towards his quarters. “Dr. Gladman, I’m taking you up on getting rest. And not in the sick bay.”

As he left them he turned to say to Gray. “Make sure the orders for your promotion and assignment come in for me to review. Oh, if they are not already in, get the orders regarding Plotkin’s command over the London too. If you have to go to Rankin, do so.” He stopped and thought for a moment. “Keep the London en pointe and notify me when any new orders come in.” 

“Captain, I need to clear you for duty,” Gladman said.

The look Maureau gave Gladman shrank him. “Sure, Doctor. You go ahead and fill out the administrative work.”