As Gilas and Jon entered the platforms control room the sounds of yelling filled the room. A large Eutharan stood before a group a six marines arguing with Sergeant Newl. His face was a mask of anger as he shouted at Newl. The three marines behind Newl shifted uneasily as the argument continued.
"Sergeant Newl, you will stand aside and let me pass! That is an order," the man screamed in Newl's face.
"I'm sorry councilor; I have orders to not let anyone off the ship. That includes you and anyone else on board. Even if the ship was burning to the ground I would have to contact Commander Gilas to get permission," Newl said calmly.
Marc had arrived just behind Jon and Gilas. His men spread out in the room and down the corridor leading to the station.
"If you don't let me past I will have you shot where you stand," the Councilor said. The arguing men hadn't seen Jon or Gilas arrive.
"You do that on this station and I will find somewhere to lose your body that no one will ever find," Jon said as he stepped up beside Newl.
Newl visibly relaxed when he saw Gilas.
The council spun on Jon and yelled in his face, "And just who do you think you are?"
"I'm the man who will make good on his promise if you yell at me again," Jon growled. His face darkened as menace filled his voice. "Ghost Station Control."
"Control here, go ahead sir," Bill's voice said.
"Stop all repairs on the Titan and restrict all access to this platform. No one in or out unless I say so," Jon said. He stared right in the face of the councilor as he spoke.
"YOU have no right!" the councilor screamed. "This is a Eutharan station and I'm the highest authority here."
"I'm warning you one last time," Jon growled. "You yell at me again and I will remove you from this station in a body bag. This is MY station; I control what does and doesn't go on here. Not you or anyone else, if I say 'jump' you had better ask how high. I don't give a rat's ass who you think you are. On this station I'm the law, judge, jury and Marc is the executioner. Captain Anders..."
"Yes sir," Marc said.
"If this man yells at me or anyone else in this room again, I want him removed from the station one way or the other," Jon said. Jon's eyes never left the councilor as he spoke to Marc. "That includes anyone that supports him."
"I..." the councilor started.
"Think long and hard before you speak. It had better be in a calm voice. I don't like being yelled at," Jon said.
The councilors lip twitched as he stared at Jon. Then in a calm voice he spoke, "I don't think you have the power to do anything. I think you're undermanned and out gunned. You're a pirate who has stolen this station and I mean to see you arrested and put on trial."
Jon grinned, "That's wasn't so hard was it. You get a lot more accomplished speaking to someone instead of at someone. As far as if I have the power or not, try me. I'll eject you ship so fast it will make your head spin. That is after I offer asylum to anyone who wants it, instead of being trapped on a ship that will have to limp home without a operational fold drive." Jon crossed his arms and stared into the councilor's eyes.
"Pirate," the councilor said. "Captain Gilas I want this man arrested." The councilor said as he pointed at Jon.
"Excuse me?" Gilas said in disbelief. Gilas had actually enjoyed watching Jon put his foot into the councilors back and shove. Jon was smart he had to give him that. It did make him a bit nervous that the councilor was painting the entire crew into a corner. Gilas knew Jon had the power to do just what he said. Yes they could probably out gun them but they would never get control of the station.
Not many people had studied the history of Ghost Station as well as he had. Most knew that to approach it meant death if you didn't hold the key codes to the station. However, few knew that even killing the commander of the station didn't stop the station from going into lock down.
"You heard me Captain," the councilor said. "I want this man and all his people arrested."
Jon raised an eyebrow as he looked at Gilas.
"On what grounds should I place them under arrest?" Gilas asked.
"Piracy," the councilor said.
"I can't do that, Commander Hunter holds the key codes to Ghost Station. The station has accepted him as her commanding officer. That isn't piracy," Gilas said.
The councilor's face started to color as he looked ready to burst a blood vessel.
Jon held up a finger, "Better watch that temper."
The councilor glared at Jon, his cheek twitching as he spoke, "I'm ordering you to place this man and his people under arrest."
"And I'm telling you it is an unlawful order. I will not follow an unlawful order," Gilas said.
"You will follow my orders or I will remove you as Captain of the Titan and appoint your second in command as captain. If he won't follow my orders I'll work down the command line until I find someone who will," the councilor said. It was very obvious to everyone in the room he was trying hard to control his temper even though he wanted to yell at Gilas.
"You'll do no such thing," Jon said. "I have had enough of this. You don't come on to my station and start trying to bully people around."
"This isn't your concern," the councilor snapped.
"Ghost," Jon said.
"Yes Commander?" Ghost said.
Everyone that didn't know better started looking around for where the voice had come from. It would have been comical had the situation not been heated.
"Log the Titan as property of the ADF. She will be under the temporary command of Commander Gilas and his second in command. She isn't to leave the platform without permission from me personally," Jon said.
"You can't do that," the councilor yelled. His face livid, he was almost hoping up and down like a small child.
Jon held his hand up to stop Marc who was preparing to remove the councilor as he spoke, "I can and I did."
"ADF Titan logged in database, Commander Gilas and Lieutenant Carex logged as commanding officers. Titan command codes transferred to Commander Hunter," Ghost said.
"Thank you, please continue repairs on the Titan," Jon said.
"That ... that is an act of piracy. I want him arrested right now Gilas," the councilor said.
"Nope, I'm just impounding the vessel until the Eutharan Government pays the bill on it," Jon said grinning.
Marc and Gilas snickered as the councilors jaw dropped.
"You have no authority," the councilor said.
"My parts and my time, I have every right. Gilas was so kind I knocked off part of the bill. I was giving you labor for free, but now since you're being an ass I'll just tack that back on," Jon said. "Ghost, can I get an estimate on the repair bill for the Titan?"
{Commander, I have no idea what you're talking about. What do you mean an estimate?} Ghost said to Jon.
{Like a cost to fix the ship, just come up with some absurdly large amount. I don't care, just don't make it to outrageous.} Jon said.
"I had the bill for the repairs at thirty five million prast. However, with the addition of labor back on the bill you can add another five million to that figure," Ghost said.
A prast was a small platinum coin used for all transactions between Empires. Other metals were used, almost like bartering.
"That will due in cash please, no plastic or checks," Jon said. "You do have that on you right?"
"This is absurd," the councilor said. "This is our station!"
"That's what you're not getting. This is my station," Jon said.
Another Eutharan exited one of the docking tubes behind the councilor. He was followed by twenty marines. Jon gaze flicked to the new arrivals which cause the councilor too follow Jon's gaze.
The councilor turned and locked eyes with Jon an evil grin splitting his face. "Lieutenant Carex, Captain Gilas has been relieved of command. You are the Captain of the Titan," the councilor said.
"Excuse me councilor?" Carex said. Surprise registered on Carex's face as he stopped dead in his tracks. The marines behind him started muttering in low tones.
"I have removed Captain Gilas from command. I want him and this man," the councilor said as he pointed at Jon. "Arrested and thrown in the brig."
"Under what charges are they to be arrested for?" Carex said.
Newl stepped up between Gilas and Jon and took a defensive stance. "This could get nasty, I wouldn't want either of you to get hurt," he said in a low tone.
"Captain Gilas is charged with insubordination and Commander Hunter is under arrest for Piracy," the councilor said.
"Piracy, that's a pretty serious charge. What has he pirated?" Carex said.
"Are you questioning me?" the councilor said. He spun to face Carex.
"No sir, I just have to have all the facts for my report," Carex said calmly.
"Very well, Commander Hunter has stolen Ghost Station and the Titan," the councilor said.
"Wow," Carex said. He turned to look at Jon as he spoke. "Commander Hunter did you steal the station and my ship?"
"No," Jon said.
"What?!" the councilor yelled. He spun back on Jon and growled at him. "You did too!"
"I believe you councilor, calm down let me handle this," Carex said.
"Fine!" the councilor huffed as he crossed his arms. He was gloating at Jon as he saw his victory close at hand.
Carex stepped up next to the councilor, his men following him. He looked Jon up and down as if he was searching for something, "I don't see anything unusual."
"Huh," the councilor said.
"Well, I would think if he had stolen the station and our ship that his pockets would be poking out," Carex said.
"WHAT!" the councilor said.
"Councilor, frankly I have been listening to this from the moment you stepped off the ship and into this control room. I'm sick and tired of your games. You have plagued my Captain and ship for a very long time. You're always trying to get some angle on the Captain so you can get rid of him. All because he disobeyed a suicide order from you at the battle of Ballmeade and saved the entire crew," Carex said. "Commander Hunter has done nothing wrong and is in control of the station. That is something the Eutharan people will just have to get used to."
"Fine! You're also relieved of you position. I'll find someone else who has the balls..." the councilor suddenly was very quiet as Carex slapped him across the face.
"SHUT UP!" Carex yelled in his face. "Marines, remove the weapons from his personal guards. If they resist shoot them. You, councilor, are under arrest for mutiny. You will be held in the brig until such a time as we return home. One of your men that was arrest earlier confessed to the plot you were formulating to remove Captain Gilas from command. Your men will keep you company during your stay."
Gilas nudged Jon in the side, "That's why he is my second in command." Gilas winked at Jon.
"How dare you touch me..." again the councilor was stopped short as Carex slapped him.
"Say something else, I dare you. I'll toss you in the brig bound and gagged. You have over stepped your bounds. What is going on right now at this station is a military matter and not political. You have no jurisdiction here," Carex said.
The councilor started to open his mouth and shut it quickly when Carex reared back to let him have it again. For a few seconds the councilor looked like a fish out of water, his mouth opening to say something but shutting quickly when Carex moved his hand.
"Get him out of here. If he says anything gag and bind him before you toss him in the brig. Round up all his supporters and find them a nice cozy spot too," Carex said to one of the marines.
Jon and Gilas watched the councilor and his guard be led away as Jon spoke, "Some people just don't get it."
"You're not telling me anything new," Gilas said. He introduced Jon to his Second in command. "Commander Hunter, this is Lieutenant Carex."
Jon reached out and took Carex's proffered hand and shook it, "Nice to meet you. You can just call me Jon we're pretty informal around here."
"Thank you, Nice to finally meet you. Sorry about the councilor, he's always been a thorn in the side. No one really like the petty little man," Carex said.
"Ghost, restore the Titan to Captain Gilas' control," Jon said.
"Yes sir. However, there is the small matter of the outstanding bill," Ghost said.
Jon moaned and Gilas chuckled.
"Just joking sir, Titan has been returned to Captain Gilas and his crew. All command codes have been transferred," Ghost said.
"Everyone's a comedian," Jon said. This started a new round of laughter.
One hour later Jon sat at the head a large table. Seated around him in no particular order were Gilas and Carex and his command crew. There were a few things he needed to go over with and everyone needed an input.
"I called this meeting to mainly introduce you to Gilas and his second in command Lieutenant Carex," Jon said. He then introduced his staff to them and started the meeting.
"While the Titan is being repaired I have offered them access to the station for rest and relaxation. Marc Gilas will be giving you thirty marines to supplement you security forces that will include some of their powered armor and Polaron rifles. The duty sergeant from Gilas' crew will instruct you on the use of them. You will be in command. While on the station all personnel will fall under our jurisdiction," Jon said.
"Yes sir," Marc said. "When should I expect them?"
"They should be on their way now. I gave them orders to follow the duty sergeant of the station until you get out of the meeting," Gilas said.
"Brad and Mike, you're working with their techs already right?" Jon asked.
"Yep," Brad said as he stood up. "Let me show you what we have planned since you are both here. You can authorize the changes or shoot them down."
"Go for it," Jon said.
A hologram of the Titan and Atlantis popped up above the table. Brad pointed to a few spots on both ships. "We want to install a second main reactor in the Atlantis and Titan. It would allow us to give more power to the shields and weapons. It would also serve as a back up incase either one failed for any reason. These compartments here," Brad said. He motioned to the spots that lit up on the hologram. "Are perfect for what we are thinking. They're connected to the Engineering section and are extra storage bays that are not being used right now. The Titan will get an additional secondary reactor installed where it's supposed to go too."
"Where are you going to get the reactors?" Gilas asked.
"Well, I'm updating our main reactors programs now. It seems to be about the only difference between your reactor and ours. Your reactor is a bit more efficient. The extra reactor for the Titan you have on board. With the supplies on Ghost Station we have Atlantis' spiders building the extra for you. They're actually building it in place on board the Titan. It will take about three days before it is complete and ready to be programmed and connected," Mike said.
"Nice stuff, I don't have a problem with this change for the Atlantis," Jon said.
"Same here, you have my permission to go a head and do the modifications," Gilas said. He looked over at Carex who just nodded his acceptance.
"That brings up to our next point," Brad said. He removed the Atlantis from the picture and zoomed in on the Titan. Several different areas flashed on her. "These spots are spider bays. However, they're all offline or disconnected from the main routines that control them for the ship."
"Yes, they're seen as a waste of energy and resources by the higher ups," Carex said.
Brad scoffed, "They can save your lives and even your ship."
"Yes, we know," Gilas said. "We don't have any control over that though they were locked out by the engineers a long time ago by order of the King."
Brad glanced over at Mike who nodded. "Well, what if I told you we could turn them back on and activate them again. Mike and I have the master codes that will allow us access to override anything built by the Eutharan Empire," Brad said.
"Those codes have been lost for ages. They still work? I mean you're sure they work?" Gilas asked.
Mike nodded as he spoke, "Yup, I have already tried them out on the Titan because we were curious if they would. It seems that your builders haven't changed the base code that much. There is a catch though."
"What catch?" Gilas asked.
"For the spiders to work, we would have to turn on your ship's AI," Mike said.
"The Titan doesn't have an AI," Carex said.
Brad and Mike exchanged glances as Mike continued, "Yes it does. She has never been activated before though. See the AI routines are so ingrained into the code base for the Eutharan ships it has to have one, active or not."
"I don't know about that," Gilas said.
"She is a clean slate. If that is what you're worried about. She would just wake up and never know she had been a sleep," Mike said.
"What would be the benefits of having her active?" Gilas said.
"There're too many benefits to explain completely. I'll tell you some of the main benefits though," Mike said.
"Ok," Gilas said.
"She controls the spiders that would help repair the ship incase of damage. The AI would be able to react if the crew was rendered unconscious, possibly saving many lives. She would help with monitoring the sub systems of your vessel. In doing that alone she will make your ship run a bit smoother. This list actually goes on from there but those are the main points," Mike said.
"You keep saying 'she'," Carex said. "What if the AI is a 'he'?"
"Nope, the Eutharans didn't build male AI units as far as I can tell. This one is a 'she' I have already had her hologram online," Mike said.
"You turned her on?" Gilas said in shock.
Jon glared at Mike like he wanted to strangle him. He didn't want to force anything on their new friends.
"No, no. I turned on the part of her program that projected her body, not her consciousness," Mike said.
"Oh," Gilas said as Jon relaxed a bit.
"I was checking to see if the code base had changed between her and Atlantis in the past thousand years. I got curious about what she would look like so I took a peek," Mike said. "Currently I'm rebuilding Ghost's holo program as her old one degraded from not being used."
"It did?" Jon said.
"Yeah, really it almost all gone," Mike said.
"Then why did Atlantis' program not do the same?" Jon asked.
"Well, Atlantis and Atlanta share that part of the program. Atlantis just has a few more parameters to make her look different. The Titan's AI hasn't degraded either because it had never been brought online," Mike said.
"Honestly Gilas, I think it would be a good Idea to bring her online. I can't see how it would be detrimental to your ship," Jon said.
"I've read the AI wars, I know what they're capable of," Gilas said.
"Then you also know the Eutharan AI units were the only ones to not go rogue," Atlantis said as she appeared next to Jon.
Everyone blinked in surprise as Mike grinned. "Did I mention I enabled the routines that allow the AI units of any ships docked to move around the base?" Mike said.
"Uh, no you didn't," Jon said. "Welcome to the meeting Atlantis, this is Captain Gilas and Lieutenant Carex."
"Captain Gilas, the choice is yours and yours alone to make. However, I think you should wake the Titan's AI. It will only benefit you and your ship," Atlantis said.
"I agree with Atlantis," Ghost said.
"Ok, wake her up when you're ready," Gilas said. "But, I want to be able to turn her off if I need too."
"That is built in to their programming," Mike said. "All, it takes is the command codes from any of the command staff."
"All right, I'm sold. You have my authorization to do everything you think needs done to the Titan as long as my own Engineering Chief agrees," Gilas said.
"All right, on to the next order of business," Jon said. "Terri, I'm promoting you to Flight Chief. Atlantis has informed me you're not far from your fighter badge. I want you to hand pick a squadron from our available crew and start getting them trained. Gilas is send over some of their fighters and ours are being off loaded as we speak. Once ours have been checked out and upgraded we will start setting up our own patrols."
Terri's face brightened as she shouted, "Whooo!"
Several people chuckled around the room.
"Easy sis, I want you to be careful and listen to everything Gilas' flight instructor tells you. He's in command until you get your wings and he has final say over that," Jon said.
"Ok," Terri bubbled.
"Bill, what is the situation on the atriums?" Jon asked.
"The one atrium on Atlantis is starting to grow plants. It's going to be a while before we get a harvest from the garden though. Kelly, Andie and I are working on the atrium here on the station. Let me tell you it's huge, Central Park huge. The good news is there are still some viable plants there. Bad news is we have no idea what they are," Bill said.
"We have a botanist on board the Titan. I'm sure he would be more than willing to help you catalogue the plants there. He would probably even help you get it in order. If I'm not mistaken he always carries extra seeds too," Gilas said.
"That would be a huge help, thanks," Bill said.
"Thanks," Jon said to Gilas.
"No problem," Gilas said.
"What about Command?" Jon asked Bill.
"We're about as staffed as we can get right now. People are settling in well and Ghost has been very helpful in getting us up to speed on the systems," Bill said. "I have a small crew out right now checking the mining bases. Another small Engineering crew is currently checking all weapon platforms and performing maintenance as needed. Another crew has been dispatched to the foundries to check them out. As you can see we're pretty thin personnel wise."
"Yeah, I know. Gilas and his crew are going to be helping fill in while they're here getting repairs done. Kind of a payment plan I guess," Jon said as he winked at Gilas.
Gilas coughed as the liquid from the glass he had just sipped from went down the wrong tube. Carex slapped him on the back as he started laughing.
"As far as food supplies go," Jon said. "Gilas is going to donate some of his food stores to us. They should last until we get the gardens up and running. I might bribe him to make a delivery every so often though. Say ten percent off all future repairs."
Jon had waited for Gilas to sip from his glass as he said the last.
Gilas choked again, "Damn it Jon stop that."
Everyone laughed as Gilas tried to regain his composure.
"Gilas, I think I'm liking you more and more," Brad said.
Terri groaned, "Well, you like anyone who will wave food in front of your face. Just do us all a favor and don't start humping his leg, ok?"
Gilas coughed and sputtered as he tried to take another sip. "Damn it I give up." Gilas set the glass down and pushed it away.
"Yeah well..." Brad said. He was trying to formulate a come back but nothing came to mind.
"What was that?" Terri said.
"Nothing..." Brad muttered.
"Yeah that's what I thought," Terri said triumphantly.
After everyone stopped laughing Jon continued the meeting.
"Andie, how is your department doing?" Jon asked.
Andie smiled as she spoke, "Well, I have to say the Medical Ward on the station is a bit better equipped than the one on the ship. Everyone seems to be adjusting pretty well and everyone that was injured in the attack has made a full recovery. We're just kind of sitting around and learning what we can while we have some peace and quiet. We get a few scrapes and sprains daily but nothing serious."
"Good, again Gilas will be dispatching some medical personnel to your department to help in training and to bring in some more advanced equipment," Jon said. "You'll be in charge so be nice."
"If I must, I promise not to bite them to hard," Andie said.
Carex glanced over at Andie with a raised eyebrow, "You bite?"
"I only bite the cute ones," Andie said. She smiled and showed him her perfect teeth.
Carex scooted his chair away from Andie's end of the table.
"Ok, stop scaring the guests," Jon said as everyone started chuckling.
Once everyone had calmed down again Gilas spoke up.
"We sent a communication back to our base and are waiting a reply back. That could take a couple weeks depending on how they respond," Gilas said. "We had to report the engagement and the plot by the councilor. I'm sorry but this also included you were here, too many people know anyway. I'm almost positive the councilor has sent his own communication before he was arrested."
"So what you're telling me is we could have a Eutharan fleet on our door step in how long?" Jon asked.
"We need you, I don't think the King and Queen would do something like that," Gilas said. The surprise on his face was genuine.
"Yes, but we also need you," Jon said. "Would you need us so much if you controlled the station?"
"I..." Gilas started to say. He started at Jon for a second before he spoke. "I never looked at it that way."
"I'm sure some of your people will. The councilor is one such example. Every race has their bad eggs that think they can take what they want. Why should your people be any different?" Jon said.
"Sadly, we're not," Gilas said. "My crew and I will never attempt to take this station by force. That I promise you, if I have to step down and join you I will. I don't like that kind of mentality and I won't put up with it."
"I don't think you would do something like that Gilas. I hope the Eutharan Empire welcomes us with open arms. That way we can kick the ever living shit out of the Invaru together," Jon said. "However, I always prepare for the worst. I want repairs on the Atlantis and Ghost Station stepped up. I want Atlantis ready in less than a week. We might need her and I want to be prepared."
"That will push the time table back on the Titan," Ghost said.
"Yep, we would have to pull most of the personnel off her to step up the repairs to the Atlantis," Brad said.
"Do it, it only means we can hang around a bit longer to help out however we can. Hell, pull my engineering crew and use them where ever you need them," Gilas said.
"You heard him this meeting is adjourned," Jon said.
"Station Command to Commander Hunter," Carla said.
Jon raised his hand for everyone to wait as he responded, "Hunter, go ahead Command."
"Sir, I have a report coming in from one of the Engineering teams. They have detected two ships in orbit around the twelfth planet," Carla said.
"I'm on my way. Tell them to stay out of sight and to just monitor them," Jon said as he stood up.