"Tatyana, may I have your assistance for a few moments?" Willie asked the air in her office.
I took a moment, but she finally received an answer. "Certainly Comrade Colonel; what can I do for you this evening?"
"Do you have access to the military data net?" Willie asked.
"I do not maintain a link with that system, but I can get into it. Do you need me to search for something?"
"Well, let me put it to you this way; since the discussion with Hugh about the ships on the other side of the transit lane, I'm still wondering about personnel. There were supposed to be a lot of really big ships out there, but they'd need ground forces as well, not just space assets. Do you think you could track down all the pertinent information and let me know what you find?" Willie asked.
"Certainly, Comrade Colonel. However, is sounds like you have a suspicion about the required number of personnel. How large do you believe the ground force will need to be?"
"Given the report I saw, and what Hugh thinks they're going to be used for, I would say they'll need a minimum of two divisions, more probably closer to four though. I'd also like to know how they built all that equipment without it becoming common knowledge," Willie explained.
"I'm finding many references to a mostly automated ship yard; from the sound of it, it must be huge. I'll try to find a location for you." Tatyana paused for a moment. "I am not finding anymore references to its location, but I do have a name for you; 'Hydra Station'. Perhaps I should look in the cartography database..."
Willie looked confused. "Hydra Station?' I've never heard of it. Is Hydra the name of some planet or moon?"
"A hydra is a mythological serpent similar to a dragon, but smaller and with between five and eight heads. According to the legend, if one head gets cut off, two grow in to replace it," Tatyana explained. "What that might say about this station I cannot venture to guess, perhaps it is simply the name that was chosen. Now this is interesting; in the cartography database, in the classified section, it has charts for multiple transit lanes sharing a terminus with the Hermes-Owens Lane. It appears that it is a major node.
"This Hydra Station is in one of the terminus systems. From what I can tell it is in the vicinity of Altair. The only maps of this area of space only go out to the edge of the sector. It seems since there were no transit lanes out here, the Confederacy wasn't interested in this area."
"If you can get into the classified section; you should be able to get into the classified area where the all the naval assets are listed. This new station would be listed in there," Willie said.
"Da, I can get into it, but I don't think this is a list of confederation ships. They are all listed as N.T.A. ships. For example, N.T.A. Aidan Wills is listed as a ninety-four mega-ton command carrier. It is also listed as a flag command," Tatyana said.
Willie had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Tatyana, please secure a copy of that entire list for the command group. I think we found a listing of their new fleet. Now, since you should have a better idea of manpower requirements, can you give me an estimate, assuming invasion strength."
"Initial estimates place the fleet manpower at roughly seven hundred to seven hundred-fifty thousand. However, we must also take into consideration, all the support personnel, reserve troops, and pilots. I would place the requirement closer to three million once everything is taken into consideration," Tatyana replied.
Willie looked thoughtful. "Even with all the people from the pods they stole, and stripping out able-bodied from the population, they would still be far short of that mark. So now the question becomes, where are they getting the rest of their personnel from? If they plan on breeding them, it would still take time for them to grow up. Why build the equipment now, if you were planning something twenty years down the line?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that, Comrade Colonel. I don't believe we have all the information to formulate a reasonable guess," Tatyana replied.
"I agree," Willie said, nodding. "You know what? It's been a long, eventful day, I think I'll hit the rack now. Thank you for the help Tatyana."
"Anytime, Comrade. Sleep well."
Opening their hatch after the discreet knock, Alex Goodwin was surprised to find the Executive Officer. For one horrible moment, he thought something might have happened to the Captain or perhaps their children back on Mars, however, the young woman was smiling, so he relaxed.
"Please pardon the intrusion, Mr. Goodwin. With the Captain's compliments, she asks that you and your spouses please prepare to transfer over to the T.F.T. Titania? She said to add that she would miss all of you, but she also knows how badly you miss your children. You'll be able to see them faster if you move over to the freighter."
"It's no intrusion Commander, would you please come in?" Alex asked.
The rest of the family was relaxing after dinner, and getting ready for bed when the XO knocked. When the slender woman entered the cabin, the rest of the family gathered to hear what she had to say. Alex asked that she repeat her message for the others.
"How soon would the Captain like us to be ready?" Vicky asked, wondering why her friend hadn't delivered the message herself.
"The Captain is still on board the Titania, and couldn't come herself. She was wondering if you could be ready to embark at first watch? There was some excitement over there and the docking bays are still sealed, but the Captain is hoping they'll be open by then so her launch can return for her."
"That's damn short notice XO, I hope we won't be leaving our departments short-handed." James said, looking to Vicky and Paula.
Commander Reislin chuckled. "I've already spoken to them. Stellar Cartography's mission is over anyway; all they are doing now is analyzing data. E-systems would have been short handed, but Chief Graley is sending up three engineers to do an overhaul on one of the atmo processors while we have the time."
"How soon will they be getting back to Mars, and we won't get stuck in some emptied-out sewage tank for quarters will we?" Vicky asked.
Reislin was really liking this task. Obviously these folks hadn't even had a chance to look out the ports. "No, the Titania is a giga-ton freighter, and she's brand new. She's equipped with a very nice first class passenger area, as well as a V.I.P. area. RyeAnn called them 'immaculate'. As for how soon they will be returning to Mars; I have no idea, but the Captain seems to think they'll be back there long before we will."
"Yes, I assumed we'd had a change in orders since we'd jumped instead of returning to Eden II ourselves," Paula said. "May I ask where the ship's going?"
Reislin shook her head. "Sorry, that's classified, but don't feel bad, even I don't know."
"Isn't that a little unusual, Commander? I mean, you're the XO, what happens if you need to take command?" Alex asked.
"Then I imagine, I'll find out very quickly where we're going. As for it being unusual; not really, in case there's a spy on board, our destination is usually only known by two people; the Astrogator and the Captain," Reislin replied. "However, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the bridge."
"Thank you for coming all the way down here to tell us this, Commander. We'll be ready on time," Paula said.
Commander Reislin opened the hatch and turned one last time to the family. "Remember, Bay Alpha, Captain's Launch at oh-eight-hundred hours. If you can't take everything, just box up the extra, and I'll have the Bosun either get it over to you, or make sure it gets shipped back to you." With that, she turned and walked away toward the elevator.
Alex turned back to the three people he had accepted as his mates. "Well, it looks like we don't get to go to bed as early as we'd hoped. But, if we hurry, I think we can still get a few hours of sleep before we have to be on the excursion deck!"
Awakening felt like the final stages of completion of a puzzle. You didn't know how scrambled you were until after you get back together. Hugh had never really had anything serious happen to him medically, so he couldn't judge how badly he'd been hurt, or exactly what had happened to him. However, he did figure out that it must have been bad when he opened his eyes, and saw the worried/scared/proud/anxious face of his mother.
"Mom?" he croaked. He heard a shifting in the room, and Abby walked up next to him.
"Welcome back, Captain. You don't plan on scaring the shit out of everyone on the ship again do you?" Abby asked him as she looked into his eyes.
Hugh ignored her, and turned his head back to his mother. "When did you get here?"
"A few hours ago. RyeAnn had us transfer over here. That was the first, and I hope the last, time I ever have to go through hyperspace in something as small as the Captain's Launch. We had no idea you and Peanut were over here. It seems there is a lot for us to catch up on," she said sadly. "We never should have left the two of you, no matter what we were assured."
Hugh smiled tiredly up at her. "I don't know; I'm happy with the way things have turned out. Don't you approve of our relationship?"
"Huh? Oh! You mean how you and Jenna are mates? No honey, I meant all the shit that's going on with the breeder's guild. We're happy for the three of you. Just wait until you see your father. He's so proud of you it's like his chest is going to explode! Two grandsons, a new daughter, and you're Captain of your own ship? I never knew so much could happen in a year."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Abby said. "But I need to ask you a few questions Hugh."
Hugh rolled his head to look at the diminutive doctor. "'Sup?"
"Huh?" The doctor asked.
Vicky giggled. "It's a slang term for 'What's up?' It was shortened to just 'sup?' by the kids way back when texting was popular."
Abby just shook her head, and focused back on her patient. "How're you feeling? Do you have any pain anywhere?"
Hugh took a moment to do a quick survey of his body before he answered. "No pain really, but my head feels like it's stuffed full of cotton. I'm still tired, and I have no ambition at all. How long was I out?"
"About sixteen hours, but it was a pretty eventful sixteen hours. You almost made Fallon's temporary promotion permanent a couple of times. I'm still not comfortable with your prognosis; it's more guesswork than surety. At least you seem to be responding well to treatment," Abby explained. "Although, I think we're going to have to implant a controller in you for the biocytes. From the looks of things, they're going to have to stay in you."
"What?" Hugh asked, confused. "What biocytes? I thought we got rid of..." he pause, frowning as a memory tried to force it's way to the surface. He could tell it was important, but it just wouldn't could all the way out.
Abby narrowed her eyes at Hugh. "Got rid of what? I think you're more disoriented than I originally thought. I'm going to have to run more neurological tests and check for permanent damage."
Hugh slowly shook his head. "No, there was a something important I was trying to remember, but the memory just won't form yet. The bad biocytes from Hanna; I thought you got rid of them."
"Well, yes and no. They're still inside you, but they're inactive. For now, our biocytes are in control," She sighed, and started at the beginning. "The bad biocytes in you must have detected our attempts at neutralizing them, so they attacked you. Luckily, Tatyana was monitoring you, and called for help at the first signs of trouble. Even then it was a close thing. They managed to do an incredible amount of damage to you in a very short period of time."
We've never seen biocytes like this before. We were losing you when Mercedes and Emmitt thought of isolating the anomaly in a hyperspace shell. That disrupted the control signal, but caused the foreign biocytes to attempt to group together and detonate themselves."
Our Biocytes managed to mitigate most of the damage; which is why you feel so groggy right now. Currently our biocytes are keeping the blood flowing to your brain, and filtering several clots out of your blood system. In order to keep your brain functional, our biocytes had to form permanent bonds. That's why you're going to need the controller. Besides, they have a lot of foreign biocytes to track down."
Once again, Hugh felt the tugging of the memory, but it still refused to come to the fore. "Damn! That memory is still trying to come out. I know it's important, but I can't remember what it is for the life of me." He sighed. Looking at his mother again he asked, "So, where is everyone?"
"Fallon's on the bridge after seeing RyeAnn to her launch. Jenna is with your father and our other mates in our quarters, waiting her turn to sit with you. I should probably give them all a call to let them know you're awake and okay," Vicky replied.
"Well, please only a few visitors at a time. He still has to rest. The biocytes work best when he's asleep, so they don't have to fight his body as well," Abby said as she made some adjustments to a couple of machines. She checked the monitors and nodded to herself.
"Of course, Doctor. I'll try to make sure none of them stay too long," Vicky replied.
Jenna was first; arriving in medical minutes after Vicky placed the call. She didn't actually talk all that much, but she all but threw herself on Hugh, and refused to let go for the entire time she was allowed.
While Jenna headed for the bridge to relieve Fallon so she could see Hugh, Hugh's dad, Alex came in to see him. It was obvious the older Goodwin was proud of his son, and told him so. He complimented Hugh on how much he'd matured over the last year, but asked him about his relationship with Jenna.
"The one thing I don't understand, son, is Jenna becoming your wife. How long have you and your baby sister been lovers?" Alex asked stressing the pronoun. "You know, you were supposed to protect her from boys that would take advantage of her; not do it yourself."
"Dad, I didn't take advantage. She seduced me. She admitted to teasing me shamelessly in the pool, or anytime she thought she could get away with it. She wasn't very subtle about it either. She all but gave me head in the pool! I swear dad, I resisted as long as I could. But to answer your first question, we've been lovers for three days. However, she and Fallon have been together for the better part of the last year."
"Three days? Jenna acts like you two have been together for years. I could have sworn that she has been in love with you for years," Alex said.
Hugh shrugged. "I think she might have been, and none of us saw it. But here, we can be together, and it's alright. The computer approved our union as having no recessive genes."
Alex sighed. He really didn't have the heart to chew Hugh out for taking his little girl as his wife. The truth was, he was kind of relieved. So far he hadn't met anyone besides Hugh that might be good enough, and treat Jenna well enough. He hadn't had the chance to get to know Fallon yet, and frankly Jenna's bisexuality had taken him by surprise. Well, considering Jenna's mother preferred women perhaps it shouldn't have.
Alex's time ran out before they finished talking, but he was smiling when he left.
Fallon was next. She shyly came into his room, not sure of how to proceed. She looked about half way between tears of joy, and tears of sorrow.
Hugh settled the issue for her when he held out his arms to her. She quickly came to him, and he held her as she cried. Finally, she sniffed. "You know, if you don't want to have sex with me, you really don't need to go to such extremes," she said grinning as she pulled back from him.
"When I get out of here, neither one of us is going to get any sleep that night. I'm going to make love to you for so long that neither one of us will be able to walk straight for a week!" Hugh promised.
"Considering I'm still a virgin, I don't think it's going to take all night to get me to that point. Considering the size of your cock, I think it'll take about five minutes!" She teased back.
"Oh lover, there are so many ways to make love, and so many ways to relieve pain that I think I might surprise you..." Hugh began, but was interrupted by Fallon kissing him passionately on the lips. He felt her tongue, and opened up for her. She continued to kiss him until Vicky cleared her throat to let the couple know their time was up for now.
The couple had no more than parted before Abby came into the room, wearing a scowl. "Well, I guess that explains the increased blood pressure and pulse. I was about to have the biocytes sedate you, but I thought I better check on you first."
"I was just leaving, Doctor." Fallon indicated Vicky standing by the door trying not to smile.
"After that little episode, I'm calling the visits off. You need to rest, Captain. The biocytes need to complete the bonding." She typed a command into the terminal beside the bed. "Now, wave nighty-night to your wife and mommy..." He grinned at her, but did as she told him. She continued, " ... and out you go." On the word 'go', she hit the enter key, and Hugh went right to sleep.
Fallon didn't seem to think it odd, but Vicky took in a sharp breath. "What happened? Is he alright?"
Abby smiled reassuringly at the woman. "He's fine, Mrs. Goodwin. I just had the biocytes put him to sleep. It's a lot safer, and far less stressful on the body to do it this way. Give him a day or two, and he'll be back on his feet like nothing happened."
"I thought you said you weren't really sure about his prognosis?" Vicky asked.
"Call it optimistic thinking. If he continues the way he is, and we have no more surprises, he should get better quickly," Abby replied.
"And if he doesn't continue?" Vicky asked.
"Then I won't get any sleep tonight either," Abby said as she passed the woman and left the room. A moment later, Vicky followed her, quietly closing the door, and returning to her mates.