Rust Bucket (20 page)

      "Your son-in-law?" I said, quite puzzled.

      "That's me," said Sarge. "I married his daughter before I knocked her up." Then he walked with the retired Admiral over to a vehicle and left.

      None of us knew at the time that massive public opinion was firmly on my side. We were all, for the most part, much too busy to pay attention to the news war coverage on the Universal Internet. I was actually quite unaware that the news media was following my exploits quite diligently with all the resources they could spare. They were even blanketing space with small remote transmitters to get any images possible of the actions we were involved in. I felt I was just doing my job in the best way I knew how. I wasn't trying to become the media's dashing, darling hero. That happened totally by coincidence. Because of that, the Navy decided that it couldn't afford to let me be found guilty. As well, the top brass decided that I would become more involved in the war effort than I could imagine right then. I really can't blame them for taking advantage of the prevailing circumstances.

***

Before I forgot my promise, I sat down before lunch and wrote out a letter of recommendation for Lieutenant Remm. I hand-delivered it to the Fleet Admiral who appeared to expect me. He accepted the letter without comment and smiled as he returned my salute.

***

The retired Admiral's remark stuck with me for the rest of the day, even throughout the celebration we had that evening. It brought back to mind questions I had a long time ago about a company and a person who weren't listed in the directory. They were connected to the Sarge and he was connected to a retired Admiral. Something told me that Pennyweight Shipping Company might have been listed at one time and probably did legitimate business, but I then had a feeling that the company did some other things as well. Even though all those people had shown up as if there was going to be a trial, not one of them seemed surprised by the results or how soon they came about as I stood outside the courtroom receiving everyone's congratulations.

The
Thurman
underwent extensive repairs because of the severity of the damage. Our repairs had held up. The maintenance and repair people had some nice comments about how well she had been fixed for a combat repair job. I felt a lot of pride in that and went about writing other letters of recommendation and commendation for the other officers who served with me. Only Doc was still listed with the
Thurman.
The rest of the officers were transferred to other ships a few days after the trial. Majel got her own ship. She spent one night with me before she left. I wrote a message of encouragement in her note pad for her just in case she got into some situation where she needed to use it.

      Majel also forgot to notify Headquarters that she was going to hold a drill in space with weapons firing. She would have got her ass shot off if her communications officer had been any slower in answering the port commander about what they were doing. Despite that error, the idea began taking hold throughout the Navy that weapons should be tested upon reaching space as the six officers shared information with other officers.

***

Two weeks after we got back to the port, I noticed that the
Thurman
was almost finished. Part of it was still under wraps, so I took a peek. I was pleased to see that the Mark III quads lost from the rear were replaced with Mark IV quads. It was a dream come true. When I talked with the repair crews, I learned that it was possible because everything that prevented them from being installed before was gone because of the hit we took. As I walked out, I overheard another voice question why an old rust bucket like the
Thurman
rated a pair of Mark IV quads. I could only lift up my head in pride when it came to hearing the old rust bucket moniker.

      I also received a list of my new officers that day and picked up their records. I could see that I would have another six officers to change in their thinking and attitudes. Likewise, the new enlisted replacements reported in. I went over to meet them. They were all fine impressionable men and women whom I could see would fit in fine with the rest of the crew.

***

Majel brought her ship in the following day. She was beaming with pride as her squadron announced that they kicked butt. I went to have a drink and supper with her and learned that all my former officers were in the same squadron. They helped coordinate the efforts of the squadron and gave some of their ship commanders enough backbone to attack instead of retreating. Only one ship of ours was lost while the enemy lost three and retreated. That was more like the Navy I wanted to be in.

***

The following day, I learned that I was promoted to Commander. It was still a temporary commission and not a regular commission. It was also an unexpected jump in grade as I had forgotten the Sarge's comments about rich officers leaving the service. I didn't know at the time that we were short handed on officers. As such, I was being given a squadron and expected to come up with a way to make my methods work for a team. I felt like I was done for. I had already dodged two court-martials in my short career. At that moment, I felt like I'd rather face a third than try to adapt my, or rather the Pennyweight, techniques to squadron tactics.

      For once, I didn't know the answer. My only thought then was that there might be a historical precedent long forgotten, so I began doing research. My new officers arrived. I put them on the same project after telling them what I expected of them aboard my ship. I also sent them to the surplus store with a list of items to buy after inspecting their equipment.

      Meanwhile, the work on the
Thurman
was nearing completion. I knew I had very little time left or I would have to improvise. To increase my chances for success, I also talked with my crew to find out if any of them had ever read or heard of such things as I wanted to do.

***

The following day, the ships for my squadron arrived as the new squadron assembled. I went over even more personnel records with ten other ship captains, one of whom would be captaining my ship since I was the squadron commander. At the same time, I explained how we had been so successful. I soon had them doing research on how to adapt the technique to squadron level.

      We were scheduled to go out a few days later. It was beginning to look as though I would have to run the squadron in the same old stodgy way. That was suddenly changed two days before we were scheduled to leave when Frank came running up with a book on Admiral Nelson. He excitedly showed me the chapter on the Battle of the Nile. I read it with interest and grinned when I finished. That was the answer I was looking for. I quickly called together every officer from every ship and outlined my plans for running the squadron in the same manner.

      I stated, "This is the way we're going to exploit the enemy. If a Captain of a ship sees an opportunity to hurt the enemy, he will take it on his own individual initiative. If you have ideas, you will express them. We're only as strong as we make ourselves. If we see the enemy, we will charge! Do I make myself clear?"

      One captain asked, "What if we're outnumbered?"

      I replied, "I don't care! We will charge and make them think that there are more ships behind us just out of their sensor range or convince them that we either have a secret weapon or are mad dogs who shouldn't be messed with! When the enemy sees us, I want to see him turn tail and run, even if he has thirty ships to our ten! I want every ship to practice battle stations immediately upon getting into orbit! I want the crews drilled until their times are acceptable to me! When we see the enemy, I want all our ships to be firing at the enemy before the enemy gets off the first shot!"

      "What if he sees us first?" another captain asked.

      I answered, "I don't care! I want our crews so good that we can still beat them to the draw! I can only tell you that if you do it my way, you stand a very good chance of returning to port alive. If you continue to do it the way it's been done, you'll be returned to port in a body bag if they can find enough of you. We will add one more drill once all ships are in orbit. We will practice doing a charge. When I am satisfied, we will then move out to our patrol sector and take command of it completely and utterly!"

      Despite my grandstanding and theatrics, I could see that a lot of the officers, especially the ship captains, were afraid of making a mistake. I only hoped that I wasn't making a mistake. If I was working with my old officers in charge of their ships, I would have felt a whole lot more confident about whether it would work or not. They had picked up the fever of winning with enthusiasm. These officers hadn't as yet. They were too used to losing.

***

The following day, I reported to the Fleet Admiral my plans for scrambling my squadron in the afternoon for a practice drill ahead of time. I wanted to get my squadron into shape.

***
The notice went out to scramble my squadron. I watched as the officers and crews did
their best to reach their ships and launch into orbit. My ship led the way and then
waited in orbit for the rest to catch up.

      "Gentlemen, that wasn't good enough. What if our port was under attack by the enemy? We're going to land and try this again," I said over the communications system.

      All ten ships went back down to the surface. Then I had all their crews and officers dispersed around the port. With help from the Fleet Admiral to keep them honest and in place, I then called another scramble. We watched, as well as timed them, to see how fast they could get to their ships and launch into space.

      I radioed, "That's better gentlemen. Now I want each ship to pull in front of mine, go into battle stations, and fire upon the targets before returning to the port. I am trusting you to run your ships correctly. That means your gunners are not already at their guns. When you announce battle stations, your gunners are to race for their gun stations and fire at the target as soon as they have it sighted. I do not want synchronized volleys!"

      One by one, I called the ships to take part in the practice before I sent them back to the port. I ended with my own ship.

      "Captain, call battle stations," I said over my shoulder to the officer sitting where I normally sat. Then I looked at my watch and timed the drill. "Not bad, but next time, I want to hear you call battle stations as if you meant it. Show the crew that you've got a pair, excuse me, make them think that you've got a pair of balls. You got that?"

      "Yes Commander," the female officer replied.

      I said, "Good! Do it again."

      She replied, "Yes, Commander. Battle stations."

      I timed the exercise, knowing that my crew was the best and that the watch was unnecessary. Mostly I wanted her to be ready to speak with greater authority and decisiveness.

      I said, "That's better. Turn off the intercom. Now Lieutenant, just for my benefit, I want you to say 'Battle Stations' with force. We're not going to run the crew ragged when all I want now is to hear you say it like you mean it."

      "Battle stations," she said.

      "Again!" I shouted.

      She said, "Battle stations."

      "Louder and forceful! Just like I'm talking to you!" I shouted.

      "BATTLE STATIONS!" she shouted back at me.

      I smiled and said, "Excellent! You almost convinced me that time. That's the way I want to hear it. You'll do fine. Now take us back down to the port."

      She said, "Yes sir."

      "What?" I asked.

      "YES SIR!" she shouted.

      I replied, "Much better. Let me and everyone else know that you always mean what you're saying. Do that and you'll do well."

***

When we got back to port, I conferred again with the Fleet Admiral to arrange another scramble at night.

      Just after one in the morning, the scramble notice went to all the officers and crews. That time, I saw them struggle against sleep and make a decent showing as each ship got into orbit. Then once they were there, I sent them the message to line up in our formation and yelled out over the lightbeam radio, "Charge!"

      It was ragged and awful as the ship captains hesitated about sending their ships forward even though it was just a practice.

      I radioed, "All ships, have all your pilots gather at the communications system. Notify me when ready."

      After a few more minutes I was notified that all the pilots were gathered. I launched into my second angle of attack on the problem. "Okay pilots, you're going to have to help out here. I happen to know that your ships were chosen because of the overall piloting skills on board each ship. When the officers hear the command for the charge, you're going to have to give them the edge that they need. Remember, one of the problems with squadron commands is the interval between receipt of orders and their implementation. You don't have to wait for your captain to repeat the order, although I want him or her to do so. When you hear my voice over the communications say charge, I mean just exactly that. I want every ship in the line to suddenly jump out at the enemy, as if he were really there in front of us. I want the gunners to be firing at the same time, so communications officers who are listening in, make sure the squadron commands are also piped into your ships where the gunners can hear. Pilots, if you see an opportunity to slip behind an enemy ship without running into another of ours, than I expect you to take that opportunity and give your gunners a field day. If your captain spots something or has a plan of some sort, then take his orders. It is okay to ignore my orders in such situations. You are then taking individual initiative. In a fluid battle situation, that is okay. Let me change that. It is more than okay. It is the right thing to do. You all got that?"