Unlike the previous check-ins, this one wouldn't be face-to-face. Captain Feng had already returned to his ship in orbit, so I'd have to call to chat with him. I did initiate the connection but was informed by the communications officer that Feng was busy taking stock of his own ship, likely so he could deliver as accurate as report as he could to me.
It left me time to lean back, study my makeshift office, and sigh. "Veronica, could you look into seeing if there's just a more ordinary government building somewhere? One that we could restore and move into?"
The AI appeared and tilted her head. "Are these quarters insufficient for your rank?"
"More that I feel quite uncomfortable with all this ornamentation." I gestured to the gaudy and gilded surroundings, something that basically defined the mansion that was currently our planetside headquarters. "This is way too much. I can't try to even try to run or manage a government while thinking I'm like a wannabe tinpot dictator with all this gold. Isn't this a bit extravagant?"
"According to the Half Committee's grading scale, this facility would actually be considered quite 'modest' regarding housing high command."
"Then give me just a 'workable' option then. If I'm working, I want to surround myself with utility. Not with riches."
Veronica paused, processing my request, then nodded. "Very well. I will compile a list later of suitable alternatives for you to review. I apologize for this error, as I was unaware that your preferences had changed as such. I will update my records."
Ah, my NHP would actually have known 'me' much closer than any other officer present. She was assigned to me the moment I was granted my commission, like an aide-de-camp that accompanied me through my positions and commands. 'I' did notably have a bit of a more...cultured taste, for finer foods and lodgings, but thankfully nothing so outlandish compared to a spoiled officer's taste.
Now that I had memories of somebody used to far less, I found such comforts or pleasures to be quite vain. That did make me pause and consider what I actually did want now, given that I was suddenly stuck in this setting, thinking as I waited for my officer to pick up the call.
Well, not being hunted for the rest of my life was a pretty good start. I was trying to build up this place to be something to probably offer to Union in exchange for clemency, pointing out that my orders were to kick out the previous, very nasty administration, and try to do better. Which Half Committee admittedly was, at least until senior leadership abruptly decided that death was preferable to surrender.
Assuming though that I did have some degree of success, what then? Was my goal to just be quietly exiled to some other planet and live out my days? That felt like an absolute waste of the chance I'd been given being here. I thought back to my earlier thoughts, about perhaps living someplace in the Metropolitan worlds, and frowned.
...I probably wasn't going to be ever granted access to live there, even if I cleared my name. Like it or not, I had a stigma attached to me by dint of having been once part of the Half Committee. So you know what?
Fine. I'll find or make my own place to be comfortable in, someplace or another. Even if it's on Cavia, serving as a government worker for whatever administration gets born, I'd be comfortable with that. And if I wasn't, then nothing stopped me from hopping on a ship to see the stars.
Yeah, I like the sound of that. Just had to first manage my way through the present crisis first, get all my soldiers settled down. Maybe find Veronica a new role to help with, unless she wanted to come with me. She pretty much was the only thing that stuck with me, what with family disinheriting and all.
Before I could proceed any further with my moment of introspection, the connection chimed and the call connected, a loading screen of grace preceding the moment. My back straightened and I watched as the screen faded into a shot of the frigate bridge. "Commander on bridge!"
Captain Feng was sitting in his command chair, front and center, giving me a perfunctory salute that was mimicked by the rest of his bridge officers. I returned the gestured and nodded, acknowledging their respect. Unlike the army, the naval forces took me quite deadly serious as I was nominally part of their branch of service. "At ease, everybody. I just need to speak to the captain."
"Aye, sir. Helmsman, take control."
"Helmsman taking control, aye sir."
The rest of the crew dutifully returned back to their activities, pointedly focusing on their jobs to not listen in as we conversed. First, some pleasantries to ease things in. "Captain Feng. Thank you for sticking with me despite such circumstances regarding our dissolved state."
"It is only natural that we maintain a sense of order in the chaos, to distinguish ourselves as superior to those who would lose their mettle." His chin raised slightly up, that fellow noble bearing coming through strong. "Rest assured, I have gone through the crew of the Half-Measure and relieved those who are unable to hold composure in light of our circumstances. You will be pleased to know that few have succumb such."
"Good to hear. I trust that you have already shuffled the ranks as such?"
His facial hair seemed to bristle at the implication otherwise. "Of course, Commander. Of course. Order is everything."
"Very good. Now, give me a situation report then on the Half-Measure."
The frigate in question was a Huron-class vessel designed by GMS. Considered to be a reliable and dependable workhorse, its size did admittedly pale compared to carriers and battleships but they made up for such typically with numbers. Except that we only had one of them present in this task force.
Again, us taking Cavia with its estimated very light resistance was meant more as a causal side objective than any mainline thrust. High command had basically provided what they could spare, which was this single frigate that I now called my flagship.
It wasn't alone thankfully. While it could have transported troops, the burden of that went instead to the smaller supply ships, something that did surprise my new set of memories. Lancer: Battlegroup had put limits on players having escorts, usually implying that they needed a capital ship to dock and resupply from in the setting. But I suppose that it also had an allowance for small independent ships to make sense, minor convoy ships whose entire role was just carting things about like the ground forces and the supplies for them so.
"The Half-Measure is currently operating at nominal status, all gun crews reporting full operational capacity. We are current running on bare rationing in accordance with your directive to prolong our supplies, though this has elicited mild dissatisfaction in that regard."He paused, then spoke in a more casual, off-handed tone "Personally sir, I do hope we lift this restriction soon. I do miss my teatimes."
"I understand, and thank you for your patience. We are currently still exploring methods to address this shortage- for the time being, please put up with it as best you can."
"Yes sir. Regarding other aspects of the Half-Measure, our printers are currently still operational but require fresh resupply of materials to achieve tip-top shape. You never know which part will need repairs next, sir."
"A good assessment, but one that will have to wait until we sort out general acquisitions too," I mentioned and Feng conceded the matter with a slight incline of the head. "However, there are a set of sorties that the Half-Measure can embark upon to help us take the steps to counter this shortage. I must ask though if you are prepared to take on a sortie at this moment in time."
Feng paused and thought about it for a minute. "We are, if you give us but a few hours to prepare to weigh anchor. I would also request permission from you to permit the mess hall to serve higher quality rations before the sailors are informed that their shore leave is postponed for the time being."
"Granted. Are you prepared for a mission briefing then?"
"Yes sir. What are our objectives?"
"Firstly, I want you to head over to Cavia II and perform a planetary survey as best you can. I will authorize the manufacture and usage of exploratory probes for this purpose, though I do not need an in-depth report." I then relayed to Feng what Veronica had discovered about resource still on Cavia I, laying out the suspicion that perhaps the same could be said of those on the sister planet. "Focus on seeing if you can identify whether or not there's still exploitable deposits there. Then analyze the water quality to see if it can possibly sustain aquaculture."
"Understood. You understand though, sir, that we are not scientists. We do not possess the necessary modules for such in-depth studies."
"Indeed, but exploratory probes ought to be able to relay data to you, who can then transfer it to my NHP. She can process the data for such."
"Thank you for explaining so sir. Where will the Half-Measure go after that?"
"Return back to Cavia I to investigate then the derelict orbital dockyards then. I want to see if they could be restored."
"Restored? Sir, do you mean that perhaps we could expand our fleet?"
"Perhaps. Keep in mind that the resources to manufacture more vessels would likely be first put into planetside ventures to restore necessary facilities, as we do want to be able to feed ourselves first."
"Understandable sir. But if I may be so bold as to suggest, you ought to consider restoring the dockyards as a possible means of defense." Veronica helpfully provided me a picture of the planet and the orbital constructs. "Were we to man them, we would have a means to defeating planetary assaults despite our lacking naval assets."
I frowned, considering the truth and risk in his words. It made sense to at least consider, though a part of me did suspect that perhaps this was a little play to make sure the navy got what they wanted over the army first. But then again, the navy's issue was just generally material while the army was more spiritual and moralistic; and of the two, the former was definitely far easier to fix.
"I will take it under advisement, but be aware that with ongoing matters, I may have to shift priorities as seen fit."
"Naturally sir, but thank you for hearing out my proposal at least," Feng said with clear appreciation. "It would be good to leave our mark somewhere."
Indeed, my subordinate who handled the navy more personally was eager to do so, and had been constantly stymied for such under the Half Committee. Even the fact he'd been a noble like me mattered little to the high command who wanted more results against ThirdComm, instead of trying to build something to rival Union. I suspect that was perhaps why he had loathed Rowles' ideal suggestion that we become soldiers for hire- he was an idealist at heart, one who wanted to build something here for once.
And I suppose I fell into that camp too, assuming all other matters like that bounty on my head was taken care of.
"Presently, that's all my orders for you at the moment." I paused, then physically leaned into the screen. "Feng. Has there been any word over the omninet about our neighboring fronts?"
"Commander. It has been mostly quiet," he noted, glancing over to the communications officer who nodded in assent. "Aside from the news that the Half Committee was dissolved, I haven't heard anything regarding the fate of our sibling commands. It has mostly been Union attempting to reassure their citizens that they would punish the perpetrators of the tragedy, and moving on past it."
"That actually might be good for us if the public forgets about us in time," I muttered, rubbing my chin. "It would give us time to quietly settle and build up." An idea struck. "Do you think that perhaps this is ThirdComm's way of quietly telling remnants like us to make ourselves scarce?"
"It isn't impossible, Moores. They would value returning to a public peace to maintain an air of renewed prosperity over troubling them with a prospective conflict." He seemed to be in deep thought about the matter too. "However, you and I both understand that beneath the surface, there can still be wars waged in the shadows. Just ones that the everyday person should not be bothered with to save them from such worries."
"Or should they perhaps be at least peripherally aware," I muttered. "If only to be able to manifest opinion or discussion about it."
"Mmh. It was surprise, after all, that allowed Half Committee advance so far."
"Or arrogance, to some. But there's always people who think the Diasporan Worlds are just those who haven't worked hard enough to become a Metropolitan just yet."
He exhaled noisily through the call. "And it takes a Cosmopolitan then to explain the difference between a world that has been given everything, and a world that is still struggling to achieve such."
"But maybe they've lost something without knowing that struggle." I thought about it for a few more seconds before shaking my head. "Ah, apologies. I tell you of an important mission, then delay your departure with absent chatter."
"No, it's good to see that you are taking this quite seriously. That you understand what currently rests on your shoulders is an opportunity that ought to be seized."
"At least until somebody else takes over, one selected by the locals in whatever fair manner they wish."
"Do your job well enough now, and you could be perhaps still reserved as an essential advisor or voice of the reason behind the new power." Feng nodded, then saluted. "With your permission, I will now arrange for our departure. Along with an indulgence in a tea ration."
"Enjoy your brew," I commented and returned the gesture. The call ended and I leaned back in my chair, humming. It honestly didn't sound like an awful idea, after all the work I'd just done.
But as I was debating myself the morals of giving myself a small treat while everybody still was on basic rations, Veronica spoke up. "Commander Moores. A situation has developed."
"What?"
"Major Rowles, acting on orders to seize businesses having found participated with House Hessin's regime of indentured labor, has encountered unexpected resistance." The AI's projected head tilted before developing a sort of urgent tone to her speech. "It would appear that the business has transitioned from its founding into a supplier and subsidiary of a Union megacorp."
A chill ran down my spine at the news. Please don't let it be the one that would send me up shit creek. "Which one?"
"Harrison Armory."
Oh wonderful. I might've just pissed off the people who casually mount flamethrowers and anti-ship artillery to their mechs.
"How bad is it?"
"It currently is at a standoff with both sides pointing guns, but not yet firing. How should we proceed?"
"Tell Major Rowles to hold steady and to not attack unless provoked! I'm heading over to take control of the situation myself."
"Very well, Commander. Readying a transport vehicle for you."