First Command by J.S. Hawn Page B

the slightest hints of hostility from Lt. Halman and Commander Trendale. That was going to be a problem Jonathan thought. A stuck up Lt. four years out of the academy Jonathan could handle, but if his XO didn’t respect him things could become very sticky very fast. Putting that problem aside, Jonathan rose and addressed his new officers.
    “Well gentleman, and lady let’s clear the air first. Yes, I am the infamous Pavel the Pirate,” Jonathan's voice dripped sarcasm at the moniker. “Yes, I did accidently lead a mutiny, and yes I did lose a third of my crew. I’ve been fully cleared by an inquiry and some how won back the trust of the Admiralty enough to be given this ship.”
    Jonathan paused, then continued in a more serious tone.
    “This ship, a majestic craft if I’ve ever seen one, one that was ill served by the man trusted to lead her and her crew. I didn’t know Captain Green well, nor did I know Warrant Officer Olman” Jonathan said, naming the ships now incarcerated quartermaster. “Nor do I wish to revisit things that have since past. I know that only three of you four including you Master Chief were even onboard when this unpleasantness came to pass.” Jonathan meant Trendale, Gopal, and Smith, the three most senior officers. The rest had transferred on over the last two months while Titan sat in space dock.
    “It doesn’t matter what happened or why. What matters now is moving forward. We have been given a chance to restore this ships good name, and I aim to make the most of that.” There was some nodding. His officers seemed to think he was saying the right thing even if they didn’t quite believe him.
    “Now that we're done with that, to business,” Jonathan proceeded to brief them on their orders to proceed to New Helsinki. “Obviously,” he said, “This is not an unimportant detail, but it is in the back and beyond, and as such we will be on our own. TF-BBCVL010, the closest friendly formation is seventy-two hours away at speed. As such, we will be operating on a war footing, so Master Chief the state of the crew.”
    Hartic jerked. He’d thought he’d been invited to this meeting as a courtesy. Thirty years in the navy and he’d never been asked to address an assembled staff meeting. Captains usually consulted their senior NCOs in private, which was what most regarded as the proper form.  Hartic suddenly found himself under the serious eyes of the young Captain who didn’t seem to care for proper form.
    “Um..hmm well sir,” Hartic replied in a raspy voice that spoke of an overindulgence in recreational inhalants. “Office of Personnel has assigned us a full draft, but um.” Hartic didn’t know how to phrase his next thought.
    “If I may chief,” The Captain said pulling up a file onto the screen from his wrist display. “I’ve reviewed our personnel files and 70 percent of the men are rated Able Spacer with most of our NCOs having attained their rank this year.”  The Captain shrugged. Titan carried a complement of four hundred and fifty people including officers and her Marine platoon. “In short, people we have a very green boat.”
    Hartic nodded, “Aye sir, most of the old hands jumped ship when we got back, and most of the Able 1st don’t want to sign onto a ship whose future is, begging the Captains pardon, uncertain.”  Jonathan understood that. The Solarian navy didn’t provide a lot of rights for its enlisted personnel, but its policies were quite clear if a bit harsh. Unlike the Army, which had an annual draft of three-year conscripts under the National Service requirement, the Navy was an all-volunteer force. The minimum term of enlistment was eight years. Starting upon graduation of the three-month basic training, all those who graduated and didn’t have specialized skills were rated Able Spacer with a guaranteed promotion to Abled Spacer 1 st in two years and a subsequent bump in pay. In peacetime, Spacers were suppose to spend a maximum of 13 months