Calder's Return

[Fel]

[Note: Written by Calder, not me.]

Brevet Rear Admiral Patrick Calder surveyed the damage to the ISD Chimaera from his approaching shuttle. He had been gone away from his duties too long, and despite the confidence he had in his first officer – Brevet Captain Michael La Forge – Calder could not help but wonder if his ship would have been smashed to the brink of destruction had he been there to command it. After all, the brevet rear admiral had a reputation as being one of the Empire’s top commanders and its preeminent war-hero.

Now, the Imperial fleet had been badly mauled. The Dominance was lost and the Chimaera was lucky to escape. No, mauled was not the word: crushed. Calder shook his head in frustration. It was not really his first officer’s fault, he knew that. But it was the nagging feeling that had he been there this debacle might somehow have been averted…

Despite the urgency of the repairs, the Chimaera’s cool gray hull still showed ample signs of the damage. Dark streaks of scorched steel covered the knife of the hull, with the shoddy overlap of patching covering the numerous hull breaches. The closer he got to the ship – his ship – the worse the damage looked. He forced himself to look away until the shuttle had docked and he stepped into the bustling cargo bay. Crates were scattered everywhere with countless workmen moving about. At least the repairs were going at full speed.

The walk to his office did nothing to ease Calder’s troubled mind. Even the interior of the ship showed signs of the battle – access plates in corridors were removed, wires hung from the overhead and bulkheads, and some areas of the ship were still sealed off due to the loss of atmosphere. Even Calder’s office was not spared; despite not being heavily damaged, it was still a mess. As he navigated his way through the once familiar passageways, he happened to come across a detail being instructed by Brevet Commander James Muscat.

“Sir! Wonderful to see you!” Muscat exclaimed as he snapped to attention. The workers stopped what they were doing and followed suit.

“At ease,” Calder replied. “You men continue your work. That’s more important than needless pleasantries.” As they left, he said to Muscat: “Where can I find Captain La Forge?”

Muscat shrugged. “I expect he’d be in the auxiliary control room, but he might be in sickbay. He was wounded during the battle.”

Calder nodded. “Right. Carry on…and congratulations on your promotion.”

“Thank you sir,” Muscat replied, but Calder was already on his way down the dimly lit corridor.

Despite his grim mood, Calder softened as he continued through his ship. Most – if not all – of the workers recognized him and as their spirits lifted at seeing their commander return, Calder’s own were raised as well. It was almost as if the Fleet said to itself “No more fooling around. We have got to win this war.”

When Calder reached the control room, the doors slid halfway open and then stopped. With a frown, he turned and squeezed through – but he was dismayed at what he saw inside. Even with repairs underway, the place still looked to be in shambles. The main console was removed revealing all the circuits beneath it. Two electrical engineers were running diagnostics on the navigational control, and from the looks on their faces it was not going well. Calder glanced at an engineering display and noted that the main reactor was currently capable of producing only 11% of rated power.

“Goddamnit…” Calder muttered, loudly enough to be heard by the workers and other officers who had until then been preoccupied with their work. Several of them looked up and were stunned to see Calder had arrived not only with no fanfare, but even discreetly.

The men and women snapped to attention dropping what they were doing – some even dropping tools and equipment on the deck. Calder frowned. “As you were.”

From one of the corners, a familiar officer – but walking with a distinct limp - approached Calder and saluted. “Admiral, we are pleased to have you back. I’m…”

“I want to see you in my office. Now.”

Captain La Forge nodded. “Yes sir.”

La Forge followed Calder sheepishly down the passage out of the control room. Calder said nothing to his first officer on the short walk, but did have to pause every so often to allow La Forge to catch up. When they reached Calder’s battered office, the brevet rear admiral stepped through the door and made his way to his desk. His immense leather chair was tipped over on its side. Righting it with increasing frustration, he sat down and motioned for La Forge to sit on the couch – covered as it was with debris and other items. After several moments of silence, La Forge finally got the nerve to speak.

“What was it you wanted, sir?”

Calder glared at the young brevet captain. “Would you care to explain all of this?” Calder lifted both arms outward as he stood up and walked about the office. He stopped to pick up an object that had rolled against one of the bulkheads; it looked like the antique lightsaber Calder kept.

“Sir?” La Forge stammered.

“My office. My ship. Half our fighters. The Dominance. What the hell did you do?”

“I..uh…”

“I’ll tell you what you did,” Calder said without allowing La Forge to answer. “You wanted to make a name for yourself. You knew what I did when I was acting-captain and how I became a hero and you wanted the same for yourself. Except it didn’t work out for you. You lost a ship…all those men dead. You almost lost this ship! What are you trying to prove? How many times have I told you that just because you see me pull some bold stunt is no reason for you to try the same thing?!”

La Forge looked down at the deck. “Sir, I only thought I was doing what you would have wanted me to do…”

Calder sat back down and sighed. “That was your first mistake. You have to go with your own instincts, and yet also realize that sometimes your own instincts can be wrong. You got lucky this time in not being destroyed along with the Dominance – just as I got lucky years ago. The difference is that I did come out of it a hero…and so I didn’t get this same talk from my commanding officer. Had I failed then, I would have, and I might not be where I am now.”

La Forge nodded. “Yes sir. In light of this, I must respectively tender my…”

“No.” Calder said emphatically. “That will not be necessary. You are an asset to the Empire and you know it as well as I do. You must simply learn from this, as a good officer does.”

“I understand, Admiral. I have…” La Forge was once again cut off, but this time by the chirp of Calder’s communications console.

As Calder answered it, La Forge heard him mutter: “Surprised the damn thing works…Calder here.”

It was Muscat. “Admiral, we have a priority-one holotransmission from Vice Admiral Fel.”

“I’ll take it here.” In seconds, Calder was gazing at the shimmering blue figure of Tiberius Fel. “Yes, Fel, what can I do for you?”

“I trust you are up to speed on the condition of the Fleet.” Fel said without introduction. Calder nodded and Fel continued. “We recalled you for a reason.”

“I should think so. There’s no point in me captaining a ship that won’t be combat – ready for weeks, at best.”

“Admiral, after discussing it with the Supreme Commander, we have decided to place you in operational command of the Outer Sectors Fleet. All our forces in the field will now answer to you. I just wish I could give the Fleet to you under better circumstances.”

“Yes, of course.” Calder replied.

“We recalled you early because we need results…and you’re the best we have.”

A hint of a smile touched Calder’s lips. “I know. You will have your results, Admiral.”

“Good.” With that, Fel’s image disappeared leaving Calder and La Forge alone in the office once more.

Calder stood up. “We have work to do, Captain.”