Chapter 3

I peer out of the view port on the starboard side of the shuttle, that is transporting us to the Helios and even from this distance you can see the size of the ISV. The Hyperion was small in comparison. It only carried a crew of thirty personnel, which the majority were scientists since it was supposed to be a peaceful exploration mission. Earth port orbits our home world, at almost the same distance as the moon. I haven't been up here in two years, though it looks the same.

The ISV Helios is a completely different ship. It's three times the size of its predecessor, and it carries a crew of one hundred eighty. As we get closer I can see the weapon systems around various positions on the ships hull. She is not an exploratory type vessel. She was built strictly for war, and taking the fight to the enemy; I will be honest with myself, as I have no illusions of our chances with the unknown foe. Especially when it comes to the technological difference between us. The enemy must have a far superior technical advantage over us; there is no way it could be explained. The dark shape in the screen is large! Really large!

We are out classed and probably out gunned! Our chances are slim for any type of success in this venture we have undertaken. I sit back and rest my head trying not put anymore thought, to our chances of survival. Mandy is sitting next to me and she is asleep, though she is still holding my hand. She's always been afraid of flying but especially space flights, and I can't blame her, it's not natural. I mean it's only a few inches of aluminum, insulation and heat shielding protecting us from the cold vacuum of space. Not very aw inspiring.

We're suited up and all, but as I've said before if anything were to happen our survival rate is low. I look around and I'm glad that this is a military transport only, which means no Mindini to pester me in this flight. The suits com comes to life. [All personnel, we dock in fourty mikes; please secure any loose objects as we will begin yaw maneuver in ten mikes. That is all.]

Well, I'm good. All my crap is stowed away nice, as is Mandy's. I close my eyes and I feel myself drift off in the calm, quiet stillness of space. Then a sudden bump and clanking sounds brings me back, and I open my eyes peering out of the port window. I can't believe it, we're docked! What happened to fourty minutes! I really went to sleep. I turn to Mandy and she is already awake, smiling at my obvious state of confusion. "Come on Ant, it's time to go aboard the Helios." Unstrapping myself from the seat I float behind Mandy.

At the shuttles hatch the deck officer motions for us all to stop. Twenty people pause, for the instructions that he has to give. "Ok sirs, the Helios has its grav system on; once you pass the through the hatch be prepared for that by going in feet first. That way you will hopefully land on your feet." He adds with a smirk on his face.

I watch as those in front of us go through the hatch and fall, for as best as can be described, on their assets. To the amusement of the deck officer and those waiting on the other side. Now, I've been in this situation before so when my turn comes up, and I grab the top part of the hatches frame pushing myself quickly slipping through the hatch dropping my feet fast and landing in a crouched position. I stand up on my own without any need of assistance, much to the surprise of the deck officer. "Was that good?" I ask in an innocent manner.

"Um... yes sir. That was fine." He answers not sure what else to say. Then Mandy comes through pulling the same maneuver as me. He just blinks and continues to help the rest off the shuttle.

Mandy catches up to me, as we both remove the helmets of our light EVA suits. "You show off." She says in a low voice, so no one around us can hear. "But I have to say, I enjoyed the look on his face. He's pretty new here too."

I glance at her and I smile. "You know, even back at the academy there were jerks just like him. I used to despise those type of guys, but the sweet irony is when I made first lieutenant, those fellas were still second lieutenants and now had to salute me." I chuckle at the memory of their faces the day I was promoted before them, even though they were senior to me. We finally reach the locker room and step in. We start to take off the suits and Mandy seems kind of quiet. "A penny for your thoughts."

Mandy looks at me with a rueful smile on her lips. "You never told about that, in all the time we were together, while serving in Africa." The smile fades away and we continue on silently. I think back to our time in Africa, and I can't believe that I didn't share that story with her.

"I'm sorry Mandy, if I didn't tell you that before. It wasn't my intention keep that to myself; I suppose it just never came up in a conversation." I say to her.

She shakes her head slightly, shrugging her shoulders not giving it any importance. "It doesn't matter right?" The look on her face makes my heart ache. A mixture of sadness, pain and loneliness that tears at me. This will be a tough mission in more ways than one! "I'm heading to my quarters. I'll meet you on the bridge at fifteen hundred hours."

"Roger that." I say as she walks away. Is this going to be a problem? At least I hope it won't be.

*************************************

Fifteen hundred exactly, as step into the bridge. Mandy is there standing by the helm, talking to the young ensign who is the Helios's helmsman. What's his name... Thomas Riedmen that's it. I walk up to them and Mandy nods at me. "Major, reporting as ordered."

Ensign Riedmen jumps up from his chair. "Captain on the bridge!" He calls out and everyone stops whatever they're doing and stands up at attention.

I give Mandy a questioning look. She glances from one side of the bridge to the other, then back at me raising an eyebrow. I understand her message. "As you were!" Everyone resumes whatever task they were engaged in, prior to my arrival. Mandy motions with her hand to follow her; we move by the command seat or the Captains chair, as its more commonly referred to. "What's going on Mandy? I ask intrigued by the crews reaction. "I feel sorta left out of something here."

Mandy moves in a bit closer, in order to keep the conversation more private. "Look Ant, it was decided that you are the ships Captain." I step back stunned at the news, but she puts a hand up before I respond. "Of all the officers on this ship, including myself, your the only one with the combat experience needed for this mission." I look around the bridge and something strikes me; something I didn't notice before. The crew are all very young! "That's right Ant. Most of the crew is inexperienced, and need a strong hand to lead them."

"Why?" I ask. "Why would you pick such an inexperienced group?"

The expression on Mandy's face becomes uncharacteristically serious. "You've been out of the loop for a little while. Which is the main reason we wanted you back." She lets out a small sigh. "Things are not doing so well; here on Earth, as in our colonies on both the Moon and Mars." She pulls out a small thumb drive and hands it to me. "A rather large percentage of U.E.A. forces have been deployed to the Moon, Russia and the program has taken a hit in personnel."

"Wait a minute!" I keep my voice low. "Mars is small colony; how is that they are a threat to us? I mean there's what... a thousand people there if that!"

"The construction colony on Mars has sent a ultimatum; we're not involved in that problem or even the moon problem." She looks around the bridge suspiciously. "At least for now; you are one of the most experienced combat officers who has not been assigned to a deployment." So what is going on! The Moon is the largest colony, as well as the closest. "We need your experience on this mission, and that is the bottom line."

I also look around to make sure no one is actually paying attention to us. "Wait Mindini!" I recall what he said in the meeting, 'Terrorists!' That was his exact word! "What's going on in Russia? Mindini was telling the truth wasn't he?" My question makes Mandy uncomfortable, I could see it in her face. "Don't lie to me, just tell me."

Mandy purses her lips, a habit she has when pushed against tough issues. "Yes." She nods her head. "It's true Russia is a mess, as are the Stans. A lot of forces have been committed there to regain control, but it's still ongoing."

All that fighting. For what? "Ok. I understand, you needed someone with sufficient command experience and all the other candidates were now busy." The hurt on Mandy's face is genuine, but that doesn't change the fact that I am their last choice. "It's alright Mandy; I won't leave and I will captain the ship." She looks at me with sadness not wanting to make it seem so obvious. However, I wasn't born yesterday. "I don't need pity!" My voice is low, but my tone is harsh and I know it. "I'll do this with one condition!" Mandy straightens up, her face hardening a little; she is an officer and my superior. "You are the mission commander. However, the tactical decisions are mine, as Captain of this vessel."

Mandy puts her hands behind her back, and the officer in her comes out. "You know that is near insubordination Captain!" Her eyes a lock into mine, it's now a battle of wills of who has the true command here. "I could have you court martialed for the mere insinuation of putting conditions, on what are your orders to follow!"

I smile at this statement knowing full well that they need me, not vise verse. "Then you will have my resignation within the hour ma'm!" I turn to leave the bridge.

"Wait!" She hisses. "Damn you Ant! You know full well that we need you!" Anger resounding through her voice; she lets out a breath and calmness returns to her face, a cool serenity, just like the time when I left Africa.

"As captain you have tactical command, though you didn't need to do this." Her face softens up a bit. "I pulled for you. Just so you know that it really was not necessary for you to go through all that."

Maybe I went a little overboard with this, but I had to put my point of view out there. Even if it ruffles some feathers, they need to understand we're I'm coming from. I'm the one who was lied to and kept in the dark of the current situation. "It was unfair of command not to let me in. I feel like such a fool" If it's this bad then I might have been of use somewhere else. "All right, with that settled now we can get down to buisness." Mandy nods and she begins with a run down of the ships systems and of the improvements that have been made, to the overall design of the Helios.

"Here. Take the drive; it's the personnel file and the ships system operating manuals." She smiles wickedly while handing the small thumb drive. "Good luck, you've only got one month to get to know the ship and everyone aboard."

"That's just great, thank you." I guess I'm not going to get much sleep.