UTEOT: Exalted

PROLOG:

August 17^th, 2035

The Redeemer

Launch Bay

Commodore Benjamin Krieg leaned against the bulkhead as his executive officer, Leiutenant Commander Timothy O'Niell ran through the new crew list and the bunk assignments. Krieg shifted his weight as Tim launched into what they had all jokingly called the 'initiation speech'.

"Okay, everyone please split off into the following groups. Now, while Redeemer maintains strict teamwork between the scientific and military ends of the UEO as the flagship, right now, for sheer organization sake, would those who are members of the scientific contingent please go to the sea deck. Warrant Officer Anthony Piccolo will guide you there," Tim watched as the those in teal jumpsuits and civilian clothing walked over to Tony and then followed him towards maglev. "Now, those who are left should be Navy. Am I right?"

"Sir, yes sir!" came the chorus in perfect unison.

"Good, because I would hate to send someone after the strays," came Tim's dry voice as he smiled. "Now, Redeemer, while you are still Navy, is perhaps more informal than other UEO Navy you've been on. That's because more than half of the ship is science. You aren't operating on a purely Naval ship, so you don't always have to be in full formal Navy attire or saluting everyone who outranks you. The exceptions are the bridge, engineering, weapons control, or any other military department on board. In those cases, you are Navy. Are we clear?"

"Sir, yes sir," came the same chorus, and O'Niell put two fingers on the bridge of his nose.

"Right now would be one of those half civilian moments. You'll make all those scientists nervous," came his dry voice, and he smiled and relaxed a bit as if to show his point, although the command presence never left him.

For a moment those in the black jumpsuits or the khaki uniforms only looked at each other, then relaxed a bit. They still, and this being the proof of their training, listened intently. Tim nodded and then began to read off his list, "On this tour, some of you, depending on your training, will actually be paired off with a member of the science team. This is to forward both of your careers."

This was met with a few groans, and Tim shook his head, "Now, now, it's for your own good. You might learn something..."

"...Now, I'm going to split you off into three groups sorted by the first letter of your surnames. Everyone whose surname begins with an A to D, please regroup in the galley, line A. All those with the surnames from E to H, you're also in the galley, line B. If your last name begins with I through L, please head to Deck B, Section D, Quarters 14. M to P, Deck B, Section D, Quarters 15. All those with surnames Q to U, Deck B, Section D, Quarters 16. V to Z, you head to the Exercise room," Tim took a breath. "Now, as much as I'm going to regret asking, any questions?"

Two hands came up. "Yes, you are?"

"Ensign Mannoli, sir," said the young man. "How do we find the place we have to go to, sir?"

Tim pointed to the six officers with placards with the letters in question, "I had a feeling I was going to be asked that, even though you were supposed to have looked over the deck layout of the Redeemer. Yes, and what is your question?"

"Did you really serve with the Secretary General?" asked the seaman.

Thinking before answering, Tim then answered, "Depends on which one you mean. Secretary General Nathan Bridger? Yes, I did. For two tours. I served with Secretary General Hitchcock for one year, and at the same time as Secretary General Bridger. At that point, it was Captain Bridger, Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock, and I was a Lieutenant JG. Commodore Ben Krieg..." Tim pointed to Ben and Ben waved. "... served during the same tour. At that point he
was only a lieutenant."

There was a bit of a silence at that point, then Tim asked, "Any other questions or can I dismiss you so you know where you'll be living for the next year?"

After seeing them shake their head, he called out, "Dismissed!"

They scattered and soon the launch bay was empty again. Ben walked up to Tim and put a hand on his shoulder. "It just doesn't seem to go away, does it?"

"No," answered Tim. "I thought I had come to terms with the Cap's... I mean Secretary General Bridger's death, but everytime someone brings him up it's like he's still here. Still our Captain."

"He always will be," answered Ben. "We can never forget him... or what we had to do to make sure that something like that never happens again."

"Captain Krieg?" came Lieutenant Mara Johansen's voice, the communications technician. "There is a shuttle waiting clearance to board. A Commander Jackson Dane, NorPac SEAL Team four."

Krieg and O'Niell looked at each other in confusion, and Tim spoke into his PAL, "Security to launch bay."

"Security dispatched," confirmed Johansen.

"And that would be another thing that feels weird," said O'Niell. “She’s doing my job... only it isn’t my job now.”

“You think that’s weird,” pointed out Krieg. “I keep expecting to get kicked out of my quarters
by an irate Captain... either of them!”

Security, headed by Lieutenant Commander William Shan, circled the launch bay. Afterwards, Krieg nodded and the bay doors opened. One man, flanked by two others, walked down the steps, saluted, and then handed Krieg an orders packet. Krieg read them, then confirmed them by checking with his command key. He then looked up, “Sorry about the greeting, Commander, but you dropped by unannounced.”

“It’s not a problem. I would have expected no less,” said Dane as he pushed his Oakley sunglasses back on his head.

Dane towered over Krieg and O’Niell. The only people he didn’t tower over was a few of the security detail, and they were tall. He was also built for his height, giving them the feeling that he lifted weights for a hobby, not because he had to keep his shape to remain a SEAL. “This says that you and the rest of Team Four have been assigned to the Redeemer for the remainder of the tour,” Krieg looked up... as there was really no way to look at Dane otherwise... and held out his hand to shake Dane’s, and Dane gracefully did so. “Welcome aboard, Commander Dane.”

* * *

Lucas walked over to Kristin who stood with one hand on Bridger’s memorial stone. He looked at the grass that was now grown over the earth that covered the grave. He touched her hand. She looked over at him with a sad smile. “Even though I know he’s gone, I can’t bring myself to leave.”

“I know,” said Lucas as he knelt down by the grave. “I feel the same way. But, the Redeemer is due to begin the next tour. We should be there... he would want us to be there.”

Kristin knelt down beside Lucas and put one arm around his shoulders, “I have been so wrapped up in my own grief that I forgot that there are others who miss him as much as I do. Lucas... I know this has been hard on you and I haven’t been of much help.”

Lucas wiped one tear away, “It’s no biggie. Jess was there too, and Cindy.”

Kristin and Lucas stayed there for a few moments longer looked at the obelisk that Kristin had left a picture, sealed and weatherproofed, in a frame that hung on the stone. In the picture was a was Nathan in a pair of khakis and smiling. It had been from before he took command, from before Robert disappeared, and before Carol died. Kristin had felt that the picture of a younger Nathan would help others see what she saw. The vitality and life that he had... and the warmth.

Finally, she stood up and offered her hand to Lucas. Lucas took it and stood up and she put an arm around him as they walked back to the house.

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