Welcome to Space Station 13
Lillian marched by Jay, barely keeping pace with him. He kept up a steady slew of orders over his comms, and Lillian could barely get a word in edgewise. She said, "Sir, I don't exactly understand what's going on. Can yo-"
"Lillian, I'm promoting you to Brevet Head of Security for the interim. Axl and Jericho are both incapacitated by their encounters, so we're keeping them here for medical reasons. You will be supplied with four new security officers, and the FT on station, one Malachi Kelly, will still be with you." Jay said all this without ever turning to face Lillian or even look up from his PDA, fingers flying across the buttons. "We're appointing a new Captain after the death of Mr. Flickenger. One Everett Owens. He's a solid guy with a solid track record."
Lillian tried to speak, but an adjutant came up to her and pinned a new ID badge on her while taking hers with a single smooth motion. "Oh thank-" The man vanished as Jay turned a corner, gesturing to the muster hall. He spoke.
"Lillian, the rest of the new crew replacements are in here, gearing up as we speak. We've done our level best to fill the station with crew members that have been in crisis situations. Almost all of them have military or paramilitary training, along with combat experience. You are getting the best of the best." He turned to her for the first time since the visitation. "Listen, Lillian. I know I might seem like I'm over doing it right now, but you'll understand soon. It might not be tomorrow or next month or even this year, the Admins are somewhat flighty, but shit is going to hit the fan on that station. Harder than anything you could ever believe." He leaned in close. "I'll be on hand whenever possible with the Deathsquad and the Icarus. You have a double team of Security, an extra Blueshield just for you, a good Captain and set of Heads of Staff, forewarning, and time to prepare yourself."
Lillian tried to speak, but she was overwhelmed. "Sir, I don't... I can't handle this."
Jay smiled sadly, "Unfortunately, young lady, you don't have a choice." He turned back and opened the door to the muster hall, where pandemonium reigned. "It's boarding time."
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Several hours later
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Lillian fidgeted unhappily in the cockpit of the shuttle, looking down at her new uniform. It was jet black with thin strips of alternating gold and red piping up the side of the legs, the flanks, and from her neck down her arm to her wrist. The material was thick and somewhat stiff in spots, and Jay had assured her it was as good as an armor vest. Her new ID had special identifiers on it, indicating her promotion. In a holster on her hip, she had a brand new, shiny energy pistol, and hanging from the same utility belt that supported the holster was a telescopic baton, a utility knife, a pair of handcuffs, pepperspray, a flash, a seclite, and her HUD sunglasses. Slung over the back of her chair was a black armorweave jacket, not quite a greatcoat like Axl wore, but it covered Lillian from neck to hips to wrists, and was supposedly proof against everything up to a full-powered laser cannon.
Beside her, Everett noticed her fidgeting and nodded gravely. He didn't have much of a personality, Lillian reflected, but he was a good officer. He was maybe forty, with not a touch of gray in his short brown hair. He wore a pair of CommandHUD sunglasses that covered his eye color, and an old fashioned tricorn hat of blue, green and gold like his uniform. The hat was his only affectation, the rest of his gear was all business. A toolbelt filled with worn, well used tools. A recharging-pattern laser pistol of antique make. A beautifully designed armor vest, and a pair of thick black jackboots completed his look.
Past him was Trey Lloyd, the new CMO, a Diona alien. His flesh looked like treebark but was spongy and flexible. He was obviously incredibly intelligent, but his mind ran in directions that humans had trouble following. The uniform barely fit him, and poked out at odd angles in spots. Beyond Trey was Horatio Oppenheimer, the Research Director. The new Chief Engineer was a brown haired woman named Alexa Moon. She kept to herself, and hadn't said anything yet.
She broke that silence. "Why the hell haven't we left yet?"
Everett grunted. "We're waiting on a Head of Personnel. I think they said a Morale Officer had requested posting here too."
At that moment, the cockpit door whooshed open and two men stepped in. The man in the Head of Personnel uniform was dark complected, with black hair and dark, unreadable eyes. He bowed lightly, said, "I am Amir Roadman, Head of Personnel." And sat without any further comment.
The other man was wearing all black, including a long robe that hung to his ankles and wrists, with a large black hood that hid most of his features from view. He said, "I am Avery Price, Nanotrasen Approved Commissar and appointed Morale Officer. I will be with the crew, unless you need me." Everett shook his head at him, and Avery disappeared into the crew compartment.
Everett smiled, "
All systems go, launch clearance received. Crew shuttle outbound."
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Later
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With a
boom-claaaang, the shuttle attached to the station like a limpet. Air hissed and whooshed as the docking sequence was completed, then the doors hissed open and the crew vomited forth like an explosion of humanity. The hall was filled with the gabble of voices and the soft noises of footsteps as everyone moved to their job place to begin the shift. In the center of the hall, Lillian almost stepped on a large, circular plate set into the floor, but it flickered and a hologram appeared above it of a man's head with two faces.
"Welcome to Space Station 13." The voice said pleasantly in a neutral voice, devoid of emotion. "I am Janus, your station AI. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require assistance."
Lillian stepped around the holopad, nodding awkwardly, "Uh yeah, thanks mate. I'll be sure to do that." As she turned back to walk away, she almost bumped into a new Security officer. He had sandy blond hair, light freckles on his checks, bright blue eyes, and feminine features. He smiled widely at her.
"Well hello there, gorge- Oh fuck you're my boss." He stiffened and gave a crisp salute. "Vladmir Dimitri reporting for duty SIR! I mean MA'AM! I mean. Er."
"Nice job, Dimitri. We ain't even met her yet and you're already trying to bang her." Another man came up beside Lillian in a security uniform. He was a bit taller than Vlad, with dark hair and pale skin. His eyes were green, and he smiled at her. "I'm Osborn Zimmer, ma'am. I think the other two are already in Sec with Malachi."
Lillian held out her hand to Osborn, then Vlad. "I'm Lillian Helsbrecht, acting Head of Security. Let's hope we have a quiet shift today."
They nodded gravely and fell into step with her as she marched to Security. There they encountered the other two officers, Malachi Kelly, and Zalis, who was snuffling into a cup of coffee oddly. The two new officers were introduced as Gregory Meighan and Valerie Scott. Zalis and Malachi came to join Lillian while the new officers outfitted themselves. Malachi said, "So, Lillian."
"So, Malachi?" She asked, curious.
Zalis replied instead, "What is going on, Lillian?"
"I'm not sure what you mean." She said, her face becoming blank and expressionless.
Malachi and Zalis shared a look. Malachi said, "I told you, man. I told you. It's all her fault."
Zalis sighed. "Lillian gets taken in for questioning. Is in there for one hour, and suddenly it's drop everything and get back to work. Curious. Most curious."
Lillian sighed. "It's so classified I think I might be eligible for execution just for knowing it. I guess there's something bad about to happen and it kind of revolves around me."
"Oh great, you're the center of the world now?" Malachi said, half-jokingly.
Lillian shook her head, then stopped to see a newcomer entering security. Another Unathi, this one with muted green scales and small curling horns on her head. She was smaller and less robust than Zalis was, and she wore the uniform and weapons of a Blueshield. She strode right up to Lillian and proffered her hand. "I am Tina Mouhr'ryk. You may call me Tina Morrissss."
Lillian shook the hand offered to her, and was surprised by how callused it was. She said, "I'm Lillian, Head of Security."
Tina grinned ruefully. "I am your bodyguard. I am not to leave your side."
Lillian chuckled, "Well you won't follow me into the bathroom at least, right?" Tina kept grinning but said nothing. Lillian's face fell a bit. "You mean I can't go to the bathroom alone?"
"No, ma'am. I am not to leave your side." Tina said, still grinning. All the humor evaporated out of the room for a moment, then Vlad came to the little gathering and spoke.
"Hey, we're ready. Where should we start?" He smiled at Lillian lasciviously.
She narrowed her eyes at him and smiled sweetly. "Gregory, you take the north-east quadrant. Valerie, you've got engineering. Osborn, take the arrivals quadrant. Vladmir, go search the abandoned, creepy-as-fuck, where-I-fought-man-eating-aliens section of the ship alone. Zalis, please mingle with the crew so I can get any complaint reports quickly. Malachi, hold down the fort here, I'm brevet-Warden-ing you." Vladmir's face fell a little, but then he perked back up. They all filed away, except for Vlad.
He sidled a little closer and said, "I know you gave me the section you worked because you think I'm sexy."
Lillian looked at him askance. "I can't tell if you're an idiot, if you're trying to get in my pants and are simply clueless, or if this is all a sham to cover up something up."
He shrugged, "Probably some mixture of the three."
"
All Heads of Staff report to the conference room as soon as your department is stable. That means you, Moon. Get the boys working on power, THEN come to the conference room.[color]"
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Author
Topic: The Lillian Helsbrecht Story (Read 28688 times)