2 Weeks Later. 04:00 Rec Room

John and Andern were playing a game of cornhole. Andern was losing badly. He was having fun, but John was nailing every last shot.

“Gravity is a little different here, you haven’t compensated for it,” John said as his last throw airmailed the hole in the board.

“Fuck it. I’m super rusty,” Andrew threw his hands up in disgust, “anyways, good game.”

A pair of enlisted crewmembers wanted to get a game in, so they swapped out and sat in a pair of chairs in the corner. John turned the TV on and switched it to the Ocho replays. The room was busy with about a dozen people in there.

“We have a week, standard time, unfortunately, not ship time, until we dock at Olympus Mons Minor station bud. Looking forward to it?” John asked the obvious answer.

“Hell yeah. I cannot wait to have my own room again.”

“You do know that our room arrangements are based on the academy assignments, right?” John looked at his friend, “Yeah, you forgot that part, didn’t you?”

“Is there a hotel at the station?” Andern sounded desperate.

“Negative. It’s primarily a military base, but it does have a retail presence. The ones we dock at after that are all stations partially opened to the public. Like Armstrong.”

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.”

“Dude, you seriously need to read your damn messages.”

John continued to pepper his friend for his underwhelming comprehensive abilities. He did try to let him know that when he’s actually assigned a ship that kind of thing is actually legitimately important. John quickly changed the topic since he didn’t want to harp on Andern.

They would relax there until the top of the hour when the two would head to the mess hall. John got excited when he saw his wife sitting at the table, an emotion shared by her as well by seeing him. Breakfast came and went far too quickly for the friends. Andern headed up to the bridge but waited outside the door. John said goodbye and headed in as the crew was being subbed out for the new shift.

15:02 Bridge

“Alright folks, we have two intercepts. The IMS Mustang and an inspection of the Royal Freight Company’s new freighter,” John said as he sat back in the captain’s chair.

“Oh my god, is that the one the elementary kids named?” Lacey asked.

“I’m Gonna Haul Lots,” John was smirking.

“Imagine having that on your resume. Yeah, I’m interviewing to be a captain of a new ship. I came from the ‘I’m Gonna Haul Lots’ and wouldn’t you know, it’s a freighter and we could haul a lot of stuff,” Caleb said dryly.

“I’ve seen a lot of god-awful names since we were out here. Way more common than you’d think,” Andern said from ship operations.

“Never let children or the extra-net name anything. At least with the kids, there was no malicious intent. The extra-net though…” John let his sentence hang.

Lieutenant Page was smiling from the back of the room. She couldn’t argue John’s point. Page was shocked at how quickly the crew had gelled. They were at least two to three weeks ahead of pace where most student crews would normally be at.

“Sir, IMS Mustang is coming into range,” Andern said.

“Thank you, Lacey. Transmit a standard request for their flight plan, orders, and crew compliment.”

“Aye sir,” Lacey sent the requests to the other ship.

Unlike most of the belters they interact with, they sent responses promptly. John reviewed the information. He smiled when she saw the crew manifest.

“Mostly ex-military, a combination of Navy and Marine vets. Too fresh from separation to be lax on protocols. Open coms with them if you would Lacey.”

“Sending a request sir.”

A moment later the primary display screen flashed, and several men and women appeared.

“Captain Lief of the CNS Marcinko. We received your data. Please confirm your business in the belt.”

“Howdy Cap, I’m former Commander Velt of the Centauri Militia. We are heading to a pair of asteroids we have mining rights on. The first one is asteroid CG-Niner-Two-Tango-Zulu.”

John confirmed the information and plotted their course, he noticed they were slightly off course.

“Looks like your ship is pulling a bit to starboard. Come about to heading Three-Seven-Two, down ought-point-five degrees.”

“We’ll change course, thank you.”

“Good luck. As a word of warning the Folly of Icarus was likely in the belt, a task force is in the belt still searching for her. Recommend you keep your sensors on active while you’re working.”

“Watching our six and recording things. Mustang out.”

“Lacey, contact Mars Control and see if we can expedite our rendezvous with the ‘I’m Gonna Haul Lots,’ John squeezed the bridge of his nose, “I’m sorry, I’m going to be referring to it as the freighter, that name is going to give me cancer.”

John could hear Andern snort from the back of the room. Lacey sent a message to Mars Control. The bridge crew was waiting for them to respond. It must’ve been a busy day because they waited nearly fifteen minutes for a response.

“CNS Marcinko, request for expedited rendezvous granted, speed twelve point five approved. Head to course two-niner-five, up twelve degrees. When you get to the Einstein waypoint request you follow the Dilly holding pattern.”

“Copy that Mars Control, increasing speed to twelve five, course two-niner-five plus twelve. Dilly holding pattern upon Einstein waypoint,” Lacey read back.

“Punch it, Caleb.”

“Cadet Lief, might I inquire why we are expediting this contact?” Page asked from the back of the room.

“You may. The other two shifts have conducted a boarding. This one hasn’t. I would like to get one under my belt before we head for leave.” John paused, “Which reminds me. Caleb and Andern you’re with me. Andern, check with the Chief to see who he wants to send over with us.”

“On it,” Andern said as he swung back to face his workstation.

“Captain’s prerogative then eh?” Page smiled as she asked.

“Yes ma’am,” John typed a few things in and then looked over at Caleb, “How long till interception Caleb?”

“01:45 sir.”

“Thanks. Lieutenant, I’m going to send a message to the next shift, it looks like they are going to pick up an extra hour.”

“That does mean you could be tight on time yourself.”

“The three of us are ahead of pace on classes. So, avoiding the couple of hours of doing homework won’t hurt any of us.”

The next four hours flew by for the bridge crew. They finished three drills to pass the time. When they reached their waypoint Mars Control asked them to reduce speed while doing the Dilly loop. They complied with the action and eventually met the freighter at the updated time.

02:15 Main Hangar

“Ok, Caleb and Andern you two and Seaman Jackson are going to go with the captain of the freighter and verify information on the bridge. You two are with me when we investigate their holds,” John said, “Any questions?”

John looked at the five people in front of him. All shook their heads.

“Helmets on, let’s move out.”

John was wearing his prototype power armor. Magnetized to his back was an assault rifle. At his hip was an oversized pistol. The rest were wearing void sheathes and were just armed with a pistol. The airlock sealed behind them. A moment later the outer door opened, and the group began floating over to the other ship.

“Don’t you feel claustrophobic in these?” Andern asked over coms.

“What do you mean? Why would you feel that?” Jackson asked.

“Oh, that’s right, inside joke.”

“Yeah, getting thrown out of one when a ship pulls away from a station while I’m inside an umbilical isn’t an inside joke smartass.”

“You totally didn’t get that.”

“Hold on, that was fucking true?” Caleb interrupted.

“Respectfully sirs, what the hell are you talking about?” Jackson looked at Amy and Rick who shrugged their shoulders.

“Your story Andern, you may as well finish it,” John shook his head.

“When we were on Yeager station it was attacked by some Mercantilists. Captain America up there didn’t want that suit of his stolen, so he fought on Yeager to get it back, then boarded the enemy vessel. They overrode the station's computer and began pulling away from the station while the umbilical was still attached. He was still inside it and got seriously fucked up. Then we got to watch his surgery.”

“So, that was true,” Rick had heard the rumors from a previous deployment of something happening on the station.

“Things were going just fine till they weren’t.”

Jackson grunted, “They always do sir.”

The six glided into the freighter’s airlock. The door behind them closed and then the atmosphere was pumped back in. Then the door opened to the port side corridor.

“I’m Captain Maximillian Genesis of the RFC I’m Gonna Haul Lots,” the captain sounded genuinely hurt saying the name of the ship.

John took his helmet off and hooked it to his left hip and walked up to the captain, “Acting Captain John Lief of the Marcinko. Thank you for complying with this inspection. We’ll try to get out of your hair as quickly as we can so y’all can get back to hauling lots.”

John actually wasn’t trying to be a smartass when he was speaking to the captain. But then he heard himself and tried to maintain a stiff upper lip. An effort he failed to do.

“Bloody stupid idea of letting them name this ship. I swear the bloody idiot that came up with that idea should be tarred and feathered.”

Andern and Caleb grunted in unison behind them. John smirked and asked for directions to the freight holds. The group split up and headed to their respective areas. Andern, Caleb, and Jackson went with the captain to the bridge and marveled at the size of the corridor. It was over two times as wide as the Marcinko.

John, Amy, and Rick went from hold to hold. Unlike the previous two boardings, there was nothing amiss. For starters, this ship was owned and operated by the royal family of Proxima Centauri. The family was often quoted as having more money than God. Any form of smuggling for the family would be both ridiculous and unexpected.

Thirty minutes later the holds had been inspected and everything was confirmed to be where it was supposed to be. The crew on the bridge were wrapping up their inspection but they too didn’t find anything unexpected.

“Captain, you run a tight ship. Thank you for your patience,” John said as the rest of his crew and the captain were walking back toward the airlock.

“Always a pleasure to work with the Navy. Seems the next generation is more than capable.”

“Once the umbilical is fully retracted feel free to shove off and continue on with your flight plan.”

The group secured their helmets, then floated over to the Marcinko. While the airlock was pressurizing John ordered the umbilical to be retracted. The group went to the locker room and changed out of their void gear. John was changed first and headed up to the bridge.

John walked to Jessica’s station in the back of the room, “Can you submit our findings for the freighter?”

“Yes sir.”

“Captain, are we clear?” Joeng asked.

“Yes, please let Mars Control know. Ships all yours.”

04:45 Rec Room

“I so could use a beer,” John said as he crashed on the couch.

“Right?” Andern responded instantly.

“How was the freighter’s bridge?”

“Dude, you can walk in the halls of it and not rub against anyone. It was really spacious.”

“Man, I really do wonder what it would be like on a modern ship.”

“You hear how Patrice and Jerry are doing?”

“Bits and pieces. They took a week longer to get the green light to go on patrol. I can’t imagine the morale on Jerry’s ship is good. Micromanaging idiot will definitely rub people the wrong way.”

“What about the arrogant bastard?”

The doors opened and Caleb walked in. He headed over to the bookshelf and was trying to find a book he had been reading. He had overheard part of the conversation John and Andern were having.

“I mean I don’t like Patrice, but I actually do believe he’ll be a competent CO.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Caleb said, “But the dude’s an ass.”

“See, he gets it,” Andern fist-bumped Caleb.

“True, but so am I. He’ll rub some people the wrong way, but others will fall in line,” John shrugged, “Suppose now’s as good as any time to ask, but how are things going Caleb? No ranks here, feel free to speak your mind.”

The pair of enlisted crewmembers that were playing cornhole heard the comment and interjected themselves in the conversation.

“Sorry sir but I couldn’t help but overhear you say that. I can speak on behalf of the entire enlisted crew and say that you are the only cadet captain that we’ve interacted with that wanted to run the ship like a proper navy vessel. And your crew also works with us rather than orders us around,” Jake said.

“I mean you lot order us around too, but that’s after we work together for a solution. Been nice to feel that again.”

“Well, I can’t speak for them, but things seem to be operating fine. The six-hour day coupled with having three classes is a serious dick punch, but things are fine,” Caleb paused, “Well, except for the sleeping arrangements. Having a real room would’ve been nice.”

“Old ship, new ones aren’t like that,” Alex said, “That we got this room was nothing short of a miracle.”

“Sir, you hear what our orders are after leave?”

“Four days at the station, like real days, not ship days. After that, we’re heading to Jupiter for three weeks. Think we get two days' leave somewhere there. Then we’re off to Saturn. I’m hoping we can get out to Pluto and take leave out there. The station out there is pretty cool.”

The enlisted thanked John and went back to their game.

“They have some watches you want to buy, don’t they?” Andern asked sarcastically.

“Actually, they do, but don’t let Alice know.”

“I heard nothing,” Caleb said as he found the spot he left off in the book.

“Smart man,” John smirked.

The intra-ship coms panel activated in the room and announced, “Captain Lief, you are to report to the Officers Conference room.”

John walked over to the machine and pressed the reply button, “Copy, heading there now.”

John muttered something under his breath and headed out of the room. Andern was laughing. Caleb tried to hide his expression in the book he was reading.

5:15 Officer’s Conference Room

“Thank you, cadet, please take a seat.” Lieutenant Page said.

John took a seat, the debrief of the pirate attack was already underway. It was confirmed that the captain of the mining vessel had a debt with the pirates and refused to pay. Internally John just groaned. Pirates and the mafia were two groups to not have debts with. John knew this from personal experience with the latter.

“Our conclusion is that the Folly of Icarus attack was not random and that they aren’t a risk to anyone else that doesn’t owe her a debt. Based on the engine signatures she’s been out of the solar system for several days.”

John spoke, “So we don’t expect any reprisals?”

“Far from it. The Icarus left behind a relay probe. They complimented you and your crew’s ability to incapacitate one of their skiffs. In any case, they are still fugitives, and the Navy will continue trying to bring these pirates to justice.”

With that, the Commander ended the briefing. John question his needing to be here but he let those thoughts just roll off of him. He really wanted to get some food, so he stood up.

“A moment if you will cadet,” Lieutenant Page said, “I’m submitting all those involved with the disabling of the skiff for commendation.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I’m not sure we deserve it.”

“I was told you weren’t the modest type. Your crew is light years ahead of any other crew I’ve seen in my tenure with the academy. Excellent work.”

John saluted, then headed to the mess hall. He smiled as the doors closed behind him. This was way above his high expectations. A commendation was not in the plans for this trip.

5:35 Mess Hall

Alice waved as she saw John walk into the room. He waved back and then headed straight to the line to get food. John smiled when he saw what was being served. Pizza, cheesy bread, and hot wings. This was easily the crew’s favorite meal. Though John wasn’t looking forward to the inevitable gas he was going to have over the next ten hours.

John walked over to where Alice was sitting and sat next to her, “Good morning. How are you?”

“I am ready for leave.”

“You and me both. Went over to the ‘I’m Gonna Haul Lots’ earlier. Really shouldn’t have, makes this ship feel even smaller.”

“Please, don’t say that,” Alice had a pained smile on her face, “How are your classes going?”

“Pretty good, ahead of schedule, should have things wrapped up by the time we leave for Jupiter. Except for the finals of course.”

“Naturally. I’m a few days ahead of schedule which is nice. Is Andern keeping up?”

John laughed, “Well he still can’t read his messages to save his damned life, but he seems to be on top of classwork. Speaking of homework when I wake up, I’m probably going to get a lesson done, that little trip to the freighter took away from my study time.”

“Have you thought about after graduating, still want to be in one of these small ships?”

“Quickest way to get in the big seat,” John appeared to inhale a hot wing, “I think the big issue is being the low man on the totem pole. For me though, it’s going to be a huge change of pace.”

Alice laughed, “Do they even take in your wishes for first assignments?”

“Most people don’t have the connections I do. But the god’s honest truth is I’m not really sure,” John paused to take a drink of milk, “I think the admirals get their pick.”

“Good job pissing off half of the core fleets,” Alice squinted at John.

“My bad on making you my collateral damage.”

“I’m giving you crap, we’re good. Well, it’s time for my shift.”

John kissed Alice before she left. He finished the rest of his food and sauntered out of the mess hall. He headed up to the bridge to his room. John sat down at his terminal and typed in some random thoughts of his.

Being deployed on a ship was a weird feeling. It was highly repetitive, so much so it bordered on grinding one down. Though losing one to two hours every day to schoolwork was something that they wouldn’t have after graduating. Some of that time would be truly free time, the rest would be split between drilling and studying.

John smiled and started the pre-bed stretch routine. He couldn’t stop smiling. He got to do his first boarding. While it was entirely by the books and largely useless given what they uncovered on the vessel, it was good to get that out of the way. He changed into some sweatpants and crawled into bed. His eyes were focused on grinding through the days until they got some free time at the station.