ATC Exeter chapter 1

 Bridge 

The bridge had a quiet hum to it on the early watch Thorpe thought as he entered the room. Banks of monitors were set up in various groups all giving off the same eerie green glow which was reflected in the faces of the sailors working at those stations. As he walked by the sailors saluted him before looking back at their various displays. They looked calm, bored maybe Thorpe thought. He couldn't blame them it had been a quiet tour. They had been sent pirate hunting and it had been an almost fruitless search. 

"Admiral on deck" a voice broke Thorpe's wandering thoughts. The watch officer stood up from the command chair and saluted, Thorpe returned the salute and sat in the command chair. "Report?” Thorpe asked,  the deck officer took a data pad and quickly reviewed it. "Sir, no incidents reported on late watch. Fighter sweeps of the area brought up nothing but some small debris"

"Very well, more debris you say? How many small pockets of debris have we found in the last month. " Thorpe replied rubbing his chin. 

The deck officer pressed something on the data pad. "I don't have exact numbers but at least some each week. I can have someone correlate the data for you?"

"No that won't be necessary but next time we find some have it brought on board a ship and analysed. " Thorpe said. The deck officer saluted and walked away tapping on his data pad. 

Thorpes eyes were drawn to the monitors showing outside the ship. The vast emptiness of space surrounded them. Some would find it unnerving but Thorpe was born and raised on ships . This was home , planet side made him uncomfortable much to his crews bemusement. He got up out of the chair and walked over the cluster of displays that handles navigation. 2 sailors sat either side of a third sailor who was piloting the ship. 

"Pilot Commander Allen how's she handling today " the pilot a small brunette haired sailor turned and smiled at the Admiral .

"As well as a battle carrier can sir. Some hacks will tell you that the Class 5 is better in everyway but they are lying. She might be old but the Exeter still flies smoother than those new machines." The pride about the ship in Allens face was evident. 

"Excellent. Now let's head for the  jump point if you would  be so kind"

Allen gave a theatrical hand gesture "It shall be done sir" Thorpe snorted a laugh and walked away. Allen was a unique pilot but nobody could manoeuvre the Class 3 super carrier like she could so he cut her some slack. As he sat in the command chair he heard the deck officer ordered the picket fighters back on board .

"XO Inform the escorts we will be jumping systems. Secure the ship  for jump" Thorpe had discussed his jump plans with the escort captains yesterday at a briefing. Their tour was almost over, one last star system to sweep. Lasten 4 was the system the farthest point humans had ever jumped . No colonies out there but that makes it the perfect spot for pirates. Criminals who had abandoned the  Allied Terran Colonies but still raided the colonies for resources. 

His XO Commander Jackson a tall imposing male nodded at Thorpe and activated the com. 

"All ships, all ships we will commence jump transition in twenty zero minutes. Crew prepare for jump transition" a buzzer sounded throughout the ship. In the emptiness of space, the 3 smaller destroyers moved into formation around the larger battle carrier, they all started to move forward faster and then the jump generators started to glow then the ships blinked out of existence . 

"jump established Admiral" one of the deck crew called out.  Thorpe nodded in their direction. This jump was a short jump only a matter of hours . Thorpe stood up to stretch his legs he walked over to Commander Jackson who was studying the chart table, 

*When we arrive in the system I'd like to launch all squadrons and have them go behind this moon to simulate setting up an ambush for an incoming force *

Jackson whistled softly *All squadrons sir?"

"yes I want every craft we have launched as quick as possible and ready for a simulated assault on a force passing through the system.  This system is the best place to practice as they're shouldn't be any issues here. Pass the word down to the squadron commanders"

Black Jacks Briefing Room 

Wing Leader Howard leaned back in his chair in the briefing room. 

"Last system and then we are heading home !" He said cheerfully brightened by the fact they will be heading home and no more dull patrols searching for nothing in the nothingness of space. It wasn't that he didn't like his job it's just the last few weeks had been particularly boring.  The five other pilots on the room ignored him, each seemed to be focusing on data tablets. He reached forward and took his assigned tablet from the table in front of him. "Damn" he said to no one in particular as he read the mission brief.  An all squadron disembarkment with the stop watch running?  Old Admiral Thorpe must be bored to.

"Attention! "

Howard snapped up and to attention as Squadron Leader Kato entered the room.

"good day Black Jacks. You've read the data tablets I assume? " Heads nodded around the room. 

"good I want the Black Jacks to be the first ready and departed. We have run the drills we know we can be quick let's show the other squadrons how to do it. " Kato spoke with a calm voice but it definitely had a serious tone to it.  Howard liked Kato , he was quite straight laced but put up with a lot from some pilots (including Howard ) as long as he got 110% from them and the Black Jacks stayed the best squadron on the Exeter. Kato then went on to talk about  launch placements and priorities . Howard only really paying half attention.