Jan stared at him and started shaking her head, “Just how do you know I dye my hair?”
“I only noticed it a few moments ago when I really looked at you, and you’re right; Josey does tend to keep ones attention away from you. Answering your question: most people who dye their hair blonde have dark roots with the blonde hair.”
“My hair isn’t blonde.”
“Yes it is; your hair is the opposite of what normally happens. Your roots are blonde and the rest that hideous brown. Knowing your hair is actually blonde, and your skin color very fair, your eyes would not be brown.” Michael saw Jan was extremely nervous. “Look, I don’t know why you do it, and I’m not suggesting you stop hiding behind Josey, I just find it curious. However, I’ve digressed from the issue. Why would you want to stay in Fifth Fleet after what the Admiral did to you?” Jan’s eyes narrowed and Michael said, “I’ve inquired about why your immediate Superior Officer did nothing about what the Admiral was making you do. He told my investigator that he did check in on you numerous times asking if you needed him to represent you and you told him no. He said several times he checked up on you he found you cleaning with a pair of headphones on singing. That just doesn’t sound right to me.”
Jan shrugged, “Sir, when was the last time you went in a fleet bathroom?”
“Just a few minutes ago, why do you ask?”
“How did you find it?” Michael thought a moment and Jan said, “How do you find any bathroom on Fleet Properties?”
“I guess they’re all pretty clean.”
“Sir, even without cleaning them, one could almost eat off the counters and floors. Cleaning them was the simplest thing I’ve ever done. I spent most of my days wasting time with that toothbrush trying to find some dirt to remove.” Michael’s eyes narrowed and Jan said, “How often do the pilots have to clean the hulls on their ships?”
“After each flight.”
“And though the main cleaning is done by machines, the pilots are required to completely inspect their hulls to make sure there is no damage.” Michael nodded. “Sir, it’s ninety-six degrees outside. I asked Admiral Greenwall for permission leave my task to wash my ship to comply with Fleet Regulations and she refused to allow it. She assigned my ship to my Commanding Officer to clean.” Michael started shaking his head as Jan said, “That’s right, Sir. It’s a cool seventy-two in those bathrooms. I would have been happy to continue doing it.”
“What about the headphones?”
“Since there wasn’t much thought required to work a toothbrush, I checked out history recordings from the Fleet’s database and listened to them while I worked. I even checked out music to listen to and I think I actually improved my dancing ability.”
Michael was almost laughing, “Did you learn anything?”
“I was amazed by a notion I found from the creators of the Cosmos series.”
“What is that?”
“The idea that space actually doesn’t exist but is a creation by our minds.”
Michael’s smile vanished. He quickly recovered his composure and smiled, “You must have found that idea absurd?”
“Actually, I think there’s a lot of evidence to support it.”
Michael stood up, “Go and get your ship ready to go. We’ll be leaving after I meet with Admiral Greenwall.”
Jan smiled, “That should be an interesting meeting.”
“I genuinely hope it isn’t.” Michael walked away and Jan wondered what she said that upset him so much. Then she thought about what he said about her appearance and sighed. She shook her head and picked up her tray. No one noticed as she walked out of the cafeteria.
Michael entered Katy’s conference room and found her Squadron Commanders in attendance. She yelled, “Attennnnshuuunnn!”
Everyone came to attention and Katy saluted him. He returned her salute and said, “As you were.” Everyone sat back down and Michael noticed that Katy refused to look directly at him. He brought them up to date on what the scouts had discovered and answered their questions. Katy didn’t have any questions.
Finally, Michael looked at Katy, “Your fleet is the only one that has had the modifications done. There is a real possibility that the use of the barrier might be removed during our next fight with the Legends. I am ordering you to take Fifth Fleet out where the scouts have set up their skirmish line and wait to see if one of the new Monster Battleships actually did make an appearance. You will not attack it as it leaves that galaxy, if it’s there. The scouts will attempt to follow it back to where it was built and then I’ll make a determination about what must be done.”
Katy nodded and said, “Sir, if I take the entire fleet into that cluster, there is a remote possibility we’ll be seen. Perhaps I should take the fleet above the cluster so we can move in any direction. The chances of being detected that far out would be less. I also think we should not stay in the barrier if they have a way to listen.”
Michael smiled, “You are absolutely right in your diagnosis, Admiral. Do it that way. I’m taking the three Amigos with me and I want you ready to launch at a moment’s notice if I need you to come and support the scouts and me.”
“We will keep the ships at battle stations, Sir.”
Michael stood up and everyone came to attention again. Katy saluted, Michael returned it and left the conference room. Mooney looked at Katy, “Hey, that wasn’t so bad.”
Katy shook her head, “Easy for you to say. Now get out of here and get your units moving. I expect the first twenty off dirt in twenty minutes.” The squadron commanders ran out of the conference room and Katy shivered. She couldn’t get the memory of Michael’s rage out of her mind. She went to the top of the Headquarters Building and boarded her Flagship. This vessel was twice the length of a normal Battle Pod and had an extensive array of defensive, offensive, and scouting systems. A staff of eight along with ten computers operated the vessel and it was capable of tracking more than half a million ships. She hoped the systems weren’t called upon to do it.
Katy’s fifty thousand Battle Pods were divided into one hundred units with five hundred ships in each. Twenty units made up a Squadron and they were each commanded by a Commodore. Her Senior Officers were some of the best in the Alliance. They trained constantly at working together and they had been working hard to learn the new method of attacking large groups of enemy warships. She hoped they were ready.
Michael left Eden and entered the barrier immediately. The three ships protecting him moved into the barrier and followed him as they flew across the universe toward a distant galactic cluster. Josey picked up her communicator, “How are we going to do this, Jay?”
“I’m not really certain. Lining up our ships can cover each other’s rear won’t work here. We have to stay around him. Jan, what would you suggest?”
“The barrier is too small to place our ships above or below him. Josey will take the starboard side and I’ll take the port side. Jay, you will cover the rear of our formation and move to whichever side you’re needed.” The three ships moved instantly into the formation and Jay heard in his mind, “That is extraordinary planning.”
Jay’s head went back and he said, “Who said that?”
“I’m the Commander’s Ship. I’ve been given telepathic technology.”
“No way!”
“Way!”
“How do I get that?”
“Ask the Commander. Do you think you need it?”
“If our computers can link telepathically, we won’t have to use electronic systems that can be tracked.”