Adrian finished with the evaluations, and closed the file on the holodesk via his implant (imp). He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. He looked around the room. It took him a while to adjust to the thought that it was his ready room. The leaders decided that he should keep the position of Athena’s Ship Master for his actions during the Cloud station incident. When he commanded Athena against three Concordis ships. The original Ship Master, Eric Donaldson, was on leave at the time of the incident an wasn’t able to get to the ship fast enough to take command. So Adrian as the acting Ship Master took her out. When the decision from his superiors came that Adrian should remain in command, he tried to refuse, he didn’t want to start any bad relationships with Ship Master Eric Donaldson for taking his ship. But Eric assured him that there is none, Eric was promised the first of the new ships that they planned to build when they arrived at Sanctuary. And four years ago Ship Master Eric Donaldson was put in charge of OES Voyager. He was now on an extended survey mission to map out our neighborhood.
Adrian stood, undressed, went to the bathroom and then to bed. Tomorrow Athena would arrive at Olympia station, her patrol ending.
“Contact fleet at Olympia, tell them that we are back.” Adrian said to his Comm Handler. The contact was simply a courtesy, Olympia already knew they were back.
“Yes Ship Master.”
Adrian turned his sight at the holo in front of his command chair, specifically on the moon orbiting Sanctuary, Thanatos. There was a new station in its orbit, at least twice as long as Olympia, and it wasn’t yet finished. There were also many other construction sites on the moon’s surface.
“Any idea what those are High Prime.” Adrian asked.
“No, but we will find out soon enough.” Paul Isaacs, Athena’s High Prime said. Paul and Adrian had graduated the Fleet Academy together.
“It looks like the shipyard the fleet proposed to build.” Iris said in Adrian’s head, via his imp. She could speak to anyone on the ship through the speakers. She had access to the ship’s computers, but her core was in Adrian’s head.
“Mother didn’t tell me anything about the proposal being accepted.” Adrian responded.
“That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t.” Iris shot back.
Adrian nodded at Paul’s answer. Choosing to ignore Iris.
“Incoming message from Olympia Ship Master. They are giving us instructions to change course and dock with the shipyard orbiting Thanatos.” Comm Handler said.
Adrian raised his eyebrows at Paul. When Paul shrugged, Adrian turned to his Navigation Handler.
“Set a course Navigation Handler.” Adrian said.
“Right away Ship Master.”
Adrian watched on the holo as his ship turned and started towards Thanatos. An hour later they arrived, and were given instructions from the station/shipyard on where to dock. When they were close enough Adrian turned on the display’s on Athena’s half sphere command center walls. Immediately the walls disappeared and they were suddenly sitting on top of the ship, with the 360° view around them. It appeared as if the command center was on top of the ship’s hull. Though it was only a reproduction from the various cameras that Athena was equipped with, it was still an amazing sight. Up close Adrian could see the gray hull of the station they were approaching. It was long, at least four kilometers. And there were various docks placed on set distances, and some of them were already a hive of activity, with people in suits working on the bones of hulls, and machines placing huge plates of armor on them. There were also a few areas that were closed off, Adrian assumed that those were closed docks. He was amazed at the sight. Looking at the far end of the station he could see that it wasn’t yet finished, but that part was operational. The shipyards held enormous “bones” for the future ships. What kind Adrian didn’t know, but these ships would be larger than Athena.
“Told you so.” Iris said smugly.
“Never doubted you.” Adrian responded.
A few minutes later they docked at one of the free docks. And Adrian got a message from the fleet leadership, meaning Laura. He gave the command of the ship to his High Prime and left the ship. After he exited the airlock, he was met with an Adjutant that was to show him the way to Laura Reiss’s office. He followed closely behind the young looking Adjutant. Adrian’s has long since grown used to everyone looking as if they were in their twenties, ever since he left the orphanage and came to Olympus. Olympus had developed a life extension treatment that slowed aging, and at having everyone looking young was strange for Adrian at first. He grew up in the U.S. were very few people could afford the life extension treatments, that were free in the other parts of the world, mainly Concordis and the League. But now, with the discovery of the “immortality” gene, everyone would remain young forever. Every one of those that came to Sanctuary from Earth had undergone the treatment, and would never age. They would only die from disease or a violent death. Adrian still couldn’t believe that he would live forever. He was raised in a place where everyone aged and died.
As he and the Adjutant walked the station, Adrian looked around, noticing people running around doing additional work on the inside. This part of the station might be operational, but it was not yet finished. Adrian was amazed at how much they managed to construct in a short time. The last private message he got from Laura didn’t say anything about the station and shipyard being built, and that was four months ago. But then again, there wasn’t really a reason for him to be so surprised. With their fabricator technology, lack of politics and no need for never ending permits, forms and other paperwork, they could jump right into the construction. Building an entire station in less than four months wasn’t all that hard to believe. A few minutes later they arrived at Laura’s office and the Adjutant gestured for Adrian to enter.
Laura sat behind her desk, working as usual. When she noticed Adrian she got up and walked around the desk with a smile on her face. Adrian stood at attention and saluted, fist to chest.