Fallen From Glory
Chapter 4
With the young bird dressed in a new nighty and snugly in bed the Turtle takes another drink from the bottle, the young girl asking watching him drink,
“Are you to get drunk too mister Rugger?”
The turtle laughs for a few moments before responding,
“Don’t worry little one, unlike our good captain here I weight over five hundred pounds and drink on a regular basis, it’ll take more then half a bottle to even get my tipsy.”
Then wiping his mouth the turtle then asks,
“So story story, where should I start?”
Thinking about it with another drink the young bird asks,
“Is it ok to tell a story with Uncle Ricky asleep in the room?”
The turtle nods saying to her,
“Don’t worry to much about it, he’s dead drunk nothing will wake him till the morning, that’s when you should worry about being quiet, he’s in for one world of a hangover. Anyway so yeah, this all happened fives years ago to the day in fact. This was when Rick and I where in the SAC or Solar Alliance Command if you didn’t know.”
The young girl nods.
~five years ago~
The Turtle narrates as a much younger version gets up out of bed,
“That day I had woken up with a pretty bad hangover myself if I remember correctly, a friends birthday party but anyway. After waking up finding my stuff I left and went home to nurse my hangover, however Rick called me to the ship had something on he needed me there for, I wasn‘t sure what it was at the time but it sounded important to him.”
With the narration done, Rugger then boards a shuttle bound for the military dockyards where the ship Rikket was in command of was currently docked, it took him about fifteen minutes to get there. Once on site he approaches a few members of the engineering department, which he was the head of one of his engineers saying with a salute before handing him a report,
“Sir, there was a slight mishap last night, for some reasons the ships power grid is down twenty five points.”
Nodding the turtle looks at the reports as they walk into the airlock and board the ship, the young crewmen then going on to say,
“We’ve been at it all night sir but we can’t find the problem.”
Nodding he then says,
“Alright, I’ll be down there to check it out asap but first the captain needs me on the bridge.”
Nodding the engineer turns away from him heading to the engineering bay, Rugger for the bridge. Once there he can hear a high pitch tapping, someone tapping a spoon or something on a glass, and indeed walking up to the him shows the captain himself, dressed to the nines in his best dress uniform says after nodding to his friend,
“My friends and family, if you’d have told me ten years ago that my son would be graduating from the SAU as the class valedictorian I might have laughed at you, not saying my son isn’t capable of it just never had any intentions of joining till a few years ago.”
Turning to his son, the young leopard in question facepalming as his father was talking about the subject. Rikket then says setting his glass down and says holding up a sealed envelope,
“Now more so then ever I am proud of my son, who has set a SAC record, I hold in my hand a letter from Vice Admiral McGroven Orders issued to my son, but if I may do the honors?”
Looking to his son, the cat nods then watching as Rikket opens the letter with his claw then reading aloud,
“Lets see here, by orders of Vice Admiral McGroven and the S.A.C command council, as of midnight tonight my son, Jacob Rikket, is to report to the S.A.S Dawn Sword, to assume command under the rank of Commander first class.”
Wrapping his around his son’s shoulders Rikket says,
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Glory Hound and the Dawn Sword, my I introduce you all for the first time to the youngest man in Solar Alliance history to be given the command of a capital class ship, a man whom I am very proud and honored to call my son, Commander Jacob Rikket, Captain of the S.A.S Dawn Sword.”
There a large amount of clapping and cheering from the gathered group of crewmen and officers alike and one Leopard, a female who kisses the young cat on the head, most certainly his mother. After letting the group wind down a little before saying jokingly,
“I’m sure that Jacob didn’t want his first command to be baby sat by his mother but what can you do eh?”
Poking fun at his son for a moment Rikket says looking to his son,
“Now Jake, make sure your mother doesn’t fix your uniform before you go to the bridge lord knows she’s been brushing your hair long enough tonight.”
Looking over to the pair of mother and son, the mother of which was once again trying to fix his hair, only to turn a shade of red when everyone started to laugh a little. He then says pulling his wife away from their son saying,
“Come on Sally leave the boy alone he can’t be mommies little cub his whole life.”
Jokingly she says,
“Nonsense he’s always going to be my little cub, in command of a ship or not.”
There is another shared laughter forcing Jacob to facepalm once again as his parents tried to embarrass him a little, however that ends once his father has produced a book, then holding it toward Jacob, the rest now silent and at attention. Once his son has placed his hand on the book Cornelius says as both hold up their right hands,
“Commander Jacob Kenny Rikket, do you swear to uphold the rules written in this book?”
The boy nods saying aloud,
“I Jacob Kenney Rikket, do swear to uphold the rules written in this book and any that may be added during my command.”
His father then goes on and says,
“Do you swear to do your utmost best in all your duties as a captain, to protect and teach those under you?”
Jacob nods responding,
“I do swear from this day forward to give my all to my ship, my crew, and my alliance, to serve as a roll model and mentor to those under my command, and to die for them if it is necessary to protect them.”
Nodding the older cat then asks,
“And do you swear to act as it is expected of you by your fellow captains, those who currently serve, have served and those who will serve in the future?”
Nodding the younger cat then says in response,
“I swear to be a shining example to my fellow captains both those who serve now and those who have gone before me and those who will follow after me, and should I besmirch this image may my command be stripped and given to one more worthy then I.”
Nodding Rikket takes the book away then hands his son a knife from his belt then asks,
“Are you ready to seal these oaths?”
Nodding and taking the knife, the younger cat then says as he turns to the crew before him,
“Brave men and woman of the S.A.S Dawn Sword, Humans, Anthros, and Aliens alike; from this day forward I am your captain.”
Cutting his palm on his left hand he then says,
“And I swear by my very blood, that I will be a captain worthy of your obedience and commitment or may I die for failing you all.”
With that said the crew of the Dawn Sword salute the young cat who then to his father who can’t help the huge smile on his face, and returning the dagger, his son says,
“Admiral Rikket, I Commander Jacob Rikket, Captain of the S.A.S Dawn Sword and I am ready to perform my duty sir, and those under me ready to follow Sir!”
Nodding Cornelius then says offering his right hand saying as he took his sons still bleeding left,
“I Admiral Cornelius Rikket and all those in attendance stand as witness to the oaths and rules you’ve sworn to uphold, and find you worthy. By the authority given to me by the Solar Alliance and its members, On this day I install you as Captain of the Capital Class Ship Dawn Sword and name you Commander First Class, may you lead your ship and her crew to greatness and glory.”
Now father and son Saluting each other the rest of the gathered people cheer and clap.
~back in the captains quarters of the Gun Singer~
Looking up from her position in the bed, Rikket having turned over in his drunken sleep and now snoring aloud, Missy asks,
“So what happened next mister Rugger?”
The turtle nods then says after finishing the bottle of booze he had been drinking,
“Next is the sad part, you see we had gotten orders from above, the Glory Hound was to report to sector eighty six, about ten light-years from the boarder of a near by rival power, our two factions were very close to war and there had been reports of their ships gathering on our side of the border. They wanted the Glory Hound to go explore the sector and if necessary and able to drive out any hostel ships. However at that time, the Glory Hound was experiencing power issues. I was in the Engineering bay when the orders came in.”
~within the confines of the Glory Hounds Engineering bay~
Rushing around from panel to panel is Rugger, the five hundred pound turtle moving with almost unreal grace and swiftness trying to find out why his reactors were about to explode in a dockyard of all places. His engineers all doing the same Rugger then says as something explodes not far from him,
“ITS NO GOOD SHUT THEM DOWN NOW!!”
There are a few more explosions before the turtle is forced to use some kind of emergency shut down all the reactors instantly shutting down and venting steam other gasses into the room. Leading the crew out of the bay, Rugger then says as he presses a com panel on the way,
“Medical emergency in the Engineering bay I need trauma teams down here now!”
In all the chaos and mayhem of the goings on in the Engineering bay Rugger doesn’t notice Rikket walking into the area the turtle beginning to hand out masks to help the crew to keep from breathing the gasses, others getting oxygen gears to go and rescue those who didn’t make it out. Rikket then asking as he set his hand the turtles shoulder,
“Rugger what the hells going on here?”
Shaking his head the turtle responds as he rushes to grab some gear to go and help get the engineers out,
“Something caused the reactors to feed back into themselves, I’ve no clue how but I had to force an emergency shut down before the reactors blew, we’re now running on emergency umbilical power from the station, and the reactors are venting toxic gasses!”
Nodding and grabbing an oxygen kit himself Rikket then rushes into the Engineering bay to help rescue his trapped crewmen. His son Jacob then says looking to the turtle,
“Wow, dad doesn’t hesitate does he?”
Tossing the young cat a mask Rugger then says,
“The captains first and foremost duty is to the safety and well being of his crew, now come on that gas is toxic and there are people still in there we have to get them out.”
Nodding the young cat slips the mask over his head and joins the turtle who rushes into the gas arms full of other air rigs. It takes three hours for Rikket and the others to pull all the trapped engineers out of the gas filled compartment, but thanks to their quick and timely actions no one was killed by it. Later on as everyone that was exposed to the gas was being treated, Rikket, his son and Rugger had stopped into the captains quarters to have a drink, something strong to help them relax, Rikket asks as he pours the turtle a glass,
“Any clues as to how this happened?”
Shaking his head and knocking back the glass the turtle responds,
“Not a damned one, it happened so fucking fast I barely had time to shut the reactors down.”
The cat nods refilling his friends glass then pouring himself one then offering his son one to which the young cat says,
“Come on dad, you know the rules say commanding officers can’t drink till their twenty five, I can’t break a rule on my first night as a captain.”
With a laugh Rikket then says setting a bottle of whiskey of the table,
“Alright then tell you what, I’ll save this bottle then on your twenty fifth birthday we’ll drink it together.”
The young cat nods with a smile then looks on as his father then says,
“But now we’ve got bigger problems, the Glory Hound was suppose to report to sector eighty six asap, hostile ships have been reported in the sector and command wanted us to go check it out.”
Rugger nods then says getting ready to drink again,
“I’m sorry Rick, but this ship is not moving till I can find out what caused the short circuit, we’re damned lucky that I’m as good as I am or we’d all be dead right now and half the dockyard would be in pieces.”
Sighing and at a loss of what to do Jacob speaks up saying,
“Why don’t I go?”
Both of the older two looking at him he then says,
“What, last I checked the Dawn Sword was a capital class ship too and if I’m reading this report right they order Captain Rikket to go to the sector but they didn’t say which Rikket.”
Downing his glass Rikket then says looking at the bottom of it,
“I don’t know son, this could be a dangerous mission, I’d feel better if we sent the Rumell or the Stockford.”
Sighing the young cat then says,
“Come on dad, you said it yourself, I’m the youngest person in alliance history to be given the command of a capital class ship, they wouldn’t have given it to me if they thought I couldn’t handle it.”
Pouring another glass the old cat then says,
“I still don’t know, its your first day as a captain I . . . I just have a bad feeling about this, we should at least wait till command can send another ship or two with you.”
The young cat sighs before saying,
“Come on dad, I can handle this, the Dawn and her crew can handle this, plus mom will be there and you know how she is. Plus how would it look for both of us if you kept me here, I’d look like I couldn’t handle it, and you’d look like you were playing favorites.”
Downing another glass Cornelius just couldn’t seem to come up with anything to say, his son then playing on his feeling by saying,
“You just said you were proud of me, I want to be worth your pride dad, let me take this mission for you.”
After minutes of wait for a response Rick then says as he pushes the mission envelope to his son,
“Very well, Captain Rikket, I am here by ordering The Dawn Sword to sector eight six, to investigate the reports of hostile incursions.”
Nodding the young cat then picks up the mission statement salutes and says before walking out,
“Don’t worry dad, I’ll prove I’m worth your praise and your trust.”
~back on the Gun Singer~
Rugger says as he wipes his eyes a little,
“Poor boy, walked through that door with that mission document, and we never saw him again. We only got a short message he managed to mail via subspace before his ship was destroyed, reading, ‘I’m sorry dad, I failed’.”
Unknown to the other two Rikket was awake but playing possum listening to the turtle tell the story that he knew he couldn’t, silently crying as he forced himself to remain quiet. The young raven also unable to keep her eyes dry then asks,
“Did you ever find out what went wrong with your ship?”
Rugger nods then says,
“After it happened, I tore that ship apart I was dead set on finding the problem, it was the very least I owed to Jacob and his mother, however what I found, well it was the reason we both left the SAC.”
The young girl asks wanting to know,
“What was it?”
The turtle says gritting his teeth,
“After a painstaking investigation it could only be one thing, one reason this would happen to my engines, some sabotaged the power system, be welding the flow capacitors back into the returning lines. But the thing I found most shocking was that the only people would could do it, could get to that section of the flag ship for the eastern half part of the fleet without being stopped and questioned, was myself, Cornelius, and Vice Admiral McGroven, the same man who gave command of the Sword to Jacob then on the same night ordered the Hound to sector eighty five. We left after we confronted him during a session of the command council, and he claimed that we were slandering his good name and insisted the Cornelius be removed from his command for losing his mind are threatening a commanding officer.”
The young bird asks clearly getting tired,
“Why didn’t you try to prove he did it?”
The turtle says as he walks over and tucks the girl in,
“We didn’t have any hard proof, only a set of convenient circumstances, without any evidence that he did it, he was able to throw us under the bus saying that Rikket was mad and wanted someone to blame for the loss of his son and his wife.”
The young girl falls asleep soon after unable to keep herself awake any longer. After cleaning up the shattered glass and the spilled booze, Rugger got ready to leave, but before he does he turns back to the bed and says,
“Don’t worry Rick, we’ll get justice for those two one day, one way or the other that bastard will pay for his crimes.”
There is a bit of movement from the bed as Rikket nods looking at the wall till he heard Rugger close the door behind him. However before he could try to get comfortable the young bird wraps her arms around his waist and says,
“I’m sorry about Jacob . . . and your wife.”
Nodding the cat then says turning over to face the young raven,
“And I’m sorry about your mother.”
Nodding the bird them says,
“But don’t worry, you don’t have to be alone, you’ve got mister Rugger, and mister Rayne, and the little fox boy and the rest of your crew, their like your family, my dad always says that a crew is like a family.”
Nodding the cat rubs her head a little, the girl that saying before going back to sleep,
“And you’ve got me too, and I've got you and daddy, so don’t be sad. Jacob, your wife, and my mommy wouldn’t want to see us like this, I’m know they wouldn’t.”
Surprised by the wisdom in the young girl he watches her for a few moments till he finally falls asleep wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close, the same way he used to hold his son back when he was but a little cub.
~end of chapter~
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