Engineer 1st class Michelle “Mickie” O’Herne walked across the floating dry dock towards debriefing. Her demeanor was calm but as anyone who knew her, that was akin to watching an approaching storm. One of her fellow engineers winced sympathetically as she strode past in her dress uniform. The deep blue weather coat hung down to her ankles against the cold air and cinched at the waist with a ceremonial tool belt, and up with lapels opened showing an immaculate white shirt with the Medal of Valor showing at her throat. Her hands and arms were protected by Heavy leather and steel vambraces over thick leather ceremonial work gloves. Her peaked officer’s hat with steel spiral and brass connector flanking the work spotlight proclaimed her rank. Her thick chestnut hair fell in loose curls just past her shoulders. Unlike most engineers, she didn’t shave her head to work in the Aether Engines. She was always aware of the potential danger of the numerous moving pieces of equipment.
The 227 Fleet air-port and dock bustled with activity as ships were receiving stores and fuel as they were readied for patrol, others going through regular maintenance to remove plant growth that slowed the ships down and weakened the hulls. Other small launches scurried officers and ratings about for meetings, classes, or shore leave as Mickie wished she could have.
All the while she seethed internally. How could she have been maneuvered into this situation without noticing the problem aforehand? Her jaw clenched and her eyes stared straight ahead as she went over the facts in her head. The secondary difference engine had been completely disassembled in the weeks before the launching of Endurance. She’d been an integral part of the reassembly and testing to make certain that it successfully verified the primary Difference stacks in primary navigation. That she was the lead engineer rankled some of the older hands due to her lower rank. That she was a recognized, decorated hero was another mark against her. Her words had weight. Captain Hohenzoller knew the details of the Aerlahyn action, it’s near destruction and her role in the jury-rigging of the Aether Engine that ultimately saved the ship and crew.
Performed at great hazard, she’d won accolades and a promotion of two ranks to her current that put her ahead of and in charge of the engineering section of the Endurance, to the consternation and jealousy of her peers. Now she was being called to account for the errors in navigation computing that nearly destroyed the airship when it drifted too low and collided with a nest of Tilia Maren, the floating trees that hovered at the edge of the gravity well of Aerie, a unique planet in the Royal Eiren Empire.
Aerie was a planet without a core, a unique gas giant outside of a normal solar system. It’s light was provided by a very compressed core that emitted light in random intervals as it spun rapidly. The Atmosphere that surrounded the core was breathable and made of layers, the one most important was the outermost which held a breathable atmosphere. Twelve miles thick, with large nests of branching woody trees that collected near the edge of the Gravity well, or just ‘The Well’. Go beyond the trees and the planet sucked you down into the core, which is what nearly happened to the Endurance.
The miscalculation was due to one wheel in the Difference engine being one tooth off of true, which created a subtle but significant deviation in Navigation. It was the type of mistake that shouldn’t happen as all gears were notched to ensure their proper meshing. She couldn’t fathom the reason for such a bit of sabotage other than her promotion. It was her watch so regardless of the cause, she would go before a review board to determine her future in the Aether Corps.
* * * * *
Mickie knocked on the Superintendent of Ships door, then entered. She nearly broke out in a cold sweat as she saw the Grand Officers instead of the Superintendent. Admiral Josia-Joshen Abberlane, Head of Internal Security, Vice-Admiral Kenne Moten who headed her Fleet 227, and two others she didn’t immediately recognize, were standing by four identical naval style desks. The desks were arranged in a quarter circle in front of a single armless chair. Mickie marched to the chair and stood behind it. Admiral Abberlane shifted and Mickie snapped to attention. She saluted with all her parade ground training – “Engineer 2nd class Michaelle O’Herne reporting as ordered, sirs!”
Abberlane harrumphed then returned the salute as did the others. “At ease, Engineer. Please take your seat.”
Mickie sat as the others adjusted their chairs which squealed as the metal studs on the bottom scraped across the concrete floor. Outwardly she appeared calm and attentive to the board, but inwardly she was thoroughly intimidated. She knew an inquiry was handled by four officers, but to have four Admirals sitting in was in her mind a situation beyond her expectations. Granted the near-loss of an entire ship was cause for alarm, but usually these things were supposedly handled by a board of captains of commodores, not ranking officers.
“You are likely aware of the gravity of your situation considering the members of this inquiry board”, Admiral Abberlane stated as a fact, not a question.
“I am now, sir Admiral” Mickie replied formally. She bit back the questions she wanted to ask, but military protocol demanded she remain silent until time was allowed for questions.
“Your unfortunate adventure has called this inquiry together to ascertain the errors leading to the near loss of the R.E.E.S. Endurance.” Abberlane said formally, then paused for a moment before continuing, “However this is not the case. You are here because of two signal incidents – the Aerlahyn and the Endurance. Both ships succumbed to the same error, a gear out of tolerance, both of them in the same numbered stack of the Difference Engine for both navigation, and navigational checking.” He paused once more to let the information sink in.
He continued “The manufacturer of these parts have records showing each gear as measured and within the tolerances demanded by Aether Corps Procurement. The manufacturing has been cleared of any wrongdoing. That leaves us incompetency in assembly, or deliberate sabotage. We have lost fifteen ships of exploration. All have been in this Protectorate, others in adjoining wilderspace. The only two survivors of near fatal accidents are the two vessels previously mentioned. Your report from the Endurance was the flash point for this inquiry.” He paused again then one of the Admirals Mickie hadn’t recognized spoke.
“Looking back at activity between ourselves, The Aerie Protectorate of the Eiren Empire, and the Hanseatic League of Planets, we have determined that this is no coincidence. The Hanseatic League seems to have agents provocateur within our fleet. So we must needs find a method to pinpoint the saboteur or saboteurs. Therefore, for the purpose of the investigation, you will be broken to Engineer 6th , your medal of Valor revoked for gross negligence, and will be under official parole to be listed as four years. “ He stopped speaking and smiled thinly. “In reality you will be working under me. I am Vice-Admiral Paxom head of Internal Security. Your mission will be to make contact with the saboteurs, and if possible, identify the organization and the reason behind this sabotage.” Vice-Admiral Paxom drew a breath and continued.
“Upon completion of the mission, your rank will be reinstated as will your very deserved medal.” He paused once again before finishing. “Will you accept this assignment, Engineer O’Herne?”