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CHAPTER 7

And boy when the Admiral talked about hard work coming his way, she wasn't joking at all especially when Tirol woke up. Getting showered and dressed in a new uniform that was well stocked inside his closet, he stepped out of his office/quarters he was greeted by some evil glares coming from a few crew to the point that he figured they were the ones that were being replaced as many of them were carrying personal items in the same direction of the shuttle bay. He could've sworn that he heard them swearing to get even with him someway nevertheless the threats were meaningless to him as he continued up to the bridge.

Once on the bridge, he was greeted by many of his command staff who was already working on items in their hands. Offering a greeting to each staff member several offered reports and memos from different departments many of them being either requests for new items or issues that they were experiencing.

Letting out a sight as he went about addressing the items one by one from serious needing the attention right away to the less far important issue; however he got to them whenever he could in kind. By the end of shift, he had finally addressed each issue and was looking forward to getting off his feet as he headed for the mess hall when he was stopped by Kia.

"Hey, Commander. I thought you would be turning in for the day by now." She said offering a smile joining him at the replicator as he grabbed a simple meal.

"Not quite yet, Captain...I wanted to get something to eat before going to bed. What are you up to? I thought the marines would've tired you out by now." Tirol answered in kind waiting 'til she got her own food before following her toward an unoccupied table near the end of the room.

"Hardly, boss. There are a few things that you have to learn about A'Renians is that we are a lot more fitter and stronger than humans and can handle more endurance than most. Although we do get tired of course, however we do like pushing ourselves to the limit in the process." She said holding up a paw/hand stopping him from saying anything. "Don't worry, sir. I am not pushing the men and women too hard just enough to get them ready for action."

"That's good to know, the Admiral gave me the word that the council wasn't going to make things easy for us since this is a proto-type ship that you may understand this is that we are going to be sent to the border and probably into the unknown to get where the others have been killed so we all are going to need to be prepared for it." Tirol said looking down at the food in front of him.

"From what I heard also is that you seemed to make quite a few enemies in your governments council. You got a gut that's for sure. I can see why Admiral Devon wanted you here." She said letting out a laugh.

"Nah, I doubt that having guts has anything to do with it. I know that the cadets that I graduated with knew that taking on a command assignment would mean probably dying within taking the command." He said shrugging. "I am not undermining anyone in command staff, I will be honest with you...I just don't care for the idea of people giving away things that people hadn't earned just because their parents are high level officials."

"Understandable. But risky also because you could've lost this command."

"Maybe but the fact is if they want someone to succeed with it they are going to need to stop spoiling their children and listen to reason about doing the right thing. When I came aboard I didn't expect to make Admiral or Fleet Admiral I just expected to have a normal life." He answered continuing the meal. The discussion about the events there before them were dropped however Kia did talk about her own family back on Arenia and about the A'Renian culture all together which interested him as he continued to listen to what she told him.

In turn she requested to know about where he had come from however that caused some problems however as Tirol hadn't had much of a happy childhood with being an orphan by everyone's standards which she seemed to take into account. She was about to change the subject again when he started explaining everything to her trying to hold in the emotions about his past to her.

When he came to the point that where he was, she offered a nod to him as she finished her meal without inquiring really on anything else. "Well, if you will excuse me, sir...I have to get up early for the next shift so chat with you later."

"Nice chatting with you, Kia. Go get some sleep." He said nearly surprising himself when he called her by her first name. She seemed to stop herself before offering a smile before heading off to dispose of the empty tray before heading for the exit. Tirol nearly would've found himself alone eating however a new person stepped up to the table causing him to look up to find Miri standing there with a tray of food herself dressed in a flight suit.

"Mind if I join you, Commander?" she asked indicating the seat in front of him.

"Be my guest, major. Nice to see that you are away from the fighter bay, from the reports that I have been getting from your department I am surprised that you even get away from work." He said grinning as she slipped into the seat in front of him.

"True, getting the wing assignments and wingman's put together made up most of the shift. My wing commanders are running simulations with the squadrons getting them to work properly. Anyways, we have a full complement of fighters and bombers plus shuttlecraft and transports for marines coming from both the humans and A'Renians. The crew chief already has his team going each of them making sure that they will be ready for actions whenever the ship launches. Do you have any idea what our first mission will be?"

"It's anyone's guess..." he said leaning forward to whisper to her. "But by the sounds of it it's going to be at the border and beyond."

"So the council wants to truly test out their new ship, huh?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Probably however we don't have much choice here in the matter." He answered letting out a sigh. "We have two weeks to get this ship launched. I am guessing we are going to be needed soon if they only give us that long."

"True, well since this ship just needs the crew and supplies and we should be ready to go." She answered letting out a sigh. "Anyways, you look like you need to get some sleep."

"Yeah I have been trying to get everything going and then get a good meal before lying down for the night." He answered indicating the tray in front of him. "Foods a lot better than back on the planet."

She offered a laugh as she started picking at her own meal. "So what do you think of your command staff and bridge?"

"Pretty nice just got to get the proper crew into place to get everything working right. So far getting the new crew is getting easy however it's not pleasing a whole lot of people." He answered letting out a sigh.

"Never does...that's why many commanders survive on their instincts rather than instructions and orders." She offered some advice to him. "My father was a CO on board of an A'Renian carrier when I was little; I loved visiting him whenever I could on the ship. I was proud of him, you two would've gotten along well...one thing he always told me was trust your own instincts when in a situation where it calls for your own brain to make the proper decisions instead of what the command tells you."

"Sounds like he is an awesome person." Tirol said offering a smile.

"He was...his ship got jumped on an encounter near your border he put up a good fight before having to abandon ship. Instead of allowing them to escape, whoever attacked them wouldn't allow them to live...they destroyed all of the pods as they lay there hanging in space...no real way to protect themselves..." she explained stopping after the last part making him bow his head.

"If even your own ships weren't able to stop them what makes you think that this ship will do any better?" he asked finally.

"Because this time both governments have put everything into this ship plus the fact is that you are crazy makes the chances of surviving a lot better. Don't disappoint either of our governments..." she told him her eyes showing that she meant it causing him to nod in understanding.

"This time...things will be different." He vowed his eyes showing the truth.