Eric Olafson Midshipman Vol 4 Part 31 DECK 54
- 2 years ago
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Har-Hi and I returned to our dorm and Mao greeted us.” Have you two decided to kill each other at a later time?”
“Yes we decided to postpone that.” Har-Hi answered.
“That is good. Because we are complete now and I am tired to be behind in everything.”
I said.” We are complete in what and where are you behind?”
“First things first.” Mao replied.” You got to meet the rest, just in case so you don’t bust furniture across someone else’s back.”
Mao stepped into the middle of the dorm room.” You know me and Krabbel. You know Circuit the X101 and you have met Hans.”
Krabbel was hanging from the ceiling and waved at me with two of his legs. Hans got up from his reinforced bed and Circuit who also was already in his bunk made a gesture of acknowledgement and turned to the wall.
Mao said.” I am sure you remember Elfi, but you haven’t met Wetmouth and Shaka Ndebele.
One of the beds privacy screen clicked off and a human with the blackest skin I had seen so far skin looked at us. He didn’t say a word and his face had a melancholic and sad expression. Mao explained. “Mr. Ndebele is from Terra and he is an Intu-Helmsman and something like an autistic savant when not under the Virtu helmet of his post.
From the bath room came a woman. She had long pink hair of shoulder length, with bangs and underneath she wore a stiff face mask of a beautiful woman’s face with open lips. I could see her eyes and real lips behind the mask. She said.” I am Wetmouth and I am a Sojonit Sister. Please don’t make any remarks or advances; I am wearing the veil of abstinence. I know what you are thinking seeing a Sojonit.”
I shrugged.” Well I guess you must be a telepath but you are reading someone else. If you can see in my mind you find have no idea what a Sojonit is or where you come from.”
She seemed surprised.” You don’t?”
Mao grinned.” She isn’t a telepath but she is rated to have empathic talents.”
“I am sorry Wetmouth, but I really don’t know what a Sojonit is.”
“Sojonites are the best and most expensive prostitutes in the Galaxy.” Har-Hi said.” They come from Sin 4 and have a temple there. It’s an ancient religious order that teaches the art of love making to its priestesses with techniques so rumors have it driving any man or woman of any species to the highest levels of ecstasy.”
She nodded.” Yes that is what I am, but I joined the Navy and I became a Citizen. I honor my culture but I wear the veil of abstinence. I cannot be hired for services.”
Mao added.” Sojonites are not allowed to show their faces to anyone, so they appear to everyone alike and no one can fall in love with one in particular. At least that’s how I understand the tradition.”
Wetmouth sat down at the table and said.” That is the reason.”
Mao pounded his fist on the table. “Hans, Shaka and Circuit get your butts out of bed and come here we have a dorm meeting and an important one.”
They all came and Circuit most reluctantly.” How can a machine find any rest with all this noise?”
Mao said.” With Eric here we are complete now. We need to vote for a Dorm eldest and we need to find a name for our gang. I am sick and tired of being last and the laughing stock of Suppor and his Devastator Knights, or the Fighting Dragons led by Midshipman Kim.”
What he said made no sense to me.” What are you talking about?”
Circuit yawned and said:” In the third year and here on the ship we are not only rated as individuals but as a team as well, there are 12 Midshipman groups, each has 9 members. Each group competes as a whole against the others. Individual scores are combined to the team’s score. It is tradition that the groups have a leader or Dorm eldest and they choose a flashy name and a logo. Because we were the only dorm with 8 and not nine we weren’t complete and our scores not counted, so we are at the bottom of the score list. The higher the score the more free time and bonuses and so forth.”
Mao added.” You met Merkus; he is a stickler about regulations but he is fair if you follow the rules. If you get to know him he is cool. But our main instructor, the one giving out assignments and such is Lt. Clusen is the most annoying asshole you ever going to meet and he openly favors Suppor’s group named the Devastator Knights. They are at the first rank in everything.”
“I will pretend I have not heard the last sentence.” Said Lieutenant Merkus coming in.
“Officer on deck.” Mao yelled.
“So Olafson’s Gang is finally complete. There is a surprise drill tonight, but I exempt you. I know you did not have time to get to know each other and sort your team out like the others.” With those words he left.
I was quite surprised at that and Mao grinned. “Told you, he’s a stickler but fair.”
Har-Hi said.” I want Eric to be our leader. I respect you all but I feel better if he is the one. He did a good job on the bridge so the scuttlebutt has it.
Krabbel said.” Hands or legs up. I count 8 Eric, you’re it.”
“Hold it I don’t know anything about those things you talked about. How can I lead you? I don’t even know you.”
“Too late, you’re it.” Circuit said.” Next point, we need a name.”
Elfi said “I don’t want anything like “Flagship’s best” or “Devastator Dragons”. That is so cheesy. I bet a thousand Midshipman groups before us had the same names.”
“I want to go back to bed.” Circuit complained.” So make suggestions.”
Shaka rolled his eyes and said.” Me too. Lt. Merkus calls us Olafson’s Gang. Mao calls us gang all the time. So what’s wrong with that?”
“What kind of group spirit is that if you use my last name?” I objected.
“Olafson’s gang it is. I vote for it.” Circuit almost cut me off.
Krabbel counted hands (and his leg) and said.” That was not so bad. We are complete have a name and all we need is a logo.”
I said with determination.” Not my face.”
Hans volunteered.” I am going to design one tonight. I like designing and drawing things.”
“Alright then, meeting adjourned.” Mao pounded the table and Circuit was back in his bunk before Mao’s fist hit the table a second time.
Clusen was human and most likely from one of the many colony worlds. He clearly was of mixed stock and it seemed as if he had Saran roots. He had blue eyes but the characteristic dark almost olive colored skin tone humans from Saran had and also black hair, he wore it in a page boy style cut, just a little shorter than Elfi. This style was very popular among Sarans of both sexes. All Midshipmen were assembled in a university style lecture room. Semicircular benches arranged in tiers before a raised stage like podium with a lectern in the middle.
Now I understood what the others tried to explain to me the previous night, the Midshipmen sat in groups and to nine and they all had different color arm bands with a logo in the center.
Clusen arrived at exactly 0801 and we all got up and stood in attention.
He looked the class over and then he focused on us and particular at me.” Ah who have we here? Mr. Olafson decided to leave ship commanding business to those who are really qualified.”
Suppor and his knights chuckled.
“Now since your group is now complete, have you thought of a name and who is going to be your senior? Why don’t you answer me that one Mr. Har-Hi?”
“Sir we are the Olafson Gang and Eric Olafson is our leader and Mr. Kleinschmitt designed a logo for us, Sir.”
“Olafson’s gang? That simply does not have the same ring as Devastator Knights, Or Flagship’s Best, but Olafson’s gang it is. Your group color will be Black is usually not used since our uniforms are black, but the good colors have all been chosen.”
Again there was suppressed laughter from other groups and someone said.” It will symbolize their grief for being last very nicely”
Again there was snickering and laughing.
He made a face as if he felt sorry for us. “You couldn’t find a better artistic talent in your group than a Saturnian? Well let me see what it is supposed to be.”
Hans stood clenched his titanic fists in suppressed anger. “Sir I choose a stylized rendering of an old steel chain with nine links symbolizing our group.”
“You may wear it. It is very simple but then you did it and that is probably the best a Saturnian can come up with.”
I wondered what Clusen had against us. Was this another test? Did he act this way because he was told? He insulted in an unprofessional manner. I had my multi com switched and recorded the audio, just in case I needed evidence later.
He made a gesture for all to sit down and then he activated a field screen that came to life floating behind him. “Computronic update senior class roster. Dorm 12 is now complete and the group will be known as Olafson’s gang.”
The view screen showed a list with the group names and behind each group name a tally of the accumulated score.
Our name appeared on the bottom of the list, much to the amusement of the others, especially the Knights who were on top.
“There have to be losers in any competition and it looks like Olafson’s Gang has taken that particular honor.” Clusen said with an unveiled grin. He then commanded the system:” Computronic daily update of all scores.”
Now something happened Clusen did obviously not expect. Our name jumped all the way to the top with a score total that made the Knights a distant second.
Close’s chin dropped to his chest and he said with a louder voice.” Computronic double check the results. Actualize from current personnel files.”
“Check complete, all files are updated.” Nothing changed on the read out.
“Computronic explain the clearly incorrect and improbable high score of the Olafson’s Gang.”
“The Group Olaf son’s gang is complete and their combined score is the value displayed. There is no error. Citations earned by the members of that group count for 91% of the score value. This includes the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star and Purple Heart accredited to group member Olafson. Medal of Honor valued at 10,000 points. Silver Star valued at 5,000 points. Group members Olafson and Har-Hi have received a citation for Gallantry and completing a salvage and rescue mission from Captain Harris at 0500. Science score obtained by group member Wetmouth is the highest score recorded by any Midshipman since...”
“Enough. I order you to reset the score board as it was with the Olafson gang at the bottom.”
“Unable to comply, score system is a Fleet Headquarters program and altering of input values or programing can only be made by Fleet Headquarter authorized personnel. This system has forwarded your error report and reset request to the appropriate departments.”
Clusen was getting angry.” Computronic, never mind. Disregard my last command. No altering is necessary.”
“No altering has been done. Error report has already been filed, score system is a...”
He turned the screen off and faced us
Suppor protested.” Lt. Clusen, I demand you do something about that. I do not accept second place.”
“Mr. Suppor sit down. You will address me properly and with respect.”
Clusen then said.” I will investigate those obviously false citations. No Midshipman could possibly have the Medal of Honor, this was done by altering records, I will see that you are spaced, Mr. Olafson.
“In the meantime the Olafson gang has an appointment at environmental, cleaning tanks. All others will report to the weapon range.”
On our way we ran into Lt.Merkus.”
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked.
I answered.” Sir we are to report to Environmental and clean tanks.”
“Why? What have you done this time?”
“Lt. Clusen takes offense that I was rewarded the Medal of Honor Sir. He accused me of altering records.”
Just then Clusen came around the corner and stopped in his tracks.
Merkus said.” Lt. Clusen?”
“They tampered with the Score system, Sir. I am on my way to Personnel to find proof. Olafson here has the audacity to claim he has the Medal of Honor.”
“I checked and verified Mr. Olaf son’s citations. He was indeed so decorated, matter of fact he is the highest decorated member aboard this vessel, except Captain Harris and the Old Man himself. I was on my way to apologize for not saluting this morning. Tampering with service files is a very serious charge and if you are certain it happened we must alert security.”
“I want them in environmental. I do not explain myself to you in front of them.”
“Very well.” Merkus agreed and turned to us.” Report to environmental for now.”
We just reached the lowest deck when we were called back. No explanation was given but we joined the others at advanced weapons training.
Here a Marine Lt instructed us in the use of various weapons. It was basically the same as in year one of the academy. Here the instructor deepened our knowledge of the technical aspects of different weapons and introduced us to the standard weapons of other civilizations as well as those of our enemies. This instructor was very knowledgeable and explained to us this morning how a Nul Thermo Shocker worked, how a human could fire the heavy weapon and how it was assembled.
“Most civilizations abandon previous concepts and concentrate on the new ones they developed.” He explained standing by a table full of various guns and weapons.” He picked one up. It was underarm long, looked like polished gold or brass and the designer had shaped it into a stretched birds head. It looked very artistic and elegant.” Can someone tell me what I am holding here?”
It was Elfi who answered him.” Sir, this is a Horus Ray Falcon Beamer. It is an antique. Saran’s no longer use these, except to arm ceremonial units.”
“Indeed it is. As you see it is a beautiful weapon, much artisan details went into the design. The beam emitter incorporated into the beak, while the arm of the user is almost hidden underneath these stylized golden wings. Saran weapon designers changed little on the actual weapon design and the technology underneath ever since Saran technology discovered focused Energy projection, over 8000 years ago. It is very unlikely you will run into one of these in any combat scenario, but I still want you to familiarize yourself with the weapons I have laid out, samples of many of our member cultures. You can learn much about a culture by evaluating their weapons.”
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Lothar’s beam burned through my chest. It felt as if my entire torso was on fire, but I was alive. I did not faint or pass out instead fulled by burning rage I ran towards him, his face was pure horror he still held the small weapon he did not fire a third time. I reached him in mere seconds, buried my knee in his groin and smashed the palm of my hand against his nose with the hope I would shove his nose bone up his brain. Something completely impossible f course, but I was furious and kept...
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Even though I had little medical knowledge, my time serving in the Devi’s sick bay and getting basic med training at the Academy I was helping with the triage of wounded and somehow remembered Dr. Dwyer my old Nilfeheim doctor as I derma-patched an eleven year old’s scrape wounds he had suffered falling while running and hiding inside an service crawl. The Casualty numbers were depressing. “943 dead among them many civilians and 1532 wounded of which more than 500 were very critical. Over...
The Vanderstraat nebulae was even more spectacular than I thought it would be. Every shade of red from deepest violet to the brightest orange glowed from the recent Super Nova in the ring shaped nebula and transforming the eternal night of space in something so beautiful that no one looking at it could be completely atheistic, at least in my opinion. OPS was a very demanding post and I had to keep my all my concentration at the tasks at hand and there were many. OPS was short for ship...
Harris sat on a couch not far from Stahl who was behind his old desk. Captain Zezz was there and the Admiral of the Fleet. Not in person, but via Holo-Presence. Harris was sipping on a bottle of beer. “He is doing a fine job and he did put the pieces together about you putting Carrows on the bridge for a reason.” “He did? What was his decision?” “If in doubt, go by the book and the book says court martial. Those were his words.” The old Admiral of the fleet was sitting on a chair that...
He remembered the last moments of his life quite vividly. They had led him up to the scaffold, after they had removed all his rank insignia. Commander Stone before him actually collapsed and the marines had to drag him to his spot on the scaffold. It took all his will power not to do the same and set one foot before the other. The solemn beat of the drums stopped and the Executioner asked him if he had any last words. He had none, the night before he had written a letter to his son Swybin and...
We reached Tabernacle 12 with next to empty tanks. We were expected and landing controls took over. The small planet looked very much like a dirty snow ball. Its own sun was nothing more than a bright star and its next planetary neighbor was almost eight light minutes removed. The landing beam guided us towards a crater and at its center was a set of large iris doors that opened for us. As soon as we had landed, Marines in heavy Destroyer Suits surrounded our ship. At least twenty Cerberus...
Here I was treated like a part of the crew. Aboard the Hyperion the only difference between enlisted personnel and officers was more or less only the rank pin on your collar. Captain Zezz treaded and acted the same around the lowest First Class Starman as he did around his bridge officers. He told jokes with them, participated in games and on board sporting events and most unusual. The ship used only one mess hall. Officers and enlisted ate in the same place. There wasn’t even a specific...
Pluribus was even more crowded and busier during Union week than usual. Egill had returned from Nilfeheim only a few days ago. He stood nor far from the Northern door and entrance into the Sphere of the Assembly, it was entrance he always used. From there it was only a short elevator ride to the Alcove of Planet Nilfeheim. The assembly sphere was a complete ball on the insie and only from the outside it appeared like a huge dome, meeting the ground at its equator. The outside area all around...
The commandant of the Newport Academy stood on the open balcony of his office, his hands wrapped around the railing. As it was his habit at this time of day he watched his Cadets run in cadence at the exercise yard. It was an exceptional well trained bunch this time and they would only need a little of his special brand of help to win the trophy this year. He was a short man, especially to Venusian standards, since natives of this Sol system planet tended to grow taller than the average...
The ‘American Spirit’ was nothing I expected a space ship to look from the inside. It was more like a luxurious villa, complete with garden, swimming pool and green lawn. We stepped through a glass sliding door under a blue sky with a single yellow sun and on the green plant surface he called grass, was a table with umbrella and a few garden chairs. Rolling hills with forests in the distance. “All simulated of course,” Alex explained. “The walls are actually only 30 meters from us, but I...
Sif woke, despite the sleep inducer that had been placed over her head. More out of instinct she rolled of the bed she was on and removed herself from the dazing and sleep causing Neuro-feed rays. Her mind instantly cleared up and she remembered.In her dreams she thought she felt a probing mind searching for her. In her dreams, Egill had not forgotten about her. But what would the old man say if he saw her like that? It was better he would never see her and besides those were only dreams of a...
Riding the Ammutherathi through the air made me feel, certain that I had ridden something big before, maybe in a dream. There was nothing to ride on Nilfeheim except Fangsnappers. While I was standing in the stirrups I received instructions through an ear peace. Where to go and what to do. The beast was at least thirty meters long and had two enormous set of leathery wings underneath tough looking skin were rock hard muscles worked these huge wings in a fantastic display of raw natural...
A week had passed since the big event on Pluribus and Union Week was over. I did spend a very strange and special night at the Saran compound, emerging myself in a dark and not openly discussed aspect of Saran society and culture, but I did learn a lot and I had been my female self. But I was glad we were back on the ship. While I enjoyed meeting my family and thrilled to see Narth again, the big party was not really my cup of tea.And what happened at the Orgie were memories for a different...
The Bowels It could have been any Maltyrian but I was certain it was Galmy. At the same as I said her name I realized she would not recognize me. She still had these inhuman big eyes and that translucent complexion. Her hair was the same midnight black as I remembered. She said. “You know me, Captain... ?” Her eyes scanned over my uniform blouse looking for my name tag. “Captain Olafson?” She was out of uniform so I could not see what rank she had attained since I seen her last. “Yes I...
The best day in my life was when I turned seven and I could go to Union school being away from the Burg and away from my father was like breathing lighter air. Everyone had to go to Union school. That was Union Law and it superseded local law. Union school was such a long part of our society that it too became an Old Tradition and therefore was good. At school I learned that Nilfeheim was a Water-World and that we all originally came from a Planet named Earth and settled here long time...
It was the last hour of our last school day. Mr. Walters handed out the final grades and said.” This is the last time I am doing this for you. When you return next year, a new teacher will try to pound some knowledge into your thick skulls. I am going to be transferred to another school, still on Nilfeheim but they thought I be best suited to try my hand on the even wilder Neo Vikings of the South Pole.” He then shook everyone’s hand and said a few words to everyone. When he reached me he...
I went down the narrow stair case to find out if there was a God living in the Old Man’s basement. Now I had reached the bottom of the narrow stair case and it expanded into a large natural grotto. The old man had a very large, and from the looks of it a natural Sub Pen under his rock. It was cold and moist and without my light it would have been pitch dark. There was no god and no mystery down here. At least there wasn’t any more garbage either. I did for a moment see a movement in the water...
Mr.Flensburger was now gone for a week and we had a new teacher. Mr. Walters was his name and he was much different to the jovial and gentle Mr. Flensburger. He was stern and had a no nonsense approach. This Monday morning, right by the main doors I saw Yngve Lofdahl waiting for me. He had a busted; bleeding lip and his left eye was swelling. Like me he was wearing a fur vest over a linen tunic that reached halfway to the knees, linen breeches and boots. Usually he always looked like he wore...
(List of Characters) Eric Olafson – A teenage Neo Viking leaves his home world for the first time. To travel and eventually to join the Union Navy Elena Olafson – technically a cousin to Eric, but since she was adopted by Eric’s father, she is now known as his sister. Isegrim Olafson – The current clan chief of the Olafson clan, and Eric’s father Lothar Olafson – Eric’s half brother The Ancient – aka Elkhart the Keeper. An old man claiming to have forgotten to die. Officially he is the...
I was still as tired as a Tyranno during Longnight when the lights came on and a voice barked via the PA system: “0400 hours Cadets rise and shine. 0430 is Breakfast. At 0500 you will receive your first class in the Elbhard Auditorium.” And we found ourselves in said Auditorium at that time an hour later. Clean, fed and still tired. Again I tried to find a place in the back, so I could perhaps close my eyes for few moments. The Pan Saran Officer was already there. “Good Morning Class.” We...