“Odin, this is Forseti-Class zero-one-nine-alpha, ‘Dark Wolf’ requesting permission to Dock.” The voice of Ash ‘swift’ Jacob, sounded through the radio as he flicked several switches, readying the battle ship for docking.
“Dark wolf, this is Odin docking tech Beta-One-Oh-Two, What is the Purpose of your return?” a voice sounded back.
Ash turned sideways and looked up at his commanding officer. He dark brown hair brushed aside to reveal his dull green eyes as he waited for the commander to give him a reason.
“The truth.” The commander said simply. She was a tall woman with an oddly human face, except for the eye patch and small scars edging out under the fabric. She was young for a commander, late twenties, maybe early thirties, but her expertise in the field had quickly elevated her to the head of her Valkyrie squadron, and when she lost an eye the government decided that her experience qualified her to lead, the first female commander since the president of the Nordic empire was young.
“Odin, Dark Wolf. We were summoned by the Aesir on a top priority channel, we assume we have a new assignment. Permission to Dock? We’re awfully close.” Ash said, flicking the com channel open on his microphone.
There was a relatively long pause, considering the proximity of the ship to the docking rings. “Dark Wolf, this is Odin, permission granted. Please inform Commander Decker that her presence is requested in the president’s chambers as soon as humanly possible.” The docking technician responded, eventually.
“Thank you, Odin. Dark Wolf Out.” Ash flicked off the microphone and turned to look up at the commander. “what do you think it is?” he asked.
“If I could talk freely about it,” She said, “I doubt I would have come all this way. Turn on the ship wide.”
Ash nodded and turned to his copilot, an elderly gentleman with dark skin, brown eyes and a grey buzz cut. “Ship wide, Bartlett.” Ash said.
“Yes sir.” the old man said, leaning forwards and picking up a small microphone that clips to a persons ear. He handed it back to the commander and readied himself to flick a switch.
“Doesn’t it annoy you to call a man twenty years younger than you sir, Bartlett?” The commander asked, smiling as she attached the mic to her ear.
“Every time the words pass my lips, ma’am but I’d never let the little sod know that.” he smiled a cheeky smile at Ash, making himself seem decades younger for a second.
“Any other ship in the Aesir fleet and that statement would get you locked in the brig until they could arrange a court marshal.” Ash said, matter-of-factly, extending the docking clamps to the dock rings.
“And I thank Odin for my good fortune of being assigned to the commander every day.” The copilot said as Decker nodded for him to turn on the com system. He flicked the switch and laid back.
Commander Kara Decker stepped back into the open area of the flight deck and stared out at the Odin space station. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “Attention all crew.”
People all over the ship stopped what they were doing, from the weapons officers down to the cleaners, from the Valkyries to the infantry, they stood stock still, staring up at the ceiling as if they could see their commander in the plain grey tiles. “We have arrived at Odin, we will be here for the night so enjoy your shore leave. As you all know I only have two rules when on shore leave, Be back on time and Don’t get in enough trouble to force me to pull you off duty, now is no exception. When I return there is every possibility that we will have a high priority mission that I wouldn’t expect everyone to survive... if this is the case you will all have the choice, leave Dark Wolf’s crew... or attempt to prove my assumptions wrong once again.” Wooping noises sounded from the Valkyrie and infantry cabins. The Brynhilds, Captains of the Valkyrie squads, and Sigurds, Infantry Captains, quieted their charges for the rest of the speech. “Whichever you chose, you have all served well under my command... I am proud to have worked beside each and every one of you. Enjoy your leave, that is all.” She nodded to Bartlett and he turned off the ship wide communication channel.
“Very inspiring Kara.” Ash said.