Supporting Role
© 2020 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom


Vinzen Garry blinked at the icons that suddenly appeared on his helm monitor, and the Scottish Fold touched the earpiece of his headset. “Boss?”

A small inset appeared on his screen, and the golden palomino mare’s voice matched the weariness in her expression. “Yeah, Vinzen? Anything going on?”

“You tell me. I just had a folder of attack and evasion maneuvers pop up.”

“Yeah, that was me. I figured that it’d be useful to have if something goes bad. Jax and Jemel have them as well.”

The feline nodded. “It makes sense, yeah, but how’d you get these from the Navy?”

Meredith gave a tired chuckle. “You’re kidding, right? The padd I used at the Academy was so screwed I had to get a new one. No classified data on it at all, even if the Navy would let me leave with it.” She smiled. “These are all mine,” she said as she raised a mug to her lips and drank.

“You wrote these yourself? Deus, no wonder you’re tired, and – what the vac? Copies of the command codes?”

“Look, I know you want no part of being Captain – “

“Too damned right.”

“But you’re third in seniority, after me and Jax, so – “ She stopped as the feline started to chuckle. “What?”

“Boss – Merry – listen to me. You’ve read my file, right?”

“Sure, but what’s that – “

“Then you know I turned down a ship of my own. Take some advice, one captain to another, okay?” He waved a finger. “Don’t tie yourself up trying to plan everything. Just do what you can, and leave the rest to the cockeyed universe.” He leaned toward the visual pickup on his monitor. “And get some sleep.” He sat back, and yawned elaborately.

Before she could stop herself, Meredith yawned as well. Once she was done, she gave him a sour look. “Okay, I‘m off to bed. Don’t run into anything, Vinz,” and the video inset vanished.

The Scottish Fold chuckled as he rechecked the ship’s course through hyperspace before taking a look at the group of attack and evasion patterns the mare had drawn up. She’d done fourteen of them, which impressed him; she’d been very busy.

One of the engineers on his shift glanced up from his board. “Anyone for a drink?”

The other engineer replied, “Sure. If there’s any fruit soda left, I’ll have one.”

The terrier got out of his seat. “What flavor?”

“Whatever’s there,” the weasel shrugged. The canine nodded, and Garry shook his head, so the terrier stepped out of the compartment.

“She’s a little on edge,” the weasel remarked.

“Yeah,” Garry said. “She’ll be all right, though.” Another ship in the formation, the Fox Winning, had been edging a little closer to the A Quiet Life’s position in hyperspace; the navputer had a word with the other ship’s, and the freighter backed off.

The junior engineer returned and gave the weasel a bottle before returning to his seat. His superior glanced at the label and said, “Kiwi?”

“Hey, you said ‘whatever’s there.’”

“Yeah, but kiwi?” He twisted off the cap and sniffed before taking a sip. “Hmm. Not bad. Thanks.”

Several hours later Garry was sipping at a cup of tea as Jax entered the compartment. “Hi, Jax,” the feline said to the rat. “Everything running smooth. Hammer advised that we’ll be reaching the rendezvous in another half-hour.”

The rat nodded. “Good.” He stepped aside as the day shift’s engineers entered, and Jax leaned closer to his night shift counterpart when Garry beckoned to him.

“You get the stuff Meredith sent?” the feline asked.

“Uh huh. Nerves?” Jax asked.

“Oh yeah. Told her to stop trying to plan for everything, because there’s some things you can’t plan for.” Garry chuckled. “Still, she drew up some great maneuvers.”

“Take your word for it. I wasn’t in the Navy.”

“I think you had the better job. So,” the feline grinned up at the rat, “going to change shifts, or you want to talk all day?”

Jax started laughing and said, “Get up, old man. I relieve you.”

“You’re not my type,” and everyone laughed.

A half-hour later, the ten ships met the rest of the Colonial First Fleet in hyperspace. As Jax piloted the freighter into its assigned position, the door behind him opened and his nostrils flared at the smell of coffee. He glanced quickly behind him before returning to his monitor. “Good morning, Captain. Sleep well?”

Meredith yawned before taking a drink from her mug and sitting down in the captain’s chair. “Pretty well, thank you Jax. Everything smooth?”

“Very smooth. All ship systems are running well, and we’re in formation with the fleet’s supply flotilla.” Meredith studied her repeater screen. The 41st CSE was with two more combat support elements, perhaps a light-minute behind the fleet, which was being led by the two Deity-class battleships Ahriman and Yahweh. There was a separate fleet element composed of transports, and Meredith frowned at the ship leading them.

It was an orbital bombardment monitor named Mars Ultor. It was equipped with nuclear missiles and two mass driver cannon. The mare took a breath and let it out slowly, guessing that wherever this fleet was going, at least part of its mission involved landing troops.

She spared a thought for whoever would be on the receiving end of those mass drivers. Enemy or not, Confed or not, they were Terrans just like she was.

Her ears swiveled and she looked up as Jax said, “Message for all ships, Captain. Admiral Fikset, aboard Yahweh.” He sat back as the channel opened.

“All ships,” the wolfess said, “it’s no surprise that we’re headed to Indawo, to take the planet back from the Confed. Of course, they probably think that as well, which is why the Second Fleet is currently attacking towards Centauri.” Among the bridge crew, ears perked in surprise, and Meredith nearly spit out a mouthful of coffee.

“We are in the right here,” Fikset said. “We will try to avoid inflicting a high number of casualties, but I am telling you now: We Colonials have had it up to our throats with the Confed, and they will be taught to leave us alone. Fikset out.”

Attacking toward Centauri? Meredith thought. That’s a hell of a risk, unless . . . unless they have Imperial ships backing them up.

Deus, please keep Varan safe.