Alpha One - Chris Burton [43]
Jake picked up the pieces of Steve’s life once again. Yes, he wanted to win the Academy Top Gun Tournament, but not due to the exclusion of his best friend and closest rival. Jake decided he would have a ‘hypothetical chat’ with one of the event organizers while he waited for Steve to return. He opened a comm link, and the Academy intranet located Commander William Golding, the Top Gun supreme at the South Downs Academy.
Steve returned five minutes later. “I failed the test and they hooked me up for another twenty-four hour test…what a surprise.”
“Okay let’s get you back home and into some quiet space. The good news is there is a precedent for returning to the Top Gun course if you are signed off and if you are already a Top Gun candidate. I checked with Commander Golding, without going into any details.”
True to her word, the Consul came back to Steve the following evening by comm link. “The Chancellor agreed to reduce the one point graduation fine to half a point, but only if you take the voluntary two-week grounding as proposed by your tutor. I understand your twenty-four hour psych evaluation came back clear again. The Chancellor says you can return to flying in two weeks. Use the time wisely to catch up on your Geometrics etc. You will have to miss Top Gun tomorrow.”
“Can I not commence the two weeks after the Top Gun tournament?”
“You have to discuss that with your tutor. I have done all I can; it is up to you. Get your head down and graduate. You have no excuse.”
Steve already heard his twenty-four hour test was clear again. He felt briefly heartened before the Consul said her piece; now he was angry again.
“I am in the clear and I still can’t do the Top Gun.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” said Carla, who had joined them in Steve’s apartment. “I am free. Let’s go see your tutor and see if we can sort this out.”
Steve’s tutor was remarkably receptive. The Consul spoke to him following her conversation with Steve and the Chancellor. She diplomatically suggested that while she thought Enson Costello would accept the two week grounding, perhaps, given his proven abilities, it would be pertinent to wait until after the Top Gun round this weekend before the ‘voluntary’ grounding commenced.
“I need you to turn your grades around, Steve. There is no hiding from this. This is as transparent as it gets, especially with the Chancellor involved in your affairs. You can commence the ‘voluntary’ grounding on Monday.”
Steve showed his relief and accepted the tutor’s judgment without further comment. He knew he was on a knife’s edge, but he could concentrate on the Top Gun.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Partacian Border
Admiral Shenke gazed out of the Conference Room window, which ran along one side of the room. In front of him lay the newly-assembled battle group charged with the responsibility of attacking the Sentinel Southern fleet from the rear; meanwhile, the main fleet would attack the enemy along the Ionian front. He assembled a fleet of some fifty ships of the line, together with twenty support ships and a jump ship contingent of three thousand. All in all, the mini-fleet contingent included fifty thousand marines. The assembled collection of Alpha’s finest was impressive: in addition to his star ship, there were two star cruisers, fifteen star destroyers, ten battleships, eighteen battle cruisers, one carrier and three patrol vessels. A formidable force, and he had every confidence in their combined ability for the job ahead. He turned to face the commanders of his fleet, invited to join the Admiral today aboard the Fleet’s Flagship, the Illustrious.
“Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen, for joining me today. As you know, over the last three weeks we assembled this battle group with a view to confront the Sentinel Southern fleet. We will attack them from behind while