Chapter 54

"We are as ready for deployment as we are going to be, Sir. We are tight in crew but we aren't going to get anymore. We are at peacetime establishment level and Manning bluntly state there is no more available for us. Retraining on energy torpedoes is finished but could do with some more practice. Mr Kowalski reports that he is satisfied with the system for manning "Shriek" and practice deployments have gone well. Our ward room is relatively inexperienced particularly in ship handling but there is some impressive speciality talent there. The shake down cruise has gone well and all defects have been corrected. "Vance" itself is in all respects ready for space...

Having said that, Squadron drills are deplorable and "Vance" is the main culprit. We were last out of refit and there just hasn't been enough time to bring us up to the standard of the rest of the Squadron. Commander Watson with "Victoria" has done well with the others...

Fleet evolutions fortunately do rank low. We can work up better on convoy drills real time once we begin them out of Raffles...

That's it Sir, but please reconsider Mr Denholt's and Miss Gort's request to modify our EW gear. I can personally attest to the mods, they are in "Shriek" now and were used at Helena."

"Nice try, Aggy", laughed Captain Viscount Gold Roper "but we both know that the modifications are not approved and won't be for a long time. Anyway we do have them so I am cheating the system just a bit. That raises a major problem to which I have been giving considerable thought whilst you have been doing such a splendid job getting "Vance" ready for space."

Gold Roper smiled benignly at McCock as they both knews that Gold Roper had worked him hard but had kept a close supervisory eye on his inexperienced XO, but didn't the lad learn fast!

"I want you to bring each of your Flock up to command status of "Shriek" and I want them to start training "Vance" crew members as "Shriek" crew. My aim is to have four full crews available to man "Shriek". Thank you, bye the bye, for that "Shriek" report; it was that which started me thinking about this – made me earn my pay – while you were earning yours. Firstly I don't want a depleted bridge when I deploy "Shriek" and secondly I don't want my wardroom exhausted by deployment of "Shriek". This downgrades the capability to parasite with benefits if you like and the cutter can do stints of hyper if needed. It cuts my effective crew but I'm prepared to sacrifice a gun mount to keep the scouting capability alone. I regard having a deployable gun mount as somewhat of an advantage too, being gunnery meself."

The captain passed several chips across to McCock and grinned impishly which made the recipient become very wary.

"You know, Aggy, being a peer does have some advantages. Certain of my peers were at the Navy Club the other day and we were discussing the rumours flying about a very secret group which had been exposed momentarily to the limelight and then disappeared again. No one of us knews much but things got very serious very quickly as a few pieces of knowledge and rumour were revealed. The most senior of us, to remain unnamed, took us into one of the Club's side rooms and asked everyone to spill his or her 'guts' as it were – junior first myself excused and that made a clear point. The picture even with my effort still had large holes in it but was truly fascinating. You truly must fill in those holes for me one day Aggy; I am eaten up with curiosity. I told my peers of my ideas about "Shriek" and they met with approval. One snide comment was not to be too successful or I'd keep losing the trained crew to our 'aviation wing' she called it. We were told that there is talk within the Admiralty to hive 'aviation' off the First Space Lord to be a new Fifth Space Lord department. To shorten it, I was given the chips for "Crusher" and told to have you study them. I am extending that to your Flock, Aggy. It's going to take time to cover it with your other duties but convoy duty consists of short periods of being alert during each watch and boredom the rest.

I intend to designate "Victoria" lead ship and we will conform to her which will allow us to sharpen our squadron drills. We'll deploy tomorrow forenoon four. See to it Aggy. Carry on please."

""Vance" closed up, ready to answer bells, ready in all respects for space Captain."

"Thank you XO. Mr Indira? You have the watch, take us out to our position at the tail of the squadron. Lead wants one hundred gravities until we reach outer harbour. Your bridge, Mr Indira."