Captain Jones's Stateroom

[Michael Hobbar]

Knocking on the door, Hobbar waited for a response. “Come inside!” the other voice said. He opened the door and saw Captain Todd Jones sitting down on the right side of the room, at his desk typing away at the holographic keyboard. The man was either writing an after action report, or writing the multiple death certificates. The company had just returned half an hour ago from the mountain range. “Lieutenant, what can I do for you?” he said not looking up from his computer. “Captain, an hour ago one of my sergeants a sergeant Amberson was sent to the infirmary. She had a concussion and was put up on a bed.” He continued. “Captain, they suggested that she go see a shrink. Amberson doesn’t do well with new comers. She hit the nurse who then reported it to me. I’ve taken care of here punishment I’m not here for that. What I am here for Captain is to request that instead of her seeing a shrink that she sees me instead.” He said.


Captain Jones stopped typing and looked at Hobbar. “Lieutenant, are you mad? You’re not a licensed psychologist. Why do you want to do this yourself? The navy has plenty of them.” He said. “Captain, she’s an unstable trooper. She practically got killed in Bulgaria, as you’ve no doubt read. She doesn’t take it lightly when she meets someone new. A few hours ago I had to personally talk to her about a miscommunication on the battlefield, I can’t say she likes me but she does seem comfortable with me.” He said. “Did I mention she punched an nurse?” he also decided to add.

Captain Jones started to sigh. “Dammit.” And shook his head. “Dammit all to hell. If she’s nuts enough to hit a nurse, then I guess she’ll take it a little calmer to see you. I’ll talk to the medical chief to see if it can be authorized if it can…the I’ll allow this. However if I feel in any way that it’s becoming more of a distress on her then I will pull the plug.” He said.


“Thank you captain.” Hobbar said and started to turn to leave. “Oh lieutenant.” He said and Hobbar turned around. “Next time before you leave the battlefield, decide to inform me or the XO.” Jones said. “Yes Captain. I’m sorry most of my platoon was wounded. Any word on our next mission?” he asked. “No Lieutenant we have no new mission as of right now. We instead have two free weeks off from the campaign. That doesn’t mean that we won’t get called into action though. I assure you though that your platoon will have the time to be healed and ready for battle. Besides, take it east lieutenant, you know you don’t have to use the simulation room just for combat. You could use it to take a vacation. Trust me I know.” He said smiling. “Yes captain, I’m sure the Republican Navy doesn’t mind though?” he said and laughed. “Oh they don’t mind, Good day Hobbar.” Lieutenant Hobbar stood up straight and exited the room.

[Michael Hobbar]

January 6, 2759 1500 Hours
UCS Dauntless Fury, Captain Jones’s stateroom


Hobbar pushed the button on the entrance. A voice was heard from the other side “Enter!” it said and Michael then walked into the stateroom that served as the Captain’s Office. Jones was looking something up on the monitor on his desk. He realized that the office was far bigger than his own, then again rank did have its own privilages.

“Can I do something for you Lieutenant?” he said as he turned his attention over to Hobbar who was standing. “Yes Captain, I’m here to try and get a better understanding of the mission we are to undertake. There are multiple rumors among troopers and it has most of the lieutenants worried. The most common statement I am hearing is why we are waiting for so long to respond to the distress call and why there is so little information regarding those orders. I’m also personally concerned…unofficially that is.”

He said. The Captain smirked at Hobbar and then said “Alright, have a seat Lieutenant.” The lieutenant then took a seat and listened to Captain Jones. “This all off the record you understand.” He then nodded. “In December you saw Mr. Black come out of my office concerning this mission. Everything at the briefing was what was given to me. As far as we know it, the colony has been doing quite well. The initial probe that mapped out the system for us did in fact find good deposits of minerals on multiple moons and in the asteroid belt. Now I became curious as to why the colony was really founded”

Jones then continued. “Well being a Captain, I knew that what he was saying was all bullshit. The only things that made sense to me was the communication. People tend to forget how far away Old Terra actually is.”

The term “Old Terra” was another name for Earth, and it was used widely among military personnel. “As you know and I’m sure most people do but they tend to forget. Any time a world wishes to send a message to the Solar System it takes at least six months and at best nine. It took nine months for the Office of Colonization to realize that the colony had gone silent. Everyone knows that the only way messages get to and from systems are from worm holes, and then onto the communication satellites to the habitual planet and then again to the satellite near the other wormhole and it continues until it arrives at Sol. Unless you have created a better system of communication, let the Board of Transportation know! Now it did not make sense to me as to why the colony couldn’t be founded on one of the multiple moons where it could be locally processed.” He then waved his hand.

“I also knew that while it is a bit more expensive to create habitats on moons with no atmosphere. They could of easily done this with the profits the company takes in. But they decided the best place for it would be to on the habitual world. I was unable to find any other probe data about the colony. In the report given to me by Mr. Black it was scarce. I have my own reasoning as to why it was really founded Hobbar.” The lieutenant listened closely.

“I believe that the Corporation found something on the planet that they want exclusive rights to. I don’t know at all what that might be, it might be a new form of plant life, medical treatment it could be any number of things. But they never listed as to what animals were on the planet or the plants, and the reports were very scarce. They only had one sentence in the report when the Probe took readings of the land, saying the surface could indeed support a colony. That Company Representative is hiding something and you and I know it. And as far as what he said about going into those S.S. buildings well…I’ll take care of that.”

He then smiled and the lieutenant knew what he meant. Jones would find a way to go inside and search some how. “The report only stated that they suddenly stopped communicating with us and it gave no reason. So for all we know it could be any number of problems. I did not leave anything out in the briefing. The only thing I left out in the briefing was my intent as to why it was founded. Something happened to that colony and it may be due to what is on VL-624. Personally I think it was some kind of natural disaster. But we could find anything down there. Damn Special Security and their damn loyalty to the Corporation. If they would only give me the whole picture I would be able to lay out a more effective briefing.” He then reached into his desk and said “Share this with your people, unofficially. I am truly sorry about the current state of affairs.” Hobbar took the chip that Jones had in his hand.

“Thank you for this Captain. I will share this with the platoon.” Hobbar then stood up and began to walk out. He smiled as he got out of the door. The Captain wasn’t holding anything from his people, just as Hobbar suspected.