As Lt. John Radle lays in his bunk on the Battlestar Arcadia, trying to get some rack time in since the cylon force attacked on the Arcadia 2 days ago, he couldn't sleep due to the dull ache in his right shoulder from a cylon spy's bullet. But that was not what was keeping him awake. It was the news from his father, Colonel G Radle of the Colonial Marine Corp, Mardet Caprican Embassy, Scorpio. It is about the death of his favorite uncle, Commander Kramer, formerly of the Battlestar Fafnir. It wasn't the death that was the problem. He came to accept that his Uncle would die 10 years before. It was the manner of his Uncle's death that was bugging him.
Picking up a picture of him and his uncle in his fleet dress uniform, that was taken after the ceremony when he got his promotion from Colonel to Commander, he took one last look at it and snapped off his light and close his eyes and went to sleep. Commander Thacker was on duty in the CIC as usual at 0600 like every morning. The Comm Officer was checking the days comm log and reported it to the Commander.
" Commander Thacker, there is a fleet communique from Admiral's Jenner and Admiral Merritt for Lt. Radle. Should I inform him?". Thacker looking puzzled at the comms officer and replied, "Go Ahead Ensign." The Comm Officer announced to over the ship wide comm system for Lt. Radle to report to the CIC ASAP. At the same moment, Lt Radle known to his friends as LOKI was leading his Marine Detachment in the daily hand to hand combat drills in the Arcadia's gym, when he heard the announcement to report to the CIC. He just looked at Gunnery Seargent Ryan with a smile and said, " I wonder what one of you jarheads did now. The old man don't call me to the CIC often, unless one of you or me FRACKS UP." The other Marines started to laugh as an officer that came up through the ranks of the corp, his men liked him for being honest with them and showing them that he was one of them and not afraid to get his hands dirty. They knew that Loki wouldn't ask them to do anything that he never did first.
As he grabbed for towel off the rack, his unit gave him a hooorah. Three minutes later, Lt. radle was walking into the CIC. He saw Commander Thacker at the situation station and saluted him as approached the commander. " Sir Lt. Radle reporting to the CIC as ordered." Commander Thacker returning the salute and replying. " Lieutenant, there is a fleet communique for you from Admirals Jenner and Merritt. See the Comms Officer for it." Radle replied, " Thank you Sir." Lt. Radle walked over to the Comms Officer desk and asked the Ensign on duty for the packet. She handed it to Lt. Radle he opened it and read the offical looking paper from Fleet HQ. The letter reads: " From Admiral A. Merrit, Fleet Assignments Office,the Octogon Caprica. and Admiral Bruce Jenner Fleet Operations.
To Lt. John Radle Colonial Marine Corp,
29th CMC Battlestar Arcadia
*********************************************************
Dear Lt.J Radle,
Upon the receipt of this letter you are hereby ordered to the Scorpion shipyards to take command of the Gunstar Fenris effective ASAP. You are to be placed on active reserves from the Marine Corp and be given a Fleet rank of Colonel. Congratulations Colonel and good luck."
Signed,Admirals Bruce Jennern and Allison Merritt Fleet Operations and Communications, Fleet HQ, Octogon, Caprica City Caprica.
Lt. Radle handed his new orders to Commander Thacker and said, 'Well aint this a surpise Lieutenant?" " Yes Sir Commander, I best get my things in order and report to Scorpio ship yards." Lt. Radle handed another slip of paper to the Commander. Adm Merritt informed Thacker that he was to provide a raptor to transport the Lieutenant to the Scorpio ship yards and the jump back to the Arcadia. Lt Radle saluted Commander Thacker for the last time and left the CIC for the last time. With the packet in his hand, took off to his quaters. When he got there, he called for Gunny Ryan to come to the officers quarters. When the gunny got there, Lt.Radle let the gunny know what was going on and that the gunny would be in charge until they got a replacement officer to the Arcadia. He also told the gunny that he didn't want any of the guys to know that he was leaving. He just want to go and that the gunny could tell them when he was off the Arcadia. The gunny promised that he would. After a quick packing of the few belongings he had on the Arcadia, Lt. Radle proceeded to the flight deck where he would catch a ride to the Scorpio Ship yards and his new command the Fenris. As he approached the flight deck he could hear voices in the hallway leading to the access door. As he turned right around the corner, he saw the gunny and the 100 men that an hour ago, he commanded, was waiting for him. As he drew closer to the men they all snapped to attention and saluted. Lt. Radle place his duffle bag on the deck and return the salute and shook every mans hand and then returned to his bag and picked it up. He continued to the access door to the flight deck. As he was stepping through the door, he turn around and said, "Carry on Marines. Semer Fortis." All the Marines gathered there started to woof and hoorah their former commander.
As he turned to enter the flight the deck, he saw Commander Thacker and the Senior staff in two lines standing at attention, by the raptor that would take him away from the home he had known for the past two years. As he approached the lines they saluted the Lieutenant. As Lt. Radle got closer to Commander Thacker, Lt Radle put down his bag again and shook everybody's hand and when he got back to Commander Thacker, snapped to attention and saluted him. " Sir, Permission to leave the ship." Commander Thacker saluted back and said, " Permission Granted Lieutenant and good hunting Colonel Radle." The Lieutenant climbed aboard the raptor and stowed his gear and adjusted his flight helmet and strapped himself into the copilots seat. He then looked at Lt. Devlin and said over the helmet comm, " Lets go Sparky." The raptor was taxied into the launch tube and was catupalted into space. As the raptor got enough space between it and the Arcadia, the pilot made the jump to the Scorpio ship yards in a blinding flash of light. The pilot informed Lt.Radle that their ETA would be 6 hours and 23 minutes. Lt. Radle eased back in the chair and fell asleep.
As he awoke some hours later, Lt Radle was just opening his eyes when the pilot informed him that they just came out of the jump and was approaching the shipyards. Over the helmet comm system, he heard the pilot of the raptor talking to the spacedock control to get the vector for the Fenris. After getting the go ahead , the pilot swung the raptor on its new course and headed straight to the Fenris. As they approached his new command, he sat in awe at the size of the little ship. He heard the pilot radio the Fenris for landing clearance and proceeded to pilot the raptor in to the mouth of the landing bay of the Fenris. As the whine of the raptor's engines started to whine down and the raptor was lowered into the maintence bay of the flight deck and taxied in to the main bay, he saw a very tall man standing and waiting for the raptor to come to a stop. As the raptor was stopped in its assign space, the landing bay crew started the refueling process. Lt. Radle and Lt. Devlin, unhooked their saftey harnessess and proceeded to disembark from the raptor. Lt. Radle was standing up in the rear of the raptor and was taking off his flight helmet as the tall man that was standing there waiting for him , climbed aboard the raptor and stood in the hatchway. He smiled and said, " Colonel Radle, I'm Ensign David Carabaugh, your XO." Extending his hand, Lt. Radle shook his new XO's hand and replied, " Thank you for meeting me here." Turning to Lt. Devlin and speaking to him, " Sparky while they are getting your bird ready for the return trip, why don't you go get some chow in the mess." Sparky saluted and went on his way. "Ensign Carabaugh, can you show me to my quarters please and along the way we can talk." The Ensign started to escort the newly founded colonel to his quarters and that chatted about things relevent to the Fenris. The Ensign was giving Colonel Radle the scoop on the Fenris,and informed him as soon as they get the orders from the space dock they could get on the way. The Colonel informed his XO that as soon as they were able, the Fenris was to go to Caprica to Fleet HQ to have the Commission plate put on the wall in the CIC. And while they are in Caprica, the colonel wanted a raptor pilot who was certified to fly a viper, to pick up his Mark I up, that was in storage at Fleet HQ. It was to be flown back to the Fenris and then we are to report to the Picon Proving Grounds for weapons test. We are then report to the 6th fleet and the Aries. I would like to schedule a meeting with the Senior staff tommorrow morning at 09:00 in the ward room. As they rounded a corner and stopped at a door with 2 Marines standing in front of, the Ensign motioned to the door and said, "Here you are sir. Home sweet home. I will leave you to get settled in sir."
As Colonel Radle was unpacking his gear there was a knock on his door, he spoke," Come!" The door opened and a crewman came in with a tray and asked the Colonel where he want the tray placed. "On the desk please crewman. Thank you. That's all." As the crewman left, he asked him to send one of the marines in. The crewman did what he was asked and a marine guard came in and saluted the CO and the marines eyes went wide when he saw the CO's old marine uniform laying on the bunk awaiting to be put on. The Marine waited for the CO to turn his attention on him, the Co stated, " Stand down Marine! Who is your OIC and what is your name?" The Marine stated the the OIC of the Mardet onboards was 1st Lt. Jason Wiedner and 2nd Lt. John Ryan and he was Pvt. Robert Blear. The Colonel thanked the Pvt. The Colonel dismissed him.
After getting settled in and ate chow, the Colonel looked at the clock on the wall and adjusted his watch to the Fenris's time schedule, set his alarm and crawled into his bunk and went to sleep. At 06:00 his alarm went off and he got ready for his first day on the job. Since he didn't have a Fleet uniform yet, he dressed in his Marpat ACU's and reminded himself that when he got to Caprica he would have to get his Fleet uniforms from the Fleet HQ quartermaster. He took off his Lt. Pins and replaced them with his spanking brand new Colonel pins that Commander Thacker gave him before he left the Arcadia. When that was finished he opened the door and with his escort went to the ward room. When he got there there was a thick book awaiting him, which read Gunstar Operations Manual, on top of the book was a note from Ensign Carabaugh, which read, "Sir, you might want to read this so you know what the Fenris can do. Dave". As he read the note and smiled, his XO was good. He sat down in his chair at the head of the table with a cup of coffee and started to read the book. When his XO walked in the ward room and saw him reading, "Well I hope that you will enjoy it. It's good reading." T he colonel looking up from the pages smile and replied, " I'm sure I will and thanks." Tell me Davem how long have you been on board the Fenris?" Dave smile and said, " Since she was a concept and I has here when they laid her keel and the rest you know is history."
As they talked some more, the rest of the Senior staff started to trickle into the ward room and started to take seats around the table. "Good Morning Everyone. I hope everyone is feeling alright? Now lets get down to business shall we? " First thing off lets make the introductions first. I'm Colonel John Radle. Callsign LOKI and a former Colonial Marine Officer . I am from Caprica. They went around the table and officers introduced themselves one by one. Dave Carabaugh XO, Diane Carabaugh Comms Officer,Lt. John Ryan CMC Weapons Officer, Linda Duncan, CEO, and so forth. After the introductions was over, the Colonel opened up a folder and read the following orders:
********************************************************
On this date 200712/31, by the Order of Fleet Admiral Gastinaeu, Admiral Merritt Fleet Communications and Admiral Jenner Fleet Operations . Effective on this date at 21:00 hours.
To Colonel John Radle:
Congratulation Colonel on your command of the gunstar Fenris, you are to proceed to the Scorpio shipyards and take command of the Fenris, You are to proceed to Caprica to Fleet HQ. At that time Fleet Officer will present the Fenris with it's commisison plaque. Then it will proceed to the Picon Proving Grounds at Picon for weapons test and then to proceed to the 6th Fleet Area of Operations and report to the Fleet Commander aboard the Battlestar Aries. Good luck and good hunting.
Signed Admirals Allison Merritt Fleet Communications and Admiral Bruce Jenner Fleet Operations.
After reading the orders, Colonel Radle said, "Ensign Carabaugh, will you please note this in the ships log and also that the promotion of Ensign David Carabaugh to rank of Major and assign duties of the Executive Officer of the Fenris.effective immediatley. "Well folks lets get this show on the road shall we. That is all dimissed." As the Senior staff got up to leave the ward room and to report for thier duty stations, for launch of the Fenris. The Colonel and his XO started for the CIC. Once they got there everyone was at their stations. The Colonel got on the shipewide comm and said, " Now hear this. This is Colonel John Radle, your new commander aboard the Fenris. As of 09:00 hours, I assume command of the Gunstar Fenris per Fleet Headquarters Orders. I will over in the next few days, talk with each and everyone of you so you get to know me and I get to know you. I from the Marine Corp and I will run this as so and according to fleet protocols. Some of you will find me tough but I am a fair commander. I will state this now for the record, that I have an open door policy. Please, feel free to come to me at any time you want and need help. But for now, we have orders to get on the way. Lets make the 6th Fleet proud. " So say all."
As he hung up the phone he could hear the bridge crew chanting, "So Say We All. " Comms contact shipyard control and get us permission to undock and get on the way." The Comms Officer replied," Sir , Scorpio Controll has given permission to undock and to proceed at 1/3 power until we reached the boundry of the ship yards." "Navigation you heard the lady, unlock mooring lines and docking clamps All reverse 1/3, bring us about, all forward 1/3rd. Navigator, plot a course to Caprica at best speed and have engineering spin up the FTL drives so when pass the boundry I want to jump ASAP." As the crew frantically rushed around the CIC to get the Fenris on the way, the commander sat back in his chair and smiled. When the navigation and jump officer informed him that they were ready to jump, he issued the order and the Fenris was on her Way. Fourteen hours later they came out of jump at the boundry of Caprica and procceded at flank speed to the planet. Once there, the Fenris was set up for orbit and was contacted by Caprica Space Command on where she would be orbiting the planet. The Fleet Commissioning Officers came aboard and did their duty and the commission plaque was placed in the CIC. The rest of the Colonel's belongings including his viper were brought on board. The Colonel issued the command for the Fenris to head to the Picon Proving Grounds at the Planet Picon. Six hours later they were at Picon. The Colonel had the Comm officer contact the Picon Proving Ground Operations officer to start the testing of the Weapons on the Fenris Two hours later after all the testing was done, the Operations Officer gave the okey for the Fenris to leave the testing area and proceed to the 6th Fleet's Area of Operations. The Colonel asked the Comm Officer on duty to contact Aries Actual to get the jump Corridnates. Aries actual sent the coordinates and they were place in the navigation computer and the order for the jump to the Aries was given.
Right before the jump the XO informed him that his little sister, whom he had not seen in a while due to their estranged relationship, was aboard the Aries. " What! She is aboard the Aries? Ensign Carabaugh replied back, " Yes sir!" Now his curiousity is at its peak. " I wonder what the little brat is doing there? " Colonel Radle muttered to himself. Ten hours later, the Fenris came out of her jump. The Colonel ordered the Comms Officer to contact the Aries that she had arrived. The Fenris moved to the starboard side of the Aries and the Colonel Radle left the Fenris to the XO's command and che climbed aboard a raptor and went over to the Aries to meet his Fleet Commander for the first time. Fifteen minutes later, the raptor landed and he was guided to the CIC by a crew member. As he stepped into the Aries's CIC and saw the Fleet Commander, he snapped to attention and saluted the Fleet Commander and said, "Colonel John Radle of the Fenris reporting for duty sir." The Fleet Commander returned the salute and introduced himself as Commander Mike Rivera and s"ook his hand and said, " Welcome to the Aries and the 6th Fleet Colonel. Let me show you around the Aries."
As they left the CIC, they talked and walked at the same time about what the Fenris's duites would be and so forth. About 30 minutes later, they were entering the Engineering Section. As they were waliking through the ship, the Colonel was looking for his little sister and so far, he didn't see her. As they entered through the hatchway they came to a little office for the Chief Engineering Officer. They opened the door and saw a woman, busy bending over a tool box busy looking for a wrench. Commander Rivera cough and the woman turned around and looked at who had entered her domain. She smilled when she saw the commander and said, "Good morning sir! What brings you to engineering?" The Commander replied but as the CEO was stepping closer to the both of them, Commander Rivera was stepped aside to let the CEO see who was with him. The CEO's facial expression changed to one of anger and malicious. " You son of bitch! What the FRACK are you doing on board my ship she said angrily to the officer behind the Commander." The commander was about to introduce Colonel John Radle to Colonel Oclima but stopped. In the few nano seconds, the CEO kicked the Colonel in the family jewels. And as he was falling to the deck, she round housed kicked him in the knee cap to help his journey to the deck faster. As Colonel Radle was on his knees looking up at the CEO Oclima, she took the wrench that was in her hand and uppercutted him with it knocking him out cold.
"What the hell are you doing Cherry?" Mike asked trying to hold her back from doing any more damaged to the knocked out officer lying on her office floor. "You can't just go attacking another officer like that Cherry! What if he wants to press charges when he wakes up?" Cherry replied , " Oh I dont think he will do that. TRUST ME. I know he won't." As she put down the wrench and sat at her desk, she opened a drawer and pulled out two shot classes and a bottle of Aerelon Ale. She poured the Commander and herself a shot and leaned back in her chair and said, " You remember me telling you when I was younger that there was a certain boy that his only goal in life was to make mine a living hell. Well Commander there he is lying there on the floor." She then got up to remove the bottle of smelling salts from the first aid box and walked over to the unconscious officer lying on her floor, she opened the bottle and held it under his nose. He then started to come around. When he opened his eyes, Colonel Radle saw Cherry hovering over him with her hand out to help him up to his feet. The Commander looked at them both and said, " Colonel Radle if you would like to press charges against Colonel Oclima I will make them out for you." Colonel Radle replied to the Commander, " That won't be necessary sir! I won't press charges against her." The Commander looked at them both again and said, " Okey what in the name of the Lords of Kobol is going on here the both of you?" Colonel Oclima cracked a smile as she replied back. " Commander Rivera, meet Colonel John Radle. My older half brother and my tormenter when I was a kid." Shock went all over the Commanders face and he sat back down and poured himself another shot and said to himself, "OH LORDS OF KOBOL! HELP ME WITH THIS TWO. I AM IN TROUBLE NOW!"
Well that's it kids. The first story of the Gunstar Fenris. Please look forward to the continuing adventures of the crew of the Gunstar Fenris.
Colonel John Radle
CommandingGunstar FENRIS GSR-2601Oww that's gonna leave a Fracking mark! Must suck being you toaster headRemember a Sucking Chest wound is Nature's way of telling you to slow down.
