QuickFlight: Battle for the Adrianittas? -Chapter Two

Battle for the Adrianittas?

QUICKFLIGHT

The NightWind was on approach to the last known location of the "Adrianittas". All indicators showed that nothing was there, at this distance. However, as they were within range for a high-powered particle scan, they could see that a smaller class spaceship had been blown to specs at the location where the "Adrianittas" was once located. This situation was looking bad for that ship and her crew. Commander Vince Dongen looked down at his instrument panel, as they nosed up to the debris field. “Beam all particles over to Hanger Bay 7 to be analyzed. Comm…what is your initial analysis?” the TOC said. “Commander, looks like it was vaporized. That kind of weapon can only be found on Merchant class vessel or larger…i.e. a starship. I say “it” Sir, because based on my readings, that could only be enough disintegrated particles for 1 shuttlecraft, no more than that!” The Comm person stated. “Whew…with all hands on board!” The Captain said in disgust, over the Commander’s shoulder. “4 to 5 dead on board that repair shuttle, depending on which one it was, plus 1 crewman killed at the Mars Colony…for 1 month out in space…ourlifegoal(mission objective to bring back 100% of the crew no matter what) on this mission really sucks already! And it looks like we’re about to battle a superior vessel…Damn!” the Commander stated. “Beam complete,

Sir; All particles larger than .02 milicrons in HB 7, Sir!” the Comm reported. “Command Pilot; Take us to LS 5 on my mark, and put us right on top of the Adrianittas by 20 kilometers! Attack Position!” the Commander mic’d up to the Command pilot who was up in the very top cabin cockpit on Bridge level 5, along with hisRIO. This single cockpit up on the roof of the Command Center Section was designed to put the pilot in charge of the flight just the same as if was flying a fighter space plane. Copy that, Sir!” the CP stated. “BattleStation Alert…All Hands… BattleStation Alert! Prepare for All out War…This is not a drill…All Hands…Prepare for All out War! This is your Commander speaking. We are jumping to LS 5 and headed right into combat. Everyone stow and lock down the ship, and buckle in!” The TOC said while he sat back in his chair, and slipped the top of his shoulder harness over his shoulder. He waited a full minute to give everyone a chance to comply.

The entire ship went into a rushed lock down mode. Everyone was trained on board, even the kitchen staff while cleaning dishes, that at anytime you may be called to stow away anything loose around you in 30 seconds or less. And that included your person, as well. So, even a dishwasher working away at his job in the galley, had a pilot seat and harness to strap into, right next to the sinks he worked at. The Enviro-Decks would fill with a soft particle tractor beam that allowed the animals a small amount of movement while suspending them in their exact place. This had been thoroughly tested as the only way to transport the Enviro-Deck inhabitants, safely without throwing them in to shock, during light speed maneuvers. Certain other precautions where initiated for example: the shark tank turned into a giant whirlpool to keep water flowing through shark’s gills, Dolphin tanks, Whale tanks, and Bat caves were closed tight to keep the high pitch roar of the LS engines from affecting their natural sonar. The key to keeping everything pinned down was not to protect them in the accelerating process. Going to excessive light speeds was nothing in outer space. You only feel the slightest of movement pulling you back. It is the slowing down, where everything onboard has built up the same inertia as the ship. At LS 5 you have to slow down quickly, because you approach your target quickly. That’s what gets everything flying around. And, going into a pre-set coordinate at that speed, and then preparing for combat will test everything onboard to its limit.

The Commander gave the word directly to the Command Pilot, “Initiate LS 5!” The ship from nose to aft rocked one time and vanished from that point in space. Jupiter went from a huge orange ball illuminating some light to a dark spot. Everything goes dark at that speed since you are traveling faster than light! One minute later, the LS engines were cut.

“On target, Sir, and vectoring in on Starship bearing 60 meters off the Adrianittas. The

Starship is docking to supply vessel, Sir. We are 57 degreed, pitching nose down in “Screaming Claw” (type of attack dive used by a starship that resembles an eagle diving from way up in the sky on his prey), above the NightWind class starship coming up on my screen as the “U.S.S. DistantStar”. Do we have clearance to disable the ship, Sir?” the Command RIO stated over the comm link. “Affirmative…You may take as many shots as needed. Confirm; Wound her in her Weapons and Engines only! Stay clear of her Hangar Bays and the Adrianittas! Then, proceed to safe distance!” the TOC said as their whole complete starship went into a nosedive. “Roger! Confirm wound targets only” theRIOsaid. “Firing!” the Command pilot said. He has total control of all weapons and engines onboard the NightWind. Massive swooshing noises echoed down the hull of the ship, and lights flashed from lasers and rocket trails as they proceeded to target. “Retreating for our first assessment!” the Command pilot stated, and the NightWind blasted away as the sound of explosions rocked both starships out in the confines of space. The NightWind circled her nose back around after clearing some room between both ships. “RIO…what is your assessment of damage to target!” the TOC mic’d up to him. “Unclear, Sir…It would appear that we did not penetrate her hull, Sir!” theRIOstated. “Bridge Comm, what is your assessment at full array?” the Commander asked. “Sir…we concur with theRIO, Sir! It would appear that they were at Maximum Shield Level, Sir!” the Bridge Comm stated after doing a complete scan (Shields are undetectable at all powerful levels

since they have cloaking and stealth properties built into the Shielding rays).

“Damn! How’d she get her Shields on line so close to her “power-up” stage…She’s definitely got someone working behind the scenes onboard her, getting her more ready than we were told through the BOARD…Now, to see how ready they really are!” the Commander said out loud. “AUG 1!” the Commander yelled, like I was far away or something “Yes Sir!” I stated, since I was at my post to his left, as assigned for Battle Stations. “Get with the MAIN and have her order up every test that we were going to do on the DistantStar’s systems 4 months from now or have her confuse their new MAIN with some old timer tricks…Whatever it takes to stall or distract them over there! You copy!” the Commander stated. “Yes Sir!” I replied. “Very Good!” the TOC said, “Captain…please oversee this. I want to keep their Command staff hustling over there, while we make off with our supply ship!” The Top NightWind Commander ordered his second in command. “Understood, Sir!” the Captain replied, and walked over to the opposite side of Bridge Command where the AUG was plugged into theMAIN. “Bridge Command; you have the Weapons Array…You copy flight leader (name for whoever is control of the flight of the ship, wing group, or section of the ship in flight. In this case…it is the Command Pilot!)?” the TOC declared. “Copy that,” the CP stated. “Weapons, hit both docking collars at their shield interface with the atomizers ( shield

interface point = where shields from both ships meet and form two walls pressing against each other, enveloping around the docking tunnels. This allows a paper thin gap between both shields which is all the atomizer laser ray needs to do its job, since it is so powerful. It will probably slice right through the supply ships shield there anyways, unless they’re using the latest shield enhancers.), then hit the Adrianittas with every locking beam that we own. I want to yank her, tow cables…fuel lines and all, from the DistantStar, like she was never there. Comm; let the Adrianittas, know on my mark what’s about to happen! Beam Control; get those tractor beams up to full power pronto!” the Commander barked. “Aye, AYE’ Sir!” all departments he addressed, answered him in unison.

“CP…standby to take us in…“Tail Feather’s Burning” (another Eagle command for fastest attack speed possible). Line up for the atomizer’s to take their shots! Commander out!” the TOC proclaimed…now getting a little more pumped than usual, under the jolt of excitement and pressure. “Copy, Commander,” the CP stated. “AUG 1…how is our sister ship doing with all their advanced testing?” the Commander asked. “Sir…Her main systems are dropping on and off line like blinking Christmas lights!” I reported. “Good…Comm, Inform the Adrianittas to batten down the hatches and hold on…we’re about to sling her into space!” the Top Commander stated. “Done, Sir!” Comm replied. “CP, punch it!” the NightWind lurched forward, as the Command Pilot radioed down to the Bridge Command, “Underway, Sir!” The hull of the NightWind resonated with all types of noises, starting at the tail section of the huge ship. “Answer in all Departments!” the TOC commanded. Lights flashed, and jolting clunks rang out through the mothership! “Answering, Sir!” came the simultaneous replies from Weapons and Beam Control. The Adrianittas leaped over to the NightWind and pulled away with her. “Sir!” I stated, “The DistantStar’s shield has begun a zone test (Shields were being tested at specified zones only) thanks to ourMAIN! She says the life support hardware zone is exposed under her mid-section!” I announced. “Weapons…destroy air filtration pumps, H2O replinisher, gravity field generator, solar heating cells, everything…CP…go to guns (lasers were on line with the Weapons Dept.) and target any system you want. Then, get us out of here! AUG 1…deploy 3 homing beacons on our partnership where the MAIN thinks will go unnoticed…and Captain…Remember the “Lucky Lindy” prank (Merchant ship that ran space routes two decades ago and was named for Charles Lindbergh) way back when. Where we beat her crew out to take over one of her cargo runs…if you would be so kind…and repeat history on our friends over there!” the Commander said with a cocky smile, and his head ½ way turned around, staring into the eyes of his most trusted top commander with a gleam in his eyes.

The Captain and the AUG 1 went to work at their bridge station. Both of them watched monitors and concentrated while pressing buttons with great care, like they were pulling triggers on a rifle. The NightWind blasted away from her sistership, and headed for safety. This time their ship wasn’t stopping until they were in deep space, far away from their adversary. “Well, they sure didn’t have their weapons on line, or we would have had a real brawl for sure! Ok…One at a time, Departments, give me a scouting report of the estimated damage. After, I talk with the Adrianittas’ commander! CP, do a few random changes (changes in flight at the pilots discretion to keep anyone from following them) and then let us drift!” The Commander said. “Ok Comm, patch me in to our supply ship!” He ordered, then said under his breath, “Here goes…this guy is going to scream at me from here to Saturn for that little trick we just pulled to his ship…I hope no one got killed when we pulled them away from the DistantStar!” The Comm link was established from the bridge to the supply ship .“Sir…I have their Command on link-up. He is ranked as a Commander, and still won’t give his name which does not appear on any of the manifests. The Commander’s green light came up on his mic button showing he was clear to talk. “Is that maniac, Vince Dongen…still commanding the NightWind!” a voice came over the link-up. “This is Commander Vince Dongen…Commander Adrianittas, to whom do I have the pleasure of conversing with?” The Commander used his most professional United States Space Exploration Program voice. “It’s me…Dummy! Are you calling to see if you killed anyone on board?” the voice of their commander asked. Vince was biting his tongue to keep from telling a few things to this guy. He only refrained under the assumption that they may have hurt someone on board the supply ship. “Well…Yes, I am, but I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Sir, since you have referred to me by several choice names and I haven’t heard one mentioned yet for you!” the TOC said, beginning to get really irritated with this commander whether the man had the right to be mad at him or not! “Relax Vince (“Vince?” the TOC thought. Who was this guy calling him by his first name?), I’m an old friend and boss of yours. I’m not going to kick and scream over that stunt you just pulled. Although, everyone on board is going to have to have their spine re-aligned when we get back to Earth. You saved our lives…those other U.S.S.E.’s were going to blow us into smithereens after they finished docking and refueling, according to their Command,” the voice said. “I still don’t have a name from you, Sir ?” Vince Dongen yelled, he had many bosses over the years…that acknowledgement did very little to refresh his memory.

“It’s me….Pablo Vanini! Your ol’ Captain! First Officer Dongen, are you getting old and senile out here circling the planets?” the Commander Adrianittas replied. “Cappy…is that really you? I thought you couldn’t wait to retire to your lil’ Italian villa…now look at you…back out here with the rest of us space dogs!” the Commander NightWind stated with excitement. “An old friend with a new Italian freight shipping company, made me an offer I couldn’t refuse!” the former Captain over the TOC said. Vince laughed at that. “Where’s your family, Pablo?” Vince Dongen asked. “On board here…like usual!” Pablo Vanini stated. “Should have known (He always traveled with his full family…wife, kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)!”the TOC NightWind responded. “And where is my loyal Cargo Director, Hank?” the Commander Adrianittas asked. “I’m right here, Cappy! It’s good to hear your voice!” Hank Cummins said with a smile, after Vince motioned him over to his comm station. “Well…isn’t that amazing…your both still working side by side each other like always! I would have thought one of you had gotten the other one killed by now!” Pablo stated. They both laughed. “We tried!” they both said simultaneously. “Hey Captain!...I mean Commander…it’s going to be hard to not call you Captain!” Vince Dongen said, “We’re going to have to continue our reunion a little later. Right now, we have a stolen starship running around the galaxy for some reason, that is hopefully wounded and mad from our first encounter with them. Commander Vanini…you know we are going to have to set your ship a drift, your too much ship to be trailing into combat. And now, you can’t dock onto anyone who can take you back home until we can find you some new docking clamps,” The commander NightWind. “Understood, Commander Dongen, and expected! We have already begun powering down, and encryption locking all systems. We are awaiting your boarding party, Sir!” Commander Adrianittas said.

“Hey…I was supposed to say that!” Commander NightWind stated. “I knew you would. Really…Vince, you’re becoming quite predictable!” his old Captain told him. “Ok Cappy

…we have to get back to work now. Open up one of yourCargoBaydoors, and will board everyone there!” The TOC NightWind said officially. He knew Pablo was just joking with him…that was his style…but Commanders of starships don’t like to be predictable, especially in wartime. Predictable will get you killed out here! “Pablo, as soon as you get onboard. I need you to report to our meeting room. We need all your intel from being along side the Distant Star! I’ll have our Mission Director see to your crews accommodations. Don’t worry…your in good hands! Pablo…you and your immediate family will be my guest in the Command Section. Hank and I will see you in a couple of minutes…NightWind Command, Out!” Vince Dongen reported. “Stand-by crew to the bridge, Standard Helm (No pilot required, regular helmsman will pilot the ship)! We are at Orange Alert; Maintain a Defensive posture,” the TOC announced over the intercom to the Green Room. The Green Room was the place where back-up Bridge officers stood ready during Red Alerts (if not assigned to a weapon system), in case they were needed. “All on-duty bridge officers report to the Captain’s Meeting Room. XO, you have the bridge. AUG1…we need you in the meeting. XO bring up AUG2 from the rear section to help oversee the bridge…I want him plugged into theMAINand covering every possible angle against a sneak attack!” The Commander stated.

“Lt. Biscayne, organize a boarding party with the passenger shuttles, and send out 2 space container barges to load their necessary equipment from the Adrianittas. Send out a fueler ship to take on all her plasma rocket fuel. I want to leave her dead in the water. We may need her plasma fuel if we start chasing the DistantStar around the solar system. All other critical systems…leave alone…Make sure the ship is rigged for re-boarding by people from NightWind Command only,” the Commander called to the rear section of the ship. “MDO to Commander’s office,” the Commander mic’d out a message just to the MDO. Everyone looked at the Commander, it was rare for him to call anyone person to his office. He usually called for 2 or more people, and then it was usually for a meeting.

“Captain…start the briefing without me. I need a tactical assessment from every department on the recent battle. So, discuss that with them till I get there!” The TOC

said to his Captain. “Yes, Sir!” the Captain responded. The TOC walked out of his bridge station, through the hallway entrance doors and back down the hallway to his office. He stopped briefly for a moment, and looked up through his overhead glass in his office. He could see a few distant stars way out in space, but otherwise they were way out in nowheresville, outer space. He said a quick prayer to the creator of time and space, God, for allowing his ship and crew to survive their first battle on this mission. He took a deep breath, enjoying what only Captain’s and Commander’s can feel after an engagement where their ship is still functioning unscathed. He walked behind his desk and plopped down in the seat, “AAAHH!” he sighed as he let out his deep breath. He threw both legs up on his desk, the meeting with his MDO was going to be personal, not professional anyways. So, he wouldn’t stand on formalities.

The office door slid open, and his MDO walked in. “Sir…you wanted to see me?” the young MDO said. “Sit, my young officer, and make yourself at home,” the TOC stated.

The MDO knew something was up…the Commander was never this casual with him. “We have a few things to discuss…First off…How is your father, by the way?” The Commander asked. “UUHH, Great…I suppose…since we last talked this morning. He didn’t happen to tell you anything was different with him or the BOARD…did he?” the TOC asked. The MDO’s father was an Admiral on the board. He had specifically requested that his son train under Vince Dongen for this mission. That in itself seemed a little bit odd to Vince. The man had gone on and on about all Vince’s accomplishments

when he put in the request for his son to work his ship. “No Sir…He didn’t give me any details along those lines…but then he never does!” The Mission Director replied. “Sir!” the MDO said, “Permission to talk freely!” the young man said. “Of course, MDO Brauhman! Please, feel free to talk and be at ease, by all means!” the Commander stated to the young officer. “What’s this about?” the MDO asked. “What part of what’s this about, are you asking about, Command staff member? This little talk we’re having or the fact that we just stood down from a Red Alert?” The Top Operation Commander asked his Mission Director of Operations. The MDO knew he had better answer that he was

concerned more for what the ship had been through, then this little conversation they were having. “Hey…Relax MDO…I’m just messin’ with you!” The Commander snarled in a quick laugh, he was trying to push the young man’s buttons…get a real feeling how

he reacted under pressure. “This isn’t about making sure the lions and chickens on Enviro-Deck have enough chow for the next couple of months…So…listen-up, young man…I’m going to cut to the chase with some serious business…so listen to everything I’m about to ask you before you comment. I wouldn’t be doing this in the middle of a war if I didn’t think it wasn’t 100% necessary,” the Commander said, and made his motives clear.

“Number 1, The DistantStar is out of spaceport ahead of schedule, without clear orders sent to this Command about her departure. Number 2, the DistantStar has fired and destroyed one of our Repair Wing Class Shuttles, with an unconfirmed death toll of 5 from our crew added to their actions, yet did not bother to fire one shot on us while we hit them with everything we have. Number 3, someone at the helm of the DistantStar knew exactly what the Ontar’s role in space was and removed it from orbit, then knew exactly where to find the Adrianittas, when we had specifically set coordinates in untraveled far space between Saturn and Jupiter. Number 4, there are only a handful of people that could carry out this kind of operation, and man a complete starship in deep space with enough balls to take on it’s sister ship…and two of them are already serving on the NightWind…that leaves three BOARD Command Admirals, and one BOARD appointed Captain who just happens to be in assigned Space Alliance training with a French War Class fighter wing group on the outer rim of our galaxy, aboard the Planète Voyageur (Indominable’ Class Starship). There is no way that Captain in training is anywhere in space, other than with hisassignedwing group.Number5, Out ofthose three Admirals, which one would not fire on the NightWind for personal reasons, and which one “freakishly” insisted on you being assigned to my command. The answer to this and many questions is your Dad! I just hope there is an explainable reason for his actions, and that he hasn’t harmed anyone else on the Base station, our Repair Wing, or onboard the DistantStar,” The TOC stated, as he laid out the whole plot as he saw it to his MDO. His MDO stood in shock, numbified. Clearly, the kid knew nothing of what his Commander had just theorized to him.

“Sir…I don’t know anything about what you are saying….I mean…it sounds crazy to me

…why would my Dad risk his career and position to steal a starship, attack a Repair shuttle, steal a satellite, and risk combat with us over the Adrianittas? All…just like you said. My Dad is a highly decorated Moon Colony War Veteran, and even a World War III Naval battle survivor (out to sea when all the nukes fell onAmerica!). He has been an Admiral for over twenty years and on the BOARD for nearly 10 of those years. He has never even brought home a paperclip from U.S.S.E. without filling out the proper paperwork, ever since I can remember!” The MDO emphasized under a great amount of stress over the news. “I’m sure he hasn’t…and I don’t point my finger at him lightly…but based on us out in space alone to assume and left to presumably take on the DistantStar, with no Comm link to the BOARD and no incoming news from Earth. All my judgment and suspicion, points my finger right at him, as my first choice for the man responsible for these acts. Anyone else…and I would have trouble figuring out why they didn’t fire on us, and how they knew when the Ontar had come on line, and where to look for the

Adrianittas! He would make the same call in my shoes if the role was reversed,” the Commander stated. Silence fell across the room. The MDO remained stunned. “My Dad

did pump me for info about the Adrianittas new rendezvous point. I thought it was just

BOARD business…” the Director admitted. “See…he’s got you even crossing the line, not knowing why he is asking out of the scope of protocol. Didn’t you just say he never discusses details with you about what he does?” The Top Ops Commander asked. “Yes Sir!” the Mission Director of Ops responded. “Then…why would he ask you to do something that he himself never does!” the TOC said. “Good Question…” the MDO replied.

“Look…for now this conversation is classified. I will be discussing it with FC and any

Bridge Officer on a need to know basis. Let this serve as a heads up that something is strange…for now. It may all change…I hope that my suspicion is wrong or that there is a logical reason to explain all this. For immediate business, I want you to personally oversee the placement of all personnel, and passengers, and their gear on board the Adrianittas. Their Captain was my boss for many years, and I want him given the Officer treatment. He and his immediate family can stay in the Command Center,” TOC stated. “Yes, Sir! I will see to it, Sir!” the MDO responded. “Then…get the pigs off the container barges and get them to the galley, and help their staff put them down for dinner…the Luau will go as planned at this point…even if we have to send party trays out to everyone’s Battle Stations…It’s for the good of morale’. A very important thing on a mission deep into space! Trust me from experience…MDO,” The TOC added. “Yes, Sir! Will do!” the MDO answered. “And, let the Farm Deck director know his prize pig has been spared!” the TOC said. “Got it, Sir! Anything else, Sir?” the MDO asked. “Yes,

there is. Make sure…everything’s done with your usual proficiency…I can not afford to have anything affect my Mission Director from carrying out all his duties…especially in alert conditions…even if it turns out your father is up to something. These walls have ears and every deck has eyes watching…and the MAIN always has her audio enhanced when she wants to know something. That is all, MDO!” The TOC concluded. The MDO turned and left the office after nodding his head that he understood. The Commander followed right behind him on his way down to the Captain’s Meeting Room. He needed to get to the meeting underway…quick!

The Captain’s Meeting Room is the most forward working compartment of the entire ship. It is on B1 and sits directly below the Captain’s Quarters. The internal part of the working Bridge is cylindrical, from B1 to B4 with the decks inside of the command section having almost an egg shape to them from a side cutout view. That’s just the bridge dept. only. That doesn’t include engines, life support, storage, officer quarters

(the Commander’s is most of rear deck-B4, with his office being the furthest to the rear

deck-B3), retractable wings, landing gear, shuttle bays, etc. It’s just how the bridge layout is configured. For a little more detail for you the reader, I’ll lay out the bridge for you.

AUG units, such as myself, often give tours of the entire ship when instructed to do so, and the commander has given you a Level 2 clearance…which is categorized as cleared for every piece of information onboard, but only as you need to know. So, let me continue with the Bridge Layout because the Command Section (Deemed Eagle One by it’s call sign) has been really thought out for practical efficiency and for comfort. Starting with B1, the Captain’s Meeting room retracts up into a steel enclosure when entering an atmosphere or on an alert. Otherwise, it has a near complete glass port 360 degree view from the nose of the ship. This comes in handy when on the surface of a planet or moon

and overseeing a colony. The other part of B1 is dedicated to Pilot seats and Monitors all the way around. It has glass ports to the rear and sides, with a tunnel shaped one that runs to the front. The Monitors do the rest of the telling to the pilots of where they are at in any given time, plus they each have a 36” monitor right in front of them where they can bring up any view they want or fix for multi-views of the ship. There is a huge round glass port in the center bottom of floor to B1. The Pilot Seats are built up over the glass on a metal scaffolding. These glass ports give them a true depth feel with no distortion, at all times. The XO’s station sits in the middle of the pilot seats, also on metal scaffolding and has a platform for him to move around between the two pilots.

This is the most business end of the ship…it is also the simplest deck on the whole vessel. The only other thing on B1 are the motor hydraulics that pull a special heat coated insulated glass shield cover that slides over the bottom hull over B1. It is for added protection in combat and re-entry. B2 is all flight and spaceship engine instrumentation From here the Captain has a total read-out of the ship at any given moment and the manpower nearby him to give him any flight information he needs. B2 houses the

Captains Quarters and his office in the front, ahead of the bridge. Then, comes his station on the forward side of the bridge, with a swivel chair which sits out over the edge, nearly above his XO. The rest of B2 is a mixture of equipment, storage, crew member cabins, and the two rear shuttle bays (equipped with two mid sized space shuttles) at the rear of this deck level. The MAIN computer for this section stands alone in the hallway before you enter the shuttle bays. ThisMAINis apart of all MAIN computer’s that every section has. B3 is dedicated to Bridge officers, Command Ship Pilots, and head of departments for most of the level. Various compartments along this deck house the primary life support functions for the Command Ship, as well. On the Bridge itself, B3 is where you find all the weapon and shield controls for Eagle One and the whole ship. There as you have seen earlier, the Commander has his station. It is on the rear side of the bridge and overlooks the lower 2 levels, with a seat for his two assistants during alerts: the Captain and myself (AUG1). It also overhangs a little so that you can easily have a few of all decks on the bridge in the hollow cylinder cavity that runs through the center of the bridge at all levels. The very back of B3 is where the huge Commanders office is. Also along the rear of B3, behind the bridge are several compartments where weapons are manned that are fired from outside hull on B3. The weapons range from cannons to lasers to machine gun turrets. There are several missile launch tubes located fore and aft at the edge of the hull on B3.

B4 is the Navigation and Communication deck. The top of the Command Center’s hull is at the ceiling level for B4. All primary equipment is housed on this level for these functions. Back-up systems are tied in on B2 and B3. The Captain has his stately quarters on B4 with a tremendous penthouse view from up there. The BOARD Conference Room is adjacent to his quarters on B4 and also has a great view. It sits right above the foyer entrance to his office on B3. But, don’t feel sorry for the Commander having to commute downstairs to his office. He has his own private elevator! There are several guest quarters up on B4 next to the Commanders Quarters, and a gym complete with a pool

(which has a little inlet that flows over to the Commanders Quarters just for his private use). The gym is scaled down slightly from the one in the rear section. It has one court which can be converted around to be used for tennis, basketball, speed soccer, gun range, indoor football, batting cages, putt-putt, etc. It has a running track around it. There is a smaller court next to it that serves as a weight room, racquetball court, bowling alley, and a party room. Everything is multi-purpose on a starship! And of course there is B5, the pilot’s cockpit that sits built into the top of the bridge. It is built in with scaffolding running across the top of the roof, over a glass port, almost the same as the set-up on B1.

The Lead Pilot andRIOthat sit up in the cockpit are trained to fly the huge NightWind ship like a small fighter ship…if necessary. The cockpit even comes with ejector pods for both people inside, just like fighter ships. It’s designed to get pilots back to flying the large ship by the seat of their pants, instead of the cushioned, push button world they had grown accustomed to at the helm of the bridge. It was Vince Dongen’s idea that he had built in to the rear main section’s bridge back when it was the main control to the ship.

It helped to get the pilot’s edge back that had been lost over the years from looking through so many monitor’s deep inside the ship.

Add to it this some of the extra features that the Command ship has, like retractable wings, its own tractor beams, and an assortment of landing gear for all known terrains, and you have the amazing Command Section of the NightWind. Versatile and rugged, the Command Center truly becomes like an Eagle in flight when separated from the mother ship, or as a tip of the spear when controlling the whole thing!