CROSSFIRE - Atlantis DSV - New Cape Quest

Ainsley‟s shoulders slumped with a raised eyebrow, hands planted firmly against the
command deck‟s guard rail. “We were never going to win this by shooting out way out, even
if we were in a position to,” he observed quietly.
Ainsley worked his jaw, his eyes boring a hole in to the deck ahead of him before he
finally straightened his uniform and stood to his full height. “I want each and every one of you
to understand me very clearly,” he called aloud. “Irrespective of their motivations – that ship
out there is still one of ours. They‟re our friends – our blood. You‟ve fought and bled for them
when it mattered, and they in turn have bled for you. You‟re fighting for the same thing; there
are no sides in this. We will take no action that will place their lives in danger, nor will I
endanger yours. I am sorry that circumstance has brought us to this crossroad, but I‟m going
to have to ask you to trust me.”
There were a few smiles and murmurs at that, and Ainsley looked at Mackenzie
again. “Get me Captain Banick,” he ordered.
The Admiral paced across the command deck as the uplink was established, and
then looked at the gaunt, tired reflection of James Banick on the main display. He never
even had a chance to speak before the man stood up and glared at him icily. “Vice Admiral
Ainsley,” he said formally. “I am ordering you to relinquish command of the Aquarius DSV
immediately, and prepare to be boarded.”
Ainsley pursed his lips, his gaze lowering. “Am I to understand I am being arrested,
Captain? On what charge”
“Under article eighty-one of the UEO UCMJ, citing conspiracy to wilfully undermine
the chain of command, to ends in violation of article ninety-two of that same code: dereliction
of duty and failure to observe orders.”
Ainsley raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in front of him. “The penalties for falsely
accusing a staff officer of such a crime, Captain, are severe. I might ask you under what
authority you ordered the Rapiers to fire on an unarmed shuttle, without prior provocation.”
“You know damn well what this is about!” he hissed. “This is your only warning.
You‟ve got two minutes to give me your answer.”
The channel was terminated abruptly leaving Ainsley staring at a bare bulkhead
behind the holographic screen. He inhaled deeply as he continued to stare before a motion
in the corner of his eye drew his attention. Ainsley turned, finding the young woman waiting
silently just inside the bridge‟s great pressure doors. Razak and Mackenzie had walked
down to meet her and exchanged a few words quietly, but Ainsley didn‟t recognise her. Her
uniform, on the other hand, was unmistakeable. A long, black straight-cut tunic, lined in gold
pipping and buttons down the chest below a high collar – the diamond-shaped, buckled
chevrons on her shoulders being those of a Nycarian Captain, although she could not have
been a day over thirty... Not that any UEO logic could have ever been appropriately applied
to age and associated achievement within the Nycarian military.
The Captain looked at the woman curiously as he approached before raising an
eyebrow at Razak. “Commander?”
“Admiral Ainsley, this...”
Razak was cut off abruptly as the Nycarian stepped forward, offering her hand
smartly. The motion seemed to surprise the two UEO commanders beside her, but Ainsley
simply smiled and took it with a slight bow. He remembered that which he‟d been told by the
Nycarian Chancellor nearly two years prior – in contrast to most militaries, for the Nycarians
it was perfectly customary for senior officers to salute the lower ranks. Her grip was firm, and
her fierce, grey eyes didn‟t even blink as they met his.
“...I am Captain Anniel Rhodes, Admiral,” she introduced herself in sharp, flawless
English. “Fleet Viceroy Narius Rhodes sent me to here to assist Captain Hornsby... An offer I
feel would be appropriate to extend to you, in these circumstances.”
Ainsley cracked a half-smile at her name. “Your father.”
“My relationship to the Viceroy is unimportant, Admiral,” she replied curtly, drawing
further surprise from the two commanders. “If you will allow the observation, I do not believe
now is an appropriate time for the customary introductions favoured by the UEO diplomatic
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