FSRB Chpt 195

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 195==
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February 3070Interlude: Settling the frontier 
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===Rebuilding an Orphan an Army===
Potemkin Class Troop Cruiser, CSJ Steve Showers
In Orbit of Planet J-A-12
35.6 Light Years from Cooperland
Cooperland Combat Region, Crucis March
Federated Suns
Rear Admiral (ret) Gregory Patterson had never actually commanded a warship. In fact he'd never even served on one. They had come before and after his time as a Federated Suns Navy Rear Admiral. His largest command had been a flotilla of combat dropships which he had commanded from the bridge of an Achilles class assault dropship. Still he had seen the bridge of a Fox I corvette and seen the holovids and specification plans for the Avalon cruiser and Congress-D II frigate bridges. Compared to those bridges, and particularly the bridge of a combat dropship, the huge bridge of the CSJ Steve Showers seemed wasteful and decadent. Still when you had just a hair over 1 and a half million tons of warship to play with you could afford little luxuries like a bridge that didn't take the skin of the elbows of it's command staff if they moved too suddenly. It even made sense given the second line role of the huge troop cruiser and the command and control assets that were often required to keep control and organize up to twenty five dropships which it carried. Regardless he couldn't help but smile at the stern faced Star Commodore Alexander as he approached the Clan Trueborn officer's command chair. The lightly built aerospace fighter phenotype Trueborn stood and bowed his oversized head slightly at his approach and the former Rear Admiral bowed his head just a fraction deeper as a sign of a respect to the man who commanded this massive vessel. It never hurt to be courteous to the Clanners, who despite their genuine respect for the FedSun's and it's Prince could still be sticklers for honor. 
"Thank you for inviting me onto the bridge of your magnificent vessel, Star Commodore." Gregory Patterson spoke truthfully as on the main view screen the world they were approaching grew. He chose his words with care and avoided all contractions as per the cultural handbooks. "You do me a great honor." 
"The honor of having a warrior with your pedigree upon my bridge is mine, Rear Admiral." A surprisingly deep voice for such a figure emanated from the Trueborn warrior. "I trust my ship and her crew have made the voyage as pleasant as possible in the circumstances?"
"None of my people could fault the hospitality or courtesy that your people have extended to us. Even if a few are perhaps suffering somewhat from a touch of cabin fever having been stuck in the dropships for nearly two months..." Patterson indicated the planet approaching on the screen. "I am sure that they will find it worth it however."
"I trust they will. I have seen the survey crews reports of J-A-12. Indeed one of my sibkin was the command officer of the survey team. It is one of the finer worlds that we have charted in this region of space and has ample mineral resources while being pleasantly habitable and capable of supporting agriculture. I trust you and your fellow colonists will do well here." Alexander's deep voice was as polite as any Clan born warrior could be. 
"Of course. Which is one of the reasons that the Colony Trust has paid such a high fee to Clan Sun Jaguar for the world..." Patterson smiled broadly. "Because it is worth it!"
"I do not know of such things, I leave that to our merchant factors on New Avalon." Alexander smiled slightly less broadly but still he smiled. Clan Sun Jaguar had learned from it's predecessor that scorning material concerns and trade did not make a Clan strong. Far from it. "I do know that had the world been just a few jumps closer to our own enclaves we might have settled it ourselves, particularly due to the high concentrations of Germanium deposits in the asteroid belt, perhaps that is why the Colony Trust chose an Admiral to lead the first wave I suspect... I do have a question for you if I may?"
"Of course!" Patterson gave permission for the question. "I would be happy to answer any question you might have!"
Alexander nodded his thanks. "Have you and your colonists picked a name for J-A-12?" 
"We have. After the reports came through about the Battle of Verde the choice was clear." Both men turned to the blue and green planet approaching on the view screen, knowing that the bridge crew were all listening in with interest. "We are looking at Clay's World, Star Commodore." 
"An excellent name and a fine way to honor a fallen hero. I am sure that my entire crew will approve just as much as I do that we are helping the colonization of so well named a world as Clay's World, Rear Admiral..." Alexander spoke and all around the bridge even the civilian caste members of the crew nodded firmly in agreement. "We will enter orbit within the hour and as soon as we do I will begin undocking operations for your dropships... After that is complete we will remain in orbit for a  few days in case of emergency and then move on with our remaining seven dropship to set up the small mining colony on J-B-10, although I must say that world is not as fine a one as you will be settling. We will stop by on the way back to make sure things are going well."
"We would appreciate it. I look forward to seeing you then and again when you bring out the second wave of colonists in six months. Perhaps by then I will be able to return your hospitality and invite you to the home I intend to build in Walkersville." Rear Admiral Patterson said letting slip the proposed capital cities name to the Star Commodore.
"I look forward to it Rear Admiral Patterson! I will even attempt to remember to bring a dozen bottles of that terrible beer you introduced me too!" Both men laughed as the ship continued on towards Clay's World...
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