Captain Durnez sat patiently as the admiral browsed the dossier between them.
Cmdr. Phillipe Nevarre
Age: 31 Dependents: 1
Education: Burgundy Conservatory MS Psychology, Marne Military Academy: OCS, Pilot Certification, Warship Personnel & Logistics
OCS Class Ranking: 23/320
Commendations: Croix d'Honor, Medal d'Service Merit-2nd Award, Meritorious Promotion to Lieutenant, Field Promotion to Commander
History of Service:
Defected to Council service from Royal Navy
Fighter Pilot, 23rd Asst. Squadron, 4th Light Wing, 2yrs Duty, Medal d'Service Merit
Bomber Pilot, 23rd Asst. Squadron, 12th Escort Flight, 1yr Duty
Embarkation Officer, Joyeux Neux Battlecruiser, 2yrs Duty, Meritorious Promotion to Lieutenant
Security Officer, Joan d'Arc Carrier, 6mo Duty, Croix d'Honor, Field Promotion to Commander
First Officer, Chateau d'Nuages Battleship, Medal d'Service Merit
Current Assignment:
Chateau d'Nuages, special detached assignment
The admiral sipped thoughtfully from his glass, furrowing his grayed brow as he looked over the paperwork one last time before at last breaking the silence.
You think he will do for the task, Capitaine?
The other nodded, Oui, he is most capable, Admiral. He is not the sort to go looking for trouble, but as you can see. . .he does not run from it either.
Oui, this I can see, the old man nodded in turn, looking up from the papers for the first time in what seemed ages. He was on board the Joan d'Arc?
He was one of the five junior officers who took command after the bridge was hit. They evacuated the crew and purchased time for the escape of. .
I am well acquainted with the battle, monsieur. Still, it is impressive. . .but there are field commanders with more experience.
Perhaps more experience, but Admiral, I would put him forward for this assignment as more ready than myself. He already has gained familiarity with the House systems, and is practiced in negotiations on their terms, just from gathering the funds for this project.
What of the dependent listed here? I specified that no leave would be possible, so none with families were viable candidates.
It is his daughter, monsieur. His wife was killed by police forces quelling a riot. . .causing his original defection. She has been placed with a surrogate caretaker, with no direct ties to Commander Nevarre, to avoid repercussions for his defection. Thus, he is already unable to visit her on leave, with one exception. Seeing the admiral arc a disapproving eyebrow, the captain explained further, Upon returning from this special assignment, I arranged for him to see her for the last few months. . .as her therapist. He has been monitored and kept his identity quiet from her.
Scratching his chin, the old man finally sighed, Very well. . .show him in.
Nodding, the Captain gestured to the sergeant standing guard at the door, who vanished, and a few minutes later reentered leading a tall man with meticulously trimmed hair and mustache of the deepest black, but piercing crystal blue eyes.
You wanted to see me, mon capitaine?
Indeed, Phillipe, the Admiral and I were just discussing that it was high time you stopped plugging around Sirius in freighters, and returned to the bridge of a warship.
The young man grinned, Oui, cargo trading is. . .ennuyer meme. And I'm sure your ship has missed its first officer, mon capitaine!
It has. . .and it still will for a few weeks while I select a new one. We've decided it is high time you received a command of your own.
Phillipe grinned broadly and joined the men at the table, Dans la verite? Oui, I shall make you proud, and gladly accept! But, I am curious, I have heard of no fleet commanders retiring, nor of a new vessel being built.
A this, the admiral grinned broadly, That, monsieur, is because the vessel was not built by us. Drawing a set of blueprints from his briefcase, he set them on the table before the commander.
Mon Dieu! An Asco? But. . .this. . .this is a pirate vessel!
It is a versatile ship, and for this particular task, we needed someone to build it without eyes on them, as the king's men watch all our shipyards very closely. But, if it offends you, Captain, it is your option to decline the comission and return to serving on the Chateau d'Nuages. . .
Non! I only was surprised. . .so, why did we need a ship in secret?
Three weeks later, Captain Nevarre stood at the dock in the Montbard Base, with Lt. Deveroux, his new first officer at his side as a new Asco was towed into launch position.
Mon Dieux, Lieutenant, I thought from the designs I would hate this ship. . .but she is actually quite lovely.
"So, was it worth it?"
"Ah. . .I am not sure anything will ever be worth that hold of fertilizer we took all the way from Holstein to Cambridge. . ." Looking up at the Asco one more time, "but we shall see."
Have you thought of a name, mon capitaine?
Oui, since we are to be ambassadors. . .I shall call her. . .
Emissaire Dore (Golden Emissary)
Asco Gunboat
Captain: Phillipe Nevarre
First Officer: Lt. Elaine Deveroux
Weapons Officer: Lt.JG Pierre Gascon
Quartermaster: Ensign Jean D'Garre
Engineer: Ensign Antoine Montchoy
Total Crew Including Enlisted Personel: 21
Mission: Venture into Sirius core systems to garner support for the Council war effort, and to gain acceptance for Gallia with Sirian society.
Captain Nevarre gazed out the starboard porthole, watching the fading shimmer of the jump hole they had just passed through vanish into the tangle that the mine field became. After watching a moment more he sighed and returned to his command station, sitting stiffly in the chair as he watched the last Council outpost draw large in front of them.
The first test run had gone well, their limited engagement with a small naval patrol wing had escalated with the arrival of a bomber wing, followed by a few police fighters, yet the Emissare had held her own beautifully, and her crew had performed like a well oiled machine, as though they'd worked together for years.
Lieutenant Deveroux noticed her captains unease and broke the silence, "Easy Capitaine, you've been out there before, remember? It's the rest of us that should be nervous."
"I was out there with a cargo vessel that was well known, not a warship, and a pirate one at that."
"They don't know it's a pirate design, anymore than we could cite their ports of origin right now. This isn't quite first contact, but I doubt if many are well acquainted with Gallic space."
Nevarre shrugged, "I know, just a big step I suppose. . ." He looked around at his crew, "Very well, let's up in to Reunion Station, repair and refit, ensure that the diplomatic gifts are still secured, and send any messages to your families you want them to receive for a good while."
With a nod to Elaine at the helm, Captain Nevarre relaxed into his captain's chair and listened to the ship's engines hum and whirr as they shifted into docking impulse.