Saxon Andrew - A rose grows in weeds

“Please keep me updated on what you plan.”

“Director, I expect you and your staff to attend the next planning session.”

“I look forward to seeing you again Prince Gardner.” Tag could see her smiling as she broke the connection.

Dorg looked at Tag and said, “Thanks for stepping in on that conversation; I was at a loss on how to explain what happened.”

“Glad to do it Admiral.”

Dorg stood up and looked out the viewport and said, “I’m somewhat angry at the Ship’s Captain that jumped me when I jumped into the Human’s system. She also passed information along that she would have only had by keeping an eye on my actions. She must stay alert all the time. She also jumped in on me within three seconds of my breaking into normal space and that tells me that her crew must be well trained to respond so quickly.”

Tag looked at him and said, “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.”

Dorg grinned and said, “Yes I am, if it meets with your approval.”

Tag shrugged and laughed, “You’re going to scare the living groad out of her, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely,” then Dorg keyed his com and said, “Earth Command Center, please respond.”

“Go ahead Admiral.”

“Please detach the Dublin from your system defense and have it report to Castle Gardner in forty eight hours.”

“How long will they be detached, Sir?”

“Indefinitely, have them report to me upon their arrival.”

“Yes Sir, I will notify the Dublin and Command immediately.”

Dorg looked at Tag and Ron-Dar and said, “Who says I don’t have a sense of humor?”

A voice came over the speaker that said, “You are making progress, Admiral.”

All three of them laughed out loud and continued their flight to Ross.

Tag walked into Castle Gardner from the roof to find Danielle and Rose waiting for him. They both ran up and wrapped their arms around him and held on tightly. “I was so worried, Tag,” Danielle said as tears started down her cheeks.

“Danielle, you know I’m protected.”

Rose chimed in with, “Yes you are, but what if the Plants found you floating in space and began nudging you toward the sun. If you were forced into that furnace, I believe we don’t have a ship that could rescue you.”

Tag thought, “Atlas, is there any truth in what she’s saying?”

“I’m afraid she’s right, Tag; oh excuse me, Your Majesty. I would not be able to go to the core of a star.”

“Forget the Your Majesty, we’re among friends here. Then if they had tried that, I would have determined just how effective your hand weapon is.” “If you used it they would pinpoint your location and then use their primary beams to push you toward the sun. Rose is right, we could have lost you.”

“But you didn’t; so let’s be thankful and try not to let it happen again.”

Danielle held on to Tag and continued to cry. Rose kissed her father’s cheek and left the room. “Danielle, I’m here and I’m ok. You know there are risks in what we are doing and you have to come to terms with them.”

She looked up into his eyes and then turned and took his hand and pulled them toward their private quarters. “I’ll show you some terms,” and then she closed the door behind them.

Rose commed Leila and said, “I believe Mom will be busy for a while. Will you hold her calls?”

“Already doing it, kiddo.”

Rose smiled and then she went to the map room to take a look at the Algeans.

Bridget O’Donald was sitting on her bridge preparing for departure to Ross. She sat there knowing that she was in big trouble and was hoping she kept her command. “I thought I was doing the right thing but now it looks like I messed up keeping an eye on my Commanding Officer. Oh, this is not going to be good,” she thought.

“Sir, the ship is ready for departure.”

She looked out of her viewport at Earth and then said, “Jump in five seconds.” She sat and waited nervously as the universe turned around her.

The Dublin broke into normal space just outside the orbit or Ross and settled into a geostationary orbit over the capital city. Bridget keyed her com and said, “Spaceport Authority, I am arriving at Admiral Dorg’s request and ask permission to make orbit.”

“Permission granted and he is expecting you. I have sent the directions to your display and he asks that you be there in thirty minutes.”

“Holy Mother,” Bridget thought. “It’s worse than I expected.” Then she turned to her sensor officer and said, “Locate the coordinates of these directions so I can get there quickly.”

Lt. Miller ran them thru the program he had set up for Ross and found them very confusing, however, the program was almost intelligent and when the answer came out, both of them were confused.

“Sir, I suggest you take a chance and go where this says you should be,” Lt. Miller said.

Bridget looked again at the coordinates, shrugged, and went and boarded a small one man shuttle. She exited the main bay and dropped through the atmosphere to the planet’s surface. She braked and hovered forty feet above a park in the middle of the city and waited while people under her ship moved so she could land. After a minute she lowered the shuttle to the ground and stepped out into the park. She immediately noticed a large group of statues in front of her. She walked up to the edge of the clearing and saw that they were statues of human colonists that were being killed by Cainth weapon platforms. She stared at them and then heard a voice from behind her.

“It looks like I owe Prince Gardner five credits.”

She turned around and saw Admiral Dorg. “I always come here whenever I come to this planet. I don’t want to ever forget the debt I owe for my stupidity and arrogance.”

Bridget looked at him and could tell that he was sincere. She had heard about all he had done for the survivors of the Ross invasion and she knew he had been forgiven by the colonists. “You can’t forgive yourself, can you, Sir.”

Dorg looked at her with an expression that showed his surprise. “Captain, I’m surprised. I never expected you to work out those directions in time to make this meeting in a timely fashion, but you did. Now you see me as few have. No, I will never be able to forgive myself for what happened here. I come here to remind me to never forget what conceit and arrogance can lead to.” Dorg then sat down on a bench and motioned Bridget to join him. “Quite frankly, I was going to work you over and then tell you why I brought you here, but now after seeing the statues, I don’t have the heart for it.”

“Why did you bring me here, Admiral?”

“I was somewhat angry about you keeping track of me back at that moon. When your Director called and asked about my actions, I knew you had kept me on your monitors and I didn’t like it.” Bridget looked very uncomfortable but remained silent. “I notice you’re not apologizing and that makes me more convinced that I’ve made a good decision here.”

“Here it comes,” She thought.

“You kept track of me because you are responsible for the safety of your system. Keeping track of me was also done for my safety.” Bridget was startled that he would know that. “If anything happened to me on your watch, you like I, would have difficulty forgiving yourself.”

“I’m genuinely surprised you see that, Admiral.”

“Now, letting Director Nicole know was more than what was needed but I’m forced to admit that if you reported to me and didn’t notify me if someone of my stature came in the system, then I would be greatly upset.”

“Exactly, Sir; she deserved to know.”

“So, why are you here, Captain?”

“I thought you were going to bust me and send me home; now I honestly don’t know.”