Echoes of Harmony

SSV Celestial Phoenix

Mog-Daruhl System

“What the hell were you thinking, Fischer?”

Major Landon Finley’s voiced echoed in the hangar as the man stormed towards Ethan. He was a broad shouldered man just at the limit of the height restriction for fighter pilots. A few steps behind him was a a woman Fischer didn’t recognize. She wore a pair of sleek, transparent glasses and had her brown hair tied into a bun on top of her head. Enlisted technicians moved to avoid being in direct line of sight of the major while being able to watch the incoming confrontation. Ethan let loose a small sigh before turning to look at the man. Finley was redder than Fischer had ever seen him.

“Sir?” he asked. Instantly, he knew that was the wrong choice as the man’s face twisted and grew even redder.

“Don’t give me that shit.” Finley stopped no more than a few centimeters away and held his finger in Ethan’s face. He resisted the urge to slap it away. “You are supposed to follow orders, not just go out there like an idiot. Your actions could have gotten you killed. Or, maybe you don’t care about yourself. Maybe you would care if your new squadmates were lost? If Lieutenants Tajik or Vance were killed, would that have snapped some sense into you? Maybe Lieutenant Bahr? Could you just not wait for a repeat of the Battle of Stariek?”

Ethan grew angrier with every passing word, to the point he barely heard what Finley was saying, let alone understood it. The man knew nothing about him. He knew nothing about the motives behind his actions. How dare Finley act as if Ethan didn’t care?

Ethan felt his arms beginning to shake. His hands clenched at his side, the fingernails digging into his palms. The blood rushing through his ears made him barely hear the major as he continued his tirade. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“Sir, I want only two things,” Ethan said, cutting through the major’s spiel. “The first is to get home to my sister and parents. The other is to make the Druthagar feel as much pain as they’ve made me feel.”

“And you planned on doing that by blindly charging a warship that would have ripped you to shreds?”

“Not blindly, sir.” Ethan stood straighter. “It was a calculated risk, one that would have destroyed the enemy vessel.”

“An enemy vessel that was destroyed while you were returning here with ease by one of the Hyperion ships.” Finley gripped Ethan’s chin between his thumb and forefinger when he tried to turn away. Ethan once more restrained himself from hitting the man, instead choosing to just rip his head out of the grab. “So, tell me again how much the risk would have been worth it.”

Ethan opened his mouth to speak before promptly closing it. The more he thought about it, the more he allowed the adrenaline to drain from his body, the more he realized how stupid he was being. With a sigh, he hung his head before raising it to look Finley in the eyes.

“You’re right, sir. I never should have taken the risks I did. I put the entire squadron in jeopardy.”

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“I’m glad to hear you agree with my assessment,” Finley said, turning to the woman. “Captain, if you could explain the situation.”

“Lieutenant Ethan Fischer, my name is Sarah Fields, and I work with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.” She smiled slightly, though the expression was almost pained. “I’m sure you’re familiar with our department.”

“I’ve heard of you guys a couple times,” Ethan replied, crossing his arms. His thoughts ran rampant as he considered the many possibilities of why one of the JAGs would be talking to him. None of them were good news. He was distinctly more aware of the dozens of eyes watching them. “What can I do for you?”

“Admiral Elliott Hayes has ordered you to be restricted to your quarters pending a formal investigation of your actions today. I’d like to not make this a bigger deal than it is. If you’d allow me to escort you to your bunk, that would make things much easier for everyone involved.”

“How long am I being locked up for?” Ethan needed to force himself to form the words. His mouth had suddenly gone dry, nearly causing him to stumble over them. What would Elina think of him if she knew he was being confined to his quarters, if she knew he was possibly facing a court martial? His head swam with the thought.

“I wouldn’t use the term locked up. After all, you are not under arrest as of yet.” She again smiled, this time in a way that was supposed to be reassuring but came across anything but. “You will be restricted for however long the investigation takes to conclude. You will still have access to those amenities that have previously been afforded to you, and you will receive meals as normal.”

She gestured towards the hangar door, which stood open. “If you wouldn’t mind leading the way?”

“Do I really have a choice?”

Fields smiled once more, reminding Ethan of nothing less than a shark. “No.”

Ethan sighed and started walking towards the opening. The dozens of stares felt as if they were piercing into him. Of course, he should have expected this. Not many people were lucky enough to get away with disobeying orders.

A brief rustle of movement to his right drew his attention. Ava Bahr walked side by side with him, matching his stride.

“It’ll be alright,” she said. Ava placed a hand on her shoulder. “Give it time, and they’ll forget all about this.”

“I wish that were true, Ava.”

He shrugged her hand away, continuing to the hallway and eventually arrived at the primary lift of the carrier. It opened after a moment, dispensing a trio of technicians who hurried past and left Ethan and Captain Fields alone. A short ride later, they were deposited at the proper deck for his quarters and they arrived outside. A pair of security guards stood outside as sentinels.

“Lieutenant Ethan Fischer,” Fields said, “you are to remain in your quarters until the investigation is completed. If you need anything, let these two gentlemen know and, if it is within their power, they will provide it. Any questions?”

Ethan shook his head, still somewhat in shock at the revelation. He walked through the door, listening as it hissed shut behind him. Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room. It was rather spartan and much like the one he had aboard the Traveler. To his left sat a bed and closet. On the right was a desk with a holocomputer, as well as the door to his private bathroom.

His head felt as if it were spinning. His breaths came short and fast. He gripped the wall to steady himself before stepping over to and nearly collapsing into the desk chair. As if on autopilot, he turned on the holocomputer and started a video call to Emmie. It was several moments of waiting for the connection to go through before he realized how late it was on Stariek. Before he had a chance to terminate it, her tired and half asleep yet smiling face appeared in the air above the desk.

“Ethan?” She stifled a yawn, putting a hand to her mouth. “Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?”

“No, kiddo.” He forced a smile. “I just got off duty. I’m sorry. It’s been a rough day, and I forgot how late it was. Go back to sleep. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Wait, what’s—”

He cut the connection before she had a chance to finish the question. Rising out of the chair, he walked the few steps to the bed and flopped down on it, looking at the ceiling and wondering what to do.

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