Focus
© 2022 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom



“Rotation through m-axis, ventral turrets coming to bear.”

“Firing primaries.”

“Pitch a-axis negative, increase speed; roll twenty points.”

Varan sat in her command chair, listening as the crew put the ship through a battle drill without any preprogrammed attack or defensive maneuvers. It was essential that the crew train to improvise when necessary, and they were doing very well so far. This shift’s Pilot, for example, appeared to have spent a great deal of her leave time in combat simulators.

Varan approved. Her after action report after her engagement with the Terrans off Lalande had dwelled on her own shortcomings as patrol leader, and stressed the need for increased training. The Terrans were still a danger to the Empire, despite the Core of the Terran Sphere being demilitarized.

The maneuvers reminded her somewhat of the game she and Meredith were playing, and whatever weird scenarios the designers had waiting for them. She found herself wondering how Meredith was doing -

“Gartabin?”

“Ernh?” She looked up at the Duty Officer. “Yes?”

The kam said, “The exercise is concluded, Ma’am. Orders?”

Concluded? “My apologies, Duty Officer. I was distracted momentarily,” she said, mentally berating herself for her lack of attention. “Well done, everyone,” she said in a slightly louder tone. Secure from Step One alert. Pilot, this course,” and she traced a line on her repeater screen. “We’ll have another session before we return to the station.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the vir at the Pilot station said, and the cruiser started down that course.

“Ma’am,” Communications said, “signal from the refit supervisor.”

“Yes?” Varan asked.

The kam listened, the tip of his tail twitching. “The station reports that they’re monitoring our telemetry, and we need to come back for several adjustments to our targeting computers and sensors.”

Varan gestured comprehension. “Very well. Pilot, return us to the refit station, please,” and she sat back in her chair.

It seemed that ship and ship’s mistress were both having trouble focusing.


***


The man grumbled as the small, AI-guided drone finished scanning him, selected an area to begin, and started laying down layers of pigment.

He’d gotten too distracted, and had neglected the fur dye that was part of his disguise. Fortunately, one of the people in on the deception saw it and drew his attention to it before anyone else spotted it.

So while the drone retraced the pattern on his tail, the man berated himself for not paying sufficient attention to detail.