Whatever Happened to the California?
April 3266, Las Vegas, Nevada, Colorado Territories
Colonel Hal Sleet, now permanent Executive Officer of the Nevada Aeronautical Survey, was taking a rare Saturday afternoon off, hanging out at the Subvets Hall. He was there because a memorial service had been held that day, one for the former Lieutenant Commander Demetrios Papageorge, who had passed on the week before at the age of one hundred seventy-six as a unicorn. As per his instructions, the service was only as somber as needed, he having prepaid for a nice buffet and party to be catered there according to his will.
Hal was at the bar, knocking back a beer (his second in two hours) when he spotted a strange unicorn come in, one he was sure he had seen before, dark blue with an orange horn and hooves and a sea-green mane and tail. The cutie mark was that of a black rectangle with three gold bands. The unicorn spotted Hal and made his way over.
“We meet again, Colonel. It’s been a couple of years,” the unicorn said. By then, Hal recognized the unicorn.
“Commander Haugen! What are you doing here in Las Vegas?” Hal exclaimed, bumping hooves with the unicorn.
Haugen looked a little somber. “There’s ten of us from the Cali who could not stand seeing the ship being parted out. Off-loading the weapons was easy, but after having the core removed, we just could not bear being there. The ship is in pieces, components strewn across the world now. Just not enough left to be worth being near.”
“What about your crew?”
“Once we got paid for the ship, about half took off for wherever. Few ever kept in touch. The rest stayed, paid a salary by the Australian authorities to maintain the ship as it was parted out. A month ago, after the core and reactor compartment were cleared out, we were declared redundant and let go.
“Mind you, Sydney is a nice place, but we just could not stay there anymore. So, the ten of us decided to go where we knew a friendly face awaited, to restart again. Willing to help?” Haugen asked.
“Of course, I will! First thing we need to do is to get your crew signed up with Subvets. I’m sure each one of us will do what he or she can to get you and yours settled. Where is everyone?”
“Right outside. We arrived last night and are staying at a hotel down on the Promenade. What’s the occasion?”
Hal sighed. “Pappy Demetrios passed on last week. He insisted on sponsoring a funeral party, so, here we are.”
Haugen looked sad. “I wish we had decided to come sooner. He did a lot, getting the Cali into port.”
“He never forgot helping you and yours out,” Hal said gently before speaking up a little. “First, let’s get the crew inside and signed up, then let’s see what we can do!”
The crew outside was brought inside, introduced to the crowd, and all registered with Subvets. Once that was done, the Subvets started bickering and dickering with each other, determining who should take whom where and for what. The Cali crewfolk were readily accepted by the community, because one thing the Subvets do, is help each other. They share a bond that no others alive have, being crew on a submarine.
It worked out that Hal invited Captain Haugen to be his guest for a week, while Bruce brought home the one radioman, actually, that should be radioMARE, RM2 Euell, a gray and green earth pony, because his wife, Harper Tune, had an idea. Of the others, each one found a counterpart in the Subvets organization to partner up with, to help them settle.
Back at home, Hal sat down with both Captain Haugen and Raven, who was close to delivering their next foal, getting a list of who all came over, what they can do, and other habits of note, so Hal can decide just where to start looking for employment for the former crewmen. Obviously, the others will be looking as well, aided by their hosts, but Hal would not feel right if he didn’t at least TRY to help.
“Starting from the top, there are the two officers who came with me, Ed Smith and John Hardesty. Ed was the Engineer, while John was the Weapons officer, moving up to Exec when the old one suicided,” Scott explained.
“I remember John from when we launched the Tomahawks against the incoming bogey. What happened to the other one, Winstead?” Hal asked.
“He met a nice earth pony mare in Sydney, married her, and headed out towards Melbourne. Last I heard, and this was three weeks ago, he’s working for the Melbourne Maritime Authority, and their first foal should be born by now.”
“Good for him! May they be both happy and secure,” Hal said with a smile.
“With his share of the ship, he will be. Have any ideas on where we can place those two at?”
Hal thought carefully. “I’ll have to get Summer Sun in on this, but Ed can look in to the dam works, while John can find a place somewhere in government. Exactly where, I’m not sure, but that’s why I have different minds to call on.”
“Or, if he is able enough, I can get him on staff at the University,” Raven added. “I’ll ask around CREEP,” referring to the Center for Rehabilitation and Education of Earth Ponies.
“Okay, that’s two. Who’s next?” Hal asked.
“Master Chief Torpedoman’s Mate Joseph Elricki. Over twenty years in the Navy, all of it on submarines. Good fellow, able to take charge of any situation and bring matters to a successful resolution. Not much of an administrator, but he always could get much of his paperwork done by the yeomen. One of those people who are natural leaders, yet never aspired to be an officer.”
“How about teaching abilities?” Raven asked.
“Excellent. His shore rotations, he taught at Torpedoman’s school, Sub school, or Damage Control school. Former students would seek him out back at Pearl to ask questions of matters they were not sure about,” Scott said. “He was one of the few who kept his head when we Returned, as well as being one of only seven with hands.”
“Lots of potential openings for him. Next?” Hal asked.
“Chief Machinist’s Mate James Clarendon. Good repairman, excellent in crisis control, and readily adapted to being a pegasus. He figured out how to fly on his own, only needing a little schooling for the more esoteric flight maneuvers.”
“How did he score in weather control?” Hal asked.
“He almost broke Major Rainmaker’s heart when he declared he wanted to leave Sydney,” Scott said with a smile. “Nothing Rainmaker could offer would induce James to stay.”
Hal and Raven both laughed at that. They remembered then-Captain Rainmaker from their short stay in Sydney a couple of years back. “Having ten million or so bucks can do that to a pony.” Raven commented.
“Eight point three was the final total, after breaking down of shares. Like all of us who came here, he just let the money pile up in a bank. Any ideas on what to do with him?”
“Not hard at all. I’ll have a chat with Elena Strong Wing. I know I can get him a position in NAS Weather in a flash,” Hal told Scott. “If he has leadership talent, he will rise fast through the ranks. Elena is always on the lookout for good leaders.”
Raven fired back with, “Yeah, because you poach her best for NAS use, Hal!”
Scott looked at Hal, slightly surprised. “Is she always like that?” he asked.
Hal looked at Raven before saying, “If she was any other way, I would not love her as much.”
Scott then looked at Raven. “Is he always like this?”
“Took a while, but even he is able to learn,” she said, calling up a cast iron skillet, twirling it idly in the air before dissipating it, Hal flinching some at the sight.
Scott shook his head some. “On to the next case, Petty Officer Burnside. She was the one who blew a hole through the seawater piping when we Returned.”
Hal drank some coffee before replying. “She’s an easy one to place. Connie Conyers all but dragged her back to her house.”
“The two kept in touch after you headed back here, exchanging letters every month or so. When I suggested leaving Sydney, Burnie started pleading the case for here. Fortunately, I agreed.”
“How is she at unicorn skills?” Raven asked.
“A lot like Connie Conyers. She’s adapted her magic to be a much better mechanic than she was as a human, that’s for sure.” Scott told the pair.
Raven asked, “Why didn’t she tell Connie you were coming here?”
“I’m sure she did, but I doubt the letter has arrived yet. We only decided for sure two weeks ago. Once we severed all our ties to Australia, we headed straight here. IRT is simple fast and direct.”
“But not cheap.” Hal snorted.
“Definitely not,” Scott agreed. “But, well worth the price.”
“So, who’s next on the list?” Hal asked.
“Bruce McCandless, the Sonar Supervisor. A self-taught unicorn, very adept at telekinesis, but is having problems with spell work.”
“Problems?” Raven asked. “What sort of problems?”
“He just can’t seem to get a grasp of spell mathematics other than the very basic stuff, like telekinesis and light. He tries hard, but still has that mental block.”
“He kept a very cool head in Sonar while I was there. How long did he remain on duty?” Hal asked.
“He didn’t secure Sonar until after we had tied up at Jones Wharf. Right after Sonar was shut down, he passed out and didn’t wake up for over two days,” Scott told Hal. “He was hospitalized for a week, with both physical and magical exhaustion.”
“That can be the reason why he is having problems with arcane maths,” Raven said. “I know a few ponies at the University who may be able to help him out.”
“By ‘University’, you mean Bummer, right?” Scott asked, smiling slightly, referring to the common name for the Brotherhood of Unicorns Magic Academy, or BUMA.
“That’s the place, Scott. I’m a full professor there.”
“Currently on leave, the first time since our trip over there.” Hal said before raising his wings to block a salt shaker flung at him by his irritable wife.
Scott just shook his head, using his own orange glow to catch the shaker before it hit the floor, returning it to the table. “I wonder what life like would be here if you two really hated each other,” he said before adding “Next up, Seaman Tomlinson. He was on lookout duty with me on the Bridge when we Returned. Know a place for an unusually graceful zebra who loves kids?”
“Loves kids?” Raven asked.
“Tomlinson volunteered at a local Sydney primary school as an aide for the past year. They hated to see him leave.”
“In that case, I do know a few places he can apply at,” Raven said with confidence. “I know the Calico Ridge Elementary school is always looking for aides.”
“Good! Only two left. Gil Euell and Marco Raines. Hellbender says his wife can get Euell a position at Las Vegas Radio as a technician.”
“How did Bruce get the nickname ‘Hellbender’, Scott?” Hal asked. “He won’t tell me.”
“A rather wild night in Pearl shortly after he reported aboard the Ohio. As to what exactly happened, details are lacking.” Scott said with a knowing smile.
“Lacking, Scott? Want a memory refresher?” Raven asked, summoning up her skillet.
Scott answered very quickly, “Something about four hookers in one night as well as a bordello that looked like a tornado went through it.”
Hal and Raven looked at each other and started to laugh, the skillet fading out. “I’m sure Harper does not know that,” Hal said when he could speak again. “Just how did you get the name Space Ghost?”
“When I was the Exec on the Ohio, more than once, on a late watch when I had been up too many hours, my tongue would slip. More than once, I told Hellbender ‘right left rudder’. The crew started calling me ‘Space Ghost’ whenever my tongue skidded like that.” Scott explained.
“You didn’t do that the whole time I was with you, Scott” Hal said.
“I was in too damn much of a panic at the time. I had to remain calm, cool and focused to get my ship and crew into port. Thanks to your help, I managed it.”
“That we did, and this house came from that, as did Bruce’s next door. I know we all sent our thanks to you for voting us all a share of the proceeds. You didn’t have to, but we appreciate it,” Hal said solemnly, Raven nodding in agreement.
Scott looked at his hosts. “It would have been churlish not to do so. Each of the Subvets got two shares equal to the lowest ranking crewman who survived. The A.R.R.R.S. got two officer’s shares for the unit as a group. You helped us, we help you, and now, you’re helping some of us again.
“Only two left to handle. Marco Raines, a pegasus. She didn’t do as well as Chief Clarendon in weather control, but she does have good long-range vision.”
“Only one good answer I know of, and that’s the Dust Devils. They are always on the lookout for good talent. I ought to know, I fly for them on occasion. They found us when we Returned, so I help out by filling in five or six times a year,” Hal explained.
Scott jotted that down on his note pad. “Okay, that covers all of us but one.”
“I have you covered as well, Scott,” Hal said with a big sneaky smile. “I want you to work for me at the Nevada Aeronautical Survey. While I can and will give orders to keep things going, it does not come easily to me. I would love to have a good leader working for me. Interested?”
Scott blinked some in surprise. “Work for you? I would like that very much, Hal,” he said quietly.
“Good! I’ll arrange to take Monday off, and I’ll take you up to Nassie headquarters. If General Blizzard approves, I’ll let you look around some and decide if you want to take the job or not. If not, we’ll find something for you, I’m sure.” Hal said with a big grin.
“If that does not work out, I’ll snag you for Bummer, Scott!” Raven said.
“Hmmm… decisions, decisions…” Scott mused, looking at the two.
Four weeks later, the former California crew gathered at the Subvets hall, along with Hal, who really needed a little destress time after the birth of his new daughter, Starshine Rainbow, a light gray unicorn filly with a multicolored mane and tail, and a white splotch on her otherwise gray horn.
“Okay, everyone, I would like a report from each of you on how you are settling in here in Vegas,” Hal asked, his voice a little on the slurred side due to the ‘relaxation tonics’ he had consumed earlier. “Scott, I already know about you. It’s the rest of you who I need to hear from.”
“Ed, you first. How is your life doing?” Scott asked, taking control of the informal meeting.
“I’m living in Meadview, learning about the dam’s operation and structure. I’m in training to be a shift supervisor, once I pass the qualifications,” the mottled brown and gray earth pony reported. “It’s a lot easier learning the power plant processes in the dam than it was learning the reactor engineering standards, plus I know I won’t have an interview with Naval Reactors afterward. I like it here.”
“Good to hear, Ed. John, what about you?” Scott asked his former Weapons and Executive officer, now a black and tan earth pony.
“I’ve managed to get in to City Hall, right now working in Records. I’m keeping my eyes open for opportunities elsewhere, but for now, I’ve got my hoof in the door. I have heard some department heads want me on their staff, but those are rumors for now. When I hear something substantial, I’ll let you all know.”
“Two for two in the good news department. What about you, Joe?” Hal asked the big gray diamond dog.
Joe let out a barking laugh. “Colonel, I got myself a job with the fishing fleet down on Lake Mead, coordinating fishing boat maintenance and repair. Their system of coordinating matters down there, quite frankly, was the sorriest stack of shit I have ever seen. By end of summer, that fleet will be first rate. That, I can promise!” That statement was followed by laughter from the group.
“And when The Master Chief says he promises, he delivers!” Tomlinson said. “I learned that my first week aboard the Cali!”
“Along with the four hours E.M.I. I gave you after you broke a stack of dishes in the galley?” Joe said with an amused growl.
“That’s what I was talking about, Master Chief. You promised I would learn something unforgettable, and you delivered. Four hours topside watch in a tropical storm was no fun. But I never broke another dish, right?” Tomlinson snapped back.
“Well, Chief Pratt did tell me about the time you tripped carrying a pan of lasagna…” Joe growled, to some laughter from those who remembered the incident.
“Just how long were you stuck on TDU duty, Tomlinson?” Hal asked, remembering the one and only patrol where he was on mess duty, his first one.
“A month…” the zebra muttered.
“Must have been a big lasagna.”
The former radioman, Gil Euell, spoke up. “It wasn’t that it was big, it was that he nailed the Supply officer full in the face with the pan!”
“Did he deserve it?” Hal asked, to be answered by a resounding YES from everypony at the table.
“I transferred that loser off the minute we got back to Pearl. Some people are just plain incompetent. He was one of those.” Scott said, wincing visibly as he thought about that one officer whom he would have gladly pitched overboard, if Navy Regs would have allowed it.
Joe added, “You would have had no shortage of volunteers to help show him off the boat, Captain. I don’t think anyone liked him. Stuck his nose into too many things he should not have.”
Jim Clarendon spoke up. “When he tried to snoop into some matters in Engineering, that was when Mr. Smith went to the Captain about his behavior. He pitched such a fuss about the at-sea calendars that were made up, I was tempted to tie him down in the seawater bay bilge and open a couple of system vent valves!”
“I always maintained the attitude that so long as the men kept the ship operating, I kept a loose rein. I knew about some of the things that went on back aft, but it was harmless, in my opinion.” Scott said, looking right at Burnside. “Like the still in the port frame bay.”
Hal snorted at the mention of the still. “I think every ship in the fleet had at least one still in operation. I know there were two going on the Carver when I was aboard. Engineering had one and the missile techs had the other.”
“So long as the crew did not get unruly, I saw no reason to prohibit them, any more than Navy Regs already did. Besides, we were seldom at sea long enough for the brew to get truly potable,” Scott said out loud, to the surprise of the junior enlisted crew present.
“The mark of a good captain, knowing when to close his eyes,” Joe said.
“Meanwhile, in Gotham City, we are still waiting on some reports. Jim, you’re next. I know Elena says you’re doing well, but she won’t tell me details,” Hal said just a touch blurrily.
“This upcoming monsoon, she’s going to give me a knight’s position. I don’t know what squadron, though,” the khaki and gray pegasus reported. “If it works out, afterwards, she’ll make me a rook.”
“By the time you make rook, you won’t be a rookie rook. Now, you’re a squire. Remember that, Jim!” Hal said with a straight face. The same could not be said for the others.
“Okay, who’s left…” Hal continued, looking around the table. “Gil, I know about you. The Radio Commission head keeps telling me just how good a tech you are. Marco, how are you doing at Dust Devils?”
“Not bad at all, Colonel. I’m paired up with an experienced partner, and she’s been teaching me a lot. Flying is just a wonder, and here, I don’t have to worry about being blown out to sea. Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction,” the red and pink pegasus mare said.
“Good to hear. You don’t have to tell me about flying. I like it too. The peace and freedom of sweep flying is just a pure wonder, isn’t it?” At Marco’s nod, Hal looked at the navy blue and sea green unicorn, Bruce McCandless. “Raven said she hooked you up at Bummer but would not give me details. So, you will. Have at.”
“The school has me doing therapy classes, as well as foundation courses. I did that in Sydney, but the faculty here wants me to redo them, monitoring me every step of the way. Boring, but fun at the same time. The foundation courses are with an elementary school teacher,” Bruce reported.
“I can detect Raven’s hoof in that. Best way to start is at the beginning. I’m sure they will work around what issues you have with your magic. If all else fails, she has a couple of ideas, but they will have to wait a few months. Starshine comes first.”
Bruce nodded at that. “I can understand why, Colonel.”
Scott turned to Tomlinson. “You’re last. What’s news with you?”
Tomlinson took a deep breath before speaking. “I will be going to Salt Lick City in a month. I’ve been accepted in a teacher training program at you-you,” he reported, meaning the University of Utah, or UU.
Hal asked, “Why Salt Lick?”
“I’m from Provo, Colonel. In a way, it’s like going home. I may not know anypony there, but the surroundings will be familiar.”
“What sort of teacher are you studying for?” the former Lieutenant Hardesty asked.
“Elementary and pre-school, sir. You-you has classes starting in summer semester. If I stayed here, I would have to wait until fall, and I hate waiting around,” the zebra said with confidence.
“Well, by the time Starshine is ready to start school, maybe you will be back here and be her first teacher.” Hal managed to say while inspecting the bottom of a shot glass.
“Hal, I think it’s time you got back home and get some sleep.” Scott suggested.
“Sleep? With a screaming infant in the bedroom? What makes you think I’ll be able to sleep?” Hal managed to say, waving for another shot of Donkey Bonk whiskey.
“You’ve done this before, Colonel.” Joe Elricki growled out with a bit of a smile. “Why would you have trouble now?”
Hal gunned down half the shot. “Because last time, I was in a body cast for a week and in the hospital for a month! By the time I got home, the twins were past the waking in the middle of the night stage!” he wailed, to everyone’s amusement.
“I’ll call Raven and say you’re staying with me tonight, Hal,” Scott said as Hal tried to put the shot glass down without spilling it. “I’ll brave the skillet!”
Author's Note
Just something that has been niggling at me since I did the first California story. I've had it sitting for a while, and decided now would be a very good time to put it up. Hope you like it.
