Vanderdeken's Children

by Christopher Bulis

  Delray chuckled. 'I'm on holiday, Dan. I don't plan on fighting anybody.

  Besides, I didn't bring my battlesuit along.'

  'Bet you could beat them even so!' the boy said loyally.

  'And what do you think about the alien ship, Doctor?' Lyset Wynter asked.

  The Doctor sipped his wine meditatively for a moment. 'I think there are times to leave well alone. At least until you fully understand what you're dealing with.'

  "There may be something in that,' Evan Arcovian said, adding quickly,

  'Don't get me wrong. I'm as much a patriot as the next Emindian: I don't care for the Nimosians in any way. But we're not soldiers or scientists or explorers. I mean, what's so important about that hulk anyway, eh? And there are some pretty important people on board here too, like Don and Lyset.' He glanced at Dan Engers Junior. 'And children, of course.They should think of that.'

  Sam thought he was hiding more anxiety than he was letting on. Delray shook his head.

  'We can't do that, Evan. Sometimes you've got to take risks for what's right.'

  'But we're not part of your dispute with the Nimosians,' Daniel Engers pointed out forcefully. "They shouldn't involve foreign nationals in this.'

  His voice rose over the last words and Sam was aware that diners at the adjacent tables were looking at them. Don Delray spoke up clearly: 'You're worried about your family, Mr Engers, and I respect that .And I hope you get off this ship as soon as possible if that's what you want. But the rest of us will stay, if our being here stops the Nimosians from getting something they're not entitled to.We've been fighting them on and off for the best part of a century and sometimes you've got to draw the line and stand firm on a principle. And right now we're on that line. Maybe there's nothing worthwhile in that ship over there, but if we give in, what comes next? The Nimosians taking one of our ships just because they take a fancy to it? No.

  It's our space and we don't move until we're good and ready.'

  There was a scattering of applause from the other diners, which Delray acknowledged with a grave smile.

  The Doctor nudged Sam.A junior officer had come to the Captain's table and was whispering in her ear.After a moment she quickly made her excuses to her guests and walked briskly out, followed by the stern grey man.

  'I think something might be happening,' the Doctor said.'Who's the man going out with the Captain?'

  'High Councillor Rexton,' said Lyset Wynter.

  'Is he somebody important?' Sam asked.

  'Most people seem to think so,' Lyset said drily.'He's certainly been taking a close interest in the alien ship.'

  "Then I think I will be making his acquaintance very shortly,' said the Doctor. He glanced at Sam, who nodded fractionally. 'After we've finished dinner, perhaps.'

  'Well, they won't let you in,' Delray said. 'Even I couldn't swing it. Rexton's had them put guards on the entrances to the command deck after some of the passengers started turning up to complain. I tried to talk him into letting Lyset in there but he wasn't taking any calls, even when I sent a note reminding him that I made some pretty big donations to Stability Party funds before the last election.'

  'Ah, a telling argument,' said the Doctor. 'It usually works with politicians.

  Perhaps it's a measure of the seriousness of the situation that the councillor hasn't been paying you due consideration. Nevertheless, I think they'll see us.'

  'Do you really think so, Doctor?' Daniel Engers asked. 'Will you remind them they've got quite a few Federation citizens on board?'

  'I shall certainly do that,' he promised.

  'But why should you get special treatment?' Delray demanded.

  'You might say I have an ace up my sleeve,' the Doctor said.

  'And a card in his pocket,' Sam added, thinking of the document the Doctor had provided for her and hoping he'd got all the details right.

  "Then do you think you could get me in on this too?' Lyset asked.'I want to record everything as it happens, especially if there's a chance to visit that ship.'

  Evan Arcovian gaped at Lyset Wynter in obvious alarm. 'You aren't seriously thinking of going over to that thing? Not after what happened to the Nimosians.'

  'But it's what I do, Evan,' she replied simply.

  'You may not thank me,' the Doctor said gravely.'You know it could be dangerous.'

  'I know,' Lyset said.'But I'd kick myself for passing up the chance.'

  'Well if Lyset's set on going, you'd better put me down as well,' Delray sighed in good-natured resignation. 'If you can swing it, that is.'

  'Not you too, Don,'Arcovian exclaimed.'You should be talking her out of this.' Delray simply grinned and shrugged.

  'Promise you'll try?' Lyset added, gazing intently at the Doctor.

  Sam saw the mercurial mix of concern and irreverence within the Doctor briefly compete for dominance, and she thought she understood why. How very quintessentially human, he was thinking, to risk danger for the sake of a few pictures. Slowly a wistful smile spread across his face, encompassing them all in its warmth and softening for a moment even Delray's impatient self-assurance.

  'We shall see,' he said.

  ***

  Captain Lanchard read the message slip twice after it came out of the decoder before handing it to Rexton. He scanned it rapidly without displaying any sign of special satisfaction, as though it was merely what he had expected.

  From: G&C Lines Co. HQ, New Renberg, Talasia, Emindar.

  To:- Capt. Lanchard, C, Commanding Cirrandaria.

  Subject: Salvage of unidentified alien derelict space vessel.

  Under government emergency powers directive 351, you are hereby ordered to remain in the immediate vicinity of the alien vessel, protecting the Emindian claim to salvage rights, until a suitable relief force arrives.

  You are further ordered to give every assistance toJ.K. Rexton, HC, in pursuance of the above, so long as such action does not place the Cirrandaria or its complement in imminent, repeat imminent, danger. The Federation Central Assembly on Mizar has been informed of the situation and is rerouting a ship to evacuate their citizens. Such a transfer will be expedited with all haste as soon as it becomes feasible, without prejudicing the situation relative to the alien vessel and Nimosian warship.

  Meanwhile you are authorised to inform the passengers that they will be fully compensated for any inconvenience or delay caused by the current special circumstances. The crew will also be eligible for hardship and special-duty bonuses.

  You are further notified that Councillor Sexton's military rank (General in the Space Reserve) has been reactivated, and he should be given all considerations pursuant to such status.

  Signed:Palverly, A.C., President.

  pp: Board of Directors, G&C Lines.

  'Well, you have your orders, Captain,' said Rexton, looking up from the document.'I trust you now appreciate the vital importance of our situation.'

  'I see how it is perceived back home,' Lanchard corrected him. 'But unless you tell me what all this is really about, I don't yet "appreciate" anything.

  However, I shall follow my orders to the letter , General,' she assured him pointedly. "The moment I judge the ship to be in "imminent" danger, we shall leave without argument. I trust that is clear.'

  'Quite clear.'

  Lanchard glanced at Lorron Bendix, her first officer, who had been waiting patiently in the corner of her day cabin ever since he had brought her encrypted message. He need not have carried the message personally, but perhaps, guessing what it contained, he wanted to see the expression on her face. Bendix was a competent officer, but keen and perhaps a little too ambitious. She worked with him well enough, but his attitude made it all too plain that he regarded his position merely as a stepping stone in his career.

  He had no real love for the ship.

  'Progress report on the modifications to the launch, Mr Bendix?' she asked.

  'Chief Manders says the work will be completed on schedule, Captain,' he replied smoot
hly. 'Request permission to lead the boarding party.'

  'Even after what happened to the Nimosians?' Lanchard asked.

  'We'll be better prepared, Captain,' Bendix replied calmly.'We won't make the same mistakes.'

  'I will be leading the mission,' Rexton said. Then he smiled at Bendix.'But I'd like Mr Bendix to accompany me.'

  'An honour, sir,' Bendix replied.

  'Your request is noted, Mr Bendix,' Lanchard said curtly.

  She knew Bendix admired Rexton, while Lanchard herself had never quite accepted the distinguished soldier turned politician at face value. Perhaps she saw too many similarities in the two men's characters. Or perhaps she was getting old and set in her ways. Should she let Bendix go? He was fully capable. From the tone of her instructions, perhaps he was just the sort of man the undertaking required. But others among the crew might volunteer out of loyalty because she asked them. She might be sending them to their deaths - and for what?

  Meanwhile, she'd better relay a suitable version of this latest communication to the rest of the ship. Keep them informed about developments to prevent wild rumours spreading. For a moment she found herself envying Vega. At least he didn't have irate passengers to mollify.

  ***

  Thorn Vega sat before the desk screen of his tiny private cabin and contemplated once again the orders from Fleet Command that had caused him to send a good man to his death.

  '... the involvement of Kale Rexton, as revealed in intercepted transmission I/NFC/739X, indicates situation to be of highest priority. You will use every means to secure the alien vessel for the sole use of the Nimosian people at the soonest opportunity.'

  And he had done just that, not waiting for the alternative arrangements to be completed for fear that the Emindians would beat them to their common goal. He knew command would agree it had been an acceptable risk in the circumstances. But he could not escape the feeling that he had allowed himself to be pressured into taking it. As a consequence they had delayed the other work and lost face before the enemy.

  Damn the Emindians! What was so important about the derelict that was making them risk a civilian vessel anyway? Was it mere chance that Rexton was on board, or part of some clandestine deception? Well, he wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Nobody would approach the alien ship within the critical boundary in any craft that was not completely reliable and fully controllable. If they were caught in any more of those gravity shifts they had to be able to hold their station. The brief image the telescope monitor had managed to catch of Kerven's fall would haunt him for years. He wished they could have found his body, but all they'd recovered had been his mangled pod drifting in space. Presumably he was still lying in some cranny on the alien ship. That was another reason for taking possession of the craft for Nimos.At least he would see Kerven got a proper funeral.

  He blanked the message from the screen and called up the engineering bay. First Tech Reng's face appeared. Vega could hear drilling in the background as heavy cables were run through the superstructure of a Class Two shuttle.

  'How's it going, Lio?'Vega asked.

  'About as expected, Commander. The new emitter circuit will generate a counter-field to neutralise the interference. We'll run the system off a sensor and inverter so that it's always in opposite phase. That should blanket at least ninety-five per cent of the emissions.The additional passive shielding we've put in will handle the rest.'

  'Very good. When will the modifications be finished?'

  Reng scratched his chin, unconsciously smearing it with a streak of grime.Vega thought he looked more than just tired, but then that was understandable. Kerven had been one of his longest-serving technicians.

  "Three hours to finish the installation and hook it up to the secondary power cells.Then I'd like a test run to calibrate the system and establish performance tolerances. I'd say that'll take another hour.'

  'All right. But make your tests close to the ship. We don't want to give anything away to the Emindians.'

  Vega broke the connection.

  So, he could set the mission go time for zero nine hundred. What time would that be by the Cirrandaria's clock? Zero two hundred: virtually the middle of their night. Good. With any luck the whole business would be concluded before their passengers woke up.

  Chapter 5

  Moderator

  'You're actually going to hit them with your real name?' Sam said, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as they stepped into the lift.The Doctor occasionally went under the transparent pseudonym of John Smith, but Sam had discovered that his real name was something quite alien and virtually unpronounceable.

  'It's what I registered under,' the Doctor replied, as he played his sonic screwdriver over the lift's control panel, causing it to take them to the bridge deck against its programming.'With the greatest respect to the Smiths and Joneses of the galaxy -' he paused while she curtsied graciously - 'there are times when a more individual cognomen has its advantages when one wants to impress.'

  Sam smiled, then asked, 'I thought you'd go all out to put Lyset Wynter off going. You think that derelict's dangerous.'

  He shrugged.'The choice is hers. She fully understands the potential danger. At some point every species must allow its members to behave as adults. It's the innocent and those forced to follow orders that need protection.But also -'for a moment a faraway look crossed his face - 'I had a feeling it was... destined, somehow ...'

  'Well, at least she's got Don Delray, man of action, to look out for her,' Sam pointed out.

  'So she has,' the Doctor agreed, brightening again. 'But I don't think Mr Delray is enjoying the responsibility as much as he might. What tensions are hidden within that outwardly amicable relationship? You humans do lead such complex lives.'

  Sam saw he was beaming now, pleased to enter the fray despite his misgivings. Just like a big kid, she thought.

  The lift door slid back to reveal a corridor less plushly finished than those on the passenger decks, with a solitary guard at the far end. Sam straightened up and tried to appear suitably self-assured.

  'OK, to the bridge. Lead on, Macduff!' Sam said.

  A common misquotation,' the Doctor corrected her as they strode forward.

  'The phrase is actually "Lay on, Macduff. Macbeth was inviting his opponent to heft his sword and continue combat. I told Will people would get it wrong in the future, but he wouldn't listen...'

  Sam tutted. 'Fancy someone else thinking they know better,' she teased.

  The guard, Sam noticed as they approached, looked tired and irritable.

  Clearly he had been forced to deal with too many irate passengers in the last few hours. He frowned at them. 'You shouldn't be on this level. No passengers allowed in here.'

  The Doctor smiled at him beatifically as though he had just been given a hearty welcome.

  'We wish to talk to the Captain,' he said mildly, holding up his identity card for inspection.As the guard's eyes flicked across it a new image flashed into being over the standard information bars. 'Tell her Federation Moderator Doctor — wants to see her concerning the alien vessel.'

  The name, if it had been a name, spoken in the middle of the sentence had obviously been quite incomprehensible to the guard. But he certainly seemed to recognise the Federation shield readily enough, accompanied by the scarlet-and-black band of the Moderator's office. Almost everywhere, the Doctor had told Sam, those symbols were known and respected. A Moderator was an independent troubleshooter with virtually unlimited plenipotentiary powers, backed by the forces of the Federation.

  Even on non-Federation worlds a Moderator's opinion was valued, and they might be called upon to act as an impartial judge and jury in the most serious of disputes.

  The guard swallowed nervously.

  'Yes, Moderator Doctor... er, I'll tell her you're here. If you'd just wait a moment.'And he spoke urgently into his wristcom.

  The Doctor beamed benignly at him and Sam tried to copy his nonchalant stance.

  In
half a minute the door was opened by a junior officer who ushered them deferentially inside. 'Captain Lanchard will see you in her day cabin,' he informed them.

  Sam thought the bridge looked almost deserted with only three crew present. Most of the liner's functions were evidently handled automatically by the tiered sweep of consoles with their shimmering displays that ran along the rear wall.There was, however, a single deep chair set before the main forward viewport, which served as a reminder that the ship still had a sole captain in whom ultimate responsibility resided.

  They were escorted to a smaller compartment leading off the bridge, which was comfortably furnished like a lounge-cum-office. Captain Lanchard and Councillor Rexton were waiting for them. Sam read perplexed interest in the Captain's face and barely concealed annoyance in Rexton's. Once again the Doctor presented his impressive identity card and Sam followed suit, hoping her features displayed the right expression of serious high-minded professionalism. Without a word Rexton took their cards and fed them into a tabletop scanner. Sam felt the expression freeze on her face, while the Doctor exhibited a tolerant smile. After what seemed an eternity a green light flashed on the machine. Rexton handed back the cards. From his grimace Sam suspected he would have been happier if he had discovered they were impostors. Now he had to spare them a little time and respect.

  'My assistant, Ms Jones,' the Doctor said, introducing her formally. Rexton nodded curtly while the Captain shook their hands.

  'Ms Jones, Doctor... er...' She hesitated.

  The Doctor waved a negligent hand. 'Don't trouble yourself. "Doctor" will suffice. I'm quite used to it.'

  'I didn't know we had Moderators on board,' Rexton said as they seated themselves, with more than a trace of suspicion in his voice.

  'We don't normally advertise our presence when not on official business, Councillor,' the Doctor explained.'We are simply on holiday. However, as the situation remains unresolved, I thought it best to make ourselves known to you and formally offer our services.'