by David Buck
‘Sorry for the delay, but I had to get the folks who are away longer setup first. Now you have my condolences to you and your team for the man who was killed during the survey yesterday. Also thanks once again for the quick road survey.’
Jackson looked over at the still unfinished map that Gavin had scanned over as he had spoken to him.
‘Yet another life lost senselessly Gavin. We lost that fellow because he forgot the rules and got out of his truck in front of a lizard. So you wanted to see me about something urgent?’
Gavin pointed to two locations on the map that indicated large clearings near a medium sized river before he spoke. Jackson noted that the locations were a good distance west towards the coast, though not on the coast itself.
‘I want you and your team to take three helicopters and survey for a suitable town site at either of these locations. The ground cannot be solid rock underneath as we have to lay pipes and foundations, the river must be accessible, and a fresh water stream or two would be nice.’
Jackson was brought back into the present moment as one of laborers removed the small hand auger from a hole and reported about his efforts. His team had arrived at the second location after the first site a distance now east had turned out to be unsuitable as the ground was too rocky.
‘That is the eighth hole and there is no rock within three meters of the surface in any of the holes.’
Jackson looked over at the long bluff to the west of his location around which the river slowly flowed towards the south west. He then took in the gently rising slope to his north for a moment, and could see that the top of the slope ran west to east with little change for several kilometers. He turned around as one of the junior surveyors returned from the river with two armed troopers. He held a long weighted line that was roughly tied off at one meter intervals and looked excited at what he had discovered. Jackson once again marveled that through out the colony simple solutions were being used before complex technology was involved as he listened to the report.
‘The edge of the river here has a long rock wall, and all along the wall the river is over ten meters deep within three meters of the wall. I think the wall is stable and there are no large undercuts. Now unless we have obstructions elsewhere in the river, we can dock ships here after very little work.’
Jackson first thanked the surveyor and made his own observations.
‘Thanks for getting that answer so quickly Tyson. Apart from the river rock wall this place reminds of Perth, down to the bluff to the west and the direction of the gentle slope to our north. Now we will stay together now and check out that bluff for any streams before we place markers and begin the formal survey.’
Jackson led his team with a sense of both purpose and anticipation as he reflected that it was not every day you got to survey a site for a new city.
***
Phoebe Roberts led her team of biologists in the middle of the day further into the dense tree line, as around them two squads of troopers kept a watchful eye for predators. The last few days had been grueling as the team sought to identify as much of the biology of the colony as they could as soon as possible. In truth the only breaks she had taken had been to enquire if her sister Susan had turned up at the colony. For she knew her sister had been in custody over her media escapade in Western Australia last week. Her team had been transported by helicopter one hundred kilometers east into the higher range of hills that eventually led to a significant mountain range even further east. Phoebe was conscious of the need to both stay on top of potential threats and to recognize opportunities for the colony.
Gavin had specified that they were to leave this area by mid afternoon after the timber search and then search for suitable oil bearing cereal plants in other clearings on the way back. Fortunately the Megalania appeared to favor more open ground near the main camp, and the Thylacoleo were either asleep or fled as the large party of humans travelled past. Phoebe paused as she scanned a series of very tall trees that came now into view. She noted that several different tree forms were now present before she turned to speak with one of her research assistants.
‘Sharon, these trees are a species of karri I have not seen before, as I estimate they are considerably larger than the ones I have seen in southern Western Australia. We will stop for fifteen minutes and obtain bark samples before we head back to the helicopters….’
Phoebe’s comments were interrupted by a load call from one of the other biologists, and they all quickly moved across to find out what had occurred with the soldiers carefully scanning the surrounding trees for threats. Phoebe paused breathless for a moment and looked further down the next slope at what had caught the biologists’ attention. She still could not speak as her eyes first took in the dark green field of karri trees that extended along the upper sections of the slope as far as she could see. Now a species name came to her about the other smaller trees she could see in the more sheltered lower sections of the slope.
‘Wollemi pines, they are Wollemi pines, and they are much larger than the ones I have seen in New South Wales. I want the team to split up into two teams, one set with me and one set with Sharon. The team with me will sample the Wollemi pines and Sharon’s team will take care of the karri trees. We will now stay for an extra hour before we head back so everyone stay together.’
The troopers then split into equal numbers to protect both teams that began moving down into the trees.
***
Chapter 10
Gindane once again reviewed in her mind what she wanted to say to Admiral Baredio as she trailed Omerio into the admiral’s office. The day had started quietly enough and she had breakfasted with Omerio in the crew mess, with the regular crew giving them a wide berth. They both knew that the fleet was due to arrive in the vicinity of the human world within several hours, and they had awaited an update on exactly what was happening before they made their next move.
After reviewing the reports that they had available, both Gindane and Omerio waited to see how Admiral Baredio would deploy his fleet. Omerio was already concerned that the admiral meant to attack the Trader ship as the smaller and weaker research ships had been ordered into the rear of the fleet. As they had finished breakfast the lieutenant on the last navigation watch had sat down over at the next table with another lieutenant and the two officers had started talking.
‘This star system is large for the size of the star, and I cannot get over the fact that it has two gas giants and two smaller ice worlds before we even get to the inner system of four rocky worlds.’
The other lieutenant considered his unappetizing breakfast as he made a reply.
‘Well the senior weapons officer had us going over the drills for major ship action again, but that will likely not eventuate unless we go into orbit around the human world.’
The junior navigation officer swallowed the first part of his breakfast and voiced a complaint as he spoke again.
‘Is this breakfast actually based on sealing compound rather than something we grew? Well I do know that we are going into orbit because I had to set the course offsets to allow a safe passage for the fleet around that outsize moon that orbits the human world.’
The gunnery officer made a grimace as he also started on his breakfast before he replied again.
‘I am sure the breakfast smells like that compound we use to grease the missile rails. I hope the Admiral knows what he is doing as a big Trader ship can really fight if it has to do so.’
The two lieutenants now swapped anecdotal stories from previous battles many hundreds or even thousands of years in the past, some involving Trader ships, as they continued their breakfast. Gindane had given Omerio a pointed look and they had then left the crew mess deck to seek out Admiral Baredio. Omerio had asked himself as he left whether he had ever been as inexperienced as the two young Barus lieutenants. The two young lieutenants had looked at each other slyly as they saw the two guests of the admiral quickly depart before they then resumed their breakfast.
‘So you both are getting around the cruiser well? Good and you have had time to consider any further information that should be brought to my attention?’
Omerio looked at Gindane nervously before he spoke, as it was decided that he would do the hard driving if required, because at least he could not be demoted. He had noted earlier that Gindane was frustrated with the whole situation.
‘Admiral, we are finding our way around and thank you for your time at short notice. We have established that you intend to orbit the human world. Now based on the best information we have we think that this is exceedingly unwise.’
Admiral Baredio’s demeanor instantly went from hardened, but genial, to very hard and merciless, and he visibly struggled for calm as he replied with emphasis.
‘Well, CITIZEN Omerio, despite your past fleet service you never commanded a war fleet. Now do you highlight the reasons for your advice or is this just your opinion?’
Gindane was aware that the first part of the admiral’s sentence was delivered in a cold and stony manner. She remained still in her chair as Omerio flinched for a moment under the stern gaze of his uncle and then spoke again.
‘I meant no respect Admiral, but the humans do not react too well to star ships orbiting their world. Remember that they attacked Gindane’s ship with a flight of nuclear war heads. I am concerned that the observations we made in our reports have not been considered in your decision process.’
The admiral raised a hand to forestall Omerio’s line of reasoning as he spoke again.
‘I am well aware of the outcome of that battle, twelve missiles defeated by one under gunned and mediocre research destroyer. The humans hold no fears for my fleet of cruisers Omerio. Now note my decision to orbit their world is justified by their earlier attack on a Barus ship. Finally I do not see the need to explain my decision process to either of you.’
Gindane bit back a sharp retort at the use of mediocre by the admiral. She passed a fixed glance of annoyance at Omerio instead as he spoke again.
‘Sir, the Trader ship will likely be in company with Maveen ships of unknown strength. We know that their gate way ships are smaller than destroyers, but are agile and capable of fighting cruisers, and they are not even their full military ships.’
Admiral Baredio now seemed momentarily calmer, and he looked over them both as he evaluated them and Gindane found his scrutiny to be uncomfortable.
‘Well the fleet will just have to destroy them first before they flee or summon reinforcements.’
Gindane now decided it was time for her own input as she seized on the admiral’s last comment.
‘Admiral this whole situation is a farce, originally a combined fleet was to interdict just the Trader ship, now only a squadron of cruisers is expected to interdict the Traders and the Maveen? Also how can you expect to destroy the Maveen ships if the Trader ship is fully engaging your cruisers?’
The calm of the admiral evaporated, and he stood and banged his desk in outrage.
‘Gindane, I feel you are attempting to slight me and I will not have my command spoke of in such a poor light. Our cruiser squadron is the pride of the Barus fleet and I will not have my men disparaged by a mere commander of a research ship.’
Omerio groaned and put his head in his hands, as the discussion had taken an unfortunate turn. But Gindane had her back up now and was starting to kick further holes in the admiral’s logic.
‘Sir, I do not doubt the courage of you or your crew, I just think that your decision to go into orbit around the human world is wrong headed. We could find ourselves in a protracted war in the future over our actions here. For example, when I mentioned that Tilmud frigates were present the humans reacted poorly, referring to something called ‘gunboat diplomacy’. Now I recommend that in light of your plans we should allow for a forceful reaction of their military.’
Admiral Baredio reared to his full three meter plus height and now roared.
‘I will not be patronized by the both of you, and you would both do well to remember that you are guests on board my ship. Especially I will not be called wrong headed by a research commander who commanded the ship that decimated the human world. My decision is final and the humans had better start getting used to galactic authority. We will orbit their world as soon as possible and deal with both the Maveen and the Traders.’
Gindane was now also standing and her eyes flashed amber fury at the larger and more senior male, as she roared her own answer back as she pointedly did not look at Omerio.
‘Admiral we paid our dues for that tragedy earlier, indeed I paid and continue to pay a strong person price. But at least I and my crew are alive, and I do not want to see you make a similar trial appearance if the human world is damaged due to your actions. I strongly feel that we do not have the justification in place for orbiting the human world in force.’
By this stage the admiral had experienced enough of the conversation, and he declined to speak further until he established that Gindane had run down. Admiral Baredio then gave Omerio an impatient and ill tempered look before he asked him a pointed question.
‘So do you also have anything further to add on how I should be doing my job?’
Omerio and Gindane both looked at each other, but neither spoke again as the admiral pressed a button on his desk, and an anxious lieutenant knocked and then came into the meeting room. Omerio had no doubt that the last loud exchange had been heard on the bridge, as the admiral cooled to merely speaking sternly as he passed judgment on the meeting.
‘I have had enough of the meddling of the both of you. Gindane, you need to seriously consider your role in the navy as I will consider a formal inquiry into your insubordination. Omerio, at least you could try to talk some reason into Gindane as the Galactic edicts are not to be trifled with in any manner. For now you are both confined to your quarters, though you may have a walk and breakfast in the galley in the morning. You may also speak with one another and also monitor the outcome of our arrival. Lieutenant, please place two crew members outside each of their quarters and have their other meals brought to them. You all may now go.’
Gindane and Omerio both stiffly bowed to the admiral, who just glared at them, and were then escorted from the meeting room to their quarters. Gindane considered the turn of events with dismay, as it now appeared that her naval commission was at risk as well. With despair she ran over what she had said in her mind, and decided that while she had shouted at the admiral she had not been insulting or disparaging. However she was well aware that formal inquiries had a nasty habit of clearing up loose ends and she could well be described as that after the earlier trial verdict.
Gindane then considered what Omerio had earlier told her in confidence about his meeting with the Traders and subsequent events. She knew that she could have in turn informed the admiral of the full set of facts in the meeting to protect her career. However to do this would have betrayed Omerio’s trust, and probably cause considerable harm to the humans, and she could never bring herself to do either of those two things.
Omerio could see that the admiral’s dismissal and sentence had taken a heavy toll on Gindane, but he wisely refrained from talking to her as they made their way down to their separate quarters. He appreciated that she had in fact kept his confidences and he knew that he would have to talk with her quietly in few hours. But she would have to call him first in her current state, so as he reached his quarters he softly spoke.
‘Gindane, give me a call when you are ready. I will be reviewing our notes yet again to see what else I can find out.’
Gi
ndane had given him a quick but sad smile, and silently moved off to find her own room further long the passageway. After they had left, the senior bridge officer walked up to the door of the meeting room and looked in at the admiral nervously. Admiral Baredio looked back out towards the bridge past the officer and spoke tersely.
‘So I am correct in stating we have a full recording of the meeting?’
The bridge officer confirmed that this was the case and was dismissed. Admiral Baredio turned to regard the view of space from the large rear window of the meeting room, and a quiet smile was now evident on his hardened furry features.
***
Stan Rollins walked around the huge alien field, and considered with satisfaction the mass of heavily laden large trucks he had managed to get through the gateway at Sydney airport. After speaking with the local commander he had established that none of the other landing sites had the highly specialized equipment that his former employers had provided. The directors had made only one stipulation, and that was that the new company name and logo they had specified could not be changed until the colony and the home world were reunited in the future.
Stan looked at the logo of Earth now stenciled on the side of his truck under which the name ‘Earth Synthetic Oils’ appeared, and the industrial chemist once again felt that the parent company had made the marketing move of the century. His thoughts were interrupted as the Sydney site’s local commander, Paul Wilson, strode back to speak with him accompanied by one of the biologists, who nodded politely to Stan as the commander spoke.
‘Stan, you are getting what you asked for with no promises of a result. The biologists had identified several native plant strains that offer plant oils we could one day use for fuel. We are clearing the main field as we head west and we will sow canola and a couple of these species in several lots as we travel. I also spoke with the other commanders and their own colonists will plant similar lots after they manage to get the food crops sown.’