“All right, head over to the bay,” Corajen called up to the cockpit. “I want to be there and ready when they get the doors fixed.”
The next thirty days were a whirlwind of activity. It took two of those days to get the main reactor and power conduits of the Samarkand flushed out and replaced as needed. Once the power came up, things started to move much more quickly. The swarm of cleaner bots attacked the berthing spaces and in only a few hours were ready for living in. They dealt with the nasty mattresses, and a purchase order down to one of the shops on the station had a new order of bunk mattresses in the ship an hour after the spaces were cleared. Environmental was next, but Kay’grax and Folsky made quick work of that. They had to yank out all the algae matrices and junk them and it took several hours of elbow grease to get the scrubbers clean. After that, Kay’grax introduced new algae and within twelve hours, new colonies were already blooming. It took another day before the Environmental plant was actually scrubbing the CO2 out of the air, but the team had brought portable air scrubbers to use until the mains were online.
The Samarkand took shape quickly, as the team got through repairs in record time. The main engine was in fair shape and would take some work to get up and running at full capacity, but for now it would suit their needs. Right now, Tamara was more concerned about getting the ship to operational capacity so they could get started on their work than she was about making sure that everything was running at full steam. Shields were back up to sixty percent, with sensors and maneuvering thrusters all within acceptable range. The hull was all buttoned up and the computer systems were being worked on.
Once the ship was back up and running, Tamara placed a call to Galina Korneyev. “Good lady Galina,” Tamara said boisterously.
“Commander Samair,” the lupusan replied evenly. “It’s been a while since we last spoke. How can I help you today?”
“Docking port 167, Hub Three. Come on down. I think you’ll be interested in what you find.” And Tamara cut the connection.
An hour later, the elder lupusan arrived at the docking port where Corajen was waiting for her. “Administrator Galina,” Corajen said respectfully. “It’s good to see you again.”
“And you, Corajen,” Galina replied, bowing slightly. “Any idea why I am here?”
Corajen chuckled. “I know exactly why you’re here. But I wouldn’t want to steal Samair’s thunder. She’ll be out in a second. I commed her when I first saw you coming up.”
Right on cue, Tamara exited through the docking port with a smile on her face. “Ms. Korneyev,” she said, coming to a stop just outside. She bowed. “It’s good to see you, thank you for coming down.”
“I assume you’re bringing me down here because you have a ship?”
“You assume correctly,” Tamara replied. She gestured toward the lock. “If you’ll follow me please?”
They entered the ship and the tour began. Galina said little, looking at everything and nodding a lot. She did comment that the ship looked very clean. Tamara smiled and pointed out the floating cleaner bots that were making another sweep of the ship. They went through the engineering spaces, where the techs were making tweaks to the reactor and swapping out one of the control consoles.
“So what’s going on here?” the lupusan asked, pointing.
“Well, the reactor is operating at over ninety percent and the techs are just performing final checks,” she explained. “That console was acting a bit twitchy and the hardware on that was pretty old and outdated, so we’re replacing it with a new one.”
Galina nodded. “Very prudent. These spaces are all immaculate.”
“Thank you,” Tamara replied. “If you’ll step this way, we’ll check out Environmental.”
The rest of the tour took two hours, while the two females checked out the rest of the compartments. The lower cargo doors had been repaired, allowing it to be converted into a boat bay. The shuttle was parked in the bay and Tamara intended on having the tugs transferred over before Grania Estelle departed for other star systems.
“I’m impressed,” Galina admitted. “Aside from the few things that you already indicated, this ship is in excellent shape. You’ve done a lot of work in a short period of time. You have much to be proud of, Commander.”
“Thank you,” Tamara said modestly. “I have good people. I’m thinking of bumping Ms. Sterling up to Spec one, as she seems to be able to handle the workload and the responsibility. But otherwise the ship is in decent shape. The main engine still needs some work, but that’s something we can work on while we’re out there. Shields aren’t at full capacity, only about sixty percent and the hyperdrive is down.”
“Why do you not have the faster than light drive operational?” Galina asked.
“Because for now, we don’t need it,” Tamara answered. “We’re primarily going to be an in system craft, Galina. It would be useful to have it available, I’ll admit, but it isn’t necessary. I’ll get some of the gadolinium the Captain has stored and get it fixed up, but to be honest, this ship isn’t going to be able to out fly or out fight a pirate squadron.”
“What kind of weapons does the ship have?”
Tamara laughed. “Only one laser cannon on a ventral turret. Not meant for much more than popping the occasional meteor that gets too close. Can’t expect that to do much to defend the ship.”
Galina shrugged. “I can’t say I’m surprised,” she said. “The Kara didn’t have any weapons, either. I don’t need them. I was a hospital administrator, not someone looking to pick a fight.”
“Good,” Tamara replied. “Because you won’t be winning many on the Samarkand. She’s a construction and repair ship, we don’t even want her to be carrying cargo. I’m converting all the cargo spaces into repair bays. We might have a small amount of cargo carrying capacity, but only to bring back into the system or to hold parts that we need. The bulk of it is going to be used by my construction teams.”
“What exactly do you need me for then?” Galina asked, confused. “You seem to be well in control of things.”
“Of the engineering teams, sure. And yes, I could captain this ship. But I’m going to be busy on the gas mine and the mining excavation projects to be concerning myself with the day to day operations of running this ship. That’s why I need you.”
Galina nodded. “That makes sense. But what am I to do for crew? A ship this size needs a crew of twenty to twenty-five but it looks as though all of your technicians are going to be busy with your other projects.”
“Yes, that’s correct. But I was thinking that since the station admins dumped the commander of the Kara, then there might be a few crewmembers of that ship looking for jobs as well? If, of course, you would be willing to work with them.”
The lupusan brightened. “You would be willing to hire all of them on?”
“I am, but you’d better keep a tight rein on all of them. I need this ship to be kept running smoothly and I can’t have a load of shenanigans,” Tamara said sternly.
Galina gave her a look. “Of course not. My crew was very professional. The only reason my old ship got the way it was because of the lack of proper equipment and experience in upkeep.”
“I will be keeping an eye on things, Galina,” Tamara reminded her. “I’m making you Captain of this ship, but I’m in charge of operations in this system. That means if I see problems with this ship, I will bring them to you and I will expect you to fix them. If you need help, ask. Do not try to hide things from me. I will find out.”
“I have no intention of hiding things from you, Tamara,” Galina assured her. “But I need you to understand, that if you put me in charge of this ship, things will run my way. I will be the captain of the ship.”
Tamara nodded. “I understand. Just keep my ship running smoothly and we won’t have any problems.”
Galina eyed her for a moment. “You’re getting rather hostile. I haven’t even agreed to do this yet.”
Tamara smiled. “Now, we both know that is untrue
. Oh,” she raised a forestalling hand, “you haven’t spoken the words or agreed to anything formally, but your body language is all but screaming that you’re interested. You want a ship. You want to work. You want to get the hell off this station and away from the people that screwed you over.” She nodded to the lupusan. “I was sounding harsh because I just wanted to set the baseline. You’ll be captain of the ship, but you’ll answer to me and to Captain Eamonn. I just want that to be clear.” Galina looked away for a long moment, clearly taking in what Tamara had said. “I also need you to be clear that this ship will operating almost exclusively in this system. The hyperdrive, as you saw, is currently offline. The ship’s main engine, as you also saw, isn’t operating perfectly. We can’t push it too hard or it will fail.”
“Why not just fix it?” Galina asked.
“Oh, I will,” Tamara assured her. “But our priority is getting out away from the station and where we can get to work. Once we’re out there, then I can get the engines, the shields and the sensors properly overhauled. Right now they just need to work.”
Galina nodded. “That makes some degree of sense. And I certainly agree that we need to get the hell away from the station as soon as possible. I can have my crew here in… twelve hours.”
“Excellent.” She smiled. “Do you have a cook? The ones we’ve had aboard Grania Estelle have been excellent. And meals can go a long way toward keeping morale up. There’s going to be long shifts, hard work, and stressful environments.” She twisted her mouth to a grimace. “And we’re going to have to keep the Samarkand out system for a good portion of the time. We’re only going to be back for resupply and liberty. Only for a few days each time.”
“I understand. And yes, I do have a cook. Ceres is a very good one. And you’re right, damn you,” Galina said gruffly. “I do want this. I wish it would be to other star systems and perhaps it will again someday. But for now I am content with this. Where to I sign?”
Tamara held out her hand and Galina took it in her own, folding her long fingers and wicked claws around the human’s pale skin. There were no strength games here. Galina was firm in her grasp, but not crushing. In fact, her grip on the woman’s hand was delicate, gentle by comparison of what she could actually do with her much greater strength. They stared at each other for a moment, before the lupusan released her grip. Tamara handed her a datapad with the contract information on it. Galina read through it, and then she thumbed the display, authorizing it.
“So we are confederates, then,” Tamara said, a hint of a smile on her face.
Galina snorted. “That’s quite a word. But appropriate. Confederates.”
“Well then, let’s get you to the bridge, Captain Korneyev,” Tamara said. “I need to get your access updated as well as your Captain’s Key.” She held out a data storage device the size of her thumb. “Do not lose this. Do not give this to anyone but me or Captain Eamonn. You were the Administrator aboard the Kara, I’m sure you know how this works.”
“Actually, no,” Galina said, taking the Captain’s key from Tamara and peering at it intently. “The leaders at Seylonique simply enabled my high level access aboard the Kara, but didn’t give me Captain’s authority. So this does that?”
Tamara nodded. “It gives you full access to everything aboard the ship, except to my personal data files, or the ability to select a new Captain. Only the Owner’s key can do that and you won’t have that.”
Galina blinked, flicking her ears in surprise. “That’s a lot of trust.”
“Either you’re the Captain or you’re not.” Tamara shrugged, but then her face went stern. “So we have a lot of work to get done. Are you ready?”
The launch of Frederick Vosteros’s ship was a bit of an affair at the orbital. Frederick sat at his command chair on the bridge of his ship and looked to his bridge crew. “Miss Jorek, are we cleared for departure?” he asked his First Mate.
The woman turned to him and nodded. “Yes, Captain, we’ve received departure clearance from Orbital Traffic.”
“Very well,” he said. “Hoshi, disengage docking clamps and retract umbilicals.”
“Aye, sir,” the young man replied. He pressed several controls on his operations console then nodded. “Clamps released, umbilicals retracted.”
Frederick tapped the communications control on the arm of his chair. “Engineering, talk to me.”
“Ready to roll, Cap!” the boisterous engineer replied. “Reactor’s running hot and strong, just like my coffee.”
“Very good, Chief.” He looked toward the forward armorglass viewport. “Helm, take us out. Maneuvering thrusters only.”
The ship shuddered almost imperceptibly as the thrusters activated. The helmsman eased the freighter out of dock and smoothly pulled back. Once they were more than a kilometer from the docking slip, he adjusted the controls and the ship easily swung around toward an outbound vector. After a few moments he throttled up and the thrusters gave them a boost away from the station.
“We’re outbound, Captain,” the helmsman reported. “Speed holding at two-fifty.”
“Once we’re two hundred klicks from the station, activate the main drive, helm,” Frederick ordered. He nodded to himself. After weeks of work, negotiations with the locals, hiring crew, finding cargoes, and finally getting the admins to sign off on his licenses, he and his ship were undocked and flying free.
Taja spoke up from her place at the communications console. She was doubling as the comms officer for the moment. While the ship did need a cargo specialist, there wasn’t much use for one until they reached the next system and she could start looking to sell and buy. “We’re being hailed, Captain. Several sources.”
“Where?” he asked, curious. Not the stars-damned locals again. I cannot deal with their bullshit right now. We’re out, we’re free and they’re still going to hassle me.
Taja’s jaw worked, then she spoke. “Grania Estelle is hailing us, as is a starfighter in system.” Then she blinked in surprise. “And another ship, the Samarkand.”
“Wow, aren’t we popular today. Put the big boy on first.” He pursed his lips in thought for a moment.
“Captain Vosteros, this is Vincent Eamonn,” the other captain’s voice said. “Glad to see you out and about.”
“It’s good to be out and about, Captain,” Frederick replied. “Here to give me a sendoff?”
“That’s right,” Vincent said. “Can I ask where you’re off to?”
“Bellosha,” he said. “There’s talk of some business there, we’re off to see what we can whip up.”
“I wish you all the best, Captain.”
“Thank you, Captain.” And the connection was cut.
“Samarkand on the line, Captain.”
He smiled. “Put them through. This is Captain Vosteros.”
“Captain! Glad to see you flying free again.” It was Kay’grax’s voice. “I just wanted to wish you luck, sir.”
Frederick’s smile widened. He was touched by the gesture from one of his old crew. “Thank you, Kay’grax. Fair solar winds and following stars to you as well.”
“Bye, Captain. I uh, hope things go well. I’m sorry I’m not going with you.” He sounded guilty.
“It’s all right, Kay’grax,” Frederick replied. “You have your own job to do, and I have mine. I’m just glad to see you landed on your own two feet.”
“Yes, sir.”
Frederick pressed a control and cut the connection. “All right, let’s hear from this fighter.” Taja gave him a thumbs up.
“This is Captain Vosteros. To whom am I speaking?”
“This is Moxie One to Redcap Madness, I read you five-by-five.”
“Tamara? Is that you?” he asked. A quick glance saw Taja grimace, but she quickly covered it up. Frederick’s gaze flicked from her back over to the main viewport again.
“Yeah, Frederick, it’s me. Just here to give you a sendoff, and to take my baby for a spin, Captain.” She sounded pleased.
“
I appreciate it, Tamara. I’m a bit overwhelmed by all of the people calling.”
“I’ll be hanging around here in Seylonique for a while,” she said. “If things work out wherever you’re going, swing back this way. I might be able to get you the friends and family discount on your next tank of fuel.”
He chuckled. “Thanks, Tamara. I believe I might just take you up on that.”
“Good luck,” Tamara said and signed off. Out the front viewport was the black, the endless black with its backdrop of glittering stars. Suddenly that blackness was marred by the bright glow of Tamara’s fighter’s engines as she swooped in front of Redcap Madness. She did a few barrel rolls, then waggled her wings in front of the freighter before looping around and tearing off for the Samarkand.
Frederick gave another chuckle, then made a sloppy, two fingered salute. “Helm, set a course for the hyper limit, on a vector for Bellosha.”
“I have the course, Captain, engaging engines.” There was a shiver as the main propulsion units on the ship kicked in and they accelerated for the hyper limit. “Estimated thirty-nine hours to the jump point if we maintain a speed of four hundred.”
“Very good.” Frederick rose from his command chair. “I’ll be in engineering.” He exited the bridge, confident in his people and his ship.
Tamara watched as the freighter accelerated away from the orbital. She flipped her fighter around one hundred and eighty degrees so she could actually see the ship with her eyes as opposed to just on sensors. A quick glance to her sensors showed that she still had a few minutes before she would be in range of the Samarkand and there were no other nearby objects that she was in danger of striking, so she took the risk. She watched them moving away for a little while longer, nodding with a feeling of happiness for them. Frederick had never given up. He might have lost his ship and most of his crew, but he wasn’t willing to quit. And now he was back out, plying the spacelanes again.
“Good for you, Frederick,” Tamara whispered and nodded one more time. “All right,” she said in a normal tone. She flipped the Perdition fighter back around and headed back to dock with the Samarkand. “Samarkand, this is Em-One. I’m coming in to dock.”
Hold the Star: Samair in Argos: Book 2 Page 54