by Robert Culp
“Prophecy, this is Avatar. Acknowledged.”
“Wouldn’t destruction be assured if they burned up on re-entry?” Celeste asks.
“They would, but with four armored troopers, a medical team of probably six members, there’s not room on the shuttle for them. And I don’t want to send a second shuttle just to avoid the exercise of two shuttles swapping places. I’d rather they all go together.”
“Captain, I have a message from Engineering,” says the communication tech. “Chief Jenkins requests your presence when you get a moment ma’am.”
“Acknowledged,” I tell him. I look to Celeste, “You understand what’s going on and what my intentions and goals are?”
“I do, ma’am.”
“Then I’m going to Engineering.”
“Captain is off the bridge,” she says settling into my chair.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Another problem with starships is they’re so freakin’ big. It seems like it takes hours to get to Engineering but I know it’s minutes. I walk in on a spirited argument that has probably been going on for quite a while. I can hear them ten meters from the office door. I open the door and watch for a minute or two.
“Cap’m Shownya told you,” Gorb points his finger at Jenkins, “to let me,” he stabs his chest with his thumb, “make batteries! So you,” he points back at Ross, “let me,” thumb back to himself, “do it!”
Ross is doing his best to keep a leash on his temper, but I can see his resolve weakening. “And I told you that the materials you want to use—specifically the cesium—are dangerous. All I want you to do is start small. Something that won’t—oh good,” he sees me, “you’re here.”
Gorb shouts, “He,” he points at Ross, “won’t let me,” he points at himself, “build your,” now he points at me, “batteries!”
“Be quiet both of you,” I make the universal calm down motion, both hands palms down. “Gorb, I did ask Chief Jenkins to put you in charge of the battery project. But he is still the Chief Engineer so you will abide by his rules. I want you to tell me, quietly, what the problem is.”
“He won’t let me do it!” He crosses his arms then changes his mind and puts his fists on his hips for emphasis.
“I said, ‘quietly.’ But now, I’m going to ask Chief Jenkins what his objections are. You are going to be quiet until he and I finish talking, understand?”
He crosses his arms again but nods assent.
“Chief?”
“He read your idea for the cesium ion capacitor and says he can make it work. I confess it scares me. I asked him to build a small, proof of concept prototype first. He wants to build all of them, full size. I won’t approve his request for that much cesium. It’s a hazard to the ship as the potential for catastrophe is too high for such an unstable element.”
“Thank you, Chief. Gorb,” I turn to him, “why are you opposed to building a small prototype first?”
“It’s a waste,” he says. “Once the cesium is in the prototype it can’t be taked out. We don’t have enough to waste.”
“I understand that, I don’t care. You are going to build a prototype. Your prototype will be the size a coffee can, plus or minus ten percent. Once we know that everything is working with it, we will ramp up production on the full size models. Will you do that?”
“But—”
“Or do I have to find someone who will?”
Gorb and I stare at each other. I can’t blink first. Gorb does. “Okay, fine. If you want to crawl when we can climb, I’m not throwing sticks at you. One decigram of cesium,” he looks to Jenkins, “please.”
“I will arrange it,” he says.
“Thank you,” Gorb starts to leave but turns at the door. “Woss may be right, but I’m righter.” Jenkins doesn’t say anything. Instead he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small foil wrapped package which he tosses to Gorb. He unwraps the chocolate and pops it into his mouth before going back to his workstation.
I turn to Jenkins, “Did you really call me down here to referee you and Gorb?”
“No, at the end of the day I can be just as stubborn as he can. I called you down here to a) make you aware that the capacitor design can be easily and unintentionally weaponized, and b) renew my objections.”
“Which is why you wanted the prototype, I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“I want the prototype because if it goes south—and I’m not convinced it won’t by the way—I don’t want the ship destroyed because of his ego. Or yours, if you’ll forgive my candor.”
“He’s usually right. And if you ever stop being candid, I’ll fire you.”
“Thank you. And if he is right, I’ll be happy to cede the point. But the chemistry scares me on this one. I bet this is the way the guy who fired up the first fission reactor felt.”
“Without a doubt. If that’s all, I’m heading back to the bridge.”
“Thanks, Cap’m.”
The shuttle bay isn’t exactly on the way back to the bridge, but it’s been a while since I was seen there so I make it a point to drop in. As it happens, two of our craft are in the process of returning. I wait patiently to greet everyone, trying to hide my hope of seeing Rikk. I approach the last person off the shuttle the troopers were on. “Looks like you brought everyone back.”
“That’s usually the goal, ma’am,” it’s Cooper. I try to hide my disappointment. “But nine mike-mike pistols and civilian shotguns don’t have much effect on our armor. I understand it’s your design, I must admit I prefer it to the old stuff we had. Chief Sarge went with the others to check out the cutters, once we had everybody in the big tank they made ready for the surface. He sent the medics and one of the fighters back. I guess he figures if he needs air support on the cutters, one bird can do it.”
Shawna approaches us, “And Spooky can do that. I wanted to stay on station but Rikk told me to get back here.”
“As the one on the ground, he does get to pull rank,” I say.
“If you ladies will excuse me,” Cooper says, “I have work to do.”
Shawna beats me to it, “So go do it.”
“Any problems on your flight?”
“Nothing worth mentioning, one personal problem though.”
“Oh? Anything you care to share?” she stops me with a hand on my arm.
“I never see you anymore, girlfriendly.”
“Then let’s grab chow this evening,” I say.
“Sounds good. I was going to suggest it but I figured you had plans with tall, blonde, and buff.”
She returns my stare. I blink first this time. “Who else knows?” I say quietly.
“‘Knows’? I don’t know, I don’t see either of you as the boink and blab type. So probably not many.”
“So, who told you?”
“That’s insulting, Sonia. Just because I have blonde hair and big boobs doesn’t make me stupid. I also have eyes, ears, and a modestly high IQ. And I know what to look for. But if you’re concerned, let’s review your circle of friends. Athena is an android. If it occurs to her to note it, she’ll point out iris dilation, elevated heart rate and such. But she’s not snoopy like I am. Rikk won’t mention it to anyone because he’s very private and it’s none of anybody’s business. Celeste? It’s a fair bet she’s noticed a change in your mood and demeanor. She may or may not have figured out the cause. If she does, I expect she’ll keep it to herself until it becomes necessary to confront you. Which I don’t think she’ll do until and unless she thinks the ship and/or crew are in danger. And she certainly wouldn’t out you in a public setting. Am I overlooking anyone?”
“No, but you’re painting a pretty unflattering picture of me.”
“I don’t see it that way, it’s lonely at the top. You’ve been there before. So you knew what was coming when you took this job. To be honest, I’d be more surprised if you had a lot of close friends. Rikk and the rest will still be a bit, why not join me in Flight ops if you’re not needed elsewhere? Someone there make
s a killer cup of coffee.”
“Lead on.”
When we walk in someone yells, “Captain is on deck!”
“As you were.” To their credit, those who had their faces buried in sensor readouts kept them there, those not involved in directly managing ship’s craft did stand and stop talking.
“Do we have the good coffee on? The Captain and I would like a cup, please.”
“Brewing in two, CAG.”
“‘CAG’?” I ask Shawna.
“Commander, Air Group. It’s not a perfect fit for this job, but it’s short, easy to remember, and sounds badass.” She turns back to the room. “Very well, talk to me about Spooky, Athena, and Scooter.”
“Spooky is maintaining a high orbit over Avatar, I think she’s bored. From what we overheard, the troopers found the two empty cutters. Athena just set down in the ocean and will begin offloading the passengers—or are they cargo? —in a few moments if she hasn’t already. Scooter rode down beside Tallyho and is flying more or less high cover.”
Shawna has donned a comLink headset. I sneak a look at the frequency setting and enter it to mine. I mute my microphone. “Spooky, this is Thrumlee, change of station. I want you to provide high cover for Tallyho if there’s nothing happening at Avatar.”
“Thrumlee, Spooky. Wilco.”
“Scooter, Thrumlee. Change of station; you’re providing transport for Avatar.”
“Thrumlee, Scooter. I guessed as much, already heading there.”
“Prophecy this is Avatar, both cutters are empty. Confirm destruction mission, please.”
I don’t say anything; Celeste is on the bridge and I did leave her in command. “Avatar this is Prophecy, I confirm destruction. The means are up to you.”
“Roger Prophecy,” Rikk says. “I was hoping to use CAP for that, I don’t think I have enough explosives to accomplish the mission.”
My perCom blinks with an incoming message from Celeste wondering where I am. I scan it and reply: I’m in FlightOps, eavesdropping.
“Avatar, this is Thrumlee, stand by. Break. Tallyho this is Thrumlee, say your weapon status.”
“Thrumlee, this is Tallyho,” Athena answers. “At this time I have no reason to believe this vessel is armed.”
“Does it have auto-pilot capability?”
“Stand by.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask her. Someone hands each of us a cup of coffee. Hazelnut! Yum!
“I was hoping she would be able to drop some ordnance on the cutters before we use our weapons to destroy it. That doesn’t look like it will happen, but if we can program the fueler to crash into the cutters, boom…three birds, one stone.”
“That would destroy all three ships…” I say.
“And we don’t have to launch the first missile,” Shawna finishes my thought. “Our magazines stay full.”
“When were you going to check with me about that?” I ask, lifting one eyebrow.
“I just did.” She looks mildly offended then quickly relays the tentative plan to Athena, Rikk, and Celeste.
“Thrumlee, this is Tallyho there is a primitive autopilot. Its safety protocols will not permit it to do what we’re asking.”
“Avatar pitching in two credits, can we start the ship descending and then blow the computer or cut power or something? The equivalent of lashing the wheel like the wind powered navy used to do.”
“Prophecy Actual, this is Tallyho Actual,” Athena must have some Captain-to-Captain thoughts.
I activate my microphone. “Tallyho Actual, this is Prophecy Actual.”
“I think the only way to accomplish the mission of using this vessel to destroy the cutters is to manually pilot it to the final approach, cut power to the engines and computers, and abandon ship once the gravity well and the ship’s inertia guarantee the outcome.”
“Is there an emergency exit from the bridge?” Most ships have them to allow the bridge crew an escape route. The idea is they control the ship until the very last moment and then beat a hasty retreat. Usually to a life boat of some form.
“It does,” that’s good “but it does not appear to be functional.” That’s bad.
“How long will it take you to run from the bridge to the shuttle—belay that, to the nearest airlock?”
“Stand by while I access the floor plans. Approximately two minutes, barring the unforeseen.”
“All stations, this is Prophecy Actual. Wait.” They know I’m going to be off the net for a while. I absentmindedly thank someone for refilling my coffee while I walk around thinking. The room is quiet for two minutes aside from the normal traffic. I get back on the net. “All stations, this is Prophecy Actual this is what I want to happen. Who’s the shuttle pilot? Scooter, you’ll transport the Avatar elements to Prophecy. Tallyho will achieve orbit and all personnel except Actual will abandon Tallyho. Actual will pilot the ship in a course terminating with Tallyho impacting on, hence destroying, the cutters. She will also abandon the ship prior to its termination. Thrumlee will pick her up in a shuttle and RTB with her. Questions?”
“Prophecy Actual, this is Scooter, I should be able to pick her up, and we can make room.”
“I considered that, Scooter, but there are two problems. One, you said ‘should’ and two, you will already have a full load.”
“Fair enough, ma’am.”
“Avatar, this is Tallyho Actual, how far apart are the cutters?”
“Tallyho, Avatar, eyeballing it at two clicks.”
“Avatar, Thrumlee, are they capable of flight?”
“I can’t tell that they aren’t, why do you ask?”
“I’d rather they were closer together.”
“Going to need some pilots then.”
This day just keeps getting better. I turn to Shawna, off the comLink I ask, “Can Scooter move one of those closer to the other?”
She strokes her chin, “I think so, yeah, I mean she should be able to. And by the way, she is a good pilot. She can pick up Athena as good as I can.”
“That’s as may be, but I don’t have the confidence in her I do in you. And this plan is getting uglier by the minute. If we have someone doing floating person pickups, I want the best.”
“Thanks, for that, but I can do the command and control from here…”
I interrupt her. “The point is not open for discussion, Commander. I’m going to the bridge, you know my vision and intent. I’ll leave the details of execution to you. And I want you flying the shuttle to get Athena.”
“Roger that,” she turns her comLink headset back on. I turn to leave, returning the coffee cup to the sink beside the coffee maker. “Oh, ma’am?” Shawna calls. “You never answered me about chow.”
“I didn’t? I thought I did. You’re on. After everyone is back aboard, this mission is complete, and providing our schedules allow, I’ll meet you in the chow hall.”
“Deal.”
It may be “un-Captain like conduct,” if there is such a thing. I normally want to micromanage the movement details, but right now, I just don’t. I have competent people. I trust them to do their jobs. I have to trust them to do their jobs. There’s nothing for it, I have to do mine while they do theirs.
“Captain’s on the bridge.”
“Report.”
“The shuttle just left with the Avatar elements aboard. It will pick up the crew of Tallyho. Athena just achieved orbit and is making her calculations while everyone else is securing their stations, such as they are,” Celeste says.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that class of ship is not, as space craft go, overly complicated. The suggested complement is one person piloting while everyone else is operating the fuel converter or whatever else they have going on. Commander Landers’s shuttle just left, she’ll match Tallyho’s orbit and retrieve Athena as she exits.”
“Where do you see a wrinkle in the plan? What am I overlooking?”
“I’m pretty confident in Athena’s calculations. Even she allows her circul
ar probable error is maybe 500 meters. She’d have to miss pretty bad in order for the fueler to not destroy itself and the two cutters. Tallyho itself won’t—now that the hold is empty—have enough mass to create an extinction event. A significant debris cloud, rock and water, but it won’t knock the planet off its axis or anything like that. The equivalent of a volcanic winter event probably, so a lot of folk are going to get cold.”
“Athena exiting the ship?”
“That is the only sticky bit I see.”
“Well,” I say as I settle back into my seat, “if need be, we can punch a hole in the hull for her.”
“Negative.”
“Say again? It’s not like it would blow itself off course”
“While it’s true that Tallyho is depressurized, we are dependent on physics and ballistics to guide the ship on its way to the target, if we push it off course even by a miniscule amount—”
“The distance involved magnifies it. So if she runs into trouble—”
“There’s not a damned thing we can do about it.” Celeste says.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Tallyho Actual this is Thrumlee, I’m in position.”
“Roger Thrumlee. My course is laid in, changes are locked out, and all unnecessary computers are off line. Maximum thrust in three…two…one…firing.”
“And we’re committed,” Rikk has joined me on the bridge. He’s removed his armor, but not the skinsuit that goes under it. He did pull on a pair of workout shorts though. He’s got a body to brag about, is it modesty perhaps?
“Damn, that bitch is fast,” Shawna mutters over the open circuit. We all watch the ship streak ahead. The shuttle trails it.
“Helm…” Celeste says.
“Matching,” he responds as his hands make the adjustments. Soon, Tallyho is again centered in our view screen, the shuttle craft trailing it on its starboard side, the side with the emergency airlock.
We see the plumes of the maneuvering jets as they push Tallyho into her final descent.
“I believe gravity has taken control,” Athena says. “I’m shutting everything down and abandoning the ship.”