by Chris Hechtl
“The overhead is fine. Is it audio?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the lieutenant replied as he put the call through.
“This is Captain Logan. Is this Captain Meikle? I heard good things about you from Admiral Irons,” Shelby said.
“I didn't know the admiral had talked about me. I'm blushing,” the woman replied a beat later. She had a thick Celtic drawl in her voice. Shelby knew some engineers affected it; it was something of a tradition. She'd even heard a Veraxin try to imitate it … with hilarious results.
“I served with Admiral Irons in Pyrax. He told us some of his adventures on Io 11,” Shelby said. “You ladies certainly kept him on his toes,” she said.
“Well, I dunna know 'bout most of the trip; I was on ice for a good part of it right up until the end,” Faith replied.
“I know; he told us. How can I help you, Captain?”
“This isn't a social call. I heard you be goin' to Tau,” Faith said in a drawl.
“Yes, ma’am,” Shelby replied cautiously. She shot a look to Lieutenant Jardin. The communication's lieutenant just shrugged. No help there she realized. News of their mission had spread by the ansible of course. “Can I ask what this is about?” she asked carefully.
“Ah, straight to business. I know you and I are both bloody busy lasses these days,” Faith replied. “I wish you well, but I fear you are in for a long hard road, Captain. Tis' rough in Tau.”
“You don't think the mission will work?” Shelby asked in a neutral tone of voice.
“Oh aye, you'll get'er done,” the woman said. “Tis' the distances involved I meant. I'll pass on all we know about the sector. Io 11's team picked up a bit in trade. We considered going to Tau. There is a reason Io 11 and the other ships went into Pi sector,” Faith said.
“I … see,” Shelby said slowly. “We will welcome any additional information of course,” she said. She saw Lieutenant Jardin nod out of the corner of her eye.
“We don't know a lot. Tau is a desert, Captain. Tis' easy to get lost, easy to run out of fuel. Few places to profit from. The people there be very churlish to outsiders too,” Faith warned.
“Okay,” Shelby said slowly.
“You be careful, Captain Logan. Safe sailing and good hunting,” Faith said as a data port opened and information was squirted to Prometheus along the same channel as Faith's transmission.
“Got it, ma'am,” Lieutenant Jardin said softly. She could see that he'd followed protocol and had buffered the information. Bots were checking it now for potential viruses she knew. After what had happened with Oasis of Space, one could not be too careful receiving and handling data from an unknown source. The last thing she needed was to carry a copy of the damn Xeno Wraith with her.
“Thank you, Captain Meikle. Good luck with your venture here,” Shelby said with a nod. “Perhaps we will be able to clear the way for the ships you are building to come into the sector and trade,” she said.
Faith grinned. “I know I will like it. I don't mind being proven wrong on profit,” Faith said with a jaunty salute. “Take care. Safe sailing and good hunting, Captain.”
“Good luck, ma'am,” Shelby said as she closed the channel.
“Well, that was … interesting. An interesting distraction I should say. Did we get anything?” she asked, turning to Lieutenant Jardin.
“Some, ma'am. Some new planet names, a bit of other information. A couple contacts and a couple ship names. A lot of it is out-of-date. There is some navigational data. I'll pass it on to nav to play with. There is a list of planets, stations, and contacts. Most of it seems out-of-date though. Years out-of-date,” Lieutenant Jardin reported.
“Well, it's a starting point. You are going to cross reference it with our existing data?” Shelby asked, cocking her head.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Get on that then,” the captain ordered with a nod. “Alert Ensign Slattery, have her lend a hand.”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” Lieutenant Jardin murmured, head already swimming with the information being displayed on the tablet.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
Six weeks later the convoy exited the 7.1 light year jump into the heliopause of the Nightingale star system. They immediately transmitted their IFF to the automated defenses surrounding the jump zone, then when they received the go-ahead they shaped a course for the B-443 jump point. There were several starships in the system, all of them navy warships at the moment. Prometheus transmitted her IFF to the picket.
The flagship of the new Nightingale picket was the CEV John Paul Jones. Unfortunately, the escort carrier was positioned around the gas giant, and the geometry didn't allow for proper two-way conversation. They did exchange brief transmissions, mostly pleasantries and wishes of safe sailing.
Lieutenant Jardin laid a whisker laser on the ansible platform and did his best to download the latest information dumps from its computers. Once the information was run past their ONI representative and the captain, it was distributed to the fleet via the various ship's news networks. Their local reporters reshaped some of the news into their own coverage.
Shelby was glad that the Knox News contingent had taken over that duty. She had forgotten when they'd come on board that there was a small studio co-occupying the barber shop on the ship. It was tight and the interruptions bothered Miss Trejo, but at least it was something and it had ties to the ship's data networks and video network. It even had some video equipment though she'd sniffed in disdain at it and refused to use it.
Four days later the convoy arrived at the B-443 jump point. As they slowed, shuttles and tugs were deployed to move cargo out of one of the Liberty class freighters. They had been designated to drop off additional cargo of missile pods and a plethora of satellites for the defenses there. Once the unloading was complete, the ships shifted cargo to even out their loads, then Portia took the lead to count down for their next jump.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
They passed through the empty star system of B-443 without incident. The brown dwarf star system was a crossroad to Aquarius, Nightingale, the New Dublin jump chain, and Airea 3. There were no signs of recent traffic however. “Sensors have confirmed it, ma'am, no recent ion trails. The ones we have fingerprinted belong to Federation warships,” the Veraxin sailor manning the sensor station announced.
“Good,” Cynthia replied with a brief nod.
“It's a pity they couldn't do something with New Dublin. I understand there are serious social issues there,” Lieutenant Prometheus stated.
“True. I believe that's why the powers that be are focusing on the other jump chain leading to Himalaya, New Brunswick, and Aquarius,” Cynthia said, sitting back and crossing her legs in front of her. “Did we get any news on them?” she asked, turning to the rating manning the communication's station.
“Checking … no, ma'am,” the Neodog said, looking up with a shake of his head that made his long dangling ears flop about.
“Nothing from the last news dump in Nightingale,” Cynthia murmured, eying the jump chain on the map of the sector she'd pulled up. “I wonder … either the brass is keeping mum to protect the Ssilli or there isn't anything to tell. Yet,” she said.
“They would announce the information about the other planets. Aquarius however … that would be prudent to keep under wraps,” Prometheus agreed.
“Right. I'm curious about those three star systems. I understand Himalaya is a high grav world?” She wrinkled her nose. “I seem to remember something about it being evacuated?”
“It was at one point during the Xeno war according to ONI records, ma'am. Apparently at some point, refugees returned for whatever reason. They settled into the abandoned high mountain top science facilities,” the sensor rating stated. “The file states Admiral Irons first got word of the resettlement. It has since been confirmed by several independent sources,” he reported.
“Thank you for that,” Cynthia said with a nod.
Chapter 16
The convoy had cr
ossed the Airea 3 star system without incident. Shelby had been tempted to stop in orbit of the planet to give her crew leave, but she wasn't happy with some of the charges the Airea 3 government had levied for port fees.
The planet had changed a bit since her last trip through. It was still ruled by a planetary board of directors, with one chosen to be the senior director in rotation. Their arrival coincided with Mister Jeremy Taylor, the electronics director taking over the senior leadership position.
To her, it was entirely too much like a corporation's board of directors for her tastes. The directors themselves were elected in their departments internally or chosen by the board. There were other questionable things that made her think it was less like the democracy they liked to project to the rest of the sector.
Lieutenant Jardin's communication's watch had picked up the local news channels when they had entered the star system. He reported that the planet's businesses had suddenly spiked the cost of goods and services. Hotels around the spaceport had quadrupled their prices overnight. It had thoroughly disgusted Shelby enough to change her plans.
When she didn't go to the planet, she received a call from the planet. “I thought you would come from the other direction. You know, New Haven, Captain Logan,” Director Taylor said when he put a call in to her.
“Plans change, Director,” Shelby answered simply, then went back to overseeing the unloading of the defenses at the jump point leading to the Trajin Cluster and the Tau sector. “Some of our ships are slower than I'd like so I took the shorter route,” she explained.
“Ah, I see,” the director said five minutes later when they received his reply. “Is that why you are working on the defenses instead of the support base here on the planet?”
“My mission plan makes that optional, sir,” Shelby replied. “I'd like to get moving quickly,” she said. She saw a few of her bridge crew look at her slightly with sidelong looks. It had been a long trip from Gaston and not many had received leave there. That was a long time for a crew to be confined to a ship. They were going to spend nearly twice that time just getting to the Trajin cluster. She had also been reminded that they were out of fresh food. Morale was being impacted by that. But she didn't like the games Airea 3 was playing.
“I see. I'll have to check on that. I'll call you back, Captain,” the director stated as the circuit closed.
“I'm sure you will,” Shelby sighed.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
As work progressed in setting up the orbital defenses around the Trajin jump point, Shelby received an inquiry from Mister Muggs about their status. She replied with her own email. A few hours later she received a series of emails from the State Department practically demanding she bring the convoy to Airea 3 orbit for the sake of diplomacy.
“We are here to make diplomatic contacts with the star systems in Tau, not Airea 3,” Shelby replied. “Given that the planet has increased their port fees and has raised the prices of goods and resort services upon our arrival, I've elected to refrain from visiting the planet,” she stated, typing the email quickly. She added links to local news intercepts that Lieutenant Jardin had picked up referring to the sudden spike in prices, then sent the email off to the ansible.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
Fred scowled when he realized the captain wasn't willing to budge. He didn't like the crap that Airea 3 was pulling any more than she did. He also monitored the news and noted a sudden economic depression as word got out that the convoy wouldn't be going to orbit after all. The news was grim for some; they'd expected a sudden influx of capital from the convoy and had bought some of the goods on margin with the expectation of making obscene profits at the expense of the navy and federal government. He was honestly in agreement with the captain; it served the greedy bastards right. But Phoebe and Ayumu didn't see it that way, nor did the other passengers cooped up on the ship.
Nor did State who was being pressured by Director Taylor for the convoy to stop and make the visit. State was leaning on the captain. He'd received a copy of the emails to her, but she still wouldn't budge.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
Just as they were wrapping up, the defense project orders came in from the Admiralty via the ansible, they were to wait in the star system. Shelby was forced to relent and allowed the convoy to go to the planet but only after negotiating a much cheaper rate for port fees. She left it to Lieutenant Talon to get the prices down on the cost of fresh food and other supplies.
Fred and Phoebe weren't the only ones happy about the change of heart. Fred put a call in to the captain to see what brought it about. Something told him it wasn't State, though there might have been some behind-the-door dealings going on. He knew Director Taylor hadn't been happy and had even tried to threaten to pull out of the Federation if the convoy didn't visit. That hadn't budged her, so he wondered what had been said in that ansible transmission. “I don't know about you, Captain, but I didn't want to live with the sulking for the next leg of our journey. I'd never hear the end of it,” Fred said ruefully.
Shelby snorted. “Well, for the sake of your marital bliss, you are welcome. I'd say you owe me, but apparently, this wasn't up to me.”
“Oh?”
“The Admiralty is sending a ship to us. We've been ordered to remain here until it arrives,” Shelby explained.
“Oh. So, you were ready to go anyway? Even with the fuel situation?”
“We had plenty of fuel to get to the Trajin cluster. I wasn't worried about that. It wouldn't have cut into our reserves at all,” Shelby replied with an indifferent shrug. The truth was it would have drawn the Doras down dangerously and emptied the tankers. But they could have done it.
“But we don't know what the prices are on the other side. It could be worse,” Fred pointed out.
“True,” Shelby replied with a reluctant nod. “I think the locals have learned their lesson.”
“I think they are a bit embittered by the experience but … their greed is … reduced, let's say, for the moment.”
“As long as they don't get carried away again under my watch, I'm fine with it. If they start getting cheeky again, I'll pull out and just sit on the edge of the star system until that ship arrives,” Shelby said.
The Neochimp stared at her for a long moment. He realized she was serious. He nodded. “I'll convey that to the director and his people then,” he murmured.
“Yes, do that. I don't like being exploited,” Shelby said as she severed the circuit.
]][#]]]{OO}===}==>
Director Taylor was grudgingly happy about getting his way. He was unhappy about the unrest her holding out had caused as well as dropping the prices though, but he realized they had gotten too carried away wanting to squeeze as much as they could out of the visitors. His board wanted the star system to be a crossroad with Tau sector and the southern arm of the Rho sector to generate revenue to make their population prosperous. They had to be diplomatic about it though, to skim rather than grab as they had done. Lessons had been painfully learned.
His threats of leaving the Federation had been noted as a bluff as well. Having Airea 3 as a trade center meant it would need to be protected, which meant they had to remain in the Federation.
Director Taylor had nearly lost his grip on power and was chastened and annoyed by the experience. He wouldn't forget it, nor who had brought him almost to his knees in the process.
As the ships drew closer, the director's office started to buzz about the various ships. The media picked up that the convoy was indeed coming in to orbit the planet for a visit and some of the economic problems ended. There was still speculation on what they would do and if the crews would be allowed leave on the planet. Some of the business owners collectively held their breath as the negotiations went on.
Shelby left most of the negotiations up to Lieutenant Talon and Mister Muggs. Both men had strict orders on what rates she'd tolerate. Anyone who went over that would bring repercussions like not allowing liberty on the planet or in a parti
cular area that was too highly priced. She also made it known to the passengers and crew that they would negotiate a drop-in price, but if they stayed or did business with anyone outside that approved network, they were on their own. She also made it clear that the navy was not paying the tab.
That was fine for the crew; they had months of accrued pay to use. Negotiating the rate of exchange was another thorny problem that the lieutenant was attempting to deal with.
“Part of the problem is the credits, ma'am. And I was asked to ask you about the smaller warships we have docked. Apparently, Director Taylor has been eying them.” Shelby looked up at him. “Not so much to buy one or more, more along the lines of getting us to leave them behind with a crew and base to support them. I bet he wants to have an ongoing presence here to also suck away at the crew's pay plus any fees they think they can get away with, ma'am.”
Shelby shook her head. She should have known that was going to happen. “He can't have them. We need them and more,” Shelby said firmly.
“I know that. You know that, ma'am, but explaining it to him ….” Carl spread his hands out helplessly. “He's already appealing to State.”
“Let him. The answer is still no. I know a lot of people aren't happy about seeing this much tonnage and personnel sailing out of Rho. Tough. We're going to make sure the other end of the jump is secure and keep the damn pirates from coming here.”
“I see. I'll try to make that point,” Lieutenant Talon said, seeing that the captain was in a mood. There was only so far she was willing to bend over for the planet, and she was clearly making it known she had a line they had better not cross.
Shelby nodded. “Good. We deliver what we're told to deliver and not a bolt or nut more. I know they'll play that on their end, not give us any more food or fuel than we pay for.”
“Yes, ma’am. We're still negotiating transport fees for all of that,” the lieutenant said, checking his notes.