by Chris Hechtl
Chapter 27
The convoy jumped the 11.2 light year distance and arrived in the G1 star system known as Tau-23IX22 on the star charts in slightly under seven weeks. There was a habitable planet in the star system, the planet had been named Asterion IX and had been a minor colony, just terraformed prior to the Xeno war. The star system sported two gas giants, both class 1 with a mix of ammonia clouds. There were several rocky Mercury class planets in the inner star system and two asteroid belts, one in-between the gas giants and another outside it. The inner belt was far thicker and showed signs of concentrations of heavy metals.
According to the intelligence provided by Captain Meikle as well as the ship that had visited Airea 3, Asterion had the largest population and most advanced level of civilization on their route to date. Based on what had been told to them, the planet had an industrial level slightly above Steam and Iron Age, with a mix of hydro-electric dams providing some electricity to some of the towns and industrial centers nearby. According to the report,
there were several craters where cities had once been until a visiting pirate had bombed them for demonstration purposes.
Needless to say, the population had dispersed after that.
Shelby felt some relief about the planet, but she had mixed reservations as well. They needed to refuel and get supplies; it was strategically important that they refuel at every opportunity. Also, several of the smaller ships needed some downtime for maintenance, and she knew just about everyone was tired of the rations from the food replicators. Her list included the need for downtime as well, but supplies were the most important thing.
“Page Lieutenant Talon,” she said, turning to Lieutenant Prometheus.
“No need,” the A.I. said. He nodded his chin to the hatch just as CIC's active scans penetrated the outer edge of the outermost asteroid belt and started to add detail to their map.
“Now, this is more like it,” Lieutenant Talon said as he came onto the bridge, rubbing his hands together gleefully in anticipation of work ahead. The young chimera was practically bouncing in anticipation.
Shelby turned and saw him and then snorted softly to herself. “Don't get ahead of yourself, Lieutenant. We still need to work with the natives. Which means, since they are the landlords we need their permission to mine,” Shelby said as the lieutenant stared greedily at the plot.
“Stop … why do I even bother,” the commodore sighed.
“Sorry, ma'am, I can't help it.”
“I know. Look but don't touch. I mean that last part. Map but don't get your hopes up. If we have to, we might have to go to an empty system and set up shop there.”
“Wouldn't they want us here, ma'am?”
“I don't know. It isn't just their choice either. If I don't like what I see, we're going to be gone as soon as we load back up. Remember that,” Shelby warned.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Lieutenant Jardin, wake them up and let them know we're here. We're going to sit here until we have permission to come in to the inner system. Make sure they know we are interested in trade,” the commodore ordered.
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
“And find out if they've been visited by our unwelcome and unholy trio recently,” the captain added.
“Definitely, ma'am. Without causing a panic I hope,” the lieutenant said.
“Definitely not,” Shelby stated. Boni nodded emphatically on her HUD in support.
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A few hours later she was in her office when they received a report that the trio of ships that Puglia had tangled with had indeed passed through the star system, but they hadn't stopped at the planet. Lieutenant Jardin had also nailed down their timing. Portia ran the numbers through her computers and came up with a rough time estimate and speed. She presented her findings at the next staff meeting after lunch. “Something doesn't compute here, ma'am; these ships are faster than I'd expect.”
“They are pirates. Undoubtedly they've been stealing the best equipment and using it for themselves,” Lieutenant Z'k'th'ss'Th said, working his mandibles.
“That is most likely correct. I still don't like it. The course they are on, from the Trajin cluster to here? It's like they are cutting a swath through the sector, spreading the plague.”
“We don't know that for certain,” the Naga reminded her.
“If this is enemy action,” Portia said, looking at Lieutenant Z'k'th'ss'Th and then turning her eyes to the captain. “Look at where it started, in the Trajin sector. In Alpha, then Beta according to the timeline, the earliest exposure is on Alpha shortly after ships arrived. Then Beta, then on to the Platte cluster. Both Alpha and Beta there are on our line of march. Notice the places where the ship didn't stop at didn't get exposed,” she said.
“Kind of hard to do since they aren't connected except through shipping, Portia,” the doctor reminded her.
“Yes, but they kept a straight line,” Portia said firmly, pulling up a star map of the sector. “And look, the Trajin cluster is not part of the northeastern loop,” she said, highlighting the route they were on. “If the plague started there, that means the plague originated in Rho. But we don't have it.” She turned to the doctor, and he shook his head in confirmation of that fact. “So, I can think of only one logical enemy source—the five ships, excuse me, four, that came here from Fourth Fleet,” she said. “Three if Puglia is correct and those ships were the same ships she tangled with.”
“Why would they do that? Why would they spread a plague that decimates all? Aren't they after water dwellers?” Doctor Taylor asked.
“One would think, but they might have another agenda or have both. Don't find any water dwellers? Feel free to sow the plague and then move on,” Lieutenant Z'k'th'ss'Th said expansively, waving a truehand to illustrate his point.
“That's sick. But it sounds solid. Too bad we don't have the evidence to back it up,” Cynthia said, looking to the commodore.
“I think it fits the limited,” she stressed the last word as she looked around the room and then settled on the Neopanda, “amount of data we have to work with at this time. We'll get more.”
“Aye aye, ma’am. Should we be on the lookout for the virus on this planet? Something incubating?” Lieutenant L'n'v'll asked, turning to Doctor Taylor.
“We've checked air samples and medical records. So far they are clean. We've asked for blood and tissue samples. I'll see what I can do. Fortunately, our personnel are vaccinated against most things.”
“Most things,” Cynthia said. She turned to the commodore. “I think anyone who goes down will have to get checked before they come back up,” she said. The commodore nodded.
“Make it so, Doctor,” she ordered.
“Aye aye, ma’am.”
“Good work on the supposition, Portia. For the moment, that is what we'll have to classify it as. We need more information though,” Shelby said, leveling a look on their resident spook. “Fara, see what you can dig up on those Fourth Fleet ships please.”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” Ensign Slatterly replied with a nod.
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Lieutenant Talon was on the first shuttle down to the planet's surface. He had to be, and it wasn't because he wanted liberty. He did, but he doubted he'd get some since making landfall was his busiest time. He brought with him goods so he could trade native coins for them, plus pay the port fees for using the spaceport and refueling the shuttles.
The coinage he got in exchange wouldn't go to the ship; he had to use it to give his people something to spend with, those who were going on liberty. He made certain he was the first out of the ship's lock and told the crew to stall the passengers to give him time to get the money rolling.
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Phoebe wanted to get to the planet and relax and shop. She barely made the shuttle; she'd spent too much time picking out her outfit. Ayumu had been smart enough not to comment about her tardiness.
When they landed, she managed to breeze throu
gh the customs line impatiently. She looked around the wooden building. She brushed past the long line for the credit exchange. “Mom, I'm hungry,” Ayumu said.
Her mothering instincts kicked in as did her gurgling stomach. She'd skipped breakfast and had a light dinner the night before so she could fit in some of her smaller outfits. “Me too.”
Since they didn't stop at the credit exchange where that oafish Lieutenant Talon was overseeing the disbursement of funds, they were one of the first people out of the spaceport.
She wasn't happy about the long walk into the town proper. There were no carriages just horses and other animals, and her dress wasn't suited for saddle riding. She grimaced and muttered about getting her outfit dirty as they walked the two kilometers to town.
By the time they got there, they were swaying with fatigue and hunger however. Phoebe led her son into the first restaurant and sat down to order.
It was a nice restaurant, one of the first on Main Street. Not quite up to Antiguan standards, but she knew with time and investment that could change. They made soft polite observations about the local's choice of decor as they waited for their meal. Ayumu like his father had chosen a thick steak and had devoured it when it came. Phoebe forced herself to eat more daintily and reminded her son to behave and eat with manners. As his initial hunger abated, he started to mind her more.
Phoebe disdained desert since she didn't want to feel bloated while walking and shopping. When the check arrived, she ran into an issue with that, they had no electronic format for payment.
“Um …,” Phoebe pawed in her purse for something, anything, but she didn't have any local currency and knew it. The human waiter's face closed, and he quietly called a bus boy to mind them as he fetched the manager.
“This is just a misunderstanding,” Phoebe said, feeling mortified about the scene. “If you'll just give me your account number, I can pay. I promise you I'll pay with a tip!” she said as the manager came out. The grizzly bear was massive despite his apron. He also wasn't at all amused by her antics.
“Why do we care about numbers in a computer? You can't eat them!” the manager growled, eying her like she was some piece of meat. She shrank back. Ayumu moved forward to protect his mother but even he was intimidated by the massive bear.
“Look, we goofed, okay?” the young man said, spreading his hands apart. “We're not from around here; we're visiting. Mom, you need to go back to the port and get the credit exchange. I guess we shouldn't have skipped the line,” he said with a shake of his head as he turned to his mother.
“Oh, so this is my fault now? You said you were hungry!” she said in a fierce whisper. She sent out an electronic appeal to Fred through her implants, and then added an urgent second appeal to him. She hoped and prayed he'd show up soon to bail them out.
The ugly growl from the bear stopped her short. “You are not skipping out on this bill,” the bear snarled, slamming the table hard enough to make it bang and make the Neochimps start in surprise. “We've seen enough of that crap from out-of-towers,” he said.
“Look, I'll stay, Mom will go to the port, get the money for you, and then we're settled,” Ayumu offered. “Right, Mom?” he said, turning to her again.
“I don't want to walk that distance on my own! Not after a big meal!” she whined.
“Mom! You are killing me here!” Ayumu said through gritted teeth.
“No, that's my job,” the bear snarled, baring his teeth. “Where. Is. My. Money!” he roared at them. Other patrons looked on, now upset. A couple coming in the door stopped and stepped carefully back and then walked away.
“See! You see that? You just cost me more customers! You're going to pay for that too!” the bear snarled.
“Now look, my husband is …,” Phoebe said desperately hands up.
“Do I care who your husband is? I'll tie him in a pretzel! I don't like check kiters!” the bear snarled. “You think we're just handing out food for free? That you can walk all over us??!”
“What's going on here, Barry,” a gruff voice said at the door. All eyes turned to see a Tauren come into the restaurant. He had a cowboy hat on, gun belt, vest with shiny tin star, and chaps. He tipped his hat back to look at the bear.
“These two out-of-towners came in, ordered a big meal, steak and all, then tried to leave without paying the bill!” the bear said, waving a broad clawed hand at the Neochimps. “They think since they are from a ship they are all high and mighty …”
“Enough, Barry,” the sheriff said just as a familiar face walked past one of the windows. Ayumu saw the lieutenant and turned desperately. He banged on the window. The lieutenant blinked, then turned, slowing his stride. He saw the Neochimp and saw the young man wave to him to come in.
Carl frowned but went to the door. “Excuse me,” he muttered, slipping past the sheriff as the sheriff turned to see who was behind him. “What's going on?” he asked.
The grizzly started to inhale to tell him to buzz off, but Ayumu beat him to it. “Thank the gods you are here, Lieutenant! We, um, forgot to get our credits exchanged,” the young man said. “Mom and I were hungry, and we heard the planet was high tech. We didn't know they didn't have electronics though,” he said. “When we went to pay the bill, we ran into a problem. Mom was going to get the credits but …,” he waved helplessly.
“And you are …?” the lieutenant stopped when he saw Phoebe Muggs. “Ah, Mrs. Muggs,” he said. “Sorry, you aren't from my ship so I didn't recognize you right off. Okay, we can get this settled,” he said reluctantly. He pulled out a coin purse. “I apologize for them; they made a mistake. One I hope they'll never make again,” he said, looking at both miscreants severely. Ayumu hunched his shoulders and looked away. The lieutenant turned to the proprietor. “What do they owe you for the meal, sir?” he asked.
That offer instantly mollified the grizzly and sheriff. Carl winced as he was given the bill, but paid it with a tip to keep peace with the natives. Phoebe was resentful initially of his intervention but also a bit grateful for the rescue.
“Next time, let's skip the dismemberment and have them work the bill off, Barry,” the Sheriff said, eyeing the grizzly.
“At that rate, they'd be here a couple days,” the grizzly said as he counted his coins.
“Well! I never!” Phoebe replied with a sniff as her son pulled her out of the restaurant and into the street. “I am never eating there again!” she said.
“Why didn't someone warn us about that?” she demanded when Carl came out of the restaurant.
“We were going to do so when you picked up your coinage,” Carl said patiently. “Unfortunately, you missed that part for some reason,” he said.
“Where is my husband?” she demanded.
“I believe he's off with the government representatives,” Carl said. “I suggest you window shop or go back to the port and get some coinage at the exchange in a couple hours. I'll be back there then,” Carl said simply.
“You …?” Phoebe sputtered. Her entire day seemed to be ruined.
“You'll have to walk of course since you can't afford a carriage. You can pay me back for the meal later,” Carl said. “Ah, Sheriff, I'd like to thank you for your timely intervention in this unfortunate misunderstanding …,” Carl said as he noted the Tauren exiting the restaurant. He went over and shook hands with the big Tauren.
“Unfortunate … misunder … why you …,” Phoebe sputtered.
“Mom, shut up and come on before you make it worse,” Ayumu said, dragging his mother away.
Carl noted them leaving and shook his head. “Sorry about that, she's the wife of one of our top people and thinks everyone should be … well, never mind that. I was going to ask,” he said, as the sheriff began to walk. “I'd like a quick bite to eat but given what just happened I'll take my chances somewhere else. I also need to negotiate for some cargo to be moved and to make some purchases. You wouldn't know where the best places to go here, would you?” he asked.
“Well …
,” the Tauren drawled, tipping his hat back with one massive thumb as he hooked the thumb on his other hand into his gun belt. “Since you asked so kindly and since you are willin' to do business with us …”
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Fred Muggs was left to not only work on forming bonds with Asterion IX's government but also to negotiate for the right for the convoy to mine and refuel in the star system. His primary focus was of course his work on getting them to join the Federation, but he realized that was a long way off right off. So, he fell back on to just trying to negotiate the fuel and mining so he or another negotiator could use the success as an example and a bridge to build more trust later.
Unfortunately, he found that the project was easier said than done. Iapyx, the Tauren planetary governor, was sour and prickly over the radio. Fred had a list of what the commodore wanted and would accept as payment, but twice he had to contact her for further details as the negotiations progressed.
Finally, Governor Iapyx sighed. “Yeah, sure, whatever, take whatever you want. It's not like everyone else doesn't. And it's not like we can stop you.”
“We're negotiating the rights here. We play on the level,” the Neochimp replied carefully. He was glad they had a sudden breakthrough, but he didn't want to celebrate too early.
“Yeah, right,” Governor Iapyx scoffed.
“Governor, seriously. We will pay you 20 percent of what we get from both the mining and fuel.”
“Twenty percent,” asked in a suspicious tone of voice.
“Yes,” Fred said patiently.
“Well, 20 percent of nothing is still nothing …,” the governor said in exasperation.
“You really are in a mood, aren't you, Governor? What gives? You don't know us. How do you know we won't deliver on what we're promising?” Fred demanded. “We'll keep our books open. You'll be aware of the process step by step. We even use the slag up. Unfortunately, we don't have a dedicated mining ship with its own industrial molecular furnaces, but we do have the factory ships and tugs. Let us put them to work for both of us,” he implored.