Narth’s words of wisdom chased the gloomy thoughts away. I was just a Neo-Viking and all this talk about immortality, destinies, and tasks were for semi-gods and eternal admirals and not for an ensign at the beginning of his career.
I decided to find Narth, Krabbel, and Mao after all and join them.
We had our formal dinner at the same top floor restaurant as before, and this time there were no moving dishes, Instead, there were real, genuine Tyranno Fin steaks, and I had grilled them myself on a portable table grill.
Tasting the first bite was pure bliss. I closed my eyes and let the taste of home melt on my tongue.
After I was finally done, I actually had to loosen the snaps on my uniform blouse. I doubted I had ever eaten so much.
Har-Hi also had a second portion and said, “I’ve never been much of a fish eater, but this is really good.”
Cirruit sighed, “What would I give for a stomach and taste buds. It looks I am missing so much.”
Narth said, “All that is Narth missed out for millennia, as eating and tasting can be such an experience. I wish I could share my experience with you, Cirruit, as I do share it with all that is Narth.”
The X101 sighed again, “I am so going for that upgrade. I got the money and everything.”
Wetmouth said, “I think I should be able to install it. I have studied much about X101 technology and physiology, thanks to the first aid and emergency procedures Mothermachine has sent me.”
Cirruit took her hand and said, “Maybe I can’t taste the food yet, but if there is a better way to spend an evening than with your best friends then I sure do not know it. I am a blessed machine.”
It warmed my heart to hear him say that, as I felt the same way and it pleased me to see that Narth fit right in. The others accepted him like he was there from the start.
As the dinner was near the end, it was Narth who, against his usual reserved ways, stood to give a toast. “In human terms, Eric is something like a brother to me, only much closer.
“Through his eyes, I knew of you before we met, but in recent weeks, I was fortunate to get to know you all in person.
“We Narth are unlike any other species, and we have lost and forgotten so much about what corporal beings know and do, but through Eric, and now through you, our eyes are opened to values we had lost. We were so much poorer without them. Here in this circle, the value and meaning of true friendship becomes apparent, and I am now able to say the meaning of pride is no longer alien to me. I take pride in knowing you all!”
There was silence, then Elfi got up and simply hugged Narth. “That was so beautiful!”
Hans put his hand on Narth’s shoulder. “You’re all right, Narth, and not just because you saved my life.”
Only Wetmouth appeared sad; despite her mask, I could tell.
I asked her, “Is something wrong?”
She nodded. “I just realized this might be our last evening together!”
Everyone became quiet and looked at her. It was Shaka who said, “Now that she mentions it, the admiral said we graduate today, and after that happens, we will all be sent to various postings.”
Mao sighed, “I wish it wasn’t so, but I know from Lt. Merkus that there are at least sixty posting requests for Shaka, as he is not only a Virtu Helmsman but one of the best.”
Krabbel, who just had hugged Narth, balled himself together on his chair instead of hanging from the ceiling, as usual, and said, “I don’t want to go somewhere else. They call me the monster and the Arachnid again and it always sounds like they fear me or find me disgusting. Here, I am Krabbel, I can be myself, and no one finds me repulsive.”
Har-Hi played with his wine glass. “It is a commission, you know. We could reject the commission and go private. I’d rather ship iron ore in an old scow from planet A to B and be with you than be the commandant of a battle cruiser!”
Elfi looked up. “I am sure my mom would let us have a nice ship. We simply could go exploring or something!”
I, too, recalled the words of the admiral, and I wondered what would be more important to me, becoming a starship captain or going private with my friends, and I knew the answer. I would not go private. I’d made a commitment, and I wanted to do my part so little Holdians, Commander or not, could be safe and hunt scum like the Red Dragon to the gates of hell. I wanted to help to clean this Navy from the curse that was the Worm. I wanted to be a starship captain; even serving apart, we could be friends. I knew I was arguing with myself; these friends were more than family to me.
The elevator hummed, and the three Immortals appeared. All three were dressed for the occasion, the admirals in their uniforms and the woman in a daring black dress.
Before anyone could jump up, Stahl said, “As you were.”
McElligott said, “I was told about your fine little tradition and we wanted to join your festivities, but all I see are sad and long faces, and it is deadly quiet!”
Stahl also looked surprised. “I would say it is us, but somehow I think there is another reason for the gloom.”
I stood, and my friends did the same. I said, “Please join us and forgive our manners.”
We offered chairs for the high-ranking guests, and after everyone sat and the Waitbot took their drink orders, Elfi simply said, “It is, of course, not you, sirs and ma’am. We just realized that we are going to graduate.”
McElligott thanked Krabbel as he served the guests a plate of fish each and then said, “I was always under the impression graduation was an occasion to celebrate and all the midshipmen and cadets I knew always looked forward to this day.”
Wetmouth said, “We realized we will be separated, as you said we will receive our new postings and that could be all across three galaxies and a few star clusters. So this might be our last night all being together. This is a big Navy and the possibility for us all to have time and the opportunity to meet again is zero-point-eight percent, taking into account the number of beings, the possible number of postings, the various times for leave of absence and the possible dangerous nature of our business.”
Narth put his head sideways and then nodded. “I concur with this estimate.”
McElligott said, “That is how the Navy usually works, I agree. Now, I think it makes no sense to postpone things much further, so we can start right away. With all these gloomy faces, I wouldn’t like the food even if it was a Burns supper complete with Haggis and Scotch.” He glanced to Stahl and said, “I am still theoretically the boss of this outfit, even if I lately feel compelled to explain myself to cadets. So don’t give me that look of yours.”
The Admiral of the Fleet got up from his place, after taking a good swallow of the wine and made a waving gesture with his hand. “Midshipmen, get over there on the dance floor and get in attention. For what I am about to do, it is simply tradition to stand in attention.”
We all scrambled to the empty spot between the tables and made a neat row and stood in attention.
McElligott, flanked by Stahl and Cherubim, slowly walked down the row and stopped, turned, and faced us. “I celebrate you on this important day, as you join these traditions and vow to support and defend the United Stars Constitution. The freedoms we enjoy depend vitally on the service you and your forebears have undertaken on our behalf. Indeed, I wish that there were more of you. You have jumped to planet surfaces, challenged your bodies and your brains, and become mentally and physically prepared for service. You have our respect for your choices, our admiration for your commitment, and our deep gratitude for your willingness to confront dangers on the nation’s behalf in the months and years to come.”
He stepped before Har-Hi. “I hereby commission you to full Lieutenant of the United Stars Navy with all the commensurate responsibilities and privileges of that rank.”
That was unexpected!
He did the same to everyone down the line. It was a surprise that he promoted everyone not to just ensign, or junior grade, but to full lieutenants.
He promo
ted Wetmouth and graduated her. I was the last, standing next to her, but he stopped and did not promote me. As much as it surprised me, somehow I expected it. They marked my absence against me or something like that.
The admiral said, “At ease, lieutenants.”
I remained in attention.
Wetmouth said, “Sir, have you by any chance forgotten to promote Eric? He deserves it at least as much as we!”
The old admiral said, “No, Lieutenant Wetmouth, I promoted everyone I wanted to promote at this point. Ensign Olafson, you may stand at ease as well.”
Har-Hi stepped forward. “Sir, as I understand, this is a commission and one of those rights you spoke of is to reject it and give it back, right?”
McElligott gasped and said, “You want to reject your commission?”
Now they all stepped forward and, as if out of one mouth, they said, “Yes!”
Narth said, “I remember very vividly the injustice done to Eric, very recently, and it was you who promised him improvement and fairness. You made this promise to keep Narth in the Union. What has he done this time to deserve—”
I held up my hand. “Friends, you worked hard for this, don’t throw it away. You won the Reagan Trophy because you knew I would have wanted it. Now I want you to be good officers. I have failed to achieve their recognition, and they have their reasons, I am sure. They are admirals and Immortals, after all.”
Cherubim’s face did not change, but her eyes glittered as she looked at the old admiral. “Maybe some of us are a little out of touch with their humanity.”
Admiral Stahl’s face was as unreadable as always.
Something beeped and the old admiral looked at his wrist com. “She is here just on time. If everyone would follow me now?”
Stahl winked at me as we turned and walked to the elevator.
As spacious as the elevator cabin was, it would not hold us all. So Wetmouth, Krabbel, Stahl, and I waited for the second car.
Wetmouth said, “Do you know why Eric wasn’t promoted, sir?”
He looked at her and said, “Indeed I do.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter anyhow. This duality of standards that hold true for some and not for others is a theme that has followed me since I joined.”
Stahl sighed. “Eric, I know. But this time, it really is different. Just be patient a few more hours. My old friend is a bit peculiar about how he does things. He was an old man before he became an Immortal, and he has forgotten how it is to be young. Do you trust me?”
“Yes, sir, I do!”
“Then just wait a few more hours!”
After the elevator ride, we joined the others in the main concourse of the Richter 4 spaceport.
We all followed the kilt-wearing admiral onto a slide belt.
A black-skinned captain, who was even taller than Shaka, but otherwise could have been a brother, joined us on the belt and introduced himself as Captain Bangizwe. He greeted Shaka and said, while bowing deeply, “I did not expect to meet the son of Chacka Chitauli. What an honor!”
Wetmouth whispered to me, “That means Important Leader, who tells us the law.”
Shaka returned the greeting and said, “It prides me to see a man of our tribe so far from home.”
The slide belt we traveled on changed directions at a belt junction and passed through a tunnel onto an alley between two of the petal-shaped landing fields. One of the frequent sand storms pelted the transparent tunnel that protected us from the planet’s atmosphere and weather conditions. There, on the landing field next to the Shetland, stood another modern Ultra Battleship.
The black captain said to Shaka, “Your highness, that is my ship, the USS Atlantis. One day, you might helm one of these, if you get a rating high enough.”
McElligott laughed. “Captain, do you know how many posting requests exist for that young man? You would be lucky to get him. This helmsman has a Fleet Helm position efficiency rating of 812!”
The tall captain made a wiping motion with his hand and said, “That is impossible, only Virtu Helmsmen who have the gift could possibly get a rating like this and we all know Virtu Helmsmen with the special talent and a rating of over 340 are barely able to talk and usually turn completely crazy after only a few years!”
As we were carried past the battleship, Shaka responded, angrier than I had ever seen him before, “You would not have greeted me as the son of Chacka Chitauli if you had seen me a few years ago, but ignored me as they all do. My father the king at first rejected me and only because the Navy puts so much value on persons suffering from this form of Autism he considers me useful. But the Navy isn’t any better because the Fleet treats Virtu helm talents like idiots, good for one thing only!
“Autism is useful to the Navy, but it is still a burden to those who suffer it. I managed with great difficulties to get into a regular midshipman program for my third year and that made all the difference. Would it surprise you if I tell you that none of my friends are below a Helm rating of 300?”
The battleship captain looked at us, surprised, and McElligott said to him, “Most amazing is the fact that Lieutenant Shaka Chitauli has excellent fighting skills, is a Blaster marksman, knows tactical, and is an excellent engineer.”
Wetmouth put her hand on Shaka’s shoulder. “Not to mention that he currently works on his biotronic science Ph.D.”
Captain Bangizwe gasped, “How is this possible?”
Shaka’s tone was still sharp as he answered, “Because my friends never make me feel sick or special. I was always integrated into everything, and they helped me and were there for me when I fought the nightmares of my so-called gift. My therapist says I am almost completely cured, without any psycho-surgery, and still, I am a good helmsman and can use the gift. I say treat helmsmen like people and not like special outsiders!”
McElligott looked to Shaka and said, “Your critique has not fallen on deaf ears. I want you to help me write new guidelines, and we will change how Virtu Helmsmen are trained and treated.”
While this discussion went on, the slide belt had carried us way past the landing field now and moved us across the dust and dirt plain toward the mountains.
The old Fleet admiral explained, “It might come to a surprise to you, but Richter Base was not built by accident or as a forgotten base project some bureaucrats green lighted. All this was a carefully planted story.”
He snickered, “You see, if there is one thing we Immortals do better than others it is long-term planning. We set things in motion that bear fruit, decades or even centuries later.”
He looked straight at me as he said, “Some think of me as an old fool and perhaps in some ways I am, but ever since the Free Space treaty was signed, I wanted a base as close to it as possible, yet one no one really paid any attention to. Yes, a base has to be manned, and Cardwell and his cronies turned out to be criminals, but I made certain from the start that he had no access to the real important things and their days were numbered. Maybe he had told you that there was still construction going on.”
I simply nodded as he was still looking at me.
The slide belt tunnel merged with the base of the mountains and went underground.
Stahl wrinkled his forehead and crossed his arms. “You scheming son of a gun. I think I need to pay a little more attention to the little side things you do.”
The kilt-wearing admiral grinned like a Neo-Viking in an ax store and said, “All this is part of Project Fish. Now the project has turned into Operation Fish and those of you present will learn what this operation is all about.”
The slide belt carried us moments later back into the open and onto the surface. McElligott said, “Richter Base has more than one landing field and more than one spaceport.” He made a sweeping gesture over the mountain-surrounded Duro-Crete landing field. “This is Richter Port II.”
A spaceship was resting on its landing gear in the center of the field. I had never seen a ship like this. It had clear Terran lines, but there were no ISAH po
ds. Its bow looked much like the head of a Rock Shark’s; a broad round chisel shape that flowed into a streamlined flattened cylinder that softly increased to a massive aft. I estimated the ship to be between 350 and 400 meters long. At its stern, perhaps 120 meters slowly narrowed to that chisel-shaped bow. It was not Navy gray but shimmered in an onyx gray titanium color and instead of armor plating, I noticed a fine pattern of hexagonal shapes all across its skin.
It stood on four wide landing pads, and an IST shaft was lowered to the ground, underneath and near its rear end. On the high end, it featured the Union flag. There was no name stenciled on its hull as far as I could see.
I barely noticed my mouth going dry. The ship looked aggressive, elegant, fast, and dangerous at the same time.
The black captain spoke first, “What in the world is that?”
McElligott said, with pride in his voice, “This is Project Fish. It is the ship that does not exist. The very first and so far, only of its class and type. Ladies and gentlemen, behold the USS Tigershark.”
His words must have been heard by someone or something, as now the name appeared across its hull near the bow.
Elfi said, “It looks sleek and fast. It will be almost a shame when it is done, and they add ISAH Pods.”
Cirruit spoke without taking his eyes off the ship. “If I am right, this ship does not need any!”
McElligott patted his metallic shoulders. “You are quite right indeed.”
Now I noticed the almost invisible purplish shimmering forcefield bubble extending around the ship. The slide belt carried us past that shield and ended thirty meters off the IST shaft.
Since McElligott stepped through the forcefield curtain at the end of the slide belt tunnel, it was apparent that there was a breathable atmosphere inside that ship-encasing bubble.
The lowered IST shaft was guarded by two Marines and two battle robots that only remotely looked like Cerberus bots.
Eric Olafson: Space Pirate Page 27