Ghosts from the Past (The Wandering engineer Book 7)

by Chris Hechtl

  Ian quietly told Irons and Gustov that duty and a certain female had twisted Lieutenant Lewis up into knots. Ian had finally signed off on the young man's unspoken desire to stay on the planet and hunt the remaining pirates down with two squads and the newly minted planetary militia. Hopefully he would get the bastards and maybe find some time to build a personal relationship along the way. Major Gustov signed off on the decision reluctantly. What was done was done; they were there for the duration. He'd live with the decision. Irons surprised Gustov by approving it as well.

  “The last thing I or any of us want is for those bastards to get the upper hand there again or to raid villages or farms like what happened on Agnosta,” he said waving a hand.

  “Agnosta?” Sprite asked.

  “Yes.” He turned to the marine. “I heard about that when I, we,” he said, nodding to Sprite's avatar, "were on Gaston. Apparently a team of Marine Recon were on a training op when they found out about a Horathian shuttle crash. The Horathians had been raiding the nearby countryside. They hit farms and killed people. But they also took hostages.” His face went cold. “Female hostages.”

  Gustov growled grimly. Irons nodded. “Yeah, we all know what passes for their sort of entertainment,” his voice cut down into a cold dark growl. The others echoed it. “Well, Valenko's squad took care of them, but they took casualties and several fatalities along the way. But they got the girl out.”

  “I see,” Ian said quietly.

  “Valenko ... the bear right? I met him briefly a few times in B101a1,” Gustov said, rubbing his jaw.

  “Yes. They are the cream of the crop for Marine Recon,” Sprite supplied.

  “I'm regretting not requesting them now,” Gustov replied.

  The admiral shook his head. “I wanted Jethro along as well; his drill instructor training would have come in handy as would some of the training of the rest of his squad. But we needed some experienced hands on the prison ship ...” he shrugged.

  “And what's done is done now. They are long gone now. Let's see what Lewis had in his report. I'm kind of envious and a bit jealous that I didn't go along with him now,” Gustov said.

  “I think he'd say the same thing about the B101a1 ride,” Ian replied with a small smile.

  “Did you have another reason for leaving Lewis behind, sir?” Sprite asked.

  “Several. Not just hunting the pirates though, I too don't like to leave a job half ass and half finished. It sets the wrong impression,” Irons said.

  “I see. Political, because it will look good with the natives as well as others,” Sprite murmured in an aside to him. “And the other reason, sir?” She asked.

  He eyed her avatar for a moment then grunted. “I think after what some of us have gone through, if they have the chance to rebuild their lives, even a little bit, to gain some stability and happiness I can support that. Besides,” he smiled slightly. “What's done is done. He's there. We can pick him up if we need him later. But the rest of his report?”

  “It's fascinating reading, sir,” Sprite reported.

  Irons nodded. He'd taken several passes at Lewis's reports. Much of the initial landing had been filled with excitement but dry detachment over the damage done. The KEW strikes had hammered the battalion hard. The mechs, powered armor, and drones that had been deployed immediately afterward, along with the air strikes had been used to devastating effect right off, Lewis had been maliciously amused by the shock and hurt looks some of the captured Horathian's had had. Apparently they had gotten it into their heads that such things didn't happen to them. He seemed to be enjoying disabusing them of that idea.

  The drones and single Skyhawk had established air superiority, and had hammered clusters of Horathians on the ground. KEW strikes had destroyed any large groups of them as well as a lot of their captured vehicles. But some of the bastards had been out on patrol or raiding and had gone to ground. Colonel Zin had been among them.

  Lewis had chosen to stay behind with a marine detachment, orbital satellites, and all the mechs in order to hunt for the remaining Horathians who had gone to ground in the mountains, swamps, and forests of the planet. He had turned over the captured Horathian equipment to the natives and was working with them to not only capture the Horathians, but also train and prepare the natives should anyone else come.

  He had over a thousand recruits grimly helping to hunt the bastards down. According to his report the natives had deeded several locations on the planet and one of the small moons over to the marines for basing. The food was good, housing was crude, water wasn't very clean, but he appreciated the gesture.

  Those pirates that had been captured had been put on trial. Most had been convicted of rape, murder, genocide and war crimes and had been executed by the local population.

  Sprite was annoyed by the loss of potential intelligence but not Irons. “They had the right of it. It was, and still is now, their planet. I can't blame them.”

  “And besides, what's done is done.”

  He nodded curtly, eyes cold. “Correct. Move on.”

  “Aye, sir. I'm not thrilled about leaving people behind though,” Sprite said.

  Gustov nodded in agreement.

  “I agree. Which is a problem.”

  “We picked up a delegation from the planet and a couple hundred warm bodies.”

  “Delegation? Warm bodies?”

  “The delegates ...” Ian shrugged. “I'm not so sure about them. They say they want to talk to someone in charge, but they aren't organized. According to Captain Herschel they were constantly bickering.” He shook his head. “Glad they are on his ship, not mine.”

  “Two were sent along because they got it into their heads that their government wants to buy a warship or warships,” Lieutenant Bounty reported with a sniff at such an outlandish idea. “As if anyone has them for sale, or that they had something we needed to pay for them. We need everything we've got.”

  “True,” Irons replied, “or would sell them if they did have them. Which we do and no they are categorically not for sale. Now or ever. I am tempted to send them a gunship if we had the resources, but we don't.”

  “And a gunship would be like shooting spit wads at anything hypercapable,” the ship AI replied.

  “Pretty much yeah,” Irons agreed and then sighed as the staff looked at him expectantly. He spread his hands. “We can't do more. I'll send word to Pyrax to send a relief force when they can.”

  “That's it?”

  “For now. Hidoshi is a cul-de-sac system, not a cross road. In other words, it's not a priority. Getting to Antigua and securing our borders is.”

  “I see,” Ian said nodding as Gustov opened his mouth and then closed it. He wanted to object, his people were out there on a branch and the admiral was willing to saw it off behind him in his single minded pursuit to get to Antigua. Lewis and the people on that battered world would be in for another taste of hell if the Horathians returned ... or if this Colonel Zin ever somehow got the upper hand on them. The captain looked at the Marine but Major Gustov shook his head silently. His body language said not here, don't buck the admiral. Ian shrugged.

  “The warm bodies?” Admiral Irons asked, ignoring the byplay. He thought the change of subject would do them all some good. The recruits and supplies were far more than he'd hoped for.

  “Recruits. Three hundred sixty-two marine recruits, or at least leaning in that direction. “The six selkies,” he smiled over that coup, “and 232 others of various ages, species, and interests.” He shook his head. “They want navy, or at least some of the people say they do. I think a few want a free ride and will change their minds. We didn't have the ability to weed the goats out from the sheep, so we'll let you do the honors, Commander,” Ian said, nodding to Sprite.

  “Gee, lucky me. As if I don't have enough on my plate,” Sprite grumbled.

  “You were the one complaining about being bored,” Irons said mildly.

  “Not anymore! Not by a long shot!” Sprite said with some h
eat. That got a chuckle from the staff.

  “The courier is a good find. I'm glad you picked it up, though I'm not thrilled about their expectation to get something else for it,” Irons said, rubbing his chin.

  “I made it clear that we were trading it for the platforms, sir. They seemed grateful for the new hardware,” Ian replied then shrugged. “If they took anything more from it, well, that's their problem. I have the entire agreement on the chip and in writing including the notes from our side sir.”

  “Good job,” Sprite said with a nod of approval. “That should cover us legally. I'll make certain to CC a copy to JAG just in case something comes up down the road.”

  “None of us are bored, Commander,” Ian said. “We kept pretty busy in Hidoshi helping Lieutenant Lewis resupply, as well as the natives. Between working on that courier and training our new recruits, we've been busy. I am, however, curious about our next move,” he said, turning expectantly to Irons.

  Irons nodded. “Bounty will break trail for us. The recruits and courier will be transferred to the fleet; we need all the help we can get.” There were wry nods among the staff over that statement. “Once your refueling and hull repairs are finished, you'll finish taking on stores and then head out to Richalu. We will follow along behind you at our own pace,” the admiral said, addressing Ian. Ian nodded. “You'll pick up Captain Hoshi and Le More if she is still there. I don't expect her to be, but if she's cautious and stuck to her word ...” he shrugged. “Anything is possible,” he said with a shrug.

  “Okay ...”

  “We'll move out at our best speed. Expect us to arrive in Beta 99 just as you transit to Richalu or a day or so after. We'll cross the system at our own pace and then jump for Beta 98. Offer escort to Le More and any other ship's with her. Catch up with us in Beta 99 or in Kathy's World once you've also dropped the satellites and finished your mission.”

  “Aye, sir. Having a couple freighters with us will slow us down though,” Ian warned with a frown. He'd much rather leave Karen behind in Richalu to fend for herself.

  “Can't be helped,” the Admiral replied. “We've got a lot more that are a lot slower. At least Le More was overhauled by us before we left for B101a1.”

  “True,” Ian replied as he looked at Lieutenant Bounty. The ship's AI blinked at him expectantly. “Very well then, sir, just call me errand boy,” Ian quipped.

  “More like shepard. Whistling up the lost flock in the canyons,” Sprite retorted.

  Ian grinned. “Well, I appreciate the refuel and parts,” he said. “I know the people of Richalu will appreciate the news and aid package you are sending along with us more though,” he said.

  “Glad we had them available for you. Now get your people on transferring the loads ASAP. I want you moving out in under three days,” the admiral ordered.

  “Aye aye, sir,” Ian replied with a smile. “See you soon sir.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “What about the courier, sir?” Sprite asked. “If we take the time to replicate a hyperdrive and reactor it will set us back at least ten days to a week behind schedule.”

  Irons grimaced. After a moment of thought he shook his head. “No, we've lingered here long enough. She can dock with us or Carnegie. A work crew can work on her in their spare time. The same when we enter each system.”

  The courier was a long isosceles shape, with the bow at the sharpest tip. Her broad stern held her three ion engines. She was a work of art, most likely from the Pavilon-Veraxin yards, with graceful ribbons of force emitters wrapped and incorporated into her hull form. Her keel and dorsal surfaces were mostly flat and extended out beyond the sharp bow. The bow itself was gunmetal gray, with all sorts of ports tucked into it that hid her sensors and transmitter antenna as well as her bow shield emitters. Similar ports were tucked into her flanks under the oversized top and bottom plate. The bottom plate formed a graceful curved wing at midships, curving up to wrap around her flank to meet almost seemingly flawlessly with the top plate. Behind it bulges on either flank hid her powerful grav emitters and additional RCS thrusters.

  On top of her dorsal surface was the bridge, nestled back just above her stern. There were windows in the front of the bridge as well as along the flank. She was cramped though, despite the yacht like look she was all engines, reactor, drive and fuel. Maybe eight human scaled bodies could man the ship, but they would be limited to short sprint runs.

  “She can handle the high bands with antimatter and the right drive,” Sprite said suggestively. Irons snorted as he rocked in his chair slightly. Sprite knew better than to even suggest antimatter at this point. Not only would it be a bitch to make, he had better uses for it than to power a courier. “She'd be a great link to Pyrax.”

  “We'll see,” Irons replied, uncommitted to the idea.

  “Are we at least going to name her?” Sprite asked.

  “Eventually. What was her name before? Do I want to know?”

  “An alpha numeric string you probably don't want to know,” Sprite replied. He raised an eyebrow. “DC99134S1E. DC stands for diplomatic courier. The E at the end stands for her max band in hyper which is epsilon with antimatter,” she said, apparently she couldn't resist the dig he thought.

  “But that's with antimatter, which we don't have. So, we'll rip out her antimatter systems and put in another small fusion reactor and additional fuel bunkerage. She still won't hit epsilon but she should handle delta just fine,” the admiral said.

  “We've got a couple elves who would be good for her crew. I can whip up a dumb AI I suppose,” Sprite said. “...And some of those selkie pilots would be a treat flying her,” Sprite said suggestively. Irons grunted and pulled on his ear. He liked the idea in theory, but they were pups. Young, inexperienced pups who were getting their first taste of space. According to the reports from Bounty's doctor they were having trouble adapting to being in an artificial environment. Two were clearly homesick.

  “We'll see. We do need to keep them occupied. And get them better quarters,” he said. “Distribute the goods we've gotten from Bounty and the other ships ASAP. The same for fuel. I want another more detailed survey of DC ... the courier,” he said with a scowl as Sprite grinned at him. “Get Lobsterman to put a page up on the fleet net, a poll to rename the ship. Something appropriate.”

  “Paul Revere sounds nice,” Sprite suggested.

  Irons frowned then shrugged. “Put it on the poll then. With a link to the reference,” he said. “Get the crews moving, I want Bounty emptied out and resupplied and on her way within three days, four at the most,” he ordered.

  “Another thing to add to the list,” Sprite sighed. “I'll get right on that, sir,” she said dutifully.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Three days after returning with the Deianira, the tanker, courier, and Collier 2, Bounty completed her resupply and moved out for the Beta 99 jump point. The new recruits were settling in nicely, though Ian had been right, over a dozen had suddenly gotten a case of cold feet. These were transferred to menial positions on the colliers and Carnegie. There was some resentment over not receiving better jobs or implants which was ignored.

  As feared, repairs to the remaining ships had run behind schedule. He'd focused his efforts on the warships and Carnegie, so the tankers and freighters had only a spotty repair job. Since their crews had been moving the ships about shifting materials to Carnegie they had a valid excuse.

  Irons felt an itch to get moving but stepped on it sternly. He wanted their next jump to be in a higher band if possible, shaving the time they were expending now. The high beta band octaves, possibly even the low gamma band if he could get Carnegie's hyperdrive and ship's systems sorted out. He doubted it though, the factory ship would need too much of an overhaul to handle that high a band. Even the high octaves of beta would be pushing her systems hard.

  The good news was the extra time allowed them to integrate the new tanker, Deianira, and Collier 2 into the fleet's net and work the new people up, givin
g them much valued time to train and settle in. The good news was since all three ships had been with him and Bounty before none of them needed much work. Captain Herschel ran a tight ship too from the reports; he made a note to do something nice for the man in the future. Perhaps not a warship command, the lieutenant had stressed he preferred a collier command, but that was fine. Everyone was needed, from cooks to bottle washers to officers like Herschel, Nobeki, and others. He'd find a slot for all of them.

  The delay also allowed him time to resurvey the courier while Sindri sent work parties into the remaining corvettes. He had an idea on the courier's use. The neo sea lions would come in handy with that ship in time. For now they would learn their jobs to be helmsman on the battlecruiser and destroyers. Well, the five who were okay with that position. The one marine mad sea lion kept insisting on following his own MOS path. He had to keep in mind they were volunteers and keep his hands off the pup.

  In a way the pup reminded him of that selkie marine that had been on Firefly. He frowned thoughtfully but couldn't come up with the name. He shrugged the name off, for now it wasn't important. He knew where he was and knew there were more available now. Those that would sign on with the navy would help them expand faster and eventually take the fight right to Horath. “Right down their throats,” he murmured grimly.

  The extra time gave those who weren't working flat out additional downtime to decompress from the long hard three months they'd just endured. Some joked that the admiral was more of a slave driver than the Horathians. He just had better food and medical care.

  “Admiral, I think Lieutenant Nobeki is setting herself up for one of the corvette commands,” Sprite said, interrupting his thoughts.

  “You think so?” he asked in amusement. “What makes you think that?”

  “Her current curious nature. She's got command experience, experience at every station on the bridge now, and is one of the senior officers left on the ship without a department. I toyed with the idea of assigning her to the sensor department but petty officer Zen is too good at his job. He has a good shop and his people respect him. Bringing her in would stir up resentment. She was also resistant to the idea.”