Ghosts from the Past (The Wandering engineer Book 7)

by Chris Hechtl

  “Pump and dump?”

  “Ancient term. It is a scam. They buy worthless stock cheap and pump the price up. Then they sell it at inflated prices to unsuspecting people.”

  “Therefore the term pump and dump. Got it,” Ensign Appleseed said with a nod. “So he's gotten mixed up in it?” he asked, thinking immediately of corruption. He wasn't the only one in the conference to do so.

  “No. That is the thing, the governor wasn't involved. He was completely cleared in two independent investigations. He was pretty thorough on providing any evidence, though just the hint of impropriety is enough to taint him. He ordered his justice department to slam those that were with indictments. He was cleared of all charges but it dominated a couple of news cycles and it has hit his polling numbers.”

  “So the admiral's return is just what he needed?”

  “If he plays nice. If he pisses the admiral off it will be the final nail in his coffin. Right now he's persona non grata with his own supporters too.”

  “So he may not be able to get much done? A paper tiger?”

  “Not necessarily. The admiral's return could be the catalyst he needed for a major comeback. Not just here, but in the sector and possibly the galactic stage eventually. We shall see,” Lieutenant Bounty said.

  “Yes indeed we will.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  When Sprite had a free moment she put a call in. Something had been niggling at her for some time and she wanted to put it to rest. “Okay, “Joey,” I've got to ask, why Joey? Your name is ...”

  “Mat? Yes I know,” Captain Sampson replied. He eyed the AI avatar on his screen. He'd gone a long way as captain of Xavier, but he knew he had a long way to go before he could hold a candle to Captain Samuel. He shrugged when she didn't seem to let it go. “It's a nickname if you must know. My nanna hung it on me when I was young. It is related to a beast called a kangaroo on Earth. See, my family has a tradition of keeping track of where we came from. Nana said that the family came to Melbourne and Perth Australia from Ireland. Our ancestors relocated to Mars just before the first AI war.” He made a face. “I think you'd know about that more than me ma'am,” he said, voice cooling ever so slightly.

  Sprite nodded. The first AI war was a bitter affair best left in the past. Billions had died during the savage conflict. It had in the end sealed the rights to AI as well as Neos however. It was a high price to pay, and one that had been repaid some time later during the second AI war, fortunately without as much bloodshed on either side.

  “Accessing,” Sprite murmured. “A joey is a young kangaroo. I see.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  “All right, thank you.”

  “You called just because of that, ma'am?”

  “Yes, sorry to disturb you. It wasn't in your file and I don't like loose ends.”

  “I see.” He frowned as he paused. “Ma'am, don't take this the wrong way, but um, can you e-mail me the next time?”

  “Sorry,” Sprite replied. “How is Xavier doing? Are you settled in?”

  Captain Sampson pursed his lips, nonplussed by the brush off but then shrugged. “As well as to be expected ma'am. I'm still growing into the role ma'am. Some additional training might be nice.”

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  “And no more poaching for the other ships,” Joey said with a note of disgust in his voice. I know Tr'j'ck is hoping for another command but he's ...” He frowned and looked over his shoulder. “I'm not sure he's ready,” he said in a softer tone.

  Sprite nodded. “Noted captain. Right now your ship's company is safe for the moment. I'll arrange some training for you shortly.”

  “Thank you, Commander.”

  “Carry on,” Sprite said, cutting the circuit.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “Admiral, you have a visitor,” Sprite said with some amusement as the admiral finished the current briefing she'd drawn up for him to read. He still wasn't up to current events but he was getting there.

  “Oh?”

  “A friend. Chief engineer Kinja from Le More, she caught a ride on a resupply shuttle and has been crisscrossing the fleet in an endeavor to get here. Apparently Chief Sindri got wind of her travels and wrangled a ride for her the rest of the way in,” she said.

  “And vouched for her with ship's security no doubt,” the admiral said mildly. “Do you know what she wants?”

  “I have my suspicions but I'll be polite and let her answer for you since she's right outside the hatch,” Sprite said.

  “Then by all means, let her in,” he said expansively.

  He smiled politely as the mahogany woman came in to his office. He stood and shook hands with her and murmured polite greetings. “What brings you here Chief?” he asked.

  “I know you are a busy man,” she said, running a nervous hand through her hair. “And I am all sweaty and ...” she shook her head.

  “I heard you've had an interesting trip getting here,” the admiral said with a half-smile. She nodded. He had spoken to her on a few occasions since Le More had joined the fleet, but it had been all business. Short and to the point each time, and on topic. From what Sprite had told him she had been on the fence about signing on with the military beforehand but had gotten into a fling with Karen Hoshi. Apparently recent scuttlebutt said they broke up. It had also been a nasty break up too, with all the screaming flourishes.

  He shook his head slightly as she settled herself in the chair opposite him. He took his own seat and cocked his head, letting her get her mental balance. The mahogany woman had stated on Bounty that she had been tempted to join up but Sindri had beaten her to the punch. She had refused to play second fiddle to him and had followed her heart away from Bounty. From her expression the events and discussions in Triang had made her think twice about her decision however. If he was right she looked like she had decided to swallow her pride and try again.

  “Admiral, you are a hard man to reach,” the woman said shaking her head. She held up a hand before he could reply. “I'm sorry. I should have listened but I followed my heart instead of my head. You were right. I want back in.”

  “What changed your mind?” Irons asked mildly. Kinja had been on his short list for approval. She had the mindset, but he had been surprised when she had backed out. Sprite had dug up some scuttlebutt that the woman had gotten involved romantically with Captain Hoshi.

  She grimaced. “It wasn't just Karen. Or her getting pushy. It was seeing the yard that did me in. That and the energy and enthusiasm everyone seems to have. I want to be a part of that. To build ships again!” she said, eyes afire. “I had imagined it as a girl, finding a shipyard somewhere. All kids who grew up as spacers probably did,” she smiled.

  He nodded.

  “I want to be a part of the future. I see that. I see a career here. On Le More I'm a wrench turner. Hoshi is the captain. My ex-girlfriend,” she said, making a disgusted face. “It's a dead end. Here, I can go further. I can make an impact, I can build things!” Her hands clenched as her eyes searched his. “Maybe I'll be an Admiral someday,” she said teasing him with a coy smile.

  “It's possible,” the Admiral replied, smiling. “It's a long road though,” he warned her. “The higher you go the longer you stay in grade before your next promotion. Working in the yard isn't glamorous to anyone but an engineer. You'll see people who signed on after you sitting in the hot seat and rising through the ranks quicker.”

  “I've come this far, sir,” she replied with a shrug. “I'll bust my tail and everyone under me to go keep going, sir. If you'll have me.”

  “Welcome aboard then, Lieutenant,” Irons said, holding out his hand. Instead of taking it she came to attention and saluted. He smiled slightly and returned the salute.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  The moment she got back Kinja hit her room to pack. She was positively gleeful about clearing out of Le More and didn't hide it from anyone, including a sour looking Caid. Captain Hoshi was distracted trying to lin
e up a cargo with her purser over the radio and didn't see her chief engineer jump ship until she ran into her at lock with her space bag. “Where are you going?” Hoshi demanded.

  “Didn't you hear? I joined up,” Kinja replied with a grin. “The Admiral assigned me a ship.”

  “You what? We need you here! Who am I going to get to take care of engineering?” Captain Hoshi demanded, now aghast.

  Kinja shrugged. “Not my problem. Talk to Caid,” she said simply, shouldering the bag. She whistled as she walked off. Behind her Captain Hoshi fumed, hands clenched.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  April sat there on the park bench and fought her case of nerves to a standstill by force of will ... and a judicious tweaking of her implants. She hadn't been that way before, other missions had been pulled off nicely. And she'd passed on the odd tidbit to her handlers without a worry. But now she worried, not so much if she was being watched but that her handler would kill her.

  It didn't used to be this way. Back in Pyrax ... she shook her head.

  “Troubles my dear?” a Naga janitor asked, picking up trash nearby. “You should try my troubles. Damned kids and lazy louts,” she said, twitching her tail in agitation.

  “A bit. Just trying to relax.”

  “Ah, I see. Meeting a lover?”

  April blinked and then turned her head again to the Naga. All of the alien's eyes were focused on her. She blinked. “No, a friend. I thought we'd go out for coffee or something but I don't know,” she said with a shrug. “I need to get back to work soon.”

  “Nice weather we're having,” the Naga said.

  April blinked but her professional training kept her from reacting further. “Yes, it has the scent of a fresh new day,” she replied instantly.

  “Stupid reply,” the alien said, picking up more trash and then righting a trashcan.

  “Excuse me?”

  “It's a stupid reply! They should have given you something better.”

  “Um ...”

  “Anyway, why haven't you gotten closer to your principle as ordered?”

  “It is difficult to do when I am here on the station and he is there. Or there, or there,” she said waving her hands. “He is all over the yard and fleet. If I tried to keep up he would be suspicious.”

  “An excuse, but a valid one,” the Naga replied. She pulled a pole out of her pack and used it to pick a piece of paper caught in a tree branch with one of her arms. April noted a wicked shiny tip on the end of the pole. It could be used for more than just stabbing errant pieces of trash she judged.

  “I'm not comfortable with the mission. I can't do the job with what resources and skills I have. I'm not set up for this,” April said.

  “Yet here you are. You are the one closest to him. The council has spoken. He must be protected, safeguarded,” the Naga stated. “You aren't the only one who is in an untenable position. We are not known for protecting someone.”

  “I know,” April replied, nonchalantly resting an arm along the back of the bench as a couple out jogging moved past. When they were clear she looked over her shoulder then crossed her legs, the signal to continue. “I am a canary. I am supposed to provide information about a target.”

  “I know my dear. It is a ... problem in some ways.”

  “How big a problem?”

  “An unsolvable one. You do not have the training, none of us do. But we must do the mission. We have never failed in a mission.”

  “Why Irons? I mean, he's a good man but ...”

  “Not since the Xenos have we had to make such a decision. The councils on the other worlds in this sector are in agreement. The Horathians must be stopped. To facilitate that we have stopped taking contracts from them and have agreed to protect the navy and admiral.”

  “And they don't know it.”

  “They cannot know it. Yes they are a threat, but they can be managed. The Horathians wish to exterminate us.”

  “You mean people like you. Your species and others.”

  “Yes my dear. Which is why the vote came down as it did. I understand it nearly caused a fracture in some of the communities. Mending the rift will be ... difficult. Hopefully it doesn't come down to bloodshed.”

  “Some communities are like that,” April said. “They can only find consensus through violence.”

  “Yes, the last man standing. The Relgarth and Dilgarth are famous for that,” the Naga replied with a hint of disdain. She avoided the wet grass as she finished cleaning up. April caught her looking at the reporter again as she checked the area casually.

  “I have stopped several attempts to bug my apartment. I have jammers in to protect his privacy. Am I to report on his …”

  “No. Protection means protecting his information as well. Unfortunately,” the Naga stated with a clack of her mandibles. She reached up with a three-fingered hand to scratch at the velvet shedding from her antlers. Pieces of velvet and blood rained down around her after a moment. She picked a few strips up and ate them daintily. April winced and looked away.

  “Do what you can with what tools you have. Your body, your mind. Do not compromise yourself or him.”

  April nodded. “Understood.”

  “We will be in touch,” the Naga stated as she pushed her cart away.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Once Kinja had left Le More she ignored the purser's attempts to engage her about her pay. She didn't give a shit about it, knowing Hoshi she'd dock it or even try to arrange it so she owed them money. Pass. She couldn't catch a shuttle directly to a ship; she wasn't sure which one to go. She grumbled about it before she finally broke down and put a call in to Commander Sprite. The AI sent her an e-mail on where to report for duty. Apparently Admiral Irons had immediately thrown her into the deep end. He had assigned her as chief engineer of Cutlass.

  “Admiral, about these orders ... I thought they were for the yard?” Kinja asked when Sprite put her call through.

  “You've got your work cut out for you, restoring her. Her crew did their best, but they had to do it on the fly like we did, without me or our resources,” he explained. “She's got a while before she will be in the yard, and then it will be quite a mess tearing her apart,” the Admiral warned her. “I want to see what you can do to cut the time she'll be in yard hands down while you wait.”

  “I'll do what I can to shorten the stay there then,” the engineer replied with a curt nod.

  “You've also got your implant surgeries, as well as your own training to deal with lieutenant, and the training of the engineering crew,” he warned. He was curious about how well she'd take it. “And you'll be serving as Vestri's deputy. The title is Assistant Deputy Yard Foreman. Don't let it go to your head,” he said, holding a warning finger up.

  “I'll do my best, sir,” she replied, sounding still excited, but now with a thread of concern over the workload. There goes sleep she thought, and she was amused that the thought didn't bother her as badly as she thought it would. “Hey, does that mean I won't be Cutlass's chief engineer for long sir?”

  “Good, you figured that part out,” he said, studying her image. “It all depends on how well Cutlass turns out, so do a bang up job on her. You're going to need to research her class history carefully and do what you can with what you have ... while also throwing as many upgrades as she can handle too,” he said. She blinked in surprise. “I have a blueprint for her,” he said, throwing her a bone. Her face cleared, a sure sign of relief. He nodded. “Welcome aboard, Chief.”

  She smiled and then nodded. “It's good to be here, sir.”

  “Now make it happen.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Irons received a message from Lieutenant Lake, the Intel and security officer in charge of the Horathian POW's. It wasn't marked as urgent so he filed it away for later review and then went to dinner. Stroganoff with real sour cream and mushrooms, Mrs. Garrett was a culinary genius. He wasn't sure how she'd arranged for the fresh food, especially the sour cream since they were still
an hour out from dock. He hoped he wasn't the only one getting it though, the crew deserved fresh food as well. As long as the cook didn't listen to Sprite's culinary advice he'd keep an open mind in how she set his table.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  April realized she wasn't going to get through to the admiral through the normal channels. Fortunately there were other, more direct, or in her case, indirect means. She focused on those. She wrote him a brief note and then prepared herself. Fortunately like everyone in the system she knew he was coming to the station. It was her turn to play hard to get.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Averies shook his virtual head as he noted the spreadsheet. “Will you look at that? Just look at that!”

  “I'm guessing you are looking at the mining stock board again?” Doctor Myers asked, clearly amused by his colleague's disgust.

  “Yes!”

  “There is nothing we can do about it. It is a free market.”

  “There outa be a law. A law against anyone buying the material when they don't need it. You see this?” He pointed to a shipment that had yet to leave the belt. “It's changed hands nine times. Nine times!” he pointed out, highlighting the shipment. “We can't afford these outfits coming in and gambling with the market. They are buying the material and driving the prices up.”

  “Hoarding it?”

  “That too. But they get into competition with one another to corner the market in a specific material. It's insane some of the credits they are offering these days!”

  “Back to the good old days? Before the belt was free?”

  “Yes,” Averies sighed. “I'm afraid our budget is going to need to be adjusted. Again.”

  “That means we'll have to pass on the costs to the consumers. You know the drill, when the cost of the material or labor go up, the price goes up. Simple economics 101.”

  “Yeah well, try telling them that.”

  “You already have them pay a higher price for priority construction. This is no different.”