by Chris Hechtl
“More like causing her own mischief,” the admiral said, shaking his head.
“Ya don't say. Other AI?”
“Antigua Prime has several civilian AI on board,” Sprite replied. “And we of course have military AI personnel. I can introduce you to some if you'd like. They are free citizens,” she said.
Faith smiled again. “I'd like that miss,” she said. “I'm always up for meeting new people, new faces,” she said as her eyes crinkled in humor.
“Good,” Sprite said, setting up the link. “The admiral has a meeting in ten minutes, but I have some free time. Why don't I chat with you while he moves out,” she said in pointed suggestion.
“I see who rules the roost with you,” the captain said with a laugh. “Aye, I've got a moment to catch up. I think some of the lasses would love to talk too,” she said with a wink.
“Well, we'll see,” Sprite said with a coy grin. “The admiral isn't the only one with a busy schedule these days. I can just multitask a lot quicker and better than he can,” she said.
The admiral cleared his throat. “It was nice talking to you Faith. The commander here will see if she can get me some free time to stop by,” he said with his own hint.
“Understood,” Sprite sighed.
“Later ladies,” the admiral said, rising to his feet. He stretched as the two chatted then shook his head as he left the room.
...*...*...*...*...
Toni Chambers, daughter of captain Chambers went into grief over the death of parents all over again when she got word. She stormed to the admiral to join up. She caught up with him outside the meeting. “Admiral. I want in,” she said in front of the other reporters. “Sign me up,” she said, lifting her chin.
He paused and turned to look at her as the area quieted. He could see from her puffy eyes she had recently cried. But she had an air of resolution about her. “Toni,” he murmured, coming over to her. He rested a hand on her shoulder, ignoring the cameras recording them and the shutters snapping photos.
“Don't do this on an impulse. I know you are hurting, hurting badly. You want to strike back, believe me, I get that. I'm not going to ask you if this is what your parents would have wanted, because honestly, it is up to you. But I think I'd rather see you put your grief and passion to use where it is now, to help drum up support for the New Federation,” he told her gently. “Please seek counseling to help you deal with the mourning and then channel that anger to help in the best way that you can. That will make your parents proud. It will make me proud,” he said.
She stared at him for a long moment and then ducked her head. After a moment she nodded and rushed into his arms. He hugged her for a long moment. “I'm still signing up,” she said into his shoulder. “Because it is the right thing to do. Because I can help. I want to help.”
“Then do so. I think we have a slot as a naval reservist in public relations with your name on it if you want it little lady,” he said.
“I'll take it, sir,” she said sounding a little watery. He nodded. She looked up to him with shiny eyes. He smiled again. He caught the sight of a familiar red head out of the corner of his eye. From her vital signs she wasn't thrilled by his easy embrace. He ignored her glower though.
“Good. He rubbed her back then they separated. “We'll talk again sometime. See Commander Sprite when you are ready to start training,” he said. She nodded again.
“Got to go,” he murmured. He waved and then went into the meeting.
...*...*...*...*...
Once the two ships arrived at Antigua Prime they both took up docking slips. Faith had apparently put out the word that she was hiring for her ship. She was a bit put out that there was so much competition though. She tried to take it in good stride but made a few comments about getting dregs when she should have been getting the best and brightest. Unlike the old lady on Io 11 she hired mixed crews, ignoring race and gender. “I'm desperate enough to take any warm body,” Faith said shaking her head.
“You can train them later. And if they don't work out, try them in another position,” Sprite told her.
“And dump them the first chance we get someone who does know their shit. Right now most don't know squat,” Faith said in disgust. “It's not fair that you are hoggin the best and the brightest,” she said.
Sprite chuckled. “It only seems that way. Antigua Prime, the civilian yard, and the other contractors are taking up their fair share, believe me.”
“I see that,” Faith said with a nod. “Well, I'm not the old lady. I'm not going to shanghai anyone,” she said.
“Good.”
Some of the Io 11 crew had been injured during the battle but they had been treated on board over the past year. The worst hurt had been released from stasis and was recovering nicely. Still, Clarissa the doctor allowed the medics on Antigua Prime to examine her patients and suggest additional courses of treatment to further their care.
Doctor Trask was amused by the woman until she took a virtual tour of her sickbay. It was a fully stocked hospital she noted in approval. She put the woman and her purser in contact with several medical companies on the station and on the planet. That sparked a lively trade that grew as others took an interest and became involved.
Mindy, Doctor Clarissa's daughter helped out where she could. She had matured greatly, settling down into a well trained woman. She was no longer a teenage Gothic nurse, though she still kept some of the look. She and Kess had picked up a lot of skills on New Andres treating people, and immediately signed up for any courses she could download while the ships were in port.
...*...*...*...*...
The captain took a step back mentally and eyed the system with fresh eyes. What she found amused her immensely. Admiral Irons’ fingerprints were all over everything in the star system. She wasn't sure about the warships but she was gratified by their presence after their most recent adventure. When her eyes fell on the growing shipyard they lit. Shipyards she saw, one for the military off in the distance, and another civilian yard. Both were aswarm with small and large craft of all sorts and sizes. She loved the sight, it warmed an old lady's heart almost as much as a big profit did.
Building ships on their own had been an interesting side venture, but it might be even more profitable to just buy them. Or perhaps a compromise? Build parts and then sell or trade them for other parts or even completed ships? She set up a talk with Yard Dogs Inc about floating the idea.
Since her partner Vanessa the purser was busy, she took on the task herself until the woman became available. She got an appointment, apparently their leadership was busy. She snorted. Since she had to cool her heels a bit she decided to put in a call to an old friend.
Commander Sprite answered the call. “It is good to speak with you, Captain. I will see if the admiral is free,” she said. “Please hold.” The old wily ship captain was amused when the AI put her on hold for a moment. Clearly the admiral had been holding out on her in regards to the AI and his abilities. She shook her head. She couldn't blame him, it was wise to keep an ace up your sleeve. Preferably more than one, and he'd had three of the damn things inside him according to scuttlebutt? She shook her head. Talk about being a bit crowded in your own body? And she thought having to live with dozens of teenage girls was bad? She chuckled a grating chuckle at her thoughts.
When he came on only a minute later she was surprised and gratified. Apparently he valued their “friendship.”
“A pleasure to see you again, Captain,” he said saluting her with a cup of coffee.
She smiled. “Never too far over the yardarm for a drink, Admiral?” she asked.
He chuckled as he set the cup down off to the side. “The navy practically runs on the stuff sometimes. Or so it seems. What can I do for you, Captain? Something tells me this isn't a courtesy call,” he said in amusement.
“Well, I have some message traffic for you from Firefly,” she admitted. He nodded. “And well, I wanted to pick your brain about some of the ideas you spouted off ea
rlier. It seems now I'm running into the ... opportunity,” she said, cocking her head.
Irons talked to the elderly civilian captain about setting up a merchant shipping house in Antigua. She was intrigued by the idea. He told her he would be setting up a network of ansibles across the sector shortly. “Is there anything you can't do?” she asked with a roguish smile.
He just smiled in reply.
...*...*...*...*...
With the media covering the New Andres story it put some pressure on the government to do something about the situation. The governor seemed happy to spin off relief expedition talks his staff and the delegates from the planet. The admiral could tell though that the delegates were becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress.
The admiral realized they weren't going to commit to anything unless he put the navy out there. He resented that, he needed to remain focused on the military threat. But humanitarian aid was also a part of the navy's mission. Especially in circumstances like this. Besides, it would be great publicity for the navy and the new Federation initiative.
“How do we get there?” The Veraxin asked. “I mean, the two ships that brought us here aren't going back so ...”
All eyes turned to the admiral. He cleared his throat and drummed his fingers on the blotter for a moment. He'd already made up his mind, but he didn't want to seem too eager. They would want more or wouldn't step up on their own end to match what he was going to sign off on. “We, meaning the navy, will supply the transport and escort,” the admiral said, wincing internally. He had known about New Andres but until Io 11 had shown up he had put them out of his mind. Now they were here, rubbing his face into the need of the planet's population. And worse, right in front of the cameras for the galaxy to see. “And some of the material and equipment to help them rebuild. I can't spare much time from the factories however. What about your groundside industry?”
He turned to the governor but noted the relief in the delegate's faces. They didn't understand what they were sending was a drop in the bucket. Io 11's replicators had done a lot more for them.
“We could send a lot of material we're no longer using. And some of the older relief supplies we've stockpiled. We can always make more,” the lieutenant governor suggested.
The governor frowned but then nodded. “I think we can do a bit better than that. At least I hope so,” he said.
The admiral reluctantly agreed to send a tanker, frigate, two freighters, and one small transport to New Andres. Antigua would provide some of the material and medical and construction volunteers. Prime doubled their equipment contribution in a show of one upmanship since they couldn't contribute personnel.
When the media got wind corporations got involved, donating to get the publicity. Even the Yard dogs provided material in the form of solar satellites and communications satellites for the planet to use.
So much material and personnel going made the admiral have to rescale the ships twice. Instead of the medium freighter’s he'd intended he had to revise it to send a large freighter and a bulk freighter. “You know this is going to play merry hell with your convoy schedule right? There is no telling when we'll get these ships back. If we'll get them back.”
“We'll take it as it comes, Commander,” the admiral replied with a sigh. “I'm ordering them to return here instead of going to Pyrax.”
“Keeping them away from Centennial is probably a good idea,” Sprite said with a nod.
Admiral Irons replicated food and industrial replicators for the people, as well as recon satellites for the ships to leave behind at each jump point. He rearranged priorities on the two factory ships in order to replicate some of the things as well as one major contribution. He added three additional ships to the relief convoy including Deianira. They would carry the components for the ansible station while Deianira carried the ansible core.
...*...*...*...*...
Sprite tried to orchestrate a meeting between Lieutenant Meia and Emily the Io 11's XO and security officer. The woman from Io 11 politely refused, styming her. Since she wouldn't leave her ship Sprite couldn't get a DNA sample to compare the two of them either. She queried Io but the ship's AI refused to allow her access to the ship's medical files.
“You know better, that's illegal. You can't do such things just to satisfy your own curiosity. And definitely not medical records!”
“It may be important.”
“May. You don't know. I'm sorry Commander, but I can't allow it,” Io stated flatly.
Sprite realized her daughter AI was protecting her crew mate as well as following the letter and spirit of the law. “Fine,” Sprite relented with a theatrical sigh, severing the connection. “I'll find another way.” She put in a call to Lieutenant Lake.
It took a moment for her to fill the Intel specialist in.
“Descendants of changelings, ma'am? Are you serious? Is that even possible?” the ensign asked carefully. “All this time?”
“I don't know! That's the problem, and we need to figure this out.”
“Are there any signs of cloning in Lieutenant Meia, Commander?” Lake asked carefully.
Sprite checked the file. “No, but I'm not an expert. You would need a medical AI to confirm that.”
“Has her behavior been erratic? Has she done anything to compromise us?” The Intel officer asked.
“No, but that is what a changeling does right? Blend in perfectly until they are programmed to strike?”
“Programmed by who ma'am?” she shook his head. “I'm sorry ma'am, according to her records, Lieutenant Meia is an outstanding officer and leader. What you are describing is a hunch. We can't destroy her career over that ma'am,” Lake said.
“That is ... surprising to hear,” the AI replied. “I had thought you would be more ...”
“More inquisitive? More paranoid ma'am? I am ma'am, at least in most circumstances. So I have to ask myself why you are asking these questions too,” the ensign said mildly. “Is it to satisfy a genuine concern or your own curiosity?”
“Can't it be both?” Sprite asked, now on the defensive.
The human female smiled a tight lipped smile but shook her head. “Not unless it is a genuine threat ma'am. For now I will monitor the situation. My advice is to ask them for more a more detailed history of their past. Perhaps there is a common thread to explore?”
“Hm ...” Sprite replied. “I can look into that,” she said reluctantly.
“In the meantime, ma'am, can you please let the admiral know I have some important Intel for him to go over? I think he should look into it. I'd like to arrange a briefing to explain it when he has the free time,” Lake said.
“I'll see what I can do,” Sprite said, severing the connection. “Well! That didn't work.”
“Struck out?” Proteus asked her.
“Aren't you supposed to be managing the factories or something?” Sprite asked.
“Well, I assumed you were talking to someone other than yourself,” the other AI replied. “But if you insist,” it said, flicking away.
“Defender, you ...”
“I don't know, Commander. And yes, that is a problem. You didn't direct Proteus's nanites to attain a sample of Emily either.”
“I didn't see the need,” the commander replied. “What do you think about all this?”
“For now? She isn't a threat to the admiral, nor is the civilian. Leave it alone but monitor the situation.”
“You would say that,” Sprite grumbled.
...*...*...*...*...
Along with the news from New Andres, and the dispatches from Firefly, Io 11 also brought word that discussions are spreading throughout sector. Excitement was building everywhere, people wanted in on a renewed galactic Federation. The spark of hope was alive and well, the admiral judged in approval.
When Molly was checked out and serviced, both ships took on cargo and passengers for Senka. There weren't a lot of people, just a couple who insisted on going back to New Texas. Since they didn't
have a lot of cargo the captain allowed her gossips to take on news dispatches from the various media outlets. She charged through the nose for them though.
“It's getting so an old woman can't make an honest cargo.”
“Well, if we were headed to Triang or back to New Andres we could name our price captain,” Io told her. The captain merely shook her head.
They left for the Senka loop a week after their arrival in the inner system. Admiral Irons warned them of pirates in the area as well as further down. “One of the pirates escaped that way recently. And two others headed in that direction a few years ago. Be careful,” he warned.
“We'll deal with them. Our teeth are quite sharp,” the captain quipped. “Thanks for the heads up though.”
The admiral nodded. He had also hired them to drop recon satellites at each jump point. He had Sprite pass on the blueprints to Lieutenant Io to manufacture if the captain agreed to continue to do him the service. Hopefully she wouldn't quibble over it.
When they were near the Senka jump point Admiral Irons called them and wished them the best of luck.
“We make our own. With a little help from our friends,” the captain said with a wink and a nod. “You take care of yourself, Admiral. Me and my girls will be rooting for you,” she said as she signed off.
...*...*...*...*...
“So, we're in agreement?” Vanessa asked excitedly, smiling at Alice. Alice was dressed in a business suit. With the yard exploding in business she had reluctantly given up her waitress job at the bar. She knew she was in over her head but didn't care. She loved what she was doing.
Alice nodded, eyes shining. Sparks and the yard people had gone over Molly with a fine toothed comb. The ship was well put together, they had picked up a few nuggets of ideas to use in the future. They had gotten her involved when the Io captain had called for a deeper discussion. One to form a merchant house and to build merchant ships. It was all so exciting! “I think we are. We have sufficient parts to begin construction with what you have deposited. But the hyperdrive and other critical components are a problem,” she admitted.