by Chris Hechtl
“This is starting to sound more and more like an economic and trade summit than a local resource one,” the Veraxin treasurer clacked. “I understand now why you didn't object to my inclusion to this meeting,” he said with a signal of thanks to Admiral Irons.
Jeff nodded, sitting back thoughtfully as the others began to wrangle on the details. Irons had it right; he'd seen the problem coming, seen how to handle it, and laid out some steps. All good. If they built additional shipyards, it would curtail some growth in Antigua, but they were near the saturation point now. If they continued to grow, they would, as he pointed out, eat their seed corn.
So, it was in Antigua's best interest to foster limited competition even though it might gall some, he thought, glancing at the senator and then the cybers around the table. He knew that the Antigua Prime Council as well as the Yard Dogs was a bit put out over the inclusion of ETMI into their little cliché. The same for ET and Pyrax itself. He fought a smile. He'd heard the translation of ETMI's acronym, Epsilon Triangula Molly Io 11. Basically naming the parties involved. But he'd also heard Miss Miekle's translation as well, “Ech, Too Much Information.” He fought a snort.
He noted Alice glancing his way but merely flicked his fingers. She looked a little curious but then looked away. He nodded mentally. The parties around the room weren't going to like what they were going to have to do. Tough. They couldn't have their cake and eat it too; they wouldn't be in control forever. Eventually civilization had to leave the nest he thought. Finding what would work from a list of bad choices was what they were up against. Swallowing it would be something else. Again, tough. He had to look at the big picture from now on he thought, making a mental note.
:::{)(}:::
Caroline had an uneventful flight to Nuevo. When she arrived in the star system, she immediately broadcast her IFF as protocol required. That transmission apparently shocked and surprised the public on both habitable planets. Two hours after their transmission, they got a stammered reply welcoming them back.
When they entered orbit of Planet A three days later, Governor Tribek called them. “I admit Captain Perth, I hadn't expected to ever see you again, at least not in my lifetime.” he said wryly.
“I'm sorry to hear that, Governor,” the captain replied.
“Oh no, it's not a bad thing. I didn't mean to insult you earlier, I really was busy, and hell, like I said man, I thought you'd be a one-shot wonder. So, is this going to be a regular thing?”
The captain nodded. “Hopefully, sir. Hopefully more than just us,” Captain Perth replied.
“Well then! I guess I misjudged you.”
“I don't know what you mean, sir. We're going to do our best to reforge the federation. Any help you can provide would be appreciated,” the ship captain stated.
“Ahem, yes. Um, yes, your gifts were quite valuable and helpful. Um, I'm not sure how to reciprocate however,” the governor said.
“We have material for you, sir. And more equipment to help your emergency services and schools get back on track,” Captain Perth said.
“That is definitely a pick-me-up we need. Again though, I don't know how we're supposed to pay for it all. Food is scarcely something of high value,” the governor drawled.
“You'd be surprised how valuable fresh food is to a spacer after being in space for months, sir,” the captain said. “But we can trade for resupply including fuel.”
“Fuel um …”
“We can process water into fuel, sir,” the captain explained patiently.
“Ah,” the governor replied in a tone of relief. “I think we can arrange it so you can get all the water you need,” he said.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I've been going over the rather lengthy files you downloaded to us. I'm afraid our computers aren't as up-to-date as you expected,” the governor drawled.
“I can have someone hand deliver you a chip, sir,” the captain said.
“That would probably be for the best; there are gaping holes in the file. I'm afraid our receivers were spotty on the data,” the governor stated. “But one thing did come through. A request for resettlement?”
“I … do not know, sir. I'm just the mail man in this case,” the captain replied.
The governor snorted. “Heh, I suppose so, but it affects you as well I believe. The request is actually for our sister planet. I believe you'll need to forward it to them.”
“Um, yes sir?” the Neochimp captain replied cautiously.
“You can pass on the request for resettlement of the Pyraxian Centaurians and other heavy worlders. According to this letter, the surviving Centaurian colony in Pyrax wants to explore the option of relocating to Nuevo B to join the herds there.” The governor expanded. “I've transmitted the file to Nuevo B, but I don't know if we'll get a response. Their hardware isn't as well kept up as our own,” he warned.
“I … see, sir,” Captain Perth said slowly. He frowned. He hadn't planned on a trip to the heavy G planet.
“Oh, you are in luck!” the governor said, interrupting the captain's train of thought. “It looks like they did receive the request. I'm getting a text file. Harrumph. Apparently they are … intrigued I guess you could say. I'm forwarding you the short but sweet reply now.”
The captain nodded. When his comm rating turned to him, he raised a shaggy eyebrow. The Elf rating held up two fingers. He nodded and turned to his number two display and clicked on the file.
He read the short statement. “The inclusion of fresh genetic material is of interest to the herds but they will need to vote on the subject.” He frowned.
“And don't hold your breath on getting a prompt response like this one, Captain. The governor is a talking head; she runs everything through her constituents. It means decisions that aren't emergency ones are glacially slow. They could be debating it for years,” Governor Tribeck said succulently. “I know they are still debating a few things we settled here ten years ago. But I will admit, they are very thorough,” he stated.
The Neochimp officer grimaced then nodded. “Well, we got the information into their hands; what they do with it from here is their decision. We'll make certain the … people in Pyrax won't come here without their say so.”
“I'd think that's for the best, though it might force their hand. They tend to procrastinate a lot. They are deep thinkers though. I wish we could send them the computers they want. I understand they've been etching equations and science journals into stone over there.”
“I'd like to see that,” the captain said, shaking his head in wonder. “Why though?”
“Centaurians aren't thrilled about cutting down trees, and the idea of making paper is anathema to them. We were trading with them for a while, at least until our last ferry and shuttle broke down.”
“Well, I can assign a couple of engineers to take a look at it, sir. In order to facilitate inner system trade and cooperation,” the captain suggested.
“No need. The last surviving shuttle is in the bone yard. I'd say surviving, but it's just a partial frame that the kids play in at this point,” the governor stated. “I'm getting a dirty look from my wife. I think I've been on the radio too long,” he said in a stage whisper.
The captain snorted. “I see who really rules the roost, sir. Thank you for your time and help, sir.”
“No problem, son. Let my staff know when your shuttle is ready to come down. I've got a couple people willing to go with you.”
“And we've got a pair of people for you, sir,” the captain replied.
“Oh?”
“Government aid workers, sir. One is an industrial professor; the other is a doctor. Both are looking forward to meeting your establishment,” he explained.
“Harrumph. Yes, well, we can use them I suppose,” the governor said. “I'll let the army know you are coming down. I don't suppose you can take a few of them?”
“We can make room, sir.”
“Good. A few of them should be in a museum. I think that with yo
ur medical tech, they might gain a second chance at life.”
“Yes, sir. We can see that they get it, sir,” the captain said with a nod. His fingers flicked out to alert medical to keep an eye on the personnel coming up with a pointed warning that some may be infirm geriatrics.
“I'll check in with you later,” the governor said. “Nuevo A out,” he said as they heard a rustle of fabric and a firm female whisper to get off the radio. Now.
Captain Perth snorted as the signal cut off from the planet.
:::{)(}:::
Caroline spent a week in Nuevo A orbit. The crew took turns shuttling down and experiencing what limited facilities and resorts that the planet had for liberty. Work crews moved cargo down in each shuttle flight and barrels of water back up. The barrels were supplemented with foodstuffs, some of it raw but some of it canned or fresh. According to the reports from the shuttle crews, they were given warm welcomes on the planet and were fed until they waddled and were afraid the ship wouldn't be able to handle the weight.
Halfway through the week, the fuel team got exasperated with trying to move the unwieldy barrels to the point where they replicated a bunch of flexible plastic containers. The containers went down … and were never seen again. More barrels came up.
Apparently their smug attempt to fix the problem had fallen on deaf ears or someone groundside had kept them for themselves, Captain Perth thought with a wry snort when he read the acid report from his cargo master.
Near the end of their stay, they picked up two civilian delegates. They made certain their people were settled in a day before they also received three army reservist officers, one of which was elderly. On the last shuttle flight to go up, two army noncoms showed up with their kit and orders to go with them.
Captain Perth shook his head as he talked to Governor Tribeck before their departure. The Bosun was making certain the passengers were comfortable.
“Maybe next time you can come up for a tour, sir,” the captain suggested.
“I'd like that. If I can find time in my schedule and if I'm still in office, I'd like it a lot,” the governor said. “I don't think you'd appreciate my kids running all over the place though,” he warned.
“You'd be surprised, sir. They are the future,” the captain replied.
“I'll take you up on it next time then. But don't take this the wrong way, Captain, but I wish you had room for more. But if you want us to help, and believe me, we do, then you need to send more than your ship. Otherwise, we'll be sending tiny drips, little dribs and drabs that will do little to help,” Governor Tribeck stated bluntly.
“I'll pass that along, sir. We're working on it, that's what I can tell you. Admiral Irons has passed orders, and we're trying to do something to facilitate regular traffic,” Captain Perth stated.
“Good.”
“I can also pass on that we've delivered hyperdrives and industrial plants to Bek in order for them to upgrade their industrial plants and shipyards. Hopefully by the end of the year, they will be able to rebuild regular trade between Bek and Nuevo,” the captain said.
The governor seemed nonplussed about that idea for some reason. He didn't say anything.
“And of course between Nuevo's planets of course. Perhaps they'll be able to help you terraform the others if you wish? Or build an orbital industry of your own?” the captain suggested.
“I won't hold my breath,” the governor muttered darkly. That made the captain raise an eyebrow in surprise. “But I appreciate the sentiment I suppose,” he said in a noticeably cooler tone of voice.
The captain frowned thoughtfully. He wondered what that was about, but nothing more was forthcoming.
“Have a good evening, sir,” he said.
“Safe sailing, son. See you real soon,” the governor replied.
“Thank you, sir,” the captain replied as he signed off.
Chapter 28
Admiral De Gaulte nodded as the status board turned green. They were finally ready. The hyperdrives were charging; his ships were ready to march to war once more now that their brief but overlong stint at repair and resupply was complete. He wasn't the only one who was not happy the delay had taken so long, but now they were ready to get underway again.
And this time they would be faster than the last jump he vowed. Beta at least. At least damn it, he thought, hoping and praying something unforeseen didn't go wrong. One could never tell with Murphy and Lady Luck.
He'd recognized the decoy game but had still been unsure if the federation had been waiting in stealth somewhere in the star system. It had been a nerve-wracking experience for some. They'd taken it out on the fleet's engineers.
“Whoever's out there, I bet he's probably gnashing his teeth that we're resupplying, sir,” Myron stated.
“Maybe,” Admiral De Gaulte said dubiously.
“I think if he was here he would have attacked. While we were resupplying. It only makes sense, I mean, why wait?” Catherine stated. “And now we're ready to jump to Protodon. We're vulnerable but not attack. He's not here. He has to be in Protodon.”
“True.” Myron agreed with a nod. “Our magazines are now at 90 percent, sir. That can't be good in their eyes, sir,” the tactical officer stated.
“True.”
The resupply convoy had brought back word that the empire was aware of the crack issue and dealing with it. But they hadn't deigned to send additional warships to support him, which meant it was dire indeed. It was horrible timing to find the problem right in the middle of this, their first major fleet engagement. The time when he knew he needed all the ships he could get his hands on.
Not good. And apparently the Admiralty was still not taking the threat of the federation seriously enough. Along with news that they were now aware of the crack problem, they'd also told him that they were reinforcing Dead Drop and Garth and resupplying it … but they were doing it with home-built small ships, not the larger ships they would need to hold off an invasion should his fleet be beaten back.
Sometimes he wondered if the gods smiled on them or not. He had his doubts.
They'd repaired everything they could short of a full strip down at the yard. They'd made a lot of headway with the repairs, in some cases tearing out the quick patch jobs and doing it right. Admiral De Gaulte had also poached as many personnel from the fleet train as possible. He'd ordered them to return to Dead Drop for resupply with the same plan in mind. He had a pair of couriers with him to go to Protodon.
He frowned as he stared at the slowly-charging hyperdrive status bar. The mission to Nuevo Madrid had gone off as expected. He hadn't expected to find anyone there, and true to expectations, no ships had survived the engagement in the star system. It was a pity; Arnold and Mueller would be missed. Their ships even more so he thought.
Captain Waverly of Last Gasp had done an excellent job and had even managed to contact the planet. According to what he'd picked up and pieced together, a general uprising had been ruthlessly suppressed on one continent by Colonel Bericus. The colonel had been left behind by Admiral von Berk and wasn't happy about the lack of support.
“Still considering sending a relief mission, sir?” Catherine asked. “We've got, oh, a minute or two for second and third thoughts, sir,” she teased. “I know the colonel would appreciate the help,” she stated.
“Adding telepathy to your abilities, Catherine?” the admiral asked. She just smiled. He shook his head. “We'll get him what we can when we can. Until then he's just going to have to make due, the same for all of us,” Admiral De Gaulte said dismissively.
“Sir, we could send the marine transports there. Help him re-secure the planet,” Catherine suggested.
The admiral glanced at the transports. They and the last of his fleet train were en route to the B-97a jump point. The factory ship, transports, and escorts would wait there while the other ships raced to Dead Drop to resupply. “Tempting. Very tempting. I'm not too keen about leaving them behind though. The stealthed federation ships that we have
n't been able to run down will easily pick them off. I'm not willing to detach an escort for them as well.”
“You think there is more than one ship here, Admiral?” Myron asked, looking up and over to them from his station.
“Don't you?” the admiral asked. The tactical officer looked nonplused. “Always have a backup.”
The tactical officer blinked and then nodded. “Oh.”
“It's not a tin can either. Neither of them I should say. I think it's a light cruiser. LCs are built for this sort of action,” he said, indicating the plot of the star system. “They've got the legs and the stealth system that a tin can doesn't have.”
“It is possible, sir,” Myron said cautiously. “We've gotten a whiff of ships under stealth but CIC is discounting them as more games,” he allowed.
“I know. They are afraid that since they cried wolf so much we won't believe them anymore. That is a dangerous situation; one we'll have to rectify,” the admiral said with a grimace.
“Yes, sir,” Myron said cautiously. It was clear that he wasn't certain as to how.
“We'll work on it en route. For the moment, let's get this show on the road. We have a party to attend,” the admiral said, indicating the countdown.
He kept his fingers crossed mentally that they weren't too late and that the enemy hadn't been reinforced.
Something told him though that his blessings with Lady Luck weren't that fortunate however, which meant he might have to dust off a game of his own and see if it worked. It would be a gamble and it would leave the route home vulnerable but it would strike a blow if properly executed he thought.
But he was reluctant to share it with his staff. The concept would be anathema to them, and it could impact morale. He knew it would if it came at them cold, but he didn't want them to know. No, not just yet he thought as the countdown hovered near the ten mark.
“You are clear for jump,” he said as the navigator turned expectantly to him.