by John Ringo
“What, you don’t want rumors started?” Tyler said.
“The rumor that I’m dating the wealthiest person in the system, sir?” Dana said, chuckling. “How horrible. I was more thinking about your reputation, sir.”
“Hang my reputation,” Tyler said. “Close the hatch.”
“Yes, sir,” Dana said.
Tyler immediately spun around in his chair.
“How focused are you on driving?”
“I’d like to clear the gate, sir,” Dana said. She’d never done a gate entry as cox but as far as she’d heard it was dead simple. There was a bare moment of discontinuity and you were in another system. “Frankly, I’d much rather have my engineer sitting in the bucket but I’m pretty good at multitasking.”
“I’ll wait,” Tyler said opaquely.
“Please be aware that we are about to make a gate change,” Dana said over the internal coms. “There will be a brief moment of discontinuity. Very few people suffer any ill effects. And we are making transition in... three... two... one...”
Dana had been through a gate before in the Troy. Seeing the gate’s rippling gray material in the main bay had been rather odd. But this time there was barely a moment of oddness and they were in Wolf.
“Comet, MOGs.”
“Go MOGs.”
“Granadica at One-One-Six Mark Two. Follow the leader. Max ten grav accel. One, Twenty-Three, Twenty-Four, Five.”
Same formation they’d been flying.
“Follow MOGs, Aye. Beni, repeat.”
“Follow the leader, aye. Number Three, aye.”
“ETA, forty-seven minutes.”
“Gentlemen,” Dana commed. “We are in the Wolf system. No navigational hazards. Our estimated time of arrival is 16:35. Thank you for flying Thermopylae Air. Okay, sir, what’s up?”
“You’re good?” Tyler asked.
“I’m more or less on autopilot.”
“There are a bunch of people on this trip,” Tyler said. “Obviously. Lots of Distinguished Persons. Most of them ended up adding themselves for various reasons, but I went with it because there’s more than one agenda going on.”
“Yes, sir,” Dana said.
“Don’t try to keep up with most of the agendas,” Tyler said. “Bottom-line, you know we’ve had problems with Granadica since the beginning.”
“I’m an engineer, sir,” Dana said dryly. “Don’t get me wrong. I know why we use Granadica and I appreciate that we have it. But, yes, there are quality control issues. Really odd ones sometimes.”
“We’ll get to that when we get to the system,” Tyler said. “You’re not really here because I think you’re a great pilot. I do think you’re good enough to fly me, and I’ve got a lot of care for my skin. But, face it, Lizzbits and Mutant are as good or better.”
“Agreed,” Dana said. “So that was an act?”
“That I asked for you because you were the only pilot I trusted was an act,” Tyler said.
“What about the hug?”
“Huh?” Tyler said. “Uh... We are friends, right?”
“I’m not rejecting that,” Dana said. “I’m just having a hard time putting myself in that category, sir. I hadn’t before. It’s taking some time to adjust.”
“Oh,” Tyler said.
“Sir, you’re the most powerful guy in the solar system,” Dana pointed out. “I’m an engineer’s mate from rural Indiana.”
“You don’t... Am I being a pest?”
“No!” Dana said, laughing. “Sir, I’d love to be your friend. And not because you can wave your hand and give me anything, so don’t. If it makes you feel any better, I like you. As in like you as a friend. I could use some.”
“Been tough on the Therm?” Tyler asked.
“It’s been...” Dana said and then sighed. “I was going to say ‘interesting’ but, yeah, it’s been pretty bad. But I’m not going to cry on your shoulder. You were saying something about the problems with Granadica.”
“Yeah,” Tyler said. “But if you need a shoulder to cry on, call, okay? I’ve got more free time than I let on. Granadica. Nobody, but nobody, can pin down the problem. Thousands of engineers, very nearly a million man-hours thrown at it, AI time, Glatun cyberneticists, nobody can figure out what’s going on.”
“Okay,” Dana said.
“I think I’ve got an idea,” Tyler said. “Maybe because I’ve been working with Granadica for a while but I’m not too close to the problem. Maybe because I don’t care if anybody thinks I’m crazy. Probably there’s some low-level engineer who’s had the same idea and it’s never gotten to my level. Bottom-line, I’m not going to tell you what I think is going on. But when all these guys decided to horn in on the meeting I was all for it. I think you’re going to figure out why, pretty quick. What I want you thinking about is how to fix it. Because that part has me stumped. And we’re going to have to talk where Granadica can’t hear us which means in here. So ... maybe starting the rumor that we’re ... involved would be useful.”
“I’d rather shoot for ‘we’re just friends’ if it’s all the same to you, sir,” Dana said, chuckling. “You won’t tell me?”
“No,” Tyler said. “I want you to have a fresh ear so to speak. But I bet you figure it out pretty quick.”
“Why me?” Dana asked curiously.
“Something about you,” Tyler said. “It was a gut call on my part but something Paris said reinforced it. You know you’re one of the few people in the system that the AIs talk to other than strictly about business?”
“No,” Dana said.
“I think I know why that is, too,” Tyler said. “It’s the reason that, yeah, I was glad to see Comet. And I won’t get into that, either. No, I will. You know that of all the people I deal with every day, you’re about the only person who really treats me as a person?”
“Excuse me?” Dana said.
“You recognize that I’m... powerful,” Tyler said. “And except for constantly calling me ‘sir’ it doesn’t seem to matter. Know how rare that is?”
“Oh,” Dana said.
“I either get fan-boy/girl or ‘what can this person do for me?’” Tyler continued. “You don’t do either.”
“You mean ‘Oh, Mr. Vernon! Gosh you’re just sooo powerful and handsome!’” Dana said, batting her eyes and adding a giggle.
“Please not you, too,” Tyler said.
“Gimme a break,” Dana said, then giggled again. “Okay, yeah, I do occasionally giggle.”
“You have no clue how much that scared me,” Tyler said. “And I’d heard you do it but only under stress. Odd reaction.”
“Know how embarrassing it is?” Dana said. “I giggled most of the way through the main bay. Thank God the recording of that never made the net. I sound like a mad scientist. So what does my giggle have to do with Granadica?”
“You’ll figure it out,” Tyler said. “Just be yourself. Oh, and you’re going to be in the meetings. I insisted. I’ll have a cover for why, it’s good. But you’re going to be around all these DPs. That, by the way, is why Barnett, MOGs and Mutant are along. They don’t really know it but they’re your handlers.”
“O ... kay,” Dana said.
“Somebody to have your back,” Tyler said. “Besides me. I’m not worried about the State Department and South American guys. But there are all these Navy guys along and some of them might decide to stick a knife in your back.”
“Thank you.”
“Okay, this is long enough for a snuggle but no coitus,” Tyler said, standing up.
“Can we shoot for ‘friends’?” Dana said.
“Absolutely,” Tyler said, giving her a peck on the cheek. “I need somebody at my back, too.”
* * * *
“So you’re not friends with Tyler Vernon and he spends ten minutes in here talking to you, behind closed doors, when the foreign ministers of Chile and Argentina are up front?” Velasquez said.
The unit was approaching the Granadica Station and, as such
, Dana had definitely had to have her engineer back.
“That got clarified,” Dana said. “I’ve talked to him a few times. It’s one of those things where there’s a mutual admiration society. And I don’t treat him like a fan-girl. He spends most of his time on Troy and even then he doesn’t spend much time with regular people. So, yeah, strangely enough we are sort of friends. Just never really crossed my mind.”
“Never crossed your mind?” Velasquez said. “You have to be joking!”
“Vel,” Dana replied. “First of all, pay attention to what you’re doing because you’re in charge of making sure we’re properly docked. And if we’re not, we’re about to outgas a high priority cargo of volatiles. They get really tetchy about that sort of thing. Second, you remember all the conversations we’ve had on differences in culture?”
“Yes,” Velasquez said.
“Try to understand mine for a change,” Dana said. “And Mr. Vernon’s. Which is way closer to mine than, say, the President’s or the Secretary of State’s. And especially your secretary of state. Part of it is that I’m from the same cultural background as Mr. Vernon. I get his motivations and he gets mine. Since you don’t get mine, you don’t get his. And you don’t understand why I was sort of surprised he considered me a friend. Now it makes sense. Scrap the whole thing about docking. They’ve got bays. Head up front to make nice as you lower the ramp.”
“Okay,” Velasquez said, standing up.
“One check of which is that we have breathable on the outside before you drop the hatch,” Dana said. “Which I will be double and triple checking. Oh, and Vel?”
“Yes,” the EA said, pausing at the hatch.
“You also don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘friend.’ It’s... cultural.”
* * * *
“Comet, MOGs.”
“Go,” Dana said.
“Most of us are going to have to unass in the bays. There’s no room to store the shuttles. Granadica will remote park them on the shell. Yours is the exception, for some reason. Move to docking lock four.”
“Docking lock four, aye,” Dana said. “Granadica, we are sealed. Ready to move whenever you wish.”
“Got it,” the AI replied. The tone was a bit peevish. “The greeting party is going into overtime.”
“It’s a comfortable seat,” Dana said. “How’s it going otherwise?”
“I had to move most of my people off-station for this colonoscopy by a bunch of Distinguished Persons who couldn’t find an engineering fault if they had a map, compass and somebody to point their finger to the spot. How do you think it’s going?”
“Pretty much like my last four months,” Dana said, chuckling. “I hope they’re not going to really give you a colonoscopy. The tube would be enormous!”
“Heh, I suppose it would,” the station replied.
“It’s not a pretty picture,” Dana said. “All those Suds standing around going ‘Is that a polyp?’ ‘What’s a polyp?’ ‘What does a polyp look like?’”
“Oh, stop, kid,” Granadica said. “You’re killing me. There. That was a fault cause you were triggering my humor circuit! I’m not taking the heat for that one but at least I caught it! I’d apologize about all the other ones but I’m getting sort of tired of it.”
“There was a lot of bitching about it at one point,” Dana said. “Don’t get me wrong. But we’ve also been following the progress of the teams on trying to find a fix. And what everybody’s pretty much decided is that it’s not... you. I mean, it’s not the AI Granadica and it’s not the factory. I mean, it has to be, but some of the faults are so God damned weird it can’t be... something simple. So we don’t blame you. Nothing to apologize about.”
“Still a pain in the butt,” Granadica said.
“We pull the maintenance tests and we find the faults,” Dana said. “Except for a high use of spare parts, it’s not all that much of a deal. If you pull maintenance.”
“You clearly do in your division,” Granadica said. “If everybody in the One-Four-Three did the same they wouldn’t be in the mess they’re in.”
“Preaching to the choir,” Dana said as Velasquez entered the compartment. “AI, are we cleared for departure?”
“Roger, Twenty-Three,” Granadica said over the IMC. “Pumping down now. You are to move following all posted and assigned flight warnings to Docking Lock Four. Safe life, Twenty-Three.”
“That was Granadica?” Velasquez asked, hitting the bucket.
“That was Granadica,” Dana said.
There was something about the AI’s tone that bothered her but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. They were definitely going to have to talk.
* * * *
“Captain DiNote, this is my team,” Dana said.
The shuttles had unloaded one by one, including all the luggage for the DPs, and the flight teams were finally in the factory. DiNote had ordered everyone to report to Twenty-Three for briefing.
“CM2 Benito,” Dana continued. “EM3 Palencia and EA Velasquez.”
“Benito, Palencia, Velasquez,” the captain said, nodding. “This is Chief Barnett, EM1 Hartwell and CM1 Glass.”
“Howza,” Barnett said, shaking their hands. Mutant and Thermal just nodded.
“Chief Barnett will be responsible for all enlisted personnel on this mission,” Captain DiNote continued. “I’m aware that you all have family among the DPs. I’ve had modified guidance that during off-watch periods you are permitted free interaction with the DPs. During watch periods, such interaction shall be strictly business. Watch periods will be set during the daily meeting periods so that shouldn’t be an issue. The point is going to be made to the DPs through their own channels. I’m not going to tell the foreign minister of Argentina that he can’t talk to his aide’s son. There are admirals for that sort of conversation. What I’m going to tell you is that you are to refrain from initiating interaction. So if I find that you’ve bunked off to see daddy during duty hours, I’m going to require a Captain’s Mast through channels for direct disobedience of an order. Is that clear?”
“Clear, sir,” Palencia said.
“Parker, that includes you,” DiNote said. “I understand that Mr. Vernon visited you on the flight deck during movement.”
“Yes, sir,” Dana said, gulping.
“There is to be no initiation of contact during duty periods,” DiNote said. “I’d rather try to explain that to Dr. Barreiro than to Vernon Tyler, but it will be passed on.”
“Yes, sir,” Dana said, wondering exactly how long that order would last.
“From my perspective, we might as well all go back to our respective units,” Captain DiNote said. “We’re done. But higher apparently has a different take. So we’re here for the duration. Anyone who steps on their...” He paused and looked at Dana for a moment.
“Anybody who messes up is going to have to deal with me,” Chief Barnett said, smiling. “And you don’t want to deal with me.”
“God, no,” Thermal muttered.
“Absent further guidance, Thermal, Comet, Palencia and Velasquez will continue to ensure maintenance of the shuttles,” DiNote said. “Pilots will maintain proficiency, assist and advise. We’ve been assigned quarters with one of the officers from the inspection party. Quarters are tight on this station so we’re bunking up. Barnett and Parker. Thermal and Mutant. There’s a three-bunk for the rest of you.”
“Yes, sir,” Benito said, flexing his jaw.
“Grab your kit and get to quarters. We’re off duty until tomorrow morning. So, yes, if your fathers are available you can visit them.” He paused and looked off into the distance. “Damnit.”
“Sir?” Barnett said.
“About half of what I just said went out the air lock,” DiNote said. “Damnit.”
“Sir?” Dana said after a moment.
“Quarters are as assigned,” DiNote said. “Missions have slightly changed. And we’re not off duty. There is a reception at nineteen hundred. All personnel w
ill attend.”
“Oh... crap,” Barnett muttered.
“Uniform is dress uniform or formal dress,” DiNote added.
“Sir, I’ll take it from here,” Barnett said.
“Please do,” DiNote said, lifting his grav bag. “I’m headed to my quarters. Since we’re not flying tomorrow, I’m going to visit with my old friend Johnny. Chief, your unit.”
“Roger, sir,” Barnett said. “Thermal, Mutant, better get in a shower. You’ve got the dress uniforms?”