Paravoid (Rust Bucket Universe)

by Atk. Butterfly

  Boson Books by Atk. Butterfly

  Space Rescue One

  Rust Bucket

  Attack Butterfly

  Dust Bunny

  Paravoid

  _____________________________________________

  THE "RUST BUCKET" UNIVERSE

  Volume 4

  PARAVOID

  by

  Atk. Butterfly

  ______________________________________

  Imagination is man's most fearsome weapon

  BOSON BOOKS

  Raleigh

  Published by Boson Books

  3905 Meadow Field Lane

  Raleigh, NC 27606

  ISBN 0-917990-36-6

  An imprint of C&M Online Media Inc.

  Copyright 2001 Atk. Butterfly

  All rights reserved

  For information contact

  C&M Online Media Inc.

  3905 Meadow Field Lane

  Raleigh, NC 27606

  Tel: (919) 233-8164

  e-mail:boson@cmonline.com

  URL: http://www.bosonbooks.com

  Chapter 1

  "Admiral, those editorials about you today on the net are scathing. Have you seen them yet?" the cadet ensign asked.

  "Some of them, but we're here to talk about how you're doing in the Academy. Your grades seem to be fine, but can you keep up with the physical demands?" Rear Admiral Dave Oden replied.

  "Well, I think so. I'm working out real hard to get myself in better shape," Reese Harder, the cadet, said. "Still, I'm concerned about the editorials that are attacking you."

  "Cadet, the editorials are always attacking someone. This year, I seem to be in vogue among some of them for whatever reasons they have. There's no cause for alarm."

  "Well, it's not right, regardless. They ought to be down on their knees kissing your feet for keeping them free. Didn't you win two wars for the Union?"

  "I didn't win two wars. I only did my part along with thousands of other men and women who did their part. A great many of them didn't come back either, so if anyone should be thanked, it's them. I was simply more visible to the public is all. Besides, their freedom to say what they want in the press is one of the very things we fought for. I would never think of depriving them of that right, no matter what they say of me. Our form of government has come a long way in its development. It used to be, a long time before the Union of Planets came about, that journalists were considered fair game for imprisonment, torture, and assassination simply because of what they wrote. Now that's changed. I think that the way it's changed is for the better."

  "Well, I don't know," Reese replied. "Letting the press have immunity from arrest seems to let them get away with a lot under our laws."

  "They're not totally immune from arrest. After all, they can still be arrested for breaking ordinary laws, but it has to be publicly announced first. I happen to think that's a good way to prevent politicians and other visible public figures from trying to intimidate them. They can't be tried in closed courts, either, and that's good as well. They're free to print whatever they want without censorship. Consequently, we enjoy a broad range of media coverage because of that. Besides, whenever they libel someone, the courts are available to the injured party to address that."

  Cadet Ensign Harder said, "Oh, then you're going to sue them?"

  "What for? They've only expressed their opinions in editorials. They're free to do that. Anyway, it wouldn't help any to show them a thin skin. Doing so would probably egg a few of them on into further attacks and give them more fuel to do it with. This will blow over when they get tired of running the same material and their subscribers will most likely get tired first. That will get their attention much faster than a court action. Remember, most people now consider the press to be an independent branch of the government. It would do me little good to attack the press as much as I believe in our government. People would then think that I hold myself above them and the government. But, enough of this. We're getting away from our reason for this chat. Now, is there anything the Academy can do that will help you attain your goals?"

  ***

  Rear Admiral Oden reported for the simple ceremony that would promote him to Fleet Admiral. It was a year of numerous important events. Because of the earlier admission of a twenty-fifth Union planet in the form of Opal, now reclaimed by Ape-oid settlers, the Navy was expanding. For the same reason, the Space Academy was expanding its class base to two hundred and fifty cadets so that enough officers would be available for all the Navy and Space Marine units.

  Only earlier in the year, Admiral Oden had proudly graduated the first Ape-oid cadet ensigns from the Space Academy. They were then assigned to the Navy as bright new officers whom the Navy eagerly welcomed with open arms. There weren't many of them in their first class and one failed, but each of the Ape-oid cadets earned his or her commission entirely on his or her own efforts. It was certainly one of Dave's prouder moments to see a former enemy become a member of the Union and then later preside over the graduation of their first cadet entrants to the Space Academy.

  He wished it could be so for some or all of the worlds that comprised the Malakin Empire. He suspected that Milik, now estranged from the empire, might just someday actually do so. At any rate, it would be an important first step in creating more friends and eliminating animosities. Other than maintaining a security watch on the Malakin Empire, the Navy had little to do militarily during the past five years other than occasionally deal with some small-time pirates.

  As Dave and others suspected, the Malakin Empire had fought another alien race in their history to become as good as they were in battle, even if their tactics were obsolete. However, the alien race was thoroughly wiped out by the Malakins who then became the inhabitants of their world. Consequently, there was no hope of ever making contact with them on a friendly basis. That information, when it was learned shortly after the war, created a boost in enlistments that quickly replaced any losses the Union military incurred during the war.

  The information also spurred independent movements on member worlds like never before. The majority of worlds had at least one and sometimes numerous citizen-formed militia groups that practiced to be ready for the next invasion. Some of those groups even possessed armed space ships, as was their right under the Universal Rights Bill. Of course, hardly any of them carried anything approaching the power of the weaponry found on a typical Navy destroyer. Most manufacturers appeared to possess enough good sense not to sell what was available to just anyone. That was mostly to keep the weapons out of the hands of pirates. Generally, the arms manufacturers sold higher grade weapons only to some commercial companies and the Union military. However, sometimes pirates did manage to get hold of a well-armed ship. Then they became a task for the Navy and Space Marines to handle.

  Admiral Oden didn't know it, but he was soon going to be seeing action again. For the time being, he was greeting old friends who came to observe his promotion and wish him well generally. Being in a period of peacetime, the Academy grounds were open at all times to the public and especially the press, which was there, too.

  "Admiral! Admiral Oden! What's your opinion on Lobbyist Lordsman being released from prison?" someone called out from the group of press representatives.

  Admiral Oden glanced out at the group of press representatives and replied, "Sorry, but I could barely catch your name, affiliation, and the question over the nearby conversation. Could you please repeat them for me?"

  "Admiral Oden, John Christiansen of the Daily Bread. I asked what your opinion of Lobbyist Lordsman being released from prison was."

  Dave realized that almost anything he said to that particular reporter would be used badly a
s the Daily Bread was actively attacking Dave in editorials. It would be best to say as little as possible. Dave replied, "I wish him well in putting his life together."

  "Then you're not seeking to do anything more to him? You're not going to destroy a fine man again?" Christiansen asked.

  Dave replied, "I harbor no grudges or ill-feelings. What happened is now in the past. I stand on my statement of wishing him well."

  Admiral Derek Heavywolf stepped in front of Dave to shield him from further insidious grilling from a reporter with an agenda to carry out. Derek was well aware of the Daily Bread's connections to Serapha, when it was inhabited, and to Raymond Lordsman. There was no way that the Daily Bread was going to push Admiral Heavywolf around without getting one of their most supportive planets, Glint, aroused and angered.

  After all, Glint was a large contributor to religious causes and efforts. It was a cultural and science center, contributing more than its share of artists and scientists to improve life for all within the Union. Its scientists perfected the terraforming techniques that worked on planets that would otherwise still be barren using some of the older techniques. It could also accomplish the job of terraforming to where the planet could be inhabited as soon as five years after beginning, in some cases. Glint was also an ardent supporter of the Universal Rights Bill and still ashamed of its failure to see what Serapha tried to get away with five years earlier during the Malakin War. Glint's people prided themselves on supporting minorities and their representative had proudly acted as a sponsor of Bragh when it asked for admission to the Union.

  Derek had been one of two admirals who wouldn't support the Navy's mutiny against Congress during the Malakin War. Only his friendship with Dave Oden and Dave's own word of honor, that the Union was to still be completely protected by the Navy, persuaded Derek not to lead any forces against the five planets that declared their secession when Serapha was erroneously and illegally admitted. Now Derek was repaying part of that debt that he and others felt they owed for having their full rights kept intact against the same malignant force that created the Daily Bread.

  "Thanks, Wolfie. I'm more glad to see you here as a friend though, than as a shield," Dave said low enough that it wouldn't be picked up easily.

  "Glad I could make it, Dave. Finally getting that third star. I've heard rumors that I'm up for my second star next month," Derek said.

  "More than just rumors, Wolfie. I'm looking forward to attending your promotion ceremony."

  "Then Congress approved my promotion?"

  "Absolutely and with no abstentions. You're a good admiral, Derek. I know that I can count on you fully when the chips are down."

  "Almost all the time," Derek tried to admit.

  "Wolfie, forget that, please. It's old, over with, and forgotten. If anything, you helped provide a necessary counter balance for me then. It would have been too easy for me to let my own popularity go to my head and do the wrong things. You were a reminder to me of what I was doing it for and that I couldn't allow myself to forget that reason. You were still there for me in the right way."

  "Let us talk of other things, Dave. I'm embarrassed over being hoodwinked by Lordsman," Derek suggested.

  "Suits me fine. Benz is up for his second star, too. I think his is scheduled about a month or two after you get promoted."

  "How about Kyle?" Derek asked.

  "Kyle, I believe, is about nine months away from his second star," Dave answered.

  "I heard that Nicky is planning on retiring."

  "I heard that, too," Dave responded. "I'll miss him, but he has his reasons for taking an early retirement."

  "What's new or should I ask what's old that you're going to revive in the Navy?" Derek asked.

  "There's not too much more to be done that I can find. It's looking to me, more and more, like a new set of eyes is needed to take a look at the Navy and decide where it's going. We've certainly got a lot of up and coming officers who can do just that."

  "I heard that you're using more than one ship for the Academy training now."

  "That's partly true. This will be the first time that we use more than one ship of our own at a time while conducting actual maneuvers in space. We needed a way to address the training needs of all the cadets. Some of them were getting the exact training that they needed. Others were having to equate what they learned with a different type of ship. Now we can better train them by having our own miniature training squadron using some ships the Navy is retiring. We'll be using third year cadets in the enlisted positions and fourth year cadets in both enlisted and officer positions on a rotating schedule. At last, we'll be able to give them a solid grounding in what everyone does on board."

  "What about those who want to become marines?" Derek asked.

  "We've got them covered, as well. We'll have an armed, armored transport complete with hover artytanks so that we can practice landing on a planet and let the cadets have a little fun while they learn. We'll also send the cadets looking for space debris to recover so they can become familiar with our new, armed and armored support ships."

  "The artytanks might even be useful in defending Beulah in the future. Wish I was a cadet again," Derek said. "I could probably learn a lot more. As it is, some of these new officers you keep putting out seem to know more about the Navy than I do."

  "Hmmm. . . You know, a refresher course for senior officers might not be a bad idea, Wolfie. I think you've hit on something there. You ought to submit that to Admiral Reason. I'm sure that he'll think it's a good idea as much as I do."

  ***

  Dave went over the ship assignments for the third and fourth year cadets. He checked what the computer came up with against his own intuition and personal knowledge of the men and women. The computer seemed to have a better program each year, but it still missed out on some of the nuances that he felt obligated to provide. So far there hadn't been any really outlandish decisions by the program, but Dave still preferred to give the assignments that human touch which would strengthen individual cadets in the right places for each where more work was needed.

  He felt lucky to have rather new ships, only five years old at most, assigned for the cadets to train on. Most of them saw service in the Malakin War. One was perhaps one of the most distinguished ships from that war. The Dust Bunny was now the flagship of the Space Academy fleet and probably would be for another ten to twenty years to come before being gracefully retired. She came complete with five fighters and all her original weapons along with the modified launcher system used to fire the Thunderhead-equipped missile. She had three fighter-destroyer escorts, a salvage ship, a transport with five hover artytanks, and a resupply ship to accompany her. Everything on board each ship was real and useable. Only the actual Thunderhead warhead was missing from atop the missile on board the Dust Bunny. Otherwise, the missile was real. In regular Navy terms, it wasn't even a quarter of a squadron, even by counting all its ships. Regardless, in Academy terms, it was counted as one.

  For two months of each year, Admiral Oden received his chance to walk the decks of a ship as cadets went through their training with very few instructors to guide them. Each ship would have one instructor on board. Almost as few regular Navy personnel, who manned some of the more critical areas, would be along, though mostly for the ride. Otherwise, the regular Navy personnel took care of the ships while those weren't in use. It was hands on training in which the cadets were expected to work as a team and assist each other as they actually operated the ships in all their functions. Their training in space was mostly a pass or fail system. However, a failing grade in space could mean death, sometimes for others or for more than just the cadet who failed.

  Even though Fleet Admiral Oden wouldn't have much to do while on board as far as operating the squadron, his presence was still required as the only active senior officer at the Academy. Technically he was in command of the Academy's squadron. Mostly, however, he would conduct informal talks with the men and women cadets where he would lear
n a bit more about their goals and how they felt. Even though most cadets were in their mid-twenties, there were still some who were undecided as to what they wanted to do once they became commissioned officers in the Navy.

  Since this was the Academy's first year with more than one ship, Dave would likely have to give some direction at first. As always, he would still expect the cadets to do everything from that point on as the Academy Squadron made a trip around the edge of the Union of Planets territorial limits.

  ***

  Admiral Derek Heavywolf walked into Admiral Oden's office and caught Dave's attention almost immediately.

  "Wolfie, what brings you here?" Dave asked.

  Admiral Heavywolf said, "I'm working on the senior officers' refresher course idea. I'm stuck. Partly because I'm too close to the problem. I came here to ask your help in putting it together."

  "Hmmm, let me see what you've got," Dave replied as he accepted a disk. Moments later, he had the basic outline of the course displayed on his monitor. "I'm glad you annotated it with your thoughts. I can see your problem and I can't help you, either. I'm just as close to it as you are. However, I have access to some good people who aren't too close and would eagerly attack this problem. They'll give you a fair evaluation as well as some recommendations in these trouble areas."

  "You do?" asked Heavywolf.

  "Sure, we'll let the cadets have at it. They're always eager for real work."

  "Will they have enough understanding, though?" Derek asked.

  "We haven't anything to lose by letting them try."

  "I guess not. Very well, go ahead and give it to them."

  "I'll call in one of the cadet leaders, Wolfie. You can give it to her to pass among the cadets. They'll be more than sure to go over it in fine detail if they know it's not my idea," Dave replied.