Tramp Wars: The Enemy

by Larry Roberts

  Mark was told to stand in the middle of the Ward room in front of a table stretching across the front of the compartment with the Captain sitting at the center. A dozen senior officers to either side.

  Word was quickly spreading around the ship as video screens quickly turned to watch the proceedings. Soon even a projector was showing the scene on the bulkhead of A- hold, 4 stories high.

  “Mr. Collins. You have been quite busy since you turned 21 it seems.”

  “It is about time someone did something about that retard.” Someone yelled across the hold.

  Unauthorized use of a ship's bus to have an illegal unauthorized surgery that you did not need. Purchasing unauthorized equipment, disobeying direct orders to remove excess weight from the ship, taking ships equipment without authorization and making repairs with none certified or approved replacement parts to that said equipment without authorization, then to top things off you have incited other good citizens to disobey orders that could result in damage to the ship and harm her passengers and crew. And all in only two days of being of legal age. God Star help us for what you have planned for the rest of the week let alone the years ahead. What have you got to say for yourself in defense of these charges Mr. Colin’s?”

  The Captain sat back in her chair and waited for a reaction as Mark stood there. His look of bewildered apprehension on his face started to fade. Replaced by what looked like relief. “Come Mr. Collin’s. You must have something to say to me about your conduct over the last few days. You have had plenty to say to everyone else.” The growing expression of relief flooding onto the boy's face baffled the Captain as the seconds of silence ticked on and the boy stood radiating blissful unconcerned joy as if he had not heard a word she had said. Baffled the Captain continued. “The problem now is you are no longer a boy under 21 being able to do pretty much what you want without responsibilities or consequences. You are a young man with a long life ahead of you if you have not already screwed yourself over by your actions. Not only over the last few days but over the last few years.”

  The Captain let that sink in for Marks benefit but could not understand his reaction. He looked all too happy. Practically glowing without a care in the universe. The wardroom hatch opened as Councilman Myers took a seat in the back and she saw one of the young female medics standing outside starring in, scarred to death but glowing and suddenly it dawned on her why the boy looked like he had just fucked his brains out. He had. She could put a noose around his neck in the next few minutes and he would not care. Cursing under her breath at the bad timing she had no choice but to continue.

  Mark was just relieved that he was not being charged with rape but then he was sure that she had to be over 18 to be a lead medic and he was still flying high after his exorcizing in sickbay with such an intoxicating beautiful woman. Not that he had not had sex before. But fact was, it was the first time he had ever fucked his brains out or was with a woman that could not seem to get enough. Nothing else seemed important or reason to care at the moment.

  Reaching up and squeezing the bridge of her nose as she shook her head Captain Cook tried again. “Mr. Collins we are here at this Mast to decide your future. While we would never think of charging you with any prior misdemeanor pranks you have committed in your adolescents and gave you the benefit of doubt when we decided not to charge you at the time with involuntary manslaughter in the death of your friend. We can and will use that record as a window, especially after your blatant disregard for authority over the last 2 days when deciding your fate now.”

  Again the Captain let that sink in for a few seconds before continuing as Mark slowly lost his blissful smile. “That record also includes many pranks and assaults on crewmembers over the years that you are responsible for during your attempts at payback for perceived crimes of others. Some of them that could have resulted in hospitalization of crewmen and much property damage though they didn’t. But several of those same pranks have cost the ship tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Credits in delayed launches and even detours. Taking Justus into your own hands cannot be tolerated especially now that you are an Adult.”

  “We had thought that you had out grown such self-serving escapades but the last few days has shown that you have not.” The fact that the Captain had only known of one such harmless escapade some ten years before until she had read the Chief Master at Arms report as she waited for Mark to be delivered from sickbay, on dozens of incidents Mark was suspected of causing had shocked her. The increasing complexities of each succeeding incident surprised her making her realize just how wrong she was to ignore the young man since his birth when she should have terminated his life but for a simple final request of a dead man. Suddenly the rest of the final request came storming back to her so loud that she could not ignore it. Though she could in no way even think about honoring that request even though it was a dying plea from the Ships last Captain that had made her the Ship’s Captain exactly 21 years before. Taking a deep breath she continued.

  “So we the Court during this proceeding, must use your past records with your actions the last few days to determine if we should kick you off A-hold’s hatch platform with all the rest of the garbage to save the ship the trouble of sending you out the airlock when we reach orbit or simply make you walk out of the ship and out of the space port never to return.”

  The Captain took up her gavel and tapped it on her desk. "Now to order. This court is now in order. Mark Collins. To start with. You filed a questionable emergency flight plan to take the bus you were assigned to, on an unauthorized flight in an attempt to get an illegal unauthorized operation and only because the Doctor had more sense than you and refused to perform said operation that you still have your eyes. Then you purchased unauthorized upgrades for the Chief eye implants in an effort to get your own implants. Not for the good of the ship, but for your own selfishness. The fact that one of our most valuable key crewmembers would benefit from your purchase was only secondary to your plan at the time. Then you went AWOL from your work assignment today without even checking in and leaving the engine room short during this important refit. You then incited disobedience by other ship’s family personnel to selfishly save your own personal property the ship’s Council had deemed excessive weight in our coming trials in the Outback that could result in our failing to acquire enough credits to purchase a ship to split the crew into."

  The Captain paused to let that sink in as she took a drink, watching the monitor’s showing various ship's spaces including the junk hold and Tramp Town on the screens at the back of the Ward room. Noticing that most of the ship had their full attention on the screens showing the Ward room trial. She continued. "While a few tons of your own personal property does not seem like much. The hundreds of tons you incited to be permanently placed, to cover your own greed could possible make the difference weather this ship eventually is profitable enough to ensure the future of the entire family; OR NOT!.... It is a decision that was not yours to make.”

  Taking a breath the Caption lit her cigar as she studied her notes and Marks files while she waited for that to sink in. As she took a puff and flipped to the next page her eyes caught sight of an unexpected list at the back of his files. A list of medals. A long list of medals he had earned while a cadet that included saving lives on several occasions, not to mention earning a medal during a hostage rescue and being credited with its success, saving dozens of lives.

  That raised her eyes brows. Letting Mark stew in silence for a few more seconds as she read. She remembered that little fiasco well but had not realized that it had been Mark that had been responsible for saving not only the hostages but the attack squads that had gone in to rescue them. Shaking her head again in amazement she realized that she had signed for all the medals but had not associated them at all with Mark or even one person for that matter over the years. That was what came from not having awards ceremonies for most medals. And suddenly realized that most of the medals given the boy, were far below what h
is written actions called for. As if they were going out of their way to justify even what they were asking for. All of them just below the level requiring a ceremony and official notice.

  It suddenly became obvious that his supervisors putting in the request for each medal had deliberately reduced the grade of the medal for some personal reason. Probably because of his assumed lack of intelligence due to his handicap with the glasses. The same as she had been doing for 21 years. Flipping to his test score page she whistled to herself as her jaw hit her chest. Shaking her head she closed her eyes for several seconds and then looked again. Rubbing her temples with her hands covering her face she took another deep breath. Thinking the scores had to be wrong, she looked up who had signed the tests and realized she could not fault them.

  She opened her eyes looking through her fingers and studied Mark as she continued rubbing her temples. Occasionally glancing at the back screens as she continued looking at Mark. Trying to figure out how she could have ignored the boy for so long not to mention the fact of so many medals going to one person over the years even if it was someone most of the ship considered a retard. Not to mention yet another medal (this time the highest medal the ship could give), request sitting on her desk, ready for her signature for saving yet another life twice in a row. The boy simply baffled her as she continued to study him as he stood in front of her at attention, the look of baffled concern slowly grow on his face. The long brig time punishment she had originally planned on suddenly did not seem at all fitting. Fact was, it suddenly seemed like the biggest mistake of her career even though she had not yet passed official judgment.

  Finely happy with the look of shock on Mark's face she turned to the other Officer members of the board, talking in hushed tones with the video pickups muted for a few minutes before she continued as the officers turned to the pages she had highlighted.

  “Mr. Collins; not to lessen the severity and gravity of your actions. After careful consideration by this board. We have decided that the result of your selfish blatant disregard for the ships safety did in fact achieve a beneficial out come in that Tramp Town does seem at this time to be a beneficial addition to the ship and worth the additional tons it costs. Though we will be trading out the heavier, especially the steel containers for light weight carbon containers as we get them.”

  Letting that soak in as people cheered and clapped to the news across Tramp Town. The Captain waited for most of the noise to quiet down from the monitors before continuing as she glanced at the ship’s decks and compartments in the screens on the bulkheads around the wardroom.

  The decision to keep tramp town had not changed from the earlier combined council and ship’s board meeting but now she was thinking that Mr. Collins could be of value to the ship after all if he received the proper training and close supervision. Though she was not thrilled with the thought that was starting to take root in her mind as she continued.

  “You have also recently demonstrated your bravery and fortitude when rescuing John Harington from certain death first at extreme risk to yourself and then again while overcoming sever pain and dilapidating drugs. Bringing to my attention your years of selfless acts of bravery that have earned you the many medals awarded to you. Though I have to admit now that many of your medals were far below what you should have gotten for the lives you saved and I hereby upgrade them to reflect your acts of heroism. For those reasons." Kicking herself for not completely looking over his records before the trial nor did she have time to discuss her sudden change of direction to the other members of the Ship’s Council she continued. "We have come to the conclusion that you could become a valuable member of the family making major contributions to the profitability and wellbeing of the ship in the coming years.”

  Ignoring the shocked looks on most of the Council members seated behind Mark, the Captain's smile turned to a frown. “But in spite of your many deeds of heroism, I am sorry to say that most likely you would be dumped on the worst dirt side planet we can find for your blatant disregard for the ships laws or forced to walk the airlock for being indirectly responsible for the death of a family member when one of your selfish shortsighted stunts backfires which has happened once already as you only too well know." The Council’s faces turned back to agreement as the Captain turned back to the agreed on script. "It is our duty to not let you ruin valuable ships property at your whim for profit or in attempts to make your own life more comfortable at the expense of others. It is our duty to prevent you from destroying any chances the ship has of acquiring profit and splitting the crew into a new ship. It is our duty to stop you now from taking the lives you will most likely cost if left on your own. Even if that means dumping you here on this dirtball of a planet this day.” The very sentence almost half the council had wanted and were pushing for. They wanted the retard with glasses off the ship. But had settled for brig time when the rest of the Council would not agree. With some Councilmen pushing for much leaner punishment than brig time even. But even those few would be shocked at what she was thinking of doing, since she still could not believe her own thoughts.

  The Captain took another drink then studied the desk in front of her waiting for Mark to understand the total possibilities waiting for him. She was just about to dig the hole a little deeper when she finely saw the desperate terror she had been looking for in Marks eyes. The Captain smiled to herself in satisfaction without letting it show. Then looked around hoping she was not going to dig herself in too deep a hole with the Council. The sentence she was now thinking of, no one on the Council had even suggested and the ship’s Court martial Board members were not going to like either, but she suddenly could not see any other choice. Especially knowing who the boy’s father really was.

  “After much debate, long discussions with your teachers some of whom you spent as much time arguing with as studying but still managed impressive grades. Testimonials from your crewmates and officers in the various divisions you have worked in over the years.” (Most of which dealt with their prejudices concerning his handicap and belief that he did not belong there). “Especially in the Engineering and Flight divisions and close family members over the years." She glanced around at the Council members and then the Officers of the Board, wondering how they were going to take the bomb shell she was going to hand down. "We the Board, have decided that with the proper training and guidance,you would be an exceptional and productive member of the crew. For that reason we are prepared to offer you with the approval of the Admiral, a commission as a ships officer at the rank of Ensign with all the benefits and responsibilities afforded to that rank.”

  Sitting back the Captain smiled for all the ship to see as she waited for the expected response from Mark. Glancing again at the shocked faces of the Council members and then the Board. Not forgetting that she had squashed every attempt the Admiral had made to commission the boy every year since he had turned 18, simply because of her own prejudices.

  And waited… Sitting up and leaning over the table the Captain waited some more and the more she waited the less she liked what she was seeing. Not believing what her eyes were telling her, the Captain cut the feed to the ship. Shaking her head taking several puffs of her cigar, she finally, in exasperation spoke. “Just what the hell is your problem Mr. Collins?” Baffled.

  --------------

  Diane saw a small icon appear at the corner of the screen in the outer wardroom's anteroom denoting that the external feed from the wardroom complex to the ship had suddenly been cut. The sick bay had the same system. She already had her phone out as she talked to friends and simply raised it to take in the screen pushing record and hit general transmit to everyone on her friends page on the ships net.

  “I have been turning down well qualified people for officer billets because we simply do not have any more room. But because of your exceptional test scores and actions that have saved lives and credits during your tours of training while a Cadet as well as your actions over the last few days and in spite of your wretchedl
y selfish conduct as a family member that has cost the ship a hell of a lot of Credits over the years. I have decided that I have no choice in the matter any longer and find that you would be an excellent addition to our officer corps and should advance rapidly up the promotion ladder.” Which was total bull; because of his glasses he would be lucky to be promoted let alone ever command or even acquire a flag posting if she had anything to do with it. No matter how exceptional his grades and actions had been now that she had finely looked at his records. The important thing was; he would have a hundred officers keeping close eyes on everything he did day and night. Suddenly the boy reminded her of herself when she was his age before she too was forced to become an officer. Back when the ship and the Officer training program was rapidly expanding to crew a new ship. Before the ship lost its total savings pot to pirates and was almost destroyed.

  Mark did not notice the pink colored halo the Captain acquired as she spoke the last sentence about being promoted up the chain of command. He finally spoke. “AH... Sir! I don’t want to be an Officer!” Mark spit out. “I like to fix things and make them work better than when they were built. I like to work on the ships engines and make sure the ship goes where it needs to go. I like to get dirty. I want to become an Engineer and design better equipment and better ships. I also like to fly airtrucks, delivering cargos to out of the way places around the planets and systems we visit. All officers do is stand around making sure they don’t get dandruff on their clean white uniforms and find fault even when there is none. I am not about to become one of those stuffed shirt pretty boys more interested in lording over anyone lower ranked including civilians and cutting the throat of anyone higher ranked. I don’t think I would follow orders very well that did not make sense or I thought would endanger the ship. And I don’t like giving people orders.”