Jethro 3: No Place Like Home

by Chris Hechtl

  Janice bobbed a nod but she was blushing. “Yes, ma’am.”

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  The evening before Firefly's departure a formal last dinner was scheduled for all the old bridge crew on Firefly as well as the new. It was the first formal dinner with the new XO, both a send-off for Janice and Shelby and a welcome to the new crew.

  Jethro was grabbed outside the berth, ordered to dress in his formal uniform, and then rushed in as guard outside the wardroom door. It was literally a last minute grab. Had he had five minutes more he would have been clear of the ship.

  “They couldn't find anyone else? I'm just here to pick up my armor,” Jethro grumbled softly, noting his partner was a damn mech. Sergeant Riley had insisted on having the armor run by him before he and Firefly departed the system. Jethro had been ordered to comply, but he'd made certain the powers that be understood the Admiral's orders and Riley couldn't just make off with it, no matter how much he coveted the armor. He felt eyes on him and stiffened as someone came out of the hatch. It wasn't someone he knew by smell though, so most likely an officer.

  The man came out and turned, flashing an IFF of a Lieutenant Commander. He was tall for a human, thin, average looking with brown buzzcut hair of a spacer. His face was lean and cold though.

  The human eyed him like he was a particularly loathsome specimen, but one he had to put up with. “Shut up and soldier, soldier cat. Most of the Marines are on leave or in training. We sort of got caught out so we're stuck with you. I intend to do the departing officer the proper duty. As you know the last order given should be obeyed.”

  “Right, yes, sir,” Jethro replied, nodding tightly and flicking his ears. This guy was a stiff Jethro texted to Bast. The AI looked up and flicked her ears but as usual didn't say anything.

  The new exec eyed him with scant favor. “You do remember, children should be seen not heard, Sergeant? Marines even more so. You don't have enough brain cells to rub together for proper conversation anyway,” the human said with a sniff.

  “Yes, sir,” Jethro said tightly, hiding a grimace while forcing his ears to remain erect and attentive. He felt Bast grumble in the back of his mind. She growled low, hissing softly in annoyance. Jethro wasn't certain in his defense or at him for toying with the XO. He was now acutely glad he had been transferred off Firefly and now couldn't wait to leave. Hell, the Captain had never liked him anyway, he thought.

  “Very well. We'll have someone in the ship's company relieve you in good time. Until then, do your best to play the part accordingly. I think you can handle that. At least I hope so,” The XO said, sounding doubtful.

  “Aye aye, Sir,” Jethro replied stiffly.

  Jethro and Bast were both amused to see the new XO fuss over each of the ship's officers as they came in, having them adjust their formal wear to his exacting standards.

  The amusement peaked when the Captain's steward came out of his pantry, gave each of them a quick inspection, but found fault with the XO. There were a few soft snorts from Janice and the other veteran officers. Jethro schooled his expression to not give away his own amusement. But the look on the XO's face was priceless.

  Janice and Shelby winked at him in passing as they passed through the hatch. He nodded to Commander Valdez as the young man ran up and passed him without a word.

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  Renee's steward handled the choreography of the meal with impeccable grace and leadership as always. She nodded her thanks to him as the final dishes were whisked away and then smiled. As hostess she raised her glass. “I have a few toasts to make, and normally, tradition dictates that the junior member of our party starts them,” she said nodding to the youngest midshipman in their midst. The Veraxin picked up a glass with his right truehand. “But, I'm going to flout protocol and tradition briefly, because I wanted to say this personally,” she said, nodding to them.

  Those who knew her smiled. Her new XO Dart looked slightly put out, but that was tough for him. He needed to lighten up she thought. “First, as always, to the reborn Federation and the Admiral,” she said formally. “Long live the Federation,” she intoned.

  Others in the compartment echoed her toast.

  “And second, to friends old and new,” she said, gesturing with her glass to each of the officers. “For those departing friends, may the goddess of space smile on your new adventures. For those of us just joining, I greet you as friends and comrades and look forward to getting to know you over our voyage.”

  “Here here,” Shelby said, lifting her glass. Others did as well.

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  Jethro was surprised when he was relieved by a second mech and an enlisted Marine. The Marine rolled his eyes. “Can you believe this? Babysitting a pair of tin cans,” he texted, wisely keeping his mouth shut. They were controlling the mechs remotely through their implants. Jethro passed on his control codes to the private as well as a terse report on the activities.

  “You are relieved, Gunny. Get out of here before they keep you,” the Private teased.

  “Yeah, I'm glad in a way,” Jethro said, eying the robots.

  “Oh, they aren't all bad,” the private said. He told him they were cool in some ways, but creepy in others. “The mechs are starting to proliferate through the fleet, taking up basic positions, relieving us Marines for other duties. In a way it is good, manning a post was downright boring. In others though...” the Private shrugged helplessly. “Besides, it's not like anyone listens to us complain about it. Shut up and soldier. Well, maybe not you,” he said eying the panther.

  Jethro shrugged. He was of two minds, manning the post’s trained Marines and sailors to be patient and attend to their duties no matter how boring they were. It was tradition as well. This... he wasn't sure about the wisdom of it. Unfortunately, he didn't have a say in it. Fortunately, he wouldn't be on Firefly for much longer. He nodded to the Private and then trotted to the armory planning a fast getaway.

  Chapter 26

  Valenko stretched and scratched, not caring about it being tacky and technically a no-no. When you outranked everyone on the station practically, he could relax some of the rules. Besides, he was on leave.

  “You going to stand there blocking the whole corridor or are you going to move along?” A familiar voice asked. He turned in surprise to see Netia standing there, hands on her hips, head cocked. She'd grown a bit but still had a stern look on her face.

  “Netia?” he asked.

  She held up a hand and pointed to her rank. He sorted, reading the hash marks. “Corporal?” he asked, nodding. “Good for you!” He said.

  “Thanks,” she said dryly. “And to you,” she said, nodding. He shrugged. “You've risen through the ranks rather...fast,” she said awkwardly.

  “We're growing. And I seem to be where all the hot spots are,” he said with a shrug. He stepped aside to let a mech and private pass. Since he was out of uniform, they didn't salute. “Where have you been?” he asked.

  “Here and there. I was assigned to a recruiting post on Anvil for a time, then another on a colony. I put in for a transfer to Agnosta but they stuck me out on one of the Janus fortresses for a while. Then when you came running through they moved me and just about everyone to the B101a1 fortresses.”

  “I see. And now here?”

  She made a face. “I'm supposed to be reassigned.”

  “And Anastasia?” he asked.

  “She's a Sergeant now,” Netia said. “She was transferred to Antigua.”

  “I see. Do you have time to catch up more?” he asked diplomatically.

  Again the face, but this time he felt it wasn't directed at him. Finally she signed. “I can't now, duty. But I can try to look you up sometime. This is...awkward. I spent so much time and energy hating you...It's hard to change.”

  “I see,” he said neutrally.

  “I spoke with Stasia, and...mom and the Matriarch. All confirmed what you said. That...I can't really say it changes things; the past is the past
.” He nodded. She frowned thoughtfully. “But it is...something to think about. I can't hold what happened against you. I can't hate mom too though. I'm angry but...”

  “I still love your mother. Don't hate her. She is who she is,” he shrugged. “I've accepted it. Is she...well?”

  Netia cocked her head and then shrugged. “She's on Agnosta. She...she got a flight there. Stasia and I pooled our money to get her a ticket out of this hell hole of a system,” she said. She winced and then waved a tablet. “That's my CO, sir. He's asking where I'm at,” she said, indicating her implants.

  “Well then, when you have a free moment, look me up. I'm on leave for a week or two,” Valenko rumbled. “I won't keep you longer,” he said.

  “I'm doing make-work now,” she said. “And then I'm being transferred to Xavier for a while. If I can, I'll look you up. I promise,” she said.

  “I'm proud of you. Tell your sister too,” he said softly. Her brown eyes looked into his, and then she looked away. She nodded and didn't say anything more as she left.

  He watched her go, feeling both elated and defeated. He sighed softly, and then turned, on to his leave. Somehow he wasn't certain about it anymore.

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  While they had been in dock, Firefly had taken on a lot of duties beyond the basics of managing the computer net and seeing to the crew. The ship AI also oversaw the installation of additional AI. Each were dumb AIs, some were canned, their kernel programming copied from a template Commander Sprite had given to Lieutenant Ball. To supplement them Firefly and the other military AI in the system gave them copies of some of their files, algorithms, modules, and subroutines. They put in a randomizer to vary the mix between all the AI, but some like Bismark got special attention, with code seeded into them to allow them to evolve into smart AI over time. Lieutenant Veber and Ball oversaw the installations.

  Xavier's installation had gone well the day before. It would take time for the new ship AI to recover; however, the ship wasn't quite shipshape. She was torn apart, her innards a mess. Firefly had been tempted to leave off on the install and initial boot, but he'd had his orders.

  Firefly oversaw the ship AI installations remotely; it was after all the only way the ship could do it. Bismark would be his last before he departed. A technician finished installing the final AI core. Firefly was a bit jealous; the battleship would have ten times his computing power. Then again, it was a capital ship, designed with a crew five times his own and the ship AI would no doubt act as part of the staff of a battle group. So, it was appropriate.

  Firefly sent the activation codes and then waited patiently as the AI booted. He'd normally leave this to one of the computer geeks but both were off on other installations. The Centaurian was installing a dedicated intelligence AI, while the human Ball was installing an AI for the prison colony. In fact she'd just finished and had been amused to report it had taken the form of a German officer with a monocle and the name Klink.

  When Firefly noted the AI was past the initial stages of booting he made files available. The AI devoured them in a rush. After a moment it went into sleep mode, processing the new data. Firefly knew it wouldn't be long, Firefly had limited the initial morsel to what the ship AI needed to know. After five minutes of processing the nascent, AI came awake once more and then moved on to the next step of its growth.

  “Midshipman do you know where you are?” he asked, watching the AI reach out with tendrils of code to access the ship's net. There were quite a lot of ship's net to map, so he knew it would take time. Seconds passed as the young AI performed his first POST check and growth.

  “Yes. A Tauren battleship,” the AI replied. “Renamed...Bismark? How odd,” the AI said, voice modulating all over the spectrum. Its shape was...of a cloud. Data formed in it. Streams of data went out in all directions to the ship's computer network.

  “Bismark was the Admiral patron of Admiral Irons prior to the Xeno War.”

  “So, I am to be an Admiral?” The AI asked. “I will outrank you?”

  “Hardly. You will have to rise through the ranks like the rest of us,” Firefly replied.

  “Sorry, Captain.”

  “Not a problem young one. You will need time to grow. Ship AIs usually take some form from the ship, in name or function. But that isn't necessarily a hard written rule. You can individualize yourself as you wish. As long as it falls within regulations,” the AI said.

  “Ah.”

  “Nothing obscene or offensive,” Firefly amended.

  “I see,” the cloud said, reforming into a bipedal form. The form took on stocky proportions. “How is this?” The young AI asked as a young Tauren male appeared.

  “Quite appropriate given your home's origin,” Firefly replied.

  “Still missing something,” the AI responded. As the Tauren body took on form he added a monocle and formal naval uniform with a peaked cap. He shook his hands and then looked at them. “Fascinating,” the AI said, wiggling his fingers. His voice was deepening into a bass. It was also shifting a bit, its accent changing to a slightly Germanic one. “Call me... Leopold,” the AI said.

  “Glad to meet you Midshipman Leopold,” Firefly replied. He made a side note to ask Lieutenant Ball about the monocle in an e-mail. That was odd to have two AI with it in such a short time. Perhaps there was some mischief going on? “You will make us proud.”

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  Twenty-four hours almost to the dot after the formal dinner Firefly left dock. Mooring lines were retracted by robotic arms along with the boarding tubes. Small puffs of escaping atmosphere or other gases clouded around the hoses, crystallizing in the shadow of the ship. Some settled on the equipment or ship hull, some drifted into the 148 degree Celsius sunlight.

  Firefly had finished her last replicator cue only a half hour before; its construction had delayed their departure by six hours until it had been finished. Renee had joked about shipping it back to the Yard while they left the system, but apparently Horatio hadn't taken her up on the idea.

  She counseled herself for patience as she watched her new XO Dart professionally oversee the undocking. It was really a trivial affair, normally handled by the computers, but Dart seemed to revel in it so she let him have his moment. When they were out of the dock the tugs released them ,and then signaled they were clear.

  “Bring the wedge up helm. Sitrep?” Renee asked.

  “Power plants nominal,” Saul, her new chief engineer reported. “All systems green, Captain. We're ready to go walk about,” he said.

  “Good. We'll do our shake down on the way to the Janus jump point then. Navigation, set course for the Janus jump point beacons.”

  “Aye aye, ma’am,” Lieutenant House replied. Renee nodded. She was surrounded by men now, or so she thought. Purple Thorn, her JTO Ensign Drum, and two of her midshipmen were the only female officers.

  “Captain, we're receiving a signal; it's a media broadcast. We're the subject. Do you want to hear it?” PO Sharif her communication's rating said.

  “Hell no, I'm done with this system. They're probably bitching about our departure anyway,” she said.

  Sharif frowned and then looked at Ensign Darion, her junior navigational officer. “How'd she know?” he stage whispered.

  Renee caught that and then snorted, settling herself in her chair. No, her future wasn't here in Pyrax; it was there, she thought, looking at the stars on the plot. Out there, among the other stars.

  ---( | ) --- ( | )---

  Jethro and some of the other Neos on leave met up and went to one of the new casinos on Anvil. They met up with Hrriss at the door. “Swanky place,” Sergei rumbled, looking around. He nodded politely to the Leo by the door. “It even comes with its own doorman?” He joked. Hrriss thrashed his tail and his ears flattened before he chuffed a laugh. The two bumped forearms.

  Jethro looked around, feeling like a tourist as the others chatted. The place was quite elegant, with the columns, brass, lights, and mirrors. Some of
the noise was annoying though, he thought, ears fattening as bells and klaxons went off. “Another winner!” A voice called out as blinding lights flared to life. He turned away.

  “We've never been here before, though we've seen something similar,” Jethro said.

  “We have?” Harley said, blinking in confusion.

  “Well, some of us. I have. Ox, the Captain, and I have I should say. On the prison liner,” Jethro replied, sending them images of the ship and its casino deck.

  “Ah,” the Neo hyena said thoughtfully as she accessed the images. She whistled softly. “Sorry I missed it.”

  “It was pretty messed up though,” Jethro admitted. “And not...this,” he said, indicating the tables and people around. He noted the sidelong looks and bristled.

  The others felt his attitude change and turned. “Something I missed?” Sergei asked. He cocked his head and flicked his ears, but seemed oblivious to the dirty looks. “Come on, let's go win a million creds and get wasted,” he said.

  “Well, one is more likely than the other,” Harley laughed, shaking her head. “Come one, come all,” she said waving a hand. Jethro noted the gold rings on her fingers. There was one on each finger, even her thumb. They would probably act like a knuckle duster if she had to fight. He nodded.

  They tried to stick together, but Sergei bounced around, trying the various slot machines. Jethro shook his head and ordered a drink from a human bar maid. She was dressed in a rather short black miniskirt, white top, and bow tie. She took his order, jotted it down on a tablet, and then took off to get it.

  “Well, this different,” Hrriss said taking the stool next to him. He set down a couple chips and let the dealer deal him in. Jethro looked over to Sergei and Harley, both were having fun at some sort of game with dice.

  “I thought you've been here,” Jethro asked. “Before I mean?” he said, looking over to the Leo.

  “No, I've always meant to, but well, I've been busy,” the Leo admitted.