The captain paused a moment, then added, “The catch is, to act as my representative I need you to enlist in my organization — in the TSM itself. And I mean, I need you to do that now — right here on Morrigan, before you go. By doing so you will be able to act as my agent; as my agent you will have authority over every member of Patrick O’Shaugnassey’s crews.”
If Sydney had expected shock, she was badly disappointed — what Chloe’s face registered instead could be more charitably be described as calculation.
“The militia, is it?” The redhead’s eyes sparkled. “Sure, and that’s a grand use of my uncle’s talents and resources, Captain. ’Tis the angels themselves put the idea in your head!”
Then the sparkle dimmed slightly. “But ... me havin’ to sign up with TSM is.... Captain, I’m as much a part of my uncle’s organization as all the others.”
Sydney nodded, and gently taking Chloe by the arm, resumed walking toward the hangar exit. “I’m well aware of that, Ms. — Chloe. But I need you to do this because you may be the only person in all of Cygni that your uncle and I both trust.” She gave the younger woman her best benign smile. “That is also why I need you in my chain of command. Rest assured, your position doesn’t come with any military responsibilities. You will strictly be acting as my aide for local affairs … first to mediate with your uncle, and later as I shall determine. You remain a civilian.”
Chloe seemed to hold her breath for a long moment, then sighed deeply. “Aye,” she said at last. “I do see the merit in your offer. Yet —”
“I promise to be a gentle taskmaster, Chloe, and once the military and militia issues are settled, the major portion of your job will change. At that point you will become my primary advisor on what needs to be accomplished regarding Aerieland and, ah … Big Muddy, isn’t it?”
The younger woman’s eyes gleamed.
“Also, it might interest you to know that there’s a ‘signing bonus’ included in the offer….”
Chloe grinned hugely at Sydney’s sly addition. “You had me at helpin’ Aerieland, Captain, but if you’re willin’ to be addin’ something else I’m willin to be listenin’.”
Sydney nodded. “Blanket clemency for all acts of piracy, for your uncle and all of his people who enlist — and obviously for you as well. Effective as soon as everyone has signed their papers.”
Chloe grin faded to a more calculating look. “You can do that?”
“I can.” Sydney’s benign smile firmed slightly. “I am, as of today, the official military attaché to 16 Cygni. The offer is fully within the scope of my office.”
They paused to work their way through the airlock that connected the hangar to the main part of Morrigan. Once out in the corridor, Sydney resumed walking in the direction of conference room one.
“Captain,” Chloe began after several moments of silence, “I’ll be signin’ the papers as soon as you give them to me; like I said, you had me when you mentioned Aerieland. I’ll be deliverin’ the documents to my uncle as well. But —”
She paused, laying one hand gently on Sydney’s arm.
“You’ve said nothin’ about the other wee thing I asked of you....”
Sydney nodded. “I believe we have that handled as well,” she told her soon-to-be civilian advisor. They pulled up at a door labeled, “Conference Cabin One,” that showed the green light of occupancy. “In fact, I believe that we are just in time.”
She touched a button to open the conference room door and led Chloe inside, past the silent presence of marine pfc Sonia Gonzales standing at parade rest just inside the door. Across the room, Krista Sperry turned to see who had arrived.
Not a word was spoken. Later, Sydney reflected that it had almost seemed like a scene from some sappy romantic video: Krista and Chloe, facing each other across the room for seconds that seemed like hours, then both rushing forward until they came together in a desperate embrace, sharing a long, deep kiss. Sydney had watched only as long as it took to ensure that both women were still breathing, then turned to Gonzales.
“I believe that you can stand watch outside the hatch for now, Marine,” she said softly.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Gonzales acknowledged, and quickly moved her post. Sydney was about to leave as well when Krista called to her.
“Captain Chambers?”
She turned back to the two women. “Yes?”
The lovers didn’t entirely release each other, but they did move enough apart to be distinguishable as separate beings.
“I haven’t had a chance to thank you, yet,” Krista said. “For ... rescuing me.”
Sydney nodded. “I had Chloe’s word that you were a non-combatant being held hostage — and as I’m sure she will explain to you, I have some faith in Ms. O’Shaugnassey’s word. So no thanks are necessary.” She added a smile. “But you’re welcome, none the less.”
The captain was again turning to leave when Chloe spoke. “Captain?”
She turned back once more. “Yes?”
“Are you — that is to say, could you be....” She pulled Krista a bit closer to her, then stiffened her spine and looked Sydney directly in the eyes.
“Can you be performin’ weddings?”
Krista’s face showed an instant of surprise, that quickly melted to passion. She leaned in to kiss Chloe gently on the cheek. Sydney was taken aback for a moment, but then felt a brief rush of happiness as she saw the clear signs of love between the two women. She considered her options for a moment, then nodded.
“I do believe that is one of my privileges as a TSM captain,” she said, and couldn’t help but smile at the happy couple. “As long as you’re not talking about right this moment, of course, I believe that it can be arranged.”
Krista and Chloe turned to give deep into each other’s eyes for a moment, then Chloe again turned to the captain.
“I’ll be breakin’ the news to my uncle when I deliver the documents he’s to sign,” she said. “How long —”
“You have a week before we head for drydock at Arega.”
The Irish woman looked to her lover, who nodded. “A week would be grand,” she said, “if it works for you.”
Sydney chuckled. “You’re sure you don’t want to wait until Morrigan is fully repaired? Or maybe choose a less ... military setting?”
“This will be perfect, Captain,” Krista said, sounding as though she was a bit in shock. “It’s —” She shook her head. “I never let myself believe it would even be possible. Thank you.”
The captain stared the women for a moment, then nodded.
“Just tell Private Gonzales when you’re ready to return to your quarters, Ms. Sperry,” she said, and once more turned to leave, this time getting all the way to the open hatch before turning back.
“And of course,” she added, “you’re welcome to take Chloe along with you.”
Then she finally did leave, heading for her office and the headaches of post-battle command.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Crew of Noble-class cruiser TSM Cahan Morrigan:*
COMMAND: Sydney Chambers, Captain
Stacy Francis, ensign, weapons officer
Sean Grelkin, ensign, weapons officer
OPERATIONS: Steve Garvey, Commander, Executive Officer (XO)
Shannon McInerny, ensign, scan tech
Thor Hellespont, ensign, Helmsman
Peter Rieger, ensign, Comm officer
Stefan Womack, ensign, Navigation officer
ENGINEERING: Hailey Kristoff, lieutenant, Chief Engineer
Angus MacCreedle, lt.jg, engineering 2nd
Tommy Filas, non-com, engineering tech
Sara Anthony, non-com, engineering tech
Ky Nguyen, lt.jg, life support/hydroponics
MEDICAL: Anna Sorensen, lieutenant, Physician Assistant (ship medical officer)
Marines aboard Morrigan:
George Briscoe, lieutenant (command of detachment)
Morrie Saa
ns, sergeant (ranking NCO)
Sonia Gonzales, pfc
Outpost Station personnel:
Walter Rudolph, Station Managing Director
Camilla Ann "Cami" Frye, lieutenant, Station security
Anthony Beckworth, Chief, Station security
Sandy Zielienowski, Docking Control, Outpost Station (Spouse: Bill)
Ben Afarsi, gray goods merchant
Militia:
Joe Miller
Henry Pastori
Chris Henderson
Ted Graham
Pirates:
@ 16 Cygni B:
Patrick O'Shaugnassey, head of pirate operations, 16 Cygni B
Chloe O'Shaugnassey, Patrick's niece; handles “office” operations
(Chloe's ship: Brigid Delaney)
Tom Flannery, Patrick's chief lieutenant
Sean Gerald, chief pilot of the Clancy Aodhan (Patrick's flagship & Patrick's personal ship Blarney)
Brady O'Dwyer, gunner on the Clancy Aodhan
Carey Hornbuckle, one of O'Shaugnassey's ship captains
@ 16 Cygni A:
Hans Vattermann, head of pirate operations, 16 Cygni A
Krista Sperry, Vattermann's mistress/slave
Stefan Holzig, Vattermann's senior adjutant
Captain Gunnar Schultz, commander of Hans' flagship Hans Vattermann I
Velma Ratzinger, Vattermann's secretary
Personnel on 16 Cygni planets:
Sam Sellenberg, operations manager, Cyg-B3 Heavy Industry's main plant
Edward Tallman, Operational Vice President, Capstone Minerals Ltd (Cyg B-2 “owner”)
Others:
Admiral Lord Steven Alexander; flagship TSM Shades of Glory
Randolph Chalmers, Fleet Captain, of Shades of Glory
Horace Steubing, Captain, TSM Tecumseh
Sean Coffmann, Commander, JAG (prosecutor in court martial of Vattermann)
Viola Stricklin, Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Auditor General
Lieutenant Orrin Wilson, JAG (Defense counsel in court martial of Vattermann)
Commodore Hugh Georges, JAG, (Presiding officer in court martial of Vattermann)
Tim, last name unknown, desk clerk at the Inn Codlaímid: A Place of Rest, on Outpost Station
Shanna MacRae, barkeep at the Pick and Shovel pub
The cast of named ships:
*TSM Cahan Morrigan (TSMNC-13785):
Cahan — from cath "battle" or "a warrior". An abbess of Kildare. AKA Cathan.
Morrigan — (MOHR-ee-gan) called the Great Queen, Irish goddess of war. Paraphrased, there is a line: "And over their heads went a grey-haired hag hopping", the hag being the Morrighan collecting her "acorn crop," which were the heads of slain enemies.
Morrigan's shuttles:
7B35Zulu: Muireann — (MEER-an or MOHR-in) "of the long hair"; from Old Irish muir "sea", may also mean "sea-white" or "sea-fair"; and an ancient feminine version of Murphy.
7A47Foxtrot: Mellan - might be derived from an early word meaning "lightning."
7D62Papa: Máiréad - (MAW-rayt or MAW-reed) from Greek margaron "pearl."
Pirate Ships:
Blarney (Patrick's runabout): Flattery, blandishment; nonsense, insincere talk.
Clancy Aodhan (Patrick's flagship):
Clancy - "red-headed fighter."
Aodhan - (EH-dawn or AY-dawn) version of Old Irish Aedan, dim. of aed "fire." Aedan was the name of 21 early Irish saints. Popular name, often anglicized as Aidan (AY-dahn).
Brigid Delaney (Chloe's freighter, named for her mother):
Brigid: goddess of poetry; goddess of healing.
Delaney - "Descendant of the challenger." (The Irish word for "challenge" is dúshlán; the associated adjective is dúshlánach. A couple of grammatical mutations would be pronounced "DOU(h)-lawn-ee," or Delaney.)
Kierkegaard (Krista’s freighter): Named for Søren Kierkegaard, 19th-Century Danish existentialist philosopher. (Much of his work deals with the importance of personal choice and commitment.)
Hans Vattermann I: Named for an oversized ego.
The Worlds of 16 Cygni (as named by their residents):
A2: "Big Muddy"
A3: "Shenandoah"
B2: "Aerieland"
B3: "Arega"
OUTPOST STATION
A huge metal torus built and operated by the Terran Confederacy, Outpost Station is the only habitable environment orbiting Cyg C and the sole presence of the Confederacy at 16 Cygni. All shipping in and out of Terran Confederacy member systems is required to route through an official Confederacy facility; there, like all governments, the Confederacy extracts those taxes and fees which are its pound of flesh. Older, more established systems usually boast multiple Interstellar-class Stations, making evasion of the taxes possible, but at 16 Cygni the condition was much simpler: Outpost Station is the only facility that can accommodate true interstellar ships. In-system workhorses such as the Arega System Pride and its siblings can berth practically anywhere, or even free-load without docking, but for the interstellars that haul Cygni’s ores and rough products to established Confederacy worlds and bring the refined goods of those worlds to the frontier, Outpost Station is the sole option.
The arrangement is little loved, but is a system the residents of 16 Cygni do not yet have the political clout to challenge. 16 Cygni is the most recently settled system in the Confederacy, and after a century remains the rawest of frontiers, largely resembling the “wild west” of old Earth legend. Political clout only follows economic power, and frontiers always hold more promise than profit. The economic power of the three-star 16 Cygni system, while growing, can still be most charitably described as embryonic.
As might be expected, within the 16 Cygni trinary system itself there is a pecking order. Cyg C is odd-star-out. A dim red dwarf, it boasts no satellites of its own save scattered rocks and boulders — and, more recently, Outpost Station. It provides a lonely contrast to the other two Cygni stars: 16 Cygni A and B are both mainstream, life-fostering, yellow luminaries, each boasting planetary families and stellar eco-systems of delightful richness ... and each harboring the raw materials for economic growth in embarrassing abundance. Bauxite is plentiful on all four inhabitable 16 Cygni worlds, along with iron ore and deposits of copper and other metals. Some mining is done on the “three” worlds — Cyg A-3 and B-3 — but the richest ores are found on the hotter worlds of Cyg A-2 and B-2. The populations of the “two” worlds labor almost universally in the mines. Their labor allows the societies on the more temperate “three” worlds to grow more and more genteel, and commensurately more and more wealthy.
The miners, of course, do not share in this wealth.
As for those “genteel” societies: The residents of Cygni A-3, called Shenandoah by its residents, took advantage of their world’s moderate climate to fashion a society of agrarian leisure quite reminiscent of one that had once flourished in the southern half of North America on old Earth. Large plantations and sprawling farms cover vast areas of the countryside. The few towns are small and exist more as retail hubs for the local gentry than as centers of commerce. The planet boasts but one true city, whose main business is the spaceport it houses and supports.
Inhabitants of Arega — Cygni B-3 — took a quite different tack. They labored mightily to develop the heavy industries needed to process the raw ores of all four worlds into finished products. While still crude compared to the fine imports from Earth and the other more established systems, these local products are less expensive and more readily available than their imported counterparts and are therefore rapidly gaining favor among Cygni consumers. Arega had also cornered the business of space shipping within the system, both building and operating the freighters which move Cygni’s ores and products between the four worlds and to Outpost Station.
Capitalism is working; economic growth is rampant. As usual, though, there is a down side to economic growth. That down side, at 16 Cygni, is piracy.
There
are two types of pirates. Some steal for survival; others plunder for sheer fun and profit. The Jolly Roger was initially hoisted in Cygni space by groups with the first motive ... desperate expatriates from the mining worlds hoping to steal enough extra to ease the lives of their families back home. The family-based pirates of Cygni A remain of this type.
More recently, though, the brigands in the A system have acquired a canny new leader and a high value new target: A selection of finer ores — really, raw gems — found on Shanandoah alongside the bauxite, steel and copper.
The gems are considered a boon by the nuveau tycoons of Cygni society. Unsurprisingly, the Cyg-A pirates agree with that assessment.
Coming
Winter 2016:
The conclusion of the PsiFinder trilogy
Shadows
Fall 2016:
The Fall of Magic
(The Second Season of Elsewhen)
About B. T. Jaybush
B. T. Jaybush is the pen name of Brian and Timothy Jaybush, a father and son team specializing in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Paranormal worlds.
Winners: 2008 Zirdland.com Novel Writing Contest (“Relics”)
Finalists: 2010 Santa Fe Screenplay Contest (“Outpost Station,” the screenplay version of “Sydney Chambers: Captain”)
www.Psiwriters.info
Brian Jaybush cut his teeth reading science fiction, starting with Asimov's I, Robot at age 10 and progressing insatiably from there. He has been writing all his life, starting as a journalist in junior high school and continuing with legal and technical writing later in life (BA History, 1975; Juris Doctor, 1978). Retirement from 30 years in the telecommunications industry has allowed him to concentrate on fiction writing full time, in partnership with his son, Timothy.
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