Richard sensed possible legal trouble coming their way. He wasn’t sure of the cost of all the equipment and manpower, but he had a feeling it was double or triple the original cost of the Defiant.
“Deloris Armaments is going to be pissed if we don’t take Councilwoman Deloris’ son,” Richard pointed out.
“Let her be pissed,” said Sergeant Ron with a crazy laugh. “I’ve dealt with her before. What’s she going to do? Take it all back? Ha! Let her try.”
It’s not your ship, Rick, said Nickelo into their shared space. Let Sergeant Ron handle it. You’ve got your own worries. You’ll be teleporting out in eighteen hours.
I know, Richard thought back.
“All right, Sergeant Ron,” Richard said conceding defeat. “It’s your ship.”
“Correction, Rick, old buddy,” said Sergeant Ron with a slap on Richard’s back. “It’s our ship. I had the title to the Defiant changed this afternoon. You’re now half-owner. From now on, we’re partners; fifty-fifty.”
Richard was confused. What the hell am I supposed to do with a starship?
Don’t worry about it, replied Nickelo. I’ve a feeling Sergeant Ron is going to be the brains of the outfit anyway.
Ha, ha, Richard thought back. Not funny.
“Look, Sergeant Ron,” Richard said as he yelled to be heard over the sound of all the plasma welding. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but it’s your ship. I haven’t earned it. Besides, wouldn’t I have needed to sign something or other to make it official?”
“Not when you know people,” said Sergeant Ron with a smile. “And I know people. It’s all done good and proper with all the correct legalese.” With a wink, Sergeant Ron said, “Just don’t go looking too closely at your palm print on the title. I took it for granted you wouldn’t sue me.”
Richard looked at the smug smile on Sergeant Ron. It was hard to be mad at the old man.
“No, I won’t sue,” Richard said. “But please ask me the next time.”
“No problem…, partner,” said Sergeant Ron holding out his hand.
“All right, partner,” Richard said back as he shook Sergeant Ron’s hand. “But if we’re going to be partners, we can’t be having any secrets between us. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” replied Sergeant Ron. “My life’s an open book. I wouldn’t think of keeping secrets.”
Richard would probably have taken Sergeant Ron more seriously if he hadn’t winked and laughed when he’d said it.
For the next hour, Sergeant Ron gave Richard a tour of all the work being done. Afterwards, he spent another half hour explaining the additional planned upgrades to be installed in the upcoming days. Most of the details went over Richard’s head.
From Richard’s understanding, the main changes were going to be an upgrade of their hyper-drive to a new prototype model developed by a Deloris Armament’s subsidiary. Supposedly, it would give them an extra twenty percent speed during normal hyper-drive, and they’d be able to make thirty hyper-jumps instead of their current twenty before requiring an overhaul. In addition to their engine, the Defiant’s force fields were being beefed up along with their ship’s weapons. Sergeant Ron assured him once the overhaul was completed, the Defiant would be the toughest recon ship in the Empire. The Deloris Armaments Corporation was even installing 200 gigawatt plasma cannons on the upper and lower decks. In addition, the Defiant would still have its normal battery of four one-hundred-megawatt anti-fighter plasma autocannons.
“That’s a lot of firepower for a recon ship,” Richard pointed out to Sergeant Ron. “Some destroyers only have 100 gigawatt cannons.”
“Yep,” replied Sergeant Ron. “I guess our dear councilwoman wants to make sure her son is protected. I’m betting some Balorian pirates will be in for a big surprise if they try jumping us.”
“Our mission’s to train Trecorians,” Richard said. “We’re not supposed to be doing any fighting.”
“Yeah, right,” Sergeant Ron said with a loud snort. “And if you believe that one, I think you should get your head examined.”
Richard didn’t say anything else on the matter. He didn’t believe it either. Peaceful days weren’t how things seemed to work out in his life.
At that moment, they happened to be passing a group of welders working on the right-side wing pod.
“What are they doing?” Richard asked.
“Oh, them?” said Sergeant Ron. “That bunch of yahoos wanted to mount a Zip fighter directly on our wing pods. I told them hell no.”
Although he wasn’t a starship pilot, Richard knew Zip fighters, or zippers as they were called by their pilots, were single-seat fighters. While they couldn’t make hyper-jumps, they were very fast under normal hyper-drive. Due to their small size, they only carried a double set of forty kilowatt plasma guns and four 20mm chain guns. As a result, their usefulness was limited to recon and anti-personnel missions. A good pilot might be able to take on a shuttle fighter, but they were pretty much useless against larger ships.
“I’m making them reinforce our wing pods first,” continued Sergeant Ron. “Also, I’m having them put in an enclosed tunnel system and air locks in each wing so our pilots can man the zippers while we’re in flight.”
“Our pilots?” Richard said. “What pilots are those? I don’t know how to fly one of those things. You told me Charlie and you don’t either, remember?”
“Yeah, that’s true,” admitted Sergeant Ron.
Giving a big grin Sergeant Ron said, “But by golly, they’ll make the Defiant look cool as hell when we land at spaceports from here on out.”
Richard just shook his head.
“You look tired, Sergeant Ron,” Richard said. “Why don’t you go get a few hours of sleep? It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. Charlie and I can watch things until you get back.”
“Yeah, I think I will go lie down for a few minutes,” said Sergeant Ron. “But, I want to show you something else first.”
Without further explanation, Sergeant Ron led Richard into the Defiant’s cargo bay. The inside of the ship was as bustling with workers as the outside.
“What do you think?” said Sergeant Ron as he pointed to two black Warcats mounted to the sides of the cargo bay.
“Wow!” Richard said duly impressed. “They look new.”
“They are,” Sergeant Ron said with a nod. “They put the model you borrowed during the fight at the airfield to shame. These Warcats are the best Deloris Armaments have to offer.”
Richard noticed the Warcats were missing weapon pods. He said as much.
“Yeah,” said Sergeant Ron. “But we’ll have plenty to choose from. These Warcats have quick-releases on each arm. We’ll be able to pick and choose weapon pods depending on the mission. Our armory is being enlarged and upgraded. Our new weapons will be delivered in a couple of days. We’re even getting some anti-ship missiles for the zippers.”
Richard saw several workers cutting a hole in the metal plating at the frontend of the cargo bay. The Defiant’s armory was located on the other side. The current armory was more a vault than an armory. The Defiant had only been designed to be a reconnaissance ship, after all.
“I’m confused, Sergeant Ron,” Richard said shaking his head. “What weapons? We’ve got a crew of three; or four if you decide to take on Matthew Deloris. We have no need for a lot of weapons.” A thought hit Richard. “And how are we going to maintain them. We don’t even have an armorer. Charlie and you already have your hands full.”
“Well…,” said Sergeant Ron. “I always say take things when you can get them. You never know when they’ll come in handy. As for an armorer, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. We need one.”
“I’ll go with whoever you say, Sergeant Ron. You know that. It’s your ship.”
“It’s our ship,” corrected Sergeant Ron.
“Okay, our ship,” Richard said. “But you’re the captain. If you say we need an armorer, then we need one. Do you have someone in mind?”
Sergean
t Ron gave Richard a look he usually gave when he was going to ask something which tended to get Richard in trouble. Richard braced himself.
“Actually, I do have someone in mind,” Sergeant Ron admitted. “However, he’s a little indisposed at the moment.”
“Who?” Richard asked suspiciously.
“Sergeant Hendricks,” replied Sergeant Ron.
Richard relaxed. Sergeant Hendricks had been the Academy armorer before it was shut down by the council. He liked the good-natured sergeant. The armorer had even made Richard’s one-of-a-kind boot knife. The knife had saved his life several times over the years.
“Sounds good to me,” Richard said. “Do you know where he’s stationed? Maybe between Councilwoman Deloris and my mother…, err…, I mean Councilwoman Deluth… we can expedite his transfer to the Defiant. Assuming he’s interested in the position, that is. He may be happy where he’s at.”
“Oh, I’m betting he’s not all that happy,” said Sergeant Ron with a strange smirk. “And, I’m pretty sure he’ll jump at the chance to work on the Defiant.”
“Then where is he?” Richard asked growing suspicious again.
“On Diajor,” said Sergeant Ron with no further information.
Diajor was the military’s prison planet. From what Richard had heard over the years, it was a miserable place. Only prisoners with very long sentences were sent there. Most of them never left alive.
“Uh…, as a guard?” Richard asked hoping for the best.
“Nope,” said Sergeant Ron shattering Richard’s hopes. “He’s there serving a thirty-five year sentence. Seems when the Conglomerate took over duties at the Academy, Sergeant Hendricks took affront to the fact they wanted to confiscate all the weapons from his armory. He put five of them in the hospital. One of them was the son of a Conglomerate admiral. Politics being what they are, Sergeant Hendricks got sentenced to Diajor as an example to anyone else who might want to try obstructing the Conglomerate.”
Richard was shocked. He hadn’t heard.
“You know,” said Sergeant Ron growing very serious, “he’ll never last thirty-five years on Diajor. And even if he does survive that long, he’ll be a shell of the man he was when he finally gets released.”
Richard knew Sergeant Ron was right. He hated to see the friendly Sergeant Hendricks destroyed like that. All Sergeant Hendricks ever wanted to do was work in his armory. When Richard was at the Academy, he’d heard rumors that whenever someone had tried to promote Sergeant Hendricks out of the armory, he’d done something crazy to get busted in rank so he could stay. Richard had a feeling the sergeant had gambled with the system one time too many.
“I’ll talk to Councilwoman Deloris about it tomorrow when she brings her son,” Richard said. “Maybe she can do something.”
“You can certainly ask,” said Sergeant Ron knowingly, “but it won’t do any good. You’re going to have to get him yourself.”
“What?” Richard said. “That’s crazy. Even if I could, the military police would just haul him off the Defiant and take him back to Diajor. Heck, they’d probably take us with him.”
“Doubtful,” said Sergeant Ron. “As of yesterday, and for the next six months, the Defiant is sovereign territory of the Trecorian Planetary Alliance. If we can get Sergeant Hendricks onboard, the Empire won’t dare touch him.”
“What can I do?” Richard protested. “I’m getting teleported out tomorrow evening, and the Defiant is out of action for the next few of weeks.”
“Then I guess you better figure something out quick,” said Sergeant Ron with a conspiratorial wink. “I fly the ship. You’re the wizard scout. These kinds of problems are all yours, partner.”
Richard stared at Sergeant Ron. “You’re asking the impossible.”
“I know,” agreed Sergeant Ron with an easy laugh. “That’s why I’m giving you until tomorrow evening to get it done.”
Sergeant Ron yawned. “As for me, I’m going to find me a semi-quiet place and get some much needed sleep.”
With that, Sergeant Ron turned and weaved his way through the workers in the cargo bay until he exited the ship. Richard watched him go.
And I thought ‘the One’ was a conniving S.O.B.,” Richard thought. I’ve been setup.
So you have, Rick, agreed Nickelo with a not so sympathetic laugh. So you have.
Chapter 16 – The Secret
_____________________________________
It was early morning when Gaston Myers walked into the outer office of Councilwoman Deloris. The reception area was already full of staff and petitioners alike. The councilwoman was an early riser, and Myers knew she expected her staff to be there just as early as her. Prior association with the councilwoman had taught Myers the councilwoman’s habits well. He was used to her schedule.
“The councilwoman will see you now, wizard scout,” said the receptionist.
Myers nodded his head and went to the door. It opened just before he got to it as two petitioners in frilly suits exited. Myers did his best to keep the sneer off his face. He didn’t like the overdressed popinjays, but they were a necessary evil in the world of Empire politics.
Once the two had passed, Myers entered the councilwoman’s office and stood in front of her desk. He heard the door slide shut behind him. Councilwoman Deloris said nothing at first. She just stood on her side of the desk and gave Myers a steely-eyed gaze. Her eyes were hard for Myers to read. He got the impression the councilwoman was trying to choose the right words before speaking.
A full thirty seconds of silence passed. Finally, Councilwoman Deloris walked around the side of her desk and approached Myers. When she was close, she reared her hand back and slapped him hard across the mouth. Myers could have dodged easy enough, but he didn’t try. He’d expected some form of physical reaction. He just hadn’t known what form it would take.
From past experience, Myers knew the woman had a temper. He’d weathered more than a few storms in the past. So, he just stood still and allowed the councilwoman to vent her anger. He knew she would eventually tire. After a dozen slaps, she stopped.
“How dare you? What right did you have to endanger my son?” she said.
Although the councilwoman’s temper had cooled slightly, Myers could see its remains smoldering in her eyes.
“I did what I thought was necessary,” he told her. “You made it very clear we’d only have a single chance at success. Matthew was in no more danger than you; less in fact. I shot you, not him.”
“That was different,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “I was prepared to risk my own life. I wasn’t prepared to risk our son’s.”
“Next to me, Shepard is the best the Empire has,” said Myers. “I weighed the risk. Shepard had a full four seconds to shift into the void before the explosion. It was more than enough time. I knew he’d succeed. He could have made it in less time.”
“It was not your risk to take,” said Councilwoman Deloris.
“He’s my son too,” Myers said. “He may not know it, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”
That stopped whatever words were about to come out of Councilwoman Deloris’ mouth. Her eyes softened a little.
“Shooting you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, Diane,” Myers said softly. “What if I’d missed?”
“I had faith you wouldn’t,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “I trust you.”
Myers shook his head slowly. “Please don’t ask me to do anything like that again. I felt your pain when the round hit.”
Myers turned his head and looked at the wall for a couple of seconds. When he once again looked at the councilwoman he said, “It was torture for me. I was prepared to wrap both of you in Power and shift you into the void myself if Shepard was too slow.”
Myers paused again. In a voice barely above a whisper he said, “I couldn’t stand to lose you, Diane.”
Councilwoman Deloris’ eyes glistened in the room’s light. She touched Myers’ lips with the fingers of her right hand.
&nb
sp; “You’re bleeding,” she said as she removed a kerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the corner of his lips.
“It has already healed itself, my love,” Myers said. “And our son was in no danger. I could have saved him from the explosion. But I couldn’t have healed your wound. We needed Shepard to do that. You risked much, my love.”
The councilwoman looked into Myers eyes. “You do love me, don’t you, Gaston?”
“You know I do,” Myers said. “It nearly tore my heart out to hurt you.”
She smiled. “You won’t have to do it again. Yes, the risk was great, but the reward was even greater. The council is now in the palm of my hand. Conglomerate security forces will take over responsibility for the council’s security by the end of the week. Within a year, we shall have our security teams in virtually all of the important areas in the Empire. Then we’ll be ready.”
Councilwoman Deloris cupped Myers’ hands with hers. “I’ll need you by my side when the time comes, Gaston.”
“I shall be there,” said Myers. “Fear not.”
Councilwoman Deloris said nothing, but she gave Myers a knowing smile.
An awkward silence ensued before Myers spoke. “It’s all going as you predicted. With the modifications to the Defiant, its crew should be able to discover if what we seek is there.”
With a final dab of her handkerchief, Councilwoman Deloris wiped the last specks of blood from Myers’ lips. Once she was done, she asked, “Do you have the new control system with you?”
“No, not with me,” Myers said. “But I’ll have it before we go to the spaceport.”
“Good,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “And what if the Trecorians’ anomaly is not what we seek?”
“Then we still have our backup plan,” said Myers.
“So your contacts have found the missing bottles of DNA gas?” said Councilwoman Deloris. The excitement was evident in her eyes.
“Yes,” Myers said. “But they’re well guarded. I can’t recover them on my own.”
“I…, ah…, I mean we…, must have the gas,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “Then we can be together.”
Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4) Page 18