by Chris Hechtl
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When Captain Jericho broke the news at the next meeting of the proposed course change, the purser was instantly pissed.
Chief Percy shot sidelong glances at the purser. That made Jim the navigator and the other department head officers wonder what was up. They knew the purser would object. Henry was a good guy, a bit of a tight wad, but that was normal for a bean counter. He just didn't know when it was time to just cut loose. On the other hand, the captain was the captain and he set the course. If he deviated from it, there was little the owners could do light years away. And if they did object and finally caught up with them, it would be the love struck captain who would get it in the neck.
Henry gritted his teeth as the newlyweds laid out their case. The wife was quite excited, quite good at laying it in the best possible light he realized. He of all people should have known this was coming. He regretted it, regretted his cowardly nature in handing the reins of command over to someone else. His judgment in people was slipping if this happened, he thought with a pang.
Henry wasn't that old. Okay, so he was in his seventeenth decade but he was fit and trim and passed his last year's physical with flying colors. He had a bit of pepper left in his short wiry hair to go with all the salt. He'd taken anti-aging treatments throughout his life, so he had decades of activity left before he was going to be forced to retire. He wasn't sure what he'd do then; spacing was in his blood.
“Does anyone object?” the captain asked, turning an expectant look at Henry as Henry raised a hand.
“Of course,” Lucy said, flopping into her chair in disgust. She shook her head mournfully. “Let's hear it from the bean counting, penny pincher.”
Henry frowned at the delicate woman. She had some high elf genes or she was a spacer descendant or borderline anorexic; she was thin as a rail. Well built though, but young, far too young for her current position. That he knew for certain. She was definitely a vixen, and she clearly had Captain Jericho by the balls for him to go this far out on a limb.
“I do object, and no, not just to be obstructionist. Someone here has to be rational; someone has to point out that we do have a job to do. You know, the job we're being paid to perform? To get the shipment of food goods to Sierra Vista?”
“Please limit the editorializing,” the captain said. “And remember, she is my wife and your superior,” he said with just a bit of warning bite in his tone.
“That's…you know, yes, let's keep it on topic,” Henry said, changing mental tracks. He needed to remain focused and lay his case out. A lot was riding on it. He had thought briefly of taking over, but the rule of law was clear. It would be considered an act of mutiny. So, he had to play by their rules for now, which meant find a way to get the rest of the crew to see this for the horrible idea it was. “Now, first, we have a cargo of goods that will spoil. We are also in signed contracts to ship cargo on other worlds. These will be voided if we don't get to their destinations on time.” He paused. The captain nodded reluctantly.
“Then there is fuel and life support. We are setup to purchase both in a specific order. There are deposits on each; deposits that will be voided and lost. That's a lot of credits down the toilet. We do a circuit for a reason; it cuts costs and builds profits. Everything must work together or our schedule and our ship will fail. Everything is arranged in a contract that will also be voided once we step off our normal route. That means we will pay a premium for both instead of our usual rates.”
“Ouch,” Percy murmured. Henry realized that wasn't getting through, not at all. Most of the crew had glazed looks on their faces. They didn't care; after all, it wasn't their money he was talking about.
He realized that doing something naughty, something that they could get in trouble for was somehow appealing. Like a teenager sneaking out past curfew or doing something stupid and dangerous. This was all of that and more.
“Of course our navigator can tell you about how going off our filed flight plan will incur penalties with the Federation government, not to mention the company itself,” he said, looking to Jim.
Jim shrugged. “I can file an emergency change of flight. They'll waive it.”
“Sure they will,” Henry said. He turned away. No help there obviously, he realized. He frowned.
“We will be destroying this ship's reputation on a whim, on the idea of having fun. Everyone likes to have fun. I like to have fun. We all love to blow off steam, have a good time. I know the idea of doing this, the justifications involved…” he shook his head. “A couple weeks of fun in the sun, yes, but then what about the rest of your lives? You will be out of work when the dust settles, that I will guarantee you right here, right now. Who will TRUST this crew with another cargo? They damn well won't. Relationships in the business world are built on trust. Once it's gone it is damn hard to rebuild. You all had fun at the resort world not some four months ago. You know this isn't right.”
He frowned. “I'm asking you; I'm pleading with you to stay the course. Do not give in to temptation of a siren's call to lead you astray. Only heartache leads down that path. Stay the course. It may not be filled with pleasures and bright lights and adventures, but it is safe and it is home.”
“Halleluiah! Amen!” Lucy said, shaking her head, hands up. Henry growled.
“That's not appropriate,” her husband gently rebuked her.
“Oh no? Well, he was giving a sermon,” she said with a shrug. “But what is a safe but dull life?” Lucy retorted.
“In the end it is the captain's neck on the line if he deviates,” the purser reminded her, turning his accusing eyes first on her, then her husband.
The captain tugged on his collar, clearly uncomfortable. He was wrapped around Lucy's thumb. She pouted as Henry turned his gaze from the captain to the woman. The captain was torn; he knew he was caught in a vice. If he didn't do this he'd lose his dream of a wife and family. “I'm…ah, going to ask the crew for a vote of confidence in this venture. I'm sure Henry can make the scheduling work. You are a magician there,” he said, trying to butter the angry purser up.
“Yes, we're asking that you the crew,” the woman turned a look on all of them, turning up the voltage of her smile, “Support your captain in this. We will work it out. It should get us some lucrative contracts, since no one will expect us.” She turned her eyes to the purser. He realized she had just put all expectations on him to pull a rabbit out of his hat and find a way to make it all work. She was good, he realized, good in a very bad way. A bad way for him and his ship and his crew. The purser realized she was pure poison.
The chief engineer, purser and a few other veteran spacers were old crew. The remainder of the crew were all new, a few having only served on the ship for a few months and one or two transits. Some were only supposed to be on the ship for half the circuit before they joined up with another ship. Most of the ship's permanent crew population was made of married couples or small families. Like many ships they were a bit heavy on crew. But like most jobs, it was easier to go overboard on manning then be caught short handed when you needed the help.
They had taken on a male nurse and a doctor at same time as Lucy. Both took the XO's old room. Ori, a female deck hand, was happy since she was eight months pregnant with her first child. The idea of traveling and having her child wasn't nearly as appealing as being in orbit of a star system when the child came due. “No offense to our resident medics, but I would rather have a hospital available, and why not the best in the sector?” She asked, cradling her swollen tummy. Her lesbian wife nodded, hugging her shoulders.
“Do you have any idea what you are getting yourselves into? Setting aside the hell to pay, do you realize the living expenses on planet are expensive. The ship usually only stops for three to four days,” Henry warned. “I cannot and will not sign off on this. Nor will I let you bill the ship for this. Uh uh. No way,” he said shaking his head and crossing his arms in front of him intransigently.
“You will do as you are told
,” Lucy said, eyes flashing. “Or you will be charged with insubordination to a superior officer and mutiny,” she said, slapping down his objections.
“No, we're not going there,” the captain said. His wife rounded on him with a glower. “I said no. I told you; we will have a fair meeting, a fair vote since this effects the entire crew and their future, Lucy.”
“But Maxy, baby,” she whined, pouting. “I so want to go! I want to have such a good time with you on the beach,” she said, voice dropping into a husky whisper as her eyes met his. Her full lips parted and her tongue traced them slowly. The captain shuddered slightly, completely lost.
He squirmed slightly and then someone coughed, and her hypnotizing taboo was broken.
Lucy frowned, then straightened and adjusted her tight black mini-dress. It was artfully cut to give the men just a hint of an illicit look without quite offending the other women. She was playing a fine line, seducing the men into going along with her plan with artful temptations planted into their minds, while keeping them guessing. “I think you are forgetting; the captain has the last word while the ship was in transit. His word is law,” she sweetly pointed out as she brushed lint off one side. “He has the right to change the course of the ship when needed.”
“This isn't a legitimate need,” Henry fumed. “It's bogus, and you know it.” Lucy glared. No love lost there, she knew his for an enemy now. She didn't like anyone standing in the way of what she wanted. And what she wanted she got. She got or there would be hell to pay.
“That's enough,” the captain said mildly. His wife smiled ever so slightly wider, knowing she had won.
Jim cleared his throat. “Dialing it back a bit, as the navigator I'd like to try the reverse route. I've had some ideas on it; I think I can make some of the legs work better and cut transit time.” He shrugged when the crew looked at him. “And yea, I am tired of the same old, same old circuit route. But it is your decision, captain.” He turned deferentially to the captain. The captain nodded graciously.
Henry knew the fix was in. He could put a stop to it, but what would that serve? Besides, he didn't need a crew with divided loyalties. He was curious though, who would go along with it and who would speak up. Not many apparently, as he looked around the room. Most of the young bucks seemed eager to do it, if only for the idea of being naughty. After all, their heads weren't in the noose or so they thought. He frowned, scowling ferociously. Percy gave him a long look. He shook his head no.
As they communicated silently, the rest of the crew thought about the idea and the majority began to form. All but the old hands voted to go to the resort world. They had just come from there. The cost was expensive. Port fees were five times the cost of any other port during the tourist season. Not that any of them cared, they wouldn't be paying them, of course.
“I'm seeing a consensus or at least a majority of one. So we shall do it,” the captain said, smiling.
Lucy was smug in her victory at getting her honeymoon. “Don't worry, the ship owner will pay for it, even if he doesn't know it yet,” she said wickedly. The other women snorted; some were quite envious on how easily she had gotten her way.
“This isn't a good idea,” the chief said, shaking his head. Lucy glared at him and then pouted.
“It's decided chief; we will change course,” the captain said, slapping his thighs. His wife cooed in excitement, hugging him and playing with his collar and lapel. She kissed him, lifting one foot as she hungrily devoured his lips. That got a murmur of appreciation from the families. The little boy Tommy made an argh sound and covered his face. That got a snicker. “Yucky stuff!” he growled. That got a laugh.
The chief engineer tried to object further, but the purser silently shook his head. “Let them have their rope,” he said simply, shrugging. The chief sat back defeated. The crew smiled, thinking the purser was signing off on the idea.
...*...*...*...*…
Lucy recognized the significant obstacle in the purser. She informed her captain husband that Henry needed to go later that evening. Of course she took care in her presentation of her argument, dressing for the occasion so he wouldn't be able to argue with her.
The captain looked up from his desk and then went slack jawed. She grinned a feline grin as his eyes roamed her body as if they were long distance hands. Men were such putty, she thought as he collected himself. He probably had a hard on under the desk. He definitely had a more difficult time breathing, practically panting.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on watch?” he demanded. The demand was weak he realized. She was wearing a red silk kimono, and he knew instinctively what that meant. She did a slow strip tease as she came over, letting the silk cloth drop behind her as she came closer. She felt like a tigress stalking her prey and loved it. Men, they were such saps she thought in the privacy of her own mind. Show them a little T and A or even hint of it and they regressed. Putty.
“Well?” the captain asked weakly.
“Oh, Jim's got it covered,” she murmured, reaching him. She stroked his face and kissed him. “You don't object do you, husband dear?” There was both silken invitation and threat in that husky contralto to make him think hard. When he was unsure, she seduced him. The old carrot and stick routine she thought rather smugly as the man finally agreed.
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The next morning in the galley the purser ate alone. He, like those who voted against the venture, were setting themselves apart from the crew; after all they knew what was coming. When he washed his hands and plate and then left, Lucy came flouncing into the galley. She sniffed in disdain as he passed. She was smug. She knew who was boss, and she knew his days were numbered.
...*...*...*...*…
She tried to get captain to give the purser's cabin to the young doctor but the purser flat out refused. “I am permanent crew. He isn't. That is what a guest cabin is for,” he pointedly told her. “I have a contract that has to be honored.”
The captain reluctantly backed away from the confrontation, realizing his new wife was being spiteful and this would threaten and alienate the crew. He knew what she was trying to do—drive Henry out so she could make something up to the owner. It obviously wasn't going to work. Already problems were cropping up in engineering; the chief wasn't doing his usual magnificent job of repairs and upkeep. The chief was angry, and it was affecting the ship.
The captain reluctantly backed the purser since he was indeed crew. The purser left as Lucy fell into a pouting sulk and threatened her newlywed husband with sleeping on their tiny couch. The captain winced, now really beginning to regret the confrontation. She was incredible in bed but now…
...*...*...*...*…
In the galley during the evening meal, the majority of the crew sat and ate together as a community. It was a tradition; one that some didn't respond well to. Henry of course wasn't there; he was manning the bridge. He like all the bridge officers had implants.
“He doesn't fit in,” Lucy murmured, stirring her drink as they finished eating.
“He who, dear?” the captain asked, sitting back and loosening his belt. His wife was now onto him about gaining weight, so he had to spend a lot more of his time in the gym exercising. She hadn't put him on a diet yet, but he knew it was coming if he didn't watch his portions and balanced his meals.
It was a major adjustment, having a spouse he thought. The crew was a little on edge; they knew something was going on and didn't know what to do about it.
“He just doesn't fit in. He's not our material. Not what this ship needs. We need fresh new blood.”
“He who, dear?” the captain asked again patiently.
“Henry. He doesn't fit in. He should retire or just leave,” she commented acidly. Since Henry was on duty on the bridge, she could afford to vent her spleen a little and build some support in the spineless crew.
Some of the new hands nodded in agreement; a few were a little more reluctant than eager about the idea or supporting it. You just
didn't do that about your own crew and not about officers.
The captain pursed his lips in thought. He didn't like where this was going. His wife shouldn't have brought this up so publicly he thought with a wrench to his relaxing thoughts. She really wasn't officer material a little niggling voice said, getting louder.
The chief, however, was instantly annoyed. Percy looked up with a glare. Lucy smirked “An accountant? We have accounting software, so why do we need one full time? I can do his job easily,” she said.
“And the job he is doing now? We need a certain number of officers to man the watches,” Jim said cautiously.
She made a brushing motion. “I'm certain I can get implants easily enough if my civilian implants aren't enough for the job,” she said airily. “How about it, honey? I can do his job. It's easy. I love talking to people. I can deal with the clients, set up the cargoes, and balance the books,” she said, smiling sweetly. There was a hint of challenge there for him to dare dispute her.
He gulped, feeling a sinking sensation. Suddenly that meal was a lead weight in his stomach. She was putting him in a hell of a spot he realized.
The chief snorted, finally having enough of this trollop. Before he could object, Jim the navigator chuckled. “You honestly think you can convince the owner to fire or retire him?” the navigator asked.
She grinned slyly. “I can get anyone to do what I want. It's just a matter of approaching them right.”
“I find that hard to believe,” the chief said dryly as he snorted.
Her eyes turned to him. He was next on her hit list. He probably knew it but didn't apparently seem to care. “You don't think I can't convince the owner?” she asked.
“Well, he is pissed about this change in course,” the chief said dryly, cleaning up his plate.
“Oh pusha, we'll tell him we had an urgent errand. We'll dump the old fart of a purser, and I'll fill in until we find someone more suitable. We'll blame this on him.”