"You can't keep treating her like a second-class citizen and ask her to serve on the bridge," Nick said. "Keep her as crew and don't talk to her if need be." It was unusual for him to get involved in squabbles and I was surprised to see him come down on Xie's side, since she'd both vamped him as well as shot him on our first trip together. To be fair, he'd also shot me on that same trip.
"You could leave Mie-su here," Katherine said.
"No way," Tabby said. "If she is bad, I'm going to be there when we catch her."
"Tabby. That's hardly right," I said.
"Look pal, you're jamming her down my throat. I don't have to like it."
"But we can treat her respectfully," Ada said. "Right, Tabbs?" I could remember a time when Tabby had been jealous of my relationship with Ada. It gave me some hope for Xie.
"I can do respectful, especially if we can spar," she growled.
"I'll talk to Moon," Nick said. "I'd like to consider the assignments as rotations more than permanent positions, though, so we'll need to look for another engineer to recruit."
"Speaking of. Did we find out what happened to our armor panels next to the brig?" I asked.
"Everything was lost in the decompression," Nick said. "We were able to repair the damage. Whoever caused the problem wasn't looking to permanently hurt the ship."
"How long before you're back in the main portion of the Petersburg Station?" I asked, looking at Mom.
"Ortel?" she asked.
"The missiles made a mess of things, but as you know, they fired on an iron rock. Some of the material was simply vaporized, other material was slagged. I'd guess we're looking at three tenday," he said.
I nodded. "Nick, could you talk Bedros into meeting us on Intrepid before we leave? I think he'd like a tour of things and I promised I'd negotiate manufacturing a kiln with Yishuv's replicator. We could certainly use the glass for the station," I said.
"On it. Would you like a case of whiskey I put aside as a bartering chip?" Nick asked.
"I'd take a bottle or two. That'd be a great touch," I said. "Mom, how many of those iron ingots can we take without cutting into your sheet needs?"
She looked to Merrie. "That's more Merrie's call."
"Take what you need. I've worked out a schedule with Ortel. Clearing the rooms will generate the ore we require. We really need that armored glass kiln manufactured on the industrial replicator, though," she said.
"I fail to see why Yishuv is insisting on controlling the replicator as they are," Jonathan interjected. "It was a gift from the Anino Corporation."
"Leverage," I answered. "It gives them the ability to get things from us."
"But Loose Nuts has demonstrated nothing less than complete generosity," Jonathan said.
"Not true," Nick said. "We are unwilling to share our ships."
"We accept your point," Jonathan said. "Not all human behavior is interesting."
I laughed. "I couldn't agree more. Would you like to negotiate with Bedros for an armored glass kiln?"
"We would not," he answered.
PLANET K-A0223B
"Let's keep things simple," I said. It was 1600 and Merrie, Councilwoman Peraf, Councilman Bedros, Nick and I had been negotiating for an hour and a half in the civilian conference room aboard Intrepid. "We need these parts manufactured." I flicked the list to Bedros, although I knew he already had it. "It will take three tenday to complete and we'll provide the metals. In return, we'll supply the glass, steel sheet and nano-beam for your municipal building."
"How is that a reasonable trade?" Peraf asked. I rarely wanted to hit people for just saying things, but this old woman had punched my buttons one too many times. "The industrial replicator is more than sufficient for manufacturing building materials."
"The industrial replicator, while extremely versatile, is not suited to repetitive tasks, such as creating glass, steel sheet and steel beam," Merrie explained patiently. "The parts list I've provided would be used to create manufacturing equipment that will allow us to produce armored-glass, light-weight steel sheet, nano-crystalized steel beams and more. For three tenday of production on the replicator you will receive over forty tenday of goods."
"If that's the case, then we should be doing this in Yishuv," Peraf said, crossing her arms.
"Doesn't work that way," I said. "These parts must be manufactured in zero-g. That is the value of Petersburg Station."
"I'm sure there are other options," she harrumphed.
"You have as many options as you can dream up, Councilwoman Peraf," I said. "None of which are relevant to this negotiation. Like I explained to Councilman Bedros, if you simply don't want to work with us, just say so and we can part ways. Otherwise we need cooperation. Every deal we've offered weighs heavily to the advantage of Yishuv, yet every conversation turns into an argument."
"It's simple, Captain Hoffen. You took our ship," Peraf said. "What will you take next?"
I looked to Bedros for help and he shook his head, looking at the table. I could tell he was embarrassed. "We are stronger together than we are apart, Peraf," I said, standing. "We'll leave the two of you to discuss our proposal. You are under no compulsion to accept and we will return you to your homes upon request. Please understand. When Intrepid leaves orbit the deal will no longer be valid."
"When will that be?" she asked.
"We accept," Bedros interrupted, standing with me and offering his hand. "I hope you will forgive us, Captain Hoffen and esteemed members of Loose Nuts. We are used to bickering over limited supplies and making decisions about how best to reallocate dwindling resources. We are having difficulty adjusting to this time of unparalleled growth. We recognize your generosity and hope that someday we will be able to repay it both in action and in word."
He smiled as he caught the look of shock in my face at his words. For a moment, I didn't have words to respond with. Fortunately, Peraf filled in for the both of us.
"You fool. You'll sell us down the river." She stood and walked to the door, which opened for her, although it was blocked by Zebulon, who was wearing an armored vac-suit. "Move, you tree cutting idiot."
To his credit, he didn't move.
"Mr. Zebulon, would you escort the Councilwoman to the shuttlecraft?" I asked.
"Aye, aye, Captain," he replied.
"Don't judge her too harshly," Bedros said apologetically. "We're all playing catch up."
"When will you be able to start manufacturing the parts?" I asked. I wasn't about to let go of the conversation.
"I believe we have other priorities that also require attention," he replied.
"Five tenday from tomorrow," I replied. "After that, every day delay will cost two percent of the materials that we would otherwise deliver. If all parts are not delivered by the end of the seventh tenday, we will consider the contract to be void."
"That sounds harsh," Bedros answered. "What of a schedule for delivery of materials from the kilns and presses?"
"You will receive seventy percent of our manufacturing capability until fulfilled," I said.
"How will we hold you to this?"
"What other customer do we have?" I asked.
"I'm going out on a limb here, Captain Hoffen, but on behalf of Yishuv, I agree to your terms."
"In that case, there's just one thing to be done," I said.
"Oh?"
I nodded to Nick who had already produced a bottle of aged Scotch Whiskey.
"Oh! Very well, then."
"Merrie, are you comfortable with the shuttle?" I asked. I hadn't seen if she was capable of flying Beth Anne's craft.
She gave me a sly grin. "I'm not sure what all the hubbub is about. Is there more than directing the AI where to go?"
"Busted," I laughed. "But don't pass that around or I'll be out of a job." I escorted her and Bedros down the passageway to the catwalk that would take them to the shuttle.
"Nicely done," Nick said once they were through the airlock. "Ada thought you were coming across the table on
the old lady."
"Ada was watching?"
"We were broadcasting on the bridge," Nick said. "Apparently, they had a pool on if you were going to go off on her."
"Who set that up? You guys are horrible!" I said as we entered the bridge to the sound of applause. I shook my head, mostly in embarrassment.
My eyes came to rest on Moon Rastof and it caused me a moment of confusion. "Captain?" he asked.
"I was under the impression you were transferring to Petersburg Station for this rotation," I said.
"That was the plan," he said. "But I talked to Jenny Caton. She was second engineer on Strumpet."
"Sent you a comm," Nick said quietly behind me.
"Right. Welcome aboard, in that case," I said sitting back into the captain's chair and listing the personnel assignments. There was a never-ending set of things I needed to keep track of. I was surprised that I felt disappointed to see we'd transferred Zebulon to Dulcinea and that he'd left on the shuttle with Merrie. Baker and three of the four new recruits were staying aboard.
I started reading through the different reports that demanded my attention. An hour later, I looked up, believing I'd addressed the most critical issues. I was pleased to discover that even with Moon remaining on staff, Xie had been upgraded to the engineering watch rotation.
"Tabbs, can we get Xie into the exercise training rotation also? She's an expert at Aikido," I said.
"Oh, hells yes," Tabby replied.
I wasn't sure I wanted to know why she thought it was such a good idea, but I'd certainly learned a lot from training with the woman.
"Liam, we're thirty minutes from departure. Marny requests we lock down all external access ports and retract the catwalk," Ada said.
"Agreed. Let's orbit Petersburg at five kilometers," I said. We'd been sitting at zero delta with the station and I wanted to give Mom and Katherine the heads-up that we were on the move.
"Copy that, Liam," Ada replied.
"All hands," I announced once we started moving. "First, I'd like to welcome our newest crew members: Burford, Divelbiss, Hill-Clark and Kerwin. You're no-doubt wondering what you've gotten yourselves into and I for one appreciate your leap of faith. Second, now that we've pushed off, I'd like to share details of our mission. We have contact with another base that the Belirand Corporation abandoned. It will require the longest jump in fold-space we've ever made and we'll end up in the Dwingeloo galaxy. Just as with the jump to Ophir, we have no idea what we're getting into. We only know that a mission was abandoned and we're going to see about rendering aid. The trip will take two hundred forty-three hours and we will be entering a system with the designation K-A0223B. Hoffen, out."
"Ada, the helm is yours," I said.
"Copy that, Liam, the helm is mine," she replied.
I hated the wait and busied myself reviewing the upcoming watch cycles. Baker and Tabby had the first watch after we transitioned. We'd settled on a two-person watch, with one officer and one sailor. Neither Marny nor I were given regular watches - for different reasons - and this provided five rotating watches, with each watch lasting four hours.
With ten minutes remaining, Marny entered the fire-control room, followed by our new recruits who all looked exhausted. Baker caught my eye and smiled. No doubt Marny's initiation had been tough.
"Greetings, Master Chief," I said as she sat in the workstation that connected the fire-control room to the bridge. "How are your recruits faring?"
"Good effort today," she said. "I believe they'll sleep soundly."
"Count me in for exercise rotation," I said.
"I have you and Xie scheduled for 0600, Cap," she replied. "Want to work on close quarters grappling tomorrow against larger opponent? If we run into that Kroerak species, I believe it will come in handy."
"Xie's the master, but I'm game," I said.
Ada broke into our conversation. "Hailing Petersburg Station, this is Intrepid."
"Petersburg Station, this is Hoffen, go ahead," Mom answered.
"Silver, we're about to break orbit on the station," Ada replied.
"Copy that." Mom showed up larger than life on the immense vid-screen that covered the forward bulkhead and most of the domed ceiling.
"We'll see you in a few tenday," I said. "Good luck digging out."
"Stay safe, Liam."
"Love you, Mom," I said and closed the comm.
"Transition to fold-space in thirty seconds," Ada warned over the ship's public address.
"Oh geez," I said to myself and sat back into the chair. Eyes closed or open didn't seem to matter and I braced myself for the unpleasantness. At least I didn’t have to worry about livestock.
***
The next morning came plenty early and I decided to run with Tabby before our Aikido training with Xie and the recruits. When we arrived in the gym, the recruits were already assembled in a line, Marny nowhere to be seen. They snapped to attention as we entered and I remembered my first run at this.
"At ease, everyone," I replied. "I'm sure the Master Chief has been instructing you on our relaxed version of military conduct. It will take some getting used to, but there's value in it and it's not optional. If you believe someone's taking advantage of rank, I'd like you to talk to me about it. If you have a problem with me, Master Chief Bertrand is a good first stop. With that out of the way, tell me who you are and what your profession on Ophir was. Let's start on the starboard side."
I purposefully looked to the starboard side of the line. My HUD showed the man's name as Burford.
A medium-sized man with dark hair and a well-groomed beard stepped forward. "Everyone calls me Burf. I was in sanitation, worked on septic systems."
"Welcome, Burford. Glad to have someone aboard who feels my pain," I said. "How are you finding life aboard ship?"
"Pain, sir?" he questioned. "As for life aboard, the Master Chief was rather hard on us yesterday. I'm not used to quite so much running."
"It will get easier; I promise. And I'm the resident expert in all things septic," I said smiling. "And you?" I looked at the next in line.
Burf stepped back and a giant of a man stepped forward. My HUD had his name as Divelbiss.
"I'm Divelbiss," he nodded his light brown head politely. Like Burf, he had a paunch that Marny and the AI would be shortly taking care of. "I worked in forestry service and odd jobs."
"Any nickname?" I asked.
"Nope. Just Divelbiss," he replied.
"Welcome, Divelbiss. And next?"
"Jenny Hill Clark." A small, thirty-stan woman stepped forward as Divelbiss stepped back. "I worked with Baker as a mason."
"Three names? That's unusual for Yishuv, isn't it?" I asked.
"It is," she agreed. "Just something my family has always done. Most people just call me Jenny."
"Welcome. And finally?"
"Kerwin." The man was about my age and I could tell he didn't like military discipline. "I didn't have a permanent job. I was a floater, I guess. Was trying to get into the protectors."
"Care to elaborate?" I asked.
"Nah."
"Alright then. Welcome aboard," I said.
"Any brawlers in the group? Folks who like to mix it up?" I asked. I looked down the line. I wasn’t overly surprised to find that this group didn't have quite the same aggressive nature as our first.
"I'm a brawler," Xie Mie-su announced from the entry to the gym as she sauntered in, gaining everyone's attention.
"Recruits, I'd like to introduce you to Xie Mie-su. She'll be your trainer for today's session," I said.
"Figures," Tabby grumbled under her breath.
"Divelbiss, you're a nice hunk of a man, aren't you? Join me on the mat, will you?" Xie purred.
"I'd join that," I overheard Kerwin murmur.
"Ms. Mie-su, I believe you had a volunteer," I said. "Kerwin has requested to join you as well." Kerwin shot me a look of concern, unsure what to do now that I'd overheard his obviously inappropriate statement.
"T
wo for the price of one. How can a girl resist?" Xie didn't miss a beat. "Yes, of course, Mr. Kerwin, please join us. Today we will learn about falling and if you are very lucky, you will understand what it means to fall poorly. Once you learn what it means to fall poorly, we will start to learn how to fall less so."
"You're talking in riddles," Kerwin said as he approached.
"We shall simplify. Place me on the deck, gently or with force, this is your decision," she replied. Kerwin looked back at me, as did Divelbiss.
"Don't look at me. I've struggled to drop her to the deck with a blaster pistol," I said.
"I don't want to hurt you, now," Divelbiss said as he approached and tried to grab the much smaller woman.
"Do not worry about such things." Xie danced around him. It was at this moment Kerwin chose to charge. Having worked with Xie for many hours, I saw the train wreck well before either of the recruits. I winced for them both as she gracefully accepted Kerwin' charge, rolled onto her back and flung him into the approaching Divelbiss. It happened so quickly it looked quite random, but I knew better.
"Impressive," Tabby said in a low voice as she observed. "She was manipulating Kerwin the entire time, but had us watching Divelbiss. Her timing was exquisite."
"Almost sounds like you're warming up."
"Don't push it."
It was a well-worn recipe for training. First, get their attention with an outrageous demonstration, then work to break down bad habits and form new ones. Just as with Zebulon and Baker, our recruits were unskilled in any form of martial art. We had to start from the ground up. By the time we reached K-A0223B, they'd have slightly better skills than they did now, but I wouldn't make the mistake I'd made with Moon Rastof. I wouldn’t put them into combat before they were ready.
"Nice job, all," I said once we'd used the time Marny had allotted. "Hit the showers. I'm sure you all know your schedules."
"Xie, do you have a moment?" Tabby asked as the group started breaking up. I tried not to spin around right away, but I was intensely curious.
"Of course, Tabitha Masters," she replied, much of the normal silkiness in her voice missing.
Give No Quarter (Privateer Tales Book 10) Page 16