"Something I'm missing? Care to clue me in?" Shelby asked crossing her arms and looking from one to the other. Logan gave the Admiral a look.
"We've gotten word that there is something in the wind and we, meaning mainly me, may bear the brunt of it," Irons answered.
"Something in the wind?" Shelby asked.
"Politics. It seems the Admiral has become an obstacle to some and they want him out of the way," her father explained. Shelby looked concerned.
"Kill you?" she asked. He shook his head.
"I doubt it. I'm a bit hard to kill," he tapped his right arm.
"Still, it doesn't pay to be overconfident Admiral," Shelby warned. Irons nodded.
"That's why I am here or on Firefly. Sprite varies my schedule so it is hard for anyone to pin me down," he shrugged.
"Sometimes I make it to things, sometimes I am detained, I attend virtually, or I take a... more or less random looking route between one meeting place and another," Irons smiled. “I never follow the same path twice.”
"So they can't hit you easily. Right," Logan nodded. "I noticed you’re not going to the Valdez compound as often." Irons frowned. Then shrugged.
"Anita will get over it. She knows I am very busy and I can go for days without food. Not that she'd let me." He chuckled with them.
"I had a word with her about it. She's got her hands full with the new recruits. Valdez towing is becoming quite the booming business. She said to tell you she understands," Logan said as he studied the battleship.
"Wish you were out there as well, tearing into her?" Shelby asked her father and the Admiral, looking exasperated and amused at the same time. Irons chuckled.
"Yes and no. I've had my salad days though. Maybe tearing into the inside," he grinned. Logan chuckled.
"I may get over there to play a bit," Logan laughed. "If I can get out from under the mountain of paperwork that keeps getting shoveled into my inbox. You are welcome to join me anytime Admiral." Irons gave him an amused look.
"You know I can't resist a gauntlet like that. You’re on," he smiled. "We've got to tear her apart though," he said shaking his head. “Right down to bare metal.”
"Tear her apart? I thought you were putting her together?" They turned to see Captain Mayweather enter the blister. Irons smiled.
"Admiral, Commanders," she came to attention and then saluted the Admiral and Logan. Each came to attention and returned the salute.
"Good to see you Captain. And yes, we've got to gut her down to her bare metal. Only way to be sure we don't miss any frame damage. I uploaded a rough blueprint in the secure database to follow."
Irons shrugged. Logan had created a trio of secure databases. Each would serve as a nucleus for the reborn Federation military. One was the largest, the engineering mainframe. It would remain on Anvil until they had their own independent space station or shipyard fully up and running. Hopefully by the end of the year if their schedules held. Back up archives were going to be set up on secure platforms in case anything happened. In fact the archives had been tabled twice already. There was just too much to do. So far no one in the system knew it was there.
"I heard about that historical nut group. Scuttlebutt is all over the system. It even made the news," Mayweather shook her head. She leaned against the guard rail. "Idiots, don't they realize we need these ships? Without them we can't protect them?" she scowled. Irons looked over to Logan then shrugged.
"My, she's become quite a firebrand. And turning native too," Sprite murmured. Irons nodded slightly.
"The universe is filled with people. There have to be some idiots mixed in somewhere. We've got our fair share apparently," Logan deadpanned. Shelby smiled sourly.
"After the past century of nut jobs at the top, I'm not surprised some didn't get off when the Port Admiral fled with the rest of the rats. I am surprised that they laid low for this long though," she shook her head.
Mayweather smiled at her reflection. "Yeah, it is rather suspicious." She turned to the Admiral who cocked his head. "It is suspicious isn't it?" she asked suddenly looking thoughtful. "I wonder what they are up too..." She turned back to the ship.
"Could they be quislings?" she turned to Logan who spread his hands.
"Spies? Anything is possible I suppose. Unlikely though. The chairman of their little society is the honorable Mr. Harding," he grimaced.
"Harding? That idiot?" Shelby asked.
"Name match Admiral. Harding of Harding merchant cartel. He runs a family trade group on the station. Purchases goods from the station or trades with ships or nearby colonies buying and selling goods. Nearly one third of the station's storage is leased to the cartel. He has been attempting to buy out the captured ships," Sprite reported.
"Who?" Mayweather asked.
"Merchant cartel," Irons replied. "Buys and sells goods." He shrugged.
"He makes quite a profit. Or at least he did, the sudden upsurge in replicators has probably dented his business," Logan said rubbing his jaw.
“You'd think it'd be the other way around. People need to store goods after all,” Shelby said darkly. “He charged us an arm and a leg when we had stuff to store.”
"So he's trying to return to the status quo? Is he nuts?" Mayweather asked dismayed.
"Most likely. Hindsight is twenty twenty. Some people pay so much attention to what they had and lost instead of looking to what they could do in the future with what they got," Logan replied. Irons gave him a surprised look then nodded.
"Picked it up after listening to Perry's last history lecture," Logan admitted with a smile. They chuckled.
"Still, something else is going on. Did you notice the advertising blitz on Representative and Senators? The elections are over but they are still doing it. Talking about how well things are going, how good a job they are doing. That sort of thing. They even pulled Knox into it. They got him to do an infomercial on the chairwoman." Mayweather turned around leaning back with her elbows on the guard rail.
"Knox? He's as apolitical as they come!" Logan said suddenly then swore.
"Yeah, but during the election they shut down when one of the other candidates sued for equal air time. Judge Farley scheduled the case to be heard next week," she shrugged. “Fat lot of good it will do them, election is over.” Mayweather said turning around and resting her elbows on the guard rail.
"Talk about a problem," Shelby muttered. "Glad it’s not my headache," she shook her head.
“The governor will be ours,” Logan said shaking his head. “Or should I say, governor elect. You're to hand over the reins soon?”
“Next week actually. I've tried to get to talk to him but he keeps ducking out,” Irons growled. “I'd like to touch base with the man, lay out my plans and let him get on board but he's not interested.”
“Hopefully that will change.”
“Well, he's not getting the key codes until he does,” Shelby growled.
“Well, I technically have to give them to him Commander,” the Admiral sighed. She looked at him in disbelief. He shrugged “But since he still hasn't had implant surgery, it's a moot point anyway,” he smiled. She did too.
“Oh I like that,” Logan chuckled. “Hoist on his own petard. Or at least laziness. That'll teach them.”
"Right, we stay out of it. WE have enough of our own without adding to it," Irons said, waving to the ships. They turned to look at them once more.
"Beautiful," Mayweather said softly.
"They will be. In time," Irons answered equally soft.
"It's nice to see you Admiral. Come in and have a seat." He followed the steward to the female voice. He'd rather be back in the yard any day over doing this. Sometimes he thought Sprite did this sort of thing on purpose. He'd had her clear his schedule yesterday so he could spend the time in the yard... and innocently duck any plans for a birthday celebration anyone had in mind. Now this.
"Well, that was a lie if I ever heard one. Wonder what whopper she'll tell you next? Wanna bet she's got some swa
mpland or a bridge for sale?" Sprite asked acidly. Irons cocked his head.
The chairwoman was sitting beside a holographic fireplace. She smiled at him as if she was taking him in. He nodded politely. She was dressed in a more relaxed outfit, not her gray conservative business suit she had worn like a suit of armor during the constitutional convention.
"Good evening madam chairwoman. Or should I call you speaker?" the Admiral asked politely. A steward offered him a drink but he declined.
"Oh chairwoman will do. It's amusing how we cling to our titles isn't it Admiral?" she purred studying the drink she was holding with her finger tips.
"Wow, what a barb. I see it hit too," Sprite commented.
"We do define ourselves by our accomplishments and our pretensions don't we?" the Admiral replied sitting in the overstuffed chair across from her.
"Hmm, that we do, that we do," she agreed. "I have been getting concerns about your future and the future of the people who have aligned around you."
"You mean the navy?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
"Well yes, you can call it that if you must," she said.
"Another jab. This is fun. Too bad I'm just a spectator. Or maybe that's a good thing? Okay, too bad I'm the only spectator," Sprite commented, sounding gleeful.
"Do you have a problem with our purpose madam?" Irons asked. She sat back, eyes hooded.
"Well, it does put a tremendous drain on our rebuilding efforts."
"How so? The navy is self sufficient now," the Admiral asked, putting his best effort into looking pleasantly confused.
"Well, to put it bluntly it does drain in manpower. The people you are using are some of our best and brightest. They could do much more then play soldier." She watched the shot go home but was surprised that he didn't react much beyond cocking his head.
"Playing soldier?"
"Well, these military exercises, the sims and such," she waved her hands dismissively. "That time could be better put to use transporting materials or people."
"The navy is not a transport merchant house ma'am. The exercises are designed to train our people and explore the limits of the equipment," Irons sat back amused. This was an age old argument. He had been peripherally caught by it a few times before so now he was on more solid ground.
"Well you must admit it does take up time and resources," she said starting to sound heated.
"Training usually does," the Admiral smiled. “We of course can replace that without tapping the taxes your system will be paying.”
"For what? The war is over," she brushed that idea off. "The war is in the past where it belongs. We have no more time to waste on it."
"I would think after the recent visitors we just had you would have a different point of view," the Admiral said softly. He watched as suddenly she flushed and her nostrils dilated.
"My, that drew blood. Do it again," Sprite said, sounding admiring.
"Again that is in the past. I speak of the future."
"Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Or doomed to worse than the past," the Admiral said shaking his head.
"I have no intention of deliberating the point. We need your ships to transport goods to the colonies and render assistance. The ships engineers will be put to work..." Irons held up his hand palm out to stop her. "What?" she asked incensed.
"I'm afraid the navy is outside your jurisdiction madam chairwoman. We answer to our own chain of command."
She glared. "And just who do you think you answer to?" she asked.
"The Constitution and the Federation government."
"The Government? We are the government!" she slapped her arm rest. Irons laughed.
"You are a single system. To form the body of the legislature of the Federation you need a quorum of elected Senators and Representatives from each surviving star system. Two senators from each system and one representative for every one million people," the Admiral smiled. "Then there is the presidency, you need a general election in each participating star system to elect a person for the office," he shrugged. "That person actually is who commands the military." He smiled again. "Not you," he finished softly.
"How dare you!" she snarled.
"I am merely explaining the situation and a path for the future," he smiled again. "But you are correct, the navy does render aide when it can and when it has the time and resources to do so." He held up his right palm and sent a mental command. A holo of the system was projected in front of them.
"As you can see, Firefly and the other ships have been going to several nearby colonies, dropping off materials and picking up new recruits. Firefly also transports representatives or medics if they desire transport and if she is nearby. The navy is also on call in an emergency situation. However," he gave her a warning look, "it is as I said before, only when time and resources allow. We're not a chauffeur service."
"Perhaps you misunderstand," she said. He cocked an eyebrow at her. She cleared her throat. "My this is trying. We can discuss that at a later time. What are your plans?" she asked.
He shrugged then paused for thought. "Personally?" She nodded. "I plan on setting up the naval forces in this system and logistics to handle them. I also plan on training people to serve, and rendering aide where needed," he shrugged. "After that is a bit more nebulous. I do not wish to divert any of our warships from this system while the threat of the Horath or the pirates are over our heads."
She nodded politely. "I am debating building a few small ships, corvettes and factory ships to travel to other systems to carry representatives and to set up orbital industry and naval bases," he finished. Her eyes were wide.
"You mean you intend to build more ships and send them elsewhere?"
"Well, they may come back. I would like to build fixed defenses here too, but the dispersed nature of the current system makes that unlikely," he shrugged. "As I said, I am not sure. If we can use the warships as diplomatic leverage to gain allies and support... They would also serve as a frontier for this system, allowing advanced warning of raiders in the area." He shrugged. Her eyes suddenly narrowed in thought.
"Yes, I see that is an interesting thought. One that will need to be carefully considered." She rose.
"Unfortunately I have another appointment." He nodded and rose too. She set her glass down and shook hands with him. "A pleasure Admiral."
"Perhaps we can do this again sometime madam. It is best we keep on the same page," he nodded and left.
"Well that ended the same as it began," Sprite said, sounding disappointed.
"So who won?" the Admiral asked trying not to smile as the steward led him out.
"I wasn't keeping score that closely. Upon review, it looks like a tie, but you gave her more then you got," Sprite answered after a moment.
"Hits?" he asked nodding as he passed the steward at the door and entered the main concourse.
"No, information. She got what she wanted. I believe demanding that you fall in line was her primary goal, but she didn't have it as her only one," Sprite explained.
"You mean the fishing expedition?" he nodded. "My thoughts too. I'm going to go catch up with Logan. Don't you have a class?" he smiled.
"In five minutes. Thanks Admiral." He felt Sprite's mental presence recede. He sighed and moved off.
“How are we doing?” Irons asked the group later that evening.
Enrique shrugged. “We've made good on most of the station's hull damage. The easy stuff that is. We've got some sections that are still leaking.”
“After seven hundred odd years that's to be expected. I'm surprised you haven't moved on to rebuilding the damaged sectors though,” Irons said turning to the station chief.
“Rebuilding...” he shook his head. “We've just got the station and the nearest colonies stabilized. But rebuilding?”
“Yes, tear out this section here and here, then fabricate new.” Irons pointed to the station schematic. Wherever he pointed the sections turned red. “You'll need to do a good inspection,
I'd say you've got structural fatigue here and here and here.” He pointed to areas near the torn sections of hull. “Most likely from whatever did this causing damage.”
“What did do it?” Sprite asked curiously.
“Oh um, well, that area a ship that was docked ripped herself out,” Enrique replied. He was looking a little dazed. “It happened about three centuries ago.” He turned to the Admiral. “You are saying we can completely rebuild the station? Like new?”
“Of course. With enough material and manpower you can even build another.”
“That's...” Enrique shook his head. “I was going to say that's impossible but it's not anymore is it?”
“Just so long as no one gets cute and tries to screw up your replicators. Basic hull stuff is easy. You just need the materials and manpower,” Logan said nodding. He turned to Matilda. “Speaking of which.”
“We're at where I expected to be for the manning tables Commander,” she sighed sitting up then back. “We've gotten most of the adults in Anvil who want to come along. Lately our biggest draws are from the outer colonies.”
“Recruiting?” Irons asked.
“Nope. We don't have to say a word. The people see our people on liberty walking around in nice clean crisp uniforms and fall over themselves to enlist,” she grimaced. “We've had a couple near riots in airlocks.”
“Yeah I heard about that one on Tangus,” Logan shook his head.
“Well, living in a dead end job hand to mouth and waiting for the air to run out or the radiation to kill you is plenty incentive to improve their lot,” Enrique said nodding.
“Oh it's not just that. Knox has been putting out the word with interviews and the footage of the battle. For the young it's exciting and new. Danger, excitement, new horizons, away from home,” she shrugged.
“What is the retention?” Irons asked. Sprite fed him the data but he looked to Matilda.
“About ninety percent,” she grimaced. “A few get a look around the ship and the discipline and don't want anything to do with it and change their minds when they get here.”
“Huh.”
Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) Page 59