Sterling answered. “While several members of our crew, including myself, have a past association with GMM, it is not a close one. And it is nothing like the association we have built with you. We feel that our current agreement with your company merits our trust.”
“Well said, Mister Stevenson,” Countess Alexandra said as the other board members nodded their agreement.
“I will have the lawyers draw up the contracts and present them to us in the next day or so,” Edward Von Hassen said, tapping on his keypad. “In the meantime, we could go ahead and send the Tivor Carva to the Farflung System to begin gas mining. I understand from our technical advisors that it will take four months to reach Farflung and another three to produce a usable quantity of fuel once they are there.”
Countess Alexandra looked at Ann and raised an eyebrow. Ann answered the unasked question. “We have no objections to that. Just warn your captain that he needs to contact the CSS Duyfken and Captain Victoria Janszoon when he arrives. Vicky’s ship is doing the survey under the direction of Admiral Elain Carter.”
“You know her?” Countess Alexandra asked.
“She and I have a long-standing and unfortunate relationship.” She hates meâand I deserve it.
Chapter 26
THE CSS DUYFKEN LEFT BELOOFTE’S Jan Smuts Station with full fuel tanks and strap-on auxiliary fuel tanks on either side of her hull. All non-essential crew members, including their Marine Detachment, were being left behind and their living spaces were packed with dry goods for the expected year-long deployment. The only non-watch-standing person on board was Admiral Carter. She had caught up with the Duyfken in Beloofte orbit with orders to join the expedition.
Captain Janszoon was in a foul mood when they eased away from the station. “Why the hell did she have to find a planet so damn far away,” she snarled under her breath, but the admiral caught her at it.
Admiral Carter smiled and almost laughed. “Vicky, quit bitching about Admiral Stevenson’s luck. She damn near died finding this system and planet. Besides, how often do we get to investigate a potentially habitable planet? The last was Trondheim, twenty-eight years ago. Twenty-eight years of rocky bodies, gas giants, and biospheres that would kill any unprotected human that dared to land. I was only a cadet when the Albertan made the discovery. Your parents hadn’t even met.”
“They had met, Ma’am. I was five when the news came in.”
Admiral Carter smiled again. “Did you get to see them before we left?”
Captain Janszoon smiled in return. “Yes, Ma’am. I left Franzine in charge while I went down to the planet for a day.”
“That’s good. I knew your father when he was on the Vinland. That was part of the reason I was happy that you were assigned this mission. Well, that, and your hard-headed Boer upbringing.”
Captain Janszoon ducked her head in embarrassment, but her smile never faded. “The timing was perfect as well, Ma’am. It was Nagmaal, and the whole family was there.”
“I’m guessing that’s a celebration of some kind?” Admiral Carter asked.
“In ancient times it was like the Mass. The church time, from Earth. The population was so spread out in Old South Africa that they only got together four times a year, and that tradition was carried on for the same reasons on Beloofte. It’s not so much about religion, though the Christ is still worshiped. It’s more like a family or community get together where friendships and family ties are reaffirmed.”
Admiral Carter nodded her understanding just as the Executive Officer, Franzine Schmitz, announced, “We are clear of the station and on course to our insertion point, Ma’am.”
“Very well, XO. We’re too heavy to give Duyfken her head, so maintain our acceleration for a planned point one C insertion just beyond the orbit of De Wet. You have the con. Admiral, would you care to join me in the briefing room?”
Admiral Carter nodded as Commander Schmitz said, “Aye, Ma’am. I have the Con.” Then both the admiral and the captain left the bridge.
In the briefing room, Captain Janszoon waved the admiral toward a chair and asked, “Would you like some coffee, Ma’am?”
“I’d prefer tea, if you have any, Vicky. And I’d appreciate your explanation of the problems between you and Ann Stevenson,” Admiral Carter said as she took the indicated seat.
“Tea is easy. An explanation of what’s between me and Ann isn’t,” she answered as she poured coffee for herself and made tea for the admiral. She didn’t speak again until she had set the refreshments on the table. “Ann was my mentor on my third middy cruise. She wasn’t a particularly nice mentor. As a matter of fact, she was a vicious, nasty, mean, sadistic, and downright evil bitch.”
“Isn’t that what middy-mentors are supposed to be?” Admiral Carter asked with a chuckle.
“Not like her, Ma’am. Oh, I admit it’s the duty of real officers to shit on middies. I did my share. But Ann was—she took such joy in it.” Captain Janszoon paused and sipped her coffee. “She found my weaknesses and exploited them unmercifully. For three months, there wasn’t a night that I didn’t cry myself to sleep because of her.”
“And you hated her for it.”
“And I still hate her for it. She was trying to drive me out of the Navy. She wanted to break my spirit and send me crying home to Beloofte as a failure.”
Admiral Carter shook her head slowly. “Have you ever confronted her about it?”
“She was always too far away, and was an admiral up until just a little while ago. Besides, what could I say? ‘I hate you!’ That would be professional of me, now wouldn’t it?” Captain Janszoon shook her head and frowned at the table.
Admiral Carter pulled a storage chip from her blouse pocket and tossed it on the table. “She put it all in your middy report. Don’t ask how I got it. Her orders, which she demanded in writing from Commander Abuto, were ride you until you broke. His assertion was that you were unfit to wear the uniform of a Navy officer because of your rebel heritage. Her tactics, ordered and approved in writing by Commander Abuto, were nearly criminal. She also noted her self-loathing over what she was doing, and her admiration of your spirit.”
Captain Janszoon picked up the chip and held it up between two fingers. “The XO ordered it?” she asked in a stunned whisper.
“Yes. He felt that no matter how much time had passed, the rebellion your ancestors staged made you a rebel as well, and unfit to wear the uniform. When he took command of his first ship, he had six Beloofters transferred because he considered them security risks.”
“That was over twelve hundred and fifty years ago!”
Admiral Carter nodded. “Yes, but the fact remains that your ancestors rebelled against the United Tribes of Africa and stole a colony ship that was supposed to be going to Ikhaya Elikhulu.”
“Admiral, they fled a slaughter. In 2271 President M’buto turned the blacks against the white minority in an effort to find a common enemy to unify the tribes. It worked, but over three million whites were killed in retribution for acts committed hundreds of years before. My ancestors stole the Ithemba because none of the other nations on Earth would take them in. It was thought the violence would follow them.”
Admiral Carter bowed her head and spoke in a soft voice. “And on Ikhaya Elikhulu, and in the United African Nations on Earth, it is taught that the rebellion by your ancestors against majority rule was what caused that slaughter.”
“That’s not true, Ma’am,” Captain Janszoon said in a firm tone.
“History is written by the victors. Your ancestors vanished for two hundred and fifteen years before a survey ship found you again. In that time, with no one alive willing to dispute it, the UAN historians had written the story to cast your ancestors as the villains. Even in countries and on planets where the truth was known, it was overlooked because you can’t force people to believe what they don’t want to believe.”
Captain Janszoon stood and took a deep breath. “If you’ll excuse me, Ma’am, I would like to review
this. If what you’re saying is true, and I have no doubt that it is, I’ve hated the wrong person for nearly twenty years.”
“There is one other document on that chip that you might find illuminating.”
“That is, Ma’am?”
Admiral Carter let her mouth twist into a wry grin. “Lieutenant Stevenson’s official letter of reprimand for failing to carry out her orders.”
*
Three ships emerged into the Nuwe Vaderland System and set course for Beloofte. They had emerged farther into the system than was normally considered safe, and it was only two hours before the Beloofte System Control contacted them.
“Ships entering Nuwe Vaderland space, are you in distress? Please transmit any emergency needs with your ship identification papers.”
Ann grimaced as she looked at Sterling. “Contact Tivor Carva and Mintze. Inform them that we will take the blame for the close emergence.”
“Aye, Ma’am,” Sterling replied, then made contact with the two DA-CC ships. He received an immediate reply. “They say go ahead.”
Ann nodded, then signaled Sterling to record her message. “Nuwe Vaderland Control, this is the Admiral Ann’s Revenge in company with the refinery ship Tivor Carva and assay vessel Mintze. We have no emergencies. Ships documentation for all three vessels is attached to this message.” She nodded to Sterling and he cut the recorder, then attached the message packets to the transmission and sent it.
“Nothing to do now but decelerate toward the planet until we receive instructions,” Sterling said as he sat back.
Ann stood up and stretched. “I’m going to inspect my eyelids for a few hours. Wake me if anything significant happens.”
“Aye, Ma’am,” Sterling and Denise answered.
When Ann had closed the hatch behind her, Denise turned to give Sterling a questioning look. “Is she all right?”
“Yes, she’s all right. It was just hearing that her old boyfriend is dying that shook her up.” Sterling paused and shook his head. “She’s depressed. It’ll pass in time. She just needs something to wake her up and make her feel alive again.”
Ann returned on her own after just three hours, and sat in her chair, silently staring at the visual display in front of her. Then she spoke softly to nobody. “The sins of my past, all come to wish me bon voyage.”
“Ann?” Sterling asked.
“I’m worried about Vicky Janszoon. She can blow us out of space with a single notation on her report. And after what I did to her, she just might do it.”
“You had to-” Sterling started to say, but she cut him off.
“I know that!” she snapped. “I know, but I’ve never told her. It would sound too much like I was trying to make excuses, shift the blame to someone else. True or not, orders or not, I treated her worse than I would treat someone like that piece of scum Otto.”
“Then we can only hope that Admiral Carter can rein her in. Or that there is nothing on Frisland that is even marginally intelligent.” Sterling took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Hiroshi knew. He had to have known.”
Control was silent until the radio messages that were necessary to bring them into port began. Ann remained silent, letting Sterling deal with it all. It took just five days of deceleration to match the velocity of Beloofte, and Ann remained silent until they were docked.
“We are secure at Jan Smuts Station,” Sterling announced.
“Contact station health. When we are cleared to open hatches, replenish our stores and refuel the ship.” Ann stood and headed for the wardroom. “I’m going to ask CM if she can get some local foods. Something different from the same-old slime-mold we loaded in New Frankfurt. There are supposed to be some interesting foodstuffs that the Beloofters think of as boring. Maybe we can trade New Frankfurt goods for something exotic.”
Carrie-Marie was making her ‘shopping list’ when Ann caught up with her. “CM, while you are wheeling and dealing with the locals, see if you can trade some of the stores we loaded in New Frankfurt for something from here. I really don’t care if I never see knockwurst again.”
Carrie-Marie chuckled. “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll do my best.”
Ann turned away and found her newest crew member walking toward her. He had been all but forced on her by the Von Rubenstein family. “Doctor Mandel?” she said as he stopped.
“Captain, I have spent our voyage setting the Med-Deck to rights, as instructed, but I must once again urge you to consider bringing an assistant medical officer on board.” He wasn’t wringing his hands or pleading. He’d already found out that those tactics didn’t work on Ann or Sterling. “There are going to be times when more than my hands are going to be needed.”
“Doctor, as I have explained before, the first mate, second mate, and I all have basic medical training. We can assist you if necessary,” Ann said in a patient tone. “Two medical officers in a crew of twelve would be ridiculous.”
“But Captain, we are headed out into the farthest reaches, beyond explored space. What if something happens out there?”
Ann closed her eyes and took two deep breaths before answering. “Doctor Mandel, the Tivor Carva has a fully staffed medical facility with four doctors, nine nurses, and twenty attendants. The Mintze has two doctors and four nurses. The Duyfken has a doctor, two nurses, and eight corpsmen. You are hardly going to be the only doctor in the system.” You pathetic ass.
Chapter 27
CARRIE-MARIE DECIDED TO TAKE ANN’S suggestion and run with it. Instead of just sending in her order, like most vessels, she went to one of the dock supply offices in person. “Hello?” she called as she opened the door.
“Come in, please,” a man’s voice answered. “How may I be of service?”
Carrie-Marie stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. “I’m Carrie-Marie Chanticlair, Supply Officer of the Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We’re loading stores for a long deployment, and I wanted something different for my crew. We’ve made our last few loadouts in the New Frankfurt System, and the variety is getting stale.”
“And you mention this for what purpose?” the man asked.
Carrie-Marie looked at him silently for a moment. He was old. Not just older, but truly old, in his eighties at least. “Wanna trade?” she asked with a grin.
The old man’s head tilted to the side as he asked, “What do you have to offer?”
Carrie-Marie pulled out her ‘Pad and started reading off the list of excess supplies. “I have eight tons of New Berlin Knockwurst, ten tons of sauerkraut, and six tons of Novatal Mountains Thüringer Summer Sausage that I’d like to replace with something different.”
“We don’t import much from New Frankfurt, young lady. And am I correct in thinking that yours is the ship that found the new system way out beyond the borders of explored space?” the old man asked, sitting forward in his chair to fix her with a piercing gaze.
Carrie-Marie smiled and nodded shyly. “Yes, sir. We’re on our way back. It’s just a guess, but we may be out of the Confederacy for a year or more.”
“I see,” the wizened old man murmured. “Well, I can trade you boerewors for your knockwurst. That’s a sausage made from Wilderbeast and titano-rhino meat with assorted spices.”
“Pardon the interruption, but what is it made of?” Carrie-Marie asked.
“Wilderbeast is a native animal that vaguely resembles a Terran Wildebeest, except its three times the size and omnivorous. Mean as hell and dangerous, but tasty. Titano-rhino is pretty close to what it sounds like: a rhinoceros the size of an elephant, but with two horns side-by-side instead of front and back. They’re big and docile, and were one of the first native animals we domesticated after settling the planet.”
“Oh. Is there someplace I can try some before I take it aboard? I’d hate to end up with something the crew can’t stand eating.”
The old man smiled. “Let’s go down the way to the Beskuit Huis. I’ll buy you a meal you’ll not soon forget.”
“I can pay, sir,�
� Carrie-Marie started to say, but the old man cut her off.
“Ha. Not likely. Besides, it’s not often I get to share a meal with a pretty young woman like yourself. Just come along and see what we have to offer.” The old man smiled and ushered her out the door and to the left.
The Beskuit Huis was just a short walk away, and Carrie-Marie sniffed appreciatively as they entered. “Smells good.”
“Martin, what are you doing here so early? And who is this?” a woman in an apron asked as she walked up to them.
“Dani, this is Carrie-Marie from that ship that discovered the new system a month or two ago. She’s their procurement officer and wanted to try boerewors, biltong, and some preserved shaal-grass before she takes it aboard.”
“You’re going back out? I heard that the Navy just sent out a survey vessel three weeks ago,” Dani said as she guided them to a table.
“Yes, but we already have permission to start operations on the non-habitable planets. Dresden Agro-Commerce Collective is sending out a refinery ship to begin making fuel and a mine assay ship to begin explorations of the inner planets.”
Dani raised her eyebrows at that, and then went to get their food. Apparently, Martin’s comment was being taken as an order. She returned in just a few minutes with a large plate of meat and a bowl of something resembling blue spaghetti-and two steins of dark amber beer. “Ah, Dani, you’re an angel,” Martin sighed as she set the beer down in front of him.
Turning his attention to Carrie-Marie, he pointed at the meats. “The fried rounds of meat are the boerewors, the sticks are biltong, and this is shaal-grass preserved in brine. I’d suggest a small nip of each at first.”
Carrie-Marie did as he suggested and transferred a piece of each of the meats to her plate and just a little of the shaal-grass. She took a small bite of the boerewors and chewed it thoughtfully. “It’s like sausage from home,” she said, “but with a different set of spices. It’s sweeter. I can say yes to this.” Then she picked up the biltong. Looking at it, she was reminded of a twisted briar stem, and tapped it on the side of her plate gently. It may as well have been made of wood. She looked up to see Martin grinning at her. “You’re sure this is edible?” she asked with a wry expression.
Inadvertent Adventures Page 20