Martin laughed loudly for a moment, but he was nodding. “Contrary to popular belief, you can’t quite sharpen it and use it as a weapon, but it is edible. Just trim off about two centimeters and chew thoroughly. You’ll want some beer with it or it’ll dry you out.”
Carrie-Marie did as instructed and was glad that her teeth were in good shape. The stick slowly broke down into strands of meat as she chewed on it, and she eventually washed it down with a big swig of beer. “That’s interesting. It’s like the antelope jerky in the emergency survival stores that my father keeps in the attic.”
Martin nodded and shifted his gaze to the shaal-grass. Carrie-Marie followed his gaze and took a bite. It was like crisp sauerkraut in texture, but the flavor was significantly different. It was spicy, but not really hot, with an undercurrent of sweetness like a melon, and left Carrie-Marie wanting more as soon as she swallowed. “Now this is very good. Even Kat is going to like this. Very well, I’m happy with the samples.”
Martin smiled, served himself portions of each, and started eating. “We’ll call this an early lunch, shall we? Eat up, now. No sense in letting anything go to waste.”
Carrie-Marie took more of each item, especially the shaal-grass, and enjoyed the meal while Martin discussed the trade arrangements.
“Now, I’ll trade straight across boerewors for knockwurst. For the summer sausage, I’ll trade one-point-three tons of biltong to the ton. I’ll trade one-point-five tons of shall-grass to the ton of sauerkraut. How does that sound?”
Carrie-Marie was nodding as she took a swig of beer to clear her mouth. “I agree to that.”
Just then Dani walked by and wagged a finger at Martin, which made him start laughing again. Carrie-Marie saw and grinned. “She thinks you’re taking advantage of me, doesn’t she?” she asked.
“A little. And I suppose I am, but just a little.”
“That’s fair enough. But keep in mind that we’ll be making this run fairly often, and there are other suppliers on the station.”
Martin eyed her closely then nodded. “Very well. One-point-three tons of boerewors to the ton of knockwurst.”
Carrie-Marie smiled deeply and had to chuckle. “That wasn’t what I meant, but thank you. I suspect you’re still getting the better of the deal, but that’s acceptable. We’re at dock eleven. I can have everything unloaded in three hours.”
“I’ll have the order there,” Martin said as he smiled at her over his beer.
*
Ann and Sterling were supervising the loading of power cells for the mining robots when Carrie-Marie got back to the ship. “I have some new items for Kat to play with, Ma’am. I’ve tried each of them and I think they’ll make a good addition to the menu.”
Ann nodded and said, “Very well. Buy or trade?”
“Trade. I’ll draft Kat and Bart to help transfer the cargo.” She vanished into the ship as Sterling gave Ann a puzzled look.
“Trade?”
“I’m a little-well, a lot sick of New Frankfurt’s version of food. I want something different. CM is trading some of our supplies for something local. She’s got the refrigerators and freezers pretty well packed, and we’ve still got eight tons of nova wheat from the container we broke into.” She looked across the hold to where the container of wheat was sitting.
“Well, I’m just as glad to be hauling power cells this time. The Mintze will be taking them off our hands as soon as we arrive,” Sterling replied as another pallet of cells passed by.
“And the Tivor Carva should be able to refuel us for the trip back. But I’m going to max out our cargo capacity with external fuel tanks once the cells are loaded. It’s going to take about fifty-six percent of our fuel to get there and into orbit, plus moving between the planets. I never want to have to pay for a tug again.” Ann’s expression was as sour as Sterling’s when she thought of what that tow had cost them.
After an additional seven hours in port, the Admiral Ann’s Revenge led the way out of the system with Mintze and Tivor Carva following at one hour intervals behind her. Ten days of acceleration brought them to the edge of the system and a speed of point-one C, and they vanished into hyperspace.
Hyperspace was, as always, boring, and they were just starting a four month voyage. Only three people were on watch at a time, and navigation and helm were locked down. Even the engine room watch was just there to take readings.
This was the time when hobbies became the crew’s major pastime. Ann did needlepoint, while Sterling carefully sculpted figurines from soft stone in their quarters. Denise and Olaf knitted, and occasionally played footsy. Mandy worked with a computer graphics program and painted landscapes that had never existed. Bart pursued the perfect game of chess against the computer, or did coursework toward his degree in astrophysics. Carrie-Marie was another artist, but she painted fantasy scenes that made even Bart blush. Thom mostly read from the ten-thousand book library that Ann had purchased or practiced guitar. Balder studied toward a master’s degree in mechanical engineering or played violin. Doctor Mandel studied medical journals and scheduled checkups for the crew between bouts of silence. Katrina worked on her spacer qualifications and experimented in the kitchen.
Chapter 28
FOR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX days the Admiral Ann’s Revenge slid through hyperspace, until the preset alarm sounded. By chance more than design, Ann and Sterling were on watch in Control when the two-hour alarm sounded. Ann pushed the ship-wide announcing stud and said, “All hands prepare for emergence into normal space. Two hours âtil emergence.”
All through the ship there was a bustle to get things stored away. Katrina was especially careful of the galley. Then there was nothing to do but wait.
The Admiral Ann’s Revenge emerged into normal space outside the Farflung System and flipped over to begin deceleration toward Frisland. Ann got on the radio herself and sent a message into the system. “CSS Duyfken, this is the independent freighter Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We are in-system bound and should make orbit over the planet Frisland in thirteen days.”
It took five hours before they received a reply. “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, this is Captain Janszoon of the Duyfken. Please rendezvous with us in orbit. We have preliminary results of our survey and will discuss them when you arrive. Duyfken out.”
“She didn’t sound mad,” Sterling commented as soon as the message was received.
“No, but I wouldn’t have expected her to. Tivor Carva doesn’t need anything from us to set up at Five, and we can deliver the power cells to Mintze as soon as Vicky finishes with us.” The other two ships had arrived and set their courses for the planets they were interested in.
“You know, we haven’t officially named the planets yet,” Sterling once again pointed out. “It doesn’t sound right just calling them Three and Five.”
“Lottery?” she asked.
“Draw a number and draw a name to see who gets to name it?” Sterling suggested.
“At dinner tonight. Given this crew, we’re going to have some interesting names.”
At dinner, Ann stood to get everyone’s attention. “We’ve been putting this off, but Sterling and I agree that it is time. Mandy, Kat, step up here please.” She waited until the two young women were beside her before continuing. “In this pan I have each of our names, except mine and Sterling’s. In this pan we have numbers one, two, three, five, and six. Mandy will pull names, Kat will pull the number of the planet that person gets to name.”
Ann let everyone react for a moment before looking at Mandy. Without a word, Mandy reached in a pulled out a folded piece of paper, then handed it to Ann. “Thom.” Katrina then reached in and pulled out a slip, which she also handed to Ann. “Two. Thom, you get to name the second planet.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Thom said as he stood and looked embarrassed. “I’d like to name it after my father, Leander.”
“Planet Leander it is,” Ann said, smiling as the normally boisterous Thomas Oslund sat back down.
> Mandy pulled the next name from the pot. “Doctor Mandel,” Ann read, then Katrina handed her the number. “You get six.”
The doctor stood and smiled proudly. “Von Haeckel, after the renowned ancient Earth physician Ernst Heinrich Philipp August Von Haeckel.”
Ann nodded and looked at Mandy. Without a word she pulled the next name and handed it to Ann. “Olaf,” she said as Kat handed her the next number. “Three.”
Olaf laughed. “Denise threatened me, so I won’t name it after her.” He grinned at her and got a raised fist in reply. “Clementine, from the ancient song about the miner.”
The next name was soon picked. “Balder, and planet five.” Ann walked over to the companel and signaled the engine room.
“Engine room, Balder speaking,” he answered immediately.
“Balder, we’re naming the planets,” Ann explained. “You get to name number five.”
“A gas giant, hmm?” he answered. “Jarnsaxa, one of the giants of ancient myths. She was supposed to be Thor’s girlfriend.” His laughter was still echoing when he cut the connection.
“And last, who gets to name number one?” Ann asked as Mandy handed her a slip of paper. “Bartholomew.” There were some sniggers around the room as Ann again thumbed the companel to life. “Bart,” she said and got an instant answer.
“Ma’am?”
“We’re naming the planets, and you get number one.”
There was silence for a moment, then he said, “Mama always said there’d be days like this. I don’t know, how about cinder? After all, as close as it is to Farflung, there isn’t much left but a cinder.”
“Very well, Bart. And let me be the first to say that you have no poetry in your soul. The official list is Cinder, Leander, Clementine, Frisland, Jarnsaxa, and Von Haeckel.”
She turned and let go of the transmit stud. “Thank you all and congratulations to the winners. We will reach Frisland orbit in thirteen days. Resume normal space watches. Engineer, transfer fuel from the strap-on tanks into the mains. I want to be able to jettison them if we need to.”
Everyone was smiling and happy as they left the wardroom.
*
Messages were exchanged between all of the ships as they slowed to orbit the planets they were interested in, and the Admiral Ann’s Revenge finally reached Frisland. At lunch, Ann announced, “All hands to arrival stations and rig ship for rotation. Kat, secure the galley until we are in a stable orbit and have rotational gravity. We can eat pick-up sticks and cold-grass if we need a meal before we’re ready.” There was the sound of chuckles as Ann used the nicknames the crew had given biltong and shaal-grass. “Let’s man our stations.”
Everyone except Katrina hurried out of the wardroom to man their stations. Katrina carefully secured each pot and pan, locking them down in their storage racks and making sure the stove and oven were powered down.
Ann, Sterling, Denise, and Mandy all went to Control and joined Bart. Ann glanced over and said, “Mandy, take the helm, Bart on navigation. Sterling, take Comms and Denise sit at the engineering panel. We’ll let the youngsters bring us in this time.”
“Gee, thanks,” Bart muttered, drawing laughter from everyone. Normally, in the crowded shipping lanes around most planets, only Sterling or Denise were allowed to maneuver the ship. But here, with only one ship within a million kilometers, Ann felt confident they wouldn’t hit anyone.
“Admiral Ann’s Revenge, this is Duyfken,” the radio announced and Sterling answered.
“Duyfken, this is Admiral Ann’s Revenge. Go ahead.”
“Admiral Ann’s Revenge, we are in an equatorial orbit at two hundred six kilometers above the planet. Please take a higher orbit. Duyfken out.”
“Duyfken, this is Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We acknowledge and are taking orbit at two hundred twenty kilometers above the equator.” Ann looked at Bart and saw that he had already plotted their orbital insertion point. “Miss Carter, take us in by the Navigator’s plot.”
Mandy didn’t look at her when she said, “Yes, Captain.” Just a moment later she said, “Increasing main engine thrust for orbital insertion. Thirty percent. Fifty percent. Twenty percent.” Weightlessness engulfed all of them as she finally said, “Zero. Main engines are secured.”
Bart took over. “Captain, we are in orbit. We are stable at two hundred twenty-one kilometers above the equator.”
“Very well. Give the warning and begin spinning the ship,” Ann ordered, not even looking up from her screen.
Amanda thumbed the ship-wide announcing system button at her consol and said, “All hands prepare for acceleration. All hands prepare to spin the ship. All hands prepare to spin the ship.” She waited a full minute, before using her thrusters to begin spinning the ship.
There was a slight feeling of disorientation as the ship rotated, and down orientated itself toward what had been the walls. Consoles and chairs moved as well as the flexible architecture of the ship matched the ship’s gravity. In just five minutes they were walking on the walls.
“Well done, both of you. Very well done,” Ann said as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Admiral Ann’s Revenge, this is Duyfken, Captain Janszoon speaking. We will extend our orbit on the next pass to match velocity with you. Then I would like to set up a video conference between Captain Stevenson, First Mate Stevenson, Admiral Carter, and myself.”
Ann replied, “Duyfken, this is Captain Stevenson of the Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We understand and are awaiting your contact.”
It was only fifty minutes later when the radio came to life again. “Admiral Ann’s Revenge, this is Duyfken, ten kilometers to your port side. Please establish a secure link for a video conference.”
Ann and Sterling were already in the captain’s dayroom and immediately opened the connection. “Duyfken, this is Captain Stevenson of the Admiral Ann’s Revenge. We are ready if you are.” The screen came to life and Ann found herself facing Victoria Janszoon for the first time in over twenty years. “Hello, Captain Janszoon. Admiral Carter. How can we help you?” Ann asked.
Victoria Janszoon’s nostrils flared as soon as Ann spoke, but she visibly calmed herself before she replied. “Ann, I got hold of your middy report on me. I know who ordered you to do what you did. I still-it’s hard for me to change what I’ve felt for all these years. I’ve had months to absorb it, but still-I wanted you to know that I know.”
“I’m sorry, Vicky,” Ann whispered. “I hated myself for what I did. I still hate Abuto for making me do it.”
Captain Janszoon shook her head slowly. “He still won promotion after promotion until he went home and became a Representative to the Confederate Congress from Ikhaya Elikhulu. I can’t believe the Navy condoned what he did.”
“The Navy as a whole didn’t,” Sterling said, moving so he was in range of the pickup. “Abuto is from a politically powerful family and was essentially untouchable. And everyone knows middies are fair game. The way I understand it, he got away with it because the Secretary of the Navy was his cousin. She approved of what he did and blocked any attempt at disciplining him.”
Admiral Carter moved forward and focused the pickup on herself. “We have confirmed the preliminary data that the air is breathable, the water is drinkable, and all nine of the plants we’ve studied are edible to some degree. None of the test animals, including the primates, have shown any indication of distress except for one day when the heaters failed for three hours. It’s cold down there.” She paused to look at some papers on the desk in front of her.
“We have captured and tested nineteen varieties of animal life, only one of which seemed to be any more intelligent than a cow. We found the recently deceased carcass of one of those big animals you described and harvested some protein from it. The chimps loved it, raw and cooked. Still no indication of a problem. A number of microbes started growing in the meat, but they turned out to be strains that we brought in with the animals. We observed a carnivorous scavenger at the carcass and captured it.
It turned out to be the most intelligent species, but still wasn’t as smart as a dog. As I said before, nothing else we’ve encountered so far beats a cow on the intelligence scale.”
“Admiral Carter,” Ann put in, “have you managed to check the sea creatures?”
“Not yet,” she replied. “Scans indicate the presence of several large species of sea creatures, as well as dozens of smaller species. Capturing and testing them might be a problem, but none have shown any of the behaviors that we associate with semi-sentient creatures like Earth whales or Greater Montreal greatfish. We haven’t finished that part of the survey yet, but it doesn’t look hopeful.”
“I guess that depends on what you’re hoping for,” Ann said, and the admiral laughed.
“Point taken. How long are you planning to stay in the system?”
“We had planned on supporting the DA-CC Assay Ship Mintze in its explorations of the third planet, which we’ve named Clementine.”
Admiral Carter nodded. “Very well. I cannot allow you to make any further contact with the surface of Frisland until the Council makes its final decision. We estimate another week, two at the most, before we’ll be ready to return to the Confederacy. Even if they take our recommendation and immediately approve your claim, it will be at least eight months before you get an answer.”
Ann and Sterling shared a look. “We understand, Admiral. The captain of the Mintze estimates that it will take two months to complete their survey. Until then, we will be standing by to ensure no one else goes to the surface either,” Ann answered.
Admiral Carter nodded her understanding and approval. “I think that concludes our business for today. We will have another conference before we take the Duyfken and our report back to the Confederacy.”
Ann bowed her head slightly. “Then we will be leaving orbit to rendezvous with the Mintze over Clementine. Admiral Ann’s Revenge, out.” Sterling cut the connection and they both sat back and smiled at one another. “No sign of sentient life forms so far. Nothing even close.”
Inadvertent Adventures Page 21