by Black, Alan
He commanded the Kiirkegaard to compute a course to Heaven's Gate, including the standard minimum time for personnel recovery. "Colonel Britaine to engineering," he said into the comm unit. The hatch chime sounded before he could get an answer from engineering. He thought it was about time the second watch showed up.
"Open the hatch, McPherson," he ordered. She hesitated, but he pointed sternly at the hatch.
Major Paradise stepped into the flight office. Britaine was surprised to see Paradise looking so calm and cool. With him were First Watch Commander Major Esteban and Second Watch Commander Major Chang.
"Well?" Britaine asked him.
"Colonel Britaine, the three of us need to speak with you. In all fairness, I will tell you that Third Watch Commander Junior-Grade Major Janasovich declined to meet with us." Paradise's voice softened. "Look Muffin, between Nuke, Waterboy and myself; we have a quorum without Tinker."
Britaine bellowed, "Quorum? This is not a democracy. There is no quorum."
"Come on, Bill. That is not what I meant. We all agree that given recovery time and enough time to lay plans, we should be going back to Gagarin to engage the enemy. We just want you to explain why you want us to go Heaven System," Paradise said.
"Explain? I can see I have been entirely too lenient on you three. I don't have to explain squat to any of you. This is my spacecraft, and it goes where I say it goes. End of discussion."
Paradise said, "No. It is not the end of discussion, Colonel Britaine. We respectfully request you reconsider your decision to leave the field of battle."
"No. I-" Britaine started.
Paradise interrupted, "Then, sir, we demand you relinquish your command to me. You are hereby placed under house arrest. Please leave the flight office and confine yourself to your quarters pending charges of cowardice in the face of the enemy. Come on, Bill. Don't make us order security to haul you out of here."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Britaine was beside himself. His voice was so tense he sounded choked as he tried to speak. "Get out of the FO," he ordered. "Security to the flight office. I want Officers Paradise, Esteban and Chang arrested for mutiny and confined."
Chang said, "No go. Security is on our side. They’re no longer following your orders. They’re standing off waiting for our call. They aren't cowards anymore than we are. You are the only coward here, you gutless bag of turds."
Britaine spun on Chang just as Paradise and Esteban jumped at him. Before either man could reach him, McPherson stepped forward. A quick stiff arm into his nose dropped Paradise to his knees, blood gushing profusely. In the same fluid movement, she slammed the heel of her foot into the side of Esteban's knee. He fell to the deck screaming. Chang turned from Britaine to confront McPherson and found his forward movement impeded by a needler pressed against his right eyeball.
"Cease your actions, gentlemen," she said calmly. "Or someone is liable to get seriously hurt."
Esteban screamed. "Seriously?! You bitch! You broke my knee."
Paradise shouted around his hands holding his nose. "You stupid grunt, don't you realize you are nothing more than this coward's lapdog?"
Chang added, "You're in for the same thing as this coward. Don't you know he doesn't care anything about you?"
Britaine said, "Third-Level Commander McPherson. Please clear my flight office."
McPherson gestured with her free hand for Paradise to help Esteban to his feet and out the hatch. She then backed Chang out of the FO by pressure from the needler barrel. There was no security detachment in sight. She watched the three men limp away until the corridor stood clear and empty.
Britaine slumped back at the console, momentarily unsure of what to do. He shook himself like a wet dog. He called engineering, but there was no answer. He tried calling Tinker, the Third Watch Commander Major Janasovich, but there was no response.
"Sir?" Britaine looked up to see McPherson standing there. "Sir?" she repeated.
"What, McPherson? Just spit them out if you have more suggestions. We don't have time to dilly-dally about," Britaine replied.
"With all due respect, sir; time is all we have plenty of. We have that and my APES. You are the spacecraft expert, so you tell me if I am right. You have locked down all the navigation consoles from all three of the command centers. They are now slaved to your voice command, right?"
Britaine nodded, "Yes, but it seems Paradise, Esteban and Chang have gotten to the engineering staff. Without engineering we don't have the engines to go anywhere. Does that compute in your tiny little grunt brain: engineering and engines? Get the connection?"
McPherson smiled patiently. "Exactly, Colonel Britaine, they have the power and we have the controls. That is a stalemate. We aren't going anywhere and neither are they.
Britaine nodded, “So, then what? Do we sit locked in here until we starve, or they rig a bypass around the CNC controls?"
"Neither Colonel, my suggestion is that I take a squad or two of my APES and retake engineering."
Britaine nodded as if tasting something nasty, "Okay, then. Do it." He couldn't believe he had to trust this woman. She had been a pain in his side since she came on board. Still, he could have her busted from her command after she managed to get him back to Heaven System.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Misha shook her head in wonder as Britaine closed the hatch to the flight office behind her. She was amazed such a fool had ever made it to colonel. She knew Britaine was not stupid, but he evidenced so little common sense. She remembered her father pounding into their heads that the problem with common sense was that it was so uncommon.
When she was sure the hatch cover was in the fully closed and locked position, she turned toward APES country and ran down the empty corridor in a ground-covering lope. She expected to run into a security detail at any moment or a group of officers, but all she saw was a few spacers and lower ranking sergeants wandering aimlessly.
She shouted at them to return to their duty stations and await orders from Colonel Britaine. Some of the spacers responded by turning and heading off, glad for any specific order to follow. Others continued to stare at her as if she were crazy. A few shouted profanities at her, calling out that they didn't take orders from grunts, ground-pounders, or whatever other things they could think to call her. None of the spacers attempted to interfere with her.
Misha ordered her comm unit to begin collecting intra-craft calls. She needed to pick up a few tidbits of information such as what was going on in other parts of the spacecraft. She was only mildly surprised to hear conversation after conversation about either giving the command to Paradise or about mutiny against Britaine. She was sure the only difference between the two was a minor difference in perspective. She was just as positive any court-martial would look upon both actions with equal distaste.
It would only take one ill-timed action and this whole mess would turn bloody. She wasn’t sure anything could fix this mess. She just knew if she could get her APES ready in time they could stand between both sides. Maybe their presence would diffuse some tempers until they could come to a solution. Misha hoped that would work as she hurried to APES country. She fervently hoped that it wouldn’t just put her people in a cross fire between two different groups of the same kind of stupid.
Chapter Forty
Broadcasting unit wide, Misha ordered, "This is Third McPherson to all Allied Protective Expeditionary Services. I am sure you know by now a mutiny is brewing on the Kiirkegaard against Colonel Britaine. Be prepared for action, but do not react except to defend yourself. I want all weapons on lock down now.” She continued without breaking stride. "I want everyone in the squad bays. Communications using only by APES secure lines. Stay off Kiirkegaard's network. I am almost back into APES country, maybe five minutes out. We will deploy at that time to aid Colonel Britaine in the defense of his command. Save your questions for now. McPherson out." She hoped that would keep her command from jumping into the mess before she could set a clear course of act
ion. Britaine needed help fast, but APES are trained to be lethal. No one wanted or needed dead crew.
Misha rounded a corner and came face-to-face with a security patrol. She expected some resistance from the crew, but she was surprised they waited to stop her when she was only one corridor away from the hatchway into APES country and her own troops. Any reinforcements she might need were only a shout away. She skidded to a stop, her soft-soled black jump sneaks squeaking against the deck plates. There were only four spacers in the security detail. Unarmed they would have presented a problem for Misha, but not an insurmountable problem. Four against one was doable. However, all four carried needlers, although their weapons were still in their holsters.
She held her arms open wide, spreading her hands to show she was unarmed. She still had the needler she had taken from the spacer outside of CNC, but it was deep in a pocket where it was hard to reach. Misha didn't want a shootout if she could avoid it. She was fast, but not that fast. The odds were against her in armed combat.
Misha smiled, "Let’s be easy on the trigger fingers, okay? I am just trying to get back to APES country. There isn't any reason for anyone to get hurt." While she was talking, she reached up with one finger and slowly tapped her comm unit three times. That would reopen the channel to her unit and activate her locator beacon.
She recognized two of the spacers. Their names were stuck in her head, just at the tip of her tongue. They were two from the training bay incident. She thought, "How long ago was that? It seems like weeks, no wonder I can't remember their names." Still, she had to speak to send a message to her troops. She smiled and said to the short male sergeant, "Four armed security people seem like a bit much for an empty corridor, don't you think?" None of the four spoke or drew their weapons, but they were blocking her progress. She was pleased that none of them were facing the direction her reinforcements would come from. Suddenly, the names popped into her head. "Sergeant Williams and Spacer First Class Molinna, right?"
Both nodded sheepishly.
She smiled and took a step closer to them. "Good to see you again. May I pass by to get to my quarters?"
One of the unknowns, a man with a large drooping mustache, drew his needler nervously and pointed the muzzle in her direction. She could see his finger resting on the trigger guard and not the trigger. The other unknown was a young man with flaming red hair. He drew his needler as well. Red slid his finger onto the trigger, but pointed the muzzle at the ceiling over his head.
Misha smiled knowing Red would do more damage to himself than to her if he flinched and shot the needler at the ceiling. Needler ammunition would slice into human flesh with knifelike deadliness, but it wouldn’t punch holes into the steel bulkheads. As a result, needler ammo tended to splatter and ricochet in a shower of flechettes.
Misha said, "No need for weapons, folks. I am just trying to get back to my squad bay. Let's keep our finger off the trigger, shall we? What do you say, Sergeant Williams?"
"I don't know, Third. I have orders to detain you; orders from Major Chang," Williams said.
"I can understand your need to follow orders, but Major Chang is wrong," Misha replied.
Molinna interrupted, "Major Change said you broke Major Paradise's nose and shattered Major Esteban's kneecap, and you threatened him with a needler."
Mustache said, "We ought to shoot the bitch now, just to be done with it." Red bobbed his head in agreement, his eyes wide.
Molinna said, "Shut up, you two."
Williams nodded. "It is true we don't know what is going on, but you know it really doesn't matter. Chang said Britaine has gone crazy, turned coward and is running from the enemy. Britaine is all over the intercom shouting about mutiny."
Misha smiled, held her hands wide and took another step toward the group. She was wondering why her squad hadn't arrived yet. She said, "I know it’s confusing, but-"
Williams interrupted, "It isn't confusing and it’s officer problems. I don't really care what they do. I’m just following orders." The other three nodded their heads in agreement.
Misha nodded in concert and took another step closer. "I can see how you’d think that, but whose orders you’re obeying can make the difference between obeying the rightful commander and participating in a mutiny."
Red shouted, "You better shut up. We know you're just siding with your boyfriend Britaine." He shook the needler in his hand. He looked over at Mustache to make him brave.
"Everybody shut up.” Sergeant Williams said. “I am sorry, Third. But, I have a job to do. We all do. As far I know Major Chang is an officer. I have to follow his orders. Why don't you come with us and talk with him?"
Molinna nodded in agreement. "I know you've had some problems with Major Chang, but I’m sure we can get this straightened out."
"Yeah," Mustache said. "And if Major Chang is right about that bastard Britaine turning coward and running, then the Major has a right to remove him from command, don't he?" This last, he asked Sergeant Williams.
Williams shook his head. "No, he doesn't. It means he should be removed from command, but that isn’t up to Major Chang to decide, or Paradise or Esteban. But, if he went crazy, they’d have to remove him from command."
Misha took a step toward the group. She was now within easy reach of three of them. She still wouldn't be able to grab Red if it came to hand to hand. "Yes, Sergeant Williams. You are right as far as you go. However, if Colonel Britaine did go crazy, it still wouldn't be up to Major Chang would it? Wouldn't that be based on a report by the medical staff?"
Mustache said. "For all we know sick bay told Major Chang that Britaine was crazy. How the hell do we know what officers talk about? Besides, we know you’re just siding with that bastard Britaine. And didn't we tell you to shut up? Dammit, Williams, let's just jam her in handcuffs and stuff her into the stockade until we get this straightened out." Still pointing the needler at Misha with one hand, he reached out with his free hand and grabbed her outstretched right arm. He tugged at her, trying to spin her around to have her back to them.
Misha let her knees bend a bit and ducked her right shoulder. This little bit of direction change shifted Mustache's balance, causing the man to turn slightly. His turn carried the muzzle of his needler away from her. She spun her right arm around and locked a grip on Mustache's elbow, bending it backwards. She braced her feet, tightened her muscles and she yanked him into her torso with a jolt. Her left hand shot forward and got a grip on his needler. A quick twist of her wrist and the needler was in her hand. She spun the gun around and slid her finger onto the trigger. She didn't fire. She still wanted to avoid major bloodshed if she could. Instead of shooting, she grabbed Mustache by the front of his uniform and threw him into Red. The two men went down in a crumbled pile. She dove forward, wrenched the gun away from Red, rolled into a ball and came up facing Williams and Molinna as they scrambled to pull their needlers from their holsters.
Misha had Mustache's gun in her left hand and Red's in her right, but she still held her fire. Ducking her head, she plowed upward between Molinna and Williams and slammed into Molinna. The tall spacer bent at the waist as Misha's forehead crashed into her stomach. Misha straightened quickly, mashing the back of her head into Molinna's nose. Molinna fell over backward, knocked unconscious.
Misha kicked her left leg straight back behind her connecting with Williams’ chest. Pressed for time, she had used more muscle than she had planned. She heard bone crunch as some of William's ribs broke. The man went down.
Mustache and Red were untangling themselves and getting to their feet. Misha spun from the momentum of her kick into Williams, planted her left leg onto the deck plates and kicked straight out with her right leg. The sole of her book connected with Mustache's face with the sole of her boot. The man's eyes glazed over as his nose broke. He sank back onto the deck.
Misha stood over Red as the man froze halfway to his feet. She pointed both needlers at him, one muzzle for each eye, only a scant inch away from the eyeballs. Fr
om this distance, she was sure all he could see was the open barrels. She waggled the needlers in a motion for him to stand up.
She said, "Relieve Williams and Molinna of their side arms. Please move carefully and slowly, spacer. Now, give them to me. Good. Now tend to your comrades, call the sick bay to come and get them. Williams has broken ribs, Molinna has most likely suffered a concussion and your buddy with the mustache has broken his nose."
Misha left as Red frantically called for help from the Kiirkegaard's sick bay. She knew his next call would be to either security or to the mutineers, but she didn't have time to take care of the injured or take him prisoner.
Chapter Forty-One
Race Jackson cursed under his breath. He had hoped for more time. He thought four spacers would have at least slowed McPherson down.
"What do we do now, Race?" Sigget Donnellson asked.
Race shrugged, "What can we do? We have to take care of her ourselves. We have two whole squads here. She is tough, but she can't take out even a quarter of us."
Second Rice Bilideau said, "Right, Race. But, you heard her. She has all four of those needlers she took from those dipwad vacuum suckers. We aren't armed with squat."
Race snarled, "Shut up, Beans. I don't care if she is carrying a particle beam cannon. McPherson has sided with that coward of a boyfriend of hers. She forfeited the right to even be in the APES. As far as I am concerned that puts Second Moraft in command. We have both your Dawg Squad and my Foxtrot. Do you really think that twenty-two APES can't bust the head of a lone coward? Besides, Theda said to capture McPherson alive and that is what we’re going to do. Got me?"
"Easy, Deuce. I’m on your side," Bilideau replied.
"It ain't my side or her side. We’re APES and we came out here to fight weed-eaters. And no one, got me, no one is going to stop us. Not some cowardly vacuum breather or his girlfriend. I don't care whether she is APES, Marshal, or the gods on high."