She smiled, then stopped, realizing snake-like people did not smile the human way. Well, perhaps Chester would learn how a Slinkeroo smiles. Or shows happiness. She pressed him forward. “Chester, take over. Time for me and Bill to join Time Marker in meeting his parents.”
The stocky man looked her way, gave a nod and a wink, then stepped toward the elderly walking snake. “Prime Elder, let me tell you about the NATO of the Stars!”
CHAPTER THREE
Bill pushed away the plate of spaghetti and meatballs he was eating. Jane had just entered their ship’s Food Chamber, followed by four of his saloon buddies and Chester. Behind them came Time Marker. The walking snake had introduced them to his parents down on Notter, then brought their clan leader into the happy return chatter. The chamber in the spire where they met was much like a college food hall, filled with hundreds of other Slinkeroo. He and Jane had tasted the booze the snakes liked. To him it resembled Japanese rice wine, or sake, that he had tasted while training at Coronado. Two of his fellow trainees were Japanese-Americans like Jane and they had convinced him to try the stuff. The sake gave a good buzz. As did the Slinkeroo booze, which they called mejian. Their Engines Chief was joining them for the critical meeting on where to go next, now that Chester had gotten the Council of Seven and its Prime Elder to join the NATO of the Stars. Plus, they’d gained six Slinkeroo volunteers as a result of the meeting with his family and clan leader. Jane gave him a nod, her expression command serious.
“Executive Officer, good to see you ate after that booze we had downplanet.” She looked up at the ceiling. “Star Traveler, send a hover bot over with a pitcher of Heineken beer and cold mugs. For everyone including Time Marker.”
“As you order,” hummed the AI. Who was part of the gathering due to its electronic eyes and ears being everywhere on the Blue Sky.
Bill gave thanks the table where he sat was big enough to seat seven humans and a walking snake. He gestured at the round table. “Have a seat everyone. The alliance is started. Let’s celebrate!”
Jane lifted an eyebrow at his perkiness, then sat opposite him on a round pedestal extruded by the floor’s flexmetal. To his right sat his buddies who were ship captains. Next to him was Alicia Hoffman of the brown ponytail and Ranger daring. Beyond her were Coast Guardsman Joe Batigula of the big belly, barrel-chested Frank Wurtzman of the Marines and finally, his fellow SEAL Stefano Cordova, who sat at Jane’s left. To his captain’s right was Chester of the broad shoulders, followed by Time Marker’s six foot long slithery shape. The Slinkeroo stretched out over a long bench that lay between Bill and Chester, his black-skinned head twisted to face them all. Jane grabbed the beer pitcher from a plate carried by a hover bot as it floated beside her. Stefano grabbed mugs off the plate and handed them around. His wife’s dark brown eyes scanned them all, including him. There was no sign of her passionate love nature in them. Today she was all business. As befit a meeting of the fleet commander and her fellow ship captains.
Alicia lifted her foaming mug. “All hail to the captain in charge!” she yelled, her soprano voice filling the large room where everyone on the ship ate meals, played video games, watched movies, read something from the ship’s incredible Library, or tried their hand at cooking in the Food Alcove that ran along one side wall.
Jane looked surprised by their tough lesbian’s mood change to cheeriness. “This isn’t a party. Though I am pleased at the six Slinkeroo volunteers we gained, thanks to the influence and support of Time Marker,” she said, nodding to their Engines Chief.
The yellow glow around their crewmate was low, just a foot thick. Which told Bill the critter had to be feeling happy, or relaxed or anything other than tense and anxious. It was hard to tell about the body language of Aliens. While he’d spent ten months in the company of Time Marker and the other Alien volunteers on the Command Bridge, he was still learning what certain behaviors meant for each of the species now aboard the Blue Sky. The walking snake, while a reptile by biological heritage, loved to play chess, enjoyed swimming in the ship’s Water Pool Chamber, liked sunning himself in the Greenery Chamber, and often spent long hours in the bowels of the Engine Chamber studying the operations of their Magfield engines. Its behavior was a close analogue to a dedicated geek, leastwise so far as he had ever known any. And the snake was far more sociable than some of the computer programmers he’d met at Coronado and elsewhere. In that sense, Bill liked him. He also liked how the critter had not hesitated to kill the spider Alien who’d lasered him. Their crewmate turned his triangular head, looking at Jane.
“Captain of the ship, my clan volunteers look forward to learning crew functions on the ship run by . . . by Captain Joe,” hissed Time Marker.
That was a development Bill liked. The ship Manila Bay had been captured during the assault on the Market world at HD 128311. Up to now, the only live crew on it had been Joe. The ship’s AI had managed to run the functions usually handled by a five man crew. Now, with six Slinkeroo on board, Joe was likely feeling some relief. And perhaps a few electrical shocks whenever he stepped into the nimbus glow of any of his new crew.
Jane took a sip from her mug, wiped the foam off her lips, then set it down with a thud. “Good to hear that. Maybe we can spread some of them out to our other ships. Once they get some training.” She folded her hands in front of her, leaned forward and looked command intense. Bill licked his lips. Clearly this was going to be a major meeting. Maybe the most important meeting since they’d left Earth on their way to zap the Market world closest to Sol. That had been their first assignment from the president. The second had been to visit the five star systems of the Alien crew aboard Blue Sky and get their people to join this NATO of the Stars. They’d begun that task by arriving here at the Slinkeroo system. Now, after hearing the boasting of the praying mantis captain of the enemy ship, and the deadly news from its AI, it was clear they faced a decision point.
“So who do we kill next?” rumbled Frank, ever the Marine ready to storm something, somewhere. Bill had long respected the former veteran of the Marine Special Operations crew. The man had left the service as a Gunnery Sergeant. Now, with all of them reactivated and called back into their respective services, thanks to the order of General Harriet Poindexter of the JCS, Frank seemed ready to put his wide shoulders against any obstacle in their path.
His wife lifted a thin black eyebrow. “That is what this meeting is about. We have two options. Either return to Earth and alert the JCS to the report of this new fleet gathering at Kepler 62, or, head directly to Kepler 62 ourselves and see what damage five ships can do against this fleet. Before it attacks Earth. What say each of you?”
“Captain,” interrupted Star Traveler with a hum. “There is additional new data I gained from the ship mind Diamond, when we shared minds earlier. I have updated information on the nature of the Buyer society. Do you wish to hear it?”
Jane grimaced. Bill could tell she felt bothered by the AI’s smart-ass manner. Still, it had been their first ally after their capture. Both of them had learned to respect it, even as its personality had become more arrogant and, at times, obscure. “Yes. Of course I wish to learn any data relevant to our mission of destroying the Buyer culture. Speak!”
“As you wish,” hummed low the AI. “Within Orion Arm the number of space-going species has increased to 3,012. For the Buyer society, it now consists of 840,992 Buyers located on 413 worlds, of which 59 are Market worlds. Captives are being gathered by 85 Collector ships. Which is two more than the 83 your Weapons Chief created thanks to the destruction or capture of 12 ships,” the ship mind hummed long and low. “Two new Collector ships have been built at a location other than the orbital factory that was destroyed during your battle at Kepler 443.”
Jane looked thoughtful. “Any word on how large this fleet is that they are gathering at Kepler 62? Any news on where the new Collector factory is located?”
“No and yes,” Star Traveler hummed. “The new Collector ship factory is reported to
be operating at system Kepler 66, which lies 3,611 light years from Earth. The size of the fleet being collected at Kepler 62 was unknown to Diamond. However, it has only been a week since our attack on the Market world at system HD 128311. While the news of our attack has spread widely, by ship to ship relay, it is likely few ships have arrived at Kepler 62. Star to star travel still takes considerable time even when one uses the Alcubierre space-time modulus for such transit.”
Bill winced. Now the ship mind was sounding like a tenured college professor with not a care for whether her students understood what she said. Jane shrugged, her Air Force blue jumpsuit loose on her.
“Well, the new Collector ship factory is far too distant for us to visit. We are back to our two options. What does—”
“Captain,” Star Traveler hummed quickly. “There is a third option. This ship and allied ships could continue visiting the home star systems of the non-Human crew members of this ship.”
“Piss off!” Jane yelled, clearly irritated. Then she sat back and assumed her ship commander posture. As if aware it was not good for the fleet leader to lose her temper. “There is no third option. Either we attack Kepler 62 or we return to Earth to alert the JCS and other nations to this impending attack. People, what are your views?”
Stefano let go his mug and raised his hand to draw attention. “Captain of the fleet, I suggest we send Joe’s ship back to Earth and the rest of us go and attack Kepler 62 before the assembled ships get too many for us to defeat.”
Alicia shook her head. “That is four ships against how many enemy ships? We now know something no one on Earth knows. A new attack is coming. Sometime in the future. Our duty is to return and warn Earth. Then maybe we attack Kepler 62.”
Frank frowned. “Much as I want to kill all these slave-grabbing bastards, I agree with Alicia. We gotta warn Earth first before we attack anywhere. Our fleet is good. But this info could die with us if we get unlucky. Our battlemates have to know this.”
Joe fixed blue eyes on Jane. “Captain, I’m willing to go with Stefano’s plan. My ship is the least effective due to all the newbies in my crew. I’m glad to have them. But none of them know a thing about lasers, antimatter or star navigatin’.”
His wife looked to her right. “Chester? What are your views?”
The man who had joined their crew to serve as liaison with two nuke subs that had helped in the fight against the invading six Collector ships sat back and crossed arms over his NWU battledress. “Much as I would like to gain more allies, Joe is right. And so is Frank. Earth has to be warned. But do all our ships return? Or just Joe’s ship?”
Jane nodded, then looked straight at him. “Bill?”
He sat up straight, determined to look as milspec proper as he could, considering how he’d never liked dressing up. At least his NWUs were still fresh. No sauce on them. Jane raised an eyebrow. He felt a chill run down his back as he realized they now faced a new life or death decision point. “Captain, I like Stefano’s idea. He and I are used to fighting long odds. Being outnumbered has never bothered us. Nor any of the other spec ops folks here.” Stefano’s brown eyes fixed on Bill, reading his body language the way he’d always been able to do. The man smiled. “But . . . the facts are the facts. Kepler 62 is 1,200 light years away. The trip there would take at least 48 days. Earth is 56 light years away. A little over two days to get home. So we should—”
“Correction,” interrupted Star Traveler. “The distance to Kepler 62 from this star system is 1,238 point four five five light years. Travel time there would be 49 point five Earth days.”
Bill bit his lip. Jane’s expression became deadly blank. He had no doubt she would love to find the AI’s pain center in its microelectronic innards. Time to wrap this up. “Whatever, we should head back to Earth. All of us. Right now there are only three Collector ships and one sub capable of flight outside of Earth’s atmosphere. When we return, there will be eight Collector ships present in the system.” His wife turned thoughtful. “Our first priority is to warn Earth about the impending new attack. Yes, it will likely not happen for a few months, based on how far some Collector ships will travel to get to Kepler 62. But going back shows we give first priority to our duty to defend the Constitution. And to our vows of Duty, Honor and Country. Whatever the JCS folks decide, well, we can argue there. In Sol system. Me, I favor sneaking into Kepler 62, pretending to be new troops and gaining intel Earth will need to decide what humanity should do. I love America. But we are the vanguard for seven billion humans. Let us do our duty first, then later fight these bastards!”
Jane nodded slowly, then looked at the last person at the table who had yet to speak. “Time Marker, what are your views on our two choices? Your people are now part of our alliance. You deserve a say on this issue.”
Their snake crewmate gave a low hiss. “My people have no armed spaceships with which to help defend Earth. Our engineers are very accomplished, though it will take time to build a copy of this ship Blue Sky. But our volunteers will fight anywhere, fight to the death to defend our allies!” The walking snake’s pink tongue flicked out a foot. It was not an odor-sensing instrument like the tongues of Earth snakes. But it was a sign of his willingness to fight. So Bill had learned over the last ten months.
The critter’s yellow electrical nimbus now expanded out to two feet, nearly touching Chester’s right arm. The former Chief of Naval Operations did not move. Nor did Bill, even though he felt the hairs on his left arm prickling from the static electricity that leaked out from their buddy’s glow. Jane gave their ally a brief smile, then her expression went sober serious.
“As captain of this fleet, I decide that we return to Earth and warn the JCS of this pending attack. We will also offload the 93 Captives we rescued at the Market world. Then I will recommend that one or more of our ships leave for Kepler 62, there to gain vital intel on what humanity faces.” She stood up. “Captains, return to your ships. Prepare to head out of this system within a half hour. Once we reach the edge of the magnetosphere of this system, we will set a vector for Sol and go FTL. Dismissed.”
His saloon buddies left their empty mugs behind as the four of them stood, stepped away from the table and headed for the Food Hall’s exit door. Chester looked quickly at the beer remaining in the pitcher, then stood and followed the other captains out. Time Marker, who had sipped the beer in his mug with his tongue, also slithered off the bench and hurried out, his four-footed gain moving him quickly. Jane looked down at him.
“Bill? You coming?”
He stood, walked around the table to where she stood and reached out to cup her narrow chin. “Always. Yes, I’m still a SEAL inside and I really want to head for Kepler 62 and kick the shit out of whomever is there!” She blinked, but did not move her chin away from his hand. “Babe, I will do everything I know to avoid you having to visit me, again, in a healer unit. Which means I will fight this ship like she was a wasp out of hell!”
Jane’s eyes looked wet.
“Well, well,” murmured a voice from the entry door. “Nice to see love afoot on this ship.”
They both turned. Just coming into the Food Hall was Sharon Richardson, the wife of Chester. The fifty-something woman wore a green jumpsuit, sported pearl earrings and had found a way to coif her shoulder-length brown hair so it had plenty of curls. Clearly she had found a way to get her hair done with some unknown aid from Star Traveler.
Jane chuckled. “Don’t tell anyone! He’s my XO and I’m the boss of the universe!”
Sharon smiled easily, her lightly tanned face showing plenty of laugh lines. The woman who had raised hers and Chester’s children to adulthood, then spoiled her grandkids, had adjusted to life aboard the Blue Sky as if it were the most normal thing to flyer among the stars at a speed of 25 light years per day. She had befriended Alicia’s wife Lorilee, and the two of them had spent lots of time hanging with Bright Sparkle and her lifemate Learned Escape. The ship’s two squirrel people, Lofty Flyer and Builder of Joy, had
soon joined the four humans in playing late night games of bridge. And poker. They’d even welcomed in the solo crew on board, taking time to explain the card games to Wind Swift, Long Walker and Time Marker. Sharon had taken to being the social director of the Blue Sky as if it were the most natural thing to do. Bill liked that about the woman. He waved at her as they passed on their way out.
“My wife may rule the universe, but you are the boss of happiness on this ship!”
Sharon smiled, gave them a wink and headed for the Food Alcove. No doubt to start making one of her scrumptious Italian casseroles.
Bill felt his mouth start to water. He’d loved the spaghetti and meat balls as prepared by the ship’s auto-chef. But nothing could match real home cooking!
♦ ♦ ♦
Later, after their 31 hour transit to the outer edge of the Slinkeroo system, they’d passed into Alcubierre space-time. He was off shift, walking down the right side main hallway when the entry door to the Weapons Chamber slid open. Out walked the color-banded shapes of Bright Sparkle and Learned Escape, followed by the gray worm shape of Long Walker. Each of them carried white tube tasers and red tube lasers. He stopped. They stopped. Bright Sparkle gave him a serious look.
“Weapons Chief! So good to see you,” her left shoulder speaker/vidcam unit said as it translated the color-band speech of her Megun people. “We three thought we should practice our shooting skills. In case we board an enemy ship or must assist on a ground attack. We are on our way to shoot targets in the Collector Pods Chamber.”
Escape 3: Defeat the Aliens Page 4