“Any projections?” he asked Sprite.
Defender's icon blinked. “Go Defender,” he said.
He watched as the HUD cleared and a map of the grounds and building reappeared. Step by step the team's actions were replayed. “Based on this recording they entered without detection. No audible alarms. They kept radio silent as well. Here are the last known locations of people,” Defender said. Defender highlighted each, and circled them with different colors. “Red for tangos, green for hostages, blue for the team. Yellow are unknowns. Based on the available Intel they have a sixty four point four three percent chance of success without casualties.” Defender's report was not much comfort. “I project a twenty two percent chance of casualties to the hostages or team.”
“All right, how is doc coming along?” Irons asked. He watched as the HUD cleared and the video feed to sickbay came up.
“OH! Hello! Um? Who is this? I can't see you!” Mindy said.
He grunted, it was the nightmare nurse. “This is the Admiral, just checking in. Are you ready to receive injured?” he asked. He watched as the viewpoint shook, and then tilted in different angles.
“Injured? Someone's hurt?” she asked. She had the camera up to her face.
“I hope not, but there may be injured when the team returns, are you ready for that?” he asked. He grimaced as the doctor wrestled the camera from the girl.
“I have it. I said I HAVE IT! Go check the trauma kits,” the doctor ordered. He pulled the camera out of her hands.
“Well fine!” her high screechy voice jarred, then the engineer could hear her stomping away.
“Admiral, that you?” the doctor asked.
The Admiral cleared his throat. “Yes doc, just checking in. Do you need anything?” he asked, knowing the answer.
“Of course I do! Oh, you mean for the wounded? Not that I know of. I'll let you know if that changes. I sent Rhonda; she's the most experienced paramedic... I hope she's okay,” the doctor said and then clicked the camera off.
Fifteen minutes crawled by. He tried to focus on reports, checking the status of the various systems, and repairs. He knew them by heart however, so eventually he switched to debugging code.
When the call came in it was a bit of a shock. He looked up and caught it midstream. “We have secured the shuttle, and hostages,” a flat voice reported. The crew began to cheer. The others didn't hear the second part of the report, drowning it out. The Admiral alone, with his enhanced hearing caught that they had casualties and fatalities...
“That’s good to hear. Repeat the last part. Is everyone all right?” the Captain's gravelly voice restored order to the bridge.
There was a crackle of static then the grim voice of Vanessa. “Repeat. two fatalities, four wounded,” the purser said, sounding shaken.
The bridge was suddenly deathly silent. He looked around to see some of the women hanging their heads. The Captain sighed. “I'm sorry to hear that. Do we know who?” she asked. She wasn't sparing the bridge any punches, letting them hear it right away and not agonize over it.
“Molly and Valia Captain,” Vanessa replied softly. Some of the women began to cry softly. One moaned.
The Captain gripped the arms of her chair, and then visibly loosened her fingers. “All right, bring their bodies up. Bring our people home,” she said gruffly. The channel clicked off. The Captain looked wane and pale.
“Do we know how they died?” Jennie asked the engineer. He turned to her. She was withdrawn, her eyes puffy from crying.
“We don't have all the details, but it seems some of the guards tried to take advantage of Dorah and the purser. Molly intervened and they slit her throat,” he said. He looked away then back. “She died with honor, protecting her shipmates,” he said, proud of his friend but angry at the needless loss of life. Jennie’s lips quivered. She fought the sob. He reached out and tucked her into his arms. She let go then, crying into his chest. “We'll all miss her. She was a good woman,” he murmured. He patted her head softly as he stared off to the ceiling.
“Shuttles on final approach,” the subdued overhead voice reported.
Jennie backed out of his arms and dashed her tears. “Thanks,” she sniffled.
He smiled. “Don't worry about it.”
They turned to watch the shuttles dock. The guards escorted the wounded down the ramps, propping them up. It looked like the four were not badly hurt. Frie and the Chief each carried a body wrapped in blankets. Frie set hers down near the edge of the ramp. The Chief set hers beside it. Wearily the two stared at them.
“Should we go in?” Jennie asked as the guards and wounded made their way past them.
He shook his head, letting the former hostages go. Some reached out and clutched at Jennie's hand, or patted her on the shoulder. “No, let’s give them a moment.”
The doctor arrived with the nurse and began to triage the wounded. They settled two on hovering stretchers, and had the walking wounded follow. It seems two of the guards had been hit, one in the leg with a slug thrower, the other in the arm by debris. The other two wounded were hostages. One had a bloody head wound, another was battered and bruised. Hibiki passed them carrying Dorah. Tara carried a sleeping Tia. Jennie patted Vanessa's shoulder softly. “Glad you're home,” she said. The purser reached out and clutched at her hand, looking lost.
"I think you have another patient doc," Irons said. The doctor looked up and over to the Captain patting the brutalized girls shoulder.
"Who?" he asked, and then looked back down to the guard before him.
"Lips are blue, pale skin, tremors, and she's pounding her chest with her free hand," Irons said.
The doctor looked up concerned. "Heart?" he asked.
The Admiral nodded. "My guess too. Won’t know for sure till you get her under a scope."
He watched as the Captain murmured to the young woman, grimaced then pounded her chest with her free hand. "Yeah, heart." The doc looked over his current patient. "I'll keep doc, the wound is a through and through, go check the Captain." She said, leaning back with a sigh. He patted her shoulder sympathetically. "All right." He settled himself with a deep breath, straightened his smock then stepped around the table to the Captain.
The patient winced, and the Captain turned. "All done?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Everyone is stable if that's what you mean, but no, I have one more patient left," he said firmly. The Admiral came around to her other side. One of the guards looked up concerned, but the Admiral waved it off. "Captain, I think it's time you had an exam," the doc said, and then cocked his head.
She tried to give him a glare, but then sucked in a breath and pounded her chest. "Nonsense, it's just heartburn," her usual gravel was much reduced.
"I think we should check and be sure. Wouldn't want Cookie to know you passed away after eating her spicy guacamole right?" Doc asked.
The Captain snorted. "Are you kidding, I think she's been trying to do that from the beginning." A few of the ladies chuckled at this.
"All right now, I know you’re a cantankerous patient, but let’s get you checked out," the doctor urged. He waved the nurse over. Together the trio maneuvered her deftly onto a biobed. "All right let’s see here. Hmmm..." The subdued nurse handed him a med scanner. He ran it over her chest, then centered on her heart. "Well, bad news for Cookie, it isn't her cooking. Looks like a minor heart attack and a leaky valve," he reported. He touched the controls and a hologram projected over the Captain. It beat in time with hers.
"See, your ventricle valve has been weakened there's a small tear here. And the muscles here and here are weakened." He turned to the nurse. "Prep OR, we're going to operate."
The nurse nodded. "Right away doctor." She was subdued, a big difference from her bubbly public persona.
"Nurse is quiet? Wow I really must be in trouble," the Captain joked weakly.
The Admiral snorted. "Minor repair job," he said. She looked over to him. "The doctor just needs to get a probe in and use a
laser to cauterize the rip, then extract stem cells from your marrow and inject them with some nanite modifiers into your heart muscles," he explained.
She gave him a feeble glower. "Oh is that all," she grumbled.
He snorted. "It's a common ailment for spacers, heart hiccups have been going on for centuries," he said. She nodded.
"Who are you?" she asked as another woman in a smock came up and handed the doctor a tablet. The woman was in her twenties, short, with a golden skin from being in the sun. She had short black hair and a bandage on her brow.
"My name is Bonny, I was taking care of your, I mean, I was recruited to take care of your people," she said quietly. She waved to them. She watched the Captain warily.
"She protected us Captain," one of the former hostages called out.
"She took care of the wounded too," one of the guards volunteered.
"She sort of showed up on the shuttle. We were loading fast and didn't catch it," Vanessa reported with a fatalistic shrug.
"Well, since you took care of my people I won’t have you spaced," the Captain wheezed. The woman's eyes widened at that. "Permission to board granted. You’re now a guest. We'll discuss the rest later," she said.
The doctor nodded at that as they wheeled her into OR. “Let’s see what we can do about those kidney stones while you’re under Captain. Now that we have better equipment, I took the liberty of getting an ultrasonic emitter that'll break them up nicely,” he said and then smiled. “You'll be back to growling at the bridge staff in no time.” She gave an earthy chuckle as they passed through the doors to the OR.
The Captain woke up from the surgery hours later and looked around blearily. "I take it that things turned out well doc?" she croaked out.
"Just a minute! I'll get him!" Mindy called, and then came up to her. She jumped around, giggling while checking the readouts, then pirouetted out. The doctor came in a moment later followed by the nurse. "She's okay doc really!" The nurses high bubbly voice was grating on the Captain's nerves.
"Doc, next time give HER the anesthetic?" she growled. The girl giggled as the doctor picked up the Captain's wrist and checked her pulse.
"Your color has returned nicely." He looked over the readouts.
"She's okay isn't she doc?" Mindy asked, bouncing around.
"Yes Mindy, why don't you go tell the bridge crew," the doctor told her as he studied the readouts.
"Right away doctor!" Mindy exclaimed, coming to attention then twirling out with a flutter of giggles. "The Captain's going to be okay!" she called to the sickbay residents. Groans and weak hoorays answered her.
He chuckled. "We managed to repair the valve, heart muscles, removed the kidney stones, and do a few other things that should make you more comfortable soon." He checked the readout, and then made a note on the tablet.
"Thanks doc," the Captain said, and then patted his hand. Jennie, the Chief, and Shandra came in.
Shandra peaked around the corner. "Is she up for visitor’s doc?" she asked tentatively.
"My that was fast," the Captain's gravel voice called out. "Grapevine up to its usual speed I see," she said.
Jennie smiled. "Something like that." The Admiral followed them in.
The doctor nodded. "Only a few minutes, she needs her rest," he ordered and then turned and left.
"I am so glad he decided to come with us." Jennie said as the doctor retreated. He froze for a second, and then continued on.
"As I understand it, he didn't," the Admiral said, giving the Captain a long look. She returned it.
"What do you mean?" Jennie and Shandra asked together, looking from one to the other.
"The Chief kidnapped him," Irons said.
Shandra sucked in her breath. "Oh." The Admiral gave the Chief's stiff back a look then returned his gaze to the Captain.
"He has a family too. Or had. His wife was four months pregnant," Irons said. Jennie bit her lip. Shandra looked torn.
"I didn't know that," the Captain said softly. "It doesn't change anything; we still needed him more here."
Jennie looked at the door. "I don't think his family would see it that way Captain. Would you in their place?" she asked. She returned her gaze to the Captain, and then dropped her eyes from the cool look.
"I did what was right for my crew. For the ship," the captain growled. The Admiral nodded.
"Still, we need to make it right Captain," Shandra looked up to her, not dropping her gaze.
Reluctantly the Captain nodded. "We will, someday," she sighed. "I'm tired, go about your business." Jennie and Shandra nodded and murmured politely as they left. The Admiral gave her a nod, then left.
Only the Chief was left behind. "Growing a conciseness now grams?" the Chief murmured as he passed through the door.
"A little," the Captain answered. He sighed when he heard that.
"They're still pleading," The communication's tech reported quietly. The Admiral looked over to her then to the Captain. She had just been released by the doctor in time to break orbit. From what he heard it had been release her or space Mindy.
"With your permission Ma'am?" H asked. She flicked her fingers. She was looking much improved, her color had returned, and she even had some pep. It was a wonder what a little care and sleep could do.
He stepped over and took the handset. "Listen up. In about four minutes we'll be out of range of the radio, so we don't have much time. Here's what you can do. Get your elderly, injured, and children underground in caves away from your settlements. The further the better. Move as much food as you can with them, as well as any supplies you can. Bury anything you don't want stolen. Tools, jewels, food," he ordered.
He paused for a moment, and then continued. “Keep a watch out for the pirate shuttles, and a radio watch. If they call in warn them of disease." He paused to let that sink in. "Tell them you opened a canister in a field and it killed a lot of people. Cough, wheeze. Stall them while getting everyone underground. Leave out rotten food and any dead," he suggested.
The woman on the other end didn't reply for a moment. "I don't know if that will be enough, but we'll try," she finally said.
He grimaced. "I'm sorry we can't do more, we're already maxed on our life support." He checked the ships plot. "We're almost out of range. Good luck." He closed the channel and looked up.
The Captain was looking at him and gave him a slow nod of approval. "Best anyone can do," she said. He shrugged.
Chapter 14
The memorial service was brief. The Captain stood at attention near the boat bay. Each of the two coffins were covered in a flag bearing the ship's crest. The girls had paid their respects for hours, coming in and touching the coffins. Some cried. The gardener had filled the area with flowers. A hush rose from the group as the Captain read her brief eulogy. She finished and touched each of the coffins then nodded to the Chief. The Chief stood at attention in uniform. She signaled to the guards who also in uniform stepped up and removed the flag.
In careful moves they folded the flag and then turned and handed each to the Captain and the Chief. "Detail. Attention." The guards came to attention. "Detail about face." The guards turned as one and grasped the handhold on the sides of each coffin. "Detail move out," the Captain said softly.
In careful measured steps the detail lifted then moved the coffins into the airlock. They set them down on dollies inside then exited. The hatch closed as the last one left. "Now we give the bodies of our beloved crew mates to space. Some day may the goddess of space give back our dead," the Captain finished hoarsely and then sat down heavily in her chair. Wearied beyond measure.
The Chief gave her grandmother a concerned look then called. "Attention on deck!" Some of the girls were a bit slow getting to their feet. Tia stood between Jen and Shandra, Eyes red. She saluted the airlock. The Chief nodded to her. She flicked her hands on the controls and the exterior hatch opened. The rush of expelling air sent the coffins tumbling out into space.
"Dismissed," the Captain said softly
.
Jennie grabbed his elbow. He looked down and nodded. She handed him a glass as she looked him over. He was wearing full formal uniform, complete with fruit salad and his cover tucked under his arm. "Dress whites. If only Molly could have seen you now," she said and sighed. "You look like a hero from the holo novels," she said. He shook his head. "Where were you? I didn't see you at the memorial," she said.
He sighed. "I was in the back I was the first out when the Captain dismissed us," he replied quietly. She nodded.
"She's taking it hard," Jennie said. She sniffed, turning to wipe a tear. "I'm going to miss Molly."
He patted her arm awkwardly. "We all will. It's hard to lose a crew mate, even harder to lose one close to you."
Jennie sighed. "So, how did you manage to get Fara to do the uniform on such short notice?" She waved. "Complete with medals," she observed. She examined them. "There are quite a few."
He shrugged. "I didn't bother Fara. We got the textile replicator working remember?" he asked. She nodded. "So, I have my measurements on file. I uploaded them and then let the machine do the work," he explained.
She nodded. "I see. Well, you look good in it," she said.
He nodded. "Least I could do, they deserved it, and they were friends." She looked at him for a moment, and then hugged him. He juggled the drink and laid his cheek on her hair patting her back. "We'll get through it, one day at a time," he said softly. Unshed tears made his eyes itchy. He realized Molly had been his first friend here, and losing her was hard, probably harder then losing the Federation. He sighed.
She sniffled then broke free. "Thanks. I better go mingle a little," she said. He nodded. "I'm here if you need someone to talk too," he murmured. She nodded.
"Are you going through with it?" He looked up from the tablet he had been reading as the girls in the corner talked quietly. One was Kess, the other two were also descendants of gene-sculpts.
"Go through with what? Oh!" Kess reached up and touched her ears.
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