by Chris Hechtl
They had a massive industrial complex but only a modest research one. That was baffling. Apparently they had spent the past seven centuries researching Federation tech in order to recreate it, but they had a ban on any nanotech or A.I. That hampered their efforts substantially. He shook his head. Well, they'd get them turned around.
He frowned, fingers flicking the tablet in his lap to scroll down. Ships plied the three light weeks between Component A and B on a regular basis. Apparently several starships had been trapped in the nexus when the war had broken out. Up until 122 years ago, they'd had two starships plying the star lanes between Bek and Nuevo. That had lasted until one had been lost to unknown reasons and the other had been at last retired due to age of her components.
“It's weird that they've progressed on some fronts but not on others.”
“Definitely, sir. You got to the part where they had a hyper capable starship? Two of them?” Oppie asked, looking up from his station.
“Yeah, I just read that part. If they got here, one wonders what happened to the helm teams on each of those ships?”
“I'm missing that part as well. It's not in the notes. I'm guessing they were lost in space, or died in accidents or in the oceans or something. Ensign Caroline is still cataloging the data and building the index so hopefully it is in there. They didn't provide a search engine or database.”
“Curiouser and curiouser.”
* * * *
“Once you are in dock, the powers that be want a meet and greet. If you could arrange a tour of your ship, it would be appreciated Captain Perth,” Vice Admiral Georgi Pashenkov said, cocking his furry head and flicking his ears.
“Of course, sir,” the captain replied with a nod. He'd expected the call at any time, but he'd been a bit dismayed to get it when he'd been in the head. But fortunately for him Angie had smoothly stalled until he could finish his business there. “If you can let me know who and when they will be arriving, we'll have a side party waiting, sir.”
The admiral nodded; some of the shadows in his expression retreating. It took a moment for Angie to realize why. Captain Perth was calling the admiral sir and was accepting the orders without reluctance or protest. He even welcomed them.
“We have packages from the Federation to hand out, sir.”
“I see. Well, we can deal with that.”
“It might be wise to do so before your people come on board. Right now our ship is packed to the deckheads, sir. It is rather tight to move around,” he said. He indicated the bridge. The Neowolf/mutt vice admiral frowned. The captain put a finger up. “One moment, sir,” he said. He turned to the communication's rating. “Can you give the admiral a shot of the bridge? A 360?”
“A 360, sir? Sure,” the rating said. She deployed a damage control drone and had it do a 360 of the room. She fed the camera feed to the admiral in place of the tight shot of the captain.
“As you can see, sir, every compartment is like this. Even the bridge has packages tucked away,” the captain said, pointing to some of the small containers stacked against the bulkheads. “They are out of the way but it makes each compartment rather constricted,” he said.
“So I see. Okay, we can arrange an unloading. Thank you for bringing them,” the admiral said.
“Yes, sir. We'll send you an inventory so you can arrange where you wish for it all to go, sir. There are components, medical supplies, databases, and replicators,” he explained.
“So much?”
“Well, we also have extra supplies in case we ran into unforeseen issues in our journey, sir—extra fuel, food, and parts,” the captain explained.
“Ah, I see. Well, we will certainly help lighten your load then. I'll have one of my people call your people to handle the details.”
“Thank you, sir,” the captain said formally as the link disconnected.
“So we accept their authority tamely, sir?” Angie asked, looking at Captain Perth. “Just like that? They are a local militia …”
He eyed her then shrugged. “It's what our orders specify us to do. I don't think even the admiral had a clue what these people could and did accomplish in his absence. But our orders specify to start off as we are going to continue by respecting the chain of command.”
“I … see, sir,” Angie drawled thoughtfully.
“They don't have the experiences we have. But these people have been in uniform a long time. We need to respect that. We have got to get this off on the right foot, number one. Our orders say honorary or provisional authority sure, but I'm going to bend over backwards to show them they are a part of a greater whole, just one that's been cut off a long time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What I'm really looking forward to is getting these people up to speed,” the captain said with a feral grin. “If they can do this much with what they had to scrape together or re-invent, imagine what they can do with the full tool box. The Horathians are going to get their asses seriously kicked. Probably up between their shoulder blades and then some,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed by the bridge crew as they clapped or cheered in appreciation.
Angie smiled back at her captain. For a brief moment, caution was thrown to the wind. Things were finally looking up.
“As you were,” the captain said mildly after a moment. The crew settled down and then attended to their stations.
* * * *
Bosun Malone had his hands full the moment the ship docked. He had to be in several places at once, and it wasn't quite working out as he'd planned. Arranging the side party for the enlisted Bekian personnel who'd come over to assist in the unloading had been quick and easy. They'd gotten the traditions squared away quickly so they could get to work. Getting everyone motivated and moving smoothly hadn't been as easy as he'd thought though.
The Bekians apparently didn't have gravity load lifters or other assistance devices. Nor did they use a lot of robotic support. They did use crude yellow exoframe load lifters among other pieces of equipment. For some reason Caroline's grav lifters kept disappearing the moment they left the lock.
But in the tighter confines of the ship, the exoframes and other large mobile movers were useless. That meant the work crews were reduced to muscle power or simple hand truck dollies. When that was they weren't playing tourist and gawking around or getting off the beaten path to explore.
Fortunately, he found a kindred soul who was just as squared away and just as testy at such antics as he was. The Neomutt chief petty officer with the unenviable name of Heavenly stamped on his people's lookey loo antics right off.
He also got the few gravity load lifters back to the Caroline to finish unloading. Apparently someone had tried to make off with them to tear them apart or something, Malone hadn't quite gotten the full story and for the moment he didn't care. All he cared about was getting the cluster-grope of an unloading under control and eventually done and over with.
Medical supplies, class I and class II military grade industrial replicators, medical databases, crates of ID implants, databases, hyperdrive components, sample cases—they all went out the airlock and into the Bek space station. Caroline's dumb A.I. Ensign Caroline was supposed to be keeping track of it all. She was rather quiet and easily distracted though, so the bosun had a couple sailors keeping tabs as well.
The two noncoms finished getting the works moving smoothly, then nodded in respect to each other at the docking port as they took stock of the proceedings. “Finally,” the chief murmured.
“They had to get it out of their system I suppose,” the bosun replied.
The Neomutt flicked his ears in humor. “Don't be surprised if they take a few mementos or pictures. I'll stomp on any I find of course.”
“Of course,” the bosun sighed, making a mental note to check the compartments for inventory later. No doubt some of the more capitalistic souls on board were selling keepsakes or something or other. Signed autographed pictures? He wouldn't put it past a couple of his more mischievous crewmate
s.
“Sir!” the CPO protested, eying a human in a dirty coverall pushing a loaded crate truck. The human ducked his head briefly as he flinched then looked up with an accusing glower as the chief came to attention.
“Officer on deck!” Bosun Malone barked. All work around them screeched to a halt as enlisted personnel braced to attention.
“Damn it, now you've done it,” the human said, taking his cap off. He used his forearm to wipe sweat from his eyes. “Couldn't live it down I was moonlighting, Chief?” he demanded, eying the Bekian.
“Admiral, sir, this isn't your place.”
“I disagree,” the flag officer said. He smiled at the bosun. “This is exactly where I want to be. I'm an engineer, so is Captain Bailey. He didn't squeal. You don't either. Call it an order if you must.”
The chief nodded reluctantly. “As you were people,” he said, looking around. “Just couldn't help yourself?” he asked, finally returning his gaze on the officer in their midst.
“I couldn't help myself,” Rear Admiral Melvin Zekowitz said, grinning like a little errant school boy who'd gotten caught. “Call it the engineer in me.”
“Right,” the chief drawled. He glanced over to the bosun.
The bosun crossed his arms and snorted. “Its engineers, trust me. Admiral Irons does it all the time; he can't help but get his hands dirty with something or other. They are like little tinkering kids or so I've been told.”
“He does?” Admiral Zekowitz asked, clearly pleased by the comparison.
“And his keepers go nuts trying to rearrange his schedule when he derails it. He's also in the habit of playing hooky in the academy or college. He loves playing surprise guest lecturer,” the bosun replied in a slightly amused yet exasperated tone of voice. “I don't envy his keepers at all.” The implication that he didn't envy the rear admiral's staff either was left unsaid but it hovered in the air.
“Well, if they got on board, it'd reduce the anxiety quotient,” the admiral said. He tipped his hat to the two non-commissioned officers. “Gentlemen. Have a good day, I was never here. See?”
“Aye aye, sir,” both noncoms said, coming to attention briefly.
“Best git before Admiral Sienkov sends someone to look for you, sir,” the chief murmured.
“I'm going,” the admiral said, wrestling with his load before he got it into motion once more.
“That way, sir,” the chief said in a slightly amused voice as he pointed in the opposite direction that the flag officer had been going.
“I knew that. I just got momentarily turned around by the distraction,” the flag officer mumbled, turning about and heading in the proper direction to the hatch.
The two noncoms exchanged looks and then shook their heads in unison.
* * * *
Once the Bekian enlisted departed, Bosun Malone assembled work parties of organics and robots to clean and reorganize the ship from stem to stern in a rather large hurry. They had a single shift to get the ship back to shipshape and glistening before they took on the Bek delegation.
The formal boarding ceremony was arranged for the turn of the morning watch. Right on the tick an assembly of white dressed officers entered the personnel docking tube to Caroline. Her marine sentry passed them with a quick check; they didn't have biometrics or implants it seemed.
When the officers came on board, it was gratifying to see them go through the usual ceremony of saluting the colors and then asking permission to board. The bosun's pipes sounded over the PA signaling flag officers on deck.
They weren't the only ones however. Within the knot of astronomical brass were a few people in civilian dress. Undoubtedly high ranking people in the Bek administration.
They exchanged salutes and then silently stood saluting the flag of the Federation as Ensign Caroline played the national anthem. Once it was finished, they collectively struck their salutes. “Welcome aboard,” Captain Perth said, holding out his hand to the senior most officer, a human with full admiral stars on his shoulders.
“A pleasure to be here, Captain. And a pleasure to finally seeing you in person.”
“Likewise, sir,” the captain said, shaking the man's hand and then turning to indicate his senior officers. “May I introduce First Lieutenant Kalua my XO? And beside her is my tactical office Second Lieutenant Oppenheimer.” The Neoorangutan chuffed slightly. A Bekian Neochimp captain eyed him then nodded once.
“Beside him is our Junior Tactical Officer Ensign Falling Leaf,” Captain Perth said, indicating the diminutive but no less important elf. And Ensign Decka, our marine officer. The flag officers nodded briefly to the no-nonsense marine. “Doctor Naroob is on duty, and our navigational officer is the officer of the watch on the bridge. If you don't mind, I'd like to start the tour when you're ready?” he said.
“Please do,” Admiral Sienkov said. “We can handle the rest of the introductions later,” he said.
The bosun let out a slight sigh of relief as the cavalcade of brass started to get back into motion. When he saw a familiar face in their midst, he frowned thoughtfully. When the human winked his way, he suddenly connected the dots and snorted.
Apparently the engineering admiral was just full of surprises it seemed.
* * * *
When the tour reached the bridge, the Bekian officers and civilians were surprised and gratified to meet the conn team assembled there.
“We don't have water dwellers here,” Admiral Sienkov said eying the group.
“None, sir?” Tulimak asked politely.
“Narry a one. They didn't want to settle here when the flap with the navigational guild was going on,” Admiral Sienkov said, sounding thoroughly disgusted. “Whatever. It's in the past I suppose.”
“Yes, sir, I suppose it is. I suppose any who had chosen to stay might have preserved their genes easier,” the midshipman said.
“Inbreeding would have taken them out,” the human said dismissively. “Or someone would have tried to send one of our ships out to find out what was going on or they would have gotten killed some other way. It doesn't matter now. You got along just fine it seems.”
“Not exactly, sir,” the midshipman said wryly.
The old man raised an eyebrow in inquiry. “Oh?”
“We've had our share of inbreeding. For centuries our ancestors have had to live hand to mouth. We've also been reduced to a shadow of ourselves. The Xenos were brutal against water dwellers. Anyone in the guild was targeted. They wiped out entire species.”
A few of the Bekian officers looked uncomfortable. Admiral Sienkov and Admiral Zekowitz grimaced almost in unison. “I'm not going to say I'm not surprised or displeased. You have no idea how much people here still sting over that. It's been centuries but that unpleasantness left a lasting mark,” Admiral Sienkov admitted.
“Well, sir, hopefully we're all big enough to let the past remain in the past. We are, after all, here to build a new future. Together,” Tulimak said.
The human eyed him for a long thoughtful moment then slowly nodded. “Exactly what Admiral Irons said to us on his last visit. Almost verbatim,” he said. “There is more to you than expected.”
“Thank you, sir. If I'm sharing the admiral's thoughts, then I'm one step closer to helping him build a new brighter future. One without pirates and bigots, sir.”
“Agreed,” Admiral Sienkov said with a nod. He extended his hand. The selkie took it, shook it once, then released it, came to attention, and saluted.
“Carry on then, midshipman,” the admiral said, returning the salute.
5
President K'k'R'll nodded to the cabinet. Things were moving smoothly, though he'd expected the media to twig about the changes and ask why or ask about the secrecy the military had shrouded over a part of the main port in Command HQ station. Apparently not, so he was determined to get as much done as possible before he let his press room loose with the announcement.
“I'm well aware that keeping this secret for too long will turn around
and bite us in the ass and cloud the message. But we need to get as much done as possible as quickly as possible. Have the feelers gone out?”
“Yes, sir,” Moira replied. “The senate leadership was already alerted. They are quietly feeling out their delegation while avoiding those who have a history of leaks,” she said.
“Which won't make certain people happy.”
“No, but it's a minor annoyance. According to the unofficial polls we're running at nearly 80 percent to join the new Federation.”
“Technically we never left,” Admiral Sienkov growled.
“True,” Moira said, glancing his way.
“The gifts Admiral Irons have sent us will go a long way to smooth over any initial ill will and cynicism,” Lars stated. He was already looking a bit younger, healthier. Moira privately wondered if he'd gotten first dibs on the medical supplies. Most likely he had.
“So, we're determined to join; we just need to work out the nuts and bolts of exactly how, and when. And what we're expected to do.”
“Taxes,” Lars growled.
“Are among many things to work out,” Doctor Q'r'll stated. He glanced at her. “Yes medicine, but I was thinking local autonomy? The Constitution? There are mentions of changes to it. We should send a delegation to evaluate it and this Federation. Look before we leap.”
“Agreed,” the president stated. “We've already considered sending a delegation. A joint military and civilian group who is yet to be determined,” he stated.
“We've got time, sir.”
“Good. Let's finish the weekly status report then hit on any points we want brought up for the press release,” the chief of staff stated, bringing them back to the scheduled agenda for the meeting.
* * * *
“So, this delegation, it's going to be tricky. I wonder who ole K'k'R'll will agree to send at its head,” Lars said, eying Moira lazily as he toyed with his drink.