Metal Boxes

by Alan Black

  Numos nodded, “I was afraid of that the moment I saw you were back from the dead. You are going to have to tell me how you did that.”

  “Well-”

  “Admiral at the hatch,” the steward’s voice rang out. He raced away from the shuttle as previously ordered.

  “Admiral Shalako, as requested General,” the man stepped into the shuttle and walked up to Maggot without glancing around him. He held out his hand to shake hands.

  Maggot took his hand in a firm handshake and pumped it twice. Then he gripped it tighter grabbing the man’s wrist with his other hand. “Major Numos, please have your marines place the admiral under arrest.”

  “Yes, General,” Numos said. “Vedrian. Hammermill. Secure the admiral.”

  Shalako sputtered, but before he could utter a word, Allie and the Hammer had him bracketed. They did not touch him. No one in the shuttle, not even the admiral, was under any delusions he could go anywhere.

  Shalako started when he recognized Vedrian and Hammermill. “You two? You have been arrested for killing two naval officers, how can you be free?”

  Maggot still held the admiral’s hand. He let go of the man’s wrists and gestured over his shoulder at Stone and Wright. “You mean for killing these two?” he asked.

  Shalako turned pale when he saw Stone and Wright. “But you can’t…you’re…this has got to be a trick. I demand to be released immediately.”

  “No, Admiral Shalako,” Maggot said. He handed the reader to the admiral. “This is an Emperor’s Writ. Please read it at your leisure. However the sum and substance is that you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, false imprisonment, bearing false witness against military officers, theft of the Emperor’s personal property, falsifying official government forms, and well, there is a whole list of charges you can get someone from the legal staff to read through for you. Before you protest your innocence, frankly you may be found innocent of some of them, but not all of them.”

  “But I am not guilty,” Shalako said.

  Maggot laughed, “I never get tired of hearing that no matter how many times I arrest people. Admiral, I have enough data gathered already to convict you on conspiracy to comment theft of naval goods going through the Periodontitis.”

  The admiral nodded, “Okay. I did skim a little off the top.” He looked pleadingly at Wright. “But, Danielle. I had nothing to do with hurting you or that young man. I didn’t even know anything had happened until the shuttle alarms on the bridge started ringing. Then it was too late, you were lost to hyperspace…” Suddenly, the admiral stopped. “You’re dead. How did you survive?”

  Stone started, “Well-”

  “We can get to that later,” Maggot interrupted. “Admiral, I am notifying you that I am having you replaced as captain of the Periodontitis.”

  Shalako laughed. “You can have the Ol’ Toothless. She is more problems than she is worth. Commander Melendez is…was my first officer. He will make a competent captain.”

  Maggot shook his head. “No, almost every officer you have on board is now suspect and under investigation.” He tapped a few commands into his p.a. “I am ready to place in command the only person in your chain of command I know is innocent of any criminal misconduct. Midshipman Stone is as of this date and time in command of the Periodontitis. Admiral, unless you have anything to add I am ready to broadcast the accepted Emperor’s Writ and the change of command order.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  “Stop,” Stone said. “Do not broadcast that order.” He stepped forward toward the group near the door.

  Bob and Jake were still in their seats, cowering down as the drascos slid over them, flanking Stone.

  The admiral would have bolted, but Allie and Hammer grabbed him and held him in place. Maggot glanced over his shoulder and saw the drasco’s talons ripping the un-ripable fabric on the seats. He braced his back against the cockpit bulkhead. Wright stepped nimbly to the side, but did not flinch when Peebee crawled past her.

  “Not now, Stone,” Maggot said.

  “Yes now, General Storovitch or Agent Storovitch or whatever. You have already placed me in command of the U.E.N.S. Periodontitis. That makes anything aboard this ship my business.”

  “This investigation and the Writ are my business,” Maggot spat back.

  Jay lowered her head and hissed.

  Maggot pointed at the drascos. “You control your beasts and do what you are told.”

  Stone said, “I am really getting tired of people telling me to just do what I am told, General. But I do have a responsibility to this ship and the safety of her crew and cargo. By broadcasting that writ now you will place both the ship and the cargo in jeopardy.”

  “Broadcasting this accepted writ,” Maggot waved the pad containing the Emperor’s seal, “and getting this ship to Lazzaroni Station is the whole point of our being here.”

  “No,” Stone said. “My purpose is to find out who is stealing from the navy, who tried to kill Commander Wright and me, and who framed my friends for my murder. I will not hurt innocent people in the process.”

  “Innocent!” Maggot shouted. “No one is innocent. You just don’t know who is not guilty. Anyone who is not guilty can put up with a few minor inconveniences. This is the biggest criminal case in the last hundred years in this sector. I will not be hampered by a child, no matter who your family is.”

  “I am in command,” Stone shook his head. “You do not have the authority to revoke that appointment. And I am telling you, if you broadcast the writ until I tell you different, I will have you arrested for any ‘minor inconveniences’ you cause.”

  “Ha!” Shalako spat. “You’re just an arrogant street cop. You put a young pup, not dry behind his ears in command and you expect him to be a lap dog. You’re a fool, Storovitch. This is exactly why we never trust a midshipman with any more responsibility than wiping his own butt without direct supervision.”

  “Admiral,” Stone said. “The issue of command is between General Storovitch and me. What I want from you is to make this command transition as smooth as possible.”

  “Why should I care?” Shalako shouted. “You…” he started, but his voice failed him as Peebee stretched her neck out, shaking her head at the admiral.

  “Peebee. That is enough,” Stone said. “I will feed you later if you are hungry. We don’t eat admirals, they are full of hot air and will just give you gas.”

  Stone heard Hammermill chuckle, but he kept his eyes on Shalako. “Admiral, while you were in command there were incidents of attempted murder. That we know for sure. You may not have been involved as you say, but we know officers and enlisted men under your command committed murder. What do you imagine they will do if we lock this ship down and take everyone in for a complete investigation?”

  Shalako said, “They are navy. They will do their duty.”

  Stone shook his head, “They already tried to kill a superior officer in Commander Wright. Would they be above trying to kill others to cover their tracks, maybe an admiral? Or maybe they will just take the time to get into the databanks and change the information so someone else takes the fall for their crimes. Maybe an admiral already in custody?”

  “You do what you have to do,” Shalako said. “You will never get this ship back to Lazzaroni Station. This crew is loyal to me and I won’t be disloyal to any of them.”

  Maggot said, “Okay, Stone, you have had your say.” He started to tap commands into the Writ console.

  “Stop!” Stone shouted. “Commander Wright, please take that pad from General Storovitch. It, and he, are becoming detrimental to this vessel.”

  Wright held out her hand to Maggot.

  Maggot clutched the pad to his chest.

  Hammermill released his hold on the admiral and he held his rifle at point blank range in Maggot’s face.

  Maggot handed the pad to Wright.

  “Thank you, Hammer,” Stone said. “Major Numos, I realize you are in a difficult position. On one hand y
ou have a marine general giving you orders; on the other you have the safety of this craft and many of the Emperor’s loyal subjects to protect.”

  Numos shrugged. “It is not as much of a conflict as you would imagine, Captain. My orders are to the U.E.N.S. Periodontitis and her captain’s orders. General Storovitch may outrank me, but he is transient aboard this ship. I must follow his orders, but only where they do not conflict with my original orders.”

  “Ha!” Maggot spat. “Major, I order you to call off your dogs and get me my pod to broadcast that writ.”

  “Dogs?” Numos smiled. “The Hammer became an officer because he is just like a junkyard dog that has been beat once too often. He responds to loyalty when he sees it, but his instincts are sharp. Did you know, General, that Hammer became a lieutenant because he saved the life of his commanding officer, plus more other marines than you have hairs on your backside, all at the risk of his own life? And he did so more than once.”

  “I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” Maggot replied.

  Numos said, “It has everything to do with it as I have been his commander since he was a boot private. I trust his loyalty and I trust his instincts. Captain Stone, what are your orders?”

  Stone pointed at Bob. “This auditor has bio data on four naval personnel involved in the kidnapping and attempted murder of Commander Wright and myself. They may have been involved in other crimes, including trying to frame Allie and Hammer for our murders, I don’t know yet.” He pointed at Maggot and the others, “We don’t know yet. Would you detail Lieutenant Heller and a small squad to locate and confine these individuals?”

  “I would like to volunteer for that duty,” Hammermill said.

  Stone shook his head. “Thanks Hammer, but if we stick our heads out that door someone is going to bolt. I don’t want anyone to sabotage the Ol’ Toothless, start a panic, or try to jump ship before we are ready.”

  “Crap!” Hammermill said, “Yes, Captain.”

  “Major Numos,” Stone asked, “do you have a place to lock down arrested individuals, to keep them separate from each other, but keep them detained?”

  “Yes, Captain,” Numos smiled. “We offered to set aside a couple of officer billets for Vedrian and Hammer when they were arrested. But the admiral seems to think we couldn’t police our own.” He spoke briefly into his comms.

  Stone nodded. He tapped open the comms on his p.a. and held it up to the admiral’s face. “Admiral Shalako, please call the bridge and order a general quarters alert.”

  “You young pup! Why do you think I would do anything you ask at this point?” the admiral spat.

  Stone grinned, “Hey Hammer. I get to be a young pup. Does that mean I might become a junkyard dog like you some day?”

  The marines laughed.

  Hammermill said, “Keep at it the way you are going, Mister Stone; and I will be taking lessons from you.”

  Stone turned back to the admiral, “Sir, the rest of this ship still thinks that you are in command. Everyone in this shuttle knows different. You and I both know that I am the captain of this spacecraft. You can do as I ask or I will add the charge of disobeying a direct order. If the Emperor’s judges are lenient you may get off with a few years probation for, how did you state it? Skimming a little of the top? But what is the punishment for disobeying a direct order in wartime? I am sure I do not know. I am just a young pup. What do you think it is?”

  “Bridge, this is Admiral Shalako. General quarters red alert. Now!”

  Every speaker in earshot began blaring out the alarm.

  Lieutenant Heller skidded to a stop just inside the door. His eyes bugged at the scene, but when he saw Hammermill, he whooped and leapt on the man, pounding on Hammermill’s head.

  Hammermill held the weight without flinching. He grinned, “Easy, brother. We got work to do.”

  “Major,” Stone said. “this alert should allow you to get your marines scattered to every corner of the Ol’ Toothless. Please get them in place to protect any vital systems.”

  Numos nodded. He grabbed Heller by the collar and dragged him off Hammermill. He grabbed Hammermill by his collar and dragged both lieutenants over to Bob and Jake. He began issuing orders to secure the ship through his p.a. The external pickup showed the welcoming ceremony had dissolved into organized chaos as marines and navy scattered to their appointed red alert stations. The marines halted their rush off the hanger deck and began to filter back, falling into informal ranks.

  Heller streaked out of the shuttle. The external video pickups showed him selecting four senior enlisted marines dressed in ceramic combat armor from among the dozens standing on the deck. Seconds later the group raced out of the hanger.

  A colonel stepped up to the shuttle hatch and banged his knuckles on the hull. “Marine Colonel Obregon requests permission to enter.”

  Stone called back, “Permission granted, Colonel. Major Numos, if you please?”

  “Yes Captain,” Numos nodded. “Colonel Obregon, I realize that you are transient aboard the Periodontitis, but we need to call for your assistance. As the highest ranking marine officer I would like you to help coordinate an internal defense of the ship.”

  Obregon’s eyes flicked to Maggot and dismissed him. “You may count on my support, Major. This is your boat. I place myself at your disposal.”

  Stone nodded, “Major Numos, how much time do you need to secure the Periodontitis?”

  “Fifteen to twenty minutes, Captain.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t think we have that much time left.” Stone gestured to the video. A squad of naval security forces was working their way across the hanger deck to the shuttle.

  Hammermill said, “We can stop them cold. We have a couple of hundred marines out there; half of them are already in combat armor.”

  “Not if I can stop this,” Stone said. He turned to Maggot. “It is too soon, but we don’t have any time left. Broadcast your writ. Then, I suggest that you drop the pretense of being a marine. I have learned recently,” he looked at Allie and smiled, “that it isn’t helpful to pretend to be something that you are not. Your rank has served its purpose. It got us on board and got us to meet the marines.”

  Maggot nodded and broadcast the Emperor’s Writ. He snapped the pod off, “Anything else, Captain?”

  “I suggest that you change into civilian clothes and begin your investigation. You may not believe me, but I want you to succeed, Agent Storovitch.”

  The admiral’s p.a. comm unit began beeping for attention. Shalako pulled it out and almost accepted the call. Stone reached over and pulled it from the man’s hand.

  “I don’t think so, Admiral,” Stone said. He tossed the p.a. to Maggot. “Have all of his calls routed through to you and your agents. You can do that?”

  “Of course, Mister Stone,” Bob answered.

  Wright said, “It is Captain Stone, Bob.”

  “No, Commander Wright. Bob is right,” Stone said. “I am still only a midshipman, so Mister is correct. I also happen to be a captain. And as such, we need to get to the bridge. That is my duty station during general quarters. Isn’t that correct, Admiral.”

  Shalako shrugged, “That is where I would have been ten minutes ago.”

  “Major Numos, should we put the admiral in a detention cell?” Allie asked.

  Numos nodded. He started to speak, but was interrupted.

  “No. I would like to keep Admiral Shalako with me,” Stone said. “Major, I would also like to keep Lieutenant Vedrian with me as head of an escort group. We need to leave now. Allie, please bring the admiral along.”

  He turned and walked out of the shuttle hatch into the hanger. Jay and Peebee padding along beside him. The marines filed out behind them. The approaching navy security team finally pushed through the marine’s informal formation.

  The junior ensign in charge shouted. “Hold. You!” he pointed at Allie. “Release Admiral Shalako. Stand down and submit to arrest.”

  Allie continued to h
old Admiral Shalako by the upper arm. She looked at the junior ensign as if inspecting an unusual insect.

  Hammermill moved quickly to the left while Numos and Obregon moved to the right.

  “Everyone just calm down, please,” Stone said.

  The junior ensign shouted, “Shut up, Midshipman. You can speak when you are spoken to. Sorry Admiral, we will have you free in a moment. The shuttle steward told us you were probably taken captive by Hyrocanian agents. Is that them?” He pointed his gun barrel at Jay.

  Hammermill laughed, “Moron! Didn’t you even look at pictures of Hyrocanians in your own intelligence department? These are drascos. Every child north of the Shamark Drift knows what drascos look like. You want your admiral free? Try to take him. You couldn’t take him from me even if there weren’t a couple of hundred marines behind you.”

  The junior ensign nervously looked behind him.

  Major Numos said, “Ensign, if anyone fires their weapon in this closed hanger a lot of us are going to get hurt. We are all on the same team here-”

  “Attack, you fool!” Shalako shouted.

  Hammermill tossed his rifle over his shoulder to Allie and charged the security detail. He bent and sent a flying kick at the junior ensign’s rifle. It shot out of the man’s hands.

  Allie caught Hammermill’s rifle deftly and slung it over her shoulder. She did not release her grip on the admiral. She shifted her rifle, resting the muzzle lightly against Shalako’s chin.

  The security detail rushed forward.

  “Ooyaah!” Hammermill shouted. He took down the junior ensign with a hip toss, throwing him into two other navy ratings. He grabbed two more men and dropped them to the deck. A third man swung the butt of his rifle at Hammermill’s head.

  Hammermill grabbed the rifle butt as it swished past his skull. In one smooth motion, he locked a grip on the butt, twisted, tossed the rifle over his shoulder and punched the man in the nose.

  The man crumpled to the deck.

  Major Numos caught the thrown rifle, spilled the ammunition to the deck and shouldered the weapon.