Destiny's Choice (The Wandering Engineer)

by Hechtl, Chris

  “You get the hell out of this ship's net and stay out you tin plated bitch!”

  “Someone's been eating their fiber this morning. I'd like to see you come in here and try and make me,” Sprite said snidely.

  The captain cleared his throat. “Sprite, I mean Commander Sprite can go where ever she chooses as long as she doesn't break any laws. Since we owe our lives to her and the Admiral I don't see a problem with her here. Since this is my ship my word is law.” He let steel ring in that statement, locking eyes with Mayfair. The woman seemed ready to rant again but then she cooled as Willis rested a hand on her arm.

  She looked down at it for a moment and then brushed it off. “Fine. Whatever,” she muttered, clearly unhappy with the entire situation.

  “Ladies we've been at this for an hour and not getting anywhere but tired and more upset. I suggest we take a moment to collect ourselves, get our minds back on balance and review the contingency plans for this situation. Perhaps they will offer a path for us to follow.”

  “A good idea.” Willis said, nodding as she stood. “I think we definitely need to look them over.” She glanced at her boss, nodding her head to the door.

  Mayfair paced for a moment and then left without a further word. The captain sighed, sitting back and closing his eyes.

  After a moment he began to rock back and forth and tap his index fingers against his lip. “Sprite?”

  “Yes sir?”

  “That didn't help you know.” His voice had just enough a disapproval in it for her to take it as a rebuke.

  “They had no business knowing what his activities are. Especially when they rather callously do not want his advice, help, or opinion in ship matters at all. As the Admiral says, what is good for the goose is certainly good for the gander. Or... well, okay gender rolls reversed but you get the meaning. Since his life is at risk I had no desire or legal reason to inform them. Also he specifically ordered me not to do so.”

  “Is he doing something...” the captain paused, feeling a bit amused and a little ashamed at his own curiosity.

  “He's taking the problem from a different perspective I guess you could say. He always took the long view.”

  “Ah. Which would explain why my long range sensors are in heavy use right now.”

  “I thought you'd missed that,” Sprite said after a moment. She seemed chastened.

  “I'm the captain, I don't miss much on my ship.”

  “Good to hear captain,” she said with a smile of approval in her voice.

  “Dismissed.”

  “Admiral, what are we going to do if this turns into a serious problem?” Sprite asked as her attention returned to his quarters. “Admiral?”

  He held up a hand. She sighed and checked his visual. He was accessing files on an asteroid just on the edge of the range of the launch. He grimaced as the calculations came back. It was just in range. Without a reserve. Which ruled it out, his cautious nature...

  “It's a go,” he said getting up. He'd just have to be careful.

  That surprised her. What was he thinking? Was he trying to get himself killed? Or just deliberately running away from the problem she'd just... no he had been working on this before she'd brought it up. He had something else up his sleeve apparently. “It's... ah Admiral there is no reserve...”

  “We can do it.”

  “Sir...”

  “We're going to launch in...” he looked at his HUD clock. “Twelve minutes and do a burn. Snag the asteroid and get it to orbit.”

  “Admiral that will take more fuel than the launch has! It's a launch not a tug!” It was one thing to do a snatch and grab with a tiny iceball... quite another to do something in the couple of hundred kiloton range! Was he crazy? She did a quick assessment and then felt annoyed. No, not crazy. Just determined.

  “Sprite is correct Admiral. Your plan is severely flawed,” Proteus interjected. His eyebrows rose at that uncharacteristic interjection. Proteus rarely stepped outside it's narrow field of expertise. “Upon review of the specs of the launch it lacks both the range and impulse power to move a rock of that mass and size in the allotted time frame.”

  “Damn,” he sighed rubbing his temples.

  “You took the most optimistic calculations? That's not like you Admiral. You always have a fudge factor built in. Always. It's in your nature,” Sprite said, sounding disturbed.

  “I know, I know. I was getting desperate I guess. There are a lot of rocks in this system but none where we need them to be. None of the right size and composition anyway. This is as close as it gets.”

  “Which is probably fortunate for the people on the planet. Had any been within range of the planet they would have impacted. The resulting kinetic event would have severely damaged and destabilized the fragile and largely artificial ecosystem.”

  “At one time or another. And yes, some have.” He pointed to the holo of the planet. “Not all of those craters are from the Xenos or the pirates.”

  “Ah.” Sprite checked the asteroid he'd been interested in. “Admiral this is more mass then we can safely board on Destiny. It is also on a potential collision course with the planet. Another two centuries...”

  “I know. I was trying to kill a few birds with one stone.”

  “Or catch one stone and prevent a few bird deaths. I'd say you were definitely biting off more than you could chew here Admiral. At least with the tools we currently have access too.”

  “Maybe two or more shuttles...”

  “The shuttles are already loading and prepping to land. None are available.”

  “Harumph.”

  “Cute.” She waited a moment and then shrugged mentally. “Do you want to hear what happened with the diplomats?”

  “I can guess. A lot of hair pulling out, ranting, screaming, F bombs, and scratching heads?”

  “Among other things yes,” Sprite said, sounding amused again. He snorted softly. She sketched out Mayfair's busy body attitude quickly. He snorted when she was through.

  “Diplomats and politicians can be predictable. When things don't go their way they whine and then jump. Usually the wrong way and then point fingers.”

  “True.”

  “They'll figure it out. They've got the high ground, they just need to keep working at it.”

  “Good point.”

  “Which your'e not going to point out to them. Let them do it on their own,” he said, turning accusing eyes her way.

  “Me?” she asked, pointing a virtual finger to her chest. He snorted at the HUD image.

  “Yes you. Stay out of it. Let them handle it. Just keep me in the loop if it seems they are going to get someone killed.”

  “Yes sir.”

  The captain grimaced as he sat in his chair. He glanced over to the observation chairs to his left and tried to hide a scowl. Willis and Mayfair were there once more. Willis he didn't mind, the blond woman had a talent for smoothing things over. She, unlike the others, seemed to be a natural diplomat. Her boss though... she was a queen bitch. The ancient term was Diva with a capital D. Someone with power and purpose, but in her case not a lot of knowledge of how to use that power properly. Hopefully Willis would learn from her example and not turn into a clone. Hopefully.

  They'd spent the past several days trying to convince the people on the ground that they were friendly. He wasn't sure what they were doing, if he'd been stuck down there he'd be heading for the hills with as much as he could carry and not trusting some damn schmuck on any communication channel.

  At least now they were safely in orbit and didn't have the long wait time to talk. Not that the shorter delay was doing them the least bit of good.

  “Shall we try this again?” he asked, glancing at Mayfair. She just gave a disdainful sniff. Willis caught it but just gave him an encouraging smile. He glanced to the communication tech and nodded. The young man, not his Gashg superior what's his name nodded back and touched his earphone.

  “Agnosta colony this is Destiny. We have achieved stabl
e polar orbit and are requesting permission to land at Grid 435 by 768 point four. Please come in.” That was the closest flat piece of terrain near the largest surviving town.

  “What the hell? Pirates asking permission to land?” a scratchy female voice said over the communications channel a moment later. The captain sat up straight, suddenly interested.

  “This I gotta hear. My son's been nattering on and on about you for days now,” the voice said. From the sound it was distinctively older. Mature. Someone with a lot of life burned out of them but still a lot of fight in them.

  “Agnosta control this is the star freighter Destiny, we are receiving your transmission five by five,” the tech said, trying to adhere to protocol. He glanced at the captain.

  “Well, yeah, duh! I can hear you just fine too sonny.” The voice had enough granny qualities to make everyone smile a little.

  Willis covered her mouth as she snickered. The captain shook his head, lips puckering. He tapped a control on his chair and cleared his throat. “Agnosta control this is Eli Ferguson, captain of the Destiny. We're no longer under control of the pirates. This ship was captured by Federation forces in Pyrax and we are here to return your missing people and lend aide to help rebuild your colony. Please ma'am, we are the real thing.”

  “Well, a polite pirate no less,” the gravelly voice came back a few seconds later. Ferguson sighed, sitting back. There was less amusement in the voice however, she seemed to be taking it more seriously from the tone.

  “Ma'am, perhaps we can put you through to some of the liberated slaves we've got on board? You can then verify for yourself if you'd like.” He hadn't been sure who had thought of that idea. It hadn't been Mayfair, that was for certain. He had a sneaking suspicion who but hadn't asked.

  “And what? Believe someone who's got a pulser to the back of his head? Keep dreaming.”

  “Would it be better if we sent them down in the first shuttle and let you see them face to face ma'am?”

  “That'd be mighty fine sonny, you just come down here. I've got my hunting rifle all set up and waiting. Ole Petunia will do right by me before you take this old bitch down.”

  “Ma'am...” he sighed, rubbing his chin and face vigorously. “I wish we could talk face to face. You only seem to have audio though.”

  “Never did say that sonny.”

  “You...” He glanced at the communication tech. “We're broadcasting a video signal?”

  “No sir. I... ah, we didn't see a need since they couldn't receive. Or said they couldn't.”

  The captain straightened his uniform and then nodded. “Open the video channel as well mister Sims, by all means.”

  The young man nodded and touched a series of controls on his console. “You're live captain.”

  “Thank you.” He smiled to the camera. “Can you see me now ma'am?”

  “My what a pretty uniform you've got there mister pirate! Looks clean! Oops, spoke too soon, you've got some fluff on your right sleeve.”

  “I do?” he lifted his right arm to check. “Thanks,” he grimaced wryly, amused by the byplay. Obviously the video pick up was streaming in high definition. He suddenly realized that the ground side station also had enough ability to process the same. Interesting. So they didn't lose all their tech to the pirates. Good to know. The bridge lift door opened and a head peeked through. Ed turned and scowled blackly.

  “Go on,” a voice said, pushing a young black boy out. The youth was a teenager, one of the kids the pirates had taken. “I'm right here.” A woman followed him out, and turned, jerking her head to another pair of women in the lift. “Come on you two. We don't have all day.”

  “What's going on up there?” the granny voice asked. The captain and bridge watch had turned to look at the new arrivals. “I'm not important anymore or something?” the woman said with a sniff.

  “Nanna?” the kid asked, looking up, eyes tearing. “Is it you?” he came to the railing and grabbed onto it. His face was screwed up in emotion, clearly he was upset.

  “No, is...” there was a pause and a sniff and then cough. “Damn, you, damn you all. To play such a trick on an old woman....”

  “It's me Nanna Jersey, I'm here,” the young man said looking around. The captain waved him over.

  “Come here son,” he said, indicating the chair as he got up and vacated it. “Sit here and look into the camera. I think someone needs to talk to you.”

  “Billy! Billy! Go fetch my son. Tell him to get his worthless ass back here pronto!” the old woman yelled to someone in her background.

  “Nanna Jersey you know you shouldn't talk about my Pa like that,” Pidge said, adjusting his glasses. He looked at the others uncertainly.

  The women he had come up in the lift with gave him an encouraging smile. He nodded. “Nanna? When can we come home? I really want to come home now,” he bit back a sob. “Even if I have to eat your greasy green bean casserole and do dishes every day. I don't care.” This time he did let a sniffle out. The captain rested his hand on his shoulder.

  “You bastard,” the old woman snarled. The kid's eyes widened, hurt washed over his face as he looked around wildly.

  The lead woman snarled and swooped in past the others to hug the kid. “Jersey when I get my hands on you, old woman or not I'm going to kick your ass so hard you'll walk on your tip toes the rest of your life!” she snarled, looking at the camera over her shoulder as the young man broke down and cried.

  “Not you, him, I mean...” the old woman sputtered helplessly.

  “You mean us ma'am. I believe, I feel you're angry over the situation. I understand that. We're frustrated as well. Frustrated that we can't get it through your thick heads that we're the real deal. This, well...” he shrugged, hands up in surrender.

  “Who sent for you?” Willis asked, looking from one adult to the other.

  “The Admiral did,” the woman said, dashing the young man's tears and then rubbing his back. “You're fine lad, she didn't mean it. She's got a potty mouth. Always has had, probably always will.”

  “I know.”

  “The Admiral?” Mayfair said, making a sour face.

  The captain smiled, feeling relief over the situation. Finally something seemed to be going right. Apparently Irons wasn't as hands off as he had wanted to appear to be. “I have no objections. It seems to have made some breakthrough. Hopefully,” the captain said, nodding to the women.

  “He, ah, he put the transmission up so we could all hear it captain. All of us I mean. I think maybe it was his AI.”

  “Guilty,” Sprite said from the overhead.

  “Who was that?” Jersey asked. “Why can't I see her?” she asked confused.

  Willis grimaced but then shrugged. “That was Fleet Admiral Irons AI ma'am. Sprite.”

  “Lieutenant Commander Sprite ma'am, Federation Navy,” Sprite said. The lights dimmed and a holo of her appeared beside the captain. She dressed in a day uniform, with her rank insignia on her collar and lapel. She straightened, saluted, and then nodded to the others as her hands tucked behind her back. The captain saw a slight spark or twinkle in her eyes.

  Amused he nodded back. “I take it the Admiral is lending a hand?”

  She shook her head, her short virtual hair bobbing slightly. “Actually, I am. He's working on the hyperdrive with Proteus right now. He did tell me to lend a hand if you seemed to need it. Which you do. You're obviously not getting anywhere fast.”

  His lips puckered in a wry smile. She was right. He had been about to swallow his pride and ignore Mayfair to ask the Admiral directly. After all the man had decades of experience to draw from. What he hadn't expected or considered was that his AI had some of the same experience and training. “True. Thank you.”

  “You have an Admiral?” Jersey asked, sounding more than a little confused. She'd heard stories of the Pyraxian port Admiral and didn't like the idea of one coming here one least little bit.

  “It's complicated ma'am. We'll gladly explain when we're down on th
e surface,” the captain said, giving Sprite a warning glance. He didn't need her to complicate an already complicated situation with information right now. She gave him a slight nod in return. This was no time to be cluttering things up with that mess. One thing at a time.

  “He's the one who saved us,” the kid said, rubbing his eyes. “He's nice. He's, well, from the past. Back nanna, from way back. He's older than you. He was a sleeper. It's cool, he's got an arm that can change shape and AI and well...” he glanced at the others again uncertain on how to proceed and wondering why the Admiral wasn't there.

  Sprite smiled to him. The lad's nattering on was just what she was hoping for. His excitement was getting through to the people on the ground. A child under duress wouldn't be excited and happy. “As we said, it's complicated. The Admiral is a sleeper from the time of the Xeno war. We were picked up about two years ago. He led the people of Pyrax in defending themselves from the pirates. They did such a good job they managed to capture most of the pirate ships. We're here to help ma'am, you have my oath as a Federation officer,” she turned to the camera.

  After a moment they heard a grunt and then a cough. “Do what you want, it's not like we can stop you.”

  “Ma'am, if you could help us with coordinating the logistics? We've got a lot to come down and we'd like to get it down to you in an orderly fashion. Do you want it all dropped in one point so you can distribute it yourselves? Or you do want us to do multiple drops? What do you want first?”

  There was a long pause. “What is this? What are you talking about?” She sounded genuinely curious for once.

  The captain stood straight and tall, hands behind his back like the AI beside him. “This expedition was organized as a relief expedition ma'am. We're carrying emergency supplies for your colony. Rations, power plants, replicators, blankets, medical supplies, and some other gear to help you get through the winter and get back on your feet.”

  Which had better all be there, he thought darkly. Charlie assured him he'd run two different spot checks since all the other things had been out of order. He'd checked every item off, even going so far as to pull crates to check the contents. Or so he said.