by Chris Hechtl
“Well, I wouldn't want you to be late for dinner. Again,” Horatio snorted. He frowned for a beat then shrugged. “Quick and dirty, they feel exploited so they are turning the tables on outsiders. They want to have full industry, more satellites, and everything home grown. Plus, ties to their sister planet, though that hasn't been mentioned much. I think Baker needs a bit of help with terraforming, but we didn't get into that.”
“Understood.”
“The army group is … a mixed blessing. The careerists are glad for an opportunity to work their trade I guess you could say. But many are reservists. They are used on the planet.”
“Insurrections bad there?”
“Not so much. Hooligans, but also they've got Dilgarth problems in the bush. Nasty ones. Plus, the reservists are used in disasters. They have a lot of natural disasters,” Horatio said with a shake of his head. “Nasty ones. Pulling people out to go to the Federation in large lots might not sit well with them.”
“Understood.”
“The good news is with more industry and trade their quality of life should improve. They'll most likely go through a baby boom if food production picks up and people begin transitioning to the cities.”
“Understood. Oops, busted. She's got the wooden spoon again. Gotta go. Antigua out.”
“Enjoy dinner. Harbor Station out,” Horatio replied with a chuckle. He could just imagine Cookie with a wooden spoon chasing a not quite chastened Admiral Irons off to dinner.
~<><{<^>}><>~
Three days later the rapids exploded into light and energy signaling the arrival of the transport from Pyrax. Horatio reported their safe arrival to the ansible. Three days after that Justica completed her journey to the station. She docked while stationers cheered from every viewing window that was available.
Horatio, Lieutenant Olson, Captain Clayton, and Commander Decoure met Justica's captain at the dock. The Neopanda was the first to board the space station. After the panda ducked through the airlock, he came to attention in front of the delegation. “Sir, First Lieutenant Chung, Captain of Justica reporting,” he stated. He crisply saluted the commodore.
Horatio came to attention smartly and returned the salute, then struck it. “On behalf of Commander Decoure here, I welcome you to the Sargasso Harbor Station, Lieutenant.”
“Thank you, sir,” the bear said. He held out his hand paw. Horatio took it, and they shook hands. It felt like his hand was engulfed in black fur. When they broke the handshake, the bear went and shook hands with the other two humans. “Good to see you Pietro,” he murmured. Pietro grinned and pretended to punch the other officer in the shoulder.
“You too. And you're a captain now! It fits,” Pietro said.
“I see you two have met,” Horatio said with a nod.
“I was a grade above him in the academy,” the bear replied with a shrug. He nodded to the Centillian. “Commander.”
“Glad you could make it,” Commander Decoure stated. “We've been expecting you.”
“We're glad too, sir. That was a harry journey,” First Lieutenant Amus Chung said with a shake of his massive black and white head.
“I know. It was rough for Caroline too,” Horatio said in agreement.
“I have something for you, sir,” the Neopanda captain said, turning to the commodore. He pulled out something small from his breast pocket and then passed on a chip to the commodore. “And another,” he said, fishing out a second chip as the commodore contemplated the first. He passed on a second chip. Horatio took them and nodded. The jack in his hand said both chips were encrypted. He decided it would be wise to view them in private. From the look on Captain Clayton's face he could tell the officer wasn't happy about the fresh orders for some reason.
“Well, the quartermasters are getting together to arrange the unloading,” Commander Decoure said politely. He shifted about, curling and uncurling his long body. “I believe we should get out of their way,” he said pointedly.
The panda looked over his shoulder to see a line of cargo pods and personnel behind him. “Yeah, my mamma always said I make a better door than a window,” he chuffed. He made a show of stepping to one side, and then had to suck in his gut to allow the first of the floating pods to pass by.
“Sir, we've got the manifests, but we're at odds on where to store some of the transitory cargo for the moment,” Lieutenant V'r'x stated as he scuttled up behind the group. “We've arranged appropriate quarters for the new crew members here on the station. Captain, we are receiving a compliment of replacement personnel I believe?” he stated, looking at Captain Clayton.
The captain cleared his throat in surprise and then looked at Horatio.
The commodore shrugged. “I uploaded the orders from BuPers to you before we left for Nuevo,” he said gently. “You are getting some replacements, and a few of your personnel who are past establishment are getting promoted and transferred. You should be fully crewed by the time the shuffling is done.”
“I'll have um …” the captain grimaced. “I was going to say Fazim but given that she isn't here,” his tone took on a harsher note, “I'll have Mack deal with it.”
“We have a new XO for you, Captain. Plus, some navigational staff members. Also a couple pieces of equipment your engineer, Mrs. Galiet Bailey, and the commodore requested to help fine tune your hyperdrive,” the Panda said smoothly.
The captain cleared his throat and then nodded. “I must really be having a brain fart to have forgotten all that,” he said.
“Well, we picked up some of the crew in Pyrax. I can upload the orders to you again sir,” the Veraxin quartermaster stated.
“Yes, please do,” the captain stated, looking at the bug and then to the other officers. “If you'll excuse me?”
“Dismissed, Captain. Have a good day,” the commodore said. The captain hesitated and then nodded curtly before he left with the Veraxin in tow.
“I can show Amus around, sir, if you'd like some time to check those chips out,” Pietro offered. He smiled to his friend. “There is even a bar we can catch up in.”
“I bet I can still drink you under the table, kid,” the bear said.
Pietro laughed in self-deprecation. “No bets. But there is a strict drinking limit. Security and rationing,” he explained.
“Well, maybe I can help out a little there from my private stock,” the panda said with a grin. Pietro groaned.
“Have fun gentle beings,” the commander said with a nod. “I'll go check on security and the cargo stowage,” the Centillian said.
“Good day, gentlemen,” Horatio stated as more personnel passed between them. The new station crew members were looking for someone to report to he could tell. But they like the passengers who came off Justica took the time to look around like tourists.
As they got further in, some of the business leaders were there with inviting smiles, waving signs, and greetings for their new crop of customers.
“This is going to be a treat. I can't believe you really made this station out of a bunch of wrecked ships. It really is a Sargasso station,” Amus rumbled as he rested a hand around his friend's shoulders. A couple of other officers from Justica seemed ready to tag along, they followed in their wake.
Horatio noted the commander was already gone, having dropped to the deck and then scuttled off in a scurry of wind milling legs. He nodded and then took himself off. He had some things to do.
~<><{<^>}><>~
“Now that we're out of earshot,” Amus said as he slowed up and then came to a stop. He looked over his shoulder and then to a confused Pietro. The Panda's dark eyes were filled with mischief.
“What?” Pietro asked warily.
“I wanted to tell you a little about what is on one of those chips so we can do something fast. We're going to have to spread the word and move to get it done in time,” Amus said.
“And ….?”
The Neopanda grinned. “Let's just say your boss is getting the good news bad news treatment. I don't know what
's on the bad news, but I know the good news. You're going to get a kick out of it,” he said.
“I'm all ears,” Pietro said with a nod.
“Good …”
~<><{<^>}><>~
It took a little bit to get to where he was going; the station seemed abuzz with activity. Horatio went into his office and locked the door before he went to his desk and checked the content of the electronic chips. The first he put into the holographic display was a set of orders from Admiral Irons. They ordered him to go to Bek and relieve Childress.
“You have got to be fracking kidding me,” he muttered. “John, what are you doing?” he demanded, shaking his head.
There was a video message attached. Based on the length listed on the bottom right corner it was short and sweet. His finger hovered over the triangle for a second or two before he bit the bullet and hit play. The screen faded from black to an image of the Federation flag, then the navy seal, and then after a moment the seal was replaced by a hologram of Admiral Irons seated at his desk.
“I'm sorry to do this to you, Horatio. If I didn't tell you already through the ansible, I thought about putting this off, but I don't think it can wait for much longer. We need to get Bek back on track and into the fold. Since Yorgi is delayed by most likely a year, it falls on you to pass on the orders. Detailed instructions are there. I know you'll follow them. Above all, broadcast his relief the moment you get into Bek! That's imperative! We need that man gone. His own people need to see that if they haven't already. They'd better support you or there will be hell to pay,” the admiral's holographic image said.
“Like I said, sorry to dump it on you. I've got other mission orders and some stuff for you to bring to Bek on the transport. But we're no longer giving it away given the shenanigans they have been pulling on you. Hopefully, they get that through their thick heads,” the admiral growled.
“I've got more orders here on this chip including more videos for whoever is next in the chain of command to replace Childress. I believe that is Admiral Pashenkov unless he has been forcibly retired. If whoever replaces Childress isn't willing to play ball, I'll fire their ass too. But I'll do it, Horatio; I want to make that clear. You are my eyes and ears, and in this limited case, my courier. Don't intimidate anything, just pass the orders on and let the command structure settle as it may.”
Admiral Irons grimaced. “I hate that. I hate not being there, not able to assess the people involved, and not being able to guide it if necessary damn it. But it is what it is. Hopefully, the remaining senior officers will get the message.”
“Yeah, hopefully,” Horatio murmured.
When the hologram ended Horatio sat back. He felt more than a little trepidation about following his orders, but he knew he would do so. Bek needed to get rid of Childress and his cronies. They needed to be dragged kicking and screaming into the present day and definitely into the fold.
Once he loaded the second chip, he blinked when it came up and then interfaced with his implants.
Admiral Irons' voice started in as a file and the admiral's holographic image came up. It was an old fashioned document. “I'm sorry I can't be there to perform the ceremony in person, but again, duty calls. In this case …” the admiral cleared his throat. “Attention to orders,” he said formally. Horatio instinctively came to attention.
“As acting president, I, Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons, ask you this. Do you, Horatio Logan, solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federation against all enemies both foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely; without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and will faithfully execute the duties for the office you are about to enter?”
Horatio slowly lifted his right hand and held it upright before him. “I, Horatio Logan do solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federation against all enemies both foreign and domestic; I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; I take this obligation freely; without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and will faithfully execute the duties for the office I am about to enter;” he choked out. “With the blessings of the gods of space,” he said.
“Good,” Admiral Irons' image stated. He cracked a smile. “Sprite, added a minor bot to record your oath of office.”
Horatio nodded. He felt changes in his IFF. He knew what was going on, but not why.
“As of now you are promoted to rear admiral of the Federation Horatio. Wear the rank in good health and service. Keep up the good work old friend,” his voice said. He winked. “I rammed this one through the promotion board. Phil wasn't too enthused, he wanted you to spend another year in grade, but since he got his promotion around the same time he quit being a prig, at least for the moment. He even admitted you need the extra rank for leverage in the snake pit I am throwing you back into.
Horatio sat back in stunned surprise as the recent event hit him all over again. His IFF blinked and then flashed his new rank on his HUD in gold lettering. He grunted.
“Me, an admiral. I never thought I'd see the day I'd be an officer, let alone a flag officer,” he murmured.
“Check out the rest of this chip, Horatio. I also copied the promotion and others onto dispatches to Bek. It is all official. Irons out,” the admiral said. His image froze and then winked out.
Horatio frowned and then accessed the other files.
On the chip were congratulatory messages from various people he knew. Admiral Subert was a bit sour about it, but he noted the admiral had also been promoted. He shouldn't complain, but that was in the newly minted vice admiral's nature.
Nara and Matilda were all grins. “We wish we were there to celebrate with you!” the duo said in unison, making him bark a laugh.
There were dozens of such messages of congratulation. When he looked up to the time and noted his growling stomach, he decided to table the rest and eat.
~<><{<^>}><>~
“Did you hear, sir?” an excited ensign said as he rushed up to the captain and chief engineer.
“Hear what?” Captain Clayton demanded.
“It's all over the station, sir. Commodore Logan has been promoted to rear admiral!” the neochimp said with an excited squeal. “It's awesome!”
“Yeah, something like that,” the captain said with a nod. “Carry on,” he said dismissively. He shook his head as he watched the female rush off to another knot of people on the concourse.
“Is it true?” Mack asked quietly.
“I have no idea. Since it is making the rounds, it probably is,” the captain said.
“I wonder what this does. How much does it change?” the chief engineer mused.
The captain turned to eye him for a moment before he shrugged. “I don't know. Not a whole hell of a lot in Bek I imagine. He's new in grade and just about every other flag officer outranks him.
“True, sir,” Mack replied quietly.
“It won't matter much other than to show some nepotism between him and Irons I bet,” the captain mused. “He's still a mustang, that's a big strike against him.”
“Yes, sir,” the chief engineer replied.
~<><{<^>}><>~
Horatio made his way through the station to the Quantum section, and then through the mall to the Italian restaurant. Along the way he was congratulated by people he met. They smiled, chatted, shook hands with him, and clapped a few times. A few in uniform even saluted, even though he'd changed into coveralls.
He wondered about that. His IFF had been changed when he'd accepted the key code changes, but he hadn't had time to get to the tailor to have his uniforms modified so he wondered how they'd known.
He found out Amus and Pietro had already known once he found them in the restaurant. The duo had spread the word and even had a toast for him at the restaurant. Bailey, Galiet, and others were there as well. The restaurant was packed. He was touched by the show of support. He was also amused that it had turned into an impromptu wetting dow
n event; they had to go down the mall to get more drinks from the bar. He also laughed when the proprietors gave him the bill.
~<><{<^>}><>~
“Is he serious?” Gemma murmured to Leo.
“It wasn't up to him. The promotion came in on Justica apparently,” Leo said with a shrug.
“Yes but … it doesn't change anything … does it?”
“No, not really. But some people think it has,” Leo said.
“Enough,” a familiar voice rumbled from behind them. They jumped then turned guilty looks to the chief engineer. “Be glad for him. He didn't ask for it. Clearly someone believes he's worthy of it. Just observe,” he said.
“I hope you don't mind if I congratulate him,” Leo said.
Mack eyed him as Gemma opened and closed her mouth in protest. “Going native, Leo? Too close?”
“No, I know where my duty ultimately lies. But I honestly hope the man succeeds. He isn't the enemy. My reports will reflect that,” the commander replied with as much dignity as he could muster.
Mack studied him for a long moment then looked away.
~<><{<^>}><>~
Late the following morning, Horatio managed a short talk with Admiral Irons through the ansible. “I don't deserve it. I don't know if it will make a difference, Admiral,” Horatio said simply. “But thanks.”
“You deserved it, Horatio. If anyone did it's you. I just wish I could have pushed you higher. I was tempted, but we have our own form of navy politics here,” the admiral explained.
“I don't know what to say, sir.”
“Keep fulfilling your potential and you don't need to say or prove anything to anyone, least of all to those who doubt you.”
“Thank you, sir. I'll try.”
“Don't try, do. Get it done. Antigua out.”
“I'll do my damnedest,” Horatio murmured as he cut the circuit and then went back to work.
Chapter 53
The arrival of the third ship saw new organics and hardware arrive on the station. It and the cargo from the second ship meant the station was well supplied for the moment. The Xeno A.I. began to assemble more of itself from various small files it found, and when necessary, incorporate some game code to fill in the gaps.