Richard exited the hover-cab along with his friends.
“Pay the man, Telsa,” said Tam as she headed towards the terminal door before Telsa had a chance to protest.
“I’ve got this one, Telsa,” Richard said as he took the driver’s pay tablet out of her hand.
“Are you sure?” said Telsa.
“Yes,” Richard said. “I’m not broke yet. I saved a few credits when I was a sergeant.”
“Alright, Rick,” said Telsa. “I won’t argue. Pay the man.”
Richard was surprised his friend was giving in so easily. He had a feeling Telsa was just trying to soothe his male ego.
Placing his palm on the tablet, Richard waited for the tele-network to approve his purchase. The screen’s background changed color to green indicating successful completion of the transaction. Richard made a mental note of his bank balance. He wasn’t broke by any means, but he wasn’t rolling in the credits either.
I hope you like house wine, Liz, he thought.
Richard mollified the dismal thought of his bank balance with the thought he’d eventually be able to treat Liz to the finer things once he received his back pay.
Richard joined Tam and Telsa inside the terminal. They were scanning a list of flights on a large computer display built into a wall near the entrance.
“What’s the verdict?” Richard said.
“Liz’s shuttle will be landing at berth seven in twelve minutes,” said Tam. “We’ve got plenty of time.”
“Great,” Richard said. “Let’s go.”
Unlike the civilian terminal where passengers were transported from their ship’s berth to a terminal gate, military personnel were expected to walk.
As Richard and his friends walked to berth seven, Richard took the opportunity to take in the sights. He’d only been at the spaceport once before when he’d reported for pre-Academy training. At the time, he’d been so busy avoiding the attention of his TAC officers he hadn’t bothered to give his surroundings more than a token glance. Since then, any flights he’d taken had been from the Academy’s airfield two hundred kilometers away.
The activity on the military side of the spaceport was significantly less than on the civilian side. Richard could make out ant-sized workers bustling all around the civilian cargo freighters and cruise liners setting at their berths on the opposite side of the spaceport. In contrast, only a half-dozen transport shuttles and two smaller recon ships were located among the score of berths on the military side. Richard commented on the inactivity.
Tam pointed towards the civilian side of the spaceport. “Most of the military’s supplies are handled by civilian contractors, Rick. I suspect some less than honest politicians get a kickback from some contractors. A law was passed a decade or so ago requiring all non-lethal military supplies to be hauled by the civilian shipping companies.”
“So is that why there are only shuttles here?” Richard said.
“Well, only shuttles except for those two recon ships,” said Telsa pointing to the two starships located at berths eight and nine. “Those recon ships are only about a quarter the size of a destroyer. Since they have to be able to land planet-side when they’re doing recons, they normally just land directly at a spaceport to restock supplies. All of the larger military vessels have to have their supplies shuttled to them.”
“Hmm,” Richard said gazing a little further ahead. He spied a large metallic building to one side of the military portion of the spaceport. Pointing, he said, “Is that the DNA Center?”
“That’s it,” said Tam. “And, I don’t mind saying I’m getting tired of waiting our turn to visit there.”
“I’m a little surprised as well,” agreed Telsa. “I mean, what with the war and all.”
“Why is it located at the spaceport?” Richard said. It seemed to him it would make more sense to have it co-located with the Academy’s science buildings.
Tam and Telsa both laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Richard said. “I asked a simple question.”
“We didn’t mean anything by it,” said Telsa.
“Speak for yourself,” laughed Tam.
“Be nice, Tam,” said Telsa.
Telsa stopped walking. Tam and Richard did as well.
“You know, Rick,” said Telsa. “It’s just that sometimes I forget how much information you’re missing. You should really read more.”
“I think I read a lot,” Richard said getting defensive.
“I don’t mean military manuals, Rick,” said Telsa. “I mean things like history or just reading some fictional story for the fun of it.”
“I don’t have much free time for reading,” Richard said. “None of us do.”
“That’s true to a point, Rick,” said Telsa with a nod of agreement. “However, I force myself to make time to read non-Academy assigned books and news articles as well.”
“You don’t get stuck on extra duty as much as I do,” Richard said.
“So true, so true,” laughed Tam. “You’re definitely Myers’ favorite when it comes to giving out extra duty.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Richard said. “But what’s all that got to do with the DNA Center?”
Tam swept her arm in an arc that included most of the spaceport. “Because of history, Rick. None of this existed when the first settlers came here. That was about eight hundred years ago. The DNA Center was established not long after they arrived. The Academy didn’t come along until a couple of hundred years later.”
“Oh,” Richard said. “Well, it would still be more convenient if it was moved closer to the Academy.”
“Can’t happen, Rick,” said Telsa. “The DNA Center is built over an energy source that has so far only been found to exist here. It can’t be moved, and it can’t be replicated.”
They all resumed walking. Richard didn’t say anything else. He was often made aware his earlier education at the orphanage didn’t match up to what many of his peers at the Academy had experienced.
Heck, he thought. Telsa graduated from a university with a degree in astral physics. How am I supposed to compete with that?
Richard had a feeling he’d never be able to compete education-wise with his friends. He really didn’t have much time to read anything except for Academy assignments.
They arrived at berth seven. A large computer display indicated the shuttle was still two minutes out. As they waited, Richard let his mind play with his passive scan. It was always a challenge trying to separate life force readings in crowded areas such as the spaceport. Richard practiced a new technique he’d been trying to develop the last couple of months. Instead of allowing his passive scan to expand an equal distance around him, Richard pulled in the side closest to the more crowded areas and extended it toward the DNA Center. The large building seemed to have very little activity at the moment.
The passive scan detected nothing unusual. Richard wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t expected to find anything. However, he tried to practice his scans any time he got the chance.
“Looks like the shuttle’s inbound,” said Tam pointing in the direction of a bright spot of light in the sky.
“First one to identify the number of people on board gets a hundred cool-points,” said Telsa.
Richard sensed lines of Power leave Tam and Telsa in the direction of the incoming shuttle.
“Six passengers plus a crew of two,” Richard said without bothering to send out an active scan.
“Hey, what gives?” said Telsa.
“Yeah,” said Tam. “You haven’t even formed an active scan yet.”
“Don’t need to,” Richard said. He tried not to sound smug, but he had a feeling he was failing miserably. It wasn’t often he was able to pull a fast one over on his friends.
“Well, I’ll be,” said Telsa who had just finished her active scan of the shuttle. “Rick’s right. There are eight lifeforms on board.”
“How’d you know, Rick?” said Tam.
Even though cool-points were just
a meaningless method they used to keep score between them, Richard knew from experience neither of his friends liked to lose.
Not wishing to drag things out, Richard decided to come clean. “It was easy. What’s Chief Instructor Winslow always drilling into our heads?”
“Technology first, Power second,” said Tam and Telsa in unison. It was a rare day at the Academy when one of their instructors didn’t repeat their chief instructor’s mantra.
“Exactly,” Richard said. “So, I just looked at the computer display.”
Tam and Telsa both looked back at the computer display in front of berth seven. The digital timer was counting down from twenty-eight seconds. Just below the timer were the words: Crew – 2, Passengers – 6.
“Cheater,” said Telsa. “I’m only going to award you fifty cool-points.”
“Whatever,” Richard said with a rare grin. He felt pretty good today. Things were going well. He was hitting on all thrusters. To top it off, he’d be seeing Liz soon.
What could go wrong on a day like this? Richard thought.
“Well, I see you all made it,” said a familiar voice behind Richard.
Richard, Tam, and Telsa turned. Walking towards them was Jerad. Walking next to him was a tall, dark-haired woman wearing a standard-black wizard scout uniform. The gold-dragon insignia on her collar flashed in the bright sunlight. A phase rod was attached to the utility belt around her waist. Although the woman was not wearing a battle suit, Richard noticed a battle helmet was hooked to the left rear of her belt.
The woman, obviously a wizard scout, appeared to be in her late twenties. Of course, Richard knew that meant little. The commandant was in his nineties, but his body appeared to only be in his late twenties. The woman walking next to Jerad was pretty. Richard noticed her slim figure fit well into her black wizard scout uniform.
“Ten seconds to landing,” said a computerized voice from berth seven’s computer display.
“Trinity,” said Jerad, “these are my friends Tam, Telsa, and Rick. Guys, this is Wizard Scout Trinity Delgado.”
Richard said hello along with Tam and Telsa. Before anyone could say anything else, the incoming shuttle kicked on its anti-grav units. A blast of displaced air swept over Richard and his friends. The sudden noise made further conversation impossible. Richard noticed Jerad putting his arm around Trinity and placing his body between the shuttle and her. Richard smiled at the thought anyone would think a wizard scout needed to be protected from a little wind.
What’s gotten into Jerad? Richard wondered. The goofy-looking smile on his friend’s face whenever Jerad looked at Trinity was even more perplexing.
The shuttle’s anti-grav units quieted when the shuttle was still a hand’s breath above its berth. The shuttle dropped the remaining distance. A loud clang filled the air as the shuttle’s metal hull made contact with the reinforced concrete of berth seven.
“Ouch,” said Tam in the sudden silence. “I’d say it’s a safe bet Liz isn’t flying that thing.”
Richard had to agree. He’d seen Liz make better landings while dodging enemy plasma beams.
As they waited for the shuttle’s passengers to exit, Telsa looked up at the much taller Trinity and said, “Your name sounds familiar, Trinity. Should I know it?”
It seemed to Richard that Trinity’s cheeks turned a little pink.
“Not really,” said Trinity. “Maybe Jerad has mentioned me to you.”
“No,” said Telsa staying persistently on the subject. “Jerad’s pretty tightlipped. I’d remember if he’d talked about you.”
This time Jerad turned a little pink. Richard wasn’t sure what was going on. Jerad and Trinity did seem to be acting a little strange. Then it came to him. Like Telsa, he’d heard Trinity’s name before.
“By any chance are you the same Trinity Delgado that captured the Carsoloian fleet six years ago?” Richard said. He was pretty sure he knew the answer.
“Uh,” said Trinity flushing even more. “I didn’t capture the fleet. I just helped destroy the primary-guidance computer on their flagship. And,” she said as she looked at Jerad, “I didn’t do it alone. I had help. Didn’t I, Jerad?”
“I was just there getting in the way,” Jerad said turning even redder. “You’d have been better off without me.”
“Oh,” said Telsa as if she’d come to some revelation.
When Telsa failed to expound Tam said, “Oh, what?”
“Nothing,” said Telsa. “I’ll tell you later.”
Richard didn’t think it was nothing. He was about to say as much when the shuttle’s rear ramp lowered. Three men and two women in standard mechanic’s dungarees walked out. Behind them came Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Bistos. Her white naval officer’s uniform was immaculate. Her blond hair was close-cropped, and her bright-blue eyes flashed as she talked to a young ensign in a pilot’s suit walking beside her.
“You’ll get better,” said Liz to the young pilot. “It just takes time. It took several hundred landings in the simulator before I got my landing technique squared away.”
“Yes, sir,” said the pilot with a salute. “I’ll be better the next time you fly with me.”
“I’m sure you will, ensign,” said Liz as she returned the salute.
Liz left the pilot on the gangway and headed towards Richard and her other friends. Richard thought her eyes were almost as bright as her smile. He thought she looked more beautiful every time he saw her, even if she was an officer.
“Well, look what the thrangar dragged in,” said Tam referencing a large predatory creature on Velos.
“Nice to see you too, Tam,” said Liz laughing.
Liz’s laughter echoed in Richard’s ears. He thought she had a nice laugh.
“It’s been a long time,” said Telsa shaking Liz’s hand.
“Not that long,” interjected Jerad. “We were together for a few hours in Velounia three months ago.”
“Except for Rick,” said Liz placing one hand on her well-shaped hip and wagging the index finger of her other hand at Richard. “If memory serves me correctly, you were on extra duty and couldn’t make it that night.”
“Uh…,” Richard said at a loss for words.
“No excuses, cadet,” Liz said with a laugh and a twinkle in her eyes. “I know when someone’s trying to avoid me.”
“Well, I, ah…,” Richard said stalling for time.
Everyone, including Trinity, laughed at Richard’s sudden discomfort.
“Relax, Rick,” said Liz. “I’m only joking.” She reached out in a very unmilitary fashion and gave Richard a hug. “I’m glad you invited me to the Fleet Admiral’s Ball,” Liz said as she pulled away. “The only other officer on the Blaze that’s going is Captain Rickers. It’s almost unheard of for anyone below the rank of naval captain to attend.”
Turning away from Richard, Liz said, “Hey, Trinity. I see you found Jerad with no problem.”
“You know each other?” Jerad said while looking quizzically at Trinity who was still holding onto his arm.
“Oh ho,” said Trinity as she let go of Jerad and shook Liz’s hand. “These cadets think they know everything, don’t they Liz?”
Liz gave a laugh. “So it seems, Trinity.” Smiling at Jerad, Liz explained, “The Blaze picked up Trinity from a mission in district 5 a couple of months ago.”
“Liz and I got to be good friends on the flight back,” said Trinity. “When I heard the Blaze was heading back to Velos and would be getting here in time for the Fleet Admiral’s Ball, I hitched a ride.”
“I didn’t hear anything about that,” said Jerad.
Trinity and Liz laughed. Richard thought they both had nice laughs.
“Well,” said Trinity, “I guess that means you don’t know everything about me doesn’t it, Jerad?”
“Oh, believe me,” said Jerad good-naturedly. “I’ve no doubt there’s a lot I don’t know about you.” With a little more seriousness, Jerad added, “But, I’m hoping I’ll have many years to
learn.”
Jerad and Trinity both turned slightly pink. Richard had an inkling there was a lot more going on between the two than he could see on the surface.
“Well,” said Telsa. “Not to break up the party, but I’ve got things to do. What say we grab a couple of hover-cabs and head back to the hotel? It’s only five hours until the ball.” With a glance at Tam, Telsa said, “It’ll take at least that long to make Tam look presentable.”
Everybody, including Tam, laughed.
As they walked back in the direction of the military terminal, Richard tried to force his way next to Liz, but Telsa and Tam were having none of it. They each claimed a side of Liz, and soon the three friends were jabbering away as they caught up with each other’s escapades. Since Jerad and Trinity were apparently content to walk next to each other while talking quietly, Richard was relegated to trailing a few paces behind the group by himself. Slightly bored, Richard practiced expanding and decreasing his passive scan.
Too many people here, Richard thought.
Richard reformed his passive scan so it bulged out in the direction of the DNA Center. He monitored the score of lifeforms inside the building along with seven more on the outside.
No, make that eight, Richard corrected himself as a utility vehicle skirted through the area. Unlike the pinpoint accuracy of an active scan, information was much harder to get when using just a passive scan. Richard followed the path of the vehicle using it as a point of reference to the lifeforms near the building. Since he’d been teaching his fellow cadets how to determine species of lifeforms using the Power readings from a passive scan, Richard wanted to get in a little practical exercise on his own. He had another impromptu training session scheduled with part of the junior cohort early next week. Richard figured the spaceport was a great place to find multiple species.
Richard tried concentrating on the Power frequency of the vehicle’s driver. As the vehicle drove near one corner of the DNA Center, the driver’s Power frequency momentarily faded. Although it almost immediately flared back up on Richard’s passive scan, the momentary blip was a little disconcerting.
Wizard Scout (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 3) Page 15