A Hero

by Stephen Arseneault

  — Chapter 8 —

  * * *

  I eased into a high-back leather chair that faced his desk. It was plush. The leather felt luxurious to the touch. I guessed its cost was probably more than I made in a month.

  "This is nice. You think I could get one for my workstation out there?" I said, hoping to ease the tension.

  TC leaned on his desk. His eyes were fixed and serious. "I feel as though this relationship has been taken for granted."

  The soft leather of the ultra-comfortable chair suddenly felt twenty-degrees warmer. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

  Even though I was certain I knew why, I asked, "How so?"

  "I told you of the cruiser request in confidence. And now it comes back to me through the rumor mill that two cruisers are on their way. What should I make of this?"

  "But you told me you requested them."

  "Mr. Jackson. I am the CEO of Aarlis Mining. Everything I tell you is in confidence."

  I slightly bowed my head in contrition. "I'll keep that in mind going forward. But, I don't get why you haven't told your employees about that request. It could alleviate some of the stress we're all feeling."

  "I didn't tell them because the request was to my father and not to the military. Echelon is a privately owned colony. There is no government here. There are no government facilities or assets. My father informed me, the moment we make such a request to our government is the moment they want control of what we are doing. In case you didn’t know, profits are not had through government interference, Mr. Jackson."

  "So, no ships are coming to our defense? That's terrible news. But still, what's the harm then in spreading that rumor? If anything, it would help to keep people calm."

  "The harm is that comm transmissions from persons on this planet have already gone out making those very statements. When the politicians at home hear such a rumor, they will eagerly grant that request, even though it was never officially made."

  I shook my head. "Sorry, TC... Mr. Goodall. I still don't see the harm."

  "Under the terms of the Constitution, Mr. Jackson, at the time martial law is declared, any jurisdiction or colony receiving government or military assistance can have all properties confiscated by said military, including all assets and resources. In other words, should the government declare martial law throughout the colonies, which is now a strong possibility given this second raid, this entire operation would be subject to seizure. The government would take control of our mine!"

  "Why would they seize anything? They don't have the means to actually run such an operation."

  "The military needs this ore. They will mine it themselves if they believe they can do it cheaper. They, of course, could not. But there are people in our government, and our military, who seek power by any means. And believe me when I say this, the assets of these mines are powerful to whoever controls them. Profits are power. I cannot stress that enough.

  "Confiscation would put an end to the big plans my father has for the Aarlis Corporation. We are expanding, Ray. These mines are a major part of that expansion."

  The power-plays that went on behind the closed doors of big business and politics were suddenly clear. I recalled TC had mentioned such to me years before—after talks with his father, but until that moment I had no frame of reference from which to properly understand what he had said. That perspective was now like a giant flashing red light in front of me.

  I cleared my throat. "I guess that's why you're CEO and I'm not. So, I'm sorry for that screw-up. But TC, we need a defense out here. You might consider having a few thousand of those blaster rifles your father makes shipped out."

  "We are strictly forbidden from having those weapons for any use other than direct sale to our military. And besides, what would these people do with them? They have no training. If an attack were to come, they are just as likely to shoot themselves as they are the enemy."

  I took in a deep breath, tilted my head back and closed my eyes. I slowly let my breath out while in thought. "Mercenaries. What if you were to hire mercenaries to offer at least a minimum of protection? Aren't there some privateers out there who have been doing just that as cargo ship escorts, due to piracy concerns?"

  TC turned and looked back out his window at the frozen landscape beyond. "We have hired such from time to time, when the value of a cargo justified the cost."

  I held up my hands and gestured toward our surroundings. "Do you not consider these mines to be a valuable asset? If we aren't getting military protection, maybe you should be paying for your own. A few of those crews and their ships might have been enough to stave off an attack like on Merchain."

  TC took a seat at his desk, tapping his fingertips together for most of a minute while in thought. He opened a comm. "Mr. Sanchez. You were acquainted with the privateer operations for securing Aarlis Corporation cargoes were you not?"

  "Yes, sir. That was my prior posting. I worked on the team that answered to your father. I was not the lead, but I am familiar with most aspects of the operation. Is there something I can help with?"

  "Give me your thoughts about bringing a few teams out to secure this planet."

  "Secure? As in from an alien threat?"

  "That would be their primary mission, yes."

  "I think they would jump at the chance, sir. Most are ex-military. They would love to get mixed up with whoever these aliens are."

  "What level of protection can they offer?"

  "Ground defense in terms of fighters is a certainty. Air defense... I believe they do at least have a few options. And ship defense... I think that depends on the threat. Their claim to the government is they have a number of armed vessels that are less powerful than a standard frigate. I think the reality is they are closer in power to a full destroyer. Do you have an interest in bringing their services out here?"

  TC nodded. "I do. And Mr. Sanchez, they know the current situation. Get a quote for the best protection option. And have Mr. Bosworth assist you in any final negotiations. He will bring them aboard at a fair price."

  "Consider it done, Mr. Goodall. Is there anything else?"

  "That will be all, Mr. Sanchez. And this is a priority one command. Reassign everything else on your task list."

  "Thank you for trusting me, sir. This will get done."

  The comm closed.

  I raised an eyebrow. "Nicely handled. I think I have a whole new level of respect for what you do here. I have to admit I get a bit stressed just dealing with checking drawings out there at my tiny desk. Here you are running an entire planet. I knew you had it in you, and right now I'm kind of proud to know you."

  "You remain on my sullied list, Ray. But your suggestion here about the mercenaries has righted your sinking ship... at least for the moment."

  TC pressed a button and the guards returned. "Escort Mr. Jackson back to his office. And Ray, not a word of this to anyone."

  I nodded as I stood. "Not making that same mistake twice. And thanks for at least seeing into our security. If the mercenaries show, it will do a lot to ease tensions around here."

  Before I could say goodbye, the guards took hold of my arms and jerked me around toward the door. They released me as we passed the office of Janet Bartholomew. She did not look up.

  I glanced back at the guards as they walked away. "Yeah. And thanks. You fellas have a nice day."

  Siegfried followed me as I walked to my desk. "Can I assume you will be making up the time you were just away?"

  I let out a single smirk at the thought of the question. "We're already working eleven-hour days. Our contract is only for eight."

  "You are expected to keep pace with the other workers, Mr. Jackson."

  "And I will. Wait, are you thinking of authorizing overtime for our extra work? Should I have mentioned that to Mr. Goodall?"

  Siegfried gasped. "You were with Mr. Goodall? Don't be ridiculous." He turned and scurried away.

  Danny immediately began bombarding me with questions. I kept
my mouth closed and eyes forward for almost five minutes before he got the message and turned back to his own work. The remainder of the day flew past.

  As we headed for the elevator at the end of the shift, the questions began again, but the answers would not be heard coming through my pursed lips. I got off on the third floor and ignored the irritated stare.

  I walked into our one-room apartment to see Pea playing on the floor. She ran to me for a hug. Denise's eyes were glued to the display.

  "Just had another incident with a ship," Denise said. "This time a shuttle with forty passengers. Nothing but debris was found along its path. It was on its way to Merchain from Bitma Station."

  "That's not good news."

  "No. It's not. This is just getting worse. How was your day?"

  "I was escorted up to TC's office and blasted for running my mouth. I thought I was going to get fired."

  Denise turned. "What?"

  "The cruisers he mentioned to us? They aren't coming. He seems to think any military involvement might lead to a government seizure of this place... if they declare martial law."

  "So, no protection is coming?"

  "From our military, no. And as to me running my mouth, he was right. I shouldn't have said anything. I mentioned it to Danny, the guy who sits next to me. He apparently dumped it into the rumor mill because a few hours later I was sitting in TC's office for an ass-chewing."

  Denise returned a sheepish look. "I might have mentioned it to the parents in Pea's school group at lunch. How bad was it?"

  "Bad. Messages were sent off the station making mention of the request and he now fears there will be politicians insisting on sending ships for just the reason he stated. Seems there is always a power struggle going on between those in big business and those in the government.

  "He'd mentioned that to me dozens of times before, back at school, but the seriousness of it had never registered. Regardless, don't blame yourself. Just know we don't want to be the starters or the spreaders of any rumors out here. That would definitely get me fired."

  Denise scowled. "Maybe that firing is what we need, so we can go home."

  "Getting canned in this environment, especially for running my mouth, would not open doors elsewhere. Even with a war on, I'd be lucky to ever work again."

  Denise threw up her hands. "So that's it? No protection? We just sit here and wait for them to kill us?"

  "Not exactly. I think I convinced him to take a look at hiring some merc crews."

  "Merc crews?"

  "Mercenaries. The privateers who have been running cargo ship protection against pirates. He was told they consist of mostly ex-military and the ships they command are actually quite powerful."

  "And they're coming here?"

  "Well. No. It's just more of an investigation into the practicality of the whole thing right now. If it seems like they can deliver—"

  Pea pulled on my trouser leg.

  I turned with a smile. "Not now, Hun. Mommy and Daddy are talking." I looked back to Denise. "If it seems like they can deliver the security that's needed at a fair price, I think we'll see them out here shortly. But again, no word of this to anyone because it's not a done deal."

  Pea pulled on my pant leg again.

  I looked down. "What is it, Pea?"

  She pointed a tiny finger at the display. "It's burning."

  I flipped my head around to see an image on the display of a building that was afire. Denise turned up the volume.

  An on-scene reporter spoke into the camera. "...again. There has been a fight in the heavens above Merchain. There are reports of bright flashes of light, seen through the daylight, after which the remains of what is described as part of a warship fell from the sky to the ground. Falling debris striking that building is the direct cause of this fire. As you can see, a large portion of the upper floors have been knocked clean away. This is tragic folks. People have died here, and our hearts go out to them and their families. The Pomeran-One office complex on Sidney Avenue will have been full at this time of day."

  Denise's face was flush with concern as Pea crawled up into her lap. "Ray. This is getting worse. We need to figure out how to get out of here. I don't care if we have to steal one of those ore haulers out there. I'll fly it myself if I have to."

  After dinner, it took an hour to get Pea settled before we put her to bed. We watched the news at low volume. Denise was sitting beside me. I wondered how much more we'd be able to take before seriously considering her plan. The job on Echelon was turning into a nightmare.

  — Chapter 9 —

  * * *

  The following day I was checking over diagrams and schematics. Admittedly my mind was elsewhere, thinking of how we could leave. But that distraction didn't stop something peculiar from catching my eye. The dimensions on a diagram did not concur with the same dimensions in a table listing. It was for a metal truss and was vital to the construction of the mine shafts—more specifically to their safety.

  I went back and forth over the drawings a half dozen times to make certain what I thought I was seeing was actually there. I pulled a prior illustration and found the same error. I rubbed my fingers through my hair, wondering if I had just stumbled upon the Holy Grail of bonus finds or whether I was going to get laughed at when I presented the data.

  After careful study, I was disheartened to see the mistake went back through eight iterations of that drawing. As I searched further, it appeared on seven other unrelated works. Danny came to my desk asking about lunch to which I waved him away. He left with a shrug and a head-shake.

  I spent thirty minutes carefully entering the errors into our reporting system. When I finally hit the submit button, I realized I had been heads-down, working like a madman for three solid hours. The current alien attacks had not even entered my mind. I cleared my desktop as I readied myself to go to lunch.

  Before I could leave, Siegfried showed up in front of me. He had a gaunt expression on his face. "Tell me this is a mistake. These figures can't possibly be correct."

  I slowly shook my head. "I checked and rechecked. I don't see how I could be wrong. I want to be. That mistake will cost a small fortune to repair, if I'm right. How'd you people miss this? It's big."

  The look on Siegfried's face told me how big an error he thought it was. For someone in his position, errors of this magnitude were career-enders. He turned and hurried toward his desk with a panicked expression.

  Danny was coming back from a break. "Another attack. Did you hear? And what's up with Sig? He looks sick."

  I opened my display to show Danny the errors I had just logged into the system. "He just saw this."

  Danny stared for most of a minute. "That can't be right."

  I nodded. "It is right. And these structures have been getting built into those shafts for the last couple months. Had those attacks not broken my thoughts, I don't think I would have seen it. Wait... you said there was another?"

  Danny continued to look over the log data as he talked. "We sent out a diplomatic ship with the intent of opening a dialogue with whoever they are. They let the ship approach. Didn't respond until it got close. Then, with no provocation, they opened up on it, destroying it and killing everyone aboard. Our fleet reacted with an attack, driving them off."

  As the realization of what I had discovered set in, Danny pulled back with a scowl. "We're all screwed. Every one of us missed that. And just as you say there, those dimensions are off. And critical."

  He sighed as he crossed his arms.

  I said, "Better caught now than after a cave-in."

  "I doubt we have jobs after this goes up the chain. Except you of course. You might have just taken over Sig's job."

  "I don't want his job. I mean I do, but not like this."

  Danny turned, going back to his workspace and plopping down. The piston of his chair issued the now-familiar screech and long slow moan.

  Word of the find spread quickly as the other checkers returned from their breaks. Look
s of disbelief soon turned into scowls with evil intent dripping from their eyes as they realized I had uncovered their mistake. I hurried off to take my over-due lunch break, knowing I would probably be eating alone from that moment on. Before I could reach the door going into the hall, two guards came through, taking me by the arms.

  "Mr. Goodall would like to see you."

  Again, the escort was less than friendly.

  "You guys are in need of some etiquette training."

  They shoved me through the door into TC's office.

  He looked up from his desk with a stoic expression. "You submitted this find?"

  "I couldn't believe it when I saw it," I said. "I wanted it to be a mistake. I know those structures have already been getting installed."

  "One hundred forty-two of them to date. They will all have to be pulled and refurbished. A quick estimate says that will delay the opening of those shafts by as much as a month. Do you know what a tremendous setback this is?"

  "Sorry." I didn’t know what else to say.

  "Sorry? This will cost us millions in material and labor alone. And tens of millions in lost revenue at a time when things in the Union are getting shaky."

  "Shaky?"

  TC waved his hand. "You know, this whole alien mess. It's destabilizing the markets. We're expecting as much as a 5 percent decline in revenues this quarter because some of our customers are too scared to make their purchases. And now this? Happening under my watch. I might as well be turning this operation over to Estelle."

  He pointed to my report that shown on a display on his wall. "We will have to correct all these errors."

  "I... I went over those drawings to see if there was a possible quick fix. If there is, I don't see it."

  TC looked up. "I suppose you'll be eager to collect your bonus on this?"

  I shrugged. "One hundred forty-two bonus credits will be nice, even if it is just for one month. Should make me number one in our pool."

  "One forty-two? Multiply that times seven. And then times three for the number of shafts already involved. You will be receiving the bonus equivalent of a year's salary."