Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins

by Randolph Lalonde

  I nodded at him and he sat down. “Thank you Lieutenant. We're glad to have you at the table.” I looked to Oz then, who had his arms crossed, deep in thought. “How is the crew, Commander?”

  He leaned forward in his chair and addressed everyone else at the table as much as myself, which was appropriate for a senior staff meeting. “All departments report ready to depart. The crew are still tired, but we were able to give everyone about ten solid hours of rest with the exception of a small watch and skeleton crew on the bridge. They're also very proud of what we've done here.” He brought up a list on his arm command console. His was the same style as mine, black to match his bridge uniform, but not attached to the material so it was easier to take off. “We have one pregnant crew member. She's been transferred to light duty in the core sections of the ship for safety. There has been one formal request made that has to be brought to the attention of the senior staff. The gunnery crew has requested that you choose a qualified gunnery captain from their ranks.”

  “How many turrets do we have now?” I asked in Ayan and Laura's general direction.

  Ayan brought the image of the First Light up on the display in the middle of the table, only this time the turrets were all in the deployed position. “We have thirty eight turrets in total. We were able to add several while the hull was being repaired. Ten of the turrets are now automated.”

  “Now that is a destroyer!” Minh exclaimed, standing up to get a closer look at the First Light.

  “Actually, when she was first built and launched as a destroyer she had fifty six turrets. As the ship was re-tasked in a more long range reconnaissance role, and as individual weapons became more powerful, the space was used for other systems and extra armour.”

  I looked back to Oz, who was smiling at the sight of our nearly kilometre long destroyer. “How many gunners do we have now?”

  “We're running thin actually. Only thirty two. For that many turrets we should have at least fifty. If we don't pick anyone up we should look into more automation.”

  “Well, that many gunners should have a captain regardless. We'll review candidates and promote someone,” I looked to Minh and nodded. “Your turn Commander Buu, how is everything shaping up on the flight deck?”

  “We're glad to have breathing room again. We didn't need any upgrades, just a few repairs, a little rebuilding in a few corners, and with all the salvage out of the way it was quick work. All the fighters have been upgraded with energy shielding, a couple have brand new Vindyne faster-than-light systems, and the new Raze fighters look fantastic, or so the flight crew tells me. Everyone's ready to go. The pilots are getting a little antsy and are spending a lot of time in the simulations.”

  “Well, as much as I hope we don't need to scramble fighters, I get the feeling that we'll be in that position soon. That brings me to the next order of business, classified communications. Everyone but the commanders and Sergeant Everin to clear the room please. Don't worry, you'll be briefed later on a need to know basis. Until then, you're not to discuss anything you've heard about communications to anyone for any reasons. If you are asked about this meeting, inform them that you are not cleared to discuss anything and refer them to your senior officer. You are dismissed.”

  All but the commanders, which included Ayan, Oz and Minh, and Jason, even though he was technically still a sergeant, left the room quietly. Jason ensured the room was sealed and nodded. “We won't be interrupted.”

  “You know, we really need to promote you. The last high ranking communications officer on a ship this size I knew was a Major,” Minh said, scratching his head.

  “Well, depending on what we're about to hear this morning, that might happen sooner rather than later,” I said flatly.

  “What's going on Jonas? I feel like I'm in the dark, and you were the one out of commission for the last three days,” Oz asked.

  “Ayan intercepted an encoded transmission from Doctor Anderson to Freeground Intelligence.”

  “I saw that encoded transmission, I was going to bring it up when we were alone since I couldn't decode it and it wasn't from a command station,” Jason commented.

  “Well, I didn't so much intercept the transmission, so much as use surveillance to pick up the discussion with the audio receptors inside the compartment the transmission was sent from,” Ayan added. “It would have taken me years to decode otherwise.”

  “Play it,” I ordered quietly, taking a deep breath.

  Ayan activated the playback on her command unit. It was only audio, but Doc's voice was immediately recognizable. “You received my report,” he said in a serious, dry tone.

  “Yes. Are you sure they're ready for assignments? I see the modifications and the data, but I'll be honest, it's hard to believe they've come this far in such a short time. For her tonnage they're better armed than any ship in the fleet. The addition of antimatter systems and a molecular quantum core combined with our best power plants, energy shielding multi layered refractive shielding and a regenerating ablative hull they've managed to put to good use, it's almost too good to be true. Hell, if I took these specs to Command and asked to build it, they'd shut me down and assign me to cleaning the outer hull of the station. Building something like this from scratch would take years and would cost eight times as much as any other ship in her class.”

  “Don't forget the crew, they've been tested, most have already seen more action that half the servicemen and women out there. I've also never seen a shadow ship survive the loss of her captain for so long and retrieve him.”

  “I'm sure you had a part in that.”

  “A couple shifts on the bridge to fill in, but I did nothing really.”

  “So you think they're ready.”

  “They are. But at this rate, with the way this crew performs, I think there are better tasks. Wheeler should go this mission alone. His skill set and the Triton are perfect for it,” Anderson said sternly.

  There was a pause before the senior officer responded. “Wheeler will be on this regardless of whether the First Light goes, but the ships are doing this together. We ran the simulations, the success rate quadruples with the First Light drawing fire.”

  “At least give them some time to finish developing the cloaking technology. They're close. I'm sure I could shift their focus towards cloaking the entire ship and they'd have it done in less than two months.”

  “The order has been given. Now sit back and let it happen. Do whatever you have to in order to make it happen, and contact us only if there is a drastic change in the situation.”

  “This is a waste of resources and you know it. The First Light and her crew might not be subtle, but they're not a blunt instrument. If Fleet wants them to serve their purpose as an unconventional solution, they should think outside of the box when they're choosing objectives. Waste this crew and it'll blow back on you.”

  “This mission is as far outside the box as we've gone. Besides, you couldn't imagine the pressure I'm under here. I have Intelligence on one side, the Admiralty telling me to get this done by any means without telling them how it happened once we've accomplished the mission. And to make matters worse, Rear Admiral Rice has me on comms five times a day. This happens with the First Light, because with her in the middle it's a sure bet. We can't depend on Wheeler without someone like Valent watching him, and he just doesn't have the people to get to one of the critical objectives.”

  “How long until Intelligence issues the order?”

  “A day or so. You'll know when Valent receives his instructions. Fleet Intelligence out.”

  Everyone sat back in their chairs as the recording ended. I couldn't stay in my seat and walked over to the window. It was all quiet out there, the refit had been finished. From my vantage point I could see the dry dock was all set for the next ship. “It had to be someone. Freeground would not let us go without having a handler,” I said quietly. “That's the first thing we have to realize. I also want everyone to be aware that he might not be the only person
on this ship looking over our shoulders.”

  “But did it have to be him?” Jason asked. “I've met a lot of doctors. I mean a lot of doctors and I haven't liked most of them. He's one of the few I can actually stand.”

  “He's been in the service longer than any of us have been alive. If I were to set someone up as a watchdog, it would be him,” Minh said quietly. I hadn't heard that serious tone out of him since he was in the infantry. “There's one part that gets me; he said he had never seen a shadow ship survive the loss of her captain so long and get him back. As though he's known about more than one shadow ship, like this isn't the first time he's been in this position.”

  “I noticed that too,” Oz agreed. “I also noticed that he seemed to be out for our best interest. Whatever mission Freeground Fleet Intelligence has planned for us, he's not thrilled that we've been assigned.”

  “That's what worried me,” Ayan commented. “I trust him. More importantly my mother the Admiral trusts his opinions. They've been close for as long as I can remember. Minh's right, if we were to have a watchdog, I'd prefer it be Doctor Anderson.”

  “What would you do Oz?” I asked.

  He thought for a long moment before joining me at the window. “Honest? I'd ask for your opinion. But since you're asking me, I'd play along, try to get the Doc more on-side so we can get his judgement calls as situations develop.”

  “You're right. I can't make any decisions until I see our orders.”

  “They're classified, only for you. It won't play back unless you're in a sealed room or environment.”

  “Or if I'm incapacitated they might play for someone else. I suddenly really want to know who exactly those bounty hunters were.”

  “Well, you know what my pay grade is, I couldn't afford to hire that many goons,” Oz said, trying to lighten the mood.

  “You have a point though. In all those pirate movies it's always the first officer that gets the Captain knocked off,” Minh added, looking at him with mock suspicion.

  “Well, we'll take time to find out more about that bounty hunter outfit when we have the opportunity, but I don't think we'll ever know who they were for sure. My duty is to review these orders as soon as they're received, and since I'd rather not face a court martial when we finally return, I should get to it.”

  “We'll be in Observation One. Call us back in when you're finished.”

  “Actually, start the departure checklist and bring the doctor in with you when I'm finished reviewing our orders. Inform the crew that I'll perform my inspection once we're under way.”

  “Who do you want to run early startup on the bridge?” Oz asked.

  “Lieutenant Nichols, but have Sergeant Ashbey observe.”

  “Yes Sir. See you in a few minutes.”

  Ayan stopped beside me and waited until everyone else was gone. “We're okay?” she asked.

  “We're better than okay,” I replied.

  She smiled at me as she headed for the door. “This is going to be a long day.”

  “I know.”

  * * *

  I tossed the small data chip onto the table and it interfaced with the holographic projector built into the surface automatically. It proceeded to take my bioprint, checking DNA along with all my other vitals, and then a simple voice message played. It was mechanical, not a voice disguised, but the voice of a computer. “Make best speed to Starfree Port in good repair, five day travel time maximum. Coordinate with Captain Wheeler, Commander of the Triton. He will meet you in section twelve, level nine. Bring these orders on a data chip. Meet him alone.”

  The message ended and a prompt to network the chip I had with another piece of encrypted data appeared for a minute before the playback ended. “So much for getting answers,” I said to myself. “Computer, access and display service record of Captain Wheeler.”

  “Please indicate Captain Wheeler's current assignment.”

  I hesitated for a moment. Normally the computer would display the records right away. “He's assigned to the Triton.”

  “The Triton is not a Freeground ship and records regarding that vessel are not available to officers of your rank.”

  “What about Captain Wheeler?”

  “No individual in the First Light’s database matches your search parameters. Would you like to connect to and search an external network Captain?”

  “No. Remain comm silent unless prompted by a communications officer. End search.”

  I thought for a moment about what information was available. The computer said that it had a file on the Triton, only that it wasn't accessible to someone of my rank. So the ship was important enough to include in every Freeground ship's general database. Somehow Freeground Intelligence didn't want any kind of record of Wheeler in general databases and that, to me, became the most important bit of missing information. The ship had to be listed, but there was to be no record of the man.

  “Allow access to this room by command staff and page them please,” I ordered the computer. A few moments later Oz, Minh, Ayan, Jason and Doctor Anderson returned.

  They sat down around the conference table, all eyes on me. “Thank you for joining us Doctor. I'm wondering how you knew Ayan had recorded your conversation with Intelligence,” I was standing at the window, the table at my back, looking to the dry dock outside.

  “I've been in and out of the Intelligence game for a while, Captain, long enough to know that I should do a search in the security database to ensure I wasn't picked up. I deleted the security footage, but I didn't realize that there was a tertiary audio backup on board until later. Commander McPatrick is an exceptional security officer. He set up the security systems aboard to pick up everything at least three times. I didn't get to the message until it was recorded elsewhere.”

  “I'm glad you're on our side,” I said quietly. “You are on our side, right Doctor?”

  “I wasn't allowed to tell you that I was the presence for Freeground Fleet Intelligence on the ship, but I did represent you and the crew the best way I could. Now that you know I'm their eyes and ears, there's no need for me to withhold information. I am the First Light's man, Captain. There are people I love on this crew. As a friend to her mother, I've known Ayan since she was born. I've come to respect the rest of the senior staff, and I'd like to think that you and I are becoming fast friends.”

  “You're right, and I think everyone here is happy that you're the watchdog and it's not some soulless shadowy man.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Every instinct was telling me to trust Doc. He had two jobs to do, he ran medical better than anyone, and as far as his work with Freeground Fleet Intelligence was concerned, I could only assume that he was at least a competent intelligence officer. I understood why he had to be aboard. It was difficult to be rational and look past the sting of betrayal that would cloud my reasoning but I had no choice. Every decision I made had to be in the crew's best interest, I couldn't afford to take Doc’s duplicity personally. “We need you Doctor, I have no choice but to trust your loyalty and abilities. I have a lot of questions for you before we're finished here though.”

  “I'll answer everything I can, but even I'm on a need to know basis where Fleet Intelligence is concerned. Their entire structure is built on mistrust, from one end to the other.”

  I used my command console to disable the embedded recording devices in the room and sat down at the table. “Signal the bridge to set course at best speed to Starfree Port. Our orders are to proceed there. After our arrival I'm to meet with her commander, Captain Wheeler, alone in a section of the station. What do we know about our destination?” I asked the room in general.

  “I've been there a few times,” Oz answered. “Starfree Port is a friendly destination to Freeground forces. We have good trade relations with them.”

  “Legally they're not affiliated with us, but Oz is right,” Jason continued. He had the database entry up on his command and control unit. “It was also used as a staging area late in the All-Con Conflict, giving
us an advantage for a while. They harvest natural resources from a gas giant. The station is almost as old as Freeground and has been expanding ever since it was founded. Freeground Fleet has dispatched ships to aid in their defence three times in the last twenty years. They occupy an area near several trade routes and maintain a Class 9 Wormhole generator capable of creating a wormhole entry point fourteen kilometres wide.”

  “Large enough for colony and mass freight vessels. Must be a popular place.”

  “Freeground Intelligence is most likely using that as a meeting point for one of two reasons or both; for the wormhole generator, or as a friendly rendezvous site where the First Light would go largely unnoticed,” Doc commented.

  “All right, what do we know about the Triton and Captain Wheeler?” I asked.

  For a moment everyone was silent, then Doc smiled at me uneasily. “Sounds like that's my cue. There's no doubt in my mind that the Triton has been assigned to this for several very good reasons, the most obvious of which is that I've served under Captain Wheeler before.”

  “Well, that's helpful,” Minh commented. “What can you tell us?”

  “Lucius Wheeler is former Intelligence. He operated at the highest level for years, worked his way up from the bottom. When there was a massive shift in Freeground Command, they decided that his tactics were no longer relevant to the new strategic climate and he was told to either work within the limitations they were putting in place or take another post. He chose the latter, and he was given one of the first shadow ships in the Intelligence fleet.”