Corvus Ascending

by Dale Sale

  “Bullshit,” Grey said under his breath.

  The Admiral looked at Grey. “What was that, Captain? Do you have something to say?”

  “Forgive the Captain please your Honor, he has been under tremendous strain since the mutiny on the Erebus,” Arbatov said.

  “Hmm, that is a matter for a different day,” McGowan answered. “Does the State have a rebuttal to the claim?”

  “The State will show this claim frivolous on its surface and unsubstantiated. In fact, the State has filed a counter lien of title to Mr. Johansson’s ship that will negate the lien on Erebus.”

  “Now who’s talking bullshit?” Gus whispered to Lenore. Fiona shot him a dirty look.

  The bailiff handed the Admiral and Fiona a sheaf of paperwork. The Admiral studied the pages.

  Lenore took their stack. “If I may be of assistance?” and shuffled through the pile, digesting the contents. “Ask for recess quickly,” she said to Fiona.

  “Your Honor, we have just learned of this counter lien, may we have a recess to look it over?” Fiona asked.

  “Two-hour recess. I dislike surprises in my court, Captain Arbatov.” The judge slammed his gavel with the admonishment.

  The crew met them in the hall with a hundred questions. Fiona turned, held up her hands and said, “Later,” as she spun Gus into an empty office. “Anything else you forgot to mention?”

  Gus said, “Hey, how was I to know that Mitzi Grey’s daddy was going to be the judge?”

  “Thankfully, it does not appear that the judge is biased against us. I have analyzed his physiological responses, and he appears to be judging us neutrally,” Lenore said.

  Fiona replied, “Praise the Mother, trying to get a change of venue would be a waste with an Admiralty Court. They don’t play by criminal court rules. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, there is no jury for us to appeal to. We are asking a Governance Admiral to give us the value of a Governance cruiser.”

  “Did we ever have a chance, anyway?” Gus slumped.

  Fiona threw up her hands. “It wasn’t about getting a huge payout, I was hoping to get a modest tow fee and all the trumped-up charges dropped against you and the crew. Now we have to fight a counter lien. Any ideas what that’s all about.”

  Lenore interjected, “I have analyzed their filing and cross-referenced it with established Governance precedent. Their case rests on two pillars: that the Captain is retired from the Navy, and that the Governance considers itself the legitimate heir to the Imperial Confederation within this system. I believe we can knock at out least one of their pillars. I will explain….”

  “All rise, Court is back in session,” rang out.

  The First Lord Admiral began, “I have read the counter lien and determined I will merge these two issues as resolving one will determine the outcome of the other.”

  Arbatov smiled and said, “Thank you, your Honor.”

  The Admiral lashed out. “You will not be receiving special treatment in my courtroom, Gregory, is that clear! Now get started.”

  The Captain was unfazed by the Admiral’s attack. “Your Honor, it is our contention that Chief Warrant Officer Johansson is an employee of the Navy, and as such, any of his actions are the work product of his employment contract. During the recovery of the Erebus, he performed within the normal duties that would be expected from an employee of his paygrade. This precludes him from profiting from the actions at Ix.”

  The Admiral looked at Fiona. “Your response?”

  Fiona composed herself. “Regardless of what Captain Johansson’s relationship is to the Navy, the rest of the crew is also party to this lien.”

  “However, the crew is absent from the lien filing,” Arbatov countered.

  Fiona reconsidered. “Never mind Admiral, Captain Johansson will pay the crew directly from his judgement award.”

  Grey almost exploded. His lawyers had to hold him down.

  “Admiral, I would offer that the Navy breached their contract with Captain Johansson,” Fiona continued.

  It intrigued the Admiral, “Please explain Ms. Patrick. Isn’t Chief Warrant Officer Johansson retired from the Navy?”

  “Yes, your Honor.”

  The Admiral continued, “We consider retirement pay ‘continued payment for reduced service.’ The Bosun is subject to recall to active duty under its doctrine.”

  Fiona broke into a smile. “True Your Honor, but the Navy breached this agreement when it terminated the payments at Captain Grey’s order. Captain Johansson’s retirement pay was diverted to an account controlled by Captain Grey. Captain Johansson was forced to seek other employment.”

  Grey burst out, “That, that, that was an escrow account held for Johansson because he had gone missing.”

  Abratov hissed, “Shut up, you idiot!”

  The gallery started laughing at the sudden turn of events.

  The Admiral began banging his gavel, “I will clear the gallery if there is another outburst.”

  The crew murmured their apologizes.

  Fiona continued. “In addition, Admiral, Captain Johansson used a civilian vessel and his own funds to perform the salvage as an independent operator not an employee of the Navy.”

  Arbatov responded, “The State still contends that the vessel used is Governance property and even if Mr. Johansson was not a Navy employee, he used Navy equipment to perform the salvage.”

  The Admiral nodded to Fiona. “Your response, Ms. Patrick?”

  Fiona forged ahead. “Your Honor, the State claims they are the rightful owners of the tug Corvus. I would call as evidence First Officer Lenore of Corvus.”

  Arbatov stood. “Object your Honor, this witness is not on our list.”

  “First Officer Lenore is not a witness, she is evidence. She is a bot Admiral.”

  Arbatov quickly conferenced with the other lawyers on his team, then said, “Your Honor, we do not allow bots to testify in court.”

  The Admiral thought for a second. “True, however, this is not a criminal proceeding. Also, Ms. Patrick contends this device is evidence, and not a witness, so she is not testifying, I will allow it.”

  Lenore rose and stood at parade rest at the front of the courtroom. Her immaculate dress uniform and perfect military bearing made her look like a recruiting poster. Fiona began, “Identify yourself for the court.”

  She looked at the Admiral and stated, “I was constructed as a General Response Artificial Intelligence Network avatar version 4252.9 assigned to Imperial Confederation Long-Range Salvage Tug Deliver before that vessel’s destruction 1438 Standard Years ago. Now I am Lenore, First Officer of the tug Corvus.”

  Gus thought, I should have done that myself weeks ago. I owe her an apology and an official announcement.

  Fiona said, “Please explain how you came to be on Terne and Captain Johansson came to possess the Corvus.”

  Lenore kept to the bare facts: the attack and destruction of the Deliver and the fall to Terne, HAM’s reconstruction of the ship, Gus’ discovery of HAM and the ship. “Through a misunderstanding, they forced us to flee from Terne. We were subsequently ordered to Terne Station. They arrested captain Johansson.”

  Grey interrupted, “He wasn’t arrested, merely confined pending investigation.”

  Arbatov glared at Grey. “You are not helping.”

  Lenore ignored Grey and continued, “The Captain secured release and rejoined the ship. Captain Grey pursued us, attacking without provocation on several occasions. Erebus had an unfortunate main drive failure that would have seen the loss of the ship and all hands, had Captain Johansson had not performed the salvage.”

  “He escaped during a riot and he sabotaged my ship!” Grey shouted. “A direct attack on a Governance vessel.”

  The Admiral raised an eyebrow. “You had a riot and prison break on Terne Station?”

  Grey swallowed. “Never mind.”

  The Admiral asked, “Do you have evidence of this alleged attack? Commander Meza reported it as a main drive
failure.”

  Grey looked down. “Well, no evidence, but it happened at a convenient time. We were about to recapture Johansson.”

  The Admiral waved his hand. “This proceeding will not consider fault or actions on the Erebus that do not directly affect the salvage lien. I will leave that up to your court martial, Captain Grey.”

  Grey pleaded with Arbatov, “Help me.”

  “You refuse to help yourself. Shut up!”

  The Admiral asked Lenore, “How is it you claim that you and your ship are not Governance property? Case law has established that the Governance is the heir to the Imperial Confederation.”

  Lenore turned. “I believe that there are other worlds that dispute that claim, Cella and Donas for example.”

  Fiona said, “I also have the Consul of Matria ready testify if need be Admiral. Matria was one of the original settlements from Old Earth if I remember my history lessons. It predates the founding of the Governance. Captain Johansson was operating under a letter of marquee from Matria at the time of the incident.” Fiona gestured to Sidra, who rose and bowed toward the Admiral.

  Admiral McGowan nodded and said, “I do not believe that will be necessary, Ms. Patrick. Let’s not get interplanetary politics involved today.”

  Sidra gracefully regained her seat.

  Fiona continued, “Admiral, would you say that it is within the technical capability of the Governance to build a ship like the Corvus or a bot as sophisticated as First Officer Lenore?”

  Arbatov jumped up. “Objection, the Admiral isn’t here to testify.”

  “Withdrawn.”

  Fiona began again, “Very well, since this is a Governance proceeding, we will work within your own Admiralty Salvage Law regulations. First Officer Lenore, if you could cite the relevant passages.”

  As Lenore laid out her case Gus could see Arbatov’s team look glummer with every precedent. The Admiral finally raised his hands. “First Officer Lenore, Ms. Patrick, I surrender. I am ready to rule.”

  Lenore’s smile brightened as the Admiral acknowledged her personhood. “Concerning the facts: I rule the Navy broke its contract with Mr. Johansson by withholding his pay. This means he was not an employee at the time of the incident and was sailing as an independent salvage tug operator. Regarding the lien on Mr. Johansson’s ship, I rule the State does not have valid claim and Mr. Johansson is awarded a clear title to the vessel.”

  Cheers erupted from the gallery, and Gus hugged Lenore and Fiona. The Admiral banged the gavel. “Order, order, please! In the matter of a salvage lien on the Erebus, the Governance will credit Mr. Johansson the standard salvage tug day rate for fourteen days, plus double the special hazard rate. I am reducing the award by the repair cost of the two damaged fighters. Thought I had forgotten about that, huh? You may now celebrate.” The judge winked.

  Grey jumped to his feet and his team of lawyers grabbed him, “This isn’t over Johansson! You think you’ve won again? I’m not your only enemy, you smug bastard.”

  Gus said, “Hazy, it’s a good thing you got full medical in the Navy, you truly are gonna give yourself a stroke. See ya around the system, I gotta a party to go to.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The crew was celebrating their courtroom victory at a party that Sidra had insisted they attend onboard the Artemis. Lenore had politely declined and offered to stand watch on Corvus until they returned. She stood on the Bridge along with HAM and looked at the station, slowly spinning against the background of stars. The rings of Ix were visible and her far off companion star Iz was a dazzling dot.

  HAM asked, “What are you pondering, Ma’am.”

  “I am considering our next course of action,” Lenore replied.

  “Return Earth. Find Talos,” Corvus said as his avatar winked into view.

  HAM said, “Yes, that would appear to be the logical step.”

  Lenore looked down at him. “How do you propose we convince the Skipper that is what we should do?”

  “My forte is not original thinking, I’m afraid. I am much better at execution,” the little bot said.

  Lenore said, “Perhaps an opportunity will present itself now that this unpleasantness with Captain Grey is behind us.”

  “The Skipper can be stubborn sometimes,” HAM said.

  Lenore smiled. “We will just need to let him think it was his idea.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The MCB kicked up a violent swirl of sand as it touched down near Gus’s beach on Terne. The side hatch opened, and Gus, Lenore, and HAM descended.

  Gus said, “Well, we’re finally back home again, you old self-propelled screwdriver,” Gus smacked HAM across the back. “I can’t wait for you to see it, Lenore.”

  HAM recovered his balance and responded, “Yes Sir, it will be nice to set the place up properly. Our recent adventure has delayed my plans for many improvements on your homestead.”

  The trio stopped as they crested the dune line.

  Lenore surveyed the empty scene and asked, “Is this the correct beach?”

  “Hey, where’s my house? I know this is the right place, there is the cove where my boathouse was.”

  “Most curious,” said HAM.

  Gus turned when he heard a woman say, “Can I help you?” She was walking toward them carrying a sign that read “AVAILABLE NOW! BUILD YOUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE.”

  “Hey Lady, where’s my house?”

  The woman stopped to empty the sand filling her shoe, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I bought this place at the tax auction. I sold the old shack that was here to pay for cleaning up all the junk lying around the place. I can show you around, it’s available. It would make a perfect retirement home for a couple.”

  Gus sighed. “I should have known they wouldn’t let me win that easily.”

  Lenore asked, “But seizing your house?”

  “The Governance doesn’t like to lose,” Gus said. “HAM check my Terne bank accounts.”

  HAM paused for a moment before saying, “Captain, it appears that your accounts have been emptied and closed.”

  Lenore paused, looking into the distance. “Skipper, I have checked the ship’s crypto accounts. Our salvage claim money remains secure.”

  Gus sighed. “Well, at least that’s something.” He looked at Lenore. “Wasn’t that a lucky coincidence that Erebus’s drive would fail in the perfect way to put it on a path to destruction and us conveniently being a salvage tug?”

  Lenore demurred. “Captain, I don’t know what you are implying.”

  HAM changed the subject. “Well, since the Corvus is no longer a wanted vessel, we are free to travel the system.”

  Lenore took the Bosun’s arm. “Gus, I believe it is time to go.”

  “Right, nothing holding us here. We’ve got a good ship. All the crew agreed to stay on, even Pela.”

  Lenore smiled. “I believe she has become fond of us. Some more than others.”

  Gus turned to the real estate agent and said, “Thanks anyway, lady, dirtside life ain’t for us. Good luck selling the place. Oh, and try those wild beach plums growing behind the dune line. They are delicious.”

  She waved and began hammering in her sign, “Okay, thanks for the tip. I love natural foods,” she said.

  HAM looked at Gus, laughing to himself. “But Sir, aren’t those the fruits I used for that disastrous breakfast on our first morning together?”

  Gus shushed him and HAM said, “I will never understand humor.”

  Epilogue

  “There’s my little girl,” Admiral McGowan said as he walked to the pool attached to the Grey’s quarters, arms outstretched.

  Mitzi McGowan-Grey turned in her lounge to set down an umbrella topped drink, “Oh Daddy, give us a hug.” She kissed his cheek as he obliged. “I am so looking forward to leaving this dreadful spinning waste can and returning to civilization.”

  “I’m afraid you will have to delay your plans. I need you to take care of some things on Kragus f
or me,” the Admiral said.

  Mitzi pouted. “Oh, poo. It is so dry there. It’s terrible for my skin. I swear you just want me to shrivel into an old lizard. I’m going to use your cred chip for the repair treatments.” She took a sip and changed the subject. “By the way, is Harrison’s little unpleasantness taken care of?”

  “I don’t know why you stick with that one baby girl? I can’t keep bailing him out of trouble forever.”

  “Oh Daddy,” she purred and stretch one long tanned leg, “the heart wants what it wants. Besides,” she flopped back on the lounge, “he is still a work in progress. You know, I love a project and he is useful on occasion.” Her laugh was warm, honey.

  The Admiral shrugged. “I could never refuse you, your mother always said I spoiled you.”

  Mitzi stirred her drink and asked with a sly look, “How is dear Gusty, Daddy?”

  McGowan answered, “He looks well, for his age.”

  “Distinguished, I imagine, a shame I didn’t run into him. That man knows how to have fun,” she said between sips. “What’s to become of him?”

  The Admiral smiled. “Oh, I have plans for Mr. Johansson and his mysterious black ship.”

  “Harrison’s sister still speaks fondly of him on occasion. I would hate for him to come to grief.”

  “Don’t worry baby, he is worth more alive than dead, I assure you. At least for now…”

  About the Author

  I found myself adrift after a 30+ year career in the US Coast Guard. Over twenty of them as a Chief Warrant Officer, so I got a soft spot for CWOs.

  "I'll write a book," I said. "How hard could it be."