by Randy Dyess
Disappointment filtered throughout the bridge. Captain Moore gave everyone a sharp look to quiet them. He felt the same way, but was certain the Agamemnon would help them in any way they could—it was what one spacer did for another. “We will contact Candus Corporation and begin salvage claim negotiations. I will contact you once the negotiations are final and provide all help that falls within the scope of the contract’s agreement.”
“Did you say salvage claim?” Captain Moore asked.
“Correct, Castle. I will file a salvage claim and begin negotiations.”
Rage filled Captain Moore and the rest of the bridge crew. “Don’t you know that, by law, you’re supposed to provide aid to a stranded ship?” he shouted at the Agamemnon’s captain. “Our rescue should not depend on a salvage claim and you know that!”
“You may be right about the law,” came a terse remark from the Agamemnon’s captain, “but I’ll have to let the lawyers decide. Meanwhile, we’ve received a message that our transfer freighter will not be joining us in this system and we scan no other ships here. We could just leave and go about our business if you wish?”
“NO! WAIT!” Captain Moore shouted into the headset. “If you leave us, I’ll make sure everyone knows your name and the name of your ship. You’ll be hung out to dry!”
“And what would be my name or the name of my ship, Captain Moore?”
He was stunned and couldn’t come up with a reply. “Excuse me?”
“You think a Tholian freighter called the Agamemnon headed by a Captain Neeraj came into this system. You’ll find no records of this event and no registry for a Tholian freighter called Agamemnon, nor a licensed Captain Neeraj. From your reaction, I don’t think you have the ability to read my transponder, and I’m guessing you don’t know who we really are. So, your corporation will fill out the salvage claim before I give them your information. We are not in the charity business.”
Captain Moore tore off his headphones in frustration. So damn close, and this idiot is playing with our lives! He stood there for a minute, trying to calm himself before replying, “You are willing to let my crew die if you don’t get paid?”
“No, Captain, the Candus Corporation would be the one willing to let you die. I’m only trying to make a profit on this run.”
Once again, Captain Moore tore off his headphones. He looked at the shocked faces around him; no one could believe what was happening. He put his headphones back on. “Are you aware of what is going on out there? Do you realize what's happening and what will happen to you if we aren’t around to help?”
“I’m aware that shipping contracts are way down. It seems that no one wants to ship anything out here. It also seems that pirate activity has increased dramatically—hundreds of shipping vessels are missing. Now that I know the pirates are strong enough to blow apart a Candus Security vessel, I may leave and find employment elsewhere. None of this requires your help.”
“What do you ask of me to have you save my ship?” Captain Moore asked.
“Candus Corporation will want some proof that we actually found you. What code can you give us to prove that we are in contact with you?”
Captain Moore closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “Alpha 186, romeo 259, red 8747,” he responded. “This is the ship’s code—it should be enough proof for them.”
“Very well. I will see if it is and I will get back to you when we have made a deal. Agamemnon out,” Captain Neeraj said before cutting the point-to-point channel.
“Channel is closed,” Lt. Jones said softly. She was in shock that the captain would not help them. It was the code of space travel, just like it had been centuries ago when wooden sailing ships plied the waters of Earth.
“Understood,” Captain Moore said. “I guess we wait.”
“Do you think they’re pirates?” Lt. Morris asked.
“I don’t think so,” he replied. “Times are hard and they are just trying to make a profit off us. The captain said their transfer freighter canceled on them.”
“Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
“Not exactly. At least they're going to try to help us out, once there’s a salvage claim. If they were pirates, they’d just blow another hole in our ship and wait for us to die before coming over and taking what’s left. The salvage claim will get us back home, and that’s more than we had a few minutes ago.”
“That’s if Candus Corporation agrees. They may just let us die out here,” Lt. Johnson said.
“I don’t think they will, after what we’ve been through. We may be the only ones who actually know what happened in the Candus system. They’ll at least want us back for debriefing,” Captain Moore said, although he wasn’t one hundred percent sure that Lt. Johnson wasn’t right.
Captain Moore and his remaining four officers waited for the reply all night long, and the rest of the crew quickly found out about the Agamemnon’s refusal to help without a salvage claim. They walked around the ship like zombies for the rest of the night, waiting for the point-to-point channel to open back up with details of their rescue.
Finally, eight hours later, the point-to-point channel opened and Captain Moore and the rest of the Castle’s officers heard, “Castle, this is Captain Aljaz of the Willows Industry freighter Falling Leaf. Candus Corporation has agreed to a salvage claim and we are making our way toward you. We are authorized to provide you with our backup external comm array. Are you able to provide power to the array?”
Captain Moore jumped up and ran to the comm station. “Captain Aljaz, this is Captain Moore. We are happy you are authorized to help us and can power an external comm array.”
“Very well. I have also been authorized to provide you with any other emergency supplies. What are your needs?”
“I wonder what this is costing.” Lt. Johnson said before receiving a sharp look from Captain Moore.
“We could use a fresh supply of food—we’ve been eating emergency protein bars for two weeks.”
“Negative on the food—we do not carry enough to spare. I will give you a hundred water pouches and some basic medical supplies. I also have a roll of temp-patch material to shore up your patches before the tow tug gets here. That should last you until you return to a repair facility. We are a working freighter, not a supply ship, and I do not have extras to hand out to every ship we happen to come across.”
“Thank you. You’ve been more than generous,” Captain Moore sarcastically replied. “How do you want to achieve hook up for the transfer?”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, Captain,” Captain Aljaz said, “I’m not risking my ship by attaching it to that derelict you are on. We will put the supplies in a crate and have a bot run it to your ship. I’ll program the bot to put the crate in one of your open compartments. Do you have a preference?”
“Open compartment!” Lt. Johnson shouted. “If I ever get my hands on that…”
Captain Moore ignored the outburst and gestured at Lt. Morris. “Bill, where’s the best place to create a temporary airlock?”
“The generator compartment. We can just leave the comm array there.”
“You can place the crate in what used to be our generator compartment, Captain Aljaz. I’ll have one of my crewmembers mark the compartment with an infrared beam through its remaining hatch.”
“That will be sufficient. Be advised, I just received word that Pembroke Salvage has just ordered a tug to come and take you home. It should be here in two days. You should be fine until the tug gets here. Once we transfer the supplies, we’ll need to head out—I have a schedule to keep.”
“Understood,” Captain Moore said. You pile of crap. You better hope none of us ever run across you or your ship, he thought. The crew of the Castle broke out into a loud cheer. They were being rescued in a matter of days and would be home before the end of the week.
*****
Thirty-seven hours later, the crew of the Castle had successfully installed the new comm array. They had limited external communications
with the local comm relay and would only be able to transmit to a ship in close range, but it was better than what they had before. They still couldn’t call Candus Security to work things out.
Lt. Jones was exhausted after pulling a forty-eight-hour shift monitoring the comm channels and helping to calibrate the new array. She was heading to her berth when she heard, “Castle, this is the Pembroke Salvage tug Hercules. Do you read?”
She rushed back to the comm unit. “Hercules, this is Castle. We read you.”
“Castle, is your captain on the bridge?”
“Negative, but I’ve just summoned him. He should be here in one minute.”
“Very well. We’ll wait for his transmission.”
It took less than a minute before Captain Moore and the remaining officers poured into the bridge. Lt. Jones told him she had received a hail from a tug called Hercules. Captain Moore went directly to the comm unit and placed the headphones on. “Hercules, this Captain Moore of the Castle. How can I help you?”
“Captain Moore, we are here pursuant to salvage claim R54321 and are able to tow you to salvage port X543 in the Pegasus Prime system. We will not be able to bring your crew onboard during the tow. Do you understand and comply with the rules of salvage claim?”
“I understand and approve.”
“Castle, we will come alongside you. We will fire magnetic tow cables to several points on your upper hull. Do you understand and approve?”
“I understand and approve.”
“Once the cables are in place, we will make an FTL jump. Do you understand and approve?
“You can jump two ships at once?” Captain Moore asked.
“Negative. We will maneuver your ship into our salvage bay and the Castle will essentially become part of our ship, so we only have to create one FTL bubble. Do you understand and approve?”
“I understand and approve. What do you require of the Castle and its crew?”
“Nothing, Captain Moore. We read that you have light, artificial gravity. Once you are in our salvage bay, our gravity will overcome yours. Your crew will become nauseated from the effects, so we suggest you have your crew strapped in place during the FTL tunnel transit. Do you understand and approve?”
“I understand and approve. How long is the transit?”
“Seventy-one hours, Captain Moore. We are required to travel at minimal speed while towing something with this much damage. Your people are just going to have to suffer through it. It helps if you give everyone a sedative. Do you understand?”
“Understood, Hercules. We’re ready to comply now, and you can begin your operations at any time,” Captain Moore said.
“Acknowledged, Castle. Hercules out.”
Captain Moore looked to Lt. Jones. “Sara, make an announcement to have all crew members return to their quarters and strap down. We are going home.”
He could swear the cheers that rang out through the Castle when the ship entered the FTL tunnel could have been heard through the vacuum of space for hundreds of systems. He was cheering the loudest.
*****
It was hell for the next three days as the Hercules and the Castle made it through the FTL tunnel. Once in the Pegasus Prime system and near the salvage station, the Hercules handed the Castle over to smaller tugs, who guided her into a salvage bay.
The entire crew of the Castle was standing near the bridge when they heard the port’s flight control announce that the Castle had achieved hard dock. They waited as it was sealed and the entire bay filled with enough air to create the atmosphere needed for the engineers to repair or scrap the Castle.
“Captain Moore, have your crew bring their belongings to the hatch for compartment A4567. We will create a new main hatch at that location,” the port’s control officer announced. It did not take more than a few minutes for the entire crew to gather their meager possessions, and a loud cheer once again filled the ship as the salvage crew cut open the door of the compartment.
The salvage crew did not communicate with the crew or the captain and just backed away to allow a Candus Security squad to enter the Castle, headed by a stern-looking lieutenant in combat armor with the visor up.
“What is this?” Captain Moore demanded.
“Your crew will stay on the ship and be placed under guard,” the lieutenant barked. “You and your officers will come with me.”
“What you mean under guard? We have just been rescued—these people have been on a derelict ship for two months! I demand that they are allowed to leave the ship,” Captain Moore said.
“Keep quiet and come with me, Captain. Don't make this worse than it already is.”
Captain Moore turned around to his crew. “I don't know what's going on, but you’ll have to stay here until I can get this straightened out.”
“Why do we have to stay here?” members of the crew shouted.
“Do as you are told, so we can clear this up quickly. Jerry, the officers are coming with me. You take charge and keep everyone here and ready to offload.”
“Aye, Captain,” the chief petty officer replied.
“This way, Captain,” the security lieutenant commanded. Captain Moore and his four remaining officers walked through the new hatch. He was taken by surprise when he was surrounded by four armed security guards and separated from his fellow officers.
“Captain, what's going on?” Lt. Jones called out.
“I don't know, Sara,” was all he could get out before the security lieutenant barked at the two to cease all conversation.
“You will act like the detainees you are!”
“Detainees? What are you talking about?” Lt. Jones yelled.
“Lieutenant, I said no talking. If you know what's good for you, you'll shut up,” the security lieutenant commanded.
“Sara, do as they say,” Captain Moore said. “This is all one big mistake.”
“Corporal,” the security lieutenant said, “take these people to the holding cell on deck twelve. I’ll call for them when they are needed.”
The small group of officers was in shock as their captain was separated and marched away. “Move it!” the corporal shouted.
*****
Captain Moore was taken directly to a large conference room where five Candus executives were arranged in front of him like judges. “This hearing is now in order,” the older of the executives called out. “We are here to discuss the dereliction of duty charge against Landen Moore, recently captain of the Candus Security vessel Castle and commander of Candus Security’s Alpha Squad. Do you want to enter a guilty plea and save us all from this trouble?” the executive called out.
“I don’t understand,” Captain Moore said with a confused look. “What are you trying to make me confess to?”
“Don’t play that game with me, Captain,” the head executive responded. “You should know why you're here and what you've done.”
“No, sir, I don’t know. My ship was attacked and driven out of its FTL tunnel early. We have spent the last two months in the Redrar system trying to survive. All we've done is managed to survive.”
“All you’ve done is managed to survive?” came a hateful reply. “Let me list the things you have done. You've lost your entire squad of extremely valuable security vessels, you've lost your ship, and you’ve cost the Candus Corporation billions of credits in salvage fees and lost equipment. That is what you have done. Do you deny any of this?”
“No, but it wasn't our fault. No one told us about an attack or the possibility of an attack when we arrived in the Candus system—”
Captain Moore was interrupted by the executive. “As the captain of a security, you're supposed to be prepared for an attack at any time. You are the captain of a security vessel, aren't you?”
“Yes, I am, and as a captain of a security vessel, I had access to all of the intel for that region. No data mentioned the possibility of an attack. By the way, what were those things that attacked us and destroyed my ship? How did they learn to use plasma balls as a
weapon? How did they melt down the Rook and Bishop and destroy Galaxy-class freighters?”
“Silence!” the head executive barked. “We are not here to determine what type of pirate blew your ships apart. You will refrain from mentioning what took place on Candus, do you understand?”
Captain Moore looked at the group for a few minutes. “I understand and I'm willing to go along with your charade, but nothing is to be done to my crew. If you want my cooperation, you’ll treat them as a rescued crew.”
“Why should we do that?” the head executive asked.
“Because I can guarantee they will not say anything about the events that happened on Candus. I won't say anything, either.”
“What if we decide to find another way to keep you quiet?” the executive asked.
“The freighter that found us allowed us to set up short-range external communications. What makes you think I haven't already transmitted data about the attack and the events we went through to someone, knowing what I know about Candus executives?”
All five executives shouted amongst themselves. They didn't know whether to believe Captain Moore. If he had sent a poison pill to someone and the story got out, they faced the chance of being in the same situation as Captain Moore, once their superiors found out.
The head executive ordered the rest to quiet down before looking at Captain Moore. “We will go along with your request to treat your crew as a rescued crew, but you will pay the price of losing your ship and our squadron.”
“What price is that?”
The head executive looked down at a data pad and continued, “For your and your crew’s silence about the events, we will allow them to return to their homes, remain Candus Corporation employees without a mark on their records, and honor them as a rescued crew with all benefits and bonuses.
“Your crew will report that there was a problem in the FTL tunnel, which damaged the Castle when it was cast out of the tunnel. They will announce that the destruction of the Rook and Bishop were caused when you gave them incorrect FTL endpoints in order to beat your record. If you, or anyone on your crew, break the silence, the whole crew will be convicted of mutiny and the attempted theft of the Castle. We will make it look like you and your crew were going rogue and becoming pirates. Do you understand, Mr. Moore?”
