by David Buck
Gindane now broke out into a cold sweat of fear. The board of inquiry was in reality a trial that had the power to try and execute her, and her crew, if any breach of galactic edicts stated in the scope of the inquiry was proven. The commander was initially worried about who else would make up the board of inquiry, with real concerns that an aggressive Tilmud Admiral could be involved.
Gindane assured herself that the impartiality of this inquiry was not her concern; the Cephrit station master would ensure proprietary. She then also read two further messages that mentioned that the Barus themselves would be conducting their own investigations, both civil and military, subsequent to the board of inquiry. The Barus female considered that she and her crew would have to first defend their lives in the board of inquiry. Subsequently they would spend a protracted period defending their ruined professional reputations.
Bleakly Gindane contemplated her situation yet again, before quietly issuing instructions to her section chiefs to ensure compliance with the contents of her own orders. Over the long days it took to return to first the research fleet and then the Cephrit star base, Gindane would spend many long hours yet again going through the research information on Earth.
***
The four senior members of the medical team were lead into the wardroom on HMAS Perth by Buffer Robertson after they had first briefly gone to their quarters to doff their kit bags. The team leaders had then ensured that the three dozen junior members of their team were allocated bunks correctly. The buffer briefly introduced the medical team to lieutenant commander Greene and five of his lieutenants.
After the requisite salutes and handshakes were completed, he was excused from the meeting by the lieutenant commander, who returned to his initial conversation with lieutenant Edwards. The buffer closed the door and returned topside to organize a detail for the medical supplies due shortly. Steve Greene invited all present to gather a coffee and take a seat so that the mornings briefing could begin. He regarded the medical team members with respect and made friendly eye contact with each of the members, as he asked further after each of their responsibilities.
A hardly noticeable smile came to his eyes as he asked lieutenant Edwards to lead the briefing with an overview of the medical team mission in terms of previous results and further goals in Malaysia. Steve was well aware of the team’s reputation for excellence in supplying medical aid in Asian refugee camps. After Samantha finished, she knew from the reactions of all present that her medical team was highly valued amongst the highly skilled and professional naval officers present. She was also impressed with both the sincere interest of the ship’s captain in her team’s efforts in South East Asia, and with the quiet efficiency he led his officers.
When she had first glanced into his eyes she was aware that those eyes had seen a lot especially over the last five years. Briefly she considered the burnout rate amongst her own medical team in the last three years. The briefing continued with the regular officers giving short overviews of their concerns before the frigate could again sail. With orders specified to the appropriate officers, the briefing closed with an invitation for all officers present to have dinner with the lieutenant commander that evening.
The guests and officers on the frigate began to come together as a professional team that night. Selected stories were exchanged over dinner about the cataclysmic events of the last five years, and the effects of the events on their lives as naval officers and as people. The bonds would be reinforced further over the next five years of aid missions.
***
Chapter 3
2050 AD - In a star system 600 lights years distant
The Barus trading ship travelled cautiously towards a series of asteroids. The sole occupant, a young male Barus called Omerio, anxiously scanned the surrounding space for signs of activity. Even in his haste, he remembered to use passive scans rather than powerful active subspace scans that could signal his presence from several star systems away. The galaxy was largely at peace and the independent races ignored the Barus trading and research ships. But he knew that this peace meant nothing if a patrolling Tilmud frigate discovered him alone and unprotected in a remote part of the galaxy. Especially if they learned of the tightly crammed contents of his ship’s hold, the Barus trader thought grimly.
The current journey had begun innocently enough when Omerio had docked his fast trader at a Cephrit Star Base 31, over one thousand light years away several months ago. He had been expecting a few weeks of relaxation on the large cosmopolitan station after having made his ongoing trading arrangements earlier. However the second part of his most secret and long term covert operation had been urgently brought forward.
Omerio’s Cephrit contact had taken lengthy pauses and began using sharp clicks when discussing the operation, and he was well aware that this was a sign of high anxiety amongst the Cephrit race. Within hours the Cephrit Station manager had his ship refueled and replenished, and a briefing was also awaiting his attention. He watched as several anonymous, but familiar crates of varying sizes were quickly crammed inside his small ship. A ludicrous amount of funds were forwarded to his private account, and he was encouraged to quietly leave for deep space in discrete haste.
Omerio rubbed the plain brown fur on his shoulders, a vassal Barus trait, as he angled his trading ship towards the shadow of the second largest asteroid. A schematic of the star system showed the sole gas giant across the other side of the system, then his current location amongst a scattering of asteroids. Closer in towards the common M class star orbited two terrestrial sized planets, the first was a charred cinder close to the star, and the next planet was on the estimated outer edge of the habitable zone.
He noted that there was a very faint trace of a larger ship having visited this system previously in the last few months. But he noted that the signature of the ship did not match a known design. The Barus trader was about to disregard the trace, then he noted that the trace would have allowed planet-fall on the second planet. Omerio then briefly scanned the second planet, a chilly world only half the size of a habitable planet. He realized that a respirator and thick clothing would be required for even a short journey onto the surface.
‘Likely I will not need to land there thankfully.’
Omerio thought about the nature of the independent race that was to turn up at his location shortly. The trading ship slowly edged into the shadows, and Omerio stopped the engines when the ship was still well away from the asteroid. The skilled pilot swiftly powered down all non essential ship systems, before ensuring the stealth system was fully operational. Satisfied with his ship’s status, he then launched a stealthy mini-probe to remain behind the shadow of the asteroid.
Omerio knew that even with his heavy cargo, his ship could easily outrun the slower Tilmud frigates with their heavier shields and over gunned weapons. The danger would be if two Tilmud ships could get close enough to drop his weak shields and stop his ship’s engines before his ship could outrun them. He now hauled up the schematics of star system again as he set warning alarms for the scanners. He then deployed a second stealthy mini-probe with orders to passively scan the second planet and surroundings.
Omerio finally gave the ship’s tactical computer a challenge to nominate six different high speed escape routes from the star system. The challenge was based on the event of two Tilmud frigates entering the system from the populated part of the galaxy, so it did not involve the whole outer section of the star system. As Omerio set the console timer for several hours sleep, his eyes briefly took in before closing the ornate 3D puzzle by his console, a gift that he had received many years earlier from Gindane.
***
‘Omerio, I have had to leave to join Professor Elysius’s expedition urgently. A planet near the expedition’s current location – Sol 3 or Earth – has been sending radio signals for many years now. As the ship is leaving shortly I am unable to accept your request for a further meeting. Please accept this gift as a token of my admiration and affection
for you.’
The short dispassionate video from Gindane had given nothing away and was well within the social norms of the Barus race, as they had a reputation for providing intellectual challenges to one another. Omerio knew with sadness that the subject of an actual relationship would be skirted around for many years yet. This was a given due to the fraught changes to Barus biology that had taken place since the Zronte had assumed control of the Carinae sector so long ago.
Omerio now had resigned himself to further years of careful work, officially as an itinerant scout and trader in a small ship, and un-officially as a secretive high level Barus operative. He had known Gindane since they were both cubs over two hundred years ago, when both of them were still young. Gindane had never bred as far as he knew, so he was hopeful as he was the only suitable suitor for many dozens of light years. However she had devoted herself to her studies of alien races in remote sector regions, as had many of the Barus species in their devotion to their life’s work.
Omerio eventually feel asleep, and his dreams were of an improbable but peaceful life. In his dreams there were swarms of brightly striped Barus cubs running around the legs of adults quietly performing home duties. He knew when he later awoke alone that this was far from the actual reality of near barren Barus vassals controlled by the edicts of merciless alien overlords.
***
Just after breakfast, Commander Steve Greene considered the two messages further, together with the ships reports that made up so much of his day. A brief skirmish with pirates and smugglers a week ago had generated much of these reports. The ship had then resumed their goodwill and aid visit to second Indonesian city.
Steve had been promoted to commander in 2046 after the nine months as acting captain of HMAS Perth. At that time Steve had allowed himself a quick mental note of delight in finally being promoted. The ship and crew had since then deployed several additional medical missions into South East Asia. Now after another four years of hectic naval life with little leave, it was all he could do to ease to the ongoing sense of weariness he was experiencing.
The first message was a brief note authorizing the return of HMAS Perth to Fleet West at the naval base for a refit and extended leave. Steve knew that the Perth needed extensive dockside work, as the missile targeting system had problems, and the portside turbine was still a cause for concern. The orders to return were pursuant to the demands of the second message, and Steve summoned a rating to organize yet another meeting of officers in the ward room. As the rating chased down the senior officers, Steve quickly brought up a map of Malaysia, and an un-accustomed, but well hidden knot of both concern and fear spread through his features.
***
Lieutenant Samantha Edwards led her medical team along the goat track that passed as a road in this remote Malaysian village. She further calculated her options as one of the Malaysian guides turned back to her from further up the path. Three days previously Samantha had led her team from the refugee camp, and then along a mountain scarp. This occurred just as reports came in of a large force of militants attacking the refugee camp were her medical team had been providing humanitarian aid.
Fortunately the selfless efforts of her team had ensured that they had been warned in advance. She knew that dozens of lightly armed refugees had attacked the militants in an effort to ensure that the Australian aid team could escape. Samantha was heading for the coast and then to Kerteh, a small city were her team had provided emergency medical aid three years earlier. The city was home to an influential Chinese Malaysian family that was exceedingly grateful for the efforts of the medical team during their last deployment.
Samantha wondered if Steve and HMAS Perth were still nearby in Indonesian waters. During their last conversation a few months ago, Steve had mentioned he was leading a goodwill visit to assist the Indonesian navy that was only now getting back to full capability. Samantha then chided herself about staying focused on getting her team to safety as she went forward to talk to the Malaysian guide.
***
Commander Steve Greene quietly spoke to his assembled officers in the boardroom about the contents of the second message they had received this morning. As he looked around the ward room he noted the tired and care worn look of his officers, even if they did look spotless in their camouflaged operational uniforms. As the commander finished, Lieutenant Peterson, lifted a sheath of maps to the wardroom table and unfurled a detailed map of the central Malaysian coast. Steve expressed his thanks and pointed to the small coastal city as his officers crowded around to listen.
‘Now Kerteh is the nearest deep water port to the medical team’s last known location. Also we have friends here from our last visit two years ago….’
The watch changed at midday as HMAS Perth steamed at flank speed for the Malaysian coast, and all business, the commander continued his briefing. Steve would pause frequently and the junior officers added their bits of additional information to the briefing. The operational status of the ship, especially the missiles, was a prime concern. As the officers left the briefing they each privately considered that after many months of routine aid work, they were now facing hostile action. They knew that they needed to go the urgent aid of fellow Australians that they both like and respected, including the possible future wife of their captain.
***
Gyuan Lee calmly watched the ragtag collection of westerners, as they nervously approached his convoy about fifty kilometers from the city in the stifling midday heat. From the range of hills several kilometers west further short bursts of machine gun fire could be heard. The blonde woman leading the other team members tiredly smiled at him as she pocketed her GPS, and he responded with a wide grin of his own.
‘Miss Edwards, please hurry and get your team aboard our mini buses, we know that you are being followed by militants…’
Wasting no time, the exhausted team members quickly piled into the four mini buses. The buses and an escort of several four wheel drive vehicles filled with armed men then quickly fled the scene in a cloud of diesel smoke. Samantha settled into the bench seat of the lead mini bus and allowed herself a quick sense of relief. The Australian team started to relax and passed around cold bottles of distilled water supplied by the beaming young Malaysian.
‘Miss Edwards, father sends his respects and we are to take you directly to the docks. An Australian frigate is waiting offshore from this morning and we are organizing small boats to take your team to the ship.’
Samantha confirmed the details with Gyuan, before she turned to one of her team members, who quickly fetched a satellite phone from her back pack. Another satellite phone made an appearance, and both were checked for battery charge and signal strength, before being placed back in the back packs.
‘Gyuan.’ As the young Malaysian turned back to Samantha she continued again.
‘Gyuan, please make sure that none of your people communicate with or approach the frigate until I tell you to do so.’
Gyuan quietly smiled his understanding as the convoy sped towards the dock area. Samantha quietly spoke to one of her older team members, who had previously served in earlier peace-keeping missions to the Middle East.
***
Steve reviewed the latest intelligence reports, as it appeared that militants in several boats had fired rocket propelled grenades, or RPGs, at shipping during piracy attacks only eighty kilometers away north. The Malaysian navy was sweeping up from the south with three frigates, engaging and sinking several militant boats, so there was no doubt that the militants would be eventually defeated.
Straight after the morning’s briefing, Steve had been in a friendly chat with the Malaysian task force captain, who he knew through a military exercise in now what seemed another life. The captain had politely urged that Steve exercise caution along the coast, and to officially remind him that he was in Malaysian territorial waters. Unofficially the captain invited Steve to visit when next possible, and joked that if several militant boats were made to go away he would
not be overly concerned. Before Steve signed off, he voiced his concerns back to the Malaysian captain that with the attacks to his north, he had the view that the militants had used powerful tracking and jamming equipment. As Steve considered his options further, there was a knock and the communications officer strode into the cabin and saluted.
‘Sir, the medical team has made it to the city docks; they have a couple of satellite phones with them and dialed into the bridge directly. We acknowledged their brief status and told them to go off air and await our call.’
Steve gave a quick smile of relief, and thanked the lieutenant for his quick thinking as he now strode off for the bridge. The XO and two other lieutenants appeared as he was reaching the bridge.
‘XO we need to find several small boats to the north of us armed with RPG’s. So get Lieutenant White to fly a sweep of the nearest northern island first. He is to work north to fifty kilometers, but let him know about the electronic jamming and the RPG’s on those boats.’
The frigate turned to the north and quietly closed with the nearest islands, as the fourth generation Seahawk helicopter was launched by the ever efficient hangar deck crew. As the alarm sounded for surface action, several ratings fitted four .50 caliber heavy machine guns to their pedestals on either side of the ship. Steve knew that it could come down to a brutal close range fight and he wanted to give his ship all the edges he could.
***
On the fly bridge of a large pleasure cruiser in the Kerteh city docks, Samantha watched through binoculars as HMAS Perth turned north and steamed away with no real concern. Obviously they could not pick the medical team up at that moment, and the Seahawk helicopter flying away to prowl the northern islands indicated some sort of problem. The medical team had each had the opportunity for a shower, a change of clothes and a decent meal supplied by their ever hospitable Malaysian hosts.
