Lee and Ortiz watched the felinoid leave the room with shocked expressions. When the door closed, the two men began to laugh out loud.
“Did he just tell a joke?” Lee asked.
“I sure hope so, Lee,” Ortiz said. “Otherwise, we’ll have a mutiny on our hands.”
8
As the Terran Hope fell away behind them, the crew of the renamed slaver vessel Diamond Sole was nervous. For most of the crew, it was the first time they had ever served on a ship that was not either Confederacy or Alliance. The fact that the ship had once been home to a group of Holkan slavers added to their unease. The normal creaks of a space frame seemed to echo the wailing moans of long dead passengers and crew.
“Mister Goldstein, set our course for the Bralock system,” Lee Pearce ordered. “We will be visiting the fourth planet in the system.”
“Aye, sir,” the young pilot replied. “Bralock system has been entered. This ship takes a while to warm up, though.”
“Laddie, watch your tongue!” Roy Booth exclaimed. “I’ll have this ship turning pirouettes before the end of the week and then you’ll owe me an apology!”
“Mister Booth, you’ll do no such thing,” Pearce said turning to the engineering station to his right. “We need this ship to look like any other Holkan slaver ship. If we start running circles around Ch’Tauk fighters, then we will have lost the element of subterfuge.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Booth, looking as if he wanted to punch the console in front of him. “I can still play with the guts of this old bucket, sir. I can make us look slow as that ol’ cruise ship, but with the ability to fly like your Eagle if you give me half a chance.”
“Mister Booth,” replied Lee. “I will allow you to indulge yourself as soon as we get into the Bralock system.”
“Aye, sair,” Booth replied regaining his brogue and smiling a wide toothy smile.
Pearce felt the ship begin to vibrate slightly as the M-space engines projected the tight beam of energy into the void. The blue-black spiral of the jump point pinched open and Lee could see the fluid space of the membrane beyond. He saw the edge of the vortex glide past his view screen projection as the ship passed into M-space. He once had been fascinated by the strange area between dimensions, but he had lost far too much to the place to ever feel the romantic pull again.
“Captain, we have successfully entered M-space. The jump portal is closing behind us,” Goldstein said.
Lee swiveled the small holographic display around to watch the blackness of normal space disappear. He had a bad feeling that the image of the Terran Princess would be the last time he would see his one-time home again. The hole in the fluidic area closed over the image and Lee almost sighed. He would miss the black sky and stars while on this mission, but his mission took precedence over his nostalgia.
Lee looked around the compact bridge. It was much wider than the bridge of the Resolute and laid out in an arc pattern with all of the consoles faking the main view screen. His command station was a stool that sat just behind the single pilot station and had a single holographic display. The ship lacked carpeting or soundproofing like modern military vessels, but made up for it in leisure areas for the crew.
Diamond Sole was equipped with four large galleys that had been fully stocked with protein and fresh foods when Captain Jakes had hijacked the ship. In order to complete the mission with minimal contact, the Alliance had stocked the ship equally. With only forty crew on board, they were ready for a long mission. Lee had already sampled some of the food on board and found it palatable and fulfilling to his taste. Holkan’s were great lovers of life and all that it had to offer.
Near the main crew quarters, there were also two facilities for gambling and games. Although Lee had initially wanted to deactivate and dismantle the facilities, Commodore Chang had convinced him to keep the tables for appearances sake. Lee had already announced the policies that crew were not allowed in the gaming areas unless the mission required it. Since he had no idea what challenges they would face, he knew that using the games of chance to barter for information might become a necessity.
Lee stood as he saw Goldstein tap the keys bring the ship about. M-space coordinates were different than travel in normal space. Although technically not part of the “real” universe, M-space existed on the outer boundaries of what humans or any other creatures could understand. The membrane between the dimension of space where humans lived and the next reality was a massive plain of energy. Without the structural enhancements and energy shielding, most ships would be crushed and vaporized by the pressure of the place. Ch’Tauk, however, used a reinforced hull and special alloys to hold off the special energies of the membrane.
“Captain,” came the voice of Wellick, the porcine security officer. “Have you given any thought as to what we are going to do on Bralock IV when we get there?”
“We will follow orders and investigate the location of the Ch’Tauk home world, mister Wellick,” Lee replied. “Did you have any other plans?”
“No Captain,” Wellick said with the closest equivalent he could muster. “I just hoped we might be able to sample the… ah… local wildlife.”
“I am assuming you mean the zoos and educational sanctuaries?” Lee asked. “I didn’t know you enjoyed that kind of thing.”
“Oh I enjoy lots of things, Captain,” replied the stocky officer. “Some things I enjoy more than others.”
“Mister Wellick,” Lee said, standing and walking to the station to his left. “I will not have my officers hiring women or anything else on this mission, do you understand me?”
“Awww, you take all the fun out of undercover stuff, sir,” Wellick replied. “I was just having a little fun with you.”
“Fun is acceptable,” Lee said. “If it is authorized and vetted out by your captain.”
“I understand, you don’t have to beat it into me,” he said.
“Actually, mister Wellick,” Lee said. “I was hoping that you could lead us down there,” Lee said. “I don’t exactly fit in anymore and I don’t want to attract any more attention than I need to. I had thought of resurrecting Brother Woolaf for our journey.”
The captain had been referring to a mission nearly a year ago where Wellick, Henry Moore, Alice and he had rescued a group of humans being sold into slavery by a local merchant. Lee had almost been caught by the planetary police until Alice had come to his aid in her fighter. He had meant to propose to her on that trip but had not had the time. Brother Woolaf was much taller than he was and he needed prosthetic legs and arms to pass himself off.
“I don’t think that a priest would be a good idea on Bralock, sir,” Wellick said. “I don’t think that there are any gods hanging out there. If I were you, I would get some red paint and get yourself made up as a Holkan. They will fit in, in that place.”
“I hate using that skin paint,” Lee said. “It always causes me to break out.”
“Maybe Doctor Fintober can dye your skin or something,” Wellick responded. “He seems to know what he’s doing down there.”
The door to the bridge slid open and a slim, exotic looking woman entered followed by three men. She was shorter than Lee, but had a solidity that implied strength. The man directly behind her was taller and a bit bulky with darker skin and black hair. Taking up a position to either side of the others, the other two men were tall and thin with one having brown hair and a pleasant smile while the other had dark hair and a long, thin nose. Each of the others was of European descent like Lee.
“Demons!” Lee said, smiling at his wing mates. “Welcome aboard the Diamond Sole.”
“Captain Pearce,” replied the dark haired woman. “I have to object to how our ships are being stored.”
The woman, whose name was Jacqueline Hu, had become the ersatz mother to the squadron since Alice had died. She had started to insist on special treatment for their ships believing that it was a faulty stabilizer control that had cost her wing mate her life. Lee had been waiting for the fig
hter pilots to appear as soon as he saw how the Crowned Eagle class fighters had been secured.
“Lieutenant Hu,” Lee said, straightening his shirt. “You know we are not equipped with a proper launch bay.”
“I understand that, sir,” replied Jackal. “But they’ve just shoved the ships into a cargo hold. Baron’s ship is nearly on top of mine!”
“Really more like beside it,” added Baron. “I don’t really mind, but Jackal is afraid of her paint being scratched.”
Jackal elbowed the other pilot in the ribs. He let out a push of air as he doubled over slightly. Baron, really William Richter, had a habit of arrogant behavior, but was one of the best pilots in the fleet. He claimed to be a descendant of one of Earth’s greatest pilots from the Germanic region, but Lee had doubts. Baron talked a good game, but did not seem to be the heroic type.
“Listen you guys,” Lee said, addressing the other pilots. “I know the situation is not ideal. When the Alliance overhauled this crate, they did not count on having to launch modified fighter craft from the hold. When we need to launch, the bay doors will open and we will be able to use the ship’s gravity to fall out into space. Once we return, I will let you rearrange the ships any way you like, okay?”
Jackal gritted her teeth, but nodded her head towards her captain. She turned on her heel and walked back out of the control center with Baron in tow. The other two pilots, named Aztec and Merlin, stood still and watched the other leave. When they turned back to Lee, it was with wide grins on their faces. Without a prompt, both men erupted into laughter.
“When did that start?” Lee asked. “I didn’t think those two liked each other.”
“Well, Captain,” replied Aztec. “I think that Jackal still hates Baron.”
“Baron hasn’t quite gotten the message yet,” Merlin finished. “It’s really funny to watch, sir. You should come down and watch them eat.”
“Baron keeps messing his mouth with food while he’s watching her across the room,” Aztec said.
“If she looks over at him, he nearly falls out of his seat trying not to be noticed,” Merlin said. “I can’t even chew anymore for laughing.”
“Alright you two,” Lee said, crossing his arms across his chest. “Cut it out. I’ll have a talk with Jackal. I can’t have those two acting like that on this mission.”
“Yes sir,” both men said in response.
“And I can’t have you two idiots laughing at them behind their backs. Is that how you acted with Alice and I?” Lee said. He saw the other two winces at the mention of their former squad leader. Alice’s death had been hard for the fighter pilots too and he knew that they had respected his privacy. If the mission were going to succeed, he did not need friction, of any kind, between his crew.
“Get below,” Lee said. “Try to get some sleep before we get to Bralock. I’m going to need you to see Doctor Fintober in the morning for some pigmentary changes.”
“Captain!” Aztec exclaimed. “Please don’t make us go through that. The last time I had to get my skin changed, I itched for weeks.”
“I need you ready to support our evacuation in case something goes wrong.” Lee replied. “I promise, it won’t be permanent, but I will need you looking like slavers.”
Both men looked to one another like toddlers who were being denied candy. Lee shook his head and then turned back to the command center. He heard the doors open and then close behind him. After a few moments, he heard a low cough. When he turned, it was to see Merlin standing at attention.
“Captain?” the man asked. “I wanted to ask one last question.”
“Go ahead, Danny,” Lee replied, using the pilot’s real first name. “What is it?”
“I just wanted to know what color,” he asked quietly.
“Pink.”
9
Bralock IV orbited its primary star just inside the habitable zone. It orbited the star every four hundred days in an eccentric oval. As the Diamond Sole made its final approach to the planet, it was buffeted by strong winds and ice. Winter had just started over the northern subcontinent and the temperatures had fallen way below the Earth notion of zero degrees.
Retro thrusters fired hard allowing the ship to slow to a manageable speed. The ship was fighting a strong crosswind that wanted to push it sideways faster than it was descending. With a combination of anti-gravity and chemical burn thrusters, the ship managed to find its designated landing platform on the surface. As the landing struts extended, a thick layer of ice formed immediately, nearly keeping the mechanical device from deploying fully. With a crushing thud, the slave vessel finally landed on the heated and cleared platform.
A domed cover revolved from the base of the platform, covering the steaming ship and sheltering it from the extreme cold. It took several minutes for the thrusters to cool and the skin of the ship to shed its icy coating. A loud crack signaled the breaking of a sheet of ice and the opening of the landing ramp. The copper colored sheet extended like a tongue from under the nose. It lowered and made contact with the gunmetal surface of the platform.
Four men walked down the ramp and into the artificially lit hangar. They were dressed in tight crimson armor that appeared to be made from leather. Each wore a long burgundy cape and boots that gave them a martial appearance. The men were completely hairless with dull pink skin. The man in the lead, shorter than the other three, stopped before stepping off of the gangway. He turned to the taller man behind him and signaled for a scan. After a quick wave with a handheld device, the taller man nodded to the leader and the four finally stepped onto the surface of Bralock.
“Aztec, I’ll need you to stay close to the ship,” ordered Lee. “I want to be able to get out of here if things don’t work out.”
“Okay, boss,” replied the pilot. “I want you to take pictures, though. I’ve heard things about this place and I don’t want to lose the chance to see the sights.”
“You’ll see enough just standing here,” the voice of Wellick drifted down from the open airlock. “Bralock is not the kind of place where standing at the door will prevent you from seeing sights.”
The porcine security guard walked down the ramp to meet the other four. He was dressed in a thick hide coat and high boots. Lee recognized the outfit as native to Wellick’s home planet. The man practically bristled with weaponry, though. He wore a plasma rifle slung across his back and two chemical pistols on his hips. Lee suspected that he had knives secreted away on each limb as well.
“Mister Wellick, we are here to find information on human slaves, not to start a war,” Lee said. “I don’t really think all that hardware is necessary.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Wellick replied, brushing past the captain and walking to the nearest door, “You don’t have a clue what is on the other side of that door. I may be a little underdressed, but I am damn well sure that nothing is going to get close to you that I haven’t put at least two bullets into.”
“You will do no such thing,” Lee ordered. “I need to walk out of here with our identities intact in case we need to return. If you start blasting holes in people, our cover will be blown and this mission will come to a quick end. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye sir,” responded the man with a grunt. “I’m still keeping one hand on a gun at all times. Around this place, that is just normal behavior.”
Lee turned back to the other three men and waved them across the platform to the door. Baron began to scratch at his collar where a dark red stain had appeared on his skin. Lee had been warned by Doctor Demsiri that the procedure was temporary and may cause some rashes. The tall pilot seemed to be having the worst time of it but Lee had also been suffering an itchy patch on one leg that he was dying to scratch. The thin armor, however, kept him from being able to ease the annoying sensation.
“All right, everybody stay on your guard.” Lee said to the group. “Remember, even though we are supposed to be Holkans, we are not here to indulge in hedonism. We go in; we find out what we ne
ed, we get out. Try to keep your hands to yourself. This disguise won’t last forever and I don’t know what use this armor is in real combat. Keep your ears open and your mouths shut and maybe we don’t have to get into any trouble.”
The group acknowledged the order as the door to the hangar opened and a two-meter tall alien lumbered in. The creature was apparently male and covered in thick fur. Its muzzle was stunted with a wide dark nose. Lee thought that the creature looked vaguely like a grizzly bear from Earth’s northern region, but less friendly. The alien was wearing a thin loincloth and a belt from which hung tools and a wide barreled gun. He had a visor that rested between two short upright ears. An eyepiece extended down and covered his left eye.
“Who is the captain of this ship?” asked the Bralockian. “I need a signature on the landing invoice.”
“That would be me,” Lee said, deepening his voice into a growl. “I’m Captain Jarot of the Diamond Sole.”
“I don’t care what your name is, just that you sign the invoice.” The bear said, approaching the group with a bored gait. “Are you here for business or pleasure?”
“Is there any difference?” Wellick answered with a loud guffaw. “These guys don’t know the difference.”
Trying to keep up appearances, the small group began to laugh and slap each other on the padded armor. The Bralockian extended a data pad to Lee who took it and swiped a pink finger across the bottom. Jarot had been the real name of the captain of the ship before Connor Jakes and his men had killed them. Lee hoped that the government on Bralock wouldn’t look too closely at the signature. The local glanced at the pad as he took it back and grunted his acknowledgment of the signature. He turned and lumbered back out of the hangar without another sound.
Lee motioned for the group to follow him as he stepped into the corridor outside. The metal walls were lined with doors to other hangar bays on either side. The alien walked across the hall to another door and entered, growling in annoyance at his job. Lee started down the hall to the nearest lift station. Markings on the doors told him that the lift was nearly one hundred meters down the corridor and they all walked together, with Wellick walking beside Lee.
Resolute Uprising (The War for Terra) Page 7
