Captain's Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper)

by Nathan Lowell

  “None of the more senior captains wanted to move up?”

  She ticked them off on her fingers. “From the tankers, only Sylvia Franklin is senior to Delman and those Manchester tankers are too comfy compared to this.” She waved a hand in the air, indicating the sumptuous captains quarters. “Besides, the tankers have small crews without being shorthanded, she’s got a good relationship with her first mate, and they’re making out like bandits on the triangle trade between Diurnia, Welliver, and Jett.”

  She made good points. The Manchester ships were nice to sail in and the tanker trade in lox, liquid nitrogen, and salt water made that crew so rich, they joked about buying out Maloney and going solo.

  At least, I think it was a joke.

  “Yeah, okay. What about Steve Baxter on the Perseus?”

  “He won’t leave Perseus without Jimmy March and Mel’s not stepping down just yet, so there’s no slot here for Jimmy as chief engineering officer.”

  “And everybody else is junior to Delman?”

  “Yeah, Theseus, Hector, and Ajax all turned over in the last four stanyers. Tractor captains don’t usually stay tractor captains for long. A fact you should remember.” She gazed at me with lowered brows and a serious expression. “You should also remember that they turn over regularly, and that both Avery and Smertz are not that far from retiring themselves. You could do worse than to stay here under Delman and try for one of those slots when the time comes.”

  I thought about that for a few heartbeats. “True, but Maloney will have to give the Ellis to somebody with a lot higher profile than me. That’s practically his private yacht. Skipper there is a pure prestige job and the shares have to be miserable.”

  She laughed again at that. “My friend, you have a higher profile than Avery ever thought of. Geoff Maloney owes you for what you’ve done here and he knows it. He’ll owe you a lot more if the salvage hearings ever get around to granting our claim. You’d be surprised by the size of those shares, I think.”

  I thought about it for just two heartbeats. “No, I’m not a taxi driver. I don’t think he’d offer it to me and I’m not sure I’d take it if he did. And Smertz has the City of Granby. I’d be in the same position then as now. First mate on a Barbell looking to move up won’t be offered command of a tanker while there are senior captains who might take it. It’ll be the same game of musical chairs but with different ships.”

  “True, but maybe it wouldn’t be the Agamemnon.”

  She made a good point with that.

  She pressed on. “What will Jen say?”

  “About my being captain?”

  “Yes.”

  I lowered my chin to my chest and closed my eyes. I could imagine only too well what Jen would say.

  “She wants me to give up being a spacer and settle down.”

  “I know. What would you do?”

  I took a deep breath and looked up again. “I don’t know. Maybe be a cargo broker. I know the biz and I know a few people. Carmichael and Farnam are always looking for people.”

  “Ever wonder why?”

  I gave a little shrug. “No. I know why.”

  She didn’t push it, a gesture for which I was heartily grateful. “Well, Mr. Maloney will be here around 1130. Delman will be with him. Change of command will be at noon.” She looked up at the chrono. “You got about a stan to think about things before it all starts hitting the fan. Why don’t you go pack?”

  I blinked. “Pack?”

  She nodded sadly. “I really do think that staying here might be a better choice for you, Ishmael, but I’m betting you’re not going to be able to resist putting that ticket to work.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  She thought about it for a long moment. “No. But it’s the Agamemnon.”

  “True.” I grinned with the dark humor of it. “Maybe he sees it as another rescue mission.”

  “Oh, you mean like putting you on the Billy right out of school?” She snorted. “Maybe. But I don’t think so.”

  “You’re right. I better go pack.”

  I stood up and headed for the passageway.

  “At least sleep on it.”

  I stopped at the door. “I will. Maybe things will look different in the morning.”

  She snorted as I left the cabin. She didn’t believe it for a second and I’d already made up my mind.

  Chapter Ten

  Diurnia Orbital:

  2372-January-08

  At 1130, the brow watch bipped me to let me know we had guests at the lock and I went down to meet them. The three of them stood just inside the lock–Maloney in the lead, Delman in the middle, and Kurt bringing up the rear. I never really understood why Maloney felt he needed a bodyguard, but I respected Kurt. We’d met several times since I’d been with the company. He was a good and honorable man, and if Geoff Maloney thought he needed a bodyguard, then who was I to say.

  “Welcome aboard, gentlemen. The captain is expecting you.”

  Clemming had the brow watch and nodded discreetly when I glanced in his direction. He’d notified the captain already.

  We trooped up to the cabin and exchanged the appropriate pleasantries for a few ticks before Maloney turned to me. “Mr. Wang, why don’t we leave them to talk captain talk for a bit.”

  Fredi winked at me as Maloney turned and left without waiting for me. I followed him out and Kurt followed. We headed to the wardroom and settled into chairs at the foot of the table. Kurt stood just inside the wardroom door.

  “Fredi told you my plan?” Maloney wasn’t much on preamble. He could small-talk with the best but when it came to business, he was all business.

  “Not in detail, sir, no. She’s stepping down. Delman’s stepping up. You’re thinking of putting me in his empty slot on Agamemnon. If there’s a plan beyond that, she hasn’t shared it.”

  Maloney sat back in his chair and his right hand slapped the table top softly. “That’s my plan. No hidden agendas. Simple assignments of the people I’ve got in the slots that are available.”

  “Who are you thinking of putting in as first mate here?”

  “Behr’s ready to move up. It’ll be up to Phil. I’d have to find a second to replace her. Kazyanenko can’t yet. She needs another year in grade before she can sit for the ticket. I’ll put it out to the fleet first. See if anybody wants to step up before I open it to the Union. There are a couple of thirds who’re eligible to move up, but whether they want to move or not...” Maloney shrugged.

  “And if I decide to stay here?”

  “You could do worse.” He grinned humorlessly. “I know what the Agamemnon is, Mr. Wang, and it’s not an easy berth. Phil Delman has held it for a long time, and he’s paid his dues. In honesty, I probably owe you better, but this is what I’ve got and I’m giving you first refusal on it. Nothing up my sleeve. No agendas other than she needs a skipper. If you decide to stay here, I open it to a Union posting–no harm, no foul.”

  “Salary and contract?”

  “Standard contract. You’ve seen them before, but I’ll give you a seniority bonus for service here. You’ve done well by me, Mr. Wang, and I see no reason to start you at the bottom rung. How does base plus ten sound?”

  I let that sit for a heartbeat before offering a counter. “Plus twenty.”

  “Plus fifteen, and I’ll repaint the cabin.”

  “What color?”

  “Your choice.”

  “Can I sleep on it?”

  “I’d expect you to. Big decision like paint color shouldn’t be rushed.”

  Kurt grinned at me over Maloney’s head.

  It was a good offer and I nodded. “Okay, I’ll sleep on it. Talk it over with my wife, and I’ll send you my decision in the morning.”

  Maloney slapped the table once more. “Done.” He held out his hand and we shook on the agreement. “Now, let’s go get Phil and Fredi swapped around.” He rose, Kurt held the door for him, and we all trooped back to the cabin to gather the two captains before hea
ding up to the bridge.

  Kazyanenko was already up there and her eyes widened to see us all come up the ladder. She didn’t say anything, but stood at her station, eyes flipping from Fredi to me to Delman to Maloney and back. I found it interesting that Kurt disappeared from her consideration. He stood at the top of the ladder, out of the way while Fredi went to the ship’s announcer at the back of the bridge and, with a nod from Maloney, keyed it open.

  “Attention all hands. This is the captain speaking. As of 1200 hours today I will be retiring as captain of the William Tinker. Thank you all for your tireless efforts and exemplary duty. I’m proud to have been your captain. In a few ticks, Mr. Geoff Maloney will recognize the change of command by appointing Captain Philip Delman in my place. At that time all security logs, records, and access will pass to his control. Please grant him the same dedication and respect which you have always given me in unstinting measure. Thank you, everyone. That is all.”

  Chief Menas joined us on the bridge and her eyes were shining a bit. I knew this couldn’t have been a surprise to her, but I hadn’t had a chance to talk to her about it. She walked over to stand beside me but before we could do more than nod, Maloney spoke.

  “As of 1200 hours on this date of 2372 January 8th, with you as witnesses and with the authority as the owner of this vessel, I hereby relieve Captain Frederica Victoria DeGrut from her duty as captain of this vessel and appoint in her place Captain in Good Standing Philip Robert Delman to carry on command and operation of the Solar Clipper William Tinker pursuant with the rules and regulations set forth under the Confederated Planets Joint Committee on Trade and in accordance with the terms of their respective contracts.” He turned to Fredi with a smile and a handshake. “I take this step at the request of Captain DeGrut and offer my heartfelt thanks and support for all she has done for the company, the ship, her crew, and for me.”

  Fredi shook the offered hand and nodded but didn’t say anything.

  Maloney turned to Delman and offered the same hand. “Congratulations, Captain Delman. I’m confident that you’ll continue your exemplary service in command of the William Tinker.”

  Delman took the hand and then offered his to Fredi.

  Then the mob that had gathered behind me while I was watching the change over exploded onto the bridge. I’d gotten used to thinking of the bridge as relatively spacious but with an extra fifteen crew up there I began to fear for the structural integrity of the vessel. Everybody seemed to be laughing and talking and crying at once. Everybody but Kurt, who’d managed to create a security buffer in front of his boss, and Captain Delman who stood blockaded in the corner and looked a bit ignored, if the truth were told.

  I stepped around Kurt, who smiled and winked at me without taking his eye off the boiling and joyous throng, and held out a hand. “Congratulations, Captain Delman. I’m Ishmael Wang, First Mate.”

  He smiled then, and it seemed an honest enough one. “Ah, Mr. Wang. Congratulations on getting your Master’s License. A milestone, to be sure.”

  “Thank you, sar. I owe a lot of it to that woman over there.” I nodded in Fredi’s direction.

  “She is an amazing inspiration.” He didn’t offer more.

  “She is. Will you be aboard this afternoon, sar?”

  “I will, Mr. Wang. Now that the change of command is official, I’ll have my grav trunks brought over from the Agamemnon and stowed in the forward locker. I told Fredi to take her time, but she claims to be mostly packed and expects to be off the ship by 1400. Right now, though, I think I’ll slip out and grab some lunch while things settle here. There’ll be plenty of time to get acquainted as we go, I think.”

  “Maybe not.”

  My quiet comment made his head turn slightly as he regarded me from the corner of his eye.

  “Any insights you can share about the Agamemnon and her crew before I go off duty at 1800 would be much appreciated, Captain.”

  Understanding surfaced. “I suspected as much. Why don’t you and I plan on a nice cuppa tea around 1500 in the cabin?”

  “Thank you, sar. I’ll look forward to it.”

  Kurt stepped a little bit to the side and Captain Delman slipped out of the protected corner and down the ladder.

  “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.” Maloney didn’t have to raise his voice much because as soon as he spoke, a hush spread across the space. “Unfortunately, I’ve got a meeting with the Committee at 1300 and they get testy when I’m late.”

  He turned to Fredi once more and spoke more softly. “Best wishes, Fredi. I know this wasn’t an easy decision for you. Please, if you decide to come out of retirement, let me know. I’ll find something suitable for you.”

  She smiled graciously in return. “Thank you, Geoff. I”ll keep that in mind.”

  Maloney nodded to the crew and Kurt cleared a path to the ladder. I accompanied them to the lock to see them off properly. None of us spoke until we got to the lock.

  “I’ll expect to hear tomorrow morning.” Maloney spoke quietly. “You’re under no obligation to take it and, in a lot of ways, I’d understand and appreciate if you wanted to stay here. Either way you decide is okay with me, Mr. Wang.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Maloney. I appreciate that. I’ll send word first thing in the morning.”

  “Very good, Mr. Wang. Now, I really must be off.”

  Kurt led the way out of the lock and they hurried off to keep their appointments.

  Clemming looked at me with one raised eyebrow as I turned back to enter the ship.

  “Something I can do for you, Mr. Clemming?”

  He grinned. “Yes, sar. If you could send Belnus out. I’d like to get lunch.”

  “I’ll do that, Mr. Clemming.”

  He looked down at the desk and then raised his eyes to peer out under this brows. “Will you take the Agamemnon, sar?”

  I marveled at the reach and power of scuttlebutt. “I don’t know yet, Mr. Clemming. I’m going to sleep on it overnight.”

  “Yes, sar. Of course, sar.”

  I headed into the ship and behind me, he added a final shot. “Good luck with that, sar.”

  I chuckled, wondering if he meant the sleeping, the decision, or the Agamemnon.

  I stopped at the closet that we euphemistically called the ship’s office to check on the OD logs, before heading up to the mess deck for lunch. It had been long standing tradition aboard for in-port watch standers to eat on the mess deck, officers included. That saved the mess crew from having to set up the wardroom for what was often a single person.

  Mel and Marcus held down a table in the corner. I joined them with a full tray and a fresh cup of coffee, after reminding Belnus that Clemming was waiting .

  I decided to beat them to the punch. “So? How long have you known that Fredi was retiring?”

  Mel looked sideways at the cargo chief before answering. “She’s wanted to retire for stanyers. She’s just been waiting for you to pass the exam.”

  “Congratulations on that, by the way.” Marcus toasted me with his coffee mug.

  Mel smiled and lifted her own mug. “Yes, congrats. It’s been a busy day. Anyway, we talked about it while you were over on the Chernyakova. She put your name in months ago. I think she was beginning to think they wouldn’t ever get around to it.”

  “Well, I haven’t been the easiest person to catch up with.” I dug into the chicken casserole. Chief Vorhees had certainly improved his cooking over the stanyers. I was surprised he hadn’t moved up and on, but he seemed happy enough where he was.

  “Are you kidding?” Mel snorted. “I’ve seen them pull firsts out of the lock on docking to sit. If they’d wanted you, they’d have found you.”

  The chicken was good. It was easy to overcook chicken when making it in bulk to feed a group, but John managed to keep it moist and tasty.

  Marcus leaned in. “Are you going to take it?”

  I looked at him over my cup. “I’m sleeping on it overnight.”

  “You’re gonna
take it.” He didn’t ask this time.

  Mel put a hand on his arm. “Down, boy.” She said it with a smile.

  “This isn’t something I can commit to without at least talking it over with Jen.”

  Mel looked at me with a bit of a sour look. “Good luck with that.”

  I shrugged with my eyebrows and savored the coffee.

  There wasn’t much more to say and the lunch mess was nearing its end so we bussed and bustled then I headed back to my stateroom to get my kit together. When I got there, I realized that I had already made up my mind. Or rather, I admitted that I’d made up my mind. I stood there in my room, locker open, and felt bad for what was about to come.

  “Some things are worth doing.” I told myself that out loud as I started stripping ten stanyers of accumulated living off the desk, out of the drawers, and down from the bulkheads. It all went into the grav trunk. I tossed a pair of dress khakis and a shipsuit into the kit bag and zipped it up.

  I looked up at the chrono on the wall and realized that it was almost 1400. I’d packed my whole life in less than half a stan. Thinking ahead to the evening, I winced at the oversight.

  A soft tap came from the door and I stepped back from the grav trunk so I could open it.

  Fredi stood there–already in civvies and looking calm and relaxed. Her eyes flicked into the stateroom and back to mine. “I thought you were gonna sleep on it.”

  I shrugged. “I figured that I should be ready in case I decide to take it.”

  She smiled knowingly. “Uh huh.” She then opened her arms and gathered me into a hug. She felt frail and small. Probably because she was frail and small, but she hugged fiercely and with abandon. When she let me go, she looked up into my face and I realized for the first time just how short she was. I’m not a tall guy, but as long as I’d known her I always thought of her as taller than me, probably because I always looked up to her. Stepping back from the hug, her bright, birdlike eyes gleaming in the light from the overhead, I realized how much stature has to do with perception.

  She held out her hand. “Here. You’ll need some and I’d be honored if you’d wear these”