Jim 88

by J G Clements

  Jake had been briefed that whatever Jim suggested, he was to give his full cooperation. That was fine with Jake. For too long he had been playing a defensive role and he didn’t like it. When he was the Captain of a submarine he was a hunter. Despite the size of this ship, he still saw himself a member of a wolfpack, not an aircraft carrier. But he did find it entertaining that Jim had no idea of his own value or his understanding of his status among the crew.

  Word was around the ship that Jim had figured out a lot about the Swarm, and had ideas on where to look for them. Because of that, he had dozens of volunteers ready to undertake any operation. Jim had run his plans past the Captain, and now with his approval, he was about to announce some of them. The mess hall had been impressed into a meeting room, and the Stewards had been busy getting it ready.

  The Chiefs…experts in the various subsystems of the ship…sat in the front rows while most of the McKinsie fleet crew and Sisk staff sat or stood in the back. Jim had let it be known that what he had in mind would involve small ships, preferably one-man fighters. No Ants served on the Sisk, but there were several Beetles that were experts at beam weapons and were usually on board as technical experts. They were also standing in the back, trying to look inconspicuous but failing. No one anticipated that the Beetles would be candidates for the one-man fighters, but it was their right to if they chose.

  “Based on the elemental analysis of the melted Swarm ships,” there were smiles from some of the pilots who had taken part in that and now understood, “it’s my opinion that the Swarm doesn’t get their resources in the outer belts. I think they get a lot of the metals they need by mining the larger planets closer in. Not only are the elements more abundant, but there are good arguments that the purification of them require at least a little gravity.” Some of the pilots didn’t understand why that would be so, but instead of interrupting decided to research it this evening. Jim continued without pause. “And if this assumption is correct, I bet we can find traces of their mining sites on the rocky outer planets.”

  Jim let that sink in. No one had really thought about how the Swarm got their materials for their ships. But the concept of mining asteroids wasn’t new, either. In fact, the Squids pretty much converted entire solar systems into raw materials for ship production. That idea was readily accepted. But Jim had a dilemma to present to the pilots. “If we find traces of their mining activities we have to be prepared to find not just old abandoned mines, but we might find one that is still in use. Occupied by the Swarm themselves.” That set all the volunteers abuzz. No one had any doubts about what would happen if a manned ship stumbled across an active Swarm base: They’d never be heard from again.

  With Jim still standing in the front of the audience, they quieted down when he signaled he wasn’t done. “My intent is to have a capital ship less than a couple light-minutes away from us, as we form a ‘police-line’ and comb through a given sector. Even better, every pilot will have at least one drone out in front of him. If we are to be the huntsmen, we need our hounds to find the fox.”

  The military pilots here had a better sense of the logistics than the McKinsie fleet pilots. A capital ship is standing close by if you run into trouble. You are using an unmanned drone far enough in front of you so if it does stir up trouble, you can get back to the protection umbrella of the capital ship. You probably lose the drone, but that’s why you use them. The risks are that if you don’t keep the drone far enough ahead of the manned ship, both ships might be destroyed.

  The presentation quickly turned into lots of discussions. Jake had sat in the back, though it was more usual for him to have a front row seat. His presence, however, gave an unspoken endorsement to what Jim was suggesting. They had tried similar searching methods before, but if had not included the use of unmanned drones. Instead, they had done these searches in smaller formations using manned ships, keeping the ships close together for support. Other times, they would just orbit a drone and let it map the surface of a planet or a moon then examine the data later. Not bad techniques, but they had never found anything, either.

  As always, it was a game of magnitude and numbers. Imagine that you dispatched several hundred ships to search the moon, looking for a mining operation. How long would they have to circle and circle and circle before they had enough data to determine if there even was a mine there? Then multiply that by thousands, if not tens-of-thousands of bodies just in one solar system. And how many millions of solar systems would that include? Jake held his counsel in this, but privately worried that Jim hadn’t thought through the magnitude.

  As if reading his mind, a Chief pointed out the same problem. “Jim, is there a particular solar system you think would be a good place to look?”

  Jim had an answer all figured out. “Yeah. The home system of the Beetles. They had their homeworld destroyed several hundred years ago. I’m betting that the Swarm had mines in the outer planets, and no one ever looked well enough to find them.” This got everyone buzzing as they tried to weigh the merits of Jim’s comments. He let the breakout discussions continue for a few minutes, then decided not to announce what he was planning to do while they were out searching for mines. He’d knew they’d be against it, but as the Recruiter said to him earlier, “You can burn that Bridge when you get to it.”

  Chapter 18. Spaceport.

  Ceres Report: Metal Ores

  I solved my problem on how to get the metals out of the soil, and its a good lesson on why I never want to live anywhere with an atmosphere again.

  I’ve made a small induction heater, and when I put a fistful of soil into it, all the metals heat up and melt. With no oxygen around, they don’t re-oxidize. And with the low gravity, they pretty much flow through the silicates and form balls and beads of metals. If I shake the whole thing just right, I can get these balls of metal to dislodge, leaving the silicates behind.

  It’s a mishmash of metals, mostly low melting elements like silver, indium, tin, lead…that sort of thing. I’m sure there are some odd alloys forming due to the low gravity, but I’m happy so far.

  The Sisk stayed behind when we jumped, and I knew Helen was waiting for my observations of how the ship had performed. But what she really wanted was my opinion of Jim. I was just waiting for her to contact me. This left me with lots of free time, enough for me to play with the Ambassador’s heads. Until now, I had stayed pretty much away from them, only letting them get glimpses of me now and then. I don’t know if politicians are paranoid about being left out of the loop, but I certainly hoped they were. Anything I could do to screw with their sense of reality would make the trip home more enjoyable. Well…more enjoyable for me.

  I decided to host a reception for them. Mostly to gauge what they were thinking after the presentations by Ag and Kor, but also to increase my stature as a Legend. If Helen thought it would be useful for me to be some sort of mysterious important person, I was just the man for the job. What I wanted from them, of course, is for them to confide in me what they were thinking, but at the same time, I needed to remain aloof, or impervious to them.

  Just before Sue had left in the Sisk, she took me aside to explain the Ambassadors. As individuals, most of them were reasonable. Self-interested, yes, but rational otherwise. But in groups, they did nothing but posture. She had given me a copy of the passenger list, with her notes scribbled in along the margins on each one. Even better, she had made notes about some of the aides. Many of them, she thought were sharper than the people they served. I thought about that for a second. ‘I’m afraid no luck there, Helen.’ Shrugging at that thought, I went about getting the reception tasks rolling. A five-minute call to Jack and that was that. Everyone was notified that the Recruiter was hosting a reception at seven p.m. ships time that evening.

  I let everyone get there before me. Still getting used to how legends work, I was pretty much convinced I shouldn’t be there first to say hello. But when I did arrive, I noticed they must have thought this was a formal reception: Many wore dress
typical of their countries. The net effect of course was a riot of colors. Contrasted to my black garb, it gave me more visual weight. But I needed to be careful, too. I didn’t want to be sinister figure, just a foreboding one. ‘Be afraid of me, but not too afraid’. I wanted this thought to project into everyone’s mind. Even better for me, neither Kor nor Ag attended. If they had, they might have siphoned-off a lot of the attention from me. Something I did not want.

  I supplied short answers to any questions posed to me, the trick being not to stay in one place too long. If I didn’t let any one person or small group monopolize my time, then I wouldn’t appear to be forming any sort of alliance. I had briefed Jack on what he needed to do if someone seemed to latch on to me, and Jack had understood. By catching Jack’s or Jennifer’s eye for more than a second, one of them would come over and whisper in my ear. Everyone would know that something was happening…something important…and they weren’t included. I would love to have been able to monitor heartbeat and blood pressure when that happened. I could use that exchange to leave temporarily, or permanently for that matter, or to be honest, do almost anything I wanted.

  The other task I had, and one I made every effort to delegate to crewmen and to Jack, was to offer many of the aides jobs. Jobs on board ships. Picket ships, beam ships, explorer ships…just ask, and we’ll get you a job. Tell them they will be Captain when they were ready for it. All that was true, and I was very interested to see if any of them would accept it.

  Later, the crew briefed me that a number of them genuinely wanted to accept, but were having trouble believing the offer. Most of them, however, seemed content to be an Ambassador’s aide, with whatever advancement or satisfaction would come from occupying that position. One notable exception, however was the British Ambassador’s aide. He immediately reported that offer to the Ambassador, and requested permission to resign his post and immediately join the Fleet. The Ambassador himself wanted to hear this first-hand from Jack, and after becoming convinced it was a bonafide offer, was delighted to let him leave his service. It tickled me to think that the aide gave, what? Ten minutes notice?

  But there was actually more to that story and it involved the British Ambassador himself. Still dressed in formal attire with medals, he still wore the mourning brooch of the deceased Ant. His past military experience seemed to be intact, since he had given the appearance of an Admiral interrogating a junior officer as he spoke to Jack. Though Jack had been the Captain of a submarine, and now a space ship, he seemed subordinate to the Ambassador. After a few minutes, they shook hands and parted ways. Jack lost no time telling me that the Ambassador himself would like to sign on to ship duty. Any ship duty. I nodded my understanding to Jack, but Jack probably missed that I was pleased with something more than just giving the Ambassador a berth.

  I made every effort to be seen with every Ambassador that evening but never for more than a few pleasantries. Fortunately, with a jump being imminent, the reception had to come to an early close so they could get safely to their rooms. Several hours later, the ship jumped. And a couple days after that, made the second jump to Sol.

  During that time, I stayed out of sight, hiding out in Officers country. I had a lot of thinking to do, and didn’t want to be anything but lucid when I saw Helen again. What bothered me was how much I seem to dislike the Ambassadors. Some were friendly, some were stuffy and distant. When I compared those characteristics, I realized I liked the stiff ones better: The friendly ones seemed false. They weren’t my new best friends….they wanted to be co-conspirators in whatever I was up to.

  By the time we made the second jump to Earth, I had formed my opinions. Though didn’t fully understand why I felt that way. But as we fell out of jump, my first impression wasn’t the sensation of the jump: It was the voice in my head.“Welcome back!” Bells tinkling, laughter, champagne bubbles.

  “You’re welcome, Spacegirl.” I projected sitting on a ledge somewhere on a mountain with her, but knew it wasn’t in the cards just now. “I think we have some very startling news for you and the Crekie. Jim-88 has learned something about their ships that we never would have guessed.”

  “We have a great deal of interest in Jim-88, and what your opinion of him might be. And I have a great deal of interest in you!” She didn’t wait for an answer but I felt so good for a second. “And what did you think of the Ambassadors?” I didn’t need to say anything, my sour mood would convey enough of my opinion. Helen knew my thoughts then explained them to me better than I could have explained them to myself. “We, no I, chose you because you are capable of leading yourself, and making your own decisions. The Ambassadors pretend to empower you, but most of them mainly seek to control you. Some think they do it for your own good, thinking you can’t govern yourself. Others only because of the wealth they can amass.” She let those thoughts settle into my mind, but had more to say. “And thankfully, some truly want to solve issues without building a larger power-base for themselves.”

  Continuing, “It was pre-ordained that you would not like most of them, certainly not as rulers. They are of a different breed than you. Do you see that?”

  “Yes, but I’m not certain how I can continue to relate to them.” My realizations in these matters where new to me. “Left to my own devices, I would avoid all of them.”

  Either she was in a good mood, or really missed me, or probably, both. “You wouldn’t avoid me, would you?” False coyness in my mind. And it was so nice.

  “No. I would be happy to serve you. Like I always have.”

  “You have served me, and the Crekie for some time. But tell me…did you ever believe you were coerced? Or did you do it of your own free will?” She was testing me again, deliberately changing subjects to see how quickly I can change my mental gears.

  “Free will.” She sensed my hesitation which meant I needed to elaborate. “I once thought that there might have been some adjustment made to me, to make me more loyal to you.” Solemnity came into my mind.

  Anguish rushed into my mind, a collapse of her composure. “No, no, no… the Crekie would not do that, and I would never do that!” I sensed her mentally catching her breath, trying to regain her composure. I was astonished at that, and immediately felt guilty for making her collapse. “If I had, do you think I would still see you as an equal to me? Don’t you think I’d have a lower opinion of you?” She waited while I tried to organize all this. “Even worse, I’d have a lower opinion of myself. I want you as my equal, nothing more and nothing less.” Patience and support crept into my mind, pushing the anguish away. The non-verbal part of this mindlink made it easy to understand her moods, if not exactly her logic. I let her continue. “If I was to trick you somehow into helping me, I’m not at all certain I could respect myself for doing that. Can you see how it goes against everything I believe in?” Uncertainty from her, she awaited my approval.

  I was slow in answering, but my mood reflected back to her mind. Instead, I brought the subject back to its original discussion. “Why do I feel,…” I searched for the right word, “..animosity toward them?”

  “Recruiter, these Ambassadors are pretending to decide what rights you have! They’ll decide what rules they’ll let you live by and how those rules will affect what you can, and cannot do? At what point did you give them such power and authority over you?” She waited. It would take me a few seconds to digest all this. At some level I knew that this was not just an idle conversation. It was important for me to understand this, if I was ever to understand her.

  “But we need laws to allow us to live together. Otherwise, wouldn’t everything dissolve into anarchy?” My argument was tepid, false even to me. Laughter in my head, but warm and supportive, not derisive.

  “And how many more laws do you need? Doesn’t each government just keep passing thousands of pages of new legislation each year? Do you think any single human can actually understand all the laws controlling his life?” She didn’t wait this time, but continued. “Right now, aren’t they deci
ding if they will allow the human population to man our ships? They really think they have the right to tell other humans how and when they can go into space?”

  Helen alone knew exactly why the Crekie chose me to be the being they call the Recruiter. Like all species, she said humans had a wide range of intelligence and insight. And that I had remarkable insight, even by the standards of the Crekie. Oddly, I don’t see it that way, but I knew I could put two and two together and get a polynomial. But just like that, in a flash of insight, I understood what the goals really were. “You not only want to give millions of humans free ships to ostensibly protect the planet, you are banking on them forming a new society.” Clarity flooded my mind. “Or several new societies.”

  Approval flashed into my mind, then admiration. “You never gave these matters a moment’s thought before today, but when you did, you figured it out much faster than I thought you would.” After another moment, “That’s why I think so much of you.” She tried to send warm snuggly feelings, but my own thoughts were still racing.

  “The Ambassadors’ visit didn’t mean anything, did it? It was just a detour to your plan.” The feeling of expectant waiting came from her. She was waiting to hear what else I would conclude. “You were doing something else?” My mind rushed then I saw it. “You were testing the McKinsie Fleet, weren’t you?”

  “And Jim-88 specifically. What did you think of him?” It took only a few seconds to explain what he found out, and how he did it. While Helen seemed preoccupied with my report on Jim, I had a few seconds to think about what Helen had been up to. Then in a moment of clarity it hit me.