To Wake the Living (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 2)

by Robert F Hays

  “It could be tagged.”

  “Tagged?”

  “Yep, a small scout ship following it through parallel space, then using it as a shield to avoid detection.”

  “Huh?... ah... could it be a Bund scout?”

  “No, those combat scout pilots wouldn’t be that sloppy. If it was one of them, we wouldn’t see a thing until it was right on top of us. If it is a tag, then it’s... ah...” Rick returned to concentrating on the screen. “There it goes again.”

  “It’s a what, Rick?”

  “A merchant pilot with no experience. Controlling the ship while reading the training manual at the same time. I don’t know how to tell for sure, all my experience is commercial, not military.”

  Jim placed his hands on his hips while thinking for a moment. “Computer, direct line to Chris and Peter. Would you come to the bridge for a moment?”

  * * *

  A few minutes later Chris walked through the door with his data pad under one arm. “What’s doing?”

  “Have you ever heard of a space maneuver called tagging?”

  “What, a scout ship following a larger ship? Sure have, didn’t spend all of my time in the New Hope home guard in a cargo hold.”

  “Oh, thank you for waking me up,” Peter said as he entered. “I was having a nightmare. Ten guys were fighting over my body.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” Chris asked with a smile.

  “The ugly one was winning. Now what’s the problem here?”

  “Rick, could you show them?”

  Rick leaned forward and touched the controls again. All four stared at the screen as the scene repeated itself.

  “Could be tagging,” Chris said. “There’s one way to find out. Have the freighter make a sudden, totally illogical, move to the side.”

  Rick scooted his chair to another console on his left. “Open a direct line, Montoya freight company, full security scramble.”

  Minutes passed before a voice answered. “Montoya Freight, Miguel Montoya speaking.”

  “Miguel, Jim here. We have a problem.”

  “Hi Jim, didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the wedding. Always a crowd around you so I will say congratulations now. Did you like the wedding present? It’s hard to shop for a billionaire. The pressure tents were Raul’s idea.”

  “They’re great, have them aboard the Lydia and have already used them. Talk to you about that later, for now we have a problem.”

  Miguel’s voice turned serious. “What is it?”

  “Can you have the freighter make an erratic sideways move?”

  “Opening a line to the controllers. What’s the problem? Do you suspect a tag?”

  “That has been suggested as a possibility.”

  “I’m online with the remote pilot right now. I’ll have him give it a sudden five kilometer swing. That should be enough to expose anything behind. Let me know the results. Miguel out.”

  Jim turned to watch the screen. The others smiled and Peter tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Silly, light travels at three times ten to the eight meters per second. It’s fast, but not that fast.”

  “Oh, yes,” Jim said, looking sheepish.

  Rick touched several more controls. “It’s five light minutes away. I’ll notify the captain.”

  Minutes later Captain Mull appeared wearing a multi colored Kimono style robe. After a quick briefing, she took her seat in the Captain’s control chair and pulled a visor monitor over her face. The minutes passed as they stood waiting and making small talk.

  “Ready?” Rick announced. “Five, four, three, two, one, now.”

  “Got him,” the Captain announced as Jim saw the one dot split into two for a second then rejoin. “It’s a commercial explorer, made by the same company as the military scout version.”

  “Could it be armed?” Jim asked.

  “It’s possible,” she said, swinging her seat to face Rick. “Activate the flux detectors. If they have pulse cannons on board we’ll know when they charge the coils.”

  Rick raised his right hand. “Captain, they’re now in the open and have turned on their commercial signature. Mon Hong Corporation, New Hong Kong.”

  “Open a parallel space channel focused on their location,” the captain commanded.

  Jim turned away from the screen to face Captain Mull. “I take it that once detected they decided to turn honest.”

  “Looks like it, but the captain’s going to be planet bound for a while when I make my report. They’ll suspend his ticket. Running without a signature will get him at least a year.”

  “Channel open, Captain.”

  “This is Captain Mull of the yacht Lydia. What is your purpose in this system?”

  “Ah... this is ah...” stuttered a voice over the communications system, “Captain Porto of the Mon Hong Corporation explorer seven five. We were chasing an automated freighter we believe to be a runaway. We were unaware that there was a terminal at this end. This system is listed as uninhabited and unexplored.”

  “Liar,” Mull said under the volume at which the communication transmitted a voice. “There has not been a runaway automated freighter in over eighty years.” She then raised her voice. “Are you aware that your signature was not detectable for some time?”

  “Yes, ah... minor technical malfunction.”

  Jim cocked his head as he caught the captain’s eye. “I take it that he’s lying like a pig in shit?” he said softly.

  Mull broke into silent laughter and raised a hand to her face. Upon regaining control she raised her voice again. “The general consensus aboard the Lydia is that you lie like a pig in shit. Am I correct?”

  “A what?”

  “Captain,” Rick said, pivoting in his seat. “I’m having trouble keeping up with his signal. I believe he’s ceased his deceleration and shot past the freighter.”

  “Damn,” the Captain said, “he’s going for a splatter.”

  Jim gave Chris a questioning look and shrugged.

  “He’s rushing for the planet at high speed then using its gravity, plus his jets, to slow him as he swings around it. That will place him in an extremely low orbit with easy access to the planet’s surface. The maneuver is called that because one false move and that’s what happens. One has a habit of blacking out under the pressures.”

  “Time to make a V phone call,” Peter said as he pranced out of the room.

  “Why is the ship taking such a risk?” Jim asked.

  “Claim the planet first,” Chris said. “Remember, no one has set foot on it yet.”

  “But the colony ship has done most of the conversion.”

  “It’s an old law made when they decided there were no longer any Old Earth colonists still alive. Anything accomplished by an automated Old Earth system is public property.”

  “What about the Commonwealth seeder?” Jim asked.

  “Anything it does is public property too. It was provided by the colonial office.”

  Jim looked around the room in frustration. “So, what’re we going to do with X thousand and something Earth people? I can’t put them all up at my place.”

  “No, if we can get someone there first then we can claim it as the representative of a commercial group or government. Under the law, no individual can claim a planet unless they have the financial backing to develop it. At a later date they can own one by purchasing it, but not by claiming an unexplored one.”

  “Well... ah... I guess I could do that.”

  “It has to be someone that has declared his or her intent, in front of a witness, that he or she is there with purpose of staying and using it for some constructive purpose. I checked out the law before I left Batalavia.”

  “Computer, ship wide call. Sam wake up, you’re about to claim a planet. Dr. Chin, Carol, Earl, Celia and Halbert you are the witnesses. Head for the shuttle, fast. Rick, bring the portable 3V camera.”

  * * *

  “Everyone hold on tight,” Rick said and they heard the
clunking sound of the clamps as they released the shuttle from its dock. “This will not be a pleasure ride.”

  There was a universal gasp when all aboard experienced the elevator feeling as the shuttle rapidly descended.

  “Connection with Batalavia established,” the computer announced.

  “Open the line,” Jim commanded.

  “Jim,” said the voice of Dr. Redmond. “If you like, I’ll route the necessary communications through my office and put them online when needed.”

  “Go for it Doc.”

  “Jim this is John.”

  Jim looked up as he recognized the voice of his legal representative John Crump.

  “I have the colonial minister of the Batalavian government on the other line. He is prepared to authorize Mr. Carlisle as their representative in claiming the planet. He says that if the colonists want to belong to another federation at a later date they will be released.”

  “Do ah has to be a citizen of that there place?” Sam asked as he sank back in his seat under the force of acceleration.

  “Yes, Mr. Carlisle.”

  “Well ah ain’t no citizen. Ah told that there legal fellah they appointed me that ah didn’t wants ta become a citizen ‘til ah knowed where ah was a goin’ ta stay.”

  “Oh shit, too late now...” John said. The shuttle passengers heard the thumping sound of John’s fist on a table. “Listen Jim, I am calling in a panel of legal reps to work this thing out. Wait one.”

  “Mr. Carlisle, this is Carl Nagel calling from the Hemsly deep space mission. Dr. Redmond called me and said you may want to be interviewed for reasons unstated. Is this correct?”

  “Sam,” Jim said in a soft voice. “Ask him to arrange things through our ships captain.”

  “Mr. Nagel, could ya’all talk ta the Captain a spell. We have a lot a jawin’ ta do here first.”

  “Sure will Mr. Carlisle.”

  “Captain Mull,” Jim said. “Arrange for a 3V relay from the portable we have on board to the Compton network.”

  “Will do.”

  The shuttle lurched violently tossing its passenger’s upper bodies forward and to the left.

  “Just entered the upper atmosphere,” Rick announced. “Turbulence ahead, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

  “Oh shit,” Carol said.

  “Jim this is John again. Exactly what is Mr. Carlisle’s status? We’re unable to contact his legal rep right now and the government information offices are closed.”

  The shuttle started into a violent fluttering motion. Dr. Chin hurriedly tried to stuff his medical bag under the seat to avoid it flying from his lap.

  Jim turned to look at Sam. “I guess that if he’s not a Batalavian, he is still an American citizen. That government on New Columbia claims to be the legitimate heirs to the U.S. government; can we do it through them?”

  “Trying to get them online now.”

  “I feel sick,” Carol said.

  “Nope,” Sam said, shaking his head. “That cain’t work neither. Ah never took the loyalty oath. Headed off west when them carpetbaggers came ‘round with them papers that took ma farm away from me. Ah ain’t no American citizen. I renounced my American citizenship when Georgia succeeded from the Union.”

  “Damn,” John said. “He renounced his citizenship.”

  “There are three hurricanes on the continent below.” Rick said. “I’m trying to find a relatively peaceful spot.”

  “What? When the civil war was over you did surrender didn’t you?” Jim asked as the shuttle pitched first left then right and he struck his elbow painfully on the arm of the chair.

  “Jim,” Carol said, leaning forward. “I think I’m going to be sick any minute now,”

  Jim put an arm around her and held her forehead as she leaned forward almost to her knees. “You’re not usually this squeamish, what’s the problem?”

  “Nope,” Sam said. “When General Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House ah was still in Richmond. We jest walked off home, our commander never surrendered.”

  “But you joined the U.S. Army afterward. Didn’t you take the loyalty oath then?” Jim asked, returning his attention to Sam.

  “Ah tooks an oath, but so did a bunch of Germans, Mexicans, British and French fellahs. They was told that the oath didn’t make them a citizen.”

  “Oh shit, John are you listening to this?”

  “We all are Jim.”

  “Could I make him an employee and we go the commercial route?”

  “That is a negative Jim,” Amy said. “The bulk of your money is tied up right now. You cannot prove that you have the available resources to support an operation of this size. The only way to do that is to quickly liquidate a section of your assets which can only be done at a tremendous loss.”

  “Be prepared Amy, I’ll do it as a last resort.”

  “I’ll make the tentative arrangements.”

  “Shit Sam, you do put us in a bad position.”

  “Well ‘tain’t ma fault. Ah still consider maself a citizen of Georgia and the Confederate States of America.”

  “But they surrendered, Sam. That government ceased to exist in 1865.”

  “No, that ain’t true,” Sam said, thumping his fist on the arm of his chair. “The government never surrendered. Only some parts of the army surrendered. Then the Yankees took over and put their own bunch of carpetbaggin’ scallywags in and calls it a state government.”

  “John we’re grabbing for straws here.”

  “Ah... Frank what do you think? You’re more up on international law than I am.”

  “My staff are looking up the situation in the Encyclopedia now. We may have something under the Jones act that covers governments in exile.”

  Jim searched his mind for other sources of information. “There were three American history books in my collection. Can you look it up in them too?”

  “Doing it now.”

  Jim was now in a heavy sweat. He frantically wiped his face as he thought. “But doesn’t that government, the Confederate States of America, need to be recognized by someone in this time?”

  “Not necessarily,” came another voice. “The Roth principle of the old confederation of colonies in 815 AE had a clause to cover colonies and governments that had not been contacted in the early days. The Commonwealth in 1487 adopted the principles.”

  “Mr. Carlisle, this is Chairwoman Rossetti of the Commonwealth Council. I am using my emergency powers to recognize the government of the Confederate States of America as a government in exile. I am calling an emergency session of the council to ratify my decision.”

  “Chairwoman,” Jim said, “with all due respects, the U.S. claimed that section of the country and the descendants of the Confederates became citizens. Won’t the New Colombians object?”

  The shuttle lurched upward again and Carol vomited. In the light gravity the vomitus sprayed over her legs, onto the bulkhead to her right and up the back of the seat in front. Dr. Chin strained at his restraints and extended an arm holding an injector pen over the back of his seat. Jim raised Carol’s head as the doctor tried to place the pen against her neck.

  “I have the President of New Columbia on the other line; he has assured me that they will not object.”

  “There is one snag,” another voice said. “The Jones act states that there has to be a person empowered by that government, either elected or appointed to act on their behalf, and it has to be the highest ranking individual available.”

  Jim thought for a moment. “Sam, was martial law enforced in the South in 1865?”

  “Yep.”

  “Jim there was something I was going to tell you in the morning,” Carol said weakly.

  “What was your rank in the Confederate army and were you ever discharged?”

  “Corporal and nope ah weren’t discharged, ah jest walked off.”

  “You have it Jim,” John said. “That government is now located where he is sitting. He is the highest ranking member of
the military government still alive. He can appoint and send himself. It is going to be one hell of a legal battle, but I think we can do it.”

  “What the hell are all you fellahs a talkin’ ‘bout?”

  “Sam, you are now the military commander of the Confederate Army, and under martial law, with no civilian government available, you are now the supreme commander of the Confederate States of America.”

  “Well dawg ma cats.”

  Jim relaxed back into his chair with a satisfied smile and looked around the cabin. Sam sat quietly chuckling to himself.

  “Celia!” Jim shouted, jumping forward against his safety restraints. “Take your dress off.”

  “What?”

  “Take your dress off, it’s red.”

  “I don’t care if my dress is pink with purple polka dots. Peter has that camera and I refuse to be seen all over the galaxy in my underwear.”

  “Well we need it. There’ll be something else on this shuttle you can wear.”

  “Ow...”

  “Celia?” Jim pleaded.

  “Chris!” Celia yelled as he started to undo the front of her dress.

  “I don’t know what it is but it sounds important,” Chris said.

  “Don’t worry Mrs. Brevis,” Rick said. “I’ve spotted a place to put down and it’s forty one degrees Celsius down there.”

  Reluctantly, Celia pulled the dress from under her safety restraints and threw it to Jim. “Be careful with it. When you said we’d be on galaxy wide 3V I picked one of my best dresses. I thought that a historic event like this deserved a bit of dignity.”

  “Computer, release my restraints and Mr. Carlisle’s and over ride warnings. Doc, would you take care of Carol?”

  “I’ll be fine,” Carol said. “That shot settled my stomach.”

  Jim grabbed Sam by the shirt and dragged him toward the aisle. “Come on Sam, there’s a container of some sort of blue goop in a locker back there.”

  The two slowly made their way toward the rear, their feet held to the deck by the planet’s slowly increasing gravity. Occasionally their feet left the deck due to the buffeting the craft was getting by the thin atmosphere.

  “Here,” Jim said, “hold this end of the dress while I cut it.”