Galactic Council Realm 1: On Station

by J. Clifton Slater

  I walked back into the conference room and all four of the Merchant Fleet folks watched my every move.

  “What I don’t understand,” I said, “Is how can a passenger qualify as a salvager?”

  “Well, you weren’t technically a passenger,” Teodora said, “You were cargo. If you or anyone had been a passenger, the rules would have required a chef and a porter for the guests.”

  “I wasn’t a passenger?” I asked in surprise.

  “No. In fact, you were cargo,” he stated then added, “So when you mystically appeared on the Bridge and took command, it was the first time according to the ship’s log, you’d officially been on the ship.”

  “So my work on the tug to retrieve the cargo sleeve and my calculations to navigate to Nafaka,” I listed the items in order to draw out the time, “and my piloting and command of the Uno Shoda were as a salvager?”

  “That’s correct Mister Piran,” Teodora said, “Can we get on with the signing?”

  My PID beeped and I glanced down to be sure it was a message from Admiral Gesina.

  “I am not signing that document,” I stated.

  “Told you, he wants to negotiate,” my cheerleader on the legal team added.

  “What I want are two things,” I stated, as I typed, and sent the Admiral’s wish list to Teodora, “One, is for you to figure out a way so I don’t get 42,500,000 Pesetas. Two, is the fulfillment of Admiral Gesina’s list.”

  “You want more money plus the list?” Teodora asked. His eyes widened and a look of horror came over his face.

  “No, find another way to settle this,” I suggested sitting down and stretching my legs out under the table. I ignored the Merchant Fleet people and cast my gaze at Nafaka, as if I was settling in for a long wait.

  “Mister Piran, maritime law is quite firm on the rules of salvage,” Teodora began when the lady lawyer with the pad coughed, “You have something to add?”

  “There may be a way to reconfigure the compensation,” she said as she tapped the screen, “Ensign Piran boarded the Uno Shoda ninety days ago as cargo. If he were a reserve member of the Merchant Fleet, he would only be due payment for the voyage.”

  “That’s an interesting idea,” I said, “Tell me, what position would I get paid for?”

  “Well, that’s the issue,” my new favorite lady lawyer said, “Because you operated a tug in retrieving the cargo sleeve, you qualify for crewman pay. But, you also you did the calculations for the cruise to plant Station so you qualify for Navigator pay. Plus, you commanded and piloted the ship qualifying you for a Captain’s pay. So if you were three members of the Merchant Fleet, their combined compensation would be, 1,138,500 Pesetas. But, you aren’t a member of the Merchant Fleet, let alone three people.”

  “That’s still a nice pay day,” I said a little in awe, “I would sign off on that as long as the Admiral gets what she wants.”

  “But you’re not a rated employee of the Merchant Fleet,” my now ex-favorite lady lawyer pointed out.

  “Mister Piran, we will fill the Admiral’s request in full,” Teodora said, “and you’ll be issued crewman papers, as well as your Navigator certificate, and your Captain’s license all back dated 90 days ago. Will you sign now?”

  The shower felt nice, my head felt good and the 1,138,500 Pesetas in my GC Marine Corps Credit Union account felt awesome. I was in addition to being an Ensign in the Navy, a reserve Captain in the Merchant Fleet. Also, I had a Navigator’s certificate and held papers, to the effect, that I was an able bodied crewman in the Merchant Fleet. All of this was excellent but, not as special as the idea of a clean bed, and many, many hours of uninterrupted sleep.

  Chapter 45

  Sometime into second watch in my freshly laundered uniform with my cover placed carefully over my stapled scalp, I presented myself. The command center for the 49th Air Wing was in a small office one deck down for the Admiral’s deck.

  “Ensign Phelan Oscar Piran, reporting as ordered,” I said to the clerk.

  He took a minute to scroll through a list and looked up at me.

  “You’re early,” he stated pointing to the screen, “According to my records, you have three days left before you have to report.”

  I knew the time differential between real time and time in External drive. They can vary but I’d done the calculations. At most, I was a day early and I said as much.

  “No you have three days,” he said, “Besides, the next shuttle to the surface isn’t scheduled for four days. I suggest you go and relax. Come see me in three days, Sir.”

  I’d traveled three quarters of the way across the Realm, fought Pirates, been knocked in the head, locked in a cargo crate, made a fortune, became a Merchant Fleet reservist and now I was supposed to just hang out. It was the typical military maneuver of hurry up and wait.

  “All right, I’ll see you in three days,” I said.

  No self-respecting Marine or Navy pilot would let extra leave time go to waste. I planned to get out of my uniform and find a bar. I might even try some of those fresh fruits and vegetables Ide had mentioned. Thinking of the engineer from the Uno Shoda, made me recall, I hadn’t checked in on Agdta and Captain Xhosa.

  ‘They might get a kick out of seeing me in my Navy uniform,’ I thought, ‘all official and such’.

  It was a grand idea and I was almost at the lift when my PID buzzed. Instead of the medical deck, I pressed the button for the Admirals deck as directed by the message.

  “Commander. Ensign Piran, reporting as ordered,” I announced to the Admiral’s guard.

  Now that I was in uniform, I could render a hand salute. The gate keeper returned my salute and pointed me towards a chair at the end of a long row of seating. He shrugged and gave me a ‘you should know the drill by now’ smile. I thanked him and took a seat on the last chair.

  People entered the Admiral’s office and left. Some were Navy or Marine officers, others were civilian, all were in a hurry. One thing was consistent, they waited longer then, they were in Admiral Gesina’s office. As the time dragged by the flow of waiting people became a trickle. The line was down to one civilian and I anticipated being called forward once she left the office. She entered and I was now the lone occupant of the Admiral’s waiting area.

  I started to rise but, the gate keeper halted me with a hand and, motioned me to retake my seat. Second watch was winding down and some of the clerks on the Admiral’s deck were closing down for the day. Others at critical workstations were handing off the work to third watch crewmen. The civilian left the Admiral’s office and I watched her shoes march by me. Out of boredom, I followed the shoes to the lifts. She entered a car and another pair of footwear walked off the elevator.

  A pair of dusty boots approached. I noticed the dirty boots and was puzzled. Most people cleaned up before an audience with an Admiral. The wearer of the boots also had on a light weight flight suit that was equally as dusty as was his soft cover. Under the cap his face was lean and deeply tanned. He walked up to the gate keeper and they exchanged a few words. The dusty officer glanced over his shoulder at me then turned back to the Commander. He nodded once more and strolled into the Admirals office.

  Five minutes later, just as I was starting to nod off, I got motioned forward to the gate keeper’s desk.

  “Ensign Piran, the Admiral will see you now,” the Commander announced.

  I straightened my uniform, adjusted the cover and inhaled; All preparations made for another round of ‘what had Piran done now’ lectures. Leaving the Commander behind, I headed for the Admiral’s office.

  I entered the Admirals office and stopped. The dusty officer was sprawled in a side chair with a glass of whiskey, no ice. I knew it was a good brand because the bottle was balanced on the edge of the Admirals desk. Gesina was like wise holding a glass of the liquor but, she had two ice cubes in her drink.

  “Sorry for the long wait,” Admiral Gesina said to my surprise, “I’d like you to meet Captain Gesina of the 49th Air Wing, yo
ur unit commander.”

  I snapped to attention now realizing that I’d been eye balling an Admiral and my new boss. In the Marines there was nothing worse than a trooper eye balling the brass. You can look at them but casually observing the surroundings and leisurely surveying a superior officer was frowned upon.

  Captain Gesina rolled up his long legs and stood. He was a little taller than me and thinner but it was all muscle.

  “Welcome aboard Lieutenant,” he said with a slow draw.

  “Sorry for the confusion Sir, but I’m an Ensign,” I said than realized I’d just corrected my superior officer in the presence of an Admiral, “Oh, sorry Sir.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said in his long drawn out manner, “My sister isn’t the she-wolf most people think she is.”

  He reached me in two long strides and we shook hands.

  “Eike Gesina, call sign Javelin,” he said leaving no doubt he was a Navy pilot.

  “J-Pop, long story Sir,” I replied.

  “I look forward to hearing that story,” He responded.

  “Gentlemen, if we could get on with the proceedings,” Admiral Gesina stated as she stood, “I have a dinner date with my brother. Now, Mister Piran, by the power vested in me by the Galactic Council and as the commander of this sector for the Galactic Navy, I am proud to present you with your warrant for Lieutenant, Junior Grade.”

  “Admiral Gesina, I am surprised and,” I began, but she cut me off.

  “I am not finished, Lieutenant, Junior Grade,” she snapped.

  I froze. Interrupting an Admiral while she was pontificating was always a bad idea. A quick glance at my new boss and, the Admiral’s brother, didn’t give me a hint of what was to come next.

  “Damned arrogant pilots, don’t know when to shut up,” she complained and it appeared the she-wolf was back, “Now, as I was saying before I was interrupted. By the same authority invested in me and with the recommendation of Captain Eike Gesina, commander of the 49th Air Wing detachment currently stationed on planet Nafaka, I am proud to present you with the warrant as a full Lieutenant. You can thank me now but make it quick. I’m hungry and haven’t seen my brother for almost a year.”

  I paused to be sure she was finished and simply said, “thank you.”

  “Now get out of my office and get the proper rank insignia on that uniform,” she ordered with a smile.

  “J-Pop, I’ll see you at the grain shuttle in four days,” Captain Eike Gesina said, “Better show up sober as one of us should be fit to fly.”

  The medical deck would have to wait. I hot footed it by the Commander and he said congratulations as I rushed by. Five decks up and I walked into the Navy Store. The clerk on duty was just getting ready to close up. I stopped that and ordered the rank insignia to be sewed and the bars clipped on while I waited. It’s not every day the GC Navy presents you with two promotions in a single day. I also bought three pair of light weight flight suits as well.

  While I waited, I pondered the two step jump in rank. There must be a lot of available slots in the Navy if Admiral Gesina could hand out a Full Lieutenant warrant to an Ensign. I also didn’t think my new Captain had anything to do with my promotion. How could he when we’d just met? And finally, I wondered why the Admiral or the Captain for that matter, hadn’t asked me about my history. Not that it would have done any good as my lips, like my records, were sealed.

  In my newly altered uniform with the insignias and pins of a full Lieutenant, I strolled onto the medical deck. A nurse pointed me in the direction of an atrium for the convalescing. The air was rich. It was the first time I noticed the Station’s White Heart plant’s gift. Most of the plant Station’s aromas in the areas I’d be had the smell of grain. Nice and heady but, the atmosphere here was clean and pure White Heart.

  “You’re looking good,” I said to Captain Xhosa, “How’s the shoulder?”

  “The shoulder’s fine,” he said, “It’s the crushed nose that hurts and keeps me here. The doctors want to perform a procedure after the swelling goes down.”

  “Well I just wanted to thank you Captain,” I said shaking his hand gently, “for the ride and your trust in me.”

  “No Phelan. It’s me that should be thanking you,” he stated, “If it weren’t for you we would have been Pirate loot by now.”

  “And out of a large shipping fee,” Ide said as he joined us, “I see the screw up Ensign has come up in the world.”

  “You like the new tracks?” I asked referring to the two silver bars on the uniform connoting my new rank.

  Agdta shuffled in to the atrium wearing a back brace.

  “Miss Hernan, how bad is it?” I asked pointing to the body hugging brace.

  “Three broken ribs,” She said, “The brace comes off tomorrow. It’s for stability so I don’t bend over and puncture a lung.”

  “Good story,” observed Ide.

  We talked about our trip, about the narrow escapes and about my reserve status. However, we didn’t speak of Kala Bha, the missing First Officer. In time, she would become a story to be told but, while her death was still a raw memory, she was kept separately by each of us.

  Four days passed with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and a variety of succulent meats. Of course there was a splattering of ale but I decided a clear head was the best course. I was bothered by the open slots in the Navy officer’s corps, the shortage of crewmen in this sector of the Realm, and the growing boldness of the Pirates. Something was happening in the Realm but, it was beyond my rank, and out of my area of responsibility.

  I was heading for a duty assignment that was completely planet side flying. Nothing happening in the Realm would affect me once I touched down. All I needed to worry about was being the best pilot possible for the missions assigned me. That’s what I figured, planned on and anticipated. It wouldn’t turn out that way.

  The new uniforms I’d bought with my new rank insignia wouldn’t be accompanying me. They were stored with the 49th Air Wing on plant Station. Apparently, there was no need for dress or duty uniforms on Nafaka. I did, however, take my light weight flight suits and an issued fleece lined leather jacket with a pair of gloves. The puzzled look on my face elicited a response from the clerk.

  “It’s a planet,” he said stating the obvious. Then, added something that should have occurred to me but didn’t, “Nafaka has seasons. You know Sir, winter, spring, summer and fall.”

  Years of living in space had caused me to overlook the idea of seasons. Atmospheric zones were the closest to weather changes I’d experience for most of my adult life. Excitement sent a shiver down my spine. I was looking forward to temperature variances, topographical features, and clouds that weren’t clusters of orbiting gases. My mind began to form an idyllic image of Nafaka. The romance of being a dashing air ace, on a beautiful living planet, made me stand taller as I swaggered to the elevators.

  Chapter 46

  It was the ugliest and most ungainly craft that I’ve ever seen. Maybe a smashed up bug would describe it. The grain shuttle itself was mushroom shaped. Upward facing propellers were mounted on arms sticking out of the main body like legs on a dead bug. A bubble with a 360-degree view topped the squat, circular body. Under the grain shuttle was a cylinder about 22 meters high and not quite as big around as the shuttle.

  I walked the ramp that jutted out from the upper lever of the flight deck and approached an open hatch. A crewman welcomed me and pointed to a ring of seats. They circled a command chair but were spaced a good distance from the outer walls of the shuttle. This left room for a crewman to walk the entire circumference of the shuttle without any impediment. It was a specialized working craft and everything was utilitarian with no frills.

  Captain Eike Gesina was sprawled out across three seats and appeared to be asleep. Besides the cap covering his eyes, the snoring was a solid giveaway to his state. I left the Captain alone and settled in across from him. He slept all the way to the surface.

  The grain shuttle dropped
the long tube and, after moving away from it, settled itself to the ground.

  “Javelin, time to disembark,” I said while tapping the bottom of a boot.

  “Home sweet home,” he said with a yawn.

  We took the steps built into the side of the shuttle and touched dirt. For the first time in years, my thin boots touched the surface of a planet without the aid of a space suit. And the air, besides the dust, was clean and glorious.

  “Careful, you’ll be light headed from the high oxygen content,” Eike warned, “We’re burning as much carbon based fuel as we can but most of its absorbed by the plants. It’ll even out in fifty years or so.”

  I watched as the grain shuttle lifted off and settled on top of another of the tubes. There were five more and two of them had conveyer belts dumping grain into slots near the top. They were silos, I finally realized, and this was the launching area to get the grain to the plant Station.

  Surrounding the silos were dirt roads. In three directions the roads faded away between fields of weaving grain stalks. The fourth road led to a collection of rusty single story metal buildings.

  “Welcome to Nuevo-Kansas,” Captain Gesina said, “It’s one of the largest cities on Nafaka.”

  “This is a city?” I asked straining to see any structure with more than one story. Other than the tall silos, every building was low, long and bolted together.

  “By order of the Galactic Council, there shell be no permanent structures constructed on the food planet Nafaka,” Eike stated. “So we get collections of temporary sheds and buildings for living and working quarters. All the comforts of home. The Council wanted to make sure the food planet didn’t end up like other inhabited planets. You know, with layers of industry, and living decks. Here, on Nafaka, you have only enough shelter to survive.”

  He said the last part with a sneer and a touch of bitterness. While he talked, I watched the grain shuttle fire up its propellers. The four whined in a high pitch scream. They reach full speed and the shuttle with the attached silo rose into the sky. Slowly at first, then it gained thrust. At a height where the air was thin, the props slowed, and the ion drive kicked in. I watched until the shuttle and the silo were only a dot on the horizon.