by S. H. Jucha
Maria smiled at Alex, expecting the same in return, but he quietly stared back, and Maria quickly revised her comment to Durly. “Then again, I tell you what, Captain, head to New Terra and contact me when you make orbit. I’ll guarantee you a load, which Alex will prioritize for us.” She glanced again at Alex, who wore the barest of smiles. Always looking out for the little guy, Maria thought.
* * *
“How did the negotiations go?” Renée asked Alex, in the evening following their completion. “You weren’t too hard on Maria, were you?”
“Whose side are you on?” Alex teased.
Renée walked over to the couch where Alex was seated, straddled his lap, and kissed the tip of his nose. “Yours … and hers.”
“Fickle woman. Can’t make up her mind where her loyalties lie,” Alex riposted. “No, Maria held her own. It was more of a training lesson, especially for Frederick.”
“I can’t imagine how Maria and Darryl cope with the incredible changes in their culture caused by our technology. Not to mention, every time they broker an agreement with you, it’s on a different world with new entities.”
“Is our life as challenging for you?” Alex asked with concern. It hit him that sometimes he took his partner’s commitment to what he did for granted.
“For me, it’s simple,” Renée said, kissing Alex on the forehead and looking him hard in the eye. “As long as I’m standing behind that broad back of yours, I won’t be the first to be dropped.”
Alex threw Renée a mock look of surprise and tried to smack her bare leg, but she was too quick. With a squeal, Renée launched free of the couch and ran for the bedroom, laughing, and Alex gave chase.
* * *
Durly returned to his ship late in the evening, after procuring Alex’s priority list from Cordelia. It could have been sent to him, but the captain was in a daze about his good fortune and felt better about receiving the list personally from Cordelia. The crew was tucked into their cots, and Tildie and Millie were sitting second shift on the bridge.
“Visit’s over, Captain,” Millie said. “Time to go back to work.”
“When do you want to break orbit and make for Haraken, Captain?” Tildie asked. “We can get underway, while you catch up on some sleep.”
“Yes, it’s better we get underway now, Tildie,” Durly said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Go ahead and set course for New Terra.”
“Certainly, Captain … wait, what, New Terra?” Tildie replied.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? You know, I was worried about this … getting on in age and forgetting things,” Durly said, shaking his head regretfully. Then he broke into a huge grin. “We have a hauling contract, originating in New Terra for Omnia. Maria Gonzalez negotiated an agreement with Omnia Ships.”
Tildie started to celebrate, but Millie interrupted. “Wait, an agreement, not a contract?” she asked.
“It’s a long-term agreement between New Terra and Omnia Ships. Alex Racine introduced me to Maria, and suggested he’d be pleased if the Dark was contracted for freighter runs. He spoke real nice about us to Maria, and she understood what the man meant. So, we’ve been invited to make the first run … guaranteed. She said by the time we return to New Terra from our first trip to Omnia, the agreement would be signed.”
“So, we get two runs if the Assembly agrees to what’s been negotiated?” Millie asked excitedly.
“Not two runs, Millie. Once the agreement is signed, we’re on an open contract with New Terra,” Durly said quietly, but he was grinning like a fool.
“Open-end contract,” the women screamed together, hugging and hopping up and down. In their excitement, they grabbed Durly, hugging him and planting a kiss on each cheek.
“Two more lovely assets, as ever a captain had.” Durly declared. “Let me know when I’m due at the next Omnian party, and I’ll be ready.”
-25-
Decisions
“I believe we should consider our mission accomplished, Willem,” Asu said. The pair was seated in the captain’s cabin aboard the Sojourn.
“As much as I would prefer to argue, Captain, I can’t,” Willem replied. “We’ve accomplished so much more than I could have considered possible when we launched from Haraken.”
“Coming from a SADE, that’s a statement,” Asu replied. “Impressive first voyage for the Sojourn,” Asu added, winking and smiling at Willem.
“Most impressive,” Willem replied, returning Asu’s smile. “Think the Assembly will approve another mission? After all, the planet we investigated won’t become a Haraken colony.”
“My friend, Omnia is better than a colony. It will be a sister world of entities who will be friends of Haraken, and we’ve been so successful that I think we might have trouble keeping Assembly members off the next crew list,” Asu replied, laughing so hard he started coughing.
“You speak as if you intend to captain the next mission,” Willem said, carefully eyeing Asu.
“Only if my co-commander is still with me,” Asu replied, sobering and returning Willem’s quiet look.
“To the Sojourn’s next journey and the mysteries that await us,” Willem said, extending his hand to Asu.
“To the next mission, Captain,” Asu replied, but his expression turned serious, while he gripped Willem’s hand. “What do you think about asking the Assembly to have a sting ship accompany us next time?”
“Prior to this mission, I would have deemed it totally unnecessary. Now, I consider it a necessity. This portion of the galaxy is feeling incredibly crowded.”
* * *
When Teague and Ginny returned from their latest visit to Wave Skimmer’s new hive site in a crescent bay near where the Sojourn’s Swei Swee found shelter in a cave, word reached them of the mission’s impending departure.
For her part, Ginny was pleased to have had a final opportunity to sing for the four hives that could gather in time for her performance. The sight of younglings settling on matrons’ backs and snoozing, as she closed with one of Mutter’s soulful lullabies, had filled her heart.
Sitting on the cot in Teague’s cabin, Ginny asked, “What’re you thinking?”
“Too many thoughts, as Dad would say,” Teague replied. “These waters are too dangerous for our Swei Swee to inhabit, and our four friends will need mates someday. For now, it looks like the best thing to do is return with the Sojourn when it heads for home.”
“I agree, but then what comes next?” Ginny asked.
“Well, despite everything that’s happened,” Teague said, pulling out the desk chair and sitting backwards on it to face Ginny. “I’ve found the entire experience of this survey mission to be fulfilling in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”
“I’m so pleased to hear you say that. I want to do this again,” Ginny said, bouncing excitedly on the bed.
“I heard Asu and Willem talking on the bridge,” Teague said. “Despite the problems they encountered on Celus … I mean Omnia, they’re really excited about what the survey mission accomplished. More important, they believe the tremendous opportunity for Haraken to receive traveler shells by the tens will have the Assembly anxious to fund more survey missions.”
“What about your parents, Teague?” Ginny asked. She was holding her breath, waiting for the answer, but she felt the question had to be asked.
“They have their lives, and I want a life of my own, one that’s not standing in my father’s shadow. But I want to know what you want to do.”
Ginny curled her bare toes, pleased to hear Teague ask her opinion. Omnia’s incredible events had contributed enormously to Teague’s maturation. Now, he discussed things with her instead of telling her what he’d already decided to do, and he displayed small considerations to her, similar to the way Alex treated Renée. Ginny rolled to her knees and said, “I want to inform Captain Azasdau and Willem, in the morning, that we want to enlist for the next mission. And maybe, just maybe, we should ask for a stipend. I think we’ve proved our worth, despite our youth.”
“A stipend would be nice,” Teague agreed. “So, we journey again into the dark.”
Ginny squealed, jumping off the cot, and Teague stood in time to take the impact, as Ginny threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes,” she said, whispering in Teague’s ear. She was one delighted teenager.
* * *
Once the mission co-commanders decided to roll up their survey efforts, Franz and Reiko faced difficult decisions. They spent the evening discussing their options and eventually arguing. Well, to be exact, Reiko did the arguing and Franz tried unsuccessfully to reason with her.
“I’m only asking you do one thing, Reiko,” Franz said, as calmly as he could manage. “Talk to Tatia. Rumor is there’s more going on with Alex’s people than has been announced. Yes, they’re able to spray up a traveler shell, but what else is Alex planning?”
Because it was her lover’s request, Reiko contacted Tatia to request a meeting.
Reiko replied. She was angry at the rebuke, but she wasn’t about to demonstrate that to the admiral.
Trained in United Earth’s military academies since a cadet, Reiko translated the informal request correctly and replied,
Reiko gathered Franz, and they landed aboard the Freedom less than a half hour later. A ping of the admiral’s location indicated they were to meet her in another bay about 110 degrees farther around the ship’s enormous circumference.
“I suggest we jog, my heart,” Franz said. “We shouldn’t keep an admiral waiting.”
Reiko frowned at Franz. Running wasn’t her idea of decorum for an ex-UE commodore and a Haraken captain of a warship. Nonetheless, she nodded and picked up the pace. While Reiko ran, Franz, who towered over her and, despite his heavy-worlder body, jogged lightly beside her.
At the airlock, Reiko paused to catch her breath and, when she was ready, signaled the corridor-side hatch. They cycled through the airlock and entered a hive of activity. There was little noise from voices. Everyone was using implants, but the movement of equipment and materials from a couple of hundred engineers and techs was a constant din.
Reiko pinged for Tatia’s bio ID, and Franz and she made their way among a variety of experiments, some small and some full size.
“Greetings, Admiral,” said Reiko, as Franz and she saluted Tatia. There was a quick exchange of pleasantries with Mickey, Ellie, Svetlana, Deirdre, Darius, and Lucia.
“A distinguished audience,” Franz admitted, wondering why Tatia’s commanders were present for the meeting, but, more important, why Mickey was present.
“I’m glad you said that, Commander,” Tatia replied. “Some of my commanders are here because they follow Alex. Others are here because they follow me, and I’m here because Alex proves to me that he’s worth following. It’s no secret that Alex’s focus is on the distinct possibility of a second Nua’ll sphere. According to Renée, that thought disturbs his sleep.”
“That’s not good news,” Franz lamented.
“For those who know Alex, it isn’t,” Tatia replied, and directed her attention to Reiko. “You wondered why this group of elite commanders and I are here when outwardly Alex appears to have only travelers, Captain. We’re here for those things that haunt Alex. If you love humankind, there isn’t a greater calling for people like us.” Tatia signaled Mickey, who pulled the cover off a bench to reveal a miniature warship.
“Captain, this is a model of the new Trident-class warship, which will be built in conjunction with New Terra. An agreement is in the works. When it’s approved by the Assembly, Omnia Ships will receive credits and materials to complete the orbital terminal and build this class of ships and others.”
“It’s an attractive design,” Reiko admitted. “Two questions. What’s the scale, and when will you move from model to something more operational to prove the design?”
Reiko and Franz received an image. A sting ship nestled next to a Trident-class ship, like a youngling protected by its matriarch.
“This is the largest warship class we’ll be building. Its size is to ensure that those twin side hulls can generate the amount of beam power we believe we’ll need if we find a sphere,” Svetlana said. “I’ll captain the first one built. While that’s not been authorized, I’m staking my claim now.”
There was some snickering among Svetlana’s peers, but the determination in her face dared anyone to outwardly disagree with her.
“As to your question about demonstrative progress … Mickey, if you would?” Tatia requested.
When Tatia and her commanders took a few steps back, Reiko and Franz hurriedly joined them. Mickey, on the other hand, never moved.
“Why do engineers do that?” Darius whispered to his admiral.
“To show their trust in what they build,” Tatia replied quietly.
Amidst the raucous applause of engineers and techs, Mickey lowered the model to the table, sending an all clear.
“Mickey, what is that?” Franz asked, pointing at the target.
“That, Commander, is the best we can come up with to manage test firing a beam inside a ship. It’s a trap, composed of multiple layers. The outer layer is a double sheath of metal-alloy, trapping expandable nanites foam to plug the beam holes, and the center is filled with liquid oxygen to absorb the heat. The reason we didn’t make a bigger model is that we calculated we couldn’t absorb the beam shot from a single hull.”
“Impressive, Mickey,” Franz admitted, and Mickey glowed with professional pride.
“That’s not impressive,” the diminutive Reiko said, stepping up to the model and stroking its beautifully colored hulls. “That’s absolutely the most incredible warship that’s ever been designed.”
“Uh, oh, Svetlana, you have competition,” Lucia said, nudging her friend.
“No, I don’t,” Svetlana replied determinedly. “She’s an ex-commodore, and we’re building more than one Trident. Someone has to command the squadron. I’ll still be captain of the first ship.”
The rest of the demonstration descended into a show and tell of the remaining classes of warships. Mickey demonstrated their various capabilities, floating the models off their tables but refraining from firing any of their weapons.
When Mickey finished, Tatia said simply, “Now you can make an informed decision, Captain.” Then she exited the bay with her commanders in tow.
Franz spared a moment for Mickey, who raised his eyebrows, as if to emphasize the wonderment of all he’d shown before he returned to work.
Reiko turned and exited the bay, Franz by her side. The couple didn’t talk the entire way back to the Tanaka, and Franz left his partner alo
ne with her thoughts, which was fine by him. He had his own to consider.
-26-
Haraken Transplants
In a fairly short period of time, the space over Omnia was dominated by ship movement.
Alex and Renée said farewell to Teague and Ginny. Then the Sojourn broke orbit, accompanied by the Tanaka.
Alex had asked Tatia how the conversation went with Reiko. Tatia’s response was, “I took a tough approach with her, Alex. She’s wedded firmly to her sting ship. Her command of a warship validates her years as a UE destroyer captain, but I’m not sure my technique worked, although the Trident model impressed her.”
When Alex chuckled at her comment, Tatia had shrugged her wide shoulders and said, “You know how naval officers are attracted to large weapons.”
That comment cracked Alex up, and, when he regained his breath, he said, “We’ll have to wait and see, Tatia. Once we build enough of these warships to have squadrons, we’ll need experienced commodores who understand fleet maneuvers, and Reiko has plenty of that experience.”
Not long after the Sojourn and the Tanaka left the Celus system, the Our People was ready to set sail. The first batch of shells was complete, and the city-ship would be underway to Haraken, while the workers finished the second batch of traveler shells.
Alex wished Hector a safe journey, as did every SADE. Trixie, of course, stayed in communication with Hector until he exited the system.
It was forty-six days after the Dark had left with the Rover for New Terra when Alex, who was planetside, received Cordelia’s comm.
Days later, Durly reported to Alex in his suite aboard the Freedom.
“Captain Cordelia is offloading our modules, which are carrying your priority items for the orbital terminal,” Durly said, after taking the offered seat and receiving a cup of thé from Renée. “There was one change. Millie, our load manager, figured you could use more siding to increase the number of modules to house supplies at the platform. She requested them of me, and I talked to Maria, who added them to our shipment.”
