Sleeping in the Stars

by D Patrick Wagner

  “I already have someone in mind,” Krag answered. “I worked with her about five years ago and stayed in touch. And, knowing what her life is like, she might want a change.”

  “So, who is she?” Mack asked.

  “The best hacker in the galaxy,” Krag replied.

  “Where is she?”

  “Olympia.”

  “We’re heading there, anyway, to establish our cover,” Keiko stated. “Will she fit in?”

  I don’t know. I need to find out,” Krag answered. “What do you think?”

  “You’re the boss, Cap,” Mack’s answered.

  “If she can help, then I agree. Let’s see where it goes,” Keiko said.

  Krag listened to Keiko and was pleased that she was contributing within a group and not sitting quietly.

  Chapter 8

  Aboard the Griffin

  Griffin exited the Bridgelen gate and popped into the Cencore system. Again, as the last two entrances, the Mack jettisoned CERVE/rocket package as the Griffin achieved normal space. This time, he aimed the package at Titus and left it to drift towards their final destination, a cold, dark chunk of flotsam impossible to spot.

  Thousands of ships peppered the Cencore system, most being merchants, tankers and service ships. But the large military presence dominated the black of space. Griffin’s sensors picked up multiple navel fleets filled with spacecraft carriers, dreadnaughts, battleships, cruisers, corvettes and troop carriers.

  Krag’s previous life flashed back, quickly rekindling his anger and loathing. Perusing the Cencorian space, seeing the Space Force might, Krag recalled his ex-commanding officer, Vice-Admiral Weiskoff the Third. He remembered the Admiral flaunting his position as a member of the military aristocracy, never letting anyone forget it, either through his imperious poses or his arrogant way of ordering his underlings around.

  Krag remembered competing against Theodore Weiskoff at the academy. For Krag, the competition didn’t spill over into his post-school life. But, for some reason, Weiskoff seemed to remember him and carried a grudge. And that grudge had carried through Krag’s entire Space Force life, keeping Krag always on edge, always self-protective. Krag thought about this history and the history of the Federacy as he piloted Griffin deeper into its heart.

  Then Krag thought about the settling of Cencore and its resultant dominance. The Cencore system became the seat of Federation power after the Federacy’s separation from the Old Earth Commonwealth. Almost two thousand years ago, long before humanity had discovered the Alcu-space gate in its solar system, long before Humanity had discovered the first habitable planet (Pantea), the Federacy didn’t exist. Instead, there was the Commonwealth of United Planets for the two settled worlds and four settled moons in Old Earth’s solar system. The Earth-based Commonwealth began as a federation of planet-states that were joined by the common needs of territorial borders, trade and currency. With mankind not able to travel at speeds any faster than about one-third the speed of light, each planet-state became its own entity, with its own form of governance, its own economy and its own social value systems. The interplanetary connections formed their relationships based on trade and socio-economic needs. But they were essentially autonomous.

  When the gate that led to the Atlantius system was discovered and planet Pantea was claimed, it naturally became a planet-state as part of the Commonwealth. The first pilgrim ship that landed on Pantea contained the bureaucrats, scientists, military and skilled laborers required for establishment of the colony. In the first few years, the government that grew out of this first group of people became a benevolent oligarchy. And everyone was happy with that. Each of the people on that original pilgrim ship was the best at what he or she did. The Pantea pilgrims only wanted to work in their perspective areas of expertise, content to leave the governance of this new world to those that skilled at governing.

  Over the first two hundred years and approximately eight generations, the government remained benevolent. A new gate was discovered that led to the Cencore system. Then another gate that led to Bridgelen. That opened up multiple gates to many other star systems, all claimed by Pantea.

  At that point, the controlling powers on Pantea decided that this network of planets should no longer be held as members of the Commonwealth and subject to laws of Old Earth. They announced their sovereignty, put a weapons platform at the gate leading to Sol and renamed their governing body as the Sovereign Federacy of Planets, or just ‘The Federacy’.

  A brief war ensued, but with Pantea only needing to plug one entry point, Earth’s attempts at reclamation ended in failure. The Federacy came into existence.

  Since the Atlantius system had only the one habitable planet and minimal resources, the seat of power moved to Cencore. The Atlantius system became a defensive barrier, a buffer, armed and relegated to stopping any incursions from the Old Earth Commonwealth.

  New planets and moons were discovered and settled. These new settlements became territories of the original planet-state of Cencore. Over the next three hundred years this Federacy, with centralized power on the planet Olympia in the Cencore system, the ruling class became less of a populist governing body and more of an aristocratic totalitarianism. Finally, it transmogrified into a martial junta with the political aristocracy exerting its power through controlling its own planet-states with the might of its military.

  During that political transition and power consolidation, the ruling class on Olympia forcefully placed subservient governments on the settled planets and moons. Learning from the histories of Old Earth, Olympia followed the power grab roadmaps of Italy’s Benito Mussolini and Spain’s Francisco Franco. Through its surrogate puppets, Olympia seized control of all planetary food production, medical availability and inter-planetary transportation. And once the Federacy controlled these mainstays of civilization, it controlled the populous.

  Now Krag, the ex-Federacy Space Commander, heard rumblings of discontent expanding to rebellion. There were broadcast snippets of the ‘Free Space Movement’, people organizing to throw off the socio-economic chains of the Federacy. And he heard news of the violent backlash by the Federacy. All these rumors and gossip fed into the narrative which Krag and Keiko had surmised.

  Krag heard about how the Federacy was wrecking whole economies, forcing whole populations into anti-sedition re-education, forcing whole planets into producing products for the strengthening of the Federacy’s control and might. All of these whispers had only been reinforced by his and Keiko’s meeting with Governor Moreno.

  As Krag piloted his craft deeper into Cencore, he could see the results of the jack-boot governance and the cause of the high taxes throughout the Federacy - the heavy demand for materials and production, the results of the forced manufacturing. It was plain to see that the Federacy had ceased being a civilian society and had become a military state. The rot of the Federacy manifested itself into a full military junta, with the ruling class and the military class morphing back into an oligarchy, but this time solely for its own self-interest, consolidation of power and control. And all Krag Marston wanted to do was stay away from it.

  As before, the ship was immediately confronted by a customs gun ship. And again, papers were checked, the ship searched. Everyone knew their roles. Buster hid behind Duke. Mack, covered in sweat and dingy coveralls, labored at the engines, feigning repairs, cursing, clanking tools. Keiko lounged in her luxury suite, acting the part of the rich heiress, impatient to get back on the voyage. Krag again presented himself as the obsequious captain, working to curry favor and hoping for no issues or complaints.

  Nothing was found. The agents left and the Griffin was free to go. Krag directed Griffin towards Olympia, the centralized power of the Federacy. He took his ship through defensive barriers of battleships, cruisers, carriers and corvettes.

  During Griffin’s approach to Olympia, Krag received a hail from flight control.

  “Ship Griffin, state your business and docking requirements.”

 
; “Control, Griffin actual,” Captain Marston spoke. “Purpose is resupply and possibly picking up a passenger. No docking is required. Orbit above largest supply depot is requested.”

  “Understood Griffin. Am sending you orbiting coordinates now.”

  Once the coordinates were received, Krag manually took the ship to his assigned space, adjusted his declination and speed to achieve orbital stability then shut everything down. Through all this, his two passengers stood and stared through the foreword port, pointing and softly commenting on their views of the Federacy’s military size and power. Once the ship achieved its proper orbit and set to standby, Krag addressed his passengers.

  “Mack, could you locate a tanker so that we can top off our deuterium slurry?”

  “I know a bloke. Gregor throws work his way, so we’ll get a good price.”

  “Thanks, Mack. And see if we can get a stores freighter. We need to restock our foodstuffs, living goods and ship’s maintenance inventory. I want everything topped off. Duke will have a list for you.”

  “I know another bloke. I’ll get it done for ya.”

  “Perfect. Keiko, let’s meet in your suite. I want to go over our plan, tighten it up.”

  “Yes, Captain.” Keiko responded, being back the professional, focused on the task, the goal.

  Krag’s nervousness betrayed his worries about the operation. He found himself fixating on all the variables he couldn’t control, trying to come up with the perfect plan that would cover all contingencies, knowing that that was impossible. The meeting with Keiko was more for his peace of mind than the need for more planning.

  Mack reached out to his contact and ordered a full loading of the fusion reactor slurry tanks. Then locating his other contact he accomplished getting the ship’s stores ordered. When he received the responses and scheduled deliveries, he tracked down Krag. Knocking on the open hatch leading to Keiko’s suite, he saw Keiko and Krag sitting at a table. Keiko rose and welcomed him in.

  “Captain, Keiko,” Mack began with a slight head bow. “The freighter can’t get here until this evening. Then it will take about ten hours for a full fill. The stores freighter needs to get some stock off of the planet, so it can’t get here until tomorrow. But, the loading should be fast.”

  “That will do.” Thinking, Krag continued, “Then getting Sue won’t impact our schedule. Keiko, do you need anything?”

  Still politely standing, Keiko responded, “No, nothing.”

  “Mack?”

  “I’ll get everything I need during restocking and refueling. I’m good.”

  “Ok. Keiko and I will see if we can get Sue. You watch the ship. Does that work for you?

  “As long as you don’t plan on doing the town, Cap. I could use some shore leave.”

  “No, Mack, just a quick in-and-out. After the job, we’ll play.”

  “Then, that’s fine by me.”

  Krag rose and, while moving towards the hatch, softly placed his large hand on Keiko’s shoulder. “Get ready. I’ll meet you at the shuttle.”

  Keiko watched as Krag and Mack left. She liked the feeling of that one fleeting touch. Then she walked to her closet, planning on what to wear to impress this Sue Benton that Krag spoke of so highly.

  When Keiko met Krag at the shuttle, she was impressed with the large, rugged man in his military blacks, with his head cover under his arm. With his ram-rod stance, unsmiling face and his impressive array of medals, Keiko also felt a strong physical attraction. To cover her disconcert, she reverted to her formal Japanese professionalism.

  “Major,” Keiko acknowledged, with a slight bow.

  Psychologists state that the first ten to fifteen seconds of a meeting between two people determine the interaction of those people during that period of time that they are in each other’s presence. And most of the time, Keiko would set the tone.

  Krag found that her switching from formal, to passive, to friendly and, a few times, personal, kept him off balance. But, for the brief time that he knew her, he had come to trust her instincts. Being a loner, he found that following her lead in group dynamics was usually the right way to proceed. So he donned his military persona and answered.

  “Mz. Suzume,”

  He saw a professional Asian woman, dressed in a business suit of a cream-colored blouse, knee-length royal blue skirt and a matching single-button blazer. The ensemble was completed with practical shoes, shoulder bag, simple gold ear studs and a gold chain necklace.

  Gesturing towards the shuttle ramp, Krag asked, “Shall we?”

  The professional air continued through the flight to the spaceport just outside of Olympia. Major Marston landed the shuttle and prepared for the inevitable inspection. His ramrod straight demeanor projected his professionalism as he tolerated the invasion. Mz. Suzume acted the daughter of a powerful governmental family and resigned herself to the inconvenience. Once they passed inspection, Krag rented a ground car and the two admired the sunset as Krag guided the car into the suburb where Sue Benton still lived.

  Pulling up to the small bungalow, Krag and Keiko saw a home in borderline neglect. The lawn’s grass reflected its need for cutting. The stringy and woody flower bushes bordered the front of the clap-board home, d Dead blooms covering the dried out bark in the planter beds. The two exited their rental, approached Sue Benton’s home and rang the doorbell. She opened the door and stood, a simple woman looking ground down by another day of tedious work.

  “Major Marston,” the surprised Sue exclaimed.

  “Mz. Benton,” Krag responded. “This is Mz Suzume. She is a private contractor that I wish you to meet. May we come in?”

  “Yes, of course,” the slightly flustered Sue answered, while opening the door more widely and stepping back.

  As Krag and Keiko entered they saw more borderline neglect. Sue immediately began to scurry around, making the home more presentable, stacking magazines and moving empty glasses from the coffee table to the kitchen sink. Breakfast dishes still sat on the counter separating the kitchen from the family room. Last night’s dinner dishes were stacked by the sink.

  The two stood and watched for a moment until Krag spoke. “Mz. Benton, you don’t need to do this. I was sorry to hear that your boy decided to stay with his father. That had to be hard.”

  “It’s my own fault.” The resignation could be heard in Sue’s voice. “I can’t give him what he wants and I work all of the time.” She dropped the stack of magazines back onto the table, grabbed the two dirty glasses and set them on the counter.

  “Are you happy here?“ Keiko asked.

  Sue thought for a moment as she turned back to face her two guests. “I’m not happy, not unhappy, I guess. But I have a steady job, I pay the bills. I get by. After the job that the Federacy did on me, that’s about the best I can ask for.” She almost hid the bitterness in her heart. Then she flashed a fearful look at the large officer whom she thought represented that Federacy that she had just criticized.

  “May we sit?” Keiko responded after watching Sue’s answer to her first question.

  “Of course. I’m sorry. Something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Something stronger?” she hurried into her kitchen.

  “Tea would be fine,” Keiko answered.

  “Water?” was Krag’s response. He had stood quietly, letting Keiko assume the initiative. He watched as the small Asian woman easily built a comfortable rapport with the emotionally struggling software engineer.

  “Take a seat,” Sue offered as she put a pot in the microwave to boil water. Everyone sat or stood quietly until Sue filled a glass and two cups then returned to the family room.

  Once everyone was seated and served, Krag began. “Mz. Benton, we have a project. It is off planet and will probably take about two weeks. Are you interested?’

  “I can’t lose my job. I probably couldn’t get another one.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’m sure a word from my section will insure that your employers will keep your position open.” Krag hated to
lie to her, but he needed her unique skill set and willingness to explore new directions.

  “But, I don’t know. What do you want me to do?”

  Krag and Keiko watched Sue fidget as she struggled.

  “We can’t divulge that down here, Mz. Benton. We need to return to my ship and have you briefed there.”

  “I would work off-world?”

  “Yes, Mz. Benton. With Mz. Suzume.”

  “What do you do, Mz. Suzume?’

  “Call me Keiko. May I call you ‘Sue’?” Following Krag’s lead, she answered, “I’m afraid I can’t tell you, down here. But, Sue, once we get to Major Marston’s ship we can explain everything.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Mz. Benton, it is just a trip up and back.” Krag tried to project a feeling of safe comfort. “Do you have tomorrow off?”

  “Yes, it’s the weekend.”

  “Is your boy coming to visit?”

  “No, it’s not my weekend with him.”

  “Then it’s easy. We fly up. You have an evening on board and a briefing in the morning. We get you back by mid-afternoon, tomorrow. Then, depending on your decision, we go from there or you go back to work.”

  “That’s really all there is to it, Sue,” Keiko interjected. “Give it a try. You have nothing to lose. And we need you.”

  Krag and Keiko saw Sue straighten her back, nod her head and speak. “Just one night. Ok, I’ll listen. But I can’t lose my job. I have to be back tomorrow.”

  “That’s it. One night,” Krag affirmed, mentally punishing himself for the possible lie.

  “Do you have an overnight bag?” Keiko asked.

  “Yes. I’ll get it packed.”

  Krag and Keiko sat and watched as Sue rose and left the room. The two sat silently, comfortable in each other’s presence. They sipped their drinks and listened to Sue rummaging through her bedroom, closet and bathroom. With her return, both stood and the three of them left the bungalow, Krag taking Sue’s bag and Sue locking the door.

  During the flight Keiko pulled a mag-grav liner from a locker, had Sue enter the privacy compartment to put it on and helped the space neophyte remain calm during the flight. It wasn’t until Krag righted the shuttle so that Griffin was brought into view that Sue Benton sensed that all wasn’t what it should be.