The Darkness: The Conglomerate Trilogy (Volume 2)

by William S Frisbee Jr

  Luke brought up the specifications of the Nalee shipyard. The size of an amazing feat of architectural engineering the size of a small moon it was the home for several million Nalee and countless robots. There were construction and repair bays for everything from fighters to juggernaut sized vessels. With a small mining fleet of feed the ship yards it had not left Bronkaw Prime system for a few hundred years. Apparently the Bronkaw paid well enough.

  His system chimed. It was Leonessa from her cocoon. He linked her in, and she appeared nearby as a ghostly representation.

  "It is beautiful," she said looking around her when she joined his link, sharing his view.

  "Makes one feel small," Luke said looking around him.

  "How well do you think the Nalee could duplicate the Ultio?" Leonessa asked.

  "I suspect quite well if Topa Suresh sent them the specifications, I know he had a very detailed diagram of my ship," Luke said. "She was a good ship."

  "How did you get her?" Leonessa asked, looking at Luke

  "My ship was trashed before we came through the wormhole," Luke said. "Topa Suresh still hired me and sent me on several missions, usually as a passenger on a contracted ship. He eventually decided a I needed a ship, and he worked out a deal with Prime Minister Carson to get me a ship. Topa Suresh made a deal with New Alamo to finance an automated light cruiser, which Admiral Harrison assigned me to later. The Bright One was a beautiful ship. About twenty-five years ago Topa Suresh said I needed a bigger ship and asked me to provide the specifications for a battle cruiser to the Kadesh which the Topa had contracted to make a ship for me. They are the ones that made the Ultio. I took almost five years to pay off the Topa and another couple years to get the support frigates. There were also various upgrades and additions I sunk into the Ultio. Every mini-credit I earned went to paying them off."

  He relaxed his clenched hands and took a deep breath as he thought about Nelson and Jeeves who had helped him design the Ultio.

  "Any ideas what you will name your new ship?" Leonessa asked.

  Luke looked down at his panel. His eyes seeing beyond the display.

  "No," he said. "I will have to wait and see."

  "Did you own the Ultio or did New Alamo?" Leonessa asked.

  Luke gave her a half smile. "Me, it was mine. All mine," Luke said. "But the New Alamo military owned me, so indirectly I guess you could say they owned it."

  "To travel the galaxy in your own ship must be exhilarating," Leonessa said, staring out at the stars a soft sigh escaping her. "No pressure, no dependencies, no loyalties."

  "I wish life were that simple," Luke said. Closing his eyes Luke took a deep breath. "Perhaps one day."

  "Exploration appeals to me a lot more than fighting. Are you looking forward to getting back aboard a ship of your own?" Leonessa asked.

  Luke nodded. "More than you know," Luke said opening his eyes and looking around again. "Then we have to deal with the Bronkaw Dominance, but being a Captain doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to."

  "Worried?" Leonessa asked.

  "Maybe a little," Luke said. "It won't be easy to find out what is plaguing the Bronkaw and break in a new droid commander."

  "How are things with Lagertha?" Luke asked to change the subject.

  "Going well," Leonessa said. "Not much for her to do. She follows me around a lot, asks me questions about my preferences and desires. Prepares my uniforms and gear. It is like having a servant."

  "Treat her as a human," Luke said. "Don't treat her as a servant or slave unless that is what you want. Let her know what you expect of her. She will adjust. They will adapt to the way you treat them and try to meet your expectations. They are fantastic at that. She might be a confused a lot at first but be patient and never assume she won't understand. If she doesn't understand she will ask. If you don't understand or know the answer to a question be honest about it. They develop a personality by interacting with us."

  "Thank you," Leonessa said.

  "You can trust your droids," Luke said. "Their loyalty is to you and you alone."

  "Thank you," Leonessa said thinking about it.

  "You coming meat sack?" Musashi transmitted.

  Luke glanced at the time. Damn.

  "I'm sorry Leonessa," Luke said. "I told my droids I would meet them after transition and do scenarios with Halsey. Kind of like war games where we all game through a scenario and share our expectations."

  "Of course," Leonessa said. "Thank you."

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  Nalee Shipyards

  Luke sat in his cocoon staring as the Proud Infidel approached the Nalee ship yards.

  "Damn," Erica said with awe in her voice.

  "Um, yea," Bruce said.

  The Nalee ship yard was massive. Several patrol ships orbited the skeletal moon and Luke could pick out several plasma lance turrets, each bigger than the Ultio. There were countless bays of all shapes and sizes, many of them containing a ship or two. The Proud Infidel had received docking instructions and Luke watched as the Proud Infidel slid into a large repair bay next to a graceful-looking battleship that looked to be almost three kilometers and studded with turrets, and plasma lances. It had sweeping wings, and the front looked like a bird of prey sweeping down with its wings pointing towards a target. It dwarfed the Proud Infidel and Luke admired it wishing he could afford a ship like that.

  He had seen nothing like it in the Conglomerate space lanes. It was certainly unique and on the higher end of the Conglomerate scales, probably classifying as an extreme heavy battle ship, just shy of dreadnought. If it was going to be a Bronkaw ship, it could still chew up and spit out anything it encountered. The empty space inside would reduce the classification but Luke couldn't get a mass reading with it in the shipyard like this. Luke recorded footage of the ship, wondering how the Bronkaw would classify it and what role it would play.

  On the other side of the Proud Infidel was a battle cruiser and Luke scrutinized it, trying to identify who wanted it built and why. Who were they afraid of to spend so much on such hardware? That battle cruiser was larger than the Proud Infidel and sported a single heavy plasma lance that would have been heavier than what the Ultio had mounted. Definitely a warship in the battle cruiser range.

  There were numerous other bays but nothing that looked like the Ultio. Above them was a large freighter but Luke couldn't see any activity and it didn't look new. Probably engine repairs or something. Below them was a tug pushing in some cargo containers to a bay. Raw materials from the ships mining the asteroid belt.

  When the Proud Infidel came to a complete stop a docking arm slid out to mate with the airlock.

  "Looks like the airlock matches," Erica said, sounding surprised.

  "Really?" Bruce asked.

  "Yes sir," Erica said. "Looks like we have pressure on both sides now.

  "Well let's get down there to say hi," Bruce said glancing at Luke.

  A message arrived in Luke's link queue from an Eeras, a representative of the Sandla Corporation informing him he would be met after the customs inspectors departed.

  * * * * *

  The hatch slid open and Luke looked at four Nalee. They looked like a cross between a raptor and a hairless bird that was shorter than Leonessa. Clothed in form fitting metallic suits, their eyes scanned Luke and his team. Leonessa, Brita, Jeremy, Falla Shum and Amanda stood to the front and behind them came Musashi, Lagertha, Halsey, Gray and several other droids. It was becoming a parade, Luke thought.

  "Greetings Shoka," the first one said.

  "Hello Inspector," Luke said in Naleen.

  "Do you need a reminder of the rules?" the Naleen asked.

  "No thank you," Luke said. "I have them on file and I reviewed them before landing."

  "Thank you, Shoka," the Nalee said, bobbing its head, an awkward move for the creature. "Travel in peace."

  "And you inspector," Luke said as the first pair turned and walked back down the corridor.

  "Why do you always say
you reviewed the rules?" Leonessa asked.

  "If you don't they will bore you to tears for hours explaining them," Luke said with a smile.

  Leonessa chuckled. The second pair of Nalee stepped forward and the first one spoke.

  "Shoka Luke Kishi," she said.

  "Hello," Luke said.

  "My name is Eeras of the Sandla Corporation," Eeras said and motioned to his companions. "This is Eeroo. We have been contracted by Topa Suresh to provide you with a replacement vessel. It is almost complete. A shipment of sentient droids and some specialized equipment has also arrived and has been delivered to your ship."

  "Thank you," Luke said.

  "Would you like to see it and move into it?" Eeras asked.

  "I would like that," Luke said.

  "We understand that time is important and you are an acting agent of the Topa," Eeras said. "So, we gave you preferential docking next to your vessel."

  "Thank you," Luke said and glanced back to Leonessa.

  The battle cruiser? That was nothing like Ultio and Luke tried to conceal his disappointment, Topa Suresh had his own agenda and seemed to have a reason for everything he did.

  "If you will follow me?" Eeras said with a bow.

  Luke followed Eeras and Eeroo as they walked back into the main concourse. There was a small bus waiting there.

  "I apologize," Eeras said. "I did not expect your party to contain so many so I have another bus en route. It will be here shortly."

  Luke nodded.

  "We are very proud to have fulfilled this order from the Topa on time. Topa Suresh has allowed us to use several newer technologies, sensors, weapons and defenses."

  "Do you have the specifications?" Luke asked.

  "They will be provided when we arrive," Eeras said. "Topa Suresh sent us the specifications, he was specific on several details. We have not made a ship like that in generations and it was a challenge meeting the Topa's requirements. It was almost to Tal specifications."

  Tal specifications? Luke was starting to worry, first the droids, then the InnerBuddy upgrade and now an advanced battle cruiser?

  Another bus arrived and Eeras motioned Luke to the first one. Almost by unspoken agreement Luke, Leonessa, Musashi, Lagertha and Brita climbed in the first one. Amanda, Jeremy, Gray and the others climbed into the other one.

  The concourse was not well traveled and Luke didn't see any other vehicles for a kilometer when they reached another concourse. Mentally, Luke drew a map. To get to the battle cruiser they would go up here and turn left. He brought up a recording of the battle cruiser he had taken as the Proud Infidel slid into dock. It was well armed and armored, with a larger plasma lance sticking out of the front. Above it appeared there might have been a smaller plasma lance and a heavy quad turret. It looked like the tip of a broadsword with a cleft in the point for the primary plasma lance and another pair of quad turrets out closer to the edge. She looked like she had some hellacious engines. Fast and heavily armed, it looked like a good ship. He hadn't seen it from below though so he wondered what it had and if it had multiple shuttle or fighter bays. He felt giddy and smiled to himself. It felt like Christmas. It wasn't the Ultio, but it was his.

  When they came to an intersection, they turned right toward where the battle ship bay would be. Damn. He had been getting used to the idea the battle cruiser was his. Maybe they had a clone of the Leonis Ultio and he hadn't seen it when they docked. Just as well.

  As they approached the concourse for the battleship, the bus slowed and then turned down the concourse.

  "Friend Eeras," Luke said leaning forward to speak more confidentially with Eeras. "I don't think we are going the right way."

  Eeras looked confused and then his eyes unfocused as he accessed his internal screens. Luke could see he was alarmed because the skin on his chin tightened, but then his small shoulders twitched, a sign of confusion among the Nalee as he turned back to Luke.

  "I'm sorry Shoka Luke Kishi," Eeras said. "I do not know how I erred. We are going to your ship are we not?"

  "This is the battle ship berth, isn't it?" Luke asked and Eeras bobbed his head, staring at Luke, his shoulders still quivering.

  "Yes," Eeras said.

  "I thought the contract was for a battle cruiser?" Luke said as Leonessa looked at the two of them, her eyes getting wider.

  Eeras looked confused again.

  "Topa Suresh was specific and agreed to the costs," Eeras said. "He commissioned us to build a battleship for you. He was explicit on many of the requirements."

  Luke sat back, his mind blank as he stared at Eeras. A battleship? That three kilometer battleship off the bow of the Proud Infidel?

  "Your support vessels are in other bays," Eeras said. "They will join you when you undock. We still have a week before we finish and then you will perform her trial runs. The support vessels are already finished, being much smaller."

  "The battleship?" Luke asked staring at Eeras.

  "Yes," Eeras said looking at Luke. "The Topa was very precise. I'm sorry, did he not consult with you?"

  Luke shook his head and stared toward the front of the bus. A freaking battleship!

  Brita playfully punched Luke's arm.

  "No piddly little battle cruiser for you!" she said with a smile. "Captain Simmons will be super jealous and think of all the trouble you can get into now."

  The bus pulled up to the terminal and everyone got out of the buses. Leonessa reached over and squeezed Luke's hand as he stared down the terminal at the battleship. His battleship. It was three kilometers long, bristling with weapons. Almost six times the length of the Leonis Ultio.

  "Is this the right berth?" Jeremy asked as he came up to Luke. "I thought the Topa had gotten you a battle cruiser."

  Luke nodded. "That sneaky prick never said."

  Jeremy grinned.

  "The Jupiter Alliance doesn't have anything this big," Jeremy said. "And except a juggernaut, neither does the Caliphate."

  "If you will follow me?" Eeras said and started down the short docking nexus to the ship. He could see other docking ports further back, most likely for cargo and supplies. The airlock slid open as they approached and Luke received a file with a diagram and specifications on the ship. He sent it on to the rest of his team as he followed Eeras into the airlock.

  On board the battleship, Eeras turned to Luke.

  "The ship still needs a week to complete configurations before it is ready to depart the dock. Please review the contract and let me know if that is acceptable. I can then give you ownership of this vessel in good faith," Eeras said. Another message from Sandla Corporation detailed a contract and conditions. Luke skimmed through it. Short and basic. It gave him full control of the vessel, full ownership without any liens or alternate owners. He was the sole owner of the ship, pending successful trial flights and tests. A detailed diagram, list of capabilities and equipment was listed in a document would have been thousands of pages long if it had been printed.

  "I will accept ownership," Luke said, wondering if he was ready to command a battleship.

  Eeras bowed and smiled.

  "Congratulations," Eeras said. "The Sandla Corporation hopes you are satisfied with the vessel and it serves you and your future generations with pride and honor. If there are any problems, please contact me immediately. Thank you very much for doing business with the Sandla Corporation."

  "Thank you," Luke said and glanced behind him. Everyone was smiling, even Musashi and to see Musashi smiling was a disturbing sight.

  Luke felt his access to the ship shift and command menus and channels became available to him, providing him unlimited access to the ship systems. Ship AI's reported their desire to take his commands and guide him as they could.

  "This will take time," Luke said to the others, assigning crew and officer permissions to the others. The menus and configurations were like the Ultio. The interior with the heavy doors also looked so much like the Ultio.

  Eeras bowed and left, followed by
Eeroo.

  "What are you going to name her?" Leonessa asked with a grin.

  "The Tigress," Luke said with a conscious effort not to run. "Let's go to the CIC and find our quarters. It feels like Christmas!"

  * * * * *

  Hours later Luke walked into his quarters.

  "Much larger than on the Leonis Ultio," Musashi said looking around. "Close to the CIC and the dojo too. It is like the Topa was reading your mind instead of mine. You should be farther away. You need the exercise walking back and forth."

  "Yea," Luke said feeling tired, but he still wanted to wander the Tigress. "But he wasn't reading it well. There are living quarters for thousands of people, with enough hydroponic space and resource storage for years, mining drones and manufactories guarantee the ship could operate independently for a long time. Wasted space. The specs say we could cram fifteen thousand people in her. That is absurd."

  "The Topa must realize how much you want to get away from people. I think you will have plenty of time to get used to the Tigress," Musashi said. "You should get some rest. I would guess he wanted the ship to have more mass and you can allocate only so much to weapons, shields, armor, manufactories and cargo. Perhaps he expects you and Leonessa to have that many children?"

  "Stow it, metal head. There is so much to do," Luke said. Everyone else had quarters on this level. The combat information center with the bridge was in an armored shell, within another armored shell, inside the heart of the Tigress.

  "Gray and Halsey have the specs," Musashi said. "They aren't soft meat sacks like you and don't need sleep. Let them work. You need sleep. Everyone else is hitting the rack."

  Luke nodded and went into the bed chamber. When the light came on he stared at the king-sized bed. It was way too big for one person, or five.

  "That bed is way too big," Luke said. "Put in a work order to get something smaller and more modest."

  "Will do," Musashi said, creating a work order to get the bed resized. "Maybe you should ask to share it with Leonessa?"

  "Enough," Luke said looking at Musashi. "No more cracks about me and Leonessa. Understood? Now put in the order."