Children of the Old Stars

by David Lee Summers

  Ellis sighed, then nodded. Standing, he grabbed his duffel bag and stepped through the airlock onto the deck of his ship. The graviton generators aboard mapping vessels were set to about eighty percent of Earth gravity. The captain's shoulders slumped slightly when he realized that the only person there to meet him was G'Liat. Ellis rubbed his beard, knowing better than to expect the formality of reviewing his crew upon boarding a civilian vessel.

  G'Liat nodded to the captain. Ellis shook his head as he examined his comrade. The Rd'dyggian wore a white shirt with tan trousers and a jacket. The clothes seemed like they would be more in place on a human businessman than on a Rd'dyggian warrior. “I'll take you up to the bridge to meet your officers. Then I'll escort you to Ms. Smart."

  "That's Kirsten Smart, the owner's representative?” Ellis looked around noticing the wood trim framing walls painted an off color of white.

  G'Liat nodded once and held out his hand, indicating that Ellis should follow. The captain flung his duffel over his shoulder with ease and walked behind G'Liat as the warrior led the way to the lift. As they walked, two men—one big and burley, the other short and lanky—stepped out of a room. Ellis nodded to the two men. The men nodded and continued walking down the hall. Just as G'Liat and Ellis were about to step into the lift, the ship lurched gently to the side. Dropping the duffel, Ellis had to put his hand on the wall to stabilize himself. “What the hell?” he grumbled.

  "Watch your step,” warned G'Liat. “This being a mapping vessel, we're more sensitive to the structure of space itself. You're used to graviton generators that automatically compensate for these little bumps."

  "I know.” Ellis scowled. “The graviton generating equipment can interfere with the precise operation of the sensor equipment. I guess I'll just have to get my sea legs back."

  * * * *

  The two men, a programmer named Isaac and a cartographer named Quincy, turned in time to see their new captain miss-step.

  "Is that Captain Ellis?” asked Isaac in a hushed voice. He noted Ellis’ blue navy jacket, the epaulet still present, hung askew. He also noted the captain's beard. “A little scruffy to be a captain, don't you think? ‘Spose Kirsten will make him shave off that beard?"

  "He seems like he'd be more at home with sails than EQ generators,” said Quincy. “Could be worse, though. Simon could've gotten the captain's job."

  "Simon, at least, has experience with mapping vessels,” countered Isaac. “Why do I feel like I'm sailing with Captain Ahab?"

  * * * *

  The clean, pale blue walls of the lift impressed Ellis as he and G'Liat rode to the command deck. In fact, the entire ship seemed to have far more color than he was accustomed to from his military days. Though unusual to him, the color did seem to add a level of cheer to the vessel. Ellis wanted to ask G'Liat a dozen questions, but the lift only took a minute to move the four decks from the docking bay to the command level.

  As the doors opened, Ellis gasped. It looked as though one could walk the length of the deck and dive into the oceans of Earth. In fact, as he watched, someone walked out and stood on the North American continent with a wand, writing notes in the “air.” Ellis pursed his lips and shook his head. All he could think of at the moment was a stanza from Emily Dickinson. “And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down—And hit a World, at every plunge,” he said. G'Liat simply inclined his head.

  In front of the hologram was a rounded, U-shaped console. Two women sat at the console. One, dressed in a simple brown jump suit, was deep in conversation with the man standing in the hologram. The other, wearing a loud, floral print dress seemed simply to be daydreaming as she watched the point where the ceiling seemed to flow into the wall. After the initial shock of the realistic hologram, the most jarring thing about this setting was the fact that no one was in uniform. Ellis tugged at his own turtleneck shirt, thinking the lack of uniforms would be the hardest thing for him to adjust to.

  Behind the U-shaped console were two unoccupied chairs. Each had a holographic interface panel. The one on the right was inactive. The left panel had a series of what almost looked to be antique brass knobs and buttons set into a wooden box. “The station on the right,” explained G'Liat, “is yours."

  Captain John Mark Ellis stepped gingerly toward the command station. He let the duffel bag drop out of his hand and reaching out, he grabbed the back of the chair and held on, as though command itself might escape him again. A tear welled up in the corner of his eye. Looking behind, Ellis saw that he and G'Liat had stepped out of one of two tubes that stood in front of a wall. There were two doors, one on either side of the two lift tubes. A third door stood between the lift tubes. G'Liat stepped forward. “Simon,” he called.

  The man standing in the holographic interface finished scribbling notes in the darkness around him, and stepped back toward G'Liat and Ellis. “This is your first mate,” explained G'Liat. “Simon Yermakov, may I present Captain J. Mark Ellis."

  Yermakov sniffed and rubbed his nose on his sleeve. “Good to meet you, Skipper,” said the first mate. He held out his hand and Ellis took it.

  "I'm not sure how much I like being called ‘skipper,'” grumbled Ellis sensing almost instantly that he might be getting off on the wrong foot.

  Yermakov grinned lopsidedly. “I'm sure you'll get used to it.” With that, the first mate shrugged. Yermakov's puffy cheeks and close-cropped hair gave Ellis the impression that he was talking to a squirrel. “If you'll excuse me, Ms. Smart wanted the initial course projection work done within the hour."

  Ellis nodded. “Of course,” he muttered under his breath.

  G'Liat put his massive six-fingered hand on the captain's shoulder and led him to the U-shaped console. The woman in the brown jump suit, stood at attention. Ellis was taken aback, but pleased after Yermakov's lackadaisical greeting. “This is your pilot, Major Laura Peters,” introduced G'Liat.

  "Confederation reserve officer?” guessed Ellis, inclining his head.

  "Yes, sir,” she responded succinctly. “Sir, it is an honor to serve with you. I've read the accounts of your mission to Sufiro.” She was interrupted by the sound of Yermakov clearing his throat. The first mate sniffed, then pointed at one of the stars in the hologram with his wand.

  "You'd better get back to work.” Ellis grinned to himself. He was pleased to have found at least one person on this ship that understood protocol.

  "Natalie,” said G'Liat, gently. The woman in the flower print dress turned and seemed to look through G'Liat.

  "Do you realize just how hard it is to read the mind of a Rd'dyggian, Cap'n Ellis?” she said dreamily. Ellis shook his head, his mouth slightly agape. “Pity, because your mind is even harder to read."

  "This is Natalie Papadraxis.” G'Liat shrugged apologetically. “She's your communicator."

  Ellis reached out to shake her hand, but she shook her head. “You don't want to touch me.” Her voice was quiet, perhaps even a little dangerous. “Skin to skin contact could allow me to read too much of your mind at once."

  The captain looked pleadingly at G'Liat. He had heard of communicators who believed they were psychic, but he had never met one before. He wanted the warrior to tell him that this really wasn't his only source of contact with Earth, and if need be the Cluster. Instead, he looked back at Natalie Papadraxis’ lean face and muttered, “Pleased to make your acquaintance."

  G'Liat patted the captain on the shoulder and gestured toward the doors at the back of the command deck. Ellis followed the warrior toward the lift tubes. “So, do you think this is going to work?” asked Ellis.

  "We can talk in a little bit.” G'Liat looked grim, even for a Rd'dyggian. “First, I'll introduce you to our lord and mistress, Ms. Smart.” The warrior stepped up to the sky-blue door at the right of the lift tube and touched a button that activated a chime. They entered when they heard the muffled “come in” from the other side of the door.

  Entering, they found themselves in a cozy office. Funct
ional gray carpet covered the floor. Sitting at an antique-looking wooden desk was a broad-shouldered woman. Long brown hair tamed with a barrette framed her round face. “I'll be with you in just a moment,” she said. Thick fingers manipulated a portable hologram of stars. “Please be seated."

  Ellis and G'Liat took seats in front of the desk. The chairs were simple wire frame structures with minimal padding in the seats and backs. This contrasted with the plush green chair that Smart occupied. All three chairs were mounted in tracks in the floor. At last she looked up. “Ah, Captain Ellis, just in time,” she said, standing. Her smile was pleasant but guarded. Ellis stood and shook her hand. As he did so, he realized that she was a full foot shorter than he was. Sitting back down, she folded her hands and studied the captain.

  "I presume you've met the crew,” she said, at last. Ellis nodded. “By now you're thinking this is nothing like a military vessel. If that's true, you'd be absolutely correct."

  "It might not be a military crew, but I know enough about corporate mapping vessels to know that they're competent, or you would have fired them.” Ellis rubbed his beard.

  Kirsten Smart scowled slightly. She stood and stepped over to a panel in the wall. Entering a command in the touch pad, she ordered drinks. After a moment, she pulled open a door. She handed cups of coffee to G'Liat and the captain. She reserved a cup of tea for herself. “G'Liat tells me you like that chicory coffee he drinks."

  Ellis glared at the warrior, whose only response was to shrug.

  Smart returned to her seat and sipped her tea for a moment. “It is important that you understand the difference between a military mission and a mapping voyage. You've been told that I represent the owners on this vessel. While true, I am also in charge of cartography and astrometry, which is this ship's primary function. In other words, I command the mission."

  Ellis sipped his coffee. This coffee was much stronger than that G'Liat had made. He wrinkled his nose when he sipped the bitter liquid. Looking over, he noticed that G'Liat had not touched his own cup. At last, the captain looked back at Smart. “In other words, your function is much like that of a commodore or admiral on a Confederate Naval Vessel."

  Smart pondered the comment for a few moments. “That's a fair enough comparison. To be frank, I know very little about commanding ships. That's why you're here.” She put down the teacup and sat forward, folding her hands. “I want to make it perfectly clear that I command the mission. If I order a test, that test will be executed. If I order a jump, this ship had better jump. Likewise, you do not have the authority to take this ship anywhere unless I order it. We are not in the business of rescuing vessels in distress. Is that understood?"

  Ellis took another sip of the bitter coffee and frowned, wondering how much Smart knew of his history. “I'll follow those regulations to the extent that the ship is not endangered."

  Taking a deep breath, Smart sat back. “That's not what the rule book says. I, and only I, will determine when we are in too much danger."

  "I respectfully submit,” said Ellis, sitting forward. “That you just said that you do not know very much about ships. Only I can make the call when we are in danger. In that situation, you had better not countermand my authority."

  Smart nodded. A faint hint of a smile briefly lit her features. “I like a captain who's willing to stand up to me. I suspect that's why Meiji hired you instead of promoting Yermakov.” She picked up her teacup again and took another sip. “Oh, Simon is highly competent. He knows this ship a whole lot better than you, and I expect you to take advantage of that knowledge. But if I told him to take the ship into the heart of Sirius, he'd do it."

  Ellis nodded understanding. Still, something about that last comment contradicted Yermakov's willingness to stand up to him. The captain retrieved the pipe from his coat. “Do you mind?"

  "I mind quite a lot,” said Smart, sharply.

  "I'm sorry to hear that,” said Ellis, taken slightly aback.

  "You could be even more sorry.” Smart rubbed the bridge of her nose. “There are owners’ representatives in the fleet who would have you arrested just for showing them the pipe."

  Ellis’ brow creased. “Tobacco might be illegal on Earth, but it's not in space."

  "Depends on who's interpreting the law, Captain Ellis. TransGalactic regards their ships as Earth territory. Same rules apply here as on planet."

  Ellis peered into the bowl of his pipe. “Is that how you interpret the rules?"

  Smart heaved a deep sigh. “I live by the spirit of the law, not the letter. It's not my place to say what you do to your own body in your cabin. The rest of this ship is off limits. Understood?"

  Ellis put the pipe back unhappily. “Understood."

  "Unlike the military, we do not screen for allergies and that sort of thing. The last thing I want you to do is light up your pipe and put poor Natalie into a coughing fit.” Smart shook her head.

  "Speaking of ‘poor Natalie,'” began Ellis, his brow wrinkled. “How good a communicator is she?"

  "One of the best in the business,” said Smart. “You'll adjust to her thinking communications are psychic. It's more a matter of adjusting your language when you talk to her than anything else."

  An uncomfortable silence fell on the room. At last Smart stood. “If there's nothing else, I have to continue getting ready for the first jump. I plan to depart Earth orbit in forty-eight hours. Please have the ship ready to go."

  "Aye aye, Ms. Smart,” said Ellis as he stood.

  Just as Ellis and G'Liat turned to leave, Smart stopped them. “Oh, Captain, would you please have a word with that McIntosh fellow. Whenever I order my eggs over easy, he cooks the yolks through.” Smart's eyes narrowed, seemingly evaluating the captain.

  "I'll talk to him.” With that G'Liat and Ellis left the room.

  * * * *

  Kirsten Smart watched the doors close behind Ellis and G'Liat. Almost unconsciously, she pulled personnel files up on her holo display. She didn't read any of the text. Instead, she just looked at the faces.

  Simon Yermakov's image was taken before his nose had turned a slight red from almost constant congestion. Natalie's image was clear-eyed, revealing a sharp mind and keen intellect. Kirsten wondered what had happened to make her believe she's psychic. Finally, Kirsten pulled up Laura's image. She shook her head. It was bad enough having one militaristic type aboard without Ellis. The new captain seemed to add insult to injury by wearing the uniform coat with the epaulet. Just the kind of thing to make the crew nervous.

  Kirsten detected a hint of sanity and competence in Ellis despite the beard, the pipe, and the rumpled uniform coat. She hoped that sanity would compensate for any unrest in the crew.

  Kirsten brought up the hologram of Ellis, taken only weeks before. She folded her hand under her chin. “What makes you tick, Captain Ellis?” she asked under her breath.

  * * * *

  The captain took a deep breath when he was back out on the command deck. Looking up at G'Liat, he sighed. “You should probably show me to my quarters."

  "Better than that,” said G'Liat, with an expression that looked like a smile. “I'll show you to your office."

  Ellis’ jaw dropped. “I have an office?"

  "Or a ready room, if you prefer the naval vernacular.” The warrior led the captain to the door on the other side of the lift tubes. On his way by, Ellis retrieved the duffel bag.

  The office was only a little smaller than Smart's. Instead of the more elegant wooden desk, a gray metal desk stood in the middle of the room. The chair behind the desk was the same frame-type that had stood in front of Smart's desk. Still, Ellis grinned. “I've never been aboard a ship big enough for the captain to have a ready room."

  He moved behind the desk and sat down. With slow, deliberate motions, he put his palms down on the desk and took a deep breath, savoring the air. After a moment, he reached over and activated the holographic computer interface.

  "You'll find a complete mission profile.” G
'Liat sat in the chair across from the captain's desk. “I've given you a checklist of the things that Ms. Smart wants the captain to see to personally before the voyage. As she says, though, Simon Yermakov is plenty competent to see to most of the details of the next two days. That'll give you some time to settle in."

  Ellis pursed his lips. “Would Yermakov have command if I hadn't stuck my nose into this job?"

  "He was up for it.” G'Liat's Rd'dyggian accent slipped somewhat, giving the statement a certain pragmatic tone. “Ms. Smart was telling the truth when she said she didn't want him as captain, though. She was glad when she heard an experienced Navy commander was hired for the job."

  Shaking his head, Ellis sat back in the chair. “I'm more worried about how well Yermakov will take my orders.” The captain stood and began pacing the room. “Even that's minor compared with questions about how we're going to find the Cluster. It's not like we can take this ship wherever we want."

  G'Liat folded his six-fingered hands in a surprisingly human-looking gesture. “If you had your own ship to take where you wanted, where would you go?"

  "I'd study the records of Cluster appearances and find out where it had appeared most often. I'd go there,” said Ellis, gesturing with his hands.

  "I've studied those records.” The warrior's mustache wiggled. “There is no such place. The appearances are truly random."

  "That being the case, I guess I'd make a random survey of as many systems as I could get to.” Ellis folded his arms tightly.

  "And you'd spend your family's fortune twice over in fuel.” The warrior stood, towering over the captain. “This ship is going to make that survey. We might find the Cluster or we might not. The key, my friend, is patience.” G'Liat moved toward the door. “For now, I'd recommend doing what you need to get the ship ready for the voyage. That is the way of the warrior. We'll talk about the Cluster more once we're underway.” With that, G'Liat began to step out.