Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane

by Chris Hechtl

  “We can do it,” Meia said. “It's broken down into sections. We just take it one step at a time,” she said. “And you and I know we can do launch and recovery. We've both flown shuttles before. Not a problem.”

  “A fighter is a hot stick. It's fast and highly maneuverable. Also, after flying for dozens, possibly hundreds of hours, you are a wreck and still need to land.”

  “I see. So that is why the physical fitness bit.”

  “You two will need to regain muscle mass. I do admit, you ladies are better fighter pilots than some men. You have a more analytical mind.”

  “Thanks,” Meia said dryly. “I think.”

  “Look that over. And the Oath. Sprite, if you could give them some background on carrier OPS and fighter jocks too?”

  “Already done,” Sprite said from the overhead. “And I took the liberty of throwing in some bits about carrier life as well Admiral,” she said.

  “Very well,” Irons said with a nod. “You'll work with an AI when we can get one for each of you.”

  “Our own AI?” Dita asked, sounding excited.

  “Dumb AI for the fighters. Not a full ship AI, a bare AI. But enough to copilot and do some basic functions for you while you focus on the larger picture,” Sprite replied.

  “Good,” the Admiral said when Meia nodded.

  “Don't get too hooked on the fighters though. They are fun, but exhausting to fly. I want you two to think of the larger picture when you have time. I think you two can handle it.”

  “We can try sir,” Meia said.

  “Yes,” the Admiral nodded. “You'd make a good wing leader or even a carrier Captain,” he said. She had poise and looked like she didn't back down from a fight. From her bio she had been both a pilot and security officer.

  Her eyes had widened at that idea. “Are you serious sir?”

  “As a heart attack. We're building ships in Pyrax. I plan on building a lot more. Think about it.”

  Meia looked at Dita and then nodded slightly. The Admiral stared at them, studying them for a hint of weakness. Part of him said they weren't ready, but he had to give them a chance. Not only would turning them away crush them, he, well, they simply needed someone in the cockpits. And at least they had shown the balls and initiative to come to him. That alone said a lot to him. “I'll see you tomorrow?” he asked. Meia nodded.

  “Very well then.”

  “I've scheduled the appointment sir,” Sprite said. “And put a reminder in their in boxes.”

  “Say good bye to your free time. You are going to bust your tails. But I think you'll like fighters,” the Admiral said with a smile. Both ladies straightened and nodded. The Admiral returned the nod.

  “Thank you for the opportunity to try sir,” Meia said.

  “Yes, thanks,” Dita said softly. “We won't let you down sir,” she said.

  “Right,” the Admiral replied as the two left. He turned to a tech patiently waiting. “And next,” he said, smiling politely.

  “You know that's going to hit the ship's grapevine,” Sprite said to him.

  “True.”

  <----*----*----*---->

  “Funny,” Sprite said as the Admiral read a report. He grunted in response.

  “I said funny,” Sprite said.

  “I heard you the first time,” he replied mildly, still going over the food consumables. He still didn't like what he was seeing. They had taken his surviving plants and extra seeds and had planted them in what soil they had, but it would be weeks before they grew anything. They did get a few people to perk up in interest. He'd turned over the task to a couple of green thumbs in the crew.

  “You're supposed to ask about what,” Sprite said, sounding amused.

  “I'm a bit busy here,” he said. He scrolled down.

  “And I can tell you need a break. Reading logistics spread sheets was never your strong suit Admiral,” Sprite said. “And I did make a curious connection.”

  “Oh?”

  “Meia.”

  “What about her?” The Admiral asked.

  “Doesn't she look a bit... familiar?” she asked.

  The Admiral frowned and then looked up. “Now that you mention it, yes. But I've never been great with names and faces Sprite, that's why I have you, remember?”

  “Cute,” the AI replied. “Wait, you meant that?” she demanded. He merely smiled. “Oh funny, ha ha.”

  “You said funny,” he teased. He set the tablet down. “What's on your mind?”

  “Well...” Sprite put an image of Meia up, and then another one.

  “So...” The Admiral looked at them. The outfits were different, that much was obvious. They both had a taste for silver though, and they both had similar hair and eyes... The eyes sent a jolt through him. He knew her! She was the adopted granddaughter of the Captain of Io 11, the Security Chief! “Wait... her?” he demanded, sitting up straight. "I thought her name was Emily?"

  “Her. Or a relative. Or it could be a horrible coincidence,” Sprite said as she did a facial analysis. The maps lined up almost perfectly. They were almost twins, or something else. “Her full name by the way, is Emily Meia. Strange coincidence don't you think? I'm finding a lot of that going on in this situation. I am curious to find out. I did a background on the young lady during her interview. She didn't sign on until Dita agreed to do so by the way.”

  The Admiral frowned and then shrugged. He'd take them either way at this point. “So...”

  “She doesn't know her history. Only that her bio parents abandoned her and she was adopted on her ship.”

  The Admiral blinked in confusion and then sat back. “Oh.”

  “Yes. I unfortunately do not have access to her genetic profile, nor the security Chief’s. But there is also something else, both are named Meia.”

  “I... didn't know that. I always called her Chief,” the Admiral said thoughtfully. “Interesting,” he said, rubbing his chin.

  “Isn't it strange how things come to be? Fascinating really. A puzzle. I've made a note to look into it further.”

  “Yes, I remember how you hate not knowing something,” the Admiral said.

  “It's an AI thing,” Sprite replied with a shrug in her voice. He nodded.

  "Admiral, do you regret not sending a load with Io 11?"

  "At the time... no. They weren't headed to Pyrax, at least not for a year or more. They were headed back to their hiding spot in B448c, and then North to Antigua to start the western loop. They wouldn't have been back in the vicinity of Pyrax for at least a year, possibly longer.

  "True," the AI replied thoughtfully. "Though, if we had given them sufficient incentive..."

  "Which we didn't have at the time remember?" he asked pointedly. "We didn't have the raw materials, they did. The only thing we had were the code keys to make things. I suppose I might have gotten something out of them, but it wouldn't have been much. Not enough for the captain to change her course."

  "True."

  “Anything else?”

  “No, that was it. Situation normal.”

  “Very well,” the Admiral said, picking up the tablet again. “Carry on,” he said with a dismissive nod. Sprite smirked on his HUD and then disappeared.

  Chapter 18

  Once everything including wiring was stripped off, the first of the derelict ships was cut up. For those not of her crew, it was a sobering process. For her surviving former crew, it was a gut wrenching and tearful process.

  The chewed up gutted ship was fed to the new molecular furnace. From there, the processed material was either stored in plastic staging tanks or improvised containers, or passed on immediately as material for the replicators to restore Bounty, Phoenix, Le More, and Deianira. In that order. Hoshi didn't like her ship's place in the order, but didn't make more than a pro forma complaint.

  Through the process of rebuilding and restoring Bounty, Irons made some design changes. Some were minor upgrades, others were something else entirely.

  “Why?” Sindri asked a
s he looked over the blueprints. He noted and approved of the improvements to the computer network, shields and weapons, but some of the changes were confusing. To the sublight engines for one.

  “Why not? There is always room for improvement.”

  “But, that's slowing us down sir,” Sindri replied. He was still getting a handle on his implants. The educational system alone took some getting used to. Also having knowledge right there when he needed it. The medical team had offered to use the nanites to enhance his height, but it would have sidelined him for up to a month so he had politely declined, at least for the foreseeable future.

  “True,” the Admiral said, but then smiled wolfishly. “Think about it this way. You remember what this ship's specs were before right?”

  “Aye,” Sindri drawled.

  “And the enemy knows them too. So when we have extra's, it's going to come as a surprise right?”

  “Aye!” Sindri growled, grinning in delight.

  “Good man,” the Admiral replied with a nod of approval.

  Everyone worked full out. Implant education and implant med tech helped keep exhaustion at bay for those who had it. Some quipped that they now worked harder than under the pirate's. There was general agreement over that, but all understood the time crunch they labored under.

  Doctor Hasad was a general practitioner, once the AI cleared him to return to duty he signed on. The medical team reluctantly accepted him. He wasn't good with the fine surgery, and no one trusted him with the project so he was limited in what he could do. Reluctantly Doctor Glenn passed on the day to day monitoring of the crew's health to him so he could focus more fully on the implant procedures. Doctor Hasad put up with the cold disdain from the crew.

  Sprite, Bounty, and the Admiral hosted the occasional class on how to get things done. When a few people complained about the work load, Sprite turned on them with a simple statement.

  “With freedom comes responsibilities,” Sprite said. “The price for freedom is ever vigilance. I for one do not ever want to see this happen again. To us or to anyone else. So we have to be ready. We will be ready.”

  Those in her class nodded over her wise statement. Those that complained refocused their efforts.

  Some of the crew were still adjusting to the AIs on board. Some still have a sense of giddy wonder while talking with the AI. That helped to get them to pay attention to the lessons sometimes, they listened with a burning intensity. Sometimes that was an effort to get it right the first time, sometimes it was pure stubborn will or fear of failure. With regular interaction those that were overawed quickly got over their awe and accept the AI as people.

  <----*----*----*---->

  Most of the other probationers as the turncoats were called, were put on menial tasks or make work. None were given the chance to sign on with the military. They were quiet and reserved, quick to do as they were told, but slow to do the task sometimes. The AIs watched them with bots. They ate alone in the mess. The group was broken into different shifts and the AIs made certain they knew they were being watched at all times. When they were off shift they were returned to their quarters.

  <----*----*----*---->

  Two weeks before the scheduled arrival of the convoy they finished Anderson's recycling and turned their attention to Jaw-te's. The wreck massed about a hundred thousand tons, ten percent smaller than Anderson. She had also been picked over rather thoroughly by the Horathians so the survey crew made short work of their task before clearing her for her final salvage.

  The Admiral turned supervising of the salvage operation over to Ian. Kinja had formally moved in with Hoshi as her Chief engineer on Le More, though word was that the two had rather spectacular disagreements from time to time.

  Some of the material they couldn't use. Hundreds of tons of excess titanium, aluminum, iron, copper, tin, and other material were stockpiled. So were parts from the engines. The reactors had been carted off by the Horathians months ago. The ship's fuel had been drained. Her tanks were cut free and then added to the growing tank farm.

  While the crew labored on the salvage project the Admiral turned his attention to Phoenix and the fusion reactors and hyperdrives of each of the ships they were restoring. It took the better part of a day to get Phoenix's reactor and remaining systems online and functional.

  Bounty received a new reactor core, with two proper back up reactors. The crew was understandably nervous while the swap took place, if anything went wrong they would be in deep trouble. There was a horrible sense of vulnerability and quite a bit of second guessing the decision as the process started. Some wanted to rush the process, but Sindri, the AIs, and the Admiral dragged them back to the procedures, having them walk through the removal and install step by step. When it was completed and the new reactor was online they all sighed a collective sigh of relief.

  Hoshi refused a new reactor core for the Le More, but she did accept a rebuild of her hyperdrive. The Admiral finished the project in between supervising the reactivation of the ship's fusion reactor and helping Sisko rebuild the life support system.

  Once Le More was online and functioning as a ship once more, half of the civilians transferred to her. Others agitated to finish rebuilding Deianira, sometimes suggesting the projecting on Bounty could wait. Their crew mates would intervene, sometimes entering shouting matches with them telling them reminding them that they were on borrowed time.

  Once the life support systems on Le More were online and stable, Sisko worked with Raoul to overhaul the systems on Deianira. “One of the best things is, with no one on the ship we can flush her out, get all the smells out. All the stinks and crap.”

  “So they can create new ones,” Raoul said.

  “So not helping,” Jake sighed.

  Just before they vented the ship to space they found an anomaly in the system. Jake was pressed for time and wanted to just flush the system but Raoul chose to investigate.

  He took a cutter and cut into a duct. He heard scampering inside. “Ah, we've got ourselves a stow away here,” he reported.

  “A what?”

  “How could that be?” Gustov asked. “I'm sending a team,” he said.

  “Hold on. I don't think it's a threat,” Raoul said. He carefully peeled the duct back and then stuck his head in. Terrified goat eyes stared at him. His eyes adjusted enough to see in the dark with his implants. He could see an elf, a child in a fetal position trapped in a corner.

  “Please don't hurt me,” the little voice said.

  “Hey, I'm not the bad guys,” Raoul said. “And be glad I found you. We were about to vent the ship. Why don't you come out of there. Is it just you?”

  The small body didn't move.

  “Hey come on,” he said. “It's okay. I'm not a Horathian. Honest.”

  “You're a human. Humans are bad. You killed my family!”

  “Look, that wasn't me,” Raoul said. He sighed when the alien suddenly got up and jumped over his head and further into the system. “Shit wait! Come back! Damn it all,” he grumbled, struggling to get down. “Now what the frack do we do??” he demanded.

  <----*----*----*---->

  The Admiral watched the footage from Raoul's implants and closed his eyes. “To have lived so long, over what a year? In the ducts? Alone?”

  “Didn't anyone notice her?”

  “Apparently not. She did a damn good job of hiding. I checked after she left. That was her nest, her hidey hole. She had MRE's and a tiny battery operated light there. A suit too.”

  “All that?”

  “She must have had help putting it there. Or she dragged it in one piece at a time,” Ian said. “Do we have anyone who knows her? I don't. I remember a family of elves, but I don't remember a female like that.” He grimaced. “And I distinctly remember their deaths.” He closed his eyes in pain. “Remember it too well,” he said quietly.

  A few in the room nodded or grimaced at that.

  “She's aged. At least a year,” Sprite said. “Some species age differ
ently. Elves mature fast like humans when they hit puberty. They can go through a growth spurt and develop quickly.”

  “Oh.”

  “So, what do we do?”

  “We could try coaxing her out. In fact I've got Jake and people trying to do that now. Unfortunately a few are rough, they banged on the ducts.”

  “Scaring her.”

  “Yes. They want her out to move on with the project,” Raoul said. “I can't blame them,” he said, shaking his head.

  “True. But we need to tread carefully, we don't know what she's been through. Other than that her family was killed by the Horathians,” Sprite said. She turned to the Admiral. “Admiral, send me in with a micro robot.”

  “You?”

  “Commander...”

  “Hold up. I'm talking about a custom job. One with a holo projector. I'll talk her out,” Sprite said.

  “Okay,” Irons said with a nod. “We'll try it your way. Until then,” he turned to Raoul. “Eliminate where she isn't and work in those areas. That should cut her off.”

  “Box her. She'll feel trapped,” Sprite protested. “You're making my job harder.”

  “You always liked a challenge,” the Admiral returned with a smirk. “Good luck Commander, get it done. A little girl is depending on it.

  Sprite paused blinking and then nodded sobered.

  <----*----*----*---->

  Sprite moved the tiny robot through the duct, trying to avoid the occasional tangle of wires, debris, ripped metal, or cobwebs. It was slow going, but she was making progress. They had boxed the elf into a branch of systems, all of which were dead ends. She would either have to exit the life support system to double back, or she'd have to get past the robot. Even if she did the workers were moving behind her, taking the system apart. Soon there would be no place to go, and only the electrical trunks to hide in.

  “That's a perky thought,” Sprite said out loud.

  “Something Commander?” Irons replied.

  “No, just picking up some of your bad habits and talking to myself,” Sprite replied. “I don't like the quiet.”

  “Keep with it,” the Admiral said.