A Greater Interest: Samair in Argos: Book 4

by Michael Kotcher

  The other was Nasir, the ship’s AI. He appeared on the office’s holo pad, in the guise of a handsome lupusan dressed in a company shipsuit with the logo of the galactic spiral over his right breast. Instead of leggings, however, he had on a knee-length kilt, to accommodate his tail. This was a piece of clothing that all lupusan used, so he didn’t look out of place.

  “So, Tamara, can we know why you have called this meeting?” Nasir asked, curiously. “It isn’t as though the crews and engineering teams don’t have things to do to get the ship’s systems up and running.”

  “Or to rebuild the tank farm,” Kay’grax put in.

  Tamara nodded. “I know you’re both busy, but we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us in the coming months. All of us.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the zheen said.

  “But it was the attack on the Kutok mine using the asteroid that really got me concerned,” Tamara told them, crossing her arms over her chest. “If Persistence of Vision and Leader Korqath’s fighter squadrons hadn’t been in position to do something about it, we could have lost the mine, the fuel and all the personnel down there. It would have been a crippling blow to the system, not to mention the company.”

  “And you have a plan.” The Ai wasn’t asking a question.

  “I do. And I don’t remember ever hearing about it, it’s going to be expensive and labor intensive, but when it’s up and running, it’s going to be brilliant.” She nodded again. “We’re going to build a shield.”

  Kay’grax waggled his antennae in approval. “That is a good idea, ma’am. Install many more shield generators in the Kutok mine, that should protect them from all sorts of damage.”

  “Well, it wasn’t what I had in mind, Kay’grax, but that is a good idea. I’ll have Tiyaana assign some of her engineering teams to the task once the processing and refining sectors are back online. There will be some power concerns…” She waved her hands in dismissal. “That’s something that they can worry about. I’ll tell them to do it; I don’t need to tell them how. I’m sure they’ll be able to get it done. No,” she went on. “I was thinking something a bit more literal. Like what a medieval warrior would carry to protect from incoming arrows.”

  Nasir flicked his ears and crossed his own arms in thought. “I’m assuming you’re talking about something heavy duty, especially if you expect it to be able to stop a kinetic strike.”

  “Well, a near c impact isn’t going to be something that it would be able to stop, even if it did have energy shields,” Tamara admitted. “The amount of kinetic energy would be too great to simply stop it. Here’s what I’m proposing.” She pressed a control on the desk and the small holo projector activated over the desk and a disc appeared. “We’re going to take one of the larger asteroids out in the belt, one that is composed primarily of nickel-iron. We’re going to melt it down.”

  “And spin it up like we did with the shipyard?” Kay’grax guessed. “Make a big nickel-iron disc that’s thick enough to defend against a big rock, like the ones the pirates threw at the Kutok mine.”

  “Close,” Tamara replied. “It’s going to be a lot more impressive than that. When the metal has been heated and molten, we’re going to mix in the components to create steel.”

  “Steel?” Nasir asked. “Wouldn’t it be easier just to use the nickel-iron?”

  “It would. But comparatively, nickel-iron is a softer metal and I want this shield to be able to withstand some hits. We might do more to enhance the armor later, but for now, steel. Once it’s ready, we’ll spin it up and we’ll have a nice big cover for the Kutok mine.”

  “How big are you thinking, ma’am?” the zheen engineer asked. “A kilometer?”

  Tamara shook her head, smiling. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of fifteen and eighteen kilometers in diameter. And between three-quarters to a full kilometer in thickness.”

  The AI barked a laugh, and the zheen’s mandibles clacked. “That’s crazy, Ma’am, if you’ll forgive me,” Kay’grax exclaimed. “An eighteen kilometer shield?”

  “Yes. I want something that can take a hit and shrug off conventional weapons fire,” she explained. “And if it’s wide enough, it would force an attacker to have to fly around it to attack the mine. The shield would be in geosynchronous orbit over the Kutok mine, we’ll put in stabilizing and directional thrusters on the underside of it to keep it from falling into the atmosphere.”

  “Okay, ma’am, I can sort of see how this is going to work,” Nasir put in. “But just having a big steel plate hovering over the mine? Seems like a big waste of time and resources.”

  “Well, there’s more to it.” Tamara pressed another control. “I want this thing to be bristling with weapons: turbolasers, heavy laser batteries, missile launchers, the works. I’m also going to install a trio of big mass drivers to deflect any incoming kinetic projectiles that we see coming. I’m going to put in a large sensor net, and put up a few more satellites to make sure that we can see any incoming projectiles. Eventually, we’re going to make some more improvements, adding in shield generators and some increased armor to the topside.”

  “I’m seeing the defensive possibilities, Tamara,” Nasir said, considering. “But it sounds like a huge money pit. I can’t figure that you’d get more than a pittance in loans to pay for all of this. The council is not going to authorize this, no matter how you try and spin it, no matter how good an idea it is.”

  “Then FP will pay for a good portion out of pocket,” she said. “We’ve been operating well in the black for months now, and that should give us what we need to at least get it started. But,” and she raised a finger, “I’ve thought about that.”

  “You’ve only been talking about the topside,” Kay’grax guessed.

  “Correct. I’m thinking that on the underside, facing the planet, we construct a habitat.” She looked to her audience. “What? There’s been talk of building an orbital station out here ever since we got the Kutok mine up and running. The mine itself is pretty spartan and we’ve really only had the workers coming here. If we’ve got the station in orbit under a heavy armored shell, with a great view of the gas giant, we can get people to come out here. It will also make it a lot easier to build up that mining concern on the moon we’ve been looking into.”

  “So we’re going to put aside the mining base on the moon in exchange for this… shield?” Nasir asked.

  “We’re not putting anything aside,” Tamara said firmly. “The work on the base will be done alongside the other companies. But we will continue working on the shield at the same time. As it is, there’s going to be quite a lag between when we harvest the rock out of the belt to when the shield is spun up and cooled.”

  “Approximately six months,” Nasir put in.

  “That’s about right. Which means that while we’re waiting for that to happen, we can be working on the base and the mining station and the hundred other projects that we’re going to have.”

  “Hundred other projects, ma’am?” Kay’grax asked, his voice sounding small.

  She grinned ferociously. “Why, Supervisor Kay’grax, we’re going to be building defenses. Ships, guns and weapons. We’re going to make this system one that no one will ever want to get into without permission. Some of those will be to expand our commercial fleet.” When Kay’grax’s antennae whirled, she answered. “Someone’s got to pay for all this and I think that the arrival of a pirate fleet will scare the shit out of the citizens and make the council members start scrambling around trying to calm them down. Which means we have a very short window for getting contracts for building warships for the government. Once the Leytonstone and her escorts get back, people are going to start feeling complacent again. Which is why we have to keep the heat on and push hard now.”

  Nasir nodded. “Makes sense. And you’re right. If the past is any indication, there will be some token effort to calm things down and once the battlecruiser returns, people will start to forget. Especially if there was no appreciable change in the
status quo.”

  Tamara smirked. “Which there will be. I plan to make sure that the pressure stays on. Verrikoth or one of his cronies will be back this way eventually and we can’t rely that the battlecruiser is going to be in exactly the right place to help out next time.” She grimaced. “They weren’t this past time.” Then she shook her head, clearing away those bitter thoughts. “There wasn’t anything to be done about that. A hand had to be extended to Ulla-tran; we’re going to need their trade and if possible, their industry.”

  “Their industry?” Kay’grax gasped, buzzing.

  Tamara smiled slightly. “Yes, Kay’grax. Their industry. We didn’t really get a good chance to look at it when we were there two years ago on the Grania Estelle, and I know that you and Frederick Vosteros were a little distracted by the whole getting abducted by the people on the fueling station.”

  “And then we all got really distracted when we met up with Verrikoth’s pirate fleet the first time,” the zheen replied, sounding disgusted. “Not something I need to ever experience again. I don’t need that kind of distraction again. Hell, getting shot at aboard this ship was bad enough. We just got lucky the pirates were feeling generous.”

  “They didn’t stop and finish us off,” Nasir said.

  “They didn’t need to stop,” Kay’grax retorted. “Another salvo would have done the job, even at the speed they were traveling. It wasn’t as though we could have evaded or even defended against them.” He sounded bitter, though it was completely justifiable.

  “All right,” Tamara said. “First things first. The Samarkand. How long until the ship is back up and running again?”

  The zheen buzzed. “Probably two weeks for a proper shakedown. But we’re going to need to get some new crew and work teams. We’ve lost…” He was suddenly overcome with emotion and he stopped speaking, turning his head away from where Tamara was sitting. He could still see her, of course, with his huge compound eyes, but the meaning of the gesture was clear. He seemed to compose himself, but he didn’t turn back. He was zheen, not human and as such, he didn’t tear up, nor did he get choked up like a human would, but he was emitting a light buzzing noise. “We’ve lost a lot of people… friends.”

  Tamara nodded in sympathy. “Yes we did. Nasir here is going to be getting an upgrade, if that’s all right with you.”

  The wolf nodded. “Of course.” He grinned. “I relish the challenge, actually. When the ship took the hits, a lot of my control lines were severed. But the crew, and you, Tamara, did a good job of getting things restored. I’d be happy to get a new crop of constructor bots. I’m actually quite keen on getting my subsystems back online. I’ve only got six bots currently operational and those are all tied up with the conduits, but we’re finally getting the whole power situation sorted out. Yes, I’d say that two weeks is a good estimate, Tamara.”

  “Thank you, Nasir. Keep up the good work. And I will get you those bots,” she promised. “Getting another engineering crew is going to be a bit harder, but I will work on that. I think for a short while, it’s going to be difficult to get recruits.” She sighed. “Probably have to throw some credits at the problem. We’ll see. But you two have some work to do. I have a call to make.”

  ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~

  “Captain Greer, welcome to the Kutok mine,” Tamara said in greeting, to the man on her display. She was seated back at her desk aboard Moxie-2, not wanting to monopolize the office on the Samarkand. “I have to tell you, we’re all very glad to see you and your ships out this way.”

  The man gave a contemptuous sneer. “Yes, quite. I’m sure you all are, though I think you need to teach your Captain Raydor the meaning of respect for his superiors.”

  “He does have proper respect for his superiors, Captain Greer,” Tamara said. “He’s only been with the company for a few months, but I’ve never had any problems with him. I’m sorry if he offended you. In his defense, however, there has just been a large amount of fighting out here. It can take its toll.”

  “Hmph,” the man replied, grimacing. Then he straightened. “Well, on that note then, I will be redeploying the military assets in this area.”

  Tamara hid a scowl. It seemed that Wotan hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said that this blowhard was trying to take control. “I see. And by military assets, you of course mean only your own three ships, correct? The Seylonique Navy ships?”

  Greer let out an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, dear, Miss Samair. Clearly you’re going to have to teach your subordinates the meaning of efficiency as well. I thought you would have been informed.” She feigned a look of incomprehension and he misinterpreted that and pounced. “No, Miss Samair, I’m going to be taking command of all military assets, by that I mean warships and fighters.”

  “You mean?” Tamara asked, her voice smoothing out a bit. “I’m afraid there’s some sort of issue with these orders and with your interpretation of them, Captain. My ships, all of my ships are independent security forces, not military vessels.”

  “You have the same military vessels that the Navy does,” the man pointed out. “So the difference is immaterial.”

  “No, Captain, you’re incorrect,” the Chief of Operations replied. “You’re incorrect in thinking that I am going to cede authority of any of my ships over to you or to anyone else. My people have done excellent work and have fought hard. I am not going to then tell them that they have to take orders from someone who, frankly, has never put himself or his ship on the line for his world or his people.”

  “How dare…” the man spluttered, completely losing his air of contempt and disdain, his face turning purple.

  “How dare I?” Tamara demanded, clenching a fist. “You were sent here to assist in the defense of the area, Captain. And yes,” she said, holding up a hand, “I know exactly what those orders say. But if you think you’re going to waltz in here and tell me what to do, you are sorely mistaken.”

  “You will do as you are told,” he said, his voice raising an octave as his fury rose at her gumption.

  “As I’m told?” she said with a laugh. “Captain, you are in my area of space right now. You do not want to push me here.”

  Greer just stared at the screen and was about to reply when his XO cleared her throat. He stabbed the button to hold the transmission and a “hold” screen replaced Tamara Samair’s face. “What?” he demanded of the woman.

  “Sir,” the woman replied, looking nervous. She hesitated.

  “Well, Duchesnse, spit it out!”

  The woman flinched. “I’m sorry, sir. But I’m slightly concerned about our odds here.”

  “Our odds?” Greer demanded. “We’ve a three to two advantage over them!”

  “Even if that’s true, sir,” Duchesne replied, trying to fight through her anxiety of speaking so publicly, “I’m not sure that we can afford to fight them. Or rather, fight them and take any serious damage. The Navy is pretty short handed, and if we lose these ships, or even if they’re laid up for repairs, we’re going to have a serious problem.”

  Greer growled in frustration. Damn her, but she was right. While the council would certainly be happy to see FP’s ship’s take another hit, they would not be happy to see their own Navy vessels get damaged or destroyed to do it.

  “They cannot stand against us,” he said after a moment, his voice suddenly more calm. “We hold the advantage over them,” he repeated, trying to convince her, convince himself.

  “Not a great one, Captain,” Duchesne said, her voice soft. “We have only one more corvette than they do. Their destroyer can match this ship. One twist of fate and suddenly we’re the ones who are in trouble. And…” She broke off again, flushing.

  “What…?” he asked, his voice almost a croak.

  She swallowed hard and then looked up at him. “Well, sir, it’s just that their ships have faced down that pirate flotilla. We… Well, we haven’t. We’ve been training, involved in the exercises…”

  “Yes, yes we have!” Greer barked. “And
we’ve been scoring in the top twenty-five percent every time.”

  “Yes, sir,” Duchesne replied, nodding with pride. “But… it’s just been one drill or exercise every two weeks. These people here have been through a battle. A proper battle with a real foe. I’m concerned that they’ve got the real world experience that our crews can’t match.”

  “Hmmm,” he said, considering. “I hadn’t thought of that. All right, you’ve convinced me. We’ll play nice for now. But when the Leytonstone comes back, I’m going to petition both the council and Colonel Gants to step in and take a firmer hand.” He was actually sounding relieved, as though his XO had given him an out he had been desperately seeking, but his ego and bravado wouldn’t allow him to back down. His eyes sharpened, hardening as he thought about the implications.

  He gritted his teeth, then blanked his face and pressed the control again, restoring the connection. “Miss Samair, I apologize for my earlier comments. I will not press the issue, but I will be retaining commands of the SSN vessels currently out here.”

  Tamara hesitated for a long moment then she nodded. “Understood, Captain. I appreciate how difficult this situation is, and I do understand about orders. I was a Navy woman myself, a long time ago.”

  Greer’s eyebrows constricted as he frowned. “Navy woman? Here in Seylonique? I’d have heard of you.”

  She chuckled. “No, Captain, not with Seylonique. And it was a very long time ago. No, I’ll send off a message to Triarch Kozen’ck later, seeing if he could clarify the situation.”

  Aloicius Greer blinked in surprise. “You have a comm line directly to the Triarch?”

  She smiled impishly. “Of course, Captain. Don’t you?”

  “Well, I’m certainly glad to see you alive, Tamara,” Triarch Kozen’ck said, in a communiqué he sent back. Because of the light speed lag, any conversations from the gas giant and its environs to the main orbital station were one way. There were no easy answers or quick fixes to be had here. There was no faster than light communication, sadly, or if there was, it wasn’t available here in Seylonique, even with the Republic replicator technology. It made communication rather annoying, since one would have to wait hours for a response to a message one sent, but it couldn’t be helped.