"Does anybody besides me think that we maybe ought to question those prisoners, now?" asked the Commander.
"I was thinking the same thing," replied the Ambassador, "I'll have them brought in." He nodded to the guard nearest the door, who saluted smartly and left for the brig to retrieve the prisoners.
At the guard was leaving, the Istanbul's doctor came into the room.
"You said you had need of my services, Excellency?"
"Have you gotten the wounded squared away?"
"My staff is preparing some of the most seriously injured for further attention. I have perhaps a half hour or so before I need to get back to the sickbay."
"Very good, Doctor," said the Ambassador, "We won't keep you any longer than we need to.”
Chapter 12.
Individuals who practice the mysterious art of Truthseeing have always been extraordinarily rare. Only about five people a year -- out of thousands you make the attempt -- are able to master the extraordinarily difficult techniques and earn the title of first level adept. The tradition was started sometime in the late twenty-first century when the technology necessary for the development of the Truthseer sensor net finally became available.
There are many common misconceptions surrounding the profession. The Truthseer sensor net has been referred to as "the most sophisticated lie detection system ever developed." More accurately, the sensor net allows the adept to obtain physiological information about the individual or individuals who are being examined. This information is used to augment both innate abilities and abilities that the adept has developed during a rigorous training regime..."
Hartwell Wrist Comp reference note highlighted for further review by Tamara Carlisle. Excerpt is from "Lie Detectors Throughout the Centuries" by Edith Falcone, District Court Judge (ret.), Santana Quadrant.
UTFN Reclamation Center, on board Meridian Imperial Diplomatic Ship Istanbul, January 2, 2599.
The combined command staff of the Junkyard Dogs decided to question the enlisted men among the prisoners before they interrogated the officer. The enlisted men, while they were not expected to be well-informed about what their leaders were planning, might inadvertently drop information that could prove to be useful when they got around to questioning the officer.
The Scrapyard team set up an interrogation room on the Istanbul and placed the Ambassador's wife, Sondia -- who was also a renowned and respected Truthseer -- at the foot of the table wearing one of her more obvious Truthseer net devices. The prisoners were brought in one at a time and submitted to questioning. As expected, the four enlisted men, three from one of the enemy destroyers and one from a different ship, really didn't have much useful information. Two of the men professed that they had not even been aware that their ship had defected to the Sheik of Barsoom's revolution. Sondia Saladin was able to verify that these men were telling the truth and when they vowed allegiance to the legitimate, democratic government of Jasmine, they were released. Almost as expected, the only one of the prisoners that had any useful information was the bridge officer.
His interview proceeded quite a bit differently.
The officer was ushered in to the interrogation room under guard. He was a young man with an attitude best described as both belligerent and condescending. Fortunately, he also turned out to be cocky enough that he was unintentionally helpful. As he was ushered into the interrogation room, he wore a sneer. He took a look at Sondia at the foot of the table with her truthseer net on and sniffed in disgust.
"I'm not sure you can handle the truth, Mr. Ambassador," said the young officer.
"Please have a seat, Lieutenant," said the diplomat from his chair across the table.
"I demand that you release me into the custody of the Jasmine authorities at once!" the captive announced, "I have done nothing wrong and am being illegally held. That cursed Federation ship attacked us first."
From the foot of the table a strong, calm woman's voice said, "Those last two statements are both lies! Perhaps you would care to rephrase your answers, Lieutenant?"
The young man said something in Arabic that brought the Ambassador out of his chair with his arm cocked and ready to deliver a blow to the arrogant young man.
"You will keep a civil tongue in your head, or by the heavens, I'll Space you myself!" said the Ambassador. Kresge was mildly shocked; he had never seen the diplomat so angry. "Keep in mind that you have been detained as a terrorist, young man. That basically means that you are denied any rights you might normally have been able to count upon!"
"Hold, Saad," said Sondia, almost gently, "He is but a young fool and he is far more afraid than he is letting on. Perhaps because, deep down, he truly feels as though he has made some serious mistakes?"
The young man glared at her but did not respond verbally.
"We will not harm you, if you provide us with the information we are seeking," said the Ambassador.
"Long live the Sheik of Barsoom! You will all die! I will celebrate on your graves!"
Ambassador Saladin turned to the Istanbul's doctor, who was leaning against one wall of the room and up till now had simply been observing.
"I've had quite enough of this travesty," said the Ambassador, "administer the interrogation drugs, Doctor, we have need of this young fool's information."
The doctor gave the prisoner an injection. The young officer glared balefully at him while the drugs were being administered but had no choice but to submit to the procedure. After about thirty seconds, the prisoner began to visibly relax and within a few minutes the young man was pliant and providing answers for any question that he was asked. He could not be blamed for adding some of his own commentary; the drugs provided a path to what the prisoner knew but they did not block access to his true feelings.
"Do you know what the Sheik of Barsoom's immediate plans are?"
"He will be putting together an insurmountable force and eradicating this accursed Scrapyard as a threat forever!"
"You are saying that another attack on this system is imminent?" asked the Ambassador.
"We were informed by the Captain of the Cheetah that such a glorious attack will soon occur," said the young officer.
"When?"
"It will occur within the next two to three days, as soon as enough ships have gathered."
Kresge and the Ambassador looked at one another as the implications of what they were hearing began to sink in.
"How many ships?"
"Eight? Ten? I do not know the number for certain. We intend to put together a force consisting of destroyers and there will also be troop transports with boarders in full battle armor." The prisoner managed to smile wickedly, even under the influence of the truth drugs. "You fools do not have a prayer, the Sheik also has a Jasmine Republican Navy heavy cruiser in his fleet. He is using a device on that ship to block the Sol-Terra hyperlink zone. There will be no help from the Federation infidels!"
The young man had been visibly tensing up throughout the tirade. Finally he released all the pent up tension by shouting: "Long live the Sheik of Barsoom and his Glorious Revolution!"
Kresge and the Ambassador shared another long, meaningful look before continuing with the interrogation. Try as they might, they could get no information on how the Sheik had been able to block the Sol-Terra Hyperlink point, not because the prisoner wouldn't tell them, but because the man really didn't know anything about it. All he knew was that the Sheik's single cruiser was stationed near the Hyperlink zone and it carried a device that kept the zone from operating normally between the Santana Nexus and the Sol-Terra Quadrant.
The Scrapyard interrogators were able to glean out a few more details, but after another half hour or so of questioning, they concluded that the prisoner had told them all he knew and they were growing weary of his almost constant ranting and raving. They locked him up in the Istanbul's brig to sleep off the effects of the drugs. The hangover from the drugs they had been forced to use on him was going to be legendary. It would also last for severa
l days. Unsurprisingly, not a single one of the Junkyard Dogs was able to dredge up a scrap of sympathy to spare for the cocky young officer's plight.
Chapter 13.
Santana Nexus Station, Tenth Ring. January 2, 2599.
Meanwhile, back on the Santana Nexus Station, Fahada had been summoned to an audience with the Sheik of Barsoom. She didn't know what it was that the old man wished to talk to her about but it didn't really matter to her. Fahada was a trained killer, ruthless and efficient at her job, but she was, first and foremost, totally dedicated to the Sheik of Barsoom, her mentor and benefactor. Whatever duty he requested her of her, she would perform, without question. She assumed that her mentor and soon to be Emperor had another person or persons that he wanted... neutralized and so she had been summoned. When she was ushered into the Sheik's chambers, she was surprised to see that the Sheik had someone else with him. She recognized Commander Rashaad, former officer in the Jasmine Navy and Captain of the Sheik's yacht Carpathia.
Rashaad was a handsome, dashing young fellow, perhaps thirty years old or so, and known to be from one of the best families on Jasmine. Fahada was a little surprised to see him there but she also knew that the Sheik had all sorts of business to conduct and figured that he was somehow involved with the reason she had been called.
"Ah, Fahada, my little jewel," said the Sheik as she entered the chamber, "I assume you know Commander Rashaad, Captain of my yacht Carpathia?"
"I have met with him on many occasions on board your ship, Sire," she replied. Her dark eyes took him in. "He is an excellent commander and his reputation is impeccable. Good day to you, Captain Rashaad."
"And to you fair lady," replied the Captain graciously. "Your own reputation is...remarkable."
She responded to that with an enigmatic little smile and shrugged her shoulders. "I am but one of the Sheik's many soldiers in this his Glorious Revolution."
"Good, you seem to be getting along," said the Sheik. "That is excellent because I have important plans for the two of you."
The two of them turned from contemplating one another to acknowledging the Sheik. His next announcement floored both of them.
"You are to be married to one another."
Fahada was one of the most imperturbable people that the Sheik had ever known. This last announcement caught her completely off guard. For the first time either of them could remember, she questioned one of his orders. The old man was known to have a somewhat twisted sense of humor on occasion. Perhaps this was one of his jests?
"You are serious, Sire?"
"Yes, of course I am serious, my Dear," replied the Sheik. "Is there a problem? Do you find him lacking in some way?"
Fahada looked the handsome young Captain over again before replying, "No Sire, it appears he would be a very good mate for me. He has wit, he has ambition and he comes from a good family. He is also not bad looking."
"And you, Captain Rashaad, do you find her to be suitable?"
Rashaad smiled at her appraisal of him and showed the quality of his wit with his reply.
"I am without words, Sire. She is your most valued asset and her skills are of the highest order." He stopped here and gave her a very serious look. "She is also a woman of exceptional beauty. That you would offer her to me as my wife is the highest compliment you could bestow upon me."
"Good. Then it is settled, you are to be married this afternoon."
***
The marriage ceremony was a small private affair that was held in the Sheik's chambers. There were only a handful of witnesses. The Sheik bestowed a few very tasteful and very expensive gifts and, in a private meeting with Fahada, gave her a sealed letter.
"You are only to open this if something happens to me, my Dear. It contains instructions that I wish for you to carry out. Can you do that?"
"Of course, Sire."
Afterwards the newlyweds were left alone for the night in sleeping quarters that had been specially prepared for their nuptial activities. Fahada, in spite of all of the nefarious acts she had performed for the Sheik, had remained a chaste woman. Had she not done so, she would not have been a suitable match for the young Commander of good family. Though it was not a necessity, the two of them discovered that they were well-matched in the bedchamber as well.
The next day it was back to business for both of them, almost as though nothing had happened.
Chapter 14.
"...When we trace our roots back to Old Earth, there are many traditions that have come down to us from across the centuries. One of these is the use of loyal and tenacious canines to guard collections of valuable artifacts. I am proud to say that this tradition is nowhere more alive and well than in our own little system. The references are simply too numerous to ignore; the resurrected Terrier, the Rover I, the Rover II, the Greyhound, the staff from Doebermann's. History will long remember the story of how the brave guardians of our famous Scrapyard came together with our own station security staff and other...concerned citizens... in our hour of need. In honor of all the tenacious canines gathered here to my right, I raise my glass. Ladies and Gentlemen: To the meanest Junkyard Dogs in the Galaxy!"
Hartwell Wristcomp reference note highlighted for further review by Amanda Steuben. Excerpt is from a speech delivered by New Ceylon Orbital Station Governor Charles "Chip" Larkin during the festivities associated with the signing of the Meridian-New Ceylon trade agreement.
UTFN Reclamation Center, onboard Federation Auxiliary ship Greyhound, January 2, 2599.
An emergency meeting to brainstorm some kind of plan for the defense of the Scrapyard against this new threat was convened within an hour after the prisoner interrogations were concluded. All of the Scrapyard Command Staff were gathered in the front hold of the Greyhound, including Kresge, Harris, Carlisle, Murdock, Hawkins, Admiral Kingston, Lieutenant Nesbitt, Ensign Sukamoto and the two destroyer captains who had just arrived in the system, Bishara and Helmsford. The two mining ship Captains, O'Connell and Patrick and the Federation's civilian weapons technician, Caleb Jordan, were also present. The Ambassador and several of the Istanbul's command staff were linked in via a viewscreen in the front of the hold.
Kresge called for order and when everyone had settled down, addressed the group. He went straight to the point. "I have some unwelcome news," he began, "We have just been informed that the Sheik of Barsoom is planning another attack on this system sometime during the next two or three days." His look was grim. "We are to expect a force consisting of up to ten destroyers and perhaps a Jasmine Republican Navy heavy cruiser to boot." He looked around the room. "Any ideas on how to best meet this threat? I know we can still run, if we have to, but I don't know for sure where we'd go and I really don't like the thought of simply handing over all the hardware contained in this Scrapyard to the Sheik of Barsoom and his 'glorious revolution.'"
"How about we do the same thing you did this last time?" suggested Kingston, "Charge up some of the cruiser weapons and hide our ships in the Scrapyard? Only this time it looks like we'd better charge up a lot more of them!"
"I have considered that as a possibility, and I think we will get started on that plan as soon as this meeting is adjourned." said Kresge, "In the meantime, I'm open to any other suggestions. Has anybody got an alternate plan or additional suggestions to ramp up the old one?"
"What we did last time worked, Commander," said O'Connell, "but maybe you could make better use of our mining ships. Those mining lasers are pretty powerful, especially at close range. In the alley fight this next battle is likely to be, maybe me and Neil could do more."
"My thanks, Captain O'Connell, you can be sure I'll factor that in as well."
"Could we wait until they come into the Scrapyard and ram them with something?" someone suggested.
"Not a bad idea," another voice countered, "but what are you going to use to get your ram moving?"
Several other less and less feasible suggestions followed. Over the next ten seconds, the room became abuzz with multiple conver
sations.
Carlisle, who had been in intense concentration all the way through the discussion, finished consulting something on her wrist computer and tentatively raised her hand.
"Order please," said Kresge, loudly enough that all could hear him.
The room quieted down.
"Ensign Carlisle?"
Carlisle came to her feet.
"Maximum impact...long range...I might have an idea, Commander."
"And that is...?"
"We've added a few ships to our defensive capability and we can surely find more cruiser weapons to charge up. With some luck, we might be able to fight off another attack...I see some problems, however."
From the other side of the room, Kingston frowned at Carlisle's comments.
"How so?" asked Kresge.
"We caught the enemy totally by surprise with those tactics last time. This time they'll not only know what to expect but they'll be bringing considerably more firepower. That cruiser is especially formidable, though how well they could fight with something that big inside the scrap cloud would remain to be seen." She gave Kresge a tortured look. "We need to win this fight, Commander! With the Quadrant cut off from Earth and the Nexus in the hands of the Sheik, we are once again effectively the Federation Authority for the entire Quadrant."
The room remained still for a long moment as that realization hung in the air and began to sink into the consciousness of all present.
Kresge nodded in understanding before he broke the silence. "So what are you proposing, Ensign?"
"I suggest that we come up with a much more aggressive defense strategy, one that would not only meet this threat but could also provide long term protection for the Scrapyard."
"That would sure as hell be nice," replied Kresge, "if we could pull it off! Continue, Ensign, you have my attention..."
"Charging up the weapons on those cruisers was an excellent idea, and it worked as well as we could have expected it to, but we were only barely able to fight off that last attack. I say we go for something they will not expect."
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