“Good, it makes it easier. We will initiate a tractor lock between our ships in preparation for jump-towing. Pegasus will bring the Terrador back to Corps Base 15, where more extensive medical assistance can be given to your own medical staff. While in transit we’ll send a team aboard to shore up your life support,” Sarah told him.
The relief on Prim’s face in the view screen was obvious as he thanked Sarah profusely. Then, after asking him a few more critical questions, to allow Pegasus to meet as many of their emergency needs as possible, Sarah signed off and closed the connection. It was now time to learn what was going on, and that was going to require risk.
Turning the conn over to Lieutenant Harris, the second officer, Sarah took the lift to deck six. En route she contacted Peter Preston and had him rendezvous with her outside the detention area.
They met in Section B of deck six. “Ensign, I am going to talk with Captain Willoughby. If he agrees to my terms I will grant him parole, however, I need to you to enact the Parole Protocol. This is to be kept between us, though you will need to enlist a few trusted crewmates. When I say trusted, I mean ‘trust with your life’ trusted. Also, when you activate the protocol use my subroutine WY6.3. Give me hourly reports.”
“Aye, Captain,” Peter answered, “and I know just the team!”
“Good! Make it so, Ensign,” Sarah said, adding “…and watch your six.”
Peter assured her that he would, and then turned and headed in the opposite direction. Sarah continued onto the brig.
The only prisoner in the cells, the captain was breathing fire. He spent the first five minutes of the interview spouting unending bile at Sarah. She waited silently until he seemed to run out of gas. Then she began speaking to him in quiet, even tones.
“Captain, I acted according to some rather cryptically given instructions that I received from Admiral Porter just before I joined this ship. Now, as back then, something doesn’t seem right. I need to get to the bottom of things. That said, you did violate League of Systems laws concerning ships escaping Galoran jurisdiction. You must remain under arrest; however, I see no reason why you need to remain in lock-up. If you are willing to give me your word that you will do nothing to undermine my authority as Acting Captain, or impede my investigations into the matter, I am willing to simply confine you to quarters.”
Willoughby mulled over her offer for a moment before agreeing. “You have my word, Captain,” he promised, but his voice was emotionless. There was an ominous tone to it, but Sarah recognized that it might be just dejection and defeat.
“Thank you, Captain,” she said. She then turned to the crewman monitoring the brig’s security console. “Mr. Bennett, summon a detail to escort Captain Willoughby to his quarters. Inform them that standard protocols are to be observed.
“Standard Protocols” meant that the Captain’s sidearm was seized, and his quarters were searched for any other weapons, even ceremonial ones, and they, too, were seized. Also, all communications equipment was disabled or removed. Willoughby had all the comforts of the captain’s cabin, but was still incommunicado as far as the ship or the Corps was concerned.
When the ban on visitors was lifted, Willoughby only received three: Lieutenant Rogers, Security Chief Duggan and the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Franklin.
“The nice thing about being back in my quarters is that we can have this meeting, and no one can listen in. Not even that so-called genius sitting in my chair right now.” Willoughby started to get very angry very quickly. “That little bitch! How dare she relieve me? How dare she?!”
“Now George,” Chief Duggan replied, “you know that was the plan all along. Porter set things in motion when he called her in for that ‘little talk’ as he called it. Now we know. She can’t be recruited. So, we go to plan ‘B’ and discredit her, bring her down, and drive her out of the Corps.”
“I’d like to blow her out an air lock,” Willoughby said, continuing his rant. “That would send a message to anyone who thinks they can defy The Bureau.”
“I know what you mean,” Duggan agreed. “When I think about what she did to the Kennedy’s exo. I trained young Winston when you first recruited him. He had his rough spots, but he was on his way to being a fine addition to The Bureau.”
“It’s not just my nephew,” Willoughby told him. “She started getting under The Bureau’s skin long before that. There was that Markov business, at the Academy. He wasn’t worth our attention, but two of his friends, Romanov and Petkovic; they would have been first class operatives. Porter was just about to approach them when they backed up Markov on his bone-head move of the year.
“That’s how far back this all goes. We’d have eighty-sixed her back then, but too many eyes were on the fair-haired daughter of Earth’s Vice-Chancellor. Well, daddy’s not going to protect her now.”
“So, just to be sure that everyone’s on the same page,” Dr. Franklin began, trying to get their planning back on track. “Duggan, once you’ve removed her from the bridge you have to hit her with this mini-dart. It is loaded with Asmilot. It’s a drug that will make her paranoid, with psychotic overtones. It will keep her off balance for weeks, and make it seem like her seizing command was the result of mental imbalance. Once you’re back in the ‘driver’s seat’, Captain, the rest of the bridge crew will fall into line. They know what could happen if they don’t. No one will support her.”
“That will be beautiful revenge,” Willoughby said, then turning back to the business at hand, “As you leave, Doctor, you will use your famous mini-darts to anaesthetize the guards on the door. Wait for me in Corridor C, next to the weapons locker. Rogers, you will return to the bridge, act a if nothing was out of place. Doctor, Chief, as soon as the guards fall, I’ll join you at the weapons locker.”
Chief Duggan and Dr. Franklin nodded their agreement and left the captain’s quarters. As he passed the guards on the door the doctor fired his micro-darts, and continued walking as if nothing had happened. The guards were none the wiser, but within minutes the fast-acting drug had taken effect, leaving the guards slumped on the floor. Without a moment’s hesitation Captain Willoughby was on his way to meet his co-conspirators in Corridor C.
As soon as he arrived they went straight to the weapons locker. Knowing that his access would have been removed from the system, Willoughby indicated that Duggan should use his code, as Chief of Security, to open the locker.
Duggan did as the captain ordered; keying in his access code. Only, nothing happened. The door didn’t open as it should have.
“She may suspect,” Willoughby suggested, “but all is not yet lost. There is a Bureau code that should override our acting captain’s lock out.”
“Too bad you won’t have the chance to use it,” Peter Preston told him, as he emerged from the shadows, his sidearm at the ready. From five different points along the corridor Peter’s team of trusted men and women emerged, weapons in hand. “I’m sorry, Captain but it is back to the orange jump suits for you and your friends, and I’m afraid that the stricter intake policy must now apply.” The “stricter policy” included a strip search and cavity check. It served no useful purpose as scanners could detect contraband far more reliably. Peter was just taking advantage of an ancient regulation to humiliate the captain in retaliation for the attempt.
Captain Willoughby turned to Peter’s team. “C’mon people this is outrageous. You have no authority to do this. You’re just making things worse for that upstart would-be captain and for yourselves.”
“Save your breath.” It was Crewman Justain, one of Peter’s team, who spoke. “Every member of this detail made it through the Academy because of Captain Maloney,” she said. “We’ll stand with her, and if we must, we’ll fall with her. The brig is that way.” She indicated the direction with her PPC.
On the bridge Sarah was preparing to make the jump to Corps Base 15 when she was informed of the attempted mutiny. Peter reported to her personally. She listened to his brief report of the events careful
ly, but was preparing to make a jump tow with a ship that didn’t match any standard League vessel. Rather than going into detail he simply said that he would complete his report after the jump.
“Thank you Ensign, I look forward to hearing it,” was all Sarah said. Peter nodded and stepped back from the captain’s chair; a move that may have saved his life.
“Tractor lock established,” the con officer reported, “Ready to jump, Captain.”
“On my mark, helm…” Sarah said.
“Standing by, ma’am”
Sarah was about to give the command when Lieutenant Rogers stood up at the tactical station and drew his PPC, pointing it at Sarah. “You are not in command, zoner!” he said, and fired his weapon.
The Pegasus’ new acting exo, who was standing next to the captain’s chair, dove into the weapon’s path, taking the full charge in the chest. Peter drew his own weapon and fired, stunning Rogers. The tactical officer fell at his station.
Sarah dropped to Lieutenant Harris. He was dead. She looked up long enough to give the command to the helm officer, “Jump.”
After a medical team came and removed Harris’ body to the morgue, and Peter called up a team of trusted SP’s to protect her, Sarah checked the status of the jump with the helm.
“All systems stable, Captain,” came the report, “ETA at base 15 in thirty-two minutes.
“Very good, helm,” she responded. “Lieutenant Linn, take the con, I’ll be in the brig if you need me.”
Lieutenant Linn nodded her acceptance of the command and signalled the float officer to take her station.
In the brig Captain Willoughby was again breathing fire. This time Sarah didn’t let him rant. “Lieutenant Harris is dead,” she told him. “You may have ignored the flashing red lights as you hastened to violate your parole, but this ship is still at General Quarters. Even so, you chose to attempt to make a mutiny. Now one of your operatives has killed the acting exo. Think about that as we approach Corps Base 15.” She turned and left.
As he watched her leave the brig, a deflated Willoughby sat down hard, with an air of defeat. Dr. Franklin was the first to speak. “So what is she on about now?” he asked to no one in particular.
“Really, Doctor,” Duggan replied, “you really should be better informed about the Corps regulations that don’t necessarily pertain to the practice of medicine.
“We attempted a mutiny, while the ship was at General Quarters, and a crew member died as a result. When we get to Corps Base 15 we will be on trial for our lives, and there will be no one, I repeat, no one who will be able to help us.”
With that statement, all the prisoners fell silent.
The Pegasus arrived at Corps Base 15 on schedule, without further incident. Due to the nature of the charges against them, Captain Willoughby and his co-conspirators would normally have a had a delay before their trials began. As it turned out the delay wasn’t necessary. The trial was brief, because after some negotiation, all the co-conspirators pled guilty in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.
Within three days the Pegasus was ready to leave Corps Base 15. With her departure imminent, Sarah contacted Corps Headquarters.
“When will a new captain be assigned to us,” Sarah asked Admiral Conrad.
“Right now,” he replied. “Commander Maloney, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain, with all the duties and privileges of that rank. The Pegasus is your ship now, Captain. Take good care of her and her crew,” adding “…and in light of current events, watch your six.”
Maybe she should have been expecting it, but the promotion took Sarah by surprise. “Yes, Sir, and thank you, Admiral.” She said.
“The next order of business is for you to choose a new executive officer.” Conrad told her. On the screen she could see him pressing a few keys on his computer. “I am sending you the list of candidates. Their records are attached to their names.”
The list appeared on Sarah’s screen, and she had to restrain herself from jumping up and down and screaming. She looked seriously at the screen. “The last name on the list…”
“Yes, I’m sure you have probably heard the stories about the lieutenant-commander,” the Admiral cut her off, assuming she would reject the candidate.
“Just the opposite, Sir, I want this officer,” Sarah responded, “record notwithstanding.”
Admiral Conrad seemed a little taken aback by Sarah’s response. Before he could respond she added, “There won’t be any problems aboard my ship, Admiral. I can promise you that.”
Two days later the Pegasus’ new executive officer arrived on board, and as per protocol reported directly to Sarah in her ready room. Until now Sarah’s command of the Pegasus had not been widely announced. As soon as the lieutenant-commander was admitted she began with the standard greeting, “Lieutenant-Commander Amanda Running…” Seeing Sarah Mandy faltered, but relying on training picked up immediately, “…Deer reporting as ordered, Captain.” Only the immense grin on her face betrayed her emotions at that moment.
“At ease, Lieutenant-Commander,” Sarah ordered calmly, while inside she was aching to jump over her desk and run to her friend. “It is good to see you again, Running Deer,” she continued, evenly. “Your record shows that you have had some problems aboard other ships. I trust that there will be none of that aboard Pegasus?”
Mandy stood at ease and solemnly responded, “No ma’am, you can be assured of that.”
Sarah rose from her desk and walked around it to face Mandy. Without warning she swept her up in a fierce hug. Mandy responded in kind, and for a long moment they just held each other tight. Then as if by common consent each released the other at the same time.
“I thought you were dead,” she told Mandy. “When they hauled you away that night, and I heard nothing further… Every day I checked with our friends in the enclaves who received some form of news report from the Island, there was nothing. You don’t know how much I kicked myself for not fighting for you. I was sure that the pervs had gotten their revenge on you for what I had done.
“It never occurred to me that you might have been processed as a hunter and given the same choice I was given. Now I feel so dumb that I never checked Stellar Corps once I had access to our database.”
“Knowing you,” Mandy said shaking her head, “I’m sure that you were just short of self-flagellation. Only you had nothing to feel guilty about. If you had tried to fight you would have been taken too; and now you would be dead.
“Two seconds after you blew the tail off the mercenaries’ skimmer, two more arrived. We would have both been overrun before you could have gotten me into the skimmer that you commandeered.” She looked Sarah square in the eye. “You did the right thing, Sassy. And as you can see, I came out all right!”
“But what happened with your record?” Sarah asked. It’s full of negatives. That is definitely not you!”
“That began with my first space assignment. There was this lieutenant who had a thing against zoners, and even more against hunters. He would put me on report every chance he could, and I suspected – though I couldn’t prove it – that he was somehow erasing the positive comments and recommendations made by my immediate supervisors. He nearly got me broken to grunt, but luckily for me he was transferred before he could do his worst.
“Well, you know how an initial bad record can follow you. That one has dogged me ever since. It was only because of a few lucky breaks that I was eventually promoted as far as Lieutenant-Commander. I have been passed over so many times for senior positions aboard several ships.”
“This louie, his name wasn’t Dekert, was it? Winston Dekert?”
Mandy nodded and added, “I caught wind of him a few more times after he left the Ottawa. The last time I heard anything was when he made exo on the Kennedy.”
“That’s where I met him,” Sarah told her. “He tried to do the same thing to me as he tried with you. I am happy to say that he was promoted for his efforts…” Mandy looke
d horrified at the news.
Smiling broadly at her reaction Sarah completed her sentence, “…to civilian, and then to rehab colony resident. I was the one who really got promoted that time.” Sarah smiled even wider. “Let me call a friend at Corps Command. There is a utility I helped to write that should set straight your record from the Ottawa. If I am right, that might cause the powers-that-be to re-evaluate everything that followed. Who knows, there might even be a promotion in it for you.
“But in all seriousness, Mandy, will we be able to work together, considering our past relationship. I really want you as my exo. Can you take orders from me?”
All of a sudden Mandy snapped to attention. “Permission to speak freely, Captain?” she asked formally
“Granted,” Sarah replied equally formal.
“Sassy, you are my dearest friend, my loyal partner, and I owe you my life a dozen times over. I can guarantee you that question doesn’t need to be asked. You’re my captain now, if you will accept me, and I’ll follow you to the gates of hell and back if you so order it.”
“I am so glad to hear that, Lieutenant-Commander,” Sarah answered. Then, again, she threw her arms around Mandy’s neck and pulled her close. “I am so glad to have you back again,” she said. Then, as she released her, with a wry smile, she added, deadpan, “Oh, by the way, you got the job.”
Mandy smiled back, “Thank you ma’am, permission to get settled?”
“Granted,” Sarah replied. She pressed a key on her computer. The door opened and Peter Preston walked in. “I’ve asked Lieutenant Preston to give you a hand and show you around,” she said with that same devilish smile she always put on when springing a surprise on Mandy.”
Mandy returned her smile, nodded and followed Peter out of the captain’s ready room. As they exited, Sarah heard Mandy say, “Good to see you again, Mr. Preston. I’m pleased to see that Captain Maloney’s faith in you eight years ago has been rewarded…” the door slid closed on whatever response Peter might have made.
Even though they were back together again, neither Sarah nor Mandy expected that things would be the same as they were back in the zone. They were as close as ever, but their working relationship was no longer as fighting partners, but as Captain and executive officer. Still, they made it work. That had a major effect on the bridge crew, and its efficiency.
Chronicles of the Stellar Corps: Sassy Page 17
