Having been confined to bed rest under doctor’s orders for most of the voyage, Suwanee was the only person in condition to stand guard at the only airlock the port authority would allow the ship to use. She was standing at the airlock with the assistance of a cane thankful for the reduced gravity of the moon that hosted the spaceport when three people approached her.
She quickly came to attention. She knew two of the people who approached her and was surprised to see them. The woman in the group addressed her. She was wearing a Space Force Commodore’s uniform topped off with the white cap of a ship’s captain.
“Hello, Suwanee. May we come aboard?” Suwanee’s eyes bugged out. Before she could reply, the woman said, “Please allow me to introduce Federation Special Negotiator Ambassador Kirkland.”
The third member of the group, the one Suwanee did not know, stepped forward and greeted Suwanee. “Lt. Abrams, your friends have told me about you. It is my honor to meet you.”
Suwanee stammered, “Sir, yes, sir, I am honored sir.”
She turned back to the woman. “Commodore Solomon, most of the ship’s company is sleeping. Would you have me wake them?”
“That won’t be necessary. I don’t think Rachel would mind if we made ourselves at home on her bridge.”
“I will inform the bridge watch that you are coming. Do you need an escort?” Suwanee asked.
Avi smiled. “No thanks. I think we can find it on our own. Greg, Kendall, shall we go?”
Rachel awoke to find her mother sitting in the Captain’s chair chatting amiably with Lt. Chin. Her father was at one of the engineering stations talking with David while a man she did not know divided his attention between them.
Rachel wiped the sleep from her eyes and blinked. It was not a dream. Much to her amazement, her mother was still there sitting in her chair. Her father was still talking to David. No one seemed to notice her. She stood, paralyzed, for a moment until Isaac bumped into her from behind. Suddenly everyone on the bridge turned to look at her. With her eyes cast down she said, “Mom, I lost Wendy.”
“It’s not like you put her down somewhere and forgot where she is,” Avi replied.
“We’re just going to have to go find her,” Greg added.
“How? We’re quarantined,” Rachel said.
“We’ll figure that out,” Greg said.
“Wait!” Rachel exclaimed. “You knew?”
“Shortest after action report I’ve seen in a long time,” Ambassador Kirkland chuckled.
Avi held a print in her hand. “A list of the known dead. A list of the known wounded who are expected to live. A list of the ships lost. A list of the personnel missing but believed to be alive. A list of the personnel and ships who remained behind to attend to the rescue. Justification for the retreat.”
“That’s my kind of report,” Greg grinned.
“You filed longer reports than that!” Avi teased.
“Not often,” Greg said.
“Aren’t you worried about her?” Rachel said aghast.
“She’s our kid,” Avi said. “Unless she runs into something much bigger than herself that her flight suit’s lasers can’t kill, she’ll be fine.”
“In the meantime, we need to go visit Rose. She’d be upset if she knew we were in the area and didn’t come visit,” Greg said.
“You haven’t been to the surface yet? How long have you been here?” Rachel gasped.
“Three very busy days. We came as soon as we got your report. No, we haven’t, why?”
Rachel looked at David who held his hands wide and shook his head. He mouthed the words, “I didn’t tell her!”
Recovering quickly, Rachel said, “Oh, I would have thought you would have gone there first. That’s all.”
Avi gave her the look mothers always give their children when they suspect they are being less than truthful.
Greg walked over to Rachel. “We’ll have time to talk later. When your crew wakes up, tell them to be ready to ship out in four days.”
“Excuse me?” Rachel gasped.
“Diplomatic mission, eh, Ambassador?” Greg grinned his wide “play along with me” grin.
Ambassador Kirkland grinned back at Greg. Instantly understanding, he said, “You know, I enjoy having you two around. You certainly liven things up.”
He turned to Rachel. “By my authority as special representative of the President, I am formally requesting your ship and your crew be fully stocked and fully armed ready to ship out in four days for a diplomatic mission of perhaps six months. I will see that proper requisitions are filed with proper authorities.”
Rachel blinked. “May I ask the nature of this diplomatic mission?” Ambassador Kirkland smiled. “The nature of the mission will be revealed after we depart.”
Lt. Dale Hammersmith wandered on to the bridge and heard both Rachel’s question and the answer. He looked askance at the Ambassador. “Ambassador Kirkland?”
The Ambassador turned to face the new arrival. “Lt. Hammersmith! My God! You look like your father!”
The bridge fell silent. “Did you know my father? My mother spoke of you, but she never mentioned…” His voice trailed off in confusion.
“He is one of my best friends and most brilliant advisers,” Ambassador Kirkland reported.
“Is?”
“Dale, I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this, but your father is not dead. You’re old enough to know. He made powerful enemies doing his job in service to the Federation. We decided for your own safety, you and his enemies should think he was dead. It was a tough call denying you the father you so desperately needed, but if we hadn’t, you both would be dead.”
“Where is he?” Dale asked.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can tell him where to find you,” Ambassador Kirkland replied.
“Does my mother know?” Dale asked.
“Yes, she knew all along. You know those business trips she went on?”
“Yes.”
“They were really to see your father.”
“Please tell him I would like to see him.”
“I’ll do that.” He turned to his traveling companions. “I think we need to raise Commodore Levine’s blood pressure a little.” He turned back to the crew on the bridge. “See you all in four days.”
When they left the bridge, David turned to Rachel, “I’m glad I’m not going to be there when your mother sees her sister.”
“Me, too. How could she not know?” Rachel asked.
“Beats me, but I don’t think she does,” David said as mystified as Rachel.
“Well, folks, you heard the man. We have four days to be ready to ship out,” Rachel stated.
DEPLOYMENT - CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
TANYA ANSWERED THE DOOR to Rose’s apartment when Avi knocked. For two very long heartbeats they stared at each other. Decades of bitter estrangement separated the sisters. Avi blinked once and bolted. Turning to run, she slammed solidly into Greg who stood his ground. The impact stopped her flight only long enough for her to step around him. She brushed by Ambassador Kirkland as she raced for the elevator with Tanya in pursuit. When the elevator did not immediately open, Avi sprinted for the stairs. Tanya followed.
Recovering his senses, Greg took off after the two women. Ambassador Kirkland, recognizing that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, quietly proceeded to Rose’s apartment.
Avi reached the wooded area of the park across from the apartment building when Tanya caught her. As Greg approached, he could hear them screaming at each other. Decades of anger played out in an argument of colossal proportions. He decided to stay far enough away that he could not hear what they were shouting at each other, but close enough that if they started physically attacking each other, he could break it up. He found a convenient park bench and watched the histrionics. From the snippets he could hear, Avi blamed Wendy’s current situation on Tanya. Tanya had countered that her husband would not have been killed or her daughters enslaved had they not bee
n traveling to attempt to reconcile with Avi. Greg admitted to himself the validity of both viewpoints.
A security officer wandered by during the argument and strode over to break it up. Greg gently but firmly explained to the officer exactly how hazardous an idea that might be. Once convinced that Greg would not allow either woman to get out of hand, the officer left.
The fight lasted longer than Greg would have predicted, but it ended as he had hoped it would. Still in tears, the two women walked together back toward the apartment without acknowledging his presence. He recognized that the healing would take time, but the process had begun. Avi and Tanya came to the apartment and informed Rose that they were going away to be by themselves for a couple of days. They left without packing.
Greg spent the time getting to know his newly found nieces and nephew. They told him the details of their rescue and how much risk Rachel and her crew had taken on their behalf. They described the conditions in the encampment and told him of the people who had died working in the gas plant. As interesting as all this was to Greg, what amazed him the most was Rachel’s relationship with her crew. She cared about them and took care of them. They loved her and it was clear that she loved all of them in return. It was hardly the way the Space Force traditionally worked, but Rachel’s crew willingly joined her on an unauthorized mission at the risk of their lives and their careers. Some had lost their lives, but it appeared as if none of them would have turned back.
When it was time to return, Greg collected Ambassador Kirkland at the visiting officers quarters. Greg knew better than worry about Avi. She would be there on time. As Greg expected, she joined them on the boarding ramp for the shuttle that would take them back to the spaceport where the Schweitzer was docked.
Greg knew Avi’s moods well enough to know to leave her alone for the trip back to the Schweitzer. When Avi exited the shuttle for the long walk that would lead to the Schweitzer, her mind was already focused on the task ahead.
The party was immediately ushered to the bridge, their luggage having been brought from the Ambassador’s yacht by the Ambassador’s steward. The yacht had been attached to the docking port where one of the destroyers had been attached the last time they left this port. The yacht’s crew had transferred to the more spacious quarters aboard the Schweitzer.
The bridge watch came to attention when the trio entered the bridge. In the time since the trio left, the ship had been cleaned and resupplied. The engineering staff was still making repairs, but they estimated they would have the ship to full strength except for the one damaged missile bay long before they arrived at wherever they were going, as if they didn’t know where that was.
Ambassador Kirkland typed a set of coordinates into this personal data assistant and handed it to Rachel. “Set course for here at moderate speed. We don’t want to look like we’re in a hurry.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows. “That’s only an hour from here in hyper.”
Greg looked at her and said, “Trust me.”
Avi grinned and nodded.
“Helmsman set course for these coordinates. Initiate undocking procedures on my mark,” Rachel said.
“Aye Captain.”
“Mom, Dad, I have had your things put in the flag officers’ suites. You look tired. Would you like to rest?”
Avi rested her hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “No, dear, we won’t be unpacking.”
“Whatever you say. Engineering, are we clear for departure?” Rachel asked.
“Aye, Captain, we are clear for departure.”
Rachel informed a still furious Commodore Levine of their intention to depart on a classified diplomatic mission. They were reluctantly given permission to leave.
“Initiate undocking procedures,” Rachel commanded.
“The ship is undocked, Captain.”
“Fire maneuvering jets.” The ship slowly pulled away from the port.
“All ahead ten percent.”
“All ahead ten percent, Aye, Captain.”
As soon as it was safe to do so, Rachel called for the jump to hyper drive. An hour later, she called for the drop back to standard drive.
“Captain, there’s a ship out there.” Lt. Jane Tyndall reported. “Looks like a freighter.”
Rachel shot a glance at her father who immediately looked away. Her mother studiously examined her fingernails. Ambassador Kirkland had his back to Rachel as he poured a cup of coffee.
“Approach the ship. Sound battle stations.”
The ship’s crew raced to their stations.
“Captain, it may be a tender. I see P I ships attached, but I don’t see signs of activity.” Lt. Tyndall added. “Life support appears to be functioning normally. Captain, the ship is waiting for us.”
Faye Anne had been reading a recently released intelligence report on P A F activity when the alarm sounded. She raced to the bridge and peered over Lt. Tyndall’s shoulder. “Hell’s Bells! It’s Peter!” She shouted, “What in God’s name is he doing here and why does he have…” She looked at Greg. “I don’t believe it.” She shook her head. “I just don’t believe it.”
David started to laugh. The laughter rolled around the bridge. Even Lt. Hammersmith who finally figured out what was so funny laughed.
“Peter would like permission to speak to the Captain,” Elizabeth stated.
“Elizabeth, ask Peter if he needs to speak to me privately or can I put it on speaker.”
Peter had taken to using the voice of the actor who had played Captain Hook in one of the early Peter Pan movies. “Hello, Rachel! Please tell your helmsman to approach at airlock two so we can transfer passengers. It’s good to see you again, kid.”
“It’s good to see you too, Peter. Who am I bringing aboard?”
Greg rested his hand on her shoulder. “You’re not bringing anyone on board. We’re jumping ship. Literally.” He turned to Ambassador Kirkland. “Ambassador, which ship do you want to ride?”
“I’ll stay here. Thanks. That sounds too much like roughing it over there.”
“Fair enough. Rachel, we need to borrow some of your crew. Peter has eight new P I ships he is supposed to be delivering to the central system. Obviously we have a more immediate need of them. They have not been completely stocked or programmed. I need to take Reuben and Suwanee. We will also need four electronics engineers, four space flight specialists and a half dozen people with strong backs who don’t mind living in close quarters for a couple of weeks. We are taking them to Peter with us. I would prefer volunteers.”
“Permission granted.” Rachel shook her head in amazement. “All hands stand down from battle stations! Prepare to send a crew aboard the freighter!”
There was no shortage of volunteers. The opportunity to work with Greg and Avi Solomon was too inviting to pass up. The crew transfer went without incident and the two ships departed for Brainerd’s Folly linked by a thin fiber optic cable.
DEPLOYMENT - CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
WENDY TRUDGED ACROSS THE DESERT for two weeks. Her muscles hurt, but she was thankful for the climate control features of the flight suit. The back pack was heavy, but without it she would have died in the heat. As she ended the fifteenth day of walking, she reached a wooded area that had grown around a small stream. She estimated she was another four days walk from the waterfall where she was to meet her crew. She sat down to rest with her back against a tree and fell asleep.
Wendy awakened before dawn and saw small red lights on the horizon moving in her direction. Well aware of the amount of thermal radiation the flight suit emitted and how easy that was to detect from the air, she quickly sought a deep spot in the stream. Finding a spot that was barely deep enough, she laid down on her back in the water.
A flight of four Swordsmen helicopters passed overhead. They were traveling in the direction of the space port. Their route took them over the waterfall where she was to meet her crew. Wendy hoped they had enough sense to stay out of sight. Wendy continued her trek after the helicopters had passed b
eyond the horizon. Late in the day they returned and headed off in the direction they had come.
At the end of four more days of walking Wendy arrived at the waterfall. Spotting the remains of a campfire and debris from a camp, Wendy realized her crew had not been able to stay out of sight and had been captured by the Swordsmen and taken away. She debated as to her next course of action. She decided that since they had found her crew and knew that there were four capsules, it would only be a matter of time before she showed up here as well. If she was to die at the hands of a Swordsman, she was damn sure going to take a few with her.
Wendy climbed down to the base of the waterfall. She climbed behind the flow of water hoping to find a small recess worn away by the falling water. The recess was barely big enough for her to sit in, but it afforded her protection so she would be able to see anyone who approached. She settled in and waited to be attacked. After three days of waiting and no sign of activity, she left her hiding place. She proceeded warily and saw no signs of life. She had taken three steps beyond the falling water when she stepped on something that snapped under her foot.
Before she knew what happened, Wendy found herself hanging by one leg upside down from a tree. She had been caught by one of the oldest traps in history, an animal snare. Two Swordsmen with their weapons still in their holsters stared at her.
“Well, Homer, looks like you caught you one.”
“Din’t I tell ya dis would work?”
“Yeah, but I ain’t never seen it done afore.”
“Well, ya learn somethin’ every day.”
The one the other one called Homer stared in her face. “I guess I should cut you down. What do you say, Jethro?”
“Are you sure she ain’t gonna run?”
“Nah, she’ll barely be able to walk when I get through with her.”
“Homer! The Colonel said we wanted the captives unhurt.”
Solomon Family Warriors II Page 90
