by Damon Alan
[a sigh, followed by a 30 second pause]
Our repairs from our defeat at Hamor continue, and the Yascurra has started delivering raw material to the machine shops on the Fyurigan for fabrication of replacement parts. We're finally getting somewhere, although we won't be at one hundred percent until we're able to build a port and take the ships out of service one at a time for real repair. We can do that once we settle things with the adepts. Anything the Fyurigan builds should be in Refuge orbit to minimize fuel costs. We need peace for that.
The Stennis, of course, will have to be repaired at another location.
Speaking of peace, now that I know what this Merik is, I’m committed to removing her. I've got two grapplers alternating time over Refuge waiting for the order to put ordinance to ground. A railgun shot will minimize the threat to my people while also minimizing collateral damage to Alarin’s.
[sound of cooler opening, a popping noise as a seal is broken]
I told myself that I wasn't going to drink tonight. My supply is getting low. Six cases left. But I just don't have it in me to quit yet. I've agreed to let the crews set up stills to make alcohol, also brew beer. We're our own force now, out here in intergalactic space, the last hope for the continuation of the human race. I'll be damned if we're going to do that without a stiff one now and then. I've noticed a lot more smiles on the faces of the crew, too. My popularity rating went up ten points.
[shuffling fabric, AI estimates 73% probability bedsheets are being pulled down]
Tomorrow will be another day of waiting. Of wondering where Commander Gilbert's team is... or let's be honest, of wondering where Franklin is. I think it's time to implement another policy likely to improve my popularity a bit. No more prohibitions on dating within the crew, or of pairing off.
[laughter]
If that’s not partially self-serving, I don’t know what is. We might as well start acting like colonists. It’s not like we have a choice. Even with our current conflict, this place must be our home.
I'm going to drink a bit and think about fraternization. End log file, Lucy.
Chapter 31 - A Trail in the Sky
30 ORS 15327
Lieutenant Seto searched through data streaming in from surveillance satellites over Refuge. “Captain, you should see this.”
“What is it?”
“It looks like... well, let me put it on main screen.” Seto keyed her holodisplay and an image appeared on the bridge display. “I just got this. Satellite data from Refuge, several hours old.”
A dimly lit city stretched across the left side of the screen, the rest of the screen was black. “Zooming in, accelerating the time sequence.” Seto said.
The screen zoomed in, centering in blackness, then small details began to emerge. Several buildings could just be made out of the hazy darkness. A large explosion detonated on a ridge north of the structures. Burning pieces rained over the area. Then several streaks appeared from a different ridge, and all of the buildings but one exploded.
“Zooming out,” Seto said. She sped up the sequence again, and moments later a detonation obliterated the valley.
“That's the full sequence, Captain. AI analysis indicates the first explosion was one of the tanks in Commander Gilbert's rescue team. The next series of explosions were high explosive rounds from the remaining tank. The last explosion was a nuclear round, estimated yield two kilotons.”
Oh, Gilbert… “A nuke.” Sarah restated. She was not happy, for a variety of reasons.
“There's more. I have a more current realtime datastream coming in from the satellite, a visual on the shuttles.”
“On screen.”
“Aye, Captain.”
The bridge display showed a dark blue ocean, early after sunrise. A line of powerful thunderstorms cut across the scene, their sun facing sides streaked with white, pink, and yellow. Seto zoomed in closer, and two delta shaped wakes appeared on the ocean surface, racing toward the thunderstorms. The view was from directly overhead.
“Can you zoom in further?” Sarah asked.
Seto selected the forward points of the wakes as points of interest for the search AI, locking in on the V shape. Zooming in further, two combat insertion shuttles appeared, a few meters above the water surface. Water blasted into the air each time they passed near the crest of a wave. One of the shuttles smoked from its left atmospheric engine.
Seto tagged the shuttles one and two, and AI estimated telemetry appeared for each on the screen. “That has to be Commander Gilbert's team, Captain, they're the only ones down there.”
“Judging by the damage, it looks like the shuttles were involved with the nuclear incident. Anything on radio?”
“Sorry, Captain. No chance, Ember is still off the charts. These two shuttles don’t have in flight laser link capacity.”
“Thanks, Lieutenant. Keep trying. Have the satellite notify us directly if any transmissions are made.”
“Aye, Captain.”
The undamaged shuttle fired a volley of missiles back toward the shore, hidden out of view behind them. The shuttles climbed, and the wakes disappeared. The line of thunderstorms came into view on the left of the screen.
“Can you tell if either of them has a tank on board? Climb rate maybe?” Sarah asked.
“No, I’m not getting any direct telemetry from them, Captain. What you’re seeing is our AI estimate.”
“Damn.”
Sarah watched the shuttles approach the storms. If they couldn't top the weather, it would be a rough ride. “Come on boys, light those fusion torches. Damn the rules.”
The two shuttles disappeared into the eastern side of the storm clouds. The storm cell the shuttles entered flashed orange, and the two shuttles burst from cloud cover, trailing fusion plasma. The top of the storm evaporated from the heat. A shock wave flared as the first shuttle broke the sound barrier, followed a moment later by the damaged shuttle. The view from the satellite showed more of the forward face of the shuttles, and from the angle Sarah knew they were accelerating upward.
“That can’t be fun,” Seto said. “I hate flying in weather.”
“For volunteer pilots with more simulation time than flight time, they're doing okay,” Sarah said.
The shuttles continued their climb, until the atmosphere became too thin to provide reaction mass for the fusion motors. The intakes closed and the shuttles switched to their internal fuel supply. The exhaust stream changed, becoming longer, pencil thin and much hotter.
“Satellite three is picking up radio, Captain.”
“Let's hear it.”
“... crewman resc... ... dead. ETA Fandama twenty four hours.”
That’s Franklin’s voice!
“Seto, can we reply to them through the satellites?”
Seto shook her head negative. “The satellites are for surveillance, Captain, not comm. The shuttle radios are weak. We’re getting all we can get right now.”
“Lieutenant Harmeen, have engineering look at modifying the satellites so we can dual purpose them for comm. Nobody expected us to set up camp in these conditions, we need to adapt. I also want more relays put in orbit around Ember. I don't want to miss anything else due to the planet's shadow.”
Lieutenant Harmeen turned to his holodisplays. “Yes, ma'am. Easily done.”
Sarah cleared the screen, it returned to an image of Fandama’s eternal white cloud layer and ship telemetry. “They made it.”
Now get home safe…
“Not quite paradise,” Harmeen said.
“Sadly, no. But don't worry, Mr. Harmeen, we'll resolve this problem. Your kids will walk under open sky.”
Harmeen looked alarmed. At Seto. “Kids?”
Sarah looked at Seto, who looked sternly at Harmeen.
This is interesting.
“Everyone is going to have kids, Mr. Harmeen. Didn't you get the notice I put out? Dating is allowed, so get busy. “No womb wasted” might be our new motto. We need to start thinking like colonists
, Lieutenant.”
“Everyone is happy about the notice, Captain,” Seto said. Her voice was agitated.
“So… should I ask how long you two—”
“I’d rather you didn’t, ma’am,” Harmeen replied.
“A long time, Captain,” Seto answered. “Neither of us is in the chain of command for the other.”
“Right. Agreed. None of that matters now.” Sarah’s eyes looked back and forth between the two bridge officers. “Wow, you did a good job of keeping it a secret.”
“It seemed best,” Seto said.
Sarah laughed. “Maybe it was.” She looked at Harmeen, who was trying not to squirm. “Don’t worry Lieutenant Harmeen, you two will make beautiful children,” Sarah said.
Harmeen looked extremely unsettled. “As you say, Captain. I just expect...”
“Expect what, Mr. Harmeen?”
“Kids aren't in my future.”
“You didn’t think you had a future, Lieutenant. None of us did. That’s changed. We’re going to build a life here whether the adepts like it or not.”
“I believe you, Captain. Nobody doubts your resolve.”
“Something else for you to think about. It looks like Halani will have something to say about what’s in your future.”
Harmeen audibly gulped as he looked at Seto.
Men are idiots. It’s just sex to them, until it isn’t.
“You have the bridge, Mr. Harmeen. Until Commander Gilbert gets back, we're short bridge crew with Corriea out of the roster. I'm going to go on crew rest for ten hours, I want to be on duty when the Commander arrives.”“
“I have the bridge, ma'am.”
Sarah smiled as she headed to her quarters. She wished she could hear the conversation she left behind.
* * *
32 ORS 15327
Gilbert pulled himself out of the shuttle onto the shuttle deck of the Stennis.
Sarah waited next to Dr. Jannis, holding a wall near the shuttle bay airlock. She untethered and pushed off the bulkhead, stopping next to him. The smile on her face was genuine.
I can’t remember being so grateful to see anyone.
“Commander Gilbert,” she said, looking him over. “Franklin, damn, it’s good to see you alive. I'm sure you gave regular reports, but with the radio blackout we didn't get anything from you.”
Gilbert's face was a mix of anger and sadness. “Captain. I'm happy to be standing here, I can tell you that much. Lieutenant Satier and his crew weren't so lucky. I'll give you a full report, but I’d like to see this crewman to medbay if you can spare me.
“Is he in bad shape?”
Gilbert shrugged. “Physically, well, he doesn't have anything that won't heal. But... I'll show you the rest in the report. They treated him like an animal.”
Sarah talked to the Amalli crewman as medics helped him from the shuttle. “If there is anything you need, sergeant, you let someone know. The doctor is going to look you over.”
The crewman looked haunted.
She moved closer to him, looking him in the eyes.
“We're not dealing with human beings, Captain. They butchered Laren. They made me watch, held my eyes open. They took him apart, piece by piece as he screamed. There was nothing I could do. No questions, just torture and language lessons. If I messed up a word too bad, or didn't cooperate, they punished Laren.”
Sarah squeezed the man’s shoulder. “You're safe now. Get to the medbay, get some rest. We’ll find justice for our lost crewmen.”
“Nuke 'em Captain,” the crewman responded.
Sarah didn’t respond as the medics took him away. His comment reminded her of business at hand.
Gilbert and Dr. Jannis were talking, Sarah tapped Gilbert on the shoulder. “Commander, I'll be in my quarters, meet me there as soon as you are done in medbay.”
“No more than a couple of hours, Captain. You sure you don't want me to clean up first?”
“Grab a quick shower, but don't waste time,” she said.
“Yes, sir,” Gilbert replied.
Sarah watched her first mate go, and thought about what the crewman said. Nuke 'em... It haunted her thoughts as she walked to her quarters. These natives weren’t Hive. They were people. Nobody should be wanting to nuke anyone.
After arriving in her stateroom, she played music and sat at her desk. She thought about what Merik did to her crewman, and wondered if Merik would rise to the level of threat where nukes made sense. Could it get that far?
Would I do it? If it comes to the adepts or my crew?
Sarah thought of her years fighting Hive, of losing ship after ship, crew after crew. Now a new enemy threatened, and she would have none of it.
Can Merik threaten us anywhere in the Oasis system like Alarin melted the rock on Skuld?
“Yes,” she said aloud. “I’d do it.”
“Do you have a directive Captain?” Lucy asked.
“No, Lucy. Just a thought.”
She’s standing in the way. She threatens the ability of humanity to survive.
We have to avoid any more nukes if at all possible. But if she threatens the Stennis or the fleet again…
Chapter 32 - Captain's Personal Log
32 ORS 15327
AI Lucy82A recording, Captain's personal log, Michael Stennis archive: Galactic Standard Date 11:02:17 Ors 32, 15327
Personal log entry #772, Captain Sarah Dayson, origin Korvand, Pallus Sector.
Current Location: Star System Oasis, orbiting Fandama.
The expedition to the surface to save the crew of the Amalli was a disaster. Gilbert and I both underestimated the locals, considering them primitives with magic tricks. What is wrong with us that we didn’t take them seriously after the Amalli? Do we want to settle down so bad that we’re making bad decisions? We didn’t get Alarin until after Gilbert had left, and I had no way to recall him with no radio contact. Gilbert used a tactical nuclear weapon… I am not happy about it, but it sounds like he felt backed against a wall. I have to make a point with him that even a right decision sometimes has consequences. And I’m not sure his decision was right. I’ve got the mission holos running right now, I’m watching them to see if I can make any sense of it.
There won’t be any more excursions to Refuge until we have a plan in place to deal with the adepts.
We need a break, and one is overdue. Our technology is all that stands between us and savagery. I need Corriea and Alarin to find a solution to the Merik problem.
[67 second pause, sounds AI estimates 75% probability are of food being consumed]
I don't see any way out of killing Merik. She's devoid of morality as we see it, and dangerous. No, that's not the right word. The adepts that killed Satier were dangerous, Merik is well beyond that. She's beyond respect for life, much like the Hive. Even the lives of her own people. Killing her really isn't the question, the only mystery is how to do it. Single stealthy assassin, all out assault with our remaining forces, a nuke… or some weapon we haven't thought of yet. Nuclear weapons will be my last resort, but… well, if the survival of the Seventh Fleet is at stake, I’ll do what I have to do.
[sound of cooler opening, a popping noise as a seal is broken]
Franklin is coming to my quarters to debrief, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Relieved he’s alive. Glad to see him. Terrified of where we’re going… afraid to risk the pain of losing family again.
Officers can't be writing their own battle plans, at least not to the degree he did. I’m torn. We agreed not to go nuclear. But that might have saved his life. I'm counting on him to conduct himself as a representative of our people, I need to know he didn’t make the decision lightly.
[189 second delay, sounds AI estimates 82% probability are utensils being placed in recycler]
The locals are backwards, with a primitive authoritarian government, a religious structure permeating their society, and a huge disparity between the haves and the have nots. I learned during my college days that such a structure
is inherently unstable, but here is one that has stood for thousands of years. I guess the evolution of the adepts has been a stabilizing input.
[a chime sound]
Dayson.
Seto, Captain. Commander Gilbert just checked onto the duty roster as available for call. He said he read the briefing packet you left for him on Merik, Alarin, and Corriea’s research. He is heading you're way, asked me to call you and advise.
Thank you, Halani. I'd like to not be disturbed for the duration of my meeting with the Commander.
Of course, Captain.
Dayson out.
[sounds AI estimates 71% probability to be pacing.]
That's all I've got, Lucy.
End the log.
Chapter 33 - Hindsight
32 ORS 15327
Sarah's hatch chimed. The monitor in her room showed Commander Gilbert at the door. His hair was still wet and spots of dampness dotted his white cotton shirt. Just like the first night they drank together.
“Open,” Sarah said, and the hatch cycled open to allow the Commander in.
“Captain,” he said, nodding his head in greeting as he dropped a foil wrapped chocolate bar on her desk.
Sarah felt a twinge in her stomach as she stood to look at him.
I had no idea how much his danger would affect me. I’m becoming too invested…
Sarah felt the same emotions toward Gilbert she’s felt toward Vonn years ago. They were similar in their boyish charm and stupid bravado. Maybe it was true that people return to what they know.
“You okay, Captain?” Gilbert asked. “I’m here to give my report. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Sarah sighed. “We have to talk, Commander.”
“I’m all ears.”
Sarah stepped over to her desk. She froze a moment when she saw the envelope sitting there. She wanted to turn around and forget it.
I can't ignore this.
She picked up the envelope and walked over to Gilbert. “This is for you and about you. It's paper only, nothing in the data logs.”
“What is it?”
“Letter of reprimand.”
