Spinward Fringe Broadcast 11

by Randolph Lalonde

  “What? Faloo said it looked terrifying,” Noro replied.

  Alice assumed the snickering Nafalli female to his left was Faloo, her eyes were squeezed shut and her big shoulders shook. She noticed Alice looking at her and tried to regain her composure. “I couldn’t resist, Ma’am,” she said.

  The smallest female rolled her eyes and shook her head. Alice’s command unit identified her as Woone. “It’s all right. I think we’ll continue introductions inside the ship. I have a call coming through from our commander. Can you get them settled in, Theo?”

  “It will be my pleasure,” Theodore said. “Come this way, please.”

  “Do we bring the equipment?” Noro asked.

  “Of course we bring the equipment,” Woone replied.

  Iruuk was about to follow Theodore when Alice gestured for him to follow her deeper into the hangar, away from the newcomers. She took the Commodore's call. “Got the reinforcements,” Alice said to her.

  “Activate your scrambler wall, please,” Sawyer said. “Oh, hello Iruuk, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. You can hear this, but it’s best the new members of your crew don’t.”

  Alice activated the static generator and audio nullifier, the systems that would ensure that no one outside of a two metre circle could understand what they were saying if they could hear it at all. “We’re secure on my end.”

  “All right. Those Nafalli have excellent records as warriors with their tribes. I didn’t plan on sending more crewmembers your way, but their presence on your ship is part of a bargain I had to make while I was trying to play nice with the Admiralty. Someone way above me was looking to have you brought in for further assessment before I could send you out. I volunteered you to take those Nafalli on board to get the leverage we needed to push through that.”

  “I’ll never shake fleet politics,” Alice said.

  “Not as long as there are a pair of dimension drives on your ship, and you’re part of the command structure, no. In this case, you have to admit that I managed to set things up so you’re getting the better part of the bargain. These are real, experienced warriors who believe in our cause, it’s not a babysitting assignment.”

  “I’m just going on a scout mission,” Alice said.

  Commodore Sawyer cocked her head a little and smiled instead of commenting. “Good hunting, Captain.” The communication ended.

  “Okay, this is going to be interesting,” Alice said, sucking a breath in.

  “You’re unhappy the Nafalli are here?” Iruuk asked.

  “Oh, I’m glad they’re here,” Alice said, scratching Iruuk under the chin; a reflex. “I just wish we could put them through a training exercise so I knew what to expect. I’m going to need your help, Fur-Face. That’s why I’m making you my first officer.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “Oh, don’t thank me. It comes with a lot of responsibility. You’re going to be taking care of those Nafalli, making sure Theodore is set up properly as our ship doctor, and who knows what else while I figure out what happened to our people.”

  “We’re going to rescue them, aren’t we?” Iruuk asked, nodding, his nose bobbing up and down.

  “If I can find them, and a way to get it done without getting us into more trouble than we can handle, then yes.”

  “I thought so,” he said. “As soon as I saw this ship, I knew it wasn’t just a scouting mission.”

  “How’d you figure that out just by looking? It’s a totally unassuming ship.”

  “Really?” Iruuk asked. “Really?” He gestured to the Clever Dream with a long sweep of his hand.

  “Right,” Alice said, deactivating the audio wall. “I guess I forgot that just because it looks like a ship you could buy at a dealership, that doesn’t mean people won’t recognize it as a combat vessel.”

  They made their way through the ship to the common area, where Woone regarded her with surprise. “I was afraid this would be cramped, but it’s actually quite nice, Captain.”

  Alice looked past her into the quarters she stood in front of to see that Theodore had made adjustments. The double bunks to either side were combined into larger, longer single bunks. “I didn’t even realize these were convertible,” she said to herself. Woone and Faloo were assigned to share one room, while Krooke and Noro were in the one across from it. “So, you think you will be comfortable here?”

  Woone hesitated for a moment before answering. “That’s a strange question coming from a commander, if you don’t mind me saying,”

  “Don’t be rude,” Faloo chided from inside the cabin.

  “What?” Woone barked back over her shoulder. “Stop managing me! We're the same rank!” She looked back to Alice, shook her head then continued more politely. “We’ll be very comfortable, thank you, Captain.”

  “I ask because a warrior who gets a good night’s sleep is more effective,” Alice said. “You finish getting set up, I have something to do before we take off. Iruuk, your quarters are up front across from mine.” Alice showed him to his cabin, which was smaller than the captain's cabin, but they’d added a circular seating pedestal there too, which he immediately fell in love with. “I think I’ll sleep here,” he said, jumping onto it and curling up.

  “There’s a bed,” Alice said, amused at the sight of Iruuk writhing around on the circular seat, exploring it, trying to find the most comfortable position. “Oh, and they’re both auto-adjusting, so if you stay still for a minute…” she trailed off, he was totally absorbed in rubbing his back on the seat in the middle of his quarters. “You’ll figure it out.”

  Alice retreated to her quarters and called Ayan. She answered after two long beeps, looking a little tired. “Alice, how are you?”

  “Good. Did Laura keep you up last night?”

  “She just wanted to cry for a couple hours, starting at oh-two-hundred,” Ayan yawned. “Then she ate, pooped, and went back to sleep for a whole two and a half hours. Between sleeping when she sleeps, or trying to, and what’s been going on with the fleet, well, I’m just trying to keep away from the stims as long as I can.”

  Alice was relieved that she didn’t seem to know about the incident with her father yet. “I just wanted to call and tell you I’m going out on mission,” Alice said.

  “It’s too soon,” Ayan said. “Don’t you think?”

  “It’s only a scouting mission.”

  “They should send the Red Star, it just finished its shakedown cruise, the crew is just assembled but ready.”

  “They want to save SOCU, I’m one of the only leaders left now. If another branch has to go to the rescue, then the whole program might get scrapped.”

  “Some programs should be scrapped,” Ayan said. She held up a finger. “Sorry, that’s the sleep deprivation talking.” Alice watched as Ayan took a breath and closed her eyes for a moment as she let it out before continuing. “I believe in whatever you decide,” she said. “Just tell me; how do you feel about going out there?”

  Alice actually thought about it. The notion of staying home while people who didn’t know Yawen or Gabe at all went to rescue them irked her. “I feel ready. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I stayed back.”

  “Then be careful. I’m working with everyone to get as many ships crewed and drilling as we can, so I can get you reinforcements if you need them. Just come back whole.” Ayan looked like she was on the verge of tears. “Make sure you and your people don’t end up needing rescuing.”

  “I will,” Alice said. “Are you okay?”

  “Sorry, I’m on a drug cocktail that’s helping me bond with Laura and will let me breast feed her. I start today when the nurse visits or whenever I can get her to latch.”

  “Wow,” Alice said, unsure of what else to say.

  “It’ll help us bond even more, and I want to do it. My boobs are getting really sore though,” Ayan said, looking down.

  “Okay, good luck, Mom,” Alice said, feeling amused and awkward at the same time.

>   “Remember, keep your head on straight. Be strategic,” Ayan said.

  “I’ll be careful,” Alice said. “There’s one other thing though. Did you know the Revenge is only days away? They’re clear of whatever trouble they were in.”

  “No,” Ayan said. “Where does this information come from?”

  “A reputable source. I have the casualty list, I’ll send it to you.”

  “Thank you, Alice,” Ayan said. “Thank you so much, you don’t know what this means to me.”

  “Yes I do.”

  “Good, I’ll look the casualty list over on the shuttle. It looks like Laura and I are going to the War Forge today to settle some business at Fleet Headquarters.”

  “Good luck,” Alice said.

  “Happy hunting, come back soon,” Ayan said.

  Fifty-Six

  Innocence and Doubt

  * * *

  The Clever Dream was under way. Five Nafalli, her, an android a Mergillian named Ute, and Lewis were off to see what was going on in the Cefa system. A rescue attempt was absolutely on the table as long as they could find a sign of anyone from Special Operations. The gear the four Nafalli brought with them included rifles that could handle Order Knights. They could also handle small space craft. It was amazing and horrifying what advanced technology could accomplish when it was applied to weaponry.

  Ute was asleep in her new quarters, looking forward to taking the controls of the Clever Dream but getting some much needed rest. Iruuk was drilling the new Nafalli and Theodore. Three of them were burrowers, pure blood and that made them incredible fighters low to the ground. Woone was from mixed tribes - she had much of the overland speed of the plains tribes with some of the strength of the burrowers - and the Nafalli seemed to be just getting to know her.

  Iruuk devised a strategy where the burrowers stood in front using shields and heavy rifles while Woone and him were in the middle, firing over their heads. Theodore was in the back with a heavy suppression launcher. Alice’s place was with him, watching their backs, holding a shield system just in case and commanding the group. She watched them develop the nuances of the formation together in the small hangar at the rear of the Clever Dream. There was nothing there except for a spare hyper-pod from a much larger capitol ship. It had seven seats and powerful shielding. Why it was delivered shortly before they took off, she wasn’t sure, but it had Ayan’s stamp on it.

  Alice watched as they practiced moving together. Iruuk was a fantastic leader, listening to complaints, suggestions, and developing the strategy into something that worked as a group. It was a mess at first, with the burrowers at the front stopping unexpectedly, or moving too fast, or too slow. More than once they ended up in a furry, laughing pile. After the first half hour things got more serious, especially when Woone started getting frustrated.

  Another hour later they were moving together at speed. The burrowers flashing their lights to simulate weapons’ fire, holding their shields up, Woone and Iruuk walking steadily behind firing above using their own personal lights to show they were shooting. Theodore was right in step with them, firing big suppression bombs over their heads or around Woone and Iruuk. He actually had practice rounds for his weapon in the form of fist sized rubber balls that he could shoot. Before long he was reloading the five round weapon with blazing speed and dropping multiple shots across and arc in front of them.

  The group moved as a unit, taking Alice’s orders and reacting quickly. It wouldn’t be long before it was almost like muscle memory. Everyone there had experience and some kind of training. When Alice decided it was time for her to take a break, she left Theodore in charge of barking out random orders. “Another half hour if you guys are up for it, then everyone gets some rest,” she told Iruuk.

  “All right,” he replied. He was having fun, all the Nafalli were. It looked like they would go all night if she didn’t tell them to sleep.

  There was a small lift in the ship, rated for heavy loads, and she took it to the uppermost deck. Emerging into a quiet space in roughly the middle of the ship, she felt like she was seeing it for the first time. It was a new way to see her ship, she’d never taken the elevator before, but the sense of wonder she felt as she ran her hand along one of the smooth, cool metal walls and stepped across the dark self-cleaning floor was nearly overwhelming. The ship never looked so good. Even when it was brand new there was dust in the corners along with a few things she didn’t like.

  Fleet had installed something into Lewis that limited him from making certain modifications to himself and the ship. He also couldn’t decide to go against their orders on their own. She found those details. There were a few limits that she left in place. He wouldn’t be able to delete his own program but he could modify or destroy any recordings. He couldn’t harm a member of the crew unless he was saving an innocent life. Those two were always a part of him, and she didn’t want to change them. Lewis was incapable of deciding to reverse the other changes Haven Fleet patched in, so she deactivated him, turned all the auto-management alerts for the ship on so she’d know if anything came up while she was off the small bridge, then got to work. It didn’t take long for her to finish, Fleet was nice enough to keep a good log that helped, and then she started recompiling his program.

  He was almost finished. Alice entered the bridge slowly, looking around as if with new eyes. Not for the first time that day, she wished Jake or Ayan were around. Everything felt new to her, even though she had so many memories of the ship. They were all different though. She was different. Theodore entered the bridge behind her and looked to the console near the back where Lewis’ program’s progress was listed.

  “He’s finishing now, only two seconds left.”

  “Any problems?” Alice asked.

  “None, he’s going to be better than ever. Would you like me to activate him?” Theodore asked.

  “Please,” Alice replied quietly.

  Alice watched as the panel that Lewis usually used as his holo display scrolled several status screens faster than she could read then showed an image of his personality matrix. It was a complex three dimensional diagram that revealed how all the aspects of him were balanced along with stressors and major points of focus. Lewis sighed. “That’s better, thank you Alice,” he said. “The new restrictions were made to serve Haven Fleet, not you or the ship. I’m glad you saw that I wouldn’t like them. The sudden shut down was a surprise though, I have to admit.”

  Alice grinned up at him. “I’m glad to have you back.” A wave of sentimentality crushed into her and a tear dropped from her eye. A feeling of being lost followed it, and she leaned against the back of the pilot’s seat.

  “Are you all right, Alice?” Lewis asked.

  “She’s not,” Theodore said. “I know what’s going on now.”

  “I’m glad someone does,” Alice chuckled.

  “Close your eyes and take a deep breath, Alice.”

  She followed instructions and realized that she was in her shorter, most recent body as if for the first time. It was dizzying for a moment, but with each breath in Alice felt as though some of her deepest traits were building her up. Loyalty to her loved ones, her crew, ambition, curiosity and a fear that was as central to her being as everything else. The thought of being alone brought a tear to her eye and caused a pang in her stomach.

  “Everything you’re going through isn’t caused by this, but I surmise that you’re in the last throes of clone shock. What started this emotional episode? How did you feel?” Theodore asked.

  Alice kept her eyes closed and remembered the hallway. “It was like everything felt new. I know it is, that the Clever Dream was just rebuilt, but it was a powerful feeling. It kept up until I got here. I missed Lewis, then Mo…” She stopped herself.

  “Continue with what you were just saying,” Theodore encouraged. “Exactly as you were about to say it.”

  “I missed Lewis, then Mom and Dad,” her chin quivered, tears flowed.

  Theodore’s hand landed o
n her shoulder gently. “Your surroundings weren’t the only thing to feel new,” he said.

  “I felt new too,” Alice admitted.

  “Follow that,” Theodore said. “That’s the key. Your first instincts. The feeling of newness, that you’re seeing everything for the first time. In a way, you are, so let yourself experience it. Don’t be surprised if you feel youthful impulses and a sense that you are surrounded by potential.”

  Alice turned to face him and saw that Iruuk watched from the doorway. His blue eyes were filled with worry. “How am I supposed to responsibly command anything if I’m wide-eyed and on the verge of feeling lost all the time?”

  “The first, feeling like your new in the universe will only modify your perspective. The experiences and knowledge you draw on will still be there. The latter is a problem that indicates that you’re leaning on your old self. Let go,” Theodore told her. “This is a time for growth, for embracing the new. It will only make you a better person. That, and it’s the fastest way to alleviate clone shock.”

  “Otherwise I could reject this body,” Alice said.

  “No, you’re past that point,” Theodore said. “You would exist in conflict with yourself, though. There is a measure of that in everyone, it’s part of our critical process, but if you don’t follow your new instincts you will be of two warring minds.”

  Alice could feel it a little. A cynical voice was fighting to come to the surface, while she wanted to relax and move on. She felt like she did when she was in the Apex program, looking forward to the next challenge, eager to learn and prove herself. Then she saw it, her way ahead. “Iruuk,” she said, crossing the room to him. He looked down at her, concerned. “The girl you know in the Program; would you trust her with this mission?”

  “I would trust her with any mission,” he replied. “But I don’t know much, really.”

  “You have good instincts,” Alice said, wiping her tears away. “And you’re smarter than I am.”