Article 23

by William R. Forstchen

  "You enjoy the kick-out ride?" she asked.

  "Sure was a long haul, sir."

  "Maria Hemenez," she said, extending her hand.

  Surprised by her openness, Justin took it.

  "We're cruising along at nearly a hundred and ninety thousand klicks per hour now, though it will bleed off as we coast up and away from the sun," she told him. "Anytime I'm on watch and you want to come forward, feel free."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "No problem."

  A gale of laughter erupted, and looking over his shoulder he saw Matt had a band of admirers enjoying his story.

  "Better tell your friend there to get back to work," Maria said quietly.

  "Yes, sir, I will."

  Justin walked over to Matt's side.

  "And then, well, then she said"

  "Hey, Matt, can I see you a second?"

  "In a minute, buddy."

  "Now," Justin hissed.

  Matt looked at Justin and shrugged his shoulders.

  "Old roomie here's gotta problem. I'll be right back."

  Justin looked around and realized that there was no hope of privacy in the mess hall. He motioned Justin back into the galley.

  O'Brian was in the far corner, banging on some pots and swearing away.

  "Look, Matt, the Old Man, MacKenzie, he's got it in for you," Justin whispered.

  Music again flooded the room and Justin looked over to see O'Brian looking back at them, his hand dropping from the computer console.

  "Why?" Justin asked.

  O'Brian pointed to the screen and then at the loudspeaker. What it implied was deeply troubling to Justin. He had never heard of an officer eavesdropping on his crew; first of all, it was against the law, and secondly it implied a lack of trust that was extremely disturbing.

  "Hey, what did I do?" Matt asked.

  "You exist, that's reason enough. So keep a low profile and knock off making a spectacle of yourself."

  "Me, make a spectacle of myself? You gotta be kidding."

  "I'm not."

  "Yeah, right. You're just jealous because Tanya shot you down and I was hitting it off with that girl from Company B, Marissa Livollen."

  "Come on, Matt, you know me better than that."

  "OK, but you're askin' me to be what I'm not. I can't help but cut it up a bit at times."

  "Well, if you want to stay out of trouble, believe me, don't draw attention to yourself. All right?"

  "Yeah, sure, buddy, no problem at all."

  Justin and Matt grabbed a quick meal back in the galley after they finished their work. Before cutting them free O'Brian sent the two below to the hydroponics tanks to bring up some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for a salad. Heading aft, they passed through part of the engine room. A lone enlisted man was in the back, and Justin paused for a moment to study the layout. The shielding to the reactor core covered the entire aft bulkhead. They passed through the heavy lead-lined door and stopped again to look at the reactor and engine pods, which jutted into the bowels of the ship. It was an older design, a Beta-class nuclear pulse engine. The energy of the reaction superheated the reactor mass, which could be almost anything but was usually just liquid hydrogen. The high-stream jet it expelled produced far more energy and thrust than any of the old-style chemical-reaction rockets.

  Going down a narrow circular staircase they reached the hydroponics deck. The deck was added on in a retrofit when the ship was reconfigured for extremely long distance hauls. Matt wrinkled his nose at the smell even though the filters had removed the most unpleasant aspects of the recycled waste water and ship's sewage.

  "Come on," Justin laughed, "you have a hydroponics unit on your sailing pods."

  "Yeah, but that stuff is your own, not somebody else's," Matt replied.

  "I should have taken you to a pig farm down in Indiana," Justin laughed. "Boy, what a smell this is OK."

  Justin opened a bag and plucked several dozen tomatoes from a vine along with a dozen cucumbers.

  He was surprised to see the wide variety of plants O'Brian was cultivating in the hydroponics farm. There were fast-growth space-hybrid lettuce, cucumbers, several varieties of tomatoes, some broccoli, and a wide variety of herbs. On higher racks sorghum was laid out in orderly rows, specially cloned to produce the maximum turn around of CO2 to oxygen and thus act as a natural filter system.

  The room ended in another barrier of heavy shielding, marking the forward sector leading into the lower storage areas, weapons lockers and missile room.

  It seemed like it'd be easier to return back up to the galley that way but O'Brian had strictly forbidden it, saying that MacKenzie had a problem with enlisted personnel treading anywhere into officer's country without permission.

  Returning back through the hydroponics farm, Justin and Matt floated up the ladder, cleared the shield airlock and went back to the galley.

  "Ah, the happy peasants, dressed in colorful folk costumes, returning with the harvest," O'Brian chuckled. "Stay with me and you two will be ready to ship aboard one of them granola organic habitats by the time you're done. You'd fit in right well with them aging old hippies gone back to the simple life, eating their stone-ground barley while orbiting Venus."

  "Hippies?" Matt asked.

  "20th century Earth word. I think you solar sailors would fit right in."

  Matt, not sure if he had been insulted or not, handed over his bag of tomatoes. O'Brian tossed both of them a couple of cherry tomatoes as a reward. Delighted, Justin popped them into his mouth. Matt looked at them curiously, tried one, smiled, and then downed the rest.

  "All right, you two youngsters, supposed to be study time, so get to work now and stay out of trouble."

  Back in their room Justin saw Tanya and Madison hunched over the computer screen, which was flickering and wavering.

  "Something's up," Madison announced as they came in.

  "What's wrong with the computer?' Justin asked.

  "We were trying to link into Uncle to get the upload on our Astro-Nav assignments, and the signal kept wavering. Uncle said that solar flare activity is way up and interfering with all signal traffic."

  "But there's more," Tanya interjected. "I tapped into the news net, just curious, wanted to see how my cousin did in the ballet competition in Saint Petersburg. There's been an incident."

  "A what?"

  "Some damn traitors, that's what."

  Justin turned and saw Colson, with several other cadets, standing in the doorway.

  "So what do you think now, Everett?" Colson asked, his voice cold and threatening.

  "Think about what?" Matt asked.

  "Some of your buddies seized a Fleet ship today, that's what."

  Matt was silent.

  "It was carrying some personnel working for my family. They're holding them hostage. It's piracy and kidnapping!"

  "Maybe they have a legitimate complaint," Matt replied coolly.

  "Legitimate complaint! I'll tell you what a legitimate complaint is," Colson shot back. "If they don't space everyone involved, that will be the crime."

  "Ever see someone die in vacuum?' Matt asked through clenched teeth.

  Colson was silent.

  "No, figured you haven't. I have, and I sure as hell have a complaint against those responsible."

  "Maybe they deserved it for their own stupidity."

  Matt started to move towards the door. Madison sprang up and got between them.

  "So you're in agreement with these traitors then, aren't you?" Colson shouted.

  "You're damn straight I am if they are doing anything against you and those like you."

  "Bet you wished you could join them," Colson said.

  "Don't answer that, Matt," Madison shouted. "He's just trying to set you up."

  "I think you know the answer to that," Matt finally replied, struggling for control.

  "Colson, get out of here now," Tanya shouted. "Just get out of here."

  Colson looked over at his companions. "See, I
told you so," he announced and then with a nod of his head he motioned for his group to leave.

  Matt looked back at Justin. "I'm gonna wind up killing that guy some day," Matt said.

  Justin looked over nervously at the computer, unable to reply.

  Chapter VI

  "All hands, you are aware of the report of increased solar flare activity. We've just received advance warning from our Mercury Solar Observation Station that an eruption of unprecedented proportions has ignited on the surface of the sun. Background radiation levels are expected to soar nearly eight hundred percent in the next twenty-four hours, with spikes reaching two thousand percent."

  Justin looked over at Matt as Doctor Zhing showed the last image broadcast from the Mercury observatory before the storm disrupted all transmissions. It was hard to judge the size of the solar flare by the picture, but Justin guessed it was at least several hundred thousand kilometers across and millions of kilometers long. He hefted the anti-radiation suit that he had just been issued. In spite of zero gravity he judged the suit had several hundred pounds of mass. The only difference between the suit and full EVA gear was that there was no backpack, gloves or faceplate. The extra mass, he guessed was most likely made up of a synthalead lining.

  "No sweat," Matt whispered. "I've seen worse; as long as we got the suits on we'll be OK. Heck, this should kick up the solar wind I bet Uncle Dan will have all sails out for this storm."

  "As soon as this meeting is over you are all to don your anti-radiation suits," Doctor Zhing continued. "No personnel are to go aft of Bulkhead Four. All personnel housed aft of that position are to double up with personnel forward; room assignments will be posted. The hydroponics deck, which is completely unshielded, is strictly off-limits. The air circulation system that runs aft through the hydroponics deck already has extra baffle shielding inside the air ducts, so we don't have to worry about any contaminated dust particles. The filters are not to be touched, though, until this ship docks and properly shielded and trained personnel remove them. The rest of the lower deck is off-limits as well except for short visits to gather necessary supplies.

  "We're going to position the ship so that its long axis is pointed directly back at the sun. The reactor engines and their shields should absorb most of the blow, but radiation inside the ship is expected to rise to a potentially dangerous level. Any questions?"

  "How long is this expected to last, sir?" Tanya asked.

  "Not sure, maybe for the duration of the run out to Mars. At least we're outbound rather than running in, so that will help somewhat. The interference level is significant, though. We've already lost all communications except on our primary dish, and even that signal's rapidly degrading. The forward edge of the storm is expected to wash over Earth orbit later today, and all communication will most likely be lost except for a few high-powered stations with strong directional focus. That means we're cut off. We're heading into a dead zone anyhow between Mars and Earth, no relay stations, no colonies out here, so skipping signals from high-gain systems aboard large ships is out. I guess we'll be out of touch for a while once the storm hits."

  "No Academy assignments," Matt whispered with a smile. "Can't give us homework now."

  "Anything else?"

  Justin watched as Zhing scanned the group. He had heard a rumor the night before that Zhing had a reputation for getting into the "medicinal alcohol." Because there was so much money to be made aboard an orbital colony or even in the mining camps it was hard to find enough doctors for a flight; sometimes less than the best were recruited and given the rank of Lt. Commander. Either they were straight out of school and looking for a few adventures before settling into a practice, or they were at the tail end of a downwardly spiraling career. I haven't seen any indication of a problem, though, and he does seem kindly enough, Justin thought.

  "If there are no further questions, you are dismissed. I'll be around within the hour to check that all of you are in your protective gear. You should know the drill. Avoid exterior walls, keep a sharp eye on your rad-dose meters, and suits should only be removed four times a day, ten minutes at most for going to the bathroom and sorry, that doesn't include time for showers."

  Zhing nodded as if in dismissal, but the forward door opened and the assembly snapped to attention as Captain MacKenzie came into the room.

  He stood silent for a moment, dark eyes darting back and forth.

  "If Doctor Zhing has done his job correctly you've all been informed of our situation," MacKenzie began. "All ship's routines will continue as normal, except where there are safety considerations. The aft engine room has been sealed, the door bolted and secured and engine watch will be run forward in the secondary control center. There is, however, one further announcement.

  "An incident occurred on the day of our departure. I felt it best not to discuss it with you for obvious reasons, but circumstances have changed."

  Justin shifted uncomfortably. Everybody already knew what had happened from their contacts with Uncle aboard the Academy. Now they were going to hear it officially.

  "Yesterday a group of terrorists claiming allegiance to the Mars separatist movement seized a USMC ship in orbit above that planet. A number of civilians are being held hostage with the claim that they had violated certain laws on Mars and as such were to be detained for a local judge and jury to decide their fate.

  "Those individuals were engaged in a legitimate business operation chartered by the United Nations, and as such they do not fall under any so-called 'local control.' Besides, such claims are totally without merit. No violation of generally accepted law had occurred. Thus these raiders are no better than pirates and should be treated accordingly and without mercy for that fact alone.

  "It is reported as well that an officer aboard the ship allowed these pirates to gain access. There was a report of casualties on both sides. It is disgusting to realize that someone wearing the uniform of the Fleet has turned traitor. This should not come as a surprise, though, to those of us who are loyal and who are at times forced to associate with such scum hiding behind our uniform."

  He fell silent for a moment. "Yes, there are traitors in our service, and it is time they were rooted out and smashed like the vermin they are."

  He slammed a clenched fist into an open palm as if he were actually performing the act of annihilation, and Justin winced at the sound of the blow.

  "This, gentlemen, was an act of mutiny and piracy and as such the regulations are well known execution."

  He spat out the last word as if the sound had a certain pleasant ring to it.

  "This is not the Academy, it is a ship of the line. There are no kid gloves here like your Thorsson wears. I expect all of you to do your duty.

  "The last communication I received from USMC headquarters before communications failed indicates that a full and formal Declaration of Emergency is about to be announced."

  Justin took that information in, not sure how to react. It had been nearly ten years since the last Declaration of Emergency had been enacted. The situation had been far worse then, a group of religious extremists in South Central Asia, the Thugees, managed to secretly manufacture and deploy a dozen thermonuclear devices with the intent of destroying the newly created Skyhook tower, claiming that it was an offense against God. It was the last time a nuclear device had been used when a USMC strike force had gone in to destroy the stockpile, the extremists had set a weapon off in an act of self-destruction that had also killed over two hundred strike marines.

  "Since we are now out of contact with all higher authority, the rules and regulations regarding the behavior of ship's personnel in time of emergency are now in force."

  For the first time Justin suddenly realized that there was something different about MacKenzie. It wasnt just that he was wearing a full anti-radiation suit it was that he had a sidearm strapped to his waist.

  "Ship's company dismissed."

  Without another word MacKenzie retreated back into the forward section. Zhing,
eyes wide, watched the Captain depart and then turned back to the cadets.

  "Go on, now," he said quietly. "Run along and get yourselves suited up. Go on!"

  With a very unmilitary gesture he waved the cadets off as if they were so many children on a playground. Heading into their room, Justin slid the door shut after his three other roommates came in.

  "Hey, a full blown storm," Madison said excitedly. She unstuck one foot and started to slide into her suit.

  Going over to the wall Justin turned the ship's computer on, punched in for some music and turned the volume up.

  "Come on, Bell, Wagner's a little heavy-handed for all this," Tanya said. "At least put a good Russian composer on."

  "Listen up, all of you," he whispered.

  Justin turned the volume up even louder and motioned for his three friends to draw in closer. Leonov smiled warily as if he were planning some sort of trick.

  "Now listen, I turned the music up so no one can hear us. I don't have a good feeling about this announcement."

  "What, the storm?" Matt laughed. "Hey, I've been in one of these suits for weeks at a time, it's a snap. Except that you stink to high heaven after a couple of days the damn things are like a sauna bath gone amok."

  "No, stupid," Leonov retorted, "he means that separatist movement incident."

  "MacKenzie seemed pissed," Madison added.

  "Exactly," Justin replied. "Listen Matt, no joking around. Something's wrong with that guy. Last night when I served him dinner he was talking kind of strange. Something about 'they're all in it together.' And did you see the gun?"

  "Yeah, a genuine Walker 8 Laser. Burn a hole through an elephant."

  "Never heard of an officer wearing a sidearm aboard a ship," Tanya said.

  "Well, the regs say that in an emergency situation, if the Captain feels his ship is threatened, he is authorized to wear a weapon."

  "Threatened by whom?" Tanya snapped. "Us?"