by Ryk Brown
Nathan smiled. “This is going to be an interesting dinner.”
* * *
“Captain Scott,” Commander Dumar greeted, his arms open wide as Nathan and his entourage approached. “I am so pleased that you could join me for dinner.”
Nathan accepted the commander’s vigorous, two-handed handshake. “The pleasure is all mine, Commander.”
“Commander… My apologies, Captain Taylor. It is good to see you as well,” Commander Dumar said as he shook Cameron’s hand. “I see the nanites have done their job quite nicely.”
“Indeed they have,” Cameron stated. “I’m just glad the little buggers are no longer crawling around inside me.”
“Of that I am sure,” Dumar agreed as he turned to Vladimir. “Lieutenant Commander Kamenetskiy. I trust you have been keeping up with the damage inflicted on to your vessel by our good captain here?”
“I have done my best,” Vladimir answered. “However, Captain Scott does make it difficult at times.”
“Well, now that you have access to our facilities, I’m sure you will be able to do far more in less time.”
“I should expect so,” Vladimir agreed, shaking Dumar’s hand.
“We have new faces, I see,” Commander Dumar said.
Nathan turned and gestured toward the two Scout ship captains. “Allow me to introduce Captain Poc, and Captain Roselle.”
“Ah yes, the commanding officers of the Scout ships,” Dumar said as he shook hands with Captain Poc.
“A pleasure, Commander.”
“Mine as well.” Dumar shook Captain Roselle’s hand next. “Captain Roselle, I assume.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Commander.”
Commander Dumar looked confused. “I was under the impression that there were three Scout ship captains.”
“Captain Nash was unable to attend,” Nathan explained. “He begins jump drive testing tomorrow and is overseeing some last-minute preparations.”
“And what of his sister, the lieutenant commander?”
“She is on Earth, helping her family get settled on Porto Santo.”
“Well, nevertheless, I’m sure that we shall all benefit greatly from all of their years of experience. We are lucky to have found them.”
“Lucky indeed,” Nathan agreed.
Dumar turned and gestured toward the large dining table in the middle of the room. “Please, everyone, be seated.” Dumar turned and headed toward his own seat at the head of the table. “The chef has prepared a mixture of Takaran, Corinairan, and Ancotan delicacies for us tonight. It will be a special treat for me as well, as we have all been dining on quite simple fare since our departure from the Darvano system.”
“Why is that?” Nathan asked. “Surely you have enough food with you.”
“A simple precaution,” Dumar explained. “A bit overzealous, perhaps, but without the opportunity to test our jump drive arrays prior to departure, we had no way of being certain how long the journey might take, or where exactly we might end up.”
“I assume your people had computer-modeled the performance of the system prior to departure,” Cameron said.
“Of course, of course. As I said, it was a bit overzealous to be sure. As we became more assured as to the actual performance of the system, and as we grew closer to Earth, we did loosen up some of the restrictions and began to include a bit more variety. However, with all that has happened on Earth, it still seemed prudent to save as much as possible for those who really needed it.”
Nathan smiled. “Commander, no offense intended, but I don’t remember you being such a… Well, a happy person.”
Dumar also laughed. “No offense taken, Captain. Perhaps it was the times in which we met, or possibly it is just that I am so very glad to have successfully delivered this base to your people, where it is needed most. I promise, my serious side shall return tomorrow.”
“Maybe you can keep just a little of the happy Dumar with you,” Nathan said. “I rather like it.”
“I shall endeavor to do so,” Commander Dumar replied as the waiters delivered the first course of the evening’s meal. “I trust that you were able to interface your ships with our automated systems?”
“The Aurora had no difficulties, as all of her computers were replaced with Takaran systems,” Nathan explained.
“And the Celestia?” Dumar wondered.
“It was a bit more of a challenge,” Cameron admitted. “I noticed that you have widened the entry corridor.”
“And added additional airlocks as well,” Dumar explained.
“Airlocks?” Nathan wondered. “I hadn’t noticed any.”
“The entire corridor is now made up of a series of airlocks that open and close automatically as you traverse its length,” the commander explained. “You start at a vacuum, and work your way up to normal pressure by the time you reach the innermost airlock.”
“A rather elaborate system, don’t you think?” Captain Poc commented.
“Perhaps, but it allows us to forego the normal delay of waiting for a single, massive airlock to go from zero to normal pressure—which we can still do if necessary. This allows us to have several vessels in transition at once, each without having to waste time and propellant, stopping and starting along the way.”
“How many ships did you think you could fit in here?” Captain Roselle wondered. “From the looks of your main bay, it is barely big enough for the few ships we have.”
“As we have been mining the interior of this asteroid for resources to feed our fabricators, we have been concentrating on connecting the network of smaller caverns, combining them into larger ones to be used as service bays. We have created a separate operational hangar for the Falcons, complete with their own access tunnels. Our plan is to eventually convert the main hangar into a hub to which many other hangars connect.”
“I thought this asteroid had already been hollowed out and was waiting to be transferred to Corinair,” Nathan said.
“Actually, the process had only been half completed on this asteroid,” Commander Dumar explained. “As with most asteroids in the Darvano system, the core was where the most concentrated deposits of valuable ores had been located. After the core had been excavated to a size large enough to accommodate the cargo ships used to haul away the ores, they started hollowing out smaller caverns, creating a honeycomb-like structure that would help to maintain the asteroid’s structural integrity, while still decreasing its mass. However, as with many such projects, it was abandoned early on by the holders of the original mining rights due to its lack of the more valuable, sought-after materials of the time. It is for this very reason that the Karuzari had selected it as the location for their secret base. Since no one thought it valuable, no one would be coming to claim it and finish the job of extraction.”
“But it does have the materials we need, right?” Vladimir asked.
“Mostly, yes. There are a few rare-ores that we shall have to find elsewhere,” Dumar admitted, “but even if we have to import them all the way back from Darvano, it should not be a problem.”
Captain Poc shook his head.
“Something wrong, Captain?” Commander Dumar wondered, noticing the captain’s body language.
“Sorry, no,” Captain Poc said. “It’s just that it’s still difficult to get used to… The idea that importing something from one thousand light years away would ‘not be a problem.’”
“Yes, I quite agree,” Commander Dumar assured him. “Trust me, Captain, I still find it unbelievable at times, and I just jumped an asteroid across a thousand light years!”
“Captain Roselle’s ship has just made its first jump,” Nathan said, “and Captain Poc’s ship will be ready for jump testing in a few days.”
“Excellent, then you will be starting your reconnaissance missions in short order?”
“We were hoping that we could get their weapons and shields installed first,” Nathan said, “however, I suspect that there is not enough time.”
; “Yes, with only two weeks until the Centauri platform arrives, it is highly improbable. We can probably get their laser turrets installed, but no more than that, I’m afraid. Surely, you do not plan on having them participate in the attack on the approaching platform, Captain.”
“No, we do not. However, I am concerned that this facility might be damaged or even destroyed by the platform, in which case it would be longer still before they could receive the remainder of their upgrades.”
“Do not concern yourself with the safety of this station, Captain. We are rapidly building up our own defenses, and our size and density makes us a difficult target to destroy. Besides, we can always jump away to protect ourselves. My people have already calculated every possible jump point along our orbit that would put us on a trajectory to eventually intercept another object whose gravity well we could utilize to alter our trajectory to come about and return.”
“Of course,” Nathan agreed.
Captain Poc tasted his appetizer. “An interesting flavor and texture. What do you call this?”
“That, Captain, is molo,” Nathan explained.
“Ah. The main staple of Haven,” Captain Poc realized. “I remember reading about it in your reports.”
“I’m afraid I have to agree with Lieutenant Commander Nash on this one,” Captain Roselle said, pushing his plate of molo aside.
“A cross between mushrooms and tofu, don’t you think?” Cameron said.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Captain Roselle agreed, “neither have been on my list of favorite foods.”
“Many consider it an acquired taste,” Commander Dumar commented.
“I’m surprised that you brought it along,” Nathan said.
“Despite its pungent taste, it is quite nutritious, keeps well, and grows rapidly.”
“You’re planning an agricultural bay as well?” Nathan wondered.
“No, nothing like that, Captain,” Dumar replied. “Actually, it was Prince Casimir who suggested it, as a way to help feed the people of Earth in this time of crisis.”
Vladimir smiled. “Oh, please, let me be the one to tell Jessica,” he said to Nathan.
* * *
“Keesh, Tweety. How’s it looking,” Captain Nash asked as he entered the lower flight deck of Scout Three and made his way forward.
“All systems show ready, Captain,” Sergeant Ravi reported.
“Same here,” his cohort Sergeant Poteet added.
“Wellsy?” the captain asked as he paused at the forward ladder.
“Karuzara ops has given us a green light to depart, sir.”
“Very well.” Captain Nash turned aft and looked at his crew. “Anyone need a bandage or an aspirin before we depart?”
“Funny,” Sergeant Frisch replied as he sat in his seat with nothing to do.
“Don’t worry, Fritzi,” Captain Nash teased, patting the young sergeant on the shoulder. “As soon as we get some weapons for you to shoot, you’ll feel like a full-fledged, contributing member of the crew, worthy of sucking up our air and stinking up our head.”
“Stinking things up is Toosh’s job,” Sergeant Frisch reminded him.
“So it is,” the captain said as he climbed up the ladder to the main flight deck. “Gentlemen, are we ready for this?” he asked as he topped the ladder and stepped onto the flight deck.
“All reactors are at full power and the emitter array is green across the board,” Lieutenant Scalotti reported. “Jump drive is ready.”
“Sensors are also ready,” Ensign Agari added.
“Excellent,” Captain Nash said as he moved between the two men and twisted himself around to slip into the left hand flight seat at the front of the flight deck. “Glad you could join us, Commander Eckert,” the captain said.
“Thank you, Captain,” Commander Eckert said from the right seat. “I never pictured myself as an executive officer, but I’ll certainly do my best.”
“Don’t worry, son. On a Scout ship, being XO just means you help me fly the ship, do the things I don’t want to do, and take over if I kick the bucket.”
“I think I can handle that, sir.”
“I’m sure you can,” Captain Nash agreed. “Otherwise Captain Scott wouldn’t have recommended you.” Captain Nash reached down to the aft end of the center pedestal and pressed a button. Large doors covering their forward windows slid down into the hull, revealing the dimly lit interior of the Karuzara asteroid’s main bay. “There’s something you don’t see every day,” he said, looking out the window to his left.
Commander Eckert looked out as well, spotting the Aurora directly outside of them, with the Celestia inverted above her, and both of them moored to the massive docking platform that ran alongside them. “No, sir. You surely don’t.”
Captain Nash put on his comm-set and tapped the earpiece to activate it. “Wellsy, tell ops we’re about to disconnect and head out.”
“Aye, sir,” the ensign answered over the comms from the lower flight deck.
“All flight systems show ready, and we’re running on internal power and life support,” Commander Eckert announced.
“Ops confirms we’re clear to depart,” Ensign Wells announced.
“Very well,” Captain Nash said. “Disconnect all umbilicals.”
“Umbilicals disconnected,” Sergeant Poteet reported over the comms.
“Ops reports positive retraction on all umbilicals,” Ensign Wells reported. “Clear to release mooring clamps.”
“Release all mooring clamps,” Captain Nash ordered.
“Releasing mooring clamps, aye,” Sergeant Ravi acknowledged.
“Ops reports all mooring arms are retracted,” Ensign Wells reported. “We are free-floating and clear to maneuver.”
“Thrusting to starboard,” Captain Nash announced as he slid his maneuvering joystick slightly to the right. The sound of the gas jets reverberated faintly through the ship’s hull and into the cabin, providing them with audible confirmation that the thrusters had fired. Captain Nash looked out the window to his left again as the Aurora and the Celestia appeared to drift away from them.
“Five meters,” Commander Eckert reported as they continued to drift.
“Do you have a nickname?” Captain Nash wondered.
“Sir?” the commander asked.
“A nickname. Everyone on this ship has a nickname. Toosh, Donny, Wellsy, Keesh, Tweety. You need a nickname. Didn’t they give you a call sign during your flight training?”
“Yes, sir. Skeech,” Commander Eckert answered. “Ten meters.”
“Thrusting upward,” the captain reported. “Why Skeech?”
“I have no idea, sir.”
“Skeech it is, then,” Captain Nash insisted.
“Rate of climb is two meters per second,” the commander reported. “What’s your nickname, sir?”
“I’m ‘Captain’,” he answered with a smile. “Privileges of being the CO.”
“Of course.”
“Just don’t call me ‘Skipper.’ My sister loves that name, and I hate it.”
“So does Captain Scott.” The commander looked at his displays again. “Twenty meters to departure altitude. Eight seconds.”
“Thrusting forward,” the captain announced as their ship rose above the bottom edge of the massive departure tunnel.
“Four seconds.”
Captain Nash added more forward thrust, increasing the rate at which they approached the entrance to the departure tunnel.
“We’re clear of the tunnel bottom and rising,” Eckert reported. He looked out the windows and upward. “Doors are closing.”
“I guess they want us to hurry it along, huh?” Captain Nash said as he increased their forward thrust. “Must have been pretty intense flying the Aurora through these tunnels.”
“Definitely something to remember,” Commander Eckert agreed. “Chiles made it look easy, though. Next doors in three minutes.”
Captain Nash and his crew went calmly about their business as the Scout
ship traversed the first airlock section of the Karuzara’s main departure tunnel. The captain divided his attention equally between the displays on the console before him and the view outside the ship. As the tunnels were designed to accommodate ships the size of the Aurora, there was ample space for the significantly smaller Scout ships.
“Seems like a lot of effort to increase and decrease the pressure of all the bays along this tunnel just for our little ship,” Commander Eckert said.
“A lot easier to work on a ship in a shirt sleeve environment,” Captain Nash commented.
“Entering the second airlock,” Eckert reported.
“You been through a lot of jumps, Commander?” Ensign Agari asked from the seat behind Eckert.
“Lost count, to be honest.”
“What does it feel like?”
“You don’t feel anything,” Eckert told him. “Just a bright flash on the view screen and it’s over.”
“I heard the Aurora’s COB feels it in his teeth or something,” Agari said.
“Yeah, I heard that too,” Eckert confirmed. “I never asked him if it was true, though.” Eckert looked down at his displays. “Coming up on max transit speed, sir.”
“Killing forward thrust,” the captain acknowledged.
“Third airlock in ten seconds.”
Captain Nash looked forward, noticing that the third set of airlock doors had only been opened about a quarter of the way. “I guess they figured they only needed to crack the doors open a bit for us to fit through.”
“I’m showing at least fifty meters clearance above and below, sir,” the commander reported.
“Launching will be a lot quicker and easier once our bays are operational,” Captain Nash commented.
Ten minutes later, the Scout ship had cleared the last section of the departure tunnel and was climbing up out of the departure trench that ran along the surface of the Karuzara asteroid. Captain Nash looked outside as the top edges of the trench fell below them. “We’re out.”
“Fifty meters and climbing,” Commander Eckert reported.
“Increasing forward thrust,” the captain announced.
“One hundred meters, three fifty separation. Two hundred. Four hundred. Six hundred. One kilometer, three separation and increasing. We’re clear to maneuver at will.”
