The Decade Worlds

by Patrick McClafferty

  “Do you suspect a problem?” There was a note of concern in Shaw’s voice.

  “This is just a routine precaution for the ruling family.” Gareth volunteered, unwilling to admit that there was a small nagging fear at the back of his mind.

  “You go ahead and pack the shuttle. I’ll speak with my daughter.” Shaw murmured in a weary voice.

  Gareth gave her a short nod, and motioned to the marines to help as he picked up a bag. Grunting, he found that he had to put his back into it. Kiang laughed as he helped a marine with another bag. “Shaw and I brought our books on diplomacy.”

  “It figures.” Gareth panted as he struggled through the front door. When he glanced up, he saw Chiu watching from an upstairs window, but at his look she quickly turned away. A chill wind seemed to blow down his neck.

  Gareth ensured that Shaw and Kiang were buckled in before he made his own way to the cramped flight deck. Despite her safety belts, Mairi seemed to be pulled in on herself, her knees drawn up to her chest. She glanced at Gareth with red eyes. “How could she do it? How could she just turn her back on us?”

  “I don’t know, Mairi.” He admitted at last. “But I do know that she will be missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.” He took a deep breath. “Take us up, Shyrrik, all the way to the frigate.”

  “You do realize, Gareth,” the AI said softly as the shuttle rose out of what remained of the Azaleas, proceeding toward the gateway at slightly more than a walking pace, “that the moment you step aboard the ship you will be officially taking command of the Frigate USS Maine?”

  Gareth blinked. “I don’t know a damn thing about ship command, Shyrrik. I’m not captain material.”

  “You are the one who ordered her recommissioned, and like it or not, you are the senior military member on this planet, if for no other reason than by time in service. Thirty-eight thousand years, time in service is… impressive. I’ve read your soldier’s oath, Gareth. It contains no expiration date. You will be her captain.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle as he resigned himself to his fate. “Not bad for an ex-Jarhead Sergeant who didn’t have a pot to piss in. A captain of a starship. How cool is that?” He murmured. Glancing over his shoulder just as the shuttle slipped through the gateway, he murmured. “And I have a daughter who I’m crazy about.” Mairi couldn’t restrain her small smile. “Watch out universe.”

  “I love you Daddy.” Mairi whispered as the shuttle nosed up to the sky and put The Yeugate and Eldenworld far beneath her.

  Behind them Gareth heard Shaw and Kiang gasp as the glory of space surrounded them. “We will reach the frigate in forty minutes.” Shyrrik noted clinically. Outside the shuttle the nacelles began to glow as full drive was engaged.

  “We are decelerating for the museum.” Shyrrik said in a soft voice.

  Ahead all Gareth could see was stars, and the deep black of space. “Where?”

  Small projected ellipses began to appear on the forward screen heads-up display. “These are the museum ships.”

  “Are they cloaked or something?”

  Shyrrik chuckled dryly. “It is simply a special coating on the hull meant to absorb light.”

  “Thanks.” He replied dryly. “Where is the frigate?”

  “I’ll turn on the exterior lights of the USS Maine, to give you a better idea.” Before them a ship suddenly appeared out of the black.

  Gareth’s breath caught in his throat, and beside him Mairi let out a shrill, “eeep!” of surprise.

  “Mein Gott!” He blurted, slipping back to German in his surprise. “Was ist DAS??”

  “Welcome to the Frigate USS Maine.” Shyrrik announced in a faintly smug voice.

  Two hundred meters long from the tip of her needle nose to the end of the landing platform just astern of the small hangar door at the rear of the sleek hull, and one hundred and fifty meters from swept-back wingtip to wingtip, she was a predator of the first class. Deep blue lighting illuminated sections of the hull, adding to the feeling of suppressed power.

  “I half expected something like a flying brick.” Gareth mused as they slowly traversed the length of the hull. Below them he could make out the name USS Maine in glowing blue letters, followed by what he recognized as the American Flag. He suddenly found a lump in his throat.

  “The Shark Class Frigate was designed for deep atmospheric penetration.” Shyrrik explained patiently. “Also, space isn’t totally empty, and at relativistic speeds a sleek hull requires less shielding energy than a blocky one. Of course, the shielding is unnecessary when the ship crosses into supra-luminal speeds.”

  “Of course.” Gareth admitted, knowing that his knowledge of FTL drives could fit into a thimble.

  Coming up from astern now, the shuttle slowed and dropped onto a small platform that was obviously designed for it. The sturdy ship shuddered for a moment before it began to slide forward. “This is just a small pressor field.” Shyrrik explained. “The hangar is too confined to trust human reflexes to park a shuttle.” The hangar doors folded slowly open and Gareth saw the shuttle pass through an odd shimmer as it entered the hangar bay. “The sparkle that you see is a magnetic containment for the atmosphere. The metal doors are simply a backup.” Gareth approved wholeheartedly. Space he knew, was a stone-cold killer if you made a single error. The shuttle trembled and stopped, the lights coming on in the small hangar that Gareth could now see fit two combat shuttles. “If you would, Gareth.” Shyrrik began, rising from her position between the seats. “Protocol requires that you be the first to board.”

  Gareth sighed as he made his way to the lowered boarding ramp. The instant his foot hit the deck of the frigate the trilling of a bosun’s pipe filled the air, and a calm voice announced, “The Captain is now aboard.” Six other pairs of eyes turned to stare at him, and Gareth could feel himself flush to the roots of his hair. Pivoting to face what he knew was the bow of the ship, he saluted, paying respect to the ancient flag that was affixed there.

  “We should go.” He growled, stepping out. “Lead on, Shyrrik.”

  Lights came on as they walked along the long corridor to the bridge, and Gareth knew instantly that this was an unused and untested ship simply by the smells of new plastic, oil, and metal. In such a small ship, twenty-six meter wide hull at the widest, the bridge was a small compact room set back from the weapons systems located in the nose. Two seats sat at the rear, raised slightly above the rest. Gareth guessed that they were for the Captain and First Officer. Six other seats, three on the right and three on the left, flanked the command positions. On the forward wall a one hundred and forty degree screen swept the width of the room.

  “It you would please take the left hand seat, Captain.” Shyrrik murmured, taking her place in a small hollow just below the view screen that Gareth hadn’t noticed. He swallowed and sat. As soon as his hands touched the armrests of the chair, he felt an electrical tingle pass through him. “DNA registered. Assumption of command is now complete. Welcome aboard Captain Ernst Gareth Köhler.” The bridge lights flickered to life as all the workstations became active and the view screen came to brilliant life. Beneath his feet he could feel the vibration of barely controlled energies as the power-plant and drives came on-line. “If the members of your party would please be seated,” Shyrrik murmured politely, “we will depart. All workstations have been deactivated to prevent accidents. We have months for the new crew, and her Captain, to learn the functions and capabilities of this ship.”

  Gareth sighed. It was always something. He thought to himself in disgust. Now he had to go back to school. “Take us to The Yeugate, Shyrrik.”

  “Yes, Captain.” The stars whirled in the display, and Earth suddenly filled his eyes. He smiled. From space it was no longer Eldenworld, but Earth. Someday soon he knew that they would have to start thinking of it as Terra, the homeworld of mankind, but not the place that they would die.

  “Can you display our course?” Gareth asked, his voice strangely hoarse. A faint line appeared in
the display leading from the nose of the USS Maine, toward the Earth where it orbited once, descending to The Yeugate. Gareth realized with a start that the display was actually holographic.

  “ETA at The Yeugate is twenty minutes. This vessel is somewhat faster than the combat shuttle.” Shyrrik said matter-of-factly. Gareth and the rest of the impromptu bridge crew watched the Earth grow closer in complete silence, until the frigate drifted over Puasheehchester on her final approach to The Yeugate, when someone let out a nervous laugh. “Crew embarkation and debarkation will occur at the main hatch, lower level starboard side.” Gareth frowned. “Simply follow the lights. You will all learn quickly enough.” The USS Maine slowed to a walking pace and very slowly settled to the open field that sat before the Gateway. For some reason The Yeugate didn’t seem quite so large any longer. “We have arrived.” Shyrrik murmured. “When the new crew comes aboard have them ask me for directions. I will assign berths and job positions. Is there any person in your current company who you would like assigned a bridge position?” The question had been addressed to Gareth, and he looked around to see brief nods from Mairi, Kiang, Shaw and Sergeant Yong.

  Gareth smiled. “Mairi, what did you have in mind?”

  He saw her bite her lip. “I was always good in science in school.”

  “Excellent.” Shyrrik said quietly. “Mairi will be our Science Officer.

  Gareth turned. “Kiang and Shaw. Will you please flip a coin to decide who will be my first officer?”

  Kiang simply smiled and pointed to Shaw. “I,” he said simply, “will be assistant Science Officer, if there is such a position.

  Gareth raised an eyebrow. “Mei?”

  “I’ve always like weapons.” She paused, flushing. “Surely this vessel has weapons.”

  “Tactical Officer.” Shyrrik stated firmly. “These are excellent choices.” The voice of the AI paused. “School will begin forty eight hours after we depart Earth, and will last the duration of our trip.” Gareth groaned. “Now, Captain. I believe that your new crew and marine compliment are waiting for you outside.”

  “I’m on my way.” Gareth rose from his seat, and feeling like an idiot, turned to follow the green line to the door.

  Sergeant Major Chihu and his compliment of twenty marines didn’t quite point their weapons at Gareth as he descended the ramp from the main hatch. Instead he swallowed and shouldered his weapon, the rest of the marines following suit. He saluted as he eyed Gareth’s ominous black uniform. “It’s good to see you again, Sir.”

  “It’s good to see you, Sergeant Major.” Gareth smiled at the formation of nervous troops. “You will, of course, disable and store your weapons upon entering the ship.”

  “Of course.” Sergeant Major Chihu replied, looking at the ground.

  “All weapons, Sergeant Major, including hand weapons and knives.”

  “Yes Sir.” The big marine sighed.

  “Good.” Gareth grinned, looking at the sixty nervous university students and professors who were clustered at the foot of the ramp. “Those are my crew, I think. Herd them all aboard, and when you get there ask the AI who controls the ship for directions to their room or the appropriate squad bay.” He frowned and pointed at a large pile of bags and boxes on the tarmac. On the top of the pile, well over the people’s heads, sat an easy chair. “What is that?”

  The color drained from the Sergeant Major’s face. “Personal belongings of the crew and marines.”

  Gareth bit his tongue. “Sergeant Major, this is a ship of war and not a cruise liner. Each person will be allowed one carry-on bag to weigh no more than twenty-two kilograms.” Gareth looked back at the ship. “Did you get that Shyrrik?”

  “Yes Captain.” Shyrrik murmured from the air.

  “Good.” He turned back to the marine. “If a bag weighs more than the allotted weight it will not be allowed on board. You have sixty minutes to rearrange your carry-on luggage. People or luggage that are not on board when the ramp raises in sixty minutes will be left behind.” Gareth could feel the heat on his cheeks. “Carry on.” He growled and spun away, heading for the suite he’d lived in for so long at the Yeugate.

  Mairi was sitting on her bed, looking at her small pile of personal belongings. In her hand she was holding a small golden pendant in the shape of a dolphin that Chui had given her the year before to celebrate the winter solstice. She looked up with red eyes as he approached. “Do you think mother will be there for us when we get back?” She asked in a small voice.

  Gareth really wanted to lie to her, and tell her it would be all right. “I wouldn’t count on it.” He said instead. “Are you packed?”

  She picked up his old rucksack and slung it over her shoulder as if it was the weight of the world. “I guess so.”

  Gareth put his Colt, kukri and toiletry kit along with several changes of underwear and a spare uniform into a pillowcase, along with his old and rather battered USMC cover, and slung it over his own shoulder. His marine digicam uniform had succumbed to the ravages of travel and rough usage some time in the past. Mairi laughed when she saw him. “Aren’t we just the pair?” She observed, taking his arm.

  As Gareth and Mairi entered the USS Maine, Shyrrik greeted them. “Your quarters are on deck one, Captain. Your daughter’s cabin is actually part of your suite.”

  “Thank you.” He said, stepping on the people mover that would carry them up to the first deck. People seemed to be wandering lost in the long corridors. The name Captain embossed on the door told Gareth he’d arrived at the right place. The door slid open at his touch and he stepped in.

  “Well!” Mairi’s voice behind him exclaimed. “This is nice.” The two-meter view screen that sat in the living room above the couch showed the sun beginning to set beyond the western mountains. She dropped her bag beside a writing desk and straight back chair, and began to investigate the wonders of the Captain’s quarters. “You have a huge bed.” She called from another room. “And a small kitchen too, with a table for two. The bathroom is nice, but there’s just a shower.”

  “You expected a tub maybe?” Gareth called back, and heard Mairi laugh. She appeared back in the living room with a frown on her face. “Do we eat here, or what?”

  Shyrrik answered the question in a reasonable voice. “There is a dining hall for meals, however the Captain and one other can dine here, if they wish. The meals of his choice will be provided.”

  Mairi raised her eyebrows. “Well, la dee da! Aren’t we royalty?”

  Gareth laughed. “I would eat with the crew, if I knew where the dining hall was.”

  “Second deck, all the way aft past the marine bays and the science labs. You might consider making your way to the bridge, Captain. We only have ten minutes until lift-off if we are to follow your schedule.”

  Gareth tossed his bag on the sofa. “I’ll head to the bridge. Do we have an outside PA system?”

  “Yes Captain.”

  “Make an announcement that liftoff will be in ten minutes. All crew and marines to board immediately. Make another announcement sixty-seconds before the doors close, and withdraw the ramp on schedule. Liftoff will be on time.”

  “Yes Captain.” Shyrrik replied in a pleased voice. “You run a taut ship, Captain.”

  “I try, Shyrrik.” Gareth exited the room, took a sharp left and continued down the corridor, hoping like hell he didn’t wind up in the women’s locker room. When the bridge door hissed open, he breathed a sigh of relief. A small portion of the main view screen showed the confusion occurring around the pile of belongings on the tarmac. Gareth actually saw one pair of feet protruding from the very top of the pile. From a speaker near the monitor he heard Shyrrik make his requested PA announcement, and the flurry of activity doubled. Gareth blinked when he saw a gray haired professor actually try to drag the easy chair up the ramp and into the ship. The Sergeant Major removed the chair from the professor’s reluctant grasp and threw it to the ground, where it smashed to pieces. Gareth shook his head and looked up
to see Shaw enter the bridge, and pause to give him a wide smile.

  “Are you and Kiang settled in?” Gareth asked, as he noted that Shaw was now dressed in a soft dove gray shipboard coverall.

  “We were pleasantly surprised.” She murmured, sitting down in her chair next to his. “We have a shared cabin with two beds, and a small sitting room.” Her face went expressionless. “I sent a runner to speak with Chiu. There was no reply.”

  “Speaking of Chiu.” Gareth replied several long moments later. “Shyrrik, can you put me through to Ell?”

  “Done.”

  “Ell, we have the only ground to orbit shuttle onboard the USS Maine. You might consider sending one or two down to the surface. I would appreciate it if you would send four marine guards along with a shuttle to the Sai-Bo residence. They are to stay with Chiu Sai Bo until we return.”

  “As you wish, Captain.”

  “You don’t have to call me Captain, Ell.”

  “You assumed more than just the command of the USS Maine when you stepped upon her deck, Captain.”

  “You’re just snickering up your diodes, aren’t you Ell?”

  “Would I do that?”

  “One minute to door closure.” Shyrrik announced just as Kiang and Mei Yong entered the bridge and quietly took their seats. The former Sergeant looked distinctly uncomfortable in her new gray shipsuit, with the shiny Ensign’s hashes on the collar. Gareth threw her a quick wink just as the one minute warning went out. On the tarmac people scrambled and ran for the extended ramp, the last student making it with only seconds to spare. A horn sounded and the extended ramp flowed back into the hull of the ship, forming a seamlessly sealed hatch. “Crew and marines have finished boarding, Captain.”

  “Take her out, and then set course for Ceorean, best cruise speed. When the crew get a little more experience under their belts, we might try a little more of a shakedown, but until then we’ll be cautious.”