"I like to keep things lively. Think we can wrap this up in twelve minutes?"
Ada shook her head as she chuckled. "We'll see what we can do. Silver, cue the music, we're coming out, and we're going to need an expedited service."
"Expedited?" Silver answered over the newly established comm channel.
"Little Pete might make an appearance otherwise, if you get my meaning," Ada answered.
"Oh?" Silver asked. "Oh! Music starting. I'll tell Katherine to shorten the script!"
"You ready for this, Marny?" Ada asked, bridging comm channels so Silver could listen in.
"Never been more so," Marny answered.
The elevator opened just outside Hornblower's bridge, although its heavy armored hatch had been left open. A long, white carpet led over the threshold into the center of the spacious, refurbished bridge. Marny nodded her approval at Raul Martinez's Marine honor guard who stood on either side of the open hatch, securing the entry and standing at attention.
Standing in the center of the bridge was Marny’s fiancé and soon-to-be husband, Nicholas James. He had his back to the broad array of armored glass that looked out over the forward deck of Hornblower and showed a fabulous view of the inky star field beyond. Dressed in a black tuxedo and stark white shirt, he watched her approach with adoring eyes.
A push from behind propelled her through the doorway. Marny stood straight as she walked, keeping her head high as she locked eyes with Nick. She'd never expected to find someone she could love so deeply, and knew that whatever might come, they'd face it together.
"You're gorgeous," Nick whispered as he stepped forward and took her hand, leaning forward on his tiptoes to give her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Not quite yet, my eager groom," Katherine LeGrande said, clearing her throat. A murmur of laughter passed through the small crowd that stood on either side of them.
"What'd he do?" Liam asked, his voice emanating from a speaker atop a tall stool next to where Nick had been standing.
"I kissed her too early, Liam," Nick admitted.
"How does she look?" Tabby asked over the same speaker.
"Gorgeous," Ada said, from her position in the front row. "All white satin, lacey veil. I've transmitted pictures. You'll get them in a few days."
"I'm huge, Tabby," Marny said.
"Perhaps we could get back to the service," Katherine said, shaking her head in bemusement.
"I bet you're amazing," Tabby said wistfully, ignoring Katherine.
"Go get 'em, buddy," Liam said.
Nick, hearing Liam's urging turned to Marny, holding both of her hands within his own. "We're ready, Katherine."
Katherine nodded her head and started reciting the service she'd worked out with Ada. There'd been plans for speeches from a few of their friends but, having learned of the expedited service, she moved through the service quickly, finally ending with the long tradition of exchanging rings.
"You are now man and woman, joined as one," she concluded. "A kiss is now acceptable, Nicholas."
As Nick stretched up, Marny suddenly tensed, her grip on his hand nearly crushing. Looking into her face, he was startled by the pain he saw. "Marny?"
"Baby. Coming," she grunted, closing her eyes.
"What?" Tabby's alarmed voice came across the speaker.
"She's having the baby," Ada said, waving at the back of the room. A Marine raced forward, pushing a medical grav-chair down the aisle.
"Now?" Tabby asked. "At her wedding?"
"Contractions all morning," Ada answered, any sense of decorum long since lost.
"Kiss her and seal this deal, Mr. James," Katherine ordered.
Nick helped Marny to the chair as the contraction faded. "I've got you," he said, then leaned in and kissed her soundly.
"He's so little," Ada said, reaching over to stroke baby Peter's soft red scalp. Marny was sitting up in her quarters, the stress of the last few days having dissipated.
"I feel the thrum of the engines," Marny said. "I take it we're underway."
"Nick said there'd be hell to pay if we didn't," Ada replied with a grin. "Can I hold him?"
Marny shifted, handing the small warm bundle to Ada, who skootched in beside her on the bed. "He's such a perfect little man. I can't wait to see who he'll be. Will he be a warrior like you or an industrialist like Nick? Aunty Ada is going to spoil you rotten, Little Pete."
"Anything on long-range scans?" Marny asked. "Nick took my earwig and said I didn't get to have it back until tomorrow."
"There are a couple of sloops and a freighter coming toward Zuri from the Tamu gate," Ada said. "If they don't change course, we'll pass them at two thousand kilometers in twenty hours. They're sailing under a Pogona flag."
"How are the engines performing? I really wanted to be there when we lit them up for the first time," Marny said.
"Smooth as a baby's bottom." Ada smiled at her own play on words.
A whistle at the door announced the arrival of another visitor.
"Come in," Marny called.
Flaer, a tribal healer from the planet Cradle, entered. "You should be resting," she chastised. "Your body needs time to recover and I won't be fooled by all of these unnecessary interruptions. Have you tried feeding him yet?"
"Just did before Ada got here," Marny said.
"Was he interested?" Flaer pressed.
"I think I'm overwhelming him," Marny said. "He was choking some."
"He'll learn to control it," Flaer answered. "I was worried that with the leanness of your body you would not be able to sufficiently produce. You may experience some discomfort as you adjust to his schedule."
"Not sure who you're calling lean," Marny chortled. "Have you seen me lately?"
"I have followed your progress," Flaer said. "I would have appreciated at least five kilograms more at the end, but all is well. The medical AI suggests that if you so desire, a low dose of medical nanobots would begin your recovery. I assure you this is unnecessary. A nursing woman's body recovers very quickly."
"I've a ship to command, Flaer," Marny said. "Please start the nanobots."
"As you wish," she said.
"One moment," Ada said, pushing a hand over her ear. "I'm afraid duty calls."
"What is it?" Marny asked, her face creasing with worry.
"Not this time, my dear," Ada said, handing Little Pete back to her. "When your doctor says you're fit for duty, I'll happily hand back the reins. Until then, you'll take a much-needed rest."
Little Pete, unappreciative of the jostling, complained, his small frame not yet capable of a good cry. The pitiful attempt, however, drew immediate attention from all three women.
"Fine, just don't leave me out if it gets dicey," Marny said, unable to look away from her baby.
"Copy that," Ada answered.
"We're ten thousand kilometers from Tamu wormhole, ma'am," Ensign Michael Allen announced, uncomfortably looking away as Marny pulled Little Pete from her chest. Making little smacking sounds, the infant communicated his desire for a shot at the other side.
"Copy that, Ensign," she answered. "Would you send Flaer in?"
A look of relief crossed Ensign Allen's face as he excused himself from the office where Marny sat.
"How often is he eating?" Flaer asked.
"Every two hours whether he's hungry or not," Marny answered.
"Such a vigorous baby." Flaer was clearly pleased. "I assume you intend to take a short shift on the bridge for transition to the Tamu system?"
"Would you watch Peter?" she asked.
"I can think of no greater pleasure." Flaer reached for Little Pete and helped to detach him. "Oh, you're such a greedy little piglet." As if to agree, Little Pete scrunched up his face to cry, but before he could scold them or Marny could take him back, Flaer slipped her forefinger between his tiny lips and pulled him close to her body.
"You're amazing," Marny said, pushing herself back inside the grav-suit. It had been two months since she’d last been able to wear a regular
suit. The chest material was expanded as far as possible and the rest was still a little snug, but this was a milestone, nonetheless. Between the nanobots and Little Pete's constant feeding, she'd trimmed off a third of the excess weight she'd gained. Marny was encouraged by the progress since they’d only been sailing toward the Santaloo-Tamu gate for five days.
As captain, Marny shared quarters with Nick on the same level as the bridge and she felt a sense of liberation as she nodded at Ensign Allen, who'd left her room to resume guard duty next to the bridge entry.
"Ma'am." He stiffened to attention.
"As you were, Ensign," Marny said, saluting and then palming the bridge security panel.
A familiar whistle sounded, alerting the bridge crew of the ship captain’s entrance.
"Captain on the bridge," Ensign Allen announced from behind her.
"As you were, everyone," Marny answered, disliking the inefficiency of the formality, but knowing it to be critical in reinforcing the chain of command.
"Welcome to the bridge, Captain James-Bertrand." Marny didn't recognize the man immediately, but the name Lieutenant Walser showed on her HUD as he approached. The prompt was all she needed, as she'd studied her crew in depth, but had not yet met them all. Walser was a Zuri resident who had undergone Commander Munay's rigorous training. Surprisingly, he had received his commission as Lieutenant. Marny had high expectations for the man who was only a couple years her junior.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said.
"Easy as she goes, Dolynne," Ada said to one of two pilots occupying chairs directly in front of the captain's perch.
Marny nodded in appreciation. Hornblower hadn't seen a wormhole transition since its rebuild, so extra crew could well be critical. "Sergeant Martinez, we're ten minutes from transition to Tamu. Let's warm up those targeting systems. Lieutenant Hawthorn, are the wormhole engines online?"
"Aye, aye," Hawthorn answered snappily.
"Fire control is standing by," Martinez answered a few moments later.
Ada pushed out of her chair, gesturing for Marny to sit. "What do you think?"
"That's your chair for the time being," Marny said. "You've more than earned it. Hornblower's first jump should be your honor."
"All hands, this is Chen," Ada said, nodding as she sat back into the Captain's chair. "Prepare for transition to Tamu system. Section chiefs, please check in."
"Sorry about that," Ada said. "Needed to get them going. Where's Little Pete?"
"Flaer has him. He's been fed, pooped, and hopefully he'll just sleep. Where do you want me?"
"Science Two is open." Ada pointed to an open workstation with a good forward view.
Marny looked through the armored glass over Hornblower's forward deck. The cosmic anomaly ahead swirled with waves of red and green distorted light, signaling the beginning of the Santaloo to Tamu system wormhole. “Never gets old, does it?”
"Not even a little," Ada agreed. "All hands. All sections have reported in. Transition in ten … nine …"
The AI picked up her pattern and continued the countdown, displaying for all to see on their HUDs or vid screens.
"Lieutenant Hawthorn, take us to Tamu," Ada said, her voice tight with excitement.
Marny's stomach dropped for a moment as the universe seemed to turn inside out. Fortunately, unlike traveling along a TransLoc wave, the transition through the cosmic anomalies was accomplished in less than a second.
"Captain, sensors are showing three, make that five ships," Lieutenant Walser announced. "Two of them are painting us with targeting locks."
"Brown, full emergency power on evasive sequence one," Ada snapped. "Martinez, prepare counter measures and get me locks on those ships. Walser – what are we looking at."
Marny spun in her chair and punched furiously at the console's inputs, bringing up what Ada hadn't asked for but needed to know. "They're sailing under the Strix flag," Marny said. "I'm taking command. Ada, I need you in that pilot's seat."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Ada answered. "Execute emergency transition of command to Marny James-Bertrand. Brown, transition helm control on my mark."
"Captain, there are missiles in flight," Martinez announced. "We're launching counter measures."
Chapter 5
Go Fish
"She looks so peaceful," Tabby said, watching Jaelisk through the glass of the medical tank we'd set up in the warehouse beneath the bunker.
While Tabby and I put most of our efforts into moving supplies and technology from Gaylon Brighton's husk, Sklisk had been digging out the ramp leading to the first warehouse level entrance. He’d also made good progress clearing rubble from around the building. If anything, the progress pointed out just how far back into the stone-age the Piscivoru had been knocked by the Kroerak.
"The Piscivoru certainly don't fear water or tight spaces," I said, noticing that Tabby seemed distant. A few hours back, we'd stopped working long enough to participate in Marny and Nick's wedding. Not unexpectedly, it had put Tabby into a funky mood. "Want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what? The Piscivoru's lack of fear?" Tabby asked. She averted her gaze to watch Tskir approach rather haphazardly, bringing yet another full load of material destined for the replicator. As it was, the bags she'd brought would keep both the Class-A and C replicators operating for a few stan years.
"You're worried I'm going to push you on the marriage thing," I said. "You do remember, you're the one who proposed to me and bought the rings." I held up my hand, retracted the grav-suit glove, and displayed the ring that matched Tabby’s.
Tabby turned her attention back to the Class-C replicator. It was nearly operational. "Do we have to do this now?"
"No," I answered. "I'm in this for the long haul. I'll wait until you're having a weak moment and then strike."
Tabby grunted out an unexpected chuckle and looked at me, shaking her head. "You know. I think that's exactly what you'd do."
I waggled my eyebrows. "Wait until you hold Little Pete."
"I can't believe she had a baby while we were gone. It doesn't seem real," Tabby said. "Her timing is awful. We're in a frakking war."
"When aren't we?" I sighed and then slid the Piscivoru power supply into the coupling we'd produced on the Class-A replicator to power up the Class-C. I nodded in satisfaction as the final critical component powered up.
"I believe the material I have delivered is sufficient," Tskir said, proudly leaning out from the cab of the truck. "Do you have other tasks you would have me accomplish?"
"Hang on a second." I connected a chute from one of the material bins we'd retrofitted to feed the larger of the two replicators. "How connected to the bunker's systems are you?"
The replicators were designed to work with a mixed material feed. The first stage of the replicator's process was to separate the materials and, if too much of one material was fed in, dump the excess into a reclamation port. Currently, this port was dumping onto the warehouse floor. I wanted to get a bin in place to catch the excess that would soon be spilling out due to the bulk nature of the bags Tskir had retrieved.
"I have been in communication with Jonathan," Tskir said. "Elders have access to each of Dskirnss's systems as they become available."
"These material bags make me think your ancestors had some very large replicators somewhere," I said. "You should see if you can find them and bring them online."
"Dskirnss manufactory is not difficult to locate," Tskir said. "It is, however, unavailable due to collapse."
"Time to learn a new machine then." I gestured to a bucketed construction vehicle. "I bet you could get Sklisk to help you dig. We’ll need all the manufacturing we can get if we're going to make this city defendable before the Kroerak arrive."
"I will do as you say." She jumped down from the truck and glanced at the medical tank. "How long will Jaelisk lay within the machine?"
"A few hours," I said.
"And her arm will be restored fully?"
"Just like your illn
esses were removed when you were in the machine," I answered.
"Piscivoru do not have such technology. Will humanity share it with us?" she asked.
"That's not for me to say," I said. "I don't own the rights to create a new medical tank. Humanity will desire some sort of trade. When your people are ready, I will help with that conversation. In the future, there will be many opportunities for trade between Piscivoru and humanity. Your ancestors left a treasure trove of technology that will interest many species."
"Perhaps we should not have been so free with the Iskstar," she said, her eye lids blinking in what I'd learned communicated annoyance.
"Humans and Piscivoru will see much benefit as friends," I responded. "Don't mistake what I'm saying as anything more than me helping you to understand the parameters of establishing a cooperative relationship. First, we must work together to defeat Kroerak or more than human and Piscivoru will suffer."
"I will think on what you have said." Tskir climbed into a powerful dirt-moving machine.
Tabby and I watched apprehensively as she started it up and rolled forward. Tskir’s time in the smaller truck had given her a basic understanding of vehicle control. The slower action of the dirt mover was beneficial, as it would give her more time to think about how to control its movements, but it didn't escape us that the cost of her mistakes had just gone up substantially.
"Do you think you should have gotten into that with her?" Tabby asked once Tskir had cleared the bunker's large doors, narrowly missing the frame.
"These Piscivoru live communally," I said. "Let's say we live through this and the Kroerak don't actually take over the universe as we know it. Other species will take advantage of the Piscivoru if they don't learn how to protect what is theirs. Can you imagine what a visiting envoy of Pogona would do if they got access to this bunker?"
"They'd clean it out and sell it all. I see your point," Tabby said. "What now?"
"Mining hammer drill and explosive bags," I said. "Piscivoru are disassembling the Popeyes and we need to enlarge that tunnel so we can get them through."
Fury of the Bold Page 5
