After the short battle, we set down next to Jaelisk as the Piscivoru quickly worked to dismantle the bodies, separating what was good for eating and rejecting the rest.
"There are those who ask why you have not crafted a staff so that you might join in battle with us," Jaelisk asked. "The Iskstar would provide to you that which you need. You simply need ask."
"What about this?" I asked, pulling the crystal I'd been keeping in a special pouch at my waist.
"Did you not craft that for use with your ship's weapon?" Jaelisk asked. "It is not suitable for a hand weapon."
I wasn't sure why I knew it, but she was right; my crystal had a very specific purpose. One for which it had not yet been used.
"I will ask," I said.
"You're going to crawl all the way back to the grotto?" Tabby asked.
"For that?" I nodded at Jaelisk's staff. "I'd do just about anything."
Tabby quirked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "Would you now?"
"Wouldn't you?"
Chapter 8
Go Team
"Roby, bring us in nice and easy," Marny directed, watching from the bridge of the Pogona vessel as thick cables were attached to the inoperable sloop they’d captured.
"Copy that, Cap," Roby Bishop answered, mimicking Marny's shortened title for Liam. For a moment, she allowed herself to reflect on the young man's quick rise to full crew status. Originally a native of Zuri, Roby was cocky and brilliant, but also a poorly-trained engineer. Fulfilling Marny’s expectations, he had grown in both skill and discipline over the last year.
Inelegantly, the dead ship jerked toward Hornblower as cables drew tight and pressure equalized. As the winches spooled on cable, Marny watched their prize being dragged onto Hornblower's otherwise empty flight deck. The deck was just large enough to hold the sloop, having been designed for a few shuttles or even a couple of cutter-sized craft.
"You're fully aboard, Captain," Roby answered, waving through the armored glass from where he'd perched on a moveable catwalk currently suspended from the flight deck's compartment's ceiling.
Looking across the deck, Marny's breath quickened as she recognized the lone figure standing inside the heavy blast-shield doors that separated the flight-deck's wide-open space from the rest of the Hornblower. She could only imagine what Nick would have to say, especially if he'd watched her knock the recalcitrant Pogona to the deck.
"Are you good to go, Gunnery Sergeant?" Marny asked, as Sergeant Martinez approached from aft.
"Aye, Captain. We'll transfer the prisoners to the brig immediately," he said. "Any special instructions?"
"Negative. Make sure they're dealt with humanely," she said. "And relay my appreciation to the boarding party for their professionalism. We're representing humanity with our every action."
"Aye, aye," he answered sharply, nodding his head.
Marny exited the airlock in front of Martinez and floated to Hornblower's deck.
"Something you need to say?" Marny asked when she was within a few meters of Nick.
"Abasi patrol is twenty minutes out," Nick said. "Two heavy frigates. I think we caught a break – they're House Perasti."
Marny was momentarily irritated that Nick wasn't itching for a fight. She'd come on a little strong with him and even felt a little guilty. It didn’t change the fact that she wasn't about to be treated like a princess while on mission.
"Wasn't what I meant," Marny said before she could stop herself.
"You'll have to find someone else to prove yourself to," Nick said. "I've always been on Team Bertrand. You biting my head off isn't really going to change that."
Mentally, Marny kicked herself. If there had ever been someone always squarely in her court, it was Nick. The problem was hers. Taking Peter into combat felt like a sin but allowing her friends to die while she hid away felt like an even larger sin.
"You're right," Marny said. "I don't like any of my choices. I also don't need you making me question myself."
"And this is me not making you question yourself," Nick said flatly. "Would have been easier if you'd at least talked to me before making the decision. You might be surprised to learn that I think you're doing the right thing."
The dark cloud hanging over her seemed to disappear all at once. "You do?"
"You can be thick some days," he replied.
Marny chortled and waggled an eyebrow. "I thought you liked that."
"Bridge deck," Nick ordered as they stepped into a waiting lift. Once the doors closed, Nick turned and pushed up on his toes to kiss her. His hands slid south and he whispered, "I think that goes without saying."
"Captain on the bridge," Ada announced as Marny arrived, with Nick close on her heels.
"As you were," Marny answered. "Walser, how far out is the Abasi Patrol?"
"Forty thousand kilometers."
"Engineering, is that sloop secure?" Marny asked.
"Roger that, Captain," Roby answered. "We're scanning the ship for any nasty surprises."
"Shouldn't we have done that before loading it onto my ship?" Marny pushed back.
"That's affirmative, Captain," Martinez cut in. "We ran an explosives and anti-personnel sweep. Engineering is just double-checking."
"Uh, right, Captain," Roby answered sheepishly. "What Raul said."
"Nick, can you package up combat data-streams and transmit to the Abasi patrol?" Marny asked. "And find a station where I can see you; I'm not sure where you are half the time."
"Copy that," Nick answered. "Data streams are transmitting now. I've also made initial contact with the Cetacar on Rheema. Parlastio Stelantifi is going to look into the Strix issue and the new ordinance."
"Did he give you an initial assessment?" Marny asked, remembering their interaction with the beautiful blue giants who had helped them with their first Strix problem upon entering Confederation of Planets space.
"No," Nick answered. "He's offered to receive us in Amanika at the Cetacarian Embassy."
"Amanika?"
"National Capital for Abasi," Nick said. "Did you know Abasi isn't the only Felio government on Abasi Prime?"
"Must have escaped me," Marny said, mentally preparing for the diatribe that was sure to follow.
"There are five other nations," he said. "Go figure."
Marny was almost disappointed by the short-circuited description. "Ada, let's meet that patrol half-way. There's nothing left here."
"Aye, Captain," Ada replied.
Marny sat back in the captain’s chair and watched as Ada deftly organized the bridge crew, negotiating the change of plans. Her thoughts drifted to the niggling problem of why the Strix had gotten involved as directly as they had. Clearly, the Pogona crew believed Hornblower either wouldn't use the 250mm guns to defend itself or didn't have ammo. It was true, they had scraped deep to find and purchase the ten rounds – now eight – that they had aboard. When they'd taken the ship from Belvakuski, there had been no ammo for the 250mm guns. Marny found it curious that information seemed widely known, at least by the Strix. Typically, there was no love lost between Pogona tribes and Strix.
A few moments later, Ada broke into her musings. "Captain, we're being hailed by Morning Light on Fresh Snow."
Marny smiled at the ship's name. As warrior-like as the Felio were, their ships were often named after serene settings or interesting objects. "Go ahead, Morning Light on Fresh Snow," Marny answered. "This is Captain James-Bertrand."
"James-Bertrand Captain, this is Jamani, Fifth of House Perasti. Respectfully, I ask that you alter navigation path to meet with Abasi Prime. The presence of Hornblower command crew is requested at the House of Koman in three short spans. Will you comply?"
"I request a moment," Marny answered.
"Such is acceptable."
Marny muted the comms. "House Koman, is that a Felio tribe we haven't heard of?" she asked. On her HUD, the AI showed a grand building sitting atop a hill within a bustling metropolis. Unusual compared to the rest of
the city, the building was surrounded by expanses of grass, trees and water features.
"Think NaGEK Counsel, but for Abasi," Nick said. "It's where the Felio houses come together to make laws and work things out. Could be a problem for us."
"Unmute," Marny directed. "Jamani. Perasti Fifth. We will comply as requested. I would address a second issue if allowed."
"House Perasti stands with Loose Nuts, Marny James-Bertrand Captain. If it is within my authority to grant, I will do so," Jamani answered.
"We captured a sloop from the fleet that attacked us. It is my statement that this fleet attacked our ships, unprovoked. As such, I claim this sloop as prize under the Letter of Marque granted to Loose Nuts," Marny said.
"It is the judgment of this officer of House Perasti that the actions of Loose Nuts ship Hornblower were made with honor. Your prize claim is recorded and has been transmitted to the Prize Court," Jamani answered. "Is there further interaction I might assist with?"
"Negative, Perasti Fifth. Hornblower out," Marny answered.
"Swift kills, Hornblower," Jamani answered. "Perasti Fifth desists."
"Ada, set course for the city of Amanika," Marny said. " I want all senior officers available for conference in the wardroom for evening break."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Ada answered. "And if you don't mind me saying it. I think I could get to like that Jamani."
Marny felt a hand on her back. Caught in thought, she startled and turned away from watching her rolls browning in the ovens.
"Thought I'd find you working out," Ada said quietly, looking over to the bassinette where Little Pete lay peacefully.
"Doesn't seem like there’s enough time for that lately." Marny moved to a bubbling pot of Italian gravy on the large stove and gave it a stir. A bad smell wafted up, a warning that the mixture had been on high heat too long. "Damn. I burned it."
Ada chuckled. "That's not like you. Why are you down here cooking anyway? I assigned Jaden Bear to wardroom galley duty."
"I gave him the afternoon off," Marny said. "I needed time to think. I probably should have worked out instead."
"No way, those rolls smell heavenly," Ada said. "Is that lasagna I smell?"
"Old family recipe," Marny said. "Been dying to make it. Plus, Hornblower's new cooktops and ovens were calling me."
"I've been thinking about our interaction with Perasti," Ada said. "I wanted to talk to you before everyone else got here."
"Shoot." Marny pulled the pot of ruined gravy from the cooktop and set it upside down on the sink's reclaimer port. The material, while no longer good for edible gravy, could be reclaimed and turned into the meal bars Liam and Tabby preferred.
"I think Jamani from Perasti was trying to tell us something without being too direct," Ada said, watching Marny's back as the larger woman worked.
"Any ideas on what?" Marny asked.
"She said 'House Perasti stands with Loose Nuts,'" Ada said. "Perasti was first in line to stand with House Mshindi and go after the Kroerak in Sol. A lot of Perasti Felio died because of that decision. I think she's telling us that lines are being drawn."
Distracted, Marny bashed the pot against the side of the steel sink, dropping it. The noise startled Little Pete, who let loose with a wail.
"Darn it," Marny said, grabbing for a towel.
"Can I get him?" Ada asked, hopefully. "Or is he hungry?"
"Would you? And no, he's definitely not hungry," Marny answered.
Ada picked Little Pete from his warm bed and carefully cradled him close to her chest. Instinctively, she rocked and bounced him, cooing in soft tones to help him settle.
"He's so perfect, Marny," Ada said.
Marny smiled as she watched Ada calm the boy. "You're a natural, Ada."
"You know you have free babysitting for life," Ada said. "It's just part of the rescue package you and Liam signed up for when you pulled me out of the life-pod."
"Careful," Marny said. "I might take you up on that."
"Good."
"Back to Jamani," Marny said, dropping the pot into the already full cleaner. "I caught what she said. I've got my own theories, but why do you think she would say that?"
"I did some research," Ada answered. "Before the Kroerak invaded one-hundred-fifty stans ago, Abasi and Pogona were enemies and had been for several centuries. When the Kroerak invaded, only a few of the Pogona tribes actually showed up to help fight."
"That's because Kroerak came through Brea Fortul system and missed the main Pogona populations in the Tanwar system," Nick said, joining the conversation. "Only a few Pogona tribes were actually affected. Fan Zuri was the only Pogona-inhabited planet the Kroerak even touched since they skipped Bargoti."
"Not much strategic or food value on Bargoti, since it's an ice planet," Marny offered, remembering fondly the trundling, simple indigenous Svelti they'd met on Pooni station above Bargoti.
"That's right," Ada agreed. "There's more. Want to guess what species came to power while the Abasi were fighting Kroerak?"
"Strix," Marny answered, although it was information she already had.
"That's right," Nick said. "Strix were credited with bringing the remainder of the Pogona in to the fight."
"Abasi never actually acknowledged the Strix contribution," Ada said. "Apparently, their help came after the discovery of the selich root on Zuri. The Kroerak were already bugging out."
"How'd you find all that?" Nick asked, clearly impressed.
"You can't find it in public Confederation records," Ada said. "You have to access House of Koman archives."
"Those records aren't publicly available," he said.
"Turns out they are now," Ada said. "When Jamani said that House Perasti stands with Loose Nuts, she meant it. At 0800 today, Loose Nuts and the city of York were officially registered with the House of Koman as autonomous protectorates of House Perasti. It is expected that House Mshindi will follow suit this afternoon."
Nick furiously swiped in the air, searching for and rearranging data on his HUD. Marny smiled as she watched her little man attack the virtual data with an intensity she rarely saw.
"There it is. You're right," he finally said. "I can't believe I missed this. Mshindi and Gundi are expected to join Perasti in a few hours. My AI estimates the other houses will follow suit within the week."
"It's a civil war," Ada said.
"War maybe. Not civil, at least if the other Abasi houses fall in line," Nick answered. "The Abasi are part of the Confederation of Planets by treaty. They've been outspoken about the Strix power grabs over the last 150 stans."
A light chime in Marny’s ear announced the completion of the bread and lasagna. The oven would reset itself to keep them warm if she didn’t respond, but the command crew was probably already milling about the wardroom as ordered.
"Steward Bear and Flaer, please report to the Wardroom Galley," Marny called over comms. Between baking the rolls and lasagna, burning the gravy, and talking things over with Nick and Ada, she'd worked through enough issues. She was ready to speak with the command crew.
"Ma'am?" Steward Jaden Bear entered the galley, stiffening as he gained Marny's attention.
"Food is ready. I'll need you to serve," she said as Flaer entered the galley and transferred a sleeping Little Pete away from Ada's arms. "Thank you, Flaer."
"When did he last eat?" Flaer asked.
"Twenty minutes," Marny answered.
"Well, we'll get him down for a nice long nap then," she said, swaying as she walked from the room.
Guilt piqued her thoughts as she turned to the task at hand. "Also, Jaden, let's have that red berry wine."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Bear answered snappily. "And if I may, the baking bread smells delicious. I was told you have a talent and it was not an exaggeration."
"It is a talented man who can tell the taste of a bread by its smell," Marny answered skeptically.
"Indeed," Bear answered. "My family's pastries are well known in York. I am certain you have e
njoyed them within Patty Hagarson's restaurant. Now off with you. I have this well under control." Bear shooed the three toward the door that adjoined the wardroom.
"I think he's saying we're no longer welcome," Ada said, eyebrows raised.
"You know what they say," Bear wasn’t quite willing to let it go. "Too many chefs … and all that."
As they entered, Engineer Hawthorn, Gunnery Sergeant Martinez, and Roby Bishop turned in acknowledgement of the captain and her two most trusted advisors.
"As you were and please sit," Marny said, surprised to see that the shiny steel table had been set with the proper number of settings and that drinking vessels had already been filled with water.
Bear bustled in, squeezing by as he set carafes of the red berry wine onto the table.
Martinez was the first to speak. "What do you make of the Abasi patrol not meeting up with us?"
"It's significant they accepted our prize claim on the sloop and weren't required to escort us to Abasi Prime," Marny answered.
"What's a sloop like that worth?" Hawthorn asked. "I assume we're paying out prize money to the crew?"
"Roby, you probably have the best assessment of value. What's your estimate?" Marny asked, allowing the conversation for the moment.
"One point two million if we can get the systems back online," Roby answered. "Would have been worth quite a bit more if we hadn't holed the starboard engine and fried their control circuits. I was going to ask if we could spend off-shift hours repairing it to help raise its value?"
"No guarantee prize court will find for us. Strix will argue we captured the ship illegally," Nick answered. "If it's given back to the original owners, you'll be doing them a favor."
"It'd be worth the risk. Probably add twenty or thirty percent to the value," Hawthorn said. "I bet there'd be a lot of interest from the crew in fixing it up."
"I don't like it," Martinez said, grumpily.
"You have something, Raul?" Marny asked.
"We didn't get paid more to do our jobs in the Navy," Martinez said. "Feels like a distraction. I don't want my gunners taking it easy on an enemy because they're thinking about the value of the ship."
Fury of the Bold Page 9
