Fugitives, p.10
Fugitives, page 10
part #9 of Steven Gordon Series
‘I can’t reproduce it though.’
‘I understand that. I like this ship Captain; I like you and this crew. I want to downgrade this ship to A1 status.’
Charlie laughed, ‘What is higher than A1 Status?’
‘ETAS Status, one to five. Extraordinary technical advanced ships. This should be an ETAS 1 ship, the highest category. If I do that, then I will kill your hopes and dreams of a peaceful life. I want to do it, yet my conscience is bothering me.’
‘It would be an extraordinary consideration sir, given the circumstances.’
‘It would be.’
‘Maybe then we could swap considerations.’
‘How so?’
‘You seemed very interested in our weapons.’
‘Despite the peaceful nature of my race, there are some who do like ancient weapons. I am an avid collector. Tilanium weapons are highly sought after, simply because they are chemical based and cannot be rendered inoperable by pirates.’
‘Ah! I get it now. We were lucky then.’
‘Indeed, very lucky.’
‘Then as a consideration, I could give you the location of the ship and the directions within to the armoury where we got them. I will draw a map for you.’
‘A treasure map.’
‘Nicely put.’
‘You don’t wish to return and retrieve them?’
‘To do so would be to fall foul of the law, but we do not have any interest in them anyway. As a collector, wouldn’t you have some legal rights to claim the weapons and distribute them at your will?’
‘That is correct, of course the government will take its portion of any sales. If you had given me one of those weapons earlier, I would have had you arrested.’
Charlie looked surprised.
‘Please don’t think bad of me Captain. I also like to adhere to the law. Selling weapons illegally affects me directly. You could have returned to that ship at any time and taken those weapons, then sold them on the black market, where they may well have been used illegally. Your unwillingness to do is another reason I am considering downgrading your ship. I like the fact that you are honest and trustworthy, and that despite your misgivings about serving the Empire, you still respect it enough to observe its laws.’ He stood. ‘I will make a final decision on this tonight Captain. Good night.’
Charlie stood and saluted him with a half bow. ‘Good night sir.’
Chapter 22
It was a long night for the crew, and they prepared for the worst. Charlie took the last shift. He was barely dozing when the hanger doors slid open in the early morning and daylight flooded in. He listened into the radio, but there were no communications from control. He woke the crew and when Gail took his place he went outside. He found a strange looking man, almost Human-like, in a boiler suit on a gantry trying to stick something to the side of the ship.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Oh! Morning.’
‘Good morning. May I ask what you are doing?’
‘Just trying to stick your certifications to the side of your ship. A1, we don’t see many of these. Well done. It’s a strange looking thing though. These damn things just aren’t sticking.’
‘You will need an amoured-metal glue.’
‘Oh right!’ He opened a bag and delved inside. He came out with a new tube and fitted it into his applicator. It looked like something you could buy from a DIY store back home. He applied some glue. ‘There we go. Thank you.’
‘No problems. That is quite a stack you have there.’
‘They will fit right along the bottom here. A1, it is a lot of certificates.’
‘Not just one?’
‘Nope, you have to have one for every category. That’s the law. An Imperial vessel can scan them from quite a distance. Each one has your ID and serial number on it.’
More people began to arrive, more gantries were pulled out. Charlie went back to the ship and got the crew ready. The inspector was met as usual by the whole crew and Florina went through the normal routine.
They passed pleasantries until Charlie’s curiosity got the better of him. He pointed to the men on the engines.
‘What are they doing?’
‘Attaching serial numbers to your engines Captain. You don’t have any.’
‘Ah! A requirement.’
‘That is correct. We only have a little paperwork to attend to.’
‘Then come inside please.’
They sat down to a nice cup of tea. The inspector shoved across a red bound volume.
‘This is all your certifications. Do not lose these. Those on the side of the vessel must match these exactly.’
‘I will keep them safe, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to go through all this again.’
Charlie handed over a binder. ‘I hope you enjoy your treasure hunt.’
The inspector’s eyes gleamed as he opened it. ‘I think I will Captain, thank you. Where are you going to after this?’
‘As soon as we got word, we accepted the job, we are now on a very tight schedule. We are heading for Station 0067 to pick up a load.’
‘That is quite a distance, how long do you have?’
‘Couple of days.’
‘You should just make it then.’
‘It will be tight sir.’
‘Are you taking the load back this way? Could I hire you?’
‘Unfortunately we are heading in the opposite direction.’
He stood, ‘Then I shall bid you farewell Captain, and wish you safe passage.’
Charlie stood and bowed. ‘It has been our honour to meet you sir.’
He also stood and bowed. He left the ship clutching the binder to his chest.
Howe joined Charlie and watched the inspector depart. ‘Was he really going to hire us?’
‘No, he was just checking that we were going to be well out of the way. He has a cousin who has his own ship. They are heading out there this weekend.’
‘Are those weapons worth a lot?’
‘Ten gold Imperial coins will get you a side arm. A hundred, a small calibre submachine gun. The section weapons and rifles fluctuate in cost. The best can get you ten grand.’
‘Wow, we left a small fortune behind.’
‘Thank God we did.’
‘He didn’t seem that type.’
‘He wasn’t. He didn’t ask for it. I played on the fact that his people are a peaceful race. You know, not wanting the ship to fall into military hands. That was purely a gift to an avid collector. A thank you for the consideration he was giving us in downgrading the ship.’
‘Not a bribe then.’
‘Nope, that would have backfired badly.’
‘I am just glad you could get inside his head.’
‘Aye, me too. Our consideration swayed him that last little way. It was close. The other big thing was Florina and our greeting ceremony.’
‘It had that much of an effect on him?’
‘This isn’t his home world. The people here think he is ugly, a monster. His wife and children also have a hard time of it. His kids were constantly bullied at school. As soon as they were old enough, they returned to his home world. To be treated with respect by complete strangers like us was a total surprise to him. To be greeted in his own language, huge.’
‘Then why does he stay?’
‘Good job, good pay, and he is a total history buff as well as a collector. He knows exactly where those ships are. He has been out there lots of times. The history of that race simply fascinates him.’
‘Then we got him on so many different levels.’
‘We did, but you all played a part. Just one dickhead taking the piss would have made a complete arse of it.’
‘How long until we are out of here?’
‘Couple of hours tops.’
‘I can’t wait. My skin has been crawling since I got here.’
‘Aye, I know that feeling Colonel.’
It was just under the two-hour mark when the hanger slid back and full light flooded in. The whole crew were once again on the bridge. Becca followed the instructions from the control tower. They lifted off and were immediately placed into a pattern. Telemetry came into the navigation station and Cathy fed her directions. It was a beautiful morning. All eyes went to the rose hewn mountains. Dark clouds came racing down through a mountain pass and began to obscure them. They went higher, the blue of the sky slowly began to turn to the dark of night.
Cathy looked up from her instruments, ‘We are clear of the planet, where to Charlie?’
‘First star on the right, then on till morning.’ They all had a small chuckle. ‘Gail, get a hold of the other ships, tell them to rendezvous with us on route to Station 0667. We will be broadcasting our identification signal, the Killara.’
A broad smile crossed her face, ‘Roger that.’
Chapter 23
Admiral on the bridge. Pipes whistled and the Humans cracked to attention in their dress whites. Admiral Morach Valachean’s eyes shone at the sight.
Jean saluted. ‘Welcome aboard sir.’
‘Thank you, Captain, I have missed you. Did you enjoy your time at home?’
‘What little I got was very pleasant sir.’
‘What a wonderful ship. Is this the uniforms you use on Earth?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘I like them. You Humans have style.’ He walked over to the port window. ‘I have never seen anything like this ship before. Are you missing your old ship and crew?’
‘Very much.’
‘Well most of the crew will be transferring over. The Sir William Wallace is heading back for a refit. New engines designed by your boyfriend.’
Jean’s face fell, ‘Charlie and I are no longer an item sir.’
‘I am so sorry. What happened?’
‘I decided it was time.’
‘I hope serving on this ship isn’t causing you any problems.’
‘Not at all, we parted on good terms.’
He shook his head, ‘You Humans are so strange. You have so many hearts. What do you think of his design?’
‘Come with me sir.’
Valachean felt very vulnerable as he stepped off the bridge and into outer space. Yet he felt compelled to follow. She led him along the flight deck. It wasn’t until she stopped on the very edge and he stood at her side that he saw what she wanted to show him.
‘Oh! That is beautiful.’
‘Isn’t it? Charlie designed one hellava ship.’
‘He certainly did.’
Valachean began to walk around the ship. He stopped at the stern and pointed.
‘You can actually see the great barrier.’
Jean couldn’t help herself. ‘Any news sir?’
He shook his head, ‘Nothing.’
‘I suppose no news is good news.’
He half smiled, ‘Is that another Human saying?’
‘I am afraid so.’
‘Don’t worry too much. Their ships are advanced; they can hide where others can’t.’
‘I still worry.’
‘Of course. Then you still have feelings?’
‘My job comes first, sir.’
‘You didn’t like the competition.’
‘I didn’t like the attention it was bringing me. It isn’t pleasant having the Modloch Emperor breathing down your neck. My heart is my own to give or take. Not a ping-pong ball in the game of universal politics.’
‘I have seen that game, interesting analogy. You don’t like the attention?’
‘No I don’t. I am a serving ship’s captain. I have a ship and a crew to look after. They come first, anything that pulls me too far in another direction is unwanted.’
‘When I first started dating my wife, the media went mad. She was considered one of the most beautiful women on my planet, she was from a wealthy family, a celebrity, I was an ugly ship’s officer. Our marriage of course was arranged. When she first saw me, she broke down and cried. Now we couldn’t be happier. The media storm blew over eventually. There has always been a lot of interest in my family because of my wife. Of course, it didn’t harm my career any. I didn’t like it either, but I got used to it. Sometimes, regardless of our feelings, shit happens.’
Jean burst out laughing, ‘I haven’t heard that one in ages.’
‘You have that saying too?’
‘We do, but it is an old one.’
‘Look at this view Jean, isn’t it wonderful.’
‘It takes my breath away.’
‘If you ever see Charlie again, or if you see him before I do, thank him for me, for this view and for this opportunity. This is the nearest I have ever come to walking in space without a spacesuit.’
‘I will.’
‘Now, have you been training these Humans well?’
She gave him one of her looks, ‘Is that a serious question sir?’
‘One has to ask. Let’s go blow the boots off a load of old codgers shall we.’
Jean laughed hard, ‘You have spent far too much time around Humans, sir.’
‘Your race delights and amuses me. I also can’t wait to see what kind of a gift Charlie has sent me. We will use this ship to train up the whole Federation. Get them used to working with a carrier fleet, drill them until they are exhausted. Ours is a grave responsibility Jean. Our enemy are out there. They have vast fleets, more modern fleets. Their carriers are much bigger than ours. We need to develop tactics to defend and assault. Admiral Baxter will be waiting for us. He is charged with teaching me, as are you. He can teach me from the top down and you from the bottom up.’
‘Shall we get to it then sir?’
‘Don’t be selfish Captain.’ His gaze turned outwards, ‘A few more minutes please.’
Baxter watched from his flagship as the carrier’s fighters took to the stars. Whole squadrons lifted as one. They took off in all different formations, landed, disappeared and were launched again. Ne´ stood at his side.
‘It would seem that Captain Wilson has been busy.’
‘She was always our top teacher. Those that she trains hit a higher standard than any other.’
Other admirals stood around the viewing platform and gasped in wonder at the manoeuvres.
Ne´ glanced around. ‘She has outdone herself once again. This is a wonderful display of power.’
Three hundred fighters suddenly appeared a few hundred yards away. There was a flash of light and then they vanished.
Ne´ burst out laughing. ‘Three hundred fighters, in one manoeuvre hitting the same part of the shields at the same time. All controlled from the same ship under one command. Imagine if it were a thousand?’
‘Those are the numbers our enemy has,’ Baxter pointed out.
‘I am aware of that.’
‘Any word from your friend sir?’
‘My friend?’
‘The former army captain.’
‘Ah Charlie. I would not call us friends. I intensely dislike the man.’
‘I have tried to get him home and under Earth’s jurisdiction many times. Each time has met with failure. I consider him too valuable to be farting around all over the universe. Yet at each turn I find myself outmanoeuvred. It is frustrating. I suppose after the treatment he received at the hands of some of the intelligence branch, I can’t blame him for not trusting us.’
‘I heard about that. Your people can be vicious.’
‘I agree. The problem is that the intelligence community keep trying to get their hands on him. He knows it too.’
‘Stamp on them.’
‘I have tried, but it isn’t easy. It is like a snake with many heads. The nature of the service creates its own little community. Now all of those intelligence agencies have come together to provide a unilateral defence strategy for the planet, it has made it harder, not easier, because they all now have their finger in one pot. Eventually we will cut off those heads and have one dedicated community servicing us, but at this moment we need everybody. They don’t like Charlie either. He has managed to get quite a few of them into trouble.’
‘Ah yes, no doubt they were returned home with some very strange habits. Darrick does like to play with his victims. However, think yourself lucky that they are still living.’
‘I have no sympathy for them at all.’
‘That is neither here nor there. Right now, Charlie is the biggest asset we have in the looming fight against the Empire. The ambassadors may well come back by a different route, all the way to Earth, and bypass Federation space all together. We cannot afford to lose him to some stupid grudge your intelligence community has against him. Charlie was analysing one of the Empire’s fleets as well as a thousand fighter space carrier. We need that data, I need that data, and we need him to design more ships. We need him safe. I am quite sure the Modloch Emperor has already thought of this, even if you haven’t. You had better damn well keep him safe if he does return to Earth. If he is hurt in anyway, you will make an enemy of Darrick, and his fury will only be slated with blood. Be warned.’
‘I will take that onboard sir.’
‘You had better.’
Chapter 24
Steven finished reading the red folder and slid it back across to Charlie.
‘You have outdone yourself.’
Charlie shook his head. ‘I almost made an arse of it. I got a wee bit too big headed back there.’
‘You got through it magically. I can’t believe we have a working ship that’s legal. I want to plan our next move with you.’
‘I want you to give us a little free reign. We are now certified to carry any damn cargo we want. There are jobs out there heading in the direction we are. There is a shitload of them available. We can muddy the waters, make us seem even more genuine, if we accept real jobs, get paid real money.’
‘That’s a huge risk Charlie.’
‘I don’t think so Stevie. I think we would be more at risk if we didn’t.’
‘How so?’
‘Himari has been giving me a crash course on this data mining thing.’
