Fugitives, p.20
Fugitives, page 20
part #9 of Steven Gordon Series
Ne´ cleared his throat, ‘That is a bit judgemental of you Charlie. Every fleet I can call on is a professional body. Each type of fleet, each race adds, rather than subtracts from the pool.’
‘I respect the confidence you have in your forces and that of the other Federation members Grand Commander. There is no substitute for good leadership and courage. I am, of course, just stacking numbers here. Please do not be offended.’
‘Then I shall climb off my high horse, as you Humans say.’
‘Thank you. Of course, much of the increase is because of the food requirements of most Federation troops. I am sure both of you saw and took note of the difference in the earlier version of the carrier I developed.’
‘May I call you Charlie as well?’ Baxter asked with a cheeky grin on his face.
‘I thought I already told you to.’
‘You did, I am just trying to politely interrupt. Where is all this leading?’
‘I’m not quite sure. I kinda feel like I am jamming with a couple of old pros. I have no real idea about carrier fleet tactics, other than that which I have been reading about on this side. I, however, feel that I am missing something. Their fleets are massive. You saw their carrier force. They have different carrier forces for different tasks.’
‘That makes sense. There are places you wouldn’t want to put a large fleet like the one we saw.’
‘My question is: is it the size of the vessel or the capacity that matters?’
‘Not that old question again.’ Ne´ sniffed.
The two Humans both laughed. Charlie half bowed. ‘Grand Commander. It is delightful to see you have a sense of humour.’
‘I only let it out in trusted company Charlie.’
‘I will take that as a compliment.’
‘Please do. What is it you’re thinking Charlie?’
‘Current fighter design. Can I get a copy?’
‘It is all classified as highly top secret. I couldn’t possibly send you the specifications over an unsecured line like this. Why, what do you propose?’
‘If I could redesign a fighter in such a way as to reduce its width by about a third, then redesign the launch cradles on the carrier, I could increase the capacity of the existing carrier.’
‘By how many?’
‘I would try for five hundred. Then instead of having to build massive carrier fleets like the ones the Empire has, you could have smaller carrier groups which would be more manoeuvrable than anything they have. Two would give you a thousand, four two thousand, and it still take up half the space one of their thousand carriers do. Speed would not be compromised either, we wouldn’t have to add engines; anything like that.’
Both senior officers sat back. Both were looking at the scale of the ships on the whiteboard. Eventually Ne´ sat forward.
‘I have lots of old declassified material for past fighters that you may well like to look at Charlie.’
‘That would be a good starting point. I would also need the specific requirements given to your current fighter developers.’
‘I will prepare a package. By the way, you had better give your big brother a call very soon. He is getting impatient. He isn’t happy either.’
‘He will have to live with it.’
Chapter 44
Komoru rolled on top of Steven with a groan.
‘This really was a good idea.’
Steven put his arms around her. ‘Hmm.’
‘When are we on duty?’
‘Couple of hours yet.’
‘I can’t believe our only duty today is to make dinner and wash dishes.’
Steven decided to open his eyes. ‘We should have taken Mya and Cookie.’
‘No, I want to make you a meal.’
‘Fine.’ He closed his eyes again.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Talking to Babes.’
‘Stop it.’
‘Sorry. Everything is fine anyway.’
‘I know, I already talked to Ico. We should have done this sooner. A week until we reach the great barrier. No one has explored this region of our space before.’
‘There were a number of expeditions from the Empire sent out this way, I wonder if we will find any evidence of them.’
‘Chances are they simply died and their ships just kept on going.’
‘Unless there is something like the Black Planet out here somewhere.’
‘The Black Planet filled up with derelicts because of the ban on them returning to Federation Space. There is no such ban throughout the Empire. I bet they would have turned their ships around and died somewhere on the return journey.’
Steven sighed, ‘That is the most likely answer, then smashed into the asteroid belt somewhere.’
‘Somewhere too remote to be found.’
‘There would have been nothing left of the ships if they ploughed into the asteroid field at light speed.’
‘You know, it wouldn’t be too hard to figure out.’
Steven smiled, ‘It is nice to free the mind, isn’t it?’
‘Wonderful.’
He slid his hands down. She was immediately on high alert.
‘Oh no! Not in this den of iniquity.’ She squealed as he rolled her over.
‘Was it not you who deemed that if something was not being used for the purpose it was designed for, then it is a complete waste?’ He didn’t give her the opportunity to answer.
A couple of hours later, Komoru was singing to herself as she began to prepare the meal. Steven was still in the shower. Jeb and Lady Jane were already there. Jane was lounging on a couch with a book while Jeb whittled away at a piece of wood with a small knife.
He looked up as he sensed her watching him.
‘What ya’ll want?’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I was just intrigued by what you were doing.’
‘Whittling. We sometimes called it trench art.’ He blew off a shaving.
‘What are you doing?’
‘A Behema, it’s supposed to look like Charlie. It’s for my niece. I wanted to do more, but it wasn’t like I got the opportunity to meet many aliens.’
‘Are you still mad at us?’
‘I know, you needed Jane and myself onboard to do our jobs as the other half of the team was already across here. Ain’t mad at you, what we were doing was important. Just ain’t happy about it is all.’
‘You like to be with your buddy.’
‘He is always at the fun end of the stick.’
‘I suppose that is one way of looking at it. Don’t say that in front of Steven, he will not only agree with you he will rant on about how unfair it is for an hour.’
A slow smile spread across Jeb’s face. ‘I suppose I get that. Maybe it is a little unfair, but it ain’t like he deliberately puts himself in that position.’
‘No, I don’t suppose so.’
‘Fate is a fickle bitch. Sometimes she just finds a guy she likes to throw shit at.’
Komoru flushed. ‘Sometimes it sticks too.’
‘Sure does. Just so you know; if everything goes south for Charlie when he is at home, and he has to bug out, we are going with him.’
‘You mean leave in a hurry?’
‘Yup.’
‘That’s okay, as long as we know where you are.’
‘Lewis wants to get back to Trinnie. If Charlie leaves early, he will be coming too.’
‘The crew will be breaking up when we get home anyway. The regular serving officers will be leaving to take up posts on other vessels and we will be getting a new bunch. Our soldiers are going to be leaving us too. They are going to be re-joining their normal regiments for a while. We don’t know if we will be getting them back.’
‘Nothing stays the same forever. Trying to hang onto something too tight can lead to disaster.’
‘When we get home, we are going to hold a big dinner for both crews on the moon. We are going to take over a hotel for the weekend. We hope that members of both crews will approach us and tell us their intentions then.’
‘Well Jane and I have already discussed it, we ain’t ready for a matching set of rocking chairs just yet. When you holding this weekend?’
‘As soon as we get back, we will break up as soon as it is over.’
Jeb nodded.
Chapter 45
The barrier appeared like a grey mist in the distance. Steven leaned towards Buzz.
‘Do we live in a grey bubble?’
‘Never thought about it before. I think we do.’
He sat back, ‘It’s about time someone explored that.’
‘Yup, I’m sure you are right.’
Sid Tulane turned in his seat. ‘The Killara is asking for permission to break through the barrier and recon the other side.’
‘That was nice of him. Tell Charlie to go ahead, we will follow two minutes behind.’
‘Maybe we should have gone first Stevie.’ Buzz suggested.
‘Why?’
‘Are they expecting the Killara?’
‘They have been notified, don’t worry.’
The Killara disappeared. Steven consulted the watch in his head. He waited the two minutes exactly.
‘Take us in. All science stations to record everything they can about the barrier at this location.’
Ico followed closely behind. They were enveloped in the grey cloud. It took twenty minutes at sub-light speed to penetrate the barrier.
Sid reported in again. ‘The Killara has broken through the barrier sir, and we have a nice reception committee waiting. We have been invited over to the carrier for a fresh meal.’
‘What carrier?’
Sid shrugged.
Two minutes later they saw what Charlie had been talking about. A fleet, one they did not recognise, was waiting for them. In the middle was a great big carrier. The flight deck was decorated with the flags of multiple countries from Earth. The Killara scooted across the remaining distance, and without any ceremony landed on the flight deck.
‘We have been invited to land in front of the Killara sir. There is a forcefield in place, and we can walk from there. We will be met by guides. There is no need for suits or anything like that. The fleet will take charge of our protection. We can all disembark.’
‘Let’s go then. I wonder if they have any coke?’
Charlie walked down the ramp and stretched. His crew were merely a few steps behind him. A young officer in navy whites stopped and saluted him.
‘Captain Murison.’
‘Aye.’
‘The Captain requires your presence on the bridge. My men will look after your people.’ A few smiling youngsters ran up.
‘No problem.’
Charlie followed him for a bit then wandered off to the side. He stood on the edge of the flight deck.
‘Woah!’
The junior officer came to stand beside him.
‘Quite a sight isn’t it sir?’
‘Oh whit!’
‘Did you really design all of these ships?’
‘Aye I did. I didn’t think any of them would ever be built. I was just pissing around having a bit of fun.’
He touched his ear, ‘A message from the Captain. Stop gawking Charlie and get your arse up here.’
‘Eh! For God’s sake! Let’s go son. Your Captain is right impatient son of a bitch.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘No need to sir me, I’m not in the military.’
‘Yes sir.’
Charlie could do nothing but shake his head. He was still grumbling when he stepped onto the bridge. It was as though he had stepped into a brick wall.
‘You look surprised to see me Charlie.’
Charlie blinked, ‘Hi Jean. I would say this was a bit of a surprise.’ He saw a few familiar faces. ‘You traded up.’
She laughed, ‘You could say that. You haven’t exactly packed your ship with amenities and comfort.’
‘I didn’t exactly have anything like that in mind when I designed it. In fact, I never ever thought that the damn thing would be built. I wouldn’t even have gone as far as call it proof of concept.’
She took a little step to the side to reveal something. ‘Oh my God! Is that a coke?’
‘I thought you might appreciate it more than champagne.’
‘You have no idea.’ His mouth was now salivating.
Jean popped the top and poured it into a cold glass filled with ice. Charlie was mesmerised. She came over and handed it to him, it was ice cold to the touch. He had to brace himself before he took a long draft.
‘Oh michty me!’
The crew spontaneously burst out laughing.
‘Long journey Charlie?’
‘This moment just made it all worthwhile, thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
Jean looked out the window. ‘What do you call it?’
‘The Killara.’
‘Does it have a meaning?’
‘Its beauty lies in its strength.’
‘It looks very familiar.’
‘Don’t say it out loud, I might get sued.’
She laughed, ‘It wouldn’t surprise me. But it doesn’t have the big engine at the back.’
‘Doesn’t need it. Can you ask your people not to take pictures of it either? The Killara is a top-secret vessel.’
‘We have been warned, although none of us know why.’
‘It is to preserve the lives of those who helped us on our journey. It has nothing to do with technology or anything else.’
‘The Empire doesn’t know the ship exists.’
‘They know the ship exists; it is a registered vessel. What they don’t know is who crewed it.’
‘This sounds like some story.’
‘It is a beauty, but very few people will ever be privileged to know the whole truth. Would you like a wee tour?’
Jean thought about it, ‘How about a wee spin?’
‘Awesome.’
She turned to a member of staff, ‘Take over, set a course at sub-light speed for home.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’
Charlie opened the door and then followed her down the steps. They walked side by side to the rear of the Killara. The ramp was already down.
‘Oh my God! It almost looks exactly the same.’
‘Just wait until you see the bridge.’
She laughed as they went through the communal area and gasped as she saw the bridge.
‘Why don’t you take the pilot’s chair?’ He offered.
‘I don’t know how to fly this thing.’
‘Don’t worry, I will take her up.’ He took a few minutes to point out the controls and some of the features, then he sat down and put on his earpiece.
‘Control, the Killara is ready for take-off.’
‘Roger Killara, take off and set a course of 230, parallel to our line of travel until you are clear of the fleet.’
‘Roger control, taking off now.’
Charlie eased her up off the deck and the ship began to slide away beneath him.
‘Aren’t we supposed to be going forward Charlie?’
‘Shush.’
He slipped the ship over the side and out of the bubble before engaging the engines. They picked up speed slowly. He stuck to his course and cleared the escort.
‘Want to see something real cool?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then watch that speed indicator in front of you.’
‘Alright.’
‘Control, we are going to light speed for two minutes.’
‘Roger.’
He increased the speed slowly. Jean’s eyes were fixed to the speedometer. It wasn’t long before the expression on her face changed. He held it at top speed for thirty seconds before dropping to sub-light.
‘Was that the top speed?’
‘Yup.’
‘Was that faster than the Builder’s ships can travel at?’
‘Aye, and this is the first time I have pushed it to the max.’
‘So we are the fastest two beings in the whole of the universe.’
‘That I know of.’
She let out an unexpected squeal and drummed her feet of the floor.
‘What a rush!’
They laughed easily together. ‘Want to get your hands on the controls.’
‘Oh please.’
It wasn’t long before Charlie realised why she was one of the best pilots in the world.
‘Enough, you are going to make me puke.’
She laughed, ‘Sorry. Can I take her back? I can’t believe how far we have travelled.’
‘It’s all yours.’
‘I have fallen in love with this ship already. Its name is well suited. The beauty of this ship lies beneath the skin.’
Charlie kicked back and stuck his feet up.
Jean scowled, ‘Are you really putting your feet up on thousands of pounds worth of hardware?’
‘My feet are resting on a pad designed for exactly this purpose, and it didn’t cost me a penny.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Aye.’
‘You lazy shit!’
‘You got one too.’ He pointed. ‘Try it.’
She spotted the pad and gave him a dirty look. He nodded and she gave in. She made herself comfortable. She looked to her instruments then to Charlie.
‘This makes it really easy to chat and keep an eye on the instruments.’
Charlie smirked, ‘Doesn’t it just.’
‘This just wouldn’t swing it in a military vessel, but it’s kinda neat.’
‘So glad I’m not in the military anymore.’
Her eyes were twinkling with delight.
With a flick of the finger Charlie brought up the navigational maps and their route, and their estimated time of arrival with the fleet.
‘You have to teach me all of this.’ She sighed.
‘I might one day. This is my personal ship now. If you ever come for a visit, we can go play.’
‘Seriously, this is yours?’
‘That was the deal I made with Stevie.’ Charlie’s eyes suddenly turned colder. ‘So why the ambush?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘My former beautiful girlfriend in the ship I designed, along with a whole fleet of ships that I also designed. Separating me from the rest of the crew and even a coke in a cold glass.’
