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“LIGHTWAVE, ANIMOSO. Permission to dock? You have control,” the lightly accented voice said.
Captain Ruhger jolted upright in his seat next to her.
“Granted,” Saree said. “Docking commencing.” She engaged the docking protocols and watched closely. Perfect as always. “Please run post-dock checks and ensure all connections are secure. The Captain will contact you shortly with further instructions.”
Captain Ruhger, sitting next to her in Alpha shuttle, rubbed sleep from his eyes. “Won’t this be fun,” he muttered.
Saree’s stomach twisted. She wasn’t looking forward to it either. She was stuck in crew quarters or the kitchen for the duration. Would it be worth the risk? But they had to take the chance. The Brain Drain effects on the Captain, Tyron and Katryn were increasingly worse. The antidote initially worked, but all three reported increasing sleepiness and fuzzy memories again. Did they take another dose of the antidote? Could the Familia researchers develop a true antidote, one that lasted?
The Captain brought up comms. “Animoso, we’d like to meet with you in ten minutes. I’ll send a guide.”
“Certainly, Captain. We look forward to it.”
Saree put her hands on her aching stomach, the tension and uncertainty causing it to twist. So many questions, so many uncertainties involving Familia and PE. Plus, where was the pararescue team? The Circinus folder that picked them up after the failed attempt on PE’s Spear Two reported they’d dropped the Clobbered Turkey in Circini. A Gov Human military folder picked them up, but no one knew where they folded. Or if they’d be back. The flow of messages in and out of Arriagada was slow, but regular, and nothing had come in through the Gov Human communications system or any of the others.
“Wish Porter would show up,” the Captain muttered, echoing her thoughts.
Saree busied herself with double-checking Animoso’s connections. Everything was good. No surprise there.
Captain Ruhger stood and looked down at her. “You are staying here?” It wasn’t really a question; they’d already discussed it.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Good.” He turned and strode away.
Saree brought up the vids showing Animoso’s hatch and the dining hall. After the Captain sat at the head of the long dining table, she added the vid from his e-torc to the big screen. The rest of the crew, including Loreli, were already seated, along with Al-Kindi and Al-Haytham.
Grant stood at the airlock shuttle hatch to Animoso. Saree watched carefully as it opened. Three beings, all dressed in practical shipsuits, one in a dark gray, two in medico green, exited. She zoomed in. They all appeared human standard, and all had the olive skin, almost black hair and hazel eyes typical of Familia. The one in dark gray appeared to be male, the medicos one male, one female. She glanced down at her body. Of course, body characteristics were easy to change. Probably even easier when you were a medico with a research lab.
Grant greeted them, then led them toward the dining hall. The man in dark gray walked with the confidence of someone used to being in charge, with his head up, short glances to the sides, and a confident stride. The medicos walked side by side, peering into doorways curiously and investigating every hatch, then scurrying to catch up to Grant. Perhaps they didn’t travel often?
Once in the dining hall near the table, Grant bowed. “Please be seated and help yourselves to the libations while we make introductions.”
The man in dark gray gave a short bow in return and strode to the end of the table opposite the Captain. The medicos stared around the room in wonder, then scrambled to sit after the man in gray rapped on the table sharply. Sheepish, slightly nervous smiles flickered.
The Captain introduced everyone at the table and nodded sharply at the man in gray.
He said, “I am Arnault, the research unit director. Zola is our lead researcher and Luca her second. Both are highly trained scientists and medicos. All medical research will be led by them. Any other issues, such as equipment requirements, security issues, communications with outsiders or other related managerial tasks, should be brought to me. Any decisions will be made by me.”
“Any decisions pertaining to your people will be made by you,” Al-Haytham said. “Research will be joint and open.” When Arnault opened his mouth, Al-Haytham slashed a hand horizontally. “You do not hold the power here. We are allowing you to contribute. If this is not satisfactory, you and your team may leave.”
“We have other resources to call upon,” the Captain said with a tiny smirk.
“Not with our expertise!” Zola said, clearly offended. “We are the best.”
“We need cooperation and collaboration, not arrogance. You are merely convenient, not necessary,” Al-Kindi said.
A message popped up in the Gov Human system and Saree swept it up.
“Clobbered Turkey inbound. Dock us on the opposite side from Animoso.”
Saree rolled her eyes. Don’t bother to ask. But she brought up the standard docking instructions and sent them off, with a Delta One shuttle dock designation, since Al-Kindi was at Alpha One and Animoso at Bravo One. Four minutes and sixteen seconds later, the Clobbered Turkey appeared with a request for comms. She accepted the comms request.
“Lightwave, Clobbered Turkey, Chief Porter in command. Ready for docking when you are.”
“Certainly. Relinquish your controls as specified.” Saree waited until for the docking handshake, and engaged the auto-docking program. The Clobbered Turkey docked without incident. “Chief Porter, you and Doc may want to join the discussion in the dining hall. Al-Kindi, his family’s business manager, Al-Haytham, and researchers from Familia are already there, discussing Brain Drain research protocols and procedures.”
Porter tipped her head with a slightly incredulous sneer. “Familia?”
“Poison experts.”
Doc appeared over her shoulder and snorted. “This, I gotta see. Chief, if you want to discuss our next move with the crew, I’ll take on the medical.”
Porter grimaced. “Oh, it’s all yours, Doc. Careful.” She opened her mouth, then paused. “Gentle, have Captain Ruhger and Chief Bhoher meet with us on our shuttle.” Her nose wrinkled for a moment. “You are welcome as well.”
“I’ll let him know about your invitation. We’ll see if he can extricate the two of them without too much drama.”
“I’m sure he can figure out a way. We’ll see you in ten mikes.” The comms went dark.
Saree frowned. Porter was awfully arrogant for someone who’d failed spectacularly. Still, it was a chance to get on the Clobbered Turkey. Not for the first or last time that day, she desperately wished for Hal.
Enough. He wasn’t here and she had work to do. She sent Porter’s ‘request’ to the crew. If Captain Ruhger wanted to meet with Porter, Grant could start leading the current discussions, and the Captain and Chief would slip away when Doc arrived.
As she speculated, Grant stepped into the Captain’s role, leading the discussions and smoothing the way. Doc entered, Grant introducing him as a traveling medico with more fanfare than required, and the Captain, Chief and Tyron left. Hmm. She was getting to know them quite well to predict their moves so accurately. Saree turned over control of Lightwave to Tyron and left Alpha shuttle. She met the Captain and Chief at Delta One.
The Captain glowered. “Ready?”
Saree nodded despite her reluctance. Chief nodded as well, but slapped his wrench into his hand at the same time.
Captain Ruhger entered his codes in the folder’s airlock hatches, and waited impassively at Clobbered Turkey’s airlock hatch. After waiting twenty-three seconds, the hatch swung open. Fisk glared down at them, blocking the way.
“Fisk!” Porter snapped.
He sneered and stepped back. Porter stood at the head of a bland beige plas conference table, and motioned for them to join her. Saree walked past Fisk without paying any attention to him.
“Please, sit wherever. There’s no ceremony onboard.”
Chief lifted a brow at Porter, who sat at the head, very obviously turning to look at Fisk, sitting at the other end.
Porter scowled a little and waved a hand, brushing away his concerns.
Chief prowled around the far end of the table, pausing behind Fisk long enough to make him look up nervously.
Saree grinned, and sat next to Chief, who finally sat at Porter’s left. The Captain walked behind Porter and sat on her right. Los and Pits joined them, one on each side of Fisk, a spot left open next to the Captain. While everyone sat, Pits jumping back up to pour water for them, Saree scanned the shuttle.
Almost black plas flooring, lighter, steel-gray walls, the table and all upholstery light beige, the shuttle was the poster child for dull institutional design. Looking harder, she saw touches of color and personality in the crew’s sticker-covered keep-warm mugs and the assortment of kitchen tools. Which was particularly surprising—she’d expect a military crew to rely on prepackaged meals. Saree wondered which team member was the cook.
“I’m disappointed the boarding didn’t go better, Chief Porter, but not surprised,” Captain Ruhger said.
Fisk glared.
Porter said, “And why is that?”
“Because you didn’t have enough offensive support. For a successful stealth boarding, there have to be supporting attacks from ships. Distractions.”
Porter, her expression blank, said, “You are correct. Without space support, a boarding is rarely successful. Phalanx Eagle’s net was better protected than expected. Los?”
Los nodded. “Spear Two’s net was extremely adaptive, almost an artificial intelligence.” He shrugged, face impassive. “Maybe it is an AI.”
Chief Bhoher said, “They are supported by Galactica. It’s not surprising they’d have excellent net defenses. Is Gov Human going to put more firepower toward this mission?”
Porter’s lips compressed. “I’ve asked. I haven’t gotten anything solid yet.” She speared the Captain with a glare. “Why is Familia here? This is an unnecessary complication with huge potential for compromising our primary mission.”
Saree spoke up before the Captain had to. “Because the Brain Drain poison is continuing to affect Captain Ruhger and both Phazeers. All three are absolutely necessary for the success of my mission. My clutch must be healthy and whole.”
Porter’s glare transferred to her and Saree smiled slightly in return. This woman wasn’t going to intimidate her. She wasn’t in charge, no matter how much she wanted to be, or thought she should be.
“I see. They are a huge security risk and you should have discussed this with me first.”
Saree narrowed her eyes and leaned forward a little. “This decision is based on the health of my clutch. That is not your decision to make. You have no involvement. If you can’t keep your net and persons secure from Familia, then you can’t deal with Phalanx Eagle.”
“Our net and persons are secure. But there are much larger political considerations when Gov Human and Familia are in contact.”
Saree held up a hand. “Those are secondary. This is a Time Guild and Lightwave clutch decision. You and the Familia will cooperate in this matter.”
“You haven’t given me a choice.”
“No, and I won’t.” Saree stared back at her. She was in charge, not Porter.
Porter’s gaze hardened. “Well, then, let’s proceed to our other mission where there are many choices to be made.”
Saree smiled. “Certainly.”
“What about intelligence?” Captain Ruhger asked, drawing Porter’s attention. “Will Gov Human increase their intelligence gathering?”
“And share it with us?” Chief added. “I know Wreck and Phalanx Eagle better than any analyst ever will. If I can see the raw intelligence, I can make more sense of it, and predict their actions better than some random Gov Human intel flunky. I might be able to find the location of their home station.”
Fisk snorted.
Porter flashed a warning look at him, and turned back to Chief. “I believe that. I don’t have anything new, but I made another request at the highest priority.” Porter tapped once on the table. “Los, show Chief Bhoher what we’ve got on Phalanx Eagle. Raw data, not the analyst’s reports. All security levels.” She looked at Chief Bhoher again. “The data doesn’t leave here in any form. You don’t discuss it on Lightwave, only here. We bring additional crew members from Lightwave only if absolutely necessary. Not Katryn Phazeer—I won’t let her anywhere close to our net.”
Chief stared at Porter for thirteen seconds, then nodded, thudding his wrench on the plas table. “Agreed. How about now? I don’t see any reason to delay, since there’s little we can do without actionable intel or a message from PE.”
“Give Los a few minutes to get things set up,” Porter said. She turned to the Captain. “Anything else to add at this time?”
“I want a joint after-action debrief. Without one, we’re likely to fail again.”
“You are correct, Captain.” She tapped on the table again. “Why not right now?”
“Chief Bhoher must be included.”
Porter nodded. “As I said, it will take Los time to secure a station. Let’s do this now.”
Captain Ruhger turned to Saree. “I recommend you return to Lightwave. I want the Phazeers concentrating on security.”
Saree nodded. “Of course, Captain. I can’t add anything to a discussion of military tactics. Please keep me apprised of any changes in our strategy. I can return for any critical intelligence briefs.”
“Thank you, Time Guild Member.” The Captain turned to face Porter. “Let’s start from the beginning.”
“Of course.” Porter nodded.
Saree got up and let herself out of the shuttle and back into Lightwave. She’d rather hear this discussion, but understood why Captain Ruhger asked. Hopefully he could keep the politics out of it and stay on the military ops, but she had her doubts. And maybe he didn’t want to. Maybe he was working with Porter to find a way to dump her, to leave Lightwave Clutch behind.
Striding along Lightwave’s bland, beige passageways, she considered the idea. Porter was the last person who would help with such a task. She didn’t want to be stuck ferrying Saree around the universe, and that’s exactly what would happen if Lightwave’s crew abandoned her. Her feet slowed, scraping along the plas flooring. If only Hal was here. He’d be listening to every word. There’s no way Gov Human could keep him out for long.
Saree leaned against the bulkhead, then slid to the floor. Where was Hal? Did he survive or did the Mensians wipe him out? And if he survived, was he the same? Or was this experience enough to turn him against all biological life? Saree desperately hoped Hal was still her friend, because the alternatives were too painful, too dangerous, to contemplate.
No matter what happened to Hal, she had a job to do right now. Saree scrambled to her feet and strode to the crew quarters, pulling up Lightwave’s surveillance status as she walked, ignoring her mourning heart.