The provisions arrived at Zanshin before Lochlain. Brooke had busied herself by reviewing the maintenance manuals for the Toland drives on her datapad when a delivery drone glided into the bay and gently lowered a large collection of tightly wrapped packages near the watchman’s station. Her eyes closed reflexively against the glare of the drone’s flickering strobe light as her picture was recorded and an automated voice announced, “Here is your delivery from Lycil Provisioners and Repair. Your balance is… zero. Please swipe your datapad across my front panel to accept delivery.”
Brooke complied and the drone’s four arms released their grip around the bundle.
“Thank you for shopping with Lycil Provisioners and Repair. A customer survey has been flashed to your datapad. Completing the survey makes you eligible to win a week’s worth of free provisions.” The drone lifted centimeters off the deck, rotated precisely in place and glided out of the compartment.
Brooke reached into a cargo pocket to retrieve her multi-tool. She was cutting through the thick wrapping around the delivery when three people entered the bay toting large bags. Among them, she immediately recognized the student she had talked to from Ambridge’s office. She gracefully shook her head to help her hair flow around her face.
“Wyatt Huseman?” she asked with a faux uncertainty.
Huseman’s face may have flickered a hint of confusion but he quickly brushed it off and moved to Brooke with his hand outstretched. “Yes, I’m Wyatt. Are you one of the deck hands?”
Brooke stood up from the packages while answering, “I’m Mercer Brooke, Chief Engineer. With a condensed crew, Zanshin shares a lot of duties.”
Huseman gestured behind him at his two companions. “This is Elease Lingenfelter and Li Qiang, ma’am.”
Brooke laughed out loud at the formality as she waved to each of them. “We’re very casual here, Wyatt. You guys can call me Mercer.” She paused in consideration and then added, “But you did the right thing. When you come on to a new ship, it’s always a good idea to go formal at first.” She looked down at the delivery. “Here’s our food for the week. With you three here, we can get this stowed in the storeroom and the mess.” She looked back to the students. “Who wants to stand watch?”
Each student’s expression flashed quickly with trepidation. Finally, Lingenfelter raised a delicate hand. Her pale skin and light blonde hair were immediate telltales of Svean ancestry. “I’ve never done it before but I volunteer.”
Brooke stared directly at the young woman and instructed with a serious tone, “It’s very complicated. You sit behind this desk and try to stay awake.” She flashed white teeth behind a smile. “We’ll go over a watchman’s full duties during the week but for now, just sit here and don’t let anyone but Captain Lochlain on the ship. If you run into trouble, ping me on my datapad.” She undocked the thin instrument from its port. “My contact information is still in the panel. Just dock yours and you’ll be all set, Elease.” She pulled two boxes from the bundle on the deck and hefted them. “Wyatt, Li, why don’t you take your bags first and then we’ll start making a dent in these provisions.”
* * *
The trio had stowed nearly all of the food stocks before Lochlain appeared in the bay. He was carrying a newly purchased travel bag.
“It’s about time,” Brooke grumbled as she lifted the final pair of boxes from the scattered wrappings. “Reece, I’m giving the students the three quarters opposite the captain’s cabin. I’ll take the converted quarters in the forward spine.”
Lochlain nodded his response and smiled charmingly toward the watchman’s station. “And you are?”
The young woman blushed slightly as she stood. “I’m Elease Lingenfelter, Captain. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Lochlain coquettishly took her hand and replied, “It’s only ‘Captain’ when I’m on the bridge. We’re a private freighter, not a corporate warship.”
“Yeah, we don’t even have a thermic cannon,” Brooke snickered quietly from the airlock. “Still, we are the stuff of legend. Hey, Admiral Wallace, you want to stand watch while I show Elease her quarters?”
Lochlain rolled his eyes but grinned at Brooke. “I am your humble servant.” He took his place behind the console. “Where are the other two?”
“They’re already inside, unboxing our food in the ship’s mess.” Brooke stepped through the open threshold of the docking tube and waited for Lingenfelter.
“Good,” he replied and immediately vacated the watchman’s station. “I want to cast off as soon as possible.”
Lingenfelter was herded down the docking tube, Brooke in the lead and Lochlain trailing. Once the three were aboard Zanshin, Lochlain veered from the end of the line to secure the airlock. “I’ll disconnect the tube, Mercer, and meet everyone in the mess.”
“Aye, aye, Capitan,” Brooke answered, already inside Zanshin’s long corridor.
Brooke and Lingenfelter walked in silence for the first eighty meters. When they passed the ship’s hold and converted living quarters, Brooke tilted her head to the left and stated, “Those are my quarters. You three are amidship, one deck down.” She cast a quick gesture to her right. “That’s one of the ship’s internal holds although right now it’s home for the ASA’s automation equipment. Certified officers only in that room, Elease,” she cautioned. Lochlain had placed the empty compartment on lockout earlier that morning.
Lingenfelter gauged the remaining distance to the center of the ship. “Your quarters seem so far from the common areas.”
Brooke smirked. “I spend most of my nights in the captain’s cabin.”
“Oh,” Lingenfelter replied. Her lips curled into a knowing grin.
Brooke returned her smile with a sly one of her own. “I know. How scandalous,” she added in a teasing voice.
The pair arrived at Zanshin’s common areas and took the only portal on the starboard side of the ship to enter the mess. Huseman and Qiang were busy stocking cabinets. The mess itself was a large compartment with not only a round table that easily fit four chairs but also an island and several counters equipped with cooking devices skirting the food preparation portion of the room. As was the case with the captain’s quarters, located directly under the mess, the outer wall housed a large, curved viewport. The present vista offered a small glimpse of the grandeur of space and the majority of the bulk freighter docked next to them at Bay Seventeen.
Brooke dropped her two boxes onto a counter. “Okay, guys, El Capitan has boarded the ship. He wants to get underway as soon as possible so after he gives you a quick greeting, each of you will be taking your duty positions.”
“Mercer, where is everybody?” Qiang asked from behind the island. “I haven’t seen any crewmembers but you.”
“We’re it,” Lochlain announced grandly as he strode into the room. “Thanks to the magic of automation, Zanshin is one of the ASA’s first, active classroom ships to be permitted to sail with mostly a student crew.”
All three students peered skeptically at him. He had seen such disbelieving looks many times in his life.
Giving a confident nod to bolster his lie, he explained, “We just checked out four days ago and all Zanshin requires is one certified license on the bridge and one in the engineering compartment.” He smiled warmly. “What this means is that the three of you will actually be working behind the control panels of the ship. You’ll be getting real work experience rather than just standing behind someone and watching them do it.”
Lingenfelter gulped noticeably. “What if we crash the ship?”
Lochlain tapped his chest and chuckled. “I have override controls at my station and the newly installed automated sensors will be monitoring your every move. In fact, I’ll be basically following those systems’ reports when deciding on your efficiency ratings for the trip.”
Huseman and Qiang seemed to relax but Lingenfelter still looked doubtful.
“Didn’t you wonder why there are only three people in your class now?” Lochlain pressed. “And why you have exactly two deck officers and one engineer? After Evora dropped out, this class was specifically tailored for Zanshin’s unique requirements.” He cast his final lie to ease their discomfort. “You three are part of a new pioneer program that’s going to make you the most envied graduates in the entire school. Companies are going to be knocking on your doors, looking to hire you.”
The easy promise erased any remaining doubt. Lochlain turned toward the exit and said, “Mercer, take your snipe and get to Engineering. Start the embarking protocol as soon as you can.” He waved toward the other two gawking students. “Elease and Li, let’s get up to the bridge and christen your careers.”
The crew of Zanshin broke up, three heading for the stairwell, the final two beginning the long, 96-meter walk toward the aft of the ship.
As Lochlain climbed the stairs, Elease asked, “Captain?”
“Reece,” Lochlain corrected. “We’re not on the bridge yet.”
“Reece, what station do you want me to take? Both Li and I want to be navigators.”
“You’re both deck officers first,” Lochlain explained as he reached the top deck. “You need basic competency not only in navigation and helmsmanship but also sensors and communications. We’ll post you at Navigation until we’ve docked in Ancera. Then, you’ll switch with Li on the return trip back to Svea. That way, each of you will see both panels. In tunnel space, you guys will be sitting in the captain’s chair, just monitoring everything anyway.” He gave them both a sideways glance as they crossed the chartroom. “Is that fair?”
“Yes, sir,” they echoed.
The group entered the bridge and took their positions. Lochlain consulted his panel but knew it would be several more minutes before Engineering was ready to cast off. “Li, you’ll be handling the communications. Normally, you’d just run mundane comms through your headset but let’s play it over the speakers for now. Practice what you’re going to say with me first before you actually transmit. I’ve already pre-filed our sailing plan.”
“Yes, Captain,” Qiang answered quickly as he adjusted his chair to Lingenfelter’s right. “We’ve all performed simulated shipping runs but please don’t let me screw anything up, okay?”
Lochlain smiled to himself. “Elease, start plotting a course for the Ancera tunnel point based on what I filed. Svea Departure will most likely clear us a direct approach to the main sailing lane.” He eased back into his chair and watched the students begin their tasks.
Before long, Brooke notified Lochlain that Zanshin was ready to break her moorings. Both students remained silent, hard at work at their individual duties. The bridge was too quiet. Lochlain snapped his fingers to gain attention then pointed between his new deck officers. “Both of you need to communicate with each other. You’re a team. Elease, are you ready to cast off?”
She double-checked her panel and answered nervously, “I think so.”
“Then tell your comms officer that so he can get you permission.”
“Okay. Uh, Comms, I’m ready to cast off.”
Qiang turned in his chair to face Lochlain and rehearsed, “Svea Docking, this is CSV Zanshin requesting permission to break our moors. Pre-filed to Ancera tunnel point?” He looked questioningly at the captain.
“CSV Zanshin moored to Docking Bay Sixteen,” Lochlain amended. “Be sure to tell them your position so they don’t have to hunt for you.”
Qiang repeated the amended statement over the communications frequency.
The station’s reply was professional and curt. “Zanshin, Svea Docking, permission granted. Contact Svea Tower after you have cast off.”
Lochlain waited patiently. The students looked at each other, hesitating. “So what’s next? You almost seem like you’re not first years,” Lochlain prodded with an amused tone. Playing the salty ship captain was fun.
“Uh,” Qiang temporized, “I tell Nav that she can cast off?”
“Exactly.”
“Elease, you can cast off.”
“Acknowledged,” Lingenfelter stated. Her hands moved slowly but methodically over her controls. She broke the spring lines first, followed by the stronger smart lines at the bow and stern of the ship. “We are unmoored,” Lingenfelter announced with a slight grin. She added with a growing confidence, “Li, can you get me permission to pull the ship out of the slip?”
“Svea Tower, this is Zanshin, unmoored at Docking Bay Sixteen and requesting permission to make way for the Ancera tunnel point?”
Lochlain assented and the request was dispatched to a Svean controller.
“Roger, Zanshin, Svea Tower. Contact at Bay Sixteen. Proceed to the TIMES hold short marker via alpha-echo-bravo. Hold short at TIMES. You are second for clearance.”
“Did you get that, Elease?” Qiang asked.
“I think,” Lingenfelter answered while tapping her control screen.
Lochlain watched the student navigator mark the path the controller had ordered Zanshin to follow to a position in space designated as TIMES. The position was the jumping off point for commercial shipping to leave the influence of the orbital and join the major sailing lane to the Ancera tunnel point. Zanshin would have to hold at TIMES, at relative rest, and wait for a freighter ahead of her to enter the lane.
“Captain,” Lingenfelter asked as she pushed the route from her console to the main wall screen, “is this right?”
“Right as rain, Elease. Take us out.”
Lochlain sat straighter once Zanshin began to move. There was real danger with the ship unmoored and an utter novice behind the helm. He knew that despite what he had told the students, the only safety net Lingenfelter had would be his quick reactions to identify and countermand an action that might see the vessel smashed into the orbital.
Thrusters fired at the front of Zanshin’s bow, gently pushing her away from the slip. When the starship was half a kilometer from the station, she began to rotate to the heading that would take her to the hold short marker.
“Nice and easy, Elease,” Lochlain coached while keeping a strict eye on the ship’s speed and course. “We have to hold short anyway so we’re in no rush.”
Minutes passed as the freighter unhurriedly moved through the milestones of her course enroute to TIMES. As Zanshin entered within twenty-five kilometers of the marker, the Svean controller’s voice came over the speakers.
“Zanshin, Svea Tower, you are cleared to enter the shipping lane. Contact Svea Departure, good day.”
Lingenfelter’s hands hesitated over her panel before moving to input the next step of her sailing plan.
“Keep her sailing, Elease. You’re doing great,” Lochlain encouraged. Qiang was looking at him.
The student practiced, “Svea Departure, CSV Zanshin with you at TIMES…” He paused before asking, “That’s all, right?”
Lochlain nodded. “Yup, Departure has our sailing plan on their sail strip. They’ll already know where we want to go.”
Qiang turned to face his panel with growing comfort in his role. As he switched to the new comm frequency, he muttered to Lingenfelter, “This is just like the simulator.”
Fifteen minutes later, Zanshin was sailing briskly at .15c (.15 the speed of light) inside the shipping lane toward the Ancera tunnel point. The nearest traffic was the freighter, CSV Conception, 54ls (light-seconds) ahead of them.
“ETA to the tunnel point?” Lochlain asked.
Lingenfelter paused again. The wall screen flashed as it computed time and distance between the two marks she had placed on the system plot. The answer came two seconds later. “Four hours, six minutes and forty seconds, Captain.”
“Hours and minutes are usually enough,” he told her with a faint smile. He brought his hands together and looked to the students. “Well done, my deck monkeys. It gets really boring now from here to the tunnel point.”
“We just basically monitor our panels and respond to any incoming messages, right?” Qiang asked. “Departure will eventually hand us off to a controller at the small outpost near the tunnel point?”
“Yeah. Normally, a captain will reduce the watch at this point. Sailing regulations require at least one certified deck officer at all times on the bridge while in normal space. With Zanshin’s automation package, we can sail with only a student up here and a licensed deck officer ‘on call.’ Zanshin’s normal complement of engineers is only one and Mercer fills that requirement.” The corner of his mouth crooked slightly. “Incidentally, the head of this program said it’s probably best if the students just act like a normal freighter crew. He thinks if we self-identify that we’re on this special program, we’re just begging to be boarded constantly.”
Both students nodded eagerly.
“So, if you get a message from a space traffic controller or an SDS, just call me or Mercer up to the bridge before you respond to it. Between the two of us, we should be able to get to the bridge in only a couple of minutes. Even if we can’t, we can answer the hail using our datapads from anywhere on the ship.”
“Does that happen often?” Lingenfelter asked.
“No,” Lochlain replied and shook his head. “Messages typically only come near orbitals and tunnel points. Even with ship inspections, most system defense ships loiter near the congested areas and conduct their inspections there.” He looked to his students. “Any questions?”
They stared at each other before shaking their heads. “Maybe after I’ve had a chance to absorb this,” Lingenfelter stated.
Lochlain rose from his chair. “Then I’m going to head to Engineering and see how Huseman is doing. You two all right up here by yourselves?”
Their eyes bulged but both nodded.
With a casual wave, Lochlain exited the bridge. He lingered in the chartroom after the portal closed.
“This is so cool,” Qiang’s muffled voice carried into the adjacent compartment.
“At first, I was disappointed when Wyatt said that Evora broke down but this is amazing!” Lingenfelter gushed back. “I’m actually piloting the ship!”
Secure in the knowledge that a ruse is rarely detected when its targets are happy, Lochlain began to make his way to the back of the ship.