Victory in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 6) Read online

  “That’s good to know, Captain.”

  “What can we do for you?”

  “We need you and your ship sooner than we thought we would.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  “A bug problem arose sooner than expected.”

  “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Jewel needs to be loaded up and turned back to Cencore.”

  “My crew won’t be able to take it, Commander. Those two jumps knocked them silly. Two more and they will be useless for a week.”

  “Preceptor Igaklay has that covered, Captain. The moment you hit orbit, we will run a medical team up there to begin drawing blood and taking samples. From those, Igaklay will start constructing the nanite injections. You start shuttling you and your crew down and get the injections. If everything goes right, you should be good to go within two days.”

  “About those injections.”

  “No worries, Captain. All my people, including the Elonian Guardsmen received them. No side effects. In fact, everyone actually feels healthier. Same for all the Elonians from Wisdom Seeker. There’s a couple of thousand of them down here. Not one negative reaction.”

  “Okay, Hawk. I’ll follow your lead on this. What are we hauling back?”

  “Repair robots.”

  “Really? How many?”

  “Fifty thousand or so.”

  “What weird scheme have you come up with now?”

  “Not me. You have to blame Mack McCauley.”

  “We get our shots, you load up Jewel of the Stars and we hot foot it back to Cencore.”

  “That about sums it up.”

  “Then what?”

  “I’ll answer your question with a question. The specs for Jewel state that you have about a thousand lifeboats. Is that true?”

  “Not sure.”

  “I’m going to send Mack and Buster up to do a deep dive into Jewel, find anything in the critical systems that need fixing. Preceptor Igaklay will send up a bunch or repair robots and parts to fix anything of importance that needs fixing. Also, we are going to need to work on those lifeboats.”

  “Okay. What do you need us to do?”

  “Nothing, really. Get your injections and rest up. Let the Preceptor, Buster and Mack do their thing.”

  “Roger, that, Commander. We’ll be in orbit in thirty.”

  “We’re ready at our end.”

  Aboard Limpet, Ballison Space

  Fifty-four marines lay packed like sardines in a space meant for twenty. As they came out of their jump-induced brain-fog, each jostled and elbowed his or her way to a standing position and injected painkillers to wash away the pounding headaches.

  Lieutenants Tillerson and Brenner fought their own battles against the jump pain. After injecting their own painkillers, they rubbed eyes and worked to focus on their control boards.

  “Lieutenant, full flight check.”

  “Roger that, Captain.

  First Lieutenant Tillerson, Limpet’s pilot and Second Lieutenant Brenner, her co-pilot, worked down the long list of items. For more than an hour, the two checked every system, every circuit and every panel needed to keep their ugly ship sailing straight and true.

  While this occurred, the three squads succeeded in pulling themselves out of their foggy brains and prepared for what was to come.

  “Alright, kiddies. Pair off. Duel check, awareness and physicality.”

  Fifty-two marines paired off as sergeants Nelson and Stein watched their troops. Each marine studied the eyes of his or her partner, using flashlights to verify the proper retinal dilations. Then they ran through a list of pre-determined questions, verifying cognitive abilities. Finishing, one watched while the other performed various balance and bending motions. As each pair completed its examination, each individual checked in with his or her sergeant.

  “Lieutenant Tillerson, all marines locked, cocked and ready to rock, Ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Sergeant. Limpet, Actual contacting Griffin Actual, come in.”

  “Griffin Actual,” the two pilots, along with the entire contingent of marines, heard over Limpet’s com system.

  “Welcome to Ballison. We are passing landing coordinates to you now.”

  “Received and understood, Commander. Arrival time will be ninety minutes.”

  “We are looking forward to your arrival, Lieutenant. Any issues?”

  “None, whatsoever, Commander. Let’s squash some bugs.”

  “That’s the plan, Lieutenant. Hoorah.”

  Fifty-six voices echoed the cheer.

  Trotzig - Shar’s New Bar

  With nothing to do but wait, Fairstar’s owners circled a table and enjoyed the sumptuous meal which Shar’s new cook had prepared. A little tipsy from the beers and wine, stuffed from overeating, Neal and Marie Adams quietly enjoyed the day’s end.

  “When do you think Mandy is going to get back?”

  “I don’t know,” Neal answered. “She seems pretty happy with her situation on Gazelle.”

  “Well, that little one better damn well get her keister back here and get ready to take over Fairstar when you and I get too old to run her.”

  “With our nanite injections, Preceptor Igaklay says that that won’t be for a very long time.”

  “Well, I miss having our daughter around.”

  “I know, Marie. I miss her too. When she has the time, she’ll come and visit.”

  Just then, Commander Kelly politely approached.

  “Captain Adams, Ma’am.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Did you get the communique from Commander Marston?”

  “Yes, we did. Apparently, you have some androids for us?”

  “Yes, Captain. Forty-nine of them.”

  “Are they ready for loading?”

  “They are in formation near your shuttle.”

  “Babe, why don’t you stay here and enjoy the evening. I think Shar said that a band would be starting shortly. I’ll go with the Commander and figure out what it will take to get those androids loaded into Fairstar.”

  “I’ll be along shortly, Dear. I think I’ll finish my drink and head back. I’m not used to all this food and beer.”

  “An early bed. Should I get a room here?”

  “No. I’m more comfortable in our own bed.”

  “Okay. See you in a bit.”

  With that, Captain Adams and Commander Kelly left Shar’s New Bar then proceeded to plan for the loading of forty-nine androids into Fairstar’s hold.

  Chapter 14

  Ballison

  Krag, Igaklay’s avatar and Jewel’s Captain Overman watched the first of a thousand escape pods land beside the HEB Alliance Headquarters. The twelve-person shuttle landed then the back hatch opened. Fifty robots floated into the small survival craft and stacked themselves like cordwood. Simultaneously, two robots proceeded to attach a jump drive to the escape shuttle’s roof. A third robot floated around the single pilot seat, modifying the controls for the newly installed jump drive.

  “How is your crew doing? Any problems with the nanite injections?”

  “Nah, Hawk. Just like you said, no side effects. And, some have told me that they do feel better. Their knees or shoulders don’t hurt as much. Some say that their chronic back pain is going away.”

  “They’ll all live longer, too. At least that’s what Igaklay says. How about you?”

  “A banty rooster, Hawk. I haven’t felt this spry for maybe twenty years.”

  “I’ll warn the ladies. Igaklay, do you think that we will be ready by tomorrow evening?”

  “Easily, Captain. Have Captain Overman send the shuttles down in groups of ten. Now that the test case is run, I have a better knowledge about the time frame.”

  “You heard the Preceptor. Can you do it?”

  “Yup. I have a good crew. Morales is whipping them into shape. We’re not fully integrated yet, but they’re all busting their butts. They know what’s at stake.”

  “Good. Have you decided t
hat she will be your second in command?”

  “I’m leaning that way.”

  “How are her leadership skills?”

  “She’s tough. Very straight and narrow. When I flew cargo for the Federacy, I knew a lot of sergeants like her. She keeps her distance from the crew. But, she’s fair. Tough but fair.”

  “I think she needs a field promotion, then.”

  “I don’t know about that. With Weiskoff Three on Tolimar, I don’t think that would go over very well.”

  “This isn’t a Federacy operation. It’s a HEB Alliance operation.”

  “HEB Alliance?”

  “Human, Elonian, Ballisonian Alliance. Mack thought it up.”

  “Does that make me a HEB Alliance Captain?”

  “I guess it does.”

  “So, where’s my patch?”

  “Give a Captain an acorn and pretty soon you are up to your butt in oak trees. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, we launch tomorrow evening.”

  “Griffin too?”

  “Yeah. I want to puppy dog you all the way. Now, I need to get up to Jewel and see how my miscreant crew is doing.”

  “See ya when I see ya.”

  Krag left the two and headed towards Griffin’s shuttle. As he approached, he saw Keiko standing at the entrance hatch.

  “Igaklay told me that you are heading up. I thought I’d tag along.”

  “Glad to have you.”

  Keiko took the pilot chair, Krag the co-pilot’s. Keiko smoothly lifted he shuttle, powered it through Ballison’s atmosphere and set its course to jewel of the Stars.

  After putting the shuttle on automatic pilot, Keiko turned to Krag.”

  “Krag, I’ve been thinking.”

  “About?”

  “When this is all over.”

  “And?”

  “Now, don’t freak out or think that you are obligated, but…”

  “Go on.”

  “Well, when this is all over, I want to stay on Griffin, stay with you.”

  “Wow!”

  “Like I said, it’s just a thought. But, only if that is okay with you.”

  “It is more than okay. It’s great.”

  “I know, that, with your military career and the five years, now more than six, that you have flown Griffin, you’ve been a loner. So, I don’t want to get in your way, you know, invade your space.”

  “No, really. I want us to be together, too. But I never said anything because I know that, with your father being an Interplanetary Ambassador and your family being Japanese royalty, I thought that you would need to go back to Nye Nippon.”

  “I suppose I should. It’s what the family thinks. It’s what I am supposed to do. But, that’s just not me.”

  “Let’s see. Cat burglar, space pilot, intergalactic traveller, interspecies ambassador. Are you sure you don’t want to settle down on a nice planet, be a noble woman of the royal court? Maybe a wife to some baron or other?”

  “Don’t joke. It was just a thought.”

  “No! I absolutely want us to be together. In fact, when this is over, let’s get married.”

  “What? Marriage? My family would never approve. The Emperor would never approve. You are hakujin.”

  “Oh. Well, I want to be with you, too. We both agree. We want to be together. So, let’s table this conversation for later.”

  “Okay. There’s Jewel. I’ll put us in the lower landing bay.”

  Keiko contacted Jewel of the Stars’ bridge, waited for the landing gate to open then coaxed the shuttle through, to settle softly near the personal hatch. The two waited until the landing bay repressurized and the cavernous bay became habitable.

  Stepping out, Krag hopped up and down.

  “That was fast. Mack, Buster and Sue have gotten the gravity generators up and running.”

  “A lot better than mag-grav.”

  “Shall we?” Krag offered his arm.

  “Keiko took it. “Let’s”

  The previous discussion strengthened their closeness, their mutual security. Riding the lift to the bridge, they stood close. Krag took Keiko’s hand. Arriving at the bridge, Keiko slid her small hand out of Krag’s enormous one and the two resumed their airs of professionalism.

  “Sergeant Morales?”

  “Sir!”

  The Federacy sergeant dropped what she was doing, came to rigid attention and saluted smartly. Upon Krag’s casual return salute, she dropped her hand and waited.

  “As you were, Sergeant.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She relaxed.

  “I’ve had a discussion with Captain Overman. He understands that this is not a Federacy operation. As such, we will be utilizing the Federacy Code of Conduct, but we are not under Federacy purview.”

  “Understood, Sir.”

  “Also, the Human, Elonian and Ballisonian species have formed a loose alliance. Under this alliance, I am the Commander of the space fleet.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Therefore, with Captain Overman’s and the HEB Alliance’s approval, I am awarding you a field promotion to Lieutenant.”

  “But,”

  “No ‘buts’. Captain Overman needs a second in command. He has chosen you. He needs a lieutenant, with all the trappings. You’re it. Accept it.”

  “Sir, yes, Sir.”

  “Good. That reminds me. Keiko, Captain Overman thought that there should be some sort of H.E.B.A. patch or signet.”

  “I will get with Mistress Analyn and Preceptor Igaklay. We’ll come up with something.”

  “Good. Now, Lieutenant, where are my three wayward nerds?”

  “In environment, sir.”

  “That would be, where?”

  “Here, sir.”

  Sergeant, now Lieutenant, Morales handed a tablet to Krag.

  “Anticipating your request, I’ve mapped out a path to environment, sir. Jewel’s entire floorplan is on this tablet. You just need to request a location and a path will materialize.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  After returning the Lieutenant’s salute, and using the tablet, Krag and Keiko headed to the environment center. With the cruise liner being such a massive ship and the center being at the opposite end as the bridge, the travelling of the lift and walking of the deck took a while. Through it all, Krag and Keiko again held hands, walked with their arms touching, enjoying their closeness.

  Upon entering the spacious environmental maintenance and monitoring center, Krag and Keiko saw Mack studying a view screen with multiple charts, Buster standing with his connection finger coupled to a junction and Sue working a console. All three turned as the two walked through the hatch.

  “Oy, Cap.”

  “Hey, Mack. How’s it going?”

  “We found a boatload of stuff needing fixing. Nothing we canna handle.”

  “A boatload. Funny. Is Jewel going to be ready by tomorrow evening?”

  “Tomorrow night? Why are we rushing?”

  “You saw all of the lifeboats launching and returning?”

  “We heard them, Cap. But we’ve been buried in Jewel’s bowels. We dinna see them.”

  “Well, we have an issue with Cencore that needs to be taken care of. Jewel’s going to be the one to take care of it. She needs to leave tomorrow evening.”

  “Well, Cap, we aren’t going to get everything shiny. This old girl has a pretty good list for fixing up. Nay. We won’t finish. That being said, with Iggy’s gaggle of repair bots swarming over this big girl’s innards, we will get done what’s needed to get done.”

  “The RV in the bay. Is she unloaded?”

  “We did that first, Cap. That Mrs. Bailey and her husband, they dove into that wreck like it was lost treasure. She’ll be up spanking new in no time.”

  “What about the dark matter sails. Are you going to get them installed?”

  “Nae, Cap. We dinna need them. Jewel has so much surface area, that she’s one big dark matter collector. Iggy is busy covering her with the coating now.”
<
br />   “Are you saying that she can recharge in a day, like the rest of the fleet?”

  “Ya, Cap. Iggy and Buster, they did the calculations. Jewel fits right in. And, her jumps are the same length.”

  “Good. Are you going to keep some robots on board, keep working to get her finished up while she’s sailing?”

  ‘Ya, Cap. If that’s what you want.”

  “Sue, what are you working on?”

  “Old, glitchy code, Captain. Some of this code is older than I am.”

  “Buster?”

  “Circuit testing. I’m just finishing up.”

  “Should the three of you remain on board during the jumps to Cencore?”

  “My tasks are finished, Captain. All that is needed is the testing of Igaklay’s repairs.”

  “We’ve got that, Tinman. Me, I’ve got a lot more work to do. So, I guess that I’m staying aboard. Lassie?”

  “Me, too, Captain. I could work for a year and still not finish upgrading these systems.”

  “Then, Buster, you’re with us. Mack, Sue, keep doing what you’re doing. Triage your efforts. Work down from the most critical systems.”

  “We’ve been doing that, Cap. Like I said, Sweet Sue and me, we’ve got this.”

  “Pull in any personnel you need. That’s why there’s a hundred people on board.”

  “Me and Sweet Sue, we’ve already been working with a few of them. They’ve got their own fix-it lists.”

  “Good. Keep at it. Jewel will be ready to sail by tomorrow evening?”

  “Ya, Cap. This big, old girl will be ready.”

  Trotzig - Shar’s New Bar

  Almost thirty people noisily pushed open the doors and strode into Shar’s New Bar. All wore casual, serviceable clothing, some more worn than others. A few wore civilian flight suits.

  Seeing her patrons, Shar motioned for a couple of waitresses to help her push tables together, forming one large one. Without being told, the bartender left his position and began pushing chairs around, getting the table ready for the large group.

  While her employees finished their task, Shar approached Captain Forsythe.

  “Captain Forsythe, welcome back.”

  “It’s good to be back, Shar. Is the beer still as cold as at the old Shar’s?”