Dreaming of Atmosphere (6 page)

7.

Crege took the Dreaming of Atmosphere away from the Corus Cluster and soon we were far enough away from the habitat to engage our main propulsion drives. There was a slight tug on our bodies as inertia tried to have its way with our mass, but technology had long ago removed that inconvenience from space travel. Most top notch pilots like to set their stabilisers slightly below full capacity, a buffer they call ‘the soft zone’. Crege explains that to be a truly exceptional pilot you need to be able to feel the ship moving about you. To the rest of us, it just means a neck muscle workout and for Zoe a bout of motion sickness.

The majority of space travel is rather boring, an exercise in routine tasks and maintaining a healthy mental state. The generally accepted description of open space is
empty
, and the vast distances between points of interest, such as planets, space stations and Jump Gates, means that a pilot really only has to calculate the position of their destination at the time that they’ll reach it and then point the ship in that direction. The main propulsion drives do the rest. Once within a certain radius of a
POI
, short for point of interest, the crew is alert and we’ll generally close up on our consoles in the command module. This is known among spacers as
closing up on station
.

Traffic between the POIs can include anything from other star ships, debris from accidents or pirate attacks, and unauthorised or unregistered vehicles or stations. Asteroids can be a hazard as well, although the majority of them are identified, tracked and logged within a system wide navigational hazard database called MTAS –
Message To All Spacers.
Whenever a ship approaches within range of a station or other ship, the on-board computers automatically update their records and charts to indicate the paths and velocities of all known asteroids large enough to cause damage to a star ship. Smaller space rocks and debris is pushed aside by a forward projected energy field that nudges the debris aside. It’s not a hundred percent effective, however, and for this reason the most heavily armour part of a ship is the bow.

Sensors of various types provide another layer of defence against navigational hazards. Radar, infrared sensors, light wave emitters, gravity detectors and high definition cameras reach out in all directions of a ship, interrogating and inspecting anything they detect. All these signals are processed and analysed by the ship’s computers, flagging anything of note for crew input. Raw feeds of the data are also available, and shouldn’t be ignored.

Each ship does things differently, but most crews run routine shifts on duty in the command module. A good captain will ensure each watch keeper receives adequate training in reading and responding to the various MTAS and sensor inputs that need to be monitored regularly. By tradition, as First Mate, I was to stand the first watch after we reached stellar transit speeds, what we referred to as
underway
.

Fel’negr and Crege climbed out of the command module soon after we were underway and went down below decks. We knew Maxine would want to address the crew regarding our newest job, and the easiest place to do that would be the cargo hold. There were internal cameras in the hold that I could watch and listen, and I had access to a ship-wide PA system so I didn’t need to be there in person to tune in. Sure enough, about ten minutes after I had the bridge to myself, Maxine entered the compartment, her hair still damp from showering. She wore the same jump suit I wore.

“Before I call the crew, we need to talk.”

Shit,
I thought,
here it comes.

“Yeah, I figured it was coming.”

“Good, it’s a start that you realise you made mistakes. I’m not going to chew you out about Jenner sneaking up on you, but we need to talk about your PTSD.”

I sighed, “It’s been a while since I had an episode.”

“Yes it has, but you’re still having them. Should I be getting in contact with Dr Shale?”

“No, it’s just, I’d been thinking about a few of my old squaddies and then Jenner dropped that bomb on me. I don’t think I was mentally prepared, or something.”

“I’m worried about you. Especially considering where we’re headed.”

“I’m fine. Really. Won’t happen again.”

She looked at me like she didn’t believe me.

“Your inability to talk about Gossamer, and what happened, isn’t healthy. You need to deal with this. I need you on your A game. Normally, I’d let you deal with it on your own, like you’ve always done. But I can’t afford to do that this time.”

“I’m not sure I like where this is going.”

“You won’t. If you won’t talk to me about it, talk to your doctor.”

“Shale? He’s light years away, we don’t have time to see my shrink!”

“I’m not talking about Shale…”

“Who? Zoe? Not a lot of options out here, Max!”

“Why not Zoe?”

“You’re serious?”

“You think I only got her on the crew because she’s good with a bandage?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you came back to the Dreaming, you were a veteran of some major fucking combat actions. You had half of your torso blown away and replaced by machines and biological augmentations. Adjusting to that was rough, and you were doing double and triple shifts on the bridge because you didn’t sleep. When you weren’t on duty you were sparing with Crege for hours on end. You were taking apart and reassembling all our guns repeatedly. You were joining Eric and Cuts in the engine compartments almost as much as they were.”

“I was trying to bond with the crew!”

“You were trying to stay busy so that you didn’t have time to think!”

I was silent, mostly because she was right.

“You’re getting better. At least I thought you were. But it’s clear that you still have to deal with what happened to you.”

“And how does Zoe fit into this?”

“She knows how to keep your Augs in good condition, and she’s had training in psychological treatment as well as medicine.”

“So you hired her to take care of me?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, you both need taking care of.”

“So I’m her Space Daddy, and she’s my post-traumatic stress Mummy?”

“Don’t joke about it, Seth, I really need you. The crew needs you.”

I took a deep breath and blew it out, in defeat.

“Okay. I’ll try and talk to her. I think she’s mad at me though.”

“She’s a women, we’re always mad a men. Keeps you in line.”

“Speaking of lines…”

“The bitch?”

“Artemis.”

“Right. I’ll be talking with her right after I address the crew. Make the call. Cargo hold. Listen in.”

She stood up and hesitated. Her hand rested on my shoulder for a few seconds and I couldn’t look her in the eye. She walked out and when I could hear the compartment hatch shut I used the PA and piped the crew to the cargo hold. As I pushed the button I could see my hand shaking slightly and griped it tightly with my other hand.

I sat back and did some serious thinking. How was I going to talk to Zoe about my past? I didn’t even know how to bring it up with Max. It’s not that I become a jabbering wreck when I think about it, it’s just that I don’t know where to start, or where I’d become so undone. Maybe I should just talk to her, see where my thoughts end up. I just hoped she wasn’t going to still be pissed at me.

Soon, I could see the crew mustering down in the cargo hold on the security cameras and I switched audio on. When everyone was there, even Artemis, Max started doing her usual pacing, getting her thoughts together I knew.

“I’m sorry for the limited shore leave, things got pretty serious on the ‘Cluster and we’ve found ourselves with another job sooner than I’d liked” She started, giving Artemis a filthy look.

“On the bright side, Cuts didn’t have enough time to blow all his pay this time!” laughed Eric, slapping his counterpart on the back.

“So I’m going to just tell you all what our job is, so there’s no confusion. A certain criminal has decided to hold our ship hostage in order to facilitate the transference of one secure data package to Ambrose Station in the Gossamer System.”

“But that’s an exclusion zone!” cried Cuts, with several of the others joining him.

“I understand that. But this bastard Jenner says he’s put enough concealed bombs on board to gut the Dreaming permanently. If he thinks we’re pussy-footing about or we deviate from the plan, he’ll remotely set them off, and he’s put this little trollop on my ship to ensure we don’t mess with the plan.”

The two Argen hissed at her threateningly, and Crege pulled out his ever-present
lurzak
blade, stepping towards her.

“We kill her. Find bombs, throw out airlock.”

“You could try, little man, but even if you had the
shirtan
to kill me, I have the charges fixed with a dead man’s switch.” Offered Artemis, casually leaning against a crate of supplies.

“Yeah I figured you would,” said Max, “that’s why I had Fel lock you out of the Dreaming’s local network.”

“Ha-ha! I never said it was an app on my overlay, I have a biometric transmitter implanted.”

Max glared at Artemis for a few seconds before Fel interrupted.

“Captain, if I may? How will we get into the exclusion zone? Isn’t the Protectorate Fleet blockading the system’s Jump Gate?”

“Seth? You want this one?” offered Max, looking into the hold’s camera.

“Sure. The blockade is only a military one. Humanitarian missions are allowed to enter, provided they sign a waiver acknowledging that there will be no rescue attempts should you run afoul in the system.”

“There’s one catch,” Artemis interrupted, stepping forward to address the crew, “Your ship cannot be armed with anything stronger than a class 2 defence system. The Protectorate doesn’t want the Ghantri gaining any more ships that it can throw at the blockade, so any ship going in won’t be able to defend themselves from anything larger than a shuttle if they’re attacked and they won’t be able to call for help when they are.”

“We’re fucked.” uttered Cuts.

“Anyone who doesn’t think they can handle this job, can set down at the Harakiwa Jump Station when we pass through and resign with two jobs worth of pay. No hard feelings.” As Max said this, Artemis stepped in front of Max and stared at her.

“No, they can’t. Anyone steps off and I’ll activate the charges.”

“I won’t be putting my crew at risk if they don’t want to, it’s a rule I’ve always set on my ship.” It was a challenge. I leaned forward in my chair.

“You also had a rule about not working for a criminal, and here you are.”

“In case you missed it, I argued very loudly about taking this job. Ask Jenner.”

“Benedict has calculated that in order for your crew to have the best possible probability of succeeding, all of your crew are needed.”

“How do you think their performance is going to be if they’re scared out of their wits?”

“They’ll lean on your leadership, and your First Mate’s, to get the job done.”

“You have a very high opinion about me and my crew!”

“Are you saying that you don’t have faith in your own people?”

“I’m saying that you’re placing a lot of pressure on my people and putting them in danger on a whim. I don’t operate like that.”

“You’ll adapt. Benedict chose your ship and your crew for a reason.”

“And what reason is that?”

“Because you are both skilled and expendable. You’re better than most mercenary crews, but not as expensive. You have no prior dealings with known criminals so you’ll pass inspection at the blockade. They won’t suspect you of smuggling illicit cargo.”

“Which we are!”

“No, you’re not. Benedict was very clear when he said you won’t be doing anything illegal.”

“So what
are
we doing?”

Artemis merely smiled and walked back to her crate.

“What about me?” came a small voice in the back. Hergo, or Denno, stepped aside to reveal Zoe with a raised hand. “I’ve only been here for a short while, I’m not a full crew member yet. Can I go?”

“Sorry, baby girl, you’re in too.”

Max was clearly irritated, and began pacing again.

“Zoe, I’m sorry to get you into this, I’m sorry to all of you.”

“Captain,” offered Crege, “this warrior stands with his
kitrak
.”

“As do I.” said Fel, standing beside Crege.

“I can’t leave the Dreaming, Maxine, I’ve put too many years into her to walk away.” Said Eric. After a few seconds, he grabbed Mal and pushed him forward.

“Hey! Yeah ok, I’m in too. If I don’t Seth will try and be a mechanic again.”

The two Argen clapped each other on the shoulder and hissed in agreement.

Max stood there watching them for a few moments, pride in her face. Just when I thought she was going to tear up, she dismissed everyone and yelled at them to turn up for duty on time. Artemis waited until everyone but Max had left the hold before turning to leave.