Family Law 2: The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet (56 page)

"I'll make sure Captain Henry on
Murphy's Law
knows he should obstruct and generally be a pain in the butt if they try to get him to quickly lead a second expedition after us. He'll stand on his orders and be unpleasant about it too. Let them think we're generally disagreeable. We'll, as you say, save the nice-nice for you." Gordon said. "He's a good man, he'll follow the script as ordered without being part of our conspiracy."

"Oh neat. I don't think I've been part of a conspiracy before," Lee said, smiling.

* * *

"Why?" Prosperity asked waving the printout he'd brought along in his hand. "This isn't what we arranged. It's very disruptive. How can we plan
anything
if the deadline keeps moving up?"

"Be glad he didn't give you an
hour
deadline," Thor said. "I'm not comfortable with that great hulking spaceship sitting there watching us. The sooner we're gone from his sight the better as far as I'm concerned. I keep wondering if he's waiting on friends, or if the Biters will come do something stupid that will entangle all of us with them like almost happened before."

"I honestly had grown accustomed to them observing us. They haven't done anything all this time. I don't see what would make them act differently now," Prosperity said.

"Just let me say, it's different when you have the burden of command. I've had a small taste of it," Thor told him. "You don't risk ship and crew on casual assumptions and ignore unknowns. If it wasn't really important to keep the start we have with these new people, I expect we'd be headed for jump in the time it takes to sound the acceleration warning."

"You won't say anything to Gordon about it then?" Prosperity asked.

"You want me to try to influence him? If
I
were to say anything at all, it would be – "Are you
sure
you don't want to bug out of here right now?"

"Thank you for the perspective. I'll prioritize and get whatever I can accomplished," he decided.

And what is Gordon's real program?
Thor wondered. That must have been a very interesting meeting in his cabin. If he wasn't telling him yet he must not need to know to support it. He'd just done that pretty easily hadn't he? It was a horrible itch not to scratch, but he was sure he'd find out in time.
Should he ask Lee what was going on?
He considered briefly. Very briefly. Yeah, and look to Lee like Prosperity just had to him? –
Right after I take up Russian roulette for a hobby,
he thought.

* * *

"Sync your clocks with Brownie while we are at rest to each other," Gordon told them. "He'll give you our vector and projected jump time. We won't do a close mass jump with this mob like we do alone. You can spread out at hundred kilometer gaps. If you are really sloppy about timing  that spacing may give you a thump, but it won't do any damage."

He said that mostly for the
Dart
, the Badger Deep Space Explorer
Wonder
, the Bill DSE
Green
, and the mixed crew freighter
Cash Only
. His boys knew the drill. Gordon gave a nod to Ha-bob-bob-brie that they were ready.

"Far Away control, departing at intervals on filed flight plan by your leave," Ha-bob-bob-brie  said very formally, but in English. It was his first act of duty in his new job. It was amazing they had progressed to good enough translation programs to follow normal traffic procedures on their first departure.

"On your own clock count, Little Fleet. Be careful out there."

That was a nice homey touch.
I wonder who told them we say that at home?
Gordon wondered.

The
High Hopes
led, and the rest followed and matched velocity and position. The clocks agreed again in motion. They boosted at a comfortable one point two G and the new ships seemed to be calibrated to their standards just fine. There was no unnecessary chatter and just a few comments on systems deviations. Nothing critical enough to prevent jump or make anyone turn back. The bridge crew had a light lunch at the normal time and would go off shift after jump without doing a long day.

"Sir! System scan catching up with us. The Big Boy is maneuvering. Looks like he is going to follow us. Sending the feed to your screen," Jon Burris said.

"Well, isn't that interesting?" Gordon said. "He'll catch up with us just about the time we're committed to jump. I'd say he has our capabilities and performance envelope figured out pretty well."

"You think he intends to go with us?" Thor asked.

"He has the legs to stop short after we're past the point of no return, but what would the point be?"

"Oh, this is going to be fun when we pull into Derfhome and he's with us," Lee said. "People are going to absolutely freak out."

"I'd be much happier about that if we could just talk with them a little bit," Gordon admitted.

"He's with us for this jump. It's a stretch to assume he'll follow us all the way home," Thor objected.

"Want to bet?" Lee challenged him.

"You've been around the Fargoers too long. I could bet all my shares against you and you'd never notice the debit from your accounts if you lost."

"Still, that's what he's going to do," Lee insisted. After she considered the problem a little she told Thor. "You're right, it isn't fair. Instead of a set amount, a tenth percent of our net worth," she offered.

"Ha! You're on," he agreed.

"Wow, look at him go," Brownie said. calling their attention back to the plot. They watched in wonder and silence for a long time, watching.

The alien didn't follow them. It sprinted ahead on the same vector at impossible acceleration and jumped out ahead of them.

"Well, I'd say we have an escort," Gordon said. Implicitly agreeing with Lee.

"I
have
to talk with those guys," Lee declared. "I want a ship that can do that!"

"Well, they like soft point pens and wool blankets," Brownie reminded her of the report. "A small gift can't hurt as the basis to open a dialog. They breath air and have eyes. If you ignore the tentacles and concentrate on the similarities surely you can communicate some way. Try sign language or sit and draw them pictures. They must be using those pens for something."

"Yes! I'll start practicing. I mean, I can sketch a little, but I'll learn to do it better and fast to carry on a picture conversation. I'll want a link to them where we catch up."

"Why such a rush to get a faster ship?" Thor asked. "It will be nice in time to have them. Now that we see it can be done we're part way there. Especially if that gravity plate turns out to let us do what we see them doing for acceleration. But the
High Hopes
got the job done," he said proudly, patting the console.

"I'm fond of the
High Hopes
too," Lee assured him. "After all, it's been my home most of my life. But we bumped up against the Badgers and Company in this direction. The Caterpillars or whatever we end up calling them are also in the same general neighborhood out this way. If we go the
opposite
way to expand our frontier as widely as possible and find fresh open territory we have to cross the entire sphere of Human exploration before we even start to hit virgin territory. That's what makes sense to me, more than just going off at a different angle on this same side. We can do it with what we have now, but if we can get their tech to do it faster it will sure save us some time and effort."

"Wait a minute Lee. You're talking like this is a done deal. You've never said
anything
before about mounting another big expedition to the opposite end of known space. You have the Fargoer's and the Mother's ships involved here. You have to
ask
them if they want to do such a thing again. You have to
ask
crew if they want to go deep again. They may want to stay home and enjoy some of the money they just made. You can't just
assume
all this," Gordon said dismayed.

"
I
wish to make early application," Ha-bob-bob-brie said without even looking up.

"Huh, sounds good but I'm not taking off for the ends of the universe again without a flipping
case
of hot sauce in the galley next time, so we don't run out." Jon Burris groused. He always had a gripe.

"Damn right, sign me up to go," Brownie said over his shoulder.

"See? Sure, some crew will leave," Lee said, waving Gordon's objections away. "Look at the claims we have. If we need new crew or even whole new ships they'll be fighting over a spot with an outfit that has our history. Our status and payouts are going to be
epic
. Even though we still haven't found another living world. Wouldn't you like to try for a green voyage ring for your other ear? Did you think I was going to retire at fifteen?" she asked her dad.

Gordon felt his bare ear thoughtfully. "We'll see," was as much as he'd say.

The End – For Now

The Last Part – My other books and links

Other Kindle Books & Links by Mackey Chandler

April (first in series)

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April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities, after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies, who give them a thin technological edge in rebellion. It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey.

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April seems to make a habit of rescues. Now two lieutenants from the recent war appeal to her for help to reach Home. The secret they hold makes their escape doubtful. North America, the United States of North America, has been cheating on their treaty obligations and a public figure like April taking a very visible vacation there would be a good way to remind them of their obligations. Wouldn't it? Her family and business associates all think it is a great idea. She can serve a public purpose and do her rescue on the sly too. But things get difficult enough just getting back Home alive is going to be a challenge. It's a good thing she has some help. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

The Middle of Nowhere (third in April series)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Nowhere-April-ebook/dp/B00B1JJ7RQ

April returns home from her trip down to Earth unhappy with what she accomplished. Papa-san Santos is finishing her rescue of the Lieutenants, Her traitorous brother is dead and so many things are uncertain. The Chinese and North Americans both continue to give her and Home a hard time. But April, Jeff and Heather are gathering allies and power. China, trying to steal Singh technology, gets its hand slapped badly by Jeff and the Patriot Party in America is damaged, but not gone. Their project on the moon is not so easy for North America to shut down, especially with the Russians helping. Heather proves able to defend it forcefully. They really didn't know she owns a cannon. The three have their own bank now, Home is growing and April is quickly growing up into a formidable young woman, worthy of her partners.

A Different Perspective (fourth in April series)

http://www.amazon.com/Different-Perspective-April-ebook/dp/B00DFL42PU

Despite winning a war against one of the world's super powers and undertaking a mission to Earth to try to demonstrate their independence, April and her new nation still find their freedom tenuous. There are shortages and hostility and machinations against them behind the scenes. Their small technological lead on the Earthies is about the only advantage they have besides courage and sheer nerve. But they are attracting the right sort of people and if pressed, they still are capable of bold action. Home is growing physically and maturing. So is April.

A Depth of Understanding (Fifth in April series)

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April's nation Home has removed itself from orbiting close to Earth, but problems continue. Their enemies try to use the United Nations to act against them, as if that isn't a transparent subterfuge. The new Lunar nation of Central acts to help them, but at considerable cost. Meanwhile Home is expanding their reach into the solar system and gaining new citizens who appreciate opportunity and freedom. The things Home citizens decide to do, both new and old are interesting. The trouble from Earth is contained, but the whole matter is far from over.

Paper or Plastic?

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Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hyper-vigilance and ease back into civilian life.

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Family Law

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS

People love easily. Look at most of your relatives or coworkers. How lovable are they? Really? Yet most have mates and children. The vast majority are still invited to family gatherings and their relatives will speak to them.

Many have pets to which they are devoted. Some even call them their fur-babies. Is your dog or cat or parakeet property or family? Not in law but in your heart? Can a pet really love you back? Or is it a different affection? Are you not kind to those who feed and shelter you? But what if your dog could talk back? Would your cat speak to you kindly?