Family Law 3: Secrets in the Stars (15 page)

"How do you feel?" Gordon finally asked.

"I got bumped around pretty hard," Lee admitted. "I'm going to turn interesting colors a few places, but I'm sure I didn't break anything like Ernie or it would hurt a whole lot worse."

"Let them look you over anyway," Gordon insisted.

"No problem. It sets a good example if nothing else," Lee said.

"The suits will get inspected and maybe refurbished," Gordon said. "The shuttle will bring you back to the
High Hopes
and the
Sharp Claws
will be near by that time for the shuttle to return. It'll be a couple days even with the bone knitting machines before we get Ernie back. At least now they get the bone fixed before the muscle starts to deteriorate, and then you need rehab too."

"Would you tell them thank them for the pickup? They got to us really fast," Lee said. “And Alex did a marvelous job lifting. He didn't hesitate at all when Ernie yelled at him to lift."

“Yes I will," Gordon promised. "I had to order him to continue to orbit or he'd have sat it back down to pick you guys up. That would have been way too complicated since he wouldn't have had sufficient mass to get back to orbit. He'd have had to hop to a safer area and wait for somebody to sit down beside him and transfer mass. Who can even guarantee another area would be safe?" Gordon asked. "He seemed to be having second thoughts for lifting and felt he abandoned you."

"Not at all!" Lee said, surprised. "If that water had tipped the shuttle over, or undercut a landing leg pad, it would have been a real mess. We might have lost the shuttle and been trying to cut him out of it."

"You can mention that if he brings it up," Gordon agreed. "That's pretty much what I told him, but I'm not sure he really
feels
that way."

"So, I'm guessing you probably don't want samples from any of the other lakes?" Lee asked.

"You're getting better at this guessing," Gordon told her.

Chapter 11

"Since we didn't get a wider sample like we planned, I'm going to orbit a claims satellite here and claim the whole system. I don't want to risk another landing. Let somebody with specialized equipment do it later," Gordon decided.

"Let's plan on breaking orbit and start another leisurely exit from this star system our next shift. We can time it so we jump and have time to look around the area of our entry again. I'm comfortable with that," Gordon told Brownie. "Do you have any targets to suggest?"

"There are two stars along our general course in range. Neither has any spectroscopic signs of being unique. Pretty much a toss-up which one to go to."

"Do the one with the easiest jump then. Inform everyone when we will assemble away from these planets, and your planned course and timing," Gordon ordered. "Thor you have the conn, I'm taking a break early to do some other work before the alternate crew comes on."

"Aye. I have the conn," Thor acknowledged.

* * *

"Thor, our caterpillars have returned and taken up station orbiting far out around both these planets," Brownie informed him. "Do you want to try using the video rig?"

"Heavens no!" Thor waved a true hand at the new equipment attached to the command console. "That's Gordon's toy and I wouldn't want to spoil his fun to try it out. Besides, I don't really have anything to say to them. Seems silly to fire it up and just wave hello."

Lee covered her mouth with her hand trying to hide her smile. It didn't work.

* * *

"Is everybody prepared to leave and informed of our numbers?" Gordon asked, when he next sat in the command chair.

"We are in good formation thanks to the previous shift. The fleet reports no critical deficiencies and everybody has our course. The clocks agree. I've scheduled a seven tenths G burn again. We are on count for first joint movement twenty minutes from now and a jump a bit more than five hours into our next shift, if that meets with your approval," Brownie said.

"Entirely," Gordon agreed. "I'm going to inform the Caterpillars if this rig works as planned. I'm still a little limited as I can't create objects in it like we could with our own animation and graphics software. I'm sure
they
can in glorious 3D. I'm simply going to keep my com pad handy and show them things on it. It will be a step forward knowing they can see it immediately without any analysis. We'll keep this private to our bridge. Mr. Burris you can monitor the command channel for us and pass anything critical along.

"Brownie, give me a wide shot of the sky where we are going with the target star circled by hand with a yellow line," he requested. The image soon showed up on his pad. He followed the instructions he'd been given and used both true hands to activate the display. It showed his own face and a little behind him. He opened up the angle to show more of the bridge behind him.

"Are we transmitting?" Gordon asked.

"Yes sir, we show power being drawn," Jon Burris told him. "We show modulation. If it makes any sense to them we should get some sort of reply."

"Will it switch over to their signal? Or do we have to cut the feed from this, uh... I guess I call it a camera," Gordon decided.

"I have no idea what their unit will do internally," Burris said. "If we see transmissions coming in and nothing shows we can isolate the unit and play our recording."

"Never mind," Gordon said. "The display just split."

The unit gave a hoot. He hadn't known it had audio for sure. Beside him at the right was a Caterpillar. Gordon did the gesture to open up the display wider.

Gordon held his display up with their intended jump target for the alien. The Caterpillar turned to something off camera and let loose a lot of high volume noise. He seemed agitated. The alien stopped communicating off camera and started making motions. He held up a tentacle and swept it to the side. When Gordon didn't respond he made a low hoot and repeated it slower.

"I think he wants you to swipe the display and see something that's off screen right now," Jon Burris said. "They did that with me on the separator machine."

"OK, I remember that," Gordon held a straight finger by the left side of the image and swiped it smoothly to the right. The display changed screens smoothly. The new image was the same star field, although rendered in better definition with more of the fainter stars. The 3D effect couldn't do much with the distances involved. Gordon checked it carefully against the one on his tablet. The circle around their intended star was gone and the alternative target was bracketed by four lines like crosshairs, but they didn't meet in the middle.

"Is this a suggestion?" Gordon asked. "First time we have what resembles a conversation and they start bossing us around. I don't really care for that."

"Well, it's the only other reasonable target star in that direction without going a good twenty degrees off our nominal track," Brownie explained. "At least they aren't pressing us to take a radical detour."

"I hear you, but why does this bother me so much?" Gordon asked.

"You're pretty much used to having your own way," Lee pointed out. Brownie was relieved, because that had been his thought too, but he didn't have the nerve to say it to Gordon's face. Gordon looked disgruntled, but made no quick reply.

"And I'm inclined to think the Caterpillars are warning us of something rather than just bossing us around. They haven't been aggressive at all. The target star might be one of those full of debris, hard to navigate or something," Lee suggested.

"Thor, advise me," Gordon ordered him.

"I can see both sides," Thor admitted. "I can't see the Caterpillars having an interest for themselves. Unless we don't understand at all, their home territory is off the other side of the Badgers, so they aren't saying – 'Ours. Stay away'. So, yeah, I'm given to agreeing with Lee it's probably for our own good. But I'm like you. I rarely appreciate people managing me for my own good. I'd like to know
why
, but since we can't ask them yet it will take some time and resources if you want to find out why."

"If there's danger I can't justify taking unarmed civilian ships into the system," Gordon reasoned.

"So send one, or ask for a volunteer," Lee suggested. "With this crazy bunch if you suggest it's dangerous they'll fall all over each other to be first in line. Just phrase it to the Fargoers as a bet."

"Send the
Roadrunner
if you want something fast, or ask one of the cruisers if you want a well armed presence," Thor said.

"Why did you think of armed right away?" Gordon asked him.

"Well, we didn't bring all these missiles and stuff because the universe is a safe pleasant place to roam around unarmed," Thor said.

"Yeah, point taken," Gordon agreed. "I tell you what. We'll compromise. Brownie, figure a new heading and notify everybody for the alternative star, but we'll ask if anybody will volunteer to go check out the other system. I'm disposed to send the
Roadrunner
or the
Sharp Claws
if they express interest. Are the two target stars close enough for a high probability jump between them?"

"Yes, they are closer together than either of them are from here," Brownie said.

"OK, then. Give me a feed for the tablet showing our alternate target circled. That should be clear and please them. Mr. Burris, use my name and transmit a fleet-wide request for volunteers to scout out the first choice. Make
sure
they understand that we think there may be a hazard there. I don't want to put anybody on the spot. If
Roadrunner
or
Sharp Claws
don't volunteer that's fine. I'll consider whether to use anyone else when we see our responses." Gordon showed the revised com tablet star field to the pickup.

"I've alerted everybody we are altering our exit course. Revised numbers should be sent and acknowledged in about ten minutes," Brownie said.

"All of ours volunteer as well as the
Dart
," Burris said.

"No, I won't be responsible for that," Gordon said immediately. "They have people on board vital to establishing relations with our societies. No way will I risk them."

"Your choice who then," Burris said.

"We'll send the
Sharp Claws
," Gordon decided. "I'm coming back on the command circuit and tell them myself. I'm shutting down the feed of the Caterpillars' display and reducing it. They don't seem disposed to say any more."

"Perhaps that's their custom," Lee said. "There's a lot to be said for shutting up once somebody agrees with you. Some idiots will talk until they kill the deal they just made."

"Heh, good point," Gordon agreed. Captain Frost appeared on his regular display.

"We've had some discussion. The Caterpillars want us to avoid the star we picked at first. There is some opinion they may be warning us to avoid a hazard," Gordon said, "but we are not children to be herded. You are near as fast as a courier and armed. I'd like to know
what
we are bypassing.
Especially
if it is a hazard at our back. If anyone doesn't want to go put them off on a shuttle and we'll take them aboard. Are you still game to go?"

"Yes sir. I'm offering right now to transfer anyone who wants put off."

"Very well. How are you on fuel?" Gordon asked.

"We're at seventy-three percent. Good for two jumps maybe three if they're easy ones." Frost said. "I do have one question. What are your orders if the Caterpillars interfere with our run or jump, since they seem opposed to this?"

"If they physically snatch you with those little tug-drones I'd let them do so. They have returned every ship they took aboard unharmed. I really wouldn't argue with them or alter course unless they actually fire on you. We have to draw the line somewhere," Gordon decided.

"I wonder if they have any custom similar to our firing across the bow?" Frost said.

"If you are still
there
after they fire on you, then I'd consider that a possibility," Gordon said.

"So we can probably tell they are seriously shooting at us if we are dead?" Frost asked, amused.

"Given their lead in tech, that probably states the case fairly well," Gordon agreed.

"We still volunteer," Frost insisted. "Nobody is responding to the offer to put them off the ship for this, and I'm really curious as to what's in that system."

"Thank you. So are we. You can time your run to jump as it pleases you. Ask Brownie for any data you are lacking. And good luck."

"We shall hang back and not form up with you. Perhaps the Caterpillars won't figure out we are going to do a solo to the other system," Frost said. "See you over in the alternate target."

* * *

"Beginning movement in five minutes. First burn at three tenths of a G to sort out loose gear and people, then ramping up to seven tenths at the ten minute mark," Brownie warned. Everybody favored the gentler approach instead of the immediate high G burns they'd all used at the start of this voyage. That was a military habit and a busted crock or a sprained ankle leaving every system had convinced them it was counterproductive. Everybody slept better at a little less acceleration too. A well rested crew performed better.

"Caterpillars are pacing us at a distance," Brownie added after they increased the boost.

The fleet was a couple hours into their run before the
Sharp Claws
broke orbit behind them and followed. It wouldn't be immediately apparent they were aiming at the other star since they were in the same approximate direction. The main crew went off shift and off-shift crew took the bridge. Mid-shift the Caterpillars must have noticed the
Sharp Claws
was on a divergent course as they abruptly altered course. They also cut back their acceleration so the
Sharp Claws
would catch up.

"They want to jump at the same time instead of getting ahead of them," Choi Eun-sook decided.

"Yes, Ms. Choi. I'm a bit surprised they haven't called on this new communicator," Botrel the off-shift commander said, waving at the added equipment. "Whatever is in that system they were going to avoid it too, but now they are accompanying our comrades. If there is danger there then it is remarkable they changed course. I hope they are both safe."