Gray Panthers: Dixie (32 page)

Peary Crater Lunar Base

24 November 2128

Dan was happy, now that the contracts had been signed. As he walked the delegation of Switians to their shuttle, he asked them off the cuff if they would be providing bases on Swit for the army or fleet.

“We will do all we can to make the army and the fleet comfortable on Swit,” the lead delegate assured Dan. “We have a responsibility to our protectors. We will provide the best value possible for their money.” At that point the delegates entered the shuttle without even a look back at Dan.

He watched the shuttle launch and laughed, as he had already planned to have negotiators from Earth assist the Fire Warriors in setting up bases. He pressed the comm button behind his ear to call Abby.

“Abby, how are we looking for getting the ships and crews on their way to planet Glory?”

“We have enough humans and Jacka for eighteen ships. I suggest we send the remainder of the ships with human crews, then train from Glory. I’ve already sent the drones from those ships to the shipyards to augment the workers there.”

“Thanks, Abby. I’ll task Admiral Bad with getting the ships out of here.”

“Admiral Bad, how do you feel about sending out the Libra ships with their new mixed crews? I also want to send the extra ships with human crews. I don’t think we’re going to see anymore Jacka coming our way.”

“You know what I think, Dan. I can get the ball rolling. Our crews are ready to go. I’ll get with my counterpart from the Fire Warriors.”

“Good deal. I just signed contracts with the League of Planets. They can keep fighting the Libra, and we can get back to what passes for normal.”

“What about when they come for us again? You really pissed them off, I hope ya know.”

“Between the danger from the Fire Warriors and the Libra having an acute lack of ground troops, I don’t think we have to worry—especially when the League of Planets finds their balls and decide they want their planets back that the Libra conquered.”

“Dan, I’ve always trusted you and backed you. I hope you have a plan B.”

Arizona Space Ship Bia, in Earth space

24 November 2128

Cmdr. Erickson had mixed feelings as he surveyed “his” fleet. He’d been given six hours to prepare the fleet to jump to the Jacka home world. The mixed crews would enable the humans to teach the Jacka how to operate the ships. When they arrived in ten days, they would be suitably trained. Then the Bia would return to Earth with the human crewmembers.

Erickson liked the thought of de-escalating Earth’s part in the war, since it was obviously the failure of the League of Planets to rein in the Libra when they had the chance. 

“Captain, we’ve received signals from all ships. They’re ready to jump. They’ve included their jump coordinates, and Bia has concurred that it should be a safe jump for all.”

“Announce to all ships that we will jump in exactly five minutes. Time to get the show on the road.”
And may this be our last trip to the other side of the galaxy,
Erikson hoped.

Arizona Space Ship Beater, in Libra space

24 November 2128

Johnson’s confidence was sky high as they prepared to drop into normal space and go after a soft target—a mining colony that produced rare minerals needed for electronics.

“Battle stations. Battle stations. We are going to drop into normal space in thirty seconds.”
Okay what surprises are we going to get this time?
Johnson wondered.

“Sir, no enemy nearby. We’re picking up no traffic, as well—ship or communications. Only thing I’m hearing is automated distress calls from three escape pods.”

“Let’s go in slow. Short Blade, keep sharp on the sensors. Looks like someone beat us here. Beater, can we communicate with those pods?”

“Communications will be voice-only, but it is possible.”

“This is the Finey patrol ship ninety-eight to rescue pods. Identify your ship and what has happened here.

“Finey patrol ship ninety-eight, we were attacked by two human ships. One ship is damaged and took a heading of approximately two hundred and forty degrees away from the planet. They left only four hours ago.”

“Have you managed to contact anyone else with this information?”

“Finey patrol ship ninety-eight, you are the first ship to arrive since the attack. Why are you in our patrol zone?”

Addressing his crew, Johnson said, “Destroy the pods and then set a course of two forty. Short Blade, monitor for ships as well as evidence that ships may have come through here.”

“Captain, we can’t kill those innocent—”

“Commander Poland, we can’t take prisoners. They have information that’s a death sentence for one of our ships. If you have an alternative, I am listening.” Johnson hoped the goody two-shoes would prove him wrong.

“No, sir, I don’t.”

Poland dropped his head in defeat, and Johnson nodded to Short Blade.

“Sir, three targets destroyed. Assuming a heading of two forty.”

“Beater, have you detected any signs of ships passing this way recently?”

“Sir, there is a slight ion trail that can be detected. Their present course will take them to the Jacka home world in approximately four days. If they were to take a heading of ninety degrees from where I estimate they are, they would go through a small nebula that would hide their trail. They could then proceed to the Flem home world for repairs, or perhaps the Hades Nebula and the wormhole there.”

“Thank you for the additional information, Beater. Please limit your answers to that which is asked for. How long of a jump do we need to get safely ahead of the ships, with what we know?”

“Twenty minutes, with a safety margin—especially if we take a heading of two hundred forty point five.”

“Commander Poland, set course and engage.” Johnson was feeling agitated, and he couldn’t easily get to the pills in his pocket without being seen. He sat for the next twenty minutes thinking only of taking one of the pills, as he’d developed a headache.

“Captain, we’ve arrived.” The announcement startled him back to the present.

“Polarize the hull and raise shields. I don’t care to be shot by a friend any more than by an enemy. Drop the ship,” he ordered.

Johnson began to chew on his finger, not noticing what he was doing. “Beater, what do you detect?”

“Captain, a pair of Dixie destroyers five minutes out, heading this direction.”

“Send a narrow-beam greeting and offer our assistance.”

The sensor operator aboard the Georgia alerted Woods. “Captain, we have a target five minutes out sending a narrow-beam message. It’s the Arizona Space Ship Beater.”

“Request they send a shuttle with an engineering officer to the Virginia to see if they have any ideas. Keep their ship targeted with passive targeting only. We don’t want to make our cousins unhappy.”

Beater informed the captain, “Sir, they are requesting assistance for the Virginia.”

Johnson thought for a moment. “Commander Poland, I can’t order you to go, but you are the most knowledgeable.” He waited for the answer he expected.

“I’ll go, sir. With the Major Rogers AI, it will make it much easier.”

“Sir, I’d like to volunteer to accompany the commander,” Short Blade requested, “both for the experience and in case there is trouble.” He was standing at attention, waiting for his answer.

“Very good. Get moving. I feel like we’re stopped in the middle of the highway, and I want us to get off the road soon.”

Poland was enthused about the prospect of seeing Dixie’s engineering. Short Blade checked the modified beamer he carried in his pistol holster and then checked to make sure his sword would slide easily if he needed it.

“Expecting trouble, Ensign Short Blade?”

“No, sir, but if I’m wrong, I’m ready.”

Poland pulled his 10mm automatic and gave it a quick check while still walking toward the bay.

The shuttle Major Rogers sat ready for departure. As soon as Poland and Short Blade entered the shuttle, the hatch closed behind them and the shuttle launched itself.

“Commander, with what has happened on Dixie, it would be best if they saw you before they saw me when we exit the shuttle,” Short Blade said.

“Good suggestion, Ensign. It’s hard to replace good ensigns these days.” Poland laughed softly when he saw that Short Blade was trying to figure out if he was being made fun of or not.

“Commander Poland, we are entering the Virginia,” the AI announced a few minutes later. “I will open the hatch in a minute. I will send faeries with you in case you have questions about anything you see in engineering.”

“Thank you, Major Rogers. Let’s hope for the best.”

The crew of the Virginia was startled initially when Short Blade exited behind Commander Poland.

“Sir, I’m Chief Dawson. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to engineering.” Dawson looked at Short Blade and his weapons, and realized that he himself was not armed. “Sir, do you vouch for the little alien there?”

“Chief, that little alien has been awarded medals on numerous occasions for bravery and is an officer in the Gray Panthers. This is the only time I want even a hint of this being an issue. Do you understand me?”

“Aye, aye, sir. Please accept my apologies for sounding disrespectful.”

“Chief Dawson, I was a chief,” Short Blade said, smiling. “From one chief to another, water under the bridge. But I will kill the next one who insults me.” Dawson hastened his efforts to get the pair to engineering.

“I can’t take you anywhere, can I, Ensign?” Poland whispered, controlling his urge to laugh.
This will make a good story later,
he thought.
Was he joking, though?

The FTL drive was similar to the Flem design except for additional parts used to ensure that the ride was not uncomfortable to humans.

“What have you determined, Chief Dawson?” Poland was looking at the FTL from the side.

“Sir, the interface between the FTL and inertial dampeners is not communicating. If we engaged the drive, we would all be splattered against the wall.”

“You are sure it’s only the interface and that both of the other parts would correctly attach to a new interface?” Both men bent to the underside of the machinery as a new crewman came in and immediately tried to attack Short Blade.

“We have aliens on board!” the six-foot machinist yelled, running full bore at Short Blade with a heavy wrench in his hand, ready to swing it down on top of the little Jacka. Short Blade stood still and shouted an order at the crewman.

“Crewman, halt!” Startled, the machinist continued his attack. Poland and Dawson looked on in horror as the wrench came down toward Short Blade’s head. He sidestepped the wrench and grabbed it along with the machinist’s hand, flipping the crewman onto his back.

“You made three mistakes, crewman. First, you let your own speed and weight be used against you. Second, you didn’t listen to an order from a superior officer. And third, you made the mistake of attacking me. I am Ensign Short Blade of the Gray Panthers, of the Claw Clan. Now I must kill you for your dishonorable ambush upon me.” Short Blade pressed the wrench into the crewman’s throat and looked into his fear-filled eyes.

“I shall spare your life because I do not want to do the paperwork explaining why I killed an ally.” Short Blade dropped the wrench and winked at Poland as he walked toward him.

“At ease, Pierce!” Dawson shouted.

Short Blade turned to see the crewman again holding the wrench. Dawson went over and backhanded the crewman.

“Report to the brig, you dumb shit!” When Dawson turned around again, he saw that both Poland and Short Blade held their sidearms at their side, pointed down.

“My apologies, sirs,” Dawson said. “Pierce is a brig monkey under the best of circumstances. His family was taken from Dixie, and we’ve had no word yet.”

Poland looked over at Short Blade and they both holstered their weapons. The chief let out his breath.

“Chief, if we took the same part off the Georgia and used our fabricator to make a new one, do you think you could reinstall it by yourself, or would you need assistance?”

“Sir, I could do it with no trouble if I had the correct part. I have the necessary tools.”

“Major Rogers, how long would it take to fabricate the part?”

“The part can be fabricated in two hours.”

“Chief, we’re leaving now. You can brief your captain about our visit however you want, but time is essential. We need to get out before someone trips over us here.” Poland was already heading back to the bay, with Short Blade and the chief directly behind him.

“Sir, my report will be complete, including that your ensign showed extreme restraint toward his attacker. The need for speed will obviously be emphasized.” The chief came to the position of attention and saluted the two officers. They returned his salute and boarded the shuttle.

As the shuttle left the bay, Short Blade broke out in laughter. Poland looked at him for a moment and then laughed along with him, feeling the tension being released.

“You weren’t really going to kill that crewman, were you, Short Blade?” The look Short Blade gave in reply didn’t exactly reassure the commander. Short Blade realized he was getting better at the human concept of humor.

Once back on board the Beater, Poland reported the requirements to repair the ship.

“Sir, if they can coordinate removing the part and getting it to us quickly, we can be done with everything in four hours, best time, from the moment they remove the part from Georgia, deliver it to us, then return parts to both ships and install the part.”

“Good job, Commander Poland. Any problems while you were over there?”

“Just some crewman that tried to kill Short Blade, but he kept it low key. I think the faeries with us may have recorded it. Beater, is there a recording of the attack on Ensign Short Blade?”

“No recordings were made of the attack, Commander.”

“Well, I’ll take Ensign Short Blade as my bodyguard anytime.” Poland laughed as Short Blade seemed to accept the unwanted attention.