Pursue the Past: Samair in Argos: Book 1 (36 page)

              She laughed.  “I think we can manage that.  The biggest problem I see on first glance is preventative maintenance.  I need to give an honest appraisal, Captain.  One that you might not like to hear.”  Mairi tried very hard to look as small as possible.  This was supposed to be a somewhat private conversation among the two of them, but she was needed to keep doing her job on the ship’s systems.

              He shrugged.  “I dislike my ship not functioning more.  Go on.”

              “The ship is filthy, Captain.  And the smell, well, I saw your reaction when you stepped on board our ship.  You noticed a clear difference.”

              He nodded, humiliation clear on his face. 

              “Well, it’s an easy fix, though it will take discipline.”  She looked him straight in the eye.  “You just have to keep to a regular cleaning schedule.  And,” Tamara added, pointing to the bot that was floating under the pilot’s console, “invest in a couple of these.  They do a ton of work.  You just need to make sure you empty out the bin when it gets full.”

              Vosteros nodded, as though he was slowly coming to understand. 

              “But that’s not the only thing,” she added.  “I’ve got a couple of my team working on your life support systems.  I think there’s quite a lot of work in there that needs to be done as well.  But with a combination of keeping the systems maintained and the place clean, you’ll get rid of that funk.”

              “It might make my ship a place that my crew will actually want to work, as opposed to a place they’re trapped on for weeks at a time,” he mused.

              She only nodded.  “Talk to Captain Eamonn and his cargo specialist.  They’ll sort you out.”

              It took about a day to get the whole engineering survey completed.  Tamara and her team gathered in the main cargo bay along with the ship’s crew.  The cargo bay was selected because it was nearly empty and it was the only space on the ship large enough to fit that many people.  The
Emilia Walker
boasted three bays, two small lateral bays and the large bay in the center.  The berthing spaces where the entire crew (including the Captain) slept, were forward of the cargo areas.  The crew lounge was located above the cargo areas, while the engineering spaces were located to the rear and above the main cargo bay, which left a large empty space below for cargo doors.  The ship looked as though it had a low belly hanging underneath.  The cockpit was on the lower level, the most forward part of the ship. 

              “Miss Samair,” Captain Vosteros said formally.  “I believe you have your report.  If you would please?” 

              There were quiet grumbles among the crew.  They still weren’t happy about the bringing in of another ship’s engineering team to do their jobs.  The entirely male crew was rather displeased by the fact that this particular team was led by a woman with a team that was half female.  Oh, the boys had no problem with women.  On their brief liberty trips to Folston, they would all hang out in bars, brothels and other such places to find a bit of female companionship.  But it was certainly… emasculating… to have a group of women and their male attendants to come aboard their ship and tell them what was wrong.  Even worse was that these women seemed quite competent.

              “Well, the cleaner bots that you rented have done their magic through about twenty percent of the interior of the ship,” Tamara began.  And it had helped.  The smell had diminished
,
but only slightly.  “We’ve completed the software cleaning and the patches and upgrades.  When you get onto the ship’s computers again, you’ll find a marked improvement.  You’ll need to observe a much more…”  She paused, trying to find the word.

              “Disciplined,” Igraine put in helpfully.

              Tamara frowned.  “Yes, thank you.  A much more disciplined regimen when dealing with the computers.  The reason they were so infested with viruses was because absolutely anything got uploaded.  Things that were infected with viruses and other such things got into the system which started to damage or slow down the processing speed.”  She could tell she was losing her already thin hold on her audience.  So she changed tack.

              “All right,” she said, a bit louder.  “This crew is a disgrace.  Captain Vosteros has very wisely come to my captain for assistance because the group of layabouts and ingrates on board this tub clearly don’t have the stones or the brains to get the job done.” 
That
got their attention.  They were all glaring at her now and a low growl resounded about the bay.  Her own team was looking about nervously.  Her security guards shifted, loosened their sidearms in the holsters. 

              “So, some life from this crew at last,” Tamara replied defiantly, looking from one man to the next.  She was baiting them and
she
knew it was a dangerous tactic but it was the only one that seemed to be working.  And besides, she’d done this before.  The labor strike a year before her arrest.  Senior
officers
officers’
conferences berating her for schedule slippages in the shipyards, demanding more productivity.  Sitting in the courtroom while attorneys and witnesses and the members picked apart her life.  Compared to that, these men were little puppies.

              “Now, I have a repair and maintenance list a kilometer long.  Your Captain is going to trade for parts from the
Grania Estelle
and my team has been assigned to assist in the installation and testing of those components.  Now, you all have two choices.  You can get over yourselves, buckle down and roll up your sleeves and get to work with my team to bring the ship up to snuff.  Or… you can act like the sniveling pack of worms I’m seeing before me.  In which case, while my Captain might still sell you the equipment, I will recommend that all of you receive no assistance from our crew.  You can figure out how to fix this ship and good luck to you.”  She crossed her arms under her breasts, her confident glare sweeping over all of them. 

              “So it’s put up or shut up time, gentlemen.  We have to report back to the
Grania Estelle.
”  She turned to Vosteros.  “Captain, thank you for your time and assistance.  Please contact our ship when you and your crew have made their decision.  We’ll need to report back there to gather up proper tools and the first round of parts anyway, assuming you come to a consensus.”

              “Well, Miss Samair…” he began.

              But Tamara cut him off.  “Talk it over, Captain.  I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder the whole time we are here.  Get in touch once you have a decision.”  She nodded her head in the direction of the airlock to the rest of her team, all of whom turned and headed out.  Without a look at them, Tamara deliberately turned her back on the
Emilia Walker
’s crew and walked briskly to the shuttle.  Her implants were picking up aggressive noises from the men behind her, but no one was rushing at them.

              The others got into the shuttle and Tamara followed, closing the hatch behind her and sealing the shuttle hatch behind her.

Chapter 12

              “Moxie, this has got to stop,” the Captain told her, slapping one hand on the desk.  He clearly was not happy but he wasn‘t angry, at least not outwardly.

              “Which part, Captain?” she asked blandly.  She was seated at the wardroom table, her hands folded in front of her on the table.

              “The part where you keep walking out in the middle of my transactions!  You keep throwing wrenches into my deal!” he nearly shouted.

              “Captain, I’ve been trying to work with that crew…” she began.

              “No, what you have done is twice…
twice
… walked off that ship once the boys looked at you wrong.”  He glared at her.  “What do you have to say about that?  What happened to the Navy steel you’re supposed to have in your spine?”

              She glared back.  “I tried to work with them…” she began again.

              “You are not authorized to change or end…
any
deal that I make,” he said, biting off each word, the full weight of all of his menace behind those words.  He didn’t get up.  He didn’t shout at her.  He didn’t try to make himself larger.  He simply sat there and… seethed.

              And Tamara couldn’t help it.  Her mouth went dry.  “Captain, I need to explain…”

              “You don’t need to explain…
anything
,” he hissed. 

              “Yes, I do.”

              “I have given you so much leeway,” he said as though she hadn’t spoken.  “I have looked the other way when I really should have come down hard on you.”  His voice changed from menace to iron.  “But those days are over.  Now, one of two things is going to happen.  Option one: you are going to do an about face, march down to the shuttle and fly with your team and the first set of replacement parts and get to work on fixing the
Emilia Walker.
  Option two involves me having a security detail march you down to the cargo bay, while you watch as Quesh disables the weapons on your fighter.  You would then board that fighter and leave my ship.  And you would not be returning.”

              She didn’t answer for a moment, simply sitting at her seat and trying to regain her breath.

              “Do you think I’m kidding?  That this is an elaborate joke?”

              “No, Captain, I don’t think that.”  She swallowed hard.  “But I need you to listen to me.”

              He sighed.  “So we’re going with option two then.”

              “No,
listen
!” she insisted.  “I wasn’t doing this to hurt you or the deal.  I was
.
..”

              But Serinda’s voice interrupted, coming in over the PA.  “Captain, I have
Emilia Walker
on the comms.  Captain Vosteros wants to speak with you immediately.”

              He growled, getting to his feet and leaning on the table with one hand.  Pointing at Tamara with his free hand, he said.  “You… do… not… speak…”

              She nodded.

              “Put him through.”  There was a click.  “Captain?”  His voice was friendly and open.

              “Captain Eamonn,” Vosteros’ voice answered.  “I would like to speak with you about what happened on my ship a little while ago.”

              “Yes, Captain.  I’m sorry about that…”

              “I can’t lose this deal, Vincent.  My ship is in trouble.  Your Miss Samair’s work on the computers was amazing but that’s just the first step.  I need so many things and I can’t afford to lose this opportunity.”

              Eamonn blinked, shaking his head slightly.  This wasn’t going according to the script in his head.  “So what would you like to talk about?”

              “I’ll pay anything,
do
anything to get the parts I need for my ship.  You’re playing a really hard game here, but I’m in.”

              “Okay,” he said, rapidly trying to keep up with the conversation.  “I’m very glad to hear that.”

              “And I was thinking.  I know I can’t pay for all of the parts that I need, there are simply too many.  But what if we were to work together?  Form some sort of… I don’t know.  A cooperative?”

              Eamonn’s head was spinning.  He looked over at Tamara, who was trying her best to look innocent.  “A cooperative?”

              “Yes!  Perhaps… going into business together?”

              Now Tamara was trying very hard not to look smug.

              “That sounds like something we can discuss, but I would prefer not to do so over the comms.  This sounds like something we should talk about in person, yes?”

              “Of course.  If when your shuttle comes over, could I hitch a ride back with my purser?  I think he should be involved.”

              “That sounds fine.  The shuttle should be leaving here in about ten minutes.  I await your arrival.”  He pressed a button on the table that ended the call.  “Talk.”  It was an order and he was back in his serious voice again.

              Tamara took a deep breath and slowly let it out, but couldn’t hide the small smile on her lips.  “The crew was rather… difficult to work with.  They clearly don’t like me or the bulk of my team.”

              “I wonder why?” he mused wryly.  “There are times when I don’t like you, Moxie.”  He gestured for her to continue.

              “I could tell that working with them would be a challenge, though yes, I knew I could get them to get over their male pride and buckle down to save their ship.”  She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms under her breasts.  “I thought it might be to everyone’s benefit if the two of you, you two captains I mean, were to join forces.”

              “And you thought by pissing me off, that would do that?”

              “No, Captain, I though
t
that by making them think that you were not all that interested in helping Vosteros fix his burned out wreck of a ship, they’d get desperate and go for something more drastic than just credits.”

              “And why would I be willing to settle for something other than credits?  And why should I trust that he’s going to actually want to work with me?  What’s to stop him from just flying off after the
Emilia Walker
is fixed?”

              “Technically, nothing,” she admitted.  “But I think he’s more savvy than that.  I think he genuinely wants this deal.  I think he would want to enter into some sort of partnership with you.  And think about it.  If the two of you pool your resources, and set up some sort of headquarters, I think you could do some serious trade in and among the surrounding systems.”

              He wasn’t seeing it.  “His ship is tiny.  A hundred metric tons?  That’s nothing.  You can’t carry any kind of goods like that.”

              “Not the kind of goods you carry about the
Grania Estelle
, no,” Tamara agreed.  “But his ship isn’t designed to try and compete with you in that manner, Captain.  His is built for speed. 
Emilia Walker
is meant to bring less bulky items, like medical supplies, electronics and luxury goods and she’s meant to do it fast.  Yes, we can carry a thousand times the amount of goods, but it would take this ship almost four times as long at optimum efficiency.”

              “And…”

              She grinned.  “And he can make many more trips from home base than
Grania Estelle
can.  Which mean that while each individual trip might not make as much money, but he’ll make many more trips to make up for it.”

              Now he was grinning.  “I like this idea.  I think we might be able to make something work.  Now, I need to say two things more, Moxie.”

              She sighed.  “Yes, Captain.”

              “I’m very pleased that this might actually be a very profitable relationship.  And I want to thank you for helping to bring it about.”

              “You’re welcome, Captain.”

              He glared at her again, in all seriousness.  “Don’t ever do something like that again without my express approval.  I don’t want to be protected or anything cute like that. 
I
will decide what it is that I need and I will allocate personnel and resources accordingly.  If you see something that might work out well for me or my ship or my crew, you bring it to me.”

              Tamara nodded, looking down.  “Of course, Captain.  You’re absolutely right.  This is your ship.  You need to be making the calls.”

              He chuckled.  “Praise the stars!  She
can
be taught!”

              She snorted but rose from her chair.  “So, Captain, with your permission, I will grab my team and the parts and head over to the
Emilia Walker
and work on getting your fledgling trading empire on its feet.”

              “Damned right.”

              The next month passed in a whirlwind of activity.  The boat bay on the
Grania Estelle
was repaired and restored, much to the Captain, Taja and Tamara’s delight.  Her fighter and the shuttle were moved out of the cargo bay, though the shuttle got very little downtime as it was almost constantly in use.  It was either bringing in rocks for materials or transferring material or personnel between the two ships and the surface. 

              The machine shops and the replicators were going nonstop.  The concept of downtime on both ships became little more than a fond memory for both crews.  In a short period of time, the
Emilia Walker
was torn down and then built back up.  Dealing with the smell became priority one, especially as crewmen from the
Emilia Walker
were leaving the ship and coming back.  The cleaner bots made impressive headway in a short period of time, leaving gleaming deckplates and bulkheads.  The life support was completely overhauled, members of both crews simultaneously gagging and smiling with delight as the almost completely contaminated scrubber matrices were changed out and disposed of (out the airlock).  But the real problem was the waste recycler system.  It was leaking and was the biggest reason the ship stank.  This came as a complete shock to the crew, who over the months and years simply didn’t notice the stink anymore.  Perhaps their nasal passages were simply burned out.  The flushing out, repair and complete replacement of components were finished within five days and finally, the air on the ship didn’t seem to have a miasma of decay.

              The Captain hired on another twenty-five people, all of whom came aboard the
Grania Estelle
in wide eyed wonder.  None had ever been in space before and unlike at Instow, where there was always a feel of being in space, Folston was far less advanced.  The planet was an agricultural world, known for grains and cattle.  This made many of the crew happy as everyone was thoroughly sick of fish.  The idea of chops, ribs, burgers and steaks was amazingly appealing.  Cookie stocked up on all sorts of foodstuffs, but particularly beef, including a fair amount for trade in the next system.  Taja was happy to trade in electronics, machined tools and other such things.  She also managed to pick up a fair amount of local medicines sourced from the forests and jungle areas.  Taja also traded a few discs and e-readers providing the locals with some lectures on engineering, mathematics and science principles and the tools to take advantage of some of those.  With enough people willing to put in some hard work, Folston might be more than just an agricultural world.

              After the month was up,
Emilia Walker
was almost an entirely new ship.  From bow to stern, she was functional again, engines and life support completely overhauled.  The crew grumbled a little, but in truth they were ecstatic over the state of their little flying home.  Engine tests demonstrated that the ship sliced through space with ease.  While not as maneuverable as a shuttle or Tamara’s starfighter, it could now easily run rings around the
Grania Estelle
.  With her cargo bays full of medicinals for trade, Vosteros determined the next system would be Yoka-Hana.

              By contrast,
Grania Estelle
didn’t have as much of a drastic change.  All of the cargo holds were now repaired and in use.  The boat bay was completed and Ka’Xarian was well on the way to building a second shuttle.  The bay was quite spacious and even with Tamara’s fighter, it would easily hold three shuttles.  Perhaps at some point they would build another one.  So with the crew just topping ninety, the holds full and a secondary reactor installed, the final details for the cooperative were hammered out.

              For now, they would be working as a loose-knit partnership, putting in two shares of each ships’ profit into the cooperative.  For now, that didn’t mean much since they had no base of operations.  Each ship would be holding that money in reserve for now, which each captain knew would cause a bit of grumbling among the crews.  Though as far as the crews were concerned, since each ship was now moving faster and carrying more goods, the shares would be better regardless.  Once a suitable planet was found, they would set up offices and perhaps even a dock for refueling and maintenance.  But that was something to be dealt with later.