Solbidyum Wars Saga Book 1: Battle of the New Orleans (30 page)

Since a large number of the quarters on the ship had already been furnishe
d it was no problem finding one of the more luxurious suites for the Captain. Unfortunately we had no major domo or serving staff, but Orcpipin was able to quickly round a few persons to provide some limited services.  Since Nibaria was a toxic planet with nitrogen compound in its atmosphere; few humans ever went to the surface. Those that did had to wear sealed suits and breathing gear, so all the staff were Nibarians. It was strange to see these short tree barked looking people scurrying around a ship they were unfamiliar with trying to see to our needs, never the less they were a most pleasant people. 

While we waited for the
TRITYTE 
to make the several hour round trip to Megelleon and back we took Captain Maxette to one of the nicer lounges on the
NEW ORLEANS
for some drinks and conversation.  Now that his buzz about the
NEW ORLEANS
was dying down he was interested to hear our story of what happened after we had left the
DUSTEN
.  He said that, as I had predicted, a large portion of the Bunem fleet showed up on the long range scanners not long after we had departed.  As I suggested they immediately sent off a message to the Bunem fleet welcoming them to join in the hunt for the
TRITYTE
. The Captain said that at first the Bunemnites were confused by the offer but quickly put two and two together and came up with the exact conclusion we had hoped for.  True to my prediction they accepted the offer for some of their officers to come over to the
DUSTEN
to “coordinate efforts” and brought a larger contingency than normally would be considered for such an operation.  The
DUSTEN
played hosts to the Bunemnites officers and they came and tried hard to appear causal as they snooped about the ship just in case the Solbidyum was onboard, but of course it wasn’t and by the time they realized it, it was too late for them to go chasing after the
TRITYTE
. In the meantime the other half of their fleet was still chasing after the GW pod not knowing that it was a decoy.  With no way to communicate with them they would continue until the GW Pod ran out of fuel and they caught it, or until their own supplies got so low they had to turn around and come home.  Either way they would have exhausted a lot of resources for nothing.  Captain Maxette still was elated by the event and laughed hardly about it.

It was late afternoon when the
TRITYTE
returned with Captain Stonbersa.  The man was so excited about the
NEW ORLEANS
he could barely keep his composure.  A meal had been prepared but Stonbersa barely ate and was asking one question after another about the ship. Meanwhile, Captain Maxette was trying to relate to Stonbersa the details of what he was now calling the “Tibby Solbidyum Shuffle Event,” and how we’d gotten one over on the Bunemnites.  Both were talking animatedly to each other and neither of them really noting that the other was not paying attention to what they were saying.  Kala and I just sat there watching them and smiling.  Finally, the meal finished we took Captain Stonbersa to the Bridge to start his tour, even though Captain Maxette had previously seen this part of the ship he accompanied us, all the time both of still carrying on their conversation from dinner. However, when we finally got to the bridge and Captain Stonbersa set foot on it, all became quiet. Stonbersa actually started to weep as he walked about the bridge looking at each station and touching each item as though they were the rarest and precious items in the universe.  I knew right then there could be no one else better suited to be the Captain of the
NEW ORLEANS
.

Captain
Stonbersa reaction when he found out about the Reverse Mass Force Field was even more profound than Captain Maxette’s was, “Give us time,” he said, “and I’ll bet we find a way to power her.”  I didn’t tell him just then about our idea to use the Solbidyum power from the
TRITYTE
to power it.

We got as far as showing him the engine rooms that evening and told him the rest of the tour would have to wait till morning as it was now late in the evening.  He was shown to the Captains suite on the ship
which was opulently laid out with rich woodworked interiors and large view ports looking out into space.  The room had an almost Victorian look to it rich drapes adorned the view ports, there was an air of propriety about it that made one feel both somber yet relaxed at the same time.  I think if I had offered him the job right at that moment he would have taken the job for no pay at all just to be on the ship.

The next morning Reidecor,
Marranalis, and Lunnie left to return Captain Maxette to the
DUSTEN
, and then to return with Piesew for his interview.  Since the trip was within the same solar system a navigator was not required and Kerabac stayed aboard the
NEW ORLEANS
and assisted in with the touring of Captain Stonbersa.  I was impressed with Stonbersa and could quickly see why he was so endearing to so may, I found it hard to believe that this man had been drummed out of the service for dereliction of duty.  Finally, about midafternoon I casually asked, “So Captain, do you feel like you would be interested in being the Captain of the New Orleans?”

“Oh my yes,” he said, “Being captain of this ship would be a dream come true
. This is probably the finest ship in the universe.  I would be a fool not to desire to serve on it.”

“I would be interested in having you as captain of this ship, what kind of salary are you looking for?” I asked.

I could see him struggling trying to come up with a number ,“How about this, I’ll pay you ten times what you were getting as a Captain with the Federation!”

“You are jok
ing with me,” he said wide eyed, “that’s too much.”

“Well that’s my offer, take it or leave it.”

“I’ll take it!” he said, practically jumping up and down as he did.

“Ok, captain,” I said
, “I need you to take command as soon as possible, with the exception of my own personal staff for my quarters; you will be responsible for acquiring the crew for the ship.  Orcpipin may be able to give you some assistance, he knows a passenger liner that is letting it’s crew go due to extensive long term repairs the ship will be going through. There should be a lot of people available that we can acquire quickly, but the choice is yours.  I would like that as many of the people on the bridge and engineering are people with past military experience as possible.”

“I understand
Tibby and as for when I can start, would now be too soon?” Stonbersa said, “I was temporarily renting a place on Megelleon as I contemplated what I was going to do next.  I haven’t even unpacked my possessions there.  I can send someone back to pick them up for me.  I would much prefer to stay here now and begin getting things in order to fly on your wishes.”

“Right Captain,”
I said. “There is one other thing I need to discuss with you, this is to be confidential and the fewer people who know the better. It has to do with the Reverse Mass Force Field generator and the power requirements.”

Later that evening the
TRITYTE
returned with Piesew and the rest of my crew. My original plan was for Piesew to be the house major domo for the Estate, but when I brought it up to him he immediately told me he didn’t feel anywhere close to being up to the task. However, he did mention that he would be interested in the job of major domo for my quarters on the
NEW ORLEANS
, if I was willing.  He did know of a good man to take the position at the estate, someone he had worked and trained under and who according to Piesew was
the most honorable and honest man he had ever known
. Piesew also said the man would probably be willing to leave his current position, “even though the man had too much honor to say anything negative about his employer, he was less than pleased working for his current employer.” Piesew said that if I was interested he could arrange for me to talk to his former mentor within a few days. 

I made Piesew my standard offer of employment
the same as I had made to those I had hired from the
DUSTEN
and he accepted immediately.

“Piesew, you will be responsible for hiring your own staff,” I said, “and I would appreciate it if you would work in conjunction with Captain
Stonbersa in acquiring domestic staffs for the other suites on the
NEW ORLEANS
as well.”

“It would be my great honor,” Piesew replied,
“I know Captain Stonbersa well, having served on another ship with him in the past; he is a great man to work with.”

“It’s good to know, I’ve heard nothing but good things about
Stonbersa from the people I trust most. I also like knowing my crew likes each other.”  I said.

Stonbersa
came to me just a few hours after accepting my offer to me telling me he had located a purser for the ship and I needed to set up an account for them to draw funds on for ship expenses.  I asked Kala to find out what I needed to do and make the arrangements. I had barely finished talking to her when Kerabac approached me with a look of urgency.

“We just got word from the estate
, there was an attack on the hangar. Two Federation ships that were there were involved and several of the Federation troopers guarding the hangar area were killed and three others were wounded. Of our own security force only two were wounded, but none of them seriously.  The attackers got away, taking the two Patrol Ships with them.  From the early reports we are getting it seems they were looking for the
TRITYTE.
  The security cameras at the landing field captured some images that Sgt. Marranalis think’s you need to see.” 

All the time that
Kerabac was relating this information we were headed towards the bridge at a run, as we arrived Captain Stonbersa and Marranalis were standing at the communications station, Marranalis was issuing orders to the security forces at the Estate on one screen and had the commander of the Federation security force on the other screen.             

“Make sure main house is totally secure before trying to do anything at the hanger, and make sure guards at the Lodge are all at the ready
, they may try and attack there.  I want the Patrol Ship at the Lodge landing pad sealed with the crew inside at the ready, get them in the air but they are not to engage anyone unless fired upon! I do not want them chasing after the stolen ships, the Federation already has ships in the air searching for those. Just stay ready for anything that might happen and be prepared to defend the lodge or Estate house if called on to do so!” He turned to see us enter, “Kerabac, show Tibby the vid’s from the hanger attack please.”  He then turned back to the screen,   “Tell the Federation they need to set up some guns at the Estate that can take out patrol ships if necessary, if anyone gives you flack about it tell them to check with Admiral Regeny!”

Kerabac led me over to another vid screen and activated it.  On the vid screen images of about two dozen individuals attired like troopers suddenly appear on the landing pad with weapons firing on the security guards and other troopers stationed there.  Fire was returned both by the security guards and by the Federation supplied troopers as well, the skirmish didn’t last long and the invading troops quickly boarded the two patrol ships on the landing strip, one of them turned just before entering the ship and the camera caught his face full on. “Lexmal!” I exclaimed in fury.,

“Notice anything strange about the raid
Tibby?” Marranalis asked.

“Yeah they went straight for the ships
, nothing else, you don’t think they thought one of them was the
TRITYTE?
” I said.

“That’s exactly what I think
,” Marranalis responded, “and Lexmal was with them. He knows that the
TRITYTE
has a Solbidyum reactor and I’ll bet anything that was their target. Just one grain of Solbidyum is worth a planets’ wealth by itself.  Lexmal no doubt has some confederates interested in getting that Solbidyum.  It’s a good thing the
TRITYTE
was here at the time.”

“Oh my god
, where is Lunnie!?”  I asked in a near panic.

“Don’t know
, she cut out of here right after seeing that vid.  She said she had something to take care of right away.” Marranalis answered, “She took Reidecor with her.”

“Captain Stonbersa seal off the ship and get ready for a fight
,” I said, “I fear we are about to get company in the form of three fully armed Federation patrol ships. I am confident that they’ll be trying to get to the
TRITYTE.
We must not let them get either the
TRITYTE
or the
NEW ORLEANS.
If they were to find out about the RMFF on this ship, well we can only imagine the damage they could do to the Federation.”

“I already issued the order as soon as I heard of the attack on your estate
.” Marranalis reported   “This ship has good fire power, but we lack trained people to handle the guns. I didn’t think about the
TRITYTE
being the target, I thought it was you they were after.   I’ll get a message off to the Federation asking for back up.”