Beyond Mars Crimson Fleet (23 page)

Winslow, however, remained
silent.

Khalid continued stoking
John’s animosity, nevertheless. “You know, I’ve been a ship’s
captain close to ten years now. I, myself, was in the running with
Noda for that position. It is not so hard for me to imagine your
feelings on Wakinyan’s promotion.”

“Get to the point!”
Winslow’s annoyed disposition unveiled.

“We both know that the
promotion should have gone to a more senior officer—like you or me.
Wakinyan doesn’t know how to lead. He runs his ship like some
virtual game, trying to rack up points on some invisible score
board,” Khalid went on. “But his recklessness will one day kill us
all, unless….”

“Unless what?”

“Unless someone finds a way
to depose Paladin’s decision of deputy fleet commander and installs
a new one!”

But John became suspicious,
“Omar, what is it you really want?”

Khalid was candid, “What I
want is the fleet to have the proper leadership that it needs. I
think it just might be time for a well and overdue
change.”

“A change from what—Fleet
Commander Paladin to Fleet Commander Khalid?” Winslow queried,
guessing at the answer.

“That does have a nice
ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Winslow, however, was less
than enthusiastic. “Does the word ‘mutiny’ also have a nice ring to
it?”

“No, but
‘unfit for command’ does,” Omar countered. “Face facts, John!
Paladin is an old man who lives in his library, trying to win
modern space battles with tactics from ancient history. How
ludicrous! And what has Paladin ever done for you? You’ve been a
good officer, but do you think that Paladin appreciates that? If he
did, he wouldn’t be running
your
ship or denying you
your
promotion!”

Winslow had to admit it was
what he had been thinking. “I don’t know?” was all he could say in
reply.

“Yes you do, or else you
wouldn’t be listening to me now.”

“Maybe I agree with you,” John conceded, “So what?
What can we do about it?”

“After we arrive at
Valamars, an opportunity just may present itself. The two of us
working together could resolve this situation most
satisfactorily!”

“And what
is it you want me to do—
exactly
?” Winslow demanded to know
what he was getting involved in.

Khalid’s smile became very broad and toothy. He knew
he had John hooked. “Don’t worry, at the right time you’ll be told.
However, it shouldn’t amount to more than just a little show
of—support.”

John felt uneasy about
Omar’s scheme and lack of details. “I don’t know—but I’ll think
about it.” Winslow surprised himself with his own willingness
entertain such thoughts.

“Take your time,” Khalid
was patient, “but remember this; things won’t change unless we do
something ourselves. You’ll be nothing more than Paladin’s and
Wakinyan’s lackey for the rest of your life,” Omar bluntly pointed
out. “Having said that, I would make sure that all of my friends
were amply rewarded for their efforts should the honor of fleet
commander ever befall me—and your assistance would put you at the
very top of that list!”

There was
a short pause between the two men as they studied each other. They
both tried to gage the other’s thoughts, but with nothing more to
say, the captain of the
Mir
offered a mock salute and then signed
off.

After the transmission
ended, the viewer went to a general call screen. Winslow stood for
a long time looking at the blue rectangular transparency. He was
somewhat disturbed by the short conversation. Things were happening
too fast, and a feeling of anxiety and mistrust agitated him. John
then wondered how this situation was going to unfold along with the
part he was going to play in it.

* * * * *

Chapter 14: Cramer’s
World

It had once been toted as a
paradise among the stars, where over 20 million human beings had
migrated. With an atmosphere and environment comparable to a
pristine Earth of the 1st Century AD, Cramer’s World had been
celebrated as the most desirable place to live of all of Earth’s
colonies.

It was beautiful,
picturesque, and with plants and animals that bore a striking
similarity to the colonists’ home world of Earth. The only
difference was that there was no dominant, intelligent species that
existed. It was a curiosity that in reality held a dark
secret.

However within a decade of
the mass immigration, many of the humans became afflicted with some
unknown plague that ravaged the planet. Many died terrible deaths,
while the rest were transformed into grotesque and distorted images
of their former selves. Even the plants and animals were not spared
the ravages of the unknown pestilence and followed their human
overseers in the agony of mutation.

Cramer’s World was
immediately quarantined. By the penalty of death or total
destruction, nothing was allowed to enter or leave the planet.
Throughout the crisis, testing and analysis by robots and other
remote systems became a daily routine, constantly looking for the
source of the mysterious scourge, but nothing was seemingly
found.

Eventually, the plague ran
its course, and the ban was slowly lifted. However, the planet was
devastated along with the once-human population. Only about one
hundred thousand survivors remained on the slowly dying world—and
their ordeal was far from over.

The colonists of Cramer’s World were at first
treated like guinea pigs in a laboratory. They were scrutinized and
prodded with all manner of scientific and medical instruments,
adding humiliation to their sorrows. When no further information
could be gleamed from their bodies, however, interest in their
plight waned.

The
freaks
and
their world had simply become a lost cause—and a “waste of funding”
by the Earth. This had added to the burden of their grotesque
appearance, casting their status and dignity as human beings aside.
Even their own relatives had abandoned them to a pretense of death,
wanting nothing to do with the
freaks
of Cramer’s
World.

With no means of support on their dying planet, the
surviving colonists were forced into hazardous labors to earn a
living. They built many types of facilities on harsh worlds for
others to habituate, or hauled cargo to farthest reaches of human
space, constantly facing the dangers that few others would. But
always they returned to their desolate planet, spurned by the
prejudice, fear, and hatred of “normal” humans.

However,
things were about to change. The hand of fate was extended to
the
freaks
—the hand
of Commander Paladin. For help in building the new cities and
military bases on Valamars, the
freaks
were to be given an equal place
within the new Martian society—and a chance at life again. So had
promised Paladin; and his hand and offer were heartily accepted.
And for over seven secretive years, the
freaks
toiled endlessly, keeping their
end of the bargain.

* * * * *

The spaceport terminals on Cramer’s World were empty
except for discarded personal items lying on the ground. Only the
wind stirred things, as random gusts blew paper and other light
objects about. People were nowhere to be seen, save for the corpses
of the Earth security forces personnel that lay where they were
killed. In a gesture of defiance, the living symbols of Earth’s
oppressive rule were struck down as the colonists prepared for
their departure from the dying world. The planet was now truly lost
to the silence of desolation.

Suddenly, a deafening roar
filled the air as the last of several large passenger ships lifted
off from their pads. In a slow arc, they rose majestically into the
outer atmosphere, heading for space.

Above the
planet, a small, makeshift fleet was formed. It was comprised of
vessels and crafts of all kind. From freighters to a few police
patrol ships, all hovered near the planet. Among these was the
freighter
Ariana
,
which took lead position. It was old and archaic, but still very
functional. Her passengers and crew were filled with renewed hope
and excitement of sailing to a better world and a new
beginning.

The bridge of the ship was lit in very subdued
tones, hiding the appearance of each individual crewmember that
work the controls or monitored the instruments. Only a single,
recessed overhead light cut the darkness to illuminate two persons
strapped to a round metal beam that was a support between floor and
ceiling. One of the prisoners was an old man who wore the black
uniform of Earth’s Security Service, while the other was a young
woman in civilian garb. Both squirmed to test their confines
regardless of the hopelessness of their escape.

Suddenly, the hatch to the bridge opened, bathing
part of the compartment in light. Both prisoners turned to look at
the figure entering.

She was slightly tall, but
a little more than a silhouette in the backlighting. However as she
moved, portions of her became clearly visible.

Her exposed portions of
skin glistened in a soft tan as she walked. Her neck seemed
slightly elongated, however, but nevertheless, her figure was quite
athletic and shapely. And although her face retained the beauty it
once held in angelic features, her head was bald, slightly wider,
and enlarged. But the most obvious feature about the woman was her
eyes. They were twice that of normal size, slanted, and as black as
coal. Those who gazed uncomfortably into them felt that they were
looking into an infinite abyss that could swallow one’s very soul.
This was Captain Tara Nargis, who governed the ships of the mutant
fleet.

Tara looked both prisoners over as she advanced into
the room, yet did not stop. Instead, she went straight to her first
mate, who was seated in the command chair. He rose from his perch,
revealing his distorted body that boasted a huge hump on his back
and imposing arms. He was the very image of a modern-day
Quasimodo.

“Captain, the last of our ships have lifted off,”
First Mate Martin Pearl addressed his superior.

“As soon as they join the
fleet, have all ships lay in the course I gave you,” Tara spoke
with her authority.

“That will take us to the
last planet in our solar system. Do the Martians know we’ll be
there?” Martin voiced his concern.

Tara frowned. “No, but I’m
not going to take any chances. Should anything go wrong, we’ll be
shielded from any probes temporarily. It should also provide us
with enough time to make a quick jump into hyperspace—if that
should be necessary,” her answer was candid.

“What about those two?”
Martin questioned in a nod towards the two prisoners.

Tara glanced at the duo for
a moment. “That is our next problem,” Tara confided with a little
disgust.

The
captain of the
Ariana
turned and walked over to the two prisoners with her first
mate on her heels. As Tara halted before them, the woman prisoner
dropped her head and began to sob.

Tara felt
shame and guilt for the abuse the woman suffered in her capture.
Janis Avery was a compassionate human being and a good planetary
administrator. She didn’t deserve this type of treatment in the
least, but the captain of the
Ariana
was bound to the safety of her people and her
fleet. The dependents of those who built the Martian cities were in
her charge. And because of that, she felt compelled to do whatever
it took to get the information she needed.

“Miss Avery,” Tara spoke
in a gentle voice, “I don’t like this anymore than you do. Please,
won’t you reconsider your answer on providing me with the access
codes for the automatic planetary defense systems? I promise you’ll
be set free immediately and reunited with your daughter—and no one
will hurt either one of you!” Tara emotionally and honestly
assured.

“Drop dead, freak,” the
tied-up male security officer interrupted.

Tara, however, ignored
him. “Miss Avery, you have been a decent and humane administrator,
even with this animal as your security chief. I will not hold you
responsible for his acts of terrorism against my people. However, I
do have the safety of this fleet to consider. If you do not
willingly give me the codes—I will be forced to take them—and I
prefer not to do that! Please, give me the codes!” Tara pleaded to
the young woman, her hand rose to touch the auburn woman’s
face.

Janis Avery slowly looked
up into Tara’s deep eyes, and saw sincerity and gentleness. For a
moment, she hesitated to answer. But finally she then nodded a
“yes” to the captain, voicing a soft “Okay.”

“DON’T DO IT!” Security
Chief Earle Nyland shouted out. “You tell these ugly monsters those
damn codes and I’ll have both you and your daughter beaten to death
when this is all over with!” he threatened.

A look of fear froze Janis’ face as her heart began
to pound to the threat of Earle’s words, which created a vivid
picture in her mind. Janis knew he would most happily do it.