Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (8 page)

"Admiral, I don't pretend to know naval military philosophy or tactics. I've never studied naval strategy or what it takes to mount a sustained campaign. I have my experience which is limited I admit, but my tactics have worked." He wanted to say ‘so far’ but didn't.

"Yes, Admiral Basselrod told me you came up with the attack plan against superior numbers. Good idea. In fact, I've instructed it be included it into the academy's tactical manual." That was the first admission that suggested Buck's word carried any credibility. "Tell me, Captain, how you developed your tactical thinking."

"Admiral, all of your manuals teach how to make an assault. By watching and being in some battles, I learned what not to do. Totally contrary to what you teach. I come up with an idea and take out what I shouldn't be doing, and that's my battle plan."

Watching from the corner of his eye, he saw that Hizerman was watching for a reaction and decided to let the moment pass.

The Admiral spent the remainder of the ride telling Buck of the fleet, number of ships, men, and officers along with the ongoing research. "We have some very interesting weapons that will be integrated into the fleet shortly. My problem is whether to arm your ships with these new devices. They could give you added assets. However, should they fall into the wrong hands, Katakan's and Barnard's Star, it would not be a good thing. See my predicament?"

"Yes, Sir. However, if we found ourselves in a situation that demanded it, we could arm these gadgets with explosives and destroy them."

"True. But there is always the possibility the enemy could capture them intact."

"Isn't that the same for any Navy ship, Admiral?"

"Yes. I suppose it makes a little difference how they get them, from your ship or one of mine." Both men laughed but it lacked humor.

"Here we are. Your first time at the admiralty, Captain?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I have some matters that required my attention. Why don't you take a tour? Captain Billings can show you around."

"I'd like that. Thank you, Sir," Buck said as their Marine driver, a staff sergeant, opened the door and they exited the aircar.

An hour later, Buck was ready to end the tour; offices, conference rooms, and long hallways held little interest. Ending the walkthrough, Buck and the Captain stopped in the cafeteria, had a cup of coffee, and then returned to the Admiral's office.

"Well, what do you think if our facility, Captain?" Hizerman asked.

"Very impressive, Sir. One can't appreciate the size from the outside. Of course, it isn't the building that made the Navy what it is. Iona's fleet didn't gain its dominance because of the building size." Buck meant what he said. Iona's Navy took a back seat to no other fleet. He hoped Admiral Hizerman would accept it as a compliment.

"Well put, Captain. We have some very talented people. There is a difference and I can appreciate it. We all trained from the same books, same history, therefore same strategy, and tactics. Unfortunately, that makes us what I call regimented, predictable. We have a problem thinking outside the box, something that doesn't plague you. I do respect your ability to do just that. I wish more of our officers had the balls to do it. Unfortunately, the system penalizes anyone who dares. I wish I knew how to change it. I've even discussed it with the Emperor. You need to know some of my officers have voiced objections to your presence and strongly against your involvement. That includes my Vice-Admiral. He commands the fleets that will provide your cover."

Buck had no response to offer and in fact, appreciated that the man had opened up to him. Military men seldom admitted to any weakness. From the few he knew, it wasn't in their nature.

He followed the Admiral to a conference room where at least thirty men and women waited. Facetiously, Buck thought there was enough gold braid present to buy his own fleet.

"I have ordered Sixth Fleet to Brandenburg." Hizerman sat at the head of the overly large conference table. "It will space with plenty of fanfare and make lots of noise as it takes up station. Vice-Admiral Grover Dennis will command Twelfth Fleet and join them to provide the cover the Emperor suggested just in case your attack goes wrong." Hizerman added as if confident Buck's effort would fail. "And of course, it’ll handle Barnard's Star if they show up," he said with less of a smile. "Twelfth fleet will tour that end of the empire. We've notified Katakan the fleet would tour the area and received the anticipated response—
stay out of our space
."

Hizerman's objection to Buck's raid didn't show in his delivery. In fact, the man seemed resolute. He was not accustomed to losing and made it known at every opportunity. That included this gathering.

Buck figured this speech was directed at a certain Vice-Admiral. He tried to stay alert during the conversations, but logistics and fleet realignment held little interest for him. He couldn't afford to come off as casual or inattentive since the raid on Katakan was his idea. Anything less than complete involvement would have not gone over well at all.

If Admiral Dennis's dislike for a civilian's involvement was all that strong, it never showed. He assigned responsibilities to various officers with instructions to keep Buck in the information loop. He had to admit there seemed little or no resentment about an outsider, and not Navy at that, having the lead role in putting an end to the pirate's refuge. Most likely, the Navy didn't want the Federation, or any other bunch, pointing their fingers at them for starting a war.
And a sneak attack at that, Buck
mused.

"We know nothing of the armament surrounding Katakan," said one officer.

The entire officer corps present, as if choreographed, turned and looked at Buck.

"A few months ago, I retained a missionary ship." Buck never hesitated. "Its purpose was to go to Katakan, determine the planet's defenses and report back." He looked at Admiral Hizerman, "Sir, it's in the folder I earlier gave you."

That brought a nod from the Admiral. "I'll see that each of you have a copy," Hizerman’s broad grin made it clear he was quite satisfied with Buck's thoroughness.

"Captain Fryman, you are authorized to requisition what you may require." The Admiral added, "I think this meeting has gone on long enough. What's the old saying, ‘the brain can absorb what the butt is willing to endure’?"

Following a few last minute instructions, the meeting adjourned.

One officer approached Buck. "Captain Fryman, I'm Captain Naiche Tenkiller. I'll command the squadron that comes to your rescue—if necessary." There was a touch of a smile as the man, a head and a half shorter, extended his hand and Buck shook it. "I'll detach from Twelfth Fleet if you need me and they'll give both of us cover in case Barnard's Star Navy pokes its nose in."

"That's good to know, Captain and if the raid goes badly please hurry." Both men laughed, Buck thought it a bit too macabre. "Tenkiller, you must be old Earth native Indian."

"Count on it, Captain and yes sir, that I am; Chiricahua Apache. And you must be old Earth English."

"That I am." That brought an easier laugh from both.

"Tomorrow, I would appreciate spending some time with you. I understand your thinking is a bit unorthodox and I would like to get to know you better."

Buck wasn't too keen with the description—
unorthodox
. In his thinking avoiding archaic ideas about what would or could work brought the best results. After all, that was what concerned the Admiral—the inability of his officers to think outside the box. They agreed on a time and Buck suggested Phoenix.

"Having the foresight to send a ship to Katakan was a stroke of genius. I see what the Admiral means about your being unconventional—unorthodox. If there were any doubters in the room, that little salvo took care of them."

They shook hands and Buck headed for a launch and on orbit.

***

Early the next morning, the hanger doors closed and the bay pressurized as Buck waited in the loadmaster's office. It took a few seconds to adjust the latching rails to accommodate the Navy shuttle as he made his way to greet the captain.

"Permission to come aboard," Tenkiller said and saluted the flag and then Buck.

"Permission granted and welcome aboard Phoenix, Captain."

Buck took Tenkiller on a tour, specifically showing him the cannons and ramming wedge. "What caused the dust up?" His question concerned talk about an attack on someone.

"What did you hear?" Tenkiller reputation's remained intact. Close mouthed covered it.

"Someone rushed High Fleet Admiral Hizerman's aircar."

Standing at the forward screen, Tenkiller seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the blade protruding from the ship's nose.

"Which version was right, grapevine, or the newsies?"

"It was cleansed, both of them. Someone tried to kill the Admiral. His aide, Captain Brader, and driver died."

"Sorry to hear about the men. The killer?"

"One of your crewmen, named Finsterman." Tenkiller's voice carried no accusation.

"Damn. I should have turned Tommy loose on him. The man regularly sent information to the pirates on our headings and I didn't stop him," Buck's voice carried the weight of his actions. "We used that to ambush them—turned it against them." Buck hated to hear of the two men's deaths and wondered what if any effect it might have on the building relationship between him and the Navy.

"Don't feel too bad. He fooled us. Our intelligence people knew about him, too, and did nothing. The man was a consummate liar."

"Admiral Hizerman?"

"He'll be okay. Just a little rattled. The Captain and Sergeant's death hit him hard. He's lost men before and will again."

Buck didn't think the Captain was being casual or insensitive, but suspected military people reconciled themselves to losing people early on in their careers. Hanging onto it ate at man's soul.

"Think this will have any effect on our mission?" Buck asked.

"Admiral Hizerman says no. He was quite emphatic. I talked with him before coming up. He says not to blame yourself. I have no doubt he means it, Captain. He can't afford leaders who feel sorry for themselves."

Buck let a slow breath escape. "I won't. I've lost people before. Anyone know why the attack and why Admiral Hizerman?"

"Finsterman's real name is Moline, Arty Moline. The guy is a for-hire assassin. He has contracted with a number of worlds; been in the killing business for years. We think your coming to Iona gave whoever hired him an unplanned opportunity to take out the Admiral. We have our suspicions about his employer but that's all."

"And?" The reason for the attack eluded him. "You haven't told me all of it, Captain. It makes no sense that Finsterman would throw his life away on such an ill-conceived attempt." Buck was confident there had to be more—a lot more. Normally, a Navy man would want a piece of his ass for not stopping the man earlier.

"Finsterman/Moline had a car and driver waiting. The driver talked. Seems they had a shuttle on orbit to take both to the liner Cloud Nine. Had fake passports, the works to board the ship and leave Iona. The driver didn't know any more than that. Just a local punk, record of petty crimes, and had never met Moline before. The liner spaced early this morning." Tenkiller's tone suggested that was the end of it. "Ready to get into details on Katakan?"

Buck wasn't ready to let it go and asked, "Finsterman or Molina, did you get him?"

"Sure did. Fortunately, there were six Marines aboard, in civvies, headed for reassignment and they nailed the bastard. Finsterman wasn't as clever as he thought. Tried to hole up in the galley and the cooks flushed him out into the waiting blasters of the Marines. Killed him before he could do any more harm. That was unfortunate as we didn't get to question the man."

Tenkiller still hadn't revealed who might be behind the assassination attempt or why. "Barnard's Star? Any thoughts on their showing up at Katakan and if so with what? I know they have a sizeable fleet."

"I think Jarred Mahoney had a hand in this," Buck said. "But can't figure out why the Admiral."

Tenkiller turned to face Buck. "You may be right. Mahoney sees the Navy as his biggest threat. Probably figured killing the Admiral would set us back, slow down our chasing him. At the minimum, let us know he could attack us almost anywhere."

"Finsterman was sending our destinations to raiders. The last few times we've spaced, there's been a pirate or two waiting for us. Seems to me Mahoney is trying his best to knock off anyone challenging him. Can't get to the Emperor. Captain Tenkiller, you may be a target as well."

Chapter Eight:
Mixing with the Brass

O
nce outside the Admiralty Buck commed Molly, "There's a little get-together this evening with the naval brass. I'm invited. Care to go with me?"

That brought an immediate yes.

Buck told her it was formal and that he had to make a trip to the tailor to get a tuxedo. She had a dress and had hoped for a chance to wear it.

Buck said he would pick her up at eight bells. He relished the chance to invite her to the planned gala. A look up at the sky, showed small puffy clouds dotting a blue sky.

"Going Navy? Must be from spending so much time with them," she said with a tease.

Buck had to agree that their lingo kind of stuck with him. Some of it made a lot of sense.

"That's eight o'clock," he added with a tease.

Many of the officers had been off planet for some time and a number of parties took place when the fleet returned to homeport. At the Royal Iona Hotel, Buck, and Molly joined Captain Tenkiller and his wife. Tenkiller wore his formal dress Navy uniform.

Buck complimented his wife and him on how grand they looked and complained that his outfit made him look like a penguin.

Tenkiller said an emperor penguin. Both agreed to keep the comparison to themselves. Neither wanted the judgment to get back to Sebastian.

Molly took the time to engage Tenkiller’s wife and then turned on their host, peppering him with questions. When the subject got around to Finsterman, Tenkiller suggested another topic. "Too many raw nerves over that. No need to remind them he was one of your crewmembers."