The Expendable Few: A Spinward Fringe Novel (31 page)

“We’re not here to mourn your family honour, Captain,” Doctor Anderson said. “I’m sure if Remmy could have done anything to turn events in another direction he would have.”

“Damn straight,” Remmy replied. “Clark may have been stiff, but he was a good guy, and didn’t deserve what happened.”

“On that, we agree,” Captain McPatrick said.

“We’re here,” Doctor Anderson said. “To tell you both why you’re going into isolation in secure quarters for the next two weeks.”

“You’re giving us a time out to think about what we’ve done?” Remmy asked.

“It’s for your own protection,” Captain McPatrick said through clenched teeth. “Idiot.”

“We just set course for the Rega Gain system, where you’ll be released,” Doctor Anderson said.

“We’re going to pay Tamber a visit,” Remmy said, brightening at the notion. It was a truly free world, and where the remnants of the First Light crew officers were last known to be.

“We’re not making a social call,” Captain McPatrick said. “We are going because Freeground Intelligence has withdrawn their officers, disavowed the Sunspire and her crew. The Rega Gain system is one of the only places we know of that will welcome us.”

“Because we already have people on Tamber,” Remmy said.

“We can’t even trust that,” Captain McPatrick said. “We’re answering a call from the Carthans. They’re looking for any able fighting vessels to sign up, and we’re going to investigate the opportunity to engage.”

“If I may ask, Sir,” Davi said. “Why are we being placed in protective isolation?”

“Because there is a chance that the crew will blame your teams for giving Intelligence a reason to write off this ship,” Captain McPatrick said.

“Give them more credit,” Remmy said. “They’re going to realize that it was their plan from the start. The Puritan Party gave this mission a go ahead because it allowed them to put all their political enemies in the same boat then send them adrift. Even if we were successful, Intelligence would have found a way to make it look like a failure.”

“Maybe,” Captain McPatrick said, cutting off Doctor Anderson just as he was about to speak. “But over the last nine years this ship and her crew have failed in their mission or been defeated in the field every time she’s left space dock. Some of the crew are starting to call her cursed, so I might just put the notion that everything that’s happened is your fault as a lesser evil.”

“With senior officers like you, who needs enemies?” Remmy asked casually. “I’m surprised you don’t just let me run around the ship as a sacrificial lamb. Anything to prevent a mutiny, right?”

“I won’t have it on my ship,” Captain McPatrick said. “Intelligence Oversight is gone, so now this boat runs by my book. That book says crewmen don’t shoot each other in the back, so you’re both going into isolation in secure quarters until we can dump your asses off on Tamber. I don’t like what happened to your teams, and I don’t trust you enough to reassign you. We’ll give you some money, a gun, some supplies, and you are on your own. Now, go with the security officers outside. They’ll escort you to the bunks you’ll call home for the next twelve days.”

Davi snapped to attention and saluted. Remmy got to his feet, reclaimed his bottle, and headed for the door. Doctor Anderson caught up to him just as the guards on the other side started walking him and Davi to their new quarters. “Remmy, hold a moment.”

“Can I interest you in a drink, Doctor?” Remmy asked.

“Maybe later,” he replied. “But in case I don’t get a chance to visit before we drop you off on the Tamber Moon, I have some information that could help.” Davi stepped in close at Doctor Anderson’s urging gesture. “I’ll make sure they drop you off in Port Rush, where you can get in contact with Ayan Rice. If you want to join her crew, all you have to tell her is Doctor Anderson sent you, and if she has any doubts, play this for her.” He sent a music file to Remmy and Davi’s comm units - Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

“I’d rather listen to Stonemark, but to each their own,” Remmy said.

“Trust me, she’ll know that music is from me, especially the first Concerto.”

“Thank you, Doc,” Remmy said. “Any other advice?”

Doctor Anderson regarded them both and, after a moment’s thought spoke. “Never forget that you did the best you could to help strangers when most of us would have run.”

“Even you, Doc?” Remmy asked.

“I’ll be finding out soon enough,” Doctor Anderson replied.

 Books by Randolph Lalonde

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 1: Resurrection

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 2: Awakening

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 3: Triton

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 4: Frontline

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 5: Fracture

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 6: Fragments

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework

The Expendable Few: A Spinward Fringe Novel

The Expendable Few

A Spinward Fringe Novel

Copyright © 2012 Randolph Lalonde

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-0-9865942-6-7

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

http://www.spinwardfringe.com