Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane (41 page)

“That isn't it. I can and will fight when I have to. But I have no
interest in this war, just in survi
ving it. And it will be a war.”

“I know.”

“Good.”

“I want a ship,” she said. “A freighter. I was going to be Captain
of Jaw-te eventually, now that's out. Since Franx is dead, I want Le More.” She
looked at him. “You and I both know I can handle it. And you'll need someone on
each of those ships.”

He nodded again. “I'd gathered that. It is possible, but we have
to get there first Miss Hoshi, right now, anything is possible,” he replied
with a shrug as the hatch opened again. He turned to see Irina come out.

The younger woman stepped over the knee knocker and then froze for
a moment, staring
at Hoshi.
“Hi,” she said softly.

Hoshi looked coldly at Irina. Irina flinched but held her chin
high. “I told you, I did what I thought was right. I'm following my head and my
heart,” Irina said softly. Hoshi studied her for a moment, then turned a glare
on Irons. After a moment she left. Irina murmured she needed to get some rest
and left as well.

“What was that about?” Irons asked, watching the woman go.

“You really want to know gossip Admiral?” Sprite asked, sounding
amused but distracted.

“If it affects me or my people, yes,” he replied.

“Very well.” He found out from Sprite that Irina's signing on had
created a wedge between the two women.

“I didn't even know they were a couple,” he said.

“Not anymore. Miss Nobeki has applied for separate quarters. I
guess military life isn't for everyone.”

“Or the spat may end when they realize they still love one
another. We'll see,” he said with a shrug. “Out of my hands. Please be
supportive but don't intervene unless it affects the ship or mission.”

“Of course Admiral,” Sprite replied, sounding slightly aggrieved.
“I might meddle sometimes, but I mean well. But right now I'm too busy.”

“Good,” the Admiral chuckled, shaking his head.

“Hey!”

“Hey yourself,” he teased with a smile. “You were the one
complaining about being bored on Phoenix. I think this more than makes up for
it, don't you?”

“Cute Admiral,” Sprite sighed.

<----*----*----*---->

Caid came in for his shift and paused to look around. Main
engineering was changing daily. New faces, new equipment. A lot to learn. It
was getting to be too much.

Sindri, Lieutenant Commander Sindri was in the corner with a pair
of kids. Sindri looked like a goofball in his military uniform. He preened a
bit though, quite proud of it. The kids were barely teenagers, they were all
agog over the uniform, as were just about everyone else. He was surprised the
Horathians hadn’t snagged them. Apparently they had been lost or hidden in the
herd. Caid paused to listen to them.

“Okay boys, one more time. Fittings come in different shapes and
stuff, but they have two colors. The military and vehicle industry adopted the
color standards from Terra's aerospace industry a long time ago,” Sindri
explained. He held up a red fitting. “Red fittings are fixed in place, do not
touch.” He turned and put it away. “Now, blue fittings are changeable or
removable. Got it?”

“Red is hot so not, Blue is good. Got it.”

“Okay now this,” Sindri held up a block of metal with a few bits
on it. “This is a flare tool. A flare tool is used to create flares. You place
one end of the pipe in the die, clamp it together, then apply this tool to make
the pipe flare into the die cavity.” Now, what is the most common?” He pointed
to one kid.

“Um.. Ninety?”

“You're kidding,” Caid said, shaking his head.

Sindri looked up in irritation and then back to his student. “No,
forty five degrees is the most common, though some have custom angles. Get the
flare angle to match up or you won't have a proper seal, get it?”

Caid snorted and shook his head as one boy scratched his head.
Sindri looked up and glared. Caid shrugged and turned away. He went over to his
station.

“Kid's never going to get it. He's too stupid,” he scoffed,
flopping down onto a stool next to Yosef.

“Give them a break. Everyone starts out not knowing the ropes.
Give them time and they'll figure it out,” Yosef replied, sounding annoyed. He
glanced at Caid and then his boss.

“Yeah well, Sindri's becoming a prima dona with that suit and
fancy rank. Like it's real,” he scoffed.

“It's real. And you should respect him. He can tie you into a
knot easy,” Yosef said. “Or I might if you don't watch your mouth.”

“What's gotten into you?” Caid demanded. “Don't tell me you're
going along with this pipe dream?” he demanded. “Yosef, that's not like you!”

“You know, I think I am,” Yosef said quietly. “It's time to be an
adult. To put away childish things. Someone has to stand up for those who
can't,” he said, turning to nod to Sindri's young apprentice. “Or those who
won't
,”
he said, voice and eyes in sympathy as he stared at Caid.

Caid turned away. “Quit looking at me like that. I'm not cut out
to wear a damn uniform,” he growled.

“Then don't judge those of us who chose to do so,” Yosef said
softly.

<----*----*----*---->

“Admiral, a problem,” Bounty said, as the Admiral exited the
shower. Tomorrow they were planning the ceremony. If things worked out as
planned. He reminded himself not everything did, case in point, Bounty's call.

“Yes?” he asked, drying off. AI cared little for human modesty.

“The recruiting is driving a wedge into the crew. Some are taking
sides. It hasn't boiled over into violence, but you should be aware there is a
rift forming,” the AI said.

“I know,” the Admiral said, getting dressed. He had actually
expected it. Putting on the uniform set people apart. It put them in a
fraternity of brotherhood, comrades in arms that some civilians couldn't handle
or hardly understand.

Sprite had replicated a dress uniform for him. It was hanging in
the closet. Hathaway's outfits, including the leather chaps and harness had
been recycled after being scanned for intelligence value. Irons was glad of
their absence, especially the chaps. They had blood on them, and he was pretty
sure they weren't from the late Captain.

“I noticed it with Miss Hoshi and Lieutenant Nobeki. It's to be
expected. I had thought it would happen eventually, there is a culture for
mainstream civilians and military personnel. That is why we put our people
through training, to re-socialize them. Unfortunately we can't do that here.”

“Yes sir. I thought you should be made aware however.”

“Thank you Lieutenant,” the Admiral replied. “I think once we get
the ceremony over and get one or both of the freighters online we will be able
to separate the crews.”

“Yes sir. Miss Kinja is still on the fence.”

“I see. Well, if she doesn't commit, she may never commit. That's
fine. They'll need good engineers on the Le More.”

“Yes sir.”

“Anything else?”

“Situation normal. Repairs to the refinery have begun. You used
milspec electronics in the original design, but not hardened ones. Commander
Sindri had considered testing and reusing them but instead opted for a full
tear out and replace. That will allow him to replace the electronics with class
four hardened electronics and shielding. It still isn't perfect, but the best
we can do with the materials on hand. That has delayed the schedule by two days
sir.”

“Expected. I think Commander Sindri expects a failure in the old
system so is doing this as a preventive measure. Good. I'm glad he's not just
going with it,” the Admiral said. Over the centuries ships and stations were
kept together well past their designed life times. Many without proper parts,
held together with rigging tape and hope. It was good to see the engineer not
falling into that ideal, to just do the tear out. It would delay the initial
launch, but if the old electronics harbored hidden damage, it could cause a
longer delay or even loss of the platform. Both things they couldn't afford
right now.

“There has been an altercation in the brig. Mister Clancy's
actions during the mutiny were brought to light to the other Horathians. A
physical confrontation ensued. Mister Clancy was injured.”

“Anyone else hurt?”

“Minor contusions and bloodied faces.”

“Fine,” the Admiral said dismissively. He could care less if the
Horathians beat each other senseless. “What else?”

“Commander Sprite is deep in software issues. Phoenix is holding
station with Le More. Do you still intend to dock her with the freighter?”

“Yes.” Enric had suggested they dock the three ships together.
Phoenix would supply power and parts to the other ships. For now that would
work. Bounty had no use for Phoenix at the moment. They were en-route to the
Anderson. It would take them another day to arrive, and then four days to push
the ship back to the others.

While they did that a volunteer crew was on the three ships,
doing what they could for the two freighters. Phoenix was to act as their
habitat until Bounty returned.

“Do it,” the Admiral said. “If they can, have them use the ship's
replicators to get a jump on Le More's repairs,” the Admiral said. He'd let
Hoshi take charge of the repair party. It got her out of his hair and away from
Nobeki.

“Aye sir. I've passed on the order.”

“After they do the survey of course. And remind them not to try
anything cute with my ship or my replicators. We'll be back soon and Phoenix
will
be watching,” the Admiral grow
led.

<----*----*----*---->

The next morning volunteers rushed to get dressed and ready. The Admiral
exited his compartment in full dress uniform, complete with cover and medals.

Crewmen who saw him got out of his way. He politely nodded in
passing. He could hear the murmurs as the scuttlebutt mill hit its stride and
smiled. There was nothing like a positive first impression.

“How are we doing Commander?” he asked, nodding again as he passed
Ian. Ian smiled and came to attention. The Admiral paused as Ian saluted. He
returned the salute. Ian had apparently been studying.

“Something on your mind Commander?” he asked.

“You look good sir,” Ian said. “I wish I could be there,” he said.

“You can watch from the bridge. Someone's got to man the store
while the rest of us go through this,” the Admiral replied.

“Yes sir,” Ian replied and then grinned. “And something tells me
as glad as you are that you are in uniform, you'd much rather be in your day
uniform up to your elbows in some repair job,” he teased.

“You've gotten to know me well in a short time Commander,” Irons
replied with a chuckle. “I know you and the others will be there in spirit,” he
said.

“Aye sir.”

“Carry on then Commander,” Irons said.

Ian nodded and moved out smartly.

Promptly at five twenty eight AM ship time the Admiral arrived at
the hatch to the boat bay. “How do I look?” he asked one last time.

“You ask now? With one minute to go?” Sprite asked amused. “Fine
or I would have pointed out a problem as always Admiral,” she said.

“True,” the Admiral replied. “Thanks Commander,” he said quietly.
“Bounty, the hatch field?”

“It has been tested and is ready Admiral.”

“Good. Let's do this.”

The hatch opened and he stepped through as Bounty played a
whistle. Irons stepped smartly to a podium that had been set up in front of the
main hatch. He turned smartly, came to the podium and then stopped.

Through his sensors he could see the flags draped nearby. One, the
flag of the Federation. Another, the flag of the navy, the third, the flag of
the Marine Corps. The final one was a flag with the ship's crest on it. He felt
his shoulders straighten as his cool eyes surveyed the group.

All were enlisted ratings. A few would become non-commissioned
officers. They were on the ends of each row. There were a hundred and twenty
five people there; all but one was a human. A lone neochimp was also there,
near the front row along with half the officers he had sworn in the other day.
They looked good, all in navy or marine day uniforms. There were thirty marine
enlisted and ninety-five spacers. A good start.

“Ladies and gentlemen, rise and uncover for the anthem of the
Federation,” Bounty intoned, just as they had rehearsed.

Irons turned and saluted the flag as the rich melody began to
play. He could hear and sense the people behind him, but for now that wasn't
important. He did note with a sense of approval that the officers were also
saluting as well. Good.

They all had their part to play, and his was only just beginning.
It was his stage, his show. Sprite, Bounty, Phoenix, and Defender were all
there off to one side, standing at attention. He was glad they had gotten the
portable holo projectors to work so they could be seen here at this important
time. Lieutenant Bynum's solution to their visibility issue had been simple; he
had deactivated the lights directly over the AI avatars so they could be seen
easily.