Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane (64 page)

“Really? Why did you do that?” Sprite demanded.

“He's doing what he is supposed to Commander,” Irons replied. He
pinged the Sergeant and then blinked when an echo returned. He pursed his lips
thoughtfully. The echo was definitely an AI, a cadre AI.

“Is... what was that?” Sprite demanded.

“Classified,” Irons replied curtly. “Even beyond your level
Commander,” he said sternly.

“Seriously?” Sprite asked, surprised and a bit taken aback.

“Yes,” Irons replied. He turned outward to Jethro. “Sergeant, I
can't explain now. I'm not certain what I am allowed to tell you,” he said,
noting Defender's red eyes.

“It's cadre sir. I know that. Synthetic biology. A biological
computer of some sorts growing inside me and linked to the armor,” Jethro said.
“It's primitive. It's taken control of the suit on its own.”

Irons felt his lips pucker slightly in a smile. “It seems you've
guessed the broad strokes. You want me to fill in the blanks?”

“If you can sir. I'd also like to know if it was why I was
allowed to become a Marine sir,” he said with just a hint of curiosity and
resentment.

The Admiral pondered that as he received a report from Firefly.
It was encrypted. He set it aside; he'd read it later. “You impressed me young
man, even before I knew your heritage. I showed you the door, you came through
it on your own, and you've done well. I'm a bit busy, but I can block some time
out. On the transit back.”

“Back?”

“I'm not ready for that to be brooded about. I can transfer you
to Maine and we can discuss it.”

“Sir... what about my squad?” Jethro asked warily.

“Just you. Your squad is needed to cover the prisoners and help
run the captured ships,” Irons replied, studying the young man. He knew he had
just put the young cat in an unenviable place, torn between curiosity and
concern about his own body and his friends and comrades. Duty.

“Sir... my place is with my squad. We were hammered in Antigua
and I've got some really green rookies still.”

“I understand. Well, there will be other times Sergeant. I will
make certain of that,” Irons replied with a nod.

“Thank you sir. That's all I ask, honesty,” Jethro said, coming
to attention and saluting.

The Admiral returned the salute and then broke it. “Dismissed,”
he said softly. Jethro n
odded
once and then returned to his post.

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

A week after the battle four hundred former slaves were sufficiently
rested and recovered enough to demand a return to duty or even to enlist in the
military. The Admiral had anticipated the interest and had set up recruiters
with the AI to interview candidates. They worked closely with the medics, who
were not at all certain most of the people would be ready to serve.

“Well, they have to do something, just sit around and mope won't
do. Work will do them good. A return to freedom will wake some of them up and
remind them that they had better work hard to keep their freedom,” Ian replied.

Irons had called a meeting to deal with some of the issues, or at
least air them out. He had a sizable fleet now, larger than the one in Pyrax,
but raw. He had hammered it, now it was time to bring some order to it all.

Three hundred ninety people signed on to the Marines and Navy. To
oversee them, the Admiral ordered a complex exchange of personnel and
equipment. Firefly's experienced crew served not only as a template, but also a
source for noncom and commissioned crew for the other ships. Some of the people
were promoted out of the zone to fill positions on the other ships. His
objective was to have every surviving ship manned by a minimal skeletal crew.
There were some holes when he was done, but most of the important positions
were covered.

He tried to limit his poaching and lessen Captain Mayweather's
good-natured grumbling over his activities, but knew they were inevitable. She
caught up with him as he tore into Maine's hyperdrive repair.

“I should be used to it by now I suppose,” she said in a mock
grumble. He chuckled silently. He had taken her crew down to bedrock. She had
less than forty trained crew left on her ship. Even the marines had been
pressed into service; those that weren't guarding the various brigs were
manning posts all over the fleet.

He was tempted to take Shelby, but he had other plans for her in
mind. It was past time to get Prometheus flying.

“Take good care of them will you?” she asked. He nodded.

Irons turned over command of the Bounty to McGuyver when Ian exited
sickbay. Ian settled into the role easily, since he had served briefly as the
ship's executive officer not too long ago.

The factory ship Carnegie chewed up the derelict ships to made
great strides in repairing the battle damage, as did the replicators on the
ships. Irons felt a pang as Phoenix and Lassie were both torn apart and
recycled.

He used his implants to manufacture industrial replicators,
molecular furnaces, and other manufacturing equipment.

“We should be used to this by now,” Sindri said, sounding
disgusted. He was now in command of Echo and not at all amused by it. He had
however, gotten the ship back to ship shape.

The Maine’s AI was not present, so Sprite copied the remains of
the Phoenix AI, the kernel of Firefly and Bounty, and then merged the copies.
Then she debugged them to form a new AI. It would take weeks for the AI to grow
it's neural net into a sapient person. Until then the crew would have to make
due.

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

Firefly’s sickbay helped with the injured, and then switched to
augmentation of the crews of the other ships once most of their charges had
recovered sufficiently to return to limited or full duty. The medics had come a
lot way since Dr. Richards and Doctor Thornby's first efforts, now getting up
to level three implants. Doctor Standish built off of the Admiral's nanite
implants. They trained an eager Doctor Glenn and his wife on the various
procedures.

Change is inevitable

They had a short window, another week before Firefly had to head
back or she would be considered overdue. Irons pursed his lips thinking hard
about his plan. He had to commit, to jump one way or the other. But from the
reports Mayweather had passed on, Pyrax was still a political sewer. That left
only one option.

He wasn't going to leave Logan and the others high and dry
though. Now that they were getting damage control under control and they had a
CSP a Combat Space Patrol out on the perimeter, they were getting down to
picking up the remaining scrap. Tugs and robots were out, picking through the
spreading wreckage, trying to make the most of the short opportunity.

Carnegie would take it all in, but he had them on the lookout for
potential items of intel value. Not just computers, but also items that seemed
out of place. Unfortunately most of the wreckage was just that, scrap. Still,
it was worth the effort.

Once things had settled down Sprite insisted on a party to blow
off steam. It was a good way for the crew to decompress and get to know one
another. Reluctantly the Admiral agreed.

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

Irons sat back watching the celebration and smiled to Firefly.
“Feeling the weight yet?” He asked mildly. He had informed the AI of his
intentions to promote him to Captain JG. It was a long time in coming, the AI
had spent some time in grade as a Commander, and centuries waiting in his
lonely vigil. The Admiral had a plan in mind to deal with the potential
conflict of interest however, so the rank wouldn't go through just yet.

“I am not sure what you mean. As Commander turned Captain you
mean? That is an interesting concept. I believe only a handful of AI have ever
risen to directly command a battle group in the entire history of the
Federation Admiral. I started out as technically, a dumb AI. I never expected
to survive the war, let alone become a smart AI thanks to Commander Sprite, or
rise above a first Lieutenant Commander's rank. Thank you sir.”

“Technically your task force was a single ship so don't get a
swelled head. And also, it wasn't exactly a battle group.” Irons said smiling
slightly. “And by the way,
you
weren't in command, Mayweather was. And
still is,” he reminded the AI. Sprite had reminded him to award the Captain for
her valor and leadership in Antigua and in B101a1 first. The medal would come
with an automatic bump in rank, pushing her up to full Commander, thus
justifying a promotion out of the zone to Captain Junior grade. That little
fillip tidied up any paperwork issues that might crop up in the future if her
promotion was questioned. At least he hoped so.

“True,” the AI replied, then cocked his head. “I was wondering if
this had some nefarious purpose Admiral?”

“Oh?” Irons asked, stirring his drink.

“Yes, I believe you left quite a vacuum behind when you left
Pyrax.” Irons grimaced. “Which was understandable. You had little control of
the situation,” Firefly said.

“Yes.” Irons sighed. “I'd did want to rectify the chain of
command.”

“I believe an organic should be promoted as well.” Firefly said
after a moment. He turned to study the view port then back to the Admiral as
Irons raised an eyebrow and leaned against his arm.

“And you have a candidate in mind of course?” Irons asked, clearly
amused.

“As I said, I believe you had this in mind from the beginning.”

“Quite possibly.”

“In order to build the minimum required Captain's board.” Firefly
said.

“Point,” Irons said, nodding ever so slightly.

“As an honorary commodore I could serve on a flag board.”

“Possibly. But we'd need a third person. Right now there aren't
any available.” Irons grimaced. “Hell, none we even know of.”

“We could promote Lieutenant Commander Sprite.”

“Pass.” The AI responded, swirling into being near the hatch. She
was wearing a formal gown but it was in navy white and sported shoulder boards
with her rank insignia. “The Admiral and Trinity come as a unit. We can't
separate the entities for a legally justifiable board. It won't wash.” She
shook her head. “Undue influence and all that.” She sat on the edge of the
desk. "Besides, I'm a Lieutenant Commander. Jumping me up that high would
scream nepotism."

“Which leaves Mayweather,” Firefly replied, turning to the Admiral.
“There was considerable precedence for this as well. A battlefield promotion.
She's proven herself Admiral.”

“Talk about...” Sprite frowned as Firefly turned to her. “Okay you
are right. But there was a bit of a conflict of interest to be resolved.”

“And a conflict in the chain of command. This also complicates the
chain of command in Pyrax. Commander Logan.” Firefly responded.

“And... Oh I get it.” Sprite nodded. “Bootstrap a board.”

“Exactly.” Both AI turned to the Admiral who cocked his head then
sighed. “She's served well?”

The ship AI nodded. “As well as to be expected. She didn't have
our background or training but she's made every effort to overcome that
handicap. She's a new generation Admiral.”

“Besides, with a bootstrapped Captain's board in Pyrax, and
Firefly as an acting flag officer, they can finish Prometheus.” Sprite said,
smiling. “Something I believe you wanted to happen.”

“I did.” Irons grimaced. “We'll do this by the book though. Formal
promotions board. Full inquiry into each and every action she had been in over
the years.”

“Understood.”

“Me and my big mouth.” Sprite said shaking her head. “More
paperwork and red tape you’re imposing on yourself Admiral.”

“No, just dotting every I and crossing every T. Attention to
detail remember?” He asked. She snorted.

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

Jethro smelled the Admiral coming before he rounded the corner.
It wasn't anything distinct; it was actually the lack of smell that alerted him.
That and the familiar soft tread of his boots on the deck. The combination
screamed the Admiral.

“Ah, Sergeant,” the Admiral said, nodding to the panther as the
panther saluted. The Admiral returned the salute briefly. “Did you consider the
transfer?”

“I did sir,” Jethro said. “I'm going to have to decline sir,
sorry. I have three squads under my eye right now, that's a lot of people to
keep in line.”

“I see,” the Admiral said nodding.

“If you've got a moment, I would appreciate it if you looked at
my suit sir. It has been acting up. Now that it has locked down. I keep
feeling... I don't know, like it's sulking.”

“Suit? A suit that can sulk?” Sprite asked from the Admiral's
shoulder.

Jethro flicked his ears. “Yes ma'am. The suit AI. Or should I
say, AI in the suit and in me,” he said grimacing slightly.

“An AI in you?” Sprite asked, now curious and confused. “Is that
what I sensed when I scanned you?” she asked.

“Classified Commander,” Irons said, turning his head to the
right.

“I know, you said that. You were also the person who pointed out Admiral,
that classified is flexible right now since it's been seven centuries and the
laws on information declassification...”

“Unfortunately do not apply in the Sergeant's case,” the Admiral
finished. “It sucks, I know,” the Admiral replied.

“Sir, I know it's a cadre suit,” Jethro said quietly. “I know
it's doing something to me. If you can't explain, that's fine. If I don't get
answers I'll walk when my contract is up in six months. That is all there is
too it,” he said quietly.

“You...” The Admiral stared at him. “Young man, I don't like
being blackmailed,” he growled.

Jethro's ears flicked. He forced them to remain upright, despite
every instinct for them to flatten. “I'm sorry sir, but it is
my
body.
And my honor. I don't like the idea that I can't be trusted about knowledge
about my own body.”

The Admiral cocked his head and studied him with hard eyes for a
long moment. Jethro felt the challenge there and met it without bristling or
giving in. “Sun Tzu,” Irons said softly.

“Know yourself,” Sprite paraphrased just as Jethro noted his
relief approach behind him.

“Something like that Commander,” Irons replied. He tossed his
head. “Commander, clear my schedule for a couple of hours. Come on Sergeant;
let's have a chat with your suit. Along the way, maybe you can fill me in on
what you know. I can't give you too much; the laws on this subject are specific
and have harsh penalties. But I can... hopefully ease your mind a bit,” he
said.

Jethro nodded. He turned to the other marine nearby. “I relieve
you,” the corporal said.

“I stand relieved. No issues to report.”

“Understood. Good luck Sergeant,” the corporal said quietly.

“We make our own.”

 <----*----*----*---->

As they walked to the armory, Jethro felt a ping. Cautiously he
opened the channel.

“It is a pleasure to see you again Sergeant,” Sprite said over
the link. Her image hovered like a ghost in his field of view.

“Mine as well ma'am. In a manner of speaking,” he said.

The Admiral turned to glance his way and then snorted softly.

“So, how have you been?” Sprite asked as they entered the lift.

“Fine ma'am. I've had a few scares, but I'm fine.”

“I heard about your rocket pack scare,” Sprite said, voicing her
sympathy. “I am surprised you used it again,” she said.

“What doesn't kill us makes us stronger ma'am,” Jethro replied.
“And it wasn't the rocket pack that failed ma'am, it was the sled. I'm just
glad it wasn't armed.”

“True,” Sprite replied. “Did they ever get to the bottom of it?”

“A series of failures ma'am. Postmortem said that there were
several stuck and frozen valves in the fuel assembly. Ox was a bit embarrassed
by it all. We live and learn,” he said.

“A wise saying,” the AI replied. “So, how did you know your suit
is a cadre suit?” she asked.

“My ancestor Tobias. He left messages for his descendants and the
clan.”

“Really?” Sprite asked. She hesitated to search for them in his
database. She felt Defender surge to prevent her access.

“Do you mind?” She growled at the other AI.

“Who... what is that?” Jethro said, stopping in his tracks. The Admiral
turned, looking at him.

“That would be Lieutenant Defender. Busy body. He's trying to
block me from asking for access.”

“Well ma'am, the files are on the Marine net for anyone to
access,” Jethro said, now confused.

“They are?” Sprite asked. She said, twisting his tail. She ran a
search and found the file. “Damn! How did I miss that!” Again Defender blocked
her from viewing the files.

“They are?” the Admiral echoed.

Jethro nodded, eyes wide. “Yes sir. Major Forth and the other
officers showed an interest in the life lessons my ancestor had to offer so
they asked for permission to distribute it. I agreed.”

“I see,” Sprite said triumphantly. She turned a glare on
Defender. “So, thousands of military personnel, and possibly civilians can gain
access to this information but I can't? It seems the secret is out,” the AI
said.

The Admiral frowned thoughtfully.

“It has been out for seven centuries ma'am,” Jethro said. “The
cadre was an open secret even before the war. I know of several video shows
about them and Seal Team Six. They even did a documentary on the Cadre.”

“I see,” the Admiral said. “And you've seen it?”

“No sir, but my ancestor Tobias McLintock did refer to it
briefly. I searched for it but I couldn't find it.”

“Ah,” the Admiral replied as the lift jerked softly to a halt.
The doors opened. A group of crewmen went to enter but then stopped when they
recognized the Admiral. Swiftly they stepped aside, making a hole as they
straightened to attention and saluted.

“Carry on,” the Admiral said, saluting as he walked past.

“Recon, Cadre... it seems the classification is a bit of a paper
tiger,” Sprite said with a grin in her voice.

“Perhaps,” the Admiral said.

“I'm scanning the files now,” Sprite said, brushing past
Defender. The other AI hesitated. She copied the file and then scanned it.
Slowly she whistled in awe.

The Admiral winced. He knew Sprite was insatiable when it came to
a secret. She like all smart AI loved to ferret them out. She had the
programming to curtail it, but apparently that had been partially suborned by
the release of the data.

“Let's see the suit,” Irons said.

“Aye sir, this way to the armory,” Jethro said with a nod.

 <----*----*----*---->

In the armory the Admiral nodded to Ox and Riley. Both Marines tried
to get to their feet but he waved them back down. “As you were. Carry on even.
Sergeant...” He paused as Sprite gave him an ID. “Riley. I need to see Sergeant
McLintock's suit,” he said, motioning to Jethro.