Stars in the Sand Page 4

   “No, sir. She’s over on the station running an inventory check.”

   “I see. Well, page Lieutenants Caine and Quinn, then.”

   “In the works, Captain.”

   The door slid open, and Price walked in, looking around the room with evident envy. He stood in front of the viewport, looking at the planet revolving below, and shook his head, before turning back to Marshall.

   “This is a fine ship, Captain, even if it is a little beaten up.” He smiled, “Hell, my office is half this size, and it doesn’t even have a window. It must be twice as big as Hercules.”

   “A requirement for the laser cannon, primarily,” Marshall replied. “It wouldn’t be effective if it was much smaller, not for the required power loads. I understood that the Cabal had similar systems, though.”

   “The particle beams,” he said, nodding. “They’re only effective at short range, and I don’t think anyone really understands how they work. The technology was found on an abandoned world somewhere, though they always kept the details quiet. Hell, I reckon most of our tech was scavenged rather than invented.”

   “Interesting…”, Marshall said, before the opening of the door interrupted him; Caine and Quinn walked in, taking seats flanking Price. “Have you got the latest version of the damage report, Mr. Quinn?”

   “I have,” he said, placing a datapad on the desk. “To call it extensive is an understatement. I don’t think any system escaped some damage. We’ve got a lot of work to do here.”

   “Hercules was in a hurry to leave,” Price said. “What’s your window for departure?”

   “Want to get rid of us?” Caine said.

   “This time we’re going to do it right,” Marshall said. “Our way home lies through unexplored territory, and with no idea what we might face, I want the ship in the best condition possible for the trip.”

   “So, how long?” Price asked.

   “Based on my estimates,” Quinn said, “twelve to fourteen weeks.”

   “Weeks?” Price said, shaking his head. “Is that taking our full facilities into account.”

   “Without your facilities, I don’t think we’d be able to do the job at all,” Quinn replied.

   “Captain, that’s a long time for Alamo to be sitting here helpless. If a Cabal vessel turns up…”

   Nodding, Marshall said, “We’ve dealt the Cabal a major blow in this part of space; I don’t think that fleet is going to be a problem for a while. Any civilian vessels that come into the region can be dealt with in the same manner as the Ouroboros, but we’ve come up with a plan that should make both of us secure. Caine?”

   She turned to Price, and said, “I’ve been working on plans for the installation of a planetary defense network. Mr. Quinn and I think that we can put together a standard satellite network without too much trouble.” Caine tapped a pair of controls, and a holoimage of a satellite appeared over the desk. “Quite simple, really; a trio of missile tubes connected to a combat fabricator, powered by a small internal reactor. We’re going to put six of them in synchronous orbit close to the station, and six more in various orbits around the planet to provide full coverage.”

   “Who controls them?” Price asked, frowning.

   “We both do,” she replied. “The tactical station on Alamo will run the system until we’ve given you the equipment and control software; we can set it up for you, if you like.”

   “You’re giving me an offensive capability?”

   Marshall smiled, and said, “Either we trust you, or we don’t. You’re going to need this after we’re gone, anyway, in case a Cabal ship comes calling before Triplanetary reinforcements can arrive.”

   From outside, Marshall could hear an argument, raised voices on the bridge; he couldn’t quite make out who from this side of the door. The shouting grew louder, and finally the door burst open to show a red-faced Cooper, Kibaki’s hand on his shoulder.

   “What the hell is going on?” Marshall said.

   “Sir, I need to speak with you immediately, and I don’t trust the communications system.”  He looked at Price sitting at the desk, then frowned. “This is top priority, and urgent.”

   “I see.”

   “I’m sorry about this, Captain,” Kibaki said. “He burst onto the bridge and before I could stop him…”

   “That’s all right. I understand. Cooper, this is really urgent?”

   “It is, sir. I think it requires a command decision.”

   Raising an eyebrow, Marshall nodded, then turned to Price, “I’m sorry about this, but…”

   “I quite understand.”

   Quinn shrugged, “Why don’t I show you around the ship? I think you’re about due for a tour, and it’ll give me a chance to ask you some questions about your facilities. The report I got from Orlova was a little vague on some of the details.”

   “By all means. Come in, Corporal.”

   Cooper slid past Price as he and Quinn left the room, and took a seat next to Caine. He waited a moment, then pulled a battered datapad out of his pocket, sliding it onto the desk.

   “Well, go on, Cooper,” Marshall said.

   “I’ve found them, sir.”

   Marshall’s eyes widened. “Where?”

   “Who?” Caine asked.

   Turning to her with a start, Cooper said, “The captured members of my platoon. Before he died, Diego gave me a single clue about their location, trying to barter it for his life. When we boarded the Ouroboros, I was able to get a look at their astrogation computer.”

   “What about the Cabal database?”

   “All of this is buried in there somewhere, and I used it to fill in the details.”

   “Go on, Corporal.”

   “If my information is accurate, and I have every reason to believe that it is, then the captured Alamo personnel are being held on Denebola VII. It’s an industrial hub, a site of significant resource extraction for the Cabal.”

   Caine whistled, “It’s also, what, four jumps from here.”

   “But not necessarily back the way we came; we can avoid the Cabal fleet.”

   “Corporal,” Caine said, “I don’t think Alamo is in any condition to head back into Cabal space again. Not to mention that we have a lot of valuable information that we need to get to the Admiralty.”

   “I agree,” Cooper required. “Sir, I request permission to use the Ouroboros to rescue the prisoners.”

   Marshall leaned back on his chair, and said, “The freighter?”

   “I’ve had a word with Chief Wilson, and he thinks that it should be easy to get it back to full function. It’s a civilian vessel with all the proper permits, and it’s even been there before. I should be able to sneak in there without being detected.”

   “That’s a big risk, Corporal,” Caine said.

   “They are my comrades, Lieutenant, and all of them would do the same for me. May I have your permission to try, Captain?”

   “What makes you sure that Diego wasn’t lying?” Marshall asked.

   “I thought of that, sir, but there are records indicating that indentured workers make up the majority of the population, including penal labor. The crew of Hercules were used in exactly the same manner on Ghawar, during the first years of their captivity. I don’t think the Cabal waste manpower unless they have no choice.”

   “He might have a point,” Caine said. “None of them are of any major importance from an intelligence standpoint, so after some interrogation...based on what we know of the Cabal, I’d say the Corporal’s theory might have merit.”

   “Hell, sir, getting a look close up at the Cabal would be worth it anyway. Intelligence would love us forever. We’ve got the database, but other than that we’ve only been on the fringes of their space. We don’t know what they are really like.”

   “I presume you’ve talked someone into giving you a course estimation?”


   He blushed, then said, “It’s pretty rough, but it works out at thirty-two days each way. Assume eight days to find and free the prisoners, a seventy-day mission.”

   “Which is just about within the repair estimates for Alamo,” Marshall said, rubbing his hand across his chin. “Is that your full report?” he asked, gesturing at the datapad.

   “It is, sir.”

   “I’ll take a look at it and let you know in the morning. Dismissed, Corporal.”

   “Sir…”

   Marshall looked up, “I’ll let you know in the morning.”

   “Captain,” Cooper said as he rose, “You told me a couple of months ago that you would take any chance to rescue my comrades.”

   Looking up, Marshall replied, “I haven’t forgotten, Cooper.”

   Nodding, the trooper turned and walked out of the room, and the door slid shut behind him. He picked up the datapad and started to flick through it while Caine watched him, her gaze never leaving him.

   “What is it?” he finally said.

   “We both know two things, Danny. You’re going to approve this mission…”

   “Probably.”

   “And you’ll be commanding it yourself.”

   He dropped the datapad to the desk, then said, “Cooper can’t take the ship out by himself.”

   “No, but there are any number of people on board who you could delegate this one to….”

   “I know,” he replied, standing up. “You could do it, Zebrova, Orlova would take a crack at it...but this is my job, Deadeye. These are my people every bit as much as they are Cooper’s.” A smile crossed his face, “And before you say anything about my being indispensable, both my father or Zebrova are more than capable of getting Alamo home.”

   “You’re the Captain, though.”

   “I’m tired of sitting at the back and watching everyone else take the risks. I can’t do that, not this time. I can’t ask anyone else to do this if I am not willing to do it myself.”

   “What do you think the brass will say when we get back?”

   Chuckling, he replied, “I think I’m a long way past worrying about that. I’ve already stretched my orders beyond the limit in any case coming this far out. Either they will back me or sack me, but that isn’t the issue here.”

   “What is it, then?”

   Turning to the viewport, he said, “I brought us out here because it was the right thing to do, because in my opinion it was necessary for the safety of the Confederation. That’s why they give autonomous authority to deep-space commanders, because we need the ability to make those decisions. If the brass decides that I was wrong...well, I think I was right, and if I’m willing to risk the ship, I’m certainly willing to risk my career.”

   Moving back to face Caine, he continued, “This is no different. Bringing those Espatiers home is the right thing to do. I’m not putting the ship on the line this time, but I will put myself at risk for it, and if someone decides to cashier me for it, I’ll accept that – if it means that I’ve got a dozen people who I am responsible for back to their families.”

   With a frown, she replied, “This won’t bring back the dead, Danny.”

   “They might rest a little easier knowing that their shipmates have got home.”

   “You feel that strongly about it?”

   “Damn right I do.”

   She was silent for a moment, then said, “There are good intelligence reasons for trying this mission, anyway. Cooper was right about that; we’ve got a lot of military data, but we know next to nothing about the civilian set-up. That could be useful for other infiltration attempts in the future.” She smiled, shaking her head, “Fleet Intelligence is going to set up a shrine to you after this mission, you know.”

   “Would be nice to have some friends back home.”

   “Are you going to select the crew yourself?”

   “Volunteer only. The crew have been through enough, without me making them go any further. I think I’ll find enough of them willing to take a crack at it.”

   “I know you will.” She took a deep breath, and said, “I’m one of them.”

   “Deadeye…”

   “There are four other people qualified for Tactical. I can be spared. You’re going to need someone to watch your back out there, and I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”

   “You don’t have to do this.”

   “Remember that day in the Officers’ Club at Mariner? Right back before you assumed command of this ship? You told me then that you needed me on board, that I was the one crewman you couldn’t do without. Your wingman, you said.”

   “I remember,” he nodded.

   “That’s why I signed up. And that’s why I’m coming with you on this mission. Besides, you know I’m a born tourist. You think I’d miss a chance to take a look at a Cabal world close up?”

   “From Cooper’s report, it doesn’t sound like much of a tourist spot. Apparently it rains oil.”

   “Sounds lovely. Bet there are some good fleshpots, though.”

   “You can file a report about the possibilities for shore leave when we get back.”

   She smiled, then said, “So that’s settled, then.”

   Leaning back to his desk, he said, “We’ve got a lot of work to get done tonight. Call a meeting of the senior staff for noon tomorrow, and make sure that Cooper is present.”

   “Do I tell them what it is about?”

   “Not yet. I’ll have a word with Tyler about the intelligence angles of this, see if he can bulk up Cooper’s research a little. Most importantly, see whether he comes to the same conclusions. You get on Quinn, and get his word on what it will take to get the freighter back up to specification.”

   “We could probably make some modifications to it, as well.”

   “Nothing that will show on a search. Better EWO software, though.”

   “I’ve never met a freighter that wasn’t loaded with secret compartments for smuggling. I suspect the crew might be willing to tell us where they are.”

   Nodding, Marshall said, “There’s a real danger that I might actually start to enjoy this, I think. See what you can find out from a scan. I’ll have Tyler start an interrogation schedule for them on that and anything else they can tell us about the lie of the land. Usually the most interesting details aren’t in the database.”

   “Right, will do. Should I have a word with Mulenga, see if he can scare us up some sort of course?”

   “No, that really would give the game away. We’ll leave that until after the meeting.”

   She stood up, saying, “I guess I’m not going to get much sleep tonight, am I? I’ll take the next shuttle over to Ouroboros and take a look, see what I can find. I want to check the cargo as well, see what they were carrying; we might be able to sell it at Denebola. And see what is on our route, as well.”

   “Cooper didn’t find any military installations to speak of.”

   Shaking her head, she said, “We’re pretending to be on a trading run, remember. It’ll look suspicious if we don’t have anything to trade.”

   “Good point. Can you be ready by noon?”

   “I think so. I’ll let you know what I find.”

   “Right. On your way.”

   She nodded, then walked out of the room, no doubt the subject of endless curiosity on the bridge about their discussion. Marshall watched her leave, then started to look through the datafile again, pausing at the dossiers of the captured Espatiers. There were twelve letters to their families logged in his system, missing more than a month ago. It was worth this risk if he might be able to delete them.

  Chapter 6

   The Espatier barracks on Alamo had been eerie enough with only four people living there; now that Cooper was on his own, it was even worse. There were ghosts everywhere, memories of his friends either dead or missing. Along one wall sat a sad pile of kitbags, caref
ully prepared with the possessions of the platoon to be shipped back home to their families; Cooper had seen to that himself, and the first thing he had done upon leaving sickbay was get the last three put together.

   He looked down at the stump where his hand once was; it was itching like mad, as though it was still there. Doctor Duquesne had told him that it would go away in time, especially once the new hand was fitted. He’d seen people in the past using them, but never really thought he would be one of them. When he signed up with the Espatiers, he had been quite prepared to die. Enough of his relatives had failed to come home during the war that he knew what the price of the uniform was. Somehow, though, being crippled had never occurred to him.

   Sliding a datapad out of his pocket, he started to look over his mission plan again. He knew that some parts of it were short on detail, were too rough and ready, but the basic plan seemed sound – and moreover, wouldn’t place Alamo at any serious risk. They could certainly manage without him for a while. One soon-to-be-ex-Espatier; he wouldn’t be missed.

   “I thought you’d be in here,” Barbara said, walking into the room.

   “Where else would I be?”

   “Well, there aren’t any surprise boarding actions going on at the moment, so this is probably the most likely place.” She looked around the room, then said, “I thought you were assigned new quarters?”

   “Something like that. I’ve got a berth here, though.”

   “It isn’t healthy for you to be here by yourself.”

   With a deep sigh, he said, “I’d feel like I was abandoning them if I left. It just wouldn’t seem right, somehow.”

   “You think any of them would want you to be sitting here moping?”

   “I think at least a dozen of them would rather be sitting here with me.” He tossed the datapad to the side. “Not that I think they’ll get the chance.”

   “Did you get in to see the Captain?”

   “Oh, I pushed my way into his office, all right. You should have seen old Kibaki’s face; I never thought it was possible to make him angry.”

   Shaking her head, she said, “You could have made an appointment.”

   “There isn’t time,” he replied. “We need to be getting started on putting Ouroboros back together, get a proper mission plan outlined. Hell, I need to get that new hand fitted if I’m going to be at full ability for this mission.”