Clidepp Requital (6 page)

"During the escape effort, thirty-six rebels were stunned, but the remaining one hundred forty-one are currently trying to force open the corridor doors to gain access to the next frame-sections and the hatches on the access tunnels to reach other decks. Thus far, their efforts have been unsuccessful, but the doors and hatches won't hold forever. We're going to ignore the lifts and access hatches for now, because even if they manage to break
in
to one, they'll have to spend just as much time breaking
out
of it on a different deck.

"They have also, so far, been unable to pry open the weapons locker, which contains two laser pistols. They have the stun weapons of the guards, but if they gain access to the laser weapons, the danger inherent in this situation rises to a whole new level. While the laser weapons assigned to each of you can only be fired by you because they're keyed to your DNA, the weapons in the prison locker are un-keyed. That's because any of the guards must be able to fire them should a situation arise that requires their use. We must regain control of this situation before the rebels get access to those weapons.

"As to their ultimate objective, we can only speculate. There's little chance they could ever commandeer this ship, so we're focusing elsewhere. They might be attempting to access one of the ships in the
Babbage's
transport hold, hoping they can use it to escape, but the only ship even close to usable condition is the freighter. And we can't imagine how the rebels might know of its existence, or even that there are
any
ships in the transport hold since the surviving crew of the freighter and the
Glassama
have been housed in another large hold further towards the stern. The two groups have had no contact with one another, and all Marine guards have been ordered not to give the rebels of either group any information. So we're discounting their having any knowledge of the ships we're transporting. If they've somehow learned of the other group, they might be trying to reach them so they can be freed in an effort to bolster their forces, but again, they shouldn't even know of the other group's presence in the
Babbage
. As we see it, that leaves just one possibility— their only objective is to escape confinement, and they haven't developed a real plan beyond that. Perhaps they believed they'd figure out what they should do next if their attempt was successful.

"All eight of our people, plus the rebels stunned during the breakout, are sleeping off the effects. If the rebels can hold out until the guards and medical personnel awaken, they might be able to secure information regarding the ship or security arrangements from them either through threats or torture, so it's imperative we overcome the rebels before that can happen.

"We have to defend against the more likely possibilities, so I've devised a plan. Computer, display Burrows 01, this date, on the screen behind me." A layout of Deck 22, showing five frame-sections with Section 224 in the center, appeared on the large wall-mounted monitor. Pointing to a part of the image using a laser pointer, Burrows said, "Here's the hold in Section 224 where the rebels were being held. They now control the corridor outside that hold but are contained by the bulkhead doors at these two points. The corridor door that leads towards the stern is closest to the hold door, and that's where they're concentrating most of their efforts. Lieutenant MacDonald, you'll take your platoon to the other side of this door and set up a defensible position. Should the rebels break through, you'll explain to them that they should return to their prison hold. Initially you'll use stun rifles, but you'll also carry laser pistols for use as needed. If the rebels repeat the tactic of carrying stunned rebels in front of them, use the laser weapons to cut their legs out from under them or whatever other actions are required to stop their advance."

"Yes, sir," MacDonald said.

"Directly across from the prison hold is an EVA preparation room. So far, the rebels have ignored it, but if they gain access, they'll find a dozen EVA suits and an airlock that leads directly to the ship transport hold. If they manage to reach that hold, they'll have access to any of the ships secured there. What we fear most is that they might attempt to detonate one or more torpedoes. The firing mechanisms were all removed before the ships were brought into the transport hold, but we don't know what skills the rebels possess, so they might be able to find a way to jury rig something. We can't allow them to have that chance. Lieutenant Aguilo, you and the interdiction pilots will move to several of the other airlocks in that area and wait for instructions. If the rebels make it into the transport hold, you'll confront them there and take whatever action is necessary to take them back into custody. At most, you'll be facing a dozen, and all will be in bulky, unfamiliar EVA suits, while you and the pilots will be in body armor. The rebreather units in the armor will give you all the oxygen you need, and the environment in the hold will not tax the limits of your armor."

"Yes, sir," Aguilo said.

"Lastly, we must defend the door at the bow end of the corridor. Lieutenant Marcola, you'll take your platoon and secure that location. The rebels haven't made a concerted effort to open that door, and we don't expect them to, but that could change. As with Lt. MacDonald's platoon, you'll carry both stun rifles and laser pistols. Use the stun rifles first and the laser pistols as a last resort."

At the mention of her name, Sydnee sat up a little straighter. Until then she had expected to operate with the other interdiction pilots. "Um.
My
platoon, sir?"

"MacDonald and Aguilo already have assignments, and I need an experienced combat officer to take command of Lt. Kennedy's platoon and defend that corridor access position."

"But, sir, I'm SC."

"In debriefing interviews, every member of Kennedy's platoon commended your leadership of the platoon. That makes you the logical candidate for this job. I had just three Marine officers aboard the
Perry
before Lieutenant Kennedy was killed in action on Diabolisto. Now I have just two. Captain Lidden has approved this assignment."

Sydnee looked quickly towards Lidden who nodded. "Very well, sir. I accept the assignment."

"Time is short, people, so let's get moving. Lt. Aguilo, Captain Wendham's chief engineer is waiting outside this room. He'll brief you as to which airlocks should be used for your team. MacDonald and Marcola, your platoons are assembled in the large conference room across the corridor. Brief them on the assignments and get to your posts as quickly as possible."

~ June 10
^th
, 2285 ~

"Duttomon," Klieppaso yelled into the corridor while standing in the doorway of the hold. "It's time to shove a sharp stick into the eyes of the Spaccs. Take your people and rip the vid units down off the walls."

Most of the people involved in this escape attempt had been milling around in the corridor since the Marine guard detail had been overcome. Duttomon motioned to his men and they sprang to the task of ripping the four vid cameras off the walls in the hold.

Klieppaso watched as they accomplished their task. He was enjoying the rush he was feeling from having people immediately obey his every command.

* * *

"They're finally tearing down those vid cameras," Lt.(jg) Angelo Ruscetti, the ship's chief of security, said to Major Burrows as they sat in the security center watching the activity in the hold.

"Wonder why they waited so long," Burrows said. "I would have torn them down right after their people accomplished the takeover."

"They aren't the brightest bulbs in the lamp, that's for sure."

"How many cameras and mics do we have left?"

"The same number we've had all along. Our engineers salvaged those old vid units from the
Glassama
and rigged them so they'd appear to be operational. The rebels will never spot the real cameras in a million years. We have eight in the hold and six in the corridor, plus additional units in other areas of that frame-section."

"We only had vid units in key areas aboard the
Perry
."

"Yeah, a lot of things have changed since that old bucket came off the production line. That incident aboard the
Song
— when Admiral Carver was in command and a Raider officer snuck aboard in an attempt to assassinate her— was responsible for a lot of changes in security measures. Now, except for private quarters and heads, we have cameras everywhere. The
Babbage
has roughly ten thousand units scattered around the ship, and we can call up the image and audio from any of them in a second. The camera lenses are so tiny, it takes an engineer with a special sensor to locate a camera if the unit has to be checked out or replaced. Those bulky old vid units in the hold were only put there because the prisoners would be expecting to be watched, and we gave them what they normally see aboard their own ships.

* * *

After arriving in Frame-section 223 of Deck 22, Sydnee checked out the rooms on either side of the corridor. Their armor provided complete protection from laser and stun weapons, so the Marines had no need for cover or concealment. Sydnee was only looking for things like seating that would make the people assigned to her somewhat more comfortable through what might turn out to be a long impasse as the situation with the rebels played out. For now, the entire platoon remained in the corridor.

* * *

"Well?" Klieppaso said to the Yolongi engineer who was in charge of opening the corridor doors.

"Well, what? The doors aren't open yet."

"I can see that. When will they be open? We can't give the Spaccs any more time to get organized. We have to move out."

"Their electronic systems are nothing like ours. Their systems are so advanced that I'm just guessing, and I have no tools here. There's only so much I can do with just a sturdy piece of molding and some string."

"If you can't handle it, tell me. I'll put someone else in charge."

The engineer stopped what he was doing and calmly turned to face Klieppaso. "If that's a threat, do it. Put someone else in charge of opening the doors. How about Duttomon? He's an engineer."

"Duttomon doesn't know his right arm from his left."

"That's true. And yet, he's the second best engineer here."

Klieppaso wanted to say that the best engineer didn't seem to be much better, but he held his tongue. "Just give me an idea of how much longer it'll be."

"I'd have to say about a thousand annuals."

"You're saying you can't do it?"

"Without the proper equipment, it appears to be impossible. Get me the right tools and a good test meter, and I
might
be able to get the doors open. Without them, I don't think I have a chance. Better put Duttomon in charge."

"Why didn't you tell me that before I had Duttomon rip down the vid units?" he said angrily. "Now how am I supposed to get the attention of the Spaccs so I can demand they open the doors?"

The Yolongi engineer grinned and said sardonically, "Well, I'm not in charge. But if it were up was me, I'd use that," the engineer said, pointing to the intercom handset on the bulkhead entry next to the hold.

Klieppaso scowled at the engineer, then reached for the handset.

* * *

Looking at Major Burrows after picking up the handset, Lt.(jg) Ruscetti said, "Klieppaso says he's prepared to state his terms to the person in charge."

"Is he now?" Burrows said. "Well, that's real nice of him." Taking the handset, he said, "This is Major Burrows."

"Just a Major? I want to speak to the captain of this ship."

"You'll talk to me if you have anything to say. Or I could pass you back to the Lieutenant and you can tell him."

Klieppaso was silent for some ten seconds, then said, "Very well. I shall relate my terms to you and you shall immediately relay them to the Captain."

"State your business."

"First, we want to make contact with our leadership."

"No problem. All prisoners of Space Command are entitled to establish contact with family, friends, and associates in order to prepare their case in court."

"What? Why weren't we informed of that?"

"You haven't been formally charged yet. That will happen when we reach Earth. At that time, all your rights will be explained to you, as well as the potential sentence for your crimes, and you'll have communications access."

"We won't wait three or four annuals to contact our people."

"Three or four annuals? You won't have to wait that long. We'll arrive at Earth in seventeen solars."

"You lie."

"I have no reason to lie."

"We only left Diabolisto seven solars ago. The travel time to Earth is several light-annuals."

"That was true, many annuals ago. But at Light-9790 it's only about twenty-four solars."

"Light-9790 is impossible."

"At one time scientists said we'd never be able to travel faster than sound. And at one time, scientists said no one would ever be able to travel faster than light. Records and limits were meant to be broken."

"Our scientists have declared that no one will ever be able to travel faster than Light-800."

"That's an example of what I just said. Everything is always considered impossible until someone finds a way to do it. Our fastest ships travel at Light-9790. It's been that way for many annuals."

"You lie. We would have heard."

"Heard from whom? The government you're rebelling against? The government who won't permit construction of any ships that can travel faster than Light-75? The government that always lies to you?"

"We have our own resources. Now let me communicate with my leadership or you'll suffer the consequences."

"What consequences? You're still contained in the immediate area of the hold."

Klieppaso, unaware that his every move was being watched, turned to Duttomon, now standing in the doorway to the hold, and whispered something.

Duttomon turned and raced to where the medical people were still sleeping off the effects of being stunned. With the help of another rebel, Duttomon picked up one of the medical people and carried him to the corridor, where they held him up so Klieppaso could look at him.