Heart of Steel: Book II of the Jonathan Pavel Series (19 page)

“This is the Captain,” Jonathan said grouchily.

“Uh, sorry to wake you sir,” It was George. Well then, it was serious. George knew first hand what a joy Jonathan was when he was unexpectedly roused.

“We have a bit of a situation on Deck C Compartment 124. Your presence is required,” George said.

“What situation XO?” Jonathan asked still half awake.

There was a pause on the other end, “Well sir, we appear to have a code 11/24/24 on our hands.”

Jonathan opened his eyes a little wider, “Say again XO, a what?”

“Um, it's definitely a code 11/24/24.”

Jonathan searched his brain, but for the life of him couldn't remember what a 11/24/24 referred to.

“And you can't handle it XO?” Jonathan asked a little irritated.

“That’s affirmative sir,” George replied. Jonathan noted the slightly pleading tone in his voice.

Sighing, “I’ll be right down,” Jonathan said turning off his com.

Jonathan began to gingerly free himself from the floating sleeping bag. Finally having collected his uniform, Jonathan pulled up on his sleeve display to the index of the thousand of numerical codes the Navy used to cover every available situation.. No one was expected to memorize all of them. There were over 300,000 at last count, which was why computers often proved to be such a handy thing to have around. Though with the large number of codes, it still took the nanite processor in Jonathan's uniform about a minute to find the correct code, meaning Jonathan was already out the hatch and on his way to the compartment when the result came up. Looking down at his sleeve, Jonathan's eyes widened in confusion at what he saw. He stopped himself on a handrail and floated there for a good ten seconds before resuming his course toward the compartment, silently pledging that if this was a prank he would murder his XO - friend or no. As it turned out, 11/24/24 was code for ‘Unsecured Livestock aboard ship.’ Deck C was two levels down from Jonathan's quarters on Deck A, and Compartment 124 was in the forward section by the crew quarters.
Fury
was a bit roomier than Jonathan's last posting by virtue of being a larger class of ship. She showed this in her number of decks, five in total and in her larger common areas, a mess hall that could seat the entire crew as well as a fully equipped fitness center. The downside to these larger common areas was that the crew quarters were more compact. Each cabin bunked six crewmen with four cabins sharing a wash room.

“Make a hole,” Jonathan called out coming up to the cabin in question where George, Lt. Commander Tai Heath, and six or seven Spacers were gathered, including two with shore patrol arm bands.

“All right George, what's going on?” Jonathan asked yanking himself to a stop with a handle bar and returning the nearby Spacers salutes.

George just pointed into the cabin from which Jonathan's perspective looked empty

“Under the right bottom bunk sir,” said one of the Spacers, a rough looking specialist with a heavily scarred face.

Jonathan pulled himself into the room positioned himself horizontally with the bunks pulling his head toward the floor. Looking into the gloom, Jonathan saw two big yellow eyes with X shaped pupils staring back at him.

Pulling himself upright, Jonathan looked hard eyed at the assorted Spacers.

“All right who brought the Gremlin onto my ship?”

The Specialist with dark hair and a heavily scarred face raised his hand, and looked down toward the floor.

“Captian, I would like to place Specialist Marvin Jung under arrest for bringing a unauthorized animal on this vessel.” Heath said flatly.

“Hold on a second,”  George said, “You said,”

“I said we’d call the Captain, and...” Heath replied.

“ATTENTION!” Jonathan barked causing everyone present to jump to attention, or at least as close as to attention as could be managed in zero-g.

“Everyone who isn't Commander Pai, Lt. Commander Heath, or Specialist Jung fall out at once,” Jonathan said in a level tone his voice like flint.

The other Spacers began to move away, “NOW!” Jonathan barked and they scattered.

“Alright first things first. Specialist please get your pet out of hiding before it defecates, and we have more trouble than we already do,” Jonathan said. The Specialist nodded and pulling himself past the officers skillfully pulled himself parallel with the space beneath the bunk. As he did so, he grabbed a washcloth that had been floating near by.

Jonathan for his part got out of the Spacers way silently waiting, arms folded as the Spacer flickered the wash cloth back and forth. It didn't take long for Specialist Jung to accomplish what he intended. A small, black and white furry creature, about the size of a terran cat, with two oversize yellow eyes, pointed ears, a small mouth full of pointed teeth, long arms, short legs and a ringed tail came soaring out of the darkness grabbing the wash cloth with its teeth. Gingerly, Specialist Jung put his arm out allowing the Gremlin to wrap its tail around his arm. Jung then released the wash cloth which the small beasty remained endlessly fascinated with even as he floated freely secured to the Spacers arm.

“Alright then Jung what's his name?” Jonathan asked.

Jung brought himself to rigid attention, anchoring his boots in the process. “Frigate sir. He’s been with me five years now sir, since I was on
Pisces.
I know navy regs say no pets, but I couldn't leave him sir he needs me.”

Jonathan was annoyed by the whole situation and let it show on his face.

“I take it
Pisces
was a civvy ship, and you're a Reservist Specialist 3rd Jung?”Jonathan asked using the man's full rank.

“Yes sir,” the Spacer replied. “Seven years on the
Pisces,
before that twelve years in the service.”

Jonathan looked at the man then back to the small near-primate on his arm.

“If you had a berth already, and your little friend needs you so badly why didn't you refuse call up?”Jonathan asked his tone razor sharp.

Jung looked confused by the question, “Captain sir, it never occurred to me, sir. It’s my duty to serve.”

Jonathan noted the sincerity in the man’s voice. True, the penalty for refusing call up was 50 lashes and no less than 25 years transportation to a penal colony or confinement and hard labour, but it was a punishment that was easy to avoid provided you stayed well clear of Solarian space.

Jonathan sighed and shook his head.

“Then by the power vested in me, I do hear by conscript one Frigate Jung as a Able Spacer aboard this ship, and you ‘
Able Spacer 1st
Marvin Jung’,” Jonathan said the rank with emphasis and the man winced because it was a two grade drop in rank and pay, “are hereby tasked with his care and upkeep. If he gnaws through one power system or urinates just once on something critical, it's the brig for both of you and a dishonorable discharge at the next port of call. Furthermore, for bringing an unauthorized creature onboard you are confined to duty for 30 days and on bread and water for 60. Able Spacer Frigate having been shanghaied by you can eat whatever he wishes.”

Jung saluted grinning and the Gremlin on his arm seeing the gesture mimicked it. Which despite his anger, made Jonathan want to smile. Behind him he heard George snicker at the creature's antics.

“Thank you sir. From both of us,” Jung said.

“Alright back to work, and when your off duty take Frigate down to the infirmary and have the pharmacist mate check him over.”

“Oh yes sir, but I promise he's had all his shots sir.”

“Very good. Still can't be too cautious.”

Jonathan turned to the two waiting officers, George who was still trying to suppress a grin and Tai Heath who seemed at a lost for words.

“My quarters now,” Jonathan said.

Both men followed him back to his quarters in silence and once the door had slid closed behind them Jonathan exploded in fury. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!!”

He shouted at both of them. 

George went silent and still as a statue.

Heath tried to reply, “Sir I don't..”

“YOU DON'T WANT LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ?” Jonathan bellowed.

“I...I...don't understand what transgression we..”

“OH I SEE, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND..” Jonathan shouted.

Jonathan went silent breathing heavily the fury still plain as a day on his face. The lack of sleep, and long hours on duty combined with this latest exercise in triviality had caused his patience to snap.

“Let me lay it out for both of you. You find a minor disciplinary infraction, but instead of handling it yourselves you drag me into it, and what's worse one of you tries to arrest a crewman without my say so, and the other tries to stop him, again without my say so.”

Jonathan glared at both of them.

“In simple language, you both let a minor situation spin out of control. What's more, you publicly disagreed in front of the enlisted men. That is bad for discipline on so many levels. Had I not stepped in, it could have escalated further, with you Mr. Heath being cast as this ship’s bully and villain with the XO as the champion of the crewman. That kind of division eats away at crews and ships. So let me put this in plain terms. There is one law upon this ship - mine. There is one god and I am he, and if either of you ever pull a stunt like that I will have both of you finishing this voyage as ensigns. AM I CLEAR!!!”

“Yes sir” they chorused in unison.

“Good,” Jonathan said. “Now let’s discuss what happened so it doesn't happen again.  Lt. Commander Heath your side of the story please.”

Heath who had been dying to get a word in edgewise jumped at a chance to explain himself.

“Sir, I was passing by when I saw that creature, a Kremlin you called it?”

“Gremlin,” George corrected.

“Quiet XO. You’ll have your turn,” Jonathan snapped.

“Sorry sir,” George replied.

“As I was saying sir, I saw it floating in the corridor chasing bits of ration bar crewmen were throwing to it. I tried to seize the animal when it fled, and then that Spacer Specialist 3rd Jung...”

“Able Spacer 1st Jung now,” Jonathan corrected.

“Yes sir, anyway he blocked my entry into his cabin, so I went to fetch the shore patrol and returned to find the XO present, and trying to stop me from executing my duties.”

George made a face, but said nothing.

“Sir, that creature could be a risk to the ship. We don't know what it is, or what diseases it carries. As far as I see it, I was following regulations.”

“Thank you Mr. Heath,” Jonathan said.

“Mr. Pai your take,” Jonathan continued.

“Sir it happened as Mr. Heath described except when I arrived Able Spacer Jung had freely admitted to having the Gremlin as a long term pet, and when Mr. Heath arrived with the Shore Patrol I suggested there was no need to arrest anyone. When he threatened to arrest me for obstructing him, I suggested we send for you, at which point Mr. Heath relented and agreed.”

Jonathan glared at both of them. “Mr. Heath, in future you will remember that as a Commander in the Solarian Navy and Executive Officer of this ship, Commander Pai outranks you, and you will never flout his authority especially in front of the enlisted men. Mr. Pai, you in future will not hamper an officer carrying out what he sees as his duty. If you disagree with him, you will dispute it in private.”

“Yes sir,” George said.

Heath still looked confused, “But sir, the creature.”

“Was a Gremlin Mr. Heath,” Jonathan said. “A native near-primate of Nova Terra. They’re intelligent, versatile creatures who are very adaptable to multiple environments. They don't usually carry any diseases that are harmful to humans, especially if they’ve been vaccinated. Now, normally I’d agree there's no place for them aboard a warship, but Spacers for some ungodly reason consider them good luck. By now it's well known we have a Gremlin aboard, therefore I have exercised my command prerogative and made the creature part of this crew as our new, unofficial mascot, while also punishing his owner so as to maintain discipline. If we tried to remove the creature or god forbid kill it, the men would see our voyage as cursed.”

Heath stared at the Captian dumfounded, “Sir, the regulations clearly state...”

“No unauthorized animals, or livestock aboard ship,” Jonathan finished. “The regs also say the Captain shall have ‘the authority to enforce regulations in a manner which is most conducive to the good conduct and morale of the ship's crew.’ That is the particular part of the rule book I am choosing to follow. Are we clear?”

Heath seemed to want to debate the point further, but finally just said, “Yes sir.”

“Very well, you're dismissed Mr. Heath.”

Heath saluted sharply and exited, which left Jonathan alone with George.

“Alright George at ease,” Jonathan said. “Sorry I lost my temper.”

George relaxed, “No problem Jonathan, I deserved everything you said and then some. All things considered, I think you cleaned up my mess rather well.”

“Thank you George, let's try to avoid situations like this in future.”