Ringship Discretion (12 page)

The captain pointed to his ear and signaled for Duane to put his ear against the glass.  He must have understood because he complied.  The captain put his helmet against the other side of the glass and yelled "Can you hear me!?". Duane yelled "Yes! What the hell do you..."Shut up Duane! Either listen or I will leave you here, and no one is going pick you up. They are all evacuating. Tell me where to take these plates, what they're for, and why half the damn solar system is hunting us for them! And then I will tow your ass back to the station." 

Duane asked "Are you going to take the plates yourself now?" 

The captain said "Never mind what we are going to do. Tell me what I want or I leave you here" 

Doc came over the comm. "Getting good information now Captain."

The captain pulled his helmet away from the glass hoping that Duane didn't hear that. "Great Doc. Radio silence until I say otherwise." He put his helmet back against the glass. "Well?!"

Duane said "It was a contract for some Oorters. I heard rumors about some kind of stable warp drive and those plates have something to do with it.  Whatever they are, you have no idea how important it is that they get them.  I was ordered to kill you because they said you lead the Blueballs right to us, and they needed the trail to end. It wasn't anything personal and I usually don't do business this way.." The captain interrupted. "Where are we supposed to take them?"

He reluctantly replied "New Freedom City on Oberon" 

The captain replied "Oberon!? As in Uranus?! That's like two months flight!"

Duane said "Well, that's close in for the Oorters. They're building up for some kind of offensive.  Look, that's all I know."

The captain asked "How much?"

Duane "If I tell you, will you tow me back now?"

The captain agreed, and Duane said "4 million.  Look, take me with you and I will split it."

The captain replied "Hell no. You were going to kill us. I don't allow anyone I don't trust on my ship. But I will tow you back to the station and I will have your crew pick you up." 

"No wait! My crew probably just took off with the money"

The captain had pulled his helmet away but he put it back. "Money? Wasn't the money in the airlock?!"

Duane looked around guiltily. "Well, no. Just a little on the top."

The captain smacked the airlock. "Dammit! We can't get a fucking break!.  Amelia, check the trunk of money and see what's in it. OK Doc, you got what you need?"

Doc responded "Yes sir!"

The captain flew out of the wreckage. "OK Doc, help me attach the cable Ben was using to this rat infested garbage pile."

Amelia came back "Not much. The top is covered in bills, maybe $1500 or so, but the rest is just paper."

Attie came back on. "Damn!, well as soon as Ben and AJ are done, let's tow this scumbag back to the station.  Ben, how are you doing?"

Ben came back "We heated some of the rods and were able to bend them back straight; well, as straight as we could make them.  I think its going to take three more hours to finish this."

The captain replied with "Roger that. Keep it up. Amelia, can you use the mag drive to take us to the station?  For where we are heading next, we're going to need supplies, and a lot of them!"

She responded "OK. Ben and AJ, did you copy that? I will take it easy, but make sure you are clamped on."

Ben acknowledged.

Amelia came back "Attie, where are we going?"

As he reached the airlock with Doc, he replied. "Apparently, we have to go to Oberon."

In a raised voice she said, "Uranus?! Holy shit Attie. That is a long haul.  Do you really think we can make that?"

He shut the outer hatch. "Well, we don't have much choice, but we are going to need a literal ton of supplies!"

Doc reached over to raise the air pressure and the captain stopped him. "No, we are going back out as soon as we get close to the station." Doc retracted his hand.

As they approached the station, Amelia said over the comms "OK, I am going to take us close to 28W. If I try to dock, I will surely crash this heap. The station looks deserted now. In fact, I don't see a single ship!"

The Discretion approached the docking port and Amelia tried to stop in front of it, but she over compensated and ship began to accelerate backwards. She reversed the field and it slowed again, but turned into the gantry.  The captain cringed as he heard the crunching sound. "Amelia!".

She shut everything down. "Sorry! This thing is hard as hell to control! The fields are fluctuating and we are attracted to the metal of the station.  This wasn't meant to be used as a means of propulsion, you know!"

The captain came back "OK. OK....but, lets just try to leave some part of the ship intact...please."

Ben said "And us too please!"

Amelia growled over the radio.

Ben said "Duane's wreckage has floated into the station, but it's just sitting there now and the lines are slack.  Want me to cut him free?" 

The captain said "Yes.  Someone will pick him up. Even if it is Big Sis."

A minute later Amelia was back on the radio. "OK, we are at a dead stop relative to the station.  You are go for your EVA."

The captain nudged Doc, "Let's go." and he reopened the outer hatch.  As they came around the hatch, Atticus could see where Amelia had hit the gantry-way. It was slightly bent and there were scratches down the hull, but no real damage. The Discretion was drifting away from the station very slowly. Atticus looked at Doc. "OK, ready to jump over to the gantry-way?"  Doc looked at the 20 meters between them and the station. "Sure..Can't really fall. Can we?" They both pushed off and caught the gantry-way a few seconds later.  They made their way around the end to the airlock hatch and pushed the entry button. The door slid open and they proceeded inside. The captain looked through the inner hatch portal.  The gantry tunnel looked empty.  He remarked "No one here to greet us. Looks empty.  Ben, how's the repairs coming?"

Ben replied "Well, we've got two fixed.  Bending the third back into place now."

The captain pushed the button to pressurize the airlock and he immediately heard the sound of rushing air. "Good, get your ass in here as soon as you are done, and bring your weapons. We don't have any, although I'm not expecting much company, based on what we see outside."

Ben said "Sure thing captain. It will be about 10 to 15 minutes."

After about a minute, Atticus could feel his suit beginning to squeeze him. When he looked at the airlock readout it said 80 kPa and rising. "Crap!" and he hit the stop button. "How do you tell this thing we are coming in at 40 kPa?" Doc pointed to the button with the picture of the space suit on it.  Atticus rolled his eyes and pushed it.  A display with a plus and minus appeared.  It read 50 kPa, so he pushed the minus button until it read 40. After another minute, the lock turned green.  He looked at the display and at his suit gauges to make sure it was the right pressure. "OK, we can remove our helmets."  He then hit the full pressure button and more air flowed in, but at a slower rate this time. When it had completed its cycle the inner handle turned green.  He looked at Doc. "Ready?". Doc nodded.  The captain took a last look through the portal and opened the hatch.  The air smelled terrible and they both winced. Doc said "Its like rotten eggs and burnt matches at the same time!" The captain pointed to the yellow dust on the floor. "Sulfur byproducts from Io's volcanoes. Well, at least it seems they left the gravity on for us.  Let's take a look around and see if we can't find some supplies."

Ben came over the comm. "OK, Captain, that will do it! We're done. I am on my way to you now.  I am sending AJ back into the ship with the equipment.  His arm is really hurting him." 

The captain replied "Great! See you in a few minutes. Oh, and make sure you use the spacesuit button and set the airlock to 40 kPa."

Ben came around from the bottom of the ship. "Right'O, Captain".

At the end of the gantry was another pressure door.  The light above it was flashing red. The captain looked through the window, but didn't see anyone. Red and white strobes were flashing up and down the corridor.  The captain hit the hatch button and the door slid open.  He stepped through and pointed right. "Let's try that way." Just as they turned, a young man in orange overalls with blue stripes came running around the corner, his hands full of equipment.  He stopped "What are you still doing here! Big Sis is comi.." And he stopped and started to back up "Are you them?!"  The captain put his hands up. "No. No. We are trying to get away from them too. Our ship is damaged and we need some supplies."  The man waved his hand while dropping something electronic. "Sorry, I have to go or they will leave without me!" He looked down at the object, but left it and ran by.  Doc yelled after him, "Can you tell us where to get food?!", but there was no response as the foot steps faded.

The captain picked up the electronic gadget. "Man, we've got the whole station panicked. That definitely works to our advantage." Doc pointed to the captain's hand. "What is that?" The captain handed it to him. "Some kind of video game I think"  They began walking down the corridor.  The hatch sealed behind them and made both of their hearts jump.

As they walked the captain said "These are just quarters. Not much here.  Not of value to us anyway." Doc hit the captain's arm. "Look, a terminal."  They walked over to it and the captain pushed the inquiry button. The terminal asked "How can I help you?" in a sexy British female voice. 

Doc remarked "Nice."

The captain asked "The way to the Galley?" 

She responded "The nearest galley is down the corridor 120 meters to your left, then left 30 meters.  The galley will be on your left. We also have many fine restaurants for your dining pleasure and they are located on leve..." The captain pushed the cancel button.  He then pushed the inquiry button again.

"How may I help you once again?"

Doc nudged him. "It's a smart one."

The computer said "Yes, my name is ISIA, Integrated System's Information Assistant and I have the latest AI tools at..." The captain was about to push cancel again and she said "No need to be rude. I will be silent. Unless of course you want something".

The captain rolled his eyes. "Arms locker"

She said "I am afraid that information is restricted unless you have clearance.  I am not registering you as a known user." Just then the hatch behind them whooshed open.  They both turned in an instant, their hearts beginning to pound.

Ben stepped through with his shotgun in hand. "Hey! Its just me."

The computer asked "Is there anything else I can help you with?" The captain turned around and hit the cancel button. "Yeah, shut up."

The captain took a deep breath "OK, the galley is this way.  Let's load up and get the hell out of here."

As they approached the galley, they heard a pan fall. All three of them instinctively backed against the corridor wall.  Two men came out hauling a refrigerator. The captain looked at Ben. Ben shrugged and put his finger against his lips.  They let the fridge thieves get down the hallway and around the corner before they moved into the galley.  Ben looked around. "Damn, this place has been ransacked. Look there, the freezer.  They stepped over all the random kitchen debris and had to lift a large cabinet out of the way to get the freezer door.  As they set it upright, someone started beating on the inside of the freezer.  Ben signaled for everyone to back up and he went around to the side that would open, then pointed  to the captain to open the door.  Ben raised his shotgun and nodded. The captain jerked open the door.  A cook stepped forward but stopped when he saw the shotgun. Ben said "What the hell are you doing in there?"

He said "They locked me in here and took everything!" Ben lowered his shotgun and asked "Any food left?"

The cook, his arm shaking, pointed behind him.

Ben looked past him to see crates stacked to ceiling. "Bingo. Hey. Do you own this joint?. The cook said "No. Its owned by the OWMC." 

Doc asked "What's that?"

The captain said "Outer World Mining Consortium. It's owned by Oorters. Hey cook, you.." The cook interrupted "It's Bigel".

The captain continued, "OK, Bigel. Do you have a ship you can catch. Big Sis will be here tomorrow."

Bigel nodded. "Take what you like, I don't care. Do you mind if I go?"

The captain waved his hand. "No. Take care."

Bigel hopped over all the debris, grabbed his favorite apron, said "Thanks for letting me out of there." and ran off down the corridor. 

The captain looked at all the frozen food. "OK, we need to get this out of here somehow." They started to look around. 

Ben said "Back here Captain, a pallet jack."

The captain looked back at Ben. "Great, lets clear all this crap out first."  They started pushing everything out of the way and throwing things into corridor to make room.  After a few minutes, they had a clear path. Doc pushed the jack around to the door and they loaded everything they could get onto it. Once it was full they carefully backed it out into the corridor and started their way back to the ship.  When they turned the corner someone said "Where do you think your going with all that?". Ben stepped around the front of the pallet and cocked his shotgun.  Two rough looking, sulfur covered guys immediately backed up while raising their hands. "I guess wherever you want."  Ben grinned with the left side of his mouth. "Betch your ass. Doc. Push!"