SWEET HOME ALLE BAMMA (SOLBIDYUM WARS SAGA) (20 page)

“It sounds like a good idea,” I said.  “If they make it happen quickly and broadcast the decision Federation-wide, it could prevent a lot of mutinies from occurring on other Federation ships.  It would also open a whole new set of sources and avenues for gaining insight into Brotherhood’s operations and broaden the Federation’s means of weakening the Brotherhood’s overall structure.”

“As always, the time constraints associated with the broadcasts and subsequent communications are the main obstacle for making any of this happen quickly enough to be truly effective,” A’Lappe asserted. “It would be almost two months
after
these factions receive news of the revolt on the
DUSTEN
that they would learn about the amnesty deal.  In the meantime, they may decide to move forward with their own revolts, thinking that the time has come for the Brotherhood to act.”

After we finished our discussion and left the hangar, Kala said to me, “Tibby, I have some good news and some bad news.  The good news is that you’ve wanted to go planetside to do some sightseeing – and now we can.  The bad news is that the people of Plosaxen wish to have a huge parade and banquet in our honor.”

I moaned, “Not another ceremony!  Well, we’ll be here for a week.  Let’s make arrangements for the
TRITYTE
to be flown to the surface as a special exhibit for the citizens.

How soon is this parade and banquet thing taking place?” I asked in frustration.

“The parade is set for tomorrow and the banquet the next evening,” Kala said with a sympathetic smile, “and I already made arrangements for the
TRITYTE
to be put on display.  It should be on its way to the surface as we speak.  I even saw to it that the dummy solbidyum container you used to get aboard the
DUSTEN
was loaded into the cargo hold.”

“Kala, you’re a dear…and you’re brilliant.  What would I do without you?” I said.

“Well, as I’ve said before, Thibodaux James Renwalt, I suggest you never try to find out!” Kala scolded playfully.

Since the parade was planned for the next afternoon, I suggested to Kala that we perhaps do some clandestine sightseeing before the celebration with less chance of being recognized.  Kala laughed at this suggestion, insisting that there was no way we would go to the surface without being recognized, unless we were disguised.  Even so, it would still be hard for us not to be spotted, since we would be surrounded by fully armed and ready bodyguards.  I had forgotten about that provision.  I had decided some time earlier that, for the safety of all my personal staff, none of us were allowed to venture away from the estate property or off ship without a contingent of bodyguards.  “We can go,” she said, “but we are going to have to be accompanied by bodyguards, per your own protocols.”

“Well, at this point I don’t care,” I exclaimed.  “I just want to see what the other worlds are like.  I’m tired of only seeing the inside of ships or being restricted to my estate.  I want to see the people in the towns and explore the shops and learn how they live and work.”

Kala looked at me quizzically for a moment and then said,
“I have an idea.  Let me work on it a bit.  Maybe I can arrange something.”

Shortly after leaving Kala, I met with the FSO trainees.  “I have an assignment for you.  You will all be shipped down to Plosaxen
’s surface.  Your assignment is to seek out and gather any information you can about the Brotherhood; their current activities and their plans.  No morsel of information is considered too small or insignificant.  Also, to try and garner any information you can about the FOI agents and their office here, particularly any information that may indicate Brotherhood connections or involvements within the FOI agents and leadership.  Any information you may find indicative of Brotherhood or other subversive activity is to be reported immediately to Commander Wabussie.  If you don’t have anything to report, simply maintain your cover.  You will report back here by noon one week from today – sooner, if you have gleaned something time-sensitive.”  As I finished this statement my wrist com indicated I had a call.

“Tibby here,” I answered into the wrist com.

“Vice Admiral Tibby, this is Lieutenant Commander Goncest.  Admiral Regeny requests your presence in the Admiralty conference room.”

I
was growing to hate being addressed with the honorary military title.

I sighed, “Tell him I am on my way.”

The large conference room that I arranged for the Federation High Command as a temporary mobile command center was buzzing with activity when I arrived.  As I entered the room, Admiral Regeny pointed to the large view screen.  “As if it isn’t bad enough that we have to deal with the Brotherhood taking our ships, we now have to put up with this.”  On the screen a small crowd of protesters gathered outside some government building to carry signs and voice their disgust for the Federation.  On the signs were slogans like “Where is the solbidyum?”  “The Federation lies!” “Solbidyum is a government lie!” and “Do you know where your solbidyum is?”

“It looks like some things are the same all over the galaxy,” I said more to myself than to the admiral.

“This is not good,” said the admiral.  “I’m almost certain this is the work of the Brotherhood for the purpose of getting the citizens roused and sympathetic to their cause.  We need to diffuse this situation quickly, before it gains enough momentum to be effective.”

“Just a few more days and the solbidyum reactor will be installed and operating here,” I said.  “I
 suggest that, rather than broadcasting that we’re here to deliver the solbidyum, we say we’ve come to make security preparations for its delivery and installation.  Announce that the delivery will take place in a few weeks.  That way they will be looking for a delivery after everything is already in place.  It will also draw attention away from us.  If we can convince the Brotherhood and others that we’re currently traveling to planets in preparation for
later
delivery of solbidyum, it should make our job easier.”

“That sounds like a good idea, Tibby.  I’ll see to preparing a news release that communicates a statement of that nature.  I also want it known that I am touring each sector to meet with their captains and vice admirals.  That should put the Brotherhood on alert and make their members nervous.  This evening I’m going to the
URANGA
to meet with a number of the officers stationed in this sector; I think we should make some sort of news release about that, as well.”

Kala and I were in the lounge that evening to enjoy performances by A’Lappe and Kerabac, when alarms suddenly sounded throughout the ship, alerting everyone to man their stations.  Captain Stonbersa’s voice came across the public address system.  “We have just received reports of an explosion on the
URANGA. 
We’ve been informed that the admiral was injured, though not seriously, and that several casualties and injuries have occurred among the crew.  As added security for the
NEW ORLEANS
, the RMFF is has been activated; no one can enter or depart the ship until further notice.  Weapon systems are activated – repeat – weapon systems are activated.  The
NEW ORLEANS
is moving to provide support to the
URANGA
.  Our estimated arrival time is approximately fifteen minutes.”

During Stonbersa’s broadcast, the alarm on my wrist com went off, indicating an urgent message that the captain was requesting my presence on the bridge.  I noted Kerabac and A’Lappe also moving in that direction.

“Do you think it was an attack?” asked Kala as we moved rapidly toward the bridge.

“It’s highly probable.  If the admiral was injured in the blast, it must have detonated very near to him; and I don’t think he would have had any reason to be near any areas of the ship likely to have an accidental explosion.  So yes, it was most likely an attack.”  Just then we arrived at the bridge.  Captain Stonbersa addressed me immediately.

“Tibby, I took the liberty of moving the
NEW OREANS
in the direction of the
URANGA
to provide assistance and protection.  I assumed that’s what you would have wanted.”

“Definitely, Captain.  You know you have full authority to run the ship as you see fit.  You have my full support.  I don’t expect you to ask for direction before acting in situations like this.  You did the right thing.  Have we received any more reports or communication from the
URANGA?”

“We just heard that one of the admiral’s aides was killed in the blast, as well as one senior officer
. 
It is believed that a bomb was smuggled onboard by a Brotherhood crewmember that had been discharged from the service a week earlier.  Somehow he still managed to sneak onboard.  He was probably not flagged as a threat by anyone who may have seen him, as his face would have been a familiar sight and his discharge from the service may not have been widely known yet.  Video surveillance shows him boarding the ship about 10 hours before the arrival of the admiral.  There is no evidence of him leaving the ship; so it’s believed that he is still aboard, perhaps planning further attacks.”

Marranalis
stood behind the captain, looking over data as it flowed across the screens of his console.

“Do we have contact with the admiral at the moment?” I asked.

“Yes, sir, we do,” responded Marranalis.

“Good, I wish to speak to him immediately.”  There was a brief pause while Marranalis made some adjustments to control panel before him.  Suddenly the admiral’s image appeared on the screen.  There was a nasty looking bruise on his forehead and his uniform was torn.

“Admiral Regeny,” he said.

“Admiral, we received word of the incident and we’re
en route to provide any assistance we can.  I understand that the suspected bomber is believed to still be aboard.  I recommend that you allow our Special Ops unit to handle the situation and to pull back the ship’s troopers and crew into a supportive backup position.  This is the kind of thing we‘ve been training for.”

“I agree, Tibby, I’ll give an order to the captain to allow your teams to board.  How soon will you be here?”

“We’re arriving now,” I said.  I could see the
URANGA
on the screen as Stonbersa assumed a strategic position adjacent to the star ship.

“Tibby, I
’m also instructing the captain that you will be taking charge of counteroffensive operations and that he is to follow your recommendations.  You seem to have a better head for these situations than we do.”

“Well, the first thing I want to see is a defensive ring of patrol ships around the
URANGA. 
I don’t see any at the moment.”  I saw the admiral turn his head from the screen and bark an order to someone out of view.  While he was doing that I said to Marranalis, “Get your team assembled and moving – full armor and weapons – have them in the hangar and loaded in 20 minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” he said, issuing orders via his wrist com as he left the bridge.

“A’Lappe,” I said turning to him next.  “Where do you think this man would most likely plant bombs on the
URANGA?”

“My guess would be in or near the admiral’s shuttle and at the bridge; but without access to the bridge he will most likely try to plant a bomb somewhere adjacent to the bridge.  This would be the most logical assumption, since he wants to kill the high ranking officers but not completely disable the ship.  The Brotherhood may be planning to carry out a broader attack on the
URANGA
,
if they can disable its defenses temporarily.”

“Hm, you may be right there.  Once Marranalis has his group aboard the
URANGA
,
I want the RMFF immediately reactivated.  Our presence may keep the
TECCION
from attacking, if they’re in the vicinity.”

“Admiral, are you still there?” I asked.

“Yes, still here… just listening to your plans.  They sound good.”

“Yeah, but I just realized something; tomorrow is when we are supposed to attend the parade.  If you and I don’t show, who knows how the Brotherhood will use that situation to their advantage.  On the other hand, if we show up as planned, it will prevent the Brotherhood from putting a negative spin on our absence and perhaps instill a sense of failure and impotence among their ranks in their attempted attack on you.  Of course, the parade also presents an opportunity for them to attack again.”

“You may have something there, Tibby, but do you think it wise that I leave while the bomber is still onboard?”

“Well, unless you plan to personally track him down while everyone else watches, I see no benefit to your staying there.”

“Good point.  What do you suggest?”

“First, if you’re not too badly injured, I suggest you and your officers get cleaned up and into fresh uniforms as soon as possible.  In the event you need to make an appearance on a news broadcast, you’ll want to appear relatively unscathed.  Any vids or images of you that are seen by the public – or by the Brotherhood, for that matter – should portray a sense of control and security, which is more important now than ever.  As soon as you’re ready, have someone bring you to the
NEW ORLEANS
in one of the patrol ships. 
Don’t
use your shuttle or any of the others; they’re all likely candidates for a booby trap and will have to undergo a thorough sweep.