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The Meeting - Part Twelve
Taking Sides
22.03.2268. 1033 GMT
Saltlake Naval Base
L5 point in Earth orbit
Ted Allbright hefted his kit over his shoulder and
walked the last few steps from the docking ramp into the main airlock that
joined Saltlake Base to the CNV 534 Redoubt. The Universal Docking
Collar and main UDC shaft at the core of the corvette was immense. The absence
of gravity, once he entered it, made it feel that much bigger to Allbright. He
drifted to one of the nearest handholds, and waited while a member of the
ship's crew drifted by, skilfully manipulating a large supply crate into the
shaft. He had to remind himself that these people were now his crewmates. He
watched for a moment, trying to get his bearings in a new up-down environment.
The majority of the navy crew were still on leave. The boarding call wouldn't
come for another day or so, but Ted wanted to get aboard and start getting
familiar with the ship as soon as possible. He also didn't have any other place
to go, he knew he had a cabin assignment, and he wanted a bed and a shower
badly. He noticed the flow of people in the shaft and saw a navy crewman and a
few station dock personnel head for the same airlock off the UDC core shaft.
The navy crewman started to shout at one of the station personnel, pointing at
one of his two rather oversized kitbags, barking something unintelligible. Allbright
looked more closely to see that the crewman was, in fact, his new boss: the new
Chief Engineer to be precise. Lieutenant Commander Skarsgaard was telling the
station dock personnel something about his baggage that had him very upset. A
marine on guard duty on by the opposing hatch was starting to take interest in
the commotion and spoke into a collar comm. pickup. Skarsgaard seemed satisfied
that his point was made about the bags, and they were both now in his charge as
he guided them through the hatch into one of the accommodation modules. The
station personnel left him to carry the baggage alone, returning to the UDC
main hatch with looks that told Ted that their low opinion of Naval officers
had just been confirmed. At least now Allbright knew reasonably clearly which
side would be the port accommodation module, and ultimately his destination.
This
was his second time aboard a naval corvette, and he still found it a remarkable
study in contrasts from his days aboard a Puffin-class tug. The NSO-929
corvettes, first tested in 2155, weren't as old as the Puffins were, but they'd
already proven themselves as the most successful medium sized military vessel
in active service. They had become the standard workhorses of the Commonwealth
Navy fleet. Some of the spaces in this ship, like this central UDC core shaft,
were very large, as they were designed to accommodate big pieces of machinery,
spare ship parts, large supply crates, even ground vehicles at times. Other
parts of the ship were downright cramped. From the manuals he was studying, and
from what he recalled of the Idzumo Maru that had rescued him, there
were just as many spaces deeper inside this vessel that would seem surprisingly
small. He hadn't had much of a chance to look around the corvette that had
rescued him, so he was looking forward to exploring the Redoubt.
He made a mental note of the
hatch leading to the port accommodation module, clipped his kit to a support
rung nearby, and nudged himself so that he would drift deeper in the shaft
toward the hatches for the lower decks and the airlock at the opposite end of
the UDC core shaft. As an experienced spacer, he had little problem judging
direction and speed when he kicked off, allowing him to easily grasp a handhold
next to a hatch leading to one of the lower saucer aft deck passages. This was
the upper of two decks contained in the lower section of the ship. He oriented
himself to the correct vertical, and opened the airlock that would place him on
one of the engineering decks of the corvette. He swung himself into the opening
after the hatch opened, and a moment later he felt the effects of the
artificial gravity field draw him through the transitional space inside the lock.
He alighted as if he'd stepped down from a normal sized step.
The
corridor that opened before him was narrow and short. It ended at a small set
of steps that were closer to a ladder than a staircase, leading down almost two
meters. He bent down to see that it continued for a few metres only to end at
another set of equally steep steps back up to his level. This must be one of
the many detours the crawlspace passages had to make around the immense
machinery that powered and drove the ship. He remembered the location of the
main Capsule drive, from his crash course briefing documents, most of which he
had yet to read, and realized he was looking at a part of it. The Capsule drive
on this type of vessel was a ring-shaped assembly, situated in the lower saucer
section of the corvette's hull, inside the diameter of the collider ring.
If he continued aft along that passageway, he'd come
to the control room for the main injector for the collider ring, the main
fusion reactor, and the smaller crawlspace passages that provided limited
access to the premix chambers and plasma drive units. He would have time to
explore some of those areas later. In fact, he'd be expected to make periodic
trips to make checks in the small local control room back there once they got under
weigh. He was also going to have to visit the Collider Ring Accelerator Coils
control room in the forward parts of this level, as well. This would be where
members of his team monitor the 36 accelerator cells. He'd been pretty familiar
with the duties of a 'C.R.A.C.' team, back when he worked on a Puffin-class tug
and the layout couldn't be that much different on this ship. He was grateful
that he wouldn't have to spend much time visiting the incredibly noisy
Accumulators Monitoring Station. That was someone else's job. In fact, he was
grateful that visits to these control and monitoring areas in the lower section
would only be periodic. Most of his duties would be handled from the comfort of
one of the Engineering control workstations in the port accommodation module.
After a quick look around, he decided to head to the pastie that would be home
for the next few weeks, and start getting familiar with his workstation.
A
shout from a marine guard posted in the main UDC shaft drew his attention. He
turned to look back up the shaft at the commotion, only to realize that the
marine was shouting at him. The noise level in the shaft made it
difficult to hear what was being said, but it was clear the very large, very
burly, and very bald marine was protesting Allbright's explorations, and
telling him to come out of there. Allbright exited the lower passage and moved
back into the main UDC shaft, keying the passageway hatch closed behind him. He
would do some more exploring later. Right now, he'd better face this marine's
challenge before an unfortunate misunderstanding occurred.
A
gentle kick sent him on a perfect trajectory back to his clipped kitbag. The
marine guard made an even more skilful interception, arriving at the same
handhold rung at the same time as Ted, but at a much faster speed. The marine
wasn't just a burly fellow. Once Allbright got up close to him, he could see
that this marine was better described as a muscular giant. All the marines he'd
seen fit that description. Ted decided there and then that the rumours he'd
heard about marines ingesting a steady diet of enhancing drugs was probably
true. He also noticed that they were all completely hairless, males and females
alike. He'd heard that this was an effect of the drug supplements they took, but
also had to do with how their combat armour was supposed to fit, or something
like that.
Ted put on his best 'Don't-mess-with-me' face for the
marine. This fellow was enormous, but Ted had been beaten up by the biggest and
the best during his years as a barfly. A single marine wasn't enough to make an
old spacer like Allbright lose his nerve. Ted stared back as he was confronted
by the calm almost bored-looking visage that inspected him as if he were just
another kit bag. The marine Corporal's eyes darted quickly over the name on
Ted's chest. Those same eyes seemed almost soulless as they snapped back to
hold his gaze in a most disturbing and unwavering manner.
"Lieutenant
Allbright. You're the ship's Assistant Chief Engineer, aren't you?" The guard
asked in a non-querying tone, as if he were reading information from a database
scrolling by behind his eyes. Before Ted could begin to reply, the guard
continued. "Sir, what was your business entering the lower saucer section
hatch, please?" The addition of the polite phrasing was not meant as a nicety.
"Corporal.ah,
Vecchio, is it?" Allbright read the nametag, and did his best to sound
condescending, as if speaking to a child touring a naval corvette at some
exhibition. "I'm the new Assistant Chief, which means I'm the guy who runs one
of the four main Engineering repair teams. I oversee a lot of the engineering
systems on this vessel. This means that I get to go wherever I feel like going;
on whatever level I feel like going, do you understand me? The only people I
have to answer to on this corvette are my direct superior, Lieutenant Commander
Skarsgaard, and his boss, Captain Ferris."
Vecchio
continued to look at him impassively, silent for a moment, as if he were
processing information and considering response options. Ted became all too
aware that the man could probably reach out and snap him in two with one hand.
He wondered if that were one of the options the marine was considering. Instead
the marine simply said. "Until the Redoubt is under weigh, we are to act
as ship security during loading. I was performing my duty. Please remember that
the starboard accommodation module is strictly off limits to you, and all other
members of the ship's crew. You will not be reminded again."
Never having been very good at showing restraint, or
when to shut up, Ted poked a crooked finger into the remarkably solid chest of
the Corporal. "Allow me to remind you of something, Corporal. You and your
marine buddies are guests on board the Redoubt. In fact, a better
description would be cargo. I'm a member of the crew, which means this
is our ship. Confine yourself to your accommodation module, and let the
rest of us go about our work." It felt good for Ted to start thinking of the Redoubt
as his ship. "And that means wherever we are required to go, including
your accommodation module."
"What's going on here, gentlemen?" said a new voice. Allbright
hadn't heard anyone approach, so he spun around to see Captain Ferris drifting
nearby, gripping a handhold, looking mildly annoyed.
"Lieutenant Allbright, new assistant to the Chief,
reporting for boarding, Captain." Allbright said with what he thought was a
good imitation of navy snap. "This bald sack o'shit, here, was just informing crewmembers
where they could and could not go. He seems to have forgotten the difference
between crew and cargo."
Ferris just stared at Allbright for a moment, then
turned his attention at the immobile marine Corporal. "Thank you, Corporal.
I'll handle this."
Vecchio continued to hold his position for a moment,
and looked off to the side, as if he were considering more options. Then he
released the handhold and said to Allbright, "Please take your gear and proceed
immediately to the port accommodation module. The starboard accommodation
module is classified, and off limits to all unauthorized personnel. Sir."
Without waiting for Ted to
reply, the marine simply pushed off the handhold, and twisted expertly as he
vaulted back to his guard station outside the starboard accommodation module
hatch. Ted watched the marine surreptitiously re-holster his sidearm as he
crossed the main UDC shaft. He hadn't been aware of the fact that the weapon
was there at all, let alone the fact that it had been drawn.
Ferris turned back to glare
at Allbright again. "You're not exactly Navy, are you Allbright?"
"Uh, no sir. I'm newly
commissioned. I've been given the rank of acting Lieutenant, though, as a kind
of specialist. I've been given to understand that it gives me all the privilege
due a real Lieutenant. That marine was."
"Not on my ship it doesn't,
Mr. Allbright." Ferris said firmly. "This isn't some game you can come and play
for awhile. I don't know who's lap dog you are, or why you're on this mission,
but you had better watch your step, because I sure as shit will be." He crooked
his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the marine. "Corporal Vecchio
was following his orders to guard the ship while we prepare for launch. I hope
you know how to take orders, and how to give them with the same kind of respect
and professionalism he just showed. As the new Assistant to the Chief, you'd
better know this ship inside and out. You screw this up, even once, and I'll
find you something nice and harmless to keep you busy in the toilet-cleaning
department. The only thing I want to see or hear of you again, is uncommon
praise for outstanding performance, do you get me?"
"Loud and clear, Captain." Allbright
said, meeting Ferris stare for stare.
"Well? You are dismissed! Do
you even know how to salute? Or when?"
"Yes, sir.I mean, Aye,
Captain." Allbright stumbled as he saluted. "Permission to continue my
orientation, sir."
"Permission granted. And if
you can't keep your mouth in check around those very lethal guests of ours,
stay clear of them entirely. Now get!"
Allbright unhooked
his gear and walked hand-over-hand the short distance to the open hatch of the
port accommodation module. It wasn't exactly the beginning he'd hoped for, but
at least he could now say that he'd met the Captain. He wasn't sure why, but he
had just decided that he liked this Captain Ferris. In a sense, Allbright had
just taken sides with a man who had chewed him out on their first meeting.
Crossing the short airlock passage into the pastie reminded him just how cold
these sections could get. He flashed his ID tag to the auto-monitor at the
accommodation module entrance, and drifted to the floor with an expert step, as
he crossed the artificial gravity transition zone. He felt the weight of his
bag again, filled with navy issue stuff he hadn't even had much time to
inspect. Heat from a vent blasted down on him from the inner hatch, as he
strode into the main corridor of the port pastie.
Home
sweet home. He saw a couple of crewmembers busily stowing crates and gear,
moving them deeper into the accommodation module down its main central
corridor, and rounding the corner to the left. That must be where the galley
was. To the right would be the infirmary and medical lab, if he remembered the
layout correctly from his brief stay on the Idzumo Maru. The corridor in
which he stood was wide, reminding him of the halls from his boyhood school, or
that detox hospital corridor he stumbled down one time when he was so sick with
the shakes. A quick glance behind him confirmed his recollection of the last
module like this he was in: the hatch through which he had just come was
actually a hatch within a much
larger boarding ramp-type hatch. He started walking down the hall, away from
the main hatch and the equipment storage area, toward the control workstations
of the accommodation module. The space was roomier than he would have expected,
but it was already starting to feel a little cramped because of the cargo
stores being stowed. He remembered that this time out, they were accommodating
more in this module than they normally would, so things would be cozy for the
next few weeks.
Directly ahead, behind that closed door, were the
engineering workstations, one of which would be his. Beyond that, behind yet
another set of doors, would be the cockpit. He had yet to visit the command and
navigational controls for the independent space flight operations of an
accommodation module. He was eager to get a look at the view from the cockpit;
to see the stars and the infinite depth of space. It was something he missed
since he had lost the Cupcake. In fact, it was the only thing he missed
about the Cupcake.
As he
walked in that direction, he noticed doorways opening into the officers' suites
off the main corridor. He automatically started to envy and resent the lucky
sons-of-bitches who got to stay in those, until he remembered that he was one
of those lucky sons-of-bitches now. The rank and title he held still took some
getting used to. He checked his printed orders again, and looked more carefully
at the numbers on the doors. His cabin was not in this corridor, but off the
galley corridor down to the left, so he headed there to stow his bag and get
cleaned up.
He found the cabin number on his right. It took him a
moment to work out that his room was on the aft side of that corridor. He
wanted to personally thank whoever had invented artificial gravity, which
effectively negated all those up/down, fore/aft orientation concerns. He was
still trying to remember the name of that long-dead scientist when he keyed
open his door. Her name would come to him eventually, and he'd say a silent
prayer for her when it did. In the meantime, he had new quarters to inspect.
The hatch had opened silently to the side to reveal a comfortable looking cabin
with a couple of bunks. Not bad. Not bad at all, he thought.
After
a quick shower and change of clothes, he eagerly headed to his workstation,
just behind the module's flight control room. Allbright opened the doors to
the Engineering control area and looked at the four identical Engineering
workstations that took up the majority of this area, two apiece on either side.
Each station was a complex array of consoles and displays, mostly silent for
the moment. Looking at them served as a reminder to Ted of just how much catch
up reading he had to do in the next day or so.
One workstation was already occupied. Sintillo, whose
name was written on a piece of adhesive tape on the back of his powered
anti-inertia chair, turned and nodded to him, then returned his attention to
the controls. Allbright realized the other three stations had similarly
labelled strips of tape: one each for Taft, Coren, and his own. Time to sit
down and get to work brushing up.
As usual, someone had spelled his name wrong.
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