Chapter 15
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After our arrival at the nearest portal station, we were swept back to SS5. The body of Evette Wallings was taken away for a complete forensics workup on her real identity. Her bio-signatures would be traced through every portal log possible. If she moved about in that manner, our investigators would have a good place to start.
A comm call came in from Gretchin. “Wow, gang, sorry to hear about your experience.”
I replied, “Why were we sent to pick her up?”
Gretchin hesitated and then said, “The real Dr. Wallings was found stuffed in a storage bin on the freighter where you picked her up. It appears we have a mole somewhere in our ranks. Aside from the three of us, there were only a handful of others who knew of the doctor’s transfer to the station.”
Joni said, “The assassin said she did it because the facility, and the scientists she killed, were working on a bio-weapon to be used against the Free Alliance. What exactly are they, or were they, making at that station?”
Gretchin sighed. “I hope you are not buying into her propaganda speak, Miss Salton. That facility was indeed working on a bio-weapon. Only, they were working on the cure for it. The Free Alliance has used a deadly virus in a number of attacks against New Alliance citizens. It has been primarily used for killing small groups of researchers working on important projects for us. Many of those killed were innocent workers at those facilities.”
Joni said, “If there have been attacks like this, then why haven’t we heard anything about them?”
“Small, targeted assassinations are not something you want to advertise, Miss Salton. Not only would it weaken the government in the eyes of the people, but there could easily be panic and unnecessary anger and fear among the populace. We are attempting to focus our efforts on the war that is under way in the Andromeda galaxy. Distractions such as that would only work to undermine our focus.”
Joni glanced over at me. “I don’t think we give the people enough credit, Gretchin. If they knew about the war, they would not tolerate this Free Alliance uprising nonsense. The stakes at risk here are huge for everyone.”
Gretchin nodded over the video of the comm channel. “The stakes are indeed high. Our intelligence and research tell us that the way we have chosen is the best avenue for us. It causes the least disruption in the daily lives of most of our people. That productive, happy population is what makes the wheels of the New Alliance turn, and it’s that which will feed our efforts to stop the invasion taking place in Andromeda.
“The fact that you captured her at all is another feather in your caps. These assassins usually go out with a bang, if you know what I mean. They don’t like to be questioned.”
“I don’t know; this one didn’t seem to have an issue with telling us what she thought. I think she would have spilled her guts when we got her back here. Doesn’t matter much now, though. How long has this Free Alliance scourge been around?”
Gretchin’s image fidgeted on the screen. “They have been around since just after the collapse of the AMP. They have only gotten bold with their methods in the past year. When the AMP fell apart, there were winners and losers. These people were no doubt some of the losers and are very bitter about it.”
I replied, “They seem a little more than bitter. Two attacks on SS5 have shown they are quite serious about what they want.”
Gretchin offered a rare scowl. “They want to disrupt our war efforts. Some say they are allied with the externals we are fighting in Andromeda. Our research says they are just taking advantage of our focus being elsewhere.”
Joni said, “One thing I don’t get. There is no reporting on these incidents. That bombing at the portal station—I saw how it is being written off as a methane explosion due to some garbage that was being improperly stowed on the floor below. Eighteen people died in that. I would think the people have the right to know.”
Gretchin laughed. “Oh, Miss Salton. You have yet to gain a full understanding of the world around you. Order is not kept by throwing the people into a panic. You may want to know all, but that does not mean that it is best that you know all. What would happen if we released this as a bomb attack? People would stop traveling at other portals as well, the economies would falter further, jobs would be lost, and more people would fall into poverty.
“That is precisely the environment that the Free Alliance wants to work from. If you take a people, take their livelihoods, take their dreams, and leave them with no hope for a better future, therein you will find the seeds of revolution. Your family is trying to keep the New Alliance together, where everyone can prosper. And that, honey, is no easy task.”
I raised my hand. “I realize we just got back. Do we have more tasks scheduled? If things are in as bad a shape as they appear to be, I would think it most useful to keep us in the field and working.”
Gretchin smiled. “I'm glad you asked. You will be taking the Daunte out to the new shipyards in the Theta sector for a few upgrades. Your little ship is to get all-new shielding and, for the first time, a complete set of offensive weapons.”
“Offensive weapons. Is there a need for those?”
Gretchin nodded. “You yourself were witness to a successful raid against an antiquated destroyer. When a dozen small ships can overpower a ship of that size, it should tell you that there are hostiles out there with the ability to do the same to the Daunte, only it would not take ten such vessels for that venture. Miss Salton’s father has decided it is in the family’s best interest to protect and arm the ship that carries one of their family members. You will not be getting sent into a fight, but you will be able to offer one should you have no other choice.”
I shook my head. “While I see the merits, I don’t know that I will be comfortable piloting a military vessel.”
Gretchin laughed. “Mr. Beutcher, I have no doubt that you will find yourself very comfortable should the need to make use of your new shields and weapons arise. Once they are installed, you will be properly trained in their use before being sent back out. While the ship is being outfitted, you will begin your training in a simulation environment.”
Joni winced. “Ugh, simulators again. I spent too many months in those things already.”
Gretchin smiled. “I can assure you, Miss Salton, this experience will be much different than the last. Flying a simulated run while you are being fired upon by a hostile ship will be much different than chasing an unarmed inspection runner. Mr. Beutcher, should you fail the qualifications at the end of the training regimen, you will be returned to your prior post and asked to retire on a partial pension. A pension that would be subject to your continued silence about the organization.
“Miss Salton, should you fail to qualify, your father has stated that you will be pulled from the inspection service and forced to return home. You see, your new assignment comes with every incentive for you to succeed. I am sure you will both do well regardless; you are on my team, after all.”
Gretchin forwarded instructions for our assignment as she closed the comm. Joni sat back in her chair with an uneasy expression on her face.
I said, “While I'm not fond of the initial thought of an armed ship for a detective, I do have to say I agree with their reasoning. We'll just have to do our best to not rocket into every assignment with our guns blazing.”
Joni shook her head as she offered a mild laugh. “I guess. I just see this as one more step toward escalating the violence in this sector. Are they going to arm all the detective ships? Will we suddenly be the political enforcers for anyone who sympathizes with the Free Alliance? I just see this as an indication that things are getting worse and not better.”
I raised portal transfer on the comm. We soon found ourselves being swept through several portals before stopping just outside SS22 and the new Theta shipyard. As instructed, we proceeded to a docking bay and made our way to a section of the shipyard that would be our home for the next month. After stowing our gear, we m
ade our way to the local lounge.
A waitress came to our table.
“The lady will have a Human beer, and I will have a Trellion freeze.”
Joni said, “OK, first of all, we don’t call it a Human beer, we just call it a beer. And a freeze? What’s up with that? Seems kind of froufrou for a Grunta. I would have expected a hard liquor for someone who looks so big and tough.”
“Grunta like our foods spicy and our drinks either hot, such as our coffee, or frozen, such as what I ordered. I don’t see how that is an affront to my masculinity.”
Joni laughed as a pink freeze showed up with a paper umbrella. “If you think that is a masculine drink, then I don’t know Grunta very well.”
I removed the umbrella and turned up the large, frozen concoction, emptying my glass in two swallows.
Joni raised her eyebrows. “How do you not get brain freeze from that?”
“Brain freeze? I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Joni shook her head. “Well, I guess if you can guzzle them like that, no one is going to accuse you of being effeminate. Your manliness is secure.”
After several hours in the lounge, we each returned to our quarters for a night’s rest. As with all nonplanet establishments, day and night schedules were maintained on a twenty-four-hour standard Earth time. Universal time, as it was called, was synchronized through all five galaxies.
In the morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee. We next made our way to the simulator room, where a Navy captain was waiting to give us training.
The captain said, “The accommodation for your dog is a first, Miss Salton. We don’t see animals out here on the base unless they're on a plate and smothered with gravy.”
Joni looked down at Raptor. “He won’t leave my side, Captain. And you put gravy on him, and he’s either going to eat your face or be your friend for life. I couldn’t say which he would choose.”
The captain laughed. “He looks like he might be a little tough to chew anyway.”
The trainer looked up at the rest of the class. “I see we have eight of you in this month’s course. Good. I’ll be splitting you into teams of two for the first week. You'll be held responsible for the success of your teammate. Yell at them, scream at them, beat them about the head, within reason of course, just do whatever it takes to get them to remember the day’s lessons. In a week, we'll switch teams and go through the same lessons again. At week three, for those who pass the initial qualifiers, you'll move on to the individual training.”
I looked around the room and raised my hand. “Captain, my partner and I are detectives; are any others here of that profession?”
The other trainees chuckled as the captain leaned forward on his desk. “You two are a special project. If you noticed, using your detective powers of observation, the others in this room are all in uniform. This is a military training facility, Mr. Beutcher. These men and women are military officers and pilots, captains waiting on their first ships. When their training is complete, they'll be flying their new vessels through a portal gate to the Andromeda galaxy.”
Joni said, “We have a gate large enough to send a fighting ship through to Andromeda?”
The captain looked directly at Joni. “I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of such a gate, Miss Salton.”
“You just stated they would be going through a portal gate.”
The captain winked. “You're a quick one, Miss Salton. I can see I will have trouble getting anything past you in this training.”
The other trainees again chuckled.
I stood and looked around the roomful of Humans that I towered over. “Captain, all we ask of you during this effort is we be treated with respect and allowed to train as the others. Our fight and efforts here at home are as important as those out in Andromeda.”
Two of the trainees swapped comments under their breath.
I continued, “Over the last few months, Miss Salton and I have been witness to the destruction of a destroyer and the capture of a freighter loaded with cesium by the Free Alliance. It was my partner and I who freed the 128 crewmen of the destroyer who had been taken prisoner and who were destined for some distant slave auction. It was my partner and I who were witness to the terrorist bombing of the portal gate on SS5. It was my partner and I who, just last week, risked our lives to capture an assassin who had just killed two of our scientists.”
I looked around the room. “I believe the two of us have seen more live combat than the others in this room.”
I glanced down at the man sitting next to me. “Have you ever taken a life? Fired at a live, breathing target that was shooting back at you?”
The man sat silent.
“I didn’t think so.”
I turned back to face the trainer. “Captain, I would urge you to add a course in humility and respect to your list of things to be taught during our stay. You send these men out there with arrogant attitudes, and you're sending them to their early deaths. And when they die, they will take all the crewmen under their command with them, along with anyone else on their vessel.”
The room was silent for several seconds before the captain sighed and raised his hand. “You have my apologies, Mr. Beutcher. You and your partner both. We pilots do have a tendency to be cocky and arrogant. It has been found that officers with those traits coming into training make the best pilots. It has also been found that those who learn humility and respect for others are far better leaders of men. So, if you're agreeable to it, I would like to do a reset with this class and begin anew.”
I nodded. Joni grinned as I sat.
The first week of coursework went by quickly. There were no squabbles, no divisive or critical remarks about others. My speech on the first day had gained the common respect that I had sought out from the others. The captain who had been assigned as my partner was a hard worker and convicted in his desire to learn all that he could. He was also one of the officers who had been snickering about our being detectives.
As the first week ended, he held out his hand for a shake. “I apologize, Mr. Beutcher. All that at the start of class—it was arrogant, I was arrogant. This is the first time I've had to work directly with a non-Human. I thought we were the only ones who were patriotic.
“The other species I have known have always had those little differences about them that made me think we were very different. What I've learned this week is it doesn’t matter if we are green or have six eyes. What matters is how we conduct ourselves in life. If I somehow manage to make it back from Andromeda, I would be honored to one day call you a friend.”
I took his small Human hand in my own and shook it. “Likewise, Captain Perkins. And for what it’s worth, I hope you all return from Andromeda. I’ll be needing someone to wax my ship when I’m in port.”
The captain stood silent for several seconds and then smiled. “Huh, all week long and not a joke out of you, and then bam, you take me down a notch. Who knew Gruntas had such a sense of humor?”
The instructor stood before the others. “This is the first class where all trainees passed the qualifier after the first week. We have moved more than sixteen thousand pilots through here in the last four years. You should be happy with your progress. And Mr. Beutcher, I want to thank you for that motivational speech on the first day. I will be using parts of that to inspire future trainees.”
I nodded as the instructor continued, “Mr. Beutcher, I understand you and your partner are a team on a single ship; your remaining training will be conducted as a team effort. You will be staying here with me. The rest of you will move on to begin work with your individual instructors. Best of luck to all of you, and remember, everything you learn here can and will be used out there, so do your best to grind it into your skulls. You're going to need it.”
As the others left, I said, “You really need to work on your inspirational speeches, Captain. They are much more likely to retain these lessons if you send them out of here cha
rged up, rather than with a warning.”
The captain nodded. “Duly noted, Mr. Beutcher. After your speech, I went back and took a look at your record. Impressive, to say the least. I took the liberty to put in a request to the Admiralty that you be evaluated to be an instructor here. Captain Perkins has been telling me all week how easy you made things to learn. He was blown away by your simplistic and yet effective organizational as well as communication skills. Those are the marks of a great instructor.”
“I am humbled by those remarks, Captain, but there is much for me to do in the Alpha sector. And I have Miss Salton here to watch after. She has a tendency to get into trouble if left alone.”
The remark earned me a punch on the arm. “Don’t listen to him, Captain. I’m the one who has kept him from getting us either maimed or killed.”
The captain held up his hand. “I see we have a sort of rivalry going here, so let’s see if we can put that to use with a training course on a simulator. The simulator we'll be using has been modified with the same enhancements that are going into your ship. It should be ready for us in the morning. I took a look at the specs, and all I can say is wow. You will be flying a ship that could easily be on the front lines of the war.”
Joni replied, “I thought we were just getting updated shields and an ion cannon. What have you seen?”
The captain waved his hand. “Come on, let’s go take a look at her. She’s in Dock-77. It’s a short walk from here. Unless you had somewhere else to be?”
Joni shook her head. “We can eat later. I want to see her.”