At the Scheralt spaceport, Commander Saldicy and Goliath are meeting to discuss the fiasco that has resulted from the raid. Her temporary office is in the Medical Center frustrates Goliath because it allows little privacy with the constant updates by the commander’s staff. Much of what he wants to discuss he wants to do in private with not accidental witnesses.
Gleefully Goliath addresses commander Saldicy, “Trespassing, Kidnapping, destruction of spaceport properties. This raid is justification to bring in a battleship and discipline theses animals. We can take the factories and supplies by force. The natives have handed us a golden opportunity”
Commander Saldicy grimly lists errors in Goliath’s assessment, “There is no trespass. The treaty gives the Klarn the right to enter the spaceport at anytime. The Klarn own the property. We get its use but the Klarn bought it all, every piece of equipment, buildings and weapons. Unless the Klarn complain about the destruction of their property, there is no spaceport property destroyed.”
With a scowl replacing Goliath’s glee, “The kidnapping of innocents.” He grasps at the item the commander did not include in the explanation.
Commander Saldicy snorts at referring to the mercenaries as innocent. She earnestly clarifies, “Treaty breaches are tried by the Klarn. By the terms of the treaty, the Klarn have the right to capture and hold the accused that have violated Klarn laws. The only position we can take is the traders had permits to travel on the planet and have not violated any Klarn law. If the Klarn release the traders, we do not have even that weak cause. A battleship commander will want a very solid incident before he commits his ship.”
Goliath dismisses Commander Saldicy’s concerns, “Battleship commanders want promotions. The destruction of property has endangered lives and the kidnapping of innocents can be justification. I need to see what my PR team can do with it.”
Commander Saldicy believes Goliath is insane. Obtaining a battleship involves too many people and raises too many difficult questions. He is wrong about battleship commanders, not all commanders want promoted away from a position where they are the supreme authority.
Exasperated with Goliath’s scheming, Commander Saldicy patiently explains, “You do not understand how dire the situation is. The only power is in the Medical Center and that is a small emergency power plant. We are living on field rations. We cannot send a distress call. Additionally, the supply ship will not arrive for three long months. We have always used native foods to minimize the cost to supply the starport and the natives have stopped the food deliveries. There are not enough field rations to last until the supply ship arrives.
Pausing in her explanation, the commander questions Goliath, “That reminds me. When will your ship send a shuttle?”
“Not unless I request it. The captain is under strict orders not to interfere with me.” The commander’s news has shaken Goliath. He is realizing that he might be in trouble.
Commander maliciously points out, “You will be eating rations or helping gather native food with the rest of us. Unless the natives start deliveries, we will have to hunt and butcher animals ourselves. We will be out of drinking water before then. The water recycling plant is running in manual mode and cannot provide enough water. We are going to be dependent on the generosity of the Klarn before this is over.”
Goliath stubbornly insists, “If you want Xeres Corporation support for your promotion and transfer, find a solution. I want control of the shielding production.” As he leaves the commander, he does not bother to close her door.
The Commander considers her options; Xeres Corporation has the influence to help or harm her career. The mercenaries work for the corporation and the traders have an agreement with the corporation. The only people to tie her with the Xeres Corporation are Goliath, Mike, and maybe Marissa.
Goliath has changed their agreement. Saldicy was to destroy the production plant after recording the processes forcing the Klarn to use Xeres facility. Mike failed to get the process and now Goliath wants a battleship, which is not easily accomplished.
The only true justification for a battleship is complete destruction of the base and all personnel. If killing one Klarn generated a raid, would destroying the production complex generate a rampage by the Klarn? Would that be justification for the battleship?
“Lieutenant Dracon!” The commander bellows for her aide.
“Yes Sir” He hustles into the office and waits for orders.
“Check all the available weapons. I want an assessment of our capability to defend this base or destroy an armament hoard. First, have the maintenance chief and Lieutenant Rossinger report to me.” The commander wants to know if she has the capability to destroy the production. As part of that assessment, she needs the maintenance chief to start an investigation of the mass equipment failure.
The commander contemplates the possible actions of the natives. The Klarn can lodge a complaint to the commander of the supply ship and demand an inquiry or eject all spaceport personnel that also will generate in inquiry. Either will wreck her career even if the inquiry results in assessing her no fault.
If she does not comply with Goliath’s demands, what damage can Goliath do? Goliath and his aide are the only Xeres personnel that could damage her military career. They cannot communicate with their headquarters or their ship and the commander can control the communications when re-established. With a malicious grin, Commander Saldicy recalls Goliath’s threat that accidents are a hazard on unfamiliar planets. Feeling more in control, Commander Saldicy implements a few contingency plans using her position of military commander of the spaceport and knowing the military personnel will not question their orders.
The Commander’s aide knocks smartly and waits. Saldicy acknowledges, “Enter. What is now wrong?”
“The trader, Marissa, escaped confinement last night. The guards found her medical wristband discarded near the recreation center. Do you want to divert troops to search the base?”
“No. If she is on the base hunger and thirst will bring her to us.” Sighing as she dismisses the aide. The Commander believes the Klarn have Marissa making their raid a complete success. It is galling that non-military, untrained natives have wrecked her command. The shielding failed. Either the magnetic storm overwhelmed the shields or it was sabotage. The traders did not have the time; the natives avoid the base, which leaves Xeres.
When Lieutenant Rossinger arrives, the commander orders him, “Assign security to watch all Xeres personnel. Then, set up a review of all security recordings. I want a complete investigation of the movements of the Xeres personnel from the time they arrived on Scheralt.” Commander Saldicy is afraid that Goliath will use any means to get his results. Creating an incident to justify a battleship is a distinct possibility. She has been too lax in not watching the ambitious Xeres Representative closer. The man’s self-important arrogance is making him blind to reality. Sending in mercenaries and killing natives may work on other worlds but the commander is afraid that it will not work on Scheralt. She read one of the sealed reports that mentioned the native’s successful revolt.