Chapter 33 Sanre-tay Days 19 – 26 – The Charter to Zilantre
01
The gangway may have swung and creaked a bit when I slipped the gig to the dock's capture clamp. I was in too much of a hurry to care. This time.
'You're back early,' said Vynnia who'd stepped out of the bridge and was watching as I swung onto the bridge deck. 'Something wrong?'
'No,' I said absently, adding as I stepped into my office. 'I need to do some work.'
Which made no sense, but my mind was racing. Leafa had passed along some gossip she'd just heard from a client. A gift of the Neb, if true. But I needed more than a rumor told by a companion, to act. I had to work it out...
An hour later I stepped on to the bridge and said, 'Would you please call up the Myzar Drift chart that contains the drift planet Zilantre? I asked Vynnia, as Riv wandered in dressed in pajamas and slippers.
'What's the blasted fire drill for, Wil. I'm supposed to be fueling this packet tomorrow. I need my sleep.'
'Never mind. We'll cancel it,' I replied, as the others I'd signaled – Rafe, Tenry, and Illy hurried in, looking at me with some concern. 'I think I've some good news, a hot tip on a cargo and I want a charter proposal in hand by tomorrow morning. Vyn, have you found the drift planet Zilantre?'
'You've found a cargo, Willy!' exclaimed a shocked Rafe.
'Well, my friend, Leafa may've and she very kindly tipped me off.'
'Your companion? I've been beaten by a companion!' wailed Rafe. 'Just shove me out the air lock now...'
'Later Rafe,' I said absently. I turned to the rest. 'As you probably know I'd a date with Leafa this evening. Knowing that we'd been looking for an outbound cargo she told me right off that she'd just heard a rumor, a very solid rumor, of a rush cargo for Zilantre and wondered if I was interested. I told her in no uncertain terms I was. She wouldn't reveal the source of the rumor, but from the amount of detail she provided, it had to be one of her earlier clients who's directly involved, so it's likely only hours old. Ah, there's Zilantre which is, according to MoTan's Drift World Guide, a full sized drift world, commercially developed as a gateway world to that sector of the Myzar Drift.'
'Fully terraformed, with three small ignited moons. Non-Unity Standard, but with a large Chartered Trading Company presence with the Patrol policing its approaches. It's a major supply port for a wide swath of the Myzar and fringe Inner Drifts,' added Vynnia scanning the planet's chart entry.
'Right. Leafa said that things have gotten rather hot deeper in the Myzar – some sort of organized raiding or a drift war brewing between the various drift powers and Chartered Trading Companies. Raids on mines and mineral refineries have become commonplace. The companies affected have responded by placing orders for additional guard ships and patrol frigates,' I began. 'I've spent the last hour verifying this information from shipping and mining reports and it all checks out.
'Now, according to Leafa, two sales agents of the Isleta Interstellar Boatbuilders, based on two different planets in the Aticor system, both sold the same four Centurion Sentinel V guard boats available in the Aticor system, to a different mining concern for delivery to Zilantre. The sales contracts were signed only hours apart as were the purchase orders. And just to make it interesting, the first contract signed was the second to file the purchase order. Of course when this was discovered, a day later when the radio-packets arrived at Isleta's Aticor headquarters, there was a bit of panic, but they realized that the home office and shipyards, which happens to be here on Lontria, had just finished shaking down a series of six newly built Centurion Sentinel Vs, and the delivery window – 190 days – would allow these boats to be shipped from Sanre-tay to Zilantre just within the delivery window.
'At least that's what Aticor Sales thought, and let the contract cancel dates pass while sending the order for the extra four ships on to the home office, blithely unaware of the effects our trade melt down was having on interstellar shipping schedules. Leafa said the order radio-packet arrived today, three days after the departure of the Tri-System Interstellar cargo liner Zephyr – the line that Isleta usually ships with. The next Tri-System ship is not due to arrive for another month, and even if it sails within a week or so of arrival – which is unlikely – it would only get the boats to Aticor in about 165 days from now and it's still a fifty to sixty-day passage from Aticor to Zilantre pushing out the best delivery time to over 215 days, assuming a quick turnaround time in LaTrina transferring the boats to a Zilantre freighter. There are five scheduled liners leaving within the next 30 days bound for the Aticor system, but only one sailing for LaTrina, and it's smaller and slower than the Tri-System ships, so they're unlikely to trim too many days off that delivery time. Isleta doesn't want to lose the sale or their customers by scaling back the orders, nor do they want to lose their profit with the failure to deliver penalties. You can see the potential in this for us. I'm pretty sure we can deliver these four boats directly to Zilantre within the 170 days we'd likely have if we push it. But we must act fast to make that date and head off any competitor...
'But can we carry them?' asked Riv.
'Well, I'm working with the dimensions of the Centurion Sentinel V itself, 44 meters by 11 meters without weapon pods or any indication of crate or carriage size. I'd think they'd keep the crate size to a minimum to save on shipping costs so we should be able to load all four by dismantling the hold partition between 2 & 3. A Neb-blasted job, but we've done it before. Of course we'll need the shipping dimensions and the number of auxiliary containers to be certain, but assuming everything fits, including extra fuel, the fact that we can offer direct service to Zilantre, and meet the promised delivery date with some to spare should give us a good chance of landing this charter. What we need now is hard facts. I want to be at Isleta's doors tomorrow morning with a detailed proposal in hand.
'Right, Rafe, use the ship's office and find out everything you can about how they ship these boats – all the shipping specs, size, tonnage, axillary shipments, the works. And if you can, how much they pay to the lines to ship them.'
'I'll try, Wil, but I have to say, being beaten to a cargo by a companion does not bode well for my efforts. I'm getting too old for this...'
'I've no doubt you can do it, Rafe,' I assured him, too wrapped up in the prospect of a cargo to banter. 'Now, Ten, I'd appreciate it if you'd track down these hot spots of trouble. I'm presuming they're inwards of Zilantre, but let's make sure before we plot our course. Vyn and Illy, would you come up with a course for Zilantre? Riv and I will do some rough estimates to see what we'll need for fuel capacity to make Zilantre in 160 – 165 days with a roughly estimated cargo figure. We'll use my office, feed us the refined info as you develop it. And feel free to poke holes in this plan, I'm doing this all on lift off, so please tell me if I'm missing something.'
We went to work. Rafe dug up information on the shipment specs and prices I needed, no doubt right from the Isleta Interstellar files. Illy and Vyn came up with a tentative plot that would take us along the Azminn to Aticor space lane and through the Helgot Drift at the Anjur Passage, where we'd need to make an almost 90-degree course change away from Aticor to steer for Zilantre along a spur of the Helgot Drift, a passage of 111 aus. We had survey charts of the course, several thousand years out of date, and a few more Guild records of ships making this passage, but few ships from Azminn sailed for Zilantre. LaTrina in the Aticor system was the main port of departure and arrival from Zilantre. Still, there seemed nothing too alarming in the charts or Guild Records. Our tentative course looked to be between 164 and 169 days. Assuming we landed the charter, we'd likely have just over 175 depending on how fast they could prepare the ships for shipping. It seemed a fair margin of error, but the Neb can play its tricks, especially in and around the drifts.
Combining this course with Rafe's cargo data, Riv and I came up with a rough cargo sketch and fuel budget that would require 30 auxiliary fuel tanks that would have to be stored in no. 1 hold. If we coul
d get Isleta's standard shipping rate, we'd be able to earn a very nice profit. Even at current rates, we'd come out well on the right side of the balance, but given the alternative, I was pretty sure they'd be happy to settle for the standard rates. It was late by the time we finished our work.
Vynnia looked in as I summoning the energy to peel myself off the desk chair and slip through the door-panel of my sleeping quarters and to my hammock for a two-hour nap.
'Are you going to consult Talley?'
I shrugged wearily. 'What do you think?' I asked spreading the fingers of my hands that were holding my eyes in and head up.
'It's not my position to say. I was just wondering in light of our previous conversation.'
'I've the authority to sign the contract without her, but yes, I'll invite her along after I grab some sleep. It must be the middle of the night where she is, and we've five hours before the Isleta office opens in Verde Vale. I'll be up in two hours and call her. I'd like her along – I've seen her sales skills; she makes an impression. Maybe this will change her mind. We can hope anyway.'
'Yes. Perhaps it will. I'd best get some sleep as well.'
'Right. Thanks for all your work and by all means get some sleep – take four. I'll send Molaye down to pick up Min if she decides to join us. If we land this contract, we'll be facing a very hectic week...
I was weary enough to fall right asleep, and had to be dragged awake two hours later. I made a cup of cha for myself and radioed Min directly to brief her on the night's developments. She sounded delighted and eager to get involved in the process. I arranged for Molaye to pick her up at the Bramble Vale space boat field in an hour and greeted her on the landing stage when she arrived on board.
'Welcome aboard,' I said as she swung out of the gig's hatch landing on the gangplank.
She was dressed in her casual Lontria style, though with hints of being rushed in the process.
'Good work, Captain.' she said taking my hand and patting the heads of the hounds at my side. 'Excellent, in fact. I'll study the details while I put myself together. I still have quarters aboard, don't I?' she added as she hurried on.
'Of course,' I said and followed her to the access well. 'I've not abandoned hope. I'll be in my office and we can go over everything when you're ready.'
She merely nodded. I left her to work on our proposals in my office.
She appeared half an hour later as I had known her on Calissant, perfectly turned out in blacks and whites and with her long slim unapologetic mech-legs, striking and enigmatic.
'You look more like yourself, Min,' I said, looking up from the desktop.
'You don't like my new look?' she asked archly, but without a real edge.
'Nice, as a costume, or a disguise. But this is you. Or at least how I think of you,' which may have been more than I needed to say, so I hurried on, 'Grab a chair and I'll fill you in on all the details, since I hope you'll take the lead again. Can I offer you a cup of cha?'
She nodded and called up the proposal on the desk, while I made cha. As with the Tiladore charter, we settled down and hammered out our proposal and sales pitch with Vynnia joining us half an hour later to help fine tune and set out our negotiating limits.
We were at Isleta Interstellar’s offices as they opened for business. The first people we dealt with were unaware of the situation – which had me wondering if I'd made a fool of us on a companion's gossip? We persisted and word of our mission eventually reached the people in the clearsteel offices who were aware of the situation. Min presented our proposal and arrangements were made to inspect the ship while they verified the Lost Star's fifty-year Guild record of trading in the system. We still had to wait until the following day for their final decision but they signaled us early to come down and sign a contract. Arrangements were worked out for loading to commence in two days as they worked to feverishly get the boats ready for shipment.
02
Min sat next to me, anchored to one of my office chairs sipping hot cha from the mug's cover straw.
'We did it again,' I remarked carefully. ‘We make a good team.'
'Yes, we do,' she replied absently.
'You must admit I've not tried to talk you into changing your mind. 'Vyn will be furious.'
'I'm sorry about Vyn,' she replied again absently, this time feigned.
'You know I'd like you on board. You know I think that it would be the wisest course no matter what you intend to pursue in the future.'
'Yes, Captain.'
'You wouldn't consider changing your mind?'
'No, Captain,' she replied softly without looking at me. 'You know the reason – that hasn't changed.'
'You know that Vyn and Ten won't stay without you.'
She shrugged. 'I've not abandoned hope.'
I looked at her trying to decide just what to say. 'I can't help thinking that your uncle would want you aboard for many reasons, as would your parents. This was their ship, their haven. This should be your first step on a long journey. A safe haven and a chance to learn a little more... You can go on alone once we get to Aticor or beyond. It will save time, credits, and make you far better prepared.'
She gave me a look. 'I'm on to that ploy, Wil. Someday I'll take charge of my ship, but not before I'm ready. Not before I've done what I need to do.'
I shrugged. 'Right. You're the boss. I just promised Vyn I'd try one last time. I'll keep you informed of anything we turn up from the ship's log. It's rather late in the day to give you a new identity now, but I'm certain Rafe can arrange it if necessary. Be very, very careful. And please, take Vyn and Ten along with you. Compromise just this once. They need to feel like they're protecting you. Don't leave them. Take them for my sake as well. I'll have enough to worry about without having to worry about you too.'
She shrugged and looked away. 'Don't worry about me.'
'Right.' And left it at that. More words would change nothing.
After she finished her cha, she went to change back into the Lontria Min and I arranged for Vynnia to run her down in the gig, just to give Vyn one last chance to change Min's mind.
As we said goodbye on the landing stage, I asked, 'Should I send down your kit?'
She shook her head No. 'Put them in the strong room with the rest of the remnants. I'll be back to pick them up someday.'
'Not even your long mech-legs?'
'I'll have new legs grown on one of the First Worlds if I get to one. I can hardly get close to where I need to go as I am now. I'm too well known like this.'
I nodded. 'I'm sure you're right. And keep the Ghost aboard as well?'
'Yes, for now. Feel free to use her if you need to. Right. Goodbye, Captain. Fair orbits. We'll be in touch. And if you find you've time, we can get together to toast our past and future successes before you sail.'
'Once I turn her over to Riv for fueling, I'll have at least a day free. I'll be in touch when I know more,' I promised.
'Right. Then I'll let you get back to work.'
'Fair orbits,' I replied and watched her swing into the gig and returned to work.
03
We spent the rest of the day dismantling and moving the bulkhead between holds 2 & 3 forward to make the hold large enough to accommodate the four boats and the containers containing their spare parts and optional weapons.
They had the first boat in its open framed crate lifted up by a tug to the ship two days later and we began the delicate work of stowing the large container. We spent eight hours stowing the first boat using the ship's two cranes and robots in the holds. The container docks were movable, so all had to be precisely aligned to properly secure the large container to the array of locks on the hold deck. It was slow, precise, nerve wracking work for Molaye, Vynnia, Illy and I. Fortunately the shipping containers increased the boat's dimensions by only a meter, so we'd be able to stow the four boats 2x2 filling all of the enlarged hold no. 3. The auxiliary boxes were stowed in the shortened no. 2 hold leaving no.1 to for the 30 auxiliary f
uel tanks we'd need to see us to Zilantre on time and with a prudent reserve. The remaining three boats and the auxiliary containers took another six days to load. I slept whenever I could between the arrival of the boats, as did everyone but the watch. Late on the 26th day of our stay in Sanre-tay, the Isleta shipping crew signed off and we closed the hatches and moved the ship out to the fueling station.
The chief engineer is in charge of fueling, so I turned the ship over to Riv, and found my hammock. Having to load and rig the fuel system for the auxiliary fuel tanks in the no. 1 hold, meant that the whole fueling process would take at least 24 hours. We planned to sail within hours after we completed fueling. All I wanted to do now was to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another trying day.