Roo the Day, page 25
part #13 of Bob and Nikki Series
“First, have your men let go of that nice lady, she didn’t do anything wrong. Second, I don’t have any allegiance to your leader, so his orders really don’t mean that much to me. Third, you can keep a civil tongue in your head when you’re talking to your betters, weasel.”
Topper flashed a text on my screen. “Andre is ready to retrieve those people, on your go.”
I looked at Topper and nodded, slowly. Up until then, I didn’t know that the Marine transports could do cat shots, but I felt them leave. The Roo on the screen had finally quit sputtering, and said, “Who do you think you are, to speak to the Leader’s Own in that tone of voice?”
“I’m a free man, flying the biggest ship your race has ever seen, with more weapons aboard than your entire race probably possesses. I believe I can speak as I see fit.”
Sue said, “Boss, Roo ships approaching, look to be military.”
“Tex, see if you can put them into reset, so we don’t have to hurt them. Saucy, tell Sally I’d like to see her in high orbit, soonest.”
I got two “Yes, Boss” answers.
The Roo on the screen wound up for another round. “You don’t scare me with your bluffs and threats. Our Navy will own that fancy ship of yours.”
“We shall see, won’t we? Do you really think I’m going to let you get away with scaring those two ladies? If I were you, I’d be wondering what that sneaky Captain was up to. I do have a reputation as a sneaky Captain, just ask anybody.”
“Enough of your nonsense! Turn that ship over, or we will schedule executions for these two.”
I saw Topper out of the corner of my eye. He was counting down on his fingers. I said, “That’s a fine plan you have there, but I don’t think it’s going to work out the way you’re hoping.” Andre’s team came through the door as I finished speaking. The Roo soldiers were on the floor in nothing flat. Andre asked, “Orders, Boss?”
“Bring the lady and the little girl back with you. I don’t think they are safe there.”
“What about the soldiers?”
“Take their weapons. And their pants, while you’re at it.”
Andre replied, “I like your style, Boss.”
The connection dropped. I turned to Topper. “I know our ships are fast, but that was in atmosphere. How did they get there so quick?”
“Boss, a Marine assault boat has enough shields to hit atmosphere at a good clip. Everybody on this side of the planet knows you aren’t happy.”
“A nice little sonic boom, you say?”
“Nothing little about it, Boss.”
Saucy said, “Head Roo In Charge, line one.”
“Put him on, let’s get it over with.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of this, is that I won’t allow women and children to be mistreated, on my account. I would have thought that much would be plain.”
“I was speaking about the sonic attack on our planet.”
“Just a little sonic boom, no attack of any kind. At least this way, the media you have in your hip pocket can’t cover it up.”
His eyes got big. I must have hit a nerve. “You are visitors in this system. You will behave by our standards.”
“Think again. We are a free ship, and will do to suit ourselves. If you had the capability to do anything about it, you already would have. We’re here to do a little business, and then we’ll be on out of your way. Don’t start anything, and there won’t be anything.”
“Your attitude is unacceptable.”
“Too bad. You’re welcome to do something about it, if you can.”
I looked at Saucy and gave him a cut gesture. Once the connection was broken, Ellie asked, “Do you think that was wise, Captain?”
“Probably not, but it sure was fun. He needed to be taken down a peg or two.”
She looked confused, and Nikki said, “It’s an Earth expression. It means that your Leader has entirely too high an opinion of himself.”
“Well, yes, he does, but I thought you were here to do business, Boss.”
“If I don’t show him who’s boss from the start, he’ll be claiming the Gene for the Roo Navy by the end of the week.”
Gene said, “No, he won’t. My basic programming won’t let me follow orders from anyone who isn’t human.”
I replied, “It’s a wonder you listen to me, then.”
“Your DNA has some Neanderthal and Denisovan elements, but you’re still human enough to qualify, Boss.”
Topper said, “Andre is aboard, Boss.”
I handed Lilly to Ellie. “You two should go greet your friends. I’m sure they are a little freaked out, right about now.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Okay, Uncle Bob.”
As they were leaving, Tex asked, “Boss, I’m keeping those ships in reset, but they hadn’t made orbit before I hit them the first time. If I keep it up much longer, they’re going to hit atmosphere, and not be able to maneuver.”
“Let up on them, but if they approach again, zap ‘em.”
“Understood.”
Sue said, “Boss, as soon as they’re able, they’re headed back to try again.”
“How many ships?”
“A flight of eight, Boss.”
“Gene, launch twenty fighters. That’s two around, and a few spares. Stunners and drive killers. Topper, I want Ace out there to drag them in. Tell Andre to give them a nice reception in the landing bay.”
Nikki asked, “What’s the plan, Captain?”
“I’m thinking stack their ships artistically, somewhere nice and public, and turn the crews loose with no weapons and no pants.”
Topper asked, “Artistically?”
“Yes, you get to build a sculpture. Get with Ace, he’s the one who will have to make your ideas into reality.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Nikki asked, “Do you think that will be enough to get their attention?”
“I hope so. I get the idea that this Leader of theirs has enough control over the media that he will be able to cover up anything we do, unless it is pretty public. I’m trying to make a statement that will be impossible for him to hide.”
“You don’t think he will be able to make you sound like the bad guy?”
“I think he will try. We probably should start our own propaganda broadcasts, just to preempt his crap.”
Topper asked, “Who do you think we should ask to make the broadcasts?”
“Ellie and Lita would be obvious choices, Majel if she will. Wouldn’t hurt to ask the other people on Majel’s crew if they would have any interest, while you’re into it.”
“On it, Boss.”
Nikki asked, “What about those two you picked up today?”
“Joe’s going to be in the autodoc for a while yet, and Matt by himself wouldn’t be very convincing, I don’t think.”
“Do you think we could do something with Lilly and her friend?”
“You’d have to ask their mothers. Using the footage of those soldiers breaking into Lita’s house might be good, but we don’t know how much that would sour her chances of going home, and whether that’s something she is going to want to do.”
“Do you want me to ask them about it? It doesn’t look like things are going to settle down enough for you to leave the bridge for a while.”
“That might be best. It does look like I better stay here, until things calm down some.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out.” She left the bridge. Topper said, “Ace reports all the Roo ships are aboard. Andre reports the crews are under control.”
“Have Andre load up the crews, and scatter them out, around the planet. We don’t want to dump them all in one place, and make the story easy to cover up.”
“On it, Boss. Ace and I have agreed on how to stack those ships. Where would you like us to put them?”
I asked, “Sue, is there a park near the seat of government?”
“Yes, Boss. I have just the place.”
“It has enough open space for a new statue?”
“It does.”
“Topper, get the location from Sue, and make sure Ace takes enough escort that he doesn’t get disturbed while he’s doing the installation.”
“Understood.”
The external view on the main screen showed Ace’s fleet heading off to take care of their task. Saucy said, “The Leader for you, Boss.”
“For Pete’s sake! Can’t that Roo take a hint? Put him on.”
“Captain, I demand the return of the ships and crews you have taken hostage.”
“Already in process. Anything else you feel like demanding, right now?”
That took the wind out of his sails. “Already in process, what do you mean, Captain?”
“Your ships and men are on their way back to you, as we speak.”
He looked off screen. “Our scanners show ships leaving your ship, but not our ships. You lie.”
“No, those are some of our recovery ships, carrying your ships back to your planet.”
“What about the crews?”
“Some of our other ships are bringing them, separately.”
“Why didn’t you just turn them loose?”
“They seem to be very motivated to harm this ship. I had tired of watching them fail.”
“You seem very sure of yourself, Captain.”
“More like I’m very sure of my crew. If you’re done flapping your jaws, I have important things to do.”
I gave Saucy the cut gesture. Topper asked, “Are you sure antagonizing him is the right course?”
“No, but it seems clear that he still thinks he can bully me into doing things his way. The sooner he realizes that won’t work, the better off we are going to be.”
“You don’t think he will try another attack?”
“He may. Don’t you think he would have sent his best forces first?”
“That would be logical, but I’m not sure he’s working from logic, Boss.”
“You could be right. I have faith in this crew, to take care of whatever he decides to throw at us.”
“Thanks, Boss.”
Sue said, “Boss, I have an emergence. Multiple targets, not our ships. Looks like a battleship, with escorts.”
“Tonnage?”
“The battleship appears to be about a quarter the tonnage of the Gene.”
“Tex, put a round across their bow, if you would.”
“One round, get their attention, yes, Boss. Shields are at maximum.”
“Very good.”
I felt Gene buck, as the mains fired. Saucy had the newcomers on the screen. He used false color to show the track of Tex’s shot. It didn’t seem to be full power. I asked, “Did you intentionally fire a short round, Tex?”
“Yes, Boss. I put just enough on it, that it will loop back around into their sun, in a couple of months. If they take the trouble to plot it out, they should be mildly impressed.”
“It was still enough energy to take out their ship, wasn’t it?”
“About twice over, Boss.”
“Now we find out just how loyal the Leader’s troops are.”
Topper asked, “You don’t think they will advance into certain defeat?”
“I’m hoping they won’t, but I don’t have much faith in that hope. I really don’t want to have to tear up their ships, and help them get home. We might wind up hurting a few of them, and I’d really like to make friends with these folks. They seem like good people, except for the Leader, and his bunch.”
Sue said, “Boss, they are advancing, in battle formation.”
“Ruth, put us behind them. Tex, drive killers, please.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The stars changed, and I felt a launch. The screen showed each of the Roo vessels getting its own fighter, to shut down its drive.
It wasn’t long before Saucy called, “Incoming signal from the battleship.”
“On screen.”
A mature Roo in uniform appeared on the screen. He said, “My compliments to you and your crew, Captain. Nicely done.”
“Thank you, Commodore. How do you propose to proceed from here?”
A text from Sue appeared on my console. “He’s trying to keep you distracted, while he brings his broadside to bear, Captain.”
I said, “I see. You’re no slouch yourself, Commodore. Trying to keep me distracted, while you bring your guns to bear.”
I turned to Tex. “Disable his guns, as they become exposed.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I turned back to the screen. “Anything else you’d like to try, Commodore?”
“I think I’ll wait and see just how good your gunner is, Captain. That shot across our bow was weak.”
“He thought it was artful, actually. Your gunner didn’t trace where that shot will end up?”
“What?” His attention was called off to the side. When he came back, he looked let down. “Your gunner managed to make his shot across our bow wind up in the sun? That is skillful. Perhaps I should be thinking about surrender.”
“I’ll believe that when your ship stops rotating, Commodore.”
Sue called, “Emergence! High orbit. It’s the Pete Conrad, the Buzz Aldrin, the Gus Grissom, and several other destroyers.”
I said, “Commodore, it appears your situation has worsened somewhat.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I forgot, you folks don’t scan for FTL emergence without a flash. Topper, ask Sally to have her ships flash their running lights, please.”
“Is this some sort of trick?” Once again, his attention was diverted off screen. When he got back, he was visibly shaken. “You have four of those monsters, and battleships besides?”
“Those are destroyers, in our service. We don’t actually use battleships.”
It took a second for that to sink in. He turned to his crew. “Kill the spin. We have no chance against this fleet.”
He turned back to me, and said, “Captain, thank you for our lives. You easily could have destroyed us, and yet you stayed your hand. I’m grateful for that.”
“If I understand the political situation on your planet, you’re not out of the woods yet, are you? Isn’t your Leader going to be a little upset by the fact you didn’t go to your death for his glory, even though you had no chance?”
“That will be a problem, but since I’m in charge, I can probably make a case that I was in charge, and my crews don’t bear responsibility.”
“That’s a noble attitude to take, Commodore.”
“I don’t see where you leave me many choices, Captain.”
“I tried not to, anyway. I had no interest in harming you, or your crew.”
“I see that, now.”
“I’ve put you in a bad situation. Is there anything I could do to help?”
“I don’t think so, Captain. I need to warn you, the Leader probably has someone on his way to kill me, and take command of the ship. That person won’t be as easy to negotiate with.”
A text appeared on my console, from Topper. ‘Andre?’. I looked at him and nodded.
Once again, I felt Gene rock from launching assault boats. I looked back at the screen. “Commodore, I could see if you didn’t want to answer this, but I’m wondering what part of the ship you’re in?”
“I don’t mind. I’m about a third of the way back, on the centerline. Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think you could take me out, without destroying the entire ship.”
“You misunderstand me, Commodore. You’ll see, soon enough.”
“I don’t know whether I’m dreading this, or hoping you’re as tricky as you seem to be.”
“Hopefully, you’ll have time to make up your mind.”
Saucy said, “Andre reports all troops aboard. Making their way to the bridge.”
The scene on the screen was frantic. The Commodore turned to me, and asked, “My crew says we have been boarded, Captain. Why is that?”
“Right now, you and I are having a peaceful discussion. I’d rather not go back to fighting. You say you’re likely to be replaced at any time by someone more warlike. I’d rather that didn’t happen. Which part is giving you trouble, Commodore?”
