Roo the Day, page 29
part #13 of Bob and Nikki Series
“Not right off the top of my head, no. Sounds like you have it pretty well under control.”
“Thanks for checking on it, Boss. It means something, to know you’re worried about me.”
“You’re welcome. It isn’t just you, you know. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it would be for the Puller to have to come and rescue the flagship from a cargo of unarmed refugees?”
“That’s a fact. We can’t let that happen to Gene’s dignity, now can we?”
“No, we cannot. I guess I’ve annoyed you as much as I need to. I better be on my way.”
“Anytime, Boss. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Jackie.”
I had pushed my luck enough already, so I grabbed a transit back to the cabin. Snitz was waiting out front, so we went to the grass room. Jim was there, with Molly. I asked, “Did I keep you waiting long?”
“We just got here, Bob. Everything looking good for tomorrow?”
“Yes, it is. That bothers me.”
“How so?”
“We should have found at least one or two problems by now, and there haven’t been any.”
“Did you ever think that your fine crew has learned to take care of the small stuff, without you helping them out?”
“I hope that’s it. That’s what my head thinks, anyway. My gut says Murphy is in the house.”
“Have you done everything you could think of?”
“I have.”
“Has Murphy trained you over the years to anticipate trouble?”
“He has.”
“Do you think he is going to fail you now?”
“I suppose not.”
“Relax. Whatever you feel coming, you won’t be able to do anything, until you figure out what it is, and you won’t be able to do that, if you keep worrying about it.”
“You’re right. Thanks.”
“All part of the service, Captain.”
“Goodnight, Jim.”
“Goodnight, Bob.”
Snitz and I headed back to the cabin. We saw a few crews finishing up preparations for the Roos, but nothing that needed the Captain’s attention. I got ready, and went back to bed. Nikki snuggling into my back washed away a ton of worry, and I drifted off. I got an extra special wake up. Not only was Snitz licking my ear, but Gus and Becky were on the floor, cheering him on. I have to say, staring down two big stinky ones, before my coffee, was memorable, and not in a good way. Once I had them taken care of, I did what I needed to, and took Snitz to the grass room. Jim must have thought he got his duty to the ship taken care of the night before, because I didn’t see him. Snitz took off to wherever he felt he was needed, and I went to get some breakfast. Stella came out to see what I would like, and said, “Today is the big day, huh, Boss?”
“Gee, Stella, I was hoping today was going to be smooth and uneventful, with no surprises.”
“Good thing this ship doesn’t run on hope, Captain, ‘cause that is thin and runny.”
“Gee, I was hoping you would believe it, so maybe you could convince me.”
“No sale, Boss.”
She brought me out some breakfast. When I finished, I headed to the bridge. I couldn’t make up my mind if I needed to find problems before things started happening, or if I needed to get to the bridge, to take charge. I was halfway there before I realized I hadn’t taken the transit. All the bots I saw were cleaning up from all the work overnight, and none of them seemed to have any problems. At least I had the peace of mind that there wasn’t a problem I had failed to find. When I got to the bridge, George and Ringo were keeping Majel from going on the bridge. George said, “There’s the Captain, now. You may go in with him.”
She turned toward me, and said, “Good morning, Captain.”
I was surprised when I didn’t get ping-pong balls, but I tried not to show it. “Good morning, Majel. These two doing their job again, are they?”
“I suppose so. Haven’t I proven myself to you, yet?”
“Well, the other races we’ve met have been easier to figure out than yours. We don’t have any way to tell if you’re telling us the truth, so we’re being more careful.”
“Is that why your people asked my crew to disperse to the various ships?”
“Yes. Sorry if that’s a hardship, but with so many people aboard that we don’t have any idea about, it seemed like the safest course.”
“I can understand your position, Captain. You’re responsible for the ship, and all within her. You can’t afford to take chances.”
“Exactly. Shall we go in?”
“Let’s.”
Saucy said, “Commodore on the bridge.” I responded, “As you were. Let’s get this show on the road, folks.”
Topper said, “Sally has an order worked out, for loading the ships. Do you want to review it?”
“If Sally thinks it’s the way to do it, I doubt I could make any improvements, so let’s just use it as is.”
“Yes, Boss. Would you like the ship?”
“Not at all. I’d rather wander down to the shop, and play Frisbee with you bots. Those days are gone, though. So, I better be sitting in the big chair for this.”
“I know what you mean, Boss. I haven’t painted a car in just ages. Your ship.”
“Maybe someday we can get back to that, Topper.”
I strapped into the big chair, and asked, “Okay, Majel, where do we need to go to pick up your people?”
She started to rattle off coordinates, and I said, “If you’re going to be that way about it, talk to Ruth.”
She went up to Ruth’s station, and they figured it out. After she had Ruth headed the right way, she said, “I told them they could only bring what they could carry. That was the deal I worked out with Sally.”
I looked at Topper, and he nodded. I said, “Good enough. I assume you want us to carry your ships to the new system, as well?”
“That would be wonderful, if you have room.”
I looked at Topper again. He said, “Scotti says we have room for most of their ships, but we may have to leave a couple behind.”
“Tell her to do what she can. We can always pick them up on a later trip, I would think.”
“Hang on one, Boss. Sally says the other carriers have plenty of room in their landing bays, and can take our excess ships.”
“That works. They won’t need the ships till we get to the new system, anyway.”
Majel asked, “So, some of the ships that people come to the Gene on, will be stored on other ships until we get to the new planet?”
“Is that a problem?”
“I can’t see why it would be, but I’m sure some of these idiots will find a way to make it one.”
“You sound like you’ve had fun, gathering colonists.”
“I swear, I think some of these loons think they’re going to a resort, to be waited on, hand and foot.”
“Ma’am, I need to make one thing clear, before we bring your people aboard. We are providing a planet, and transportation to it. If things go smoothly, we have some colonization equipment we might be willing to part with, but beyond that, you and your people are on your own.”
“I’m well aware of that. If we need supplies hauled, or other services, that will be a separate deal, at a later date, correct?”
“Indeed. You do have some sort of arrangements to keep your folks fed, until you can get established, don’t you?”
“I do. They may not be happy with it, but it will keep them alive.”
“The more we talk about the people you gathered, the more I get the feeling that perhaps they aren’t the best candidates for colonists.”
“That’s the feeling I got, as well. A number of them bought spots on the list, from people I had pre-approved.”
“That sounds like trouble, down the road.”
“I figured it was easier to let them learn the hard way, than to try and explain it to them.”
“That’s why you wanted to make sure they had their ships, I assume.”
“Yes, Captain. When they start whining, they can always climb aboard, and come back here.”
“Sounds like a plan, Majel. I wonder how it will work out for you?”
“You sound dubious, Captain.”
“Murphy is our shepherd, Ma’am.”
The destroyers loaded first, since they couldn’t make quite as much speed in FTL. As soon as they filled up, they took off. We were the first carrier to load. We loaded a few ships, no problem, and then Andre came over the speaker, “Captain to the loading bay, please. Captain to the loading bay.” I had never heard Andre sound rattled before, so I was out of my chair, shouting “Your ship, Topper”, and running for the transit, before Majel even had a chance to react. Gene gave me top priority, so it was all I could do to stay upright for the trip. There was a Marine pointing the way, when the door opened. He fell in behind me, as I ran for the bay. I saw the problem immediately. A grizzled looking Roo had a pistol to Jackie’s head. I was reasonably sure there was nothing in her head that Scotti couldn’t fix, but I didn’t want to have to take that chance. I pulled my pistol, as I slid to a stop. I said, “You can let that bot go, or grow another nostril, it doesn’t matter much to me.”
He looked at me, and something must have convinced him I meant business, because he let her go, and put his pistol away.
He said, “You must be the Captain Wilson we hear so much about.”
“Don’t believe that crap. I’m not nearly as nice as they make me out to be. Why did you draw on Jackie?”
“It wanted to take my weapons.”
“Surely you don’t expect us to let you folks stay armed? Look at how many of you there are. We need to make sure we can keep control, if something happens. I don’t mind hauling you, but I’m not losing my ship over it.”
He studied on that a minute. “I see your point, but I’m going to need my weapons on a fresh planet, aren’t I?”
Jackie said, “It’s like I told you, Sir. You’ll get your weapons back before you go dirtside.”
He looked at me. “Can I trust this machine?”
“Jackie built the pistol I carry. What do you think my answer will be?”
He thought a bit, and started handing Jackie his weapons. When he finished, Jackie said, “And the two knives, Sir. I know they probably don’t show up on a normal scanner, but we had some trouble a while back, and had to upgrade our scanners.”
He smiled, and handed her his two hideout knives. “I might get to like you folks. You don’t screw around.”
I said, “Enjoy your trip, Sir. Thanks for flying Hillbilly Air.”
He just shook his head, and went on. I looked at Jackie. “That all you needed?”
“Yes, Boss. Thanks for getting that squared away for me.”
“No problem. None of the others have given you any trouble?”
“Nothing the Marines couldn’t handle. That fellow seemed determined to make a fuss, until you showed up.”
“He’s not used to working with bots. Doesn’t know that you mean what you say.”
“I suppose. Anything special you want done about him?”
“Make sure he goes to sleep like a good little Roo, and keep a record of his name. He might decide pioneering with this bunch isn’t all he thought it might be. We can always use a little more orneriness, on this crew.”
“That’s our Boss. The good job interviews all involve gunplay.”
“Don’t hesitate to call, if you have any more trouble.”
“Understood, Boss.”
I headed back to the transit. I met Majel on the way. She asked, “Taken care of, already? I thought it must have been big trouble, to bring you running.”
“One of your colonists drew on my armorer, so I would say that’s pretty serious.”
“How did you handle it?”
“Explained to him that I would shoot him on the spot, if he didn’t start behaving. That got his attention.”
“I would think so. What happened?”
“He gave Jackie his weapons, as he had been asked, and went off to get a nap.”
“You make it sound so simple, Captain.”
“Because it is. My ship, my rules. You don’t like it, there’s plenty of room outside to take a walk.”
She looked a little startled. “I see. You’re not going to put up with any crap out of these folks, are you?”
“No, Ma’am, I am not, nor are my crew. Do you want a ride back to the bridge, or did you plan to stay here and try to avoid any more incidents like that?”
“I think I’ll stay, Captain. It wouldn’t do my reputation any good to let a stupid colonist do something that caused you to have to take notice.”
“Wise choice. Call if you need anything.”
I went back to the bridge. We went through the usual ritual, and I said, “I’ll take the ship again, if you have no objection, Topper.”
“Your ship, Boss. Sally is looking at how to upgrade nanny protocol, after that episode, Boss.”
“Get her on the comm, if you would.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Sally said, “Hi, Boss. I wish you wouldn’t do things like that.”
“I wish I didn’t have to. As long as I’m sitting in the big chair, there are going to be times when I have to deal with things myself. I would appreciate it, if you could come to grips with that.”
She thought a moment. “It really is a function of your job, isn’t it? I’ve just been too protective, because you’re the best Boss we’ve had.”
“You don’t think Dingus would do as well?”
“I know he would, Boss, but I don’t want to have to find out.”
“Thanks. I care about you, too.”
“Was that all you needed, Boss? I need to get off here. Tears are corrosive, you know.”
“All I needed for now. I’m guessing we should hang around to handle any problems that come up with the rest of the loading?”
“I had originally intended for you to go ahead, but seeing how quickly you got that situation under control, it might be best if you hung around.”
“Good enough. Talk to you later.”
“Later, Boss.”
Strangely enough, the rest of the loading went smoothly. I didn’t find out till later that Sally had the recording of me dealing with the problem we had playing in the landing bays of the other ships, and Majel’s crew wandering around, saying things like, ‘I wouldn’t want to be that moron’.
However she did it, we managed to get loaded without further incident. Majel showed us where to go, to get the scandium we had been promised. The other carriers had more room, and took a double load, where we only had to carry our own share. Even so, as we maneuvered to where we could enter FTL, Ruth said, “She’s loaded, Boss. Handles like a fat pig. Hope we don’t have to fight, loaded like this.”
“Me, too. Do the best you can.” She got us to where we needed to be, and we slid into FTL.
Ruth said, “There we go. The FTL drive is drawing extra power, with the extra weight, but we’re well within safety limits. Thirty-six hours to Deadbot.”
I replied, “I understand why you would call it that, but we are going to come up with a different name, am I clear?”
“Yes, Boss. Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. We just can’t go giving these folks a planet named Deadbot.”
Topper said, “We’ll work on it, Boss. Surely we can come up with something more acceptable.”
“I’m sure you can. If we were keeping the place, it would be different, but as we’ve already traded it away, we have to give it a better name.”
“Understood. Do you want me to take the conn?”
“If anything was going to be a problem, it would have been by now, I think. You might as well. Don’t hesitate to call, if anything out of the ordinary comes up.”
“Will do. My ship.”
I got up, and headed out. George and Ringo followed me, and two more Marines took up station at the doorway to the bridge. I asked, “What’s up, George?”
“Sally asked us to stay with you, until we unload the passengers, Captain.”
I thought about it a moment, and realized she probably was right. “Wise precaution. Let’s hope it’s unnecessary.”
