Black Dawn, page 5
Donald came to Lamont and Butler one morning. Without a word he dropped his wrist com on the floor at their feet. He then secluded himself in his quarters until their next stop. Sweggert, Knepp and Rebel tried to talk to him over the door com, but he answered no one.
Nathon came to the hatch when Donald left and also turned in his com. He looked Lamont in the eye with great difficulty. “Make no mistake, Skipper. I know what I’m losing out on. But I just can’t cut it. I’m sorry I let you down.”
Coy watched them leave silently, trying to decide if it were disappointed that they were giving up, or relieved that they were going to stay alive.
* * * * * Lamont watched the events in engineering from the communications station up on the bridge. Bon had been particularly merciless in the last training exercise and now six hands were flying over their engineering consoles in an attempt to keep the Raven’s fusion reactors from ‘blowing up’.
The engineers had caught the problem and corrected it in minutes. But these were troopers sweating over the switches. And considering that fact, Coy was pleased that they had even noticed the booby trap -- let alone had a clue as to how to fix it. Sgt. Schiff must have truly put the fear of something into them when it came to studying specs.
There was a throat clearing over by the door and Bon wandered over to join Schiff and Butler who were watching as well. He moved quietly so as not to disturb the “techs”.
“So,” Butler opened in a low voice, “are we dead yet?” “Not yet. They’re getting it.”
“In time to stay alive?”
Schiff frowned at his skepticism, but said nothing. “Give them a chance, Ken. If Lamont hadn’t thought...” An alarm interrupted, filling the room with its raucous death
warning. The trainees frantically hit switches, and routed information on the panel, in an attempt to activate the emergency fail safes in the brief interval of time now left to them by the exercise. Two minutes later, a buzzer sounded that time was up. The panel in front of them simply read “boom”. A chorus of groans went up from the troopers. Sweggert flopped back in his station chair in disgust. Pierce and Vennefron froze for a second, then turned to Bon in defeat. After a moment, Randy Sweggert reached over and silenced the panel.
Bon gave a small sigh. “It’s always darkest....” “....just before it goes completely black,” Butler finished. He shook his head and walked out of engineering.
“Why don’t I just hit self-destruct at the beginning and save us all a lot of trouble,” Randy sneered.
Schiff strode over to him and jerked him out of the chair . “Get back to the gym and run laps until I say to stop,” he hissed, then turned to the others. “Your comrade has just died in a hostile takeover. It’s up to you two to save the rest of us.” He gave them a cold glare. “I, for one, expect to live this time.” Turning to go, he gave a nod to Bon.
The engineer stifled a smile and proceeded to set up another exercise.
Lamont turned off the vid and waited, knowing what was coming.
Butler reached the command deck just as Devyu Aziza, hair still damp from the gym, relieved Lamont at communications.
“Sweggert just blew the ship to pieces again,” the commander announced. “We’re all floating debris.”
“I saw. What’s Bon’s opinion?”
“Skipper, the man was smiling. Like they were doing good!”
Lamont shrugged. “Perhaps they are. It’s his domain. He knows what he’s seeing.” Coy made a quick tour of the stations, manned and unmanned, then motioned for Ken to follow out into the corridor. “Schiff said Rebel and Knepp were both shaping up great. Potential officers there.”
“Officers over who?”
“Whom.”
Ken scowled. “Whatever. The issue is manpower. Not grammar.”
Lamont paused and looked at him a moment at that. “Would you like a cup of tea, Commander? It’s great for stress.”
“We’d better start serving it by the gallon, then,” Butler growled, gave a half-hearted salute and turned back towards the bridge.
“There’s an old Earth saying,” Coy said to his back. “It’s always darkest....”
The hatch shut behind him.
“.....right before the dawn,” Coy finished thoughtfully to itself.
* * * * * A shrill scream jerked Lamont awake. It lurched to a sitting position and looked wildly around the dark room. But the only sound breaking the silence was Coy’s own adrenaline fed heartbeat.
Coy raised its wrist and spoke into the com link that was always strapped there. “Lamont to Bridge.”
“Bridge. Go ahead, Captain.”
The voice sounded calm. The only emotion was perhaps surprise at the middle of the “night” call. In a second, Coy realized where the scream had come from and felt like a fool.
The person on the other end was still waiting. But then, there was no way for the bridge crew to know if this was an actual emergency, a drill, an inspection … or a bad dream.
“Status report,” Coy said in its best inspection voice.
“All quiet , sir. No reports since shift change. No incoming communications. Cpl. Rebel is on Watch.”
“Very good. Carry on. Lamont out.”
As the adrenaline rush passed and Coy’s heart rate slowed to normal, it tried to blot out the memory of the scream. Of the whole nightmare. The same one that had been plaguing its sleep more and more often these past few weeks.
Now that the initial flurry of activity surrounding owning a ship and planning her future was settling into routine, the possibility of actually leading a raid was becoming a reality.
Coy lay back against the pillows, tired, but unwilling to let sleep, hence dreams, take it back to the scene of its greatest failure.
After a few minutes, it got up to make a gallon of tea.
* * * * * Lamont fell heavily into the chair at the galley table the next day and looked at the food sitting there on the tray. Nothing appeared terribly appetizing, but it had been quite awhile since meals had been anything but
nutri-bars, coffee and of course the occasional cup of tea. A real dinner was probably in order.
Besides, Ceal Byars would be checking around to see if her commander was eating right.
“Is this a private party, or can anyone join?”
Lamont looked up to see Ken and Ceal hovering, trays in hand. Coy waved a hand at the empty seats around the table, inviting them to sit.
Ceal eyed Coy’s plate approvingly. “I’m glad to see that.”
Without replying, Coy took a bite and forced it down.
Ignoring their interplay, Butler gazed around the large mess hall, peopled at present with only a handful of BlackFleet crew. He opened his mouth, but Coy cut across whatever remarks he was about to make.
“I know we’re down to 20 people and I don’t feel like any ‘why don’t we increase the size of the fleet’ arguments today.”
“You’re making assumptions,” Butler put on a frown. “How do you know that’s what I was going to say?”
Lamont cocked its head in unspoken question.
“Well, okay, so it was. But still....”
“Case closed.”
Butler made some frustrated sounds. He took a breath and let it out slowly. “Make me understand.”
Coy collected its thoughts for a time. “I...I don’t know that I can lead more than what we have.” It pushed the tray away, leaned on the table and sighed. When it spoke again, Coy’s voice was low. “I don’t know that I can lead anyone.”
Ceal and Ken looked at each other in amazement. This was not the ongoing feud Butler had expected. This was deep and real. And a little scary.
“You can’t lead us?” Ken choked out. “Then what in blazes are we doing here?”
Coy’s head came up and its eyes met Butlers. “To heal....we have to help others heal.”
“I thought it was to be heroes.”
Inwardly, Coy chastised itself for bringing it up. But not answering was not going to help. The damage was done. Another saying came to mind about closing the barn doors too late. Whatever a barn was.
“And what,” Ken asked carefully, “did you mean about not being able? I’ve seen you training these guys. I’ve seen them grow. Just what is it you don’t think you can do?”
Coy shook its head. “I don’t know. Maybe it will be okay. Just...just always have contingencies. I’m not above doing really stupid things.”
Butler cleared his throat. “This is all very comforting, Captain. Would you please tell me what the hell you’re talking about?’ Lamont glanced around the room. “Not here.” It stood and walked out of the galley. Two crew members just entering snapped to attention and saluted. Lamont absently returned the gesture and continued on. With a shrug and an ‘after you’, Butler and Byars followed. Coy led them to its cabin. In the corridor, waiting for them was Bon, having been summoned by Lamont enroute. Without comment, Coy opened the door and went in.
Bon frowned at the other two. “What’s up?”
Butler gave an elaborate shrug. “I’m hoping to find out myself.”
Once in the cabin, they followed Coy over to the couch area. Coy itself stood, back to them , gazing at the wall. After a minute, it turned and nodded at Bon, who, along with the others, had settled back against the cushions. “We were discussing my ability to lead this unit....” it began.
“We were doing nothing of the kind,” Butler objected. “You were discussing....”
“All right, I was,” Coy admitted. “I realized that although I required everyone to tell me their story, I’ve never told anyone mine.” “And you think somehow this story will disqualify you?” Ken said, a bit impatiently. “Whatever happened to the creed of the Fleet? Second chances, and all that?”
“Ken, shut up for a minute,” Ceal told him.
He shut his mouth, crossed his arms, and looked at Coy expectantly.
Lamont took a breath and began. “I was a captain in Corbet’s Commandos . A pretty typical bunch of mercs. I was glad to be a soldier. I was literally made to… ,” it paused and glanced at Ceal before continuing , “…even though the jobs we took were pretty safe, boring little jobs. Then we stopped on.....we stopped at an asteroid mine to resupply. Some of the miners came to the Admiral in secret and begged we help them get out. Their lives were no better than slavery. Horrible conditions.” It shook its head in memory. “But the Admiral said no. We, Commodore Aubry and I , tried to talk him into it, but he wouldn’t budge. He never liked getting his hands dirty....Anyway, they came back to us later, right before we left the asteroid. They were so desperate....I smuggled them onboard my ship and dropped them off at the next transit portal station we came to.” Coy paused again.
“I assume there’s more to it,” Ken said, in what was for him, a patient tone.
Coy looked at the stars. “There were a lot more than the ones I got off. So I went back....and this time I got caught. We were pinned down by the mine security. I don’t know what all they did there, but they had some
pretty tough weapons for security guards. I thought it was all over. The miners panicked. Some of them tried to go back. The guards mowed them down. Just then Commodore Aubry shows up to save our tails. He was standing next to me laughing, saying , ‘ I knew you were going to do something like this someday, Kid’ when he got hit by a plasma beam. One second he’s my only friend in the universe. The next he’s a pile of ashes.”
Ken and Ceal remained attentive. Bon was looking at his hands.
“By the time we got out of there and met up with the rest of the fleet, I would’ve agreed to anything.”
“What did you agree to?” Ceal asked cautiously.
“The Admiral asked for my resignation. He could’ve hanged me for mutiny.” Coy sat down at last. “There have been times I wished he had.”
No one spoke for several minutes. Bon got up and went to the large port behind Coy’s desk and looked out at space.
“So,” Coy broke the silence, “you see I’m not the hero I’ve insisted everyone be. I directly disobeyed my CO. My crime was real.”
“Did you get the miners out?” Bon asked.
“Most of them. Not all.”
He turned around. “You’re right. Your admiral could’ve executed you. But he didn’t. Maybe you’re not as guilty as you think.”
Coy looked frustrated at their inability to understand. “I got my only friend killed, because he followed me out there. I thought I wanted command…I do want command …but I can’t…” It sighed. “How can I ask you to trust me?”
“But you did ask.” Butler interjected, “And we agreed. And here we are. And my opinion hasn’t changed. You lost your command because you did what you thought was right. Right, even when not correct. Isn’t that the way it goes?”
Coy didn’t comment.
Ken looked to the other two. “Am I wrong here? Am I missing something?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned,” Ceal said. “Captain, you once told me that as my commanding officer you would defend me against my enemies if they ever caught up to me.” Coy nodded. “I don’t think you comprehend what that means to me. I’ve never had someone on my side like that before. I know a lot of the guys around here feel the same. Technically, I’m still a minor back home. It was against the law for me to even leave without permission. Does that mean I shouldn’t....”
Coy stood up. “You don’t...”it began angrily.
“Don’t what?” Bon interrupted. “Hate you? No, we don’t. You’re on your own there.”
Coy looked taken aback. “You think this is self pity?” it demanded.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know what it is.” Bon rubbed the back of his head as he thought back. “I was tossed out of the service for not following orders. Minor detail the orders were cruel and inhuman. It’s still mutiny. I could’ve been killed. But instead the charges were swept under the rug and I was let go. Dishonor is a hard thing to deal with on Harada . Or anywhere.” He looked back at Coy. “It’s been years for me. I’ve had time.” He raised one brow. “That’s why you made that bet wasn’t it? Some sort of self-punishment?” “What bet?” Ken asked.
Bon remained looking at Coy. After several moments, it gave in and turned back to Ceal and Ken
“I used myself for collateral in a high stakes card game. That’s how I won the Raven.”
“You won the Raven in a…” Ken began, then realized what Coy had said. “Wait. Bet yourself?!” he sputtered in disbelief. “To be...I mean, to...”
“We’ve all lost part of our selves. But we’ve gained this chance,” Ceal said quietly. “This was meant to be.”
Butler looked at her, and then at Bon. “You mean like ‘It’s always darkest right before....”
He was interrupted by Coy’s wrist com. “Aziza to Lamont!” “Lamont, go ahead.”
“Skipper, we’ve intercepted a transmission. It’s the Tenetian consul on Melan. They say they have ten dignitaries held hostage on the new Melan orbital Station. They assume terrorists. It was a recorded message, but the old guy sounds desperate. The message was tightbeamed - probably to a Tenetian vessel but there’s nothing as close as we are.”
Coy thought for only a second. “Send back: ‘Message received. Help enroute.’ On the same frequency.”
“Aye, aye.”
“Lamont out.” It turned to Butler. “Do we know anything about Melan station?”
“I think so.” Butler went over to Coy’s vidcom and brought up all the stations they had been collecting information about. “Some basics. Building design. Some sketchy info about the governments. Tenetia is a monarchy, I know that.”
Coy nodded. “Gather as much as you can. Full crew meeting in the Starboard room.”
Butler was speaking into his own com even as he hurried from the room. “Butler to All Ship. All crew to the Starboard briefing room. All crew, starboard room. Vennefron, report to I &S ...”
Byars hurried out after him, on her way to prep her Sick Bay for whatever was necessary. Bon hung back a moment. “It would seem the time for discussion is past.”
Coy gave a short nod, but said nothing.
“Want a pep talk?”
“Such as?”
“Such as all the things you already know. How you’ve made sure these guys were trained right. How you’re the best ship captain I’ve seen, whether you see it or not. How everyone here is here because it is their desire to be here, doing this, with you.”
Coy looked him in the eye for a long moment. “Butler’s right,” it told him finally.
“About what?”
“You are a bootlicker.”
Bon grinned, saluted and they both dashed out.
There was no relaxed conversation at this meeting. For all they knew, this was one of Schiff’s endless drills. But you couldn’t tell by their faces. Drill or not, they were primed and ready. Coy felt a wave of… was that pride?
“We have our first job,” Lamont announced. “There are ten people being held on a space station we assume by professional terrorists. Our job is to get them off safely.” Butler and Vennefron entered from Intelligence and Security, a small room dedicated solely to the gathering of information. Lamont had recently discovered Venn’s talent for sifting large amounts of data for relevant information and had assigned him to help Butler whenever necessary. Butler nodded at Lamont to indicate the information was ready and sat down. Coy returned a nod of thanks and continued speaking as it pulled it up onto the vidcom. “How many of you are aware of the Trojan Horse scenario?” Every hand went up. They had better. It was standard BlackFleet drill. They had been over it dozens of times in theory and practice. “We are going to offer them something they can’t refuse to open their gates for.”
Rebel spoke up. “If a message was sent, won’t they assume someone’s coming?” “Yes. And we’ll allow them to keep track of us. The Raven will continue on its present course, at moderate speed, alternating shield frequencies. Hopefully, at least one of those frequencies will be read by them so they will believe they are tracking us. It will be manned by Bon’s staff and the bridge team. Everyone else will be on the Blackbird. It may look like a yacht, but it has full jump capabilities. We will leave the Raven and jump beyond Melan, then head back to it at full speed. If they are keeping
