Inadvertent Adventures (31 page)

They soon pulled into the secure parking area of the main government complex tower and a group of people stepped out to meet them. Sterling whistled when he saw the woman leading the group.

"I'm glad we decided to dress up," he murmured.

"I had a sneaking suspicion she might meet us. After all, we are effectively the rulers of an independent star system."

Sterling slowed slightly so it was Ann who was formally greeted first by Brennan Eloise Andretta, President of the Confederated Star Systems. "Captain Stevenson, please accept my greeting on behalf of the entire Confederacy."

Ann snapped to attention, then bowed her head slightly as she replied, "Madam President, we are pleased to be here." Then she stepped forward to shake the president's hand. She motioned Sterling forward. May I please present my husband and first mate, Sterling Silver Stevenson.” The president shook Sterling’s hand, but remained silent through the exchange.

The president smiled at both of then, then led Ann to a podium to face another crowd of reporters. The president spoke first. "Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. We are gathered here today for an historic occasion. The discovery of the Farflung Star System two years ago was heralded not just because of the possibility of a new habitable planet, but because it pushed the borders of the Confederacy farther than we had ever dared hope to achieve. The announcement nine months ago that Frisland is indeed habitable and has no native sentient species means that we can, with the concurrence of the crew of the
Admiral Ann's Revenge
, extend our borders more than a hundred and thirty light years. With Planet Frisland as a base of operations, we can now begin exploration of the area between Nuwe Vaderland and Farflung with much greater safety. And we have Captain Annette Stevenson and her crew to thank for it." She stepped back and politely clapped with the reporters as Ann stepped up to the podium.

Ann bowed her head for a moment. "Thank you. My husband and I have been given full authority to negotiate with the Confederate Government concerning the annexation of the Farflung System. It is our hope and intention to begin negotiations for colonization and exploration of Frisland, and further exploitation of the minerals present on the rocky inner planets."

A man in the front row stood and shouted, "Who are you granting rights to?"

Ann frowned. "Who we grant rights to will be dependent on negotiations after the annexation question is settled."

"But who have you already contracted with?" a woman off to the left shouted.

Now Ann glared as she replied, "We already have an agreement with Dresden Agro-Commerce Collective concerning Planet Clementine, and with Maritz Mines of Beloofte concerning Planet Leander. In addition, DA-CC has begun fuel mining and refinement at planet Jarnsaxa."

"What!?
What planets are those?" a woman near the back demanded. Dozens of other reporters were standing now, each shouting at Ann.

"Sit down and shut up," Ann barked, her years of service as an admiral taking control. "You will all receive a prepared press release, but not until the question of annexation is settled." When even more reporters stood to shout questions, Ann just turned away, causing more shouting.

President Andretta was staring at Ann with wide eyes as she stepped down. "I don't think anyone has ever told the Capital Planet Press Corps to shut up before."

Ann looked at her and replied, "Madam President, I'm not going to waste a whole day answering questions that are already answered in the press release."

"Madam President," Secretary Fairmont said as he stepped forward, "that was very polite for my sister.
Admiral
Stevenson would probably have had the offenders thrown in the brig." Turning toward Ann, he smiled and held out an arm. "Hi, Annie."

"Hi yourself, Andy. Madam President, we are ready to begin negotiating."

* * *

The negotiations took nine days, and required Ann and Sterling to repeat themselves several times concerning the discovery of Farflung, the survey of the system, and where in the universe they had come up with those
names
.

At the end of the ninth day, President Andretta called another press conference. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce that the articles of annexation for the Farflung Star System have been signed and ratified. Farflung is now the sixty-first system in the Confederacy." She paused as the press corps clapped. "Ann and Sterling Stevenson have prepared a press release, which each of you may pick up on your way out." She smiled a little, then continued, "Sorry folks, but they snuck out on you. Neither of them felt up to facing another question and answer session."

The room erupted in noise as reporters, some of them the premier reporters for their networks, all but screamed in rage at being denied a quote, quip, or sound-bite from the famous couple.

* * *

Ann and Sterling were already in a government shuttle, boosting for orbit while they watched the press conference on the holo-vision. "They sound disappointed," Sterling observed softly.

"They sound pissed," Ann corrected. "That looks like a New Brazilian dire-wolf pack in a feeding frenzy."

"Glad we missed it," Sterling said as he sat back. "I radioed ahead for Denise to get ready to boost out of here as soon as we're aboard."

"Good. I want as much space as I can get between us and those reporters."

The ship was sitting with her engines at hot-standby when they arrived fifty minutes later. It took all ten members of their ConfedSec detail to get them through the reporters who were waiting at the ship. More than a hundred men and women were blocking the access way, demanding that Ann or Sterling tell them something.
Anything!
Balder was at the ship's hatch and let them aboard, then slammed the hatch closed.

"Damn, Cap'n, that was as close to being in a riot as I ever want to get."

"Agreed," Ann said as she looked out at the port. She hit the companel button for the control room and said, "Denise, tell the port authorities to close the port-side door."

"Yes, ma'am," Denise replied. The pressure door that sealed the port began to close to the accompaniment of warning sirens, klaxons, and flashing lights. The doors were designed to close slowly in normal conditions to let everyone stand clear, but someone had hit the emergency sequence. Less than a second later the door was closed.

Ann hit the com-panel button again and said, "Depressurize the docking port and push us away from the dock. How long till our departure window?"

"Forty-six minutes."

"Is that an arm?" Sterling asked as he stared at the port.

Balder looked and nodded. "Looks like."

Ann stepped back and closed her eyes. "Please tell me that it's not in uniform."

Balder looked closely and shook his head. "Not unless someone has started issuing blue uniforms with red pinstripes."

Ann looked at Sterling and then turned away without saying a word.

Denise was in communication with Port Stewart control when they arrived in the Control room. "We understand, Port Stewart. We are holding position ten meters from the dock." She turned and addressed Ann as soon as she saw her. "A reporter was caught by the port-side door and lost an arm, ma'am."

"We saw," Ann answered in a soft voice.

"We've been instructed to maintain our position while Port Security investigates."

"Noted. We're going to go change. Keep us apprised of any developments." Ann led Sterling out of control and to their stateroom. "Lords of Space, what a mess."

Sterling didn't bother to say anything. He just started rubbing Ann's neck, kneading the muscles on her shoulders to work away some of the tension he found there. "It was the port-side door that got him, not us. If anyone is to blame, it's those vultures out there."

"I know, but it's still partially our fault. If we had just stopped-"

Sterling interrupted her. "They never would have let us go, Ann," he murmured in her ear. "We could have stood there for a week and they still would have been shouting
'just one more question'
at us."

"I know. I've seen the President mobbed like that, but I still can't help but feel partially responsible."

They were changed and in Control when the port contacted them again. "
Admiral Ann's Revenge
, this is Port Stewart Control. You are cleared to depart. Surveillance cameras show that the man in question was pushed down by another reporter. That woman is now in custody awaiting trial for assault and attempted murder. Your departure window is in seven point three minutes. Port Stewart Control, out."

The connection went dead, and Ann sat back. "Navigator, First Mate, you heard the man. Let's not miss our window."

The entire crew of the
Revenge
monitored the Georgia System News Net as they boosted out of the system. With the crew of the
Revenge
out of reach, the reporters turned like a beast that devours its own wounded and focused on the injured reporter and the woman who'd pushed him. The crew sat watching and listening in silence as a story of love, hate, and competition unraveled. Something else happened six hours later to draw the reporters' attention, and their injured colleague was forgotten in the face of a fresh story.

N
EW FRANKFURT WAS A WELCOME ISLAND
of calm when they arrived. They were directed to DA-CC Dock Rhineland once again, and opened the portside access with some trepidation.

Only one person awaited them. "Captain Stevenson, I am Bettina Von Rubin-"

"Mom!"
Katrina squealed as she burst from the ship and into her mother's arms. Mother and daughter held on tightly as they rocked back and forth, murmuring to one another for a few minutes before Katrina eased her grip. Turning a brilliant smile on her captain, she said, "Captain Ann, this is my mom, Bettina Von Rubenstein."

Ann chuckled as she stepped forward and said, "I am pleased to finally meet you," as she stuck out her hand.

Bettina took Ann's hand and shook it, then bowed her head. "Thank you for taking care of her."

Ann smiled and bowed her head in return. "She didn't need much taking care of. You raised her very well."

Bettina nodded. "I wanted her to be an independent woman, but I think she went a bit overboard. Come, I have a shuttle to take us down to the planet. Alexandra and Brandon have been fighting for control of DA-CC, and it has turned ugly." She looked at Katrina and shook her head. "Your father is trying to claim authority over your portion of Frisland and use it to regain control of DA-CC."

"Like hell he will," Katrina snarled, startling her mother. "That fatheaded bastard
disinherited
me! The only thing he'll get from me is the thousand credits he left on my chip. Maybe. He will
not
get control of my portion of Farflung."

Bettina frowned. "Katrina, he is still your father, and you-" Katrina cut her off.

"Mom, he disinherited me. He as good as said,
'You are no longer my daughter.'
He may have conveniently forgotten that little fact, but I haven't. I also haven't forgotten that he sent me to Nepal, knowing I'd run into Otto. If Captain Stevenson hadn't granted me Apprentice Spacer status on her ship I'd have been stranded there or forced to come home with my tail between my legs. The only people I would ever consider giving my proxy to are Captain Ann or Sterling. They are the ones who have been doing all the negotiating for rights in Farflung."

"Katrina, he is claiming that the documents disinheriting you were forged."

"No, Mom, they weren't. I have the originals. The ones he signed and put his DNA print on. The ones that stripped me of
everything
." Katrina stepped away from her mother. "The ones he meant to break me with."

"He will fight you."

"I'll kick his ass," Katrina snarled, startling her mother once again. "I was an adult when he disinherited me. I'm an adult now. And, perhaps more importantly, under the Articles of Confederation, as signed by the Constitutional Congress on Atlanta in 2487, I am an ambassador for the Farflung Star System, with full ambassadorial privilege and immunity. If dear old
Daddy
tries puffing himself up and starts throwing thunder and lightning at me, I'll file a complaint with the New Frankfurt Government."

Bettina, Ann, and Sterling were all staring at Katrina with the same expression. "When did you figure that out, Kat?" Sterling asked.

Katrina looked him in the eye, then blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "Bart figured it out."

Ann had to chuckle. "I'm not surprised that it was Bart who figured it out. I warned you he could be a scoundrel."

"True, Captain, but he's right. All of us have the same status." She turned toward her mother and smiled. "Not only that, but if I did the sums right, I'm richer than the whole Von Rubenstein family now. Father is
not
getting control of me or my share of Farflung."

Ann gave Sterling a questioning look then opened her com. "Denise, Kat is going planet-side with us. Order provisions from a caterer. Ship's account."

"Aye, ma'am," Denise answered, then they let Bettina lead them to the shuttle.

The DA-CC Executive Shuttle was even more luxurious than the government shuttle had been. Ann and Sterling were impressed, but Katrina was too caught up in the news her mother had brought to even notice. News of her family, her home, and, perhaps more importantly, the undercurrent of love that Bettina was conveying.

Bettina took them to Von Rubenstein House. "I would be pleased to host you while you are here, Ann. All of the children have moved out, and this place is too large for just the few of us who are left."

"Thank you, Bettina, but don't you think there might be trouble?" Ann asked.

"No. Brandon can't come out here. After his last temper tantrum I filed an injunction against him. The house is actually in the children's names." She looked at Katrina, and then shook her head. "Not all of them, however. He did that to hurt you."