Inadvertent Adventures (41 page)

Denise was chuckling as she finalized the message to the
Coelacanth
. "All data has been sent, Captain."

"Very well," Ann replied. "You have the ship. I'm hungry."

Denise replied, "Aye, Ma'am, I have the ship," as Ann and Sterling left Control.

K
ATRINA WAS SPENDING MOST OF HER
time in her lab, and Bart had appointed himself her assistant when he wasn't on watch. The shuttle expeditions had collected over three thousand samples of plant and animal life, and she had to determine if any of them posed a hazard to the human settlers.

Bart had been taking computer-taught classes in chemistry and biology for over two years, ever since Kat had come on board as a matter of fact. He'd always had eclectic tastes in the things he wanted to know, and he'd decided that he wanted to know Katrina, so he studied what interested her. It gave him a good excuse to spend more time with her than he otherwise would have been able to justify.

"Bart, what do you see in sample thirty-one-twenty-five?" she asked without looking up from her binocular microscope.

Bart looked at the slaved video display and frowned. "It's crystalline. That's not a biological."

"Yep," Katrina murmured. "It's a piece of clear crystal from Johan's north shore." She smiled because she'd named several of the Von Rubenstein Islands after her siblings. "I picked it up because it's so pretty."

"What does the spectrometer say it is?" Bart asked as he read what data there was on the rock.

"I haven't run it yet," Katrina muttered. "I've got a huge backlog of samples."

"Want me to do it?" Bart asked, and was pleased by the smile that curved Katrina's lips even though she didn't look up.

"Please. I've got to get back to the plants from Carter. So far we've only found that one plant that's toxic, but there may be others. Then I've got all the samples from the other landmasses to check."

Bart chuckled as he walked over and picked up the sample. Katrina turned toward him and reached out, running her fingers across his cheek in a feather-soft caress that sent his pulse racing.

"Kat, I-" he began, but stopped himself.

"I do too, Bart," she replied, deciding for herself what she'd wanted him to say. When he looked into her eyes, she moved closer and kissed him. It was just a light brushing of lips, but it meant so very much to both of them.

"Kat, I've wanted to-I know you're from a wealthy family, but-"

Katrina smiled and moved into his embrace, resting her head on his chest and just listening to his heartbeat for a moment. "Bart, we're
both
wealthier than my family now. Farflung is worth more than all of DA-CC. It may take a generation to realize that wealth, but the potential is there."

Bart let his arms go around Katrina, and now he held her to his chest and pressed his face into the top of her head. He murmured, "I love you," and felt her embrace tighten.

"You're the first man to ever say that to me and mean it. Everyone else has been in love with my father's money." She looked up at him and smiled. "It's so nice to finally hear it."

Bart looked into her eyes and leaned down, kissing her slowly, as if in a dream, because it was a dream come true for him. Their lips parted and he felt her questing tongue brush his. A low moan escaped from him, and was echoed by her.

They finally pulled apart, but their eyes remained locked. "Kat, I want to-" Bart began, but she silenced him with her fingers.

"Later, my love. Later. For now, we have to get back to work. But tonight-" She smiled and almost giggled at his expression. "I hope you don't think I'm a virgin."

"I know. Otto," Bart began, but his voice trailed off.

"Not Otto. I don't count him. I had some boyfriends at university, a few of them serious."

Bart shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I mean, I'm not either." He grinned and cocked his head to the side, and now Katrina did giggle.

"I know. Mandy told me." She giggled again at his expression. "Oh, Bart, of course we compared notes. Don't tell me you men don't do it."

Bart shook his head as laughter won out over embarrassment. "Oh, Lords of Space, I should have known."

Katrina smiled. "Yes, you should have. Now run that sample, please. I'm not getting my hopes up, but I have a suspicion about it."

"What suspicion?" he asked.

"Run it."

Bart took the crystal and placed it in the x-ray spectrometer, and keyed in a broad-band analysis command. He had his answer in just a few minutes. "Carbon. Carbon?" he asked as he looked at Katrina. She looked as excited as he'd ever seen her.

"That's it?" she asked in a breathy whisper. "Just carbon?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"
Diamond
, dunce!" she finally laughed, then laughed more at his expression.

He looked at the spectrograph and removed the crystal. "I spent-this is huge! It must weigh three or four grams."

"Yes," Katrina replied. "And there are thousands of them on the beaches of the Von Rubenstein Islands."

Bart took the crystal and held it up to the light. "I never imagined I'd hold something like this in my hand," he whispered. He was silent for a moment, then smiled as he said, "It's the second most precious thing I've ever held."

"The second?" Katrina asked. "What was the first?"

Bart smiled, then reached out and put an arm around her. "You."

* * *

Kat and Bart waited until supper to announce their findings. "Captain," Katrina said as she wiped her mouth, "we found something interesting in the samples from the Von Rubensteins."

"Oh? What's so interesting that it bears special notice among all the other interesting finds from Frisland?" Ann asked with a smile.

Katrina pulled the diamond from her pocket and pushed it over to Ann. "This crystal."

Ann picked it up and examined it closely, then handed it to Sterling. "Quartz?" she asked.

Katrina grinned. "Diamond."

Her announcement caught Sterling by surprise, and he almost dropped it. "A diamond?" he asked as he looked at the crystal.

"The x-ray spectrometer says it's pure carbon," Katrina continued. Everyone around the table was staring at the diamond now.

"How did diamonds get on your islands, Kat?" Mandy asked as she stared at the crystal.

"Diamonds are formed in deep, high-pressure volcanoes. The Von Rubenstein Islands are the remnants of big, really old volcanoes. Captain," Katrina paused dramatically, "I saw
thousands
of those crystals. Some clear like that one. Some different colors. A lot were opaque. We have pretty baubles, but we have industrial diamonds as well."

Mandy had finally been allowed to hold the big diamond and shook her head. "There's something wrong with someone who can call something like this a bauble."

"’Tis pretty, I agree," Harriet said as she looked at the crystal in Mandy's hand, "but I take Katrina's meaning as well. Mining and drilling need industrial diamonds. In the long run, 'twill probably be the industrial diamonds that earn more than the jewels."

Mandy shook her head and handed the diamond to Harriet. "I'm going to sort a bunch of rocks from Carter and see what I can find."

"I'm sure we all will," Ann said, "but I agree that it's the existence of these diamonds that is the real news. Once we establish a metals industry, we'll be able to make our own diamond bits for mineral exploration and exploitation. And," she smiled at Katrina, "we'll be able to export them back to the rest of the Confederacy. The pretty ones at least. Diamonds have been found on just about every planet, but they are still precious. Four or five like that one," she nodded at the gem in her mother's hand, "could buy the
Revenge
."

T
HE NEXT MONTH WAS FULL OF
minor crises, all of which Ann and Sterling handled with ease. It was no harder for Ann than managing a battle-group, and Sterling acted in the capacity of first mate more than vice president.

The mining operations were in full swing on Clementine and Leander, and nine universities from four systems had sent scientific expeditions to explore Frisland. Several of them had flown blind, hoping that Ann would grant them permission to study the planet once they arrived. Ann, and the rest of the Farflung Government, hadn't quibbled at all.

The building of the Harriet Fairmont Space Port was going according to schedule until chance had seen both Harriet and Captain Milligan off the
Narcissus
. The only warning anyone had was a general broadcast of, "All ships! All ships! All ships! This is
Narciss
-" the transmission cut off suddenly. A moment later, a different voice took over the broadcast.

"This is the
Narcissus
, Captain Ryan commanding," a heavily accented voice said on the same broadcast frequency. "As of now, Clan Ryan of New Erin is in control of your space port."

Mandy shared a look with Bart, then hit the ship-wide announcing system. "Captain to Control. First Mate to Control. There is a mutiny in progress aboard the
Narcissus
."

Ann and Sterling arrived moments later, trailed by Harriet. "I have the ship. Details," Ann demanded as Mandy stood to relinquish control to Ann.

"The captain has the ship, Aye," Mandy answered. "We caught part of an emergency broadcast from the
Narcissu
s. It was cut off and replaced by this." She looked at Bart and he played the recording of the broadcast that the
Revenge
had automatically made when the emergency band was detected.

Ann's expression closed down, freezing for a moment. Then she turned to Sterling and said, "Mister Stevenson, take the helm. Mister Roberts, plot an intercept course to bring us within two kilometers of the
Narcissus
. Miss Carter, take the weapons station."

"Weapons, Annie?" Harriet asked softly.

"Mother, please leave Control," Ann replied. "At this point the
Narcissus
is still a ship, and those men are in mutiny. As such, they are condemned."

"Annie, you'll no be blowing me ship apart."

Ann turned and faced her mother squarely. "Mother, leave Control. I will give those men every opportunity to surrender, but I cannot have you questioning my orders."

Harriet took a deep breath, then nodded and turned away. She muttered, "Jus' like yer father, always too busy," as she closed the hatch.

"Mister Stevenson?" Ann asked.

"Course set, Ma'am," Sterling answered.

Ann pressed a stud on her control panel and the announcement of,
"Prepare for acceleration. All personnel prepare for acceleration in one minute,"
echoed through the ship. Sterling and the rest of the Control Room crew belted themselves into their chairs in anticipation and waited. At the one minute point, Ann gave her next order.

"Mister Stevenson, secure ship's rotation."

Sterling answered, "Secure ship's rotation, aye," and his fingers began flying across his controls. A rumble, felt more than heard, rolled through the ship as Sterling's commands triggered the maneuvering thrusters. The apparent gravity faded slowly until they were weightless. "Ship's rotation secured, Ma'am," Sterling unnecessarily announced.

"Very well," Ann answered. "Engage thrusters to take us to the
Narcissus
."

"Aye, Ma'am. Firing thrusters to reduce our velocity in order to catch up to the
Narcissus
." Thrusters fired, slowing the ship in order to reduce their orbit. The ship's architecture shifted to point down toward the main engines once again. When they had slowed enough to acquire a ten-thousand kilometer per hour overtake on the
Narcissus
, he secured his thrusters just long enough to flip the ship, then began a slow acceleration back up to the geostationary ship.

It took three hours to accomplish the maneuver, but soon the
Narcissus
was looming over the
Revenge
. When they were stable, Ann ordered, "Hail the
Narcissus
."

"Aye, Ma'am," Sterling answered. "
Narcissus
, this is the Farflung System Security Vessel
Admiral Ann's Revenge
. Acknowledge, please."

The main view screen was slaved to communications, and Ann found herself facing a round-faced cherub of a man with a ruddy complexion, red hair, and brilliant green eyes. "
Admiral Ann's Revenge
, this is
Narcissus
. Wha' does ye want?"

Ann remained seated as she asked, "Are you Captain Ryan?"

"I am," the man agreed with a satisfied smile.

"Mister Ryan, you are in mutiny against the owner and captain of the ship
Narcissus
. As such, you are subject to summary execution."

The cherub grinned. "Ye wouldn' dare, lass."

Ann's expression didn't change at all as she ordered, "Miss Carter, energize your weapons. Target the control room and habitat."

Mandy didn't look around as she answered, "Energizing fore and aft gamma ray laser arrays, targeting the
Narcissus'
Control Room and Habitat section."

The cherub didn't look as happy now as he said, "Ye wouldn't dare."

Ann looked straight at his image and replied, "Mutineer, you are condemned under the Confederate Charter and the laws of the Farflung System. You have one minute to surrender."

"Who do you think yer messing with?" the man demanded as he sat forward. "I am Darby Ryan, of the New Belfast Ryans of New Erin." Ann's eyebrows rose a little. That made the man smile evilly. "Ye've heard of us, I see."

"Aye, that I have," Ann answered, surprising him. Ann keyed the ship wide announcing system to life and said, "Mom, come to Control."

The Control Room door opened immediately. "Yes, Captain Annie?" she asked as she floated to Ann's side.

"Mom, this fine gentleman is Darby Ryan, of the New Belfast Ryans."

Harriet looked at the man, and her expression made him move back from his own monitor in spite of the kilometers of space between them. "Yer a Ryan, a child o' Murtagh and Shanna Ryan?" she asked in a dangerous tone.