The Stars Came Back (20 page)

Harbin: That’s how you keep wars small, prevent destroying another billion people
, laying waste to planets, and entice leadership onto the battlefield to be properly dealt with. Few politicians are willing to actually fight for their beliefs; shaming them into truly defending them forces a lot of them to back down on the
really
stupid shit and wise up. Not a perfect system, but it’s one way to keep some of the snollygosters honest, or at least sidelined.

Horkle: So why don’t they just not declare a war and use whatever they want?

Harbin: Because assassination and declaring war is a two way street, and there are
always
guys willing to hire out for the right price to settle a dispute, and many freelancers are as good or better than the government hires. Especially in governments run by cronyism and nepotism. Some folks forget the lessons of history, and it’s up to people like us to remind them from time to time. Bargain honestly, and a pol is safe, even if stupid. Not so honest, not so safe.

Sanchez: Would you assassinate someone like Darch’s dad?

Harbin: (Pauses thoughtfully then looks Sanchez in the eye as he stands next to Darch) Not really my decision; I don’t usually pick the contracts. From what I know of Councilor Darch, his policies are ineffective, expensive, counterproductive, self serving, anti-freedom, and often overturned. But he is technically honest in most of his dealings, even if he abuses the intent of the law while complying with the letter of it, so I would not accept a contract against him personally. At the current time.

Recruit Darch looks a bit shocked at the baldness of Harbin’s assessment.

Harbin: Many laws and rules are stupid, and with time you will learn which you can ignore, or bend, or work around, and which are essential. But to have no rules or principles is worse, and you guys are too young to really understand that. Just remember; if
I
tell you how to do something, IT IS THE WAY TO DO IT! We care about
what works
. Even if it’s something as simple as how to shit in an outhouse,
listen
and
remember
, because there
is
a reason for it!

Darch: (
Sarcastically) So how
do
you shit in an outhouse?

Harbin: (Flatly) Close the lid. Drop your gear. Open the lid. Shit. Wipe. Close the lid. Get your gear back on.

Harbin stares directly at Darch, whose smartass smile fades. As the giggling around him fades he realizes Harbin is quite serious, and Darch straightens up and his face goes blank, knowing he’s not making his life any better.

Harbin: So, let’s get started, and see how badly you can hurt yourself while trying to hurt your opponent.

DISSOLVE TO

A series of scenes as the recruits try various armor styles.

Recruits in normal camo fatigues, some of them spinning quarterstaffs are trying to show off and failing miserably because they are frequently dropping them or sending them flying. They start doing basic drills of parry, thrust, strike. Harbin briefly squares off against a recruit while the others watch. The recruit takes a big overhead swing down onto Harbin, who casually deflects it down and to the side, using its force to get his own staff spinning to bring it around blindingly fast and stop a moment before hitting the recruit’s head, holding it motionless. The recruit stares at it, then Harbin, recognizing how badly he could have been thumped. Harbin looks at him with a slight grin, and motions for him to try again.

CUT TO

The
recruits are running a simple obstacle course in high-tech body armor, carrying small packs, lots of gear and rifles along with belts and bandoleers of ammo. They are clearly struggling with the weight, bulk, and restrictions of the gear as they maneuver over simple low walls, through a slalom course of six-inch diameter posts set in the ground, and then swinging on a rope across a short gap. One of them trys to go between two posts and is stuck, hung up on his gear. Kaminski grabs him, pulls him back a bit, unhooks the gear caught on the post, turns him sideways so he is narrower, and pushes him gently through the gap.

CUT TO

Recruits
stand in two ranks wearing Romanesque armor with shields. Facing them, about twenty-five meters away, is a line of mannequins with shields. Kaminski steps up, hefts his pilum, takes a quick step, and tosses it forcefully. It makes a fast, low arc and buries itself in the shield, coming out the far side, just missing the dummy’s shoulder. Darch, next in line, takes a step forward, tries to throw it. It makes an awkward, flat arc, and lands, sideways and flat against the ground only two-thirds of the way to the target. Kaushik steps forward, and taking a quick stutter step throws his pilum. The arc is higher than Kaminski’s, not thrown as forcefully, but it comes down
thwak
into the shoulder of the target dummy, not the shield. He looks at Kaminski, does a friendly smile and small bow. Kaminski nods in friendly acknowledgment. Recruit Sanchez steps up and throws. It sails imperfectly through a high arc and the tip gouges in at an angle into the side of the face. Darch glowers at him, Kaminski claps him on the shoulder, and Harbin grins and nods approval.

CUT TO

Horkle and Darch run over to a port-a-potty off to the side of the training field. T
hey are still wearing the Romanesque armor. Darch hurriedly hands Horkle his spear and leans his shield against the side. He opens the door, and steps inside. There is the rattling of shifting gear, then a splash of something large. Horkle gets a huge smile, and he nearly doubles over, an expression of mirth covering his face.

Darch: (
After a long pause) Aaahhh, ssshhhiiiitttt.

Horkle: (
Stifling a laugh) Lid?

Darch: (
Angry) Oh, go stick it in a diseased donkey!

FADE TO BLACK

Plaque

F
ADE IN

EXT - DAY
- Ground near the stern of the ship

The ramp is down, the thick main cargo-bay doors are closed. Allonia and Helton are out for a walk around the ship together. It’s sunny and bright with the sun at a low angle. Helton is wearing
his pistol belt, and his normal functional clothes. Allonia wears a conservative calf-length skirt and blouse in solid colors and embroidery, and her hair is in a thick braid. The camera follows them from a distance as they head for the ramp, zooming in slowly. Their conversation is inaudible, but their smiles and quiet laughter are easygoing and friendly. They reach the foot of the ramp.

CUT TO

Much closer view of them from the top of the ramp as they walk up it. Allonia
’s gaze casually shifts around and wanders up into the area above the ramp, in the corner near where the inner door meets the sidewall. She looks curiously at it.

Allonia: What’s that?

Helton: What’s what?

He looks at her to see where she’s looking, and follows her gaze up to the area above.

INSET
- View of the corner. In it there is a brassy patch of metal with many rows and columns of small marks on it.

Helton: Huh. Looks like writing.

INSET -Close-up of a tarnished brass plaque. There are rows and columns of etched names. Most are in English, but there are also Cyrillic, Japanese, Hindi, Korean, Hebrew, and a scattering of other alphabets. Hundreds and hundreds of them. A few have ranks next to them, such as “Capt” or “SGT.”

Allonia: Who are all those people? Or, who were they?

Helton: Hmmm…
I’d guess former crew and complement. Some ships have a placard to commemorate people who have served on it. Have to look some of them up.

Allonia: That’s a lot of people. This ship must have been around a
long
time to have
that
many serve on her.

Helton: Indeed. I’m sure she has some history to her. I’ll see if Lag can find out anything about it
. Maybe those names, too.

FADE TO BLACK

Power Bill

F
ADE IN

EXT - DAY
- Cargo bay ramp

SGT
Kaushik and three recruits are on guard duty, standing casually. They all wear light armor and carry light rifles. A small vehicle comes down the road from the direction of the spaceport, kicking up dust.

Kaushik: Port arms, gents, look sharp. McKibben, wipe your chin! Disgus
ting habit, that. Better. Mag and chamber check. All good? Safeties? OK. Not so close, spread out! Horkle, aren’t you supposed to be by the side door?! MOVE IT! Shish…

As he talks, the recruits respond, McKibben removing a wad of chewing tobacco and Horkle running for the side door.
A spaceport security vehicle pulls up carrying Seeless and a uniformed officer. Kaushik steps up to side with Seeless, holding up his hand to tell him to stay in the vehicle. Seeless hands him an e-reader.

Seeless: You have
twenty-four hours to pay the bill, or we shut power off again.

Kaushik: I’ll make sure Helton gets it. Now get lost.

Seeless smiles sinisterly, and nods to the officer to drive away. They roar off.

Kaushik: One thing you’ll learn, guys, is there are shitheads like that everywhere. Usually, you can’t just shoot ‘em. The next best thing is to launch about five megatons of lawyering or a platoon of accountants at them. Here, Sanchez, double
time this up to Helton, and inform LT Kat… Different port, same stupid games.

DISSOLVE TO

INT -
DAY - Officers’ Mess

Helton and Kat sit discussing the information on the e-reader Seeless gave them.

Helton: 117,000?!

Kat:
And change. That’s what it says.

Helton: That’s ridiculous!

Kat: According to this, the previous bill you paid was just to get the power reconnected, not to pay off the full balance.

Helton: No wonder it keeps changing hands in card games. I don’t have that much.

Kat: It’s a hunk, alright. And if I’m reading this right, that’s just the first installment.

Helton: WHAT!

Kat: I think… I think that this will take some digging in to by a specialist. I might know just the guy.

Helton: But this says power gets cut tomorrow if we don’t pay up.

Kat: Yes, I see that. I’ll see what I can do at the legal side.

Helton:
Guess it’s time to see how Stenson is coming along on getting primary power up and online.

Kat:
Primary
? I wouldn’t think it possible with stuff this old.

Helton: When it comes to machines, Stenson is
the man
. It might be feasible without having to cut everything out and replace it. Good a time as any to find out.

DISSOLVE TO

INT -
DAY - Engineering

Stenson is leaning halfway into a tube near the back of engineering. Helton stands nearby trying to see what he’s doing. Stenson’s voice
echoes hollowly out.

Stenson: Pretty good, actually. A couple of days, if all goes well. ‘Course, I’m still trying to figure out where half the power we are drawing
is actually
going
, which should have been done a couple of days ago, but…

Helton: You can’t account for
half
of the power we are sucking in through the shore wire?

Stenson: Nope. At first I thought it was the bogus port meter trying to screw us, but that wasn’t it. Yet another mystery to solve. Doesn’t seem to be causing any problems that I can detect… But, as I keep telling the new guys, “fix one problem at a time that you
can fix,
then
worry about the ones you can’t.” At least we don’t have to wear helmets anymore. Ah,
there
. That’s got it.

He pops back out of the tube, sweaty and dirty.

Stenson: Power moves to the top of the heap.

FADE TO BLACK

F
ADE IN

INT
- DAY - Bridge

Helton stands at the command station, Stenson in the main pilot station, Lag at the copilot station. SGT Kaushik stands at one
side station, Allonia at the other, and Quinn stands wide-eyed next to the door to watch it all. The forward window shows the spaceport, side screens various readouts.

Stenson: Power looks OK. Stable, anyway. All landing struts read
green.