Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane (66 page)

“Bastet?”

“The suit AI,” the Admiral said in a tone that bode no more
questions. Riley nodded. “Don't ask, classified.” Riley frowned but then nodded
again.

“Sir, can we make more suits like his?”

“No,” the Admiral replied. “Not anytime soon. That's even beyond
my abilities for now,” he said with a shrug. “So take good care of it and
Jethro. Don't ever let anyone else try to use the suit. It will self destruct
if that happens,” he said.

Riley's eyes widened. “I'll make certain that never happens sir,”
he said.

“Good man. Carry on,” the Admiral said, waving as he left.

He waited as he stepped over three knee knockers before curiosity
for once got the better of him. “Nothing to add Sprite?” he asked.

When there was no response he frowned. “Commander?” He stopped,
now concerned. “Lieutenant Commander Sprite report,” he barked. He hit the
initiate key on his HUD.

“I'm awake,” Sprite said. “Just assimilating all that. I couldn't
see what you did. Defender blocked some of it, so I couldn't copy the files.”

“They are encrypted,” the Admiral said.

“I see. So what did you do?”

“I reset Bast. She's now impressing onto the sergeant. So far so
good.”

“So far so good?”

“Yes. He's alive,” the Admiral replied, now moving out again.

“Oh,” Sprite replied. “That's helpful,” she said thoughtfully.

The Admiral nodded. “And about all you are going to get
Commander. Even I have my limits. Just be glad you witnessed it, and...”

“And don't ever tell anyone. Or comment about it. It is under the
strictest of classification seals,” Defender interjected.

“What he said,” the Admiral sighed.

“I'm not certain I know what I saw,” Sprite replied dryly. “But,
in this instance, I'll take your word for it,” she said.

 <----*----*----*---->

The Admiral shook hands with Captain Mayweather when they had made
good on their drive and structural repairs. None of the ships were anywhere
near what he considered combat ready, but at least they were functional as
ships once more. The crews were still at work tearing into them, making repairs
as needed.

“I'm proud of you Captain, you've taught your people well,” he
said with a smile of approval.

"Thank you sir. And thank you for the parts. I'm sure Harris
on Damocles will finally appreciate getting a hyperdrive. Maybe next time we
can bring him along for the ride."

"Maybe," the Admiral replied with a small smile. He had
stuffed the ships with parts. He was tired, in need of some down time, but
feeling good about the situation. Things were definitely looking up.

“So, what now Admiral?” she asked. “You know I've got orders from
a certain
civilian
authority to bring you back to Pyrax,” she said with
a wink.

“And I can guess from who, Governor Walker. Fortunately, he isn't
in your chain of command,” the Admiral replied mildly. They both exchanged a
brief smirk. “Consider them countermanded Commander,” he said.

She nodded in reply.

“Anything else?”

“Well, it's election year,” she said, smiling broadly now. “Governor
Walker has his hands full since he for some reason has rather poor poll numbers
right now,” she said.

“I wonder why,” Sprite said dryly. “Competition? Not that anyone
wants the job,” she said in disgust.

“Surprisingly, station Governor, and current Lieutenant Governor
Enrique Salazar has thrown his hat in the ring. Officially we can't endorse or
back him, but he's got my vote,” Renee said with a shrug. “Better the devil you
know than the slime ball currently in office.”

“Trading one for the other. Gee where have I seen that before?”
Sprite asked. “I'm surprised he's sticking his neck out though. The way
politics are played in Pyrax, he's liable to get it chopped off,” she said.

“He hasn't yet,” Renee replied as the Admiral waved her to a seat.
They both sat. He picked up a cup of coffee and sipped at it. “But then again,
there are six months to go. Or were before we left,” she said, picking up her
own cup.

“By the time we get back it should be all over but the crying and
lawsuits come to think of it,” she said with a grin.

“One battle at a time,” Irons replied softly.

“That particular battle I'm glad to have missed,” the Captain
replied with feeling. “Though it might have been fun to have watched it,”
Firefly said.

“Yeah, from the sidelines,” Irons replied. Irons, Mayweather, and
Sprite chuckled.

“So, from your report things have frozen in the yard?”

“Yes sir,” Renee said, taking a sip of coffee and then cradling the
cup. “We haven't been able to resolve the replicators issue. Fortunately you
stockpiled a lot of materials and spares and Commander Logan has been a miser
with that right now.”

He nodded. The fabricators were a problem. Prometheus and the
other ships that had been under construction had been taken as far as possible
then mothballed. They had built as many modules for other ships as they could
until Logan had shut the effort down.

Logan had instead switched to infrastructure and frame components.
He hadn't thought of the end run the Horathian's had come up with, but it might
have occurred to him eventually. Instead he had taken the stations to
monumental numbers.

“I've been thinking and talking with Firefly,” the Admiral said
thoughtfully. “Part of the problem is the rank level. We can do a partial fix
right now. I seem to recall Firefly is a Commander.”

“Yes,” Firefly replied.

“It's been seven hundred years Commander. I think a promotion due
to grade is long overdue,” the Admiral said simply, setting his cup down.

Renee raised an eyebrow in surprise. Slowly she nodded. Irons
turned to her. She stiffened. “And I believe, you've commanded Firefly in
exemplary fashion in two combat engagements. I've read the report and spoken to
Firefly. I think a promotion is also in order,” he said. "Firefly
concurred."

“Admiral? Two captains on one ship?” Firefly asked.

“That is why Commander Mayweather is getting her battlefield
promotion first. She will then have you by date of rank." He looked to the
ship AI who nodded. "If anything crops up, I expect you two to work it
out,” he replied mildly. “The same for Horatio. Firefly is stationed in Pyrax
but Horatio is the system Commander, even though you two have him by rank. Work
it out. Don't play games with him or you'll piss
me
off,” he said
mildly.

“Aye sir.”

“We'll have a ceremony later. When we have time,” he said. “Until
then,” he pulled out a small case from his pocket as he stood. Captain
Mayweather lunged to her feet. “Attention on deck,” Sprite said.

“Commander Renee Mayweather, for your heroism and leadership in
the battle of Antigua against overwhelming odds, I Fleet Admiral Irons hereby
award you the medal of Valor. Wear it in good health,” he said, pinning it to
her lapel.

“Thank you sir,” Mayweather said. “I don't know what to say, I was
just doing my duty,” she murmured.

“Exactly,” the Admiral replied. He saluted her. She returned the
salute.

“Now that that is over with,” he said, waving a hand to her bridge
door. She nodded and followed him out.

On the bridge she stared. The crew were in formal uniform,
standing at attention. Irons smiled. “A bit overdone, but this works,” he said.

“Attention to orders!” Sprite intoned over the PA.

Irons came to attention. Commander Firefly's avatar and Captain
Mayweather did as well. Irons turned to Captain Mayweather. “Commander
Mayweather. A moment ago you were given the medal of valor. That authorizes me
to promote you out of the zone to Junior Captain's rank as a battlefield
promotion,” he said, pulling another small black box out of his pocket.

Mayweather lifted her chin, but her eyes shined slightly as he
took her Commander's rank off her collar and replaced them with the junior
Captain's rank. He placed his hand on her temple briefly.

Mayweather's eyes flared wide briefly until she felt data surge
into her implants. Encrypted data she realized. He was updating her firmware,
authorizing her rank and giving her control keys.

“When you go to bed tonight you will wake tomorrow a new woman in
a small way Captain,” the Admiral murmured. “I've sent you orders and
information. Read it over carefully,” he said. She nodded.

He stepped back and saluted her. She returned the salute sharply.

Irons marched to the AI's avatar. “Commander Firefly, for duty
above and beyond anything any of us dreamed, for time in service I Fleet Admiral
John Henry Irons due oversee and authorize your long overdue promotion to
junior Captain,” Irons said. He reached out and touched the avatar's command
pips. The rank glowed briefly, changing to those of a Captain junior grade.

“That should solve the Captain issue as well,” the Admiral said.
“Since Captain Mayweather has you by date of rank,” he said with a smile.

“Yeah, by a whole two minutes,” Sprite teased.

“It works,” Irons said. He turned. “Carry on,” he ordered. The
crew returned to their duties.

The two captains studied the document that appeared on the HUDs.
Firefly knew it already, and being an AI he dutifully scanned it and then
returned to duty. Captain Mayweather took a little more time to absorb it and
its impact.

When she bedded down tonight, like the Admiral had told her, her
firmware would reset with the new rank. With that rank came certain
responsibilities. The Admiral had uploaded a set of control keys to the
Captain’s level three implants. This would allow her to use Firefly's
replicators to make basic warheads, more parts for the ship, and authorize
basic components in other replicators for other ships. With Firefly's
concurrence of course.

Tonight when the AI went on his down time the AI would go through
a budding and growing session as he incorporated the changes to his core the Admiral
had uploaded. He too would be changed in the morning once he woke. Irons wryly
smiled at this.

“Lieutenant Commander Sprite, Lieutenant Defender, Junior Captain
Firefly, witness and register for the records please,” he intoned carefully. “I
Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons do promote Commander Horatio Logan to Junior
Captain rank for his service in the star system Pyrax as its nominal ranking
officer.”

“So noted,” each of the AI replied.

“I can't give Captain Logan his firmware update now, being out of
contact, but will do so at my earliest opportunity.”

“Also noted.”

“Carry on then,” Irons replied.

<----*----*----*---->

Sprite had gone through the various logs Firefly had uploaded to
her. The Admiral was still far too busy to read them in any depth, but he did
take the time to scan her abstract. He skimmed the records of Pyrax, and
uploaded orders and suggestions, as well as a copy of his own notes, log and
tutorials he had made over the past three and a half years.

He found that Pyrax had gotten intel of other raiding fleets from
other intelligence sources including the raid on Antigua. That raid didn't
surprise him, the outcome and the pirate numbers involved had however. Captain
Mayweather had done an outstanding job, a near suicidal attack. But the ships,
and the sudden escalation by the pirates worried him immensely.

Clearly Horath had been busy. Something had to be done to stop
them. Something soon. He was tempted to try a direct attack, but the distance
involved, the lack of manpower, lack of intel, and the ships damage... no. It
was best to hold up somewhere and rebuild, then forge the weapon properly.

He nodded in passing as he made his way through the ship.

Firefly had provided him with a report about some of their
adventures, including the marine drop on Agnosta, and the capture of the
pirates there. They have a forward supply and marine training base in Agnosta,
and recruiting posts at Gaston and Seti Alpha 4 now. All three-satellite bases
were growing steadily, and all three needed defending.

“Antigua was quite different Admiral,” Firefly said as he entered
the wardroom.

“Now you're reading my mind Captain?” Irons asked dryly.

“Excuse me?” the ship AI asked, momentarily confused. Sprite
chuckled.

“Never mind. You were saying,” he asked as he took a seat.

“Admiral, Antigua has changed. They were hit, not as bad as what
you've told us about Hidoshi and the other worlds, but bad enough. Thousands
dead on the station and on the planet.”

“I see,” the Admiral said softly.

“They've turned over a new leaf. We've left them a lot of ships
and a skeleton crew to grow around. I know Commander Logan, excuse me; Captain
Logan was planning on sending a relief mission to send supplies and to recall
Fuentes. I have a personal message from Governor Randall to you sir,” Captain
Mayweather said, looking him in the eye. “He wants you back sir. He's
apologizing for what he did, and is desperate for you to return.”