Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Miami Pete 40

In case you are interested in reading this from the beginning:


Thanks for reading!


"Capitan, Comm for you from Capitan Ceryl of the Shadow King."  Came the voice from the speaker in my quarters.  It was Shelly's voice, but it was the middle of the night.  Well, there really is no "night" in space - or maybe it's more correct to say there is no day - but human beings learned long ago that not breaking up time in day and night cycles can lead to all sorts of mental issues.  I don't sleep anywhere near as much as other people do but I do occasionally sleep.  For once I really was sleeping.

One of the things that Morganite Fleet Ops does well is how they sync the day/night cycles of the ships in the fleet.  So, when more than one ships get together to form a unit, all it takes is a bit of adjustment to put them back into sync.  Hauley was synced with Admiral Thomas' fleet, so when I got to the Unchained Fury Settlement, we adjusted something like 164.2 seconds to sync up, and it was less than a second when we formed up with the families' fleet.  So I knew Capitan Ceryl knew she was calling in what passed for the middle of the night.

"I'll take it in my quarters Shelly."  I said.

"It's encrypted, sorry Capitan, it'll take me a few seconds to get this set up."  Shelly replied.

Encrypted?  Of course it was.  All the families' fleet comms were encrypted.  And they were moved to a laser data-grid as soon as we saw the Morganite fleet show up and start shooting, so Shelly reminding me seemed odd.  Unless...

"OK Capitan, I have this set up in a private channel with a revolving encryption as per Capitan Ceryl's request.  Whenever you are ready Capitan."

"Put her through Shelly, thanks!"  Private channel with revolving encryption?  This must be serious.

"Good morning Capitan Ceryl.  What can I do for you?"  I asked.

"Capitan, we have a problem."  Capitan Ceryl said.  "I've had Goose very carefully working on securely contacting a sensor pod network my family has stationed closer into the station.  The station is dead, but the enemy fleet is still taking pot shots at it.  The problem is, there are a number of destroyers and frigates that we saw with the Morgan...  The enemy fleet when they arrived that the sensor pods can't seem to find."

"Ceryl, if they see that pod network, they'll know someone is out here watching.  How could you be so reckless?"  

"Sorry Capitan, I should have said.  The sensor pods are stealth pods that my family has been developing.  They are tiny, and highly camouflaged.  Practically invisible.  They are connected using a laser system similar to what we're using, but with a finer beam.  They are almost undetectable, and as far as I know, the enemy doesn't even know the project exists, let alone that we have already have prototypes deployed.  If I wasn't sure they're safe, I would have set them all to self-destruct."

I didn't like it, but other than these kids saying I was in charge, there wasn't an official power structure in place, so they didn't feel like they needed to get my permission for anything.  I would need to either reign that in or accept it for what it was.  Geran probably didn't know just how much he undermined my authority with the rest with his petty targeting of his little sister.  Not that there was anything I could do about it at the time.  There is a reason that fleet commanders pick the biggest, baddest ship in a fleet as their flagship.  It keeps everyone honest.

"So, either a bunch of destroyers and frigates left, or we have incoming."  I said.

"Yes, the Pepper is working on deciphering where they are and how many, but they lost contact with the pod network when we bugged out, so their control of the network is still propagating.  These things are pretty amazing, but it takes a while to get them to come on line because of the stealth.

"You could have contacted me through the normal network, why all the extra encryption?"  I asked.

"Capitan, the Tonamann family and the Cox family don't exactly get along.  Well, I like Tessa Cox, and  I think my little brother Julius, Capitan of the Ground Thumper, was sweet on her.  You know, before the accident."

"What accident?  You realize I'm an outsider here, I'm not privy to everything that's happened."

Ceryl Sighed. "Well, I guess this line is as secure as we could make it.  About a year ago, Geran Cox decided to test his siblings, so he lobbed some kinetics at them.  Small ones, big enough to cause damage, but supposedly not big enough to destroy a ship.  The kinetics pretty much bounced off the destroyers.  It did put a small hole in the Efreet, and Cecil did lose a couple crewmembers, but not the ship.  Linda moved her Box of Rocks out of the way in time, which really pissed Geran off.  Poor Tessa wasn't so lucky.  The Gladway was severely damaged.  She lost most of her crew and Tessa herself was severely injured.  Geran said it was because Tessa was incompetent and went in for the kill.  Julius put his Ground Thumper in the way, covering the Gladway while Linda evacuated the crew of the Gladway on the Box of Rocks."

"He tried to kill his own sister?"  I gasped.

"Yes, and the Cox's are crazy.  Their father sided with Geran and refused Tessa medical care.  As far as we can figure, Tessa spent months in the sub-par autodoc aboard the Box of Rocks.  She had crewed the Gladway with her friends.  So when she woke, half of her friends were dead, and the other half went back to the Unchained Fury Settlement.  The Cox family had harassed them enough that there is no way any of them would step foot on a Cox ship again.  Nobody outside the Cox family has seen her in person.  She only has vids up on the comms when she has to.  That girl practically single handedly rebuilt the Gladway with her bare hands.  Geran wouldn't let anyone help, not even her brothers.  Linda, of course helped.  She's the oldest and doesn't take any guff from Geran, and so far has managed to stay one step ahead of him."

"Thank you.  Please keep me posted about the sensor pods.  It looks like we got trouble incoming, I'll call a Capitan's meeting for first thing in the morning so we can be ready for them."


A few moments after the Comm with Ceryl ended, I got a second call.

"Capitan, Geran Cox is on the comm, demanding to talk to you."  Shelly said.

That was quick.  "Put him through Shelly."

"Is this how it is?  Secret meetings with the Tonamanns in the middle of the night?  Conspiring?  Just wait till I tell the others!"  Geran Cox said.

"I don't care what you tell anyone Geran.  Now, what do you want?"  I said

"Capitan, passive scanners picking up someone actively targeting us!"  Lt. Tine said over the speaker.

"Evasive!"  I ordered and almost immediately felt the Haul-o-caster shift.  Well, not directly.  Hauley's inertial dampeners are good.  I just know my ship well enough that I can feel what she's doing.

"HA!  Made you flinch!"  Geran chortled.

"You dumbass!  If you're actively targeting me, the enemy can pick that up and know right where we are!" 

"Enemy?  You really are a traitor then.  Thanks for letting me get a recording of that."  Geran laughed again.  "You know, I'm tired of listening to a bunch of women.  I'm going out there and joining the Morganite Fleet.  You silly assholes can play hide and seek if you want, but I know where you all are, so good luck getting away!"

With that Geran cut the communication.

"Capitan, The Paveway is going full active on scanners, and is painting the entire Family fleet."  Lt. Tine said.

"Capitan," Shelly added.  "Geran Cox just ordered the Cox family to follow him to join the Morganite fleet.  Full power, in the clear.  Not on the laser link network."

"That fool!  I'm on my way!"

By the time I got to the bridge - which was not long considering its a whole ten steps from my quarters to the bridge - the Paveway and the Ptarmigan were openly heading in system towards where the Unchained Fury used to be.

I was surprised to see the entire crew on duty, Barona stood and offered me the Capitan's chair.  "Do none of you sleep?"

"Shelly woke us when an encrypted communication came in that she thought sounded bad."  Barona answered, "She wouldn't tell us who it was from, just that it sounded serious.  Then we heard your conversation with Geran.  The whole fleet heard it.  They were blasting in the clear."

"Thank you XO.  It was a good thing Shelly woke everyone.  We probably have incoming."  I said, "Battle Stations!  Set us to Alert to condition one Mr. Dorn!"

"Comm from Shadow King, Capitan." Shelly said.

"On main screen Shelly."

"Capitan, whatever to I have to thank for your presence?"  I asked.

Capitan Ceryl seemed confused for a split second, the moved forward.  "That bastard Geran has betrayed us!  Just wanted you to know I'm opening fire on all Cox ships."

"Stand down Shadow.  That's an order.  We have bigger problems than your petty squabble with the Cox's at the moment."  I said.

"Capitan, Paveway and Ptarmigan just opened fire, targeting the Gladway, Box of Rocks, and Efreet.  Gladway and Box of Rocks both seem to have avoided any major damage.  Efreet took a few hits, but nothing seems to have penetrated her armor."

"Firing on their own family?"  I asked.

"Probably didn't agree to join him committing suicide."  Capitan Ceryl said.

"Barona, coordinate with the fleet, we need to get out of here before that fool brings the whole Morganite Fleet down upon our heads."  I ordered.  "Get them into formation, we'll run for open space."

"Running again?"  Capitan Ceryl said.  "Is that wise?"

"Sticking around to get killed isn't wise."  I answered.  "Paveway and Ptarmigan don't know it, but they just volunteered to be our distraction.  We're heading for the jump point."

"huh?"  Ceryl asked.

"Translation Matrix."  Barona helped.

"Very good Capitan, Shadow King out!"


I couldn't have asked for a better distraction really.  I know they didn't do it on purpose, but the Paveway and the Ptarmigan ran right into the fleet of destroyers and frigate that were sent out after us, scanners active full blast, giving us a good look at what we were facing.  They only started fighting back when it was obvious that their scheme to join the fleet and betray us wasn't going to work out for them like they hoped. 

Then to my dismay, Efreet.  Then Box of Rocks.  Then even Gladway slowly turned and fed themselves into the fray.  What Capitan Linda and Capitan Tessa thought they were going to do to help was beyond me.

"Shelly, is the Family Fleet encrypted net still up?"  I asked.

"Yes Capitan, you are live!"  Shelly answered.  She was crying, but still manning her post like a pro.

"Fleet!  I don't want to see any more of you losing your minds like that!  But the Cox's have given us an opportunity and we're taking it.  Tighten up the formation, we're running for the Translation Matrix and getting out of here."  I knew that by now they all knew the plan, but I wanted to try to head off any more fits of stupidity.

"Capitan, there is a shuttle trying to catch up.  It appears to have come from the Paveway."  Lt. Tine said.  "We are already too far ahead for it to catch us."

"Barnes."  I said.

"Snag and go!"  Barnes replied, I knew she would know what I wanted.

"Fleet!  I'm going back for a straggler.  I'll catch up."  


Catching the shuttle was pretty easy.  The only dangerous part was matching speed and docking, but with Barnes at the helm, even that went well enough.  Barnes docked the shuttle to the less often used top hatch so that it would fall right into our graviton shielding without having to make a lot of adjustments.  The surprise was the contents of the shuttle.

I had seen Tessa Cox on vid during the Capitan's meeting.  Of course, what I saw was a filter, not the actual girl.  Tessa would never be referred to as a great beauty, but I would say that her face could be described as cute.  At least by my admittedly somewhat skewed standards.  The scarred face that looked at me from the topside hatch airlock was...  Still cute.  In a round cheeked, green-eyed, dark-haired sort of way.  To me the pink scar stretching from the bridge of her nose down her right cheek didn't really detract that.  The rest of the skin on her face was covered in fine scars, fine enough to almost not be noticeable.  Almost.  I recognized the fine scarring as the fingerprint of the older generations of autodoc.  Hauley's autodoc is practically state of the art by comparison and wouldn't leave scarring like that, but the older generations weren't as delicate.  That kind of scarring is common among freighter crews.

As Tessa emerged, I could see that her Right arm and leg were cybernetic prosthesis, also from a much older generation of technology.  Usable, but I could see the tell-tale box shape of the controller under the hair on the right side of her head.  I wondered how much more of her was artificial but didn't want to ask.  Her eyes went wide when she saw me.  Her eyes then went to my rank insignia.

"Permission to come aboard Capitan?"  Tessa asked.  It was almost a question as if she expected me to reject her or make her stay in her shuttle.

"Granted.  Welcome aboard.  Do you need medical attention?"  I asked.

She barked a laugh, that sounded self-pitying.  "Capitan, I've had all the medical attention I can handle."

"Then welcome aboard.  I'll have a VIP cabin prepared for your use.  We couldn't tell who was in the shuttle and didn't want to draw attention with scanning."  I told her.  "Is there anyone with you?"

"Not since the accident."  Tessa said, holding up her hand as if to indicate the accident in question.  "By VIP cabin, you don't mean brig?"

"Have you done something I should throw you in a brig for?"  I asked.

"I escaped a brig, and since you aren't Julian Tonamann, I kinda expected to be thrown right back into one."  She said.  "I suppose hoping Julian might magically find me and hide me was childish and stupid.  Hell, he would probably take one look and toss me out an airlock.  Besides, I don't even know if he's still alive.  Geran..."  She shook her head as if to clear a horrible thought.

"You were in a Capitan's meeting with him just recently.  Are you sure there wasn't some bad air in your shuttle?"  I asked.

She laughed again.  "Capitan... sorry, I never caught your name... I've been in a cell on the Paveway for...  I don't know how long, I think it's been months, maybe a year?"

"Tell us your story child."  Mother Ahmisa said gently.  She had accompanied me, along with Lt. Cmdr. Dorn to greet our visitor, but had hung back with the Lt. Cmdr. up to this point.

"Do you know about the accident?  Incident?  Whatever you want to call it?"  Tessa asked.  "I don't recognize any of you, what family are you from?  What ship is this?  Did we get some new ships?"

"I'm Capitan Kid.  This is the Haul-o-caster.  We came to Unchained Fury Station for supplies and assistance."  I said.  "We were about to leave when part of the Morganite Fleet translated in and attacked Unchained Fury Station.

Tessa gasped in horror.  "How's my ship?  How many were lost?  Who's left?"

The Cox family fleet is gone.  Apparently, your escape was a fortunate coincidence, because you escaped right when Geran Cox and Bennie Cox took the Paveway and the Ptarmigan hoping to join with the Morganites.  When they were set upon, the Efreet, Box of Rocks, and Gladway all joined them.  I don't know if they were trying to rescue them or what, but it was ill-advised because all five ships were destroyed.  Most of the rest of the family's ships are in a fleet with us, running for the transition matrix." 

Tessa looked like she was in shock.

"Now, I hate to be mean, but it sounds like there are things that we don't know that we might need to know."  I said.  "Could you enlighten us?"

"The settlement?"  Tessa asked.

"It is gone child." Mother Ahmisa said.

I expected a much bigger reaction from Tessa, but she just shrugged.

"The settlement was gone for me the day I survived when I should have died.  Damn Linda, why'd she to do this?  She could have let me die.  And I guess she's done it to me again.  It was Linda and a couple of her crewmen who sprung me from Geran's cage.  They didn't make it.  Geran's Mother caught them cutting the lock and killed all three of them.  Stupid old woman ran to get help and didn't even realize she left the cutter within arms reach."   

I could tell Mother Ahmisa was shocked.  "You mean to say Paveway's Mother ordered your rescuers to be shot?"

"No Mother.  Mother Diazan pulled out a blaster and shot them.  She aimed at the back of Linda's head and pulled the trigger.  I tried to warn her, I yelled, but it happened so fast."  Tears were streaking down Tessa's face.  "They aren't the first ones I've seen Mother Diazan kill.  That woman is a killer.  It was her who pushed Geran to "test" us all by firing on our ships."

"You have to be mistaken child.  A Mother wouldn't do such a thing.  A Mother doesn't carry weapons or kill people."  Mother Ahmisa cried.

"No Mother.  I was there.  I saw it.  The Mothers on the other Cox ships are almost as bad."  Tessa said.  "The Mother on the Gladway, MY Mother, was a tyrant.  The only good thing that came from the test was that woman getting sucked into space."  Mother Ahmisa staggered.  Dorn had to catch her.

"Maybe you should tell us your story now."  I said.

"When the Paveway fired on us, I was in the galley with Mother Geetoh, receiving a beating, once again, for all my failures.  I don't really remember what that one was for.  Probably someone on the night shift left food out again, since I distinctly remember we were in the galley.  I heard the Kinetics hit the ship and the world exploded.  I had just enough time to watch Geetoh get sucked out of the rent in the side of the ship before I blacked out.  I probably would have gone with her, but I was stripped naked and tied face down over the edge of the table, which was bolted to the deck.  Near as i can figure, the second round from the Paveway is what took my arm and leg.  Next thing I remember was waking up a freak."

She looked at me and blanched, "No offence intended."

"No, no.  Us freaks gotta stick together."  I told her.  She gaped in shock at my words.  "Go on."

"I woke up on Linda's ship, the Box of Rocks.  I learned that Linda and her crew rescued me and about a third of my crew, none of them will talk to me now.  Especially when they found out about my..."  She once again held up her cybernetic hand.  "The family had a little meeting.  More of a trial, and I wasn't allowed to talk, not even to defend myself.  Not that I was in any mental condition to do so.  Geran argued that my incompetence caused the Gladway to be lost, and that I should be spaced to remove my embarrassing presence from the family.  He also argued that the Box of Rocks should be taken from Linda because she didn't stop me from taking the coward's way out and becoming a freak."  

Tessa sighed, "In the end, the family voted to space me, but let Linda keep Box of Rocks, because none of the boys wanted to Capitan a stupid freighter."

"Hey, I Capitan a freighter, it's not so bad."  I said defensively.

"So did I Capitan, and I agree.  I loved the Gladway."  She said.  "Anyway, Linda doesn't bend so easily and tricked Geran into a bet.  If i could get the Gladway back up and running, Geran had to leave me alone.  In spite of all the dirty tricks Geran tried to pull to keep me from repairing her, I managed to get the job done.

"At first, I had trouble finding a crew.  Nobody wanted a freak for a Capitan.  I was finally assigned Mother Kessik as Gladway's Mother.  She found me a crew.  Then on our maiden voyage, Mother Kessik, lead a mutiny and I was stuck in a cage on the Paveway.  At first, Geran told me that he volunteered to be my jailer because he knew I wouldn't survive the brig on Unchained, and Father hated me so much he refused to keep me in the cells on the family quarters.  Eventually he admitted he just liked having me in a cage so he could torture me.  Like telling me that the Ground Thumper was lost with all hands, or having his engineers take my arm and leg apart and passing the parts out to the crew as rewards.  They made me...  do favors... for them to get them back, and I didn't have any tools, so I managed to get them all back together, but nothing is tighter than finger tight.  I don't suppose I could borrow a screwdriver, could I?"

"I'll send my engineer in to rebuild it and get it all in top shape."  I offered.

Tessa blanched,  "NO!..  I mean... It's rather intimate to get to the different parts.  I have to take my shipsuit off, and I don't like people to see."  She seemed on the verge of panick

"Ok Ok," I said, trying for a soothing voice.  "How about this, I got a couple top notch engineers, a state-of-the-art autodoc, and some excellent fabrication facilities.  How about we upgrade your arm and leg to something a little more modern?  Something a little more useful."

"That kind of technology is taboo in my Sect.  Linda was nearly excommunicated for doing this to me.  I was excommunicated and exiled; I can never set foot on Unchained Station again."

"If that's the case child," Mother Ahmisa said, "You are in the right place.  The Capitan isn't a Morganite at all, and no one on the crew is of your Sect.  You'll find no animosity here. you will find only acceptance."

"You have time to decide, for right now, I need to get back to the bridge, we aren't out of the fire yet.  Mr, Dorn, could you show Capitan Tessa to her quarters on your way back to the bridge?"

"Yes Capitan."


"Capitan, the entire Morganite Fleet seems to be chasing us now."  Lt. Tine said as I entered the bridge.  "The advanced unit that turned towards us after destroying the Cox family, and now the main Morganite Fleet has turned towards us from the remains of the Unchained Fury Settlement.  Both units are behaving in a highly unprofessional way."

"How so Lt. Tine?"  I asked.

"They appear to be behaving chaotically.  The faster ships are leaving the slower ships behind, so their formation is stringing out.  It is like they are in a race to catch us."  Lt.Tine reported.  "The fastest ships will catch us in approximately six hours."

"Hmmm... faster usually means squishier, right?"  I asked.

"I would not describe a warship as squishy Capitan, but if I understand your meaning, yes.  The first few ships that reach us will be scouting vessels which do not carry as much armor, and only carry medium to light weapons."

"AAARRRR..."  I smiled.

"She's doing the pirate thing again; I love it when she does that!"  Squeaked Shelly.

"Barona, get on the horn and re-order the fleet.  Dozer's Thunderbird is to take point, all non-combat ships are to join up in the middle.  The Pepper and Owlfeather are to cover the flanks.  The rest of the combat ships are to ease back to the rear.  We have some of the smaller Morgaite ships, scouts... possibly frigates. coming upon us to the aft.  Aarrr... have 'em send them scallywags back to the void from which they came!  Hoist the Jolly Roger!"

"HOIST THE JOLLY ROGER AYE AYE CAPITAN!!!"  Yelled my crew.  It wasn't timed very well, so it sounded terrible, but that didn't matter to me.  I'm not sure when they decided to embrace my weird love for ancient sea pirate stories, and talking like a pirate, but hearing them try made me so happy.

"Um... Permission to enter the bridge?"  Tessa asked.

"AARRRR... Permission granted lass.  Were about to tussle with some scallywags.  Have a seat, enjoy the show."

"Um...  Capitan?  Why are you talking like that?"   Tessa asked.

The whole crew burst out in laughter.  

"The Capitan does that sometimes.  Secretly we think she's got a chip loose in her Cyber brain, so we just humor her."  Cmdr. Barona said.

"Hey!  I do not!"

Tessa stumbled in and found a seat, we really would have to do something about her cybernetic arm and leg soon.  Both look like they were built by someone using instructions from a book that only contained grainy photographs and bad line drawings.

"What's our status Mr. Tine?"

"We will be overtaken by seven small ships, a few at a time, within the next thirty minutes Capitan.  The ships don't even seem to be covering each other."  

"Barona?"

"We got it Capitan... Um I mean...  We'll send those scallywags to their mother's... um... Aarrgh?"  It was a little pathetic, but at least Barona was trying to get into the spirit of things.

"Capitan, I believe we will have another two waves of attacks before we get to the jump point.  The next wave appears to contain smaller frigates.  Fast, but not as heavily armed or armored, and they are strung out like the scout ships.  The final wave contains some heavier frigates more heavily armed and armored that the lighter frigates, they might be a problem for us.   Nothing else should catch up to us before we reach the jump point.  The rest of the advanced fleet should reach the jump point an hour after we do, and it should be hours before the Main Fleet reaches the jump point."

"Good," I said, "Barona, how much control do you think the Family Fleet can manage?"

"What do you have in mind Capitan?"

"Can we mark a target, and have two or three of our ships fire at it all at once?  I would like to see some impressive explosions, and I would like it to look like we're doing it on purpose."

"To what end Capitan?"  Barona asked.

"If we meticulously, and maliciously take out the approaching ships, the ships in the next wave are sure to see that, and hopefully it will cause them to pause.  Any choking by them can only be good for us."

"I'll try."  Barona said.


The plan didn't work out so well on the scout ships.  The slippery little things weren't as easy to hit as I had hoped.  However, having multiple ships target each one at once meant at least one would hit.  Our rear guard made short work of the enemy's scout ships.

Watching, I got the impression that the frigates of the second wave thought they were invincible.  Maybe they kinda were compared to the scout ships.  At least they had armor and could shrug off a hit or two.  Unfortunately for them, the reason our ploy didn't work as well on the scouts was because they were fast and maneuverable.  The frigates, while being able to run circles around larger ships, didn't fare so well against us.  Even less so since most of them had decided to plough right into our formation.  I don't know if they had delusions of killing the freighters, or if they didn't have any experience with fighting ships, but they basically impaled themselves on our guns.  With the ships coordinating and firing together, I got the big explosions I wanted.

"Capitan, the third wave seems to be slowing.  If we maintain course and speed, we should be able to reach the jump point before they catch up."  Lt. Tine said.

A cheer rang out on the bridge.


Monday, January 17, 2022

Miami Pete 39

In case you are interested in reading this from the beginning:


Thanks for reading!


The Capitan's meeting felt strange.  The only Capitan I knew there was Capitan Ceryl.  The rest were strangers.  They all used their given names, because about a third of them had the surname of Tonamann, and the rest were a mixture of Cox, Appletree, Dozer, and of course Williamson.  The five founding families of the Unchained Fury settlement.  They all knew each other and many of them grew up going to the same schools or going to school with each other's younger or older siblings.   

The worst of it was they were all looking at me.  As if I had all the answers.  I just wished I had any answers at all.  I was fresh out.

"Is there anyone here who is senior?  Who's in charge?"  I asked.

"I rather think you are."  Said a young man with what might one day be a mustache and chops, but right now it was little more than a patchy scrub of fuzz.  "You're the real Capitan from the Morganite Fleet right?"  

"Right doofus."  Said another, possibly a couple years older version of the exact same person.  "She's from the Morganite Fleet.  The same one that is destroying our home and killing everyone we know, including our mom and dad, and you idiots want to do whatever she says to do!"

Patchy stash and chops started crying.  The meeting exploded into shouts and name calling.

A piercing screech sounded, and everything went quiet as everyone put their hands over their ears.  "Sorry everyone, I don't know how to whistle so I did that instead."  Capitan Ceryl said mildly.  "Now that you babies have had your little fit, we got to figure out what we're going to do.  And before any of you start demanding again that we rush in halfcocked and get ourselves killed, you go right ahead.  Don't expect me to come save you."

"Easy for you to say, you're the one with the cruiser."  Said a cherub faced boy, I swear he couldn't have been old enough to kiss his first girl yet. 

Apparently, that hit a nerve with the, up till now quiet, demure Ceryl Tonamann.  "Don't you dare bring up that argument Cecil Cox!   That was settled over two hundred years ago!  None of you would have ships at all if it weren't for the Tonamann family and you know it!"

"Please start shooting at each other over this and put us all out of our misery."  Said a young girl, probably ten or eleven years old.  "I don't even want to be here; I should be with mommy."

An older boy spoke up.  This one actually looked like he could be close to twenty.  He shared the straight dirty blonde hair, dull green eyes, and high cheekbones as the little girl.  "I'm sorry little sis, mom and dad are gone.  We'll try to find someone to take over for you as soon as possible so you can come over to the Thunderbird.  I'll can take care of you."

The little girl wiped the tears off her cheeks and sat up straighter.  "No Donny, I'm here.  It is my family duty to be here.  I'll stay at my post on the Owlfeather; the Good God knows nobody else would want her."

"Anyone else want to waste time while the Morgan Fleet could notice us at any moment?"  Ceryl asked.

Nobody said anything.

"Ok, here are your assignments."  I said as I sent out the orders.  Barona did most of the work drawing up a mixed formation for the twenty one ships of all shapes and sizes from the tiny Owlfeather, an old recon ship, to Ceryl's cruiser Shadow King.  

The Tonamann family had the most ships, six in all.  The cruiser Shadow King, the destroyer Through Darkness, who's name I was told comes from a Morganite prayer, and the heavy freighter Stone Biscuit comprised one leg.  The destroyer Ground Thumper, scout ship Pepper, and the medium freighter Dog Bone comprised the other.  The Cox family had five ships.  Three destroyers, the Paveway, the Ptarmigan, and the Efreet, a medium freighter, the Box of Rocks, and a light freighter, the Gladway.  The Appletrees had four.  Two frigates, Lasting Sun and Longsword, a medium freighter called Epiphany, and the smallest fleet tender I had ever seen, barely larger than a medium freighter called Abacus.  The Dozer family had three ships, a frigate called Thunderbird, a scout ship called Owlfeather, and a medium freighter called Mover Over.  Finally, the Williamson family had only two ships.  A frigate called Mouseballs and a light freighter called The Shortest Ton.

One cruiser, five destroyers, four frigates, two scout ships, seven freighters and a small fleet tender.  All old as dirt and obviously patched and repaired.  Add to that one Haul-o-caster, which was still technically a light freighter and that was what we had.  What a sight we must have made, if anyone saw us, which I hoped they didn't.  Barona did her best, but try as she might, the families all wanted their ships to stay together.

She put the Tonamann family out front, and the Cox family bringing up the rear, which, of course started an argument. but I really wanted the Pepper available to scout ahead if we needed to.  The Appletrees held the center.  The argument on that assignment only lasted until I pointed out how screwed we would all be if they took out our only fleet tender.

The Dozer family held one side while the Williamson family held the other.  There was no argument, both took their assignments with a nod of acceptance.

"You sure you won't come to the Thunderbird, Penny?"  Donny of the Thunderbird asked his sister.  "We can have one of the cousins take over the Owlfeather.  They don't have the training you do, but at least you'll be safe."  

"Nowhere is safe Donny."  She replied.  "At least on the Owlfeather I'll be able to run away if I have to."

"That's right, run away coward."  Geran Cox of the Paveway spat at her.  "Might as well run away now for all the good you'll be."

"Fine talk coming from someone sitting in a destroyer."  Donny shot back.

"I swear, if I have to come over there and knee you in the balls, Geran, you're going to shut up and quit being an ass to people!"  Said a young woman.

"Come and get me Tessa."  Geran mocked, "That little freighter of yours wouldn't take more than a shot or two and I wouldn't have to listen to your nagging anymore."

"ENOUGH!"  Ceryl yelled.  "Geran Cox.  One shot at Tessa, and I'm ordering all Tonamann ships to take you out!  She almost died last time."  Last time?  I looked up on my cheat sheet and was flabbergasted to see that Tessa was Tessa Cox, Capitan of the Gladway, and Geran Cox's own sister.

"Firing on anyone, or even actively targeting them would be a bad idea right now.  There is a huge fleet out there and we don't want to attract their attention."  I said.

"Capitan," Lt. Tine said.  "I just picked up a targeting signal on the passive scanners.  The Paveway actively targeted the Gladway for two point eight seconds."

"Is there any indication that it was picked up by the Morganite fleet?" 

"Nothing yet Capitan, they don't seem to be pointing active scans this direction, but if they picked it up on passive there would be no way for us to know.  Without active scanning, and I don't suggest we do that, if they are careful, we might not even notice ships sent after us until it's too late."

"And I'm guessing they would be.  Meeting adjourned everyone.  Fall into formation, watch for my move orders.  We're going to swing around and attempt to keep this gas giant between us and the Morgan Fleet until we get out past the Heavy Belt.  We'll spread out and find cover there until the Morgan Fleet leaves the system."  It was the best plan I could come up with.  I was glad that Barona gave me some hints as to what words to use to say it, I'm not sure I would have found the right words.  

So I had a fleet.  A small one, sure, but better than nothing.  On the other hand, the fleet was manned by children.  Penny, Capitan of the Owlfeather, was the youngest at twelve.  Twelve years old, and responsible for a crew of six, most of them teenagers.  The Unchained Fury settlement had gotten so comfortable that they were safe that they were using their family's traditional stashes as a way to season their children with real life experience.  When I managed to get a quiet moment with Capitan Ceryl - who in spite of looking like she wasn't much older than Capitan Penny, turned out to be seventeen - I asked if there was a way we could replace Penny with someone older.  She warned me that any attempt to do so would cost us the whole Dozer family, which would also lose us the Williamson family because while the adults of those two families absolutely hated each other, Capitan Donny of the Thunderbird and Capitan Augie Williamson of the Mouseballs were best friends.  So much so that Capitan Augie was letting Capitan Donny date his sister.  Capitan Tiatus - whom they call "Capitan Tits" - of the Shortest Ton.  I recalled the girl - woman? - from the Capitan's meeting.  I assure you the nickname comes by way of her unwieldy name, not her physical endowments.  Taitus?  Who names their child Taitus?


Later that evening, I had dinner with Mother Ahmisa, Barona, and Lt. Tine.  It was Lt. Tine's turn, but I asked the Mother to also join us.  We were still in route to the Heavy Belt.  So far we could detect no trace of persuit.

The Heavy Belt is an asteroid belt out between the sixth and seventh planet in the system.  It's comprised of mostly rock asteroids, but there is quite a bit of metal ore and even some water to be found.  Lt. Tine's report on the system notes that it could very well have once been a planet that was hit by something big enough to break it up.  I don't know about those things, but at least we might be able to resupply water and perhaps even mine for some raw materials.  We did, after all, have a fleet tender.

"I don't know what we're going to do."  I told them, "We can't leave these children to their own devices.  They wouldn't stand a chance against the Morgan Fleet.  Any idea why they are here with such a large fleet?"

"My guess - and it is just a guess Capitan - is that someone tried to collect whatever bounty might be on our heads by telling Admiral Thomas' enemies that we were here."  Lt. Tine posited.  I was impressed, he usually didn't like to guess about anything.

"I think the Lieutenant has a point Capitan."  Mother Amisa added, "Although we can't rule out the possibility that this fleet might just be going to all the Morganite stashes that were friendly to Admiral Thomas and hitting them all."

"But it was Chief Williamson who brought us to this one."  I said.

"Yes, but I spoke with the Mothers on the station.  You wouldn't have seen them, this sect hides their Mothers for some reason.  They told me that Admiral Thomas visited the station often.  He even helped broker some extra support for this place in the form of equipment, food and water, and even some advanced weapon parts to help upgrade the Unchained's guns."

"Those guns were mighty impressive."  Lt. Tine said.  "I was wondering how they managed those with what they had at the settlement."

"As far as what to do Capitan."  Mother Ahmisa said.  "According to the Mothers I have managed to contact on the ships - not all of them will talk to me - these children are given extensive training before they are put on the ships.  The expectation is that they will be treated like any other crew.  They believe that those who are worthy will rise to the occasion, and those who aren't are better off weeded out young, lest they pull the rest down.  This is what they believe the Good God intended."

"So it's sink or swim?"  I asked.  The saying was something I learned from Pete.  Try as he might to explain it, I didn't understand what it meant until I saw my first lake, and Pete tried to teach me how to swim.  I definitely would have sunk, so I'm not particularly fond of the concept.

"Yes."  Mother Ahmisa replied.  "And worse, if they get the idea that you are sitting out her hiding because they are children when you would do something else with adults.  The Mothers will probably advise them to leave you and go their own way.  I have to warn you, I wasn't able to talk to any of the Mothers on any of the Cox ships, but according to the Mother on Abacus, the Cox Mothers are just as impetuous and unpredictable as the Cox boys themselves.  They are probably already stirring to leave the fleet."

"On the upside."  Lt. Tine added.  "Listening to the comm chatter, and talking to my counterparts on some of the ships, If the Cox leave, there is a good chance that Capitan Tessa will keep the Gladway with us rather than go with her brothers.  Apparently, Geran Cox is quite devout and has been known to fire upon his brothers' and sisters' ships, ostensibly to provide them with opportunities to grow into strong adults.  According to an engineer from the Abacus that I spoke to about sensor upgrades, Capitan Tessa almost lost her entire ship last time, almost died herself, and was permanently disfigured."

"She looked fine to me in the Capitan's meeting." I said, remembering the dark haired, stern young woman who had threatened to knee her brother, Capitan Geran, in the balls for not playing nice."

"She uses a filter Capitan.  I can tell you that."  Lt. Tine said.  "I detected it during the meeting.  It's a good one, but not perfect."

Using a filter to change one's looks on comm channels was considered anything from incredibly rude to downright dishonest, depending on who you were talking to.  That's why I didn't use a filter to hide my Cyber Device.  Being cybernetic causes enough problems with people trusting me.  I am learning that different than what people usual from a cybernetic being.  The last thing I need is for a filter - which would be detectable just like Lt. Tine detected the one that Tessa used - to cause people to think I'm hiding something and distrust me even more.

"Capitan, I believe one of the goals of these Capitan's dinners is to give crew members an informal setting to air their concerns." Lt. Tine said.  "Please don't feel like I am questioning your decision, but I am concerned that Capitan Geran's little tantrum, targeting his sister's ship, has put us all in grave danger.  If that Morganite Fleet saw that little display they may, even now, be plotting to intercept us.  Our only recourse would be to head for open space and hope they don't lay chase until we run out of fuel."

"And you are wondering why I didn't say anything?"  I asked.

"Yes Capitan.  I'm not questioning the decision; I just fail to understand it."

"Let me answer this one if I may Capitan."  Mother Ahmisa cut in. "Lt. Tine, in officer training were you ever afforded the chance to watch a vid of Admiral Alexander Smythes' talk on leadership?"

"Yes Mother."  Lt. Tine said excitedly, which was decidedly out of character for the usually reserved man.  "He came to the training campus while I was there and gave the talk live."

"OH!  That must have been wonderful for you."  Mother said.

"Well, to be honest.  I was told that I would never be allowed to Capitan a ship, so my name was excluded from the group invited to see it." Lt. Tine seemed a little guilty.  Which was also odd. "A fellow student, excluded because she was a Hoonian, talked me into sneaking into the rafters of the hall it was held in and watching from there.  I later wish we had not done so."  Mother nodded in understanding at the mention of a Hoonian, whatever that was.  

"Why?  Did you dislike the talk?"  Mother asked.

"The talk was inspiring.  Admiral Smythe is an amazing man.  Everyone who saw the talk emerged from it energized and ready to train hard to be the best officer we could be."  Lt. Tine anwered.

"That is what that talk is designed to do.  Then why the regret?"

"It was hard to hide the inspiring effect of the talk, and I think the school caught on, so they gave everyone a pop quiz covering the subjects of the talk.   I recognized the danger and forced myself to answer the questions as if I hadn't heard the talk, but my friend was not so savvy."  Lt. Tine answered.  "She was called to the disciplinarian, and I never saw her again."

"You understand that almost no Hoonites ever graduate the academy, don't you?"  Mother asked.

"Yes."  Lt. Tine agreed.  "It does not make me feel less of a coward that used deceit to maintain my place while she was removed."

"Lt. Tine, as the Mother of your ship, I hereby absolve you of this.  Do you understand me?  It was wrong for you to be excluded from that talk.  Which brings us to why I brought up the talk.  Mr. Tine, what is the first rule of giving orders?"

"Never give an order you know cannot or will not be obeyed."  

"And why?  Lt. Tine."  The Mother asked him.

"Because it undermines authority, and fosters disrespect."  Lt. Tine answered. 

"Exactly."  The Mother said.  "And for the Capitan to tell young Geran Cox to not be an ass would be like the Capitan trying to tell you not to be intelligent and efficient."

"I could strategically introduce errors into my reports to simulate being less intelligent, and I could add a delay in reporting, that might come across as less efficient."  Lt. Tine said smiling.

"Thanks for proving my point young man."  Mother said. "Those things wouldn't amount to obeying the order, they would just be pretending to obey."

"Um... What's a Hoonian, or Hoonite?"  I asked.  Yes, the stuff about giving orders was interesting, but whoever this Admiral Smythe was, he wasn't so smart.  Pete taught me that lesson a long long time ago.

"The Hoonites are a sect of Morganism that teaches one-ness with the cosmos."  Mother explained.  "Pretty much the exact opposite of the Scientists.  That you were able to be friends with this Hoonite speaks well for you Lt. Tine."

"I was a freak, and a known former member of the Scientist sect with prison tattoos on my face, Mother."  Lt. Tine explained.  "I was grateful to have any friend at all, even if that friend was Geshan Tor the Hoonian.  If I were able to locate her, I would very much like to continue our friendship.  Interestingly, I learned that their beliefs aren't as backwards and anti-science as people believe, they just look at the universe from a different viewpoint than we do."

"OOO Tine's got a girlfriend!"  I teased.  He didn't look happy about it.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Miami Pete 38

In case you are interested in reading this from the beginning:


Thanks for reading!


Instead of a dock, we were given a landing bay that was probably big enough for two Haul-o-casters to land in.  Once landed, instead of the usual force field barrier that most space stations used these days, there was a huge door that closed and then the landing bay was pressurized.  It felt both comforting and terrifying all at once.  We weren't leaving unless they let us leave.

Mother Ahmisa, the Chief, and I met the small, odd delegation that came to greet us.  There was, of course, Auntie Essey, bossing everyone around handbag at her side I'm sure in case she needed to deploy it as a persuasion apparatus.  With her was a middle-aged man in a suit, and someone in what could only be a Morganite Officer's uniform.  Behind the trio was a line of about a dozen armed soldiers, carrying rifles at the ready.  

I was glad I wore my good uniform.

The Morganite Officer stepped forward, apparently, he had precedence.  "It's nice to meet you Capitan.  I am Admiral Tonamann, overall CO of the militia and operations of the station.  This is Mr. Montegue, he is Mayor of the civilian side.  And i believe you've met Essey.  She is of the founding family.  You'll have to excuse the soldiers; we've had a bit of excitement lately.  You'll have to forgive us for being overly cautious.  That said, Essey?  Is this indeed your grandnephew?"

"Yes General, he is most definitely my grandnephew."  Essey said, not even noticing the wince from the Admiral.

"All right."  The Admiral said, "Capitan, we do need to meet your crew, anyone who is going to exit your ship anyway.  They will need have a med-scan and an interview.  Purely out of an abundance of caution you understand.  Last week, we were attacked by some 'rus ships.  We usually leave them alone and they leave us alone, on the rare occasion they even bother coming down our lonely road.  The guns on the Unchained Fury made short work of them, but when our shuttles went out to investigate the wreckage, we found some human bodies.  Or more to the point, parts of human bodies.  I tell you, our guns are nothing if the aren't efficient."  The Admiral smiled at his ship in pride.  Never mind it wasn't so much a ship as a settlement anymore.  It didn't matter, it's the same pride.

"Admiral, did you manage to get any intelligence on why the humans were on the 'rus ships?"  Chief Williamson asked.  There was a momentary look of miss-trust on the Admirals face.  Aunt Essey must have picked up on it.

"Admiral Tonamann!  Do you know who this is?  This is Argencourt Fariday Williamson, namesake of Admiral Fariday Williamson, the founder of this settlement and a trusted member of the founding family.  You answer any question he wants to ask!"

The Admiral sighed.  "My apologies Chief, it's been quite a week.  Yes and no.  We found human remains, but we didn't find anything we could identify as 'rus remains.  That would be odd, except you know 'rus.  Occasionally they get all indignant and attack.  Never in numbers like this before mind you, but in the past when the 'rus have attacked, we didn't find any 'rus remains either.  On the other hand, the few times we've been attacked by 'rus before it was always a relatively small ship that was obliterated by our weapons, so there wasn't much left to search.  So in short, we don't know."


The crew's physicals and interviews went well except for Lt. Tine's.  The interviewer, there was only one, took one look at Lt. Tine's tattoos and sent him back to the Haul-o-caster.  When my turn came up, he tried doing the same with me, but in my case, the Admiral happened to be close by and intervened.  

"Admiral, this thing is an abomination, and I will not have it on my station!"  The interviewer exclaimed.

The Admiral laughed.

"Son, I've been having a chat with Chief Argencourt Fariday Williamson.  This is his Capitan, Capitan of the Haul-o-caster.  From what I get from the good Chief, Chief Argencourt Fariday Williamson no less."  Each time he said it, the Admiral emphasized Fariday Williamson part.  "Seems to be of the opinion that this young lady Capitan is one of the best, and most true, Capitans in the entire Morganite fleet, in spite of having not grown up with good Morganite teachings.  I suggest you get over your prejudices and interview the good Capitan."

"Sir, can I also put in a good word for our Lt. Tine?"  The Chief asked.  "It seems he has received the same treatment as my good Capitan."

"That man is a criminal!  And he is proud of it!"  The interviewer practically screamed. "I will not be in the same room with that animal!"

"Call my crew member an animal one more time, and I'll kill you where you stand."  I'm not sure what came over me, but I meant every word of it.  Nobody was going to talk about my Lt. Tine that way.

"Everybody stand down!"  Bellowed the Admiral.  Everyone fell quiet.  The command in his voice was just that strong.  Then he continued more softly.  "Now, that's better.  Capitan, please if you would allow me to handle this.  I understand you are new here.  We don't exactly do 'kill you where you stand' here.  I commend you for standing up for your crewman though.  There has never been enough of that in the Morganite Fleet as far as I'm concerned."    

The admiral turned to the interviewer.  "That will be all Conrad.  You are relieved of duty, and just in case you don't understand my meaning, you are relieved completely.  Fired you might say.  Stripped of all rank and privileges.  You will be escorted to housing where you will remove your things from your compartment, and you will report to the civilian housing section for assignment to housing.  You are no longer a member of the militia; you are to turn in your arms other than those personally owned by you.  If I check tomorrow and you haven't turned in your militia arms, I will send a squad to arrest you and you will be charged with a crime.  Please give me the excuse.  Lieutenant!  Get this man out of my site!"  A man wearing a Lieutenant insignia showed up with three soldiers to lead Conrad, the former interviewer away.

"I don't know what to say Admiral."  I said.  I didn't.  Yea, I know I had threatened to kill the man, but the Admiral had stripped him of everything.  Killing him might have been kinder.

"Please Capitan, don't worry yourself.  That was a long time coming."  The Admiral replied.  "Conrad is an exemplary intelligence officer, until he lets his strict Morganite upbringing short circuit his brain.  Then he becomes an irredeemable bigot.  The last time something like this happened, a teenage girl from one of the poorer sections of the station had wandered into a restricted area.  Mr. Conrad was tasked with interviewing her to attempt to deduce if her presence in the restricted area really was an accident as she said, or something more nefarious.  Unfortunately, Conrad noticed that the young lady had a tattoo on her ankle.  Tiny little thing, I think it was of a teddy bear.  By the time someone realized something was amiss, Conrad had the girl stripped naked, curled up in an airlock, and was demanding that she give up her terrorist cell or he was going to blow her into space.  Because of his years of service, it was decided that he be given the benefit of some re-training and given a second chance."

"I was of the impression that people didn't get tattoos here."  I said.

"By in large, they don't.  Our sect of Morganism teaches that our bodies are the form that the Good God intended for us.  We believe it is against his will to modify ourselves.  You will also rarely see earrings or even makeup here.  When the Morganite Secular government started using tattoos on prisoners, we protested, sometimes a little too strongly, causing more of us to be arrested and tattooed, causing more and more violent protests.  That is why we left.  Every society has people who are different.  The Morganites use outside work and these settlements as a safety valve.  It our case, it worked wonderfully, we are happy.  That isn't always possible.  There is a counterculture movement, mostly in the poorer sections of the settlement, that rejects our sect's teachings.  Sending them away doesn't work, because they don't want to go.  This is their home as much as it is ours.  It would be wrong of us to force them out.  The answer is to be tolerant.  Conrad doesn't have it in him to do so.  Unfortunately, with your cyber device and his tattoos, you and your Lt. Tine will probably find as many people here who agree with Conrad as you will people who will accept you.  For that I apologize.  We can show them the way, we can't make them accept it.  Even worse, those who preach tolerance are in control of the sect, but there are nearly as many hardliners living here, so who's to say which side is right?"

"Do we need to worry?  Are things that volatile?"  I asked.

"No, the sect holds elections to the board once a year, and only a quarter of the board is changed each election.  The balance of power is stable at least for the next two elections."  The Admiral said.  "After that?  I'll just say it would take the hardliners making much bigger gains than projected for them to gain any measure of power in the next three to five years.  Which might actually be a bad thing."

"How is that a bad thing, I thought you were pro-tolerance?"   I asked.

"Because there is a small, but energetic group of hardliners who are growing more and more frustrated at what they see as a lack of representation.  They look at the polls, and a lot of hardline ideas poll well.  Really well.  Sometimes up past seventy percent.  After all, they do represent the beliefs of a majority of our population.  However, if they had more representation on the council, I'm sure they would find out that there is a big difference between people agreeing to something on a poll, and people supporting legislation to that end.  Or for that matter, being able to enforce those laws once they are on the books."

"Are the hardliner's demands really all that bad?  I mean, if they poll that well, I can't imagine they could be all that bad."  I asked.

"The polls are taken by the media.  Militia members are forbidden to talk to the media, so already you have a whole section of society excluded from the polls.  The media argues that the militia are a cross section of the people so in theory, if the militia was included in the polling, the results wouldn't change.  The reality is, because very few travel outside the settlement, it's become a bit of an echo chamber.  The only exception to this is the militia.  New militia members go to Morgan Space for initial training, and militia units do training deployments once a year for additional unit training.  They train with Morganites from other sects.  They train with Morganite citizens who have turned their backs on Morganism and the Good God all together.  They see new ideas and absorb new ways of thought.  An estimated forty percent of militia members return from training with a tattoo.  When a militia member loses a limb in training, they come back with bionic prosthesis.  Those artificial limbs are now widely accepted in the militia.  Often when accidents happen outside of training that involves an amputation or severe loss of functionality, that militia member is transferred to the unit that is next on the roster to deploy for training, because you can't get a bionic prosthesis here.  In spite of helping people leave productive lives, prosthesis are still taboo here.  Those that have them have learned to hide them when they're in the general public to keep from being discriminated against, or in extreme cases targeted for violence."  The Admiral chuckled, "Ah, listen to me.  I'm sorry to rant.  It just gets me going when I think of how out of touch the population has grown.  The hardliners in particular."

"Thanks for sharing that.  I didn't realize just how careful I need to be."  I said.

"My suggestion would be for you and Lt. Tine to mostly stick to the militia base."  The Admiral advised. "There isn't much you can get out there that you can't get here.  If you have to leave the base, let me know and I'll send a squad of Marines with you.  I don't expect you would be physically attacked, but people can be nasty when they're scared, and you know how scared people get when they are exposed to something they don't understand."

The Admiral's words really got me thinking.  What happens to a society when half of the people believe one way, and the other half believe another way?  In the case of the Unchained Fury settlement, both sides of the argument feel like they are in the right.  That their beliefs are the truth.  So neither side wants to give an inch.


We checked the winds carefully before talking about our problem with the people on the station, and it almost cost us dearly.  

"Admiral Thomas you say.  Sure, I know exactly where he is." Admiral Tonamann said, "I wish there was something I could do to help him.  I expect most of us in the stash settlements feel that way."

"Where is he?"  I asked.

"Arrested.   Charged with fostering treason, and abetting terrorists."  Admiral Tonamann said.  "I'm guessing the terrorists in question were you and your crew."

When the Admiral saw me start to panic, he held up a hand.  "Relax Capitan.  The only people here who believe you are actually terrorists are a few hardliners who think they can use it to gain politically.  The claims against you are obviously fabrications, and you and your crew approached our settlement openly and honestly about who you are, where you've been, and what you've been up to."

"How do you know we've been so honest?"

"Because everywhere a ship goes, it picks up bits and pieces.  A little dust here, a few scorch marks there.  A pile of sandy dirt containing a rather nasty parasite from Angmar on your landing strut.  Your weapons have been used, but nowhere near enough to destroy a single cruiser, let alone that and the carrier, and dozens of frigates, destroyers, freighters, a fleet tender, and the rest of a long list of ships that you've been accused of destroying."  The Admiral had quite a grin.  "Lady Capitan, a fine officer you may be, and a fine ship the Haul-o-caster may be, but you are far far from the scourge of the universe, and nowhere near capable enough to have done what you've been accused of."  

"They blamed all that on just us?"

"You're an outsider, the bigger a monster they make you out to be, the more political power they can glean in the name of defeating you.  By linking Admiral Thomas to you, they can paint him with the same evil brush.  The Admiral's opponents are pushing to have him executed you know.  There hasn't been an execution in Morgan Space for over three hundred years and now, when the 'rus have gone insane we need him, but where is he?  He's in jail along with most of the best Capitans in his fleet, and the bastards want to kill him."

"They have his Capitans in jail too?"  I asked.

"A lot of them."  The Admiral replied.  "Some of them refused to yield and were destroyed along with their ships.  Some of them escaped.  A few of them were out on assignments and are currently being hunted.  I wish we could help them.  If they came here, we could at least help resupply them, although even that is a risk.  You never know when someone is going to take it in their heads to try to curry favor with whoever seems to be in charge in Morgan Space the idiots.  We left Morgan Space for good reasons, and those reasons are still valid, but too many of the hardliners here have forgotten our history and they haven't been back to Morganite Space like I have, so they don't understand."

"The danger that someone might alert the Morganite government pertains to us to, doesn't it?  Me and my crew?"

"Sadly, yes."  Admiral Tonamann replied, "As soon as you've had a rest, I was going to suggest you let me fill your holds with supplies and for you to go find somewhere to hide.  You should be safe for now; but the hardliners have stated making noises about trading you to the Morganite Government in exchange for political reforms.  The dumb bastards actually think you are valuable enough that the Morganite Grand Senate will consider coding our Sect's dogma into Morganite Secular law to get their hands on you.  It would be funny if it weren't so delusional."

"Delusional nothing, that's downright suicidal!"  

"What do you mean?"  He asked.

"They don't want us captured.  They want us destroyed."  I told the Admiral, "If we were captured, Admiral Thomas' allies could easily point out exactly what you already know.  There is no way me and the crew of the Haul-o-caster could possibly do what they are saying we did.  We will, however, take you up on your offer of supplies if you can spare them." 

"We can.  Before we left Morgan Space, we were a persecuted people.  Not as persecuted as your Lt. Tine's people but persecuted none the less.  It instilled in us a habit of squirreling away supplies.  Once you are ready to depart, I'll have my nephew show you to one of my family's cachets.  In anticipation of your departure, I have already earmarked supplies."

"I have never seen a squirrel Admiral, although I have read about them."  I joked, "I was never of the impression that a squirrel would tell anyone where their nuts were hidden."

"No worry about that Capitan."  The Admiral replied.  "The cachet is an old heavy freighter.  After you leave, my nephew will be moving it to another hiding spot.  The family takes turns manning the ship, and it's his sister's turn to come home to the Unchained Fury."


I gave the crew another day of rest, then called them back to the ship.

"If any of you wish to stay, the Admiral has said there is a place for you in the militia at your current rank."  I told them.  Shelly made a rude noise.

"Well, we have Shelly's answer.  Anyone else?"  The rest of the crew made, or at least attempted to make, an approximation of Shelly's noise.  Really, nobody makes rude noises like Shelly, and nobody rolls her eyes like Barnes.  I've come to accept that about my crew.

"Ok then," I continued.  "If we all die a flaming hot death, don't go crying to me.

"This is Norman, Admiral Tonamann's nephew.  He's going to be taking us to a stash of supplies so we can resupply and get out of here before we attract too much trouble for these wonderful people."

"Hello everyone."  Norman said.  Barnes tried to give up the helm position, but Norman waved him back into place.  "That's fine, I'll just give you the coordinates.  I'm not a great pilot, and with all of you watching I'm afraid I might hit a moon or something."


The flight out to the stash didn't take long and was pretty quiet.  Everyone seemed to be settling back into their usual routine.  The heavy freighter was parked in orbit over the moon of the sixth planet in the system.  The planed was a gas giant.  I had seen bigger, but not much bigger.  The moon was a ball of ice.  I almost didn't see the heavy freighter as we approached because it was parked in the shadow of the dark side of the moon.  As we approached, I was shocked to find that the freighter was flanked by a cruiser and a destroyer.

"It's ok." Norman told us, "They belong to our family.  We keep a skeleton crew aboard all three to keep our supplies safe.  Open a channel using this encryption key."  He handed Shelly a data chip.  "Nostro Nostro, Gamma Gamma Lima Charley Fox."

"Tango Tango, Gump Gump Wagga Wagga Fox.  Nice to hear your voice bro."  Replied a girl's voice.

"You aren't supposed to say anything not in code sis!"  Norman admonished.

"You just did."  Came the laughing reply.  "I am NOT giving you docking coordinates in code.  We would be here all week, not all of us are code freaks like you are, and besides, this communication is encrypted anyway."

Norman sighed.

Docking with the heavy freighter was simple enough, and soon supplies were flowing into my holds.  I was amazed by the amount we were being given.

"Uncle Drogart, the Admiral, said to give you as much as you can hold in case you wanted to dig a hole in space and cover yourselves up.  I don't understand what that means, but that's what he said.  Sorry we don't have a whole lot of spare parts you can use.  Most of what we have is old technology, but good enough for keeping these three ships going.  As if we will ever need them, but they keep the old people happy."

"Capitan," Shelly cut in, "Comunication from the Shadow King, they say it's urgent."

"Send it to cargo bay three."  Norman and I had been resting after loading some large crates of preserved field rations.  They were the kind of meals that ground units tended to use rather than the less bulky ration bars that were commonly used on ships, but it's what we were being given, and we had the space for them.  They aren't bad.  I've had them before.

"Capitan Kid,  I am Capitan Ceryl Tonamann of the Shadow King."  Capitan Ceryl was a quiet, soft looking woman with a quiet voice.  "We are picking up traffic from our..  Oh, you have Norman there with you.  Norman.  Alas Babylon, Delta Six Six."  Tears started streaming down her face.

"What?"  Norman practically yelled.  "What is happening?"

Instead of replying, Capitan Ceryl pressed a couple buttons on her console and a video feed appeared.   The Unchained Fury was being attacked.  Normally i would have said that was a foolish thing to do, the Unchained Fury is, or had been, an old school battleship after all.  She had powerful weapons and lots of armor.  Except, she was being attacked by three Morganite battleships, two of them were the size of the Baskins, the third was even larger, and it was clear that the Unchained Fury was quickly being torn to bits.

"We have to help them!" Norman cried.

"The order is Delta Six Six Norman.  We have to go."  Replied Ceryl.  "Captain Kid, we are joining with whatever is left of our family's fleet and what we can gather of our ally's fleets and making a break for the translation matrix.  They'll probably have a blockade, so I don't have a lot of hope that we'll  be able to escape, but at least it's a chance.  You are free to join us."

"Do they know we're here?"  I asked.

"They are blasting active sensors towards the station, but I don't think they've spotted us out here yet."  Capitan Ceryl said.  "And they shouldn't have records of any of the families' owning warships.  According to the legends, these ships are all off the books."

"Legends?"  I had to ask.

"Admiral Fariday Williamson is rumored to have been somewhat of a scoundrel who did a lot of wheeling and dealing.  The story I heard was that most of these ships were heading for a scrap yard when he picked them up. 
He famously said the government doesn't check to make sure they actually get scrapped; it wasn't his problem.  Over the last 300 years, we've done a lot of repairing, rebuilding, and maintaining them as best as we can.  I'm not looking forward to fighting more modern ships." 

"I think it would be a better idea to head out to deep space and make like a hole in space.  If they don't know your ships are here, they won't know to look for them."  I suggested.  

Capitan Ceryl looked relieved.  She looked so young, far too young to Captain a ship.  Had I ever been that young?

"That is what I'll suggest then."  She replied.








Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Miami Pete 37

 In case you are interested in reading this from the beginning:


Thanks for reading!


The problem is, just where is Admiral Thomas?  Last we knew, he was with the Vanguard fleet of Task Force 'rus.  As I left, I believe Task Force 'rus was repairing and rebuilding for another run at 'rus Prime.  What confused me was why looking at 'rus prime was such a big deal, and just who was it a big deal to?  Sure, 'rus get all upset if you go active on the scanners and hit them too hard with them.  So yea, i get it.  'rus like their privacy, but when Pete and I took the 'rus Monks to 'rus Prime, it was abandoned.  As far as I could tell, the whole darn star system was abandoned.  I was there, lying helpless in the autodoc for a long time.  A long enough time that if the 'rus took exception to me being there, it would have been simple to turn me, and the Haul-o-caster to a grease spot from orbit, or for that matter if they wanted to preserve 'rus Prime, wait until I left and hit me in space.  I was in no condition to fight back.  Sure, they didn't know that, but it was plain that Hauley is a small ship with minimal weapons.  Not much of a match for a 'rus ship of any size.

I guess all of that is neither here nor there though.  If Task Force 'rus is still poking about the jump point to 'rus Prime, or even poking about 'rus Prime itself after all this time I would be shocked.  For that matter, we don't even know if Task Force 'rus still exists.  

It occurred to me that I didn't always have to have all the answers.

"OK everyone.  Does anyone know how we might find Admiral Thomas?"

"The Fleet Databoard should have his most recently known whereabouts."  Shelly suggested.

"Unfortunately, we are fugitives and will not be able to access the Databoard, or any other Fleet network."  Lt. Tine answered, "To try to do so could even tell the Fleet where we are."  

"Mother, would you be able to use backchannels?"  Barnes asked.

"I think not."  Mother Ahmisa replied.  "Out of necessity, the Mothers work hard at maintaining our neutrality when it comes to politics.  This touches upon the power struggle between Admiral Thomas and his family, and Admiral Foster whom I believe is the power behind the issues with the Lightning and the arrest warrants.  And I'm afraid to say it, but maybe even the friendly fire incidents during and after the assault on 'rus Prime."

"That went by so quick, I was hoping that was one of your Morganite things that I shouldn't ask about."  I said.  The bridge got quiet and everyone stared at me.

"One of our Moganite things?"  Barnes asked softly.  "How could you think that was a Morganite thing?"

"Well, I just thought someone might have broken a rule or something and that's why the Baskins fired on that ship, and I have no idea why the other ship just blew up.  I didn't ask because people get upset when I ask too many questions about Morganite stuff."

Quiet.

"What?  What did you expect me to think?"  Lacking any other evidence, that was the best I could come up with.

"I...  Think I can clear up some of it."  Shelly offered.  "None of this is official, it's all scuttlebutt from a couple friends aboard the Bait and Tackle.  I didn't say anything because some people get a little upset when I share stuff that might stir dissention... so..."

"Out with it Shelly."  Commanded Cmdr. Barona.

"My boyfriend hosted a chat for me to meet some of his friends from different ships around the supply train, and to mourn some of their friends from ships that were lost.  One of those friends was from the Doggeral Tonne, the freighter that self-destructed after the Baskins destroyed the Devil's Tooth.  They said that Peitro had been trying to get a transfer off the Tonne because he didn't fit in there.  They said that Peitro told them that the Capitan of the Tonne and his officers were all pro-expansion, and the crew were required to agree to pro-expansion rhetoric or be punished."

"Pro-expansionists?"  Cmdr. Barona sounded shocked.  "I thought those guys died out a long time ago."

"Sadly no."  Mother Ahmisa said.  "Many of the Hunter Sects moved that direction when the last of the Scientists were gone."

"My boyfriend's friends were all worried about that, a few refused to associate with me because of my family."  Shelly said.  "It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of my family joined the pro-expansionists.  They wouldn't tell me, of course, because they think I would report them.  They aren't exactly wrong.  I mean, I did hear some casual conversations that went un-reported, but nothing actively seditious, I promise!"

"But why would they blow themselves up?"  I asked.  "Do they believe in their cause that much?  Seems kind of pointless."

"Maybe they didn't."  Lt. Tine said.  "Capitan, I just took another look at the explosion that killed the Doggeral Tonne.  You remember how I was confused at how big the explosion was?"

"Yes, you said there shouldn't be anything on that ship that could make it explode so big."  I replied.

"I did, and looking at it now, I still stand by that assessment."  Lt. Tine continued.  "However, I did not remember the precise time the Tonne exploded, so to find the readings quickly, I glanced through the sensor logs and found something I missed.  The Doggeral Tonne exploded exactly thirty seconds after the Devil's Tooth was destroyed."

"That's an odd coincidence."  Barona said.

"Down to the microsecond."  Lt. Tine added.  "Awful big coincidence."

"Surely you aren't suggesting a Fealty Switch."  Barnes said rolling her eyes as only Barnes could.  "Someone's been watching too many low-class space opera vids.  Those things will rot your brain and leave you sexually frustrated.  Ask me how I know."

"I'll have you know, young lady, that I do not watch those things, and I'm shocked to hear that you do."  Lt. Tine said a little harshly.  "I thought better of you."

"Would it help if I said I just watched for the steamy parts?"  Barnes asked.  It looked like she was poking a little fun at the Leutenant's expense, but I didn't see how.  I had never heard of a Fealty Switch, or space opera vids for that matter.

"Would someone please explain?"  I asked.

"Well, there is this actor..." Barnes started.

"That's enough Barnes!"  Cmdr. Barona cut in.  "Capitan, there is a space opera vid that is popular among the younger people where two lovers who are part of a resistance movement are assigned to two different ships.  She an engineer, he a helmsman."

"Which is totally bunk, no self-respecting helmsman would ever stoop to dating an engineer!"  Barnes cut in.  "No offence Smitty."

Barona gave her a sharp look and continued.  "The plan is for the hero and a small group his fellow bridge officers to mutiny, then use the ship to strike a killing blow against the Evil High Command.  Only the Evil High Command gets wind of it and plants a bomb, a Fealty Switch bomb, aboard the hero's ship that will destroy it if it falls into the hands of traitors.  The heroine of the story finds out about the bomb and spends the rest of the movie using sex to bribe her way off her ship and across the galaxy, hoping against hope she gets there in time to save her man."

"It's very exciting!"  Barnes added.

"It's smut."  Said Lt. Cmdr. Dorn.  "And entirely unrealistic."

"Who cares, Gerran Dometry is completely smokin!  Although the steamy scenes are mostly de'Naiah Cortes and a long line of no-name actors.  There is that scene where Gerran is dreaming of de'Naiah and starts stroking his..."

"ENOUGH I said!"  Barona blurted out, cutting Barnes off before she could complete the thought.

"Just sayin, for that scene alone it worth sitting through the whole vid."  Barnes said, sounding hurt.

"Um."  I asked, "What's a space opera?"


Space operas aside, the important part was that it looked like someone took the idea of a Fealty Switch from a vid and put it into use.  The very idea that someone would put a bomb on a ship to ensure they don't switch sides is beyond comprehension to me.  I didn't want to believe it.  I couldn't believe it.  

Didn't stop me from personally searching ever single solitary square inch of my ship though.

I didn't find anything.  Well, I didn't find any bombs.  I did find a few things someone might consider contraband, but nothing dangerous so I didn't tell Barona or Mother Ahmisa about it.  Let's just say, Barnes really does like "Steamy vids" and leave it at that.  I also found a few of Pete's stashes around the ship that I didn't know about.  The blasters I left where I found them, making note of where they were in case I needed one in a hurry.  The booze went into a locked cabinet.  It was all Pete's, I could tell, and I don't suspect anyone on the crew of being a lush, but no point in leaving temptations around.  Everyone has a hard day now and then.


It's a good thing that Barnes found us a good hiding spot, because it took a few days to figure out what to do next.

"Mother, when we went with the Lightning to get supplies.  We stopped at a supply stash, right?"  I asked.

"Yes Capitan, and I have been very worried about them ever since."  Mother Ahmisa replied.

"Worried why?"  I asked.  I was a little surprised, what was there to worry about?

"The locations of those supply stashes are generally held in secret.  They are only used at dire need."  Mother Ahmisa replied.  "Admiral Thomas had to give the coordinates of that supply stash to Lightning, and with all that happened, I worry about what he might do with that information."

"Should we try to go warn them?"  I asked, "It would be quite a trip.  The quick way would take us through the jump point where we almost died.  I don't want to ever hit that one again.  The slow way would take months."

"No, if the Admiral thought they were in danger, he would make sure they were both warned and protected.  I just worry, there is a lot that can happen in space."

"That brings me to the next question."  I asked, "Are there any more like that one?  Maybe close by?"

"None that I know of."  Mother Ahmisa said, "But one of the others on the crew might know of one.  We do need supplies.  I'll ask around."

"The other question is, what kind of reception would we get?"  I asked.

"That depends on the stash."  Mother Ahmisa said, "Some of them would just turn us away, assuming the crew are Morganites working Outside.  Especially with a non-Morganite Capitan.  For others, the crew being Morganites would be enough reason to help.  Some are completely sequestered, like the one we went to, and have little to no contact with anyone.  While others will have family still living in Morgan space and have open communications with them.  Some will know about the warrants already, some won't.  Some will care, some won't.  There really is no way to know until we get there and see how they react."


It turns out that Chief Williamson knew of a stash a half dozen hops away.  He made sure to say he wanted it written into the record that he only provided the location of the stash because he believed us to be in a dire emergency, so that if anyone questioned his reasoning in the future, it was all official.  We, of course, so noted.

The good Chief seemed to be on pins and needles as we transitioned into the star system where the stash was located.  The system was about as back-water as a system could get.  The system's star was nice enough, but the system didn't have any planets even remotely Inhabitable.  The stash itself was huge and looked like a retired battleship that the residents had added to haphazardly over hundreds of years.  

"Ladies and gentlemen!  And you Barnes.  I give you the Unchained Fury.  Or at least what's left of it."  The Chief announced.  "My Great Great Great Grandfather was her final Capitan.  They retired her here when he retired to give my Great Great Great Grandmother's people a place to live in peace.  You see, Lt. Tine, the Scientists weren't the only people persecuted by their fellow Morganites.  Granted, My ancestors' people weren't hounded to their deaths like yours were, so I'm not making comparisons.  They left Morgan Space of their own free will.  My branch of the family were more traditional Morganites so we didn't go with, but we did keep in contact.  In fact, I even came to visit a few times when I was a child."

"What should we expect to find here?"  I asked.

The Chief laughed.  "As long as things are still the same as last time I was here, you are all in for a treat!  My many times Great Grandmother's people believed we were made how the Good God intended us to be made.  So don't be surprised if we find a certain lack of modesty when it comes to being clothed.  I don't think it's needed for this crew, well except maybe Barnes, but counter-intuitively these people are more traditional when it comes to... shall we say... physical affection?  So, look but don't touch!  At least not unless invited to touch."

"Hey, why did you think I needed to be singled out when it comes to touching!"  Barnes said, sounding a little hurt, although it may have been feigned.

"The no touching rule applies to yourself also."  The Chief said, embarrassed.

"Ah, I get it.  I'll keep that activity to the privacy of Shelly's bunk then."

"WHAT!?!"

"C'mon Shelly, we both know your sheets are so much softer and more snuggly.  How do you do it?  You can tell me.  With all the fun I have in your rack while you're on duty, we're practically married."

Shelly looked like she was about to cry.

"Aw cut it out you big baby.  I was only kidding; I don't do anything in your bunk."

"It's kidding like that I'm worried about Barnes."  The Chief said, "The people here are uncomfortable talking about stuff like that.  The only other potential problem I see is tattoos.  They are a major taboo here.  Before we dock, I'm going to have the autodoc remove mine.  They can be re-applied once we leave.  Lt. Tine, you and I have had a few conversations about your tattoos, and I advise you to keep yours.  They'll take some explaining, but I believe these people will understand, and respect your decision to keep them."


After the briefing, Chief Williamson stopped by my office.  "Capitan, I'm not sure how the people at the stash will react to your cyber device.  The use of cyber devices in Morganite space started after this settlement was formed.  Most of these people will have never seen a cyber device and may not know what to think."

"What do you suggest?"  

"I suggest we handle it like Lt. Tine's tattoos."  He replied.  "Be up-front.  Tell them the cyber device was done without your permission and that it can't be removed without killing you.  Frankly, I don't know how they'll react to it.  There is some precedent.  Scars are treated as part of who you are, although purposely scarring yourself or another is frowned upon.  They might see the cyber device similar to a scar given to you by someone.  There is also precedent with regards to prosthetics, and to my surprise it was stretched to cover permanent prosthetics.  Maybe they'll see the cyber device as a permanent prosthetic."

"Or maybe they'll chop my head off."  I said deadpan.  The instant reaction of shock and horror from the Chief was worth it.  He soon realized I was kidding him and attempted to laugh.  I had hoped for more, but I guess you get what you get.  The Chief had been running himself ragged trying to think of everything, and I could tell the stress was getting to him.  Oh, not like it would some other people, Chief Williamson wasn't falling behind on his work or anything.  But I could tell.


We approached the stash carefully.  It was - or had once been - a Morganite battleship after all.  The Chief let us know that yes, as of last time he was here the guns had been not only maintained and kept functional, they were regularly updated.  We were looking down the, well... barrel... of some pretty serious firepower.  

"Unchained Fury Station, this is the Haul-o-caster.  Request docking instructions."  Shelly said into the comms smoothly.

"Hallercastwhatever, please come to a halt and stand by where you are.  Please know you are under guns and we will fire if you come any closer without permission."

"Barnes, hold us here."  I ordered.  "As a matter of fact, back us up a couple meters.  Not too far, just enough to put us back to where we were when he told us to stop."

"Already there Capitan.  Holy stuff, would you look at those guns?  The Baskins didn't even have guns that big."  Barnes exclaimed.

"Vessel, this is the chief of the watch, Unchained Station.  Could you identify yourself again?"

"Unchained Station, this is the Haul-o-caster, requesting docking instructions."  Shelly repeated, omitting the "Fury" part of the name, mirroring how the station chief identified them.

"Haul-o-caster, Unchained Station isn't a commercial station.  Please turn around and go."

"Can I give it a try Capitan?"  Chief Williamson asked.

"Sure, can't get much worse."  I said.

"GUNS Capitan, BIG GUNS!  It can get a LOT worse."  Barnes said.

"Belay that Barnes.  It's not helping!"  Barona hollered.

"Everyone relax.  Chief, give it your best shot.  Barnes, be ready to beat feet if they start shooting."

"Unchained Fury, this is Chief Argencourt Fariday Williamson.  Chief engineer abord the Haul-o-caster, and Great Great Great Grandson of Fariday Williamson, who established the Unchained Fury settlement on behalf of his wife, Elenore Williamson to give her people a safe home.  If you'll check the records, I have visited the station twice and I am on the list of residents with open permission to return at any time."

"Please stand by."

Then we waited... and waited... and waited.  It took a few hours before we were contacted again.  This time with video, by an older woman.  

"Argencourt?  Is that really you?"  She asked.

"Aunt Essey.  So nice to see you!"  The Chief smiled.

"You've gained weight."  The old woman said, but kindly.  Like only an old female relative can get away with.

"Yes Aunt Essey, I grew a few feet in height too."  The Chief's face seemed in danger of splitting in half with how big he was smiling.

"Dear, what is that thing sitting there behind you?"  Aunt Essey asked.  The Chief was taken aback a little, confused, then realized she was talking about me.

"This is my Capitan Auntie.  Capitan Kid of the good ship Haul-o-caster.  I know she looks a little different, but she's a good Capitan, and dare I say, a friend."

"Does she talk?"

"Yes, I can talk."  I smiled.  Most people asking a question like that would have been insulting.  I got the impression that wasn't the case with Aunt Essey.  She was just one of those people who are blunt, and not very good at realizing how her words might be taken.

"Oh, you do.  How nice.  I can't wait to meet you in person.  Chief Parnett, what do we pay you for, why isn't my favorite grand nephew here getting his cute little face all smothered in kisses?  And that cute little Capitan looks like she needs a hug and some good food."

I kid you not.  She then started smacking the Chief of the Watch of the Unchained Fury, a man with control of more firepower than I had ever seen in one place, with her giant handbag.  

Fending off blows, Chief Parnett managed to hit the right levers and gave us coordinates for a landing bay and permission to approach.  The last thing we heard was Auntie Essey yelling "You put them in the far landing bay so I would have to walk didn't you!"

I suspected he did so to get himself as far out of purse swinging range as he could manage.