Xochitl Novella, Part 2, 9,814 words
Waste Not
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Without a defined mission, I had the freedom to change my thoughts and direction without any interruptions. Although raiding pirate settlements was profitable for me, it wasn't suitable for Art or Zooey.
Art’s dedication to get out there for himself and begin his own operation, was equal to his focus on fitness. Too many commander’s would have ended his contract, then and there. He would be seen as competition. Someone using them to advance his own personal goals and desires.
Well no kidding, it’s a business. The markets and the universe at large were competitive, and healthy competition was necessary.
My goal would be to train him. Train him to be someone who would be a solid competitor. That I would make a few enemies along the way was not something that concerned me. I had plenty of those to go around. A few extra wouldn’t change the price of tobacco or onion head at the nearest outpost.
To achieve success in his own operation, Art would need to possess a wider skill set than just flying a ship. While he had already demonstrated his proficiency in that area, he would also need to acquire knowledge of markets, mining, combat, and maintenance. These were essential skills for anyone looking to be a successful commander and grow their business in the competitive and dangerous universe they operated in. It was my responsibility to train Art and ensure he was equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make his venture a success.
When I mentioned his need to understand the ins and outs of smuggling. Art seemed hesitant at first, but as Yatziri explained the benefits and the potential profits that could be made through smuggling, he began to warm up to the idea. Yatziri promised to teach him the ins and outs of the trade, from finding the right contacts to negotiating deals and avoiding authorities.
I agreed that it would be a valuable skill for him to learn, especially since our current mission involved smuggling some valuable cargo across a few systems. Art would be able to gain firsthand experience and learn from our successes.
Zooey, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about the idea. She voiced her concerns about the potential risks. Yatziri and I assured her that we would take all necessary precautions to minimize the risks, ensuring our safety.
At the end of the first run, Art agreed to learn under Yatziri's guidance. It was a risky business, but the potential rewards were worth it. With our combined skills and experience, we were confident he would succeed in becoming a more well rounded and versed trader.
***
Throughout the trading day, Art received a comprehensive lesson in market margins and route planning, filling in the gaps in his knowledge. Despite his previous experience in administration and logistics with the Federal Navy, as well as his time on a cargo ship, he was not familiar with the intricacies of the various markets within a system, or those that govern multiple systems.
During our last stop of the evening, Yatziri and I called Art down to the ship's waste tanks, which surprised him. Most commanders don't think twice about waste disposal, as it's usually an automated process when docking at a station. However, we posed the question to Art: what would he do as a ship owner if there was a waste tank failure while in transit? It's not a pleasant experience to deal with, but an important consideration for any responsible ship owner.
Opening the waste vents while in space could result in tragic consequences due to the rapid freezing of solids and liquids, leading to potential damage to the plumbing lines. Although the sight was unappealing, it was crucial that Art, as a commander in training, be familiar with such scenarios and how to address them without needing to dock for repairs.
If Art found himself in the depths of space without a nearby star to provide heat, he could rely on his ship's fusion reactor. By using the bypass lines to circulate water near the plasma manifold and redirecting it to the waste system, the heat from the water would cause any clogs to expand and push them into the tanks, where they could be safely vented into space without the risk of flash freezing.
Once he was docked at his next destination, he could request a waste system flush to fully clean the tanks. The process would typically involve the use of nitrogen gas to remove any organic solvents, followed by a disinfectant such as sulfur dioxide. Finally, an alkaline sodium silicate flush would be used, which is a non-toxic and non-flammable cleaner. This process would ensure that the waste tanks were completely cleaned and ready for the next journey.
Art looked at both Yatziri and me with a curious expression. ‘You have tanks full of those that you make yourself, on board this ship.' I couldn't help but smile. 'Just imagine how much you've learned now that other commanders never consider. How much more do you want to learn?’
***
I decided not to ask Art to prepare the evening meal, as he had already had a full day and a lot to process from his training. Instead, I treated my crew to dinner at the best restaurant I could find at the local station.
While Zooey's tasks for the day may have seemed mundane, as she was managing communications and the ship’s cargo system, I made sure to recognize her value as an equally important member of the crew.
She hadn’t expressed a desire for a larger future like Art had, but I knew that she would make a good commander herself one day, with proper guidance.
Roles
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After departing our last cargo destination I informed both Art and Zooey that we would be changing ships once more, back to the Krait Phantom, so that Art could be trained in the same class of ship that he would one day own. Yatziri found humor in their dual confusion when we landed at a location different than the planetary settlement where they had last seen the Phantom. I admit to feeling humor in the situation myself, knowing that neither of them had known that I had paid for the Phantom to be moved to another location in preparation.
I informed everyone that we will be primarily using the Krait Phantom from now on, barring future plans for dissimilar ship frame training we should be spending the majority of our time on this ship. By the time Art has accumulated enough funding for his own, he should have the knowledge of how to upgrade and maintain his ship, with the only task remaining to get his business up into the stars correctly.
Yatziri and Zooey boarded the ship while I escorted Art to the hangar offices. There I introduced him as a commander and future ship owner in training, of the type currently in my hangar. I paid for a full service, adding several thousand extra credits while asking that Art be allowed to accompany the crews, and watch as both the human and automated systems performed a full check while topping off my service tanks with the specific gases and liquids requested.
Smaller settlements and outposts often welcome the opportunity to show aspiring commanders around, as the larger stations are usually too busy to accommodate such requests. Building a good and knowledgeable relationship between commanders and staff can go a long way in improving efficiency and profitability, as commanders who appreciate the hard work of the staff are more likely to add a little extra for their time.
Returning to the ship, I stored Art's gear in his room and downloaded a detailed schematic of the entire ship, including all of its sub-components, for Art to study. I would be assigning him the task of studying and memorizing everything. It wasn't necessary for a commander to have that level of knowledge, but he entrusted me to get him to where he wanted to be, and I would commit myself to ensuring he would be better prepared than the norm.
***
With nothing to do aboard the ship, while it was being serviced, Yatziri headed toward the station's main concourse, with a clear objective in mind. Zooey had tagged along with her, stopping midway through the concourse to inspect the local shops and amenities offered by the various kiosk, dotted around its center.
The bar wasn’t as seedy as many she had seen, but the ever-present haze of smoke and the heavy scent of alcohol and other recreational products, lingered in the air, as Yatziri dropped down on a stool at the bar, ordering their local blend. Most stations, settlements, and outpost had their own unique blend they took pride in.
Her trained smuggler’s eye took in the surrounding patronage, with the usual types being represented. The types she was used to were easy to spot, taking to the darker walls and back of the establishment. The lesser experienced more rowdy of their ilk stayed more towards the center and near the gaming tables towards one end of the bar.
The local security services were making their presence known, as a few of their numbers sat at the tables nearer the entrance, keeping an ever-watchful eye on those in the center. With the amount of alcohol flowing toward the center, Yatziri knew from experience that it was only a matter of time before the evening became more entertaining.
Zooey made her way to the bar, taking a seat next to Yatziri. It was instantly obvious that she was not used to such places. Even in her prior career as a dredger pilot. Their types barely earned enough to feed themselves and keep flying. Having the funds for recreation of this sort, was beyond most. The only benefit a dredger pilot had over everyone else was their untouchable status.
Everyone knew they had nothing of worth, and were thus ignored by pirates, bandits, and raiders. Their job however was important to all, as they removed the junk and debris while recovering the odd damaged escape pod, or those who never made it to one. No one, in any profession, liked to find their ships colliding with the wrecked hulk of another or having the remains which were contained within, glued to the front of their bridge windows by gravitational forces.
Yatziri took a sip from her drink, watching Zooey from the corner of her eye. While she was not a sociable person and unfamiliar with working with what a smuggler would view as prey, Xochitl was her friend and in a smuggler’s life, a real friend was unheard of. For her, she would play nice and help her out.
‘What future does a dredger look forward to,’ Yatziri asked while looking toward the center of the bar, keeping an eye on the rowdy crowd situated there.
Zooey looked down at her own drink, swirling it absently before answering, ‘Most of us just try to get by day to day, hoping to avoid trouble and make enough credits to keep flying. It's not a glamorous life, but it's what we know.’ She took a small sip before continuing, 'But every now and then, there's a chance to make a big score, to find something valuable in all that debris. Those are the moments we live for.’
Yatziri gave a wry smile. ‘It can be. But it's also dangerous, and you always have to be careful who you trust.’ She finished her drink and stood up from the bar. ‘Come on, let's go check out the rest of the station before we head back to the ship.’
‘We’re leaving this early?’ Zooey asked, looking at Yatziri confused, who was paying attention to the center of the bar, as she headed toward the entrance. ‘Don’t think the boss would like us getting involved in the coming attractions.’
Zooey’s confused look intensified as she followed Yatziri back into the main concourse. Working her way toward the center, Yatziri stopped and turned around slowly.
‘Before you and I go on any further I need to know if you plan on being with Xochitl for any reasonable amount of time or is this a means to earn a few extra credits and then return to your dredging?’
Zooey was surprised by Yatziri’s sudden turn but realized she didn’t know that she had worked a couple of hard years to get away from dredging and hire on with the first decent commercial trader she could. She had issues with raiding pirate settlements and some of the smuggling Xochitl engaged in, the majority of her trade, and genuine care for her contractors offered a path towards never having to return to scrapping a living out of the ruins of wrecked ships again.
Yatziri waited for Zooey's response, watching her closely. Zooey hesitated for a moment, then spoke. ‘I want to stay with Xochitl for as long as she'll have me,’ she said. ‘I may have come from a different background, but I believe in most of what we're doing, and I want to be a part of it.’
Yatziri nodded. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘Then we need to make sure you're prepared for whatever comes our way. That means training, studying, and learning everything you can about this life.’
Zooey nodded with a nervousness, but determination set in her eyes. ‘I'm ready,’ she said. ‘I want to be a part of this crew, and I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.’
Yatziri smiled. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘Let's get back to the ship and start your training.’
If
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That evening, I had dinner catered to the ship as a treat for the crew. I was surprised that Yatziri warmed up to anyone, and even more surprised at Zooey’s enthusiasm considering her recent soul-searching over my raiding of pirate settlements. I planned on testing her new resolve.
Her prior experiences as a dredger taught her how to maneuver in tight spaces, but that was with a smaller ship. She had done well with her first few times piloting the Krait class and the Taipan fighter, but there was much she had left to learn.
While I would rather be in my Mk II, the Phantom was the preferred ship for training, as it was the class we were working on to get Art started in his business. It could house a Scarab ground vehicle, but in its current configuration, I did not have one attached. Unlike the Mk II, it could not be equipped with a Taipan fighter, which meant no one was getting any fighter time.
Zooey, rather than Art, was first to notice that both my Krait Mk II and Phantom had a close-to-similar configuration, with the same cargo bay configuration and maximum tonnage capacity.
‘When I designed them, it was for one to complement and, if necessary, replace the other in the majority of their roles. The exclusive difference is the lack of fighter capabilities of the Phantom, with the latter having stronger hull armor than the former,’ I explained.
Yatziri cracked a knowing smile as Zooey tilted her head. ‘If you made them a complement, why the differences in the hull armor?’
‘A simple word, Thargoids.’
Art and Zooey both paused, with shocked expressions.
‘You’re serious?’ Art asked.
I could have smiled, but there was nothing to smile about when it came to the bugs.
‘Yes, and there is a chance you may get to see one.’
Yatziri’s smile broadened as she studied Zooey and Art.
‘When are you planning to re-module the ship?’ She asked me while keeping her attention on them.
I didn’t have any specific time in mind, so all I could do was shrug. ‘A chance, not a guarantee.’
‘You’ve seen them in person?’ Zooey asked, surprised, as Art leaned onto the table.
Yatziri broke out into laughter, to Art’s annoyance.
‘Yes, I’ve seen them. There is a chance you might too. If we do this, it will only be for you to have the experience, and to learn what to do if you are intercepted by one.’
‘We are going to need a ship with a fighter on board,’ Art commented, as Zooey looked on with concern.
‘We need speed more than a fighter, and this Phantom has more than enough to outrun one.’
‘Wait,’ Zooey looked at me with a shocked expression. ‘Are we really going to do this?’
Yatziri leaned back with a large smile on her face, as I shook my head.
‘If I decide to.’
***
After spending the next thirty minutes deflecting questions about the Thargoids, they finally got the hint and the conversation turned to the usual topics. Yatziri was amused, as she liked watching me squirm.
That evening, I retired to my quarters to schedule and pay for various modules and other ships to be moved to various locations of interest to me. I also placed a local order with a vendor, who arrived an hour later with four crates that the settlement's automated systems loaded into the port-rear storage bay, not to be confused with the ship’s cargo bay.
I sat back at my cabin’s desk, eating some soft-serve ice cream, and watching the fluctuations in various systems markets. It wasn't yet time to educate Art in this boring, mind-numbing part of trading. All things in their good time.
A chime at my door caught my attention, and Yatziri stood there with a bemused look on her face.
‘Figured you were still awake after seeing the robotic trolley hauling containers approaching the ship. You want company?’
I smiled, motioning with my spoon. ‘Sure, come on in. You can sit here and let your eyes glaze with mine, watching all of these load boards and price changes.’
‘Wanted to pick your brain on what you have planned for Art and Zooey.’
I propped my feet up on the desk, taking a spoonful of soft serve.
‘Figured when you left earlier that you would seek out the nearest water hole. Was surprised when you returned with Zooey and that you two were chummy.’
Yatziri laughed. ‘I wouldn’t say we are chummy. She’s as skittish and green as they come, but she’s honest in wanting to learn, so I’ll give her that chance.’
‘I can only train one at a time, and Art’s going to take a lot of my time, along with making us all enough credits to get where we want to be.’
Yatziri nodded. ‘I was going to hit you up later with it, but now is as good a time as any. I know your processor could take all these tasks on at once, but you are only one person, and time is what it is. I’ll take Zooey off your hands so you can focus on the rest.’
I was glad Yatziri had brought this up, as I had planned on approaching her later on the same topic.
‘So, we going goid hunting?’ Yatziri asked before I could thank her for the other.
Smiling, I took another spoonful of soft serve. ‘It depends.’
The calm before
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The next morning I woke early as there was much to take care of. Art was up early as well, in the gym working out, as was his nature. I focused on scheduling and paying for modules and ships to be moved around, then turned my attention to the markets, where I purchased a full cargo hold of eighty tons of Pyrophyllite. A settlement, three systems away, had a quoted 1.5 million sell price open, and a nice buy price on Gold, where another settlement would pay another million five.
I smiled as I settled into the pilot’s seat, receiving departure clearance. The Phantom lifted smoothly, transitioning to a gentle departure climb, exiting the orbit of the planet and into a position to begin the jump to our first customer of the day.
Yatziri and Zooey were still in their quarters, and if the launch didn’t wake them, they would be surprised to see a new sight out of their porthole windows. Art would be put off, as the shift in position and gravity would affect his workout, so I expected his presence in short order.
As I made the first jump, Art appeared in the cockpit with a towel over his shoulders and sweat on his forehead. He nodded his good morning as I stood up from the pilot’s seat, motioning for him to take it. He did not hesitate, settling in as his hands danced over the displays to the left and right of the chair, bringing up our position information, navigation, and destination.
‘I see you have a couple of runs already planned for this morning. Wish you would have called me from the gym. Would like to watch and learn how you work the markets.’
I smiled, placing a hand on the back of the pilot’s seat. ‘These were two quick and standard trades. There was nothing special about them. Later, we will go into the depths of the markets, and that will be where your bread and butter will be. These little things keep the food on the table and fuel in the tanks.’
‘Fair enough,’ Art chuckled. ‘I noticed the first stop was a planetary settlement. Do you want me to enter orbit and do the descent, or would you prefer to take it?’
My smile grew. ‘It is all yours, commander. If you have any questions, I will be right here. The gravity of the planet is light when compared to its mass, so you will need to jockey the throttles a little before entering the glide to the station. Keep it between negative thirty to forty on your descent, and you will pop out within a few kilometers of the landing pad.’
Art nodded, his expression focused. ‘Got it, boss.’
I took a step back, watching as Art brought the Phantom into orbit around the planet. His hands were steady on the controls as he adjusted the throttle, maneuvering the ship into the optimal position for a smooth descent. I could see the determination on his face as he guided the ship toward the planetary settlement, adjusting the throttle as needed to maintain a steady descent.
As we approached the landing pad, Art expertly guided the Phantom in for a smooth landing, the ship settling onto the platform with a gentle thud. I could see the satisfaction on his face as he shut down the engines and powered down the systems.
‘Not bad, commander,’ I said with a grin as I patted him on the back. ‘Looks like you’ve got a knack for this.’
Art laughed as the settlement's automated systems began unloading the Pyrophyllite and loading Gold in its place.
‘Alright, this should only take a minute, so get your navigation set for the next jump, and if its star is appropriate, we will scoop a few tons of fuel, then continue on. We don’t need to top up the tanks, just a few extra tons.’
Art nodded. ‘Any specific ascent profile?’
I shook my head. ‘The Phantom has more than enough power for a vertical ascent with a full load of cargo, even under high gravity, which we won’t be doing, at least not today.’
An automated voice announced, ‘Cargo loaded, commander. You are cleared for departure. Have a nice flight.’
I nodded at Art. ‘All yours.’
***
In the crew lounge, Yatziri sat with a faux serious look on her face, staring across the table at Zooey, who was reading the various systems market data on the tablet Yatziri had given her.
‘When I was a dredger, we would find remnants of many of the cargo types listed, but usually nothing viable for resale. These sales, buy, and trending numbers, I don’t even begin to understand.’
Yatziri leaned back, the corners of her mouth moving into a smirk.
‘Forget the numbers for a moment, and think about what different societies need. What did the society you worked for need? Food, water, clothing, appliances, whatever it was?’
Zooey looked at the tablet’s screen. ‘Well, yes, everyone needs the basics, but there is a lot more here than the basics.’
Yatziri motioned at the tablet. ‘All of those systems have people, which have the basic needs of everyone else. Each system has one or more industries, which have their needs. Think of the industry as a person. What do you need and what do you have that another will pay for?’
Zooey focused on the screen as Yatziri leaned across.
‘Open the next tab. That graphic is dated but is still in use. The whole process is as simple as matching which industry types need what from whom. The high-tech makes the pesticides and agricultural medicines that agricultural systems need, which in turn make the food that everyone needs. The numbers are simple. Look for the lowest buy from the supplier to the highest sell from the consumer.’
Zooey turned the tablet sideways looking at the graphic as Yatziri leaned back and once more smiled.
‘Don’t overthink it. You’re not going to get it right away, but soon it will make sense and you will laugh at yourself for not seeing it sooner.’
Zooey turned the tablet back and forth in her hands. ‘I get the basic idea of what you are talking about, but it seems like there are so many variables to consider.’
Yatziri nodded. ‘There are, but that’s what makes it interesting. It’s a puzzle that is constantly changing.’
As they continued their discussion, I watched from the corner of the room, sipping on my drink. Yatziri had taken to teaching Zooey about the basics of trading, and it seemed like she was catching on quickly. I was glad to have Yatziri on board, as she was a skilled smuggler.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as I watched them, knowing that I had a hand in helping Zooey and Art find their way in the galaxy. As much as I enjoyed flying solo, having a crew to share in the experience made it all the more enjoyable.
Yatziri looked up and noticed me watching. ‘Since you’re here, come join us.’
I walked over and took a seat at the table.
‘We were just discussing the basics of trading,’ Yatziri said, gesturing at the tablet.
I chuckled, nodding. ‘It looks like Zooey is in a daze.’
Zooey grimaced, turning her tablet back and forth. ‘It’s still a lot to learn, but I’ll get it.’
I smiled. ‘Yes, you will. And speaking of learning, I have some plans for us.’
Yatziri raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh? Do tell.’
I leaned in, a grin spreading across my face. ‘We’re going goid hunting.’
Ice
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When I mentioned going goid hunting, Zooey looked like she was going to have a stroke. However, they needed to experience and understand how to survive an encounter with a goid, and it would provide us with extra credits. They could also witness how the risk-to-reward ratio was laughable unless part of a larger dedicated human group hunting them for the loftier bounties.
I smiled at Zooey and patted Yatziri on the shoulder before returning to the bridge to check on Art. He was following the routes I had planned out earlier with precision. Later, I would teach him how to find the best trading routes to maximize his daily income. For now, I needed him to divert his course after the last load on the list and land us at a specific location where I had the modules needed for our next adventure.
I maintained a neutral expression as we completed the trading route, waiting for the moment when Art could see our landing location. He sensed that something was going on, looking back at me quizzically.
The planet appeared like any other distant frozen body far from its host star. As Art flew a perfect descent profile, the signal grew stronger.
‘Uh, Xochitl. Where’s the settlement?’
I had been waiting for this. ‘Send a docking request.’
Art tapped a series of commands on the display, transmitting an automated request to a station he could not see. The closer we got to the surface, the more worried he looked.
As the snow and ice-covered pad entrance moved aside, exposing a hidden cavern, the planet's land shifted below.
‘Slow your approach and go into hover over the opening. Descend at one meter per second until the gear compresses, then cut the thrusters.’
‘What is this place?’ Art asked, focusing intently on lining up the Phantom with the newly appeared opening.
‘It’s an ice station. They built this settlement under the surface to take advantage of the deeper thermal springs below.’
Art nodded as he guided the Phantom into the hidden cavern, the ship descending slowly, the landing gear compressing as it touched down on the pad. The engines powered down, and neon lights illuminated the bustling station below. I could see Art's expression of surprise and amazement as he took it all in.
Standing up, I motioned for Art to follow me. ‘Come on, I'll show you around.’
We stepped out onto the snowy surface of the station, the cold biting at our skin. I led Art through the crowds, pointing out various structures and facilities.
‘We will pick up the modules for our next adventure here,’ I gestured at a large warehouse-like structure. ‘And over there is the local bar, where we can grab a drink and some food before we head out.’
Art nodded, taking it all in. ‘This place is incredible. I had no idea something like this existed.’
I smiled. ‘There are hidden wonders throughout the galaxy. It's just a matter of knowing where to look.’
Yatziri wore a large smile, while Zooey stared in wonder at the neon-illuminated businesses inside the ice settlement.
‘Wow, this place is amazing,’ Art said, still in awe.
‘We can talk about goid hunting later tonight. It will take a day for them to reconfigure the ship. Until then, let me take you on a tour of this place. There's a uniqueness to it that you are going to enjoy.’
‘It feels somewhat warm,’ Art commented as I led the group into the neon-glowing concourse.
‘The thermal springs provide warmth, but the inner temperature keeps the ice solid. As the first layer starts to melt, the colder interior refreezes it just as fast, and the walls of this place are constantly remodeled with each passing minute,’ I explained to my companions as we walked towards a nearby ice restaurant, Zooey exclaiming how weird the science behind the station was.
As we entered, I smiled, ‘The cuisine here will be a weird and unique experience for you too.’
We settled into a booth and perused the menu, filled with exotic dishes made from local resources that only added to Art and Zooey's confusion. Yatziri couldn't stop grinning at their plight, to my annoyance.
While waiting for our food, I took the chance to share more about the station's history and culture with Art and Zooey, who listened intently as I recounted the Imperial researchers who stumbled upon the underground thermals while burrowing to survive the planet's harsh conditions.
The surface was too extreme for their intended purposes, but under the snow and ice, they found a unique environment that lent itself to a supply base. Although the base was sold when fleet carriers became a norm, the unique minerals and materials of the station kept it on the map for long-range traders, explorers, adventurers, and the wealthy looking for an exotic place off the beaten path.
I knew of the place from having been flown out here to fix more than one ship, and Yatziri knew about it from her time as a smuggler.
Yatziri let out a laugh, and Art rolled his eyes as I joined in, chuckling at the moment of levity. ‘Well, it's true,’ I said, smiling at Art and Zooey. ‘But this place has more to offer than just exotic materials and a unique environment. There's a rich cultural history here as well.’
I continued, explaining how the inhabitants of the ice station had created their own traditions and customs over the years, blending elements of their diverse cultural backgrounds into something entirely new and unique. From the way they celebrated holidays to the foods they ate, everything had a distinctive flavor that was all their own.
As our food arrived, we eagerly dug in, savoring the unusual flavors and textures of the dishes. Although Art and Zooey were hesitant at first, they soon began to enjoy the experience as much as we did.
After finishing our meal, we wandered around the station, exploring the various shops and businesses, and visiting the local museum, filled with artifacts and exhibits detailing the history and culture of the ice station.
By the time we returned to the Phantom, Art, and Zooey was exhausted but happy. I promised them that we would begin our goid hunting adventure the next day, but for now, they could rest easy knowing they had experienced something truly unique and special.
First Time
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We spent an extra day at the sub-subterranean ice settlement, giving me the time to unpack the crates I had delivered from our last full stop, and get their contents assembled. Yatziri stayed with Zooey and Art, keeping the crew together, and hopefully keeping her too occupied with them for her to get herself into trouble.
Zooey and Art, or the kids as I like to think of them, would get a kick out of what I had planned. Even a cybernetic human has a sense of humor, and the two crated androids with two crated escape pods were part of the joke. The joke would be on the goids, who couldn’t pass up collecting pods. These were being assembled as a type of gift for them. Something to test if they were trainable or not.
The gag was simple. Once we were hyperdicted, I would launch an escape pod with an android in it. Its programming was simple, to mimic human biological signals and wait for the container to be opened, or for three solar days to pass, whichever came first. When either of the criteria was met, it would detonate a series of charges placed inside it, along with a few cans of brightly colored paint and a bag of glitter.
That evening, when everyone returned, I briefed Zooey that she was to remain with Yatziri in the crew lounge, and she could watch from the multiple displays there. Yatziri was experienced in what I was doing and would be able to answer any questions she had. Art would be on the bridge with me, to get a first-person view of the complete experience.
Both of them marveled at the transformation the ship had undergone. Its outer hull was thicker, with heavy black reactive armor. Its scanners, weapons, and several of the ship’s systems and software, had been changed to complement its purpose-built design. On board, we now had both a Scarab ground vehicle and more importantly a Scorpion combat vehicle, next to it. Behind it was a cargo hold full of limpet drones, to be used for decontaminating and hull repair, while internally an automated field maintenance unit had been installed, to race around the internals of the ship, fixing what was designated, if it could be accessed.
What I did not tell Art or Zooey, but Yatziri was fully aware of, is that if worst came to worst, none of us would be using the ship’s escape pods, and be left to whatever fates the bugs might have for us. It would be an all-or-nothing trip. Fortunately, the bugs overly aggressive single-minded nature made them predictable. Predicable enough to avoid, or maneuver into positions where they could provide amusement, such as what the androids had waiting for them.
***
While in the middle of our hyperspace jump to the system, the ship began to buck back and forth wildly. The wormhole disestablished, popping like a bubble, ejecting us into normal space. A loud horn was heard and felt through the ship, as I put all power into the engines, and boosted us away from its source.
‘Look at the monitor everyone, this is a Thargoid interceptor. Appears to be one of their nastier ones too, a Hydra.’
I was surprised by Art’s clinical calmness during his first encounter with these murderous space bugs.
‘It is falling behind quickly. The relative speed difference is over two hundred meters a second and accelerating. The range is now six kilometers and increasing. Jump engines are cooling and will be ready to reinitialize in ten seconds.’
‘That is one of their larger and nastier types,’ I announced over the inner-ship communications. ‘Get a good look at it. You don’t want to be anywhere near it, outside of a dedicated hunting pack. Even then you want to keep your distance and angles in mind.’
‘You’ve hunted those things?’ Zooey asked with high-pitched surprise in her voice, followed by a giggle from Yatziri.
Art maintained a no-nonsense expression, watching the displays around his chair. ‘Jump drive is ready. Count down to wormhole in ten.’
‘Alright, once we are in the system and headed to our destination there is a good chance we will be interdicted in route. We will repeat the same process as before to escape. Once we are at the settlement, there will likely be scouts. I may or may not engage a few of those before landing. Once we are docked, I needed everyone at the airlock for their role assignments.’
As predicted we were interdicted once more, escaping as before. The Phantom was a fast ship, and when engineering the modules for her adventures, I capitalized on that. She was sleek, armored, well-kitted, and fast. Faster than the bugs. She had a few surprises for them. One of those sat in the vehicle hold.
‘Descent profile and approach rate are good. Reading several hostile contacts near or around the settlement.’ Art said in monotone.
I adjusted the descent profile to come out of our glide, further from the settlement. The last thing I wanted was the scouts shooting at me while I was landing, and it would do Art and Zooey good to see that the bugs were vulnerable.
‘Those would be their scouts. Nasty little things, but easier to deal with. Caustic juices flowing through their veins too. Corrodes everything it touches.’
‘Settlement ahead at 10 kilometers, numerous contacts.’ Art sang out at a higher octave.
I activated the weapons and pushed the throttles to full, lining up a scout in front of me. Its attention was on the settlement, firing at whatever it thought was important. ‘Hold on kids.’ I said with a smile, as the range dropped.
Though I had none of the alien Guardian technology, I did have the human-built weapons for dealing with the bugs. Twin-fixed medium-class missile launchers, and two large multi-cannon. Both are purpose-built and effective against scouts and larger interceptors alike.
At four kilometers, I fired the missiles. At two kilometers I activated the multi-cannons, which was the same instance the missiles struck the scout, rocking it. Before it had a chance to recover the twin burst from the cannons tore into it. Moving at over four hundred meters a second, everything happened in the blink of an eye, as I boosted the engines, forcing everyone into their seats, and rocketing us up to six hundred meters a second, as the sound of an explosion, reverberated through the hull.
‘One confirmed,’ Art sang out, as a warning tone blared across the bridge. ‘Missile inbound,’ Art yelled, as I pulled the Phantom into the vertical, boosting the engines again.
‘Caustic missile,’ I said, boosting the engines again. ‘Fired by one of the nearby Marauder class scouts.’ Looking at the scanner I could see that we were fast enough to keep it at a distance until its motor ran out of fuel. ‘Don’t worry, this one won’t catch us.’
‘Gives us speed,’ Yatziri’s voice chimed in, with a giggling undertone. Smart ass
Pulling the Phantom around, I could see the Marauder fast approaching, as I reversed the engines, lining it up in my sights.
It launched another missile, which I couldn’t avoid, as I pressed down on the triggers, shredding the Marauder.
Sparks popped across the bridge as a fresh set of alarms blared Caustic damage. I looked back at Art, whose expression was neutral, except for his eyes. They were wide and glazed.
The decontamination limpet darted passed the bridge window, going to and latching on the corrosive fluid on our hull. ‘This is why I have those limpets and the purpose-built multi-limpet controller. As long as we have a supply of limpets, we can deal with their– goo.’
Caustic substance neutralized, the computer informed, as I looked back once more with a smile.
‘Now we can land. Remember, everyone, meet me at the airlock once we are down.’
Realities of War
_____________________________
I nodded at Yatziri, who was leaning against the bulkhead, caressing her laser pistol as I reached for the airlock controls. Zooey and Art looked at her, then me, with curious expressions.
‘That settlement is in lock-down status. No one is allowed in or out of their hangar. Everyone on the other side of the hatchway is looking to get out. In case someone gets lucky, Yatziri will see that they don’t make it onto the ship.’
‘Not my first war zone.’ Art said, looking around at each of us, as Yatziri made a huffing noise.
‘Listen, Art, what you are going to see is not a typical war zone. Touch nothing, especially if it is green. Any caustic nature it had should be neutralized, but it is wise to not test it.’
I shrugged, pressing the airlock release, and then walked in the opposite direction.
‘Not going out with us?’ Zooey asked.
‘No, Yatziri will give you the tour. I’m taking the Scorpion out for a little target practice. You can watch on the monitor in the crew lounge if you need the entertainment.’
Art and Zooey looked at me with those confused looks once more as the airlock opened, filling the cavernous expanse outside with the echo of Yatziri laughing.
***
It was as expected. The goid scouts were firing at random points while I drove the Scorpion through the wreckage-strewn, fire-lit settlement confined, looking for survivors amongst the carnage. Sometimes, errant escape pods or hiding personnel could be found in the pieces of ships, buildings, and various other junk littering the grounds.
The Scorpion had an extra seat and two tons of storage capacity. No one complained about accommodations when offered a ride to relative safety. I made notes of items of interest while searching.
There were no complaints about me scrounging around. Oh, I’m sure some would call me something worse than my given name for doing so, but they did it from the safety of the deepest depths of the settlement or on the first ship they could book passage on, racing away from this place.
No doubt Yatziri was finding as much humor as she could in my roving antics. The crew would be confused, and perhaps she would set them straight — or not. Overall, it didn't matter. I would get whatever I could and squirrel it away to be used on future projects. Heck, the price was right. The most any locals would do with it would be to sell it as scrap, provided they won their little alien war.
I would claim the errant bounty here and there. I was human after all, but I picked my targets with care. I looked for the scouts that meant the most. The true threat to these folks wasn't the marauder, berserker, or inciter class. It was those dang regenerators. Any damage caused to the others, they would fix it. Remove them, and no more alien mechanics. It was the mechanics of both species that kept things flying. Just like it was the logistician who kept the mechanics in parts and the workers at the start of the line who supplied the materials to be forged into something the logisticians could provide.
Humans always glamorized trigger pullers. Perhaps it was the same for the aliens too, but who knew? What supplies the end user, the trigger puller, with something to pull on is the key to any war. Removing anything in that chain, and whatever side would be left with, is nothing but wishful thinking.
***
With ammunition depleted, I returned to the hangar for the last time. Overall, it was a fruitful adventure. Numerous personnel were recovered, and several tons of eclectic goods were acquired. Best of all was a healthy combat bond voucher. The latter is best used as a show-and-tell to teach Zooey and Art that, while profitable, this whole war nonsense is more hubris than a will to win.
Limpets that can remove decontamination but they can't impregnate current hull armor with the substance? A simple two-credit field strength analyzer could activate a shutdown field neutralizer when its signal reaches a fixed threshold, but instead of 2 credits, it is left up to hard maneuvering, task-saturated pilots who are often too busy to notice it until they are left without power to the whim of fate?
Those who manage the war and supply the technologies should be placed on the front lines of it. You would find a will to survive a prime motivator in their releasing the cheap technologies being withheld that could ensure boundless victories. But that does not make their credits or push their narratives.
No, if they want to win, then we would be winning. My Scorpion can take down scouts, sure, with its puny repeater, with a dispersion factor of a shotgun. It would be far easier to put one of those lighter-weight, purpose-built anti-xeno multi-cannons on it for some real punch and range, but that would be too simple. Same with the missile. Oh, how I would like to strap the manufacture of that to one and launch them at a goid.
Zooey and especially Art will enjoy the playback I have to show them. You can hit them with the missiles without locking, but if you do lock, they miss. As if locking onto a heat source was something forgotten throughout the centuries while tracking each other by their heat. I know that if she still could, Yatziri would roll around, breaking a rib, laughing over it, but she has already had her laugh at the absurdity of it.
Now they know how to get away from the goids, and if they want to join a hunting party later on, that is on them. There are better ways to make credits for them without joining in on the cosmic joke to do it.
To be, or not?
_____________________________
I was surprised that it was Zooey, rather than Art, who had issues with my thoughts toward the Thargoid war, especially in light of the profits made. Art wanted his own ship to begin a cargo trading business, and the 374,652,942 million made during our time here went a long way toward him achieving his goal.
Yatziri was as surprised as I was that he preferred other avenues of funding, concurring with my assessment that the war was not necessary, but now that humanity was forced into it, achievable victory in a reasonable time frame was not what those who thrust everyone into it had in mind. It was about profit, pure and simple. It was like having a cure, but the profit was in treating the symptoms. It was an age-old tale, going back further in history than my own neural processor could determine.
Zooey had a different opinion. She reminded us of the known Thargoid history from what had been deciphered from the alien Guardian stories. The Thargoids seeded planets in the Guardian territories with their barnacles to strip the planet’s resources to make their meta-alloys. All attempts by the Guardians to communicate with them failed, and the Thargoids went into an immediate attack.
She pointed out that their history with the Thargoids was not so far removed from the experience humans had with them. The Thargoids pushed their way in, to seed and strip planets and either refused, ignored, or didn't care for communication with anyone.
The only reason they did not attack humans as rapidly as the Guardians were due to technology. We were inferior and not an immediate threat to their lust for expansion and resources. Once we proved ourselves, they invaded in force, like locusts.
There was no argument against the known history, but that did not detract from the argument against the war itself. The main question remained on the table: profiting from it through current actions or releasing simple common sense technologies, which were already available, and pushing the locusts back to survive.
Histories versus the here and now. Both valid. The question now was to remain and provide some pro bono mechanic work and make some credits busting some bugs, while providing my crew with additional funding, or call the experience complete, and move on?
***
As I mulled over the options in my mind, Yatziri spoke up. ‘I know that you will do what is right, regardless of your position. The credits are good, and there is a lot of busted equipment around here that needs fixing. Zooey needs some grease and lube on her hands, so I will run her out and see if the local crews need a couple of extra hands. You should take Art out for the full experience.’
Zooey looked uncertain as to what she was being volunteered for. She wasn’t a mechanic, but she had been a dredger for a few years and knew what parts belonged where. Not a bad idea to teach her how they go together.
‘Sounds like a game plan,’ I said looking at Art. ‘It isn’t a petting zoo out there. Get your game on and meet me in the vehicle hangar.’
Art nodded and vanished back to his quarters, to get suited up.
I turned to Yatziri and Zooey. ‘See what is usable from the remains I picked up from outside. That should help a little. Use what tools you need, and check to see if we have the programs for the part types they require. Figure we can use half our own stocks to help them out, then top off once we leave this place.’
Future Change?
_____________________________
Later that evening, we were at less than half of the ship's raw materials for the parts printer. I wasn’t going to make a fuss over it, people needed it. All of the random pieces and parts I had scrounged after arriving had already been repurposed into ships getting the civilians out of the conflict zone, or replacing a corroded part on one of the fighting ships.
Zooey was exhausted and turned in early. Art had done the same, once the adrenaline had worn off. As for myself, I was none worse for the wear. There was nothing new about the day that I hadn’t experienced before. Same with Yatziri, who managed to collect a bag full of promises and tips, for future smuggling adventures, should she decide to return to her old line of employment.
I figured it would be her when the chime sounded at my quarter's door, but it wasn’t. To my surprise it was Art. He had bags under his eyes and he looked limp, which is saying a lot for someone who prides himself on staying in shape.
‘Figured you were down for the count? What are you doing awake— go back and get some rest.’
Art rubbed his hair, taking a seat. ‘I did crash, but woke up and couldn’t stop thinking.’
‘Worried about the goids outside? Well, don’t. Your safe here in the hangar.’
Art yawned, blinking his eyes several times. He was exhausted, but his mind was racing too much to let him rest.
‘No, I was thinking about all of it. You are a roving mechanic. Yatziri is a mechanic, smuggler, and whatever else she is. The way you two have helped people in need. Zooey and myself learning. My dreams for the future. This ship. All of it.’
‘I’m not seeing your point.’
Art rubbed his hair once more and yawned. ‘You could take all of this to a far larger level. Have your own roving shop. More massive than any of your ships. You could span large distances, and do as you pleased, without relying on the hangars and facilities of others.’
I sighed. ‘You’re talking about a fleet carrier. Listen—‘
‘I know you don’t like the concept of always having to pay a weekly, monthly, and annual fee, but I can’t help but think you are missing out on something larger.’
This wasn’t an argument I wanted to have right now, and Art needed sleep.
‘Listen. I will think about it, and we can talk about it tomorrow after everyone has rested. Once everyone is awake, refreshed, and we have all had something to eat, we can bring it up and hear what Zooey and Yatziri have to say too. This way we can get multiple inputs, and have more data to work with.’
Art yawned again. ‘Sorry about not making dinner,’ yawning more deeply.
I smiled, walking over to him and guiding him toward the door. ‘Get some rest and we will talk about it tomorrow.’
***
I don’t remember falling asleep myself. Once Art left I walked back to my quarters and laid down, then woke up.
As I stretched and got out of bed, I glanced at the time display on the wall. It was still early, but I didn't want to disturb the others. I quietly got dressed and made my way to the galley to make some coffee.
As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, Yatziri walked in, rubbing her eyes. 'Morning,' she mumbled.
'Morning,' I replied, pouring her a cup of coffee. 'Sleep well?'
'Not really,' she said, taking a sip of her coffee. 'I kept thinking about all the people we saw yesterday, all the ships that needed repairs. It just made me realize how much more we could do if we had more resources.'
'That's exactly what Art was saying last night,' I said, recounting our conversation. 'He thinks we should consider getting a fleet carrier.'
Yatziri raised an eyebrow. 'A fleet carrier? That's a big commitment. But he does have a point. We could reach more people and help more if we had more resources.'
'I know,' I said, taking a sip of my coffee. 'But I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of commitment. It's a lot of responsibility.'
'True,' Yatziri said, nodding. 'But it's worth considering. We could do so much more good.'
Zooey walked in, looking refreshed and alert. 'Morning, guys!' she chirped.
'Morning,' Yatziri and I replied in unison.
Zooey poured herself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the table. 'So what's on the agenda for today?'
'I was thinking we could talk about Art's idea from last night,' I said, filling her in.
'A fleet carrier?' Zooey said, her eyes widening. 'That's a big step. But I can see the benefits. We could help so many more people.'
'We're all on the same page, it seems,' I said, nodding. 'Let's finish our coffee and then discuss it more in-depth.'
As I sipped my coffee, I felt apprehensive. It was a big step, but I wasn’t sure it was in the right direction. While it expanded possibilities it equally applied restrictions. The cost of weekly upkeep alone was enough to give me pause, not to mention having a far larger crew.
My roving ways always made me responsible for just me. A small crew, such as I had now, was manageable. I never needed much. In fact, the Imperial Cutter I owned was a little too large for me. A fleet carrier was a capital ship. There wouldn’t be a few people either but a large crew. All looking to me for guidance and a paycheck. I wasn’t sure.
Art woke before noon—local time—wandering into the crew lounge and nodding to each of us as he walked over to make himself a power shake.
‘I heard around the corner. It is a big step but one I think you are ready for, even with your reservations. There is something else I would like to propose too—’
Art finished blending his shake and walked over to sit down on the couch.
‘Is your processor ready for this data?’ Art said with a cheeky grin as he took a gulp from his shake.
Yatziri rose an eyebrow at that, as I folded my arms. ‘I’m all a quiver. What’s on your mind?’
‘Once I get my ship, you will have reached a decision. This is an if. If you purchase one, I would like to hire on, on a contract basis, and haul for you.’
I took a moment to consider his offer. It would be a significant help to have Art's hauling services, and it would be good to have someone I trusted on the crew. ‘That's an idea,’ I replied, smiling and looking at Yatziri, who was suppressing an urge to laugh.
Zooey looked around the lounge. ‘I know my experiences are limited, but I would like to stick around too. I have a lot to learn here, and honestly, there is nowhere else for me to go but back.’
I smiled at Zooey's comment. ‘Of course, you're welcome to stay, Zooey. We would be happy to have you continue learning with us.’
Yatziri nodded in agreement. 'And Art, I would definitely consider your proposal. Having your hauling services would be a valuable asset.'
Art grinned. 'Glad to hear it. Let's see how things pan out with the fleet carrier idea first, and then we can discuss the details of my contract.'
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief that the conversation had taken a positive turn. It was reassuring to have the support of my crew, and with Art and Zooey on board, we could accomplish even more than before. As we finished our coffee and discussed our plans for the day, I felt excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.