Chapter 6

JD made his way to his cabin and called for a meal from his replicator. As it was being prepared, he made up a list of activities that needed to be accomplished in the aftermath of the battle. He couldn’t do everything at once and decided that he would prioritize them and assign each task to an android crewman after Alara had reviewed the list. Satisfied that he had a plan, it was time to begin getting it done.

Returning to the bridge, he heard Alara announce, “Captain has the con.”

“First, I have prioritized a list of crew tasks following the battle. Access my files and review the document before assigning your android crew their tasks. If you think that any priorities need changed, I’ll consider your input before finalizing my commands.”

It was only moments later when Alara spoke. “Captain, I concur with your prioritization and suggest adding a few more. Initial reports from my android crew indicate hostile two has broken apart and is no longer space worthy.

The debris should be analysed for replication feedstock resource material and collected as needed for replenishment of our stores. Hostile one remains intact and could possibly become space worthy, if time and resources permit. It should be noted that both craft are relatively inferior to us. Neither had functional hydroponics or fusion drives, and only first-generation Warp capabilities. Their shielding was minimal, only electromagnetic fields, with inadequate armour for even low intensity combat.

In terms of threat analysis, they represented no contest to even Galactic Naval Patrol craft of the last century, before this craft was moth-balled. It is doubtful their salvage could provide us any technological benefit.”

“Perhaps First, but whatever star maps and ship logs from this vicinity would probably be more detailed and useful than archived navigational data in our current star charts.” I replied.

“Noted, once boarding is successful, I’ll task my androids to find and download their data cores.” The AI replied.

“What is our ETA with the civilian transport vessel that was attacked?” I asked.

“We are slowing to match course and velocities now. Estimate grapple capture and docking within the hour. They are requesting terms for their surrender as of their last electronic contact.” The AI responded.

“I’ll speak to them now. Patch me into the communications suite on their frequency.”

“Done, Captain.”

“Unknown vessel, Unknown vessel. This is Captain JD Martinson of the Galactic Naval vessel Thor. We are pending arrival to conduct rescue of your passengers and crew. Anticipate connecting with magnetic grapples and docking within the hour. Please reply with the location of your most accessible airlock. Out.”

“Are you a Galactic Naval patrol craft?” Came the female reply over the bridge speakers.

“Not exactly. The Thor was once a Galactic Naval vessel, but I am in the process of negotiating for its transfer to my ownership.”

“It appears that you are a pirate too. On behalf of my crew, I wish to negotiate terms of our surrender before you are allowed to board our craft.”

“We are not pirates, Captain. I have no desire to impose any terms on you, your crew, or any passengers you may be transporting. I offer only refuge and safe conduct to the nearest port of your choice, without any salvage claims being pursued.”

“Really? Such is unheard of, but I’ll not look a gift horse in the mouth. On behalf of my crew and passengers, I welcome and thank you for your assistance. Meteor, out.”

“Well, first. It appears that our destination is the Meteor, and her captain is a female. I guess that the boredom I have felt in the past few months is about to change.”

Truer words were never spoken. I would wish to be bored again, before our ships arrived at their destination.

Captain Naomi Adams and First Officer Katherine (Katie) Jones met me just inside the Meteor’s airlock about an hour later. After introductions were made Katie asked. “Where are your security personnel and the remainder of your boarding party, Sir.”

“There are none, First Officer.”

“But we could be armed and capable of overthrowing your command. What is to prevent that happening?” She asked.

“Your commander’s word would suffice, at the moment.” I replied.

Naomi replied, “You have my word that neither I nor my crew will attempt to wrest control of your vessel from you.”

Turning to the First Officer, I said. “That is good enough for me.” There was a lull in our conversation following my words. I tried to evaluate my peers. Dressed in the space suits they had donned prior to their vessel being holed during their flight to escape the pirates; my android repair crew had only recently plugged the holes in Meteor that had resulted in all atmosphere having escaped to the void of space. Our docking had allowed Thor to re-pressurize the interior of Meteor after being told that an oxygen-nitrogen Earth standard atmosphere was optimum for their vessel.

Now I took the time to examine their faces, since little of their body shape, other than height, was evident. Naomi was a freckle-faced, blue-eyed blonde of average height. Katie was a brown-eyed brunette only a few inches taller but wore the mantel of authority like those knights of old wore their chain-mail armour. I could recognize that they both had examined me, as well. Naomi spoke first. “Captain, I have precious few resources to offer you in exchange for your assistance. I have eight crew, including myself.

I also have two diplomatic passengers, the Alterran ambassador and his son, from the Menkent star system, a civilization about eight light-years distant. We were chased by pirates from the region around the Gamboid star system. Once in trans-Warp we were safe, but unexpectedly, dropped Warp near here. The most likely cause for such was our near collision with you in Warp space.

The physics of Warp travel don’t take kindly to any vessels crossing paths in-transit. Our drop was rather nominal, but I have heard of other unexpected drops ending in the destruction of both vessels. Your appearance undoubtedly caused all four vessels to drop-Warp, before we reached our destination.”

“I must say that I was wondering why we dropped-out. I have never experienced such except for simulations during training. We were within a few days of reaching Proxima Centauri, but meeting you has proved fortuitous.”

“I fail to see how?” Naomi replied. “In Warp, we would have made it to our destination un-aided and once there, we could probably have outrun our adversaries, at least until colonial authorities could respond.”

“Well, fortuitous still applies, for the chance to save you and your crew, and to provide whatever assistance Thor could offer.” I smiled in reply. From personnel experience, expecting in-system support from other services is hardly instantaneous considering the vast distances radio signals must travel, and very likely would only occur after you and your ship were boarded and plundered.”

While both ladies reflected on my words, I spoke again, “If you and your First Officer will follow me, I’ll lead you to the quarters I have ordered prepared for you while my crew of android technicians will attempt to diagnose and initiate repairs on your ship.”

“After you, Captain.” I walked back into Thor and closed the airlock before entering my ship proper. The avatar of my first officer greeted us once I opened the interior airlock on Thor. I introduced Alara to my visitors.

“Alara is the holographic representation of Thor’s AI. She is the brains and facilitator behind Thor’s space travels.” I explained. “Together, we will lead you to the Marine Attack Shuttle quarters in the cargo bay of our craft.

We have no Marine contingent aboard Thor presently, as all crew functions are accomplished by android repairmen. However, once our shake-down trials are completed, I’ll have to re-evaluate crew and capability requirements more completely.”

“You actually have an AI aboard, Captain.” Naomi asked.

When I nodded in reply, Katie asked.

“Certainly, you aren’t the only living person aboard this ship, Captain?”

I was about to give an answer when Alara interjected. “A commander is the only person necessary for this ship to function. While its capabilities could be facilitated more effectively with human weapons and flight crews, my commander has optimized crew requirements using my android technicians working within their limitations.”

“You have robots shooting at humans.” Katie exclaimed in ‘horror’!

“Katie! Mind your manners. But for Thor’s actions, we would be naked slaves aboard those Gamboid pirate vessels. Such does not appeal to me, what-so-ever.”

“Actually, Miss Jones. My android crew loads missiles, targets hostile craft I designate, and allows for successful engagements. I control all weapons selection and their firing from the bridge. Not an efficient or preferred manner of operations, but it precludes the prohibitions for androids or AI’s being responsible for attacking human personnel.”

No more conversations were conducted as we walked through the corridors leading to the cargo bay and Marine quarters within Thor.

Once inside the cargo bay, Naomi exclaimed. “This is huge. It has more than enough space to carry all our cargo requirements.”

“While I agree that it is huge, you might recall that it normally houses two Marine Assault shuttlecraft. While each is not insignificant in size, Thor has plenty of room to spare for other cargo. Without the particle beam and plasma cannons that she was designed to employ, lots of room was left over.

Let’s not even mention the ridiculously over-powered fusion reactor still powering all of our electronics. Those two types of weapons would draw huge amounts of power, were they installed aboard Thor.” I replied.

“This ship was armed with such weapons?” Katie inquired.

“Yes, before she was moth-balled and determined to be in excess of the needs of the Galactic Navy, she was a naval battleship. I said proudly.

“Yes!” Alara announced to the astonished visitors. “My Captain has authorized the refurbishment of this vessel within the limitations allowed of me as its AI, and has assumed command as per Galactic Naval protocols. Our most recent flight and successful engagements have served as her acceptance trial, and she is now prepared to assume whatever role its commander may dictate.”

“You requisitioned this ship from the Galactic Navy, Captain. Some less sophisticated individuals than I, might conclude you actually stole it.” Naomi concluded.

“Actually, I have relinquished my citizenship and belong to no nation on Earth. I have never sworn allegiance to the Galactic Navy or any other authority; thus, I intend to self-rule according to the Constitution and Uniform Code of Thor.

I have requested that this vessel be recognized as sovereign territory of Thor, with me as its leader. I have indicated a willingness to negotiate paying a salvage price for the ship; as it sat in a boneyard on Earth, obsolete and abandoned, without maintenance of any kind, for over a century.”

“Wow! I had no idea something so miraculous could be possible.” Naomi sighed.

“Nor did I, Captain.”

Alara interjected herself into our conversation. “Commander, my android technicians have a report from Hostile One of their preliminary findings.”

“Pass it on, first.” I commanded. “I have nothing to hide from these individuals.”