ON THE TRAIL (part 3)
or
Is there a doctor in the sector?
by
Scott Kellogg
- XXIV -
Shtam hung on to the turret pylon. The force of centripetal
acceleration here was almost negligeable. The problem lay not in
what forces one felt, but in what one saw. The universe spun
around his head. The large, blue green gas giant took up half
the sky. This might not be so bad if only it would make up it's
mind which side of the sky to stay on. Slowly it rolled around
them like a huge drunken shark circling its prey.
As a boy, he had sometimes lain on his back looking at the
ceiling and imagining it was the floor. After a little while the
sensation seemed quite real, and disorienting. Now, he realized
it was true. Up was down, and down was running in circles all
around him. He closed his eyes for a moment, focused them on the
pylon and descended.
"Falling!" he shouted instinctively. The universe was
spinning around his head with no particular orientation. He
struggled with the tether as he slipped, grabbing it behind him
with his brake hand. The rope yanked. No more falling, but he
was drifting seven meters from the pylon.
He steadied for a moment and then pulled up the rope. With
only a small centripetal vector holding him, he shot toward the
ship quickly.
"You all right?" asked Vole the brakeman.
"I am fine." he sighed. "I just became momentarily
disoriented, thank you." He took a deep breath, and sighed. He
positioned himself again. "Ok, Climbing!"
Breaking in a new leg may be more difficult than I thought.
The toe nails are almost complete but what about the reflexes?
Down he went again, working his way to the inspection hatch.
Grip, slide, slide, grip; grip, slide, slide, grip. That's
right, Shtam, now concentrate on the climbing not the scenery.
Weight began to hang itself on his shoulders. Eleven meters
per second squared acceleration was heavy to a slim, tall zhodani
who evolved in the eight point nine of zhdant.
The inspection hatch had a mismatched paint job that was a
peeling and cracked blue against the faded green turret. Weld
marks ran over the turret like a spider web stitching it back
together. Under the sensors of Shtam's battle dress the metal
fatigue of some sort of past hit was evident. One quarter of the
turret had been blasted away by some attacker, and welded back
together with sections of other turrets.
Boy, somebody really put this one together from junk yard
pieces.
The inspection hatch was jammed shut. Something of a bad
fit in the reassembly. Just needs a bit of filing to get it to
open. The battledress servoes whined a moment, then the metal
rang through his fingertips as the hatch opened.
"I have opened it. You can start down now." Shtam radioed.
He worked into the dark turret. His helmet lights picked out an
empty chair, all the indicators were dark, but missiles were
clearly in the tubes. Automated missile lifts had several
missiles standing by to be loaded into the tubes rapidly. The
hatch into the turret was open. The panels were an electricians
nightmare. Wiring running out everywhere, switches jury rigged,
parts replaced with panels that had no right to be in a turret.
The loading tube control was stolen from an Air/Raft cruise
control. "There is quite a mess in here, folks. Not much outlay
for maintenance on this Vixen."
"There usually isn't." replied Gresha.
Shtam concentrated for a moment. The ship still was
completely dark save the light coming from the open hatchway.
Then he secured his tether.
A few minutes later, Gresha poked her helmet in the hatch.
"Looks like they cannibalized this whole ship."
Soon Miakr and Vole had joined them in the shaft leading to
the rest of the ship.
Shtam drew his gauss pistol. "We'll head for the bridge."
"It'll be on deck two, right below the missile bay."
volunteered Gresha.
The shaft was black and silent as Gresha lead the way with
her gauss rifle pointed purposefully. The small force of the
centripetal acceleration died away as they climbed away from the
turret into zero gravity.
The shaft opened into a magazine filled with missiles. "The
black tipped ones," began Gresha, "I read them as radioactive."
Miakr whistled, "Viepchakl, there's a lot of them."
"The bridge should be two decks up." said Shtam impatiently.
The overhead hatch was open, showing a black pit beyond the
light. "Welcome to my parlor..." mumbled Miakr.
The light peered up to the next deck. Beyond the decking
the hatch to the bridge was closed. Shtam went up first. He
quickly looked around. The main airlock for the ship was closed
off. Nearby, the ships locker lay opened and empty. "All
clear."
The others followed.
Shtam glanced over the airlock. "The lock is pressurized.
Miakr examined the bridge hatch. "I think the bridge is
too."
"Curiouser, and curiouser." mumbled Vole.
"Well, we can open them but it will mean losing the
integrity." considered Shtam. "If we seal this deck first we
won't lose the gas that is trapped."
"Is that important?" asked Miakr.
"In an investigation of a derelict almost everything is
important." retorted Shtam.
"Ok." Vole closed and dogged the lower hatch. "I get you."
"All right," began Shtam, "first we should open the bridge
compartment. The reduction in pressure will be less that way,
because of the comparative volumes of the bridge and airlock."
"Just be careful." warned Gresha. "Watch for traps."
Shtam examined the hatchway. No obvious trigger mechanisms,
no electromagnetic signals from it, no tell tale radiative heat.
Nothing. "Vole, do your eyes make out anything on this hatch you
feel we ought to know about?"
"Nothing I can see."
"All right," Shtam cautioned. "I am going to release the
manual air valve to equalize the pressure. Vole, be ready with
your nose to analyze the gas... Now..."
Gas streamed in unseen. The tiny pressure registered in
Vole's olfactory sensors. "Ten to the minus five torr and
rising. Gas composition seventy nine percent nitrogen, fifteen
percent oxygen, five percent carbon dioxide, point seven percent
hydrogen oxide, point two percent carbon monoxide, point one
percent hydrogen, traces of oil helium, argon, neon. Conclusion:
at sufficient pressure, unbreatheable by human or vargr. Ten to
the minus two torr and rising... Ten to the minus one torr and
rising..."
"Unbreathable?" asked Gresha.
"Not enough oxygen, not enough water, too much carbon
dioxide." explained Miakr.
Vole continued counting to five hundred torr and then
announce that pressure had stableized.
"Now, shall we see what we have got here?" Shtam opened the
hatch. His head lamp swept into the blackness. Quickly he
climbed the ladder and was through the hatch.
The bridge was a mess. Paper scattered and floating around
the room in micro gravity. A few bags scattered here and there.
At the main command chair was a single human figure.
It was dressed in a vacc suit, a sub machine gun strapped
around its shoulder. It sat facing the empty video screens and
holo tanks which stared back like sightless eyes. Shtam floated
over to the figure.
A human woman. She lay stretched out in the acceleration
couch. Shtam turned the his head lamp onto the face. The face
contorted and black. Eyes bulged out. The blackened lips parted
screaming for a last breath.
Vole began opening the vacc suit seals. and took a sniff as
the gas escaped. "Oxygen starvation."
"Everything points to it." admitted Shtam. "She must have
run out of fuel and gone through the last of the bottled air."
"If this ship only ran out of fuel," began Gresha, "Then we
can refuel it..."
"We have a nice little warship indeed." whistled Shtam.
- XXV -
Miakr opened the airlock.
He jumped back. His head lamps caught a drifting figure's
face as it moved out of the airlock. Staring eyes, a muzzle with
lips curled back in hate showing razor teeth.
He yelled and swung instinctively. Battle dress swatted
away the fearsome apparition like a fly. Miakr looked on as the
vargr tumbled across the room stiff as a board and bounced
against the far bulkhead.
"Dead?" he asked.
Vole caught the corpse from its gyrations. "Very dead. But
this one didn't die from oxygen starvation."
"What do you mean?" asked Gresha.
Vole turned the corpse around to face them: a female. Two
holes were torn in the body. "Looks like nine millimeter
bullets. Now we know why the one on the bridge had an SMG."
"She's wearing a corsair uniform." Gresha pointed out.
"What band?" asked Shtam.
"Looks like the Uekalez. Hard to say though."
"What do you know about them?"
"Tough group. Strong in space. This Vixen must've been
theirs. Had a good fleet 'til recently." she said remembering.
"What happened to them?" asked Shtam.
Gresha shook her head. "The usual I think: internal splits,
competition moving in. Happened about three months ago. I don't
know."
"Interesting." commented Vole. "I estimate the time of
death of this vargr at approximately three and one half months
ago."
- XXV -
Ten robots stood motionless in the engine room.
"They're out of fuel." noted Miakr. "Probably drained to
keep the life support going."
"Agreed." nodded Shtam. "Vole, how much fuel do you have at
the moment?"
"Thirty three point six liters."
"Well, it will have to do."
"What do you mean Shtam?" asked Miakr hesitantly.
"To get control of this ship we will need to use Vole's fuel
to power up the engines." Shtam explained.
"What?" shouted Miakr.
"We have to stop the ship's spin before we can refuel it.
To do that we will use Vole's fuel. He does not carry much, but
it ought to be enough to stop the rotation."
"He won't have enough to operate!" shouted Miakr eyes wide.
Gresha stared, "Miakr?"
"What's the matter?" wondered Shtam, "It will not damage
him."
Miakr glared "He'll be out of power."
"So?" asked Gresha.
"He can't operate. I won't allow it."
"Miakr," began Shtam calmly, "Vole will only be powered down
for a little while, an hour at most."
Miakr only glared.
"It sound's like a sensible plan." broke in Vole, "But, may
I suggest that I be left with point two liters of fuel?" I can
operate for one hour on that amount."
Miakr eased.
- XXVI -
Miakr glanced at the gauges nervously. "Fuel temperature
rising... Approaching ignition temperature: thirty seconds."
Shtam looked over the main engine christmas tree. "Gresha,
we will have power in twenty four seconds. Stand by to activate
emergency de-spin. Flamboyant stand by for fuel transfer."
Gresha's radio sounded from the bridge. "Standing by."
Niedrsha in the Flamboyant called, "We're in position."
Miakr shot a glance across his shoulder, "Vole, how is your
fuel holding out?"
"I will be forced to shut down in two minutes seventeen
seconds."
"Vole," wondered Shtam, "can't you conserve fuel?"
"No, he can't." snapped Miakr. "His fuel cell has only so
much variability. He's set on lowest power output right now."
Shtam ignored the curt reply. "Here it comes. Four seconds
to ignition."
The plasma became more and more violent in its slam dancing
ultra violet display. Suddenly, under the wing of a gaussian,
two deuterium atoms collided with unusual force. Two individual
nucleii suddenly met. After billions of years of solitude, the
protons embraced, and clung to each other with tremendous force,
heat and desire and became one for all eternity. Love is found
everywhere in nature.
"We have fusion ignition!" called Shtam, "Activating bridge
controls."
"She's alive!" shouted Gresha.
The ship jerked under their feet as the emergency de-spin
system fought the torque of the Vixen. They held on as the ship
suddenly moved without them. Vole, with nearly no power to stop
himself, drifted up to the center of the engine room.
The maneuver jets ate the Vixen's spin. She slowed and
stopped her slow pirouette.
"Flamboyant, commence docking and fuel transfer." smiled
Shtam.
"Quick, Shtam!" shouted Miakr urgently, "Can I bleed off
another point two liters for Vole?"
- XXVII -
Hours later, the boarding party was aboard the Flamboyant.
"Well, how are the engines of that thing, Shtam?" asked
Niedrsha. "Looks like she's pretty beat up."
Shtam set his air tanks to recharge. "Well, actually, the
Vixen is in fairly good condition considering what it must have
been through. Those ships are built to only be used once. When
they fire the main missile bay it shakes the ship apart. She may
have been used a few times."
Shtam stretched and continued. "She appears to have
recently undergone a major overhaul. The equipment appears to
have been stripped from other Vixens to make one working one out
of several damaged ones."
"It's been cannibalized." nodded Jietlshaiepr.
"Precisely. It's been without power now for some time. The
engines need to be thoroughly checked before she can make jump."
Niedrsha shook his head. "Too fuckin' bad. We don't have
the time. We got to get after the doc."
"However," continued Shtam, "if we leave someone here to go
over the ship, and get her going again. We will have a nice
little warship with the armament of a light cruiser to bargain
with. It would take a thirteen hundred ton ship to carry the
same armament as this one."
"And, it carries nukes." nodded Niedrsha. "Who's staying?"
Shtam raised an eyebrow. "Miakr has already volunteered.
He, Vole and Gresha will stay behind."
Jietlshaiepr's brows knit, "How will they survive? The
original crew died."
"We will have to take the Vixen to Aramat's orbit. There, we
can pick up oxygen for the life support. She will have enough fuel
to last twenty four weeks at full power. That should be plenty of
time for us to reach Massina, have the forensics experts go over
the Flamboyant and return."
"Miakr doesn't mind staying?" queried Jietlshaiepr.
Shtam shook his head. "No, he seemed anxious to stay. He
has ten robots to tinker with: the automated crew of the Vixen."
"Sounds like a good plan to me." nodded Jietlshaiepr.
"Sure," nodded Niedrsha, "let's do it. It'll take a few days for
us to reach Aramat from here."
Shtam smiled, "I will ride on the Vixen. I can find out
what repairs she will need and make up a shopping list for
parts."
- XXVIII -
Sector Capital Massina Belt A000922-B
Encoded Computer File 604 Gunned Escort Flamboyant
To: Agent 604
From: Colonel Korispatl, Chief of SORAG operations Ikar Sector
Date: 1102-105
Message:
I have received your report on your observations of Dr. Mako
Malenkoviepr. His disappearance has confirmed some facts
concerning the defector: Colonel Baremkatlashche'.
I also am in receipt of the report from forensics concerning
the analysis of the gunned escort Flamboyant.
Your orders are to continue with your current cover in an
attempt to recover Dr. Malenkoviepr. For this your group's
ownership of the escort has been approved.
Colonel Baremkatlashche' has been busy it seems. Malenkoviepr
is one of several scientists now missing. Our agents report the
kidnapping of several prominent scientists.
The connection between these kidnappings and Baremkatlashche'
has been found by your report. It seems that three years ago an
expedition was mounted by SORAG agents to find the lost Imperial
Colonial Cruiser Kinunir. The expedition was lost with all hands,
cause unknown. The agents involved were hand picked by
Baremkatlashche'. It is to be assumed that they did recover the
Kinunir and defected to who ever Baremkatlashche' is now working
for. The Kinunir has also been sighted in formation with the
pirate transport Star Rider also known to be connected with
Baremkatlashche'.
The Flamboyant it seems is an interesting case in the extreme.
The ship matches serial numbers of a gunned escort owned by the
Imperial Mega-Corporation Al Morai. It was lost two years ago at
grid reference 0410 in the Ile subsector on the rimward extreme of
Ikar sector. This system commonly known as "The Edge" has
presented a great problem to shipping in that for as long as
records go back, no ships have returned from there. Lost in that
system are several Zhodani and Imperial warships, the largest and
most recent of which was the Imperial Scout Cruiser: Bright Light
of the Azhanti High Lightning class.
We have received reports that the Mega-Corporation Halden
Minerals has found evidence that the planet at "The Edge" is the
habitat of psionic organisms which kill starship crews by driving
them insane. This is unconfirmed. However, it would seem that
Baremkatlashche' and his people have solved the problem of going
there and has managed to recover the lost ships.
This may explain why the particle accelerators have been
removed from the Flamboyant. The accelerators were either
damaged and could not be replaced, while other more powerful
ships had priority for repair, or they were deliberately removed
to be placed on more heavily armed vessels.
Halden Minerals may have connections with Colonel
Baremkatlashche', however, this may be difficult to track as
Halden Minerals has backers in nearly every government in the
Ikar sector. Governments owning stock include: The Domain of
Alntzar, The Descarothe Hedgemony, The League of Suns, The Trelyn
Domain, The Principality of Caledon, The Easmolian Confederation,
The Confederacy of Duncinae, The Grand Duchy of Marlheim, and The
Carrill Assembly. There is also considerable stock held by the
Dakaar trading company. You will be notified if any of these
leads prove to be fruitful.
Analysis of materials used and techniques reveal that the
Flamboyant was modified using tech level thirteen equipment.
This matches the tech level of the Imperial Viper class fighters
found in the Air/Raft bays The welds in the ship show stresses
indicating the force of gravity on the planet where it was
modified. Analysis shows the gravity being approximately twelve
meters per second per second acceleration. (World size nine.)
Gas contaminants in the welds show a high degree of
industrial pollutants. This would indicate that either the
planet had a tainted atmosphere, or the ship was in confined in a
tainted environment when worked on. We have compiled a list of
suspect planets in the sector. It is interesting to note that no
planets in the Ikar sector have tech thirteen at this time. A
few tech fourteen planets there are, but none at thirteen.
Nevertheless, we have compiled a list of possible sites for the
base where the Flamboyant was modified:
JUNGLEBLUT SUBSECTOR
Thenstor 0101 C9C6488-A S Independant planet G
Mirayn 0504 D989737-7 Independant planet G
Winder 0705 C966697-9 S Independant planet G
FESSOR SUBSECTOR
Orbell 0106 C97766A-7 Trelyn Domain G
Shodat 0110 X944266-1 Trelyn Domain, Prison R
NOMANN'S SUBSECTOR
Kualakhtaea 0809 X987673-1 Independant planet, Reserve RG
SCOTIAN DEEP SUBSECTOR
Stirling 0605 A957865-C A Principality of Caledon G
Mulkins 0710 D9B4358-7 Independant planet G
EA SUBSECTOR
Fask 0208 C9868AA-8 Grand Duchy of Marlheim AG
Roikhoi 0404 C969543-4 Independant planet G
Fulton 0704 C98A788-9 Confederacy of Duncinae
There are other possible planets, however, they have been
ruled out. The independant planets listed could not afford such
an operation by themselves. They are listed on the possibility
that an outside government has established a base of operations
there.
Pirate activity appears to be centered in the Jungleblut,
Fessor, Scotian Deep, and Caledon subsectors. Of special note is
the Zylath system in the Domain of Alntzar (Jungleblut subsector
0307). There may be a pirate base there.
We have received information that the pirate organization
sought to purchase ships from the vargr corsair band Uekalez.
The delivery was to be made in the Zylath system, after first
bringing the ships down from the Vargr Extents. During this
transport, the Vixen missile platform which you have recovered
misjumped. Upon delivery the pirates attempted to capture the
vessels rather than pay. The resulting battle left the Uekalez
fleet damaged or captured.
This information was obtained from survivors of the frigate
Gdaekvorr. After the battle, the ship misjumped far into the
Consulate and were interrogated by our staff. Five of the
corsairs are currently seeking passage out of the Consulate and
are waiting at the Massina Belt.
They have been manipulated by our agents to seek employment
with your group. The gunned escort requires a crew of twelve.
With the addition of these corsairs you should have an adequate
crew. The corsairs also carry sufficient armament to be an asset
to your mission. See their appended resumes.
Your top priority is finding the location of Dr.
Malenkoviepr. At this time we do not know if he was taken
willingly or not. Should you locate him, you are required to
return him to the Consulate. If necessary you are to eliminate
Dr. Malenkoviepr to prevent his possible collaboration with
Colonel Baremkatlashche'.
Good Luck.
Appendix:
Corsair Force Leader Taek Kfoks BD9AC9 age 30
Race: Vargr
Sex: Male
Homeworld: Gkakhaellan
Height: 1.76 Meters
Fur Color: Black
Eye Color: Green
Class II Small Craft Pilot Liscence
Class I Engineer's Certificate
Class I Gunner's Liscence
Possesses an implanted radio transciever.
Leadership training and experienced liaison officer. Contacts
Vargr.
Equipment qualified on: Sensors, Battle Dress, Explosives,
Computers, Combat Rifles, Hand Guns, Grav-Belt,
Grav Vehicles
Combat Skills: Experienced squadron leader. Has achieved
distiction as a marksman, Has reached the second level of
mastery of unarmed combat and zero gravity combat, and edged
weapons. Has served as an experienced scout. Experienced
in ship to ship tactics.
Has attended Command College and Commando School, achieved high
distinction in Intelligence School.
Weapons and equipment owned: 3 Tillys, Battle Dress, Gauss
Rifle, Accelerator Rifle, SMG, Gauss Pistol, Snub Pistol
Corsair Force Subleader Tuerz 1EA996 age 26
Race: Vargr
Sex: Male
Homeworld: Gkakhaellan
Height: 1.74 Meters
Fur Color: Grey
Eye Color: Yellow
Class I Small Craft Pilot Liscence
Class I Gunner's Liscence
Class I Medic Certificate
Possesses an implanted radio transciever.
Experienced in liason and forcible interrogation techniques.
Equipment qualified on: Sensors, Vacc Suit, Explosives,
Computers, Combat Rifles, Hand Guns, Grav-Belt,
Grav Vehicles
Combat Skills: Has achieved high distiction as a hand gun
marksman, Has reached the second level of mastery of zero
gravity combat. Has served as an experienced scout.
Experienced in ship to ship tactics.
Has attended Commando school, Intelligence school.
Weapons and equipment owned: Laser Pistol, Integral Laser
Pistol, Hypo-Gun, Grenade Pistol, Gauss Pistol, Snub Pistol &
Revolver, 8 Body Pistols, Silencers, Sniper Barrel, Flintlock
Pistol, Percussion Revolver, Hand Cannon, Combat Armor, Vacc
Suit, Reflec, Grav Belt
Corsair Force Subleader Stuzzel D676A6 age 30
Race: Vargr
Sex: Male
Homeworld: Ghaerthu
Height: 1.49 Meters
Fur Color: Brown
Eye Color: Light Brown
Class I Small Craft Pilot Liscence
Class I Engineer's Certificate
Class I Gunner's Liscence
Contacts Vargr. Trained as administrator
Equipment qualified on: Sensors, Battle Dress, Explosives,
Computers, Heavy Weapons, Combat Rifles, Hand Guns,
Grav-Belt, Grav Vehicles
Combat Skills: Has reached the second level of mastery of
unarmed combat, and edged weapons. Experienced in ship to ship
tactics.
Has recieved commando training.
Weapons and equipment owned: Battle Dress, Broadsword, ACR, LMG,
Snub Pistol
Corsair Hand Kaezorr 874775 age 26
Race: Vargr
Sex: Female
Homeworld: Gkakhaellan
Height: 1.47 Meters
Fur Color: Light Brown
Eye Color: Green-Brown
Class II Gunner's Liscence
Instructor
Equipment qualified on: Battle Dress, Computers, Combat and Low
Recoil Rifles, Hand Guns, Grav Vehicles
Combat Skills: Has achieved distiction as an accelerator rifle
marksman, Has reached the second level of mastery unarmed
combat of zero gravity combat.
Weapons and equipment owned: Battle Dress, Gauss Rifle,
Accelerator Rifle, Snub Pistol
Corsair Hand Rackhan C88644 age 34 (vargr male)
Race: Vargr
Sex: Male
Homeworld: Ghaerthu
Height: 1.51 Meters
Fur Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Class II Engineer's Certificate
Class I Gunner's Liscence
Experienced and resourceful computer, electronics and mechanical
technician.
Equipment qualified on: Battle Dress, High Energy Weapons, Heavy
Weapons, Computers, Combat Rifles, Hand Guns, Grav Vehicles
Combat Skills: Has reached the first level of mastery of
unarmed combat.
Weapons and equipment owned: Battle Dress, ACR, LAG, Snub Pistol
(Tilly Operator)
CraftID: Vargr Exoskeleton 'Tilly' TL=14 Cr 1,097,355
Hull: (1/1) (400/1000) Disp=2Kl, Config=Contoured, Armor=18G,
Loaded=3961Kg
Power: (2/2) Fusion=370kw, Dur=75.5 Days
Loco: (2/2) Legs=2, Road=152, Offroad=92
Comm: Radio=Cont, Maser=Reg
Sensors: Visual(+telescopic +Active IR)*2, Audio=Dist*2
Spotlight,
Off: FGMP-14, RAM Auto Grenade Launcher, Gauss Rifle,
Laser Welder
Def: Smoke Ejector
Control: Brain, HoloHUD, Slave Unit, ECP
Acccom: Seat=Worn, BasicEnv, BasicLS
Other: Fuel=1366liter, Heavy Arm*2, Audio Speaker,
ObjSize=Small, EMLevel=Faint, Strength=200