Strat-4 Chpt-8

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Strategos (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!) - Part 4 -

Chapter 8 - Arriving

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Meeting a girl at the Dock

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Helena
…waited at the docks for Amanda.

The Evanescent's bow slid up in the depressurized volume until the docking clamps engaged. Yardies, along with the remaining crew, swarmed in a ballet of utility: connecting lines, locking down loose items, and extending the 'bag' that would allow pressurized work to take place in the gantry without interrupting other activities along the circular level.

The last element was extending and locking down the concourse that would allow crew to debark in shirt-sleeves comfort.

Helena Cameron

The dock is built into an interior-facing ring, and the ships so connected are 'aimed' to allow them to 'fall free' when the work is done, using the spin of the station itself as initial outward thrust.

From Helena's perspective, the main body of the station is 'up' and the docking slip is 'ahead and down'.

Decontamination booths to help prevent the spread of illness in space hissed with the release of compressed gasses, and the hum of UV lights signaled the entry of the crew.

This close, she could see the scoring, denting, and scorches of the Evanescent’s latest cruise, the empty cradles and the field-ready patches.

The first personnel off were lower-ranks, 'virgin' crewmen whose first trip had been on the first vessel in the Privateer Fleet's registry. Most looked a bit… worn, as they came down the concourse with C-bags, their uniforms with minor wear and tear visible, exhausted and relieved to be in port. To be home.

Helena could see more than a few thousand-meter stares among the crewmen as they escorted a handful of coffins off the ship.

Most of those coffins would be empty of anything but their owner's personal effects. Death in space rarely leaves a body.

A few, however, had actual bodies in them. Some from the boarding actions, some from combat, some from accident.

Lori Crowe, second in command of the Evanescent

The last off the ship were the senior officers. At least here, most of them were accounted for.

"Lori, where is Captain Roberts?" Helena asked.

"She's talking with the yard foreman near engineering," Lori stated. "Is it important?"

"It could be. Helena said.

Lori hesitated, then, "Follow me, and welcome aboard, Helena Cameron, to the OWS Evanescent."

---

Working out Future Plans

...power plant three. It's going to need…

…a full pull-and-refurbishment, Foreman." Amanda was discussing repairs with the Yard's foreman for this level. "There was damage to the heat exchangers and we had to shut it down and run the others on overcharge, so they're also going to need D-level checks and recertification."

Helena stood quietly long enough for Amanda to finish before letting her presence be known.

“It’s good to see you again, Amanda. Come on, now that you’re done with the Foreman, we have business.”

"It's good to see you too, Madame Director-General. We're through the audits, but that doesn't mean I don't have a kilometer high stack of paperwork to file. Would you mind keeping up?" Amanda was visibly distracted, stressed, and everything crowed 'officer avoiding something'.

Captain Amanda Roberts, commanding officer of the OWS Evenescent.

“Your paperwork can wait but yes, let’s take a walk. I read the reports. You’re expecting punishment again, and showing signs of being out on the front doing horrible things that bother you. I’d rather not punish you for that. It means you’re human and still have a conscience.”

"I did horrible things, things I'm not sure did any good." Amanda confessed. "How badly did our guys get chewed up at Bannerhoft? I know Bedwyr's dead, we lost Larry, how many more? I skimmed it, but how much use was what I did, killing civilian shippers?"

“It could have been a lot worse, but the butcher’s bill weighs on me too. What you had to do was terrible and should never be asked of anyone as young as you, or anyone really. I’m realistic enough to know the reality out there forces such things upon us. So all I can ask is you try and I think this will help.” Helena produced a hand engraved bottle of Avalonian Hard Cider from his homeworld. “I want you to recommission the SLS Stephen Decatur as the SLS Larry Nichols. You knew him longer than me or my AIs, so it should be you and we all agree with what he taught us. It’s the least we could do. You know, sometimes talking to Regina I can actually hear some of him in her.”

Amanda regarded the bottle, then: "He liked this stuff." She continued, "It tastes horrible, did you know that? They make it with those nasty bitter apples that struggle to grow on New Avalon near the coast… And he liked this stuff…"

“Yeah I had another bottle shipped in to try it, it was… unique.” Helena smiled.

"Larry liked it, but he also called it a crime against yeast." Amanda laughed bitterly, then sighed. "I missed the funeral, and the wake… and now I have more. We'll commission the SLS Larry Nichols... and then… I’ll drink terrible booze, and mourn him."

“That sounds like a plan.”

"I won't be the only mourner, Ladyship." Amanda said. "Lori and he were… close. Close enough they should have contracted, but there was never time."

“I know. Regina’s been reluctant to talk about it and I bet she’ll be trying to avoid the hell out of Lori. Honestly, I’m not sure what the right answer is there, with what she did.”

"Trying to save him, you mean? No… no, that's two mourners besides me. To share a bottle of something awful." Amanda stated. "Lori won't hold a grudge for trying to save Director Nichols, Helena. She's… it's not her way. Too much city girl."

“That’s not what I think Regina is afraid of. It took some prying, but she confessed romantic feelings for him.”

"Along with half the female population out here." Amanda suggested. "It should be fine, once they get talking… which we'll make happen."

“Well then, I’ll make sure she’s in the room.”

"What can get an AI drunk, anyway? They're immune to alcohol…" she sighed. "We ran out of rum two months ago."

“Maybe Esme can figure out something with some voltage or amperage tweaks for the remotes.”

"Let's go get drunk, I need to blot out some memories." Amanda suggested. "At Silesia the Star Lord we kakked… they were broadcasting. I heard them pleading and begging, Helena. But we don't have room for passengers or prisoners. I drank the last of the rum after that one."

“Maybe modified cruiser rules? Let them abandon ship and if there’s someplace habitable, tow them there? If not, well… I’m just relieved it still bothers you. Even with all this horrible terribleness, it still bothers you. Which means you are still a good person, Amanda.”

"We left a few of them in beach-balls and life boats." she confessed. "Sam dropped a modified relay beacon, but I don't know if they got a rescue response in time. I do know we couldn't' approach any inhabitable locations in that system-too many defenders."

“That is all I can realistically ask for. And maybe make sure you take some time away from the front now and again. Breaks from that sort of thing are important. I’ve also booked you an appointment with a pastor, later. Then I’m having Mashona pick up Daryl, because I think you need some time with your brother. I wish I could send you back to Sevon V.”

“I’m not sure I can face him after what I’ve done.” Amanda looked sullen.

“He’s your brother, and he knows you need him. It’s what family does. Now come on. We got a ship to commission and an AI to get drunk.”

---

Meeting the Widow and her "rival"

Regina…

…reported to Esme’s workshop as ordered, but Esme wasn’t there. Lori WAS there.

“Regina, you’ve been ignoring my letters and avoiding me ever since I came on this station. It’s taken our bosses conspiring to get us alone in a room together.” Lori was keeping her tone neutral.

“I’m sorry, Lori. Everyone keeps telling me I did nothing wrong, but I still can’t help but feel I let my emotions get the better of me and did something stupid that expedited Larry’s death.”

“You really did love him, didn’t you? Enough to break regs?”

“There’s no point denying it, it’s super obvious now. I’d like to think I never would have broken regs and I know he only had eyes for you. I think we both know the effect he seemed to have on women, even AIs.”

“You’re right, Regina. It seems like half the women out here had the hots for him. So believe it or not, I’m not jealous of you or hold your feelings for him against you. Come here, sit on the bench next to me.”

Human-like AI Remote of Regina Marbury Raymond

Regina slowly crossed the room and sat next to Lori.

“You really didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, what you did was very human and in a weird way, I’m glad that someone that loved him possibly as much as I do was there for him at the end. We’re taught to give of ourselves freely in the act of coupling, not to become attached to any particular partner. But despite that, I do miss him.”

“So what do we do?”

“Well, Esme will be coming through that door when I give the signal, then she’s going to see what she can do to your remote here so that you can experience something resembling being drunk. But before that, this,.” Lori leaned in and kissed Regina deeply and passionately.

After a moment Lori broke the kiss.

“What was that?” Regina asked, confused.

“I had to find out how much of Larry was in there. Turns out, just enough that you did the same thing with your tongue he did when we kissed like that. So I’m going to make you a deal, Regina. You keep that alive by keeping yourself alive and in good order. You do that for as long as you can and we’ll be okay, you and me. But you’re also not Larry. So don’t expect me to pursue a relationship with you.”

“Deal.”

“Sounds like you were holding out on me Regina, that’s a naughty girl.” Esme made her presence known.

“When…” Lori was startled.

“The kiss. You two were a bit more lost in it than you realize and no way was I just watching that on a screen.” Esme chuckled.

“You, Regina?” Lori asked.

Mister Seron, Crewmember

“And Mister Seron. It was fun.” Esme smirked.

“Now I’m angry at you, Regina. That cost me five escudos.” Lori said with mock anger.

“Wait, I thought no one had that in the betting pool.” Regina was visibly confused.

“With the comms issues; my bet was on the physical book on Evanescent.” Lori laughed.

“Give me a hand, Lori? We’re about to make the first AI that can get drunk.” Esme smiled.

“It would be my pleasure.”

Regina felt nervous about shutting down for a split second but she knew Esme wouldn’t let anything happen to her remote.

When Regina next reconnected to her remote she could feel something new in her remote.

“I went a little above and beyond. You now also have something approximating an esophagus and a stomach. It’s just a small burner, generates just enough power off high proof booze that if you need an emergency battery pickup you can raid a liquor cabinet and top off. But not too often or for too long because, burner so heat and I could only improve your cooling so much. Now you can finally properly join us.”

“I still won’t have a sense of taste.” Regina was getting used to the new system feedbacks.

“Trust me, with what we’re about to drink, you’ll be glad for that.” Lori chuckled.

---

Processing a Prisoner

Camping...

…on Amanda Roberts was recommended by the station psychiatric specialists. Part of the reason being the obvious prior traumas and her directive to seek out mental health counseling, and part of it based on Olivia's reports from the battle at New Ithaca.

But Roberts wasn't the only one who needed it. "The prisoner will step forward."

Somehow, they'd recovered her from the shattered bridge of her ship, alive. This in spite of Ethel Blythe-Winston's own efforts to avoid being taken alive.

"Blythe, Winston, Ethel, Commander, SLDF. Service number 121-55b-5551 EB," she recited.

Name, rank, and service number. "Extend your wrists." the armored soldier ordered.

She initially refused, only to have the two other soldiers each take an arm, and gently force her to do so. The manacles were something she'd seen used on… for another purpose. With her hands restrained and linked to her ankles by a myomer and endo steel flex line, she was led from the relatively bare room near her captor's CIC. Then to a boat deck, and from there to a concourse.

"Hello, Ethel Blythe-Winston. Have you been informed of your rights under the Laws of War and Star League Convention of 2755?"

"Blythe Winston, Ethel, Com-"

The slim woman scowled. "Stop it, Ethel. My name is Cossack and I'm doing this as a favor for the base commander. I'm not going to interrogate you, because you don't know anything we didn't already pull out of that junk-pile you were commanding. I'm not going to torture you, because you don't know anything of value. What I am going to do, is verify that you have been read your rights as a Prisoner of the Star League Defense Force, that you understand your situation, and that you have been given enough information to make an informed decision regarding how the rest of your internment proceeds."

"You're… YOU'RE ONE OF THEM!!!"

"If you mean, ‘Yes, I recognize you are an artificial person'? That would be the first confirmable factual statement you have made since your capture." Cossack said evenly. "I am indeed, an artificial person, a person who lived during the Star League and served the Star League during its existence. So I know what the Star League represented and what the rules are. DO YOU??"

"I… the other one-the one who took me-"

"Olivia? Yeah, she remembers the real Star League too. You're not an officer of the Star League. You ARE a prisoner of war. We have rules. Have you been subjected to torture, unwilling sexual contact, starvation, or had medical treatment refused?"

Ethel's freakout continued: "Are you all? All machines!?"

"No, we have some human personnel. Please answer my question verifying your treatment."

Ethel stared in open terror at Cossack's remote.

“I’ll be honest with you if it’ll get me the answers I’m after. If it were up to me, I’d let the guards do all the things you’re afraid of to you. I’d let them look the other way afterwards so you could take the escape route you seem to want so desperately. I’d love to be proven right that you’re just not worth all the trouble. That you just do not have the moral fortitude to live with the consequences of your actions. But I’m not going to do any of that. Because unlike you and your kind, I do know what it means to be civilized. So we’re going to keep you alive, treat you by the book, and I will relish every minute of it because you’re too stupid to think it’s anything other than a special kind of torture.”

Ethel continued to gape for a moment, then, "No… no, none of what you just said…"

"Cossack? Medical's here," one of the suits spoke. "They want to get a look at this prisoner."

“I lived being a slave, you lived being a slave master. Take her.”

Nighthawk Power Armor

A team of four in Nighthawk Power Armor with Outworlds markings arrived with one of the corpsmen (a woman) from the base.

"What happens… now?" Ethel asked the corpsman.

"First, I'm going to verify your medical status. Check you for contraband and suicide devices, and clear you for processing. Then, you're going to be in-processed to a POW holding unit, where you'll be able to meet with an advocate from the Intelligence Service and an advocate from the Provost. You'll be held for the duration of hostilities or until a prisoner exchange can be diplomatically arranged. You will not be subjected to forced labor, and you will not be exposed to aggressive violence by your guards. If either of those occurs, someone will be in deep shit," Corpsman Anniston explained. "Now, some of this is going to be a little humiliating, but it's because we can't just trust you. Cossack will observe to verify and record I & my team do nothing excessive during your processing."

“Behave and this will go smoothly. I may have my proclivities, but I do follow the rules.” Cossack kept an even tone and expression.

"Cheer up! If you'd been taken by Roberts, we'd just have to use toothbrushes and soap to clean up the mess." one of the guards said. "You were taken by one of the AI captains instead, and she doesn't kill or torture prisoners."

"Enough of that!" the Corpsman barked, as she began her exam by stripping the uniform off of the prisoner. "Roberts doesn't torture people, she uses clean headshots."

“See? Like I said, civilized. You got to surrender. And unlike what prisoners I’m certain your compatriots have taken, you’re not being abused, tortured, or any number of things that decent people don’t do to their captives. All despite me being a former slave facing someone who was a slave master. Interesting to think about, isn’t it?” Cossack smiled.

---

Knowing the way that must be done

"She's laying it on thick…

…Helena." Foster watched as they processed the highest-ranking POW from Roberts' Raid.

"I know." Helena agreed. "She is, but it's probably working."

"What is our objective here, Helena?" Foster asked. "I know what it would have been, when I was in the Touman…"

"Civilization." Helena sighed. "We have to break their will to resist. You saw it with the results at Bannerhoft-they've got a nation state going. One that’s anathema to everyone else, but it's a nation-state, which doesn't allow for the simplistic approach of just wiping out the leadership and taking over. To break their will to resist, which we must do, they have to believe that they can surrender and live. That there’s an alternative to 'fight until one side or the other is dead'."

"I see…" he nodded approvingly. "You make sense here, do the Khans agree?"

"And the President? Yes," she asserted. "This false 'Star League' has to be defeated and broken, but that means we can't waste time trying to annihilate them one at a time. We need evidence to present that they can lose and still live. To break their will to keep fighting is an absolute necessity, and one that several of my ancestors forgot about when they pardoned Amos Forlough."

"That name again…"

"I read enough and heard enough to know his campaign might have broken the military resistance, but there was enough hatred left that it wasn't hard for Amaris to find people to fight the Star League centuries after the fact. As well, there’re still a few whispers I hear from the odd local as I go about my day in regards to my name." She straightened her tunic. "We must be better than that or someone else will have to do this again in a couple generations. I also know others curse me for demanding this. But fortunately enough of the right people, the smart people, know this is the way it must be done."

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