Shipping Mishaps Chapter 13

After spending much too long walking around the station she had grown up on, Kiki walked to the business offices of “Svoji Tri'' station. She knew her father would be furious about her forced retirement from the CLSB Fleet, and about the wedding; although she wasn't sure which would anger him more. At least I can tell him that he won't have to pay for the ceremony or the feast afterwards. Maybe he will even like Geo, once he gets to know her. She thought. When Goggins fly. She stepped into the outer office, waved hello to her fathers secretary (and third wife), and walked back to his office.

The office was posh, everything shiny and new compared to when she had visited after the divorce. The carpet was a rich dark red, the walls a happy yellow, the display cases holding his awards and fine art pieces made from sparkling multi-colored crystals.

Her father, D'than, an older Brnul with fine neon-yellow fur that represented his station in life, was sitting behind a brightly polished metal desk. He looked up from what he was working on and growled at her, “Getting married again? To the same idiot?”

Obviously the wedding is pissing him off more than being fired, she thought. “Yes father, I am. Shall we come to blows over it again, or will you just accept that I am my own woman and can make my own decisions?”

“I'm not fighting your dumb ass again. I still have the scar you gave me last time!” He rolled up the left sleeve of his business suit, showing off a tattoo enhanced scar. “I was proud of you that day! So, why do it again? Why to him?”

“He left me last time thinking it would be 'better' for my career. Idiot. Now that we've both left the Fleet, being married won't cause any more problems on that front.” She replied, “Also, I still love him and he loves me.”

“So what am I going to have to pay that 'Pirate Admiral' of yours for the ceremony, feast, and space?” he asked. “Do you know she took me for a million credits AND all the salvage rights?”

“So, you like her?”

“Oh the 17, you bet I do! If she was a Brnul, I would propose so we could have a joint ceremony!”

Kiki rolled her eyes like she had seen Geo do on so many occasions. “Seriously father? Mom would have a fit! You know that she wants to pick her next sister.”

“I know, but I think she would approve...”

*-*-*

Geo was sitting with several of her marines in a small bar on the station and had just finished telling her story. “I can't believe I lived. So what did I miss? Why didn't they attack?” They were looking at her with mouths open.

“Um, Admiral, can I see your weapons?” 'Rupert', a Ovdsmj (Yeti) asked (she couldn't pronounce his real name).

“Sure,” Geo replied, un-holstering both weapons and gingerly placing them on the table, to the sound of gasps from the marines around her.

“Where in the 17 did you get these?” Rupert asked, eyes almost bulging out of his furry head.

“Um, the armory next to the primary med bay?”

He pointed at the one on her left, “That is a 'Handheld Rail Gun type 5' or HRG-5, the unclean offspring of the Sliver Cannons we use for 'point defense'. It fires a armor piercing dart of tungsten alloy down range at roughly three times the speed of sound. You have it set to burst fire.” Rupert said. Pointing to the one on her right, “That is a handheld Squark Special Sonic Cannon, colloquially known as a 'Screamer'. It fires a coherent beam of sound that rips flesh from bone. I would run from either of them. Both are Illegal in civilian hands, and using the 'Screamer' on any living creature is considered a war crime.”

Geo gulped, and put the weapons away. “Well that explains why they ran.”

“Yes, yes it does.” Rupert said. “So, aside from that, how do you like the station?”

“Oh, this place is beautiful! I wish we had places like this on the Nautilus!” Replied Geo. “I will have to ask Campy about adding some hydroponics in one of the bays.”

Misty, another Yeti, looked over at Geo, “You may just want to ask if the onboard gardens are still intact.”

“Well poop. Of course we have gardens. Why shouldn't we have gardens. Next thing I know, you're going to tell me we have small talking rodents running around! And a petting zoo!” Geo grumbled.

“Small talking rodents? Aside from the Jarsnarg, I don't think there are any of those.” Misty said.

“It's a figure of speech.” Geo shook her head. “Anyway, can you guys think of anything else I should ask Campy about?”

“Gyms! Entertainment! Bars! Restaurants!” and several other things were suggested as the marines excitedly talked over each other. Geo finally resorted to using her tablet to take notes. After the suggestions started to repeat themselves, she said, “OK, OK, that's enough. I’ll ask Campy! Now the next round or two are on me.” She walked up to the counter and handed over her card, “I want to prepay a 500 credit tab for my idiot marines, and add an extra 100 as a tip for yourself.”

“Thank you miss! I will be sure to take good care of them.” The bartender replied.

Geo said her goodbyes, and headed back to the Nautilus.

*-*-*

Back aboard the ship, Geo slumped against a wall, and let the emotions overtake her. Oh my GOD! I could have been killed! God only knows what they could have done to me. I need to actually learn how to use these things, before something else happens. She dried her eyes and went to her cabin to change into 'workout' clothes.

“Campy, please give me a mile of 1.13 gravity corridor to run in.” Geo said.

“Will do, Admiral.” Was Campy's reply.

3 miles and an hour later, Geo was hot, sweaty, breathing hard, and tired. She had also gained an audience.

“Admiral, how in the 17 do you do that every day?” One of the marines, a bi-pedal lizard like Fetugie named 'g;oijae;ri' (Geo had started calling him Goii) asked.

“It's easy, Goii, I just dial up the gravity and run.” Geo replied with a close lipped smile. I still can't believe they think this is some form of physical torture! “I have a lot of muscle tone to regain after 12,000 years asleep.”

“I still think it's weird. Back in basic, we only had to train in so the Brnul would get a workout, and then for only at a time.” Goii retorted. “Are all of your people like this?”

“And again I tell you,” Geo said, panting, “If the military back home had artificial gravity they would crank it up to and make them run laps for a couple of hours!” *

“17 save us, I don't want to ever face your military.” Said Goii shaking his head.

Time to make their heads spin, Geo thought to herself, “Hey, you know what? I think I'm going to start fitness training with you guys after we leave the station.”

Everyone chuckled at this, except for the two in the far back, they just looked at each other and “smiled” at the money they're going to make from the bets.

“Well ‘recruit’ Geo, we will see you then.” Goii said. “We're done with our shift and heading off to the station for some R&R! Enjoy the rest of your !” The marines departed.

Geo spent another hour doing exercises in the hall.

* Unbeknownst to Geo, as soon as Terra got artificial gravity, they did indeed make the soldiers run laps at 2G for hours on end.

*-*-*

A shower, a meal, and a short nap later, Geo was feeling much better. “Campy? Remind me to fluctuate the gravity while the marines are training.” She gave the speaker an evil grin. “It should be fun to watch.”

“I believe that the Dirt-rockian phrase I am looking for is 'you are an ass'.” Campy replied.

“Occasionally.” Geo gave a little laugh. “It will be fun! Anyway, I have a bunch of questions for you, both on behalf of myself and the crew.”

“Ask away!”

“Do we have gardens, gyms, entertainment facilities, bars or restaurants on board?”

“Yes, yes, yes, do the canteen and mess halls count? There are also exchanges located near all of the canteens and mess halls.”

“The heck is an 'exchange'?”

“Also known as a PX, it is a general goods store provided for the military personnel.” Replied Campy.

“Good to know. What else do we have onboard?”

“There are several suites for recreation, 'actual' firing ranges, aquatic facilities, open 'shop' areas, and a number of 'outdoor' recreation areas.”

“Holy hell! Why didn't you tell me any of that before?”

“You never asked”

“Now who is being an ass?”

“A warning Admiral, all of these places must be swept clear of inhabitants before repair bots can be used to service the areas. I have detected 'some' life signs in several of them, but I am unable to determine what they are due to negligence in the maintenance of my sensors.”

“Well bugger” Geo said, “I guess I know what we're doing after the wedding.”

*-*-*

Several hundred light years away, in a mined out asteroid, roughly in diameter, a call was being answered. “You have before I hang up.” The comms tech said.

“Octo 369, rock, furnace.” The caller replied.

“koev, odcke, fensle.”

“That's enough of the code bullshit.”

“Good enough. Where is your strike leader?”

“Either dead or captured at Svoji station.”

“That was an easy target! What the 7 happened?”

“You know those bulk freighters that used to be Super Carriers? One of those dropped in system---”

“So what? They have crap weapons and shields! You can down one of those easily.”

“I know. This one was still fully armed. We lasted about . If we weren't on the far side of the fleet from them, we would be dead. The Corvette lost its main drive and hyper drill, so it turned to fight, but there's no way it could have survived that thing.”

“... OK, get your sorry asses back here so command can review your logs. Good luck.”

“Thanks. We're going to need it.”

*-*-*

20 minutes later, in a large well lit room filled with trinkets and baubles, Pirate King Zisqot “terror of the stars” was sitting at the head of a very large table with three of his admirals. “I have just had a report that we need verfied. Apparently there is a Parasite carrier out there from the great war---”

“There are a dozens of them.” Said one admiral, a Yeti like Ovdsmj by the name of Fuget the Bold,.

“If you will let me finish?” Zisqut angrily asked.

“Sorry sir.”

“The carrier in question still has all of its equipment intact.” Startled looks were given from around the table.

“Oh boy. That would be a prize for the ages.” Another Admiral said.

“Yes it is, and I want it.” Zisqut said, showing his teeth.