Pachabel’s
Canon in D
wafted from the wall speakers in the officers’ mess. Located across the hall from the bridge ready room, the mess was not a large space, but it accommodated the eight officers and senior crew rather well. Dwax and Cassie Ruger were already present in the room. From the high color on the doctor’s face, Maggie guessed that Dwax was telling another of his colorful stories. The Dremikian had a way of portraying events to fit his audience and have them in stitches before his story was complete.
“Good evening, Honored Commander.” The soft addition of clicks to the end of Dwax’s words was hardly noticeable now after six weeks with the crew. Maggie suspected that some of the younger crew had been assisting the alien with his language skills. He was of an age with ensigns Robertson and Chi and the two young men were perfectly incorrigible in teaching him lewd phrases and social quirks. The previous evening he had unwittingly insulted the captain’s mother by calling her a “bow-legged woman”. Whatever context the two ensigns had used the phrase in, it had not translated well when used by Dwax.
“A pleasant evening to you, Honored One.” She used the abbreviated greeting, since the formal title for Dwax was considerably longer and more complex. Dremikians were an exceedingly polite species. “Doctor.” Maggie nodded to Cassie. The two were slowly becoming friends. Maggie wasn’t used to being close with other women, and the doctor was even more dedicated to her work than Maggie was to her duties. They rarely saw each other outside of the quarters they shared, but the time they did spend together fostered a feeling of comfortable ease.
“Evening, Commander. I thought you had bridge watch?”
Maggie shook her head as she poured herself a glass of water. “The captain wanted all senior staff here for dinner. Chief Turner has the con.” She glanced at the time display. “Launch plus seven hours. We’ll be passing Mars soon. Thirteen days to Neptune orbit.” She raised an eyebrow at Dwax. “Then we’ll see just how well this blowsy cog achieves jumpspace, again.”
Dwax clicked several times. “And how will you be judging this? Good or poor, how will you be knowing?” He laughed at his own joke in his own peculiar wheezing chuckle. “Flying saucer or blowsy clog, the vessel will go. You will see.” He blinked and grinned at her.
“We shall see indeed, Honored One. Or, as you have often told us, we shall see nothing at all if we fail and go spinning off into the unknown.” Captain Hill’s voice came from so close behind Maggie that she jumped slightly. There was a touch of humor in his voice as he said, “Your pardon, Commander. I did not intend to startle you. In fact, I would not have believed until this moment that you could be startled.”
“Pardon, sir. I didn’t hear you come in. Perhaps the captain is learning tricks of floating from Dwax?”
Captain Hill chuckled; he was a tall and muscular man. “I do not think I can float no matter how well the Honored One teaches me.” He, too, glanced at the wall clock. “I see I’m early. Commander would you join me for a round of the deck, please?” It was phrased as a request only for the sake of politeness. Maggie, instantly alert and wondering about this new demand, nodded her assent. “Doctor, Dwax, we will rejoin you shortly.”
The ‘tween deck housed a small observation deck. Groups of colonists and two younger members of the enlisted crew stood peering out the view screens at the passing visage of Mars. At the current rate of speed, the red planet was more of a large pink haze than the recognizable landmark. The terra-forming station showed as a blot of green along the equator. O’Connell smiled at the gasps of surprise from the watching people. No matter how many briefings they received on the speed of the
Hudson
, it was never real until something went blurring past.
“The launch went very well, sir.” The commander was a bit nervous about this unexpected before-dinner conference. Captain Hill was quiet as they walked, returning the greetings of passers-by, but otherwise remaining mute.
“It did. You and the crew are to be commended for your performance. You’re wondering why I pulled you away from the others.”
The commander responded with a glance but said nothing.
“Representative Trell will be joining us in the officer’s mess this evening. He has announced that he wishes to be privy to the decisions made aboard this vessel.”
O’Connell was so shocked she stopped walking. The captain turned back and raised a black eyebrow at her. “Yes, I know,” he said as she resumed her pace beside him. “He is an annoying and cloying little man, but he insists that, as Dwax is present at our table, he should be as well.”
“But Dwax is—” Maggie clamped her mouth shut as her captain raised a hand to stop her.
“There will be no discussion of this matter, Commander. We have nothing to fear from allowing the people’s representative to dine with us. I trust you will relay my feelings on this matter to the officers.” He tried to soften his rebuke. “It is only eight months to Dremiks station, Commander. Not quite an eternity.”
“As you wish, sir.” Maggie loathed the oily representative. He could look at a woman and make her feel like a piece of meat. The fact that she couldn’t complain of this to her commanding officer, without appearing insubordinate and weak, was even more irritating.
Hill tried not to frown openly at Commander O’Connell’s stiffness. “That is all, Commander. I am going to quarters to grab something I forgot. I will see you back in the mess.”
“By your leave, sir.” She executed a smart about-face and marched off down the hall. He was still frowning at her back when he remembered that there had been another matter he’d been meaning to bring up. He pulled out a tablet and made a short note to remind himself.
O’Connell regained her composure just before she made it back to the mess. Lieutenants Price and Guttmann had joined Dwax and Dr. Ruger. They both came briefly to attention as she entered. She waved her hand in a gesture of acknowledgment and poured herself another glass of water.
“We will have an additional member for dinner, gentlemen, Doctor. Representative Trell will be joining us for dinner briefings to better improve relations between the civilian and command communities.” Her brusque tone left no room for comment. Dwax watched the emotions visible from the humans in the room. Dr. Ruger frowned, Commander O’Connell was tense to the point of formality, and there was an audible groan from Lieutenant Guttmann. Dwax was constantly trying to learn more about the emotional make-up of the human species. Representative Trell’s presence at dinner would, apparently, provide ample study opportunity.
When O’Connell moved to a corner by herself and started sipping her water, Dr. Ruger approached her and whispered softly, “You’re ok with this?”
Maggie replied in a similarly low whisper. “I had no choice. Perhaps he’ll be on his best behavior with the captain here.”
The doctor issued a most un-professional snort and rolled her grey eyes. “That’s a wishful fantasy.” She watched Trell step through the doorway. “I think we are about to find out. Good luck.”
“Thanks. Same to you. He’s sitting by you, after all.”
Captain Hill returned to the officers’ mess to find his officers extremely quiet. The conversation in the room could be described as forced at best. Upon his entry, all of the officers rose to attention. Dwax inclined his head slightly. Chancellor Trell grunted and made to sit down at the head of the table. O’Connell stepped up and politely indicated a chair to the right of the head position.
“It would be an honor if you would take my seat, Chancellor.” She pulled out the chair and stood aside. It was a deft piece of diplomacy to avoid having the man sit in the captain’s chair. When Hill caught her eye a second later, he inclined his head in approval. So as not to disturb everyone else’s seating arrangement, Maggie pulled an extra chair to the end of the table.
The officers and doctor remained standing and politely bowed their heads. It was a tradition in their small and newly formed fellowship to have a moment of silence before meals. Trell look confused, but before he could comment, the moment passed. The captain waited until Dr. Ruger and Dwax were seated. After he sat, O’Connell, Price, and Guttmann settled into their places. Ensigns Robertson and Chi refilled the water glasses, and then took their seats.
The captain cleared his throat. “We are in a firm orbit of Mars, then?” His question was directed at Ensign Robertson.
“Yes sir, the orbit is fixed and stable.”
“Engines? Any problems on the run?”
Lieutenant Guttmann swelled with pride. “Engines are running on idle currently, sir. Everything performed perfectly during the run, and we broke the Mar’s speed record for a craft of this size by an entire hour.”
The captain beamed with delight. “Well done indeed.” He sipped his water and surveyed his officer corps. Despite having Trell at the table and O’Connell sitting in an odd position, the table was not as crowded as it should have been. “We are deprived of Dr. Fortunas’ company this evening?”
Dr. Ruger answered, “He is in sickbay, sir. His cardiac rhythms concerned me, and I asked him to rest for a few hours.” She caught the look of disapproving concern on the captain’s face. “He will be perfectly all right, sir. For a man of his age, he is in remarkable health and will, by my calculations, out-live us all.”
“Well, you will please relay this conversation to him. We are currently in orbit around Mars at launch plus eight hours. I intend to break Mars orbit at 1100 hours tomorrow and begin the run through the asteroid belt. Commander O’Connell will be piloting with Lieutenant Price to relieve her at 1900 hours. Ensign Robertson, you will work the navigation station as needed in four hour rotating shifts. The charts for the belt are straightforward and well mapped. I expect no problems.” This last was said in a challenging tone as the captain made eye contact with each of his officers.
“Captain,” Chancellor Trell interrupted the silence. “Perhaps we can now discuss with your officers how the colonists are to be treated.” This comment drew the attention of everyone present. Dr. Ruger frowned at the slight shake to the representative’s pudgy hands. She’d voiced her concerns about an overweight man making a long and arduous journey through space, but Trell’s connections were so good that all protests about his health, and his character, were overruled. Still, the doctor wondered if perhaps his heart was in danger from the self-imposed stress.
Captain Hill gave the chancellor a withering smile. “I’m sure that my officers and crew will behave with the utmost politeness and afford the guests of the
Hudson
all proper courtesy.” Before Trell could speak again, the Captain nodded to Ensign Chi. The young Asian man jumped out of his chair and pulled something from the sideboard. “Now, in honor of the launch of our historic voyage, I propose a toast.”
Ensign Chi held a bottle of expensive champagne. Everyone in the room smiled broadly, except for Trell who began to sputter. “I thought alcohol was forbidden on ISA ships? We cannot allow... to have drinking…”
The captain looked at Trell and shook his head slightly. “Be at ease, Chancellor. A single glass of champagne is not going to make drunkards of my officers. There are certain traditions that must be maintained. And, since Senator Robertson himself procured the vintage for us, I do not believe there will be any official condemnation of this action.” He nodded in acknowledgment of Ensign Robertson who’d suggested the plan to have his father provide the champagne.
When all the glasses were filled, the captain rose. His officers followed. “To the future”
“To the future,” echoed in the small mess space.
***
The
Hudson
was not built with the comfort of her crew in mind. Considering that she had been built specifically for an eight month journey to a distant location, the lack of spacious and comfortable crew quarters irritated the captain. His own official office space was a small room that connected to his sleeping quarters. A writing table, bookshelf, view screen, and two straight-backed chairs filled the small space to capacity. The only personal decoration the captain chose to display in his ready-room was a small framed note from his mother. He looked up from his tablet at the chime from the door.
“Enter.”
Commander O’Connell swung the hatch open and stepped inside. “Reporting, sir.”
“Be at ease and be seated, Commander.” He waited until she sat. He tapped his finger lightly on the pad before him. “I have been reading your readiness reports for the crew. Your insights will prove invaluable. I risk sounding repetitive, but you’ve done an excellent job.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Hill looked up from the notes before him. “While reviewing the medical readiness files for the crew, I found a disturbing note from Dr. Ruger.” He noticed her jaw tighten. “You know what I’m speaking of, Commander.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And?” Despite his fair skin and dark hair, and the fact that he’d been on duty for many hours, there was no hint of a five o’clock shadow on his jaw.
Maggie tapped down her anger at Cassie’s seeming betrayal. She’d already discussed this problem with the doctor, several days before. She’d considered the matter closed. “I assure you, sir, that Dr. Ruger’s fears are groundless. I passed all of the requisite medical checks for pre-launch.”
“Fears, Commander? I was not speaking of subjective opinions. Dr. Ruger failed to relay such
fears
to me. I speak, Commander, of cold facts. One fact in particular, that you’ve lost ten pounds since reporting to the
Hudson
. It is a fact I can see evidence of with my own eyes.”
Maggie stood and straightened to attention. “Sir, I assure you…”
“Sit
down,
Commander.” The command was delivered in a very soft voice. The commander reflexively obeyed the order. When she did, the captain resumed speaking. “If I had doubts about your immediate health you would be confined to the med-deck at once. Since I do not, you can put away your self-righteous anger. However, and let there be no mistaking this point, Commander, if you have not re-gained sufficient weight to merit Dr. Ruger’s glowing praise before we reach Dremiks, you will be given over to her orders and command. Is that clear, O’Connell?”