Chapter 17
Chapter 17
As soon as Alex and Wayne exited the rescue shuttle, Miss Lockclear stepped into cadence with them, her mini-comp in hand.
“I’ve been assigned to be your liaison and assistant permanently.”
“Won’t councilman Sather be missing your service?” Alex asked.
“He has a new and younger assistant to service him.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be, I’m not.”
All around them the underground airport was a flurry of activity. One group was assembling a heavy lifter, another working on a set of large jump coils.
“The council is split on what the next course of action should be. Your words will swing the undecided councilmen; and that may put you in danger.”
“How so?”
“Councilman Sather, while governor, was the undisputed leader of the DNE council. After the inquiry, and his forced retirement his power has been slipping, and councilman Hamel is challenging his leadership.”
“Where do your loyalties stand?”
“My loyalties are now with you.”
Alex and Wayne exchange glances.
“I appreciate that.”
“The council wants to speak with you as soon as possible. Also, the design team wants input from both of you on current projects.”
“I hope I have time for a shower and a hot meal,” Alex said, rubbing the stubble on his face.
“Me too,” Wayne chimed in.
“I will tell the council that you will be available in two hours?”
“That will be fine, thanks.”
The group arrived outside of Wayne’s apartment, and Miss Lockclear said “I am trying to get you an assistant, and in the meantime, I will do my best to help you.”
“Well, thanks,” Wayne said with a big grin, before closing his door.
“Shall I just keep calling you ‘Miss lockclear, or do you have a first name you would like me to use?”
“My first name is Kimberly, and you may call me whatever name you are more comfortable with.”
Alex opened his door, and said “I think I will stick with Miss Lockclear for now.”
“Yes sir. I will be off to inform the council of your return.”
Alex enjoyed the hot shower after his shave for nearly thirty minutes. Toweling off, he stepped into the bedroom to find his discarded clothes removed, and a new suit, tie, and shirt waiting on the bed. Embarrassed, Alex closed the bedroom door before getting dressed. Once into the main room, he could smell the steak sitting on the table under a glass cover. Miss Lockclear was no where to be seen, but he was sure she had been in the room while he was in the shower.
He found her in the hallway after he had eaten his meal. She dove right into the business at hand.
“The council is divided about how soon we should move against AMC and Dirt Gov.”
The two start walking towards the council chambers.
“Before we get in to all that, I’m used to cleaning up after myself, as well as fetching my own dinner, you don’t need to do all that for me.”
“You may change your mind after you see everything you’re going to be expected to do in the future.”
“Like what?”
“While you were gone the council authorized several new projects. Starship command officer training for example, the project leader has you scheduled already to teach strategy and tactics. Then there is the zero-G combat training, you are to teach Space Corps marine tactics. And, you are to be project leader on navigator training.”
“Is that all, here I thought I was going to be busy.”
“That is on top of flying several more missions, and don’t forget the design team wants your input.”
Alex lets out a big sigh. “Okay, you’re right; I’m going to need your help.”
At the next hallway intersection Miss Lockclear grabbed Alex’s arm and turned him towards the cafeteria.
“You have time to eat before going to the council chambers.” Then she added and a softly spoken voice, “I am to spy on you, and report my findings to councilman Sather. Your room is under surveillance, as is Wayne’s.”
Alex followed suit, by replying softly, “I have nothing to hide. I have been open and honest with everyone.”
“A rare commodity in the DNE. I must warn you, people sometimes disappear, never to be seen again if they cross the wrong people. For now you are safe, as the council needs your talents, but should the day come that they see you as expendable…”
The pair arrived in the cafeteria, Miss Lockclear headed straight for the desert counter.
She asked “What are you hungry for?”
“Is that real apple pie?”
“It is.” She put two pieces onto a tray, and moved to the coffee dispenser. After that, they moved to an open table.
“Tell me about how the council works.”
Sather is the leader, he is the only one allowed to bring items to the floor to be voted on by the other five. Councilman Hamel has asked for a vote to bring new items to the floor, in essence bypassing Sather. Hamel had two other councilmen that followed his lead, and voted in favor immediately. Sather was incensed, and refused to acknowledge the motion. Hamel directly asked the two remaining councilmen for their vote, both voted against. Hamel began to declare the motion passed, three to two, which forced Sather to acknowledge the motion and vote against it. Thus locking the council three to three, and the motion did not pass, but battle lines were drawn. Since then, anything Sather has brought forward that does not fit into Hamel’s plan, has been voted down.”
“Wow.”
“That brings us to you. I believe you will have influence over the councilmen as to which way to vote. That means you will piss off either Hamel or Sather by what you say; and that is dangerous.”
Alex took a sip of coffee, thinking about what he had just heard.
“I can only give my honest opinion, whether they like it or not.”
“Then watch your back, and get a gun.”
“Thank you. Time to go into the lions den.”
Councilman Sather invited Alex to have a seat. “The council wishes to know your opinion on when to move against Dirt Gov and Allied.”
Alex adjusted the microphone, and said, “You have an opportunity here, to move unhindered. Once they know you have jump tech, expect military action, and a blockade.”
Councilman Hamel spoke up, “You didn’t answer the question, when should we make our move?”
“When we can meet and beat the Space Corps, and when we can assure the flow of food will not be interrupted.”
Councilman Sather said, “Well said.”
“But it does not answer the issue at hand.” Councilman Hamel stated. “Mr. Chissel, should we move to achieve those two goals as quickly as possible?”
“Yes, but using caution not to arouse suspicion.”
“Of course, but do you agree, that we must be ready before the spies amongst us can report our activities?”
There it was, Alex thought; Agree with him, or not. Or….
“If you can establish when the spy could report, you would have your time to be completed by.”
Council man Sather said, “Thank you Mr. Chissel, you are dismissed.”
Alex got up from his table, and left the council chambers.
“Are you sure you’re not a politician?”
“Yes. I hate politics.”
“That was brilliant! You didn’t pick a side.”
“Thanks to your warning. Where to next?”
“The design unit wants you to consult with them. I will be getting us an office to work out of, and work on your schedule for tomorrow.”
A few minutes later Alex entered the CAD design unit. Wayne was already there, working on the flight simulators.
“Hi Alex, what do you think?” Wayne asked.
“Is that a cargo container?”
“Yes. It was my idea to have the pilots train on the simulator in zero-G.”
“Good idea. We will sneak them aboard the transfer station?”
“Yes, we can cycle the students through.”
“Very good. I’m needed here?” Alex asks aloud.
“Over here Mr. Chissel,” said a tech.
He was working on a modified lifter design to refuel and service space craft, with a stealth coating for good measure.
The next day, Miss Lockclear met Alex outside of his room, and walked with him to breakfast.
“I’ve got us an office near the hidden airport. Furniture should arrive today.”
“You are very efficient Miss Lockclear. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have you.”
“I do my very best sir.”
“When did you start working for Councilman Sather?”
“I was fifteen. My parents were in a labor reform group that was caught.”
“Are they still alive?”
“Yes, Sather made me an offer: I could spare my parents life by serving under him. I visit them at the prison factory when I can.”
Alex was silent the rest of the way to the cafeteria.
“You’re scheduled to meet with the combat group today. They want you to teach them about Space Corps Marine fighting tactics.” Miss Lockclear said over breakfast.
“What time, and where.”
“Nine this morning and I will take you to the training compound, when we finish eating.”
“They have recruits already?”
“No, you will be working with the trainers.”
The training compound was on the other side of two underground cities, and quite a ways into an old mine, with off limits signs well posted. Miss Lockclear and the driver dropped him off just outside what looked like an old minering office. The combat manager met Alex, and brought him inside the new facility. Past the facade, a new concrete building was to be found. The manager gave Alex a quick tour of the gun range, a mockup spaceship interior ‘killing ship’, and at last brought him into the classroom. A group of men, including Tom Thrush, sit in the class room.
“Men, this is Alex Chissel, a former Space Corps navigator who has had zero-G combat training. I want to listen to what he has to say, as we may have to come up against their Marines one day.”
The Manager shook Alex’s hand, and left the room.
“You’re going to teach us?” mocked Tom.
“I will tell you what I can of the Marines capabilities and tactics.”
“I have fought Space Corps marines, they aren’t so tough. How many gun fights have you been in Chissel?”
“Actual gun fights, just one.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Roll the Vid Joe.”
On the single plane video display, Alex sees himself fire two shots at the masked rifleman, who falls to the ground. Alex dived to the ground beside the cab. He got to his knees, peeked through the glass, and then ducked back down. Glass flew over his head. The driver of the cab tried to get even lower in the front seat.
The man that Alex had shot sat up, and was bringing his rifle to bear on Alex.
Morgan’s taser fires its darts into the seated rifleman, knocking him over, even as the second rifleman lined up his shot, and fired into Morgan. Alex jumped to his feet and fired two shots over the roof of the cab. Both combatants moved to try to get a clear shot. Both weapons fired and the rifleman dropped to the ground. The vid shows a close up of Alex’s face, red and tear streaked above his bloody hands pressing against Morgan’s wound.
“Comments on where Mr. Chissel went wrong?”
“He failed to confirm the first gunman was dead, or if he intended to leave him alive, failed to disarm him,” said one instructor.
“And he moved past him, leaving his back open to an armed assailant,” said another.
“And his failure forced one of his men to move to save him, which in turn cost that man his life.” Tom said.
“And none of that has anything to do with zero-G combat; one marine is worth ten of your ground pounders in space combat.” Alex countered, flushed with anger.
“Really!” Tom said with a smile, knowing his attempt to bait Alex was working. “And how many is a trained navigator worth?”
Alex sensed a set-up, but was too angry to care.
“How about half as many, just five? Hmmmm.”
“Fine!” Alex burst out.
“But you’re out of practice, so lets lower that to four.”
“Don’t do me any favors, asshole.”
“I look forward to meeting you on the transfer station at the next opening for a training session. Let’s go hit the killing ship guys.”
The men file out of the room, leaving a fuming Alex Chissel behind.
The evening, Alex knocked on Wayne’s door, a bottle Miss Lockclear procured for him in his hand.
“Hey Alex, how ya doing?” Wayne asked.
“I need your help,” Alex said.
“Come on in, I see you’re prepared!”
Alex entered, and found his way to the kitchen for some glasses.
“Okay, what’s up?” Wayne asks.
“It seems I have volunteered to play the part of space corps marine in a zero-g training exercise.”
“How can I help?”
“You’re in good with the design team, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I need you to design me a rocket rifle.”
“Okay, I’ll see if I can get the guys to help out.”
“And since you’re good in a machine shop, I need you to build it for me.”
“How soon do you need it?”
“In nine days.”
“I’ll do what I can. Have you heard I am in charge of the pilot training course?”
“Yes, how is that going?”
“Miss Lockclear has gotten me an office near the hidden airport, and I should have an assistant within the week.”
“I will have an office there as well. I am in charge of navigator training.”
“So you have a mountain of work do too.”
“I’ll drink to that!”
The next morning, Miss Lockclear met a hung-over Alex outside of his room, and walked with him to breakfast.
“What’s on today’s agenda?”
“We start working in your new office. You have a navigator training course to set up.”
“You don’t have to shout.”
“I’m not.”
After breakfast Alex felt much better. The new office was much bigger than Alex expected. The outer room had a large desk where Miss Lockclear would be working. Across the room were a few chairs and a love seat. Alex’s office was large, a huge metal desk centered in the room. A bathroom was off to the left, an eight foot holo-vid stage to the right. A couch was just to the right of the door, and storage cabinets filled the wall to the left of the door.
“It could use a little artwork on the walls.” Alex commented.
“They will be here tomorrow. Take a look inside the first cabinet.”
Alex walked over, and opened it. A new AMC 10mm auto pistol in a shoulder holster laid on the top shelf. A box of ammunition and two spare clips lay next to it.
“I don’t know how to load it,” She said simply.
Alex picked up the weapon, pulled it from the holster, and released the clip. He pulled back the slide, and verified there was a no bullet in the chamber.
“It’s time someone taught you.”
Wayne found his way to his office shortly before noon. It was right next to Alex’s, and it had the same layout, but mirrored. Not knowing where to even begin with the pilot training program, he left the office to work on the rocket rifle project. In the hallway he met Miss Lockclear.
“How do you like your office?” She asked.
“It’s fine, just fine.”
“Are you off to get some lunch?”
“No, I was going to the design group to work on Alex’s Rocket rifle.”
“His rocket rifle?”
“He asked me to make him one; he has a zero-G exercise in eight days.”
“Why doesn’t he tell me these things.” She said, rolling her eyes. “Follow me.”
She walked into Wayne’s outer office, and logged into the computer on the desk.
“Let me see what we have in the store room.”
Her fingers flew over the keyboard. “We have some, recovered from the Lucky Dragon.
“Will he need a combat suit as well? We have two of those.”
“Ammunition?” Wayne asks.
“Yes, that too.”
“That will save me a bunch of time.”
“I’ll have them delivered to Alex’s quarters. Now, where is your project at?”
Wayne looked away, “I’m ah, still working things out in my head.”
“You need help getting started, don’t you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Why can’t men just ask for help.” She said exasperatedly.
Alex returned to his quarters to find three storage crates sitting in his main room. Opening the one he found an M90 suit mounted Mark 1 rocket rifle. In the larger create he found a Space Corps combat suit. The smallest had a box of ammunition. Excitedly he ran to Wayne’s room, and pounded on the door. “Hey Alex, what’s up?”
“Where did you get the rocket rifle?”
“A better question might be; where are we going to get ammunition for the training exercise. I assume you don’t really want to kill them.”
“You have a point there. I’m going to have to find out how this exercise works.”
“That little gal you have working for you is a miracle worker. I hope my assistant is as talented.”
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