The next morning found me standing once again in the shuttle bay looking up at the long range fighter Gertrude “don’t call me Gerty” had arrived in. Toftri had let me know that there'd been some intermittent disruption in the Laminar Field Balancers that giobhioni hyperspace technology used to navigate the sheer forces within that other realm.

  I say he let me know, but what I mean is that he woke me up out comfy cuddle with Tratsa after only a few hours of sleep to request that I “please deal with the rogue emissions from our guests” before he arranged for the ship to accidentally tumble out the shuttle bay.

  It's not like I could blame him, I should have expected the issue and prepared to have a bypass for her comms ready to go when she first locked her landing gear onto the deck. I knew that the standard communications tech of this sector of space and time period played silly buggers with the LFBs! This wasn't auspicious for my first day as chief of engineering.

  So here I was, contemplating how to get their attention. Ultimately I fell back on the old standard and grabbed a spanner from my toolkit, reached up and rapped it against the section I'd seen the loading ramp lower from previously.

  “Room service!” I called out, feeling a bit off the wall with lack of sleep.

  There was a muffled thud from inside, followed by the kind of curse you hear from soldiers in the holovids, then the ramp started to lower. “I don't remember anyone mentioning this tug having room service!” Called a sleepy voice, just before Gertude stepped into view.

  So remember how I mentioned how tight fitting that ship suit she'd been wearing when she arrived was? Tratsa had started teasing me the previous night by wondering how much of Gertrude's figure was due to the suit, and how much was actual physical conditioning. She thought maybe the elasticity of the suit did a little sculpting duty on the side (it seems even the giobhioni had such garments. The galaxy is a weird place). Tratsa could be such a freaking hornball - sometimes I think she’s worse than Stacy.

  Well anyway, I could, at that moment, tell her that the suit did very little work in that department. Gertrude stepped into view wearing nothing but a pair of low rise bikini style panties, and a loose midriff top. I was, once again, being treated to the sight of a rather Amazonian set of curves, with not a single hint of apology or shyness in her body language. “Oh!” She cried with a grin, “the commander sent me her cabin boy for breakfast, how kind of her!”

  Stacy was laughing her non existent ass off in my head. I knew I was going to hear about this again and again. Don't you dare tell Boudya or Tratsa! I thought at her, which only prompted more laughter.

  Finally I shook my head and focused on Gertrude, “Sorry to disappoint you, but this room service is an engineering call.” I explained, “I need to talk to you about setting up a secondary communications rig for you.”

  She frowned at me. “If you’re expecting to dig into the comms system, you’ll have to get clearance from the Admiral for that. This ship is FleetSec property and its technology won’t be violated.”

  I put on my best disarming smile. No matter what Boudya claimed, I was no expert negotiator, or a charmer for that matter, but I could hope flat out honesty would work. “No problem at all. I don’t actually have to get into your systems at all, just set up a console you can use for communications while we're in hyperspace. It’ll use Giobhioni communications tech to communicate with relay buoys we’ve been deploying.” I explained, motioning to the cart behind me. “You can keep it completely separate from your systems, and I’ve rigged it so you can hard disconnect it from power, in case you’re worried about us using it to snoop on you. That was the Commander’s idea, by the way.”

  “Why do we even need it, though?” She asked, a hint of belligerence in her eyes as she cocked her hip to the side and leaned against a bulkhead, raising her left arm in doing so just enough to flash a hint of round flesh under her cut-off top. “Our comms work perfectly fine on their own.”

  I shook my head and sighed; partially to remind myself I am not a creepy asshole that oggles women constantly, but also because I’d hoped to not have to divulge this information. “This isn’t about your comms.” I explained, “It's about the fact that certain tech from this area of the galaxy, and the tech from the Giobhioni sector don’t get along. If you’d like to get dressed and grab something to drink in the mess, I’ll explain it to you.”

  “Get…” She glanced down at herself, then snorted. “Ah. Not used to barracks rules are you? Nevermind, bring it up and explain it while you’re setting it up. I’ve got a coffee maker in the back.”

  Twenty minutes later, she still hadn’t put any pants on, I was kneeling on the floor patching the comms unit into The Void’s Cutlass’s power and I/O feeds, while she gave my cup of coffee the hairy eyeball. “You know, you could have just asked me to give you a mug of creamer spiked with sugar if you were going to taint it that badly.” she said finally.

  “Not my fault you military types make your coffee like you’re trying to jump start a battleship.” I responded, making sure the cable harness was secured well enough it wouldn’t be jostled loose during any high G maneuvers. “I’m not the biggest fan of the bitter bean to begin with, but I saw the way that stuff oozed out of the pot like it was the cousin of hydraulic grease. I got enough threatening to stop my heart these days.”

  “Like a certain little green commander?”

  “I was thinking more about the alien contagion designed to either kill us or turn us into creepy cupie doll headed alien spider things.” I responded, “Or the giant floating, glowing alien octopus jellyfish thing we encountered just a few days ago. But no, that whole cabin boy thing really was just a story you know. There’s nothing between the Commander and I but friendship.”

  She gave me a look that said, if you say so, but changed the subject. “And you’re not going to be any clearer on how standard comms systems affect giobhioni technology?”

  “Nope.” I said, bolting down the comm package’s casing and closing everything up. “For the same reason you’re squirrely about giving me access to any of the critical systems on this sweet ride of yours. Security.”

  “Had to try.” she grinned. “I am working for CommSec intelligence now after all. I might get a raise if I get them important information.”

  Standing up, I was glad I wasn’t head high with her crotch anymore and having to purposely keep my eyes on my work. “Anyway, you’re all set up.” I explained. Your comms should automatically route through this system while you are in the shuttle bay, or in close proximity to the Elegance. I’ve specifically set it up with as tight as security as I can for you, and have sent a request to the ambassador to please keep her nose out of your secure comms. At least as long as there isn’t a dire need to use it for contact. I’m given to understand that the giobhioni have no interest in making enemies in this sector of the galaxy, so you should be secure.”

  “Not like I think I could stop her. She seems able to break through any encryption she bloody well wants.” Gertrude grumbled, “I had my team pulling our systems apart trying to figure out how she got in since you left Yintari. Nobody could explain it.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “The ambassador has resources available to her that are quite outstanding.” I did a double check to make sure all my tools were packed away on the cart I’d brought with me before draining the last of my ‘coffee’ then gave her a pointed look over, trying to paste a serious look on my face. “Oh, just a friendly word of advice? If Tsaki Tratsa, that’s our medical officer, comes looking for you, likely wanting to do a physical for her study on Human biology? You might want to meet her at the door a bit better dressed.”

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  She raised an eyebrow at me in question.

  “She’s a damn fine doctor, I love her to pieces,” I said, letting a crooked smile creep onto my face, “But she’s a bit in depth in her study of xenobiology. If you get my drift.”

  The woman’s eyebrows jumped almost to her hairline and she blinked at me.

  “Oh, she’ll be professional in the infirmary, don’t get me wrong.” I explained, “but if you show off like that to her and you’ll be fielding questions about human sexuality from a woman’s perspective that’ll even have a prostitute blushing, I’m sure. I think the only reason she hasn’t grilled my sister yet is because the giobhioni thankfully share those taboos.” I gave a bit of a shudder, “Really don’t want to think about Tratsa and Jesse having that kinda talk.”

  “Warning received.” she coughed, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Are you finished flirting with the egghead Gert?” came a yell from further back in the crew compartment. “Some of us are still trying to get some rack time!”

  “Call me Gert again and you’ll get more of what you got yesterday!” Gertrude shot back, “Or do I have to start using your nickname, Gizzy?”

  I couldn’t help myself, I snorted out a laugh, and Gertrude shot me a grin. “You spread that around grease monkey and I’ll…”

  “You’ll shut your yap and go back to sleep. He’s on his way out.”

  Several very rude words were shouted back, and I continued to laugh quietly as I made for the ramp. “Commander says our ETA for Eve’s Blessing is 31 hours. If you get bored in here hanging with-” and here I mouthed the name Gizzy, “Feel free to head to the mess hall. Stacy - that’s the ship’s VI - has us patched into the StellarNet and you can check out what’s streaming.”

  “I’ll do that, thanks.”

  As I maneuvered my tool cart down the loading ramp, I was trying to figure the odds on the two sisters figuring out Stacy wasn't a simple VI for the ship, but a full fledged Artificial intelligence. She has argued we should just be open about it and let her be herself, but Jo and I both thought it was better this way. I knew enough about the Commonwealth and its various parts to be cautious, and Stacy was my friend. I wasn't about to risk an Admiral deciding he wanted to get her hands on an AI for her own purposes.

  I was so wrapped up in those thoughts I almost missed the muffled “Not a bad ass for an engineer, eh Gerty? Should grabbed a holo for your albu–oof”

  All of us - except for Toftri, who was at the helm - were packed into the mess an hour before we were due to exit hyperspace into the system being called Eden’s Eye. Jophixa had called a briefing so we could all go over any new intelligence we had, and lay out what plans were for when we got there. It might not have been standing room only in the mess hall, but we were certainly bumping elbows, especially with the twins attending.

  “Alright everyone,” Jo began, “We’re set to drop the wave in just under an hour. We’ll be doing so at a safe observatory distance to the Eve’s Blessing so we can get the lay of the land. While we have no solid evidence that the ktonshi are involved in the colony going quiet, the proximity to our last encounter with them is far too coincidental to take chances.”

  “Excuse me Commander,” Gertrude interjected, “but even if it is the ktonshi, time is critical in saving whatever colonists we can.”

  “If it is the ktonshi,” She replied, “there is very little hope for your colonists. I’m very sorry to say it, but if there are any left alive and uninfected, we’ll do them little good by rushing in and getting ourselves into the same situation.”

  “The Elegance is also quite a bit faster than your average Commonwealth vessel, even a military one.” I interjected. “Even at the safe observational distance the Commander has planned, we’ll be able to touch down at the colony within twenty minutes if there are no obstacles. It’ll mean putting the hammer down hard, but we can do it.”

  “Thank you Mr. Aacen.” the commander said, giving me a nod. “And yes, if there is no sign of ktonshi in the area when we drop the wave, we’ll, ‘put the hammer down’ as you say. Full burn all the way there.”

  It looked like the major was about to say something heated, but her sister elbowed her sharply in the ribs. “I appreciate your caution Ma’am. So does the Admiral. She understands the tough decision you have to make here.”

  Gertrude glared at her sister, but the Commander nodded. “Now, first thing when we drop from hyperspace, we’ll run an incremental scan of the area. Starting with passive sensors and quickly working up to aggressive scans as we confirm no ktonshi presence.

  “If we get no hits, we’ll go full burn to the colony,” she explained, “If we detect something, we will proceed with whatever caution the situation dictates. We need intelligence on their movements regardless, certainly I want to know if this is one of the ships we’ve seen previously, or some other presence completely. I’d like any suggestions as for options in the situation in case they are there.”

  Tindron raised his hand, “If we can manage to get past their sensors without alerting them, a covert landing party could be useful. I’m willing to volunteer for that. Maybe we can get some close range scans that’ll detect survivors, or even plant some party favors?”

  I noticed Major Gertrude visibly put aside her hostility before speaking, “We can use the Cutlass for that.” she suggested, “She’s got a top notch stealth suite. Giselle and I could head in, get some intel, and if needed, pull out any civilians if we get the chance.”

  “We’ll need to prep some quarantine pods just in case then.” Tratsa put in. “It's going to be extremely difficult if we have to accommodate more than a dozen survivors. Not unless we can transfer them from the cutlass via spacewalk. We just won’t have the room.”

  I’ve started the Mini-Fac towards building out a batch of the Q-pods. Stacy said through his implant. We won’t have the -time- to even build a dozen of them if they are needed.

  “Build time on those pods will be a problem as well.” I relayed to the room, “I’ve sent Stacy the order to get a batch started in the Mini-Fac, but the timeline doesn’t look good.” I paused, considering a problem before an Idea struck me. “We could possibly rig the entire shuttle bay for quarantine protocols. It would mean the Major and Lieutenant would be required to remain in the bay with any survivors, but considering they already seem to have chosen to bunk down in the Cutlass anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem. All we’d need to do is seal off access to the rest of the ship, and put in an isolated life support system.”

  “Damn it!” Giselle swore, “I just got out of quarantine!”

  “At least you won’t be in a tiny little pod this time.” Tindron shot back, “you’ll have the run of the shuttle bay, and the facilities in the Cutlass.”

  That’s a great idea Tommyberry Juice! Stacy sent to me. As soon as the Commander approves the idea, I’ll cancel the Q-pods and get the required equipment into the queue.

  “We’ll still be limited on how many we can take,” Jo said thoughtfully, scratching one quivering ear. “But it increases the number significantly. Mr. Aacen, you and Ms. Mend’asa get started on the process as soon as we’re done here. We should have some of what’s needed in engineering storage. Tsaki, please check over the Terran shipsuits to see how effective they should be against resisting the ktonshi contagion. Major, Lieutenant, if you would take Mr. Mend’asa aside and brief him on what he may need to know about accompanying you aboard the Cutlass. That is, of course, if you don’t have a problem with him assisting you.”

  Gertrude looked hesitant, but glanced at Giselle since she’d had more interaction with us all so far. “He’s welcome to come along, as long as he doesn’t go trying to poke into the ship's systems without permission.” Giselle answered. “We’ve sparred a couple times, and I’ve seen his background. He won’t slow us down Sis.”

  That got a grudging nod from Gertrude.

  “Alright then, Ms. Aacen, I want your eyes glued to the sensor displays as soon as we break. I want to know if a graptak farts anywhere in that system, even before we get there. Understand?”

  “Yes Ma’am!”

  “Alright then people, anything else?” a chorus of no ma’ams from around the room, “Well then, dismissed!”

  The Salvager’s Plague

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