Free Fleet #03 No Rest for the Wicked (3 page)

Rick was having one hell of a time getting everyone sorted out into their positions.

Rick stretched as he left the bridge, Wruck following him. Gorjuv his cousin and equally big bastard but more of a joker, and Josein a Chaleelian who switched with him were evidently off. Some of the Chaleelian's had been a bit unsure about the Free Fleet after training, but they'd quickly adjusted.

Haven't got many ships, but we've got five races in the fleet, not including the Syndicate Labor Force,
Rick thought.

Rick walked the halls, talking to a few and nodding to others in recognition as they walked past. Commander Boot's battle cruiser, destroyer and five corvettes were in AIH by now. They were splitting into two squadrons. One Destroyer and three corvettes would patrol AIH, Commander Boot, his BC and the final two corvettes would patrol Earth and pass the word. The rest of the Fleet were focused on expanding the FTL network, and if the Syndicate got past Parnmal, then it was their job to stop them.

Parnmal sent updates every six hours of their current status. For the last two weeks it hadn't changed. Yet Salchar believed it would in a week, and Rick was putting down FTL relays which would take two weeks to get to Earth. He felt useless, yet he also knew that Resilient and the other ships at Parnmal would only take damage that Parnmal itself could suck up.

Doesn't stop it from being annoying.
He thought, knowing he was moping.

An alert sounded on his data pad, he pulled it from his back pocket. On one of Edward's many tours he seemed to have been trying to take pictures of the armories. Edward's thought he was being covert, but he still didn't understand the sheer gap in technology between his resource's and the Free Fleet's. Thankfully Rick had been able to keep him out of his hair and mostly sat on by his commando handlers.

Out of sight, out of mind.
He thought, feeling sorry for the Commando minders. Edwards was not the easiest charge.

***

He wasn't the only one in the Free Fleet not very pleased with the
esteemed
commanders’ decisions. Yasu sat in on the meeting with the training staff as Takahashi was explaining how the new selection process for people would work, as well as introducing the staff that would be running these advanced training programs on the newly finished or almost finished facilities. Greetings went around as Yasu memorized names and faces. There was no need for her to introduce herself, everyone knew who she was.

“For now the people that will be receiving this new training will be already graduated Free Fleet personnel, until the trainees have completed their instruction. We will also be having trainees coming from Chaleel and AIH.”

Takahashi didn't mention the storm of civilians that were coming, as well as trading ships that would plague Sol system for the foreseeable future.
That I'm going to have to deal with.
Yasu thought, as Commander Whorst would be undoubtedly swarmed with the other issues that came with a rapidly growing solar system and military institution. Commander Whorst was good at his job. He was young, had fighting experience, and he had a knack for wading through information. He excelled at understanding an issues and passing off solutions while managing multiple ventures, this usually left Yasu in awe.

Commander Whorst said the skills came from playing fifteen different computer games, mostly at the same time. Still he didn't take all the issues on. He had initiated a liaison office just because of the issues that had cropped up. It had been rapidly copied by other system commanders to deal with the native occupant's demands. It seemed the native occupants of the Sol system wanted the Free Fleet to do everything for them at no extra cost. Even though they were just getting into space, it seemed that they thought the Free Fleet did everything for free. Things that would cost billions. It was ludicrous.

Though there were also quite a few good things Yasu had to acknowledge the Free Fleet had gained from Earth. There were trainees, civilian contractors and miners. Shirley Manley now owned AB Mining Incorporated, and her mining colony elite produced more materials for the Free Fleet and Earth than the other three top mining companies on Earth. The ship yard Nancy owned, needed every resource she could find, now that Parnmal's ships were waiting to be not only refitted for battle but to have all the new upgrades that had cropped up from across the fleet.

Silly, Nancy's commander and head engineer had a new fire in him. He no longer stuck by useless rules and regulations that were outdated. He could use drones in the thousands. He had automated systems, factories that worked non-stop and an unending stream of ideas bouncing between him, Felix his brother Shrift and his Uncle Eddie. Some of the systems were damned exciting and he was finally getting to use some of the ideas on the BC monstrosity in front of him. It would only be another month or so until he could start laying down keels for ships of the line, proper ships that were purpose built to be on the front lines for a long time. Nancy was growing her business one yard at a time, the process getting faster with every iteration. Soon Resilient, Salchar’s Dreadnought and Eddie's passion, would have a dock to fit her, and there were plans for a carrier, and then a super-carrier dock.

Yasu had been educated on the current ships that had been around at the end of the Union. They'd been made as quickly as possible, cheaply as possible, and without the modifications such as anti-matter storage systems—that Resilient only got because she practically built herself—proper med bays, not only secondary systems, and four layered backups and easy access systems. These ships had been meant to last for a few battles, not a decade, and they were quickly coming up on a century.

Yasu saw that everyone was looking to her to say something.

“Welcome to the training team. I am Yasu Cook, the training commander for Hachiro. If you have any issues don't hesitate to ask one of the veteran training staff. I would like to get reports from all of you on your readiness to teach, what you need in order to get started and such. Does anyone have any issues at this time?”

There were no nods in the positive or raised hands so Yasu rolled on.

“Get yourselves acquainted with your areas. Before long this place will be crawling with trainees and Free Fleet personnel.” The faces around the table looked eager. It was always a great job teaching people one's trade.

“Well, I say we call this meeting and go get some food,” she smiled as the others in the room grinned, however their race did. Standing, Yasu tapped her fingers to her forehead, the others doing the same as she left, letting the training team get acquainted with one another.

She went to Ms. Li's a tea shop, hidden away in the entertainment district. Hidden away wasn't quite accurate, but it was a place where most commanders went, or people wanting their own space. Ms Li had purchased a holographic screen, which covered a full half of her shop, making it appear as if it was perched on the edge of space. There was a sped up video of the moons around Telhalra, a pleasure planet. The red, blue, grey and purple moons passed in a relaxing manner as people read books, sipped their tea, or did work, or just sat there taking time to look at the view. Yasu greeted a few people loitering around the café as she got to the serving counter. Ms Li looked up with a smile on her face as she put commands into her data pad.

“How's it going, Yasu?” the woman asked. She was one of the older first generation recruits. Even though she was only twenty two and had the body of a Free Fleet commando she was a motherly figure to all of those that came into her establishment.

“Not bad. Just wished I was
there
instead of hanging back here,” she said, knowing Li knew exactly what
there
meant.

“These trainees need your skills though, Yasu,” Li said, and Yasu nodded, knowing the truth of those words.

Yet still she was a warrior, and not being with her people, especially Salchar, when they were in battle made her feel as if she'd let them down in some way.

“I understand,” Li said as she put a cup under a receptacle, pressing different buttons and adding a few things from a variety of bottles.

“Sitting here making tea and seeing my old squad mates go off and fight at Parnmal makes me want to re-enlist,”

“Why don't you?” Yasu asked, as Li handed over a large mug as well as a few snacks on the side.

“That's a complicated question. Mostly because I don't trust myself.”

Li got a faraway look as Yasu passed her hand over the payment sensor, and it beeped that it had taken the funds for her tea.

“I was in the Aslarr district on Chaleel. We had to kill so many Sarenmenti that didn't believe that the Syndicate were really the syndicate. We had gotten to know them in our time there, and I had to kill them, or they would've killed me and my squad mates, and maybe people on Earth. I'm scared by how easily people can be convinced to believe something. Human's aren't the only ones that are easily turned by lies and people trying to gain power,”

“It's scary, but it's the universe we live in. We just have to understand that people want power for themselves, no matter what. I'm just going to make sure that whoever tries to bully those less than them gets some right butt kicking.”

Li grinned at this and Yasu did too.

“Well I best get to doing some work,” Yasu sighed.

Li's grin turned to a kind smile.

“Good luck,” she said as Yasu's face adopted a disgusted look.

“Thanks,” she said, a little sarcastically as she took her tea to an empty seat, looking out at the moons. She took a sip of the tea, finding it full of subtle flavours that soothed her tongue, body and mind. The aroma wafting from it was heavenly.

Sitting there relaxed, she looked to the entrance of the Cafe. Standing there was Takahashi, who looked to be unsure of something. Yasu caught his eye as he went deep red and made to leave. Yasu crooked an imperial eyebrow as Takahashi thought better about his retreat and walked into the cafe, sitting in the chair beside her. He took a minute before talking.

“I know the things that I did are inexcusable, but I want you to know that...” His voice caught as he looked to the ground before continuing.

“I want us to be friends. I know this is a lot to ask, but a long time ago I stopped being a master and became your student, even more so when the Free Fleet rose from the bowels of the syndicate fleet to take their own freedom.”

He raised his head as Yasu looked into his eyes.

Technically he was the oldest person that had ever been recruited from Earth, but with the physical condition that his body was in they accepted him instead of throwing him into space as the syndicate had done with hundreds of others. A fact that had only been found out when the Free Fleet had taken Hachiro. Takahashi was one of four people that had come from her hometown which was now a large crater. Yasu was another, and the Sato sisters the remaining two.

“Yes.” She held up her finger. “But now it's your job to socialize the Sato sisters,”

Takahashi's look of joy faded into one of foreboding.

“But..,”

“While we trained them in the ways of war, we did not help them in the ways of the world. It's about time we did, before all they are is two lost girls who know nothing but how to kill,” Takahashi's face fell as sadness filled it.
He has changed because of the Free Fleet too,
she thought.

Video gamers and actors might think they were hardcases and all, with their action movies and such, but real warriors, the ones stories were told about, were made from flesh and felt the pains everyone else felt. They weren't superhuman, they were driven. They weren't cold, they were focused, and that was what had changed in Takahashi.
It’s how I've changed too
, she thought as a small smile formed on her lips.

“So which manga’s have you been reading?” she said as Takahashi broke into a smile too.

Maybe it's time to savour what kinship we have, instead of focusing on the past. It's not like I know how long we're going to survive in this universe. Or how many people I'm going to lose,
Yasu thought soberly as a sad smile passed over her face, her eyes seeing those that had already been claimed by the light. She close her eyes, a happier smile coming to her face as she looked at Takahashi.

“Gurren Lagan again.” Her smile turned impish as Takahashi shook his head, a smile that she hadn't seen in too long, making the corners of his eyes crease.

“Of course, I should have guessed.”

Chapter Final Preparations

Silly had spent a full day in the intelligence department understanding how contracts worked. While it had taken him away from Nancy, it had been time well spent, especially with the load of absolute crap he was getting from Earth contractors.

He was looking straight at the CEO of GloboMine, who was explaining how the loaning of tools would be paid off at minimum interest over a decade of time, while still being able to return any particular item. How cancelling the balance owed on the tool and getting the newest replacement while not paying any extra was in Silly's best interest. With all the damned stupid words that he used to cover it up.

Silly sat and listened until the CEO flashed a stunning smile.

“Same rates as everyone else,” Silly muttered to himself as he cut the channel on the blabbering CEO.

“Damned weasels,” he said before looking to the yards on his monitors, his foul mood lightening slightly as he grinned.

“Best get some work done,” he said as he whistled, getting into his yard mecha and walked to the nearest transport. “How's it going Chum?” he asked one of the dock leaders who got on the transport, looking like proverbial crap.

“LaRe keeps on changing the plans of what he wants done. I swear that ship is going through puberty,” the man said, his manipulating hands moving in tired excitement.

“I'll have a talk with him,” Silly suggested as Chum's hands moved in amusement.

“Be my guest.”

“What else have you got in your dock?” Silly said. He knew what was there, but small talk did pass the time.

“Two of those Corvettes from Parnmal, and we've got a merchant freighter with her engines getting fixed up. She's a Wolunti freighter. Surprised the Chaleelians were able to keep her going as long as they did,”

“I heard they traded for the fix and check over?” Silly asked. He just cared about fixing what Salchar told him to. What Salchar got out of it he didn't much care.

“Rations, some parts actually made on Chaleel. Plus they also had credit for transporting parts made by the Free Fleet in Chaleel.”

“It's always good to get something useful.” Silly made an appreciative gesture.

“I heard that we're going to be nearly fully automated in a year,” Chum said, his hands excited at the new ways of manufacturing and creating that they'd taken from Earth.

“I hope. It'll make us a lot faster,”

“I heard that Earth was complaining that we were taking away their jobs.”

Silly made a rude noise at this.

“Yes there'll be less employment, but it's not like the Earthies have the jobs already. Anyone can apply for them, from any system.” Silly shook his head as the transport stopped at Chum's dock and they walked off towards an airlock.

“Human's on Earth are strange,” Chum commented as Silly agreed. “They make cars mostly with machines. Yet when it comes to ships, they're nearly all made by thousands of people. I don't understand why they don't just automate them all.”

Chum took a call as they entered the airlock, exiting out into the yard, and using their thrusters to head for LaRe. Chum came back onto the Close Area Frequency, or CAF which connected all people within a fifty foot area to the same comm channel.

“I've got to go, the freighter's got some more issues cropping up,” he said.

“Good fixing. I'll have a look at what’s going on with LaRe.”

“Appreciate you trying to talk to him,” Chum said, firing his thrusters to take him to a transport line within the docks scaffolding that would whip him to the freighter.

“No issue,” Silly said to himself as he continued on his way, admiring LaRe's outer body, it was scarred and scuffed, blotches of where patches had been covered over. Burnt out weapons as well as sections open to space could also be seen. Silly climbed through one of these gashes, finding himself inside a shuttle bay.

A few shuttles were intact but whatever had pierced the ship’s hangar had practically gutted the interior. Debris floated everywhere in zero g. Thankfully Silly's yard mecha easily glided through the debris as he reached an airlock, quickly passing through it as a voice came through his CAF.

“Hello Shipyard commander Silly,” the slightly electronic voice said as Silly grinned.
Not my fault I find new and crazy things interesting as hell
, he thought with glee.

“Hey LaRe! What's up, my AI?”

“Nothing is up. That is a relative term,”

“Uh huh.” Silly was still loving it, even if LaRe was acting like a snobbish child. “Well then I heard you had some issues with the renovation of yourself,”

“Yes, first of all..,” Silly walked through LaRe, noting faulty systems and logging what should be replaced, LaRe detailing to him a list that Silly didn't think he could memorize if his hide depended on it. He remembered a few key issues as he supplied non-committal noises and assurances.

“When do you think you'd be able to get that completed by?” LaRe's petulant tone making Silly raise an eyebrow in annoyance.

“Most of the stuff you want done is items that would allow you to be a warship. Other than your current weapon situation I can't do anything for you in that regard, as you are not of Free Fleet personnel. The stuff about centralizing you I can do, shields no problem. Primary and secondaries too. You don't need more than one primary reactor and two secondaries. I'll leave in the second primary you have already though,” Silly said as he pulled up a deck grating, removing a corrupted bundle of cables.

“Why not an extra reactor?”

“With another reactor you'll burn more fuel and you don't have many systems to power other than yourself and the engines. Heck your two primaries aren't even really needed,”

“What if I come into contact with the Syndicate?”

“Well, you'll have some weapons. But with you being AI you don't need internal compensators for going at ridiculous speeds. Nothing will be able to keep up with you other than another AI in a faster accelerating ship,”

LaRe began listing his complaints as Silly pulled up a cable and scrutinized it. He was used to people making ridiculous demands. He'd been under the syndicate for a long time.
At least now I can serve them a bit of reality
, he thought as he discovered the bundle of wires had melted to a section of decking. LaRe's complaints grown to a halt as Silly used a combination of tools to pull the bundle from the decking and clear the melted coating.

“Either you take what I'm offering, or you join the Free Fleet and we give you everything. You'd also get a crew like Resilient,” Silly said, standing and drinking from his fluid hose.

LaRe was quiet for a few minutes.

“I want to go and see my home.”

He sounded almost, vulnerable.

“Me too. Though where would your home be? With the AI league?”

“Yes,” LaRe said, like a child expecting to be denied.

“I wish you all the luck. We'll have you set to go within a few months,” Silly said, setting back to deal with the damned burnt out bundle of wires.

“From what I've seen of history most people who have the advantage will do anything to hold onto it,” LaRe said.

“Is there a point to what you're saying?” Silly grunted.

“Well, I'm a huge advantage,”

“Yes, but we aren't very likely going to keep you here, are we?”

“Though it would give you an advantage. Look at Resilient. She's an Imperial Dreadnought, the biggest of the Dreadnought class, and she has the crew of a Destroyer,”

“This is the Free Fleet. It's kind of in the name that we won't make you do anything you don't want to,” Silly paused. “Well... unless you’re the bastards that are harming others.”

LaRe remained quiet for the rest of the time Silly was there, retracing all the damned wires back to their connected systems, pulling them or leaving them and continuing on.

Gave you something to think about huh? I'll chalk that up to a win and a discovery.