Gray Panthers Captain Short Blade (6 page)

“You guys look like shit,” Short Blade told the weary men. “In half an hour we’ll be heading for Earth. Go grab a shower, if you want, and then crash, since I don’t have anything important for you to do at the moment.” He saw the gratitude on their faces. Without a word, they disappeared into their cabins.

“Phoenix, when we’re in position, set course for Earth with the FTL. Also, do you know of any entities on Earth that would be interested in buying our wine?”

“Earth governments are very strict about importing alcohol and often charge a high tax. Gray Panther Industries has a tax-exempt status in many countries. I recommend delivering the wine to Peary Crater Lunar Base and have them act as your agents. There is no wine on Earth similar to what you have. The combination of it being from Dixie and containing an actual aphrodisiac will command a high value. I suggest you ask five thousand U.S. dollars per bottle.”

Short Blade was stunned when he realized how much he would make. He was very happy now that he had gone to the wedding. He decided that he should get another load of cows while he was on Earth to take back to his home world. Now he just had to sit through the five-day trip to Earth.

Planet Viz

14 April 2129

Harve was inspecting the ship’s engines with a mixed team of Libra and Jacka. He could tell from the Libras’ body posture that they were bored and already knew what he was explaining. The Jacka, on the other hand, were giving him their undivided attention. They wanted to learn. Harve knew what he had to do.

“I want everyone to break into teams of two—one Jacka and one Libra.” The sailors looked at him with suspicion, not believing the order.

“The only way we’ll get this to be the best ship in the Fire fleet is to work together as a team. I want each of you to learn all you can about your new teammate. I’ll conduct a test to make sure you’ve followed my orders. You will learn about your new teammate’s family, his family history, and any interests he has, including sports. Your teammate may save your life, or save the ship in battle one day. You’re released from duty so you can start learning about each other now. When we come back on duty, you’ll also be responsible for your partner knowing as much as you do about the ship and engineering. Dismissed.”

Harve watched as the sailors began to pair off and wondered if he’d made the right decision, since he would lose a day of training.

Chief Edge sidled up alongside the maintenance officer. “Sir, that was the smartest thing I’ve seen in my twenty years in the Jacka, er, Fire fleet.”

Harve looked at the old chief and was still surprised at how well the two of them had hit it off, from the very beginning. The old chief had been on patrol ships from both Libra and Jacka fleets. The ships for both fleets had been built in Libra factories.

“Chief Edge, I’d like you to ask the sailors about their teammates to make sure they’re complying. At the end of the month, we’ll have them swap partners.”

“Sir, if I order that, the Jacka will feel they’re being disloyal to their mates. They’ll continue to be mates with the original sailor and then try to learn about the new one.”

Harve looked at the chief and wondered if he’d eventually see the beauty of the plan. Before he could say anything else, a message blared from the ship’s speakers.

“All ship’s officers to the wardroom immediately. All ship’s officers to the wardroom immediately.”

“Looks like you’re in charge for now, Chief,” Harve said as he turned to hustle for the wardroom at the far end of the ship.

As soon as all of the officers had arrived and taken a seat, Superior Captain Thrust began to speak. “We’ve been given orders, finally. Our mission is to take a flotilla of destroyers and cargo ships and start stripping out the remote supply depots before any pirates or other groups can. We’re lucky in that all of the ships have FTL drives, so we should be able to complete our mission in a month. Commander Fang will now give you an intel update.”

The captain sat down and Fang got up. “Many of you know the old Libra Alliance consisted of fifty planets. A dozen of those planets are what we consider hard core. They were active participants and had strong fleets of their own. The other planets either joined out of fear or were captured and absorbed into the Alliance. After the destruction of the Libra home world, the other planets sued for peace. Now they’re starting small wars among themselves. We don’t care about that, but some of our cargo ships have been destroyed while supplying the warring planets. It’s in our interest for there to be peace, so after we consolidate our resources, we’ll start to encourage the planets to join the League Of Planets. That way we can have real peace for everyone.”

All Harve heard was that there would be more war—only now, instead of the Libra, it would be the League taking over its neighbors. He was surprised that no one laughed or pointed out the similarity.

The Phoenix, en route to Earth

17 April 2129

Short Blade could feel his crew’s excitement as he told them the cargo of wine should lead to a profit of roughly one million dollars for each of them.

“We’ll need to drop off the wine at Peary Crater Lunar Base. The Gray Panthers are going to resell the wine down on the planet. They can import the wine and absorb the taxes because they have resources we don’t have. After we drop off the wine, we’ll head to Wisconsin to pick up some cows and then deliver them to my ranch.”

“Guess we started something when we called you ‘cowboy’ a few years back, huh?” Guns said with a laugh.

Short Blade remembered when he did his first space walk to save a Dart pilot who was having engine trouble. When the shuttle he was in was destroyed by micro meteors, he’d had to ride outside, on top of the fighter, like a cowboy on a horse.

“Captain, it’s time to drop into normal space,” the AI announced. Short Blade checked his wrist computer and silently swore at himself for not tracking the time better.

“Drop into normal space, Phoenix.”

“Gray Panthers Control to unidentified ship. Please identify yourself. You are now in Earth space.”

“Gray Panthers Control, this is the Phoenix, Captain Short Blade commanding. Destination, Peary Crater Lunar Base. This is an unscheduled trip.”

“Phoenix, you are authorized to proceed. We are transmitting a narrow navigation beam. Please stay on it so we won’t need to replace any space mines that might accidentally be triggered.”

“Phoenix copies. Stay off the space mines.”

Short Blade wondered who he would need to contact to get rid of his load, since this was his first visit of a civilian nature. The shuttle followed the navigation beam and before long the main spaceport door opened. A docking beam was being transmitted. Because of its larger size, the Phoenix was docked amid the ships in the port instead of the other shuttles.

“Wow! Look at those babies!” Guns said, pointing to the seagoing ships that had been converted to spaceships.

“Yup, I hear there’s now a dozen different ports on the moon alone to avoid what happened on Dixie during the war,” Jimmy replied as he watched the different ships coming and going.

“Shuttle has docked. There is positive pressure on the other side of the hatch,” the AI advised.

Short Blade opened the larger cargo hatch, hoping he could get his cargo offloaded soon.

“Welcome to Peary Crater, Captain Short Blade. I’m Lieutenant Bowers from security. How can we be of assistance to you today?” The young officer had a smirk on his face that was begging to be rubbed off.

“I need to see an officer from Gray Panthers Industries for cargo purchase.”

“That will be difficult. You’re on the Gray Panthers’ military side of the base,” the officer replied, his smirk growing as he spoke.

“Selene, this is Short Blade. Are you monitoring the situation I’m having here?”

When the AI that controlled the entire lunar base replied, the message came through a ceiling speaker so that everyone there could hear. “Captain Short Blade, an economics procurement officer is already en route. Security Commander Major Patricia Paulsen has requested that you join her for lunch if you’re free.”

“Hey, Guns, that kid’s smirk is missing. Should we contact security to report it?” Jimmy said, trying his best not to laugh at the lieutenant’s new expression.

“Naw, Jimmy, I think he knows.” The security officer made a step toward Jimmy, only to find Short Blade in his way, looking up at him.

“A warrior usually has a choice of attack or retreat,” Short Blade told him. “Measure your options carefully, Lieutenant.”

The security officer looked down at the little alien with contempt as he considered his course of action.

“If you gentlemen will all wait here please, a procurement officer will arrive soon. If you need any assistance, the base AI Selene can assist you,” he said, his voice even and controlled. He then turned to leave and had only taken a few steps when Jimmy and Guns broke out in laughter.

“The kid’s too tough and doesn’t have a war to prove himself,” Guns remarked dryly.

“I hope he doesn’t get one,” Jimmy replied. “I saw enough shit during the last one.”

Within ten minutes, the procurement officer, a small, precisely groomed man with close-set eyes, was walking briskly toward the Phoenix. Short Blade was so eager to hear what kind of offer he would receive for the wine he exited the shuttle and met the man halfway.

“Captain Short Blade, I’m Mr. Peters,” the officer said as he started to extend his hand to shake Short Blade’s paw. He quickly pulled it back, unsure of what the protocol was for greeting a Jacka. “I hear you have a cargo you wish to sell. Can you take me to it?”

“Yes, please follow me, Mr. Peters. I have managed to acquire ceremonial wine from Dixie. It is extremely rare and has a strong aphrodisiac quality that affects both men and women. It is served only to the bride and groom after a wedding ceremony to encourage the couple to have children.”

“That’s very interesting. Have you got a price in mind for it?” Peters asked as he started doing arithmetic in his head.

“Sir, because it’s so rare, I was thinking eight thousand a bottle. It could take up to four years to have a shipment this size again. The process is very long and time-consuming, since only one order of monks on the planet makes the wine.”

Guns, who’d been standing off to the side along with Jimmy, flashed the officer a grin and started his own sales pitch. “Mr. Peters, imagine having a nice little dinner with the hottest ball-breaker you know. You pour her a little wine, and then you pour yourself a little, and the next thing you know, well … you get the picture.”

As soon as Guns paused, Jimmy piped up. “In truth, Mr. Peters, this wine should be priceless—and when word gets out it’ll bring top dollar since it’s so hard to get.”

“Gentlemen, I consider myself a good man, and it would be reprehensible to let loose something like this on Earth,” Peters replied. The disgust on his face made it obvious that he would be no help.

Short Blade was angry that his crew had interfered. He felt certain that a more subtle approach would have worked. Then his ear began to vibrate with an incoming message.

“Captain Short Blade, please give Mr. Peters a bottle of the wine and let him know it’s for Wolfgang Bauer. I want it chilled, as I have a special lunch planned today.”

“Yes, Mr. Bauer. That won’t be a problem,” Short Blade replied.

Turning back to the procurement officer, Short Blade said, “Mr. Peters, if you could wait one moment, we’ll get a bottle for you to deliver to Wolfgang Bauer. He wants it chilled for his lunch today.” He made it a point to sound neutral, not wanting to alienate the man or humiliate him in any way.

Jimmy had already opened one of the boxes and pulled out a bottle. Handing it to the officer, he said with a straight face, “Here you go, Mr. Peters. One bottle of Dixie’s finest.”

Peters nodded and walked away, obviously unhappy but with his dignity intact.

“Guys,” Short Blade began, “that’s the last time you interrupt me during a negotiation. I was going to use a different approach. One that wasn’t so obvious about the aphrodisiac effect of the wine. That way, he would’ve been able to accept it with a clear conscience. I’m just glad that Bauer was monitoring the transaction. He’s a major playboy from way back. One of the Dart pilots told me last year that Bauer had to relocate to the U.S. to avoid a number of paternity suits in Germany. I’m not sure why I remembered that.”

Straightening his jacket and pulling down the cuffs of his sleeves, he continued. “I’m going to grab lunch with an old friend. Secure the ship, and
please
stay out of trouble.” He wondered if he was wasting his breath, but he decided to focus on his lunch with Major Paulsen instead of worrying about what they might do while he was gone.

When he arrived at the restaurant, the major had already been seated at a table. “Short Blade, I’m so glad you could make the time to have lunch with me,” she said as she motioned for him to sit down. Her smile made Short Blade feel genuinely happy—something that seemed to be happening a lot less lately. The major had captured his father during the war, and she eventually became the warden of the POW camp on the lunar base. Colonel Blade had been the senior officer among the captives, so they had come to know each other well.

“I couldn’t visit here and not see you, Major. How are you?”

“I want you to call me Patricia. I’m fine. The downsizing of the Gray Panthers luckily had no effect on my position. We even still get an occasional new body at the camp.”

“Like the lieutenant that greeted us?”

“He’s a good boy. His dad was one of the shuttle pilots we lost during the war, so they decided they would hire him. But he has a chip on his shoulder, and he doesn’t like anyone who isn’t human.”

“Such a shame. Have you had any other changes?”

“They’re moving as much of the Gray Panthers operations, both military and corporate, as they can from Earth up here. They’re expecting trouble since the war’s over. The governments are going to try and take what they can from us.”

“But the Gray Panthers saved the planet. And you’re providing them with free electricity, jobs, and education. What’s the problem?”

“Oh, the Gray Panthers are evil, since they’re successful,” she said in a mocking tone. “They need to be taxed and controlled. There’s even talk up here of shutting down the power stations just to make a point.”

“Enough politics already. It’s just as bad in my home world. I always wanted to ask you, how did you get along with my father when he was your prisoner here?”

“The colonel is a man of honor. He did the best he could for his troops while they were here. It was his attitude that led us to trust the Jacka and consider them our allies. I believe we did the right thing. What are you doing these days?”

Short Blade was gladdened by this new insight into his father. Even his enemies respected and admired him. “I have a shuttle and make runs between different planets. Since I fought in the Gray Panthers, I have access to Dixie and Earth. Since I’m a Jacka, I have access to my own home world. My shuttle is small enough not to intimidate anyone while still being powerful enough to keep the undesirables away. I also have a ranch back home. Selling milk on my world yields good profit.”

“I’m happy for you, Short Blade. Many seemed to lose their way when they left the Gray Panthers. You will do your father proud, I believe.”

As Short Blade was thanking her, his ear began to vibrate.

“This is Short Blade.”

“Captain Short Blade, I’ve been authorized to offer you seventy-five hundred per bottle,” Peters told him. Short Blade fought the urge to accept the first offer.

“Thank you, Mr. Peters. I thought I was being most generous when I made the wine available at the low price of eight thousand a bottle. I’m sorry you’re not interested in buying it at my price.”

“You have a deal, Captain Short Blade. Wolfgang Bauer is very happy with the wine and has authorized me to purchase your entire shipment.”

“Mr. Peters, if you could have a representative meet me with the payment in gold at my shuttle, we can get the cargo offloaded.”

“Would you be able to take electronic payment, Captain?”

“I do business with many species, Mr. Peters. The way of the galaxy is cash up front.”

“It will take a little while to get eight million in gold.”

“Why is that, Mr. Peters? The Gray Panthers’ gold deposits are here on the moon. I know that because Dan Daniels allowed me to retain my full security and data access.”

“I can have the gold delivered to your shuttle by 1500, Captain Short Blade.”

“That’ll be fine, Mr. Peters. You can pick up the wine at the same time.”

After he left Major Paulsen, Short Blade decided how he was going to celebrate his latest deal. He’d head for Earth after he got paid and purchase a hundred more Holsteins, along with supplies for his budding army.

“Comm, Guns.” It felt a little weird having to coordinate things with someone else, after so many months of being solo.

“Guns here.”

“Be back at the shuttle at 1500. We sold the cargo. As soon as it has been offloaded, we’ll depart for Kansas City, where we’re going to buy a hundred cows. We’ll spend the night and leave first thing in the morning for the home world. Pass that on to Jimmy, please. Short Blade, out.”

The thought of spending the night in Kansas City, eating and partying with a wad of money, cheered the two men up as they headed for the shuttle. Meanwhile, Short Blade was conversing with the ship’s AI.

“Phoenix, what’s the current Earth rate for gold per ounce, and what will I be paid for the wine?”

“The current exchange rate is 10,000 U.S. dollars per ounce. You will receive 800 ounces of gold, which equals fifty pounds.”

Short Blade thought about what a nice round number he would receive. He told himself that he was lucky his crew had been there to raise the price. He should rely on them more often.

At 1450, Peters showed up with the gold and three grav trucks to pick up the wine. He showed neither anger nor pleasure regarding the deal.