Jethro: First to Fight (86 page)

“Why don't you settle down now and go
back to the morgue. I don't know what's going on, but we can figure it out,”
Jethro said.

Suddenly the armor lunged forward,
pinning him by its bulk to the bulkhead behind him. He gasped, feeling the
weight. His arms were pinned at his sides. “No!” he said as the MP reached for
his weapon. “No weapons!” he said. “It's a suit!” he said. The head turned to
the MP then back to Jethro. Jethro could see the red slit glowing with eyes. He
could just make out a shape there, a feline shape made out of streams of data.

“What the hell?” he asked softly. The
armor shifted its arms to pin Jethro's arms to his sides and then ran a DNA
scan.  He felt the scanner running over him as well as the claws stabbing
into his wrists. He yowled in pain and looked down to see blood dripping.
Anxiety ripped through him, if it did enough damage his cloak! His skin was his
life!

The suit paused, then he felt something
cool touching his wrists. “What are you doing?” he demanded. “Stand down!” He
realized it was an AI, an AI that might not be sane.

There was a shifting there, primitive.
Another cat yowled back, this one with a hint of longing in it. “Tobias?” a
voice said in his consciousness. Emotions and images rushed through him, making
him dizzy.

“No, Jethro,” Jethro replied, looking
into the plastic eyes. He fought the vertigo he had to stay conscious. He
wasn't sure if it was the blood loss or what the suit was feeding him.
“Jethro.” He could feel anger, some sort of primal rage alien to him. He wasn't
angry, just confused. He realized he wasn't the only one, the AI was as well.
“Tobias was my ancestor. I am his descendant. He pictured Tobias then fumbled
around and found the recording Tobias had left behind. He had downloaded it. He
played it once more.

The suit reared back, then stared
intently into his eyes as the video played.

When the video finished Jethro cleared
his throat. “I'm Sergeant Jethro McClintock of the Anvil cat clan. Federation
Recon and Raider Marine.” He hit his IFF and watched the suit slowly relax.
After a moment it let go of him and then settled onto its haunches, staring up
at him. There was a mew, then it looked away and back the way it had come.

“What? What's going on? Can't you people
handle things when I'm having my down time?” Firefly finally said, coming into
the corridor and sounding quite pissed. The AI avatar looked at the suit and
then the Sergeant. “Oh,” he said simply.

Jethro felt data, encrypted data flow
from the AI and into his suit. The suit settled further, acting as it if was
mourning for a brief moment.

“It looks like a cat,” an MP whispered.
Jethro looked up and then waved the curious MP's off. He saw Ox and Riley
watching behind an MP and cocked his head at them. Riley shrugged helplessly.
Hands up. Jethro scowled, ears flat. He'd get to the bottom of what was going
on soon enough.

“It's okay now Sergeant. You can take it
back to the morgue,” Firefly finally said. The suit stood on all fours and
lashed its tail expectantly, cocking it's head at the Sergeant.

“Care to share? Or are you going to tell
me this is all classified?” Jethro growled.

The suit cocked it's head at him for a
long moment then turned and looked at the ship AI. More information flowed
through the link. Jethro finally realized he could sense it because some of the
information was coming from
him
. That shook him for a moment.

“I'm sorry Sergeant, yes classified,”
the AI replied.

“I think I've figured out enough,”
Jethro said quietly. “There is, or was, an inactive hidden computer network in
the suit, most likely in the nano layers we couldn't figure out. That's why it healed
itself after my little dive on Agnosta.”

“I can't say.”

“No, but I also figured out that the
things in my back, along my spine, and in my thighs and head are organic
computers. Passed on by my ancestors, generation after generation like royal
jelly. Synthetic biology. It all makes sense now. That's why only I can use the
suit. It's linked to those computers. It's why they hurt like hell right now
isn't it? Why I can sense data coming from the suit to me and to you. We're
linked.”

“I can't say Sergeant.”

“I know, it's classified. Damn, it's a
nanite based system, similar to Proteus I bet. It booted during combat, not all
the simulated combat. It probably booted when I was in danger during the fall
too, but that didn't last long enough for it to remain awake, or it didn't
care.”

“I can't say.”

“What woke it... the hit I took,” Jethro
mused. “I remember, in combat, I was about to take a fatal hit and suddenly the
shields came up and I was moving. Or at least the suit was on its own.” He
paused for a long moment, ears flicking as thoughts aligned. “That threat must
have awakened it. And I'm betting since I was in combat in the suit for what?
Three days? Yeah, that probably got the AI's attention. What I don't get is why
didn't it do all this then?”

“You were in combat,” Firefly said.

“And you can't say,” Jethro said,
flicking his ears in humor. “The suit didn't want the distraction. Or the AI in
the suit and in me didn't want to distract me, the colloid from combat.”

“It is...”

“Classified.  Yeah, you said that
already. I'm guessing even with the data, it's a primitive, not a dumb AI but
not a smart AI either. It requires a gestalt with its user to become fully
aware. That's why it linked with me,” Jethro said, holding up his wrists. There
were no wounds. “Nanites again, either from the suit or in me now. It repaired
the damage from the claws,” he said simply.

“Get the armor back to the morgue.
Sergeant Riley, Do not use or attempt to access the suit again without clearing
it with me. If anyone countermands that order, refer them to me,” Firefly said,
turning to the armorer.

“Yes sir.”

“Dismissed.”

...*...*...*...*...

Once Firefly was sorted out material was
diverted to other projects. Mairi towed in the wreckage from the battle. Crews
of space suited cutters surveyed each piece of wreckage. Once they had gotten
what intel they wanted they cut out what could be reused and then the rest went
into the molecular recyclers.

Mairi worked with a pair of Firefly
Warhawks to tow two of the disabled frigates in. The two captured frigates both
had skeleton crews.

Crews were also on the captured
Corvettes, however one was docked in the drydock undergoing a rebuild as well
as a tear down by the intel team. They wanted to know exactly where each part
came from, and any weaknesses of the craft.

Skeleton crews were on both captured tin
cans, both ships were little more than hulks. The crews thought of them as
platforms, their drives, weapons, and reactors had been disabled or destroyed
in the fighting. Each had about a dozen people on them. For now they were
training aides for the thousands of volunteers. Work crews from Firefly were
sent over to guide the volunteers in surveying and repairing what they could.

Cutlass was the most damaged, there was
a great deal of doubt from Commander Logan, Firefly, and Chief Chowler about
the ship ever being repaired. It was dropped to the lowest priority so they
could concentrate their efforts on repairing ships that had a chance of seeing
space once more.

Fuentes arrived two and a half weeks
after the battle. “That was quick,” Mayweather quipped, getting the call from
the jump point.

“Yeah well, we got tipped off something
was up here,” Captain Vargess replied over the tachyon link. He related story
of Mariah's Mischief, the admiral's care pack and orders to get a ship to
Antigua ASAP, and then how he'd been dispatched with Hecate to Agnosta. He
missed Lieandra by a few days but they had left a copy of the message with
Major Forth while they had stocked up and then rode to the rescue. Hecate was
left behind to guard the back door.

He told them about other messages from
Irons. How he planned to make long jump to B100omega system.

Mayweather and Janice whistled in
appreciation. “Think he can pull it off? That's a mighty long jump!”

“If anyone can, it's the admiral. I
wouldn't put anything out of his reach.”

“True, he'd just build a taller ladder,”
Shelby Logan quipped.

“What was that?”

“Nothin, skipper.”

“I thought so.”

...*...*...*...*...

Antigua had its moratorium and the Constitution
and war bill were passed by a landslide. Elated reporters covered the
celebrations from various angles. Marines and Naval personnel on liberty or
guarding the prisoners were mobbed by well wishers.

The system of Antigua had officially
joined the reborn Federation under governor Randall, the third planet to have
done so. Jeff Randall had seemingly found his place, rising to the occasion to
direct the relief effort of the beleaguered cities of his planet as well as the
station while also putting in his support in joining the Federation.

The next morning thousands of volunteers
flooded the spaceports and station, all out to join navy and rebuild the
shipyard and station. The Warners rode the crest of enthusiasm, doing their
best to guide it. They sent some recruits to go to Agnosta on Firefly and the
freighters. They would be dropped off at the academy along with delegates to
negotiate the Federation treaty. Firefly was stuffed with people once more.

...*...*...*...*...

The orbital fortress project went into
production at the B 459 c jump point. It would be at least a year before they
towed a large enough rock to the jump point. First they had to select a proper
sized one. They had narrowed the field to three, each over six kilometers in
diameter. It would take a long time to get each to the jump point, and even
longer to bore out the interior. But in the meantime they began making the tons
of equipment needed to fit the asteroid out.

...*...*...*...*...

“Sir,” Jethro said when Firefly finally
responded to his chat request.

“What is it now Sergeant,” the AI asked,
sounding annoyed.

“I'd like to request a name change.”

“Oh?”

“My IFF states that my last name is 'of
the Anvil cat clan. That isn't completely accurate.”

“And let me guess, you want it to reflect
your family name of McClintock?” The AI asked. “Do you have any idea the
paperwork involved? Not to mention resetting your IFF?”

Jethro stood at attention. Finally he
flicked his ears. “Sir, I wouldn't do it if it wasn't important. I wouldn't ask
if I knew it was, if I knew you knew it was. We're working to take back our
heritage, well,  this one is mine sir.”

“The suit put you up to this?” the AI
asked, eying him.

“No sir. Well, not that I know of. I've
been having weird dreams lately but...”

“Stop,” the AI said, hand up.
“Classified.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay sir?”

“Okay. Get me the paperwork. The proper
paperwork. I'll run it past the Captain's yeoman and then we'll file it with
the chain of command and then go from there.”

“Thank you sir,” Jethro said, feeling
immensely better. He felt something, another presence within him. It purred.

...*...*...*...*...

Another month passed and Hecate arrived
to swap places with Firefly who was directed home. Intel they gathered warned
them of another Horathian fleet that was about to attack Pyrax from the B101a
jump point. It was commanded by a Rear Admiral Javier Rico. They had little to
go on besides that however.

Hecate's Captain informed Firefly that another
frigate had been completed with material from the admiral's care package.
Wendigo was now guarding Agnosta. An orbital fortress was currently being
constructed in the system as well.

Hecate's Captain reported no sign of the
two Horathian corvettes in Triang. They had stripped the satellites, the
automated devices had reported two small vessels moving in company and crossing
the outer edge of the system from the direction of the Antigua jump point to
the Senka jump point.

Hecate brought in classified word that
Irons had sent a couple of ships with components through from Gaston. Irons
reported he was going to jump to the other side of the sector, a dangerous
feat. If all went as planned he'd emerge in Beta 100 omega sometime in the next
four months and would be moving on to who knows where after that.... but only
if he survived any possible pirates there.

...*...*...*...*...

They were leaving behind nearly a
hundred people, naval personnel and Marines to set up recruiting stations on
the planet and man the orbital industry and ships. Each of the captured ships
had a minimum skeleton crew of regular naval personnel to stiffen the Antiguan
volunteers who were being trained on the job. That included four Antiguan
volunteers who had been given implants by doctor Standish as well as downloads
and sleep teaching while acting as midshipman on Firefly for the past several
months. It was not nearly enough training of course, but it was something until
they could get more people in to replace them.

“They need proper training,” Firefly
grumbled. The AI was clearly not happy about leaving them behind. He had worked
with Ensign Tr'j'ck to train the new recruits. On the Captain's authority the
four midshipman they had had on hand had been frocked to the permanent position
of Ensign. All were now scattered amongst the captured ships, manning their
posts.

“This is starting to be a lot like the
Xeno War,” the AI sighed. “Rushed training, rushed repairs. I don't like it.”

“I don't either,” Shelby said, shaking
her head. “We did get our repairs sorted out. We're good to go. We are also
fully stocked. We do need fuel though. We've got three quarters. I'd like to
see us closer to topped off before we make the run back to Pyrax. We are
running right?”

“Yes,” the Captain said netting her
fingers together. She turned to the AI. “Do you have any... specific problems
with the recruits?”

“No, no specific problems beyond their
lack of preparation and training.”

“We don't have the time to train them
further, and they're needed here, we can't take them with us. Besides, but them
staying here we took on four new replacements here. Doctor Standish is working
on information implants on them now. All your midshipman have them right?” the
AI nodded.

“So, we'll do the best we can with what we've
got. We'll run them through the ringer on the way home, then drop them off and
let them finish their education in Pyrax.”

“I still don't like it.”

“We don't have to like it, we've just
got to deal with it the best we can. I know you're protective of the kids. I
don't blame you. They're cute puppies. Unfortunately, this is a cruel universe,
we've got to grow up sometime. Sometimes they grow up faster than we'd like.
They'll deal with it or resign.”

“True.”

“Think about it, who would man their
posts while they were gone? You? Do you want to transfer to an AI core here and
remain as senior officer?” she asked.

“No, I'm a ship AI. I'll stick to what I
am. Thank you though Captain.”

“It wasn't a serious offer, but okay.
Moving on, we've got a lot of work ahead of us before we jump...”

...*...*...*...*...

Governor Randall wasn't happy about
their leaving.

“I'm sorry sir, but orders are orders.
It's tough, but there's another pirate fleet.”

“I just wish you didn't have to go.”

“It is what it is. We have to get to
Pyrax now another fleet is on the way,” Mayweather explained to him. Grudgingly
he nodded in agreement.

“Fine. Tell your commanding officer I
want Firefly or a larger ship here on station. Hell two of them. A squadron.
We'll get it done, we'll pay for it. Never again. Never
ever
again can
we let this happen,” he said, shaking his head. It wasn't the personal loss
that kept him up, it was being so wrong about something so critical yet simple.
Binary solution set, you either defended yourself or you bent over and the
pirates had their way. Live free or die. Hell of a choice, but the only thing
he could say was he was sorry and he'd damn well keep it from happening again.
It wouldn't make up for the hell he saw in the eyes of his people who had lost
someone, or been raped, or knew someone who'd been raped or tortured, but it
was a start. “Hell a fleet if we can swing it,” he said, voice rough.

Captain Mayweather nodded
diplomatically. “If you put the effort into it you can sir.”

“I've got to go over the budget. We need
a complete overhaul. Admiral Irons was right. If you see him soon please tell
him that and I was an ass for not listening to him.”

Mayweather smiled. “I will sir. I hope
we'll find him soon.”

“You do that. We all need him. More than
I ever knew.” Jeff closed his eyes in pain. His parents had been killed in the
fighting. They had owned a ranch out beyond the Doonburg city limits. His kids
had loved vacationing on the family farm. Now it was a burnt crater.

“It's not all doom and gloom sir. We're
leaving behind the prizes with a skeleton crew for each. I suggest you get them
resupplied and get them whatever manpower and equipment they need asap.”

“I'll do that,” Randall said with a nod.
“We'll do that. Definitely. I'll never let this happen again. Not on my watch.
Not ever again,” he breathed.

“Fair enough,” Mayweather replied.

...*...*...*...*...

Many of the captured ships would remain
behind. Most were heavily damaged in the fighting and due to the lack of key
codes many had only limited use. The two lobotomized corvettes needed
completely new electronic suites. They were getting them in the yard, but only
after the yard had been repaired.

Still they formed a presence around the
station and would serve as a deterrent to any who entered the system.

Their skeleton crews would do their best
to repair them as much as they could.  Ships that were little more than
wreckage had been stripped and picked over by work crews looking for
intelligence. They were now ready for the breakers. The freighters were rebuilt
and either sent along with Firefly with people or out to other colonies.

Ramora had been rebuilt and was busy
working on repairing the orbital mines and damaged orbital infrastructure.

...*...*...*...*...

Six captured freighters would make the
unescorted run to Pyrax with goods. Pyrax was supposed to finish the repairs on
them. Three ships had hyperdrives that were too damaged or old, they would be
used as ferry's in the Antigua system once they received an overhaul by the
Yard Dogs. Yard Dogs was already anticipating using one freighter as an
improvised movable mining platform. With it parked near a cluster of asteroids,
it would service and receive materials from a fleet of drones and tugs. When
the ship's holds were stuffed it would return to Prime to unload and do a turn
around. Such activity would cut down on the long lonely runs the tugs had been
doing before.

Three other frighteners were too damaged
and were mothballed.

 
...*...*...*...*...

Captain Mayweather left Ensign Lake, an
intel and security officer in charge of the Horathian prisoners. She was to
extract as much intel as possible in interviews with the prisoners. Lake was
good, a blond seductress who could tease all sorts of information out of men
with her flirty ways or pouty beauty.

Captain Pendeckle assigned a squad of
Marines to act as guards. Her job was complicated by the war crimes trials
underway. The investigators were still crawling all over the stations, taking
statements and going over recordings. Most of the spacers who had been on the
ships were most likely safe, but those who were on the station weren't.

Some fell over themselves to make deals
to save their wretched lives. Others were sullenly and defiantly silent. To
them it didn't matter, they knew they were dead men walking, so why give
anything up?

The charges for genocide, murder, and
rape were bad enough for some. A few resented the idea of being put on trial,
they had 'just been following orders', or 'you have no jurisdiction over me'.
The courts were becoming a tangled mess of confusion that only time and
patience would sort out.