Space Rescue One (20 page)

      "Very well, Captain Brump. Our personnel are being instructed right now not to go beyond the inner airlock hatch. We'll do our best to evacuate the wounded and dead as quickly as possible."

      Captain Brump said, "Thank you, Captain Shortner."

***

Chief Dickson noticed how stern faced Richard appeared to be. Much as he wanted to leave Richard behind this time, he didn't give him the order. He hoped that he and the team could keep Richard too busy to make trouble. The Chief said instead, "Okay, check your buddies. Remember the golden rule of space. Please check me, Richard."

      Moments later, the team entered the airlock together. Shortly after that, they launched themselves toward the
Martian Express
to evacuate the wounded and dead.

      Richard noticed the dead wore no suits when the
Martian
Express
's airlock opened. He radioed to the team, "Bastards could have put their suits on so they'd have some dignity left when their relatives receive the bodies."

      Isaac replied, "I agree with you, Richard, but we can't do anything about that now. We'll get the wounded back first. I want you to help that man over there. Shelly, get that woman and follow Richard back to our ship. Tim, help her. Jimmy and Alex are to get that other wounded man. I'll bring back the dead."

***

Jimmy sat at the monitor as
Space Rescue One
returned home. As usual, he paid the most attention to the news.

      "An incident occurred in deep space yesterday when the Captain and most of his crew decided to take their ship to Mars and join the rebellion. Not all of the crew joined the rebellion and a fight broke out. When it was over, three men were dead and three crew members were wounded. No word on how many casualties were suffered by the Captain and his crew who continued on toward Mars after permitting space rescue to evacuate the losers."

      Alex came over and asked, "What did they have to say?"

      Jimmy answered, "Misinformation this time. They didn't tell anyone what we know and reported about the whole matter. Shooting unarmed people for no reason is insane."

      "Maybe the politicians are trying to keep the rebellion from getting hotter."

      "If they are, they mishandled this incident. They should have told the press the truth. I think the colonists might back down if they discover that they're quickly becoming the bad guys."

      Alex asked, "Does Richard know the facts yet?"

      Jimmy answered, "Probably. I'm certainly not trying to hide them from him. I think he has the right to know the truth."

"This is Captain Shortner to all hands. You will hear this over the Internet news shortly. Venus just declared its independence and allied itself with Mars against any attempt by Earth to re-establish its hold on them. Almost simultaneously, the Moon declared itself neutral in any resulting armed conflict in accordance with its United Nations charter. The United Nations is ordering all commercial traffic between the Earth and colonies to cease. Any ships not obeying this order are to be seized for illegal activity."

      "The Security Council approved a motion by the United States representative authorizing the United States to take military action when warranted. As a result of that Council action, the United States Space Rescue Service is being re-organized by the United States to form the core of its newly forming Space Navy. The Secretary-General of the United Nations met with the President to discuss defense of the United Nations space stations that serve as home bases for the Space Rescue Service. Although I have received no specific orders yet concerning offensive action, I have been ordered to defend the space stations against rebel seizure. For the time being, we will continue to be stationed at
Earth Station One.
That is all."

***

Chief Dickson entered the team lounge and sat down at the team's planning table. It took less than a minute for the rest of the team to gather around him.

      "We've all been drafted into the Navy. They're still working out everything, though I don't believe that line," Isaac said.

      "I think you're right, Chief. I'm sure they had contingency plans prepared for something like this for a long time now. They're just being cagey," Jimmy said.

      "As I was saying, our positions aren't being listed yet. I don't know if we'll be Medics or assault troops because of our training and experience. We'll just have to wait and see what they have in store for us. In the meantime, don't add fuel to the rumor mills," Isaac said.

      "We won't start any rumors, Sarge," Alex said.

      It took a moment for the joke to set in before most of the team laughed. Richard even smiled briefly.

***

"There have been no further armed conflicts since the takeover of what is now the
Martian Express.
Even though the United States has inducted the Space Rescue Service into its military forces, there have been no offensive actions by the only ships believed capable of launching a serious attack in space. Anonymous sources indicate that life on the space stations and space rescue ships continues to be routine. There is apparently no overt preparation ongoing for an attack on Mar or Venus."

      "Bull shit," exclaimed Technician Bradley at the computer news as he read a manual on offensive tactics.

      "The United States is commandeering all privately-owned space vehicles from its citizens and corporations along with inducting their crews. All Merchant Spacemarine officers are being commissioned at equivalent ranks in the US Space Navy."

      Jimmy mumbled, "Hot damn, Richard is an officer now. I wonder if he even cares about that."

      "Admiral Thurman is being reassigned from the United States Submarine Command to take command of the United States Space Navy. He is believed putting his staff together at this time. We have no indications as to when he will strike out at the rebels on Mar or Venus. Little is known about Admiral Thurman other than . . ."

      Alex muttered, "Just great—we're going to be led by a submarine commander. I can just see us trying to fight a battle with submarine tactics. They should have selected someone from the Air Force. At least he'd have more in common with us when it comes to fighting and maneuvers."

***

"This isn't right. We're not supposed to ever be used to fight wars. We're supposed to be strictly space rescue. I can live with us having to face down gunmen on board luxury space liners, but not with engaging in wholesale slaughter," Richard said.

      "It's not going to get to that, Richard," Isaac said.

      "Yes, it will. I've paid attention to Jimmy and Alex talk about the population in the colonies reaching a critical mass to where they're self-sufficient and capable of doing everything for themselves. It's one thing when the colony is only a few hundred people. Any loss of life hits it hard. It's another when there are thousands. Losing a few people means almost nothing to the society then," Richard replied.

      "We're only defending the stations and enforcing the embargo, Richard," Shelly said.

      "The embargo won't work. Mars and Venus both have freighters with crews loyal to them. They have a network of contacts on Earth to see that any supplies they might need are made available. Our one ship can't enforce the embargo for this entire planet. You know just as well as I do that when we confront one of the rebel freighters, we're not going to have any choice of action. We'll have only one option. That's to smash them with our guns. If we don't, they'll certainly shoot at us even though we outgun any one freighter. However, I'm worried that we'll run into more than one when the time comes. If we do, we'll lose any gunnery advantage we have because they'll be able to outmaneuver us," Richard said.

      "We'll have other ships helping us enforce the embargo. We won't be alone, Richard," Isaac said.

      "That's even worse. We'll be scattered about while the rebels will approach in a formation of strength. Any ship that tries to face them by itself is committing suicide," Richard said.

      "They don't have to face them by themselves. They only have to notify the rest of the fleet and stand off out of range until the fleet forms for an attack," Isaac said.

      "Chief Dickson's right, Richard. There's nothing to be overly concerned about. The embargo will work. Won't it, Chief? Besides, our main responsibility is to protect the space station from attack. We only enforce the embargo in this area," Shelly said.

      "An embargo won't work. We're going to see a lot of fine men and women die for no good reason when the rebels come in force," Richard said.

      Shelly asked, "If you're so sure of that, then can anything be done to prevent it? Can you prevent it from happening? Are you God? If so, command them to stop. If not, then tell me if you have any good ideas. I'd like to hear them if we can use them to save lives. I'm not looking forward to jetting through space to board an enemy ship."

      "I don't want to see you boarding an enemy ship. Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas to put forth. I'm not God, either. I don't have that kind of power to command all those men and women not to kill each other," Richard replied.

      "Someone must have the power. I wish it was you, Richard," Shelly said.

      "Why?" asked Richard.

      "Yeah, why?" Isaac asked.

      "Because Richard only wants to save lives. If he had that power over those men and women, he wouldn't be tempted to use his power badly. That's why," she answered.

      "Well, I, uh…don't know what to say," Richard said.

      "In that case, shut up while you're ahead, Richard," Isaac said.

***

Damon moved close to Richard as he served him his usual fruit juice. "There's some ugly talk going on among the Merchant Spacemariners. I don't like the sounds of it."

      "What about?" asked Richard.

      "Taking over a ship so they can switch sides," Damon answered.

      "You're right. That doesn't sound good at all. I'll look into it. Thanks."

      "Be careful. I don't want to lose a good customer."

***

Richard closed his cabin door, having overheard more than enough while in the bar. He pulled his chest from under his bed and opened it, letting the lid dangle from the broken padlock. He didn't notice anything out of place. He rummaged about for a few moments before he found what he was after. He felt the smooth, cold metal between his fingers as it brought back good and bad memories. Richard tucked the metal object into a pocket before going through the chest once more for other things he wanted.

***

"Chief, I want to talk with you and the rest of the team," Richard said.

 .    "What about, Richard?" asked Isaac.

      "About this ship and us being drafted. I don't like the idea. None of us signed on to be in the military."

      "I don't like it either, but there's nothing we can do."

      "I think that there is and we can do something about it," Richard said.

      Jimmy came running up. "Hey Chief! The rebels are broadcasting a message that involves us."

      "Oh? I guess we should all gather around the monitor then to hear what's going on," Chief Dickson said.

      ". . . and the Venusian Parliament has offered the United Nations space stations orbiting Earth, Mars, and Venus the privilege of neutrality provided the Space Rescue Service promises to remain neutral in the upcoming conflict. We make this offer to each station individually rather than being pig-headed and insisting on all or nothing. In making this offer, the Venus-Mars Alliance promises not to attack any ships making a stopover at any neutral space station to drop off wounded and dead for their return home."

      "Any ships plying space with their running lights on will be considered to be neutral. This goes for the Space Rescue Service ships as well. To put it plainly, the VMA promises not to attack any ships with their running lights on. However, if such a ship fires on any VMA ship, that ship will be dealt with severely. There will be no quarter given to any of the crew of such ship that violates these proposed rules of engagement."

      The announcer said, "In case you missed the Venus-Mars Alliance broadcast, here it is again."

      "The Council of Mars and the Venusian Parliament challenges the governments of Earth to accept these simple rules of engagement in order to limit the loss of life and property in space during the inevitable upcoming conflict. Any ship in battle that offers to surrender is to turn on its running lights and cease fire. All ships are to accept and respect any such surrender when offered by an opposing ship. If the opposing surrendering ship is disabled, then assistance should be offered by the victor if it isn't otherwise engaged in conflict or disabled itself. Prisoners are to be accorded humane treatment. Any personnel from either side violating these guidelines will be considered to be war criminals. Accordingly, the VMA states now that anyone from either side who is convicted of being a war criminal is to face the death penalty if tried in a joint VMA court. VMA armed forces personnel are being instructed to take action immediately against anyone behaving as a war criminal."

      "The VMA acknowledges the Moon as a neutral party and will honor that neutrality to the best of its ability. Any VMA ship which crosses into the realm of Moon jurisdiction will immediately intern itself for the duration of the war."