Space Rescue One (29 page)

      "Captain Saber, it is not your position to interfere in my command. My crews are loyal to Earth and will fight to the end. They are loyal to my command and I ought to know. I know them far better than you do. I don't believe you know what you're talking about since you have so little command experience. Now butt out of this battle. Stick to your bandages and keep your opinions to yourself. You're fortunate that the UN advised the US not to send in troops to arrest you for your mutiny. We have nothing more to discuss. Admiral William, out."

      "Communications, put me on every channel there is. I want every suit radio channel as well. Tell me I don't know those men and women! Well, I've got some news for him. If he won't see things reasonably, maybe the crews will," Richard said.

"This is Captain Richard Saberhagen of the
Space Rescue One.
I repeat, this is Captain Richard Saberhagen of the
Space Rescue One.
That's right, fellow Merchant Spacemariners, I'm alive and still kicking. Right now, you're being led by a man who's unwilling to think of your welfare. He's licked and unwilling to surrender. He's already been told by the enemy that there's another force with fresh crews on its way to engage your force in battle. Before there was a Space Rescue Service, we spacemariners survived by sticking together. Now I see fellow spacemariners fighting each other because someone on Earth and some others on Venus and Mars don't see eye to eye with each other. We're, no, you're dying out here so they can have the bragging rights about who was right when it's over. I'm asking you as fellow spacemariners to stop fighting right now. Show them who's really the boss out here. Forget the blood that's already been shed by our brothers and sisters for a moment. Instead, I want you to remember the spacemariner's code. Shipmates are each other's survival. Now more than ever, the code is true. We need each other in order to survive in space. Don't let the politicians make space even harder to survive in by giving in to their lusts for conquering."

      "Well, I've had my say. Some of you might think I'm trying to pull the wool over your heads. I'm not. I'm really who I say I am. If you want proof, I'll have some of your fellow crew members from both sides in our sick bay come to the radio and verify whether or not I am who I say I am. Anyway, I'm only asking you to quit fighting and live out your lives. I don't think that's wrong. I'll quit talking now so that anyone who wants to call my ship can do so."

      Richard sat back in his chair. Chiefs Brunner and Dickson entered the bridge.

      "I never thought I'd hear you openly tell everyone who you really are," Chief Dickson said.

      "My shipmates need me to survive. I had to reveal myself on the chance that they'd listen to me," Richard said.

      The communications operator said, "Messages coming in from hundreds of ships. We're picking up suit radios, too. I don't know which one to take first, sir."

      "Do any of them want proof?" Richard asked.

      The operator replied, "A few, but most are welcoming you back or sending their best wishes."

      "Okay, ask everyone to stay off the air for a moment. Chief Dickson, please go back and find a couple of spacemariners who aren't too badly wounded to come to the bridge. Hopefully, one of them will vouch for me to the few who don't believe I'm alive," Richard said.

      The operator said, "I've got Admiral William on the radio, sir. He's fuming about what you're doing."

      "Fine, I'll talk to him now. Hand me the microphone back," Richard said. Richard accepted the microphone. "This is Captain Saberhagen. I'm here, Admiral."

      Admiral William demanded, "By what right do you have to pull such a stunt? Richard Saberhagen is dead. You have no right to use that hero's name in so low a manner. . ."

Richard didn't wait for the Admiral to finish. "Whether or not I'm Richard Saberhagen, there's nothing wrong with ending a lost battle and saving lives. In a moment, a couple of crew members from ships we assisted will be on the bridge to state who I am to the universe. Chief Dickson is in sick bay right now looking for a few who can be moved to the bridge to make the identification."

      William continued, "—and you're a bastard for getting these men and women's hopes up that you can end the war."

      "I'm not trying to end the war, Admiral. Just this battle before it becomes a slaughter. I'm trying to save your life, too. However, if the war should also end because of this, I won't lose any sleep because of it," Richard replied.

      "I'll see you prosecuted on Earth for your interference."

      "Admiral William, I'll gladly take whatever punishment there is for saving lives. I'll even plead guilty."

      "You're not making this any easier. I'm ordering all ships' Captains to disregard this lunatic's statements and resume the battle. We can fight our way out of this battle with honor. All ships' Captains, report," Admiral William said.

      Chief Dickson assisted one man while others helped in several other wounded survivors.

      "Richard! What kind of trouble are you getting into now. This isn't a bar!"

      Richard turned to face the man whose voice he remembered. "Chet! I thought you retired!"

      "Not this old space dog, Richard. What are you stirring up now? I understand we're supposed to tell people who you are? Can you fill me in?" Chet replied.

      "Sure Chet. I just told all the spacemariners on all the ships who I really am. Then I asked them to stop fighting. A few of them want verification that I'm really who I say I am," Richard answered.

      Chet exclaimed, "Is that all? Damn! I thought you were trying to get in on the fight. Hand me that radio. You other guys better get close so you can talk, too. That's Richard Saberhagen. He's the man who saved my life on the
Southern
Pride
when there wasn't a Rescue Service to save our asses out in space. Now that I think of it, you're commanding this new tub, so I guess you've saved my life a second time now. I guess I owe you another round when we get home."

      Another surviving crewman asked, "How do I know you're who Chet says you are?"

      "Well, you're welcome to see my papers," Richard said.

      "Take your shirt off, Richard. They all know the story. I think that will be enough proof for them. Papers can be forged, but what you have can't," Chet said.

      Richard unsealed his shirt and let it drop from his shoulders. He turned around. Behind him there were audible gasps from some of the survivors.

      "Okay, Chet. He's Richard. Sir, sorry for doubting you or Chet."

      "That's all right, shipmate," said Richard.

      "Chet, let me speak first. A lot of the shipmates know me."

***

Richard welcomed General Budakov on board, then waited patiently with him for Admiral William to arrive. Despite the Admiral's agreement to attend the meeting, he didn't arrive until almost half an hour later.

      As he arrived, General Budakov said, "I suppose this rankles him somewhat to have his fleet refuse to fight anymore. I know if only because mine did, too."

      "I know. I deliberately didn't identify which of you had the reinforcements coming so that both sides would have doubts. I also knew that you both had mostly spacemariners as your crews. I knew they'd know of me. They all live by the same code, too," Richard said.

      "Yes, I figured that much out after it happened. You laid a grand bomb on us, Captain Saberhagen. I don't blame you, though, under the circumstances. You only did it to save lives. I can respect that," Budakov said.

      "Thank you, General. It looks like Admiral William is coming into the airlock now."

***

"Okay, both sides agree to assist in finding all the disabled ships. All rescued crews from both sides are to be interned as they would have been if only Space Rescue was recovering them," Richard said.

      "Yes, if recovered crews from both sides are interned, then I see no reason to oppose that," Admiral William said.

      "I agree to that as well. Let's move on to the next point," General Budakov said.

***

Admiral William took hold of the radio microphone. He pressed on the transmitter switch and began speaking. "This is Admiral William of the First United States Space Fleet. It is my duty to report that I have surrendered my force in order to prevent the further unnecessary loss of life in a battle that was already lost. The responsibility for this loss is mine and mine alone. General Budakov is graciously permitting us to return home provided we intern our ships on Earth's moon. I fully intend to do so. We will be accompanied by an escort consisting of the Space Rescue Service and a small contingent of Venus-Mars Alliance ships. I ask that all Earth forces please respect this agreement and not interfere with the orderly retirement of the First United States Space Fleet. For the time being, both the First US Space Fleet and the VMA force are working together to recover as many survivors and bodies of our combined dead as possible before we return. I wish I could say that some of these brave men and women did not die in vain, but I cannot. It is my fault that some of them died. I shall carry that burden with me the rest of my life. I have nothing more to say than to extend my apologies for losing so many lives. Thank you and good bye."

***

"This news flash just came in folks. As a result of the decisive loss in the battle for
Venus Space Station,
the United States has agreed to cease hostile action against the VMA. The US representative to the United Nations is going to recommend that the UN recognize the independence of both Mars and Venus as well as end the hostilities. From the sounds of this, folks, the war is going to be over soon."

"Well, you got lucky, sir. The United Nations is going to permit you to remain in command of
Space Rescue One
now that it's taken over the Space Rescue Service," Chief Dickson said.

      "I don't consider it lucky. I'd rather that Captain Shortner was back in charge, even though he was willing to be part of the military. That way I can get back to rescuing people," Richard said.

      "Think of it this way. You can affect a lot more lives positively by being in charge than you can by risking your ass making rescues personally. You try it as a rescue technician again, you're never going to reach enough people. This way, you'll know that the ship and rescue teams are doing the best possible. Now how's that sound to you?"

      Richard stared at Isaac for a moment. "I once told you that I respected you for inventing something I couldn't. Now I have to tell you that I respect you for having a keen insight into how other things work."

      "Well, I'll accept your respect just so long as you don't start respecting my body for the wrong reasons. I draw the line there, Captain," Isaac said.

      Richard forced a chuckle for a moment, then asked, "How well can you supervise both teams while Chief Brunner is away?"

      Isaac answered, "I'll be fine. I'm recommending that Tim be dismissed. He's not fighting it, either. I think he saw too much dying for his young age."

      "That's going to put us four people short, Chief."

      "I know it does. We'll just have to hope that there aren't anymore wars to attend. I think we can take care of anything else that happens without much of a problem."

      "I'm not so sure. I hope they carefully check out and repair every ship that was used in the war before they use them for shipping again. Most of them took hits and the damage could come back to haunt the crews and us real soon," Richard said.

      "We'll handle it anyway. What I'd like to know is how you're doing, sir."

      "Me?" asked Richard.

      "Yes, you. I now know what you're up against at night. That's another reason I'm glad the UN kept you in the Captain's position. You've looked better than ever since you took charge."

      "I don't really think you know what I'm up against, Chief."

      "Yes, I do. Shelly heard you talking in your sleep one night. We know you're blaming yourself for failing to convince those green crew members on the
Southern Pride
to follow your orders when you tried to lead them to safety. They didn't die in vain, you know," Isaac replied.

      "Yes, they did die in vain. And they died because I was a poor leader."

      "No, they didn't die in vain. Because of them, there are hundreds more shipmates who are alive today. Because of them, every green crew will have a better chance of survival during a space disaster. Their deaths were never in vain when you see what they accomplished by dying. Their deaths were the weight that tipped the scales in favor of establishing the Space Rescue Service."

      "But they shouldn't have died. They wouldn't have if I'd been a better leader."

      Isaac replied, "No, you're only feeling sorry for yourself while forgetting the most basic fundamental we're all taught. You're forgetting the Shipmate's Code. No one is perfect. Not them, not me, not you. You lived up to the code to the best of your ability despite the fact that you're human and not perfect. You have the proof of that under your beard and on your back. Those men and women aren't blaming you. You are. Next time you see or hear their ghosts, listen to them and look into their eyes. Look and listen to them while remembering the Shipmate's Code. They're not accusing you at all. They're with you in spirit because you lived up to the code. They're your personal guardians. I'm sure of it. When you find out that's true, you'll sleep better."