SWEET HOME ALLE BAMMA (SOLBIDYUM WARS SAGA) (14 page)

When we got back to the ship I gave the recruits the three days off from physical training, but I reminded them they
were still required to duplicate Geston’s feat with his spy device.  Then I went to see Admiral Regeny.

Though I hadn’t made an appointment, I was immediately ushered into the admiral’s office.

“Tibby, to what do I owe this visit?  How did the exercise with the FSO recruits go?  We didn’t lose any, I hope.”

“No
, Admiral, they’re all still with us.  Some are a bit worse for wear, but everyone will recover.  I think this exercise has shown us who will serve most effectively as field operatives and who will show greater strengths as support technicians and office staff.  Some of them are simply not cut out for field work.”

“Good thinking.  Defining each recruit’s strengths early will allow us to focus training on their individual disciplines.”

“Yes… and that brings me to the reason for my visit.  I agreed to train them, but I didn’t agree to run the FSO.  You need one of your people to do that.  Have you given it any thought?”

“Uh, err…
to be honest, I was hoping you would sort of volunteer to head them up.”

“No such luck, Admiral.  Besides the fact that I don’t want the job, you and I both know that the
Senate and the Federation Legal Review Board would have both our asses if I headed the group.  I do, however, have someone in mind.”

“Good,”
chuckled the admiral.  “For a minute I was afraid you were going to leave me hanging with that one to figure out for myself.  Who do you recommend?”

“Lieutenant Commander Wabussie.”

“Wabussie?  Why, he’s my right hand man.  I can’t – well, damn.  You’re right, of course.  He’s the best choice.  I know that I need a position like that to be filled by one of my own people, someone whose leadership I trust and who will report all reconnaissance activity and information fully and regularly.  Wabussie is the perfect candidate.  I’ll have to promote him to a full commander, though.  But it’s time for that anyway, I suppose.  I’m going to hate losing him as my personal assistant.  How soon do you need him?”

“The sooner the better.  The quicker he
’s in the loop, the better he’ll be able to run the agency.”

“Okay, okay, let me call him in here and do this before I change my mind,” Regeny said as he activated the communicator on his wrist.  “Wabussie get in here!” he said into his communicator.  He was barely done speaking when the door to his office opened and Lieutenant Commander Wabussie walked in.

“Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander, you are hereby advanced to the rank of commander.  Oh, and your new assignment is to head up the FSO.  Report to Vice Admiral Tibby tomorrow morning so he can bring you up to speed on training activities.  I expect you to learn as much about the operation as possible and as quickly as possible so he can turn over the program to you.”

Wabussie looked back and forth between the admiral and me as though he were expecting one or both of us to start laughing and tell him it was a joke; but when neither of us cracked a smile, he saluted both of us and said, “Yes, sir.  I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Good,” said the admiral.  “I expect nothing less.  Oh, and Commander, I expect you to keep me fully informed as to training status and activities within the FSO at all times. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“One more thing, see to getting someone to replace you out there on the desk.  I still need an assistant.”

Shortly after lunch I met with Marranalis.  “What do you hav
e to report on our stowaway?” I asked.

“I wish I had something to tell you,” replied Marranalis with disappointment.  “We’ve
placed the Nibarian FSO contingency in the aft quarters, in the hopes that the modified atmosphere will either smoke out the stowaway or that the recruits will see and capture him.  So far there has been no sign of him.  He’s most certainly still onboard and using the cleaning machine.  And according to the main computer, his food dispenser is working once again, though we still can’t locate it physically.  It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Okay, Marranalis
.  Keep me informed as to even the most minor changes.  I’m headed to my office if you need me.”

I truly loved my office, though I was able to spend very little time there.  As I sat gazing into the huge aquarium behind my desk, I suddenly got the strangest feeling that I wasn’t alone.  I slowly turned
my chair around to find myself staring at our little stowaway, who was seated in one of the wing-backed chairs in front of my desk.  There was no doubt that it was the same figure I had observed in the vid screen with Captain Stonbersa.  No one else on the ship even remotely resembled this short, hunchbacked figure, whose pointy chin and nose and tinted yellow skin seem exaggerated by the coal-black hair that was tied into a high ponytail.  I gazed in silence at my visitor’s remarkable yellow irises, waiting for him to introduce himself.

“Greetings, First Citizen Tibby,” he said in a rich and mellow voice that reminded me of the
typical radio and television announcers on Earth.  “I felt it was time we met in person, before you have me captured and tossed off the ship.”

Under normal circumstances I would have reacted with more surprise and anxiety
over someone appearing mysteriously as he had; but there was something so casual and reassuring in his voice and manner that it was impossible for me to feel threatened in any way.

“My name is A'Lappe.  I am sure you’re wondering what I’m doing on your ship.  First, let me assure you I wish no harm to you, your ship or the Federation.  I am not a member of the Brotherhood, nor am I a criminal; though there are individuals who wish to find and kill me for reasons I will not discuss.  This is part of the reason I have secreted myself within your ship.  How I came to be here is a long tale;
so I will give you the short of it.  Galetils was a good friend of mine.  I served him as an advisor in many areas as he built this yacht you now call the
NEW ORLEANS
.  I should clarify; I was not on his payroll, as I do not need money.  I worked for him in exchange for protection and secrecy and I am here to make the same offer to you.  This entire ship was designed by me to Galetils’ specifications with certain additions and modification that I suggested and he accepted, including your RMFF system.  I know every millimeter of this ship intimately; though, as part of the deal I had with Galetils, none of the laborers who built the ship were ever made aware that I was living onboard in a hidden suite specifically designed for my needs.  I also served as his chief architect and engineer for development of the 10X fusion reactor.

“
Then, shortly after life on Astamagota was destroyed in the solar flare and Galetils’ empire crumbled, I found myself without a patron and protector,” he said with a tone of sadness in his voice.  “I remained hidden here while I deliberated what to do next.  Then you came along, bringing with you the
TRITYTE
and the solbidyum.  Your presence introduced an entirely new set of variables and possibilities where my future was concerned.  I was able to monitor newscasts of your accomplishments and deeds; and when you bought the ship from the Nibarians, I knew that I must figure out a way to introduce myself to you in such a way that you would want me to stay onboard to provide service to you in the same manner that I had for Galetils.

“I can help you – you
and
the Federation.  I know that you and the Federation seek to have RMFF capabilities on all the Federation ships; and for that you need the 10X fusion reactors.  I know that Cantolla is working on that project, but she and her team are a long way off from finding the solution and it could take them years to do so without my input.  I can provide you with the plans for a reactor that will work – the original design, in fact, which I designed and Galetils was having built.  However, in its current design, I fear it is only suitable for use on the larger Federation ships, such as the star ships and frigates.  The size of the reactor is much too large to fit into anything smaller than that.  Still, that would be a huge boon to the Federation.

“In addition, I can help you in your struggles with the Brotherhood.  They are an enemy of mine, as well; and for far longer than the Federation has been aware of them.  I know a great number of
details about their operations, such as areas where they are strongly concentrated and even the names of some of the organization’s highest ranking leadership.  All I seek in return is to be allowed to continue my sanctuary on this ship.  I have my own accommodations and the synthesizers provide the food and materials that I need.”

He paused and waited patiently for my reply.

“Well A'Lappe, it’s nice to finally meet the elusive individual that has had my ship in turmoil for the past few days.  Your offer is intriguing; but how do I know I can trust you?  How can I be certain that all you have told me is the truth?” I asked frankly.

A'Lappe shrugged his shoulders and threw up his small hands in a comical gesture.  “You can always have me tested with one of your headbands”, he said.  “I will not object.  But I must warn you, I will not provide you with any information as to my origins or my past history prior to working with Galetils.  This stipulation is crucial; my life depends on it.”

“Does harboring you here endanger my ship or crew in any way?” I asked.

“No, I don’t believe so.  Even if my enemies were to discover that I am aboard this ship
, they would only attempt to apprehend me if they were certain that their actions would not endanger or threaten anyone else; of that I am sure.  Of course, it is always possible that my enemies may try to bribe a crew member to kill me or turn me over to them.”

I thought quietly for a moment.  “You present a unique offer, but also a troubling one, A'Lappe.  Not only are
you
unknown to the Federation, but your race is not known either.  Why is that?”

“That question I will not answer.  Again, my personal safety depends on it; but I can assure you I pose no threat to the Federation.”

A'Lappe had a curious and almost mesmerizing way of blinking his eyes that made part of me feel reassured that he was a benign individual whose presence on the ship could be beneficial.  As he spoke, I found myself simultaneously believing him and questioning my belief.  I wondered if I was perhaps struggling with some sort of hypnotic manipulation.  Just in case this was the situation, I decided to take a cautious approach.

“What if I say no to your proposal?”

A'Lappe shrugged his shoulders and pursed his lips.  “Then I will go back in hiding and stay hidden until I am captured and removed from the ship,” he said.

“So you believe you could get out of this room right now before I could capture you?” I asked somewhat incredulously.

“I don’t
believe
it, I
know
it,” A'Lappe said with a grin.  Then, just like in a classic magician’s stage act, he was shrouded in a sudden puff of smoke; and when the smoke cleared, the chair was empty and he was gone.  I was startled for a moment, as I stared at the vacant chair and then looked about the room to see if I could locate him; but there wasn’t a trace of him anywhere.

Then out of nowhere I heard his voice.  “Think about my offer.  I’ll be in touch with you later for your decision.”

After A'Lappe was gone I met with Kala, Admiral Regeny, Marranalis and Captain Stonbersa to discuss the event.  Kala was in favor of giving A'Lappe a chance to prove himself.  The admiral was in favor of capturing him and interrogating him until we had every possible bit of information squeezed out of him.  Captain Stonbersa leaned a bit toward the admiral’s point of view, only with far less force, and basically just wanted A’Lappe off the ship.  Marranalis was surprisingly undecided on the matter and stated he was more inclined to see what A'Lappe’s next move was before making a decision.

“I just don’t like it,” said the admiral.  “We have nothing but his word that he’s here to help us.  If we agree to his offer, we pretty much have to take him into our confidence and tell him what we know and what we are planning.”

“I don’t think that’s and issue, Admiral,” I said.  “I think he already knows our plans and what’s going on.  In fact, I think he knows more about what we are facing than we do.  I suspect he has this room bugged in ways we can’t imagine and is monitoring this discussion as we speak.”

The admiral lifted his foccee cup and examined it as thought it might contain a bugging device.  “How do we know we can trust him?”

“Kala can test him for honesty and loyalty in the same way that we test the troopers, crew members and recruits,” I said.

“I just don’t like that he stowed away on this ship,” Stonbersa said in disgust.

“Well he didn’t exactly stow away,” I said.  “He was a guest or, rather, an employee of Galetils.  He just didn’t leave after Galetils’ death.”

“Humph
!  But he didn’t come forward and present himself either, did he?”  Stonbersa retorted.

“No, and I don’t think we are going to find out exactly why either.  But he does make a good case for accepting his offer.  If he really can deliver the 10X fusion reactor in a design suitable for installation on all your star ships and frigates, think of how much stronger the Federation forces will be.  And, Captain, if A'Lappe really did design this ship, think of how valuable his knowledge would be to you directly.”