Take The Star Road (The Maxwell Saga) (23 page)

###

Next morning Steve was summoned to the First Mate's office. He found Captain Volschenk and the Bosun closeted with Jennifer Scarlatti, all looking as if they'd been sandbagged.

"You sent for me, Ma'am?" he said, starting to feeling awkward as they stared at him.

"I did. Have you any
idea
what you started yesterday, Maxwell?"

"I... I don't understand, Ma'am."

"You'd better sit down." She waited until he'd done so. "Public response to that press conference has been unbelievable! Apparently over three million credits have already been pledged, most of it in small amounts by private citizens." Steve boggled. "The news media have stepped up to the plate to co-ordinate collections. Furthermore, several companies have offered to help. So far they've pledged more than four thousand tons of supplies, including more than a hundred thousand bars of chocolate! Two manufacturers of commercial kitchen equipment have offered to lend us mixers, blenders, ovens and other equipment at no charge, as long as we provide pictures and vid of them being used to support Operation Sweet Tooth. I have absolutely no idea where we're going to put everything, but I guess we'll shoehorn it in somewhere!"

Steve shared their stunned silence for a few moments, then shook his head. "Ma'am, I don't know what to say - other than that I'm very grateful, of course. You could put some of it in the compartment we use as our
dojo
if you like. We won't have time for karate training during the next couple of months, that's for sure!"

Captain Volschenk nodded. "Good idea. My main worry is how to make sure no-one can accuse us of misusing or even stealing donations. That prospect's giving me gray hairs!"

"Actually, Sir, there are several ways around that," the Bosun pointed out respectfully. "I suggest we approach one or more charities with a reputation for integrity. Ask them to send representatives with us to monitor how we use the donated money and supplies. If they're willing to help other kids on Radetski using some of the money raised, so much the better. Heck, with this much available, why not try to find a charity that'll use some of it to found an orphanage there? We can also ask Sector HQ to lend us an auditor from the Paymaster's office - after all, we're officially a Fleet auxiliary while we're under charter. Finally, if the newsies are handling the collection of funds, have them send their people along to see what we do with it. All of them can work together to verify that we're doing everything on the level."

Volschenk's face cleared. "Excellent! We'll do as you suggest. I'll have to discuss it all with Captain Nash, but I'm sure he'll agree." He shook his head slowly, a smile dawning on his face as he sat back in his chair. "Maxwell, until you came along, if anyone had told me a lone Spacer Third Class could cause so much fuss and bother, I'd have called them a fool."

Steve blushed. "I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to - "

The Captain chuckled. "Relax! I'm not angry; on the contrary, I'm grateful to you. This really was a good idea, and worth doing for its own sake, quite apart from its publicity value - not that I'm knocking the latter, you understand! Thanks to Operation Sweet Tooth, the ship's been plastered all over Vesta's news media. That name recognition is sure to be helpful when we look for cargoes here once this charter is over."

Chapter 15: September 7th, 2837 GSC

"... and working hand in glove, the hospital and the ship successfully transferred to Vesta over eighteen hundred seriously injured children. Most were accompanied by a parent or guardian, bringing the total number transported to more than three and a half thousand."

The Sector Admiral paused, looking down at his audience from the stage. The personnel of the 257th Expeditionary Hospital were seated on the right of the hall, while
Cabot
's officers and crew, delegations from several civilian and charitable organizations that had become involved with Operation Sweet Tooth and its successor program, and journalists sat on the left.

Vice-Admiral Cardew continued, "This achievement has had a threefold effect. First, the children are now benefiting from reconstructive and regenerative treatment and therapies not available on Radetski. Second, that planet's currently very limited medical resources have been freed to address needs that are more within their capabilities. Finally, thanks to Operation Sweet Tooth, tens of thousands of Vesta's citizens worked together to help Radetski's children, both here and on that planet. Their generosity led to the opening last month of the first orphanage to operate there since its disastrous civil war. More will follow. Vesta's people will continue to fund the construction and operation of these orphanages through the newly-established Radetski Childrens Fund, to which all Operation Sweet Tooth's remaining assets have been transferred.

"All these developments reflect most favorably upon the units involved, which have jointly established a standard of excellence against which the Lancastrian Commonwealth Fleet's future participation in similar operations will be judged. It's therefore my privilege to confer the Superior Unit Award upon the 257th Expeditionary Hospital for its outstanding performance and devotion to duty during the Radetski mission. I'm pleased to present the same award to LCAS
Sebastian Cabot
, in recognition of the exceptional performance of her ship's company in their support of the 257th Expeditionary Hospital's operations."

The hospital staff,
Cabot
's crew and the assembled dignitaries applauded as first Captain Nash, then Captain Volschenk, in their capacities as Commanding Officers of, respectively, the hospital and the ship, came up on to the stage. Each stood at attention as the Flag-Lieutenant read the award citation for his unit; then he saluted the Admiral, shook his hand, and accepted a copy of the citation and a framed award certificate. Vid camera lights and flash units lit up the ceremony as journalists recorded it.

The Admiral returned to the lectern, set aside his prepared notes and smiled at his audience. "I've never known a United Planets-related mission to attract such intense public interest as yours has on Vesta. We're used to Fleet participation in these missions being a low-key affair, with barely a mention in the news media unless something goes wrong. In this case, we've had journalists almost coming to blows over who was to travel with you to observe and report on your operations at first hand. Furthermore, thousands of citizens have contacted the Fleet to express their support and admiration for your hard work. They've put their money where their mouths are by supporting, first Operation Sweet Tooth, and now the permanent charity that's taking over its mission, the Radetski Childrens Fund. I'm very grateful to all of you for helping to bring about this very welcome improvement in public awareness of our efforts.

"One of the nice things about being a Sector Admiral is the ability to reward outstanding unit performance by means of the SUA. It's the only one of our unit awards that can be conferred for non-combat operations, and one of only two that can be approved at Sector level, without having to go through the Board of Admiralty on Lancaster. I've not had the privilege of conferring it before, but today I've been able to do so twice! They do say there's nothing like overkill."

His audience laughed. Steve, seated among them, heard Tomkins mutter beside him, "When the Admiral jokes, it's always funny - or else!" He suppressed a guffaw.

Cardew continued, "The 257th Expeditionary Hospital is, of course, a temporary unit. It was activated for this mission only. It'll be officially deactivated tomorrow, to be reactivated in a future time of need. Its personnel will return to their parent units or be reassigned to new ones. Similarly, LCAS
Cabot
's charter will end after her return from the dockyard, where her medical pods and equipment are being removed and returned to storage. Thereafter she'll resume her normal status as a Lancastrian Commonwealth merchant vessel.

"However, ladies and gentlemen, your achievements will not be forgotten. Future spacers and medical staff will be encouraged to live up to your example. Each of you will wear the distinguishing ribbon of the unit award you all helped to earn while assigned to the Radetski mission. It'll be a permanent remembrance of what's become an extraordinary experience for everyone involved. You can take great pride in all you've accomplished, together and as individuals. Thank you all very much.

"And with that, I think I've taken up enough of your time. Refreshments are waiting in the foyer. Ladies and gentlemen, this award ceremony is concluded."

###

Steve stood with Dale Tomkins against one wall, both carrying plates loaded dangerously high with finger foods from the buffet. The foyer was filled with people eating, drinking and talking, groups forming and re-forming, individuals drifting between them.

"That was a great idea of yours, to suggest that the first orphanage be built in Irena's village," Steve said quietly to Tomkins. "What better community to host and staff it than one that's had to overcome prejudice like that?"

Tomkins swallowed a mouthful of food. "It seemed a logical place for it. After all, it'll have kids from all sorts of different backgrounds. Some of them are sure to bring old hatreds with them, attitudes they learned from their families. I figured the best way to deal with them would be to provide a counter-example. To judge from what Irena told us, that whole village is a living example, all day, every day."

"Yeah. Staff for other orphanages will go there to be trained, so they'll also be able to learn from what they see around them."

"That's going to be - hey, heads up! The Bosun and the First Mate are coming this way and looking at us."

Steve looked around for somewhere to put down their plates, but the Bosun said as he approached, "Relax, both of you." He and Scarlatti carried plates of their own.

"Thanks, Bosun. Good morning, Ma'am."

"And the same to you, Maxwell." The First Mate was looking very pleased. "I wanted to tell you that the publicity we received through Operation Sweet Tooth has borne even more fruit. We've been trying to line up cargo contracts now that the charter's almost over. Thanks to the ship being so well known now, several freight companies are eager to use us. They seem to think the good publicity will rub off on them, so they're prepared to outbid each other for our services - which will do our bank account nothing but good!" All of them laughed. "It looks like we'll be booked solid on round trips from Vesta to nearby planets for the next few months, until our scheduled maintenance period at Bedford. With luck we'll have cargo to take there too, so even that trip will be paid for."

"Thanks for telling us, Ma'am."

"There's some more good news - but I'll let you tell him, Bosun."

Cardle swallowed a mouthful of food. "Thank you, Ma'am. Maxwell, I know you intend to enlist in the Fleet under the Foreign Service Program; but if you change your mind, you've already done well enough to earn a permanent place with us. Plan to work planetside for at least a year after completing two years in space, for a change of pace and some fresh air; then you'll be welcome to return to
Cabot
. You can also apply for residence, and later for citizenship, on an individual planet of the Commonwealth. That'll be more complicated than the Fleet's FSP. There are more hurdles to cross, and it takes twice as long and costs more; but I'll sponsor your application to New Brisbane, if you wish."

"I'll do the same to Lancaster, my home planet, if you prefer," Scarlatti offered. "There's no rush to make up your mind. You can think about it over the next few months."

"Thank you both very much," Steve acknowledged, touched by their obvious approval. "I still plan to enlist, but if I don't make the cut, I'll certainly take up one of your offers."

"Bosun, are we allowed to wear the unit award ribbon?" Tomkins asked. "I know I'm not allowed to wear my military awards when I'm in merchant spacer uniform, and the SUA's a military award too."

"Yes, we are. You see, the SUA was awarded to
Cabot
while she had the status of a Fleet auxiliary ship. It wasn't time of war, so we weren't formally mobilized into the Fleet - we served aboard her as merchant spacers. Because we wore merchant service uniform during the period for which the award was made, we're entitled to wear its ribbon with that uniform. The Fleet personnel who were assigned to us during the charter can wear it with their military uniforms, because
Cabot
was officially a Fleet auxiliary at the time, not a civilian vessel."

"Will I be able to wear it with military uniform if - when - I enlist?" Steve asked.

"Yes, because service aboard an auxiliary automatically carries with it Fleet recognition of any awards earned during that period. You'll have to send copies of the award citation to your recruiter, plus proof that you were in
Cabot
's crew at the time. He'll record them in your Fleet file for permanent reference, to show you're entitled to wear the SUA ribbon."

"I'm not a Commonwealth citizen - not yet, anyway. Does that make a difference?"

"No. Irrespective of your citizenship, you were in Commonwealth service at the time. In the same way, if you enlist in the Fleet under the Foreign Service Program, you'll be eligible to receive awards and wear them even before you qualify for citizenship."