Star Traders (Corporate Marines Book 3) Page 3

  “When humanity first built spaceships and really started going to our own stars, we had tons of back-up systems built into every ship. When we went out to the stars, we lost the ability to rely on other ships for assistance. Multiple redundancies still have to exist, but now, having back-up air for two weeks or extra power generation is not so that you can survive till help arrives. Instead, those are the resources you have to rely on until you get the ship operational again.

  “Every crewmember has a dedicated job and position on a star ship. They are also cross-trained in two other positions. No, an engineer will never be a full replacement for a doctor. But they can be good as an assistant. That same engineer can also cook and do most of the back-up work on the ship.

  “With that, during your shipboard daily routine, you are going to conduct drills every day. Emergency drills, replacement drills, stand-to drills, and so on. Almost everything done on board the ship is drilled into the crew so that there is no need to think. There is simply the automatic response so that the job gets done when it must, even if everything is going wrong. These drills have kept our ships alive when primary systems have failed, and those ships have come in weeks late with repairs done out in the depths of space.

  “We do drills during work and downtime. No matter what time of day it is, a major hull breach alarm can sound and you have minutes to be suited up or you are dead. We also have some other drills incorporated into ship life.

  “My favorite that I always wanted to do but couldn’t until I was ten was joining everyone else in defensive exercises. You have to be big enough to handle the weapons, and every kid can play along, but until they get a weapon, it’s just like hide-and-seek for the little ones. On Earth this sort of training would never happen, but in space there are other alien races that have pirates operating in the space lanes.

  “The computer acts as a referee and also uses the crewmembers’ implants to control some of what they see. This is not a sim; it is more like you can see overlaid shadows to simulate shipboard damage, and ‘pirates’ will be overlaid with images of past recorded pirates from other shipboard actions. So many crewmen will be detailed as ‘pirates’ for the exercise and the computer will record them as dead from action or system failures, which is why they are not available for normal operations.

  “There are two versions of this game that can be played. It is a serious drill, as a star ship is worth a lot and there are pirates out there that, if they can capture a star ship, will sell it to another planetary government or keep it to expand their operations. Yet, we still treat it as a game, as almost everyone plays and can take out their aggression by shooting each other and it is a lot of fun.

  “The first version of the game is the serious one, where the computer will set up a scenario and designated pirates will report to whatever access points. The rules are, on-duty personnel must remain at their station until action is sounded, and off-duty personnel must remain in off-duty areas. When it is time, the computer announces a shipboard emergency and then pirates boarding. Sometimes the computer will stay online to help and other times it will monitor the exercise but ignore data queries. It has even viewed itself as hacked a few times and worked for the pirates that were invading. So you can’t fully trust the information that you are getting from computer. There is no full contact, just weapons use between the two groups. You do know in these scenarios that the bad guys are coming from an entrance hatch somewhere, so from outside, and if you are fast, you can block them off.

  “The other option that is run through regularly is the pirates are already aboard. They will operate in smaller groups and try to infiltrate the different sections and take over the shipboard controls. In that case, since they have already gotten onboard the ship without being noticed, anything that the computer says is ignored as we figure it must be compromised by this point. Pirates can pop up anywhere in the ship and cause pretend mayhem. If a ship system can’t be captured, sometimes it makes more sense to destroy it to deny it to the enemy—at least in the virtual world.

  “Now, the big question that everyone has when I talk about training time is always the same. What sort of weapons are you using, and how do you keep it realistic? We use actual sidearm laser pistols and carbines. They use a special power cell that carries the same number as a full charge cell, but the actual power of the bolts is minor.

  “So while you are actually firing laser blasts, they are pretty minor. The laser has enough power to zing you, but not cause actual damage. For safety, we wear anti-glare goggles and also a harness with sensors that the computer can track. If you are hit on a backpack or armor section, then you may not feel the hit but the sensor will pick it up. It is possible to feel it and then the computer will let you know what is wrong with you. So, say you were in a heavy firefight in a docking bay and you took a hit to an arm, the computer could let you know that your arm is useless now so you cannot use it for firing or reloading. Oh, and the computer is always watching, so you can’t cheat, no matter what you do. The shipboard sensors will reveal what you are doing.

  “So to sum things up, playing laser tag on board the ship is the coolest thing EVER!

  Derek fades to black, followed by a close-up shot of Bradley pulling back to show him, still perfectly manicured, sitting in his trademark reclining chair. He looks out at the sensors with his cold grey eyes from a face that is frozen as he sits there motionless. Everything about his pose and look tells the viewers that the man is sad.

  Bradley’s expression changes to grim professionalism that doesn’t show his inner feelings. “Gentlebeings, what you are going to hear next will likely shock and horrify you. I would urge that you have any little ones leave the room, and that you carefully consider whether you can handle being aware of actions that were perpetrated against the human race. If not, then I would beg you…” His expression cracks and the viewers know that he feels bitter sadness inside that he is trying not to let show through his tough-guy exterior. “…please turn this show off. It must be bad, gentlebeings, if I am saying that during ratings week.” His smile at his own joke still shows great sadness.

  Then it changes and the eyes gleam and he smiles in a predatory fashion with his lips pulled back. “But if you can handle the truth and you want to know the horrors that happened in deepest space, carried out by vile alien pirates that would do anything to oppress humanity, then stay tuned and you will find out how humanity was attacked, and how our best and brightest, while taking severe casualties, destroyed the pirates and in so doing have kept humanity safe and amongst the stars. Stay tuned for right after these messages.”

  Bradley’s smile is the last thing the audience sees as the image fades away to be replaced by a shot of the Mama Pig moving through space.

  THREE MONTHS AGO

  At the personnel boarding area, there is a standard airlock so that as a shuttle nuzzles into the Mama Pig, the new shipboard personnel or passengers can simply exit their airlock, take eight steps down the hallway created by the mating of the two ships, and then enter the other, larger airlock. The design is such that only one door out of four is ever open, so that if an accident happens, the only people exposed to hard vacuum are those in the hallway.

  In space, safety and survival are important.

  The outer airlock door reads as “open” on the Mama and the reception committee is waiting patiently. There is no stress or rush with those eight people. There is no need. Four of the eight stand out. The first is the ship’s captain, who is old for star travel; he is in dress uniform with a dress sword at his hip. The other adult is middle-aged, with short hair and a well-trimmed beard. As you would expect of the head of security for one of the biggest corporate ships in existence, and likely the most expensive around, his faded blue eyes watch everything and are constantly scanning the area. He wears a very functional cutlass at his hip and has a laser pistol in his holster. Given current regulations, there is no energy cell in the
weapon. In fact, given his size, the standard laser pistol would be like a toy in his hands. The last two of those four are waiting nervously as this is a big event in their relatively short lives. They keep fidgeting and adjusting their shipboard uniforms.

  The head of security turns to two of the youngest crew members aboard and speaks in his gravelly voice. “Boys, perhaps you could stop fidgeting quite so much? Shipboard uniforms can’t really be adjusted anyway, as they are one-piecers.”

  Both crewmen, who are really still boys, straighten up and quickly reply together, “Yes sir, apologies sir!”

  The ship’s captain, who is also with the greeting party, smiles at his security chief. “Really, chief? Don’t you think anyone would be nervous greeting these people for the first time? I remember that I was, so long ago. I don’t think it ever gets easy for anyone.”

  The chief nods and speaks as if the boys are not there. “But these boys need to get past that, fast. We all are potentially responsible for much more than our official job. Dealing with high-ranking corporate officials and keeping them happy is just a minor part of our task. They have to get past the awe so they can be ready to deal with bigger events, like first contact or pirate attacks!”

  The captain chuckles and waves his hand, dismissing his security chief’s seriousness. “We’re more likely to deal with corporate bigwigs and maybe one day a first encounter than anything exciting like a space pirate attack.” The captain smiles at the boys cheerfully. “I am afraid that those sims you enjoy so much are going to be as good as it gets.”

  The boys cease fidgeting as the airlock lights flash green and the door opens inward with a hiss. The frown on the security chief’s face takes a second to smooth away.

  Twelve personnel walk through the airlock in no particular order and mostly mill around in front of the greeting party. Behind them, the airlock door slides shut soundlessly and seals with a hiss.

  The captain steps forward, smiling, and addresses them. “Thank you all for the rapid disembarkation from the shuttle.” He chuckles. “Time is money for the corporation, after all. All extra personal gear is being unloaded from the shuttle directly to one of our personal storage lockers where there is currently some extra space. If you require anything from there, please speak to the ship’s crew about getting access. After all, those travel bags are not usually enough for a two-month voyage.”

  He gestures to one of the men in the party. “This is Mr. Smith, the ship’s purser. New ship crew, please go with him and he will get you settled into your quarters and make sure that you are introduced to your new section teammates.” Two men and a woman nod to the captain and step forward, hoisting their travel bags further up on their shoulders and walking off after the ship’s purser.

  The captain gestures again and the other three crew members step forward. The captain addresses the crowd again. “I understand that several of you are heading off to assorted mining facilities and research stations that are along our path and which we’re slated to stop at in the next week to two months.” Again, the captain gestures and three crew members step forward. “These crew members will take you to the mess hall and explain the layout of the ship, where you will be staying, and the routines that we all follow while shipboard.” The captain frowns. “Please let me stress, everyone shipboard follows these routines and no one is exempt, as per corporate regulations regarding deep-space travel. If anyone has an issue with this, bring it up immediately to your guides and we will get this resolved. Failure to do so will result in administrative or corporal punishment. Failure to follow rules on board a star ship will have serious ramifications. In the event that a life is lost and you are found at fault because you shirk your duties, then you will be facing a corporate court and potential posting to the penal colony.”

  A younger man and woman at the back of the group look at each other nervously. They stand out because of their longer hair; both have it tied back in a ponytail. Everyone in the hall has short hair, with the women present having either very short bangs or bright streaks through their hair.

  The three crew members gesture at their charges in a “come along” way and lead them off. Seven of the personnel follow; only two look nervous. The captain gazes after the group as they depart and smiles to himself.

  He turns to the last two personnel standing there in front of him: one man and one woman. They are both wearing skin-tight black ship suits that have a metallic look to them. Both have their hair cut in the same way; the man is blond and the woman’s hair is short enough that it is hard to say whether it’s black or very dark brown. She has a purple streak running from front to back on the right side of her head and an orange streak in the same location on the left side of her head. Both are clearly very fit, as their physiques are picked out in great detail by their ship suits. The just stand there with their ship bags on their shoulders and watch the captain and the smaller greeting party.

  The captain puts an insincere smile on his face as he turns to them.

  “Greetings to you both. Corporate headquarters announced the last-minute change just in time or we would not have had the pleasure of transporting two Corporate Marines to the Theta mining facility. I have had a chance to review your file with my security chief, Patroe Sveringening.” The captain gestures to the armed man at his side. “I understand that you are going out as replacements for two casualties, and I am sorry that had to happen, as I wish we could all get along. After all, space is vast and there are so few living beings.”

  The two Marines just watch the captain and have blank expressions as they watch him, unblinking. The absolute lack of expression seems to throw the captain off his planned speech and he hurries on.

  “The chief will take you around and show you how you can fit into shipboard activities. He will also let you know what else is going on shipboard and when drills are to be held.” He pauses. “I know you are highly trained and ready to do whatever needs to be done for the Corporation. Realize that we are a bulk hauler that acts as a personnel transport as needed. We do not see action, nor are we likely to, so at all times we will follow shipboard regulations.”

  The female Marine looks at the security chief and then the captain before asking the most important question to the two Marines. “Where is our armor and the rest of our gear?”

  The captain maintains his smile as he had maintained a sincere tone since he addressed the crewmen at the beginning. “Military equipment and weapons are restricted shipside at all times unless we are clearing for action. Your armor is a weapon and is secured in one of the holds along with the rest of your gear.” He nods his head and continues. “The chief can take you to your equipment and make sure you have access to any assistance you require to maintain and check it. Weapons are not to be loaded or prepped unless we come under some sort of hostile contact.”

  The captain nods at the security chief and continues. “The chief can also ensure that any special requirements that you have are fulfilled. I realize that your diet and workout routines are detailed and you are likely going to require higher gravity during those workouts. If you can shift your schedule, you can have exclusive use of the gym at that higher gravity during the shipboard night routine. Also, if you want to eat in your rooms or use the secondary mess hall, that is fine.”

  The captain stops and takes a breath. “Most of the crew and the corporate personnel have no clue what goes into the training of a Corporate Marine. I know I have no clue. I do not understand all the specific requirements that you have to stay fit or ready to fight at a moment’s notice. I and my crew will do everything we can to facilitate you having what you need. You are after all important corporate assets and that had been stressed to me several times in no uncertain terms. I understand that.”

  During all this, the two younger Marines have just watched the captain, rarely blinking, and saying nothing. Their facial expressions had remained attentive but if you were to look deeply into t
hose eyes, it was as if no human emotions were there. If you looked closely enough, you would see something dark looking back. The captain is not looking that closely.

  The captain pauses and carefully looked at one, then the other Marine standing there. “I will explain myself and how I feel once so you can understand my perception of this scenario that we have here. I do not hate or fear you. I understand that you are necessary evils that the Corporation has to maintain as there are threats out here from some of the aliens that we have met. I have been captain of the Mama Pig for fourteen years now and served on her for twenty years before that. We have never seen so much as a whisper of pirates out here. Given the size of our ship’s crew, any pirate that did attack would be insane. My real concern is that something will happen, someone will say something wrong to you or act inappropriately and you will react to that because you ARE highly trained. I am concerned about having injured or dead personnel on board my ship. I also know a bit about what your weapons can do shipside. I really do not want a fifteen-millimetre round blasting holes in my ship, either. The weapons stay secured and contact is minimized not because something will happen, but because something could happen. Do you have any questions?”

  Again, the female takes the lead. “If there is a situation, will you be accepting our help or expecting us to let your crew deal with it?”

  The security chief spoke up. “Everyone on board is trained and cross-trained. No matter who you are, everyone helps.” The chief looks at his captain and continues. “You have some very specialized skills that we could take advantage of to increase the quality of our training—if you can spare the time….”