Starfire
Copyright© 2025 by Mark Randall
Chapter 31
Captain Sullivan, Commander Olivet, and Doctor Holland were observing the arrival of the Hastings Cutoff from Commander Olivet’s observation deck.
Approach control announced, “Captain Sullivan, the Mule reports they are ready to dock. They are asking for permission.”
“Let the pilot know they are cleared to dock. We’ll begin transferring the survivors as soon as everything is secured.
Everything had gone smoothly, and the Hasting crew had made the transfer over to the Seward’s Folly. Standing by on the shuttle flight deck were several medical teams, but it quickly appeared that their services were not going to be needed.
Olivet turned to Henry, “Something’s not right here, Sir. Those people are too clean, too fit for a crew that has been marooned by a pirate ship.”
“I agree, Tom, let’s get their boss up here. I think we need to have a little talk.”
Ten minutes later, Ben Jones, Olivet’s COB, announced, “Sir, the leader of the Hastings, a Lansford Graves, is asking for the Captain.”
Lansford Graves was tall, at least 6’01”, muscular, and in excellent shape. His blond hair was cut close, almost bald. He smiled at Captain Sullivan and held his hand out. “Captain Sullivan, I wanted to thank you for rescuing us. We were getting worried.”
Shaking Graves’ hand, he was surprised at the strength of his grip. “Our pleasure, Captain Graves.”
“Oh, I’m not a captain, Sir, I’m just the lead steward and senior crewman. I’ve never held an officer’s rank.”
“Well, it speaks well that you were able to bring your crew through in such good shape. I hope that my people are seeing to your comfort. Is there anything that you need?”
“Your people have been more than generous, Sir. We were hoping that we could get enough fuel from you to get back to Federated space. I guess we should report all this to somebody.”
“We’ve already sent a message to both the Mars Confederation and Federated Navies. It’ll take a while before they get the message, and probably even longer for a reply to get back to us. In the meantime, if you could write up a report on what happened and a manifest of your crew and the passengers that were taken, we’ll get that sent as well. I’m sure that your families will be relieved to hear that you are all safe. I’m sure that your experience will help the law enforcement authorities in their investigations.”
“Oh, definitely, I’ll get right on it.”
After Graves left, Captain Sullivan looked at Commander Olivet, “Well, that was interesting.”
“I’m not quite sure about this Captain. That guy wasn’t what I would think of as a steward. Deck hand on a freighter, maybe. But no way he’s a steward.”
Before they could go further, Ben Jones stepped back in, “Sir, Lieutenant Wilson asks for a moment?”
“Good, I was about to call for him.”
As Wilson stepped up, the concern was evident on his face. “Sir, there’s something funny about that ship and crew.”
“What do you mean, Wilson?”
“Well, first off, that ship is just too clean. There’s no sign of any kind of battle damage. Even if they had made repairs, you’d be able to see it.”
“Then there’s the interior. I had a heck of a time getting anybody onto their ship. They flat-out refused any assistance. I finally had to insist, and then they reluctantly allowed me to come on board. Sir, I’ve been on marooned ships before. This wasn’t like any I’ve seen or heard of. There wasn’t any battle damage, and even the crew that I could see wasn’t injured in any way. Even the women were fine. I know pirate’s Sir, the women are the first ones they go after. Then there were the environmental controls. Sir, Pirates will strip everything of value, food, water, and air. But if they find a booze stash, they’ll go nuts. I glanced inside their passenger lounge, and the bar was completely stocked. There was more booze there than any lounge or taproom I’ve seen on a ship.”
Captain Sullivan smiled at Lieutenant Wilson. “Thanks, Otis, that was a good report and very observant. Now, and this is going to be difficult, I want you to talk to your crew. They need to keep quiet about this. Don’t go spreading your suspicions around. We’ll get this sorted out soon, but what we don’t need is a lot of wild rumors running around and people taking things into their own hands.”
Wilson had a grim and serious look on his face, “OK, Sir, I’ll talk to everybody. They’re a good crew, they know when to keep their mouths shut.”
“Good, tell you what, I’ll get ahold of the sutlers and authorize a couple of beers for everybody.”
Looking uncomfortable, Wilson asked, “Sir, if you would, A couple of the guys are teetotalers and, speaking for myself, a good sipping whiskey is more to my taste.”
Tom Olivet burst out laughing. Captain Sullivan chuckled, “Not a problem, Lieutenant. I’ll let him know to be ready for anything you guys want, within reason, of course.”
“Thanks, Sir, I’ll go talk to them now.”
Meanwhile, in Security, Grant Rogers knocked on his friend’s door. David Barth looked up, “Hey, Grant, what’s up?” he asked.
Grant looked worried. “David, I’ve got someone here you need to talk to.”
Seeing that someone was standing behind Grant, David asked. “Who’s that with you, Grant?”
Turning to the old man who was standing behind him, almost hiding. “Uncle Chuck, come on out, this is Commander Barth.”
The old man tentatively moved out from behind Seward. He was wringing his hands, obviously nervous, and looked at Barth suspiciously.
“Now, Uncle Chuck,” Grant admonished, “It’s alright. He’s one of the good ones.”
“ya sure, bossman?” The old man questioned.
“I’m sure, Uncle, now you tell the commander what you told me.”
The old man took a deep breath and started talking. “Whal, It be bout those new bodies ya’all jis brought in. Now we’s all unnerstand bout stranded spacers, But theys some wolfies what you done put into the flock.”
“What do you mean?” David asked.
“I was heping wit the deck crew fer some spare credits when they started shuttling the new un’s in. That’s when I see’s em. It was all I could do not to go fer em.”
“Who? Why?”
The old man, visibly angry now, explained. “One of those yahoo’s was wit da bastids what tortured us back when they took us from Mosley. I had been living in bottom alley during the pirate’s time and came thru that jus fine. But then these sneaky bastids started scoopin folks off the deck and disappearin’ them. That’s when they picked me. Then they started worryin folks. wantin ta know bout cunnel montgomery and some crystal. They’s was purty rough on some folks. some tuthers didn’t make it out.”
“And you say one of them was one of the torturers? Are you sure?”
The old man stared at Barth, then reached up and pulled his glass eye out of the socket, and held it up. “A body don’t forget the bastid what does this. I’s still has dreams bout it.”
“I’m sorry, uncle. I didn’t mean any insult. But this is serious, and I have to be sure.”
The old man looked down at his feet. “I knows bossman, We’se all owe youse and granny Seward our lives.” He looked back up at Barth, the anger was evident in his eye. “But the book says eye fer eye and theys a powerful debt owed by those folks, A powerful debt.”
David sat back and templed his fingers in front of him, deep in thought. After a couple of moments, he sat forward. “Grant, Uncle Chuck, thank you for bringing this to me. Is there anyone else who knows this?”
Grant spoke up, “Yes, Sir, there were a number of the Chilkoot crew on the loading dock during the recovery operations. There are a number of survivors, but I picked Uncle Chuck as the best representative.”
“Yes, I can see that. OK, gentlemen, let’s try to keep this as quiet as possible. Grant, would you please talk to your folks? Let them know that I will bring this to the Captain’s attention as soon as possible, but that a premature reaction wouldn’t be a good idea, tactically.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll pass the word.”
Uncle Chuck spoke up. “We’ll be a keepin our tempers bossman, but don’t be too long bout it. Folks lost family to dese bastids, they’s a blood feud here.”
“I understand, Uncle Chuck. Again, you have my word, justice will be done. Just at the right time, OK?”
The old man stared at Barth, then his face broke into a grin. “Jist as long as I gets my piece bossman, just as long as I gets mine.”
Turning and without waiting for Grant, the old man walked out of the office.
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