Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (51 page)

“
Yeah. Dad
wanted more. But well, there is the whole breeders law,” Alfred
wrinkled his nose. “Cause of the limited life support, power,
and space. But he got a special permit cause he found a rich claim.
Wanted a whole passel of kids. A to Z.”

“
Ah,”
Hurranna nodded.

“
Mom had us.
When she had such a hard time during the pregnancy and then forty
hour delivery...”

“
Like she ever
lets us live that one down,” Zack muttered.

“
Quiet,”
Alfred said. He turned back to the others. “Anyway, after we
were born she told dad that he got his wish. A...” He pointed a
thumb to his own chest. “To Z.” He pointed to his
brother.

Hurranna giggled a
little, covering her muzzle with a paw. “I love it.” She
shook her head, ears forward, eyes dancing. “Smart lady,”
she turned. “Can we show them some of the ship?”

“
I'll try to
get permission,” Jethro replied as the boys perked up. “But
don't get your hopes up. Marines don't get guided tours. We go where
we're told and do what we're told to do. Curiosity isn't supposed to
be part of our nature.”

“
You're a cat
right?” Alfred asked.

Jethro opened his
mouth then closed it, lashing his tail as Hurranna giggled again.
“He's got you there,” she said giving him an amused look.

“
Yeah,”
Jethro admitted with a grudging nod. “Panther. That's a form of
great cat.”

“
Oh.”

“
Um, I watched
that vid of the Admiral. Did you know some of the people that are
wanted are hiding out on the berg?” Zack said after a moment.

“
You're
kidding me,” Hurranna said, eyes suddenly going to slits. Her
claws came out as she needed her arms. “Oh I'd like to get my
claws on them.”

“
I think a lot
of people would,” Jethro said nodding. “Commander
Firefly?” he asked turning to the nearest camera.

“
The
information is new. I will interview the young men when I have time
available,” the AI responded.

“
Ah,”
Jethro nodded. He turned back to the kids.

“
Um, what was
that?” Alfred asked pointing to the ceiling.

“
That?”
Sergei rumbled a laugh. “That was Firefly. Commander Firefly.
The ship's AI. You'll get used to it. He's an officer so treat him
with respect.”

“
A real AI?”
The kids' eyes were wide again. Jethro had to fight a laugh at the
thought of them being stuck like that.

“
Just like the
ones in the other ships and in the Admiral.”

“
Wait,
Admiral... That female voice he called Sprite on the holo...”

“
That is his
AI. He has one of his own.”

“
I didn't
think you could do that,” Alfred said. “In fact I know
you can’t. I mean, I made a dumb AI, but nothing like her...
it... whatever.”
“You made your own AI?”
Hurranna asked surprised.

“
Yeah. I'm the
programmer. He's the outgoing one,” Alfred pointed to Zack. “I
was trying to make an exo suit at one time. But he co-opted it,”
he grimaced at his brother.

“
The dashing
hero you mean,” Zack said with a smile.

“
Or
something,” Alfred said.

“
Boys...”
Hurranna said shaking her head before utter mayhem broke out between
the two brothers. They turned their attention back to her. “Well,
if you're into programming, you might land on your feet very well. I
bet the brass will have all sorts of stuff for you to learn and do.
Maybe even classes at the Anvil college or in the annex.”

“
Really?”
Alfred said perking up.

“
Yup, so keep
your chin up kid,” Hurranna nodded. “I gotta go, we've
got to get some rack time soon. Duty calls,” she waved as she
turned and walked out.

“
So you know
where these men are?” Jethro asked.

“
They hang out
in Macey's grill and bar on D deck,” Zack said. Jethro nodded.

“
What are you
doing man?” Sergei asked as they left.

“
Getting
follow up leads for Firefly to pass on to intelligence and the proper
authorities of course. The commander said he didn't have the time to
interview them at the moment, but he was no doubt recording.”

“
Oh,”
Sergei thought for a moment. “Think they're still there?”

“
With Firefly
sitting overhead?” Jethro grinned. “Yeah. Hunkering down
in the deepest hole they can, coming out only for food when they have
to. Hoping the cat will pass their little mouse hole by.”

“
Huh,”
Sergei flashed his canines. “Maybe we can pay them a visit?
Since we're cats after all,” he said hopefully. He took out a
plastic toothpick and picked at his long sharp teeth.

“
It's all up
to the brass,” Jethro said with a shrug. “Come on.
Hurranna's right. We better catch some Z's before the gunny see's
we're bored and decides for us to GI something.”

“
Um, yeah,”
Sergei yawned. “Yeah. Good idea.”

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
Think they
are telling the truth?” Captain Mayweather asked, rubbing her
chin.

“
Based on
sensor readings yes. However they could be mistaken,” Firefly
responded.

“
How should we
go about this?” she asked, turning to the AI avatar.

“
Normally we
would inform the authorities. However there is some concern that they
will just warn the fugitives and they will go underground again.”

“
The speaker
though. Or former speaker.”

“
She is still
the speaker. Her impeachment is under debate but it keeps being
stalled by filibusters from her party. Her activities have driven the
system government into deadlock and indecision until it is resolved.
Technically she is in contempt for not attending congress.”

“
I'll show her
some contempt,” the Major snarled. “So something has to
be done,” the Major scowled. “We should arrest her for
terrorism. But if we get involved, it could make a bad situation
worse.”

“
Quite
possibly. However there is some circumstantial evidence that the
speaker was involved in the recent assassination attempt on Commander
Logan. That, along with her hand in what happened on Vesta does give
us legal standings to investigate.”

“
Yeah, but
it's just her underlings that have been seen. Not her.”

“
And she
doesn't go anywhere without them. Intelligence established that.
Though she could send them off while she goes in another direction.”

“
I was about
to point that out. You just undermined your whole argument, you know
that right?”

“
It has
occurred to me,” the avatar shook it's head. “I would
suggest we insert people or listening devices to gather more
information.”

“
We're about
done off loading the supplies so it's too late for that now,”
Mayweather said, rubbing her chin. “What about the panther and
his team?”

“
I'd like to
keep him as far away from this as possible,” the Major said.
“He's good, but I don't want his loyalties and honor tested
this early in his career. The Liger has a tendency to do, then get
permission after the fact as well.”

“
Oh.”

“
In fact I am
sending them out to the cleanup of Pan four nine two X.”

“
That asteroid
that just breached?” Mayweather asked, eyebrow raised. “Seems
a bit overkill.”

“
I'd rather
have them out with their minds on their jobs than getting into
trouble.”

“
True. Too
true,” Mayweather nodded. “You're the boss of your
people.” She waved a dismissive wave.

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
Why are we
here again?” Hurranna growled, looking around at the mess on
the rock.

“
We're here to
do a job,” Jethro answered patiently.

“
No I mean us
personally,” Hurranna asked. Jethro shook his head. She wasn't
about to let it go however. “I mean, this is crap work,”
she complained.

“
You want to
trot your ass over to the gunny and let him know that?” Sergei
asked with a laugh. “I'd love to see it. Seriously. Love to see
it. Me, I'm just happy we've got what we've got. It beats being in
the dog house with him.”

“
If this isn't
then what is?”

“
Do you really
want to find out?” Jethro asked, turning to her in
exasperation.

“
No, ah,
pass,” she held up her hands in supplication.

“
Then quit
whining and get to work.” He pointed to a blasted piece of
debris near her. “I think there is a body under that.”

“
Oh hell,”
she sighed and went over to the piece of shell. “What the hell
happened here anyway?”

“
Pan four nine
two X had a blow out. Natives call it Cinder. It qualifies for it
now,” Jethro replied. “Someone got cute with making
explosives. They stored some in caves but the blasting caps were in
crates on the surface waiting for pick up when the flare hit. I
remember something about Cinder making explosives for use in the
belts. That and welding gasses.”

“
They have, or
at least had, massive pockets of gasses in the rock,” a navy
chief said coming up behind them. He held a scanner out, scanning the
area. “You're clear. No sign of pockets of gas.”

“
Good to
know,” Jethro said with a nod.

“
It's not like
you can get a spark in vacuum you know,” Sergei growled. “No
air no boom.”

“
Depends. Some
stuff comes with its own oxidizer. Stuff like methane snow can go off
if you touch it or look at it funny. I for one don't want to find out
the hard way,” the chief sniffed then turned and moved on to
the next group of searchers.

“
Seriously,
this sucks,” Hurranna grumbled again.

“
Hurranna...”
Jethro sighed, patience finally exhausted.

“
Okay,
shutting it.”

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
What the
hell?” Sergei said, seeing a body twitching under a flattened
survival tent. “Got something here.”

“
Yeah, more
bodies. Will wonders never cease,” Hurranna growled.

Jethro turned to see
what Sergei was talking about and then brought up his IR. He froze.
“Sergei you've got a find.” He looked up as he opened a
link. “Sierra one five to Sierra six we've got a live one.”

“
What?”
the navy lieutenant said over the link.

“
Shooting you
IR video now sir. Two bodies. Alive in a shelter. They are about out
of O2 though. Body temps are ninety eight. Respiration is shallow.”

“
Get them on
life support stat. I've got my hands full as it is. Sierra six out.”

“
Yes sir,”
Jethro bounded across the torn terrain. “All Sierra one five
units on me now. Sergei hook into that shelter. Get them some air
from your reserves.”

“
Um, yeah
roger.” Sergei knelt and pulled a hose from his side pocket. He
plugged it into the port on his hip and then ran the braided line to
the tent. “Can't find... ah.” He moved as someone inside
tried to kick him. “Hey watch it!” He tapped the foot.
Then moved his hand to the port. He plugged the line in and then
watched his reserve tank drain and the tent slightly inflate.

“
How the
hell...”

“
No idea,”
Jethro answered.

“
Yeah, but now
I'm without a reserve.”

“
Bitch, bitch.
You’re a hero now. Quit complaining,” Jethro joked. He
closed the valve on the tent and then unhooked the hose from the
Liger and hooked it up to his own reserve. “Got it.” He
watched the tent inflate more.

“
Didn't want
to be a hero. I joined up to break things and blow stuff up,”
Sergei muttered.

“
Wah,”
Hurranna said coming over. “Ideas?”

“
LT said to
handle it. We've given them a couple hours but they are out,”
Jethro said, jacking into the tent. “Yeah.” He moved the
tent's clear plastic window so they could see inside. An unshaven man
and a woman were inside, tangled together in patched skin suits.
Unfortunately their helmets were off. That definitely complicated
things.