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2507: The Star Trader Chronicles

Episode 1: And So It Begins.....

As Brock stepped through the open door of the largest starship hangar in Nashville, the odor and noise of the place immediately assaulted his senses.  Though many would find the acrid smell of fuel and the clank of wrenches offensive, Brock reveled in the atmosphere.  To him the enormous hangar felt like a sanctuary. It was one of the few places he felt at home.

Turning to his left, he walked quickly down the oily walkway until he stood in front of Berth 234A. There he stopped and a smile grew slowly upon his lips.  Anyone watching the 6' 4" hulk of a man, with his dark queued hair and large square shoulders, might think from the sparkle in his eyes that he had just come into the presence of his lady love.  And in fact, this was true, for before him sat "The Aurora Lady".

As starships go, Aurora Lady was not a beauty.  She started life as a cargo vessel and had experienced much abuse during her more than 30 years in space.  Her sides were pocked marked, scorched and appeared to be patch worked from years of hap-hazard repairs, but she belonged to Brock and in his eyes, she was one fine lady. 

Brock walked along the port side of his starship checking her out with both touch and eye. Aurora's main hatch was open and as he walked by he glanced in.  He could see his first officer, and best friend, Ian Murphy going over something on a clipboard.  Ian had supported him when many had turned away and now he had signed aboard and was caring for the Aurora Lady as well as if she had been his own.  Who could ask for a better friend than that?

Many tongues had wagged when Brock's father, owner of one of the most successful freight companies in the system, had died suddenly and left Brock only 50,000 universals and the oldest ship in the fleet.  Brock, however, had been confident that the will had been altered and was not at all his father's doing.  He had thought of contesting, but knew he didn't have a chance in Hell of winning.

"Brockman!"  The voice coming from behind him startled Brock, whose given name was actually Daniel Reed Brockman.   He spun around to see Sid Ferrell, the owner of the hangar, fast approaching with a scowl on his face.  Sid was an ugly, pot -bellied little man who walked with a slight limp, but his wealth made him a force to be reckoned with in Nashville.

"What is it Ferrell?" Brock called out, knowing the answer before he had even spoken the question.

"What is that stinking hulk still doing here?!" Ferrell demanded as he gestured toward Aurora.  "I told you I wanted that thing out of here by the first of the month!!"

"Hold on, Sid! I just paid your clerk for another month so stop your squawking!" Brock growled back.

"Look Brockman, I told you that you could NOT have this berth any longer and that I wanted that stinking piece of scrap metal out and off of my property!  I've already promised this spot to an influential member of one of the First Families!"

Brock shrugged his shoulders and grinned.  "I guess I forgot," he lied.  "I should have her out of here in a week or two anyway."  He turned as if too walk away but Ferrell grabbed his arm and spun him back around to face him.

"You've got 48 hours and then I'll have that heap towed out onto the tarmac and taken apart!  She might be worth a few hundred universals in scrap metal."

Brock shook loose the man's grasp on his arm.  He was nearly a foot taller than Ferrell and it would have been a simple thing to knock the smaller man senseless.  It took great control but Brock resisted and tried reason.  "Sid, I haven't even got my crew together yet and I've already paid you for this entire month.  Surely your big shots can wait two more weeks!  I won't even ask for a refund for the two weeks I won't use."

Ferrell's face turned a deeper shade of red as he shook his head from side to side.  "48 hours!!"

Brock took a threatening step toward him but Ferrell didn't move.  "You've been paid for this month, Sid!  I've received no written notice to vacate.   I swear I'll take you to court!" he growled into Ferrell's round face.

Ferrell paused momentarily and then his face broke into an evil grin.  "The courts are backed up for at least three years! By then your tin whore will be nothing more than a memory!!"  He turned and stomped away.

Brock watched him go.  He knew that Sid was absolutely correct.  It was hopeless.  There was nothing he could do legally and Sid had his own private force of heavily armed guards to back him up.   Brock turned around and violently kicked the guard railing dividing his ship's berth from the next.   He began to swear a string of oaths, kicking the rail again and again until it finally went over with a clang.  He stood there panting.

"I take it things didn't go to well with Ferrell," a familiar voice commented.

Brock looked over at the open hatchway.  Ian and his cousin, Rose McWerter,  stood there smirking.  Ian, all 5 ' 7" of him, was leaning against the bulkhead with his left arm and Rose had ducked under it for a better look.  At 5'1", she was even smaller in stature but, even so, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Rose, who had once served as Brock's father's assistant, was the only family member Brock had left that he knew he could count on.  She was a mathematical wizard, a great financial manager and knew her way around a computer terminal.  He was glad when she consented to join the crew as Paymaster.

Rose's round, gold framed glasses glinted in the harsh light of the hangar as she looked in his direction.   It had only been in the last year or so that she had taken to wearing the antique eyewear.  Her eyesight had been corrected at birth, just like everyone else born on Earth, but she wore them because she loved the way the self adjusting lenses kept her eyes comfortable in any light.  Brock thought she looked better without them, but would never say so.

"So what's the verdict, Captain?" Rose called out.  "How long have we got?"

Brock sucked in a calming breath then began to make his way slowly to the hatch.  "Forty eight hours!" he answered.  He reached the small gangway and climbed the steps.

Ian and Rose stepped aside to let him pass.  "We'll never make it, Brock," Ian sighed as he pulled at his dark goatee worriedly. "We need a crew."

Brock grimaced.  "You think I don't know that?" he grumbled.  "There's still a chance though.   I've put up notices all along the river front that we're seeking crewmen.  Applicants are requested to meet at 2pm this afternoon at Skinny Billy's.  I've rented the back room there and I want you to help me screen them."

"I hope there is someone there to screen," Ian said softly. 

"For our sakes, there better be!" Brock said, then he turned to Rose.  "When we take off from here I can't see us coming back soon.  I'm going to need you to go to our bank and withdraw all of my assets, Rose.  Make sure they give it to you in universals."

"Got it," Rose assured.  "I'll just grab my bag and be on my way."

"Thanks," Brock said.  "And be careful, Rose.  There are a lot of bad guys out there."

Rose smiled.  "Like I can't take care of myself?" she asked with a grin.  Then she ducked back into the ship and disappeared.

"If we're gonna be leaving in 48 hours then there's a lot I'm going to have to check out on the bridge," Ian lamented.  "Call me when you're ready to go up to Billy's."  He turned suddenly and was gone too. 

Brock's stomach rumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten a thing all day.  He entered the dark corridor of the ship and walked quickly towards the galley, his footsteps clanking on the metal decking as he went.  Suddenly it occurred to him that he smelled the odor of baking bread.  He turned left into the galley and walked past the large crew table to find himself face to face with a stranger. He took a moment and studied the pair of golden eyes framed in dark lashes that belonged to a feminine face.

“Who are you and what are you doing on my ship?” he wondered aghast.

The woman put a hand on her hip and studied him a moment.  “You need a cook and by the looks of what is in your supply lockers, you also need a supply master.”

“I—“

“You eat bachelor food.  You eat prepackaged rations.  These are not good, they don’t feed your soul.”

“I'm not worried about my soul—“

“It doesn’t matter. You need a cook.  I am Zahirah Sayar and I was sent to this ship to speak to a Brock.”

“You've found him.  I am the captain of this vessel."  He looked at her suspiciously.   "And who sent you here?” he wondered raising an eyebrow.

“Ian Murphy.”

“Ah, Ian, I see."   Brock shook his head. "You realize that he is crazy and he is Irish so he pulls jokes—“

“Ian walked into the café where I was working and left me this note.” She pulled out a carefully folded napkin and handed it to Brock.

“You can bake?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Cook?”

“My father was a chef.  I ran the restaurant with my mother in New Jerusalem, Yishuv Colony.  Yes, I can cook.”

“Not kosher?”

She smiled slightly, “It is hard to cook kosher in this gentile world.  No I do not keep kosher.  Many don’t believe.”

“Hmm,” Brock grunted glancing at her. “What else can you do?”

“I was a sharpshooter and a medic when I served in the Colonial Israeli Peacekeeping forces.  I was in for four years..... and I didn’t cook for my squad unless I had to", she added.

She handed him a freshly baked flatbread. “Your ingredients were very limited, but if I am applying for a cook’s position then I had better cook, hadn’t I? I take watching after my charges very seriously.”

“I see,” Brock said.  “Sharpshooter?”

“I wanted to be a sniper, but they had other plans.  I like bolt action rifles.  One shot, one kill.”

Brock sighed.   He bit into the warm bread.  It tasted like heaven.  He looked around her to a pot steaming on the stove.  "What else is that you've got back there?"

"Soup. I opened a couple of old cans of veggies and added some seasonings.  It's not much.   You want a taste?" 

"Yes."  Brock moved to the large table in the galley and plunked himself down in his accustomed seat.   He waited as she ladled some soup into a cup. 

She stood on the other side of the galley counter and eyed him.  "I am NOT a waitress," she said flatly.  Then she poured a cup of coffee.

He tapped the table top next to him.   "I understand.  Now come and have a seat."

She sighed loud enough for him to hear and then picked up several items and walked to the table.  She placed a soup cup and a spoon in front of him, along with a hot cup of coffee, then sat where he had indicated.   He smiled at her and then dunked what was left of his bread into the soup and pushed it into his mouth.  

Zahirah cocked her head.  "Well?"

Brock chewed and swallowed quickly. It was very tasty.   "Not bad, Miss Z.    Not bad at all."

"My name is Zahirah."

"Ah.......right."  He picked up his spoon and took another taste.   "You're hired, providing you can be moved on board and ready to go by noon tomorrow."

Zahirah blanched.  This was happening much faster than she had planned.   "You mean leave, as in leave Nashville?" she asked.

"No, I mean leave as in leave the planet," Brock answered.  He picked up the cup and finished his soup lustily.  This woman was going to make life on board his ship much more bearable.

"And when will we be returning to Earth?" Zahirah asked.

Brock sat his cup down and stared once again into those golden eyes.  "My ship does not have an itinerary.   We will not file flight plans.... if we can help it.  I have no idea where we will be a week from today, or a month from today either.  This ship may never land on Earth again." She stared at him wide eyed. "Of course, I can't guarantee that one way or another."  He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder.  "I'm afraid, Miss Z, if that doesn't suit you then you'd better not sign on board."

Zahirah paused briefly, then suddenly got  to her feet causing his hand to slip from her shoulder.   She picked up his cup and spoon and carried them back to the galley as he watched her curiously.   She sat them down on the counter and wiped her hands on a towel, then she turned back to face him.  "How much do you pay?" she asked.

"Five hundred universals a month," he answered.   Then seeing her frown he continued.  "However, if we make a hefty profit on any job, all hands will get a tidy bonus."

"And do you plan to make a hefty profit often?"

Brock laughed.  "Of course!"

"And do you plan to stock this kitchen as it should be stocked before we go?"

"THAT, Miss Z, will be your first order of business.... if you sign on."

Zahirah thought things over for only a moment.  She had a feeling that this was the opportunity she had been praying for.  She smiled widely.  "In that case, Captain, I believe you have hired yourself a cook!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose was mad as a wet hen when she stepped outside of the UE Bank of Nashville.    Perhaps that is the reason that she didn't notice the hydro car zipping in to park at the curb until it was too late.  She didn't react until after the door of the long black car popped open and a dark-haired, muscular man jumped out.   Before his approach even registered in her brain, his arm was around her neck, his hand was over her mouth and she was being dragged to his vehicle.

She tried to bite the man's hand as she kicked her heavy heeled shoes backwards into his shin.  "Space YOU!" the man yelled, but he never loosened his grip.  Rose squirmed and kicked and made muffled noises.  He pushed her towards the open door and she quickly extended her limbs in all directions, making herself as wide and unmanageable as possible.  He cursed again and kneed her sharply in the back and the pain shot through her body.  She bent forward involuntarily and found herself halfway in the car.  The driver, a dark skinned man with big white teeth, leered at her and grabbed the handle of her bag.  She held on for all she was worth.

As she tried to tug the bag away from the driver she was suddenly aware that the thug who had pushed her into the car from behind seemed to be gone!!  She turned her head and looked over her shoulder, still holding on.   She was surprised to see that the thug was now engaged in a struggle with a stranger.   Deciding quickly that her bag wasn't worth the fight, she let it go and her sudden release of the handles caused the driver's head to snap back with a painful crack against the driver's side door.  He yelped.

Rose backed out of the car quickly and turned.  The tall wiry stranger was trading blows with the thug and the thug seemed to be getting the worst of it.  Rose looked around quickly for a weapon but there was nothing in the immediate vicinity that was usable.

"Let it go!!  I've got the bag!!" the driver suddenly yelled from the car.  The thug spun away from the stranger and Rose got out of his way as he ran past her and jumped in the car, slamming the door.  With a squeal of its tires, the car pulled hastily away.

Rose turned to her rescuer.  "I can't thank you enough!"

The man smiled. "My pleasure, Maam.  I'm sorry they got your bag." He looked at her with concern. "Are you hurt?"

Rose shook her head.   "They didn’t get as much in that bag as they thought,” she said with a knowing smile.  “And I don't think I’m badly hurt, but I might feel a few twinges tomorrow."  She offered her hand.  "I'm Rose McWerter.  Are you from around here?"

The man took her hand and shook it carefully.  "I'm just known as Cowboy," he responded, releasing her hand.  "I'm not from anywhere in particular. At the moment, I'm just passing through."

Rose looked into his warm hazel eyes and smiled. There were times when she would  just get a feeling about someone and her feelings about Cowboy was that he was someone she could trust.  She looked at his worn clothing, the worn down heels of his cowboy boots and his shaggy hair.  "If someone were to offer you a job, would you be interested?" she asked.

Cowboy grinned. "Well, I reckon that would depend on what kind of a job they were offering.  I'm not a man to turn down a job........providing it’s honest work."

Rose cocked her head and smiled.  "How do you feel about space travel?"

"I'm not opposed to it," he answered, "but I can't say I've got much experience at it either."  His brow furrowed.  "What kind of a hand are you looking for?"

"My cousin has a cargo ship.  He's an independent and he's looking for a crew.  Would you like to talk to him about signing on?   I think you'd fit in well."

Cowboy ran his left hand through his light brown hair as he considered the offer.  "Well, I dunno.......I don't have many skills to offer a starship captain," he said thoughtfully.

"A good man can be taught what he'll need to know," Rose assured him.  "Want to give it a try?   The worst that can happen is that he'll say 'No'.  I can take you to the ship now, if you like." 

Cowboy sighed.  "Well, I reckon that's the best offer I've had in a while.   Sure, let's give her a try!"

Rose and Cowboy waited at the bus stop and took the No. 18 bus back to the hangar.  When they arrived back at The Aurora Lady's berth they entered through the main hatch and found Brock sitting at the crew table in the galley.  He was going over a supply list with his new cook, Zahirah, both of them drinking coffee.  When Rose walked in with Cowboy, both of them looked up with interest.

Brock stood up.  "Welcome home, Rose.  Who's your friend?" he asked.

"Captain, I'd like you meet Cowboy," Rose said.  "He just saved my life."

Brock's mouth dropped open.  "He did WHAT?"

"Some thugs tried to pull me into a car and he saved me," Rose said, grinning at Cowboy proudly.

Brock shook Cowboy's hand vigorously.  "Thank you!  I owe you!" he said heartily.

Cowboy shrugged his shoulders.  "She needed help and I was there," he said modestly.  He withdrew his hand from Brock's and crossed his arms in front of him. "Nice little ship you have here," he said, looking around.

"Brock, Cowboy is looking for work and might be interested in working on The Lady," Rose informed.  "I think he'd be an asset to our crew."

Brock grinned.  "Are you hungry?" he asked, noting Cowboy's disheveled appearance and thin physique.

"I reckon I could use something," Cowboy answered.

"Come and sit yourself down then," Brock invited. Cowboy sat down at the crew table and so did Rose.  Brock gestured to Zahirah.  "This is our cook, Miss Z."

"ZAHIRAH," Zahirah corrected loudly. 

"Pleased to meet you Zahirah," Rose said pleasantly.  Cowboy nodded at Zahirah and smiled. 

"I've still got some soup and bread in the galley," Zahirah said. "I'll get you both some."  She went into the galley and started to rattle dishes and pans.

Brock sat down opposite Cowboy.  "Do you have any starship experience?" he asked.

"No, not to speak of," Cowboy answered briefly.

Brock leaned back in his chair and eyed the man.  He couldn't deny that there was something very likeable about him.  "I'm looking for some good hands who would be ready to ship out in 48 hours.  Would that be a problem?"

"Not at all. I'm ready now," Cowboy said flashing a grin.  Zahirah returned with a tray.  She sat a bowl of soup in front of Cowboy and Rose and put a plate of flatbread between them.  Then she gave them each a steaming mug of coffee and a glass of water.  "Thank you," Cowboy said, and he began to eat immediately.

Brock watched them eat for a few minutes and then asked, "Have you got another name, Cowboy?"

"I do, but I don't use it much."

"Well, Rose here, is our Paymaster and I'll leave it to her to get it from you if you take the job," Brock said slowly.  "Uh......not that it really matters, but are you wanted by the authorities?"

Cowboy stopped eating and looked Brock in the eye.  "I reckon there are some who are looking for me," he said.  "Is that a problem?"

"Not as long as I can trust you to be loyal to me and my crew," Brock answered.

Cowboy grinned.  "Then I'd be pleased to hire on, if you'll have me."

"As long as I have your word and Rose's recommendation...," he paused and looked at Rose who nodded enthusiastically. "Fine, then!  Consider yourself a part of this crew!"  Brock grinned and picked up his now cold coffee cup and took a sip.  He made a face at the cold beverage. Zahirah rolled her eyes, then took it from his hands and went out to the kitchen to get him a new cup.  "By the way," Brock said, "are you any good at figuring and counting?"

Cowboy looked at him curiously.  He took a last bite of bread and pushed his empty dishes away from him. "I'm pretty good at figuring and I've been told I have a better memory than most.  Why?"

"I'm in need of a Quartermaster to keep track of our cargo and I think you might just fill the bill if you're willing.  Rose can train you.   You'd be working with her."

Cowboy and Rose looked at each other and smiled.  "I'm willing if she is," Cowboy quipped.  Zahirah returned with the captain's coffee then disappeared again.

Rose nodded.  "That would be great," she answered.

"Then it's settled, "Brock announced.  "Rose can fill you in on the details later. Go have a walk around the ship and pick out an aft cabin for yourself."  Brock reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather bag.  He put his hand into it and pulled out 5 hundo in  universal coins and pushed them over to Cowboy.  "Here is your sign on bonus.  Take this afternoon to get yourself some new clothes and personal supplies.  Then get showered and rested and be ready to work at 0600."

Cowboy grinned widely.  "Thank you, Captain," he said.  "I'll be back before you can miss me."  He stood up and put the coins in his pocket, then turned and exited the galley.

Rose cocked her head and looked at Brock.  "Wow, you really trusted him quickly!  Aren't you afraid he'll run off with that money and we'll never see him again?"

Brock shook his head.  "He'll be back.  I think he needs us as badly as we need him."   He took a sip of his hot coffee.  "Now tell me about what happened to you? Did they jump you for the universals?"

"Brock, you're not going to like what I'm going to tell you," Rose warned.

He sat his coffee cup down quickly and worry lines creased his forehead.  "What happened?  You're not going to tell me they got your bag and the money, are you?"

Rose took a deep breath before speaking.  "Well, they got the bag but the money wasn't in it.  The news is still bad though. The bank wouldn't give me your universals!"

"What?!!  Why not?!!  You have total access to that account!"

"It's not that.  They told me your account has been frozen by the state and that it is unsettled as to who is the rightful owner of those universals!"

Brock's face turned red and he slammed his fist on the table, spilling his coffee.  "Those blood suckers!!!  Keith Overlinger has got to be mixed up in this! Wasn't it enough that he STOLE my father's company?  Now he's got to have my pittance of an inheritance too?"

"I imagine he's involved somehow, Brock.  I was so mad when I left the bank that I wasn't as alert as I should be and that's how those thugs got the better of me.  I don't know where I'd be now if Cowboy hadn't come along."

Brock put his large hands over his face and dragged them slowly down until they left his chin and slammed onto  the table top. He sighed raggedly. Rose looked at him with large eyes.  She had never seen him so distraught before.  "I don't know what I'm going to do, Rose," he moaned.   "I should have withdrawn that money immediately."  He looked up at her sadly.  "You just can't trust the damn banks any more! There were almost 40,000 universals in that account.   I don't know how we're going to fly without that money."

Rose reached into a pocket of her jeans and pulled out a little velvet pouch.  She dropped it on the table and it clanked.  Brock looked puzzled.  "What's that?" he asked, staring at the pouch intently.

"Well, it's MY savings." She opened up the pouch and spilled the green coins out onto the table.  "That's how we're going to get out of here, Captain.  There's  22,110 universals there."

Brock shook his head.  "Rose, I can't take your money," he protested.

"Then call it a loan," Rose answered.  "You can pay me back after we make our first million."  She grinned lopsidedly at him.

Brock’s face broke into a grin.  "I knew there was a reason I kept you around," he teased.  "But seriously Rose, I will pay you back."

"I know you will, Brock," Rose said softly.  Then she got up from her chair, walked around the table and gave him a big hug.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things were pretty quiet at Skinny Billy's at two in the afternoon.  There were only a handful of people in the room and all of them were at the bar.   Brock and Ian threaded their way through the empty tables on their way to the back room.   As they crossed the room both Brock and Ian were thinking the same thing, "I hope there is somebody back there waiting for us."

Brock stopped when he reached the back wall.  He held his breath as he pushed the door open into the adjoining room, then looked back at Ian and grinned.  There were at least a dozen people waiting for them.

Brock strode into the room and faced the people sitting along the far wall in folding chairs. "I take it you are all here to interview for positions on the Aurora Lady?" he asked, as he surveyed the eight men and four women before him.  Most of the waiting people nodded and some affirmed his question verbally.  Brock walked over to the only table, located at the front of the room and sat down.  The table was illuminated by one white light hanging from a string above his head.  He gestured to his friend. "Ian, here, will go around and get your names and then we'll call you over one at a time," he announced.

In short order the interview process began.  Brock dismissed two of the applicants as soon as they approached the table.  They were obviously impaired,  either drunk or drugged up, and Brock wouldn't tolerate either.  A couple of others were dismissed because neither Brock nor Ian thought they looked trustworthy.  There were also three more who were let go because they seemed to not have any useful skills, nor any interest in acquiring any.

"Arturo Romanya," Brock called out next.   A middle aged man stood and approached the table.  His hair was black with white streaks.  His face was thin and lined and his eyes were very dark.   He sat down in the chair in front of the table and flashed a charming smile, in an instant he went from sinister, to pleasant.

"Good afternoon, Arturo.  Why do you think we should make you part of our crew?" Brock asked, already liking the man before him on gut instinct.

"I've spent my whole life aboard ship," Arturo began.  "I've probably done just about any chore that needs doing on a starship, from cooking to shooting.  I'm extremely versatile and I was told to tell you that Wanda Lighthouse referred me."

Brock raised an eyebrow.  "You know Wanda?"

"Yes, we crewed together on the Dragonfly for over four years."

Brock thought back to the last time he had seen Wanda.  It must have been just about a year ago.   She had been a pilot in his father's fleet of cargo ships.  Her ship had been the Dragonfly and she had been an excellent employee and a good friend.  At one point he had even thought their relationship could go beyond friends, but somehow that hadn't worked out.   He thought about Wanda with her shock of red hair and her ready smile.  He missed her.

Brock studied Arturo's face.  He didn't remember the man, but then again, he didn't remember most of the crews of the cargo ships, he had only dealt with the captains.  "Wanda's recommendation would really carry some weight," he said thoughtfully.

Arturo reached into his upper jacket pocket and brought out an electronic letter.  When he unfolded it and laid it in front him, Brock smiled.  There was Wanda's image smiling back at him.  The letter read its own contents aloud in Wanda's voice.  It said, "Hello Brock.   Long time no see.  I hope you are well.  The man in front of you is Arturo Romanya."  At this point the letter flashed Arturo's image in verification.  "He is a good hand and a loyal crewman.  He's great at navigation, has a strong back and is a great marksman.  Hire him and you will not be sorry.  Take care, my friend.   Wanda"

Ian looked at the electronic signature code.   He pulled out his hand held computer.  The compact information device was also known as a "C.I.D.." He scanned the code carefully.  "That's definitely Wanda's signature," he confirmed.

"We could use a good all around hand," Brock said, still looking down at Wanda's image. 

"You can keep that letter, if you like, "Arturo offered.  "If I've got the job, I'm happy."

Brock picked up the letter, folded it, and put it in his shirt pocket.  "Oh, you've got the job, providing you can be ready to ship out within 24 hours," Brock said, then he stood and offered Arturo his hand. 

Arturo stood too and they shook hands briefly. "I'm ready now.  Just point me in your ship's direction," Arturo answered.

 "Go on over to the big hangar, the Lady is berthed at 234A.   Find Rose and tell her to get you settled in.

"Thank you, Captain," Arturo replied.  He flashed that bright smile again and then turned and left the room.

"Well, that's one," Ian said as he watched Arturo go.  "I hope we can scare up a few more."

Brock nodded then called out the next name on the list, "Oro Carlotta Fierro".   A pretty young blonde girl stood up.  Brock looked at Ian and sighed.  This girl didn't look like she could possibly have any of the skills they were looking for.  His guess was that she was a pampered young kid who just wanted to get away from her family and that she probably was thinking that life on a space going cargo vessel might be exciting.

When the girl stood up Brock noticed that she was quite tall and slender but as she came closer he also saw that her arms were well muscled and that she had a toughness about her appearance that he hadn't noticed from a distance.  He felt more hopeful as he invited her to sit in the chair opposite him.

"Soooooo, Miss Oro,what kind of skills do you have that you think would benefit The Aurora Lady?"  Brock folded his arms and leaned back in his chair waiting for her response.

Oro leaned forward in her chair and locked eyes with Brock.  "I'm the best damned Weapons Specialist you've ever met and I can provide top notch security too."

Brock arched an eyebrow in surprise and then looked at Ian before responding.  "That's a pretty lofty boast," he commented slowly.

"It's NOT a boast.  It is simply a statement of fact," she said, relaxing a bit and sitting back in her chair. 

Ian cleared his throat before speaking.  "And just where did you get this fantastic weapons training?" he asked pointedly. 

"Mostly in the UEF," she answered. "I was discharged, honorably, 10 days ago."

"Earth Forces?  What is your Weapons rating?" Brock asked.

"Level 10. Expert.  Instructor certified."

Brock smiled.  "Well, now you have my attention," he admitted.

Ian wasn't as easily convinced.  He studied her a minute before he said, "What is the maximum range of an R-675  Plasma Rifle?" he called out.

"20 yards," Oro shot back.

"How many rounds in a clip for the Lorin Armor Piercing Pistol?"

"50 for the P-45 Armor Piercing Pistol  and 75 for the P-70 Anti-Personnel Pistol."

Ian nodded.  "She's right on both, Brock."

"What about your hand to hand training?" Brock asked.

"Level 10 also." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Brock.   "If you want a demonstration, I'll show you."  She stood up.

"No, not necessary.  I can see by those scars on your hands that you've been in a few fights," Brock said.

Oro sat back down. "More than a few."

"You know that we can pull up your service record on any computer, right?"

She nodded.  "I would expect you to check me out."

Brock sat for a few moments just looking at the girl in front of him. She impressed him as someone who could really handle herself and she was just the kind of no nonsense individual that he wanted to handle the Lady's security.  There was just one thing bothering him, her UEF affiliation.

"Oro," he began slowly," sounds like you could have had quite a career with the UEF.  Why did you leave?"

Oro's eyes narrowed.  "Because I refused to continue being a tool for the First Families," she answered, keeping her voice low.  She looked him in the eyes and smiled.  "And don't think I didn't check you out before I came in to this interview, Captain.  I want to know exactly what I'm getting into this time."

Her answer was just what Brock had been hoping for.  "That's all I need to hear."   He extended his hand to her.   "You're hired, providing you can be on board and ready to go in 24 hours." 

Oro stood and took his hand, shaking it vigorously.   Brock was pleased at her strong grip. "I can be ready sooner than that," she assured him.  "Thank you, Captain.  You won't be sorry you took me on." 

After Oro left, with instructions to draw her sign on bonus from the Paymaster on board The Aurora Lady, Brock and Ian continued to interview but could find no one else they wanted to sign on. 

"How about a pint?"  Ian asked as they left the back room.   "I'll buy."

"I've never been known to turn down a free drink," Brock answered.  They headed towards two empty bar stools at the end of the bar and Ian ordered a couple of pints, one of ale and the other sweet tea, plunking down a dex as payment.

 Skinny Billy, himself, was tending bar. He was tall and lanky with an angular shaped face and a long gray beard.  "Coming right up!" he said, picking up the dex and turning it over in his palm.  Then he turned and headed off to the tap room. "Be right back," he called over his shoulder.

Ian turned to Brock. "Well, things are a bit better now," he observed.  "I'd like to see us have a doctor on board, but what I'm most worried about is the lack of a mechanic."

Brock sighed.  "Yes, that worries me too.  We're going to have to find someone soon, maybe in one of the colonies.   You and I have some knowledge of what makes the old girl fly, but I don't know how long that's going to keep her space worthy." Billy returned and plunked the frothy pints of ale in front of them. 

"You'd think with all the ships berthed around here that we would have no trouble at all signing on a mechanic," Ian lamented.

Billy leaned forward and spoke to them both in a low voice.  "I don't know what you boys have done," he said, "but it seems you are on the black list."

Brock and Ian exchanged looks.  "What are you talking about, Billy?"  Brock asked.

"All I know, is that some goons came in here and told a bunch of the able hands waiting to see you to beat it  just before you arrived.  I couldn't hear what they said, but I did see the people they spoke to get up and skeedaddle."   Billy turned around to look and make sure that no one was eavesdropping.

"Damn!" Brock said loudly, causing several at the bar to look his way.  "First my money and now this!!  It's got to be Overlinger."

Ian shook his head.  "I'll be glad when we shove off from here.  I don't think it would be very healthy for us to stick around much longer."

"Did I hear you say you were looking for a mechanic?"  Billy asked suddenly.

"Yes," Brock answered.  "Do you know someone?"

"Can you wait here for about 15 minutes?"  Billy asked.

"I reckon," Brock said, then he picked up his pint and took a sip.  Billy smiled knowingly, then took off quickly.

Brock and Ian sat at the bar sipping their drinks.  Both of them were worried about the conspiracy that seemed to be mounting against them and anyone that had anything to do with their ship.  Brock was anxious to get back to the Lady and kept glancing at his watch.  The only thing that kept him there was their dire need for a good mechanic.

It was only about 10 minutes later when the door to the bar opened and a tallish woman with short, dirty blonde hair walked in.   She was dressed in light blue overalls over a bright white t-shirt.  Billy stopped what he was doing and motioned her over. As she approached the bar she greeted Billy, then turned to look at Brock and Ian. 

"This is the mechanic I was talking about.  She can fix anything that flies or rolls," Billy said proudly.  "Brock, Ian, this is Nova Nevels."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Nova," Brock said extending his hand.  Nova shook his hand, then Ian's.  "Why don't we move out to a table so we can talk?" Brock asked.  Nova nodded her agreement.  "Would you like something from the bar?"

"Yes, thanks. I'd like an ale."

"Coming right up," Billy said.   He quickly took a pint mug off the back bar and drew Nova's drink.   Then Nova, Brock and Ian moved to a table on the other side of the room.

"I'm not going to mince words," Brock said as soon as they sat down.   "The Aurora Lady needs a mechanic and she needs one fast.   We are planning to leave Earth's atmosphere within 36 hours, maybe sooner.  Can you be ready to leave that soon?"

Nova nodded.  "That wouldn't be a problem, Cap'n.   I travel light and there's not much holding me here."

Brock leaned back in his chair.  "That's great.  Now I'm going to listen and you go ahead and tell me about your background and training as a mechanic."

Nova smiled.  "I guess you could say I was born to it," she said.  "I was born on a freighter, Athena's Wisdom, and by the time I was six, I had my own tool belt .   My Uncle Tim was the chief mechanic on the ship and he let me follow him around as he worked.  By the time I was a teen I could handle most of the repairs on board myself.   I've never had any formal training, but if it's broke, I guarantee you that I'll fix it.  I'm also pretty darn good at making do if there are no replacement parts around."

Ian grinned.  "Nothing like on the job training!   I put more faith in that kind of learning than anything you can get sittin’ in a classroom."

"I agree," Brock said.  "So........you think you can handle the Aurora Lady?"  He pulled a C.I.D.  out of his shirt pocket and plunked it down in front of Nova.  "Here's all the specs on our Lady.  What do you think?"

Nova pulled the tiny computer closer to her and examined the screen.  She paged though several schematics and then looked up and smiled.  "I could break her down and put her back together again without a diagram," she boasted.  "She's very much like the ships that I've spent my life on!"

Brock looked at Ian, who nodded his approval.  "Nova, you might just be the answer to our prayers," he said.   He picked up the small computer and put it back into his pocket.  "How soon can you report to the Aurora Lady? There's a 500 universal sign on bonus waiting for you there."

"If you are on your way back to her now, I'd like to come with you and have a look," Nova said.  "I'll only need about an hour to pick up my stuff and buy a few things,then I'll be set to go."

"Fantastic!" Brock said.   "Here's to our new mechanic!"  He held up his pint and they all clinked their glasses together in celebration.  

~~~~~~~~~

When they arrived back at The Aurora Lady's berth, the trio found the ship alive with activity.  Zahirah and Cowboy were outside with motorized pallets of galley supplies, checking them off as they prepared to move them inside and stow them away systematically.   Brock introduced them to Nova and then he, Ian and Nova went up the main gangway and into the ship.

Oro was standing just inside the door, an automatic weapon at the ready and a serious expression on her face.

Brock raised an eyebrow.  "Is there something going on that I should know about?" he asked.

"Something just doesn't feel right, Captain," she answered.  "I have a sixth sense when trouble is brewing and right now it's telling me to be vigilant."

"Anything specific?"  Ian queried. 

"There's been some talk about the captain of the Lady and her crew," Oro replied.  "It sounded just like the same old scuttlebutt that is aimed at keeping one cargo vessel from getting a contract over another.   And a couple of dock rats told me I was crazy to sign on here, but it feels like more than that."

Brock nodded.  "I guess it won't hurt to keep watch until we're out of here."

"I also took the liberty of insisting that the crew carry their side arms at all times, Captain.  I hope that wasn't over stepping my authority."

"Not at all,Oro."  Brock patted her shoulder.  "I like the fact that you are on your toes."

Rose came around the corner quickly.   "I thought I heard your voices, " she said.  "Arturo reported in and I gave him his sign on bonus.  He's off getting a few supplies but I told him to get back here as fast as he can."

"That's fine, Rose," Brock assured her.   He gestured to the woman beside him. "This is Nova.   She's our new mechanic."

Rose grinned.  "Fantastic!!  I'm really glad to meet you. "

"Issue her a sign on bonus and show her the engine room and her quarters, Rose," Brock instructed.  Then he turned to Nova. "We need you to get your things and get back on board ASAP.  I would like to get the Lady air born as fast as possible."

"Aye Cap'n," Nova said quickly.   "I'll be back before you miss me."  Then she turned and followed Rose down the corridor.

"I think I'll go on up to the bridge and run some diagnostics on the control panels and navigation controls," Ian said.  "I don't want to be caught with our pants down if we have to make a hasty exit."

"Good thinking," Brock agreed.  "I'll be in my quarters.  I need to make a few contacts and try to see if I can find out what the hell is going on.   Oro is right.  Something is very wrong.  I can feel the pressure and I don't think the attack on Rose or the goons who were trying to scare people away from signing on to the Lady were random incidents.  Something is going on and the sooner we are away from here, the better."

Brock headed off down the corridor and turned to enter his cabin.  It wasn't much larger than the others but it was appointed much better.  Besides his own personal lav, he had a systems monitor, a large overstuffed recliner, a desk and  a custom made bed.  "News," he said as he walked through the door and the systems monitor screen winked on. 

As the monitor began to babble about the days' events, Brock seated himself behind his desk and activated the auxiliary systems screen.  He began to run through the status displays to check out the health of Aurora Lady.  He had just thought to himself that things were looking pretty good  when something on the news caught his ear.

"Keith Overlinger has reported that the break in at his home took place between the hours of 3 am and 5 am when the entire household was asleep," the female reporter stated.  Brock swiveled his chair around for a better look just in time to see Overlinger's round, ruddy face fill the screen.  The image made Brock's stomach turn over.

"This was no ordinary break in," Overlinger said as he squinted into the camera.  "Whoever took them knew just what they were going for.  They bypassed many other valuable items to get just those three!"

"What exactly was taken?" the blonde reporter asked, a phony look of concern on her face.

"A  crystal  bell,  an antique silver cup and a  gold dipped, bronze statue of a woman!"

The hair on the back of Brock's neck stood up.  He knew those items well as he had fought in the courts to get them, and lost.   The bell and cup were left to his deceased mother by his grandmother and the statue had been commissioned by his father.  It was a twelve inch tall, exquisitely detailed statue of his mother.   The statue had stood on a marble pedestal by the front door nearly all of Brock's life.  The mold had been broken after it was cast so it could never be duplicated.  Now that his father was dead, Brock could not imagine who would have broken into his former home to steal just those items.

"Do you have any suspects in mind?" the reporter asked, as if she'd just read Brock's mind.

"Yes," Overlinger growled, but I am not at liberty to discuss it."

The reporter thanked Overlinger and moved on to the next story.  Brock chewed on his lower lip, the news now only background noise.  Something beyond the fact that his family's cherished possessions were missing were unsettling, and he wished he knew exactly what that something was.

~~~~~~~~

That evening the whole crew had gathered in the galley to share their first meal together.   Brock sat at the head of the rectangular table and looked at the people before him.  There was quite a hodgepodge of personalities, backgrounds and skills represented there, but he already had the feeling that they were going to come together to make a great crew and shipboard family.  He got to his feet to speak to them.

"Before Miss Z sets out the grub..."    Zahirah shot him a disapproving look.  "...I mean, our fine dinner," he corrected, "I would like to officially welcome all of you on board and thank you for the work you have already put in this day.  I can tell, already, that we are going to work well together.   Remember that as long as we stand up for each other and watch each other's backs, that we will be pretty damned invincible."   He picked up his glass of wine.  Almost as one the other crew members stood and raised their glasses high.  "To the crew of the Aurora Lady," Brock toasted, "may she fly far, fly long, and may her crew grow rich and our friendships strong!"

"To the Aurora Lady and her crew," they all echoed.

Brock grinned.  "Miss Z, I'm starving!" he called out.  Zahirah rolled her eyes but went to her kitchen and began uncovering large containers of steaming hot food.  She had made a large pan of lasagna, a platter of garlic bread and a pan of ravioli.  Then she turned to the cooler and brought out a huge bowl of salad.  She put all of the food out on the counter and the crew began to line up and fill their plates.

Cowboy patted his stomach as he waited in line.  "I think I'm going to put on quite a few pounds during my stint on the Lady," he said.   "I've never heard of such great food on a space going vessel."  Zahirah overhead him and smiled proudly.

After the meal, Rose helped Zahirah clear the plates away and they all stayed at the table to discuss their plans for getting underway.  Nova reported that the engines seemed in good shape and were space worthy. Ian was satisfied with the status of the bridge. Arturo, who had been assigned to clean out the cargo and storage areas, said his task would be finished in another four hours or so.  Oro said the weapons all checked out as operational and that she would continue to stand guard until they had left Earth.   Zahirah and Cowboy assured Brock  that they were now well supplied and Rose said that their finances were adequate but that an infusion of new money would be welcomed at any time.  

Brock was pleased.  "I plan to be off this rock within 24 hours," he announced.  "We'll do a little shake down cruise and then we'll set course for our first official destination.......just don't ask where that is, because I'm not sure of that yet myself!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning everyone was well rested, with the exception of Oro who had insisted on keeping watch all night.  After they had eaten a hardy breakfast, Rose volunteered to stand guard so that Oro could get a few hours of shut eye.  Everyone else went about their tasks.

The day wore on with the work progressing as expected.  Lunch came and went. They paused only briefly for a sandwich while they continued to ready the Lady for her voyage.  There was no hint of the trouble to come until about three in the afternoon when  Ian walked into the galley carrying a tan cloth bag.  Brock was sitting there going over star charts, reacquainting himself with the old trade routes he use to fly.  He looked up at Ian's puzzled expression and immediately forgot the charts.   "What is it?"  he asked 

"Well, I'm not sure, Brock," Ian answered. "I was checking out our life support systems and while I was up there I decided to check out the status of our back up oxygen tanks when I noticed something sticking out of the overhead above the tanks.  At first I thought it was a zero grav suit, but it wasn't quite the right color.  I reached up and pulled on it and this bag fell down."   He dropped the bag on the table with a muffled thud.

"So.......what's in it?" Brock asked, already grabbing the bag and pulling it to him.

"Have a look.  You're not gonna believe it."

Brock stood up and turned the bag over, out spilled a crystal bell, a silver cup and a gold statue.  Brock's eyes widened in surprise and for a moment he couldn't even speak.   They were the items stolen from Overlinger's mansion!

"Isn't that the statue of your mother that you were trying to get the courts to award you?"  Ian asked.  "I remember seeing it inside the door when I would go to your father's house."

"Yes......," Brock answered, his eyes locked on the items.  He shook his head then looked up at Ian.   "I'm being set up!"

"What?  I don't understand."

"Ian, yesterday I heard on the news that someone had supposedly broken into Overlinger's mansion and had stolen these items!!  Someone planted them here!  I imagine that Overlinger will encourage the dock police to come here and search for these items, claiming that I stole them.  Then they'll lock me up for burglary while he finds a way to eliminate me permanently."

Ian was stunned, and it was clearly written on his face.  "But how did that stuff get here?  Who brought it on board?" he asked, his voice higher than normal. 

"The alleged break in was less than two days ago.  No one but the members of our crew  have  been on board this ship since then."

Ian paused a moment and let that sink in then said, "Someone on our crew planted that stuff?!!"  

"I don't know how else it could have gotten here."

"But who?"

"That is the million universal question," Brock responded.  "Most of these people are strangers to us.  I have no idea."   

Brock picked up the statue of his mother and turned it around in his hands.  Then he carefully deposited it back in the cloth bag along with the heavy crystal bell and the silver cup.  "It would be ironic," he said, "if I were sent to jail because I have in my possession items from my family that should rightfully be mine."

Ian shook his head.  "Unbelievable.   What are you going to do Brock?"

"Did anyone on board see you with this bag besides me?"

"No."

"Good.  Take it back and put it where you found it."

Ian's eyebrows arched.  "But if the dock police show up, and if this stuff was planted like we thought, then they'll march right up there and find it and drag you off!"

"I know," Brock said, handing the bag back to Ian.  "It's a gamble but I'm hoping we can find out who planted this stuff, dump him or her on the tarmac, and be out of here before the dock police show up. If whoever planted this stuff knows we've found it they might lay low and then we'll be taking off from here with someone on board who might be planning on putting a knife in my back.  Now, get going and let's step up our preparations.   I want to be away from here within the hour!"

"Ok Captain," Ian said, shaking his head, "but I sure hope you know what you're doing!"

Brock smiled slightly before speaking.  "So do I, my friend, so do I."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ian replaced the bag exactly where he had found it and then spread the word through the crew that they would be leaving ASAP.   Both Ian and Brock watched carefully for any reaction that might tip them off to who might have planted the items, but whoever might have done it remained cool and calm.  There was no reaction.

Just before dinner time, Brock was on the bridge with Ian.  They were just about ready to do a test firing  of the Lady's engines when they suddenly heard a huge commotion from down below.  They raced down the steps, determined the commotion was coming from the engine room, and headed there at break neck speed.  When they arrived most of the crew had already beaten them to it.   Nova seemed to be the source of the noise.  She was waving a wrench around and cursing as she kicked at a pile of metallic debris.  "That no good, son of a spaced willick!!" she was shouting at the top of her lungs.

"What's going on here?!"  Brock shouted above the noise.  "Nova!!  What is it?"

"I left the engines for five minutes to get a cup of coffee and when I came back I found this!" she yelled, nudging the debris with her foot.  "He was in here with a laser cutter and look what he did to my Lady's engines!"

"Mother of Pearl!  WHO did this?  WHO was it?"  Ian called out.

"Arturo,that SKUNK!"  Nova answered.

Brock and Ian exchanged looks and then Brock  asked quickly, "Where is he?!"

"He nearly knocked me down in the corridor on his way out," Rose piped up.   "Oro and Cowboy went after him."

"How bad is it, Nova?" Brock asked.   "Can you fix it?"

Nova angrily threw down her wrench.  "Of course I can fix it, but it might take several hours." Her face was bright red with the anger she felt at the man who dared to sabotage her engines.

"We don't have a few hours," Ian said, his voice colored with remorse. 

"Why not?"  Zahirah asked.  "What aren't you telling us?"

Ian looked at Brock, who cleared his throat and said," OK, you all have a right to know.   I'm going to give you the short version.   I believe Arturo is working for Keith Overlinger, one of the First Family members who stole my family's business.   He planted some items on board Aurora Lady that Overlinger reported stolen."

"Arturo  stole from Overlinger?" Rose asked, trying to comprehend what Brock was explaining.

"No, my guess is that Overlinger hired him to plant those items here so he could send the dock police to arrest me.   When he saw we were getting underway faster than expected, he sabotaged the engines to keep us here until the police arrived."

Nova picked up her wrench again and climbed up on the engine mount.  "Then we'd better get this old woman flying again as fast as we can!" she said determinedly. 

Brock grinned.  "Thanks, Nova," he said.  "Get us up and flying in an hour and there's a nice bonus in it for you."

Just then Oro and Cowboy came running into the engine room.  "Captain, I'm sorry but Arturo slipped away from us."

"Do you know what direction he was headed?" Brock asked.

"Yes, south, towards town, but there's something else........the dock police are here and they are demanding to see you!"

Brock frowned.  "I guess this is the show down," he said.   "Nova, work as fast as you can.   We've got to get those engines on line fast!"

"Don't worry, Cap'n!" Nova called out.  "I'll give her all I've got."

"Cowboy, stand guard inside," Brock ordered. "Don't let anyone circle around and come on board unannounced. "

"Understood," Cowboy acknowledged.

"Oro, Ian will fill you in and explain what's going on," Brock instructed. "The rest of you, grab a laser rifle and back me up. I guess it's time to talk to our visitors."

As soon as everyone was armed with long guns, and Oro had been brought up to speed, they met at the Lady's main gangway. Brock took the safety off his weapon. 

"Be careful with that thing, Captain," Ian jibed.  "Remember.... if you have to fire that thing the bad guys are that way."  He pointed towards the rear of the ship.

Brock frowned.  "Not funny," he said.

Oro wrinkled her nose.  "I'm sure our captain is a fine shot," she said, not liking Ian's joke.

"Well.........not really," Ian said, then he grinned at Brock.

Oro turned to Brock.  "I'm not exactly a dead eye," he admitted flatly.

"And that, is an understatement," Ian continued.  "Remind me to tell you a few stories later," he said to Oro.  Oro smirked back at him.

Brock shook his head and then looked outside.  He was dismayed to see a long line of heavily armed dock police stretching across the back of his ship. He looked back at his people.  "I want you to position yourselves at different levels on the gangway and keep your eyes peeled."  He stepped out the door and the others filed out behind him.

Zahirah spoke to Oro as they took their positions on the ramp.  "Ian was kidding about the captain's marksmanship, wasn't he?"  she asked.  Oro shrugged her shoulders in answer and focused on the dark shirted line of officers behind their ship.

 Brock stopped at the bottom of the main ramp. A tall officer in a black tunic stepped forward from the line.  "Which one of you is Daniel Brockman?" he asked briskly.

"That would be me," Brock said as casually as he could.  "What can I do for you?"

"I have a UE warrant to search your vessel from top to bottom," he said.  "It would be in your best interest to step aside."

Brock smiled.  "And I have the right to ask you what you are searching for."

The man in black grunted unhappily.  Clearly he did not want to waste time with explanations.  "Mr. Overlinger believes that you may have stolen some items from his home and are hiding them aboard your ship.  He says you went to court to obtain these items and when your petition was denied you broke into his house and stole them!   Now stand aside and let my people search your craft." 

"I would like to see your warrant," Brock said.  He turned to the crew members on the gangway.  "Stay here," he said to them in a soft voice and then walked to the middle of the open space between himself and the dock police officer.

~~~~~~~~

Dr. Winter Green arrived at the hanger, still upset with herself for having missed the Aurora Lady’s recruitment call at Skinny Billy’s.   After grousing to the bartender,   Billy had taken pity on the young doctor and had given her the location of the ship.  He suggested, with a shrug, that she might be able to catch the captain there.

Winter entered the huge hangar  from a  small east side entrance and was amazed to see the line of dock police officers behind the ship she was seeking.  Not wanting to walk into the middle of a bad situation, she decided to stop where she was and try to figure out what was going on.

She saw a large dark haired man, with a queue hanging down his back, walk towards the line of dock police and stop.  She noted that a group of four people were standing on the gangway of the ship.  All four were armed and all of them were focused on what was transpiring in front of them.

A tall man in black broke from the line of dock police officers and walked out to meet the man with the queue.  He had something in his hand and when he met the man from the ship, he let him examine whatever it was.  Angry words were exchanged but she couldn't quite make out what they were saying. 

Then in a moment it happened.  The large man with the queue began backing away from the man in black.  He turned to run back to the ship and someone in the line of police officers fired, hitting him and spinning him around.  Then the fire fight began in earnest.   Laser fire was coming from both the line of police officers and those on the gangway.

Everyone was ducking and weaving and trying to find cover.  The injured man collapsed at the bottom of the gangway and was dragged inside by a man and a woman as two more women tried valiantly to cover them.  Soon they were all inside the ship.

Winter ducked behind a metal barrel and looked around to see what her best avenue of escape might be, but then she stopped herself.  The man that was shot appeared to be hurt badly and she knew they had no doctor on board.  How could she just walk away when she was already there and carried her medical bag?  But how could she possibly get on board to help?

She knew enough about ships to know that most of them had small access doors to cargo holds and she wondered if she could stealthily move around to the front of the ship and find one of them.  "Well, it's worth a try," she said to herself and then began to move towards the ship.  Weaving back and forth she was able to stay undetected as the police trained their eyes on the back of the ship.

Eventually she found a small round opening that looked like a hatch.  She knew the chances of it being unlocked were probably scarce to none, but she took a deep breath and pulled the latch and, to her surprise, it opened.  She stood underneath it and pushed her medical bag through the open port and then grabbed the sides of the hatch and pulled herself up onto a little ledge.  She pulled the hatch closed behind her and began to climb up a small ladder towards the deck.

At the top of the ladder was another hatch which opened easily and she popped her head up to find that she was looking at a corridor in the ship, probably adjacent to the cargo hold.  As she was looking about, she suddenly felt cold steel against the back of her neck.

"Well, well, what have we got here?" a young male voice said.

"I'm a doctor," Winter called out.  "I came here to interview with your captain about signing on as your medic."

"Sure you have," the young man with the gun mocked.  "Now climb on up here, nice and easy."

"Hold on.  Let me grab my medical bag," Winter said, bending down to grab her bag and hoist it up.

The young man didn't like her sudden movement.  "Hold it right there!!  If you bring a gun up out of that hole I'm going to blow you to Kingdom Come!!" he warned in the fiercest voice he could muster.

"I'm telling the truth.  It's my medical bag!!"

The man came around in front of her and peered down the hole, all the time keeping his rifle aimed at her head.  "Go ahead, but move very slowly," he ordered.  She pushed the bag up on the deck.  "Now come on up here," he said helping her up with one arm and still holding the gun on her with the other.

When she was up through the hatch he kicked it closed again.  "Now open that thing up," he instructed, pointing to the bag. 

Winter squatted down next to the bag and opened it slowly.   She made sure it was opened wide so the young man could see in easily.  "See, medical instruments and supplies," she said.  "That's all it is."

The man peered in.  "Yeah, that's what it looks like," he agreed," but what are those fuzzy things?"

Winter smiled.  "They're my stuffed animals.  They go where I go," she explained.

The man laughed out loud.  "Well maam, I reckon I'm beginning to believe you.  I can't think that an agent for the dock police would be sneaking in here with a bag full of stuffed animals!"

 "I guarantee you, I'm just here to help and from what I saw you have a man who could use my medical expertise right now!"

The man sobered.  "Hold on a minute," he said.  He raised his wrist to his mouth, then poked at a device stuck to it with a finger on his gun hand.  "Ian, this is Cowboy.  I've got a woman here who claims to be a doctor, and I believe her.   She wants to help."

There was a pause on the other end of the line.  "The captain is hurt badly.  You can tell me how she got aboard later, but for now, bring her to the Infirmary.  But......keep her under close guard," Ian's voice answered.

"We're on our way," Cowboy confirmed.  "Let's go," he said to the doctor.  She hurriedly closed her medical bag and got to her feet.  "That way," he instructed, pointing ahead of him.

Winter took off in the direction Cowboy had indicated.  They went down a dark gray corridor than turned right for a short stretch before turning to another doorway and entering.  As she stepped into the room her eyes took in the scene in front of her.

The large injured man was lying on his back on the examination table.  His face was very pale and his breathing was rapid and shallow.  Someone had placed a large pad over his injury.  Next to him was a dark haired man with a goatee and a small woman with ash blond hair and unusual antique glasses. 

The dark haired man spoke first.   "You're a doctor?" he asked her.

She held up her bag for him to see.  "Yes, I was coming here to interview for the job as your medic when I stumbled onto the fight outside, so I came in through a small access port under the ship."

The man looked at Cowboy.  "Go secure those hatches and then make sure no one else gets on board," he ordered.

"Yes sir!" Cowboy answered and then he swung around and left.

The small woman turned to the doctor.  "I'm the injured man's cousin, Rose.  He's also our captain, Brock.  Please help him!!"

Winter looked around and sized up the Infirmary they were in as fast as she could.   Show me the supplies you have on hand," she said to Rose.  Rose began opening drawers and cupboards trying to locate the items the doctor was seeking as Winter followed behind her.

Brock reached up and grabbed the front of his first mate's shirt and pulled him down close to him.  "Ian, you've got to get back to the bridge and get us out of here!   They know Arturo sabotaged our engines so they aren't going to expect us to make a run for it.  They're probably going to wait us out."

Ian shook his head.  "But Arturo really did trash the engines!!" he protested.  "I don't think we are going to be able to get out of here soon enough."

"Then get down there and help Nova!" Brock insisted.  "Between the two of you, you should be able to figure something out."

Ian sighed.  "OK, I'll give it a try."  Brock released Ian's shirt front and lay back down.  "Rose, you'll stay with him?" Ian asked. 

"Yes!  Now GO!" Rose urged. 

Ian gave the doctor one last look and left the room.   First he went  to the back gangway where Oro and Zarhirah were standing just inside the open hatch, watching the line of police officers.  Oro saw him approach.  "They're demanding our surrender," she reported.  "They're giving us 30 minutes and then they are going to send in the UE Death Squad."

"Stall them if you can," Ian said.

"How?" Oro asked scrunching up her nose.

"I don't know.  Tell them we'll surrender as soon as our captain is treated for his injuries but it might take a bit longer than 30 minutes."

Zahirah sighed.  "Sure, like they'll go for that."

Ian's face colored.  "Look, I'm going to go try and help Nova get the Lady's engines put back together.  Do whatever you can!"  Then he left in a huff.  When he entered the engine room he found Nova covered with grease but she looked more hopeful.  "How's it going?" he asked.

Nova stood up and wiped her hand on her overalls.  "It's looking a bit better than I thought at first," she said.  "I think I can have her up and flying in about an hour."

"We don't have that long," Ian said grimly.

Nova sighed loudly then turned back to her work.  "How is the captain?" she asked, as she worked.  "Cowboy said he'd been hit pretty badly."

"We've got a doctor on board now," Ian informed," and she's working on him.  What can I do to help you?"

"Tell me everything you know about this back up relay that's been put on the starboard engine," she said.  "Do you know who installed it?"

Ian grinned slightly, gave a small shrug and admitted, "I did.”

"Good, grab that laser fusion deckometer and get up here then!"  Nova called out.

~~~~~~~~

Brock sat up carefully with assistance from Rose and the doctor.  "I've got to get to the bridge," he insisted.

Winter shook her head.  "I advise against it.   The meds I gave you will give you a lift for a short time but you've got a serious injury there and even with the rapid healing therapy, you're going to need to be very careful for a few days."

"I'll rest as soon as we get off this rock," Brock assured her.  He looked at the two tiny women who were watching him anxiously and smiled.  "I'll be fine.  Stop worrying."  He scooted to the edge of the examination table and slowly lowered his feet to the floor.  Steadying himself with his hands, he put his weight on his feet and stood.  He felt a little shaky, but he was confident he could walk.

"Lean on me, Brock.  I'm little but I'm strong," Rose offered.

Brock put his arm around Rose's shoulder.  "Perfect size for a crutch," he joked.   He looked over to the doctor and suddenly became serious.  "Thank you, Dr. Green.  Thank you for helping me and for taking the risk you did when you came on board."

Winter smiled.  "You're welcome," she said softly.  She began to gather her things and place them back into her medical bag. 

"I don't have much time to discuss this," Brock began again, "but I'd like to have you sign on as this ship's doctor.  You would really fill a great need here, however, I would understand if you turn me down.   Aurora Lady is getting under way immediately and I have no idea when we might return to Nashville, or even to Earth.  I need your decision now because if you want to disembark, you'll need to do it in the next five minutes."

Winter took a deep breath.  This was way more than she had bargained for.  How could she just leave, not retrieve any of her belongings, and sail off into the cosmos?    And yet, she thought, when would she ever get another chance in life for an adventure like this.   She looked at Brock's and Rose's hopeful faces and smiled.  They really wanted her to stay.  "OK, OK, I'll stay!  But you owe me a new wardrobe of clothes!"

Brock grinned.  "Done!" he said.  "Thank-you!  We'll talk later, but right now, I'm going to the bridge."  Rose helped Brock turn towards the door and they ambled out together.

Winter watched them go and then turned back to look at her new infirmary.  It was a mess.  Medical supplies were piled all around and Brock's used bandages and used treatment paraphernalia were all over the floor.  It wasn't lost on Winter that had she taken a job in a hospital this kind of mess would be taken care of by nursing aids, but on this job, the cleaning was going to be up to her.  She put her hands on her hips and shook her head.  "What have I gotten myself into?" she sighed.

~~~~~~~~

Zahirah, Oro and Cowboy were clustered at the rear hatch watching as a squad of twenty UE Death Squad officers marched into the hangar.  The squad  members were all armed with new impulse weapons that the watching trio had all heard of but had never seen before.

Cowboy whistled. "Those are the TY-800 impulse guns," he said in a low voice.  "I don't want to go up against those."

Zahirah looked at him.  "That wouldn't be my first choice either," she said.  "I was hoping we'd get to see a little bit of the galaxy before getting wiped out."

Oro shook her head.  "We're not licked yet."   She brought her wrist up towards her mouth so she could speak into the communications device stuck there.  She activated the device, known as a T.I.C.   "Bridge, we've got some new company," she announced.

"What's going on, Oro?" Brock's voice asked.   Oro's eyes opened wide.  "You're on the bridge, Captain?"

"Our new doctor patched me up, now what's going on?" 

"The UE Death Squad has arrived and they're packing TY-800's!"

There was a pause on Brock's end.  "Ian just returned to the bridge, we're going to try firing up the engines in just a few minutes," he said.  "Stand by."

"Do you want us to close and seal the hatches?"  Oro asked.

Brock answered quickly.  "No,not yet.  As soon as you hear the engines fire, start closing and sealing.  I don't want to tip them off that our engines are operational."

"Aye, Captain. Oro out."  

Brock turned to Ian who was settling into the pilot's seat.  "They are operational, aren't they?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

Ian smiled.  "We'll soon know," he replied.   Ian's face changed as he began to interface with the ship.  His eyes became glassy and his jaw rigid.   His fingers began to run quickly over the console in front of him as he ran all the preflight checks.  Brock was one of the few people who knew that Ian's former UEF service had left him with a chip planted deep at the base of his brain that allowed him to communicate with the ship in ways that no one else could ever hope to understand.

"Initiating, start up sequence," Ian announced.  The ship shuddered slightly and a low droning sound began to thrum below them.  "Rolling back hangar roof," he announced.

"Now the fat hits the fire!" Brock called out.  "They’re going to know we're making a run for it."  He brought his wrist communication device up to his mouth.  "All hands, we are under way, batten down the hatches and prepare to shove off."

Oro pushed the button that retracted the main gangway and brought the main hatch up to seal.  That action began to draw immediate fire from the line of dock police and UE Death Squad forces as they realized that the ship was getting under way.   Suddenly there was a painful yelp and Cowboy yelled.  "I'm hit!"

Zahira turned to see blood running down Cowboy's leg from a wound in his thigh.  She pulled a bandana from her pocket and tied it above the wound.  "Let's get you to the infirmary!" she yelled above the din of the hatch clanging shut and the laser weapons’ blasts on the hull of the ship. 

"Help him!"  Oro called out.  "I'll check the rest of the outer hatches!"

Zahirah supported Cowboy as he limped towards the infirmary.  He was turning pale fast and the bandana she had tied had done little to slow the bleeding from his leg.  She knew if she didn't get him more help soon he could bleed to death.  "I hope that new doctor is still on board!"  Then she turned back to look at Oro.  "I'll be back as soon as I can." Oro nodded and took off at a run down the corridor.

~~~~~~

Back on the bridge, Brock and Ian were pleased.  The Aurora Lady's engines were kicking in just as they had hoped.  "We're taking a lot of fire," Brock called out. He looked out the aft viewer and could see a barrage of laser weapons going off.  "Oro," he called into his T.I.C., "break out the aft laser cannon and see if you can discourage those guys!  I’m not sure how long our outer hull can stand that kind of fire."

Oro was on the way to lock down the hatch through which Winter had entered.  "I'm on it, Captain!" she answered.  She spotted Rose coming down the corridor.  "Rose, I need to you to check and seal all of the outside hatches.  I'm going to power up the aft cannon!"

"I'll get them!  Go!"  Rose called out.   Oro turned and ran back in the direction she had come.

Ian cursed and slammed his fist on the console.  "They've over written the hangar roof retraction!  It's closing.  We have no way out!!"

"Felder Carb!" Brock swore.  "Can we crash through?"

"No, we don't have enough momentum!"  Ian shook his head without taking his eyes off the displays in front of him.

"Then you're going to have to fly her out horizontally through the main north door!"  he yelled. 

Ian turned towards him.  His face was pale.  "You're crazy!  We can't do that!"

Oro's voice suddenly came through the communication station.  "I'm charging the cannon, Captain, but the line of officers is advancing and they're bringing in a big gun of their own!"

Brock looked at his pilot. “DO IT, IAN!" he hollered.

"OK, you're the boss, "Ian shouted back," but I really don't think this is gonna  work!"

Ian slowly brought the ship up off the ground until she was about twenty feet above the floor of the hangar. The sound of her engines reverberating off the deck was enough to jar everyone’s teeth.  "Nova", he called into his console communications, "I'm taking this old lady 100 hundred yards horizontally north from this position, then we will accelerate and clear the atmosphere as fast as possible."

"Horizontally?"  Nova asked, her amazement was evident in her voice.

"Yes, just be on your toes.  Bridge out."  

A huge explosion rocked the ship as the impact from Oro's  laser cannon reverberated through the hangar.  "They're taking cover!"  Oro reported.

Brock and Ian exchanged looks and Brock spoke to Oro.  "Hold your fire, Oro! We're trying to maneuver in here."

"Aye, Captain," she replied.

"C’mon, let’s get out of here!" Brock shouted.

Ian initiated the starboard thruster and turned the ship in the direction of the main hangar doors.  All over the hangar people watched in amazement as the ship began to move out of her berth and, instead of leaving through the over head doors, started to move across the hangar just above their heads.  "Look out!" someone yelled as the Aurora Lady skidded across the top of an expensive space yacht, leaving skid marks across her roof with a grinding of metal and a shower of sparks.

The ship continued moving towards the open doors.  She had a few minor collisions with some equipment and a crane but it looked like she was going to make it.  Then, suddenly, the hangar lit up with a huge white light as the dock police fired there own cannon and hit the Lady's port stabilizer a glancing blow just as she was clearing the doors.

"We're going down!" Ian called out sharply.   The aft section of the Aurora Lady rose into the air as her nose slammed into the tarmac just outside the hangar door, then with a tremendous thud, her body slammed into the black top and everything and everyone flew up into the air and came down hard.  Ian at the console and Oro in the gun turret, were the only two who had been strapped in.  Everyone else on board   was thrown around like rag dolls and were either stunned or unconscious from the crash.

Ian was still conscious but had bitten his tongue badly and the blood was running from his mouth.  He tried to shake off the shock and pain as he turned to see Brock lying unconscious on the deck, then he looked at the monitor.  The UE forces were running towards them.  "Oro," Ian yelled, "if you hear me, fire up that gun and take those bastards out!"

"I'm on it, Ian!"  Oro's voice answered back and Ian breathed a sigh of relief.  They weren't finished yet.

Oro began firing and the advancing Death Squad hit the tarmac.   She focused on pinning them down as Ian began to assess their situation.  To his amazement the engines were still burning, although they were sounding very strange.  He paused for a moment, bent and kissed the Lady's command console, then kicked the engine into overdrive.  The ship began to rise at a high rate of speed. Ian grinned widely.

"Oro, take out any ships you think might be readying to pursue us!" he commanded.

Oro looked around and saw that indeed, there were two black ships beginning to fire up.  She targeted their engines and with four quick blasts, disabled them.  "I just took out the ones I could see," she reported.

"Great work!" Ian shot back, still smiling.  Then he laid in a course, switched to sub-light speed and the Lady rocketed away.

~~~~~~

That evening's dinner on Aurora Lady was very late.  In fact, had they still been back in Nashville the crew would