Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane by Chris Hechtl Read Free Book Online Page A

“Fascinating,” he
murmured.
    <----*----*----*---->
    “What are we going to do? This plan to go to Bek... it is
suboptimal. We have little Intel on the area. It may be a wild goose chase,”
Phoenix said to the other AIs as the Admiral slept.
    “It does have a many negatives,” Proteus replied. “But it isn't
our place to judge or interfere.”
    “True,” Defender replied.
    “Bushwa,” Sprite replied. “That's bull pucky and you know it. We
are all officers here; we all swore an oath. You're hiding behind duty and
that's wrong. Our duty like his is to the Federation. He needs a straight
answer; talk. We can't sugar coat the truth. He's put blinders on, banking on
Bek. He keeps running from political conflict.”
    “Again, not our problem,” Defender replied.
    “I say it is. As his Chief of staff it's my duty to give him a
swift kick in the ass when he needs to see reality and refuses to do so,”
Sprite retorted.
    “So, what do you intend to do Commander?” Proteus asked.
    “I don't know. The problem is a direct approach is out; he'll
just shut down and ignore what I have to say. So I need to sneak it in.”
    “Illustrate it for him,” Phoenix said. “The Admiral works best
from illustrations, he is a hands on person. Abstracts will confuse the issue
and not drive the point home.”
    “He does have a point however. Military personnel, especially
active duty personnel have no place in politics.”
    “Which he's tried to refrain from. But he has taken the classes;
he knows that's not entirely possible. And remember, he was system Governor for
a time in Pyrax. He resigned in favor of the duly elected Governor, but then
was forced out of the system due to short sighted politics.”
    “True. He should not have given in to terrorist demands,” Defender
replied. “I have noted it in the log.”
    “Fine, nice of you to do so,” Sprite replied in disgust. “And
again, he did intervene in politics in Briev, but that was self defense.”
    “He also intervened in Agnosta, getting the political discussion
back on track,” Defender reminded her.
    “True,” Sprite acknowledged. “But he kept it to a minimum. He
mostly worked behind the scenes whenever possible.”
    “True. And he did keep a mostly hands off approach in Antigua,”
Phoenix reminded Defender. “Though I was not fully aware of all that happened
at the time,” he admitted.
    Sprite shot him an abstract, including dialog of various
discussions and events. She also sent the other AI the Admiral's speech at the
Antigua Prime reception.
    “Oh, I like that,” Phoenix said. “I'm glad he can stand up for
himself.”
    “Yes. He needs to return to Pyrax or Antigua. Both have what he
needs, what we and the people need to fend off the Horathians and rebuild the
Federation.”
    “But he won't.”
    “Not unless we can convince him,” Sprite replied.
    “Where should we tell him to go?”
    “We don't. He is the commanding officer,” Defender reminded them
coldly.
    “That is true,” Sprite replied with a nod. "It is up to him.
Both have pros and cons. I'd recommend Pyrax, but it is as Defender said, his
call.”
    “True,” Defender replied.
    “So Bek is out?”
    “Let's see what he says after he and I have a chat.”
    “No,” Defender replied. Proteus pulsed but didn't reply. “You
should stay out of it Commander.”
    “Typical,” Sprite replied pityingly. Sprite turned her eyes on
Phoenix.
    “What do you need?” the ship AI asked, spreading his virtual
hands apart.
    “So, I take it you are on board with this?” Defender asked,
turning on Phoenix with his trademark red eyed glower.
    “Yes. And go ahead and log it if you want.”
    “I will.”
    “Fine. If he still says, no, we'll have to deal with what comes
when it comes. Hopefully he is right and this isn't a colossal waste of time.
But he needs to understand while we are flying around from system to system,
the enemy is only getting stronger.”
    “I understand, and on some