Space Rescue One Page 22

  The briefing room hatch opened and a crew woman entered. "Captain, the Earth fleet is retreating!" she exclaimed.

  "Patch the radio into the briefing room so we can all hear what's happening," Richard ordered.

  Moments later, the briefing room was stunned by the rapid messages flying back and forth among the units.

  "All Earth units pull back to Point Hotel. Use box formation. Verification Fox Delta Tango. All units pull back to Point Hotel. Use box formation. Verification Fox Delta Tango."

  "We can't move! Can we have some assistance? Anyone? Space Rescue, can you hear us? Please acknowledge."

  "VMA forces will fire on any disabled ship that does not surrender immediately. Signal by radio or with blinking running lights if you are willing to surrender."

  "Anyone, please anyone! We have an onboard fire. Please respond."

  "Excuse me, I think we need to find out if General Budakov is going to recognize neutrality any longer or not," Richard said. Without wasting any time, Richard left the conference room and made his way directly to the radio on the bridge. "This is Captain Saber of Space Rescue One to General Budakov."

  "Go ahead, Captain Saber. This is General Budakov."

  "I wish to know if you are going to permit us to tend to the survivors on board the disabled ships."

  "Captain Saber, I am more than willing to permit your teams to enter the area to tend to the survivors. However, I want their surrender first. Any ship that indicates it is willing to surrender will be permitted to have your services rendered."

  "General, that's blackmail. I don't intend to put up with it, either. I fully expect you to adhere to the established rules of engagement originally proposed by the Venus-Mars Alliance and accepted by both warring sides. Accordingly, my ships are entering the area where the disabled ships are at. If you or any of your forces fire on us, we will return fire. Am I understood?" Richard replied.

  "Captain Saber, I think you're being foolish and reckless. You have only two ships. I can call on fifty to attack you with."

  "Do that and you'll turn public opinion against the VMA in a heartbeat. I'm sure you don't want that to happen. I really can't believe that you're willing to sacrifice the gains you've made in public support on Earth for the sake of forcing some crews to surrender when they're going to be interned anyway. I'll give you a few moments to think that over before my ships move in."

  There was a slight delay. Richard was halfway back to the briefing room when the radio came alive again. He stopped and returned to the radio.

  "This is General Budakov. On second thought, you are right, Captain Saber. We will fully honor the rules of engagement as previously stated. See to the survivors. Then please leave our space."

  Richard heard the cheer from the briefing room before he turned back to head for it. He walked back inside it to see his team chiefs smiling over his victory.

  "Attaway, sir!"

  "You told him off!"

  "Okay, we've got work to do. I know why he wanted to do it the other way. It just took him a few minutes to realize that he was losing more than he could gain," Richard said.

  "Why did he want it the other way?" Chief Dickson asked.

  "He needed to show a decisive victory. We're still going to put the personnel we rescue on the surface of Venus just as he would have. The only difference is that we rescued them without them surrendering. They'll respect us for that minor dignity we salvaged. For now, let's get back to work," Richard answered.

  ***

  "Chief Brunner, I have some bad news for you. Please sit down," Richard said.

  "Yes, sir? What bad news? My mother?" asked Ralph.

  "Your mother is all right as far as I know. The news I have is that your brother was attacked while on Venus. He was injured severely, but he's alive. Venus authorities have promised me that they'll make every effort to find his attackers and prosecute them to the fullest since he was properly identified as being neutral," Richard answered.

  "My brother? How bad was he hurt?" asked Ralph.

  "I don't have all the particulars on that yet."

  "Does he know who attacked him?" asked Ralph.

  "That's unknown as yet, too. Apparently, he's still unconscious. As soon as they determine the extent of his injuries, they'll let us know. If he can travel, they'll transport him to us to take back to Earth Station One."

  "But, he's going to live?" asked Chief Brunner.

  "As far as they know, yes, he'll live."

  ***

  "Whoever did that to Gene ought to get the same thing as punishment," Jimmy said.

  "A lot of people aren't going to like it when they hear just what happened. Will that have any effect on the war?" Alex asked.

  "Not that I can see. Gene's just one person and he wasn't killed. His situation will get lost real quick in the shuffle. Right now, everyone is concerned about how badly Admiral William lost after Admiral Thurman got the fleet all the way to Venus against everything the VMA had to throw against it. William lost more in one day than Thurman did in a week. From the looks of it, I wouldn't be surprised if William changed the plan to how he liked it instead of following what was already in motion."

  "So, Admiral William is in the shit house then?"

  "Looks like it. His only chance is to manage a strategic withdrawal without losing too much more of the Earth force. Losing close to seventy ships isn't a good start on that," Jimmy answered.

  "So, is this the decisive battle that dictates who will win?" Alex asked.

  "It probably is. With the amount of hardware floating around Venus right now and between here and Earth, the VMA can double the size of its force before Earth gets any real military ships built and into space. Even that might not do the Earth any good seeing as the VMA will have plenty of combat veterans available to man their ships. From the looks of it, the VMA can claim to have won the war."

  ***

  "Admiral William, do you surrender?"

  "Negative, General Budakov. We will not surrender. Not while we have a ship capable of resisting."

  "That's a pity, Admiral. I really hoped that you would be reasonable and save some lives. I don't really want to turn this rout into a slaughter. If that's what you really want, I will oblige you. However, I'm willing to give you an hour to reconsider. My forces will hold their positions for that long before we attack again. Think of the men and women on board your ships. Too many of your ships are damaged. Your crews are tired from constant fighting. My ships are in better condition. My crews are fresh. Please, be reasonable and reconsider. You have one hour," Budakov replied.

  ***

  "Jimmy, is the Earth fleet that bad off as General Budakov states?" Richard asked.

  "Sir, I think General Budakov is correct. He does have fresh crews and his ships are in better condition even if he does have fewer. Admiral William is trying to fight a strategic withdrawal with crews who've been fighting for twelve days and nights. I think they're at their end of resistance. If they try to fight back, it just might be a slaughter as General Budakov says it will," Jimmy replied.

  "I see. In that case, I wish Admiral William would take the offer and surrender. He could save a lot of lives," Richard said.

  "Sure he would, but he'd end his military career, too. He just might prefer to die than surrender in disgrace."

  "But he'd take all those men and women with him!" Richard exclaimed.

  Jimmy replied, "I know that, but they take their orders from Admiral William. They don't have anyone else to lead them. Some of them might try to surrender to General Budakov, but I wouldn't bet on more than a very few ships with crews brave enough to go against the Admiral's orders."

  ***

  "Admiral William, your hour is up. What is your decision, sir?"

  "General Budakov, my mind is unchanged. We will not surrender. We still outnumber you. You might hurt us some more, but you don't have the strength to defeat us."

  "Admiral William, you don't know the full truth. Until now, I
've only opposed your force with half of what I have at my disposal. The other half is between you and Earth. You might try to make an end run around them, but you can't escape the force confronting you now. Sooner or later, my other force will catch up with you. Then I will slaughter your fleet. I'm sorry that you will not take my offer and surrender your command. Perhaps in another life we shall be friends."

  "Excuse me for interrupting. This is Captain Saber of Space Rescue One. General Budakov, may I have a minute to speak before you resume your attack?"

  Budakov answered, "Er, yes, Captain Saber. Please try to talk some sense into Admiral William. I will give you a minute. In fact, I'll give you five minutes."

  "Thank you, General Budakov. Admiral William, I've seen the condition of crews from both sides. I'm not a military genius, but I hardly think it takes one to see the difference between the crews from both sides. General Budakov isn't kidding when he states that his crews are fresher. They are. When he states that your crews are tired, he's talking sense. We all know that your force has been fighting around the clock for the past twelve days now. Your crews are drained of energy. They can't fight at peak efficiency anymore. I doubt if they're managing even half that. Will you please reconsider? I'm asking you to save the lives of crews whose deaths won't change the outcome of what's happened one iota," Richard said.

  "Captain Saber, it is not your position to interfere in my command. My crews are loyal to Earth and will fight to the end. They are loyal to my command and I ought to know. I know them far better than you do. I don't believe you know what you're talking about since you have so little command experience. Now butt out of this battle. Stick to your bandages and keep your opinions to yourself. You're fortunate that the UN advised the US not to send in troops to arrest you for your mutiny. We have nothing more to discuss. Admiral William, out."

  "Communications, put me on every channel there is. I want every suit radio channel as well. Tell me I don't know those men and women! Well, I've got some news for him. If he won't see things reasonably, maybe the crews will," Richard said.

  Chapter 13

  "This is Captain Richard Saberhagen of the Space Rescue One. I repeat, this is Captain Richard Saberhagen of the Space Rescue One. That's right, fellow Merchant Spacemariners, I'm alive and still kicking. Right now, you're being led by a man who's unwilling to think of your welfare. He's licked and unwilling to surrender. He's already been told by the enemy that there's another force with fresh crews on its way to engage your force in battle. Before there was a Space Rescue Service, we spacemariners survived by sticking together. Now I see fellow spacemariners fighting each other because someone on Earth and some others on Venus and Mars don't see eye to eye with each other. We're, no, you're dying out here so they can have the bragging rights about who was right when it's over. I'm asking you as fellow spacemariners to stop fighting right now. Show them who's really the boss out here. Forget the blood that's already been shed by our brothers and sisters for a moment. Instead, I want you to remember the spacemariner's code. Shipmates are each other's survival. Now more than ever, the code is true. We need each other in order to survive in space. Don't let the politicians make space even harder to survive in by giving in to their lusts for conquering."

  "Well, I've had my say. Some of you might think I'm trying to pull the wool over your heads. I'm not. I'm really who I say I am. If you want proof, I'll have some of your fellow crew members from both sides in our sick bay come to the radio and verify whether or not I am who I say I am. Anyway, I'm only asking you to quit fighting and live out your lives. I don't think that's wrong. I'll quit talking now so that anyone who wants to call my ship can do so."

  Richard sat back in his chair. Chiefs Brunner and Dickson entered the bridge.

  "I never thought I'd hear you openly tell everyone who you really are," Chief Dickson said.

  "My shipmates need me to survive. I had to reveal myself on the chance that they'd listen to me," Richard said.

  The communications operator said, "Messages coming in from hundreds of ships. We're picking up suit radios, too. I don't know which one to take first, sir."

  "Do any of them want proof?" Richard asked.

  The operator replied, "A few, but most are welcoming you back or sending their best wishes."

  "Okay, ask everyone to stay off the air for a moment. Chief Dickson, please go back and find a couple of spacemariners who aren't too badly wounded to come to the bridge. Hopefully, one of them will vouch for me to the few who don't believe I'm alive," Richard said.

  The operator said, "I've got Admiral William on the radio, sir. He's fuming about what you're doing."

  "Fine, I'll talk to him now. Hand me the microphone back," Richard said. Richard accepted the microphone. "This is Captain Saberhagen. I'm here, Admiral."

  Admiral William demanded, "By what right do you have to pull such a stunt? Richard Saberhagen is dead. You have no right to use that hero's name in so low a manner. . ."

  Richard didn't wait for the Admiral to finish. "Whether or not I'm Richard Saberhagen, there's nothing wrong with ending a lost battle and saving lives. In a moment, a couple of crew members from ships we assisted will be on the bridge to state who I am to the universe. Chief Dickson is in sick bay right now looking for a few who can be moved to the bridge to make the identification."

  William continued, "—and you're a bastard for getting these men and women's hopes up that you can end the war."

  "I'm not trying to end the war, Admiral. Just this battle before it becomes a slaughter. I'm trying to save your life, too. However, if the war should also end because of this, I won't lose any sleep because of it," Richard replied.

  "I'll see you prosecuted on Earth for your interference."

  "Admiral William, I'll gladly take whatever punishment there is for saving lives. I'll even plead guilty."

  "You're not making this any easier. I'm ordering all ships' Captains to disregard this lunatic's statements and resume the battle. We can fight our way out of this battle with honor. All ships' Captains, report," Admiral William said.

  Chief Dickson assisted one man while others helped in several other wounded survivors.

  "Richard! What kind of trouble are you getting into now. This isn't a bar!"

  Richard turned to face the man whose voice he remembered. "Chet! I thought you retired!"

  "Not this old space dog, Richard. What are you stirring up now? I understand we're supposed to tell people who you are? Can you fill me in?" Chet replied.

  "Sure Chet. I just told all the spacemariners on all the ships who I really am. Then I asked them to stop fighting. A few of them want verification that I'm really who I say I am," Richard answered.

  Chet exclaimed, "Is that all? Damn! I thought you were trying to get in on the fight. Hand me that radio. You other guys better get close so you can talk, too. That's Richard Saberhagen. He's the man who saved my life on the Southern Pride when there wasn't a Rescue Service to save our asses out in space. Now that I think of it, you're commanding this new tub, so I guess you've saved my life a second time now. I guess I owe you another round when we get home."

  Another surviving crewman asked, "How do I know you're who Chet says you are?"

  "Well, you're welcome to see my papers," Richard said.

  "Take your shirt off, Richard. They all know the story. I think that will be enough proof for them. Papers can be forged, but what you have can't," Chet said.

  Richard unsealed his shirt and let it drop from his shoulders. He turned around. Behind him there were audible gasps from some of the survivors.

  "Okay, Chet. He's Richard. Sir, sorry for doubting you or Chet."

  "That's all right, shipmate," said Richard.

  "Chet, let me speak first. A lot of the shipmates know me."

  ***

  Richard welcomed General Budakov on board, then waited patiently with him for Admiral William to arrive. Despite the Admiral's agreement to attend the meeting, he didn't arrive until almost half
an hour later.

  As he arrived, General Budakov said, "I suppose this rankles him somewhat to have his fleet refuse to fight anymore. I know if only because mine did, too."

  "I know. I deliberately didn't identify which of you had the reinforcements coming so that both sides would have doubts. I also knew that you both had mostly spacemariners as your crews. I knew they'd know of me. They all live by the same code, too," Richard said.

  "Yes, I figured that much out after it happened. You laid a grand bomb on us, Captain Saberhagen. I don't blame you, though, under the circumstances. You only did it to save lives. I can respect that," Budakov said.