The Technician's Fight, Draft 1, CH23

“Why not?” Toom asked, nibbling on a cube of meat. “You have the awakening, the realization everything was taken from her. Her promise to get back what matters to her. The hunt, and finally the reunion.”

“You’re stretching the definition of ‘awakening’ here.”

“They are interpreting it,” his friend countered.

“And the gods took what Merkeri had to test him. Rokiran loses her land and family because of a company’s greed. You can’t tell me someone’s greed can be interpreted as the gods testing one of us.”

“How about the hunt?”

“Okay, I’ll grant that one is the closest they come. Rokiran forcing her way through the various levels of the company, defeating the guards, and finally confronting the owner, can be made to line up with Merkeri’s hunt through the Lands until he reaches the Forest and then confronts Tutecamongartin. But,” he continued as his friend opened his muzzle. “There is no way you can tell me that Merkeri accepting that he can only be with his love by being embraced by death is in any way like Rokiran taking over the company. One is about accepting that resolve doesn’t overcome everything, that some things simply come to an end. The other is about getting wealth and power.”

Toom popped the cube in his muzzle. “Fine. You agreed to watch the ballad, not to enjoy it.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy it,” Gralgiran countered, and his friend tilted an ear. “It’s not for me, but I can see why you enjoy it. My issue is that it was marketed, and you sold me on it, as a modern retelling of Merkeri’s Journey, and it is nothing like it.”

“Okay, I might not have been as critical of the advertizing as I could have been, but would you have agreed to watch something that had nothing to do with those classics you love so much?”

Gralgiran reached across the table and squeezed Toom’s hand. “It would still have been a way to spend time with you.” He let go. “But I might have been a bit more vocal about all the stuff modern storytelling’s lost while watching it, if I hadn’t been busy trying to understand the claims about it.”

“I knew I could count on your analytical side to ensure the rest of us would enjoy the viewing.”

“Next time I—”

His tablet buzzed with the bridge’s code. He tapped it, not bothering with his earpiece. The eatery was quiet. “Go.”

“The leadership is requesting to speak with you, Captain.”

‘Who?’ Toom mouthed, taking out his tablet.

“Which one?”

“A representative Drebar Homiral sel Rorsht.”

Toom frowned, swiping down.

“Let them know I’m on my way.” He couldn’t afford to ignore even a representative. Although he usually warranted someone within the actual command structure. He pocketed his tablet and stood.

Toom accompanied him, reading and cursing quietly.

“Not good?”

“He was appointed to the leadership under a year ago. He’s related to Admiral Thromakarin Omeritamil sel Stafey, who must be who appointed him. But nothing in the decisions the representative made shows him aligning with the admiral.” He snorted. “They don’t show him aligning with anyone.”

“And that isn’t a good thing?”

“No one within the leadership is unaligned. Everyone has an agenda and they need allies. To get allies, they need to agree to support others, or, you know. Don’t complain too hard about the orders they give you?”

“I never complain.”

Toom snorted again.

“Unless their orders go against my duties as the gods’ hunter.”

“But the problem here is that without doing anything that someone from the backroom noticed. I have no idea why they’re contacting you. Any idea? Are you due for an in person report?”

“All we’ve done since dealing with the Earthers is scare a bunch of pirates, rescued one merchant ship, and offered support to a Taournian research vessel. Nothing they’d care about.”

“Not even the Taournians?”

“If the leadership demanded an in person report for every Taournian ship we come across in our patrols, they would never get any rests. They are a Federation race we trade with, so they come and go pretty much as they please.”

“Which you hate.”

“I don’t hate it. I just think it would be simpler if we assigned merchant and researchers and every honest Taournian ship a tag so we could know where the pirates are.”

“I’ll take it in my office,” he announced as he crossed the bridge.

Toom entered with him. “Earpiece,” he instructed, and Gralgiran put it in. “Same as usual,” his friend’s voice came from it. “Don’t let whatever he says get to you. Avoid outright agreeing to anything. And when possible, give me enough time to voice my opinion before saying anything.”

Gralgiran nodded, sitting and pulling his legs under him. He tapped his desk, and the male appeared seated across from him.

“Representative Drebar Homiral sel Rorsht,” he greeted him.

“Actually, it’s unit leader Drebar Homiral sel Rorsht, Captain Gralgiran sel Helrarvnir.”

“Don’t respond,” Toom said. “That’s clearly a bating. That means whatever else this is about, he isn’t your ally.”

“How can I assist you?” Gralgiran asked, instead of acknowledging the rank.

“This is just a courtesy I’ve been asked to extend,” the male said. “You are one of our more visible ship out there, and some in the leadership feel we tend to forget that. Forget that maintaining good relations with the hunters of the line can only help in keeping Kelser secure.”

“I didn’t hear much respect in that,” Toom said. “Don’t sniff too strongly. You’re not going to like what he’s shoving.”

“As such, I wanted to congratulate you and your Heart on him managing to put the Earthers in their place. I have to say you played them surprisingly well, with the timing of that clip.”

“Don’t correct him. I don’t see anything indicating he respects the gods. It’s better he thinks you are clever, instead that they Meddled.”

“Thank you. They gave my Heart plenty of incentive to want to disassociate from them, after one kidnapping, and one attempt at such.”

“Yes, and from the reports, he will make a good hunter.”

“Didn’t expect that,” Toom muttered. “Is he or isn’t he a fan of hunters? I hate masters of neutrality.”

“Yes, he is. He is approaching the point where he will prove himself on the line.”

“Then I wish him good hunting when it happens.”

“I shall pass the wishes along. Is there anything else?”

“Actually, since we are talking.”

“There we go,” Toom muttered. “This is either meat or shit. Don’t react to either.”

“It’s been noted that the last time you were at Kelser, you didn’t put your ship in for repairs. It’s been….” The male consulted something. “Nearly a decade since it was fully inspected. It has to be due.”

“We keep supplied in parts,” Gralgiran answered without waiting for Toom. This was an area he knew how to handle. “And we haven’t taken heavy fire in that time. As I’m sure reports from repairs indicate, all our systems are in acceptable state.”

“You had a report regarding upgrading the communication infrastructure,” the male said, reading his tablet again.

“Because the Earthers were able to hack us. But that is a fleet wide situation. Unless new systems have been built and tested, there’s no point in doing more than ensuring we have better monitoring programs and that comm personnel receive training to ensure they know what to look for in signs of intrusion.”

“He brought up the state of the ship. Next the crew or morale.”

“Still,” the male said. “Being in space so long can’t be good for the civilians. Or even the crew. Studies tell us that five years without seeing the sky has negative effect on people.”

“Careful,” Toom warned.

“Counseling monitors mood,” he said, instead of letting the male know what he thought of their studies. “Anytime we dock, civilians are allowed to leave the ship.”

“Is that safe?” the male asked, surprised. “Not everyone is welcoming of hunter ships.”

“Not as informed as he should be,” Toom mused.

“We never dock at questionable stations as more than a merchant ship. And those are always welcome. If a civilian feels the call of home, I ensure they can return as quickly as the patrol allows.”

“You’ve only been back three times in that decade,” the male said. “You can’t expect me to believe those were the only times civilians needed to return home.”

“Someone has never left Kelser,” Toom muttered, “and it shows.”

“There are always ships heading home. If someone needs to, they will find someone to ferry them there while the Bane continues on its patrols.”

“Yes, of course. Regarding returning home. I notice the turnover of your crew is much lower than any of our ships.”

“Hunters,” he started.

“Do not go there,” Toom ordered.

“We are used to hardship. And I ensure that when we aren’t on an active hunt, the crew has as close to a civilian life as they can.”

“We still need to work on that one,” Toom muttered as the male seated opposite Gralgiran narrowed his eyes.

If the male took offense a documented fact, that wasn’t Gralgiran’s problem. Hunters were put through harsh training before being allowed on the line. Had to prove themselves on Kelser before they could ask to join a hunter ship.

That one now had leeway, with so many people growing up on the ships, but it was still the preferred method.

“I suppose that is true,” the male said.

“There,” Toom said, satisfied. “Another one—”

“Which only leaves one last thing.”

If not for his training at controlling his reaction and years of hearing his friend curse, Gralgiran would have given away they weren’t alone.

“Which is?”

“There is a concern your position on the line, that your patrol along the Unclaimed Territory between us and the Earthers may not be to your advantage, considering the Earther’s attempts against your Heart.”

“Tutecamongartin take his cock,” Toom muttered. “Don’t lose your temper, Gral. Getting angry just plays into his game.”

The implication that he couldn’t keep Jer safe. That Jer couldn’t fight for himself after already defeating the Earthers demanded the kind of response Toom didn’t want him to give. He let the anger show; while he kept silent.

“Okay,” Toom said, relieved. “The best way to counter that is with the facts. What makes the Bane, the hunters on it, the crew, better than anyone they could replace us with.”

“That aggression against my Heart,” Gralgiran said. “Has provided us with training in their methods. We have experienced how they fight.”

“Which you reported. We have experts going over the recordings to create counter techniques.”

“Which my hunters are already practiced, because they have an Earther to test themselves against.”

“An inexperienced one,” the male countered.

“One who took down a trained Earther soldier. And even if he lacks the experience of the Line. He is better than projections and expectations. We have also experienced their intrusion methods. Both physical and informational. You say the presence of my Heart means we risk an increase in aggression from the Earthers, and I won’t disagree with you. But our experience with them also makes us more aware of what they are capable of. Which, on the Line, is what you want in Hunters.”

“I take your points,” the male said, tone clipped. “I thank you for taking the time to address the Leadership’s concerns. Good hunting.” The male vanished.

Gralgiran slumped back in his seat with a sigh.

Toom climbed in and curled up against him. “And you out wit the leadership again.”

“Sure, I out-witted him. And say the word with respect, Toom. I might not like most of them, but they have earned their position within the military Leadership.”

“That one hasn’t. More and more of the people getting positions within the Leadership as assigned, instead of earning it. Soon enough, they’re going to be nothing more than a mirror of the political bodies making a mess of things back home.” Toom nuzzled Gralgiran. “But I’ll take any victory. Shall we celebrate?”

“How about we snuggle for a while? I need to catch my breath after this.”

“I have hours before my shift,” Toom said, adjusting himself on Gralgiran’s lap. “I’ll be happy to take it all right here, just like this.”

*

“Food’s ready in thirty,” Jer called.

“I’ll be there,” Gralgiran replied, over the broadcasts he’d been listening to while going over reports.

“And for all of your out there,” the female said, “listening in for updates on your favorite human and his Heart, we, at Spreading Branch, have it on good authority that Technician Jeremy Bradshaw can now be addressed as Hunter Jeremy Bradshaw.”

“Which must bring up the question, Alice,” the male said. “Of which rank we should be using when addressing him.”

Gralgiran rolled his eyes. He’d explained the protocol to Tom the Earthers when he’d updated him.

“Well, Harry, according to the information we received, Rank is situational when a Kelsirian has more than one, but Hunter should be reserved for hunt related activities. So, in his everyday life, other than those who are close enough to him not to need rank, they address him as Technician. If he is called in for a meeting with his Beta, or has training, then those there will call him Hunter.”

“So we should refer to him as Technician.”

“Unless you’ve become much friendlier with him than I’ve known you to be, Harry, yes.”

“And unless we are reporting on his activities as a Hunter.”

“Of course.”

“And speaking of the Technician and those close to him, our informant said that he is developing a good social life. The Technician has been seen at clubs on the ship dancing with strangers.”

“In the presence of his Heart,” the female said.

“Not always, Alice. Remember, Kelsirians don’t hold to human standards. For them, intimate relationship are not limited to the person you are in a matrimonial relationship with. They don’t even do matrimony, I believe.”

“If that confuses you, listeners,” she said. “You are not alone, and we will endeavor to investigate how they make it work. And who knows, we might even be able to get the information from the human involved.

“But that will not be soon,” the male said. “I’m sorry to say that Spreading Branch will be silent for the next week. It turns out this little spot we thought was quiet has far more activity than we thought.”

“And we need to see to the safety of those who help keep the branch spreading,” she continued, “so, we won’t be able to broadcast until we have relocated.”

“But despite our silence, remember, all those of you out there, the Spreading Branch is there, wherever its leaves fall.”

Gralgiran frowned and replayed the last minute.

Busier than expected, he understood, even if it was unexpected. Some locations could see gluts if someone’s scanner revealed something of value. Or those using them thought that was what it revealed. Civilian ships didn’t have the best scanners. Few people could afford them. Those who could didn’t bother with prospecting. They owned merchant ships.

What bothered him was the comment about keeping those with them safe. Not that they wanted to, but that they felt they had to.

He didn’t know where Spreading Branch broadcasted from, but he knew it was from within Federation space. That meant that even if a pack of ships unexpectedly showed up, they wouldn’t be in danger. Wouldn’t even feel in danger.

Unless those ships were pirates.

But why would a bunch of pirate ships gather in the area where Spreading Branch broadcasted from? They didn’t bother with prospecting; they went after ships.

Ships like the one Spreading Branch used.

The problem with that was that pirates didn’t work well together. Even Kelsirian pirates, who, as a species preferred being in company rather than alone, didn’t like having a different Halan clan in proximity.

The only reason he could think of for multiple pirates to act in unison was if they weren’t actually pirates.

But that wasn’t something he had a way to check.

But he knew someone who might.

“Jer.” He nuzzled his Heart as he cut meat into cubes. “I have to go deal with something. I shouldn’t be long.”

“Something serious?”

“Not at the moment, but it could grow to be.”

“I’ll wait for you.” He gave him a kiss, and Gralgiran left their apartment.

*

The Quartermaster wasn’t at the counter, or in the hold’s service area. Gralgiran even leaned over the counter to confirm he wasn’t on the floor having sex. A look left and right confirmed he also wasn’t sprawled there with one of those who, supposedly, worked for him. Gralgiran didn’t look too closely at the names on the Quartermaster’s pay reports. The numbers matched what he could assign, that the names kept changing wasn’t the captain’s problem.

He couldn’t think of one time the male hadn’t been here when Gralgiran needed to speak with him. Enough, he suspected the male paid someone to inform him when he approached.

He took his tablet and called the male. “Quartermaster, you’re required at your counter.”

“Be right there!” Came the yell from deeper within the hold.

When the Quartermaster arrived, instead of his clothing being in disarrayed, if he’d bothered putting them on, they and his fur were dusty.

“Sorry. We’re going over the inventory. Some stuff back there hasn’t been looked at since the times of my predecessors.” He smiled. “But I’ll be happy to make time for you. Here or my bed?”

“Jer’s waiting on me to start eating.”

“Tell him to come down and we can both eat you.”

Gralgiran’s protest did not make it past his lips and the Quartermaster grinned. He’d been about to tell him Jer would never go for it. But his Heart was no longer the timid Earther of even four months ago.

“I need information on pirate movements.”

“That’s not the kind of information I can give you, Captain. We agreed that you wouldn’t use me to cull the clans.”

“This isn’t about the clans, or even the other pirates. I suspect the Earther military is using pirates as covers for operations within the Federation. But to confirm it, I have to know what is happening within the pirates who are officially operating.”

The Quartermaster considered him. “I don’t have that kind of information. And I can’t get it, not anymore. Everyone knows where my bed is. But I know someone who might be willing to help you.”

He was going to regret saying this, but he didn’t have a choice. “Name your price.”

The Quartermaster grinned. “Oh, I’ll ask my uncle if he wants to meet you free of charge. I just want to see your face when he names his price.”