Journey To Jacob II

I.  Pete's Recruited

"What's your name?  Where you going?" asked the burley watch patrol.

"Pete Tomlinson, sir," I replied.  "Invited to dinner at my captain's house, 614 Benefit Street," holding out the invitation like the pass to a different world that it was.

Benefit Street rises up from Providence harbor toward the better parts of town.  Even on misty nights, it's clear that the houses are more impressive the further up the hill you go.  The patrols keep an eye out for those rising above themselves.  Like me.

"Hmmm...  Well, straight up to the top of the hill," scowled the patrol.  "Don't go anywhere else."

You're probably wondering how it is that a cargo hauler would be invited to the captain's house for dinner.  There's a simple explanation.

My current ride, the S.V. Monterey, made port this morning.  In addition to the cargo you'd find on any space vessel, there were four passengers.  One that caught everyone's eye.  Early twenties, long legs, blonde hair, and all of the other good parts too.

Just about the right age for me I figured.  Oh, you're suspicious of that .  Well, I admit to having kidded the agents about my age when I first went into space, so even though I've been at it for six years, she'd be right for me.  Not that she'd ever notice a hauler.

Next to the Monterey, the S.V. London was also unloading.  A run down vessel; rigging that wasn't quite straight, rusty landing gear.  Their captain must have cut costs on the crew too.  Some captains go that route.  This time it was a disaster, as the crew were idiots.

Just as the blonde dreamboat was exiting the Monterey, the London's hauler lost control of a cargo pod.  The dreamboat was about to go out like a squashed bug.

A hard yank on my controls, and the pod I was unloading swung sideways.  To accelerate it, I triggered a rapid movement of the whole crane.  Then there was the lucky part.

My pod passed below the London's while my crane cut their cables.  The dreamboat was safe, and both pods made it safely to the dock.  Under the space port's regulations, we were able to make a salvage claim.

I not only made the captain a nice windfall, if you can believe it, the dreamboat was his niece, on a visit.  The smile she gave me would have been enough of a reward, but the captain went and invited me to dinner.

The first mate took pity on me.  Together we scoured the dock side thrift stores for suitable clothes.  Did the best we could, but the watch patrol still picked me right out.

The captain's house met all of my expectations.  If I ever make it up the ranks in the space hauling business, I'll have one of these.  My knock on the front door was answered by something I'd never seen, a servant.  I thought they'd gone out before we left Earth, but here we were.  He treated me with courtesy; impressive.

Introductions were made.  In addition to the captain, his wife and niece, there was the captain's shipping agent, a man introduced as his banking partner, and their wives.  Ideally, I'd have been seated next to the niece.  The wives on either side of me, were not hard on the eyes however, I'd have to admit.

In something out of a Victorian novel, after dinner the men retired to another room for drinks.  The captain quickly got to his subject.

"Mr. Tomlinson, I believe there's both a need, and an opportunity, for freighting from planet Jacob II", he said.  "I know what you're thinking," holding up his hand.  "That's beyond the Consortium's control, the outer reaches, subject to the asteroid raiders."

"That's the belief on the crew decks," I commented.

"Let me explain," the captain continued.  "This wouldn't be standard cargo, nor a standard freighter.  The cargo would be small, light packages of extremely valuable chemicals and minerals.  Only one passenger at the most.  Both cargo and passenger would fit in a quick, highly maneuverable, vessel.  More akin to a runabout then a barge."

"Standard vessels are vulnerable to the raiders technique," the banker spoke up.  "The raiders push and pull an asteroid into the path of a relatively slow cargo ship."

"The target either stops to avoid a wreak and gets bordered," added the agent, "or it crashes, and the raiders pick up the pieces.  Within the Consortium's realm, the raiders are detected and put down.  In the outer reaches, they roam freely."

"Our vessels can start, stop, and turn quickly enough to avoid the asteroids," said the Captain.  "If it comes down to speed, the raiders can be left in their asteroid dust."

"What's needed, however, is a single pilot with quick reflexes, knowledge of hauling because there's no crew, the fearlessness to act without hesitation, and trustworthiness" said the banker, finishing the pitch.

Several moments of silence were broken by me.

"Sounds like an assignment made for me," I opened up.  "If you'll have me, I'll out fly the bastards and bring the cargo home."

"Good lad," they all spoke in unison.


II.  -  An Unexpected Passenger

My new ride was the S.V. Carmel.  Geez, for a business based on the East Coast, they sure had a liking for Southern California names.  Not that it mattered much.

Just a little cargo for the trip out to Jacob II.  The value on this run would come on the return.

"If you could sign this release, I'll get underway," I said to the agent.

"No problem," he replied.  "There's also this packet for you from the Captain."

The Captain's instructions were in a separate note.  Strange note.

"You'll have to hang for a few minutes more," the agent said.  "You've got a passenger."

"You're kidding," I said.  "A passenger for Jacob II?"

"Believe it or not, there is.  You'll probably be more surprised to find that you know her."

"Her?"

Did I know her?  I sure did.  The blonde dreamboat entered the agent's office. 

"Her?" she said.  "Yep."

Given the look on my face, I guess the agent couldn't control the chuckle at my expense.

I didn't have to worry about awkward silences during the launch.  Keeping an eye on the automated controls to make sure they functioned kept me busy.

Beyond the planetary system, I could relax. The risks were less.  The controls would maintain our course.  Warning systems would get wake me, or drag me away from other activities.  First, I had to learn her name.

"We're on our way," I said to break the ice.

"Well, in some ways," she responded.

That sounded promising.

"Pete Tomlinson," I said.  Holding out my hand, hoping to get any kind of response.

"Ann Marie," she smiled at me.  "Could you join me here in my pouch, and explain what my Uncle has in mind for this journey."

"Of course," I said, moving across into her part of the quarters.  "The cargo to be picked up will be small and light, but highly valuable.  The Captain believes we can out maneuver  the pirates by quick and decisive moves."

"Ahh.... That's why this strange little craft," she said.

Three days out to Jacob II.  Ann Marie was friendlier every day.


III.  -  The Return Trip

Turnaround time was short.  Nothing big to be loaded.  A four hour stay and the Carmel was headed back to Earth.

"Pete, remember what you said about quick moves?" Ann Marie broke the ice this time.  "Sometimes, slow is better."

She was right.

Waking up, it took me a few minutes to locate where I was.  Ah yes.  Ann Marie's pouch.

Captain of a space vessel, and a beautiful woman to travel with.  How good was this.

Coming out into the main pouch was a shock.  Ann Marie was waiting for me with three others.

"Pete, you have a choice to make," Ann Marie said.  "Your career can end now.  Or, you can join my crew."

"Your crew?"

"Big John, Mike the Man, and Cindy.  The best crew in the outer reaches," she said.

On the other side of the main pouch, an airlock was open.  A connector was in place, with a larger vessel visible on the other end.  The source of the crew.

"Asteroid raiders?" I asked.

"That's my Uncle's term," Ann Marie said.

"This is your Uncle's ship.  That doesn't bother you?" I asked.

"My Father always said he was the black sheep of the family," she said.  "The apple didn't fall too far in my case.  Uncle and his straight arrow ways forced Dad to run away to the outer reaches.  We're taking back some of what Dad should have had."

"We need to move," said Big John.  "What's it going to be?" he asked me.

"Just to be clear," Ann Marie said, "when we separate the two vessels to head for Jacob III, John stays here with you.  You and I were a fling.  Not that it wasn't fun, but business is business."

"Or you can start walking," she added.

"I understand, and I'm in."

And I was glad to have that understanding.  Including the existence of a Jacob III.  Unknown back on Earth.


IV.  -  On to Jacob III

Big John gave me the coordinates, and kept a close eye on me as I set the navigation up.  The raider's vessel detached, and we turned toward an uncharted area in space.

He locked me in my pouch when he was ready for sleep.  I wasn't going to be left alone with the controls.  I was alone with the Captain's packet though.  Now I understood the instructions.

Jacob III turned out to be a large moon rather then a planet.  Large enough to have an atmosphere though.  Open water appeared to be in big lakes rather then an ocean system.

"All right," Big John said.  "Settle down in your pouch.  I'll bring us into the port."

Guess I wasn't completely trusted yet.

The Carmel settled down in a cradle.  Big John gave me instructions for unloading.  He apparently trusted me enough to do the grunt work.  I had two questions in mind.  Would I get to see Ann Marie again, and how long it would be before the fun started?

Turned out the answers were yes, and about 1 1/2 hours.

Took me about an hour to unload.  Then I headed toward a small building that Big John had disappeared into.

A comfortable looking bar greeted me.  Ann Marie and her crew were at a corner table.

"Welcome to Jacob III," Ann Marie greeted me.  "Thanks for unloading."

"No problem," I said.  "Just wanted to check in.  I'm going to walk around to check things out."

"Sure," she said.  "See you at the ship in about 1/2 hour."

The timing was perfect.

It was probably rubbing it in, but I couldn't help smiling.  Ann Marie and the boys were just coming up to the Carmel when the Consortium's cruisers settled down and unloaded the marines.

The Captain's instructions had been to flip a small switch on a navigation beacon if anything uncontrollable took place.  Being kidnapped by his niece seemed to meet that criteria, so I'd thrown the switch.

"You idiot," she snarled.

"Don't blame me," I replied.  "Your Uncle must have heard that apple saying too.  And he didn't want to get hit on the head like Sir Isaac."