The Man Who Found Birds Among the Stars, Part Five: Phenix Rises

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Novel

Part Five

PHENIX RISES

By

Lorinda J. Taylor

This is a work of fiction. All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. However, the person presenting this book does not guarantee that such characters and events will not come into existence at some time in the future.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover illustration by Lorinda J. Taylor

Copyright © 2019 by Lorinda J. Taylor

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Synopsis: Parts One through Four

Facsimile: 29th Century Title Page

The Final Threads

Chapter 1: A Classified Assignment

Chapter 2: The New Commander

and His Mission Director

Chapter 3: Renewing Old Contacts

Chapter 4: Revisiting the Past

Chapter 5: Wilda’s Birthday

Chapter 6: Eirish Connections

Chapter 7: You Don’t Have to Like Everybody

Chapter 8: A Professor of Ornithology

Remembers Survivor

Chapter 9: A Surprising Reconciliation

Chapter 10: Final Farewells

Gathering the Flock

Chapter 11: The Captain Returns to Herinen

Chapter 12: Preliminaries

Chapter 13: Old Acquaintances

Chapter 14: The Captain Meets with the Beefeaters

Chapter 15: The Mission Board

Chapter 16: A Surprise for Dr. Souray

Chapter 17: Recruits

Chapter 18: Two Different Kinds of Examinations

Chapter 19: A First Look at the New Ships

Chapter 20: Robbin Nikalishin and Lt. Tulu

Chapter 21: Robbin Nikalishin and Prf. Katsopolos

Chapter 22: Preparations for Departure

Chapter 23: A Weekend in Okloh

Chapter 24: New Darwin

Chapter 25: Sinnapor

Chapter 26: Bankock

Chapter 27: New Kalkutta

Chapter 28: Moska

Chapter 29: Niu Nederlend

Chapter 30: Home Is Always Best

Chapter 31: Premonitions

Chapter 32: New Love Can’t Eclipse the Old

Chapter 33: The Last Recruits

Chapter 34: Lunch with Kade, and a Board Meeting

Chapter 35: Robbie Gets Another Family

Chapter 36: The Hololab

Chapter 37: Progress Accelerates

Glencrosse

Chapter 38: Final Arrivals

Chapter 39: Ian Glencrosse and Dr. Winehandle

Chapter 40: Old Friends

Chapter 41: The Crew Begins to Take Shape

Chapter 42: Alpha Cen or Epsilon Eri?

Chapter 43: The President Addresses

the People of Earth

Chapter 44: And then Capt. Nikalishin Speaks ...

Chapter 45: The News Conference

Chapter 46: Cmdr. Glencrosse’s Strange Remark

Chapter 47: Fedaylia Redux

Appendix: The Mythmaker Precepts

Synopsis

Parts One through Four

Born in 2729, Robbin Nikalishin spends the first 31 years of his life obsessed with flying to the stars. After he is recruited for the nascent interstellar program, he is given command of his own ship, backed up by his childhood friend Kolm MaGilligoody as his Chief Engineer. His dreams are on the brink of being fulfilled when a new Commanding Officer changes the agenda and forces the crew to risk their lives in a meaningless experiment. The result is a catastrophe; the ship becomes interdimensionally fused with an asteroid and Kolm dies pinned in the wreckage. [Part One]

Wounded physically and mentally, Capt. Nikalishin struggles to overcome the aftereffects of the Darter Disaster and to find fulfillment in a life where his dream of flying to the stars has been lost. With the help of many friends, he returns to interplanetary flight and achieves success as the Captain of a Mars ship. Capt. Nikalishin remains lonely and dissatisfied, however, and unable to cope with certain secret phobias and misunderstandings that haunt his existence. When the woman of his dreams abruptly reappears, he woos and weds her, hoping to find a soul mate to assuage his loneliness. However, Fedaylia High Feather turns out to be a controlling and manipulative woman incapable of the understanding that the Captain hoped for. [Part Two and Three]

In Part Four, Fedaylia reveals her true colors and Robbin Nikalishin’s life falls apart. Before the end, he is able to find a way to dig deep inside himself and turn his life around. With much help from loyal friends, he may not have lost his dream of the stars after all.

Facsimile

29th Century Title Page

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS

AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Fiction

Issued in the year 2849 as

Part of the Commemoration

of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Death of

Capt. Robbin Haysus Nikalishin

(10 May 2799)

Part Five

PHENIX RISES

by Tania Barden

Fellow, Brassnose/Queens’ College

Oxkam University

Published by

The Midammeriken Publishing Link

New Washinten, 2849

The Final Threads

Chapter 1

A Classified Assignment

25-26 May, 2767

Whatever Robbin Nikalishin might have suspected before he entered Old Heathero’s Briefing Room on the 25th of May in 2767, he was unprepared for the life-altering words that had come out of the mouth of the Humartian Admiral. Capt. Nikalishin, good to see you again! But I’m a man who thinks that beating around the bush can wait upon the crux of the matter. We need a command officer for humanity’s first flight to a neighboring star. Would you feel up to taking on the job?

For a long moment the Briefing Room was totally silent. Then Robbie came slowly to his feet, hunched over like a predator ready to spring. He raised his hand and pointed an unsteady finger at an obviously uncomfortable Jorge Teeter.

This is not funny, Teeter! My sense of humor isn’t big enough at the moment to take this kind of joke at my expense! I know I had a flashback on that ore freighter and maybe that doomed me, but by god I don’t deserve this!

The Admiral’s face was turning red, but the other people in the room were laughing and beginning to talk all at once. Anezka Lara was looking terminally disgusted. Malakoff, I told you allowing that man to chair this meeting was a mistake.

Adm. Stubblefield gestured expansively. Robbie, it’s no joke! The Phenix Project for Interstellar Flight is no longer a pipe dream! My position is now JMC Liaison Officer for that same project. And I hope you know I never was your enemy.

Really, would I participate in a crass practical joke at your expense, after everything we went through six years ago? said Col. Yang.

Prf. Flournoi was saying, Robbin, you’ve known me a long time – you know I wouldn’t deceive you.

Robbie, look at me! said Adm. Soemady. This is serious! Adm. Teeter, would you please weigh in and set the Captain’s mind at ease?

And Teeter said grimly, I realize you have a poor opinion of me, Captain, but I assure you, instigating pranks like the one you suspect is not my practice. I may not be pleased about what’s going down here, but I’m acknowledging its veracity, nevertheless.

Robbin, do you see this insignia on my shoulder? said Malakoff. It’s a bird flying up from the flames! Phenix is alive and well and I’ve abandoned my home on Mars to be its Mission Director. We have two interstellar ships over half built, but they have no crews. We’ve been waiting for you, Robbie. We blundered badly and waited too long, and almost lost our Captain. But that’s all in the past now. So what do you say? Are you still game for a venture to the stars?

While all this had been taking place, Robbie had been slowly sinking back into his chair, his face going white. Asante Kibwana chuckled. They instructed me to drop some hints about this, Robbie, because they thought we should soften the shock – allow you come to this meeting suspecting what you were walking into. But I think that ploy failed!

You – you mean, stammered Robbie, there really is an interstellar program up and running – a Phenix that’s not a sham? And he looked imploringly at Prf. Lara.

Yes, Nikalishin, there really is a functioning interstellar program, she bit back impatiently. Do you think I would be wasting my time here if there wasn’t?

"And – and you want me – me – to be a part of it? Even after everything I’ve … ?"

Honestly, they do, said Adm. Soemady. They’ve wanted you for some time. Why else would I have been busting my butt in your behalf for these past couple of years?

Believing in you wasn’t always easy, said Lara, but neither Yang nor Kibwana wanted the command and we couldn’t find anybody else even half as qualified for the job. After a while, it became obvious it was going to be you or nothing.

I – I did suspect something from what Kibby said, Robbie responded, but I thought maybe – some kind of advisory or instructional role … but – the command … Robbie was beginning to laugh even as tears were filling his eyes. Even after getting drunk on the … and lying … and punching Wellspoon … and the flashback … you still want me to command a mission?

Well, said Malakoff, we feel it’s not unreasonable to expect you to remain sober the greater part of the time.

Robbie laughed as if the Humartian had just made the biggest joke in the world. Oh, god almighty – yes, sir, I agree, that’s certainly not an unreasonable expectation!

As for the flashback – we thought you coped admirably with that difficult situation aboard the ore freighter. We’re confident in your ability to handle any asteroids you might encounter.

"Well, I certainly hope … And you’re actually building the ships right now? And – missions are being planned – actual missions? God almighty … no, what I should say is – aliluya! … Is it all right if I ask – where are we going?"

The destination isn’t set yet, said Adm. Malakoff. We’re collecting data on that subject, but we thought we’d wait for the Captain’s input before making a final decision.

Now Robbie had tears running down his beardless cheeks and he covered his face with his palms, then swiped them to either side. As he looked up at the line of faces swimming in front of him, he whispered, Epsilon Eridani. That’s where we’re going. To Epsilon Eridani.

*****

Robbie did not weep his way through the remainder of that momentous event; in fact, later in his life, whenever he thought about that incredible afternoon, all he could remember was a huge amount of laughter. Malakoff promptly adjourned the session to an adjacent chamber where snacks and a wet bar had been set up. Amid raucous chatter and a lot of milling around, everybody clapped Robbie on the shoulder and congratulated him. Stubblefield remarked that Kade was a teetotaler and probably wouldn’t approve the presence of the bar at this gathering, and Robbie laughed hard at that even though he had no idea who this Kade character was. When he learned Field Adm. Ladislav Kade was ESC’s Chief of Staff, who was in large part responsible for the resurrection of the interstellar program, he laughed some more. And when Stubblefield said the Field Admiral’s abstemious drinking habits had made him a bit reluctant to support the Captain, Robbie went Whoo! and flicked his forehead with his fingers, grinning hugely.

About that time, Prf. Lara took Robbie’s Scotch on the rocks out of his hand and thrust a tumbler of ginger fizz into it. No alcohol for you, Mister, even in celebration, she said, fixing him with her gimlet gaze. You’re in training for the stars.

Yes, sir! said Robbie, saluting left-handed. Holy cry, Professor, you haven’t changed a bit!

Well, except for this, said Lara, yanking on her white forelock. That’s what getting old – and suffering through something like Quickspeed – does to an old eller like me. But what’s your excuse for changing, Nikalishin?

Changing?

I mean … She pointed at his face. … the beard.

Oh, that! Well, it’s pretty gray, too …

I don’t care if it’s yellow with green stripes. I’m ordering you to grow it back.

At that moment, Shane Yang turned up at Robbie’s elbow and soon they were talking about Yang’s marriage and his daughter, who had just turned one year old, and how those developments had sealed the Colonel’s decision to remain in Ground Command. And of course Robbie felt constrained to reveal that his own marriage was on the rocks. As his associates expressed their regrets, Prf. Flournoi approached and rescued him. They talked about the ulterior motive for the Professor’s visit to Robbie in the hospital. Robbie remarked that he didn’t see how any helpful recommendation could have come out of that, and then he laughed even more. His euphoria was too powerful to be dampened by anything.

In the course of conversing with Malakoff and Stubblefield, Robbie noticed someone was missing. Where’d Adm. Teeter go?

The Admirals looked at one another. Malakoff said, He departed as soon as the official meeting ended. It was, uh – rather an embarrassment to have him here in the first place …

I’d wager he didn’t choose to be here, Admiral, Robbie said.

No, he didn’t, said Stubblefield. Chief of Staff Kade insisted that he chair the meeting – he wanted to rub Teeter’s nose in his mistakes, in effect.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about that, said Robbie. I, uh – I’m kind of negative on vindictiveness at the moment.

Malakoff grimaced ambiguously under his moustache. I should imagine you would be, Robbie. And if I may make a suggestion, why don’t you pay a visit to Adm. Teeter before you leave for Herinen?

These juxtaposed concepts took hold of Robbie’s brain simultaneously. Uh – leave? Holy grief, that’s right! Herinen is home base for … But I’ve got – some unfinished things … And … Visit Teeter? Why? Uh – maybe I do see … God almighty, you’ve got me terminally confused! Pretty soon you’ll decide you don’t want me after all!

Near the end of the meeting, Adm. Soemady grabbed onto Robbie. You must have realized by now what was going on.

I must?

I mean, with the penalty. I knew from early on about the Phenix Project. I fear I was undercutting Teeter rather badly. Did you know he tried to transfer me to Novosibera?

He did? Damn.

Adm. Kade countermanded the order, bless his starchy little heart. But I can tell you a lot, Robbie, now that everything is out in the open. Can we get together tomorrow?

Uh – Adm. Malakoff wants to meet with me at 0800h …

Why don’t we meet at the Club about 1145? Have lunch together.

Am I allowed to do that?

Adm. Soemady laughed. Robbie, you’ve served your penalty! You could have lunch with Pres. Sarkisian if she had time for it! In fact, you probably will sooner or later.

Holy cry – this is going to take some adjustment – being treated like I’m not a criminal! But what am I going to tell Wilda? She’s waiting impatiently to learn my fate.

Oh! Yes! That might be a problem. This truly is a Class 1 matter. If you tell Wilda and something gets leaked, she might be accused of being the source.

Aw, phoo. Even if I don’t tell her, Admiral, she’ll suspect the truth.

Well, we can’t stop people from putting two and two together. Just don’t confirm her suspicions, and that’s an order.

Robbie sighed. Oh, all right. What can I do but comply? And then he laughed again.

After the celebration broke up, Capt. Kibwana walked Robbie back to his quarters. This keeps hitting me in waves, Kibby, like one of those suamy things. Robbin Nikalishin is really going to the stars! Maybe you’ll be going, too.

And Kibby said, Oh, it’s too soon to think about that. There are a million things for you to learn. Let’s get together this evening and get caught up, and take everything one step at a time.

Robbie wasn’t paying much attention. He was looking up at the late afternoon sky and his eyes were misting. He was thinking of that final dream during his travail in the Brig – when he had said to his mother, … after all you went through to give me what I wanted out of life … What he had wanted out of life was to reach the stars, and now he thought, Mummy, your sacrifice was not in vain after all – I’m going to make it to the stars, and make you proud.

And then he suddenly said, Pineapple!

Hmm? Kibby turned to stare quizzically at his friend.

Robbie laughed softly. I’m going to learn what pineapple tastes like! Never mind, Kibby – I’m not crazy, I swear to you! It’s a long story – I’ll tell it to you during dinner. But this is going to be a bit bittersweet. Kolm, you know – he won’t be part of this star-team.

Ah, but … Kibby reached over and touched the center of Robbie’s chest. Do you still carry his medal there, Robbie?

Oh, yes …

"Then Kolm will be going with you, you know. There is no way he would not."

*****

Later that evening, after he and Kibby had shared dinner and some emotional conversation, Robbie stood staring at his space plane where it hung patiently in a corner of his bedroom. He thought of how he had brought it all the way from Barsilia squeezed up in his suitcase, and how he had taken it with him on all his early interstellar flights as well as on every Mars flight he had commanded except the last one – and how he had left it on Earth during the Darter’s final mission. Because of that, the toy plane still existed on this momentous day. And he thought of how he would finally be able to take it to the stars – even perhaps to Epsilon Eridani, where in his dreams the silver aliens of his childhood still haunted mysterious planets. And he was so proud and so moved that he felt about to burst.

By 2200h he had calmed himself down sufficiently to be capable of ringing up Wilda. She had delayed her bedtime, waiting for him to call. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to! I’ve been on tenterhooks all day! What did you find out? What orders did you get? Are you getting another command?

Uh-h-h – bloody hell – this is really hard …

It’s that bad? Robbie, did they … ? Surely they didn’t – kick you out of the ESC!

"Oh, no, no, it’s the opposite of bad – but it’s just that it’s classified and I’ve been ordered not to tell you – but I can say I’m being transferred back to Herinen, and so … "

Wilda shrieked. Oh! I knew it! I mean, I hoped it! The Phenix Project – it’s up and running, isn’t it? Capt. Robbie, you’re going to the stars! Are you going to the stars?

Dammit, Wilda, I can’t tell you anything – I want to, but I can’t.

That’s all right, you don’t have to! If it’s classified and you can’t talk about it and you’re being transferred to Herinen, it can only be one thing! I mean, what would be classified about getting your Mars command back? And I’m thrilled, Capt. Robbie – I’m just so thrilled! But, oh, I’m going to miss you so much, duck!

"Oh, darlin’, I’m going to miss you more than you can ever know. But please don’t talk about your suspicions to anybody – we’ll all get in bad trouble if you do."

Even to Dickon?

Yeah. He’s not there listening to this, is he? added Robbie in alarm.

"Well, actually, he is right here – he can hear my half of the conversation."

Bloody hell … Well, I haven’t told you anything, Wilda! Just keep your lip buttoned and tell Dickon to do the same!

Oh, you can count on us! I can beat Richerd Murchy into shape! And May is already asleep and the boys are upstairs finishing their schoolwork. If any rumors start, they won’t come from us!

Dickon’s voice came on the line. You think we’d want to mess up your life, Captain? You want to come over for dinner tomorrow night and celebrate?

Uh – I better not plan on it. I don’t know what’ll be happening, but I have meetings tomorrow and then I’ll know more. But one thing I do know: there are some things I need to settle up here in the Islands before I can leave. And I think I’m finally in a position where my requests will be treated with respect.

*****

The next morning, Robbie was up early preparing to meet with Adm. Malakoff. As he stood in front of his mirror, shaver in hand, he thought about what Prf. Lara had said. I don’t care if your beard is yellow with green stripes. I’m ordering you to grow it back.

And he said to himself, Nikalishin, do you really want to go to the stars looking like a dimply baby?

At some point you’ll have to give a speech. Do you really want to appear before the people of Earth as the commander of the next interstellar mission with this adolescent chin sticking out?

After Robbie recovered from a fresh wave of comprehension that he was actually going to command the next interstellar mission, he remembered Fedaylia’s words in the Brig … Getting you to shave your beard was a bet, too. Daddy saw how devoted you were to that scratchy old thing, and he bet me I could never get you to shave it …

And he thought, That business about the bargain – the beard in exchange for her staying on AFs – that didn’t mean a thing. It was just a ploy to help Fedaylia win another bet with Daddy. It meant nothing, and Fedaylia’s out of my life … For one moment he hesitated, remembering that Fedaylia was now based at Herinen, so he might run into her, and they might … But then he resolutely put away that fantasy; she had used him much too badly for him to even consider a reconciliation. … and I’m going to be Capt. Robbie Nikalishin from now on, and Capt. Robbie is a man who sports a beard. Besides, I've been using my beardlessness as a symbol of my humiliation, and now there’s no need to do that. I don’t need to feel humiliated ever again, as long as I live by what I’ve learned – as long as I don’t lose my way again.

And he found this to be yet another significant revelation and he felt great relief and joy. He had paid his price; he could be himself again; he didn’t have to eat crow for breakfast, at least not on this day.

So Robbie activated the shaver and shaved his neck and over his cheekbones and downward to a line from the corners of his mouth up to his sideburns, and then stood staring at himself. His face looked a big dingy, but that was all right. Soon it would be furry and gray-pied and streaked, but it certainly wouldn’t be yellow and green. At least he hoped not. And he chuckled delightedly and put the shaver away.

Chapter 2

The New Commander and His

Mission Director

26 May, 2767

Promptly at 0800h, Robbie entered the suite of rooms that had been provided for Adm. Malakoff in Visitors’ Quarters. It included an office, and the Admiral’s Administrative Aide, a young, diminutive female Lieutenant named Mercedes Tulu, greeted Robbie with professional coolness and ushered him inside.

As Robbie presented a smart salute, the Admiral said, As you were, Captain – have a seat. We Humartians aren’t fond of formality, although it’s mostly unavoidable in the military.

Sir, it’s easy to salute somebody of your quality, and don’t think I’m saying that to suck up. I’ve done a lot of things wrong in my life, but sucking up to my superiors has rarely – maybe never – been one of them.

So I’ve heard! said Malakoff, his eyes crinkling. I take it then, that you don’t object to taking orders from a Mission Director who happens to be an extraterrestrial.

Sir, I can seriously say, every time I’ve had contact with you, I’ve said to myself – now there’s a beefeater I’d feel really comfortable serving under. And when Adm. Teeter introduced you – well, I absolutely couldn’t believe my luck! I know we can accomplish great things under your leadership.

Your good will is much appreciated! Mars Prime has persistently supported the interstellar program and of course I have the backing of Pres. Sarkisian, but if she hadn’t been elected, the program would have gone forward anyway and the job would still have been mine. I assumed the post on 10 January of ’65 …

’65! That’s almost two and a half years ago! Phenix has been active that long?

Malakoff looked chagrined. Yes, unfortunately. We wanted you from the beginning, but we kept waiting for you to prove you were a totally perfect man.

And I just kept disappointing you, didn’t I? Robbie guffawed softly.

Well, first we wanted to see how you handled your Mars command. Then came the incident of lying to the doctors, and then a family death forced you to take leave – and then we meant to pull you in as soon as you got one more flight under your belt …

But I got pneumonia, and then came the flashback in the bar, and there was all the drinking … yes, I can see how you wouldn’t have observed much momentum in the direction of perfection, Admiral. Robbie sighed.

We expected Jorge Teeter to support you and he simply refused to cooperate, and that only aggravated matters. But where we really erred was in not trusting you enough to bring you in earlier. Over here, you would been in a positive environment and you would have gotten appropriate support and counseling.

And you could have made a perfect flight officer out of me. You know, I’m not at all sure that would have happened. I think I had to go through what I went through. I’ll never be perfect, but you may have gotten a stronger – and a more mature – man out of all this. I really believe I needed to spend that time in the Brig. And what happened in there is a long story. Let’s just call it – a spiritual odyssey … is that the word? Yeah, I think that’s it ... and let it go for the moment.

As you wish. Anyway, we have you now, and the future is beginning. Now, I need to say that Lara, Yang, and Stubblefield are all flying back to Herinen this morning …

Oh, they are! Damn. I wanted to show Prf. Lara I’m following her orders about the beard! Robbie scraped his cheek with a fingernail, his eyes twinkling.

Indeed? Malakoff tweaked his luxuriant moustache with a flourish. "Good! I am a bit partial to some sort of hair on the face! I think it bolsters a man’s confidence!"

You can do with just the upper lip, Admiral, because you have a strong jaw. But me … Robbie grimaced. I need the effect of a full beard if I want to maintain the illusion of a perfect starship Captain.

They laughed companionably, then Robbie said, Prf. Flournoi told me he’s working for Phenix only as an Advisor and won’t be in residence at Herinen.

Right! He’ll be acting as a liaison to the academic community and possibly as an occasional spokesman for the program.

Prf. Lara said she’s the head of the new … is it the Hilo Research Facility? That name must have pleased her a lot.

Malakoff looked a little shamefaced. It was a bit of a bribe, actually, concocted by Adm. Kade.

That man smells like a shifty operator to me.

Well, I shouldn’t remark on my superiors, but, uh – Adm. Kade enjoys power and manipulation. I suppose that goes with the territory for anyone who makes it to the level of Chief of Staff. He knows how to get things done and he’s not afraid to step on toes, but he’s also fair and scrupulously honest, and totally committed to the interstellar program. I think you’ll find him a cut above the people who were in power during SkyPiercer, and definitely during Quickspeed.

Then Malakoff told Robbie about Prf. Soren Bergsson. Prf. Lara, assisted by Bergsson, will be giving you a crash refresher course in TQ physics.

God almighty! Is it too late for me to back out? Robbie sniggered. No, seriously, I’ll need that. When Prf. Flournoi visited me in hospital, I told him I never think about physics these days. But I’m motivated now, sir. No doubt about it.

Then there’s another TQ specialist on the scene. You may remember Prf. Katsopolos.

Linna? She’s working with the Project?

Most definitely. She’s a wonderful addition to the staff. Her special expertise lies with TQ applications – she collaborated with Lara on the new engine technology.

Yeah, you don’t get many academics who’ve worked hands-on with a TQ drive! The last time I talked to her was at my wedding. It’ll be nice to see her again.

Then Robbie brought up the subject of the ships and learned that their hulls were being milled and surfaced, and a good deal of the infrastructure – service shafts and power conduits – had been installed.

You may be acquainted with the Chief Director for ship construction, said the Admiral. Lt. Col. Roger Makmillen.

"Roj? Oh, yeah, back when he was only a Major, he designed the Darter’s power transfer grid. Kolm thought he was a super design engineer! Uh-h – sorry. I still get a twinge when Kolm’s name pops out of me like that. So it’s Roj Makmillen that’s in charge of building my ships! That’s capital!"

Malakoff noted Robbie’s spontaneous use of the possessive, and he smiled but didn’t comment, thinking, Seems our boy is taking hold of the stick already …

Aloud, he said, Lt. Col. Yang is chief of ground operations. I must say, that man seems to have found his niche – he’s a meticulous administrator. He confesses to being miscast as a space hero.

Well, that could be. It’s always nice when anybody discovers what he was meant to do with his life. How soon will the ships be finished?

We’ve been waiting for your input. Once you’re settled in at Herinen, we’ll fly you to Luna and Col. Makmillen will give you the grand tour. Then at last he can finish the plans – decide where to put the heads and the galley, how many lifts are needed – that sort of thing.

Holy cry. The thing sounds huge.

"The principal ship – the one that will actually make the first star-flight – is about three-quarters the size of your Solar Wind. That’s over twice as big as the Darter. Robbie?"

Oh, I was just doing some volume calculations and estimating of how much power an engine would need in order to generate an adequate TQ loop. I would really need to know the molecular mass of the ship to do it right, but I think it’s feasible.

Malakoff was laughing. Seems your math ability is intact, as reported! I don’t understand the technology, but Prf. Lara assures us it’s feasible. I’m told both the interstellar and sub-light engines are hot-minute.

Overwhelmed, Robbie drew a shaky breath. And the ships’ names ... I suppose the mission ship will be called Phenix."

"Not necessarily. Right now, we’re calling them simply IS-6 and IS-7. The final names of both ships are yours to bestow."

"God almighty, Admiral – I get to name the ships? I think I’ve died and gone to a better dimension! What about the crew?

It’s yours to select, with my approval. We’ve got new people in training, but we haven’t approached any of the former crewmembers of SkyPiercer or Quickspeed.. And you may know people in the Mars Fleet who would be interested in joining the interstellar program.

And Robbie started to say, What about Dr. Souray – I want her for my Medical Officer, but he bit his tongue. It was way too soon to get into such details and he needed to think everything through carefully and not fall prey to his old bugbear of impulsiveness.

So he said, Do you have anyone in mind as Captain for the second ship?

Not at this point. That ship will serve for training and backup, and specifically as a rescue vessel, but we hope we’ll never need it for that.

This is all so wonderful – I’m starting to feel light-headed!

As to when we expect to see you at Herinen ... You mentioned yesterday you had unfinished business. How much time do you need?

Uh – would a month be unreasonable?

Not at all. We’re impatient to get you over there, but we want you to be ready, with no baggage. Give us a decisive date within the next three or four days. Stubblefield will be your contact until you arrive in Midammerik. On your way out, Lt. Tulu will give you keys containing a slew of data, and she’ll arrange for the appropriate clearances and ID codes to be waiting for you at Herinen.

Thank you, Admiral, I really appreciate that. Uh – about what you said yesterday, how I ought to go see Adm. Teeter ...

Well, don’t you think it might be – should I say, courteous? The man didn’t want to do what he did, but he did it anyway. He would probably appreciate a little thanks, even if he isn’t gracious about it.

What do you mean, ‘do what he did’?

Oh, you didn’t know his affirmative vote was what saved you from a lengthy military sentence?

Robbie’s mouth fell open. It was? That’s hard to believe!

The Board’s vote would have tied if Teeter had voted ‘nay’ and that could have caused all manner of complications, because the situation had no precedent.

Robbie laughed painfully. God almighty! Whatever could have possessed the man that would make him vote for anything that might help out his favorite whipping boy?

It was Adm. Kade’s doing, actually – he put the screws on. He revealed to Teeter the existence of Phenix and our plans for you and – well, bullied him a bit.

Holy shit. Robbie was once again dumbfounded. That must have been what Adm. Soemady meant when she said, the brass in New Washinten exerted a little pressure in my behalf. You all wanted me that bad?

After your plea speech went public, Robbie, we knew where we had to go.

Chapter 3

Renewing Old Contacts

26-29 May, 2767

At the club, when Robbie sat down for lunch with Adm. Soemady, he said, Well, Wilda guessed the truth. But I didn’t confirm anything and I swore her to silence. And her husband, too – he happened to be standing right there while we were talking on the com. No need to look so alarmed! Dickon is Wilda’s match for trustworthiness – I’ll swear to that.

As Jivanta rolled her eyes fatalistically, the server arrived to take their order. When that was done, Robbie said slyly, So Adm. Kade stopped Teeter-Totter from transferring you to the Russan back country. But from what I hear, the Chief of Staff meddled more than once in my sad case.

Uhh – Robbie, what else has Malakoff been telling you?

He mentioned the only reason I received such a light sentence was that the brass forced Adm. Teeter to support it and it turned out he had to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Soemady grimaced. Teeter asked me not to tell you that. He didn’t couch it as an order – he almost implored me, actually. Casting that vote was extraordinarily painful for him. Keeping his secret seemed like the humane thing to do.

It sounds like the pot was at full boil while I was rotting in the Brig.

From the results, I don’t think you were rotting.

Well, for a while I was – mentally, that is – but, uh – I was able to turn that around.

Things really got tense after your plea speech, when the Phenix Board concluded you were still capable of performing for them.

Who decided the sentencing ought to be transferred to the Board? As if I didn’t know.

Soemady grinned evilly at Robbie over the rim of her water glass. I’m pretty familiar with the intricacies of command regulations. The judge went along with the idea after your attorney dropped some hints about something big fermenting in the brewery of power. Yes, Maj. Oglemann knew about the Phenix Project.

Holy grief, I was in a hotbed of conspirators!

However, Teeter stubbornly refused to convene the Board for the purpose of sentencing you. He was savvy enough to respect me as an adversary and he knew his support wasn’t rock solid. And I couldn’t get a quorum in order to operate without his approval. That was when Kade called him to New Washinten …

You know what? This is just like something you read in a novel!

Soemady laughed. "Even after Teeter buckled and called the meeting, we had a serious problem. Phenix understood you had to be punished, but they insisted we preserve your Captain’s rank, keep you flying, and limit the term of the sentence to no longer than a year. And the JAG guidelines said a Board of Command could alter the standard penalty but they must reduce the man’s rank and restrict his liberty. How to concoct a penalty that satisfied both sets of guidelines? So … "

And I’d bet my last credit it wasn’t Teeter who came up with idea of making me a Captain in name only, forcing me to live like a Prov-En, and confining me to the greater perimeter of Old Heathero!

Yes, I’ll take the credit for that, too. Soemady preened humorously.

It was the perfect punishment, said Robbie, his voice deepening. It wasn’t anywhere as stiff as I deserved, but there’s something to be said for erring on the side of compassion. And assigning me to Sloe – I’ll be grateful to you till my dying day for that.

Well, nobody else is aware of Sloe’s significance, so keep that under your hat. But the irony was – once Kade had raked Teeter over the coals, he was wanting me to succeed. It felt bizarre having him as a clandestine ally. But what he did was put himself last in each voting round, and if the item was passing, he simply abstained. Then when the final vote came, it was five against and six for, so Teeter had to cast a ‘yea’ vote or we would have had a tie without any precedent for what that meant. Oh, my, that’s a moment I’ll never forget!

Robbie was shaking his head. I wish I could have been a little mouse under the table when that went down! But I’m guessing it was Teeter who suggested assigning me to the Lunar Fleet.

No, although I do think Teeter got a certain vindictive pleasure out of that. I thought Lunar Command was the least objectionable possibility. Adm. Lekoa simply couldn’t tolerate allowing an inebriated Captain back on the Bridge of a ship she was responsible for. But Com. Fiddler did what I expected him to do and offered to take you, so I didn’t even have to suggest that possibility.

You could have put me on a Mars ship as a swab.

Oh, I think that would have been lethal to your self-respect.

Well, maybe, but ... Robbie massaged the back of his neck. … I was determined to make the best of whatever I was asked to do. Vindicate myself by – scrubbing the cleanest latrines in the world … Admiral, do you remember saying to me when all of this was just starting, how I had a great core of character that you wouldn’t allow to be wasted? In the days after I punched Wellspoon, I believed you were wrong about that, but … well, coming to understand that I – I could make somebody proud of me just by cleaning latrines as well as I was capable of – that helped me to discover you were right after all. It’s part of how I got back on the path again.

Then he continued, "The humiliation of flying Service Class vessels is grossly exaggerated – it is essential work, after all. And Fiddler is a first-rate command officer. I only had contact with him a few times because of the stipulation against fraternization with senior officers, but I thought he seemed like a really decent sort."

He is that. And he consistently gave us good reports on your work. In fact, he would have liked to keep you for the whole term of the sentence, or even after it was over. You might have ended up as the next Commander of the Lunar Fleet!

Well, I’m gratified my work suited him, but I never felt moved so far as to make a career of it. Then Robbie grinned hugely. I much prefer this new assignment!

"You were doing so well that Phenix asked us to challenge you. Adm. Lekoa finally relented and signed off on the Red Planet command. By that time, Stepanek had decided to take early retirement. Once we all learned about her role in the Wellspoon assignment, we made her life pretty uncomfortable. Her replacement, Gen. Evens, was a long-time admirer of yours and his support was easy to obtain. That relieved Teeter of the strain of possibly having to cast another affirmative vote. Soemady sighed. Zinny Lekoa and I have been good friends for years, and at times I thought we were going to become permanently estranged. But we’ve come to terms and made up, much to my relief."

"Whose idea was it to put me on the Hell’s Gate?"

Actually, the whole Robbie Faction had reservations about that. We feared forcing you to look an asteroid in the eye would wreck all our good work. It was the Phenix Board that demanded it – that is, especially Prf. Lara and Adm. Kade. Adm. Malakoff agreed with us that it was an unnecessarily harsh trial. He’s a rather tender-hearted man, very empathetic.

So Prf. Lara wanted to put me on the rack! Wait till I get hold of her! ... Oh, I’m joking, Admiral. She and I will get along fine. We came to an understanding a long time ago, even before Quickspeed. So the decision was that I measured up, even though I had a flashback and developed nickel poisoning?

That last certainly wasn’t your fault! And yes, everybody was pretty much expecting that flashback. It was how you handled it that counted. Dr. Winehandle thought you would be all right and that seemed …

That man was in on this the whole time?

A good piece of it.

Holy hell. The revelations will never cease!

Luckily they had both ordered cold chicken salad plates and cucumber soup, because to that point they had been doing more talking than eating and anything that should have been hot would have grown tepid. They went silent for a few moments, digging into their food, as Robbie digested more than what he was putting into his mouth.

At length he said, Adm. Malakoff thinks I ought to pay a visit to Teeter before I leave. But I’m thinking he’s likely to call me in, anyway.

Umm, I doubt that. He’s lost a lot of his fight – I think he’s basically marking time until he retires. I believe the official date is June of 2769 – about two years off.

Teeter without any fight in him? That’s hard to imagine!

As to whether you should visit him, I think it would depend on what you want to say. If you intend to smart-mouth him …

I won’t do that. To put it in self-serving terms, I certainly don’t want to do anything to damage my present incredible good-fortune, but there’s more to it than that – I’m just not in a smart-ass frame of mind these days. Robbie paused, frowning thoughtfully. I really ought to go see him, I suppose. The man has played a big part in my life.

A server had appeared next to their table bearing a tray of pastries. Adm. Soemady said, Captain, do you want dessert?

Robbie eyed the tray sideways. Uh – I want it, but I daresay I’d better stick to my training diet. See how self-controlled I am? He chortled wickedly. Prf. Lara will kick my rear if I come to Herinen overweight!

Soemady laughed. I think we’ll both pass it up – I need to get back to the office.

As they stood up, Robbie said, "Admiral, is it all right if I contact some of my old Solar Wind crew? I’d like to make a personal apology before I leave Britan."

Jivanta looked exasperated. Captain, you continue to forget you’re a free man! You don’t have to ask anybody’s permission to see anybody!

Robbie looked sheepish. Oh, yeah. It’s odd – I used to be so headstrong, and now I think I have to get an authorization just to brush my teeth!

Captain, it’s good to have you back! Adm. Soemady stuck out her hand and Robbie shook it. Now go, Robbie, and begin living your life!

Is this the last time I’ll see you?

Certainly not! You think I’d let you get away without saying goodbye?

*****

The next day was a Saturday and Robbie met Wilda at the Old Fox’s Head after she got off work at 1230h. As Robbie approached the bar, he said to Ned Aftergood, Where’s that bloke with the dandified vest today?

I gave Archie the afternoon off, said the publican. He had to go buy some more clothes, gods help us. He’s getting married next week.

He is? I didn’t know that! I’ll have to get him a present!

Aw, his head’s so high up in the clouds, he won’t even know what you give him!

Robbie laughed. Well, I hope he’s made a wiser choice in a wife than I did.

"Yeah … Huh. How is your missus?"

Oh, I thought you knew – we’ve separated. She’s gone off to fly out of a different Base. But soon, Fedaylia, it’s going to be my Base, too …

Oh. Well, after what I saw that night you laid out Arch, I can’t say I’m too surprised.

Slightly unsettled, Robbie ordered two bowls of mutton stew to be served to the table, and two mugs of stout, which he carried to the table himself, managing to slop only a couple of minor splashes over the rims. As he sat down, he caught Wilda staring at him, and then she squealed.

Capt. Robbie! You’re doing it!

Alarmed, he said, What? I didn’t spill much.

No, no, no! Your face! You’re growing your beard again!

Oh, that! Is it already noticeable? It’s only been two days.

Well, it’s just stubble, but I can see it! Oh, Robbie, I’m so glad! The beard was always so much a part of who you are! So when you’re on the news links, speaking to the world about the Phenix mission …

Shush, people will hear you. And besides … And Robbie’s face cracked in a big grin. … I have no idea what you’re talking about!

Robbie, how are we going to sit here and not talk about it?

Darlin’, when did we ever have trouble finding something to say to each other?

I guess it’s safe to ask if you know when you’re going to leave.

I have to be at Herinen on Monday, the 3rd of July. I let ’em know this morning. Last night I began making a list of all the things I want to do before then. On 5 June the Chemford Club leaves for a five-day jaunt – start at New Swansee and end at Anglesee Island. I rang up Jon Prancer last night and told him I can make it. I’m really looking forward to that – I’ve never done any birding in West Britan.

Are you going to visit the MaGilligoodys?

I hope to, but I haven’t let ’em know yet. I haven’t talked to them since before they stuck me in the Brig – almost a year and a half ago. Robbie’s brow furrowed, but then he sighed. "I need go visit Prf. Flournoi and my old moral philosophy teacher at Epping. I’m also hoping some of my Solar Wind crew are on Base. It might just be that some of them would like to join … Uh, oh – I almost said a forbidden word!"

Wilda giggled. Then Robbie said through a mouthful of stew, You know, some of this is going to be beastly difficult, especially talking to my former Second Officer Alan Storrs, because there’s no way to justify what I did to that crew. I’ll be eating a lot of crow. Hell, I was just thinking I was finished with that.

You don’t have to do that, Robbie.

No, I think I do. I’m not concerned these days with being seen as a hero, but I do want my friends – and the world – to see me as a changed man. By that I mean, not a totally different man, like a piece of clay that’s been reworked, the way Fedaylia wanted – just as a better man, with a stronger foundation … Robbie continued to scowl and clutch a morsel of bread halfway to his mouth. Then he sighed again. Life never gets any easier, does it? And he stuck the bread between his teeth and began to chew.

I kind of hate to bring this up, but I think there’s something you might want to do that you’re forgetting. Remember your mother’s possessions that we boxed up and put in storage? Are you planning to do anything about that?

Robbie sat there dumbfounded. Then he said, "Damn. I had forgotten, Wilda. I mean, I hadn’t forgotten her – but her things … And he fell silent, carried back to those agonizing days in Sterling’s flat. Then he said, I remember saying when we stored that stuff that I would go through it later and dispose of things after the pain subsided a bit. But, Wilda, I doubt it’s subsided enough even yet."

I’m sure they’ll let you keep the lease on the storage unit.

I daresay that could be arranged. Maybe I’ll … You know, I don’t think a month would be long enough for me to get that done, anyway. When I do go through those things, I don’t want to do it in a hurry. And he thought, with a mental cringe, Her diary is in there – and Benning’s letters … "I guess I’m still a bit fragile, even though I’ve discovered I can stand beside her grave now without falling to pieces. When I was in the Brig, I achieved a kind of peace with my past failures, but I don’t want to take a chance on disturbing that peace right now. I think I will keep the storage unit and leave everything alone for the time being."

That’s probably for the best. But Wilda was thinking, Oh, Robbie, I doubt you’ll ever toughen up enough to face those memories.

Now that the subject of Sterling had come up, Robbie seemed compelled to talk about her. "Wilda, my mother did things for me that went way beyond the duties of motherhood and I repaid her with neglect and scorn. So now that failure is going to motivate every success I may earn for the rest of my life. I’m going to dedicate it all to her. I may not talk to many people about that, but I can tell you. And I do hope there’s a consciousness that lives on after we die – in fact, I’ve come to believe there is – because I want my mother to watch me go to the stars. I want to behave in a way that would make her proud."

Touched, Wilda reached to squeeze Robbie’s arm. Aw, love, that’s so nice …

But then he leaned back, his eyes popping in alarm. Holy cry, darlin’, I just gave everything away! They may court-martial me again for violating my security clearance!

And Wilda chuckled deep in her throat and gave her old friend’s arm an extra pat. Don’t worry, Capt. Robbie. Every secret you’ve ever shared with me is safe.

*****

On Monday Robbie went to a home furnishings shop in Heathero Village and picked out a pair of big, boldly striped sofa pillows for Archie Haskins’ wedding gift; knowing Archie’s tastes in textiles, he thought that was appropriate. Back in his flat, he started searching the rosters and comdex, beginning with his old crewmembers. He discovered that Edwardo Rail had garnered an elite posting: Chief Engineer on the Atlas 4, the premier transport vessel in the Service Class fleet. That ship, with a huge cargo capacity, ferried all the enormous equipment and the most sensitive materials to and from the Longrange stations. In the past, Atlas vessels had flown out of Old Heathero, but these days their home base was Herinen, so contact with Ed would have to wait until Robbie arrived in Midammerik.

When Robbie looked up Dr. Yow, he was chagrined to discover the doctor had retired, but he got a chuckle out of a biographical insertion that smacked of Lazy’s own authorship: Dr. Yow is finally cohabiting full time with his wife – well, almost full time – and has opened a rural clinic in the Melee Peninsula. He always dreamed of doing that, but he now adjudges himself to be somewhat daft in the brain for embroiling himself in such a demanding venture. Life in space was far more relaxing.

Then there was Avi Oman … He was a Lieutenant JG now and had been serving as Com Officer on – horrors! – an ore freighter – the Torment! What could have possessed the man? Robbie surmised he must have wanted some variety, a new kind of adventure.

… a new kind of adventure … I could give him a new kind of adventure …

But Robbie resolutely put such thoughts aside; it was too soon. And Avi was currently off-world, not due to return until early August, so Robbie forced himself to look up Cmdr. Storrs. He was surprised to find he was Third Officer on the Black Diamond, serving under Capt. Cluny. Robbie recalled that Cluny’s Second Officer had been planning to leave the service. Probably Alan was in training for that job.

And Storrs was returning to Earth in two days. Damn, Robbie thought with a sinking feeling. I think I was hoping he was on the other side of the sun.

But Robbie saw no escape, so he keyed the Commander’s ID, leaving a message with an invitation to meet Robbie in the Senior Officer’s Mess at noon on 3 June. Finally, after taking a brief break, he sat down again, wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, and rang up Brendan Runy Co-op.

He waited while the com beeped in his ear. That was odd – the MaGilligoody’s com system always registered an asthmatic buzz. Then an excited voice said, Oh, Robbie, be that really you?

Uh … They must have gotten a new com system; their old one didn’t ID the caller. That would have made Fedaylia happy – she always considered the MaGilligoodys to be terminally primitive … Yeah, it really is! Is this … ?

It’s Fiona, Robbie! … Mum, it’s Robbie! – yeh, I’m not raggin’ ye! … Oh, Robbie, we didn’t know if we’d ever be hearin’ from ye again!

I – I didn’t know if you’d want to.

Now, Robbin Nikalishin, what kind of silly words is that ye’re makin’ in me ear?

Well, I – I wasn’t a good boy, you know.

So when is anybody ever good all the time? Kolm wasn’t, either, ye understand, in spite of the fact ye’re always tryin’ to raise him to sainthood! Robbie? Be ye all right?

Oh, yeah – just relieved, Fiona. It’s been so long.

Well, we didn’t know if it was legal-like to ring ye up whilst ye were servin’ that sentence. But ye never rung us, either. Was it denied to ye, to talk to yer civilian friends?

No, it wasn’t, actually, but I guess I was ashamed. I honestly didn’t know if you’d want to have anything to do with me after the way I, uh – dishonored my command.

Well, really now! Robbin Nikalishin, ye just got the most exasperatin’ way of lookin’ at things, ye know that?

He laughed tremulously. Yeah, I guess I do.

So ye must be wantin’ to come and visit! Hey, if ye could make one of those little quanty jump things, ye could walk in our door this very minute!

Huh, huh … It’s a bit of a short trip for that kind of transportation, Fi. Seriously, could I come around the middle of June?

Lemme look at me calendar … How about comin’ on the 17th? That’s a Saturday and if ye visit over a Sunday, Aideen can be here the whole day. Her little Shawn Mathew Guffy is 15 months old now – the 14th of March, that’s his birthin’ day. Named after Jimmy’s uncle, who raised him, and then after our own Da.

Holy cry. That’s right. I’d forgotten you told me Aideen was pregnant.

And yer god’s babby, Robbie – he just turned five on the 10th of May. Yeh, Kolmie’s not so wee any more. Ye missed a lot of cute time with ’im. He goes into Pre-Form this fall and it’s breaking me heart – the idea of bein’ separated from him for the whole blessed day!

I – I’ll bet. … And how’s everybody else? How’s Dana?

"Oh, doin’ fine – workin’ hard to make that farm of hers grow the best bristle sprouts in Eira! And she’s added more goats and built a milkin’ barn and a ripenin’ shed, and she’s sellin’ her cheese at the Wicklo Farm Market. She’s even hired a couple of part-timers to help her with the makin’ of it and is plannin’ to go commercial next year! She’s a regular go-getter, that woman! And then Da and Mum are doin’ good, too. Da has a fair bit of arthritis in his hips – does more supervisin’ and less heavy work these days. And me Boiny –he’s just taken hold and is lovin’ the farmin’ life. We’ve put in a specialty line of purple potato that’s sellin’ real good