The Universe — or Nothing by Meyer Moldeven

  Chapter EIGHTEEN

  Brad studied the Sandbox on the utility's viewscreen.

  "I think you'd better have a look," he said toKumiko as he twisted aside on the cramped flightdeck. She peered over his shoulder.

  "Got a problem?" Scarf sneered, his bulk crampedthe remaining space behind the flitter's pilotseat. He hunched forward trying to see aroundKumiko.

  Brad ignored the question. He waited for Kumiko'sassessment of the Sandbox, dead ahead.

  Drummer had given him the job.

  "I want this done," he told Brad, "in a way thatwill demonstrate to the UIPS that we're serious,and can back our words with actions. We've gotto replace their image of us as misfits. They'vegot to see us as an organized military force thatcan defend its vital interests and, if necessary,impose its will."

  "What do you have in mind?"

  "I want to use Kumiko's expertise as a weaponsofficer familiar with Inner Region ordnance. I wantboth of you to board the Sandbox and check allinstalled armament that can be directed againstour fleet. Avoid a scrap, but if you find the gunshave not been deactivated, do it for them."

  He pointed at Brad to give emphasis to his words.

  "I don't want their weapons slipping back intooperational status as soon as you leave their ship.Whatever it is you do, fix their armament controlsso that it'll take them at least fifteen hours toget them back on line. We'll need that much timeto finish our job here and return to base."

  Scarf joined them, listening.

  "I don't like it." His words were angry; hisfeatures petulant.

  Drummer looked at Scarf with open scorn.

  "Your likes and dislikes are the least of myconcerns," he snorted and turned back to Brad.

  Scarf cut back in.

  "I repeat, Drummer, I don't like it, and what Ilike or don't like is your concern. I'm here oncounter-intelligence work, and I don't like yoursending this guy," thumbing toward Brad, "andone of his sidekicks over to a UIPS ship on a highlysensitive assignment. I'm not that trusting they'lldo the job as thoroughly as you're laying it out."

  Drummer frowned.

  "What do you suggest?"

  "That I go along."

  Brad stepped back to let the two work it out.He didn't relish the assignment. The Sandbox'scommander was not going to accept boardersgraciously.

  "You go along? What the hell for?"

  "To see how the assignment is carried out, andfrankly, to make sure this guy doesn't, shallwe say, inadvertently pass information tothe enemy." After a brief pause, Scarf added,"I'm within my authority, Drummer. Part of thecounter-intelligence function," adding, with asmirk, "Don't you agree?"

  ##

  The utility's approach to the cylindrical Sandboxclosed in on the port side. Brad, at the controls,increased viewer magnification and inspected theship closely. Kumiko, looking at the same image,reached under Brad's arm and adjusted knobs andlevers, zeroing in on one gun turret after anotheralong the Sandbox's length. She whistled softly.

  "They're loaded for bear," she said. "Circle them,Brad, let's see what's on the other side."

  Brad took the utility around to starboard, thentopside and below.

  Scarf again. "OK, you've looked her over. Now,what's the problem?"

  "The ship has four laser-quads and a couple ofexplosive decompressors. She's a heavily armedattack transport, that's all."

  "So what? Can you do the job?"

  Kumiko looked at Scarf, her normally soft featurestwisted, passive but icy. "Oh, yes," she said."I can do it. May take a little time, though."

  Scarf leaned back.

  "Well, let's not fool around with these jokers. Ifthey don't cooperate, I'm for back to the Dragonand let our guns talk for us."

  "Listen, Scarf," Brad said, exasperated, "our jobis to disable the armament, not destroy the ship.Also, if you recall, Drummer wants to get throughthis exercise without using force. That's why we'rehere: to fix the Sandbox so they and any othership commanders of like mind won't get ideasabout resisting us. It's a psychological play that willmake the rounds of the Outer as well as the InnerRegion. It's to our advantage to show we do our jobwith minimum fuss. So, let's get on with it."

  Brad opened the inter-ship comm-line.

  "Calling Sandbox. This is Curtin on Dragon UtilityOne, approaching from your starboard. Are youprepared to receive us?"

  "Ready," came back. "Your air lock is number 4,starboard. Go there now. We will extend umbilicaland catwalk as soon as you're matched up."

  Brad guided his craft around and along the Sandboxto a portal bearing a large painted "4." Slowingthe utility, he closed with the Sandbox, gentlyfingering controls until they were matchedprecisely to the heavy transport's bearing anddrift.

  "Now," he said.

  Kumiko hit a switch, and the utility beam-anchorconnected to a triangular plate above the airlock,immobilizing and fixing the utility to the hugetransporter's axis.

  The number 4 clamshell panels drew back andslipped aside. A yellow and white-striped catwalksnaked out and suckled up to the utility's hatch.

  Kumiko took in the overhead dials and lights.

  "On track," she said, and after a moment,"connected and secure."

  Brad closed a bank of switches, opened another."We'll take no unnecessary chances," he said. "I'msetting the thruster to cut in at twenty percentas soon as we're back in and slam the hatch. Fiveseconds and into forty, another three and wego max. That's for just in case. So, if we needto move fast when we board, hit the accello-netspronto. Got it?"

  "Right," from Kumiko.

  "Scarf?"

  "Sure, sure. I got it."

  "Next. I want 'em to be able to see that the powersettings on our sidearms are low enough so asnot to kill or cause serious injury. Is that clear?"

  "If they start anything, I'd just as soon take afew of them out for good." Scarf postured hisbelligerence.

  "Nothing doing, Scarf," Brad shot back. "Usingour weapons on this mission is bound to delaythe schedule, if not much worse. It's been fouledup already by this little sortie. So don't provoke'em; set your weapon in the lower levels."

  Brad set his weapon at the extreme low settingand noted that Kumiko did the same. Scarf sethis at the highest level in the non-lethal category,and with a sneer at Brad, returned the weaponto its sheath.

  Kumiko looked thoughtful. "We should wear suitswhile we're on board the Sandbox, Brad," she said."It may slow us down a bit, but we'll need to lookat gun emplacements that have minimal air ornone at all."

  "Sounds reasonable. OK, keep your suits on."

  They rigged their sidearms for control from withintheir suits and transferred them to outer sheaths.They donned the suits, checked each other's suitsecurity, seal pressure, inter-suit communications,and reported.

  "Move out," Brad said.