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  He turned to the old gentleman. “Signore, may I ask your name?

  “I am Vedrus Aldamani and this is my wife of forty years, Emiline,” the old gentleman replied.

  Stone bowed slightly at the waist. “I am pleased to meet you Signore Aldamani, and it is an honor to meet the Signora, also.”

  “Enough of the pleasantries,” Heller spat. “We have a long wait until our ship gets here and I am tired of standing.”

  Stone spat back. “Sir! Shut up or I will knock you on your can.”

  Heller sputtered, but before he could speak, Stone turned back to the Mr. Aldamani. “Signore, if I may ask, when did you graduate from the naval academy?”

  Aldamani straightened slightly, “I graduated third in my class from the United Empire Navy Academy on Christ Church in the Orion Sector forty years ago. It was one day before I married my Emiline. How did you know I went to one of the navy academies?”

  Stone smiled and pointed at the man’s hand. “You still wear your ring, Signore. And if I may ask another question and this one is quite personal?” At Aldamani’s nod he continued “When did you lose your leg?”

  “Ah, you saw that too did you? Good eyes, son,” Aldamani smiled. “It fools almost everyone these days.”

  “My Uncle Sten has a prosthetic one just like it,” Stone smiled back. “And he levers himself out of a chair the same way you do. But Uncle Sten’s leg is a plasticrete civilian model, not the government issue titanium model like yours. So, I assume you lost the leg in the service to the Emperor?”

  Aldamani nodded, “I lost this leg in the war against the Alarii while I was the first officer of the U.E.N.S. heavy cruiser Spartan.”

  Stone whipped back to Major Numos. “Sir, I submit that this gentleman has earned this seat and the one for his wife also, by reason of his service to the Empire. If that is not reason enough for you, I will gladly submit to honorable combat against any one or all four of you.”

  “I am first, Midshipman,” Heller said. “And I don’t care how many of your swabbie buddies you call over here.”

  “I am sorry, Lieutenant Heller,” Stone shook his head. “I don’t have any navy buddies. This will just have to be between us, assuming you can stand the humiliation of being beaten in a fair fight by a…what did Lieutenant Vedrian say…a shrimp like me?”

  Major Numos said, “Hold up, Heller. If Midshipman Stone can park his rear end on the cold deck, then you and Hammermill can do the same, after you apologize to the Aldamanis.”

  Stone smiled at the Aldamanis and gave them another bow, this time deeply from the waist as his mother had taught him to do in the presence of honored elders. As the old man sat, the couple smiled their thanks, took each other’s hands and leaned together for comfort.

  Stone sighed and grabbed his duffel bag, prepared to go find a clear, out of the way space on the deck. Major Numos held up a hand to stop him. He pointed at the deck near his feet. Hammermill and Heller dropped to the deck on either side of Stone. Stone plopped down his duffel bag and settled heavily onto it with a sigh. Into the uncomfortable silence he said “Sir, thank you.”

  First Lieutenant Vedrian spoke in an oddly sweet voice for such a massive woman, “Midshipman Stone, I am sure that Hell-and-Back is dying to ask you why you were so confident in taking him on in a fair fight, but he is too shy to ask.”

  Hammermill reached across Stone and slapped Heller across the back of the head. “Shy? The day that Hell-Pless turns shy is the day that I turn in my pecker.”

  Vedrian snorted, “From what I hear, Hammer, your pecker don’t do you much good anyway. So what do you say, navy? Why do you think you could take on Hell and come out a winner?”

  “Winner?” Stone replied with a grin. “Lieutenant Vedrian, I don’t think I could stand up to just one of Lieutenant Heller punches. Even if he missed, the wind would most likely knock me down.” Heller frowned amid the laughter from the other three marines, then a grin broke his face and he guffawed the loudest of the bunch.

  Major Numos caught his breath and said, “Remind me not to play poker with you, boy. I was about half convinced that you must be some kind of super-sailor. Most full grown navy types wouldn’t think of taking on a marine in a one-on-one fight, much less four-to-one.”

  “Sir, I wouldn’t know about other navy types. I haven’t met too many outside of basic training and midshipman training school,” Stone said.

  “I didn’t think you had been in very long. When did you get your commission, son?” Major Numos asked.

  Stone glanced over his shoulder at the clock on the arrival and departure board, “Well, Major Numos, I earned my commission and took my midshipman oath about seven hours ago. So far my navy career has been to catch a shuttle up to the station and wait around here for my next ride.”

  Lieutenant Vedrian laughed, “You are new at this. No wonder you weren’t afraid to take on the marines. You haven’t been around long enough to know any better.”

  Stone shook his head. “No, Lieutenant Vedrian. I was certainly scared to take on the marines. Anyone in their right mind would be, but what is right is right. Grandma would skin me alive if she ever heard I backed down from a fight just because I might lose.”

  “Grandma sounds like a marine,” Heller said.

  “No, sir,” Stone replied. “She is just a common merchant sailor, but from what Grandpa says, when she isn’t listening that is, she took on her share of marines in bars from everywhere to the back of beyond and home again.”

  “Where are you bound for, Midshipman?” Major Numos asked.

  “I have been assigned to the U.E.N.S. Periodontitis, sir. Beyond that I don’t know. The disbursement officer didn’t tell me if I was being permanently stationed on the Periodontitis or if it is just my transport to my duty station. He just told me to hustle up here so I didn’t miss the ship.”

  “Typical REMF,” Heller laughed.

  Stone looked confused, “REMF, sir?”

  Heller said, “R.E.M.F. Rear Echelon Mother F-”

  “That’s enough, Helmet-Head,” Major Numos interrupted. “Let’s just say the officer in question was an office weenie and let it go at that, shall we?”

  “Thank you, Major. My ears have never heard anything quite like that before,” Stone grinned.

  Major Numos laughed, “It isn’t for you, Midshipman. It is for the Aldamanis. I am sure they have heard marines talking before, but we are supposed to be officers and gentlemen as well.” He nodded to Signora Aldamani.

  “Major, may I ask where you are headed?” Stone asked.

  Lieutenant Vedrian answered with a grimace as if she tasted something cold and bitter, “It is an unhappy coincidence that we are also headed for the Ol’ Toothless.”

  “Toothless, sir?” He asked.

  She nodded. “You haven’t had time to look up the disease periodontitis? All of the fleet calls it the Ol’ Toothless. Not just because of the disease, but from the scuttlebutt the weapons are so-”

  “We don’t discuss that here, Vedrian,” Major Numos interrupted. “Put a lid on it.”

  “Well, anyway being on a ship called the Ol’ Toothless still beats being on a ship named after diarrhea or syphilis. You know what those nicknames are!” Hammermill said with a laugh.

  Signore Aldamani interjected, “Forgive me, but the Periodontitis is a fine ship from what I have been told. Our son is a first lieutenant stationed on her as a procurement officer. He only had good things to say about her and her admiral.”

  “Quite right, Signore,” Major Numos nodded. “Forgive us. We did not mean any disrespect to you or your son. It is just that marines often find it hard to be stationed on warehouse ships.”

  “Major, how does that happen?” Stone asked. “I know the Periodontitis is a warehouse and supply ship because of the name. What I mean is how do marines get stationed on a non-combat ship?”

  Signore Aldamani answered, “Midshipman Stone, every vessel in the Emperor’s fleet is a fighting ship, regardl
ess of her normal duties. It would do you well to remember that.”

  Stone blushed and replied, “Yes, Signore. Thank you. I will remember that.”

  Major Numos smiled. “Although what Signore Aldamani says is true, marines are put on warehouse and supply ships because we are some of the parts and supplies that are warehoused and supplied from said ships. The Ol’ Toothless carries a marine unit in reserve and dispenses it as needed. We four officers are assigned to this particular ship to keep control of the marines in transit. Believe me; no one likes what happens when marines get bored.”

  “Well, I don’t imagine that is a pleasant sight,” Stone replied with a chuckle.

  Vedrian said, “Hey! I resent that. I’ve been a bored marine and I am not all that unpleasant to look at.”

  All four of the marines laughed.

  “Yeah, ‘In-Bed-Again’ Vedrian, beauty queen of the mud marines,” Hammermill said.

  Stone smiled, “If the lieutenant wouldn’t mind, I would say she is very attractive. She is very scary, but attractive.”

  “Ha! See there, you mutts,” Vedrian laughed. “Even the navy recognizes beauty when they sees it.”

  Hammermill gave Stone a friendly poke in the ribs, “He is a midshipman, Vedrian. He doesn’t know anything yet. He is so new he is still confused.”

  Heller gave Stone a friendly poke in the ribs on the other side, “Yeah, maybe we should get him up into marine country to teach him some things since we are going to be on the same ship.”

  Stone rubbed his ribs. He was sure they would be bruised in the morning. “Well, sir. I don’t know whether my station is permanently on the Periodontitis or if I am just getting a lift. I don’t know how much time I will have. But, I would like to see around the ship as much as possible, so yes, I would like to see marine country.”

  Major Numos nodded. “It is always best to learn as much as you can about any ship you are on, no matter how long you plan on being there. The Ol’ Toothless is a bit old as warehouse and supply ships go, but it is still one of the biggest ships in the fleet. So, Midshipman, it will take a lot of learning on your part.”

  “How big is it, Major?” Stone asked.

  “It is half again bigger than this whole station,” Major Numos replied. “And that is big, as this station is one of the biggest in this sector of space. I believe most of the military people in this area are waiting on the Ol’ Toothless. The other ships listed on the tote board are mostly civilian ships or smaller military craft.”

  Stone asked, “Sir, how is the Periodontitis going to dock with the station if she is that big?”

  Hammermill tapped Stone good naturedly on the back of his head, rattling his teeth. “Mister Moron Midshipman, ships that size can dock, but they generally just send us a small fleet of shuttle craft. That way us marines won’t have to ride with you navy types and contaminate you.”

  Stone rubbed the back of his head, “I don’t get you, Lieutenant. How could you contaminate the navy?”

  “Didn’t you know, Stone? We don’t get along,” Vedrian replied with a laughed.

  Major Numos stood abruptly. “That’ll do, marines. According to the tote board we have about ten minutes before we saddle up. Empty your bladders now, people. Then, let’s get all of the leathernecks together by the back bulkhead.”

  Without so much as a goodbye, they were gone.

  Signore Aldamani spoke up. “Midshipman Stone, I don’t want to step on your toes as you have been very kind to us. However, if I might say, some people in the navy frown on fraternization with marines. It might not be a good career move to be too friendly with them, if you get my meaning.”

  “I understand, Signore,” Stone nodded. “I am not sure I agree, but I do understand.”

  “I would have hoped things had changed since my time in the navy, but tradition will hold out. And speaking of which, when your shuttle is called, hold back. There isn’t any sense in rushing down to get on board. Tradition says you board your vessel by rank, so I imagine you will be sitting in the last seat of the last row of the last shuttle designated for officers.”

  “I believe you might be right, sir. Thank you,” Stone smiled.

  Signora Aldamani spoke, “Please don’t be shy about looking up our son when you get on board your ship. I am sure he can be a big help if you need anything.”

  A new voice caused Stone to look up. “Midshipman Stone? Get on your feet, Mister Stone.” A tall, somewhat heavy junior ensign stood over Stone.

  “Aye, aye, sir.” Stone scrambled to his feet.

  The junior ensign said, “We are on the same shuttle. I require you to carry my luggage aboard.” He dropped his duffel at Stone’s feet. “Maybe carrying a little extra baggage will teach you not to play patty-cakes with the grunts.” The man turned and walked away without another word.

  Stone replied anyway. “Aye, aye, Ensign.”

  A second lieutenant stepped up to Stone and dropped his duffle bag. “You should also have reported in when you came into the area.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant, but my orders said to report in to the duty officer on the Periodontitis. Who should I have reported to here, sir?”

  The lieutenant snapped back, “You should have hunted down the highest ranking navy officer in the room to see if he needed anything.”

  Another lieutenant dropped his luggage on the small pile at Stone’s feet. “For that matter, Midshipman, you should have presented yourself to every naval officer in the room to see if you could have been some service to anyone. Now, you can carry my luggage as well.”

  Other ensigns and second lieutenants lined up to drop off their bags and duffels. Each officer gave Stone some small piece of ‘advice’. In short order, there was a fairly large pile of bags.

  The last officer balanced a backpack on the top of the pile. He said, “Midshipman Stone, if this bag doesn’t get aboard the Periodontitis or is scuffed up in any way, I will see that you will spend your entire career in the navy moving boxes around in a warehouse.” The man leaned in close, “I mean it, Mister. Don’t screw this up or I can guarantee that you will end up on third watch in the most boring warehouse position I can find for you.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Stone looked at the pile of luggage stacked around him. He sighed, nodded to the Aldamanis, and left the waiting room. He trotted slowly down the corridor heading to the main hall, checking each side hallway as he went.

  He spotted what he was looking for and skidded to a stop. Lined against the bulkhead was a row of luggage carts. He popped open a small access panel in the front of the second cart, unspooled a thin cord and plugged it into a port on the back of the first cart. He then slaved a third cart to the second. He calculated he would only need three carts, still, he slaved in a fourth cart. He had been taught at an early age that when moving cargo, you can never have enough loaders, carts, tie downs or extra hands.

  Stone grabbed the controller for the first cart and powered on all four carts. With a quiet hum, they rose as one and hovered easily. He noticed the second cart had a slight list to the starboard, but since he would not be using it for long it would be serviceable. Any such defects on his family’s ships would cause a write up and the cart would be immediately sent to maintenance. He guided his small train back along the corridor. He did not realize he was humming in harmony with the carts. This was an activity he was used to doing, unlike most of the things the navy had been trying to teach him in the past months.

  He slid the carts to an easy stop next to the pile of luggage that had grown slightly in his brief absence. Most of the military personnel had cleared the area except the cluster of marines along the back bulkhead.

  Signore Aldamani smiled at Stone. “I didn’t know those carts could be tied together. That is a pretty handy trick, Mister Stone,” He said.

  “Thank you, Signore Aldamani. The real trick is going to be getting all of these bags stacked on the carts. I don’t suppose my shuttle will leave without me. After all, they wouldn�
�t dare take off without their junior-most midshipman.” He smiled.

  Aldamani stood. “Well, Mister Stone, I may be old, but I am not so old that I can’t toss a few bags. Let me give you a hand.” His eyes suddenly flicked to look behind Stone.

  Stone ducked and spun about. Major Numos and about thirty marine officers had stopped behind Stone. He had not heard a thing.

  “Pretty quick reflexes, son,” Major Numos said. “It was not quite good enough to catch a marine, but impressive enough.” He grabbed a duffel bag from the pile and tossed it onto the luggage cart and walked away. Each marine grabbed a bag from the pile, tossed it onto a cart and walked away.

  First Lieutenant Vedrian grinned at Stone and gave him a quick wink as she tossed a duffel on the pile. They ran out of luggage before the last of the marines filed by, so the last few marines rearranged some of the baggage, balancing the loads.

  “Wow! Thanks, marines,” Stone said.

  Second Lieutenant Hammermill was the second to last marine in line. He nodded at Stone and said, “That should do it, navy. Get a move on or you are going to miss your shuttle.”

  “Aye, aye, sir. Please convey my thanks to Major Numos.”

  Hammermill shook his head, “Nose wet, navy. Marines are used to doing the heavy lifting.”

  Stone turned to say his goodbyes to the Aldamanis, but the couple was hurrying off to hug a first lieutenant coming down the shuttle boarding ramps. He turned back to Hammermill, but the man was hurrying to catch up to the rest of the marines as they disappeared up a ramp.

  Stone dialed the power up a bit on the carts and listened to their attendant hum. With the weight change they had picked up a higher note, except the second cart seemed to be slightly off key. It would definitely have been taken out of service on a Stone Freight Company ship.

  He hummed along as he guided his train up the ramp and down the long corridor listed on his boarding sheet. The corridor stretched before him. It was turning into a longer walk than he had expected. He spun on his heels, jumped into the air and landed on the first cart’s front edge. There wasn’t much room to sit on a commercial cart, but there was room enough for his skinny fanny.