The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 07 – Duff Tarver

 

The moment that Supreme Commander Emad Salmin handed over the data tablet they knew precisely who to hand it on to, and who should hand it to him.

Duff Tarver was primarily a raconteur, his office was a bar or tavern and his audience were his fellow patrons.

But he didn’t merely tell stories he also collected them from his loose tongued admirers, and he always got stories of worth.

He was a freelance journalist who sold his work to whichever media outlet fitted the bill and he distributed his copy across the known systems of Legion space, and he made a steady living, not enough to move up in the world, but he did ok.

He was a heavy drinking, down to earth man in his early fifties with a long-suffering wife, Chani, who managed to bring up their three children virtually single handed.

With Duff the phrase, “what you see is what you get”, fitted him like a glove.

He was a popular man, despite all his faults, as it was very difficult not to like him, even if he could drive you to despair.

Due to his heavy drinking he often needed assistance to get home but because people liked him so much he was never short of a chauffeur.

Most literary types have a favorite quote, from one of the classic novels or from a Shakespearian play but his favorite was

“If I ever read about the dangers of drinking then I’ll give up reading”

Bagg had known Duff, since they were both young men, before he began his vocational training.

They met on Mars, where Bagg was born and raised, and Duff had worked his passage on a freighter from his home planet of Earth Secondus, in the Overtonis system.

They hit it off immediately and became firm friends in the few months before Bagg had to leave for Visitor College.

But over the years they had been reacquainted on many occasions, and rarely in the same system twice, but because they both lead nomadic existences eight years had passed before they met again quite by chance in the Visitors Rest in Gipki.

It wasn’t the usual type of drinking establishment he would normally frequent, but he had felt compelled to go in and when he saw Bagg seated in one corner he fully understood why.

 

The home that he shared with his wife Chani and their three children was in the City of Rendon on Eikon Major.

She and the kids had been dragged around Legion space for years, which for the most part she didn’t mind, but she always insisted that the family live in a big city with all the amenities to hand,

It was important for her that she had access to good schools for the children and good shops that she could afford to shop at.

Living in Rendon was good for him too, firstly because he had peace of mind regarding his family, plus it was the seat of Government for the Eikon Cluster, so called due to the high number of M class planets and moons in the Eikon solar system, and where there was Government there was potential scandal, and people loved scandal, scandal was very profitable.

 

So with Chani and the kids settled in the capital it allowed Duff to spend his time frequenting bars and taverns picking up titbits, which may or may not lead to some larger morsel.  

 

The weekend following their meeting with the Commander the whole crew were going to Montrose to spend the Festival with Bagg’s brother and his wife, which held particular significance for Bagg himself as it was to be the weekend he introduced his love, Wisma Berita, to his family for the first time.

So as that was one event he was never going to miss he got a message to Duff and arranged to meet with him in the Blue Horizon Bar in Odekka on Friday Night.

 

Bagg took Merionwen with him for the meeting, partly because she was a redhead and Duff was partial, but mainly because she was also born on Earth Secundus, and she didn’t often get the chance to meet a fellow native.

Just as a precaution he also had the Skeet brothers stationed close at hand watching the comings and goings.

 

Duff was indeed happy to see Merri and was equally pleased to meet another Secundian, but after twenty minutes of chitchat he said

“What did you want to see me about?”

“Some information has come into our possession which we think you will know what to do with” Bagg explained “about someone highly placed”

Bagg had Duff’s full attention and stopped drinking,

“Who?”

Bagg and Merri looked at each other and Bagg nodded.

“Neff Amery” she said and Duff’s jaw dropped

Bagg and Merri sat watching him as he processed what they had said, but when the name sank in he asked excitedly

“What’s he done?”

“Well…” Bagg began

“Please tell me its sex?” Duff pleated “Lots of sex”

“Well…” Bagg began again

“Don’t disappoint me after getting my hopes up” he snapped

“The truth is” Merri said “There’s too much for us to tell you”

“Too much?” Duff repeated “Too much to list?”

“That’s why we have this for you” Bagg said and slipped the tablet discreetly into his pocket.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Make what is secret, public, and shine the light of truth onto what hides in the darkness” Bagg said

“Very poetic” Duff said “This is a side to you I’ve never seen before, I like it”

 

After they finished their drinks they were walking to the door when a roughly dressed man barged into Duff and knocked him sideways and then growled at him for his trouble.

Merri bristled and was about to confront the thug but Bagg held her back and said to Duff

“Check your pockets”

Duff did as Bagg said and then nodded to intimate all was well so they went out the front door where the Skeets had the Stroller waiting for them.

“Come on we’ll drop you by your ship” Lyris said and he climbed aboard.

“Anything suspicious?” Bagg whispered to Zerrad

“No” he replied “no one appeared to look out of place”

“That could just mean they were very good” Bagg mused and got aboard himself

 

They dropped Duff beside his Corvette and Bagg got out with him and said

“Be careful Duff, he’s a dangerous man”

“Don’t worry old friend, I’ll be cautious” he replied “You know me”

“That’s what I’m worried about” Bagg said and the two men embraced

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 06 – Favors

 

The Tempest Class Freighter, Tornado, reached the Eikon Cluster with a full complement aboard, funds in the coffers and three pods of Thermalium mineral ore for delivery to Eikon Major.

The system was known as the Eikon Cluster, so called due to the high number of M class planets and moons in the Eikon solar system, they quickly found an abundance of work with Golbolt Interstellar, based on the moon Somar.

The main reason for that was that the Operations Manager was Oshwin Lemik and he fought against the Legion in the Shaxon War with the Skeet brothers, they as pilots and Oshwin as Logistics Commander.

From the moment they were reacquainted, the Tornado got as much work as they wanted and regularly ran between Eikon Major and Minor, Eirkos and its moons, Soman, Rekar and Marikya, and neighbouring planet’s, Achrem and Zenden as well as Zenden’s moon, Linden, plus a host of other smaller moons and asteroids.

In the time they had been in the Eikon Cluster they had familiarized themselves with the planets and moons they visited and had cultivated great friendships along the way, they had also made a lot of important contacts, so whatever part of the system they were in they always knew which ear to whisper in to, to untangle any complications, or open doors that would otherwise have remained shut.

One important ally they had cultivated was Emad Salmin of the Legion Aeronautica, who was, thanks to the Tornado, Supreme Commander for the whole of the Eikon Cluster and those aboard the Tornado, and their friends and allies felt the weight of his gratitude.

This was for two reasons, one was for their help in capturing a wanted criminal, Kurla Babic, and second the recovery of the Gouveian Crown Jewels, he was suspected of stealing.

So they had benefitted greatly from his gratitude, but on one trip as they were just passing Zenden’s moon Linden, Shiyne said

“I’m picking up something on the scanners”

“What exactly?” Merri asked

“I don’t know, I can’t identify it, we’re being jammed”

“Use your other scanner then” Merri said, which of course meant that Shiyne should use her telepathic gift, because Shiyne was a Vann and all of the Vann were telepaths, by varying degrees, and many of them left their home world at some point to use their gifts to earn a wage.

Those at the zenith of their talents worked as corporate negotiators or in the justice systems of the Legion. 

Shiyne was a Vann with mid-range capabilities and she could read most species to some extent, her skills were limited with the more sophisticated or complex brains, lesser minds were easier for her to explore.

In addition to reading minds she could also implant thoughts and the suggestions would stay in place longer with someone who was more intellectually challenged.

But in this instance, it was her reading skills that were required.

“Roger that” she responded and closed her eyes and it only took her thirty seconds before she added

“Got them”

“Who?” Malena asked fearing an attack

“Legion” she replied, “a squadron of six Firedarts and a Blaze Command Ship”

“What do they want with us?” Merri asked and Shiyne smiled

“It’s the boss man,” she replied

“What does he want?” Merri asked

“A chat” Shiyne replied and smiled again “And some of Bagg’s scones”

A moment later she added “we have an incoming message”

“Put it on speaker” Merri said

“This is Supreme Commander Emad Salmin of the Legion Aeronautica, cut your main engines and prepare to be boarded”

Merri nodded and then opened the mic

“Captain Strong responding, message received, cutting engines and standing by”

Then she switched to internal comms

“Malena, stand by the docking port” Merri replied just as the Legion Firedarts took up station around the Tornado, one to Port, Starboard, Forward, Aft and two stationed above.

There were two docking rings on the Tornado to facilitate transfers to and from the freighter while in space, one in the belly below the loading bay and the other was amidships above the cargo bays which was also the mooring point for shuttles or ancillary craft.

Merri had killed the engines and was using the thrusters to hold the ship steady as the Legion Blaze Command vessel maneuvered into position and locked on to the belly docking ring.

When the hatch opened Merri had joined Malena and was waiting to greet their visitor

“Welcome aboard Supreme Commander” she said 

“I’m Captain Strong”

“Let’s go to the mess room” he responded curtly “I will need to see the whole crew”

“I anticipated that” Merri said “Follow me”

 

When they reached the mess the Supreme Commander instructed his escort to stand guard outside while he entered the mess to find Bagg was performing his familiar role as provider of scones and coffee.

“That smells really is amazing” he said “Still feeding the soul and the body in equal measure I see”

“There are plenty to go around as usual” Bagg said “Please sit”

 

“So for what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Merri asked as he bit into one of Bagg’s scones

“That is so good” he said, and licked jam off his lips then he added

“I need a favour”

“Name it” Merri said

 

The favour was in regard to Neff Abery who was an influential member of the Eikon Government, he also had his own Moon, which was actually a moon of a moon, and Miah orbited Zenden’s moon Linden. 

“It all goes back to the raid on the “Blue Horizon” in Odekka” he said

“I thought that was all wrapped up” Lyris Skeet said

“Almost” he replied “except for the top man”

“I thought that was Kurla” Zerrad added

“He was the ringleader of the gang certainly, but he didn’t steal the Gouveian Crown Jewels for himself, he would have known he couldn’t sell it, they were too high profile, it had to have been stolen to order” He explained “And that’s where Neff Abery comes in”

“Did Kurla name him?” Merri asked

“No he’s saying nothing but the Lakmean trader, AaHannaa, is talking enough for the both of them” Salmin said with a wry smile “And so are all the little fish”

He paused long enough to eat another mouthful of scone and then he put a small data tablet on the table and added

“And I have compiled this evidence against Neff Abery, and it doesn’t stop with the Crown Jewels, he is involved in a variety of criminal enterprises, including sex slavery into Mehreen space, I even have images of him sampling the merchandise, and meeting with Mehreen representatives in neutral space”

“But?” Bagg asked

“But the Legion can’t get authorization to act against him” Shiyne said reading his thoughts

“Correct, he is to well protected, both in Government and by the Prefects on Miah” he said “I can’t touch him”

“He must know where the bodies are buried” Zerrad Skeet remarked

“Does he know?” Merri asked

“I doubt it, but even if he did he’s so arrogant he wouldn’t care, he thinks he’s untouchable” Salmin said

“He is apparently” Parse Sacrod added

“That’s why I would hate for this tablet to end up in the wrong hands” he said as he pushed it across the table.

“Yes that would be very unfortunate” Merri said as she picked it up

“Well I had better be on my way” he said “it was nice meeting you all again”

“Please take a batch of scones back to your ship” Bagg offered

“I would like that very much” he said and then he took his leave of them.

 

“Ok coffee break over” Merri said as their Legion escorts sped away “Let’s get this bird back up to speed”

And five minutes later Merri sat in the pilot seat and nodded to co-pilot Malena who brought the Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines back on line and the Tempest class freighter was back up to speed and on the way to Zenden.

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 05 – Unwelcome Attention

 

On Thursday night there were two additions to the staff behind the bar assisting Wisma, one was the redheaded Captain of the Tornado, Merionwen Strong, who was a forthright, volatile and feisty personality who liked a scrap, and the second was the Shape Shifting navigator Malena Endia, who had abandoned her favoured form, tall, slim, brunette hair, olive skin and hazel eyes, to take the appearance of Zydia.

Also, in the bar that night seated in the bar were the Skeet Brothers playing cards and in one corner were the two Gouveian’s, the mountainous Parse Sacrod and the Diminutive Asti Alegionaris, while out the back, out of sight of the customers were the Vann Telepath, Shiyne and Bagg who were seated in the kitchen.

 

Just before closing time, two men walked in to the Visitor’s Rest and made their way to the bar, they were both in their early thirties, well-groomed and reasonably well dressed.

“You’re cutting it a bit fine” Merionwen said, “what can I get you?”

“I’ll serve these gentlemen” Wisma interrupted and gave a discrete nod to Merri

“Ok” she said “I’ll go and collect the glasses”

Malena/Zydia was stood in the doorway and retreated unnoticed to the kitchen.

Merri knew that once in the kitchen Malena would alert the others so she opened the hatch and started picking up empties from the tables and as she passed the Skeets she said

“Two men at the bar”

“I’m going to call it a night” Lyris said and drained his glass

“Me too” concurred Zerrad and they put their jackets on and walked towards the door

“Good night” Lyris called

“Thank you, good night” Wisma replied

Once outside they crossed the street and hid in the shadows where they had a good view of the Bar.

A few minutes later Asti and Parse also made their exit but unlike the skeets they secreted themselves in the toilets.

The last few customers said their goodnights and the taller of the two men took out a communicator.

“All clear” he said and put it away.

 

From their position in the shadows the Skeets saw two men get out of a parked vehicle just outside the bar and quickly go in and the Skeets left their hiding place and quickly crossed the road to follow them.

 

With her ear pressed against the door Asti heard the main door open and close.

“What’s happening?” Parse whispered

“Another two have arrived” she replied

 

Shiyne and Bagg were still in the back room listening intently to what was happening.

“I hope you’ve come to your senses?” the tall man said as the door opened and two big rough looking thugs entered the bar carrying heavy clubs.

“Otherwise I’ll set them loose again”

 

Asti slowly opened the door and when she saw it was all clear she and Parse left the toilet.

Once in the vestibule Asti quietly slid back the bolts on the door and let in the Skeets.

Once the four of them were ready Parse spoke into his communicator

“In position”

 

“I told you last time, I don’t need protection” Wisma said calmly

“I’m very disappointed in you Mrs Berita, very disappointed indeed” the taller man said

This was Bagg’s queue and he stepped through the door to the bar and said

“She has made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t need your protection”

“Keep out of this old man” said the shorter man. “It’s not God’s protection that she needs”

“She already has all the protection she needs” Bagg continued

“Right you two” the tall one said to the two thugs “smash the place up and then smash up the God botherer”

 

Shiyne closed her eyes and sent her telepathic message “go now” and all hell broke loose as the four crewmates charged through the door and took the two roughs completely by surprise flattening one before he knew what was happening and Asti quickly got him restrained.

The second one back peddled and managed to swing his bat in Lyris Skeet’s direction but got no real force into it and he easily avoided it, ducking under the swing and hitting his assailant hard in the midriff, knocking him to the floor but even on the floor it took him and Zerrad to subdue him.

 

Meanwhile the shorter man at the bar decided he wanted a piece of Bagg and scrambled up over the bar.

Bagg adjusted his feet and was about to knock him back the way he came with his staff when Wisma hit him first with a Brandy Bottle and he slid backwards onto the floor where Parse found him and tied him up.

The taller man decided that discretion was the better part of valour and seeing his way to the front door barred decided to make a run for the back and he reached the end of the bar just as Malena and Shiyne emerged from the back room.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Malena said

“I’ve got this” Merri shouted and confronted the taller man who threw a punch which she deftly avoided and struck him across the side of his knee with her boot and he let out a scream of agony and collapsed to the floor.

“Nice work Captain” Asti said

Bagg gave the bar a cursory glance and noted they had dealt with all four men with minimal damage and no injuries to the good guys, so he said

“Ok Shiyne”

She nodded her bald cerise head and closed her eyes as she spoke to Terrel Vorton who was nearby in the Stroller, he was a Sciberran Healer and was held in reserve in case anything went wrong.

 

Terrel pulled up outside the bar and the crew loaded the four criminals aboard where Shiyne set about wiping their memories of that week’s events, then they drove them to a quiet alleyway, untied their restraints and dumped the bodies.

The next step was to flag down a Prefect on patrol in Gipki and as soon as they had his attention, Shiyne, the Vann telepath, invaded the his mind and when she had control of him she had him climb aboard, then they spent another twenty minutes seeking out another one and she repeated the process.

With two prefects aboard they returned to the alleyway, and once they were disembarked Shiyne quietly said to the first one.

“You caught these four men breaking into the grain store you should shackle them and arrest them”

Without showing any emotion he turned and walked along the alleyway and restrained the first man, while Shiyne repeated the script to the second prefect, who them followed the first and began restraining the men.

 

After all the excitement of the battle with the gang of thugs had died down Bagg and Wisma decided it was time for another picnic, so they returned to the scene of their first date, “Lake Tranquil”.

It seemed very fitting as it was their beginning and they had plans to make for their future.

In particular whether he should give up his nomadic existence to spend more time with her, especially in light of recent events, or should she give up the bar altogether to travel with him, in the end they settled on the third option, which was to do a little of both, he would spend extended periods in Gipki.

She in turn would train Zydia up to run the Bar on her own while she travelled with him on the Tornado.

So, they sat in the late summer sunshine on the plaid picnic blanket up on a grassy bank, overlooking the lake, and chinked their champagne glasses together.

“Is that a plan then?” Bagg asked

“Yes that’s a plan,” she replied

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 04 – Protection

 

So with Merri piloting and Lyris in the co-pilot seat she used the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines, which were engaged, and the Tempest class freighter landed softly in the space dock.

It wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go but pound for pound the Tempests had the highest freight to fuel ratio yield of their class.

The front section comprised of a sizable pressurized hold for large freight accessed via a front loading ramp, above which was the flight deck, living and sleeping quarters, mess facilities and bath rooms, at the rear was the main propulsion and amidships were the universal pod bays, which allowed for a mixed cargo option, which allowed for quick inspection and loading, although sometimes pods were sealed which meant it was either very valuable or very illegal, either way Merri didn’t mind and transporting sealed cargo paid much much better.

But this time there was no dodgy cargo so they lowered the three pods ready for unloading.

The Tornado always flew with at least one pod but then that was because it was where they stowed their gear and where the hidden compartments could be found, or not, which was where they hid the contraband, or even fugitives when necessary. 

 

It was eight months after Bagg and landlady of the Visitors Rest, Wisma Berita, had been an item, and was more than a month since the Tornado had last touched down on Eikon Minor, so Bagg was eager to see her. 

 

It was the rainy season and it was falling in torrents, so because of the weather it was a quiet night in the “Rest” even for a Tuesday, week nights were normally quieter as the Legionnaire’s from the nearby Garrison were only allowed off base on the weekends, but that night it was quieter than usual and the time hung heavy for Wisma as she knew the Tornado was due, well overdue to be precise, and as they approached closing time there was only Wisma and barmaid Zydia plus a handful of regulars.

 

Due to the bad weather it took longer than usual to get clearance to land and get unloaded so Bagg was late leaving the landing field, very late in fact, everyone was ready to turn in but he persuaded Parse to drive him to the bar so he could see Wisma.

As they drove slowly through the filthy weather and were about three hundred yards from the “Rest” when something in the road caught their attention, a man was running blindly in their direction, which given the rain was not particularly noteworthy, but this individual didn’t look like he was running to get out of the rain, and as he got nearer they realized that they knew the rain soaked man, it was one of the regular customers from the “Rest”, Rowyn.

Parse brought the Stroller to a halt and jumped down and Bagg followed.

It was more of a step down for Parse as the Gouveian was huge in stature, stand 6 foot 8 high and he was broad and powerfully built, his hair was short, curly and the colour of burnished steel, ivory skin and mercury coloured eyes, and the altogether striking figure soon had the wet man’s complete attention.

“Hey Rowyn, what’s wrong?” Parse asked

“There’s trouble at the bar, bad trouble, they’re smashing the place up” he spurted out.

“Alright, leave it to us” the big Gouveian said

They got back in the Stroller and Parse started the engine while Bagg contacted the Tornado and the Skeet brothers said they would be right behind them.

 

The Stroller pulled up sharp outside the bar and the two men decamped and ran in and the scene that confronted them was one of devastation, tables and chairs had been turned over and there was broken glass everywhere.

Bagg had eyes only for Wisma and found her in the back-consoling Zydia.

Parse mean while perused the damage and a few minutes later the Skeets came through the door weapons in hand and after surveying the scene Lyris said

“Holy war”

“Nothing holy about this mess” Parse said just as Bagg reappeared

“Everyone ok?” he asked, and Bagg gave a reassuring nod and said

“Zydia’s a bit shaken up but Wisma’s fine”

Bagg looked around

“I’ll call the Prefects” Parse said,   

“Wisma doesn’t want to report it” Bagg replied

“Why?”

“Firstly there isn’t much point, they’ve long gone anyway and the girls said they didn’t go anywhere a customer couldn’t go, so there’s no evidence to be had” Bagg said “but mainly she doesn’t want any record of an incident that could cause the Legion to make the bar “off limits””

Parse nodded his understanding, and knew they would have to take matters into their own hands, then he said

“Have you got a recorder on you Lyris?”

“Yes” he replied

“Ok get images of everything and you and Zerrad can speak to everyone that was in the bar, and old Rowyn, he’s the one that alerted us” Parse said and they both nodded

 

When they had finished Zerrad took Zydia home and when he returned he found Wisma, Bagg and his brother Lyris had made significant inroads in clearing the mess, so Zerrad slipped off his coat and joined them, and when everything was shipshape they all sat down and had coffee.

“So, what happened?” Parse asked, “What set them off?”

“Four men against two women and a handful of old soaks, not very brave were they?” Bagg mused

“They wanted protection money” Wisma said “and I said no”

The four of them were visibly shocked, and the Parse asked

“They demanded money? Out of the blue?”

“Not really, two of them came in last week, but I thought they were just chancing their arms because I was a woman” she said.

“So, I thought no more about it”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Bagg asked

“I really didn’t think they were going to do anything, if I had I would have told you, I’m not a fool” she replied and Bagg held her hand

“Attempting to get protection money from a bar frequented by Legionnaires is very bold” Lyris said

“Or very stupid” Zerrad pointed out

“Unlikely to be locals” Bagg said

“They must be “off worlder’s” trying their luck”

“That seems most likely” Parse agreed

“They smashed up the place, so I would know they were serious, they’ve given me two days” Wisma said

“They’ll be in for the money after closing on Thursday night”

“Well we’d better make them welcome then” Parse said

“Indeed, we will” the Skeets added

“What are you going to do?” Wisma asked

“Well first of all we need to get to the Tornado and speak to Merionwen, because if anyone can come up with a fool proof plan she can” Bagg said

“I don’t want anyone getting hurt on my account” Wisma said

“No one will get hurt” he reassured her “Merri is good at this stuff”

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 03 – Picnic

It was a bright summer morning as the Tornado’s APMTV, (All Purpose Multi Terrain Vehicle) turned off the main road onto a quiet lane lined with age-old trees that formed a canopy above them.

It was like driving through a tunnel, the foliage was so thick, and the leaves defused the sunlight and dappled the road surface with spots of golden light.

The APMTV was nicknamed the “Stroller” which was an ironic name because when Shiyne or Merri were behind the wheel it did anything but stroll, but on that morning the former was under strict instructions to drive sensibly, at least while Wisma Berita was aboard.

All of the crew were aboard, with the exception of Pulsat and Vanzyl, who were already engrossed in the repair to one of the Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines, the damage to which was what had facilitated their extended stay on Eikon Minor, as they going on to the Baringita plains, about an hour beyond the lake, to test drive their recently acquired Hover Dirt Craft, which was a two seater, tandem recreation vehicle.

Apart from being a mad driver Shiyne was a Vann Telepath and was stunningly beautiful despite being completely bald, with cerise coloured skin and purple eyes, but she didn’t need her telepathic gift to detect the strong feelings between Bagg and Wisma.

Nor did she need Wisma to verbalize her direction as she could read her very clearly, but Wisma didn’t know that.

“The turning is just ahead” Wisma said “there’s the sign”

Wisma was navigating as she knew the area very well as visiting the lake had been a large part of her childhood.

High above sunbeams burst through the canopy and illuminated the sign which read “Lake Tranquil”, so Shiyne turned left into a small, deserted pot-holed clearing, which obviously served as a vehicle park.

“We have arrived” Wisma said and smiled at Bagg who returned her smile with interest.

The moment the Stroller came to a halt Bagg climbed down and then took Wisma’s hand as he helped her down, and after Parse had handed him the picnic basket, he said goodbye and closed the door, then paused to look at his companion with pride, before taking her hand again and heading along the path that lead away from the clearing.

After five minutes they emerged from the wood and Bagg caught his first look at the lake, and he was instantly struck by its beauty.

He couldn’t believe he had never been there before in all the times the Tornado had been visiting Gipki.

It was not of course the first time that Wisma had viewed it, but it was however the first time she had seen it while holding the hand of a man she loved.

“The best picnic spots are on the other side” she said and he nodded and they walked towards the head of the Lake where it was fed by a stream.

Breathing fresh air, feeling the sun on his face and the breeze off the water were all the things he missed when he was aboard ship.

When they reached the stream there was a stone bridge that crossed it, Bagg paused briefly before crossing and turned to look across the lake and was again struck by the beauty of the natural scene, it was very pleasing to the eye, then he turned and looked at Wisma and thought that she too was pleasing to the eye and then still holding her hand they continued across the bridge.

 

It appeared that they had the lake to themselves so Bagg allowed Wisma to guide him and choose a suitable spot where he then laid out a plaid picnic blanket

“Milady may now be seated”

“Why thank you sir” she said and sat down gracefully

Bagg opened the basket and produced a bottle of wine, which he took down to the water’s edge, and after tying a piece of string to the neck he lowered it into the water and tied the string to a low branch, before joining Wisma on the blanket.

 

After about ninety minutes of amiable conversation, while taking in the lakeside scenery Bagg said

“I think that wine will be ready to drink”

“Oh good, I’m parched” she said and began unpacking the basket while Bagg got the wine.

 

They spent all day by the lake and couldn’t believe the time when Shiyne contacted Bagg on the comms to say they were already waiting for them in the clearing.

“My goodness” she said “Where did the time go?”

“I don’t know” he said “But losing all that time was very pleasant”

“Yes it was” she agreed and then they quickly packed everything away and walked back the way they came, holding hands again.

 

When they got back aboard the Stroller they found the crew in a boisterous mood, covered in dirt, dust and even a bit of blood and doubtless beneath the grime there was also to be some considerable bruising, and were all eager to regale them with tales of their exploits on the Hover Dirt Craft, which was apparently also dirty battered and bruised.

 

Bagg and Wisma thought their first date, which was how the crew described it, was a great success, so they made plans for a second and a third.

Whenever the Tornado was on Eikon Minor the two of them were virtually inseparable and both of them were amazed by that and the fact that she had found love again and he for the first time.

Over the months, that love deepened, possibly because of the periods of time they were apart, but they tried not to analyze it, but they did have discussions on the matter of how the relationship might develope.

In particular whether he should give up his nomadic existence to spend more time with her or should she give up the bar to travel with him, although for the time being they concluded they should just maintain the status quo. 

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 02 – The Visitors Rest

 

Visitors were a Christian sect who took to the stars with the first migrants to visit new worlds, spreading the word while seeking enlightenment, and they had established Visitor enclaves in every corner of the known universe, they even thrived in Mehreen space and they were the least spiritual beings to ever draw breath.

The difference between Visitors and the established Christian Church on earth was its spontaneity, they didn’t wait until Sunday to worship, they did it wherever and whenever it was desired, and it didn’t need to happen in a church, Visitors worshipped everywhere.

Visitor Parham felt blessed, and thanked God for placing him on Alwi at the moment of Merionwen Strong’s great need, and for facilitating his enrolment on the crew of the Tornado.

Which had given him new purpose in life at the time he was floundering, he felt needed on the freighter, admittedly more for his cooking than his ministering, but it felt good for him to be part of something.

Bagg, as he liked to be known, left his home world, Mars, as a young man and set off into the stars to spread the word, and he had never returned, and was still travelling thirty years later, and he had a lot to be thankful for, being part of the Tornado family for one and being reacquainted with his brother Trebreh and his family for another.

 

When you were a Visitor, meeting family was one of the rarest of occasions, when there were two Visitors in one family they were almost impossible.

Apart from his brother Trebreh, who he hadn’t seen for twelve years, and his wife Xandra there was her brother Ale, who was his boyhood friend and a host of nephews and nieces whom he had not met before, in the agrarian settlement of Montrose on Eirkos, where he and the crew were regular visitors.

But after being reunited with his family he found himself, for the first time in his life, regretting not having a wife and children of his own, thought his regret was short lived as he had enough blessings in his life to count, he did though occasionally feel lonely, especially on a ship full of couples, rare though those times were, but he always found cooking a batch of scones helped.

 

On the Tornado crew’s first visit to Eikon Minor they went into town of Gipki, they all went off in different directions, with different needs to fill and as he often did, Bagg headed for the market place and went in search of the herbs, spices, dried and desiccated fruits that he needed to replenish his cupboards.

He loved markets, even if he didn’t need many provisions he would never give up an opportunity to stroll around among the abundance of food stuffs on offer and allow him to indulge his passion for the exotic foods, and his vocation in one fell swoop and when he had completed his task he headed for the rendezvous point, which was a bar and restaurant.

He grew a couple more inches when he saw that the hostelry was named The Visitors Rest, and it quickly became a regular spot for him and the crew.

But the Visitors Rest didn’t take on its true significance for him until the day he met the new owner Wisma Berita, because that was the day he fell in love for the first time.

 

Wisma Berita was a mature woman a year or two younger than him and the first time he saw her he was smitten, she was certainly not in the first flush of youth, and she was a widow who had bought the pub from her brother in law, the previous owner, who had retired after a health scare.

Wisma was no stranger to hospitality, she had been doing it since she was a girl and that was where she had met her husband, and they had run a place together until he died and then she had run a bar on her own as well since, though not anywhere near the size of the Rest.

She could quite easily have lived a comfortable life with her inheritance, but chose to work instead, and she chose Gipki because that was where she had been born and raised.

 

Bagg was beyond fifty in years with long white hair and a short trimmed beard, tall and disproportionately thin, but cut an impressive figure in his full length pale blue robe, tied at the waist with a royal blue cord and this was beneath a full length dark blue leather jerkin, and he carried a simple roughhewn staff which was undecorated but for a carved cruciform relief a few inches from the top.

Wisma was still a very attractive woman, 5ft 6 inches tall with nice legs and a trim figure, and kaleidoscopic hair, which could appear, red, blonde, brown, blue, or black depending upon which angle you were seeing it from.

They hit it off immediately, maybe it was because they shared a similar sense of humour, the same faith and a love of cooking, but in truth their mutual attraction was due to more than them having a lot in common.

When they were on Eikon Minor he found himself spending more and more time in the “Rest” and Wisma spent the time he wasn’t in there wishing that he was, and it went on that way for several months until one day when he was in the bar for lunch, after neglecting to walk the market again.

He was sat at a table with the Skeet brothers, Lyris and Zerrad and the latter had noticed the way Bagg and Wisma were together and couldn’t understand why neither of them had taken the next step.

The crew aboard the Tornado were not averse to a bit of match making and had tried to find Bagg a good woman but to no avail, because he hadn’t been interested, in fact, Wisma was the first woman Bagg had been even remotely interested in since he’d been aboard the Tornado.

But it was difficult as he and the crew lived such a nomadic lifestyle so Bagg thought there seemed little chance for them.

However, on that occasion it was not a flying visit to the planet, as due to a coming together between the Tornado and some space junk one of the Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines sustained some damage which resulted in the Tornado having to stay on Eikon Minor for three days longer than usual.

Which was why, as they were waiting for the food to arrive, Zerrad steered the conversation towards the weather.

“It’s beautiful out there today” he said

“Yes” Bagg agreed “It is”

“It should be good for the next couple of days too” Lyris said

“Yes” he agreed again

“I know what I’d be doing if we didn’t have repairs to make”

“What’s that then?” Bagg asked

“I’d take Malena on a picnic”

“A picnic” said Bagg thoughtfully just as Wisma brought over the condiments and the cutlery.

Zerrad was watching Bagg and he appeared to open his mouth as if to speak and then he closed it again, it was pitiful to behold, so Lyris decided he had to act.

“Bagg was just saying that it’s perfect weather for a picnic”

“Oh, I agree it is perfect” Wisma said, “I do love a picnic”

“How about tomorrow?” Bagg said croakily “just the two of us”

“Yes, that would be lovely” said Wisma and the Skeets suddenly felt like a couple of gooseberries.

The Tornado Sojourns (3) – Chapter 01 – Cruising the Cluster

The Tempest Class Freighter was powered by 4 Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines, which allowed for a very quick turn of speed once airborne, and four vertical take-off jumper engines, whose purpose is self-explanatory, they could also be used independently to provide auxiliary power on board while they were on the surface for periods when the solar converters were inadequate.

It wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go, but pound for pound the Tempests had the highest freight to fuel ratio yield of their class.

The front section comprised of a sizable pressurized hold for large freight accessed via a front loading ramp, above which was the flight deck, living and sleeping quarters, mess facilities and bath rooms, at the rear was the main propulsion and amidships were the universal pod bays, which allowed for a mixed cargo option, which allowed for quick inspection and loading, although sometimes pods were sealed which meant it was either very valuable or very illegal, either way Merri didn’t mind and transporting sealed cargo paid much much better.

The Tornado always flew with at least one pod but then that was because it was where they stowed their gear and where the hidden compartments could be found, or not, which was where they hid the contraband, or even fugitives when necessary, but not so much in recent years. 

 

It had been almost three years since the Tornado, reached the Eikon Cluster with a full complement aboard, funds in the coffers and three pods of Thermalium mineral ore for delivery to Eikon Major, and two years since they finally shook off their Ghambran pursuers once and for all, thanks to the Gouveian Crown Jewels, Commander Emad Salmin of the Legion Aeronautica, and some cunning in planting the stolen jewels aboard the Ghambran’s Scorpion Cruiser.

 

They should have felt guilty after effectively framing the Ghambran’s for a crime they knew full well they didn’t commit, but they didn’t.

They may indeed have been innocent of the criminal, subversive and treasonable acts that landed them in court, but they were not innocent, they had committed many and varied crimes and had always gotten away with them because they were under the banner of Prefector Collis’s protection.

But the charges that they faced, they had to face alone, because Maxil Weltz and Vint Reganus were disowned by Prefector Collis, who chose to distance himself from his former employees fearing he might otherwise find himself in the dock for treason.

In reward for finding the Crown Jewels, Commander Salmin was made Supreme Commander for the whole of the Eikon Cluster and those aboard the Tornado, and their friends and allies felt the weight of his gratitude.

As a result of their action to preserve the life they loved in the Cluster they actually Malena Endia and Shiyne had their lovers, Zerrad Skeet and Terrell Vorton with them, Zerrad’s brother Lyris had been tamed by the member of the Gouveian Royal family among their number, Asti Alegionaris.

While engineers Pulsat Rad and Vanzyl, who were magicians with all things mechanical had also found love, a love for the children of Montrose, who loved them in equal measure.

Even Visitor Parham, who tended their spiritual needs, while his alter ego Bagg fortified them with his culinary prowess, had also found love in the form of his family on Montrose.

So, everything for the Tempest Class Freighter Tornado was set fare, and Captain Merionwen Strong knew that apart from a good crew, good food and a liberal quantity of love, that on the Tornado’s Sojourns around the Eikon Cluster they were bound to have more adventure, and she was not wrong.

 

Merionwen Strong was 32 years old and was best described as statuesque, she was tall, straight backed, proud and was blessed with an abundance of red hair that trailed behind her like a mane and penetrating green eyes to stare you down with, and overall she cut a striking figure and along with her appearance went her forthright, volatile and feisty personality.

She was owner and Captain of the Tornado, and her love interest was Parse Sacrod, whom she called Beefy, a former Legionnaire of the Royal Guard of Gouveia who she met after Princess Asti Alegionaris was abducted at the space port by the Ghambran’s.

He was huge in stature, standing 6 feet 8 high and he was broad and powerfully built, his hair was short, curly and the colour of burnished steel, and with the characteristic ivory skin of the Gouveian race, and with his mercury coloured eyes he was as arresting a figure as Merri and they had become inseparable, and always spent the long watches on the flight deck together.

 

Technically the ship belonged to the Garangon mining company, but as they went out of business when they inadvertently destroyed the moon they were mining, Merionwen’s father Ben kept the Tornado in lieu of payment and it passed to her on his death.

Apart from Merri the only other survivors from her father’s crew were her co-pilot and navigator, Malena Endia and Shiyne, the latter being that rare commodity in any crew, someone who could and would perform any task required of them without question, but her real strength was in the role of negotiator and as an eternal optimist.

The rest of the crew arrived in dribs and drabs mainly as a result of being stranded on the stranded on the surface of Alwi, the fourth moon of the seventh planet Aragon, in the Cammaratian System.

The first to arrive was Visitor Parham, a Christian minister who it turned out set a chain of events in motion, firstly he brought with him two first rate engineers, Pulsat and Vanzyl, who were magicians with all things mechanical and the next day they lifted off and went for a spin among the stars.

It was during that test flight that they had to go to the rescue of the Skeet brothers whose ship, the Phoenix, was attacked by Skav Raiders, and the attack was so severe that they had to eject in a life pod which nearly cost them their lives anyway, but they were saved in the nick of time, and when they recovered from their injuries they joined the crew, and it was the Skeets injuries that brought Sciberran Healer Terrell Vorton aboard the Tornado where two significant things happened, firstly he saved Zerrad Skeet’s life, which was crucial in reconciling the unresolved love between him and Malena, and secondly it brought him into the close orbit of Shiyne where they also fell for each other.

When the Tornado left Alwi bound for Delta 500 they had a passenger aboard and that was Princess Asti Alegionaris, youngest granddaughter of the Regent of Gouveia, who was subsequently abducted and rescued, which introduced Parse to the captain.

Visitor Parham’s role aboard was to tend to their spiritual needs, but his alter ego Bagg, fortified them with his culinary prowess.

 

Once they arrived in the Eikon Cluster, so called due to the high number of M class planets and moons in the Eikon solar system, they quickly found an abundance of work with Golbolt Interstellar, based on the moon Somar.

The main reason for that was that the Operations Manager was Oshwin Lemik and he fought against the Legion in the Shaxon War with the Skeet brothers, they as pilots and Oshwin as Logistics Commander.

From the moment they were reacquainted, the Tornado got as much work as they wanted and regularly ran between Eikon Major and Minor, Eirkos and its moons, Soman, Rekar and Marikya, and neighbouring planet’s, Achrem and Zenden as well as Zenden’s moon, Linden, plus a host of other smaller moons and asteroids.

In the time they had been in the Eikon Cluster they had familiarized themselves with the planets and moons they visited and had cultivated great friendships along the way, so whatever part of the system they were in they always knew where to go where they would be welcomed, and they could relax and enjoy their down time.

Although Merri would have been just as happy to stay aboard with Parse and enjoy a bit of “alone” time. 

Similarly, the diminutive Princess Asti with her short platinum hair, ivory skin and silver eyes, would have preferred to keep her six-foot-tall, broad and muscular, black haired, dark eyed boyfriend, Lyris Skeet, all to herself.

Shiyne and Terrell just wanted to be wherever the other was, such was the depth of their love, though they were an odd couple.

They were both the same height but that was the only thing they had in common, he was older than her by 6 years and was stoutly built, while she was slim, his skin was of chalk white and hers was cerise, his eyes were violet, Shiyne’s were purple and Terrell’s hair was midnight blue and she was bald, the other difference was that he was very quiet and she would often chatter incessantly.

 

Physically Zerrad and his brother were very similar and only blonde hair and grey eyes differed from his older dark-haired brother, and his lover Malena was a tall slim brunette, with olive skin and hazel eyes, at least that was how she appeared, her true form was more mercurial, but Zerrad loved her in any form.

Pulsat Rad, Vanzyl and Bagg had no significant others, but the latter would have indulged his love of baking in the Galley while the other two would have happily played with their engines.

 

So for differing reasons they would all have been equally happy staying aboard, but Merri insisted they should all spend time away from the ship, which was why they had so many places, recreational bolt holes, but their favourite would always be the agrarian settlement of Montrose on Eirkos where Bagg’s brother and his family lived, but there was one other location that held particular significance for him, and that was the Gipki on Eikon Minor where there was a small Legion Aeronautica Garrison, and a hostelry called the Visitors rest, and more particularly its proprietor Wisma Berita.