Once Navs has the Nav Point and the Autotrack on, she sits down next to you in the galley. Skipper called this meeting to brief everyone about what happened on 059 and why you are going to ‘Sleepers’ Colony’.
You hand Navs a cup of coffee with lakto and sukero, just how she likes it. She smiles and sips it.
“Ok. The reason I called everyone here, is I want you to understand what UGA asked of us.” Skipper starts off. She paces around the galley as she talks. “What do you know about ‘Sleepers’ Colony’?” she asks.
“They are a colony of religious conservatives, founded so they could express their ‘religious freedom’ against what they view as Uggo corruption of society and traditional values.” You respond.
“Yes. Has anyone ever visited it?” She asks.
You shake your head and notice that everyone is doing the same thing.
“Damn, I was hoping to get some ‘on the ground’ intel before we send them a link.”
Navs leans forward on her elbows “What’s all this about Skipper? And why is UGA asking us to go instead of sending a Maristo?”
Skipper walks over to the vidi, taps it, and plays a recorded transmission. You hear a female voice. “This is Joannas of Najran trying to reach out to any ship willing to sell us Tech. We don’t have many valutos but we’ll trade agro goods. We are not part of the main colony. We fled and set up our own settlement. Please help us”
Kurgio scratches his head, “Skipper I hadn’t heard that ‘Sleepers’ Colony’ had expanded beyond the farms and ranches that surround the Temple of Ciono.”
She taps the screen again, and a visual of the planet appears. “That’s why I’m asking what you know.” She taps the planet and it zooms in to what is probably a Maristo-made orbital scan. There is a large temple in the center of a town, with many farms and ranches spreading out. Dirt roads seem to connect everything. There doesn’t appear to be a landing pad, but there is a level clearing with multiple roads leading away from it. “That’s the colony.” She spins the image. “According to the Uggos, the transmission originated from beyond the colony farms, close to the coastline.” She zooms in. “But orbital scans didn’t detect anything. They could be well camouflaged, or they might be in caves or caverns.”
Meko raises his hand, “Skipper, how do we find someone who wants to stay hidden but also wants help?”
She extends her arms wide, “That’s part of what I want from all o’ you.”
Kurgio leans back in his chair, “The Komandanto of 059 recommended that I drop a link to the Temple and ask if they need any medical attention. We can also offer to trade some of what we have in the holds.”
“That’s good for Ciono, but how do we find this ‘Najran’?” Navs asks.
Skipper nods to Cookie. “Skipper and I have been thinking about that ever since she mentioned ‘Sleepers’ Colony’. Part of what they believe is that men run and control things. So Kurgio, Meko, and Helm will have to be the ones who do all of the talking and negotiating.”
Navs nods “Which leaves us ‘poor simple womenfolk’ to listen and see what we can find. Got ya.”
Skipper taps the vidi again. “According to what the UGA has on the colony, they all dress conservatively. Men are in slacks and shirts, with coats and hats, while women wear long skirts, modest blouses that cover everything, and a headscarf or bonnet to cover their hair.” Images of the colony fill the screen. Farmers and ranchers dressed very simply.
“Skipper, does that mean we have to dress like that? I mean coveralls are conservative. They don’t show anything.” Navs comments.
Skipper taps off the screen. “We don’t want to cause trouble and we need information. If we can blend in, then we might learn what we need.”
Meko raises his hand again. “Skipper, why don’t the Maristos just land and search?”
Before she can answer, you respond “These people fled the Core and government for their religious freedom. If Maristos or any Uggos show up, these people will either be non-responsive or worse, hold up until the government leaves.”
Cookie chimes in “You know why they are the Sleepers?”
Meko shakes his head.
“My Grana and Granp told me the story of the “Seven Sleepers”. It goes back many eons, where there was seven faithful who were persecuted by a pagan government, so they hid in a cave, which the soldiers sealed up. Many years passed and the old government fell. When the cave was opened, the faithful woke up as if they had just slept for a night. They left the cave and freely practiced their religion.”
Meko looks a little shocked, “But that’s just a myth right?”
Skipper walks over and fills a cup with coffee. “Meko, does it matter? It’s what they believe. They believe they are the faithful and will outlast the ‘pagan government’.”
He looks to Cookie, “You don’t believe that?”
She shakes her head, “Naw, the Uggo schools took all that away. My grans even stopped going to church. But before, in the hills, as free holders, they tried to teach me the Faith.”
Kurgio gets up and fills a cup with hot water for tea “Too bad you’re a woman. I’d prefer you talking to them. You at least know Faith.”
She nods. “I’ll stand with you, be your nurse or your assistant. Do what I can to help.”
Skipper takes a sip of coffee, nodding. “Do that. Find a long skirt, and cover your hair. Navs and I will stay on the ship while you and the menfolk handle things.”
You follow Navs as she heads back to the Con. “Are you going to be okay?” you ask.
She stops, turns and hugs you. “I’ll be a little lonely while you bunk down.”
You put your arms around her. “No, I meant not being able to be part of the trades and negotiations. You always enjoy doing that.”
She shakes her head. “I’ll be fine. Not having to deal with bigoted idiots who think the only value of a woman is the children that she can produce will be a relief. I haven’t been there before, but they aren’t the first religious group we’ve dealt with.”
“True, but most of those were more ‘spiritual types’, and not so strictly defined by their beliefs.” You say, thinking back to previous missions on other colonies where folks were wearing robes, Gis, or other strange uniforms. “These folks don’t like ‘outsiders’, except when they really need something.”
“We’ll be okay. You had a long shift, and we were interrupted. Why don’t you rack out. We have a few hours until we get there.” She says kissing you. “I have a ship to fly and comms to check.”
You kiss her again and head for your cabin. You are more tired than you thought because once you lie on the bed, you are asleep.
You are woken by a kiss and something tickling the tip of your nose. “Time to get up sleepy head.” Navs says as she tickles the tip of your nose with the end of her braid.
You get up, shower, dress in the grey coveralls that Navs pulled out for you, and then head for the main cargo hold. Skipper, and Cookie are wearing long black skirts, and grey blouses, with grey head scarves. Meko is wearing a set of grey coveralls, similar to yours, while Kurgio is dressed in a black coat and tie.
Skipper looks at you. “Good, Navs told you to wear the greys. It will be easier to tell them that grey is our standard uniform.” You nod, not mentioning that Navs just pulled them out and left them on your bunk.
A masculine voice rings through the ship. “Skipper, we are about to enter orbit. I’ll request landing clearance, or do you want Kurgio to do it?”
She taps the screen. “That’s good use of the voice modulator. Make the initial request. If they need convincing, I’ll have Kurgio submit a follow up.”
Skipper and Cookie go over the plan, pointing out which pieces of cargo should be offered for trade. Kurgio nods while holding on to his medic bag.
A few minutes later, Navs’ augmented voice comes over again, “Everyone strap in, we are cleared and about to enter atmos.”
Everyone heads for the bulkhead seats in the cargo bay. Once everyone is strapped in, Skipper nods and taps the vidi, “We’re set. Let’s do this.”
The main engine cuts off and you hear the maneuvering thrusters kick on. At this point all you can do is wait for the ship to land. You hate when you aren’t at the controls. Navs is as good a pilot as you, but you feel useless strapped in the cargo hold instead of helping in the Con. A few minutes later the shaking stops and the ship is in lower atmos.
The vidi kicks on again, this time a strange voice says “Welcome to Ciono, I am Patro Dionis, can I speak to your Doktoro before we allow you to land?”
Kurgio taps his minividi, links it to the ship, and answers, “This is Doktoro Ion Novak, UMP certified, and ready to offer medical services to your colony.”
“Thanks be, Doktoro, but what brings you to our quiet gathering?” Patro Dionis asks. “We hadn’t sent out any emergency links.”
“We are an Independent Medical Transport. We checked in at Station 059, asking if they knew of any medical needs. They mentioned that your colony hadn’t had a UMP member visit in a while. I thought it was my Faithful Duty to see if there were any in need.”
Patro Dionis’s tone changes a bit. “Be ye a follower of the Faith?”
Cookie taps the vidi and chimes in, “Pardon, Patro, he is not a follower, but he respects your ways. His Calling is to aid those in need. Isn’t it against the Faith to prevent such a blessed mission?”
“Who is this woman, to speak such to a man, without proper introduction?” He responds.
Kurgio chimes in “This is Cookie, my nurse and assistant. She was raised in the Faith and helps me, Patro Dionis.”
“Greeting to you, Cookie, and to you too Doktoro. You have our blessing to land. We will put out the word for those who have a need to come to your ship.”
“Thank you. We also have some trade goods and tech, so if you wish to look. Maybe there is something you need?”
There is a pause, and then he responds. “Thank ye, Doktoro, I’ll have a few members of our council take you up on your offer.”
“You are welcome. Doktoro out.” Kurgio says as he switches off his minividi.
Cookie looks at him and shrugs, “I thought you needed my help, so I just jumped in.”
He smiles. “I know and appreciate it.”
A few minutes later, the Libereco has landed. As the cargo ramp drops, you enjoy the warm feeling of a fresh late spring day. You have no idea if this planet even has seasons, but fresh air beats the refreshed and recycled air you usually breathe. You hang back as Kurgio and Cookie walk down and meet with the locals. Tapping your minividi, you check on Navs. “Is everything good up there?”
Her smiling face fills the screen in your hand, “Yeah, I’m doing passive scans for any comms outside of the colony.”
“I’d love to help, but…”
“But Skipper needs you to be muscle down there.” She finishes with a wink.
You hadn’t thought about it until now, yes, you are physical muscle, to move, carry, and deliver trade goods, but you also, as a male member of the crew, provide a physical presence in case anything goes wrong.
“I’ll check on you later.” You say, then tap off your minividi and stand there at the top of the ramp as they negotiate. You and Meko watch as Kurgio does all the talking, with Cookie and Skipper making suggestions to him, but not addressing the men of the colony directly.
Soon, the meeting ends, with Kurgio and Cookie following a bearded man with a wide-brimmed, black hat that might be Patro Dionis. Skipper walks back up the ramp and points out various pieces of tech and some frostviando and frostlegomoj that Cookie pulled out of the ice hold prior to landing.
Wagons drawn by cavaloj or bovoj pull up to the bottom of the ramp. Meko and Skipper meet them. Once again, Meko talks directly to the men, while Skipper only tells her comments and suggestions to him. You shake your head. “Not letting our women talk or negotiate is just stupid.” You mutter to yourself.
Meko points to which items go on which wagon. Skipper silently records everything on her minividi, checking off each item as you help load. Meko receives transfers of valutos onto his minividi.
The last wagon is drawn by two cavaloj, with a canvas covering, and loaded with furs and hides. As Meko negotiates with the driver, you overhear Skipper saying “Sir, I didn’t think the Doktoro agreed to trading goods for tech. I thought everything was to be paid, not traded.”
Meko and Skipper talk back and forth quietly while the wagon driver looks nervous and impatient. Two people climb out of the back and begin offloading the hides onto the ramp. You walk closer and ask “What do you want to do?”
Meko points out “This is the tech that Cookie and I brought onboard for trade. I don’t care if I make a profit on it or not. Besides, hides and furs can be very useful and profitable in other parts of the Rim.”
Skipper shakes her head. “This looks to be the last wagon, so do what you want. I’m going up to the Con.”
Meko smiles and points to a few large carry cases. “Helm, grab those.”
You carry one at a time, while Meko is focused on counting and moving the hides and furs.
When you help load the last case into the wagon, you feel a cold circle of metal press to the back of your head. “Mister, don’t say nothing. Drop your minividi and climb into the wagon.”
Pulling your minividi from your pocket, you drop it on the ground, then climb in. You see another person holding a projectile thrower pointed at you, then a rag is pulled across your mouth and a jupo sack over your head. You feel the wagon rumble down the dirt road.
(Come back next week for the next part of “Helm Taken Prisoner”. I hope you are enjoying this story. If you are, Clap, Highlight, and Leave a Comment. If you enjoy my writings, Follow and Subscribe. See you next time.)
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