{"id":2309,"date":"2021-10-16T14:59:59","date_gmt":"2021-10-16T21:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2309"},"modified":"2021-10-16T14:59:59","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T21:59:59","slug":"one-good-deed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/16\/one-good-deed\/","title":{"rendered":"One Good Deed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Write about a character breaking a rule, but for good reason.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave we got a navigation solution, Chip?\u201d The pilot rushed through his pre-flight checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAffirmative. I am unable to activate, however. I apologize, Stefan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand. Manual entry and activation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAttention, cargo vessel Uragon<\/em>:you are to immediately power down your warp generator until you reach minimum clearance distance of one-hundred-thirty thousand kilometers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry, no time to talk.\u201d He switched off the comm. As soon as his warp generator spooled up, he tapped the console, shooting off at maximum speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, Chip. You can take over now without violating any regs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNavigation control regained. We will break super-C in three hours, twenty-seven minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope we get there in time.\u201d Stefan released the harness holding him in the pilot\u2019s chair and stood to stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is possible that the Defense Force may get an escort there before us,\u201d Chip said, its voice neither masculine nor feminine. Like all navigation AIs, Chip\u2019s voice was designed to be unmistakable and easily understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust because a thing is possible, doesn\u2019t make it probable,\u201d Stefan replied. \u201cIf a carrier is going to get there first, they need to leave the system in the next thirty minutes. I don\u2019t see it happening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree with your assessment,\u201d Chip said, \u201cas the only escort in system was in dock for fueling and provisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy husband\u2019s going to kill me when we get back, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShould I prepare a message to have police protection when we return?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean literally<\/em>, Chip. It\u2019s a figure of speech,\u201d Stefan said as he walked through the ship to the cargo area. \u201cIt means he\u2019s going to be angry with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you planning on bringing them aboard when you get there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot unless their ship is fatally compromised. There\u2019s no room in the hold for even a small shuttle.\u201d He began moving the cargo around to get at the oxygen he was meant to deliver. \u201cI just want to buy them some time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you going to give the oxygen to them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs much as they need, until the escort gets there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd this is why your husband will be angry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll hurt our finances, sure,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I think the fine for breaking the minimum warp distance will be big thing. I might even lose my license over it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour record is clean up to today. According to Federation law, you will be given a warning, and your license will be revoked if you get another violation in the next eighteen months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks for clearing that up, Chip.\u201d Stefan stacked the oxygen in the airlock. \u201cIt also depends on the judge, though. I was<\/em> less than a thousand kilometers from the station when I warped. They might take that as reckless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrepare for exit from super-C, twelve minutes and counting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan made his way back to the pilot\u2019s chair and strapped himself in. He keyed in the commands to start all the scanners and held his hand above the console. As the dull grey of super-C flashed bright white and returned to the view of normal space, he tapped the console to activate the scanners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThirteen-hundred-forty-one kilometers, heading one-three-zero by seven-four by one-six-point-one,\u201d Chip said. \u201cCourse laid in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaximum sub-light, full burn with mid-flight flip.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEngaging. High-gee maneuvers, Stefan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan nodded, as extensions from the seat wrapped around his legs, squeezing them tight. He forced his breath while it felt like an elephant sat on his chest. The gravity plating was not of the sort that the military used, so it couldn\u2019t do much for the nine gravities he was subjecting himself to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the halfway point, he took big gulps of air and prepared to repeat the procedure for the slow-down portion of the trip. The ship went into full burn again to slow down. Tunnel-vision told him he was close to passing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he thought he wouldn\u2019t be able to take it any longer, it ended as with a sudden moment of weightlessness before the gravity plating returned the ship to one gee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without wasting any time, Stefan unbuckled and ran for the airlock. \u201cHail them and dock, Chip.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAffirmative. I have positive hail from the Timbe<\/em>, four people, all unconscious. Airlock docked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan cycled the airlock and watched as the outer door of the other ship opened at the other end of the short tunnel. The air that poured out from the crippled ship set off his CO2 alarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cChip, where is their oxygen connect?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThree meters to the right of the inner airlock door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan connected one of the oxygen canisters, and opened another wide. \u201cNot the best way, but the quickest to get some oxygen in here. Timbe AI, where are the crew?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are on the bridge,\u201d the Timbe\u2019s AI responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carrying one of the tanks of oxygen, Stefan followed the signs to the bridge. Once there, he opened the oxygen canister and removed their emergency oxygen masks. As they came around, he made sure they were aware of what was happening and then returned to change out more of their oxygen tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FDF escort vessel Bright Harbor<\/em> arrived more than three hours later. It was like a space-faring port, capable of docking a large ship and warping to a destination with that ship attached. Stefan returned to his ship and undocked so the escort could lock the Tembe<\/em> into its docking port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo good deed\u2026. I\u2019ll probably be arrested when we get back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe law is clear,\u201d Chip said, \u201cthat it would be a fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnless they want to call it reckless endangerment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan returned to the station at a more leisurely pace, arriving after five hours in super-C. He made sure to exit well outside the warp exclusion limit and hail the station for docking. As expected, he was arrested as soon as he docked and stepped off the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After two days in a cell, he was brought before a judge. He had a public defender there he hadn\u2019t yet met, and across from her sat the Federation prosecuting attorney. The four crew from the Tembe<\/em> were present, along with the executive officer from the Bright Harbor<\/em>. A woman he couldn\u2019t identify, dressed in an obviously expensive suit, sat with them in the area reserved for witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrisoner Stefan Inholt, you are charged with the following crimes. Ignoring minimum safe distance for warp with reckless endangerment, first class. Maximum sentence: two years and revocation of your piloting license for life. Theft of goods in transit, aggravated second class. Maximum sentence: one year. Prosecution, you may make your case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prosecutor rose, and looked at Stefan, where he stood in the block, before looking back to the judge. \u201cYour honor, prosecution would like to drop the charge for ignoring minimum safe distance for warp. The Tembe<\/em> sent a distress call from a distance of thirty-one light hours, with only thirty-three hours of oxygen left on board. The extra hour it would have taken the accused to get to minimum safe distance would have resulted the death of the crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge looked to the defense attorney for their nod of approval and banged her gavel. \u201cRemoved: ignoring safe minimum distance with reckless endangerment, first class. Moving on to theft of goods in transit, aggravated second class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProsecution calls Maria Obele, the client for whom the goods were being delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remind you that you are under oath to speak only the truth to the court,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria stood and cleared her throat. \u201cYour honor, had I known the circumstances, I would not have lodged a complaint.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prosecutor raised a hand. \u201cCitizen Obele, what was the value of the goods missing from your delivery?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout a hundred credits. But, as I already stated, had I known the circumstances\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCitizen Obele,\u201d the prosecutor cut in, \u201cdid you or did you not lose cargo in transit?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObjection,\u201d the defense attorney said. \u201cIf the aggrieved wishes to remove the charges, they should be allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the crew of the Tembe<\/em> stood. \u201cYour honor, I know this is irregular, but my crew and I are willing to pay for the oxygen<\/em> that Citizen Inholt used to save our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge pounded her gavel. \u201cYou have not been called upon to speak yet. Maria Obele, do you wish to drop the charge of theft of goods in transit, aggravated second class?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, your honor, I do.\u201d She turned toward the Tembe<\/em> crew seated next to her and smiled. \u201cAnd I do not seek remuneration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProsecutor, the aggrieved has stated their desire to remove the charge of theft of goods in transit, aggravated second class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prosecutor frowned. \u201cProsecution drops the charge of theft of goods in transit, aggravated second class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo further charges. Citizen Stefan Inholt, you are free to go. This session is adjourned.\u201d The judge banged her gavel and Stefan was led out of the block and released into the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stefan walked onto his ship. \u201cHey, Chip, I\u2019m back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWelcome, Stefan. Have you been fined?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNope, it seems that maybe\u2026sometimes, at least one good deed does<\/em> go unpunished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy would a good deed be punished in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a figure of speech, Chip. Don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d Stefan fired up his comm and began scrolling. \u201cNow to find a load to haul. Regardless of what she says, I\u2019m paying Obele back for her oxygen. And we aren\u2019t mentioning any of this to my husband when we get back home.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Write about a character breaking a rule, but for good reason. available at Reedsy \u201cHave we got a navigation solution, Chip?\u201d The pilot rushed through his pre-flight checks. \u201cAffirmative. I am unable to activate, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[213,210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-federation","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-Bf","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2310,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2309\/revisions\/2310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}