Fourth Vector Ch. 02

"So they hit you? Then what?"

Zachary nodded his head. "That's right, ma'am. Thankfully, their commotion served to alert three sailors just walking by the compartment. They sprang into action immediately and helped me restrain the two. I ain't never seen anything like it, ma'am. I've served for over five years on this ship and I've never heard of an enlisted man popping an officer."

"Some officer," sneered Reyes, earning him his own jab in the back. The blow forced him to his knees.

Zachary shot a look full of daggers at the man before looking back to Vicky. "That's about it, ma'am. Once they were under control, I sent the message off to Lt. Xavier here."

"And I called for you immediately, ma'am," interrupted Brian. "What do you want to do with these two?"

Vicky shrugged. "What else can we do? Throw them in the brig. As soon as we get back to port, I want them court-martialed and discharged. There's no room on my ship for anyone who would assault another member of the crew, especially an officer. Take them to the brig and lose the key."

There was a small amount of shuffling as the two sailors were led out of the room and taken below deck to the brig. As soon as the men were safely out of the room, Brian spoke up.

"Ma'am, we are running out of room in the brig. There's currently eighteen men locked up in there. Most of them will be released and back to duty soon but several will be discharged once we get back to a friendly base. A lot of this behavior is being caused by mission to the Vector. The men are more scared with each passing day. I'm afraid of what's going to happen once we get closer."

Vicky took a deep breath. "I know, Brian. It's been on my mind as well. We're not alone in this either. I've heard reports from theValiant and theDestiny as well. The crews are restless."

"Ma'am, what would we do if the crew turns even more . . . restless? I'm afraid we might have the making of a mutiny at hand," said Brian in a near hushed tone.

"Mutiny? Do you really think it would come to that?" she asked.

"I don't know, ma'am. It just doesn't feel right. There's so much tension on the ship. And every day we sail closer to the Vector and it just doesn't feel right," said Brian.

"Is that your gut impression? You interact with the sailors a lot more than I do. Is that what all of you think?" Vicky turned to face the remaining officers in the room.

Most of them kept silent but there were a few subtle nods as she looked around. It was more serious than she thought. She had to get a message to Jack immediately about the situation on theTiger.

"Okay, I want you to hang tight. I'll talk with Commander Easterbrook and get this addressed immediately. In the meantime, keep a tight hold on your sectors. Let me know of any trouble as soon as you can."

There was another round of nods. Vicky offered a salute to the remaining officers and quickly dashed out the room. Her feet made quick work against the steel floor of the ship and she descended down another hatch to reach the second deck where her headquarters were. She burst into her cabin and shut the door loudly behind her. On her desk was her command radio and she picked it up and sent a message on the command frequency.

"Jack, this is Vicky. I have a real problem over here. Come in."

There was static for several moments before she heard his voice come in.

"Vicky, it's Jack. What's going on?"

"Jack, it's getting worse," she said as her voice cracked and proceeded to tell him everything.

----------

Jacques watched from the shadows of the brig as the cell across from his was pulled open with a heavy creak of the metal bars and two more sailors were deposited into it by an escort of two guards.

"I don't want to hear a word from you two. Keep your mouths shut, you hear me?" said the guard as he closed the gate with an audible pop.

"Why do you got to be such a dick to them, Reggie? I don't blame them for not wanting to go see Fourthies either," said the other guard as they began to walk back to their post.

Jacques tried to get a good look at the two men but the combination of darkness and his sleep-deprived eyes produced nothing tangible. Instead, the Occitanian slinked back to his bench and sat down. Across from him were two of his sleeping comrades, Benoit, formerly a mess cook on the heavy cruiserTémérité and the other, Andre, formerly part of the rear gun crew. He couldn't blame them for sleeping. There wasn't much else to do in the brig.

"Bloody fine mess you got us into, Reyes," said one of the new men as his arms rested against the metal bars of the ship's brig. The compartment was at the very bottom of the ship, where the only light was artificial and not wasted on non-essential parts like the brig. Shadows only illuminated this portion of the ship when the guards switched on their flashlights.

"I think you mean bloody fine mess you got us in, Jarvis. You're the one that had to slug that asshat. If you didn't, we'd might only be in here for a week until we were back in the boilers again," said the other man.

"I didn't like his tone," growled the one called Jarvis.

"Will zee shut zhe fuck up!" yelled Andre from their own cell. "Tryin' to sleep over 'ere."

"All this just for the bloody Fourth Vector," said Jarvis out loud. "I don't even know why the fuck they call it that."

"You really are a dummy, aren't you? Everyone knows that Java is the first vector, Occitania is the second, and Ruthenia is the third," said the one called Reyes. "The fourth was basically the only place left in the world that was unexplored."

"And for good reason," snorted Jarvis. "Now we'll sooner die down here when the cannibals take over the ship instead of just being discharged back at port!"

"Zee don't want to die, yes, Javan?" Jacques called out across the cell. With what little light they had, he soon saw that Jarvis's eyes were focused on him.

"Does anyone want to die, you Occitanian fuck?" growled Jarvis from across the way.

Jacques grinned as an idea struck him. "I don't mind dying zhe 'onorable way in combat. But I'm like you, Javan. I don't want to be eaten either."

"Get a load of this guy, Reyes. I never thought I'd have something in common with an Occitanian rat," said Jarvis.

Before Jacques could respond, Andre had moved from his sleeping slumber and came up to the man slowly. "Why are zee riling up the Javans? What game are you playing, Jacques?"

Jacques fixed the man with his gaze. "I have an idea." The Occitanian turned his attention back to the new arrivals. "Where are zee from, Javan?"

Jarvis sneered and then opened his mouth. "You already said it. I'm from Java. Or can't you hear worth a damn?"

"Well, what part of Java?"

"The capitol. Belfort," answered Jarvis.

"I bet zee have a lot of family there, eh? Want to see zhem again, right?" asked Jacques.

"Good luck ever seeing anyone worth a damn again," muttered Reyes as he laid down on the wooden bench.

"What about you, Reyes? Where you from?" Jacques called out.

"Same place as this genius," answered Reyes while pointing to his comrade.

"Ah, I see. I'm from Chambery on zhe Occitanian coast. Ever been?"

Before Reyes could answer, Jarvis interrupted. "Why the fuck are we talking to this Occie dipshit?"

Reyes leaned up. "I don't know about you, but no Occie's ever thrown me into the brig."

"They just fired on us last week, you moron."

"Whatever," huffed Reyes as he leaned back down. "Never been anywhere in your country there, Occie."

Jacques grinned. "I sure would love to see home again. To hold my woman again. See my parents. Stand on firm ground."

"Instead you're stuck here with us," shouted Reyes, earning a snicker from the rest of the inmates in the brig.

"Too bad," said Jacques with a shrug. "As is for me is the same for the rest of you. None of you will get to see your homes again. Never get to see your families. Never fuck a tight, wet pussy again. What a pity."

Reyes leaned up again. "I'm starting not to like this one now, Jarvis. Maybe you were right."

"Why's that, Reyes? Because he's speaking the truth?" asked Jarvis.

"He can at least humor me with what little life I have left," muttered Reyes.

"Zee boys don't seem like the 'umorin' types," said Jacques.

"Not anymore," said Jarvis.

Before Jacques could think up another response, one of the other men in the brig walked forward to press against his cell. "Why are you Occie's talking about home? You trying to make all of us miserable or something?"

Jacques rolled his shoulders playfully. "Oh, I don't know, Javan. It seems to be all of us men down here have one thing in common."

"What's that?"

Jacques fixed his glare right on the man. "That we're all going to die just because some men on this ship don't want us to live."

There was some light chatter following that statement as the inmates in the brig processed the Occitanian's words. It was at this point that Andre got up once again and gave a knowing look to his comrade. He too leaned up against the bars and seemed to figure out just the angle that Jacques was playing.

"I bet the rest of zee just signed up to fight some big, fancy war," said Andre. "Not to get killed on some worthless mission."

"Aye, but such is life," muttered Jarvis.

"It doesn't have to be that way," said Jacques quietly.

What was left of the chatter in the hold died down. For several seconds, all that could be heard was the sound of the water pressing against the hull.

"What are you suggesting, Occie?" asked another man, Barnaby, who had been quiet up until then.

"I'm suggesting that we turn this ship around and go back home," said Jacques before taking a deep breath. "By force if necessary."

Jacques's words produced another low chatter amongst the group. The Occitanian moved his head to look at the rest of the inmates in the brig, surprised to see most of them were nodding in agreement with him instead of dismissing him outright. That's when he knew his idea had legs.

"How we supposed to use force from all the way down here?" asked Reyes.

Jacques pointed his finger toward the lone guard on security detail. "We just need to get past that one, for starters."

Another man pressed his face against the bars. "What you're suggesting is called treason, you fuck."

Jacques scowled at the man. "What I'm suggestin' is going to keep us all alive."

"I may be a prisoner but I'm no turncoat," said the man, turning back away from the bars and walking back to his bench.

"Then zee will die a bloody death. Zee can stay on the ships and have zee organs feasted on by cannibals," said Jacques with a shrug.

"While the rest of us return to our homes. Our families," said Andre.

"I know which choice I'm going to make," said Jacques.

"What do we get if we help you?" asked Reyes before being swatted at by Jarvis. "What, Jarvis? Do you want to die or not? I'd rather keep my hide in its place instead of having my fingers used as toothpicks by some savages."

"You're talking about turning your back on your countrymen," hissed Jarvis.

Reyes scoffed. "They turned their backs on us the second they threw us down here." He turned back to face Jacques. "Anyway, Occie, I'm in. What's the plan?"

Jacques thought to himself for a moment while looking at the guard just along the way. It was only one of them on duty at all times, and the keys for the cells stayed around his waist. If only they could get a slight diversion.

"Watch this, Javan," said Jacques. "Andre, you know what to do."

The big Occitanian nodded his head and pretended to rest right next to the cell.

Jacques smiled one last time before using his fist to punch one of the iron bars. The pain was considerable and Jacques let out one hell of a scream.

"Guard! I need help! I'm being assaulted!" Jacques screamed at the top of his lungs and punched the iron bar one more time.

The considerable noise made by his screams coupled with the excited chatter from the inmates raised enough suspicion that soon the guards footprints could be heard echoing down the passageway. Andre took up a position to hover next to Jacques as the smaller Occitanian slunk to the floor in pretend fear. He held up his hands up to Andre as the big man pulled a fist back.

"Let go of that man," barked the guard as a small beam of light flashed into the cell.

"Or what," sneered Andre looking over his shoulder.

The guard let slip his baton from his waist holster. "Or I'll show you a lesson in manners," he growled.

The big Occitanian reacted immediately. With an instant, his hands had swung around and centered on the hapless guard in front of him. Reaching through the cell, he grabbed the smaller Javan guard by his jacket and gave a heavy pull towards the iron cells. The guard flatted against the cell, unable to use his hands or his baton to dislodge the grip of the heavier man.

The Javan yelped with pain as he was pressed into the iron. "Let go of me!" he roared with more bark than bite.

Andre sneered and extended his arms, loosening the pressure on the man before whipping them back in and slamming him against the iron. The Javan guard's eyes went wide in fear and panic at being so helpless as the inmates around him hollered at the action.

"Help!" The guard yelled as he struggled to free himself.

Andre waited until the smaller man exhausted himself before moving in for the coup de grace. A quick gesture to Jacques had the other Occitanian grab at the guard's torso to keep him pinned to the iron. This move allowed Andre to relax his grip on the guard and prepare for the final blow.

Help! Help me please!"

"Shut zee fuck up!" yelled Andre as he took the man's head in his palm and crushed it against the iron bar.

The screaming instantly stopped as the Javan guard crumpled to the floor beneath them. The excited chatter amongst the rest of the inmates died down immediately as well. There was no going back now. All of them were dead men.

"Easy enough," said Jacques while he scanned the belt of the dead guard. A small trickle of blood began to drip from the man's head, making a small pool against the metal floor. Jacques reached through the iron bars and rummaged for the keys that remained clipped to the guard's belt. Once unfastened, he held up the keys for all to see.

"Now we just have to find zhe right one!"

Several seconds went by as he located the right key and then popped open the locked cell door. It came open with a heavy creak of iron and in the next instant, the Occitanians were free men.

"Now, who else wants to go home?" Jacques asked of the remaining men. He jiggled the keys in front of all of them to entice them.

"Don't take his offer. You'll all be traitors," squeaked the same man from before with noticeably less confidence in his voice. The rest of them eyed the keys like they'd just been given a chest of gold.

"You're going to unlock us, right, Occie?" asked Jarvis.

"I'll unlock you on one condition, Javan. That you help me take over this ship. There's enough of us down here that we can move quickly and have a reasonable chance but only if we work together. We have strength in surprise and in numbers. It's either help me do this or die a horrible death. I know which option I choose," said Jacques.

"Fuck it, I'm in," said Reyes, struggling to his feet and pointing to the lock in front of him.

"Reyes," hissed Jarvis. "You're really teaming up with the Occies?"

"Better alive than dead," said Reyes. "I suggest you do the same."

"What do zee say, Jarvis? Come live with us?" asked Jacques.

Jarvis seemed to think it over for several moments. He turned to look around at the rest of the inmates and was surprised to find all eyes on him. Whatever he decided seemed to be their decision too. Jarvis took a deep breath.

"Open the cell, Occie."

Jacques grinned and produced the key to their cells, unlocking it and letting the two men free. Jarvis came out first followed by Reyes next, stepping into the space between the cells. Reyes reached down to the guard and grabbed his flashlight, baton, and service pistol.

"These might come in handy," he said, pocketing the pistol.

"We're going to need more weapons," said Jacques as more men began to clatter against the rails.

"Let me out next!"

"Yeah, I'll help you!"

"I don't want to die!"

Jacques handed the keys over to Andre who began to free the men one by one. After several moments, they had a full count of twenty-one men, including the three Occitanians, ready to try to take over the ship. The only man that remained in his cell was the one dedicated to not turning traitor.

"The lot of you will hang. You'll all be dead men soon," he quaked while pressed back against his own wooden bench.

Jacques sneered at the man. "Andre, go shut him up. We don't need him raising an alarm the second we leave."

The big Occitanian got to work, and with the borrowed baton from Reyes, he quickly knocked the loyal Javan unconscious.

"So what now, Occie? Are we supposed to take over a ship entirely with one baton and pistol?" Jarvis asked.

"Not at all. I need to know where the armory is. We need some real weaponry if we're going to do this. Remember," said Jacques before turning to exit the brig. "Keep quiet and use surprise. They won't know we're coming!"

---------

Lt. Commander Vicky Carter had finally yawned one too many times. She took a second to look at her watch, surprised it was already close to eleven o'clock. Outside of her quarters, the world was dark and the ship was largely silent apart from the noise from the boiler room.

As she put the finishing touches on her last entry of the ship's daily log, she put her pen down and yawned once more. There was no delaying sleep at this point—she was just too tired. As she rose from her desk, her eyes caught the latest order from Jack and theDestiny. After she had briefed him about all the trouble on theTiger this afternoon, he had put together a plan for tomorrow to address the crew as they finally neared the Fourth Vector.

Vicky wasn't entirely sure if it would help but it was certainly better than nothing. Something needed to be done at this point. She crossed over to her bed and pulled down the blanket, preparing to slip inside the covers. Yet before she could crawl inside, a quick knock appeared at her quarters.

Who could be knocking this late at night, she wondered.

Vicky moved slowly to the door. Whoever was at the door was about to get quite the ass-chewing. She opened the door and her mouth for the barrage that was about to follow.

Instead, two sets of eyes greeted her immediately. She gasped as she realized they were the very same eyes she had consigned to the brig just hours ago.

"Hello, ma'am. Great night for a stroll, isn't it?" said Jarvis while shouldering an assault NT-11 rifle. To his side, Reyes wore a menacing grin.

Before she could even scream for help, the two men were on her. She stumbled back into her cabin to make a dash for the radio but was quickly grabbed from behind and spun around, landing into Reyes's outstretched arms. He cradled her against his chest, rendering her completely immobile.

"Help me! Help!! Someone he—"

Vicky fell silent as the butt of the rifle slammed into her stomach, taking the wind from her very chest. She struggled to regain her breath as Jarvis repeated the gesture. If it weren't for Reyes holding her up, she would've fallen to the floor.

"Now, now, there needs to be none of that! Let's go with you. Off to the brig with the others," said Reyes.

Jarvis was the one to lead the way out of her quarters while she was dragged along by Reyes. The two men made quick work through the passageway which was as silent as the night. As they carried her along the deck, her boots made a scuffling noise as she followed along helplessly.