1923: Tau Past, #4

By Richard R Lockwood

Admiral Kosciusko wants everyone on Earth to have a share in the new power and wealth he has brought to an earlier Earth. That will not be easy for some who still cling to old attitudes. Admiral Kosciusko is attacked by a pure blood conspiracy.
Cornelius Smith, a Medal of Honor winner, joins the Tau Fleet. In Tau Past -1923, Smith starts a new life with his son on a new planet. His old skills are sometimes useful, but a new frontier will demand new ones.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard R Lockwood
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215392454

Richard R Lockwood

Was born in Miami FL. Worked for the University of Florida until I retired. Been married to the lovely Cecelia for 40 years now, proof that I'm a lucky guy. Now living on the Nature Coast in Citrus County. Enjoy all kind of wildlife, especially reptiles and insects, so I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place. When I'm not writing I enjoy wood carving. Both of the heads beside me in the picture are cedar from the Chassahowitzka Forrest. I also love to walk my dog Bark Anthony. Probably need to go do that now. A Chronology of the Twins Alternate Universe novels and some thoughts and rationales - https://www.ricklockwood.net/Chronology.html My Books on Books 2 Read - https://books2read.com/ap/RaZ9Br/Richard-R-Lockwood  

Book preview

Tau Past - 1923

1

On the northwest shoulder of the island of Formosa stood a 20 floor cream colored pyramid with the chocolate brown floors providing a layer cake look. The bottom ten floors provided homes and offices for people connected with Tau companies, the middle five were fleet offices and headquarters, and the top five were apartments for Fleet officers and their families. Captain Jiao McKenzie, the Governor of Formosa, stood with her Gurkha bodyguards at the reception port on the 15th floor. Steady civilian ship traffic traversed the broad Formosan Straights below her, a result of the peace between China and Japan, a peace enforced by Tau warships. Dressed in black Tau utilities, she waited now for one of those warships to bring her guest, a man whose invitation had been encouraged by her uncle, a man likely as reluctant to see her as she had been to invite him.

Her traffic control sent the arrival message, a minute later Commander Cornelius Smith floated down on his cruiser's pad to step off in front of her. Captain, he greeted her, reporting as requested.

She nodded and with a wave of her hand invited him to step onto her own pad. Thank you for coming, Commander, she said as they floated up to her personal quarters at the top. They stepped off on her spacious lanai and the Gurkhas took up their positions at the corners. After serving him some tea, she continued, As you know, my sister Huan has been offered a new admiral's position in the Tau leadership. We are interested in making plans for developing the worlds of the O'Neal-Orion sector, and at my uncle's suggestion, he thought that you might be of some help to us in this effort, particularly in reference to the Dragon world.

I'll be happy to help in any way I can, Captain, he replied.

"Good, then perhaps you could explain to me the circumstances surrounding my cousin Jade's loss of the captaincy of the Bee Hive? Her plan to speak only obliquely of the subject had been forgotten and her intense interest was now foremost. It happened in that system, I know you had a role to play, and if I am to have any confidence in your opinion it would help me to know what that role was."

Captain McKenzie, I was not present when Admiral Ortega relieved her, I can only relate to you that she and I had a disagreement beforehand, and I regret any role that might have played in what happened afterward.

Commander, she continued after she sipped her tea, I do not want you to think that I am angry about this situation. I have often thought that my cousin has an impetuous nature, and I am aware that you also saved her life. My uncles seem to have complete confidence in you; you have been promoted since the event and are in a position of great responsibility. If you cannot speak of the incident then we will move on.

Captain, I freely admit that I made a mistake at the time. It is a mistake that new officers often make in trying too hard to impress their commanding officer and I am embarrassed to say that I did so. Captain Lee felt I was trying to undermine her authority in speaking directly to the admiral while we were in conference.

Jiao waited a minute before speaking again, Rejuvenation often leads to a surge of youthful impulses. My cousin will not speak of it except to make a vague reference to 'that glory hound Smith'. She has been placed in an administrative position and will support the terraforming of the O'Neal system, so you may see her again.

Then she will receive the apology that I owe her, Captain, no matter her opinion of me.

Jiao sipped her tea again and looked at the man seated across from her, an easy task with his lean blond handsomeness and her knowledge that he was a Medal of Honor winner. Commander, I feel I owe you an explanation now. My sister has offered me the governorship of the Dragon system, and I am looking for people to help me. The commander of my military forces will need to have a wide range of talents, and because of your record and your experience with the system, particularly the shakpay, Admiral Kosciusko thought that I should consider you for the job. Before I met you, I felt that I was merely going through the motions with this interview, but now... Now I feel comfortable in asking you if you are interested in working for me. Are you?

"Up until a moment ago I thought I was completely happy as the flight boss on Freya, ma'am. It would be a great honor to work for you, and thank you for considering me."

"It is more than consideration, Smith. You have two weeks to prepare before we leave on the Kuan Yin. She is not a Tau military carrier, but she will be at my disposal and can carry whatever I wish. There will be a portal between this pyramid and Longwei, that will be the new name of the system when I take possession. Questions?"

Most of them can wait, ma'am, but there are a few people I'd like to have helping me.

If they are Tau, then there is no problem. If they are civilians... she shrugged, your problem.

I'll get to work on them. Who will be allowed to settle on Longwei? That’s probably the first question they’ll ask me.

Anyone with skills, but I think as a practical matter it will begin with a Chinese majority. My sister and I already know many families with people who would like to go, and once we announce it is open...

Will they be allowed to own land?

Of course. Tonight I am having dinner with my sister in Shanjing. Afterwards we will go over a map of the planet and decide the best places to have cities and estates for the leaders. Your advice would be valuable and you should be there if you wish an estate of your own.

An estate?

Something not as big as a continent, Smith, she said with a ghost smile.

Don't worry ma'am, he said with a grin, I haven't even filled up my apartment at the Taumid yet.

Then I will worry about something else, she said, serious once again. Be here at 7 pm, you will escort me.

Yes, ma'am, he said, standing up and calling down his pad. Thank you for your confidence, I won't let you down.

She stood up and considered him again, then said, Dress whites.

2

Captain Lothar von Richthofen pulled back on the stick and gravity threatened to take his consciousness away in spite of his flight suit's compensation. He fought through the loop and the spots in his vision faded as his biplane came level again, but his prey was nowhere to be seen. Throwing his craft down and to the left he avoided a stream of tracers cutting through his former position, then with a curse he slammed through another half loop and an ess curve. Have to come up with some new moves, he thought, or I'll be the pigeon today, he forced himself to complete the thought, just like yesterday. Well, Lucia made it up to him last night, and then he wondered if that was part of her strategy as his craft shuddered from multiple hits and indicator lights on his instrument panel began strobing. His craft leveled out and he lost control as it began a wide turn to the south and began descending for the approach to her father's ranch outside of San Antonio. Her green biplane came up alongside his blue one and she wiggled her wings at him in victory, then sped ahead to land first.

Lothar sent the command to switch over from simulation mode and his engine noise stopped abruptly. A field formed around the biplane and the wind stopped as well. Surging up from the lower atmosphere to a thousand kilometers above Texas, Lothar turned on his display and noted Freya orbiting just where she should be, then plummeted back to follow Lucia to the landing zone in back of the ranch. She was already halfway to the hacienda as he landed and as he exited the craft he paused to appreciate the view of her ascending the steps to the back porch. Every girl should wear well tailored flying silks, he thought, though few will wear them as well.

*Enjoying your consolation prize?* she sent without turning around.

*Are all the women in your family mind readers?* he sent back.

*It doesn't take a mind reader to know what men like,* she replied, then turned around and waited for him.

*Men like to win.*

*Is it my fault I have such a good teacher?*

He waited to reply until he stood next to her. Yes, it's all your fault, he said, then put his hands around her waist and kissed her. You're the reason I'm here, enduring such humiliation every day.

Poor Lothar, she said as she kissed him back, then broke from his embrace. But Mama is looking from her kitchen window, so behave.

Your mother would never do any such thing, he replied, then followed her into the house where servants were preparing a light lunch. As they came in, Lucia's mother and father entered the dining room, preceded by Cezar, her youngest brother.

The victorious warrior returns, said Cezar, then looking at Lothar, with her captain.

I let her win to increase her self confidence, said Lothar. Why do you let her win? Or are the flight logs in that plane mistaken?

My lovely daughter does not need any more self confidence, said her father, but my son could use some manners. I'm sure he is grateful for the loan of your planes.

I'm not worried about Cezar, said Lothar, but Lucia seems to be developing a killer instinct that might not be suitable in a doctor.

Lucia kissed her mother and then smiled at the men, They tell me in medical school that every doctor needs to kill a few patients before they are any good.

Please don't kill anyone during lunch, dear, said her mother.

Excellent advice, said Señor Perez. Captain, he continued as he sat down, I just got a request from your Commander Smith. He wants to know if I can provide two hundred prime cattle and six bulls within a week.

He's not my Commander Smith anymore, Señor, replied Lothar. He has a new job out towards Orion.

With so much beef, he must want to keep his strength up for it, replied  Perez.

They'll be settling a whole new world, said Lucia, with dragons. She looked at Cesar, I wonder if dragons might like little brothers?

Cesar smiled back at her, I already know how dragons feel about little brothers.

Remember my request, Lucia, said her mother. Will the cattle become dragon food? she asked Lothar.

I suppose it may happen, Señora. Dragons have to eat something and they may get tired of eating crocodiles there. But I doubt if that’s what Smith intends for your husband's delicious beef.

Dragons and crocodiles, she mused, it's probably not at all like Texas.

True, said Lothar, looking at Lucia. Only Texas has the most beautiful women in the galaxy.

Dad, said Cezar, do women really believe that kind of talk?

Son, his father replied, I don’t know if they believe it, then looking at Señora Perez he took her hand and continued, but they like to hear it, especially when we believe it.

Well, said Cezar, it doesn't help my appetite. He looked at Lothar, Will I have to listen to it at dinner, too?

Don't worry, you can fatten up tonight, replied Lothar. The admiral has invited us to dinner at his ranch.

One of my maids has a sister who works there, said Señora Perez. She says the admiral has almost 50 babies and several older children. It must be a little crazy sometimes.

Hmm, said Cezar, "it sounds like someone likes little brothers."

You should be grateful, said Lothar, I had a rough childhood; I was the little brother of the Red Baron.

Cezar looked at his sister and said, That must be why you think Lucia is pretty.

I will be interested to see how any girl you bring home compares to your sister, said his mother, then to the others, The admiral must have an army of servants and I had to give Consuela a raise to keep her.

With 50 babies, said the Señor, "I bet they earn their