The Allergy Factor
An allergy attack sparks an investigation by a starship Captain
“Captain, we are in orbit around Vliets,” Lieutenant Shannon Fournier reported.
“Excellent.” Captain Jason Ayers turned to his communications officer. “Mister Simmons, see if you can raise this Royce Halsey in Bertram.”
“One moment, sir. Got him. Royce Halsey, on main screen.”
The screen on the forward part of the bridge came to life with the massive face of Royce Halsey, agent with the Industrial Environmental Standards Agency, Bureau of Environmental Quality. It was a bit jarring for the Victory’s bridge crew. Usually the people who appeared on screen had their vid-cams properly adjusted. Halsey clearly hadn’t. Ayers concluded from this that he wasn’t used to calling warships.
“Mister Halsey, I’m Captain Jason Ayers, of the frigate Victory. I think you need to adjust something on your end.”
“What? Oh, sorry.” Halsey tapped keypads on his perscomp. His face shrunk in size considerably. “Is that better?”
“Much. Now, your request asked for our support, but said the situation wasn’t dire. Would you explain why you called us out here?”
“Certainly, Captain. This part of Vliets was settled by farmers years ago. However, they were only granted surface use rights. The territorial government hung on to the mineral rights, and last year they were sold to the Interstellar Resource Corporation. IRC has set up mining operations very close to the local population.
“A month ago local people reported to the Bureau that they were getting sick, and they blamed IRC. IRC insists their practices are within standards and regulations. I was sent here a few days ago to investigate the situation. My problem has been that I can’t get any cooperation from IRC to secure a full inspection of all their sites.”
“Mister Halsey,” Ayers said, “I appreciate your problem, but...”
Halsey raised his hands. “It’s more than just that, Captain. It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town like Bertram. The locals know I’m getting stonewalled, and it’s making them even more angry at IRC. My boss suggested I call the nearest Federal ship and ask for help. So I called, and now I’m asking.”
“I don’t see how we can help.”
“Well, Captain, I think if you could talk to the leaders of the citizens, let them know you’re here, that might act as a brake on their emotions.”
“Isn’t that the job of the planet’s Federal Marshal?”
Halsey shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s the other reason why I had to call you, Captain. The Marshal and the Governor were not happy to see me. They told me that the locals were making up stories because they lost out on the profits from selling the mineral rights. People around here think the territorial government is too close to IRC, and I’m afraid they might be right.”
“Well, in that case, I suppose a friendly chat and maybe a week’s stay is within our means.”
“Thanks, Captain.”
“Who do you suggest we speak to?”
“Well, the mayor is Rene Costigan.”
Lieutenant Fournier turned from the screen to Ayers. “Uh, sir?”
“Yes?”
She pointed to the screen. “Could I...?”
“Go ahead, Lieutenant.”
She turned back to the screen. “Mister Halsey, I’m Lieutenant Shannon Fournier. Uh, the mayor there, is he a tall man, fair-haired, slightly balding?”
“Yes.”
“Does he go by the nickname ‘Costy?’”
“Yeah.”
“And did he come from Beta Argus?”
“Sure did. Why? Do you know him?”
“Actually, my mother knew him better than I did, but yeah. He was an important politician back home.”
“Lieutenant Fournier,” Ayers said, “you’ve just invited yourself along. Mister Halsey, I’ll see if I can set up a meeting with Mayor Costigan today. How about the other side?”
“Alison Weinberg is the plant manager. I’ve only spoken to her once since I’ve arrived. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“We’ll do our best. Oh, one other thing. My ship has only minimal scientific equipment, but if a scan from space would help,...”
“I couldn’t use a scan as evidence, but it might point us in the right direction. And any shipboard lab is better than the field survey scanner I brought.”
“Good. We’ll be in touch.”
***
When Ayers and Fournier entered the Bertram Inn to meet with Mayor Costigan night had already fallen over the town. They teleported right in front of the entrance on a vacant street. The exterior of the Bertram Inn made it seem like any modern business structure on a colony world. Inside the Inn was a throwback to every frontier saloon in every ancient Western either officer had seen, albeit with modern furniture and a card scanner at one end of the bar.
The only person inside was the barkeeper, who was quietly wiping the bar counter. He looked at the two officers. “Help you?” he asked, his expression stiff.
“We’re here to meet Mister Costigan,” Ayers said.
“Fine. Get you something?”
“No, thanks.”
Ayers led Fournier to the table farthest from the entrance and the barkeeper. He had her sit down next to him. He leaned close to her and asked quietly, “What do you know about Costigan?”
“He was outgoing, popular, likable. He did things for people. My mother really liked him, and always voted for him.”
“How did she know him?”
“She ran a restaurant. Had to deal with lots of city regs. He was the pol she always went to for help. He helped, and he came in to eat at least twice a month.”
Just then the door opened and the man she’d described earlier entered. He waved and shook hands with the barkeeper before walking to where she and Ayers were sitting. He came to Ayers and offered his right hand.
“Captain, I’m Mayor Costigan.”
“Captain Jason Ayers.” He shook Costigan’s hand.
Costigan turned to Fournier. His eyes narrowed for a moment. “Shannon? Shannon Fournier?”
“Yeah.”
Costigan smiled broadly. He gave her a bear hug, then patted her shoulders. “It’s good to see you. How’s your mother?”
“Still back home, running the restaurant.”
“Excellent. She still offering that lasagna bake of hers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ah. One of the few things I miss since I left. And I mean that as a customer, not as a politician.” He motioned to both officers. “Please, sit down. Royce told me he’d called you here to help him. What exactly are your plans, Captain?”
“Right now, nothing but talking.”
“And what is it you have to say to me?”
“I understand that your people are upset and frustrated.”
“I don’t think you do, Captain. My people think they’re being poisoned by IRC, screwed by the territorial government, and no one’s doing anything about it.”
“Halsey’s here, and I’m here.”
“Halsey’s getting the run-around. Are you here to maintain order, or to help shut down those mines?”
“There’s no need to be hostile.”
Costigan sighed and raised his right hand. “I’m sorry, Captain. I don’t mean to be disrespectful. Those are things my people are saying to me. I have to respond to them. They didn’t elect me Mayor because of my past. They chose me because they believed I’d fight for them. Be their leader.”
“And what do you believe? Where do you want to lead them?”
“I believe that on this matter they’re right. I’ve seen people get sick. So far everyone’s recovered, but one of these days someone won’t get better.”
“I take it you have a doctor in town.”
“Actually, no. We have to call in a doctor from one of the clinics in the capitol.”
“And what’s their diagnosis?”
Costigan shook his head. “They aren’t certain. The symptoms resemble a respiratory problem, but they pass too quickly to be cold or flu. Of course they’re always too busy to test for anything. Now do you see why we’re all so angry?”
“I can see why you’re frustrated, sure.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“I plan to speak to Alison Weinberg. I’m hoping that our presence will emphasize the seriousness of the situation.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Captain, but you’re dreaming if you think that will happen. Weinberg will stall you like she’s stalled us and stalled Halsey.”
“Maybe, but stalling the Captain of a Federal warship is a much greater breach of protocol, because a Captain who complains will be heard.”
“We’ll see.”
“In the meantime, Mister Costigan, tell your people that patience is still a virtue.”
“I have, believe me.” He looked at Fournier. “Tell him what kind of pol I am.”
“He’s not a rabble-rouser, sir,” she said to Ayers. “He was always a calming voice back home.”
“I still am. My worry is, Captain, that one of these illnesses will take a serious turn, and that will cause a reaction that even the most levelheaded of us won’t be able to stop. That’s why I am personally so angry about how we’re being treated. IRC and the government don’t seem to understand the potential dangers of their conduct.
“Captain, if you want to help, the best thing you could do is let them know where this is going if it goes on. Otherwise, I don’t see how your being here makes one millimeter of difference.”
Ayers nodded slowly. “Very well. I appreciate your candor, sir. I will try to convey that message to Ms. Weinberg. Until then, tell your people that we aren’t here to take sides. Victory is here to assure that Halsey does his job, and that the situation doesn’t get out of hand. We won’t take sides unless we have to.”
Costigan nodded. He stood up slowly and again offered his right hand to Ayers. “Captain, I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t have to take sides, so long as you do, too.”
“Deal.” Ayers stood up and shook Costigan’s hand.
The man turned to Fournier, already on her feet, and put his hands on her shoulders. “Shannon, it’s good to see you again. I trust you’re doing the hometown proud?”
“I’m trying.”
“Great.” He hugged her again, this time less grandly. “Tell your mother I said ‘hello.’” He stepped back, nodded to Ayers, waved to the barkeeper, and left the Inn.
Ayers turned to Fournier. “Thanks, Miss Fournier.”
“Certainly, sir. Do you want me along when you meet Weinberg?”
“I think I can handle her on my own, Lieutenant.”
***
Ayers’ first appointment to see Weinberg was for late the following morning. Ten minutes before it was to start she canceled it, claiming overwork, and rescheduled it for early in the afternoon. Fifteen minutes before that second appointed she again begged off for the same reason, and rescheduled for later in the day. Five minutes before that, and with no word from her, Ayers teleported down to the planet again, this time by himself.
The IRC operations center was about a mile from town, and several miles from the nearest mine. Ayers had no trouble understanding the reason for the practice. If there was an accident at one site, and operations was there, it would halt everything. With operations away from all sites there was no risk of such a total shutdown. Yet he could also see why this might worry the locals; if the managers didn’t want to be near the mines, then there must be some danger from them.
Ayers quickly breezed through the center’s security procedures and arrived at Weinberg’s office right on time. Her assistant asked him to sit and wait. He waited for exactly five minutes before he demanded to be let in.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t allow you in until she’s available.”
“She will see me now, or I will bring down a security team to force that door open.”
The assistant tapped the intercom. “Ma’am? Captain Ayers insists on coming in.”
“Just a few more minutes.”
Ayers leaned over the assistant’s desk. “Now, or I’ll have your door blasted down. I am tired of waiting.”
“Very well. Let him in.”
The assistant tapped another keypad. A lock on the door made a noise. Ayers walked up to it, and it slid open. He walked through and sat down across from Weinberg in front of her desk.
She was as undistinguished a corporate manager as he had ever seen. Her face was average, her height and weight average, her clothes a standard-issue professional businesswoman’s work attire. If there were any personal items on her desk he didn’t see them. The office decor had touches to make it seem used, but not that it was used by any one person. There was nothing to suggest who she was, where she was from, or how she did her job.
“Captain, I can’t spare you much time,” she began, “and I don’t like people barging in on me.”
“And I don’t like being treated like some faceless bureaucrat. My rank and position entitles me to a modicum of respect. In the service canceling appointments and making someone wait without telling them how long are considered disrespectful. How we are treated is reflected in how we treat others, Ms. Weinberg. If you want me to take you seriously then take me seriously.”
“All right, Captain. What is it that you want?”
“I want to know why Mister Halsey isn’t being allowed to do his job. He has an obligation to carry out tests on your worksites.”
“Company policy is not to allow non-employees on site without proper escort, for their safety. I am understaffed, Captain. It takes time for me to secure someone qualified to assist Mister Halsey.”
“How long?”
“I should be able to have someone on hand in another three or four days.”
“That’s not acceptable.”
“What am I supposed to do? Violate policy? Violate work-safety rules? I can’t placate one bureaucracy at the expense of another.”
“What about these people who are getting sick?”
“There’s no evidence that IRC is in any way responsible.”
Ayers let out a breath. “Ms. Weinberg, these ‘incidents’ started after your mines went into operation, that much I now know. You might actually be right. The fact that they started when they did is proof enough for the people living around here. If someone gets sick and doesn’t recover, or worse, these people may very well decide to act on what they think it true.”
“Attacks on company property and personnel are against the law, Captain.”
“So is hindering an investigation, Ms. Weinberg.”
“A criminal investigation, Captain.”
“How am I to interpret your stonewalling? The only reason I can figure out is that you have something to hide. That reason suggests illegality.”
She sucked in a breath. Before she could say anything in response Ayers stood up. “I expect Mister Halsey to have access to all your sites within the next day or two. If not, I will be forced to report my suspicions to the territorial government, and to all interested federal bureaus, including Justice. Keep in mind, Ms. Weinberg, I have a certain latitude in action due to this being a territorial colony. Good day.” He turned his back her and walked out of her office. She said nothing in reply as he left.
***
That night Ayers returned to Bertram Inn. Fournier accompanied him, and they met with Costigan and Halsey. As it was, some of Costigan’s people were also there to listen in. Ayers quietly told Costigan that this wasn’t what he had wanted when the meeting was arranged, but would let them stay, “Out of respect to your authority, so long as they listen and don’t interfere.”
“All right.” Costigan stood up from the table where the four were clustered around. “Friends, the Captain has reminded me that this is not a public meeting. Let’s keep the rowdiness to a minimum, and our remarks to ourselves. Let’s show our visitors that we are not the problem around here.” As he sat down the locals applauded or banged on tables in agreement.
“Thanks,” Ayers said. “I won’t bother you with the messy details of my meeting with Weinberg, but I will say that the phrase ‘blood from a stone’ came to my mind as I left.”
“Hate to say it, but I told you so,” Costigan said. “What’s next?”
“I made it clear as I could that I expect Royce to get complete access to all IRC sites, and that I have some power to back him up.”
“What would you like me to do?” Halsey asked.
“Pick a site and name a time for an inspection tomorrow. I’ll have my chief of security and a science officer join you.”
“To emphasize your involvement.”
“And to help if you need it.”
“That’s assuming Weinberg gives in.” Costigan tapped the table with a finger. “Captain, I would like some input in the site selection. There are places we’re more concerned about than others.”
At that moment the barkeeper brought a tray with four full beer glasses to the table. “Looks like you’ll be here a bit,” he told them, “so thought you might need something.”
Ayers shook his head. “I don’t know...”
“One glass, Captain. On the house.”
“Okay.” He let the barkeeper distribute the glasses. He took a sip from his as the other man walked back to the bar. He frowned, wrinkled his face, and leaned towards Costigan. “This is the worst beer I’ve ever tasted,” he whispered.
“I know. He’s not the best brewer in the galaxy, and the poor man can’t afford to brew it a more modern way. Some say that it’s gotten worse since the mines opened, but it’s hard to tell.”
“Really? Maybe there’s a test we...”
The sound of glass breaking caused Ayers to turn abruptly. He saw Fournier gasping for air, the shattered pieces of her mug and spilled beer at her feet.
“Shannon! What’s wrong?”
She managed to shake her head, but still kept gasping.
Ayers stabbed his wrist-comm. “Ayers to Victory, medical emergency!”
“Reggio here, Captain,” his executive officer replied, “what’s going on?”
“Teleport Miss Fournier to sickbay. She’s gasping for breath, and she’s starting to look a little pale. It all came on suddenly.”
“Right, sir. Locking on. I’ve alerted sickbay. Teleporting, now!”
Fournier disappeared from the room. The moment after she’d teleported out Ayers turned to Costigan. “Is that the illness you’ve been talking about?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Reggio, patch me to sickbay.”
“Stand by. Doctor Chomskova on, now.”
“Doctor?”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Tell the trauma team to check for anything that might cause a sudden illness.” He glanced at the floor next to where Fournier had been sitting. “It might be in the alcohol she just drank.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll report back as soon as I can.”
“Good. Ayers out.”
“What do we do now, Captain?” Halsey asked.
“For now, we wait until my ship calls me back. I don’t want to commit to anything until I know what happened to Fournier.”
While he waited he pondered what might have caused her attack. He suspected it was something in the beer, and that pointed to IRC. But there was one major problem with that theory. Modern mining extracted minerals from a planet through a physical process involving machinery and miners. Teleports weren’t used because of the danger of using a teleport to create minerals instead of just mining them. That meant that there were no chemicals used or given off during extraction. He tried hard to think up an explanation that would overcome this problem.
Half an hour after Fournier had fallen ill, Chomskova reported back to Ayers. “Captain, I have some good news.”
“She’s okay?”
“Improving, sir. She’ll need bed rest for the next twenty-four hours, though.”
“Good. What happened?”
“Michaels says she had an allergic reaction.”
“To beer?”
“To shellfish, sir. Or to be more precise, to the protein that causes shellfish allergies. We’ve checked her records and talked to her once we dealt with it. She is allergic to shellfish.”
“Are you saying she ate something...?”
“No, Captain. An allergic reaction is usually very sudden, and Shannon knows her allergy. She wouldn’t eat shellfish.”
“So it must be the beer.”
“That’s the only logical cause, sir.”
“Fine. I want Michaels and Ensign Shan to teleport down here immediately.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. Tell them I want them to bring any equipment they need for testing substances. I want to know what’s in this beer.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to send the beer up?”
“We’ll have witnesses to the test, and no allegations that we did something on board during our examination. Once you’ve called Michaels and Shan, tell Commander Reggio my orders, and have her contact me. Out.” Ayers turned to Halsey. “You better bring your equipment here, too.”
“You got it.” He turned and jogged out of the building.
“Captain,” Costigan asked, “what’s going on? Are you saying that it’s the beer that’s been making people sick?”
“It’s too early to tell. First, we have to confirm that this protein is actually in the beer. Then we’ll have to figure out how it got there.”
“No doubt IRC’s mines.”
“Mines don’t use or give off chemicals.” A thought popped into Ayers head that seemed to explain everything. “But refining does.”
***
Early the following afternoon Ayers was back in Weinberg’s office. But this time he was joined by Halsey, Ensign Shan, Doctor Chomskova, and his chief of security, Lieutenant Maria Velasquez.
After she was introduced to them Weinberg asked curtly, “What is the reason for this intrusion, Captain?”
“We’ve been conducting some tests after one of my officers fell ill last night. She’s fine now, but I thought you might be interested in the results. Mister Halsey?”
“Our tests show that a protein responsible for causing allergic reactions to shellfish in humans is contaminating local grain crops. We’ve confirmed that this is not a natural planetary phenomenon.”
“Doctor?”
“My research has found that this phenomena is known to medical science. It’s been found on planets where grain is raised close to mineral refineries where environmental standards are not adhered to.”
“Ensign?”
“I have located two refineries on this planet, one of which is close to local farms.”
“Sites which, need I remind you, Mister Halsey was barred from visiting.” Ayers smiled to Weinberg. “Now my security officer will deliver the last piece of the puzzle. Velasquez?”
“It seems that there are no permits on record allowing IRC to operate mineral refineries on Vliets. No applications were made, either. It does appear that the Governor is employed by IRC as a ‘consultant’ and is drawing a nice salary.”
Ayers crossed his arms over his chest. “Ms. Weinberg, you will shut down all IRC operations now, pending investigations by the Bureaus of Justice, Environmental Quality, Public Health, and any others I can think to contact. You will have all IRC personnel on Vliets report here for preliminary interrogations. Oh, and by the way, my executive officer is meeting with the Governor right now to discuss his part in this mess.”
“I won’t say anything until I have counsel,” Weinberg replied, “except to state that I was only complying with company policy.”
Ayers shook his head. “If that excuse won’t work for a soldier like me, it won’t work for someone like you. We must be accountable for our actions.
“Oh, and one last thing, Ms. Weinberg. Next time, if there is a next time, don’t be so rude to your neighbors. If you hadn’t made the locals so angry, we’d have never come here and discovered your little secret.”
This first appeared in Hadrosaur Tales, Volume 17, 2003.
You can find this in The Frigate Victory Series Collection. Find it at your favorite store here.
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Happy writing & happy reading!