Smoke on the Wind

by Sean Benjamin

  “What’s in it for me?”

  “Your sentence cut by five years.”

  “Not good enough but tell me about the mission, please.”

  “All my flotilla freighters usually carry cargo but can also be outfitted as missile boats. Each of our three original freighters can have a temporary five-by-five missile rack set up in each of the three bays for a broadside of seventy-five missiles. The weakness in the system is the overhead missile storage requires the bays to be closed and pressurized to allow the missile reload to roll down into the racks. Another weakness is the limited reload capability. There are only five broadsides before the overhead magazines are empty and a lengthy reloading process is required. That assumes the first broadside is in the missile racks and four reloads are in the overhead magazines.

  “Now the new ships, your class of ships, are slightly larger than my older freighters. Their three bays have room for six-by-five missile racks giving them a broadside of ninety missiles. The overhead storage is still the same, so only five broadsides are possible as long as the first round is in the racks.”

  He paused now and then added. “There is another weakness. The freighter missile systems are ad hoc so have none of the munition safeguards found in warships. The missiles are all in the open in the racks and the overhead storage is also wide open. If the freighter takes multiple hits, it is very possible the armed missiles in the racks will detonate in sympathetic explosions. The ship would go up like a nova. Basically, they pack a battleship’s broadside but have no staying power or built-in protection so they have to be deployed very judiciously.”

  “Why would I want to captain one of them? It sounds like suicide.”

  “In the plan, I envision you will be taking risks but not suicidal. My freighter people have been key players in several fights including the Battle of the Electra System, and we have not lost a ship yet. I know how important those ships are, and I don’t throw them out there trusting to luck and the kindness of the gods of war to see them through. The people they support also know how important they are and protect them very well.”

  Yardley nodded. “I might be interested, but there isn’t enough upside for me. I would like my sentence commuted to time served.”

  Hawkins let out a bark of laughter and then shook his head. “Not a chance in hell. Besides, word of that would spread among my people faster than a lightning strike. Several flotilla people will be among your crew. As soon as the battle was over and you were departing the ship for the last time, one of them would blow your head off. I could tell everyone to leave you alone, but it wouldn’t do any good.”

  He paused as he regarded the former freighter captain and then talked quietly. “I know slavery was just a business to you. You were just transporting cargo even though the cargo in some cases was human beings. I think you have no idea of the depth of feeling many people around here have toward slavery. There are former slaves on every ship in the flotilla. Many of my crews have seen the effects of slavery close up, and they hate it. As I told you before, most slavers were doing it out of desperation. They were up against it money wise so did a few runs to get even. I’ve caught slavers who were actually glad to get caught. It eased their consciences while allowing them to keep the money. Your ship was modified for the slave trade, and you did several runs for a corporation. That puts you in a different category. I expect that the announcement of you as captain of one of the ships will be met with resistance from many of my people. Some of those assigned to your ship will refuse to serve when they hear who will be in command. Some will serve with you so they can kill you when it’s over. The only thing that will stop them is knowing you are coming back here for the completion of your sentence. I guarantee that commuting your sentence would result in your death, and there is nothing I could do or say to stop it.”

  Yardley looked down in thought as she considered the offer and all its ramifications. She believed Hawkins was telling the truth about the threat to her. She reflected on his remark about “transporting cargo.” She didn’t think of herself as a slaver, just a captain moving stuff from point A to point B. She was just going about the job. She was paid a small bonus for the slave runs, but the great bulk of the money went to the AC regional office. She was a corporate captain doing what her corporation told her to do. Other people would not have such an understanding view of her activities or her justification. She realized she could be killed by the pirates’ enemy, or she just might be done in by her own crew. She glanced around her cell. The Royal Navy engineer battalion was still building the naval base here on Agra 2 so the brig was not complete yet. She would move there once it was finished in a month. Her sentence was twenty years. It already felt like twenty years and it was not even two months yet. She was sure she would go stir crazy long before the twenty-year mark. Besides, she loved being a ship’s captain and had thought that career was gone forever. Now she had the opportunity to take five years off her sentence and the chance to command a ship again. For those two things, she would run the risk of an enemy missile or a “friendly” knife in the back. She looked at Hawkins and quietly said, “I’ll take it.”

  He turned toward the open cell door. “I have already talked with Captain Cassidy so just some signatures are needed to make it official. You’ll be out in a couple of hours and in my custody. The freighter Gawain will be your ship, and she is on her way here now to get you.”

  Yardley looked him in the eye. “The ship is already coming here to get me? You were that sure I would take the job?”

  Hawkins nodded. “Yup, I was that sure.” He turned and walked away.

  Chapter 7

  Destiny Flores moved about her establishment with practiced ease. She greeted customers at the door and then others in the bar. She talked with old patrons and met new ones. She remembered every name and personal situation. She asked after their families and friends and how their jobs were going. Destiny knew how to make people feel at home, and her ever-expanding customer base appreciated it.

  She now made her way through the restaurant to the back tables where privacy was assured and conversations could be conducted in peace. Kit Kincaid sat alone at a corner table. She was reviewing a menu. She wrestled with herself over a dinner choice. Things were not going well for the master and crew of the tramp freighter Prairie Dog. The Dog was an old ship, and repairs had been put off for years for lack of money. Kit knew that plan couldn’t continue so had been pushing the ship hard to build up a cash reserve for her and her crew to live on while paying for an overhaul. She thought she had made it but not so fast. Once the old ship had been moved into one of the Lorelei shipyard’s repair docks, additional problems were found after some disassembly. Always skeptical of shipyards, Kinkaid had conducted her own inspection and reluctantly concluded the shipyard was correct in their evaluation. The rehab would be costlier and more time consuming than originally thought. Kit also knew it wasn’t worth it as the old ship was just too far gone for that large of an investment in repairs. The money on hand and selling the Dog for scrap still wouldn’t be enough for a down payment on a decent replacement ship. The Lorelei shipyard gave Kit three days to think about her course of action. The shipyard people moved Prairie Dog to a floating dock for the wait.

  Kinkaid had talked to her crew earlier in the day and was now letting them discuss the situation among themselves. Her crew was small but had been with her for years. It pained her that she was failing to look after them when they had put their trust in her to get them through this overhaul and back out into space again. She gave them the night to talk about it and would check with them in the morning. Now Kit was at Destiny’s wrestling over a meal decision. She was deep in thought as Destiny sat down. The owner smiled at Kit. She knew what was going on. She had seen it in many a customer. What they really wanted versus what they could afford, either money wise or diet wise. Destiny knew a diet did not enter into this thought process with Kit and decided to help her old friend.

  “Whatever you want
is on the house.”

  “I can’t do that, Destiny. I pay my own way. Always have,” the large woman replied with a note of regret.

  “Get whatever you want. It is part of Raferty’s softening-up process. He’s buying.” Destiny raised her hand, and the waiter moved over quickly. Kinkaid indulged herself with her order and the waiter departed.

  Kit turned to Destiny. She smiled and asked calmly, “Rafe up to something?” Raferty Hawkins having a plan was not a rare event.

  Destiny smiled back. “Yes, and he needs your help.”

  Kit nodded and replied wistfully, “I do have the time. I don’t have a ship, but I do have the time.”

  Destiny laughed. “Then this is all coming together quite well.” She set a comm chip on the table and activated it. Raferty Hawkins’ head and torso floated above the table.

  The image spoke. “Kit, I hate doing business long distance but no way around it. I have very little time so forgive the lack of an FTF. I’m taking all my freighters and whoever else in Flot 1 wants to go, and I am heading to the Aurora Empire. A short-fused emergency there requires my presence, and it is kicking the hell out of all my timelines. I have my three regular freighters and two of the new freighters we seized from the Aeonian Conglomerate going with me. One of the new freighters is manned and ready to go. The other isn’t. I am getting Maclyn Yardley out of jail to captain the second ship, named Gawain. She knows these ships, and nobody else with her level of knowledge is available. Of course, you know her background, so I won’t get into it. The problem is I need to fill out the crew, and I need a first officer who can run the ship and keep Yardley from getting a knife in the back. I understand Prairie Dog is in the yards so you and your people are dirtside for a while. I want you to be that first officer and your people to complete the crew for Gawain. The mission is to go to the Aurora Empire and prepare for a fight as a missile boat. The people on the ship already know the missile system but aren’t well trained merchant sailors. Your crew will run the ship, train my people, and you will protect Yardley. I will pay the same wages as our other freighter crews get. For you, I have something extra. When we get back, the crews of Dragon, Steppenwolf, and Vampire will transfer to the new AC freighters. That leaves those three ships free. Pick the one you like and she’s yours.” Rafe’s image smiled. He concluded, “I need an answer soonest so I can go to Plan B if you turn me down. Of course, I don’t have a Plan B, but let’s pretend I do. Destiny will send your answer to me and, if you sign on, she has the transportation set up so you and your people will meet Gawain en route. One more thing. Just so you know, Yardley is getting five years off her sentence, and she will be coming back to the Agra 2 brig when this is over. She is not walking free on this, so I don’t want someone else administering their own brand of justice here. Thanks for listening, Kit.”

  The imagery faded out, and Kit sat back. She looked at Destiny and got a smile in return. Kit couldn’t help but smile back. Destiny had that effect on people. Then Kit frowned as she thought it through. “Yardley is that goddamn corporate slaver, ain’t she?” Destiny nodded. Kit shook her head and spoke softly. “I hate goddamn slavers.” Destiny nodded and said neutrally, “All decent people do.” Kit looked at her for a few seconds and then asked, “What do you think?”

  Destiny shrugged, “Does your desire to help Raferty outweigh your disgust over protecting a slaver or is it the other way around?”

  Kit pondered for a moment. “I’d walk through hell barefoot for Raferty Hawkins and his folks.” She thought some more, and they talked some more. Her food arrived and sat on the table untouched.

  “Be a shame to let that meal get cold, Kit. Eat, and then think about it after that,” Destiny said as she rose and, with a pat on Kit’s shoulder, departed with a promise to return shortly. Kinkaid ate but didn’t enjoy it as the decision wouldn’t let her alone. When the meal was eaten, Destiny returned and resumed her seat. She waited patiently while Kit fidgeted over her drink.

  The freighter captain blew out a long breath. “I hate slavers, but I love Rafe so I’m in.” She stood up. “I’ll get my crew together. Some may not sign on, but that’s their choice. I’ll be back in two hours, and we will be ready to go.” She turned to leave, but Destiny extended her hand with a small box. “Desert. It is very good cake,” she said with a smile. Kit returned the smile and took the box.

  Chapter 8

  Scarecrow shook his head. He had shaved his head for the recent mission to the Goth homeworld and the red stubble had grown out some, but he was still far from his normal looking self. It would be a while until he got his unruly red hair back. He looked at two of his three companions on Flicker. “I researched it, and the Metal Moon will be a tough one. Scouting Rurik will be business as usual, but the Moon will be tough.”

  “Why?” asked Gabrielle from the copilot’s seat, trying to sound interested but not getting there. She thought a mission was a mission, and they were going to do it anyway, so why beat it to death. She continued to update the navigation while half listening.

  “Nobody makes noise at the Moon. Ships tie up and shut down. They are secured at the Moon itself or above the Moon in floating docks. We will never get an accurate count of the ships in port because the majority won’t be making any noise or moving about.”

  Dylan Whitlock stirred himself in the pilot’s seat. He took a casual scan of the instruments, was satisfied the automatic pilot was doing its job so turned to face Scarecrow behind him. “Rafe will know the docking capacity for both the Moon, overhead docks, and outer anchorages. We will be monitoring traffic more than taking an inventory. Research tells me that place is over ninety-five percent filled on any given day. We will get a number on the warships and the cargo haulers on a daily basis, and if we can figure out the harbor routes from engine noises, the dead spots are probably floaters that everyone maneuvers around. We’ll get next to one of them and just listen.”

  Scarecrow was unconvinced. “Seems tougher than Murmansk.” He was referring to the scouting Flicker did for the attack on that secret base months prior.

  Dylan agreed, “It will be. The higher volume of traffic will make sneaking around riskier. I think we will be fine next to a floater. I don’t see a trip anywhere near the Moon itself or the floating docking facility. Too risky.”

  Scarecrow smiled. “Now you’re making sense.”

  Jasmine spoke from behind the curtain that hid one of the two double racks toward the stern of the ship. “Thank God we got an agreement. Can I get some sleep now?”

  “Yes, dear,” said Whitlock and everyone clammed up. Flicker was three days outbound on her mission. They would be at Rurik in ten standard days and the Metal Moon one day after that.

  ~ ~ ~

  The large commercial shuttle settled in cargo bay 3 and went to flight idle. She wouldn’t be on deck long, so the pilot didn’t bother to shut down her engines. The cargo bay door closed and the space pressurized quickly. Kit Kinkaid and twenty-seven of her crewmembers disembarked. Seven of her crew had refused to serve, and Kinkaid promised them that they would get their jobs back upon her return. Maclyn Yardley entered the cargo bay with two crewmembers and greeted the new arrivals. Everyone was very formal. The two crewmembers took the newcomers to their quarters. Unlike the old Prairie Dog, these new freighters did not have crew bays but rather six-person compartments. The newcomers were pleasantly surprised by their upgrade in living quarters. They would also like the modern crew mess and head facilities. The only thing they didn’t like was the captain, but they knew that already.

  Kinkaid followed Yardley to the stateroom for the first officer. It was nice also. Kit dropped her gear on the rack and turned to Yardley. The captain turned around and shut the hatch. She turned back to Kinkaid. “You want to get it all out now or distribute it in parts over time.”

  Kit almost smiled. If nothing else, she appreciated the honesty. “I’ll do it now, and then we can move on.” She took a breath and continued. “I hate slavers, but I owe
Rafe Hawkins and his people more than I can ever repay. I will do my job as first officer and unofficial bodyguard to you. I will show you a captain’s respect when among the crew. I will kick the crew in the ass if they don’t show you the proper respect, but we are not friends. We will never be friends. When this is over, I will personally see you go back to prison on Agra 2. If you try to run, I will kill you.” She stopped and stared at Yardley.

  Yardley nodded. “Fair enough. You do your job, and I’ll do mine.” She switched to a formal mission briefing mode. “Captain Takahashi thinks we will see combat, so we both need to get up to speed on the missile system. I’ll show you all the quirks with this class of ship. There really aren’t that many. This is a very nice class of hauler. We are faster than Hawkins’ three older freighters so will run them down en route to the Aurora Empire. We should catch them about a day out of our destination which is Royal Navy Base Hartley on the Aurora Empire border with the Goths. Captain Hawkins is doing his mission brief there, and all ship captains will attend. You will attend with me. You have the 0400 watch tonight so you got some time to settle in.”

  Yardley moved to leave but turned around at the hatch. She looked Kinkaid in the eye. “Thanks for coming on this and bringing crewmembers with you. We are shorthanded. Twelve crewmembers assigned to the ship quit when they heard I would be the captain. I appreciate you getting it all out at once. Better that way.” Yardley opened the hatch and departed. Kit had to admit she expected someone far different than what she got. This would be one interesting voyage with, probably, a battle thrown in. Good times.