Rookie Privateer

by McFarlane, Jamie

"What do you mean?"

  "It has clean lines so enemy sensors can't easily pick it up. Imagine if it was sailing directly at you. It would be nearly impossible to see. Its skin is all about absorbing and confusing sensors."

  "Look at all those slug-throwers tucked into the side of the ship. I'd hate to get into a fight with that thing. Hard to imagine it's one of the smallest ships of the line."

  Nick nodded in agreement and then changed the subject, "Did you get an invite to meet with a Lieutenant Commander Telish?"

  "1800? Yeah. I think he is our public defender."

  "Agreed. Let’s head down there. I don't want to be late. We only have thirty minutes."

  We rode a lift down to the same level as the docking bays. The station's docking bays were used every couple of months when family trading company ships would dock up. The trading companies created a lot of excitement on the station, filling the bay with trade goods.

  The docking bay had the familiar black L-1 stamped on the wall. It struck me as odd to see it quite so empty. When a family trading company showed up, they spread goods across tables and many people moved between the tables looking at the trader's offerings. Everything from exotic food to ship parts and anything in between could be expected and the place took on a festive atmosphere.

  Today the bay was almost completely empty. The Kuznetsov utilized two separate bays and all of the refueling and ship maintenance tasks were taking place in the lower bay. Two figures were standing by a docking ring on the space-side edge, otherwise there were no others in the bay. Nick and I crossed over and approached the occupants. Both wore armored suits and stood relatively motionless with their feet slightly less than a shoulder width apart.

  The armored suits on our local sheriff deputies were nothing more than a bulky vest over a flight suit. The armor worn by these two was closely fitted and followed their body’s every contour. It was thicker than a normal space suit, but rippled with the slight movements they made while waiting for us to approach. The armor had a similar satin textured finish as the ship and was the bright royal blue of the Navy. I correctly assumed they were Marines, as opposed to regular Navy.

  The Marine on the left held a long-barreled weapon comfortably across her chest. One hand was on the stock with easy access to the trigger. The other hand gripped under the barrel. I was a little embarrassed to notice how well the suit conformed to her body. What must have been a well-muscled body was nicely highlighted by the slight extra bulk of the suit. Above her right breast was the text: Marine, above her left was the name: Gunders. She didn't have any rank insignia, which meant she was a private. She also wore a holster on her right thigh holding a pistol. Physically, she was very intimidating.

  The Marine on the right had a rank insignia on his upper arm below the shoulder. It was two upside down Vs with the familiar Mars Protectorate Navy comet beneath them (I later learned this indicated the rank of corporal). I wasn't interested at all in how his suit fit, although he looked very tough as well. He also wore a pistol holster, but instead of a long gun, he held a reading pad. His name patch read Dahwan.

  "State your name and business." Corporal Dahwan looked up from his reading pad.

  "Nick James, Liam Hoffen to see Lieutenant Commander Telish."

  The corporal held his reading tablet up, facing us, "Retinal scan."

  Nick and I bumped shoulders, inadvertently both trying to comply at the same time. To the corporal's credit he didn't even crack a grin at our bumbling.

  "Follow me." Corporal Dahwan turned and rotated the wheel-shaped chrome handle that disengaged the mechanism of the docking bay's airlock. The heavy door swung inward and we followed him down the telescoping hallway connecting the bay to the ship. The airlock door on the ship side required the corporal to push on a slightly inset panel within the door. The panel pulsed green a couple of times at the presence of his hand and then the door seal released, swinging into the ship.

  "Gravity point nine five," the corporal informed us as he walked through the door. The additional gravity pressed my body down onto my new prosthetic ankle and foot. So far the nano-tech had done a great job of healing up and toughening my leg. I grunted into the pain. To take some weight off of my stub, I pushed down on my left crutch.

  Once both Nick and I were through, the door closed automatically behind us. The hallway we entered was two meters wide and painted pearly white.

  Stairs were something I didn't often encounter in the station. Fortunately, we must have entered mid-deck because the steps didn’t go far. They only went two meters in both directions, although at a fairly sharp angle. In addition to the hand rails on the stairs, there were also handholds along the ceilings. It didn't take much imagination to think that sometimes they would be operating in zero gravity and the stairs would be just a pitched corridor. For me it was a new experience with my crutches.

  Corporal Dahwan turned right and headed down the staircase. When he got to the bottom, he waited patiently for us to catch up.

  "Take this, would you?" I handed my arm crutch to Nick and grabbed the two hand rails going down. I lifted my legs up and slid to the bottom. I pushed up with my arms and swung back to the ground neatly with a hop. The corporal raised a single eyebrow and gave me an approving nod. I appreciated it much more than the pity I expected.

  It was hard to see these soldiers, most of them only a little older than myself, in a job I would never be able to have now. Not that I wanted a military career exactly, but it still hurt to think of how this injury had changed my options. I had promised myself that I wouldn't feel sorry for myself, but three lawsuits, a missing foot, and being almost entirely broke was taking a toll. Except for a few fantastic hours spent with Tabby, my spirits could not have been lower. Even those last great hours with Tabby came with the regret of knowing that I’d blown years of opportunity.

  Corporal Dahwan stopped at a door marked L-10. He rapped on the door twice and stepped back. The door swung open, pulled by a tall, thin, middle-aged man.

  "Nick James, Liam Hoffen. Lieutenant Commander Brandon Telish." It was an efficient introduction.

  Lieutenant Commander Telish nodded to the corporal. "Dismissed." He turned and offered his hand to each of us in turn. "Pleased to meet you. Come in and have a seat."

  He led us into a sparsely appointed rectangular room. On the far end, the ceiling curved down to meet the wall. We were obviously next to the hull. Lieutenant Commander Telish was my height and had to duck as he slid behind the metallic table attached at one end to the left wall. He gestured with an open hand toward a bench along the opposite wall. The commander took his seat behind the table. It was slightly cushioned and had arm rests, but no legs - it just sort of hung from the wall. It appeared that everything was meant to fold back up into the walls when not in use. Other than two reading pads on the table there was nothing else in the room.

  Initiate Communication Bridge, Telish directed.

  The wall to left of the table instantly popped to life with a crystal clear video image of Tabby, who looked a little startled. I probably looked just as startled as our eyes locked. Navy communications had to be quite sophisticated and powerful to pull off this link while Tabby’s freighter was still in hard burn. Man, did she look great. It was crazy how I had gone from thinking of her as my buddy, to not being able breathe when I saw her. I wanted to bang my head into the wall. How I regretted not figuring out our relationship earlier.

  "Greetings, Miss Tabitha Masters. I am Lieutenant Commander Brandon Telish of the Mars Protectorate Public Defender's Office. I assume you are alone in the room?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Very good. As you can see, I have Mr. Nicholas James and Mr. Liam Hoffen with me. If any of you would like to separate your defense you must tell me now. It is still possible to split your cases during the hearing, but these things can go pretty quickly and it would be expedient to know this right away." Telish folded his hands on the table in front of him and looked at each of us in turn.

 
; After twenty seconds, he continued. "Very well. We have two matters to prepare for. The first is the deaths of three citizens: Gaben Fuse, Ajun Benda and Liet 'Bobby' Zui. The Colony’s administration has filed a wrongful death suit on their behalf. The second is the willful destruction of Mars Protectorate property, along with a secondary charge of disabling safety equipment. I understand you have also made a privateer claim on the captured ship, but that is not something I will be able help you with at this time. I am defending the three of you, so whatever you tell me is protected by privilege. I cannot share anything you say with the Navy or the station administrator without your previous consent."

  "The Colony Administrator had charges filed against us for defending ourselves against pirates and stopping an attack against our own station?" I wanted a good answer to this. It was ridiculous!

  Lieutenant Commander Telish raised his hand to cut off my rant. "I appreciate and share your outrage on this, Mr. Hoffen, but we must deal with what has been done."

  I knew these were serious charges and couldn't understand how this was even happening. We had defended the station, risked our lives, and I had lost my left leg. I knew corporations were without honor, but this was insane.

  "There will be a discovery hearing first, at which time the Colony Administration, represented by one Harold Flark, will present their charges and evidence. There is significant evidence that shows your participation in both events, so I am certain we will go forward with a trial. Fortunately, this will be an expedited trial with Commander Sterra presiding. If we are not successful in our defense, you will have a chance to appeal."

  Telish continued explaining the process, but I found myself fading in and out as my attention drifted to Tabby. She looked so real sitting there I just wanted to ...

  "Mr. Hoffen?" I had missed something important since Nick jabbed my ribs to get my attention.

  "Sorry. What?"

  "I need you to fill out a statement detailing the events of that day. Be as detailed as possible. You can refuse to do this, but it is my opinion you have nothing to hide. Moreover, I believe that getting your perspective of the events into evidence will allow us considerable latitude. Discovery will be at 2200 this evening. It is 1830 now. Please complete your statements by no later than 1930. Miss Masters, I have arranged to have a ship's steward collect your statement."

  "Okay. Could I talk to Liam and Nick privately before we close comm?" Tabby asked.

  "No can do. Sorry. However at 1930, we can reopen comms for ten minutes."

  Tabby nodded.

  "Telish Out." Tabby's image disappeared from the wall in the room. The room felt stark and lonely without her.

  "Please don't talk to each other while filling out your statements. I will post a Marine in the room while you complete them and they will be required to report if you share details." Telish handed us each one of the tablets. They were in writing mode.

  Private Gunders, please report to L-10, he addressed his AI. Immediately, there were two sharp knocks on the door.

  "Enter."

  Nick and I turned to see Private Gunders enter the room in her armored suit, but no longer holding a long gun. She saluted Lieutenant Commander Telish, who returned it and left the room. Private Gunders stood a bit stiffly just inside the door and looked over our heads at the far wall. Nick and I turned back and started writing. An hour later we were both finished and Private Gunders collected the tablets without saying a word.

  Tabby's face popped back up on the wall. The image was crystal clear. The Navy must have some incredible equipment to overcome the distance and interference from the freighter's engines.

  "I think the corporation is after Dad's money," Tabby said.

  "Are you kidding me? Does he have that much?" I asked.

  "Seriously, Hoffen? My grandfather was an original claim holder."

  "Then why didn't he get you a lawyer?"

  "Apparently if convicted, we can immediately appeal it. He said it would be better to start with the Navy’s public defender. Dad says Flark is playing with fire and doesn't know it. It is better if Flark gets burned this time."

  "Flark? Like Harry Flark, school superintendent?"

  "Did you forget about Colony Administrator? He is both. Remember?"

  "Oh, right."

  "One of the many things I love about you; you are completely clueless. I hope it doesn't get in the way of the Academy."

  "And that is what I love about you, Tabs. Nothing breaks your focus."

  "Frak, Liam, I am so sorry, I didn't mean it that way. It's just ..."

  I cut her off, not really upset. "Don't you have to be broke to request a public defender?"

  "I have two thousand m-creds to my name. I couldn't afford to buy coffee for one of my grandpa's lawyers. Dad says to trust the Navy on this, they have no love for corporations going after citizens for profit."

  After the conversation with Tabby, Nick and I had a couple of hours to burn so we left the Kuznetsov to hang out at the Gravel Pit. I couldn't afford to buy anything more than a fizzy drink and a meal bar. I wasn't going to ask my folks for money especially since they had lost so much as a result of the pirate attack. I was down to my last couple hundred m-creds and I had medical bills that needed paying.

  Somewhere along the line I had finally decided I wasn't going to be a miner. I might work for Big Pete for a while, but I would get off this sand pile one way or another. Today, I hoped it wouldn't be in the brig of the Corvette Kuznetsov.

  At 2200, we were back on the Kuznetsov, but in a slightly larger room. I recognized Commander Sterra from her initial video communication. She was already seated at the end of a large table centered in the room. Lieutenant Commander Telish sat us at one side of the table and, this time, instead of a video projected on the wall, Tabby was projected in three dimensions. We could see the front of her as if she was there, but the image was only true to 220 degrees. On the other side of the table was Colony Administrator and School Superintendent Harry Flark.

  Private Gunders stood to the right of Commander Sterra and was in the position I was beginning to associate with her; legs slightly less than shoulder width apart and hands clasped in front. I was startled when she spoke, since I had always seen her standing at attention.

  "All rise." She waited for everyone in the room, with the exception of Commander Sterra, to stand up. I struggled a bit to gain my balance in the higher gravity. "Mars Protectorate Judiciary Court is in session. The Honorable Commander L. L. Sterra presiding."

  In the video, Commander Sterra had taken up the entire screen, so I hadn't gotten a good reference for her size. In person, even though she was seated, it was easy to tell she was fairly short with the narrow build that was common for spacers.

  The Commander's voice was a hoarse alto but not at all unpleasant. "Please be seated. Gentlemen, Lady." She paused while we took our seats, and then said, "This hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence to move forward with an expedited trial. I have video logs and affidavits that have been presented by the Station Administration Office and the defendant's statements. Is there any other evidence to be presented? Defense?"

  Telish answered quietly, "No, your honor."

  "Mr. Flark?"

  "I thought we would have a prosecutor on this. Why don't I have a prosecutor?"

  "Mr. Flark, this is just a hearing. If we get to trial we will bring in a prosecutor. In your current position, you have the responsibility of presenting the evidence. I understand you also have the required degree in law. Are you requesting to recuse yourself from this hearing?"

  "If I did, what would be the outcome?"

  Commander Sterra's lips pursed slightly, "I would rule on the evidence presented."

  "No, I don't recuse myself. You may proceed."

  Commander Sterra's head pulled back a centimeter with a slightly shocked look. "Very well. Defense proceed on the charge of wrongful death."

  Lieutenant Commander Telish answered, "There are three deaths the de
fendants have been charged with. These occurred as part of two distinct actions. A careful review of the evidence shows Tabitha Master, Nicholas James and Liam Hoffen acted well within their rights to defend themselves and their family from an unlawful act of aggression and piracy. If you will allow, I would highlight an exchange between Liam and Pete Hoffen."

  "Proceed."

  Speakers in the room played back the conversation between myself and Big Pete.

  "We are pinned down ..." my dad's voice said and Lieutenant Commander Telish paused the playback. A video played on the wall behind us of the pirates shooting at me while I was navigating between the containers. It then showed them rise up above the containers and take aim. Lieutenant Commander Telish stopped the video before the containers struck the two men. The video started up again and showed the slug-thrower from the small attack craft tearing up the station trying to find us within the field of containers. The Lieutenant allowed the video to continue until we launched the first stack of containers. The slug-thrower impressively tore it to pieces and then tracked along the surface of the station when the gunner discovered our ruse. Our narrow escape from the turret’s reach was recorded with perfect clarity. The video continued, but at twice the normal speed. We watched as the three of us attacked the ship, lancing the cockpit and slug-thrower turret with mining lasers while Nick welded the door shut.

  "In a trial we will show these highlighted events as both defense of their person and defense of their family. On the matter of wrongful death, the defense rests."

  "Mr. Flark do you have any evidence you believe to be significant?" Commander Sterra asked neutrally.

  "Yes. No. The point is that if these kids had stayed put, the deaths could have been averted."

  I started to rise up, my temper going from quiet to boiling in the space of a second.

  Commander Sterra caught me with her eye, "Not now, Mr. Hoffen." Her voice was like steel and I sat back heavily. She continued, "Mr. Flark, I will forgive your unfamiliarity with our proceedings, but this is a hearing where evidence is presented. In layman's terms you have the opportunity to provide a quick sketch of the evidence and how it builds your case. It is not the time for arguments. There is some latitude, but your comments are summary statements and not appropriate for this type of hearing. Do you have any evidence you would like to highlight or present on the matter of the wrongful death charges?"