“Excellent,” Ben said, happy to have something other than his tiff with Kim to talk about. “I’m going to bed.”
Magnum nodded. Ben stepped off the bridge and glanced over at Kim’s door. It was closed, and he had no doubt she was sleeping, but the temptation to and speak to her was strong. The thought of it was also irritating. He didn’t enjoy being fussed at, and after a moment of hesitation, went on to his room.
Not much had changed in his own cabin for a long time. The workbench with tools hanging on a magnet strip occupied the space just inside the door. There were bins of spare parts collected during his hunts through the salvage yards on Torrent Four. His bunk was a simple metal frame with a thin mattress and several old blankets. It wasn’t fancy, but it was familiar and comforting to him. Yet when he sat down and looked around, he noticed how drab the room was.
After pulling off his boots he took a hot shower, then toweled off quickly before climbing into his bed. He curled on his side, tucking the pillow under his head and shutting off the lights. The room was completely dark, the hum of the main drive was like a lullaby, and yet sleep alluded him. He felt as if he was forgetting something important, only he knew exactly what was bothering him. Across the atrium, in the wing cabin opposite his own, Kim was hurting. And Ben knew that he would never be okay with that.
Chapter 4
“Five minutes to hyperspace transition,” Nance said.
Ben was just settling into his seat. Despite sleeping longer than he had intended, he didn’t feel rested or refreshed. In fact, he’d had every intention of getting up and catching Kim alone on the bridge, but by the time he got to his console Nance and Magnum were already seated at their stations.
“We popping out anywhere near civilization?” Kim asked.
“Negative,” Nance replied. “It’s just a waypoint.”
“How long will we be down?”
“Long enough to change out the Zexum tanks,” Ben said.
“And I need to run a final test on the new weapons systems,” Nance said. “Maybe an hour.”
“Good,” Kim said. “I’m starving.”
The minutes ran down quickly, and soon Ben felt the stretch as the ship dropped back into normal space.
“Radar is clear,” Nance said.
“Shutting down the fusion reactor,” Ben added.
“Life support and artificial gravity switching to auxiliary control,” Nance said.
“I’m going down to Engineering,” Ben said. “Magnum, would you mind to give me a hand.”
The big man got to his feet and followed Ben down the stairs. In the engineering bay, the Zexum supply tank had its own reinforced housing just under the fusion reactor. Ben used the hoist to lift off the floor grating, while Magnum carefully moved the full tank of gas out of the storage closet where it was kept. The tank was heavy, and Magnum was forced to roll it on the bottom edge, just a few inches at a time.
Ben disconnected the hose that ran from the spent tank up into the fusion reactor. Then he slung the wrench straps under the tank and used the hoist to lift it free of the housing. Once the empty tank was as close to the opening of the storage closet as Ben could get it, they set it back on the floor and carefully wrapped the full tank in the hoist straps.
“I’ll move this one into place,” Ben said, “if you can get the empty tank put back into the storage closet.”
Magnum nodded. The empty tank wasn’t as heavy as the full tank, but it was still more than a single man could lift. Magnum’s shoulder wound was healing well, but there was no need to stress the injury. He moved slowly and carefully as he rolled the almost empty tank back into the closet where it was strapped down securely.
Meanwhile, Ben used the hoist to move the full tank over to the open space beside the fusion reactor. It took a few tries to get the tank positioned correctly, so that he could lower it down into the housing, but once there, it was a simple matter to connect the hoses and open the valve. Magnum unhooked the straps around the tank and replaced the grating while Ben fired up the reactor and kept a close watch on the gauges until he was certain that the fusion chamber wasn’t overheating.
Ben tapped the com-link on his collar. “Fusion reactor is back online.”
“Roger that,” Nance said. “Bringing all systems back online. Can you send Magnum back up? We need to run a few simulations before the weapons systems are fully online.”
“You bet,” Ben said.
He turned to Magnum, who nodded and hurried away. Ben went to the storage closet and checked the gauge on the tank. She had just over ten percent of the valuable Zexum gas left. Ben had a small reserve tank, and the tiny testing tank they had stolen from the university on Torrent Four. He filled both with the dregs from the big tank, as a precaution. In an emergency, he could carry either of the smaller tanks by hand, and both had enough to make a short hyperspace jump. They could have left the first tank in place until she ran dry, but if that happened in an emergency, they could all be killed. With no reason to take such a chance, it was prudent to change the tanks when they were certain to be out of danger.
Once he finished, he started back up to the main level, trying to decide if he should join Nance and Magnum on the bridge, or try to speak to Kim in the galley. He wanted to clear the air, but he was a little frightened by the thought of broaching the subject. The last thing he wanted was to make Kim angry.
Before he could make up his mind, Nance waved him over to the bridge. Kim was already there with a protein shake. She was leaning against Nance’s console, her lean figure accentuated by the snug pilot suit she wore.
“The good news is everything works,” Nance said as Ben approached. “The deflector shields, both fore and aft, along with the lasers controlled from the pilot’s cockpit, are powered by the fusion reactor. That’s both good and bad.”
“Why?” Kim asked.
“Well, first of all, we only have enough computing power to run the main systems on the ship,” Nance said. “In an emergency, I’ll have to shunt the computer’s focus from the ship’s systems to the weapons system.”
“So we won’t be able to keep an eye on the systems in a fight,” Ben said.
“Or assess damage,” Nance said. “And the other drawback is the power consumption. Using the laser and deflector shields will require a lot of energy.”
“Meaning I’ll have to reroute power from the life support, and possibly the art grav?”
“At the least,” Nance said. “I won’t know until we test them, but chances are we could triple the power consumption. In a prolonged battle, we could use the entire supply of Zexum.”
“Damn, that’s not good news,” Kim said.
“The alternative is to add a secondary fusion reactor,” Ben said. “But finding one that will work on the Echo won’t be easy. The hanger supervisor at Genovisi said he’d keep an eye out, but he also said he’s never seen one before.”
“Should we go back to Torrent Four?” Kim asked. “Surely you could find one.”
“That’s a possibility,” Ben said. “But it might take weeks to find it, if we could get safely on the ground. And then it would take even longer to repair and replace it. Months at the least.”
“What about the missiles?” Magnum said.
“That’s good and bad news too,” Nance said. “Our missiles can operate in hard vacuum or atmo, and don’t require any extra energy to use...”
“But we only have so many,” Kim said. “Either way, our best option is to avoid trouble at all cost.”
“That’s for sure,” Ben said.
“I just thought it was a good idea to make sure everyone knew what was at stake,” Nance said. “If we run into trouble, fighting our way out should be the last resort.”
“Roger that,” Kim said, making a shooting gesture with her hands. “Damn, I was looking forward to using those lasers.”
“And we’re on our last tank of air,” Ben said. “It’s enough to finish this run for the Confederacy, and we sho
uld have at least half a tank left when we’re done.”
“If we don’t have to fight the Fleet,” Kim said.
“That’s right. We need to be thinking about what our next move is. First priority is to refill our Zexum supply,” Ben said. “We could strike another deal with the rebels.”
“That can’t be the best option,” Kim argued. “Surely there are other suppliers.”
“We have no credits,” Nance said. “Nothing to trade.”
“We have space on this ship,” Kim said. “There has to be a demand for passengers wanting to travel off the grid.”
“You’re talking full outlaw,” Magnum said quietly.
“He’s right,” Nance said. “The people willing to pay to get off-world will probably be criminals.”
“The rebellion is criminal in the eyes of the Royal Imperium,” Kim said. “Let’s not kid ourselves here. We’re outlaws either way.”
“I think the point,” Ben said, trying to calm Kim down, “is that with the Confederacy, we can hope for some honor, maybe even a little trust.”
“Can you honestly believe that after what Holt did?” Kim argued. “He brought a bomb onto the ship.”
“But he didn’t use it,” Ben said.
“Only because you figured it out before he had the chance,” Kim said. “Hey, I get it. There’s a risk in inviting a criminal onto the ship. They might do something stupid. I understand that risk and I’m saying I like it. I’m just considering all the possibilities.”
“No one is upset,” Ben said. “And no one is forcing their way. We’re a crew. We make decisions together. But as things stand right now, we don’t have a lot of options. We don’t even know how we might find passengers at this stage. Our goal has to be to expand our network. If there are other possibilities, we should be able to find them.”
“That’s all I’m saying,” Kim said.
“Then we’re in agreement,” Ben said. “You hear of something, even a possibility of work, you share it. When we’re in port, you keep your eyes and ears open. We’re a ship for hire.”
“At the right price,” Nance said.
“Damn straight,” Kim said.
“Okay, if we’re ready, let’s get to the Skopes system,” Ben said, returning to his seat.
“Roger that,” Kim said, gulping down the last of her protein shake before dropping into the pilot’s seat. “Main drive is coming online.”
“All systems green,” Ben said.
“Jump point is calculated and on the board,” Nance said.
Kim engaged the engines and started for the jump point. She had to turn the Echo and build up her speed, but the jump was simple. Ben was glad things were finally going the way he hoped. Making hyperspace jumps while being pursued by Imperium fighters was incredibly hard on his nerves. Fear of death was one thing, but he couldn’t help but worry about the ship he loved so much.
Chapter 5
The trip through hyperspace to the Skopes system took nineteen hours. It was more than enough time for Ben and Kim to work through their differences, but they both managed to stay busy the entire way and hardly spoke. Ben was beginning to think that Kim was avoiding him on purpose, which built a hefty amount of resentment and frustration up in him. Not that he’d actually tried to speak to her. After making the jump, she got busy and so did he. The thought that there would be time later was enough to prompt him to focus on minor projects until there was no time left to iron out the problems that had cropped up between them.
They were all on the bridge as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. The exterior cameras showed two huge fiery stars in the distance. One was yellow, the other red, and they slowly revolved around one another like ballroom dancers. Ben had never seen a ballroom, except on holo-dramas. There was an air of sophistication to the concept, but it seemed like pure fantasy to a young man who had grown up on the junk world of Torrent Four. Who had time to learn to dance when staying alive took so much of one’s time?
“Incoming transmission,” Nance announced. “It’s Brimex Solar Systems asking about our intentions.”
“Tell them we’re here to pick up cargo and passengers for the Briggs system.”
“Should we increase speed?” Kim wondered.
“Let’s wait until they give us a trajectory,” Ben said.
“Would you look at that,” Kim said, zooming in the exterior camera on the space station. “Fancy.”
The space station was, in fact, a large factory with what looked like giant windmills. Enormous solar sails caught the energy from the twin stars and spun the massive turbines. There were solar panels on nearly every surface that faced the system’s stars. The station looked like a small city built on a floating disk, with long docking arms protruding from either side like the legs of a giant spider.
Modulus Echo, said a voice over the ship’s speakers, continue approach on vector 2-2-8. Docking instructions to follow.
“Piece of cake,” Kim said, as a golden line appeared on the display.
“Looks like they have short-range tractor beams to lift us into place,” Nance said. “It’s probably best if we spin around.”
“Preparing to show our rear, roger that,” Kim said in a mocking voice.
“ETA?” Ben asked.
“About seven minutes,” Nance said.
“Alright, well, I’m not expecting trouble,” Ben said. “But we better be prepared for it anyway. I want everyone armed. When we get into the station, Magnum and I will meet our passengers. Kim and Nance, stay at your consoles until we’re sure things are safe.”
“Whatever you say,” Kim remarked.
“Five minutes,” Nance said.
Ben got to his feet and hurried to his room. Strapping on the gun belt felt a little odd. He wasn’t used to being armed, or being shot at for that matter. But after the ambush on Mersa Prime, he’d learned his lesson. The Imperium had agents everywhere, and just because Brimex was an independent corporation didn’t mean it wasn’t still run by Imperium sympathizers. And the fact that this run had been set up by Holt didn’t give Ben any assurance. The bitter Confederate might be sending them right into a trap. If so, Ben wasn’t going down without a fight.
By the time he got back to the bridge, the Echo was being guided by a tractor beam. The main display had shifted to the rear-facing cameras that were showing the Kestrel class vessel slowly approach the docking arm where an accordion seal was extending.
“Looks big enough to cover the entire cargo hatch,” Nance said.
“That will make loading easier,” Ben said.
“We got word that someone is waiting for us once we dock,” Nance continued.
“A corporate worker?” Ben asked.
“No, sounded more like a contact,” Kim said. “Said the name was Lieutenant Liachov.”
“Magnum,” Ben said.
The big man pulled the deck sweeper and leaned it carefully against Nance’s console. She took hold of it and glanced up at him. Ben looked away. He didn’t mind the romance between the two crew members, but it made him feel guilty that he hadn’t resolved things with Kim.
He made his way down the metal staircase to the cargo hold. It was a large empty space, which in some ways made Ben sad. The ship was capable of so much, and he had dreams of the cargo hold filled with valuable commodities and trade goods. Yet it seemed as though the ship was simply running from one job to the next and had yet to build any real wealth.
“Ship’s secure,” Kim said. “You can pop the back door.”
“Thank you,” Ben replied over the com-link.
Magnum slipped his assault rifle into a spot he had fixed with magnets just inside the door of the wide rear hatch. He was wearing laser pistol on his left hip, and the large caliber revolver he had brought with him from Torrent Four on his right. Both were slung low and tied with synthetic straps around his thighs. Brass bullet casings glinted from the revolver’s gun belt, and the big man had a dangerous-looking knife hooked to the laser pistol’s be
lt in the middle of his lower back.
“You ready?” Ben asked.
Magnum nodded and Ben pulled the lever to open the rear hatch. There was a hiss of air, and Ben’s ears popped as the ship decompressed. The hatch lowered, and just beyond the ship stood a woman like nothing Ben had ever seen before.
She had long hair, dark red, pulled into a tight ponytail with over a dozen little bands holding it together. Her skin was pale, and there were blue tattoos rising up from the collar of her combat jacket. She wore tight-fitting tactical pants, combat boots, and jacket, all with what looked like armor plates sewn into the lining. On one hip she had a large, heavy-looking laser pistol, with additional power packs in small rings on the belt. Across her back was slung a single-barrel assault rifle, and on her collar were two small gold bars.
“Lieutenant?” Ben asked.
The woman nodded as she walked up the ramp toward Ben and Magnum. “Lieutenant Rena Liachov,” she said. “Brigton Guerrillas.”
“I’m Ben Griminski, and this is Magnum Williams. Welcome to the Modulus Echo.”
“She looks sturdy,” the lieutenant said. “Plenty of cargo space.”
“And we have six guest cabins,” Ben said. “How big is your group?”
“Nine,” the lieutenant said. “And we have twelve cases of munitions.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Ben said. “How quickly will you be ready to leave?”
“My people are ready now, but I was asked to introduce you to Ned Webb. He’s one of the administrators here.”
“Okay,” Ben said. “Lead the way. Magnum will stay here and oversee the cargo.”
Magnum nodded at Ben, who followed the rebel fighter from the ship.
“Is it just the two of you on the ship?” Rena Liachov asked.
“No,” Ben said.
He didn’t have a negative feeling about the lieutenant, but it didn’t seem wise to share everything about their ship with the woman. Holt had been right about the mission, but that didn’t mean Ben had to trust Liachov or anyone else on the station.
They walked down a long, narrow hallway. There were window bays on either side. To his left were the docking bays, and the on the right was a much wider corridor with automated cargo haulers. Ben saw repulser sleds being driven by workers and large pallets being moved by cable lifts that ran up and down the docking arm.
Jump Point: Kestrel Class Saga Book 2 Page 3
