by T S Paul
“Alvin, Alvin. I found it, I know how they knew!” His computer hacker Carson was chasing after him. His bodyguards grabbed the young fool before he got himself killed.
“What are you trying to tell me? Knew what! Speak!”
“They have cameras everywhere. It’s a separate system, not listed in the specs. That is how they know what we’re doing. Sir, look over there” he pointed above the door. “See that little bump there, it’s a camera. They are watching us!”
“What camera?” Alvin drew his gun, blowing a large hole in he bulkhead where the ‘camera’ was.
“Find the rest of those cameras and destroy them! Good work Carson! You get to live a little longer.”
A series of explosions and gunfire caused his bodyguards to react, heads swiveling they covered Alvin bodily.
“Get off me you idiots! That was behind us. Find out what that idiot McCoy is doing!”
His second in command Reuben came around the corner.
“Mickey! What in the hell is going on?”
“Damn it, Alvin you know I hate that name. The Navy pukes are attacking us from the aft. And somehow, a small force attacked the weapons room and have closed and locked the door. We lost the bridge too. Our boys killed a few of them, but we can’t get the door open to kill the rest.”
“You lost the Fecking Bridge! And Weapons! You idiot, they have us trapped in the middle of the ship! What kinds of fools did you leave in charge up there!” Alvin drew his gun and was using it to make a point. He waved it at the surrounding pirates. “You. Have. Killed. Us. Did you hear me? Mickey? You have killed us!”
Reuben’s face was bright red and he was shaking with anger. “Alvin you son-of a bitch! You were the one who left Jenna in charge up on the bridge. It was your cousin Eddie that was in charge of weapons. My fault. You say that this mess is all my fault? It’s you Alvin, you caused all of this.” Reuben wore two pistols in a cross draw over his chest. He quickly drew both of them and began firing at Alvin’s bodyguards. Reuben was yelling as he fired. “Your dammed body guards are ‘pixie-dust’ feckers if they think they can protect you!”
Two of Alvin’s guards were down, bleeding out on the floor. Alvin had his pistol out and was blasting away at Reuben. Stray shots had already hit a few of the pirate bystanders. Many had jumped for cover. Hiding in doorways or behind consoles. Very few had any thoughts of stopping them. Killing for position was the pirate way.
His left arm now useless with a hole in his shoulder streaming blood, Reuben dropped his pistol and reached for one of his grenades. Unlike the grenades of old this only required a button sequence to be pushed. Grabbing one at random one-handed, he lobbed the small bomb at his former boss. Alvin was crouched behind the pile of his bleeding, dead, and dying bodyguards. He saw the grenade arcing toward him. He dove to port, rolling behind a rolling cart filled with ammunition. Realizing his mistake too late, he pressed himself flat to the floor saying one of the first prayers to the space gods in his life.
Reuben’s grenade was a fragmentation-white phosphorus type explosive. It landed next to the rolling cart and exploded. Flaming white phosphorus was sprayed in all directions. The burning metal is very dangerous to flammable things like clothing and skin. Once ignited it will burn until it runs out of material or oxygen.
A shard of the burning metal landed on Alvin’s back, setting him ablaze. Other flaming shards landed on some of the cowering pirates and amongst the cart load of ammunition setting it ablaze.
Reuben slumped to the ground and began to choke, hot acrid white smoke began to fill the corridor. Many of the pirates doubled over as their lungs burned from he exposure to phosphorus. The smoke began cooking the pirates from the inside out. Ship smoke alarms began to blare, red and yellow lights flashed as the fail-safe systems alerted crew to the danger. The air-tight corridor doors slammed shut in a effort to contain the ‘fire’ trapping the pirates inside.
Alvin staggered to his feet; his back was on fire, melted bits of his ship suit dripping to the floor. He drew his knives and lurched toward Reuben. He tried to curse his former right hand man but his tongue and throat were burned raw from the hot smoke. Stumbling over the burning bodies of his guards, Alvin fell to the floor. He caught his fall with his arms. The more than third degree burns on them caused him to scream out in pain. Crawling now, he gripped the blades in his hands beating them upon the floor as he crawled.
Reuben got to his knees, he recognized the burning for what it was and knew to escape he had to get to safety. He had just regained his footing when Alvin struck him from behind sinking both knives into Reuben’s hip and upper thigh. The two pirates fell to the ground one on top of the other. Alvin pulled out his knives and struck again. Screaming in pain Reuben twisted his body throwing Alvin off. The smoke was getting thicker now as the fires burned off all of the oxygen. Both combatants were bleeding heavily and were short of breath. Neither had the strength to escape. The fire on Alvin’s back had burned into his organs. The pain was excruciating. The pirate, breathing his last choking breath, threw his bloody knives in Reuben’s direction. Both knives missed and bounced off the bulkhead wall.
Reuben groaned in utter agony. He gripped his wounded hip and thigh but had nothing to stop the blood with. His throat now burned and raw he was unable to even talk. The wounds that Alvin had inflicted spelled his doom. Unable to walk or even crawl Reuben tried to take a deep breath and failed dying just within reach of his enemy.
With the pirate command shattered the remaining pirates started searching for ways to escape. With the central corridor locked down all access to the escape pods was blocked. The pirates guarding the shuttle bays were surprised by the fleeing survivors of Alvin’s battle. The flight bay only held two small shuttles a battle started for access to them. Only one small group of pirates led my the former XO, McCoy, survived the fight. The small party of eight split up and each took a ship. They launched their way to freedom, right into the ‘arms’ of Commander Conrad and his flying Black Sheep.
Chapter 7
Commander Conrad’s Black Sheep were closing with the rogue destroyer. The ship’s course was still very erratic. The commander had ordered his pilots to scan the ship and search for hostile activity. He, very carefully, brought his ship in close and peered through the bridge windows. The inside of the bridge appeared to be scorched and blackened as if from battle damage. He could see movement inside, so maybe their communication array was damaged. Broadcasting on all frequencies was met with silence.
“Papa-san, the flight bay doors, starboard side, are opening!”
The Commander checked his readout. No hostile activity and no scanning from the destroyer. “Cover the the bay, watch for surprises. If anything comes out lock it up and demand it surrender. I can see battle damage on the inside but no out here. Something is not right on this ship.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
All of the fighters called in an affirmative to the new orders. The commander continued to scan the exterior of the ship. No recent battle damage detected. Did they have a fire inside?
“Sir we have two potentially hostile shuttles exiting the destroyer.”
“Roger that Skid mark, form up and escort them to the station. Tell them to surrender. If they try to run shoot them down.”
“Roger that commander.”
____
Former Commander McCoy was freaking out. He had a ship load of wounded clan members who were looking at him to lead. With the death of both Alvin and Reuben, the leadership role had fallen to him. For greater survivability he had told the burned and bleeding survivors to go in opposite directions. The Bad Penny clan needed to survive. When the shuttles left the destroyer they had run smack into a Fuglie squadron. These ships just had to be planetary Militia.
“Unknown shuttles, unknown shuttles, you have violated Hong Kong planetary space. Shut down any weapons and follow us to the Station. Failure to do so will result in your destruction.”
McCoy was racki
ng his brain on how to survive this when he had a thought. Alvin had a deal worked out with Governor Norton, the Sector Governor. Maybe this could still work, everyone was always open to profitable deals. “Signal the other ship, tell them to surrender. We can still get out of this alive. The Sector Governor is a friend to the Bad Penny clan.” The other pirates all smiled.
Maybe McCoy would be good as leader.
___
Major Minerva Lee was watching the progress of the Conrad’s squadron and the flight path of the destroyer Paney. If no course corrections were made, the ship would strike the fifth moon in 12 hours and most likely be destroyed. One of her aides lightly tapped her arm, she jumped slightly.
“Sorry, Ma’am. Commander Conrad reports that they intercepted two shuttles trying to leave the destroyer. They are being escorted in to us. He further reports that they left the hanger bay doors open. This might be an opportunity to board the ship and change its course.”
“Thank you Ensign. Alert our security forces, I want the hanger bay on full lock down and extra security. Who knows what is going to come off those shuttles. Call me when the ships dock, I want to be there to assist in the interrogations. Also, see if you can contact Sergeant Yannos Thoukudides and his Special forces unit. I have a job for them.”
She dismissed the ensign and continued to watch the ship tracks on the big screen. She really wished that she were out there with them. Maybe one day. What was it that her mother used to say ‘if wishes were fishes we would be up to our necks in scales.’
___
Sergeant Yannos had a desk full of paperwork in front of him. He was watching his core unit of special forces wizards training the next generation. Small groups of young people were being screamed at, made to complete complex tasks, exercised till they fell down, and get the young beaten out of them, figuratively of course. Good times. It was a glorious time to be an instructor. Except for the paperwork and requisitions, those sucked. He had just turned back to the pile when his link chimed. He stopped and checked the time. Lunch had been over for a few hours so it wasn’t the little woman. Checking his mail he read the first line and whooped. His security raced into the room, guns drawn looking for the threat. He calmed them down and sent them off on a mission. Locate his first and second squads and sent them to him immediately. Like right fecking now!
His squads were assembled in front of his field office. Yannos left the office, uniform gone and weapons at the ready. “OK everyone, go get your space togs. We have a mission up there that is perfect for us.” He pointed towards the sky. In less then twenty minutes both squads were dressed, loaded, and gone. Yannos was not the only one in a hurry to get away for a while.
____
New clan leader McCoy watched Legation Station come into view. He could see construction drones repairing what looked like battle damage. There was another Militia squadron of fighters patrolling the area. He looked back at his fellow clan members and reminded them of the story they were to use. “Tell them that there was a mutiny and that you are survivors. We only have to pretend until I can get in touch with Governor Norton. He is a friend to the Clan and can help us get back on our feet.”
The station slowly filled the viewscreen. Had there been a battle here? Something was bothering him about the look of the station, but he could not think of what was wrong. His communication system crackled and a voice was heard.
“Unknown shuttle, lock on and follow the landing beam in to the hanger bay. No deviations will be allowed.”
McCoy was starting to worry. Was the Governor still on the clan’s side? It was at his orders that Alvin had brought the Paney here. He punched the buttons on the console and locked on to the guide beam. His ‘escort’ of fighters broke off and circled back behind him. He could see anti-ship turrets, along with laser batteries locking and tracking their guns in synch with the movement of his shuttle.
The hanger bay was empty but for five suited workers that directed the two ships into a landing platform. The hanger doors began to close with a loud grinding groan. A loud BOOM signaled that the doors had closed. A loud rushing noise could be heard as the bay was re-pressurized.
Several squads of station security moved in and surrounded the shuttles. Squad mounted weapons were set up, all aimed at the shuttle doors. McCoy pressed the button that cycled the door open. Fresh air rushed into the cabin of the shuttle, allowing all inside to breathe freely. As the one in command he stepped through the hatch and onto the ramp. Immediately he was surrounded. He felt his guns being taken from him. Several heavily armed troops brushed past him and shouted at the rest of his people. “Everyone out of the shuttle. Hands in the air. If we see any weapons we will stun first and ask questions later.” He then repeated the instructions in Spanglish, Rus, and Greco-chin.
The rest of McCoy’s people slowly filed out of the shuttle, down the ramp. Many of the clan members were still bleeding from gun and knife wounds. Others had third degree burns on their arms and exposed skin. Some had to be carried off the ships.
Station security took one look at the burned and battered people and immediately called for medical assistance.
McCoy was led to a small holding area and a large woman with the oak leaves of a Major sat down in front of him. She asked him some basic questions to begin with. Who he was, what were they doing on the Paney, and why was the ship off course. He answered all of their questions carefully. They were trying to trip him up. More questions were asked. Then they started over. On the third time around he demanded to speak to Governor Norton. “The Governor is a friend of my family.” He would not allow this interrogation to go on. He had a business deal with the Governor and was here to negotiate with him. The ‘major’ in front of him had stopped her questions at the first mention of Governor Norton. Finally, if they could just put me in touch with the Governor he could clear everything up.
McCoy asked himself a question. “Why had everyone in the room gotten so quiet?” He studied the woman in front of him. She was dressed in the same uniform as the troops who had arrested him. The ‘something strange’ that his mind had been struggling with finally rang a bell in his brain. No Empire symbols. On the outside of the station they had all been removed. The womans uniform and that of the others in the hanger bay had been Militia. Uh, oh.
____
Minerva could not believe her ears. Norton! This supposed ‘refugee’ was associated with Norton. This sheds a new light on what this ‘Commander’ had said, interesting. She decided to keep this Commander McCoy locked up along with his crew members in the hanger bay. The wounded would be placed under guard. It was time for Yannos and his team to solve this mystery for them.
Her prisoner was put in chains and dragged out. He was yelling at her to listen to him. She turned, cocked her head to one side and said, “OK I’m listening. What do you want?”
“Connect me with Governor Norton. He is a close friend of my family.”
Min nodded her head at him. “That is very interesting ‘commander’.” She smiled. “About a month ago your ‘friend’ killed about 10 thousand of our people, when he had the ESS security force open fire on a peaceful demonstration. Among the dead were my bother and sister-in-law. This callous murder of our friends and neighbors resulted in a planetary revolution. Your friend lost. This station is now under the control of the Militia! What is really funny, is that I was starting to believe your story about a mutiny and false orders. That is until you mentioned Norton. If you had kept your mouth shut, you may have survived what is to come.” Waving the guards back in she said, “take him away and lock him up.”
“Is the special forces group here yet?” Her aide informed her that they had arrived on station and were waiting for her.
“Excellent! Lets go solve a mystery.” With her aide and bodyguards in tow, the Major strode off toward her ready room.
Sergeant Yannos could not be more excited. A ship assault and boarding. Just getting a shot at more of that bastard Norton’s friends was a bonus. The
se kinds of things is what he and his team lived for. The Major had given him the recap of the information that they already had.
“Yannos, so far it is like this. This commander and his people all claim that the ship had a mutiny, they claim to have fought off the mutineers and escaped. This McCoy got very descriptive about false orders and plots against the Empire. Very believable until he mentioned Norton’s name. Most of his people are sticking to that story. However, we have about a half dozen of them in the hospital. Under drugs and careful questioning we now have at least part of the story.” She paused.
“There was a mutiny. These people were the mutineers. They are really members of the Bad Penny clan of mercenaries and pirates. Our former Governor Norton put them on board as replacements with the goal of taking the ship. For what purpose only he knows. There was some sort of battle on the ship where a phosphorus grenade was involved.” Yannos and his team all winced at that. Someone actually used that on a ship? Idiots.
