The Knockabouts

by DK Williamson

  Language is always a problem. One friendly word in your lingo is a death threat in somebody else’s. Watch what you say, develop a thick skin, and follow the aforementioned best bet.

  Food? There’s good grub to be had in many spacer bars, but you must be careful. If you see someone of your own species chow down and not die an agonizing death soon after, you’re probably fit for food. The same applies to beverages.

  Toilet facilities? That can be a tricky one. Think ahead. If you are a Human and in Human space, you’re good to go. A Nrill in Human space or vice versa? Forget about it and good luck.

  Bouncers are common in spacer bars. This is on account of spacers being a pugilistic bunch. It is usually a good idea to comply with bouncers should they step in. The Cap’n was once in a scrap somewhere(truth be told, the Cap’n was a bit inebriated and all he remembers is that it was wet and the trip groundside could drive a spacer to drink) and the bouncer intervened. The Cap’n made the mistake of punching the bouncer who was at least two and a half Carperan meters tall and just as wide. It was like punching a bulkhead. Short version: The Cap’n was literally thrown from the bar… a considerable distance. Were this a vidcast, the Cap’n could show you the scar.

  Bottle-throwing. That’s a tough one. The Cap’n believes it is a cheap and dirty thing and should only be done in emergencies or when you are absolutely sure you can get away with it. It’s a personal decision you’ll have to make for yourself.

  Local authorities. That’s another tough one. Take into account your location. In some sleepy off the trade route bars, you can get away with clocking a member of the constabulary. On major planets and stations in some of the more hard-seated ruled places, it’s probably not a good idea. If you are sure you might get away with it, maybe, but as the Cap’n said, you’ll have to decide.

  Last, but not least, always, always note where the primary exits are. It also doesn’t hurt to note if there are any secondary exits you might use. Windows are a common form of this. Also note how high these secondary exits are above the surface outside. The Cap’n has a bit of a limp for failing to perform such a check once.

  That’s all the Cap’n has room for, and all he can say and keep this youth oriented. Look the Cap’n up someday and we’ll swap stories once you’ve gathered a few. Just remember, the only way to avoid trouble in a spacer bar is to never go inside, but where’s the fun in that?

  . . .

  Ord’s thumb rested on the edge of the covered switch that would jump them into slipspace.

  “Where are we going?” Ursula asked.

  Teller kept his eyes on the control panel. “NIP.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  Jessop smiled. “Yes you have. Nowhere In Particular.”

  “We’re getting clear of this system so we can decide what to do.”

  “And that’s easier done when we’re not under pursuit,” Ursula said.

  “That’s right,” Teller said. He glanced at Ord. “Now.”

  Ord flipped up the cover, brought down the switch, and they were gone from the Ampar system.

  Teller drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s go over all of this and see if we can find a solution.”

  “Should I stay and monitor the systems?” Ho asked from his seat at the weapons station.

  “Is that shiny metal posterior of yours involved with our situation?”

  “It is.”

  “Well then, what do you think?”

  “I shall join you in the common room. For future reference, Captain, my posterior is Carica orange and lost its sheen many years ago.”

  “Act like a sentient, get treated like a sentient. Let’s go.”

  The five made their way to the common room. Ursula connected Rael’s data pad to the vid deck and brought up the vid segment she read about on the command deck.

  The Akara News logo, whispered intro, and Boddan system scan-through came and went before cutting to a journalist standing before the Commerce Station Police Center.

  “This is Lana Moore reporting from Commerce Station over Boddan-Three. New developments relating to the shooting incident several days ago have come to light, answering some questions as new ones arise.

  “We now know the recent shootout in one of this station’s berths was not simple random violence, it was a brutal and daring theft of secure corporate data concerning a project under development by Altairie Corporation. Three of the dead were Altairie employees, Marl Limik, Helen Nix, and Victoria Gomez. Until today, the nature of the data the trio was distributing was not known. That changed when the perpetrators of the attack released several excerpts revealing that the project at the heart of this was a surveillance system under the guise of planetary security, bringing into question the legality of such a program.”

  Behind her flashed facial images of Teller, Ord, Ned, and Ursula with their names scrolling at the bottom of the screen. The image quickly switched to a regional view of space with blinking points highlighting Marzhan, Jeordral, Matai, and Drellich’s World.

  “Following the data theft on Commerce Station, Altairie Corporation swiftly sought to recover the data already distributed to these four planets, citing corporate security concerns. Marzhan and Jeordral authorities quickly complied with the request, but Matai and Drellich’s World refused, citing legal issues concerning Altairie Corp, local governments, and ongoing investigations into the surveillance program.”

  The screen cut to an image of Altairie’s corporate logo, soon followed by a still of Altairie Corporate Center.

  “Altairie Corp responded with an official corporate request for Syndicate Magistrate intervention. While the status of this request is unknown at this time, it is likely the cases are in magistrate custody until a ruling is made. If so, it is almost a certainty planetary legal officials will contest this.”

  The vid cut back to the journalist.

  “Earlier today, this reporter was able to secure a statement from Hector Priamsen, spokesbeing for Altairie here on Commerce station.”

  The vid switched to a scene near the berth where the shooting occurred, blinking police barrier tape still surrounding the area.

  “We will spare no cost to see that those responsible for the loss of life here on Commerce Station are brought to justice. I’ll not go into the irreparable damage done to Altairie. A project so long in the works now… well it seems petty compared to those brave souls who gave their lives combating anti-corporate terrorism, but keep in mind Altairie is also a victim. Rest assured, there will be justice.”

  The vid returned to the reporter.

  “Altairie has offered a substantial reward for the return of the missing case and the apprehension of those responsible for its theft, reportedly retaining the services of an, as yet, unidentified agency specializing in the field. All planets connected with this case have active ongoing investigations. Though we cannot confirm it, reliable sources state that Boddan-Three and Drellich’s World have military expeditions actively seeking the perpetrators as well.

  “Lana Moore, Akara News, Commerce Station over Boddan-Three.”

  Teller moved from the spot where he stood beside the vid screen and flopped onto a chair scaled for a very large Human being. “We should be flattered. It’s not everybody that gets such attention. Vid segments, throngs of beings seeking us….”

  “At least they aren’t mentioning our names every few seconds,” Ursula said.

  Jessop smiled. “Or labeled us as the Nefarious Five or something similar.”

  “No mention of Lance,” Ord commented.

  “One thing is certain, we’re being set up,” Teller said. “Someone leaked data, and it wasn’t us.”

  “Who is doing this? That’s the question,” Ursula said.

  Jessop shook his head. “That’s one of the questions.”

  “Do we know what is in the case we have in our possession?” Ho said.

  Ursula opened her mouth to speak, then stopped. After a few seconds of thought she s
aid, “All we have are assumptions.”

  Jessop nodded. “Do we have the means to open it? What sort of security measures did they place inside?”

  “I was told they were standard courier cases,” Ursula said. “I don’t know what that means except there is a mechanism inside to destroy the data should improper procedures be used to open it.”

  “We can find out,” Ord said. “Ord will need help.”

  The giant led the other four into the workshop where the case rested, secured in the rack Ho had brought aboard at the beginning of their journey.

  Ho retrieved the case and placed it on a worktable while Ord and Teller pulled tools and other equipment from cabinets and drawers.

  “Think we should use opticable?” Teller said.

  “Ord won’t try to open it without seeing inside first. Need pressure sensor too.”

  “Do you have a spectrum scanner?” Ho asked.

  Teller nodded and held up a device.

  “I have the capability to filter the scan results more thoroughly than the system on your scanner.”

  Teller shrugged and passed the device to the Mech. “Have at it.”

  Ord placed some tools beside the case. “Scan it,” he said with a gesture at Ho.

  The Mech ran the scanner back and forth over the top and sides of the case. “I detect nothing.”

  “Is that a good thing?” Ursula said.

  “Not for us,” Ho said. “The manufacturer of the case would likely find it so.”

  “Looks like we take a peek inside,” Teller said. “Take it slow and cautious, old pal.”

  Ord grunted and placed a lighted visor and face shield on his head, then picked up a small drill fitted with a bit almost as fine as a Human hair. “Ord will try beside the lock. Cables or something must connect to other parts inside.” He looked at Ho. “Tell Ord if you detect anything.”

  “I shall.”

  Ord ran the drill for several seconds and then moved the bit clear to examine his work. He resumed drilling, then looked again and nodded. Selecting a flexible collar from the items on the worktable, he placed it over the bit, connecting a cable once it was secure. He pressed a tiny button on the side of the collar and a green light blinked.

  “It’s a seal,” Jessop whispered. “The collar will affix itself to the surface around the hole. The cable is attached to a sensor that will detect if the case is pressurized or evacuated and adjust so any sensor within the case will not detect any changes.”

  Teller looked at the engineer and pointed at the case. “You’ve done that?”

  Jessop smiled and shook his head. “No, but there are numerous systems on starships that require similar precautions.”

  “Yeah, I know. I was hoping maybe you had some case or safe cracking experience in your past you weren’t telling us about.”

  “Other than the Protectorate’s displeasure at my involvement with Prause and our current situation, I’ve been an upstanding citizen.” Ord resumed drilling and Ned gestured at the big man while looking at Teller. “Why is he doing the delicate work?”

  “Because he’s better at it than me. Don’t let his ‘clumsy’ remark about Merry Hell back on Myncor fool you. He’s got this whole backward, provincial thing. Manners or some fodder. As long as the tool fits his paws, he’ll get the job done.”

  Ord ran the drill for a short time, then lifted his finger from the control. “In,” was all he said. He carefully slid the drill and bit from the collar, setting them aside.

  “It’s sealed,” Ho said. “Opticable?”

  Ord nodded. “Ho run sensors and lights?”

  “Affirmative.”

  The giant threaded the opticable into the collar, it being even more slender than the drill bit. “Light.”

  Ho manipulated a control on the pad connected to the cable, and the scene on Ord’s display lit up. He grimaced as he maneuvered the cable inside. “Tight. This will take some time.”

  “Is it rigged?” Tell said.

  Ord grunted an acknowledgement. “Ord see small charge near data storage. Recording vid. Look on vid deck before we do anything.”

  Jessop smiled. “Good thinking. Prudent.”

  As Ord and Ho explored the inside of the case, Teller noticed Ursula had a troubled look on her face.

  “Spit it out,” he said.

  She was mildly startled. “What?”

  “Something’s corroding your hull.”

  “I suppose it is. We know we’re wanted and being pursued by… many entities. Planetary authorities, corporate, and how many Merry Hells are there? What I’m trying to say… where can we go? They know who we are. They know this ship. How do we combat this if we can’t go anywhere but out of the way mining operations or colony planets?”

  Teller nodded. “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but it’s also not as bad as it seems. We’re not going to be actively hunted everywhere we go. For most of the galaxy our situation isn’t worth noting. The problem lies in what happens if we pop up on official scopes. Some places in the CP won’t care what we did in Syndicate space, but there will be a record of us.”

  “That means they can track us.”

  “Right. Other places might deem us nefarious enough to pack us up and ship us back to the Syndics. Seize and sell the Lance, collect the reward, and call it justice served. Being in the CP makes things easier, but we have bounty seekers on our tails, and if that report wasn’t poog, military forces also. It’s the lawdogs and reward seekers we have to worry about. That means we stay off the sensors as much as possible, and when we do get eyeballed, make sure we’re not the ARC Lance.”

  Jessop pursed his lips. “Do we have the capability to fool those that might examine our documentation? I mean ship and crew.”

  “Ship, yes. We can rewrite the info on the transponder so it’ll squawk whatever we want it to without an inkling of tampering. That takes just a unit or two. We have two sets of altered registration credentials that will pass muster most places… unless they hold us and send for confirmation. We know a guy that can help us with that, but we’ll need to find him.”

  “This guy, is he more trustworthy than Farga?”

  “Arguably. He knows Ord and me from our earliest days. A lot of what makes the Lance what she is, is on account of the guy.”

  “Can he provide alternate identities for us?”

  Teller nodded.

  “How do we find this fellow?”

  “There’s the problem. We need to find another guy to do that.”

  “This other guy trustworthy?”

  “Yes… well, he was. I’m betting he still is. We find this guy and he can get us to a group that can help us. Not just find the ship guy, but with a lot of other things as well.”

  Ned was becoming somewhat irritated. “Why didn’t we do this in the first place?”

  “I didn’t want to drag them into this because they’re… it’s complicated. Anyway, Farga was easier to find.”

  Ord straightened and stretched. “We have vid.”

  Teller raised a brow. “Prognosis?”

  “Ord does not know. We have vid.”

  The five returned to the common room and Ho connected to the vid deck wirelessly. They looked at the images, pausing frequently to discuss the intricacies of the case’s innards.

  “I’ve seen similar setups like this on military vessels,” Jessop said. “Small charges, usually with an electromagnetic element, placed next to data storage to prevent compromise.”

  “Any danger to the ship?” Teller said.

  “There shouldn’t be. It only need be large enough to damage the storage medium beyond repair or recovery. The EMP is there just in case. It’s short-ranged so it won’t dazz other systems.”

  “Good to know, old man. You know how to disarm it?”

  “If I needed to work in an area of a ship that required the removal of such devices, they’d bring in a secop, an ordnance tech, and an officer cleared to oversee the operation.”

&n
bsp; “So, no.”

  Ord said nothing, concentrating on the vid deck screen.

  “Any way to tell where the power source for the charge is?” Teller said.

  Jessop shook his head. “I would think it’s internal. That’s what I would do, but I’m no ordnance tech.”

  Ord grunted and walked toward the hatch. “Ord has idea.”

  “Let’s say it is internal. Any way to pinpoint it?”

  Jessop smiled. “Yes. When it discharges.”

  “That would mean boom, right?”

  “Again, I’m not an ordnance tech, but I would think so.”

  Ho left the room, followed shortly by Ursula. They found Ord in the workshop looking back and forth between pry bars, one in each hand, the chisel-like tips positioned at the seams where the two halves of the case met.

  Ursula grew wide-eyed. “What are you doing?”

  “Ord has idea. Will work.”

  “If you’re wrong, we’ll lose—”

  Ord’s sudden move interrupted her. His arms pressed down and the upper half of the case flew up, swinging on its hinges onto the worktable, the accompanying loud bang making Ursula jump.

  “—the data!” she finished.

  Ho rushed to the table, in the passageway outside the workshop the sounds of Teller and Ned scrambling their way toward them was audible.

  “Well done,” Ho said as the two men came stumbling through the hatch together.

  “What happened?” Jessop said. His eyes focused on the now open case. “You blew it up! You went and—”

  “Opened in a rather loud manner, but no explosion,” Ho said with a cant of his head.

  Teller looked at his friend in dismay as he walked to the worktable. “I thought you were trying to crack the case.”