by Max Wilson
“And we stripped one of the cannon,” sergeant Burkhardt said. “We had to sacrifice some cargo space to fit it in but it thought it was worth it for the extra fire power.”
Fabian considered it. Reduced cargo space meant reduced bounty. But better armaments meant they could stand against, and even defeat, Taddecu war ships.
“It’s worth giving it a go,” Fabian said.
Then a crewman walked up to the door to the command post. Sergeant Burkhardt called out to him.
“What is it?” the sergeant spoke harshly.
“Captain, a stowaway. We found him in the back of the ration store.”
Fabian turned to look at the crewman. “Where is he, this stowaway?”
“We got him under locks, captain.”
Jumping down off his chair Fabian called out to Burkhardt. “Want to come and see what we’ve picked up on Helta Veda this time?”
The sergeant fell in step behind Fabian. “Whatever it is, it won’t be the worst thing I’ve picked up there.”
The holding brig on the Acheron was little more than a cupboard with a barred door, with just enough room to lie, and just enough room to stand. Behind the barred door a young man in a Taddecu bridge uniform sat huddled in the far corner.
“What are you doing on my ship?” Fabian asked. “Tell me quickly and I’ll let you fight for the right to live.”
The young man stood up. “I want to be on your crew.”
Fabian looked at the young man. He looked familiar. He was the bridge officer from the freighter who had saved the freighter by rebalancing the reactor coolant.
“What makes you think I want Taddecu on my crew, boy?” Fabian said with menace.
“You are Captain Fabian,” the young officer said.
Sergeant Burkhardt looked at Fabian. “A fan?” he said sarcastically.
Fabian ignored his sergeant and glared at the young officer. “You saved the ship, but you saved your own skin too. There’s no bravery in that.”
The officer stood up. “I broke out of the prisoner camp. I killed two guards and I came here to join your crew. Is that brave enough for you?”
Fabian turned to sergeant Burkhardt. “Find out if any guards were killed. Find out their names. Their families will need compensation.” Then Fabian turned to the boy. “And you, murderer, you stay there until I decide how best to execute you.”
Fabian marched off from the brig. The sergeant in step. “Are you really going to execute the little Taddecu?”
“It took courage and skill to break out of the prison camp. And he you never know, he could be useful. Might be worth a bet.”
“He might kill you in your sleep,” Burkhardt said.
Fabian shrugged. “So might you.”
Fabian climbed up onto his chair and looked out of the small view screen. The Vazsoo command was looming up ahead.
“We’ve made good time,” Fabian said. He patted the arm of his chair. “She’s a fine ship,” he said. “Who wouldn’t kill for her?”
8
Being back at the Vazsoo command was an odd experience. Captain Fabian had been roving the space lanes for a long time and hadn’t been back in an age. Everything looked exactly the same as when he had last left, but now he was different.
Every adventure in violence changed a man, changed a captain and his crew. Vazsoo command remained the same. The politics, the economics and the business of war never changed. The front lines shifted daily. Men fought and died. The code was followed, or dishonored. Nothing stayed the same in the battle with the Taddecu but Vazsoo command remained stoic.
The door to the general’s compound was under heavy guard as usual. Fabian ran his authorization codes through the massive robot sentinel and entered the compound. A small drone led him to the general office. Fabian knew the way. He had been there before many times.
The office was large and airy. An open window looked out over the compound a light curtain drifted in the gentle breeze. General Jarl stood up and walked around his arms open in welcome.
“Captain, captain, captain,” the general said. “So good to see you. I am impressed with my tribute. You are an honorable man,” the general shook Fabian’s hand and then with a twinkle in his eye the general added, “and I think you must be a very wealthy one too. That freighter was a good score for you. Why not let me look after your reserves while you head out on your next operation. Then if you lose your ship you can be sure your wealth will be safe here with me.”
Fabian smiled and laughed and nodded. “Thank you, general. Very generous but I think I’ll keep it all with me. I never know when I might need it.”
Fabian didn’t trust the general with his wealth. Should Fabian die or be lost the general would claim the whole bundle. Fabian liked the general, he respected the general, but he didn’t trust the old villain.
“You wanted to discuss an operation with me, general,” Fabian said.
The general smiled and offered Fabian the chair opposite his desk. General Jarl walked around the desk and stood in front of his chair, arms resting on the desk, his back slightly bent.
“Sooooo” the general said with a long drawn out hiss that made Fabian feel uneasy. “I have a special operation for you… captain Fabian.”
Just then the door burst open and Wolfin walked in. Fabian turned in time to see her raise a blaster and fire a blaster round without breaking her stride. The round slammed into the general’s chest.
The general fell back into his chair, gasping for air, a panicked look on his fat face.
“No,” Fabian said.
Wolfin took another step forward and fired another round into the general’s forehead. The chair fell over backwards with a thump, catching the light curtain and pulling it from the rail. The curtain fluttered down in the breeze.
Fabian jumped up on to his feet. He drew his blaster and aimed it at Wolfin. But Wolfin stood, hands raised, the blaster hanging from her fingers.
“He’s the spy,” she said.
Fabian looked back to the general. The light curtain fluttered down and covered his blood soaked body. He looked back to Wolfin.
“I can prove it,” she said. She showed Fabian a small data chip in her hand.
Fabian hesitated, his out stretched arms shaking as he batted back and forth about shooting her. He gave a slight nod and let Wolfin carry on. She went to the general’s console and inserted the chip. A stream of data poured out and into the chip. On the hologram Fabian could see logistic documents, secret files and encrypted correspondence.
“He’s been playing both sides the whole time. He killed the Vazsoo king and started the war. It’s been very profitable for him.”
“How can I believe a thing you say,” Fabian said.
The stream came to an end. Wolf pulled the chip and offered the chip to Fabian. “Let me show you, but not here. Let’s get back to the Acheron before...”
Just at that moment an alarm sounded across the Vazsoo command. A general alarm.
“They know I’m here. Captain, please. Let’s discuss this back on the Acheron.”
Fabian looked at the body of the general, fallen and bloody. He looked at the killer standing before him, her tight suit and her hair falling into her face. Fabian looked at the data chip she held out towards him.
Snatching the chip from her and raising his blaster in one swift move Fabian took a step towards the door. “I think I’ll find out what’s going on without you.”
“You can’t find out without me, captain. Please. There is too much at stake.”
“We’ll see.” Fabian mused, “perhaps if I kill you they might take leniency” Just then a message came over the Vazsoo command open channel.
“Apprehend Wolfin. Apprehend Captain Fabian. Deadly force is authorized.”
Fabian scowled at Wolfin. “Look what you’ve got me into here.” “Not me, him,” Wolfin pointed at the general. “Bet he wanted to get all your money before he killed you?”
Fabian’s eye flicked betwe
en Wolfin and the general, his finger slowly closed around the trigger. “Damn it” he cursed before breaking stance and holstered his blaster
They both turned as they heard footsteps in the corridor outside the office.
“I don’t suppose you have a way out, do you?” Fabian said.
“Follow me,” Wolfin said and she ran towards the open window and jumped.
A groan escaped Fabians lips “Die here or die there,” he said to himself. “What’s the difference?”
He opened a channel to the Acheron. “Sergeant Burkhardt. Get the ship ready. We are leaving ASAP. Fabian out.”
The office door burst open as Fabian ran towards the desk. He jumped up on to it and over the fallen general and out through the open window. Blaster rounds fizzed about him in mid air he just had time to think.
What the hell have I gotten myself into now?
Acheron: Adventures in Violence © 2018 by Max Wilson
This digital edition published 2018
This book is a work of fiction, and any similarity to persons, institutions, or places living, dead, or otherwise still shambling is entirely coincidental.
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