by C. R. Daems
"I'd bet no one ever thought of jumping into oncoming missiles." This time his laugh was stronger. "Apparently we went past the incoming missiles so fast they didn't have time to adjust. And we passed the Raider ship so fast the automatic lasers didn't have time to target us. That's the good news. The bad news is the Raiders haven't given up. They are in the process of turning in our direction."
"Where are your damn ACS cruisers that are supposed to destroy the Raiders after we find them? News flash. We found them!" I shouted.
"I think the Raiders hit us where we might have been out of view of the asteroid where our cruisers are waiting. Your booster would certainly have gotten their attention except we are moving away from the asteroid field toward Motif and therefore our cruisers."
I made a fifteen-degree course correction, hit the booster engage switch for two seconds, and immediately cut all power except for life support.
"What are you doing?" Kraig asked as the equipment began shutting down and emergency lighting replaced the normal cabin lights.
"We can't outrun their cruisers or their missiles. However, their missiles require line of sight or a heat signature. To get line of sight they have to find us and to find us they have to stay active. I’m hoping the ACS cruisers can find them before they stumble on us."
"All right, I'll concede sending the Tykhe as bait wasn't a good idea—" We both started laughing. "I'll go get us a couple of beers."
We watched as the two Raider cruisers crept closer, which was to say they were on the right beach but we were just a grain of sand on that beach. Following our original vector they might have stumbled across us, but my course change and boost had increased the size of the beach by a hundred. On passive sensors I could track the Raiders but had no idea if the ACS was in pursuit or still back in the asteroid field waiting for us to shoot off flares.
"What do you think, Kraig?" I said, opening my third beer. The two Raider ships had split up and were engaged in some search pattern.
"The good news is we were still moving so the potential search area is growing exponentially. I think we're safe." Kraig grinned. Seconds later the two Raider ships disappeared and several minutes later ACS cruisers began appearing. I turned the power back on and went active as I didn't want to be mistaken for the Raiders. Since I had been tracking the Raiders as they searched for the Tykhe, I knew the vector they were each on and could estimate where each would be. I engaged the engines and set them for max acceleration, aiming for the area the computer had computed an intercept vector. Ten minutes later the sensor suite detected an object moving at roughly the speed of the Raider’s ship.
"Kraig, fire a couple of missiles at that object," I said. He shrugged and a few seconds later two missiles streaked toward the object. They both hit and seconds later power came on, revealing a Raider cruiser. The modified Rouge 6 missiles had done more than a little damage, which prompted the captain to fight. Shortly afterward the second cruiser also went active. Probably thinking if we found one we could find the other and three against two wasn't impossible odds. Within minutes the area resembled a New Year celebration as salvo after salvo of missiles were released. I chose to return to M239.
"Where are we going?"
"I thought we would see if we can find their base while the big boys slug it out. On the way, I saw three more ACS cruisers headed toward the battle.
On our fourth pass I saw the camouflaged buildings…well not the building but a heat signature where none should be. I put the Tykhe in a concentric orbit over the base and waited.
* * *
"That wasn't very subtle," I said as Sherman, Kraig, and I sat in the galley two days later, drinking beers after a steak dinner. "I thought they would send Marines down to the base to…investigate, not nuke the place."
Colonel Sherman snorted, "They were Raiders. These saved Marines dying to capture the handful that survived, courts, imprisonment awaiting execution, and stupid appeals. Besides, the ACS would rather not be officially involved in strikes in the Rim. We've killed the people who made the gas and destroyed their place of business and you destroyed the Easy Trader. We sent the message: stay out of the Central Systems. That's enough."
"What about the Black Hand?" I asked.
"I'm grateful to you for your help. Without you, I don't know how many years it may have taken to find the Raiders and destroy them. Like the people who supplied the Raiders with the gas, the Black Hand materially helped the Raiders. I would be willing to help you in your quest since you would be the lesser of two evils, but they are a widespread organization and not easily eradicated. And the help couldn't be seen as the ACS meddling in Rim business."
I nodded, conceding both her issues. "I understand."
"I'll live up to our agreement. You can have a week at our no-name base to get your missiles restocked, repair any damage you incurred, and add a few security features to the Tykhe. I suspect you are going to need them if you continue operating in the Rim."
"Thank you, Colonel Sherman. Yes, I plan to continue operating in the Rim. Retribution is still required for my father's murder and for using me."
"Kraig and I thought so and we wish you luck. He and I would like to see you win as we feel the Black Hand is as evil as the Raiders. Consequently, Kraig has agreed to stay with you for a while as my representative to see if we can help without it looking like the ACS was involved."
* * *
"You’re rich and you still want to continue your business in the Rim. That seems suicidal," Kraig said several days into our return to the Rim. We had spent six days at the base with no name and they had replaced my expended missiles with modified Rouge 6As, gone over my ship with a fine-tooth comb to make sure everything was operating like new, and added several automated lasers in the hallways and control room that could be activated through my tablet. The Tykhe was a fortress and probably the most expensive merchant ship in space. And Clyde gave me a going away present of six flash plates that could be clamped on to my holster which, if switched on, gave off a blinding light that would give me the edge in a shootout.
"It's the only life I know—"
"And retribution is required," Kraig finished. "The ACS would give you a merchant's license to trade anywhere in the Central Systems."
"I'd be lost in the Central Systems and would probably resort to what I know."
"That wouldn't be good. So what now?"
"I'd like to stop at Tanzan," I said on a whim. But it felt right. I hadn't been home for years.
"Fine with me. I'm along for the ride in case we can help."
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Star System: Tanzan
It's damn cold," Kraig said for the twentieth time, as we hiked further into the foothills. I had outfitted us with everything we would need to spend a week or more in the mountains, giving Shadi time to run free.
It's summer time," I repeated for the twentieth time. “Although it will get a bit chilly at night as we climb higher into the foothills.”
“Why are we doing this?” he asked, panting slightly from the exertion. I pointed to Shadi, who was excited, running ahead, rolling in the pockets of snow she found, and leaping at imaginary prey.
“The Tykhe is a cage, stuffy, cramped, and smelly. This is a vacation in paradise.”
“Why not release her then?”
“Someday. Stanfield gave me the idea. He has a house in the middle of nowhere, close to the mountains where Tiri can come and go at will. We’re going to the land I purchased a couple of months ago. I want to see where to put the house I’m having built.”
“You’re retiring?” Kraig’s face brightened with approval.
"Someday. For now it's a dream."
"We could have rented a skimmer."
"What fun would that have been? The weather is warm, the scenery beautiful, and Shadi can be a kitten for a few days."
* * *
For the next three days, using my GPS, I explored the plot of five hundred acres I had purchased.
> "Here I think," I said standing on a small rise that gave me a good view of the valley and the mountains rising behind me. I knew from Shadi that snow leopards inhabited these foothills and the nearby mountains. After raising our tent and starting a fire I sat and removed the plans for my house from a canister in my knapsack. "Next year this house will stand where we're sitting." I handed Kraig the blueprints. He sat studying them for a long time."
"Did you design this?"
"No. It's a smaller version of Stanfield's home on Dacca. I like that the rooms flowed into each other without doors separating them. Like bringing the outdoors inside."
"Why so big?"
"I thought I'd provide a nurse, couple of guards, and help, and let my mother live here. Thanks to the ACS and my business, I have enough credits."
"Thanks for sharing your dream, Zen," Kraig said. It's beautiful here, especially if I were inside your house next to a fire." He laughed. "Since I doubt the Black Hand has anyone in this system, where are we going next?"
"Since most of their activity occurs in the Far Rim, let's start there. Bijapur, after a stop in Poona.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Star System: Poona
The merchant's guild gave me Jere's contact address and two hours later I sat in a luxury house some twenty-five kilometers out of Karson City. The house was separated from the closest neighbor by at least ten acres and perched on a rise overlooking a lake that looked to have been carved out of mountainous terrain. The area was serene and the view beautiful and relaxing.
"What brings you to Poona, Zen?" Jere asked after having retrieved two beers.
"I'm planning on driving the Black Hand out of the smuggling business," I said, deciding Jere wouldn't appreciate me being vague. “I will need advice and help in acquiring reliable security since the Black Hand isn't going to be happy. Actually, they probably already have reason enough to want me dead…” I went on to outline how they had killed my father and had been using me for the past couple years. He laughed.
"So in retribution, you plan to drive them out of business. Gutsy move." He sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and was silent for a long time—time enough for me to finish my beer. "You plan to eventually cut them out of the smuggling business, which is not only a major revenue stream, but helps pays for the bribes that keep them protected from being more aggressively pursued by the law. Interesting, a White Hand versus a Black Hand," he finally said and took several sips of his beer. I nodded. “That could over time cause the organization to splinter and end their power. And you anticipate you aren't going to be popular." He grinned.
"They don’t like sharing." I went on to recount my most recent incident with the six who stole my knapsack with the salt, flour, and water.
Jere laughed all the way into his kitchen and back with two fresh beers.
I have a proposal for you," Jere said, his face and tone serious. "Take me on as your junior partner and I'll handle security. That will leave you free to handle business."
"Why?" I asked. I had hoped Jere would provide me with good advice and maybe a couple of recommendations. I hadn't expected him to join me.
"It sounds interesting, it's potentially very lucrative, I like the idea of doing something worthwhile and destroying the Black Hand qualifies, and I admire you. But if I didn't think you had a chance of succeeding I wouldn't be interested."
"No contract killing, no sex trafficking, no kidnapping, no weapon smuggling, and no activity in the Central Systems," I said and he laughed.
"I'm going to love working with you. I'll wager you already have a tentative agreement with the ACS."
* * *
"Black Hand?" Kraig asked looking at my tablet which showed three men standing at the Tykhe's entrance.
"No, my security team." I smiled at Kraig's wide-eyed expression.
"I know you're serious about challenging the Black Hand but… You would need an army. They are a multi-system organization with hundreds of members."
"That requires a constant revenue stream to survive. And no matter the size of the serpent, it has only one head." I unlocked the hatch and Jere and two rather small men followed him in. They were obviously my security as they were armed with Mfws, older projectile weapons, and knives in their boots and belts.
"Kraig, this is Jere, my partner and head of my security. Jere, this is Kraig, a trusted friend, even though he works for the ACS." I grinned, watching the two men appraise each other as if they were getting ready to duel. Kraig had a frown whereas Jere's face was neutral with a slight hint of amusement.
"You're the person Zen set up an account in case Uzomo cheated," Kraig said, still frowning. "She trusted you with the money."
"She and I are professionals with a code of ethics. That's why we trust each other." He turned to face me and the two men who’d accompanied him into the ship. "Ghale, Thapa, this is Miss Zenaida. She's the boss lady." He smiled at me. "Miss Zenaida this is Ghale and Thapa," he said, nodding toward each as he said their name. "They are descended from a long line of Nepalese Gurkha who have proven themselves tough, brave, and loyal."
"Welcome to the White Hand, Ghale, Thapa," I said, a little surprised. I had been expecting tall gun-fighter-looking men, not two short men who looked almost boyish.
"This is ridiculous," Kraig said in exasperation.
"That’s what the Black Hand will think and that's our advantage," Jere said. "Where do we start, Zen?"
"Bijapur."
* * *
During the seven-day trip Jere, the two Gurkhas, and I got to know each other and our strengths. Jere was a deadly shot with every weapon and, while a bit slow to shoot, he never missed at any distance. The Gurkha were also excellent marksmen and deadly with their assortment of knives. We spent several hours each day talking about who would accompany me when I went out and how we would divide up opponents from one to groups of ten. The tricky part was the fact that Shadi would be actively involved, whom I could direct mentally, which I couldn't do with the Gurkha. And we discussed the use of the explosive flash gadgets Clyde had given me for emergencies. I gave them a demonstration using the hallway flash feature. That proved amusing for me, because the three were staggering around like drunks for close to an hour. By the time we reached Bijapur I thought we were prepared for most scenarios.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Star System: Visits to Bijapur, Toodyay, Tashir, and Sidon
"Well, Trader Zenaida, what can I do for you?" said a silver haired man sitting behind a large steel desk with a beautiful natural-looking wood surface. The glass plate in the front of the desk had Edward Williamson, Bijapur Customs Chief in gold lettering.
"I'd like to give you a…donation—"
"Bribe." His face was neutral but his tone was threatening as he leaned forward.
"To eliminate bribes—"
"Bribes are illegal," he interrupted. "Are you seeking special attention, Trader Zenaida?" his voice lowered an octave.
"I don't want to interfere with normal Rim business but I’d like to help rid the Rim of the Black Hand," I said, going directly to the real issue. His frown relaxed a bit and he sat back in his chair, evaluating me.
"You're serious?" he asked, disbelief creeping into his tone.
"I'm a child of the Rim and understand our wild-west live-free-or-die culture. I don't want to change that. But the Black Hand smuggling fuels sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced drug additions, and child pornography."
"You will never stop that." His tone was now normal. "There will always be evil men."
"I would be satisfied if we could reduce it."
"So you don't want special treatment." He said more as a question than a statement of fact.
"No. None."
He laughed. "I think you're crazy and it won't work but I'm willing to give it a try. Come, I'll treat you to lunch and we can discuss what such an arrangement would look like and how it would work."
* * *
"One down and nine to go," I said when
I returned to the Tykhe, with Jere and Thapa following.
"He actually went for the deal?" Kraig asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"He doesn't think it will work but he likes the idea of shutting down the Black Hand. The Black Hand abducted one of his sister's three girls years ago. "I think it's going to be harder to bribe his people and those they can will be very expensive."
"Where to next?" Kraig asked.
"Toodyay and Tashir. I have several shipments to each. My clients are warming to the idea of dealing with the White Hand. To my surprise, everything went well on Toodyay and Tashir. The customs chiefs were of mixed emotions. No one really liked the Black Hand but most were afraid of the repercussions. Each man agreed to my proposal but I think most thought I’d be killed within a few months. I managed to get the word out that the White Hand would be cheaper and more reliable than the Black Hand.
"Want to join the White Hand, Kraig?" I asked as he, Jere, and I sat discussing various aspects of the new organization. "I can see the organization is going to be much larger than I had imagined, and I'm going to need people I can trust. The pay is way better than the AIA."
"You're joking… No you're not," he said after looking at Jere and back to me. You want me to be a smuggler?"
"No, an honest merchant carrying much need supplies to the citizens of the Rim," I said with my best I-wouldn't-lie expression."
"A merchant?"
"Yes, with your own starship to run around in." I smiled at Kraig's dropped-jaw expression.
"You're going to buy me a starship?"
