"Your ship is beautiful." I jumped as Jala, who'd been quiet during dinner, had come up behind me and placed her hand on my shoulder. I chanced a glance at Tabby, whose pupils had grown about a centimeter.
I sighed and focused on Jester Ripple's projection of Intrepid. “It is, Jala," I said and removed her hand from my shoulder. "There’s stealth armor buildup on the back and around the engine cowls, but it stops on the forward edge. It’s all over the back of the habitation dish, but it stops about halfway.”
Jester Ripples waved his hand and the image of Intrepid slowly turned on its vertical axis. As the ship oriented so the engines were pointed directly at me, the purpose became clear.
“I’m not sure if I should be offended or not,” I said. From directly behind, the purpose of the armor’s placement became clear. If Intrepid was pointed directly away from another ship, they would see nothing but the stealth armor. In essence, if we were running away, we’d be well hidden.
“Liam Hoffen has no reason to be offended,” Jester Ripples said. “The stealth armor had to be layered and the additional mass to cover the entire ship would have been too burdensome. We chose to change the aesthetic and add considerable function.” He spun Intrepid around and I discovered that from the front, she was also covered in Hotspur’s stealth armor.
“How many degrees off can we sail before we’re detectable?” I asked.
“No more than five degrees,” Anino said. “Even so, my modifications to the engines will make up for the additional mass.”
“Tell me again how to get to Dark Frontier? I can’t find any reference to it.”
“You should not go to the Dark Frontier, Liam," Jala said. "Even with your Intrepid you would find great danger. Only three systems separate Adit Pah from Santaloo. Our lore tells about many ships that have attempted passage through this Dark Frontier, but few have returned, is not just a story told by parents to settle wayward children."
“Oooh,” Tabby said. “Sounds scary. Those M-Pro sloops would have had crystals, though. What about that?”
“They did,” Anino said. “There have been no further transmissions since we learned of their being attacked.”
“Well, since you’re not opening your checkbook further, I’ve found a way to pick up the bill for travel to Tanwar.” I said. “Jala, how do we get to Adit Pah from Tanwar? I found nothing in public archives.”
“The location of the wormhole to Adit Pah is not well known and there is no law beyond a ship's might," Jala said.
"It's not too late for you to turn back, Jala," I said. "We'd be happy to return you to Azima."
Jala placed a hand on my chest. "Liam, Koosha has entrusted me to you. I will follow wherever you lead."
"For the record," I said, removing her hand a second time. "Humans are uncomfortable with too much touching. It sends a message of desired intimacy."
"My apologies," she said. "There is no shame in our attraction. I have no desire to stand between you and your mate."
“Because his mate is the jealous type," Tabby said, glowering at me. "Let's get this back on track. How is this Dark Frontier any different than Zuri? Genteresk pirates have free reign here in the back waters of Santaloo,” I said.
“Don’t be naive,” Anino said. “Not all of Santaloo is frontier status, only parts of Zuri. The Abasi have laws governing space travel. Adit Pah has no law.”
“Abasi seems to let pirates roam freely.”
“The corsair menace in Santaloo is substantially less than what you’ll find in Adit Pah,” Anino said. “Pirates in this system aren’t any different from Red Houzi in Sol. The patrol area is too large to make safety for all practical.”
“Have any of you thought about what we’re supposed to do if we actually find that Kroerak cruiser, or worse yet, a fleet of them?” Tabby was annoyed and it carried through in her voice. “Pirates I can understand. Intrepid hardly stands a chance against a cruiser, though.”
“We’re being set up,” Tabby accused. “You’re putting our asses on the line, once again. I wish we’d never met you.”
“Believe it or not, Ms. Masters,” Anino replied. “I wish none of this was necessary. Thing is, last time your asses were on the line, you saved humanity. I believe that soon Jonathan will need saving. You wouldn’t turn away from this if you could.”
There wasn’t much more to say, as we’d hashed out this line of conversation so many times that all points were well known. Anino had used us, knowing a Kroerak invasion was imminent. He’d strongly believed we would be the catalyst that would bring about a successful outcome for humanity, despite overwhelming odds. The fact that we’d proven him right bothered me still. It was as if he knew something we didn’t.
I stood and shook his hand. “It’s time to get loaded. Anino, good luck to you.”
“Safe travels, Hoffen,” he said and walked away.
“Jester Ripples, would you ask your family to make way to Intrepid? Roby, Sempre, it’s time to make your decision. Are you crew or not?”
“Sempre and I will stay behind,” Roby said. “I talked with Silver and Merrie about sailing Tuuq to deliver steel and setting up a mining colony in the Kafida cluster.”
“That is all important work. I’m sorry we won’t have you as part of the crew, Roby. I’m sure Mom and Merrie will be glad to have you,” I said and turned to Sempre. “Are you linking your fate with Roby’s? You have a crew position on Intrepid if you’d like.”
“She’s staying with me,” Roby interrupted.
I smiled tightly and nodded in Roby’s direction, not making eye contact. “Roby, be quiet. Sempre has the right to make up her own mind on these things and I would like to hear what she wants.”
“You would take me without Roby?” Sempre asked. “I have no value and I am not brave.”
Roby started to speak but quieted when Tabby’s hand came to rest on his shoulder.
“We have discussed this, Sempre. We can train anything except loyalty and bravery; both of which you possess in abundance. What would you like to learn to do?”
“Could I learn to be a warrior and fire ship weapons?”
“Sempre,” Roby said through clenched teeth. “You can learn to fire weapons on Tuuq. I promised to teach you.”
“And I could teach Sempre about overbearing men,” Ada said.
“That’s not fair,” Roby complained.
“Keep talking, pal,” Ada said.
I dared a glance at her. She had a fire in her eyes that I’d seen on a few occasions.
“Please, do not fight,” Sempre said, looking at the ground. “I am sorry, Roby. I will travel with Liam Captain and learn from the great warriors of Loose Nuts.”
“Then I’m coming too,” Roby said. “That is, if the offer is still on the table.”
Ada harrumphed. I knew I’d be causing trouble, but the fact was, Roby was an excellent engineer and could be counted on in a pinch. The fact that he had antiquated ideas about how to treat women, or at least Felio women, was something I felt could be worked out. That is, if he survived.
“Welcome to the crew, Roby Bishop, Engineer Second Class, and Sempre Neema, Gunner’s Mate Third class?” I looked to Marny, questioning Sempre’s assignment. She returned my glance with a quick nod. “This trip, you'll be joined by Jala and her sons Arijeet and Gunjeet.”
“Gunjeet is a gangster. He'll betray you the first chance he gets,” Roby said, not daring to look at Jala.
“The three of them are crew. Jala will be helping with negotiations and handling the mess. Arijeet and Gunjeet will start as third-class cargo handlers. We will treat all crew with respect.”
“You should have asked me before you agreed to this," Roby said.
“Please escort Jala back to the ship and report to Marny at 2130,” I said. When he didn't move, I pushed harder. “You have your orders, Mr. Bishop.”
“Be safe, Liam,” Mom said hugging me. “I didn’t come out here to lose you too.”
“I love you, Mom.�
�
Moving Norigans and rounding up our cat, Filbert, turned out to be very similar tasks. Every Norigan wanted to say goodbye to every member of Petersburg station personally. It eventually dissolved into the ridiculous when I started noticing the fuzzy, little, blue frogs were actually making the round of goodbyes multiple times.
“Jester Ripples, will you communicate that Intrepid will be departing in forty-five minutes and anyone not aboard will be left on station and responsible for their own transportation to Rehema?”
“Of course, Liam Hoffen. Please do not be frustrated with my family. We find it difficult to part with friends,” he said.
“For a species that makes friends so easily, I suspect this causes problems.”
“I am unaware of problems.”
“Forty-four minutes, Jester Ripples.”
“Very well, Liam Hoffen. We will expedite our farewells.”
“They’re so cute,” Ada said as we worked our way through Petersburg Station’s main concourse and onto the pressurized catwalk that joined to Intrepid’s primary, starboard airlock.
“Where are we sticking them all and what do they eat?” Tabby asked.
“We still have quarters for ten in the old crew country on Deck-2,” Ada said. “But if I understood Big Cabbage correctly, they’ll take over the crew mess area.”
“I’ll schedule crew to use the wardroom for mess,” Marny said.
I found it difficult to focus on the minutiae of planning as we walked down the hallway from Intrepid’s foyer. The air inside ships and stations all have subtly different smells. More than anything it was Intrepid’s unique mix that my subconscious instantly recognized and accepted as home.
The hallway to the airlock was only a few meters. At the end, if we turned right, we’d head forward into crew country which consisted of crew bunks, crew mess, observation lounge, gymnasium, a new meeting room and the new forward cargo bay. We chose to turn left toward the bridge and officer’s country. Just aft of the entry hallway was a down ramp, where the medical bay and brig were located, as well as a secondary entrance to the new forward cargo bay.
“Tabbs, Ada, Marny, could we spend twenty minutes and work out shifts and watches? We’ll be talking about our navigation plan as well,” I said. “I’d like to get underway in half an hour.”
“I think you gave the Norigans forty-five, Cap,” Marny said. “And that might be pushing it.”
“And that is why I need you so badly,” I said, palming the security lock on the bridge. A yellow warning flashed on my HUD. Someone had attempted access to the bridge without authorization. “I assume you’ve seen the access warning?”
“Copy that, Cap. I’ll be working with crew on access procedures,” Marny said. “Tomorrow morning at 0600, I’d like to have you and Tabby present for crew training. We’ll be going over daily exercise requirements. I believe Arijeet and Gunjeet would benefit from the standard Loose Nuts demonstrations.”
The entrance to the ready room was through a hatch in the bridge’s port bulkhead, opposite the entry hatch. The three of us sat at the spartan, polished steel table. We’d originally had a wood topped table, but that had burned in the fire.
Ada flicked a scheduling grid onto the wall’s display. She showed a four-hour watch schedule that rotated herself, Tabby, Roby, and me through the days. Marny’s absence wasn’t unexpected due to her responsibilities with the new crew.
“What’s the mission, Liam?” Ada asked. “I get that we’re looking for Jonathan, but how are we going to actually find him?”
While I hadn’t used it yet, Jester Ripples had bragged about the high resolution holo projectors he’d installed on both the bridge and in the ready room. I brought up a map of the systems between us and the Dark Frontier.
“First, we're not looking for Jonathan. Anino thinks he has an idea where that Kroerak cruiser was headed. We're going to work ourselves into Nijjar space and hope we're close enough to respond when the time comes," I said.
"If we know where Jonathan and Sendrei are, we should go looking for them," Ada said.
"Mars Protectorate has been banging around out there and lost nearly half their fleet. We can't do the same. We'll establish a good cover and work our way into Nijjar space like the good capitalists we are," I said.
"So then, what are we going to be doing?" Ada asked.
"Convoy protection detail. We'll sail to Tamu system and meet up with a convoy on Chitundu. After that, we'll escort the convoy back to Santaloo, through to Brea Fortul, and then on to Tanwar system. In total, we'll be out forty-two days with three stops before reaching Kushala Station on Tanwar. Pay is good — we should clear sixty thousand after fuel and supplies."
“How did you find this job?” Ada asked.
“There’s a marketplace,” I responded. “House Mshindi did us a huge favor with the privateer status. Without it, we wouldn’t have had enough reputation to compete. Apparently, Pogona captains aren’t impressed with low bids as much as they are with actual experience. I’ll give them credit for that.”
“I suspect an armored frigate has a certain cachet as well,” Tabby said. “We need to pick up some missiles.”
“Not in the budget,” I said. “Loose Nuts will clear sixty thousand for the trip to Tanwar after fuel, atmo, supplies and crew payments. That number moves to eighty-five if we end up engaging with hostiles. Current market on the only missiles I can find is running at forty-five thousand and they’re not nearly as advanced as what we’re used to. We just don’t have the credits.”
“I suppose with just turrets, Intrepid should be able to hold her own.”
“Cap, where are you expecting the most trouble?” Marny asked.
“Well, Master Chief, the two wormholes out of Santaloo — Tamu and Brea Fortul — are the most dangerous,” I said. “Once we get through Brea Fortul, we should be in the clear. I’m expecting a dustup on the way out, though. I’ll need you on your toes in five days. We’ve yet to clear Tamu wormhole without a challenge and I’d like to send the Genteresk a message.”
“Let’s go with Gunny. That whole Master Chief thing drives me nuts. And we’ll be ready,” Marny said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep my appointment with our new crew.”
“Aye, go ahead,” I said.
“Big Cabbage is requesting permission to board,” Ada said, switching the displayed schedule to video showing the airlock umbilical full of wiggling Norigans.
“Granted,” I said. “If you’ll get us ready to go, I’ll see to the Norigans.”
“Are you sure?” Ada asked.
I smiled and gave her a quick nod as I stood. “Intrepid wouldn’t be in the shape she is without their help. I owe them a personal greeting at the minimum.”
“I think I’ll help Ada with the checklists,” Tabby said.
“Coward.”
By the time I made it forward to the airlock, a steady stream of Norigans was pouring into the ship.
“This way,” I said, ushering a smaller Norigan, whose name I couldn’t remember but my AI showed as Wet Nuzzle. I wondered how Norigan’s earned their names. So far, the names had always made sense. I suspected there was a story available, if I was willing to request it. I’d most likely ask at some point on our trip to the Chitundu station over the watery moon, Rehema.
“Liam Hoffen, we are within the forty-five minutes you requested,” Jester Ripples said, climbing onto me as we greeted.
“Thank you, Jester Ripples,” I said. “Your family did an amazing job on Intrepid. I don’t know how to thank you for all of your work.”
“You must thank Thomas Anino for providing transportation and materials,” Jester Ripples said. “Norigans do not find it a burden to help family.”
If there was a single, important fact about being in the presence of a gaggle of Norigans, it was that you needed to be comfortable with physical intimacy. I’m not talking about the type of intimacy between consenting adults, but rather the type caused by constant hand holding,
hugs and clambering up and down one’s body. Physically, I found it tiring as the little beasts were in constant motion.
“Hoffen Captain, Marny Gunny asked me to assist with our Norigan guests,” Sempre said as she approached from the port-side passageway where apparently two Norigans had already escaped.
“That would be most helpful,” I said. Between the two of us we successfully herded the blue horde into the crew mess.
Directly forward of the crew mess was an observation deck which had a wide pane of armored glass providing occupants an unobstructed view into space. The hatch between forward observation and crew mess was heavily armored, just as the bulkhead that separated them. It was expected that in combat this viewing deck might be compromised. The Norigans had opened the hatch and were streaming between the two spaces. For now, it would be okay to leave open, especially since all the Norigans wore vac-suits. If we got in a pinch, however, we’d need to close the hatch or risk vacuum exposure to the otherwise heavily protected mess.
“Most Felio find Norigans beneath their dignity,” Sempre said. “After spending weeks with them, I do not understand the sentiment. They are so intelligent and friendly. I do not understand the attitude.”
“Perhaps it is because Norigans are pacifists to the point they won’t even eat animal proteins,” I said.
“Verify all Norigans are aboard,” I instructed my AI. A green checkmark showed positive response.
“You should return to your duties, Hoffen Captain,” Sempre said. “I will tend to our guests.”
“Thank you, Sempre.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I made my way back into the now empty passageway. I decided to take the portside passage back to the bridge. It was the long way around, but I didn’t mind. As I passed the downward ramp to the much smaller crew quarters and cargo hold, an exchange between Marny and Gunjeet wafted up and I paused out of curiosity.
“I am a warrior and do not acknowledge your position,” Gunjeet said defiantly.
“Per your family’s contract with Loose Nuts, it is within my purview to restrict your movements aboard ship and place you off Intrepid due to insubordination.”
Corsair Menace (Privateer Tales Book 12) Page 19
