Marny whistled. “That’s a tenth the cost of missiles back home.”
“Like you said, they’re not exactly state of the art. They have limited range, guidance and their agility ratings are deplorable.”
“There’s a reason we don’t have any missiles left, Cap,” Marny said.
“Sure, because Strix stole them,” Tabby added quickly. “Larry gives us a second attack vector. We might need that if our convoy is attacked by a large group of small ships.”
“If you recall, we were down to four missiles when Strix commandeered Intrepid. My point is, in a pinch, they give us options. Those options have often been the difference between destruction and success. The fast-attack craft gives a slow ship the option to engage smaller, nimbler opponents. Intrepid doesn’t suffer from range issues like this. The design of a frigate is to engage the small ship. Larry is a glass cannon, with lots of firepower and virtually no armor. The ship is designed as a pawn. It’s expendable and you’re not, Tabby.”
“How many rockets can we get?” Tabby asked, ceding the point.
Blowing out a breath, I looked around the bridge. There was so much left to do. “I have two interested buyers for Larry. I say we buy as many rockets as we can after paying out prizes. I think I can get a palette and a half if I work on it,” I said. “Ada, am I on first watch? I have a couple of meetings I need to schedule.”
“No watch for the captain. We’re doing two hour watches with someone on the bridge and someone at the airlock at all times,” Ada said. “And for the record, we’re under station control. We’ll start the transfer of waste and consumables momentarily.”
“Time to say farewell to our Norigan friends, in that case,” I said.
“To a safe and successful trip." Aantal Tutt placed long nailed fingers beneath his jaw in a gesture I'd seen other Pogona's make. The narrow-framed Pogona had a generous paunch that pushed his simple woven tunic as he sat. He was at a beautifully carved wooden table in one of the station's many restaurants.
"Last we communicated, you called into question our contract," I said, not sitting. Jala, who'd already taken a seat at the table, noticed my position. She slid off her chair and joined Tabby and Marny, next to me.
"Oh come, let us dine together," Tutt said, solicitously. "This was surely a miscommunication. Our translation devices have made a mistake. There are details to consider, but we remain steadfast in our desire to contract with Loose Nuts Corporation. Why, just this morning, before traveling to Chitundu, I transmitted full payment for fuel and consumables, per our contract."
"I have seen no such payment," I said.
"Please verify this once again," Tutt said, smiling. "Perhaps there is growth within the pipes."
I accepted my AI's prompt to check for a deposit of funds and then looked at Jala. "Growth in pipes?"
"Yes, Captain Liam Hoffen. It is a common idiom for blockage of sewer pipes. Captain Aantal Tutt conveys that something may have interfered with the transfer of credits."
"A lovely description by an even more lovely woman," Tutt said. "You must have paid dearly for her."
Even as I heard Tabby sucking air through her teeth, I knew I couldn't let the comment stand. "Captain Tutt, Jala is a free woman and a valued member of my crew. You will refrain from addressing her without the respect you would show me."
"I had not heard that humanity was a matriarchy as are the Felio," Tutt replied, evenly. "I mean no offense."
On my HUD a notification blinked, showing payment had been received twenty minutes ago. "Payment was received. Let's talk," I said, sitting across from the man.
"Ah, yes, there is a simple matter of a final revision my shipping group desires. It is unusual that you would exclude from safety, ships that fail to respond to your directives. There is also a matter of expended ordnance reimbursement."
"I'm willing to concede that your ships can do whatever they want while we are under hostile circumstances," I said, "as long as you remove payment penalties. If your captains endanger themselves by their actions, we can't be held responsible. As to ordnance, we're considering taking on a load of rockets. They are as effective as they are expensive."
"In combat situation, you will follow my orders. As will the members of the convoy," Tutt said. "We cannot be responsible for expensive ordnance. These are not negotiable terms."
"Captain Tutt, would you share your military combat experience?" Marny asked.
"I have none, nor have I need of it." Tutt refused to look at Marny. "I have been leading and arranging runs through the Dark Corridor for a multitude of long spans."
"You should not have signed our agreement, in that case," I said. "I have a crew full of highly trained, professional ex-military. Not only have they seen significant combat but we have, as a crew, been highly successful. I will not negotiate on this. As to the use of ordnance, that's your call. Intrepid is a deterrent. If we run into a sufficiently large force, you may come to regret your decision as we have limited capacity and ship-to-ship combat is often decided in seconds."
"You sincerely believe I will turn over convoy command if we come under attack?" Tutt asked as a Felio waiter slid a delicious smelling, albeit unrecognizable dish into the center of the table. "And please, eat."
"It is a requirement, Captain Aantal," I said as Jala pulled a generous portion of what looked like a pie filled with gravy and meat, and set it on the wooden platter in front of me. The move earned her a glare from Tabby, who fortunately left the subject alone and grabbed some for herself.
"I provide to you an opportunity that someone with your unknown status would not ordinarily have," Tutt said. "You must learn how we operate in the Dark Corridor, if you wish to be a serious vendor of protection services."
"I do appreciate the opportunity," I said. "We both know that failure in this mission would be the ruin of my crew's reputation. It is therefore imperative that I not concede this point."
Tutt sighed. "You have me in a disadvantaged position, Captain Liam Hoffen. There are few hours that remain before our departure. I am dissatisfied with your intractable stance, but will abide by the contract."
"Are you certain?" I asked. "I have inquiries from other trading companies. I would refund your fuel deposit fully if you prefer to be released from our contract. It seems a poor way to start a partnership — with one side as dissatisfied as you appear."
Tutt pursed his lips and his chest shook, which had the effect of causing his jowls to jiggle. A moment later, he couldn't contain himself and he laughed out loud. "Are you sure you are not of the trader's guild?"
"Captain Tutt, please hold the convoy back until we've had ten minutes to clear the Santaloo system," I said.
The convoy was comprised of heavily laden freighters that seemed to crawl through space as we made our way to the gate that joined Tamu with Santaloo. We'd successfully sold Larry for a hundred forty thousand credits and taken on fuel and supplies. With the proceeds from the sale, we'd paid out the crew, purchased a pathetic atmospheric shuttle, and loaded six rockets. Given sufficient time, I felt certain I could have gotten a better price for Larry, but I wasn't about to sail away without rockets if it was within my power to do so.
"Is this entirely necessary?" Tutt replied.
"Ten minutes, Tutt." I closed comm. He'd either agree or he wouldn't.
"On your mark, Liam," Ada said.
We were well prepared, but I'd yet to transfer between these two systems without running into a significant force. I had no reason to expect this trip would be any different. "Go ahead."
"We have contact," Marny said the moment after we transitioned.
"On holo," I said. Two moderately sized cutters appeared in tight formation two hundred kilometers from the gate.
"They're moving in on an intercept," Marny said.
It was unnecessary information, as I could see their engines firing up and virtual indicators showed their relative acceleration vectors in relation to Intrepid.
"Hail approach
ing ships."
A smug Pogona showed on screen. "Greetings, Captain of Abasi flagged ship, Intrepid. You'll need to cut engines and await inspection."
"Negative," I replied. "Maintain a fifty-kilometer standoff. We're accompanying a trading company and will take aggressive action for noncompliance."
I nodded so my AI muted the comm. "Ada, full burn directly at the cutter communicating with us. Marny, would you give them a quick captain's call?" I'd adopted the term Marny had used when describing various sabre rattling techniques we'd rehearsed. In response, the four forward-most blasters each lit off a five second stream of moderate fire.
Turning the comms back on with a head-tip, I responded. "Your choice, lizard neck, but we're also privateers and you're not transmitting transponders. I have to admit, I find that quite intriguing."
The response from both ships was instantaneous. A clear Nijjar transponder signal started transmitting and they both turned, beating hard in an opposite direction.
"My apologies, Captain. It appears we had a technical malfunction with our transponders. We request you stand down from hostile action."
"Fifty kilometers," I said and closed comms.
"Would you like me to pull back?" Ada asked. "We're still closing on them."
"Tempting targets," I said. "But I'm not sure the prize court would consider their actions as provocative enough, even though it's within the letter of our agreement. Let 'em go."
"Copy, Liam." Ada flipped Intrepid and we retreated to the wormhole entrance.
A few minutes later, the first freighter of Aantal Tutt's convoy appeared and was followed soon by the remaining eight.
"Captain Hoffen, I don't appreciate the delay while transitioning between systems," Tutt said, not even bothering with normal pleasantries.
"Call me old-fashioned," I said. "I prefer ensuring your safety."
"There is risk in everything, Captain."
"Copy that." I closed comms. "Ada, keep us between the convoy and those cutters."
The would-be pirates had backed off to two hundred kilometers and were fading away as the convoy slowly accelerated toward Fan Zuri. It would take us twelve full days of travel through Santaloo to reach the planet.
"Keep your hands up," I instructed Gunjeet, having just sent him reeling from a kick which caught him on the side of the head. Gunjeet was fast but lacked discipline, which made it easy for me to pick shots when we sparred. He had a tendency to lower his defenses when I wasn't within arm's reach.
"You do not fight real," he complained. "Who would fight without weapons?"
"I agree. Most fights I've been in end almost before they start because, as you know, they're rarely evenly matched. That's why pirates and thugs like to gang up on smaller, weaker prey; because they can't fight back. That's not why we spar, though."
He opened and closed his mouth in rapid succession, making a slight popping sound and jiggling his wattle — the Pogona equivalent of a teenager rolling their eyes.
"That is why I would join Genteresk if I could," he said.
"You're one crazy kid," I said. "Genteresk are my enemies. I should toss you in the brig for saying that and you could join the other pirates we have down there."
"There is no wrong in admitting this," he said, swinging his elbow around, trying to catch me off guard while we chatted. "Genteresk are heroes."
Unlike Gunjeet, I wasn't about to lower my guard while fighting. I caught the back of his elbow with my forearm and used his momentum to throw him to the ground. I held my fist above his face in the classic I-could-have-punched-but-I-held-back pose.
"If you move against my crew, I will treat you as Genteresk," I said.
"I have honor."
I released him and stood up, extending my hand to help him up.
"We will be to Fan Zuri in five days," I said. "Will you disembark and join Genteresk then?"
He slapped my hand away and rolled to his feet. "It is not that easy. A warrior must prove himself and be asked to join Genteresk."
"Genteresk steal from others," I said. "I don't see the honor in taking what you have not earned."
"They protect their people. I will not discuss this with a human." He raised his arms, showing he was once again ready to fight.
The disdain in which he said human surprised me.
"What do you have against humans?"
"You are the black slugs that live in water and suck blood from the living."
"Leaches?" I asked, landing a nice combo to his mid-section. I was hitting about three quarters and I could tell it hurt. "Why do you think humans are leaches?"
"Show me this thing where you use your leg," Gunjeet said.
"It takes practice and flexibility."
I stepped back and swiveled my hips as I brought a side kick past his face. In that I didn't make contact, my leg's momentum brought me around. I felt a knife enter just beneath my ribs as Gunjeet rode me to the ground. I rolled away, separating. The pain was excruciating.
"No, Gunjeet," I said, holding up my hand.
He'd gained his feet and grinned. "You trust so easily. No wonder the Felio keep you in that pathetic pen you call York. You are weak. Like children."
Rolling up to my feet, I felt blood running down my back beneath my suit liner. The ship had already warned the crew and help was on the way. Gunjeet must have sensed he had limited time because he rushed me, his thin blade dripping with my blood.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a streak of orange fur as I met Gunjeet's charge and threw him over my back. The world greyed as I landed on my wound and struggled to face my attacker.
"Yoowl," Sempre screamed as she launched herself at the larger Pogona. Gunjeet was fast. His blade slashed the young Felio, a spray of blood following the arc of his swing. Sempre turned into the swing, ignoring the slice and stepped into the Pogona, bringing her paw up in a quick jab. Gunjeet's head snapped back on impact.
"Sempre, down!" It was Marny's voice that commanded her.
For a moment, I imagined that Sempre would continue. She had the advantage and her blood had to be boiling with the rush of the fight. It surprised me when she twisted away and flattened to the floor.
A blaster bolt caught Gunjeet in the chest, knocking him back several meters.
"Hoffen Captain, help is on the way." Sempre's face appeared in front of my own. I must have lost track of time because the last I could remember, she was flattened out on the deck.
"Your arm." I fumbled, trying to inspect her arm, but I couldn't get a grasp on it and my vision blurred.
"Stay with us, Cap." Marny's strong arm helped me up. "We're going to take you to the medical bay."
The movement caused fresh pain and a surge of adrenaline. "Gunjeet."
"Alive."
“That was stupid. Why are your bios so low? Frak, Hoffen!” Tabby spat, joining us in the passageway that led down to the medical bay.
“Knife,” I grunted. Marny had applied a patch that staunched the bleeding on my back, but it was obvious more damage had been done.
“He’s bleeding internally,” Marny warned.
“Where’s Gunjeet?” Tabby demanded.
“Take Liam,” Marny answered, shifting me painfully to Tabby’s strong arms. “I left Sempre guarding him.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“My fault.” I stumbled into the medical bay and flopped face-first over the stainless-steel table. It felt glorious to stop moving, although my back throbbed in unison with my heartbeat.
“You’ll get yours. Don’t worry.” Tabby placed a med-scanner on my back. I tried to focus on the details scrolling across my HUD but found it impossible. “Don’t move. I’ve got to prep the tank.”
“Shite,” I complained as my legs gave out and I crumpled. I hadn’t realized Tabby had been keeping me pinned to the table as my legs had lost feeling.
“Hold on,” Jala said from behind, guiding me to the deck, having arrived too late to stop my descent.
“Liam, if you
can hear me, you’re going to take a short bath in the tank. Gunjeet’s blade clipped your kidney,” Tabby instructed. The only thing clear to me was that a pain-management patch had been applied and I smiled dopily.
I must have passed out as it was a full twelve hours later when I started to wake. Tabby smiled through the glass as fluid drained from around me. It felt like no time had elapsed and I struggled to remove the mask once my arms were free.
“You’re the worst patient of them all,” Tabby complained, slapping my hands away.
“How are Sempre and Gunjeet?” I asked.
“Sempre had a pretty good slash on her left arm, but it’s already healing. Gunjeet is in the brig, just like you planned. Was it worth it?”
I wasn’t surprised Tabby had figured out my ruse, but I was a little embarrassed that it had gone so terribly wrong. I’d known about Gunjeet’s knife, having felt it in his clothing when we sparred. What I hadn’t counted on was the fact that he’d be so quick to slip it between my ribs.
“I don’t know. Was it?” I asked.
“So far they haven’t talked much.” She was referring to the Pogona prisoners we already held captive in our brig. I’d overheard Gunjeet say on many occasions he’d do just about anything to get accepted to Genteresk. He’d avoided temptation when there had been other people around, but he’d taken the bait once we were alone.
“How is Jala taking it?”
“She’s embarrassed and sad, both. I suspect her and Koosha have had their share of trouble with that one,” Tabby said.
Chapter 20
Slippery When Wet
“Liam, we’re receiving a hail from Aantal Tutt.”
“Go ahead, Tutt,” I said.
“Captain Hoffen, we’re within the protective confines of Nijjar control over Fan Zuri. We’ll once again join you in forty short-spans at our pre-arranged coordinates,” Tutt said. “I recommend getting rest, the next portion of our journey is unlikely to be as uneventful as our first.”
Corsair Menace (Privateer Tales Book 12) Page 24
