We were a million kilometers from Fan Zuri, which had grown to the size of a marble when viewed with the naked eye. I always got a thrill when approaching a planet. I could imagine what it must have felt like for ancient mariners who sailed the barren oceans of Earth, when they first sighted land on a long journey.
“Copy that, Tutt. Hoffen out.”
“Difficult to understand their logic,” Ada said. “It’s Genteresk who threatens the convoy when they’re out in the deep dark, but put them within a million kilometers of Fan Zuri and they feel safe as can be.”
“I’d like to take on fuel at Jhutti Station. Can you work up shore leave?”
By space station standards, Jhutti Station wasn’t large. According to the information we could gather, it was home to eight hundred permanent residents and another fourteen hundred transients. It was about as unimaginative a layout as a person could come up with. Rectangular boxes of steel had been welded in haphazard layers, no doubt as centuries of expansion projects had been completed. The construction method wasn’t unfamiliar, as it was the least expensive way to build something in orbit.
“We’re not here long, so leave will be short,” Ada said.
“We’re lucky to get any time at all. Tutt wanted the convoy to take right off and we would have, if not for a last-minute addition,” I said. “I need to work in a trip to the surface with Tabby, Jala and Marny. Nick has a couple of stevedore bots he wants me to drop off in Jhutti.” I flicked her the meeting schedule I’d set with the two large manufacturing companies.
“Not sure that’s going to work,” Ada said. “Marny scheduled crew training at that time.”
“During shore leave?” I looked at Marny, questioningly.
“Aye, Cap. We’ll be taking a walk-about on Jhutti Station. I’d like to drill the crew on the dos and don’ts of visiting space stations in possible hostile territory.”
“No problem. Tabby, Jala and I can handle it,” I said.
“Marny, would you excuse Jala from training?” Ada asked, joining Marny through comms.
“That works,” Marny answered. “Cap, you want me to put out feelers and see if we can offload prisoners?”
“Wouldn’t the Pogona just let them go?” Tabby asked.
“Nijjar law is specific about piracy, although it’s hard to tell how serious they are about it.”
“Sure. Put out some feelers,” I said. “I could meet with someone if it comes to that. The data-streams are compelling. I was surprised Abasi wouldn’t take ‘em.”
“Will you hand over Gunjeet, too?” Tabby asked. I appreciated that she hadn’t needled me on the fact that my stunt didn’t yield any information.
“I’m not sure what to do with him. I guess I’d prefer to keep him until I do,” I said.
“Looks like we have company,” Ada said.
Two bright white frigates had slipped into view and hailed us.
“I’ve got it, Ada,” I said. “This is Captain Hoffen of Intrepid, go ahead.”
There was something about active military folk that didn’t change from one species to the next. Well, I suppose Kroerak were an exception. The Pogona man, wearing a tidy uniform complete with ribbons that appeared to be military honors, appeared rigidly on the bridge’s forward vid-screen.
“Lieutenant Commander Meel of Tulvar. Welcome to Fan Zuri, Intrepid. I’m requesting a heave-to for a brief inspection. Do you have any locked-down cargo to declare?”
“Affirmative. List is being transmitted and we’ll comply,” I replied. I wasn’t overly concerned by his request, especially since we were flying under an Abasi flag and had never been seen in these parts before. “We’re currently flying escort and have limited cargo, all of which is destined for Jhutti.”
“Protocol allows for holstered weapons only when greeting a Pogona patrol,” Tulvar said.
“Copy that. Hoffen out.” I closed comms.
“Trouble?” Tabby asked.
“Hope not.”
With Marny and Tabby close behind, I made my way forward to the airlock and waited for Commander Tulvar to arrive. He was shorter than I’d expected, but no less military in his bearing.
“Bill of lading?” he asked, after a momentary exchange of pleasantries. He’d brought four armed, heavily muscled marines along with him, although they looked more bored than anything, especially since neither Marny nor Tabby were obviously armed.
I handed Tulvar a reading pad that showed two stevedore bots, a stack of steel sheet and several squares of armor glass.
He looked up from the short list. “Most captains would fill their holds when traveling as far as you are.”
“New to the system,” I said. “We’re looking to establish trading partners.”
“We’ll need to inspect your holds, engine room and brig.” He turned to the crew he’d brought along. “You two, take a post here at the airlock. The rest are with me.”
“Tabbs, you got this?”
“Aye,” she replied tersely.
“We had difficulty reconciling your ship signature with the data from your transponder,” Tulvar said. “Your armor has unusual qualities. We have seen this on other human ships. Is this common on your home world?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer his question. If I let him know just how uncommon it was, he might become overly interested. If I suggested it was common, he might expect us to share information about it. I chose to play it straight.
“It is uncommon,” I said. “We first ran into the armor in a scrapyard back near the fourth planet from our sun. The intellectual property for producing it is very expensive and not directly within our control.” The last was a lie. We had the ability to manufacture as much of the armor as was necessary to outfit Intrepid. What we couldn’t do was hand over the formula to anyone. Especially not an alien government.
“A sensible precaution. It hints that human sensor technology is similar to that of Pogona.”
“I believe that to be true,” I said. “I might as well get the sticky part out of the way first.”
Tulvar raised an eyebrow in anticipation. “Sticky? As in you are nervous about my reaction?”
“I think that’s a fair representation,” I said.
“What problem do you have on this lower deck that causes you concern?” Tulvar asked as we approached the brig.
“Them,” I said as I ordered the glass panels to change from opaque to transparent, showing Gunjeet and two other prisoners.
“Why are they locked in that enclosure. Is that your brig?”
“It is.”
“I would say that looks more like a spa than a brig. How must the rest of your crew live that this is how you provide for prisoners?”
“It’s not a lot different, except that the doors open for crew.”
“Why do you detain only my brethren?”
“Each of these have shown themselves to be too dangerous to allow free reign on my ship,” I said. “Gunjeet, that one,” I pointed to Gunjeet, “he pulled a knife on me while we were training. The other two were aboard a Genteresk fast-attack craft that we disabled.”
“Why did you engage with a fast-attack craft. Was it your intent to take the ship from them?”
“I didn’t say we took the ship,” I said.
“News of your engagement with Belvakuski has reached Fan Zuri, Captain Hoffen. It is the reason I have boarded your ship today. My superiors wish to know if it is possible that there is truth in the reported occurrence.”
“I have no idea what was reported. However, Belvakuski sent two fast-attack craft and didn’t provide adequate defensive support for them. A frigate such as Intrepid or either of the ships you command has little trouble combating a vessel that small.”
“Have you proof of your accomplishment?”
“Would a data-stream suffice?” I asked.
“You are not compelled to share this with me,” Tulvar said. “It would most likely make your visit to Nijjar space more pleasant, though.”
I flicked the data-stream of our dust-up with Belvakuski to Tulvar and waited for a moment as he pulled out a reading pad of his own. He fast forwarded through the action and located the moment when we’d destroyed our first ship.
“Your weapons are formidable,” he said.
I wasn’t sure how to take the comment, so I remained quiet as he continued to watch the video.
“Please show me your holds,” he said, after a few minutes of watching the video.
“This way.” I led him aft to the smaller of our two holds.
“There are only supplies in this hold,” I said. My eyes lit on the large crates that held our Popeyes.
Tulvar followed my gaze. “What is in those crates?”
“Ship equipment. It is on the declared list of items not for trade.”
“Funny.” Tulvar agreed, looking at me slyly. “A more suspicious man might think you were trying to bring contraband into the Nijjar Commonwealth of Planets.”
“Not at all.”
“Of course. Tell me, what do you plan to do with your prisoners? Will you sell them in Jhutti?”
“Not sure. Humans generally take issue with selling people, though.”
“How then does your Navy fill its ships during times of war?”
“If you’ll pardon my interruption, Cap. I think he’s referring to the practice of press gangs,” Marny said. “It’s not as foreign of a concept as you might believe.”
“Seriously? We do that?”
“North Americans and Mars not so much. Russians, Chinese, Indians, Persians … absolutely.”
Tulvar smiled slightly, as if he were being patient with a slow student. “It would be a waste to release them to space. Our Navy would find much better use for them. Would this not be more benevolent?”
“Wait,” I turned to him. “You want my prisoners?”
“I believe it would allow me to provide a positive report on Nijjar’s first meeting with the ship Intrepid. Otherwise, I will have to insist on opening those crates.”
My stomach churned as I realized that I was being leveraged. It was then I made my decision. I wasn’t about to lose my ship to yet another government.
“I’d keep Gunjeet, the one who attacked me,” I said. “I am not convinced he is unredeemable.”
Tulvar grinned, showing a mouth full of jagged teeth, or whatever Pogona had. “You are truly a kind individual. I believe I’ve seen enough for today. We’ll pick up our new crew members and see our way from your ship.”
“You’ll leave us alone while we’re on Fan Zuri?” I asked.
“Absolutely.” His smile and reassuring nod of his head did nothing to convince me.
Intrepid’s brig had four individual cells: two next to the starboard hull and two more separated by a hallway. Each cell would comfortably hold two, but in a pinch, could hold up to eight for short periods of time. I’d separated Gunjeet from the two Genteresk pirates.
I wasn’t sure if it was the uniform or if the two pirates recognized Tulvar. While they didn’t say anything, the look of defeat in their body posture was clear as I approached.
“Prisoners. Commander Tulvar has accepted responsibility for your sentences,” I said. “You will accompany the Nijjar guard.”
“Captain Hoffen, it occurs to me I haven’t correctly inspected your munitions,” Tulvar said with a genuine look of remorse.
“Oh?”
“It would be remiss of me to allow a warship such as Intrepid into Nijjar space without completing this part of the inspection.”
“Marny, give us a minute,” I said and led Tulvar into the hallway.
“What’s this about, Commander? We already reached a deal,” I said. “What’s with this new inspection? Please speak plainly.”
“Recorded conversations are difficult, Captain.”
“Cease all recordings by Captain’s order.”
A positive chime sounded in my ear and I nodded to the smaller Pogona.
“Gunjeet of Koosha is known to Nijjar government,” he said. “We will take him by whatever means necessary. We will also search your ship for other Koosha family members. You should be grateful I don’t bring you to a magistrate for carrying one so dangerous.”
“He is in my brig,” I said, quickly, trying to figure out what I’d gotten myself into.
“This is why I believe we may still have an amenable relationship.”
“Liam, another Nijjar frigate has arrived. They’re requiring we submit to a turret lockdown,” Ada said. Tulvar crossed his arms behind his back and smiled smugly.
“Copy that, Ada. We’ll comply.”
“An appropriate response, Captain Hoffen. I do not seek to make this more painful than necessary. Instruct your crew to stand down and we will take no more than sixty of your tiny spans to complete our inspection.”
“And you’ll restrict your search to finding these people?” I asked.
He smiled tightly. “I do not wish a poor relationship to be established. I will do as I promised.”
“All hands. Please stand by for a Nijjar inspection team that will briefly look through the ship. This is a standard procedure. Please be courteous,” I said and nodded to Tulvar. “Our doors are open, Commander Tulvar.”
“Bring the prisoners,” Tulvar commanded as we walked back into the brig where Marny and Tabby stood, looking questioningly at me.
“Apparently, Gunjeet has unfinished business with Nijjar,” I said. “We’ll be turning him over to Commander Tulvar.”
“Doesn’t smell right,” Tabby said. The comment earned her an appraising look from Tulvar, but he ignored it and led his guard out of the brig with the three prisoners in tow.
I nodded and followed Tulvar back to the airlock where we ran into a column of armed soldiers waiting patiently.
“What’s going on, Cap?” Marny asked.
“Gunjeet or at least Gunjeet’s family is known to Nijjar,” I said. “We’re fortunate he was in the brig.”
Tabby’s mouth narrowed as she considered my words. “Frak.”
“Cap, you should be on the bridge,” Marny said. “I’ll oversee this.”
“Copy that, Marny. Keep me up to date,” I said.
Thirty minutes later my comm chimed just before Marny started talking. “Cap, Nijjar boarding party has departed and is retracting the companionway.”
“Copy that, Marny. Tabbs, would you work with Jester Ripples to sweep the ship for bugs? I definitely saw a few get planted.”
“Good plan,” she said.
“Incoming hail, Commander Tulvar,” Ada said.
“On bridge,” I said. “This is Captain Hoffen. Go ahead, Commander Tulvar.”
“You’re free to go about your business, Intrepid. On behalf of Nijjar and the Pogona people, welcome to Fan Zuri.” Without further warning, Tulvar closed comms and the three Nijjar frigates slid away, each in a different direction.
“You handed over Gunjeet?” Ada asked, her voice hot with accusation.
I looked to Marny, who was running our bug scanner over the surfaces of the bridge, guided by an AI that had monitored the boarding party’s actions. “Bridge is clear, Cap,” Marny said, grinding two tiny devices together with her fingers. “Not overly sophisticated as bugs go.”
“My choice was to turn him over or turn over the ship,” I said. “Do we know where Jala and Arijeet are? I believe she has some explaining to do.”
“They wanted her?” Ada asked.
“Tulvar referenced the Koosha family,” I said. “I believe he would have taken Jala if they’d found her. My question is where could she have hidden?”
“Found her,” Marny said. “You’re going to want to see this.”
On the forward vid screen, Marny projected an image with a time code of about forty minutes previous. The video showed Jala and Arijeet crawling into an access panel that led to the bilge. From there they crawled over pipes and worked themselves to our gray water processing facility, where she opened a long panel, exposing a thousand
liter well of cloudy water.
Unexpectedly, Jala removed her outer layer of clothing. Her long white hair hung over the chalky white skin of her slender back, which showed numerous long-healed wounds. I winced as I considered the abuse required to cause that much damage. Wordlessly, she nodded to Arijeet who also removed his outer clothing. She quickly placed the bundle of clothing into a bag, sliding it into a fifteen-millimeter section of spare pipe. From the same pipe, she removed two small masks and handed one to Arijeet. With calm deliberation, she slipped over the edge and into the well of gray water, holding the mask to her face. Arijeet followed his mother’s example with significantly more trepidation than she’d shown.
“Crazy,” I said as I watched the lid of the well close, sealing them in.
“I’ll go,” Marny said.
“Tabby.” I wasn’t about to send Marny into the bowels of the ship without backup. She was no doubt plenty capable, but I refused to further underestimate Jala.
“On it,” Tabby agreed.
Twenty minutes later, Jala was led into a small room just aft of the brig on the lower deck. It was both convenient to where she’d entered the bilge and the brig, where I currently expected she’d continue the rest of the journey.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t put you off on Jhutti Station?” I asked.
Jala’s already ashen face drained of all color as water dripped down from wet hair and onto her face. Shivering, she held her arms protectively across her chest, which was only covered by the wet undergarment. I sighed. While I was angry, I wasn’t about to interrogate her while she was half naked. Fortunately, Marny arrived a moment later with a thick towel.
“Please do not hand us to Tulvar,” she answered.
I looked to Marny who must have had the same thought I did. “How did you know it was Tulvar who boarded our ship?”
“What has happened to Gunjeet?”
“Explain your link to Tulvar, first.”
“I had hoped he would not take interest in such an unimportant convoy. Meel Tulvar is an enemy of my family,” she said.
“What are you leaving out? Why would you risk my crew if you knew Tulvar was on Fan Zuri?”
“Much time has passed. There was no reason for me to believe he would still be stationed on Fan Zuri,” she said. “Please. My son, Gunjeet.”
Corsair Menace (Privateer Tales Book 12) Page 25
