“Twenty minutes, Tutt,” I said. “I don’t believe that your contracts are at any risk. No good freighter captain would schedule arrival times without a buffer. Do not risk your ships.”
“Do your job, Captain Hoffen,” he said. “Tutt, out.”
“All hands, we’re at General Stations,” I announced. The announcement was anticipated and all sections checked in immediately. “Ada, take us through.”
There was always a short period of time after transitioning through the wormhole where we all fought to get our bearings. Ada was by far the quickest and I knew something was up when Intrepid turned sharply and her overpowered engines thrummed as we accelerated.
“Contact. Four unmarked ships,” Marny said. “On holo.”
The holo field just in front of my seat and to my left jumped to life. Four cutter-sized ships were spread out in the twenty-kilometer zone, just outside the area of uncertainty where a ship traveling between systems might arrive. To sit within this radius was dangerous as a ship might arrive on top of you.
“They’re giving chase,” Ada said. It wasn’t specifically necessary as the holo field clearly showed the four ships orienting on us and accelerating.
“Transmit message to unflagged ship,” I ordered my AI. “You will create a stand-off of one hundred kilometers from the wormhole or we will consider your actions hostile. You have ten seconds to acknowledge.”
“Ada, combat burn on that first cutter,” I said.
“Ah, the infamous Captain Liam Hoffen. Perhaps you do not recognize that you are well outnumbered. We are quite aware of the company that follows."
"Cap, we'll have trouble controlling four of them once the convoy is through," Marny said. And, just as if she'd called them in, Dullo transitioned, nineteen minutes early. Tutt’s ship was followed by the remainder of the freighter convoy.
"Tutt is trying to raise you on comm," Ada said as the three non-targeted cutters spread out, our current target was beating hard on retreat, leading us away from the wormhole and the convoy.
“Ada, protect the convoy,” I said. “Tutt, you're early. What do you want?"
"Those are pirates, Captain Hoffen. It is your duty to protect us."
"Copy that, Tutt and cut the chatter," I said. "I want you and your group to make all possible haste to planet Bargoti. Stay tightly packed. I won't be able to protect you if you’re spread out."
"There are too many. It will be better if we let the faster ships make a run for it."
"That's not what you're paying for. Stay together. We'll get through this." I cut comms.
"Enemy has closed to ten kilometers," Ada warned.
I was grateful Tutt had at least listened to me about grouping up. I was not happy that our little group would now accelerate on pace with the slowest freighter. To make matters worse, only Tutt's ship had any armor.
"Marny, if you have a missile lock, I want you to take it," I said.
"Roger that, Cap. Be warned though, these rockets don't work like you’re used to. We'll need to be lined up and within a kilometer. Cutters are too wily and the rockets have little in the way of intelligence."
"Copy that. Ada, coordinate with Marny. Priority is keeping the jackals at bay," I said. "If you can get lined up, I'd be all about increasing our odds."
For twenty minutes, I sat back and watched as Ada methodically intercepted feints and lunges by the enemy fleet. With four enemy craft, we were unable to find an advantage and I could only imagine the stress the freighter captains felt as a few blaster bolts impacted their hulls. So far, the reports of damage were minimal, but tension was growing.
"Tutt, freighter Singh is having trouble keeping up. You need to slow down the convoy," I said.
"I'm talking with Captain Boparai," Tutt replied. "He is experiencing mechanical problems. You need to dispatch these ships, now."
"Not possible," I said. "We're at a stalemate. We can keep them off, but there are too many for us to effectively engage. Once we did, the remainder would have a clear path to the fleet. Stay together. We can wait them out."
"Liam," Ada said, drawing my attention. Apparently, the enemy fleet had discovered Singh's weakness. Two of the cutters broke from their harassing pattern and sailed directly at the wounded ship's bow, clearly looking to split off the weak member of the herd.
Without warning, the remaining members of our fleet put on a burst of acceleration. It was a clear move, meant to sacrifice the wounded ship.
"Tutt, what are you doing? You need to stay together," I said.
"Singh has broken contract with the trading company," Tutt said. "It is required that all ships be in good working order. Captain Boparai's failure to maintain his ship has put the entire fleet in danger. As such, I have formally terminated our contact."
"You can't do that," I argued. "They'll tear him apart!"
"It is your failure, Captain Hoffen. You were not capable of defending our company and it is Boparai who will pay the price of your ineptness."
"You are required to follow my instructions during combat," I said. "You will slow and allow Singh to catch up. I will not be intimidated by your accusations. We do not need to lose this ship."
"There is no cause for slowing. Singh is no longer part of our company and as such Boparai's fate is not my concern, nor is it yours."
"You’re a piece of shite, Tutt," I said.
The cutters slowed with Singh and allowed the fleets to separate. Not unexpectedly, they refrained from attacking the substantially outnumbered ship as it cut engines.
"Do your duty, Captain Hoffen. This does not need to be a negative report on your services," Tutt said.
"What's your call, Liam?" Ada asked as the separation between the fleets became more pronounced.
"Hail Captain Boparai, private channel," I order the AI.
"You have doomed me and my son," Boparai answered, not bothering with pleasantries.
"I want you to burn as hard as you can for the gate," I said.
"It matters not. My engines are frail; we cannot make it."
"Would you give up when your son is aboard? Show courage, man. You have a chance," I said.
"The enemy will cut me down."
"They will space you," I said. "Make your last act one of defiance."
Boparai cut comm.
"Hold back, Ada. Make it look like we're providing a buffer," I said.
"What are you thinking, Liam?"
"Singh could give us an opportunity. Marny, you have those rocks ready?"
"Aye, Captain, that we do."
"Ada, any read on if we can outrun these cutters?"
"We lack agility, but on a dead run, we have three of them," she answered.
"Then target the fast one," I said, just as Singh's engines lit.
"All hands. Combat burn imminent," Ada announced. A moment later my body was slammed into the seat as Intrepid flipped and burned with everything she had at one of the cutters.
"How's it feel to be singled out?" I spat through gritted teeth as we jumped forward.
It must have taken the enemy a moment to realize we had re-engaged, something I've come to attribute to our fancy stealth armor. That moment was sufficient to give us the time we needed to cover the distance.
"Rockets off," Marny said.
My AI enhanced the contrails of twin rockets as they sped forward, making contact with the main cutter. A brilliant flash announced its destruction. Unexpectedly, the remaining three turned on Singh and opened fire, which seconds later followed suit and exploded.
"Frak! Jupiter piss!" I exclaimed. "Line up on number two." We followed the three ships as they all turned back toward the convoy, which was fleeing at best possible speed. I highlighted the closest cutter.
"Rockets, Cap?" Marny asked.
"Yes! Burn 'em down," I said.
"Transmit to remaining enemy ships," I ordered my AI. "This is Captain Liam Hoffen. Heave to or be destroyed."
The three ships peeled off in different directions,
but we were close enough that running down the ship I'd targeted was still possible. As a group, they stood a chance, but separated, we'd chew them up like the roaches they were.
"Cap, one of them is going for the convoy," Marny said.
"Stay on target. Those bastards left Boparai to rot. They can take a little heat," I said.
There's not much a ship can do to put distance between itself and an enemy, unless it’s a much faster ship. When more evenly matched, as we were with the cutter, any turn or evasive maneuver they tried would only eat into much needed acceleration. The cutter was now down to a mere four-kilometer lead.
"If we burn a rocket, he'll have to turn," Marny said. "It's expensive, but it'll speed things up."
"Do it," I said. "Hail, Aantal Tutt."
"Captain Hoffen, there's a cutter on intercept. Your responsibility is to my fleet. Defend us!"
Marny launched a rocket which streaked toward the cutter and caused it to veer off. Ada adjusted and we gained on our prey.
"Pirates are spineless worms," I said. "Only one way to end this."
"Captain! I order you to break off and defend us!"
"Copy that," I said. "Now shut up."
"Ten seconds to rocket range," Ada said.
The bridge was eerily quiet as we covered the final distance to our prey.
"Rockets away," Marny announced.
Ada wasted no time and turned back to the fleet as our rockets finished the cutter.
"Transmit to enemy fleet," I said. "Two down, asshats. Heave to or you're next. I'm done playing. If you so much as fire a shot at those freighters, I won't spare a one of you."
"We're sixty seconds from the fleet," Ada said.
"That's enough time for them to take out at least two freighters," Marny added.
"Transmit to Tutt. Tutt, turn the fleet back to Intrepid," I said. "You can't outrun them and you'll reduce the amount of contact time."
"You've failed, Hoffen," Tutt screeched. "I can't follow the orders of a madman."
"You haven't followed my orders one time," I said. "If you had, I could have run those cutters off before you even arrived in-system. Do what I say or I swear I'll run you down myself."
I cut the comm, sweat dripping down the side of my face. I hadn't been so angry in a very long time. The greedy jackass had guaranteed the death of Boparai and his son.
The fleet abruptly turned and made a beeline toward Intrepid.
"Transmit to enemy fleet. Feel free to run, little ones. I'll happily chase you down," I said.
It wasn't an unexpected move when the cutters turned away in opposite directions from each other. It was the move I'd have made under similar circumstances.
"Ada, take the starboard ship," I said.
"Won't his mate just turn back?"
"We'll keep an eye on him," I said. "I'm betting he won't. Tutt, stay on my tail. I'm going to run this one down."
"Negative, Captain Hoffen. The ship poses us no threat. Leave it alone."
"Probably not," I said. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll come along, just as I've requested."
The first chase took twenty minutes. As expected, the second cutter turned, trying to disable one of the fleet ships while we were busy.
"What are you doing, Captain Hoffen?" Tutt asked, annoyed.
It seemed obvious to me. Intrepid had forced the first cutter to heave-to. Tabby and I were armored up and prepared to board the ship.
"We're taking the ship," I answered. "What does it look like?"
"We have a trade mission," Tutt said. "We have no time for petty vendettas."
"Check the contract, Tutt. We still have enemy ships in range. I have control over the fleet. Stand down and we'll have this resolved as quickly as possible," I said.
"You will unnecessarily anger Genteresk."
"Don't worry, Belvakuski already has my number." I closed comm and followed Tabby across into the already opened air-lock. Idly, while jetting between the ships, I wondered what silly names Jester Ripples had given the unnamed cutters.
“Liam. The second cutter is closing in on the convoy. Should we give chase?” Ada asked.
“Absolutely,” I said, cycling the airlock. “Tabbs and I have this.”
The second cutter was coming up behind the slowest ship in the convoy, hoping to do just enough damage to get the freighter left behind. That move turned out to be a critical mistake, which they soon realized after Ada flipped and ran down the attacking cutter, turning the hunter into the hunted.
“Keep your head on, Cap,” Marny warned as Intrepid turned and accelerated hard away from the fleet.
“Copy that,” I said and opened the lock so we looked into a passageway amidships of the pirate cutter.
“I’m on point,” Tabby pushed past and tossed a Flash-Bang-Disc (FBD) down the hallway before us. The discs were a non-lethal combination of disabling noise and brilliant flashes of light. Our suits were programmed to filter out both disruptions: setting up a noise canceling wave, blacking out our faceplates on each cycle and projecting an image on our retinas of the unaffected scene. The manipulation was noticeable; anything that moved appeared to stutter instead of moving fluidly.
The cutter was sixteen meters long, which was smaller than our first ship, Sterra’s Gift, but larger than Tuuq. The airlock placed us midship and I followed Tabby forward, toward the bridge. Locked doors on either side of the passageway made me nervous, so I kept my back to the starboard bulkhead and continued to sweep behind me. We arrived at the door where we believed the crew was holed up.
We had temporarily given up the immediate threat of Intrepid and it didn’t take much imagination to believe we’d receive more resistance now that she was gone. We had, however, achieved the most difficult part of breaching a ship, which was gaining entry.
“This is Liam Hoffen,” I announced over the comm we’d previously established. “Open bridge door. Provide no resistance and you’ll get a free — meals included — vacation to Fan Zuri in my brig. Otherwise, we’ll blow the door and come in hard.”
“Turn off your noise weapon and we’ll surrender.” The voice belonged to a male Pogona who was shouting so as to be heard above the sound of the FBDs. I found it interesting that he was having difficulty with the devices on the other side of the bridge hatch. Sure, it’d be noisy, but not as bad as if he was in the hallway with us.
Tabby switched off the FBDs and lowered her blaster rifle as the bridge door unlatched but didn’t slide open.
“Contact aft.” I fired at a figure that had popped out from one of the locked doors we’d passed. The figure popped back and my thigh stung like the dickens where the pirate’s bolt impacted my armor.
“You up?” Tabby asked. Her HUD would have warned her I’d been shot and that it wasn’t a lethal hit. The chances of a seriously damaging wound were low, given our armored grav-suits. The gulf of experience between ‘not dead’ and ‘didn’t hurt’ was wide and I counted myself lucky the pirate’s weapon wasn’t more powerful.
“Good,” I answered.
“Go,” Tabby replied.
We had two choices: take the bridge or clear the shooter. This was a scenario we’d drilled on many times and I let training take over. I hustled down the hallway and posted up on the doorframe. Tabby turned the FBDs back on and came around behind me. Together, we’d swivel through the open door; Tabby would take high and aft and I would swing around, taking low and forward.
As we swung around the opening, my HUD showed enemy contact and I squeezed off two triple-shot rounds into the center mass of our opponent. While I couldn’t hear it, Tabby did the same thing. I almost felt sorry for the pirate, who only got off a single wild shot in response.
“Contact, forward.” Tabby spun, taking a knee. I rolled into the room as Tabby fired down the short hallway. I winced as Tabby grunted in response to two bolts striking her in the abdomen. She returned fire and worked her way back through the hatch to my side. As soon as she entered, the door slid sh
ut, locking.
My priority was to verify that the pirate, with whom we now shared a room, was incapacitated. It was a necessary precaution, but he was dead. I’d been smug earlier about how easy it had been to breach the ship. That was the sort of thing that always seemed to come back to haunt me.
“We’ll have to blow the door,” Tabby said, unwinding the sticky, breaching cord we carried as part of our standard assault pack. I pulled a heavily soiled mattress from the bed and kicked debris out of the way next to the exterior bulkhead. Tabby slid in beside me and we ducked low.
“Fire in the hole,” she whispered.
Smoke filled the room as the breaching cord ignited and burned through the hatch.
“There are two on bridge,” I said as I ducked out and got a quick view. Tabby’s FBDs were still chirping away and the pirates were nowhere to be seen.
“Frag ‘em?” Tabby asked.
“Nah, if they had an answer for your FBDs they’d be down here, already.”
I dove through the hole Tabby had made, careful not to scrape against the slag on the door. When I came back up, I noticed the bridge door remained closed. I reopened the comm channel we’d used to talk with the pirates.
“Surrender. You have nowhere to go,” I said.
“Belvakuski will kill us.”
“Sounds like a problem for tomorrow. Turn over the controls and I’ll drop you on Pooni station in a week.” Our convoy was headed to the orbital station above the planet Bargoti.
“You should murder us now,” the Pogona said. “The Genteresk will kill us for losing their ship.”
“How about Azima?” I asked, as a plan started forming in my mind.
“Why would you do that?”
“Let’s say I don’t enjoy killing people, even if they are Genteresk,” I said.
My AI chimed as the ship’s controls were turned over to me.
“Lie on the deck, face down. If you move when we enter, we’ll shoot,” Tabby instructed as we worked our way through the bridge door.
Two Pogona lay on the deck with hands behind their backs. I mag-cuffed them both and pulled them to their feet.
“Intrepid, we’re secure on … what’d we call this ship?”
Corsair Menace (Privateer Tales Book 12) Page 27
