by C. R. Daems
"One hour to Wave exit," Burkett announced, and nodded to me.
"Attention. One hour to Wave exit. Repeat. One hour to Wave exit." I said, which went out over the ship’s loudspeakers. When I looked around the room, everyone seemed relaxed, with the exception of Kris, who felt a bit nervous. I was too excited to be nervous.
"Thirty minutes to exit," Burkett said.
"Comm, Battle Stations," Sharat said.
"Attention. Battle Stations. Repeat, Battle Stations," I announced, and sent the alert to everyone's CPC, and activated the sirens and flashing lights throughout the ship.
"Ten, nine, ... two, one, now," Burkett said, and with a brief shudder, the Tityus entered the Fire Rock system. Kris's finger flew over the NIA station keyboard.
"All clear Captain," said the radar operator, Lieutenant Commander Staggs.
"Comm, cancel Battle Stations."
"Attention. Stand down from Battle Stations. Repeat. Stand down from Battle Stations," I said, and went through the motions to ensure everyone knew Battle Stations had been canceled.
"Finished, Captain," Kris said several minutes later.
"Helm, proceed to rendezvous coordinates," Sharat said and rose. "XO, you have the watch, I'll be in my office."
"I have the watch, Captain."
"Nothing," Sinclair said as she rose. "I'm not needed, so I'll see you after your shift."
* * *
The next seven days were as boring as promised. On the third day, I managed to convince Kris to contact some of the officers who were interested in showing her around their sections to arrange tours. She agreed, and for the next three days we got to see the environmental, weapons, shuttle maintenance, automatic laser defense, and engine departments. I loved it. All the things I had studied at the academy and seen pictures and mockups, I saw up close and in action. Kris was less interested but did accept a few offers to go to the officers’ club for drinks. At the captain's request, I visited the medical unit, where I negotiated a tour in exchange for talking about Red.
"You gave him a name?" Doctor Guzman asked after being shown Red. "Although it's a male krait, he makes it sound like a pet."
"Red has been with me since I was four years old—every hour of every day. He might not do anything clever like some pets, but it's earned him a name and identity." I put him on my shoulder, where he curled around my neck.
"That is a long time. Doesn't it ... he irritate you, crawling around your body?" She shuddered.
"Do your tongue or arm or fingers bother you?"
"Of course not. Oh, I see. He's an integral part of you, like an arm or fingers." Guzman spent two hours with me discussing my doctors' findings and conclusions back on Oxax and the incidents when Red bit people.
"Doctor Kanata gave me this antivenin in case anyone does get bitten," I said, handing her the vial. "She said 0.5 cc in the event it's necessary. It'll save the person's life, but they will be sick for a couple of days."
"Thanks for being so candid, Anna. That was certainly interesting. I had read about the Coaca Virus but never about red-headed kraits. You've certainly had a difficult life, not only having to live with a krait but the threat of others stealing it. Ready for that tour I promised?"
The cruiser's medical unit wasn't magical like the Bridge, but the advanced surgical equipment in the trauma section was interesting. I concluded that an Alliance cruiser was better equipped than most hospitals.
* * *
I had just gotten ready for bed when my CPD buzzed and I heard the ship’s speakers in the hallway.
"Attention. All personnel report to your duty stations. Repeat. All personnel report to your duty stations."
I dressed and hurried to the Bridge. A few people arrived just after me. The captain waited several minutes until Burkett arrived.
"We have identified another ship entering the area. Using only passive sensors, it's difficult to tell what kind of a ship, as it has its identifying beacon turned off. But it appears to be a merchant ship, and its radar is active. If it's here for a pickup, it's five days early. We are approximately one quarter light-second—about seventy-five thousand kilometers—away from the meeting coordinates. I'm hoping that's far enough to not be noticed. I want all units manned from now on. XO, you will man the backup Bridge with the second and third shifts. Even an armed merchant shouldn't be much trouble for us, but we don't know who else may join the party. First shift will use my conference room to rest. If they bolt suddenly, I want us to be ready. It shouldn't be able to outrun us, but I don't like surprises. Questions?" She asked. No one said anything. "Dismissed to your stations."
"I wish I could relieve you," Kris whispered.
"I doubt the Comm officer will be asked to do anything exciting, but I wouldn't doubt the captain expects me here. But you're free to leave—no WavCom nearby, and it's going to be really boring," I said. It proved boring, but less so than I thought. On the fourth day another ship entered the area, its identification beacon sending—The Merchant Spinner.
"I'm going to wait for the two ships to move closer and hopefully use shuttles to make the exchange. That should be the point at which they are the most vulnerable. If they run, I want both ships disabled, but our prime target is the unidentified ship." She looked to me. "Agent Paulus, any comments from the NIA?"
"No, Captain. It's your show." I said. It would be nice to have them both intact, but she had the lives of the crew to consider over the wants of the NIA. Anyway, I figured she must be aware that intact would be a bigger prize.
Eight hours later, the two ships were within ten kilometers of each other and a shuttle left the Spinner toward the unidentified ship. A few minutes after it docked, the captain smiled.
"Comm, Battle Stations. Engineering, maximum power. "
"Attention. Battle Stations. Repeat. Battle Stations." I activated the sirens and lights and sent the message to the CPCs. I imagined it was a source of relief after days of twelve-hour shifts and waiting for something to happen. A few minutes later, Kris joined me.
"About time," she whispered. "I can't imagine being confined to a cruiser for a year or more at a time. What about you?"
"I think I'd like it, but that’s probably true of most things I can't have." I shrugged. Kris nodded understanding.
"Weapons active on both ships. The Spinner is a pussycat; however, that other merchant is a tiger," Staggs shouted.
"Comm, send, This is the UAS Cruiser Tityus. Cut power and standby to be boarded. Failure to comply will result in your destruction," Sharat said, her eyes alive and voice steady. I could feel her rising excitement. Everyone except Kris felt excited to one degree or another. I sent the message. Several minutes later, Staggs, the radar operator, spoke.
"The Spinner has cut her engines; the other ship is accelerating. It looks to have some big engines. She's up to two hundred gravs already." His eyes were glued to his screen.
"Comm, connect me to Colonel Mclean and commander Givens."
I activated their channels and put them on the communications monitor in a split screen.
"Colonel Mclean, prepare to launch a shuttle of twenty marines. I want you to secure the Spinner. Commander Givens, launch ten fighters to support Mclean's boarding action. You are authorized to destroy the Spinner if it takes any aggressive action, although I'd prefer it intact. Your remaining fighters are in reserve for possible action against the merchant we are pursuing."
"Yes, Captain," they answered simultaneously.
"Four incoming missiles," said Commander Salas, the ECM operator. "Time to impact, fourteen seconds." Time seemed to stand still, then suddenly the ship vibrated twice. "Missed two. Their missiles are almost as fast as ours—two seconds slower at this range—and difficult to stop at this close range."
"Tac, fire when ready," Sharat barked as she looked to me.
"One missile penetrated fighter bay two. Two fighters destroyed, six dead, four wounded. Bay not operational," I said while posting the incoming reports on the overh
ead damage monitor.
"Six missiles away. Time to impact, twelve seconds," Commander Karlton, the Weapons Officer, said with a predatory grin on his face.
"Damn, three hits but none look to have caused major damage." Staggs said. "We're barely gaining on that ship. She's up to four hundred gravs."
Forty seconds later, Karlton’s voice sounded harsh. "Six missiles away. Time to impact, eleven seconds."
Ten seconds later.
"Four missiles incoming. Time to impact, thirteen seconds. Reload time, one minute thirty seconds," Salas said while his fingers danced over his keyboard. "Shit."
The Tityus took two hammer blows that made my teeth rattle. Kris looked pale. I felt relaxed. No, I felt focused, as did the crew.
"Environmental section damaged. Three dead, four wounded. System at seventy-five percent capacity. Additional damage to fighter bay two. Two dead, two injured," I said, listening to the damage reports coming in and feeling their pain.
"Three more hits on the unknown merchant. Looks like we got her this time; she's trailing debris and slowing slightly." Staggs’ voice was an octave higher with excitement.
"Six missiles away," Karlton said a minute later, and fifteen seconds later, "Damn, four incoming," Salas said angrily as his fingers danced over his panel in an attempt to stop them. "Four hits," Staggs said, then louder, "They've lost power."
The Tityus shuddered again. I assumed Salas had stopped all but one this time.
"Missiles tubes one and two disabled. One dead, four injured," I said into the silence.
"Comm, connect me to Commander Givens." Sharat said, staring at the damage-reports monitor. Givens’ face appeared on the communications monitor. "Givens, release your fighters. Approach cautiously and take no chances. They don't have anything to lose, so they're dangerous. Keep me informed."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good work, everyone. We were too close for military grade missiles, and they must have had military grade ECM to avoid fifty percent of our missiles. I'll stay farther back next time. We know they can't outrun us, so more separation will give us more time to evade their missiles." Sharat sat back and closed her eyes.
"Commander Givens, call your fighters back, all but one or two. Have them maintain a watch at a safe distance of at least one thousand kilometers."
"Why, Captain?"
"If anyone is alive, I believe they will destroy the ship. They are just waiting to take some of us with them to hell."
* * *
Four hours later, we were relieved, and Kris and I headed for our rooms. Kris waited as I showered and changed into a clean uniform.
"Now what do you think of cruiser duty?" Kris asked, still feeling apprehensive and having fits of shaking.
"Kris, you have a life in front of you. I don't. It doesn't matter what my job or profession is. Red is unlikely to live eighty years, and he is a magnet for thieves and Coaca Virus victims and probably a few nuts with some wild theories. While I'm alive, I'd like to do as much good as I can. A cruiser isn't a bad place."
"Nor is the NIA," Kris said, giving me a hug. "I for one am glad they don't want you. I'd prefer you on the project team with me. You feel like my younger sister, and I'd worry myself sick if my sister were on a cruiser." She laughed. "I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
"You're right. The NIA is probably the best place for me. We're making a difference and helping to do some good, and I have minimum exposure to people."
"While you were sitting around doing nothing on the Bridge," she grinned, "I was looking over those messages you gave me. I think you're right. I'd say that petty officer is trading information for drugs. And I'll bet he's not the only one."
In the dining area, I could feel the clash of emotions: exhilaration at having caught the drug runners and sadness at the loss of friends and comrades. Halfway through our meal, our CPCs buzzed. When I opened it, the captain's face appeared.
"Sinclair, Paulus, would you like to interview the captain of the Spinner? I thought I'd like to meet him. Shuttle bay six in ten minutes." She cut the connection. I stuffed another bit of meat in my mouth and swallowed it with a gulp of my coffee-flavored milk as we rose and hurriedly made our way to the shuttle bay. We arrived just as Sharat did, boarded behind her, and were followed by ten marines. The ride was made in silence. When we exited, a marine lieutenant was waiting.
"Captain, we have the merchant captain in his conference room. His name is Sorrell. If you'll follow me, ma'am," he said a led us to the room. Inside, a chubby man sat nervously wringing his hands.
"Captain, I appreciate you saving us from the pirates, but your people seem to think we had something to do with them. We were almost victims," he said, wiping sweat from his face with a checkered scarf.
"Lieutenant, can I borrow two of your men? And I'll need one with explosive experience to meet me in the missile compartment." He looked to the captain, who nodded. I made my way to the Bridge, switched the weapons panel into simulation, and went through the motions until the active light turned green. Then I made my way to the missile compartment, where a middle-aged sergeant stood waiting.
"... Ma'am, you requested someone with experience dismantling explosives?"
"Yes, Sergeant. Would you please remove the warhead cover of that missile on the delivery train?" I pointed to the missile. He stared at me and then the missile and finally shrugged. After examining the missile for a few minutes, he began removing the cover. When it came off, he stood there and laughed.
"I imagine this stuff would blow the head off some lads, but wouldn't do much damage to an enemy ship."
"Corporal, would you and your mate carry that stuff back to the conference room? The captain of the Spinner probably has an interesting story to go along with it."
"I'd sure like to hear it," the sergeant said as the two marines collected the packages and followed me back. When I entered the conference room, I pointed to the table and the marines dropped the packages there.
"Look at what I found," I said, enjoying the look on Sorrell's face.
"This does appear to make your story less believable," Sharat said. I could feel her amusement.
"One of the crew must have—"
"Sorrell. I have twelve dead and fourteen wounded because of your friends, so I'm not in a mood for games. What was the name of that other ship, and where was it registered?"
"I don't know—"
Sharat slammed her fist on the table so hard the coffee in her cup splashed over the lip. Then she stood looking down at Sorrell.
"Lieutenant, did any marines die in our engagement with this captain's friends?"
"Yes, ma'am. Two died and two are in critical condition."
"Do you think he'll survive the trip back to Westar?"
"If he's real lucky ... but then his luck does seem to have run out."
"And you, Lieutenant, have you found that damn krait yet?" She turned to look at me. Her tone was harsh, but I could feel her amusement. I reached inside my blouse and pulled out Red. "It likes people, well, some people." I rested my elbow on the table close to Sorrell. His eyes flew open, and he tried to push his chair away, but the marine guard behind him stopped the chair.
"I found it, Captain. It didn't bite anyone—this time." I said indignantly.
"Damn good thing. For bringing that damn snake on board, you can stand guard duty over Captain Sorrell—"
"The ship was called the Wind Witch and was registered in the FPU," Sorrell said in a rush. After that, he became very cooperative, explaining the code they used, pickup and drop-off procedures, and a list of his contacts. When Captain Sharat appeared ready to quit, I thought it a good time for my question.
"How do they warn you when Alliance warships are in the area?"
"They don't. They just don't show for the scheduled meeting and eventually schedule another one."
"How do they know when Alliance warships are in the area?" Sharat asked, sitting back down.
"I don't know. I've hea
rd rumors that they have a network of spies who work with our customers. More codes, I guess."
"Lieutenant, you can have the prisoner. Make sure he and the others are delivered in one piece," Sharat said as she rose and waved for me to follow.
"You were very helpful, Agent Paulus. That was good timing with the contraband. Took all the fight out of him and saved hours of talking. And your red-headed friend was very helpful. Sorrell obviously dislikes snakes as much as me. I was afraid for a moment he would have a heart attack. And Lieutenant Sinclair was right when she said she wouldn't wager against you."
* * *
"How did it go?" Kris asked when I returned to the room. She had been searching the Spinner for anything useful while the captain interrogated Sorrell.
"We're back in her good graces, thanks to Red," I said.
"You threatened the merchant captain with Red?"
"No, but Sharat insinuated that Red gets loose and as a punishment for bringing him on board I would guard the prisoners. Sorrell, the merchant captain, couldn't stop talking after that, even confirmed the smugglers have a network of spies on the planets that report on warship deployments."
"You just confirmed something that has been bothering me. I had wondered how the smugglers got the information to the merchants. Unless the captain is lying—"
"He's not," I blurted. If he had been lying, I would have felt the deception. He was telling the truth as he knew it.
"I'll take your word on it. That means the smugglers have a separate organization they are in direct contact with. Find that, and we'll have destroyed their organization." Kris's voice rose with excitement and her eyes sparkled. She laughed. "And we'll be the darlings of the NIA and have bragging rights for our entire careers."
"You're right. I also thought they gave the merchants the time and location for these pickup meetings, but that would be far too complicated and coordinating it next to impossible. They have some central point of contact that gives them real-time information. Now, at least we know what we are looking for."
