Invisible Hijackers

by D Gemcats Purcell

  He updated us on his surveillance of Gentry Smith, Yashid’s current man onboard the BMOS. We verified that yes Gentry did surreptitiously send off a laser signal in the general direction of the blob and there was a laser flash back saying presumably ‘ok’. Everything else had been mercifully calm and uneventful here. We also passed on the request by Trat Mining Conglomerate’s Mr. Korigan to pay for passage to Toigan for Captain Mischa to go back home. It would be done he said, but after we secured the mission and precautions would be taken for Captain Mischa to not be privy to the secrets of the Celeste. If he were to be captured by nefarious forces in the future, he must not have any sensitive info to reveal.

  We gave Captain Ronald a running commentary about our welcome down on Baclet. We talked in some detail about the things we felt that he would enjoy hearing about. The technical details about our transport equipment down to the surface and then the much bigger more powerful multi stage one that brought us back up only a few short hours ago. Then we gave him the abbreviated version of meeting the two Chiefs in person down on the surface that he had gotten to meet via video link over on the BMOS. We certainly did not go into the weak telepathy skills of the Defnet Chief and his sister. We told him about the ringleader who owned a large percentage of the private ownership portion of the Trat Mining Conglomerate and who was behind the hijackings using cloak technology developed by a Professor. We then explained how we would need a few of his torpedoes to be programmed to give off intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation of certain set of frequencies in a certain rotating order to overload the devices and unmask the ships and cargo pods as well. Mader had recorded the pertinent data and Captain Ronald called two of his top technical officers over, handed them the specifications on a disc and they were off to get the job done. We would have five stand off torpedoes programmed and ready for tomorrow. Having five torpedoes for two enemy aggressor ships was beyond overkill, but we wanted overwhelming undisputed superiority. Captain Ronald was totally having fun with the impending confrontation it seems, walking away with a jaunty bouncing gait. We sympathized totally; he had just learned just how much fun we had been having while he had been cooped up here. Now was his time to shine. He understood that he would need to liaise with Commander Ross too at the appropriate time to detain and neutralize Gentry Smith. He was probably praying that we would always be on board, generating loads of new experiences.

  I think it is fair to say that all of us, though initially infatuated with space travel and adventure, had begun to realize how nice gravity was. Walking, eating, bathing, even the prospect of personal relations ‘doing the naughty’ was all the more complicated and nonintuitive. We would definitely not want to be long term space travelers. It gave us a feeling of awe and respect for those of our forbears who lived on large space cans loaded with the supplies and frozen genetic materials, for generations in the hope that they’d find new safe planets on which to build their dreams.

  Anyway it was getting late and we went to the low gravity dining hall, had a decent dinner and retired to our bunks, lightly restrained of course. The Captain is usually able to get a bit more gravity generated once we were moving but we were not yet. That would happen about three hours from now as we had begun the delicate preparation to separate from both of our docks simultaneously, so as not to torque the BMOS structure which was not even designed to take on such a large spaceplane.

  The Celeste was already separated and just maintaining visual distance from the BMOS when we woke up. We felt fairly well rested. Breakfast was somewhat mundane, definitely robot prepared and we had to sprinkle in a little more of the good stuff onto some food items, but very carefully indeed since there wasn’t much gravity. After the toothbrushing chores were done, we awaited the ‘all clear’ signal from the Martinette team on the ground and off we went back towards Tsatvik on a direct path with all of our sensors on, ready for anything. Commander Ross got his instructions to put Gentry away in the brig so that he couldn’t sabotage our well laid plans.

  We were hoping that the cloaked vessels would have learned that we could not be easily surprised and they’d simply lay low while watching us hopefully fly right past them. Well, we were going to give them that hope to hang onto, right until we pulled the rug from under them. At the agreed upon time when special forces were swarming Yashid, his family, all of his associates and his various spies planted in various agencies like Securinet and Defnet, plus Mr Smith on the BMOS we would be knocking on the doors of the hijacker freighters cum fighters. They were in for a nasty surprise.

  18. AMBUSH THE HIJACKERS

  At T-minus twenty minutes, torpedoes were off and since we were already traveling incredibly fast when they blasted off, they were not going to be long in transit. We were far enough away that we could detect and have time to neutralize any missiles headed for us. The Celeste was already broadcasting in their direction to surrender and uncloak immediately. The torpedoes heading directly for their location ought to have been very persuasive. They literally had very few minutes to make up their minds with the torpedoes screeching toward them. I guess they decided to play a game and only show one vessel and let that one be sacrificed. So when we got the ‘we surrender’ laser signal from that one, the targeting torpedo changed course fired an intense burst from its thrusters to progressively slow itself while the other torpedo targeting where the second ship was located continued on, but slowly now. The torpedo headed for the second ship’s location then fired off the programmed bursts and with a large flash, its surrounding cloak disappeared revealing its target in full view. It was only then that the ‘we surrender’ signal came out blaring from that second ship. There was one more torpedo headed for the location deemed to be the cloaked ore barges. It too fired its sequence of electromagnetic radiation and the strange apparition of twelve cargo pods became apparent. All sensors on board the Celeste revealed the group now. We were just five minutes away at our top speed, so we too began to slow. The torpedoes were now all three within easy striking distance of the two freighters and the cargo pods and they were fully aware that any error on their part would cause instant obliteration. Six was already straining to catch onto their thoughts but since we had no prior close contact with them and they did not seem to be telepaths, it was not happening.

  On board the former Marigot, Brataslav and Marybeth were at their wits end. “How had we been detected and how could our cloaks be taken down?” They were asking themselves. “Everything had been going so well with our plans. Somebody must have squealed on us somehow. But how, only we knew our location, not even our bosses, not even Smith on the BMOS really. We sure took care when we targeted that infernal ship from Toigan , but maybe we should not have. That was where we became too confident.” The recriminations went on among themselves on board and then between the crews of the two ships. By then, the Celeste was able to listen in and realized their devastated state of mind. There was truly no escape from the fate they now faced. They could take their death here or take it later. There was a small chance that they would get life in prison. There was even a small chance that if their boss was not caught too, that they may be gotten out of prison. On Baclet stranger things have happened. Their boss owned a lot of important people. So they made the decision to not do anything rash. The message was sent, “We surrender, we will come peacefully. What do you want us to do next?”

  The reply came, “power down your engines to life support mode only and prepare to be boarded.”

  They replied, “We will send you the schematics of our hatch system and the whole freighter and will stay on this frequency for further instructions.”

  The two mini spaceplanes approached slowly and very cautiously, to berth with the docking ports of each vessel. It took thirty minutes to dock, lock verify and open both sets of hatches. Then first, two flying robots entered the corridor from the mini spaceplanes and inspected the occupants as well as the majority of the ship. Then five security personnel emerged, searched each occupant starting with t
he Captain Brataslav and his wife, then their skeleton crew on the former Marigot. So also on the SanQuentin, Captain Madhi was arrested and secured, as was his skeleton crew. After making sure that there were no booby traps and that all weapons on board were safely stowed on both ships, they were transported back to the Celeste and put in separate chambers in the onboard brig. Two of the security personnel remained on board each ship in the meantime to guard it and help maintain vital functions. The second docking a few hours later saw five more crew from the Celeste arriving on board and engines were carefully brought up to power again.

  Then came the delicate task of hitching all twelve cargo pods to one of the freighters. The current crew were unfamiliar with that task and so it took several hours. One of the hijacker crew members who professed knowledge of the process and proffered his expertise was in fact quite helpful indeed. A note was made in his file by Captain Ronald. He was very willing after that to advise, no doubt hoping to be given credit with a lighter sentence maybe later on, for his help. Anyway, the barges were hitched and on the way finally to their original destination. Messages had been flying back and forth between the BMOS and the Celeste updating them and relaying to Baclet ground our progress. It still took at least twelve minutes now for radio signals one way despite the fact that while cloaked, those barges had been slowly moving closer toward Baclet.

  It appeared through the code words previously agreed upon by the Chiefs on the ground that ‘ gF, gY, gB and gP was achieved with no fuss. The ‘gF’ referring to all financial confiscation and seizures effected no problem, and the others referred to Y for Yashid and family, the B for BMOS plant Mr. Gentry Smith arrested and P for all those ‘plants’ that were dispersed throughout the critical government agencies to benefit the Yashid criminal corruption enterprise. It looked like a thorough rout.

  The Celeste sent out instructions to their torpedoes and they were verified safe and loaded back on board carefully. The original torpedoes from the first trip had been sent instructions and only one was still outstanding. We had no choice but to hunker down and await its arrival in another four hours. In the meantime there was a lot of work to be done. Six sent a brief message to Jongi saying that all went well and it was nearing the time to mentally screen the new prisoners on board.

  19. INTERROGATION

  Six went down to the brig and the Captains were brought to them one by one to a mini conference room while still shackled. Under the guise of assisting them to sit comfortably we told them we were part of the Toigan crew and would just like to ask them a few questions. They were already attempting to clam up giving us name rank and number. We pointed out that the regulations of that nature only applied to military prisoners. Did they want to be considered ‘military’. Clearly they hadn’t thought it all out very well because if they did say yes, the penalties for captured foe under military rules would not be very lenient since they had actually cowardly shot missiles at us unprovoked, without any formal declaration of war or command to us to get out of their sector. Once that was pointed out to them, they became very interested in a civilian type Baclet trial under rules that they were familiar with and with their hoped for monied lawyers. Of course we gathered all the needed information out of their minds anyway and they were none the wiser. After the co-Captains Brataslav and Marybeth, then came Captain Madhi and we followed up with the crew who really could confirm what we already knew but not add anything new. The prisoners were back under guard, fed and their needs taken care of and we Six retreated with Captain Ronald to create records of all that we had learned, without specifying how we learned it. Obviously the junior crew were much more ready to spill their guts for a lighter sentence. The Captains were not ready yet, but if they got to where they learned that all their monies were gone and their rich benefactors were in jail too and no one would be coming to their rescue, they would likely beg to start singing too! The large purse to be paid for the retrieval of the two lost vessels plus the cargo would benefit the Toigan Defnet with smaller portions going to other agencies and we in Six as well as the Captain and crew of the Celeste. Although we would only get a tiny percentage spilt among us all, the Captain Ronald told us, since like him, we were agency employees, it would still amount to a substantial reward. It was his job to know these things, so we listened carefully. There’d be no argument coming from us.

  When finally we had all our armaments back onboard and were headed to the BMOS, it was time to chill and relax. At the BMOS, our berthing went much smoother and faster than the last time.. The AI software had learned the moves from the first experience and it was a snap. Captain Mischa was able to come join us aboard the Celeste. Our prisoners were marched through the dock with video rolling, no doubt being seen live on Baclet and with a significant time delay on Toigan and a very long time delay on Threeme. We were beginning to get the feed from the arrests of Yashid, his family, his associates and reports of how much money was being confiscated. Chief Martinette had a special thank you from Professor Wainscot to Jessi for keeping her word and said he had already left his protective detention to be back in his RV as he felt safe enough already after he had realized how extensive the sweep had been. Trat Mining Conglomerate conglomerate sent their thanks too. They at TMC had not been in the loop and so this was a giant pleasant surprise for them to learn of the apprehension of the invisible hijackers and total recovery of their precious ore barges.

  So with all the good news pouring in, it was time to check in with home through Jongi. Jessi had already reached out to her Mum Stacy since the mission was essentially over. Next stop was to be Jongi. As usual she was up and we relayed the score for her to pass on. All parties would get the cleaned up version from Captain Ronald which would not mention things like mind reading etc.

  Our techniques were only for the ears and eyes of very few and must never enter the public record. This had already been made clear to Chief Martinette and the Professor on the ground on Baclet.

  20. BACK TO TOIGAN

  After twelve hours, we were free from the BMOS, the two freighters had arrived with one of them towing those ore cargo pods. Our staff on board those quickly handed over the vessels and cargo to BMOS crew personnel who were waiting eagerly and once back on the Celeste, within one hour we were headed home. We bid farewell to Captain Ross and his officers through a vid linkup direct bridge to bridge. Two hours including a thirty minute docking time and the Celeste was home at the Main Control Orbital Station MCOS after another proud and successful voyage. Even Captain Ronald was looking forward to going down to the surface as he prepared to hand over to his relief. Six spent the time making videos of themselves chasing each other through the long corridors with no anchoring magnetic shoe covers on. So they were doing high speed weightless chases! As they say, boys and girls will be just that - boys and girls! Captain Ronald had to warn his crew members about lunatic live human missiles coming down corridor A and a few intrepid crew members stuck their eyeballs like periscopes through partly opened doors to catch a glimpse. No one was killed, it must be said. Although Six would never admit it, they all had sore spots to show for their escapades.

  After the Celeste was docked, Captain Ronald bid them and Mischa off at the docking station and asked, “Are you all alright?” He gave a playful cuff on the shoulder to Jonah, who did his best not to wince. Jonah said, “Of course we will miss you and your crew Captain and the lovely Celeste too.” He caressed the wall near the doorway. “We all look forward to flying, no traveling, with you soon again. I suppose you don’t really ‘fly’ in space, do you?”

  The Captain said, “You are right, and we look forward to doing the same with you all. What a group you are. Keep up the camaraderie. Toigan and this whole region of space is safer with you guys around.” Jonah said, “Can we invite you and yours over sometime maybe to our farm. There’s always lots of work and we certainly arrange things like hiking and dancing etc.”

  The Captain winked, “I’ll take you up on the hiking yes, not so much the dan
cing. Our youngsters may enjoy that though. Give us a call. I’ll be down on the drop transport after yours, as I still have to hand over responsibilities first to my relief Captain. There will be twenty of my crew plus yourselves going down together on the first drop off. Have a good one.”

  They were carrying two inflated one gallon bags with them as they greeted Commander Chu of MCOS who was beaming ear to ear. “You guys have managed to pull this off! I have to admit, despite what Buenafe had said about your competence, that I had my doubts. You all are so young. I’m glad to have been proven wrong for being a ‘doubting Thomas’. You went to Tsatvik and rescued those guys and then wiped out the hijackers too. We have gotten the communiques and civilian news releases too from Baclet. Congratulations. It is a pity that we won’t have time to throw you a party here on the MCOS. Your transport is literally ready to go.” He loaded us on the wheeled buggy that obviously was magnetically corralled to the hallway and sped us to the other side of the sprawling complex where we saw the inside of the descent vehicle with rows of returnees already strapped in. He looked puzzled at our two inflated bags and before he could ask, we said, “Space air from the Celeste. Our folks had heard space air smells strange.” He looked puzzled even more, then the lights flicked on in his head and he said, “I forgot that you guys are newbies. I have been here for so many years that I don’t notice any difference myself and I forgot that newbies and their families go through this. Look out, it will shrink when you get down since we keep the ambient pressure much lower up here,” he said. After the usual suiting up and then strapping in, the door closed and an hour later after all systems were checked out ok, we undocked with a slight bump. Next we were floating free for twenty minutes before the first serious de-orbiting burn happened.