A few minutes later we were jetting through space toward the wreckage of Baux-201. The string of barges had separated from the wreck and was hovering about a kilometer away. Ada was quiet. I hesitated when we got within ten meters.
“I’ll give you your privacy,” I said.
“Thank you.”
I waited, floating in space and surveying the scene. What a waste. I hated pirates. Their greed and disregard for life was horrible. For a load of whatever was on the barges, they were willing to destroy two lives. All for a small cut of ill-gotten gains. I understood more clearly why Marny had been pissed at me for not firing on the remaining two pirates and allowing them to escape. Rationally, I still thought it was the best approach, but emotionally it was clearly not what I wanted.
“I’m coming out.” Ada’s voice cut through my internal conversation.
“Is there anything you want to bring back with you? I can help.” I said.
“I’ve got it.” Ada jetted toward me, pushing a loosely bundled set of cases.
Once we were back on the ship, I showed her to Bunk Room #2 (BR-2). Marny and Nick must have been working while we were out, as all of the cargo we’d stored there had been moved. The bed had fresh linens on it and a towel was folded neatly in the center of the lower bunk. It was a thoughtful gesture.
“I’ll be on the bridge. You’re welcome to join us there if you want. It looks like Marny or Nick already has you set up here.”
“Thank you.” Ada wasn’t processing very well yet. It was understandable. I left her alone and joined my friends on the bridge.
“Nice job with the bunk room guys. Thanks.” I didn’t know which of them had been responsible, but I was grateful. It didn’t take much to empathize with Ada. She was my age and the recent attack on my home mining colony made it easy to imagine the loss of one of my parents.
“It sucks,” Marny said.
“Agreed. Nick, did you send a message to Belcose?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll do it.” I left the bridge and entered Nick and Marny’s room - originally the captain’s quarters. Nick and I were co-owners of the business and while I had been designated captain, it made more sense that Nick and Marny take the larger room. The issue was, when we’d received our Letter of Marque from Mars Protectorate Navy, they’d installed specialized communication equipment in the captain’s quarters. Bottom line was … every time I needed to make a private call, I had to take over Nick’s room.
I shut the door behind me to spare Ada from the details of what I would share with Lieutenant Gregor Belcose, my contact with Mars Protectorate Navy.
Attach all recent combat data streams to the following message.
Greetings Lieutenant Belcose – Sterra's Gift has rendered aid to the merchant ship, Baux-201, which was eventually destroyed. Captain Adela Chen was killed by the action of a well-organized pirate team. We arrived too late to help Captain Chen, but were able to rescue her daughter, Ada Chen, and in the process destroyed two pirate ships and captured a third. I believe we will end up requesting a prize claim for this captured ship and will take this up with the captain who takes control of the now secured combat area. We intend to continue to render assistance to Ada Chen until the Mars Protectorate Navy instructs us otherwise. I have attached combat data streams for all of these actions.
I’m concerned about discovering pirate activity this close to Mars since we are less than a week out. On a personal level, I hope you and Captain Sterra are doing well.
Hoffen Out.
I heard Ada in the adjacent shower room. It was a good sign that she was taking care of herself. I rejoined Marny and Nick on the bridge.
“I know the timing is bad, but we should probably talk to her about the cargo. The way we treat this could have a big impact on her,” Nick said.
“I’m not following …”
“It depends who owns Baux-201. Tugs are pretty commonly owner-operated. If that’s the case and the cargo is lost, then they’ll forfeit their bond. If they don’t own the ship then it’s probably not as big of a deal. Either way, we should help her figure that out before the Navy shows up. We could rightfully salvage the load and demand its value, as well as the value of the actual barges from whoever owns it. We’d have to get a lawyer again,” Nick never ceased to amaze me with his understanding of these types of details. I wondered if he ever slept.
“That sounds pretty mercenary,” I said.
“Right, but if we leave it here, what’s going to happen to it? Probably get picked up by pirates. Point is, you’re not going to feel good about it unless she’s part of the conversation. It really depends if her mom owned the ship and held the bond.”
“Ugh, got it. Not sure she’s ready for this.”
Nick had forwarded me some of the easier to understand legalese related to salvage rights. The laws were essentially the same as they had been since the Roman Empire. As salvager we could ask for repayment equal to the value of the load, including the barges. If we went that path and the Chen family had a bond, they would not only lose their tug but also their bond. Most small trading families couldn’t take that type of loss and survive.
I waited for a few minutes after Ada got out of the shower and then knocked on her bunk room door.
“Come in.” Her voice sounded small behind the door. I pushed it open. Ada sat on the edge of the bed and was drying her hair with the towel.
“I’m really sorry, you’ve been through a lot, but we should probably talk about some things before the Navy gets here. We have some decisions to make that could affect you.”
She looked up at me with distrust in her eyes. I didn’t blame her, it was way too much to take in.
I continued. “At least let me tell you how we read it.”
She nodded and I leaned against the door frame. “A lot of this hinges on whether you and your mom owned the tug and if you hold the bond on the load.” Her answer showed in her face before she had a chance to say anything. She probably wasn’t much of a poker player.
“Okay …” she said, trying not to give anything away.
“Let’s just say that’s the case.”
“It is,” she interrupted.
“Well, that’s mostly bad. As it stands, the company you contracted to will collect the bond since you have no way to complete the delivery.”
“What about the other tug? Is it yours?” Ada asked.
“No. It belonged to the pirates. We have captured it, however, and will make a claim on it.”
“Is that it? Are you trying to take our load?”
“It’s okay to be mad, Ada, but you need to know we’re not the bad guys. We responded to your mayday. We’re merchants, just like you.”
She looked chagrined. “I’m sorry. It’s just, well, I’ve never had to deal with this before. Mom always handled this stuff.”
“Is your dad still around?”
“He and Mom started the business together, but they split up a few years ago. He still owns half. All our money is wrapped up in the tug and those bonds. We’re wiped out without it.”
“We’ll get you hooked up with our comm gear so you can talk to your dad. Before that, let me tell you what I’m thinking. You’re probably required to report this to whomever you contracted with, so you should do that first. My guess is they’ll tell you they’re taking your bond. Tell them you might be able to sub-contract out the delivery and find out if they’ll still honor your agreement. Your dad might pass that by a lawyer if it gets dicey. The problem is, we need to resolved this before the Navy gets here.”
“You keep saying that. Why?”
“I don’t want to make a claim of salvage on the barges and your load if we can simply help you get them delivered. A decision needs to be made while the Navy is on-site. Mars Protectorate Judiciary will settle everything while they’re here and they don’t go for long, drawn-out processes. If you want us to sub-contract delivery for you, I need to know so I avoid filing the salvage claim.”
>
“Wouldn’t you make more money if you salvaged them?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you do this for us?”
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“Shouldn’t you make something? It doesn’t seem fair to you.”
“Okay, what was your net on this run going to be?”
“Forty thousand.”
“If we deliver on time, then you pay us twenty. Talk it over with your dad and let me know. We’ll give your AI full access to the comm system and I’ll leave you to it. Come find me when you know something.”
HARD BALL
“Hey, Liam. Can we talk?” Ada’s voice came from the doorway of the bridge.
“Sure, come in, we’re all friends here. You’ve already met Marny, and this is my partner, Nick.”
Nick stood and shook her hand. It was less awkward than I might have expected.
Ada took a breath and said, “We’ve got a problem. I talked to my dad and then to a lawyer. The contract was oddly written and it doesn’t allow us to sub out its fulfillment.”
“Did you contact the company?” I asked.
“Precast Products. Yeah, our lawyer contacted theirs and they aren’t budging. We stand to lose three hundred fifty thousand in bonds not to mention the loss of Baux.” The stress in her face was clear.
“That sucks.” I said.
“We’ve got an incoming hail from the frigate Banny Hill,” Nick said.
“On forward holo.”
An older naval officer appeared, centered and forward of the two pilot’s chairs. His features were strongly oriental. He had short black hair that was graying at the temples and the fit build I had come to expect from naval personnel.
“Greetings, Captain,” I said.
“Greetings. Lieutenant Commander Pablo Veras. With whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. Captain Liam Hoffen. You are being broadcast on my bridge in front of my crew and a survivor of the attack.”
“Appreciate the heads up, Captain Hoffen. We’re currently a thousand kilometers from your location, would you submit to a turret lockdown?”
Accept turret lockdown from frigate Banny Hill. “There you go, Lieutenant Commander.”
“Thanks, Captain. We’re only a few minutes out and aren’t tracking any hostiles in the area. Do you concur?”
“Roger that. All’s quiet.”
“We’ll get right down to business once we arrive, if you don’t mind. Thanks to your combat data streams we will process the scene quickly and let you get on about your business. We’d like to dock up with you and provide a temporary catwalk between ships. Is this something you would be amenable to doing?”
“Certainly. Have your engineer work directly with my partner, Nick James.”
We tracked the frigate as it arrived. It didn’t immediately stop next to us, but slowly sailed a long arc around the combat area. At forty-five meters, the Banny Hill wasn’t a lot longer than Sterra's Gift, but it was three times as thick and shaped more like a triangle, with several decks above and below the centerline. The amount of firepower on display on the flat side of the triangle was outrageous - turrets and missile tubes fairly littered the side that faced us. I imagined the other side was similarly outfitted. I would hate to run into the Banny Hill under the wrong circumstances.
The Navy pulled alongside Sterra's Gift and extended the pressurized catwalk. It didn’t take long for two figures to cross over and press the ‘hail’ button on the exterior side of our airlock.
A stout Marine in full armor stood in front of Veras as I cycled the locks. With the pressurized catwalk, we didn’t have to worry about de-pressurizing and re-pressurizing, but safety dictated that at least one door be sealed just in case either ship were to move suddenly and disconnect the catwalk.
“Permission to come aboard?” Veras requested from behind the armored Marine.
“Permission granted. If you’d join us on the bridge, we can make introductions there.”
“Lead on.”
When we arrived on the bridge, Marny snapped to attention and announced, “Captain on the bridge.” Once the Marine had surveyed the bridge and apparently decided we were of a limited threat he moved to the side and stood rigidly. We all shook hands and made introductions.
“If you are amenable, Captain, I would like to interview Ms. Chen first. We can either do that back on the Banny Hill or, if you have a private space, we could do it there.”
I offered him the use of the captain’s quarters. Ada looked at me with concern.
“Ada, I believe Lieutenant Commander Veras would like to meet with you privately to make sure that you aren’t being coerced or held against your will. I suspect he will also want to take a statement from you on the events that occurred here today. I know it’s a lot to take in, but he is honor bound to make sure you are safe, first and foremost.”
I caught Veras’s eye and he nodded affirmatively. Ada, mollified, walked off the bridge with Veras and his Marine guard in tow. I was pleased to see that the door remained open. The Marine took up a position where he had a clear view of Veras and Ada, while blocking our exit from the bridge.
“Nick, any comm?”
“Not a thing. Are you going to claim salvage?”
“Not sure what other option we’ll have. I’m guessing it’ll tie things up for a few months, greedy bastards.”
“Are you serious about heading back to Colony 40?” Marny asked.
“We can talk it over, but it would give us the greatest leverage. I bet Precast Products wants to call my bluff and see if we’ll actually file the salvage claim.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Nick asked.
“I’ve got an idea that might keep Ada and her dad from taking too much of a financial hit.”
We waited for Veras and Ada to finish. I was itching to get moving again. All of this sitting around was driving me nuts. Finally, Ada returned to the bridge.
“How’d it go?” Her eyes were red and her cheeks puffy. “No fun, eh?”
“He’d like to talk to you now.”
Veras stood when I entered the room and we shook hands again. “I had a nice conversation with Commander Sterra on the Kuznetsov. She speaks very highly of you.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Thank you.”
“My staff reviewed the combat data streams and provided we don’t find anything to the contrary with the physical inspection that is currently taking place, Mars Protectorate will find the crew of Sterra's Gift acted within the law. Further, you and your crew will be commended publicly for quick and decisive action which resulted in the preservation of the life of one Ada Chen.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in this conversation,” I said.
“Not really. I just don’t understand why you let those pirates go. They fired on your ship and you were well within your rights to take action. To some, it will look like you wanted that tug and didn’t care if a couple of pirates got away.”
“It seemed like the right idea at the time. I’m not sure I would do the same thing again.”
“Are you going to request the tug as a privateer prize? I couldn’t help but notice its proximity.”
“Yes.”
“Surely you see how that looks,” he said.
“Let me put my cards on the table. I’m not concerned with how other people view this, but I am concerned with how you see it.”
“Oh? By all means, put your cards on the table, then.”
“Did I consider the tug when making the deal with the pirates? Yes. Was I worried about exchanging fire with two ships? Yes. I was out of missiles and we were outnumbered. Did I think we could win? Absolutely. Did I think we might take casualties? Absolutely. The people on this ship are my family and if I can keep someone from shooting at us, I’ll do it every time. Am I a merchant? Yes. I’m looking out for me and mine.”
“Some might say you had less than honorable intentions.”
“Th
ey’d best not say that to my face. The reason we responded to the mayday was simple. Adela Chen was being attacked and about to lose everything, including her life. Do the math. I launched three hundred thousand m-creds worth of missiles before I even knew there was a tug. Smart money said - fly on by.”
“Alright, no need to get hot." He gave me a slight grin. "I have to ask the questions and get them recorded. For the record, I think you should have blown them to bits, but I don’t have mouths to feed. As for the matter of the tug, it is not registered which, as you most likely know, means it was probably being used in criminal enterprise. I am awarding Loose Nuts Corporation the Fujitsu Freighter – Model FF718 as a prize under the Mars Privateer Act.”
Off the record. Veras stopped the recording.
“Between you and me. I get that you had a hard decision to make. What I want you to think about is what those two pirates are going to do now. Do you think they’ll turn away from their illicit activities? How many others will die at their hands? You can comfort yourself all you want that you didn’t put your crew in danger. I think that’s crap.”
Veras’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. My face flushed, was I just greedy? I started to talk but he cut me off.
“Look, you’re young and just getting started. I saw you in action back on Colony 40 and read about your attack on the pirate base near Baru Manush. I believe you came here to help Captain Chen. You are an honorable man. The thing I’ve got stuck in my craw is that, dammit, you let me down. Like it or not, you’ve got a lot of people watching you and we need heroes, Captain Hoffen, not mercenaries. Straighten up.”
Veras pulled his jacket straight. Back on the record.
I was too stunned to respond. He couldn’t have shut me up better if he had whacked me in the forehead with a two kilo spanner.
“As to the matter of the string of barges, would you like to file a claim of salvage?”
My mind whirled with emotion. How could he switch gears so quickly?
“Yes.”
“Very well.”
“No, wait.”
“Pardon?”
“Could I have a minute with Ada Chen?”
Privateer Tales 3: Parley Page 3
