by Ava D. Dohn
* * *
The two innocent-appearing commerce traders quietly settled down in the frozen, windswept clearing of an ancient evergreen forest. As soon as the huge landing pads of the larger of the two ships were in contact with the snowy surface, the muffled whine of its wheezing engines groaned into silence, briefly returning peaceful stillness to the night. Moments later, a sharp clank! along with a grinding, shuddering whirr of worn-out servos chased away the quiet as a ramped door opened in the ship’s underbelly, grudgingly lowering until its end rested in the icy snow. Instantly, one after the other, several fast-moving, tracked vehicles began plunging down the steep ramp, racing away toward the surrounding trees.
The machines stopped just inside a clearing while their drivers waited to be joined by others still aboard the ships. There was a loud commotion as several dozen ragtag, armed men came trotting down the ramp, hooting and shouting to one another as if they were on an outing. They hurried across the frozen clearing to the waiting tracked machines.
At that same time, about thirty men exited the smaller, cutter-sized vessel, ten of them dressed the same way as the crew on the larger ship, but their demeanor betrayed them to be highly disciplined soldiers. The rest wore white camouflage uniforms while carrying modern assault weapons, primarily long-range sniper guns with computer-operated optical maser guidance systems. These men scurried off in all directions for several hundred meters to protect against intruders.
Three more men appeared on the dimly lit exit ramp of the smaller ship. They walked down together, stopping where it touched the ground. One of the men was attired the same as the crowd heading for the tractors. The other two wore natty officer’s uniforms, bright red kilts and shirts, long, flowing, red capes and burnished metal breastplates and helmets. Reddish-brown leggings and snow-paks had been added to their wardrobes because of the cold and ice. They chatted for some time as the others spread into the wood or assembled at the vehicles.
Looking across the narrow expanse between the two ships, the men spied the commander of the ragtag force standing near the ramp with some of his lieutenants. The captain of the three watched the goings on, rubbing his naked chin as if pondering the moment. Finally, he shouted to the other commander, “Can’t you keep your children’s friggin’ mouths quiet for at least one second? We don’t want the whole damn planet knowing we’re here!”
The commander’s face flushed red with anger as he shouted back, “Shut your own mouth, you no good bastard, or I’ll take my boys home and you can play this game by yourself!”
“Fool!” The captain shouted back as he started for the commander. Walking briskly toward his antagonist, he pelted the man with insults. “Your silly-ass monkey-children already drank up half of the payment given you! If you back out now, you’d better have riches enough to return our payment or you’ll never live to see another day in your lovely hovel! Now shut your children up!”
The commander's eyes blazed with fury, his hands clenched white in rage, but he held his tongue, for he knew too well the truthfulness of the captain’s threat. He eventually turned to two of his lieutenants. Off they scurried while the commander again faced the captain, who was nearly advanced upon him. “Don’t trust to the luck of your sky patrol, you blow-hard! They've been known to fail before...”
“Are you brave enough to chance it today?” the incensed captain coldly retorted. He was well aware of the deceitful and treacherous traits of these Stasis Pirates. His experiences with them had taught him that strength of power was all that kept them in line. Many a fellow officer had learned too late not to trust these animals. But if one held high the whip while extending a bone, they could become useful tools.
The commander grunted his contempt, but remained silent.
“We have an understanding then.” crooned the captain. “Look, my dear fellow, if all goes well, you will attain a much larger reward than what little you’ve received from our hand. As I said, pillage all you want. If you wish to bring back some toys to fun with on the return trip, that’s fine with me, too. But make sure they’re all dead before you get home. I don’t want any wild flappin’ about this later on!” He poked the commander’s chest with his finger. “And do things as you’re told! Let a few run away alive. We need ‘em for witnesses. And most of all…make it messy! Do you understand?”
The commander glowered, his displeasure obvious at being bossed around by this obnoxious intruder. Still, he knew his place if booty was to be had. He nodded, acknowledging his understanding.
“Good! Very good!” The captain smiled. “Now run along and ready your people. My man will be there shortly.”
The Stasis commander was seething, but he contained his anger. He ordered his men off with him and, as they departed, he called out so that the captain could hear, “Watch your back boys, or they’ll bugger ya!” They picked up their pace and were soon some distance from the captain’s party.
The captain shook his head. “It’s a pity we waste our time with those things. Most are so stupid, they’d piss on their own feet, thinking they were getting a shower.” He said that as he watched two of the Stasis urinating on a tracked machine’s hot exhaust pipe. “Watch yourself, Sergeant. Don’t even think of trusting one of ‘em. They’d stick you as to look at you.”
The man dressed in the same garb as the Stasis acknowledged his orders.
“One more thing...” The captain looked around to make sure no one was near. “Make sure you leave a couple of those ape-men behind as evidence. I don’t want anyone thinking anything except this was some raid made by those things. Got it?”
“Yes sir, I’ll make sure of it.” The sergeant offered a crisp salute.
The captain eyed his man and warned. “From now on, act like those things!” He pointed to the Stasis. “No more proper salutes until you’re back here.”
“Yes, sir…” the sergeant replied. “Oops…!” He started making funny animal noises while scratching his underarms, bowing his legs, wandering off toward the gathered assembly, breaking wind as he walked away.
The captain and his fellow officer roared with laughter. Few could cut up better than the sergeant, and he was making a show of it tonight. Both then watched the tractors get underway and disappear into the forest. The two then slowly retraced their steps back to the small ship. On the way, the lieutenant asked, “Sir, how can we be so sure this little ploy will be successful? After all, it’s only a tiny village in a desolate wilderness, not even remotely important to anyone other than its inhabitants.”
Replying to his second-in-command, the captain flatly stated, “This is only the beginning, Lieutenant. Eventually, we will have success. That little lady has responsibility for protecting this quadrant. If raids like this continue, she will be forced to personally investigate. It’s only a matter of time before she does.”
“Yes, sir...” replied the lieutenant. “It appears to be a good plan, but I have to wonder. Her boyfriend’s the admiral over the fleet here. He won’t let her take any real chances. I mean, how will we get her far enough away from his fleet so we can do our business and get away?”
The captain smiled. “All we have to do is keep drawing her further away from the others, like we did with the Zephath. First, we’ll get her attention, like we’re doing tonight. Then we’ll make raids on settlements at greater and greater distances out on the Frontier. When she’s out beyond any real help…well, the old man will take care of the rest. He’s got it all planned.”
The captain slapped his junior officer on the back. “Come on. Let’s get a hot drink and kick up our feet while we wait for business to be finished here.”
The two hustled up the ramp, past the guards, and hailed someone in the crew to bring them some brews.
