The Azophi Academy Complete Series Boxed Set: Unique Military Education

by TR Cameron

  The ship itself was functionally better than it had been the last time he was on board and didn’t seem likely to shake itself apart at any moment. Of course, we’re not in atmosphere, either.

  Athena observed, “Nor will you be unless something goes terribly wrong.”

  Fair point. Cosmetically, though, the vessel looked appropriately beaten and abused. They counted on their disguises more than usual since the Academy didn’t have deep access to the pirate guilds’ organizational arrangement. Fortunately, clans rose and fell rapidly within the broader structure, which would help them shunt away any initial suspicion. Their story would be that they were a small trade crew that simply couldn’t handle the corporate world anymore. A false trail had been laid for the ship’s activities, and since that was outside the pirates’ records, it should stand up to inspection.

  Unfortunately, they couldn’t exactly board the Tortuga with rifles in hand. Everything they could find on the place suggested that tradition permitted a blade, a pistol, and nothing more. Of course, the Academy quartermaster had done her regular amazing job and provided several additional, innocent-looking items. They each carried a scuffed multi-tool clipped to their gun belt, common the universe over. Their version included cunningly concealed computer adapters and a currently deactivated wireless connection to Jax’s comm so Athena could use them. The others had disguised items, but they were all in case of unexpected trouble: lock picks, single charge stunners, and the like. He didn’t think they’d come into play since the operation would either be very quiet or very loud, with little room for subtlety in the latter circumstance.

  Jax carried several gadgets that would be of greater use. He wore a notably expensive brand of display glasses, but if anyone but him tried them on, they would show only blurry information. He’d admit that he was trying to look impressive, but they were all image and no function. A small pouch held a pack of thin cigars and a lighter. Half of the cigars were real; the others were part of an explosive mixture. The other component was disguised as a spare magazine for his pistol. How much gel he put on the thin tubes would determine the delay until it detonated. The best part was that when separated, neither registered as dangerous on any scan.

  Finally, he wore a scuffed and scratched coin around his neck as a good luck charm. In reality, it was an emergency beacon to call in backup. He’d spent over an hour debating the pros and cons with Stephenson but had agreed to take it in the end. Her position was that the UCCA was well within its rights to harass the pirates and that no particular political fallout would result from doing so. He was concerned that she was willing to fall on her sword, professionally speaking, to protect him and his team. He planned not to have to use it. Still, if he were completely honest, having the option made him feel more confident than he would have without it.

  He looked around at the faces staring back at him and smiled in satisfaction. “You are a bunch of scurvy dogs, you are.” They laughed and did their pirate imitations. “Okay, so, one more time through the plan. We’re normal pirates looking for some rest, recreation, and trade. We’ll stick together as best we can, but if we get separated, our comms’ encryption should allow us to keep our communication secret.” The devices on their wrists appeared ordinary on the outside, but were as high tech on the inside as his military version, according to the quartermaster. “If we are split, we work in teams. Me and Cia, Maria and Ethan, Anton and Kenton.” They nodded as he said their names.

  “Primary objective is getting the information and getting out alive. If it turns out that the traitor is on board the Tortuga, we’ll improvise. Unless threatened with immediate harm, we do everything we can to avoid going loud. But if we do have to go loud, no quarter for anyone who opposes us. Cia says these folks are the worst kind of people, the ones who will kill the crew of a surrendered ship for sport.” He shook his head. “It’ll be hard not to be provoked if they’re as bad as she claims. But we need to keep our focus pure. Get in. Get the stuff. Get out.” He chuckled inwardly. Where have I heard that before?

  Athena replied, “Every mission for the Academy so far, I believe. Apparently, you’re a one-trick pony to them.”

  Yeah, but I’m excellent at that one trick. “Questions?”

  Maria Verrand, who appeared to have apologized her way back into the others’ good graces, asked, “What’s the exit plan if we get separated?”

  Cia replied, “Anyone who can get to the Jigsaw should. I’ve shown Ethan enough about flying that he should be able to get clear and hit the autopilot to get to jump range if I’m not here.”

  Jax nodded. “And those who can’t get back to the Jigsaw should fade into the background. Everyone has sufficient cash to last a week or two aboard the ship if they’re careful. Something this big, there are certain to be places to go to ground. Anyone who gets out can call in the cavalry. Major Stephenson’s connection is in your comm under ‘Mom.’” They laughed. “If no one gets out, I’ll be the one calling for help.”

  Verrand shrugged. “Sounds good.”

  Ethan Kimmel frowned. “Does it seem to anyone else like we should have more information going in?”

  Everyone made noises or gestures of agreement, including Jax. He added, “From what I hear, the interior changes a lot. It’s like a city in there, but one without any real central authority. The ones in charge put down fights when they get big and keep people from drilling holes in the outer skin and decompressing the ship, but that’s about as far as their concern goes. Sounds like it’s as close to anarchy as anything I’ve ever seen.”

  Cia nodded. “That’s what I’ve heard, too. Not too many pirates mess with the Rearden Company, mainly because we have a bunch of them on the payroll. It’s certainly easier to tell us stuff than try to take down our ships, which almost always have hidden surprises for any attacker. But they’ve all been pretty clear about the fact that the Tortuga is not a place for the faint of heart.”

  Anton Sirenno lifted a palm to indicate he wanted to speak. Jax replied, “Really? Okay, please.”

  The other man laughed. “I’m positive my heart is weakening by the second. When we arrive, it will probably be faint. You all go ahead, don’t worry about me. I’ll hold down the ship.”

  The others laughed, and Kenton Marshall threw a wadded-up napkin at Sirenno’s head. Jax answered, “Yeah, yeah, we’d all like to sit this one out, believe me. But our best chance is to go in together because we are far more potent as a group than as individuals. Any other actual concerns?”

  None were registered, and Jax nodded. “Okay, people. Let’s do this.”

  He was in the copilot’s chair for the approach to the Tortuga. As it grew larger in the display, the extensive damage the ship had taken during whatever battle had put it out of commission became visible. Jax breathed, “Holy hell,” as he zoomed the image in and scrolled it along the vessel’s side. It appeared as if no more than a single panel or two of the original hull had survived in any given place, and the beaten and scarred patches welded atop them looked as if they, too, should have been headed for a junkyard.

  Cia gave a small laugh. “Yeah, it’s not a pretty sight, is it? But what I hear is that the inside is as bad, so it has that going for it.”

  “Seriously. I’m down with prioritizing functional over cosmetic and all, but this thing offers some serious doubts about its ability to keep the air where it belongs. I presume they have emergency systems and stuff, but still.”

  She nodded. “I wonder how many people they’d lose to a significant breach? In most ships, like the Grace, the vacuum-sealed bulkheads are everywhere. I’d put money on that not being the case on this one unless their interior repair and maintenance are way better than the stuff on the outside.”

  “So we’ll add looking for portable air to our to-do list. Awesome.” He shook his head. “I’m hopeful, but not as confident about this op as I’d like to be.”

  “I know that feeling. But we’re on a path, and the path goes through the Tortuga. Speaki
ng of which,” she paused and hit some buttons. “Tortuga control, this is the Jigsaw, requesting a docking berth.”

  The reply was immediate and came in the form of a crisp, professional male voice. “Stand by, Jigsaw.” Jax gave her an inquisitive look, and the pilot shrugged.

  “Just because they’re scumbags doesn’t make them bad at their jobs. It’s easy to underestimate pirates, no matter where you find them, because of all the baggage their chosen occupation carries. But there are good and bad ones, efficient and inefficient ones, strong leaders and weak leaders, same as everywhere.”

  He shook his head. “You’re an absolute fount of wisdom. You know that?”

  She laughed. “I was quoting my father, but thanks for the attempted compliment. I’ll be sure to pass along your adoration of him on my next visit home.”

  The unknown man’s voice returned. “Jigsaw, since it’s your first time aboard the Tortuga, you’ll need to take one of our shuttles over. Park yourself at the coordinates I’m sending, and we’ll send a transport to you.”

  “Acknowledged. Jigsaw out.” Turning to Jax, she added, “Makes sense not to let a vessel you’re unsure of into your hangar. But I was hoping for a transit tube, rather than a shuttle.”

  “I’m sure this is only the beginning of the fun where the Tortuga is concerned.” He shook his head. “Is the backup plan ready to go?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but for the record I hate it, and I hope we don’t have to use it.”

  Jax sighed. “Yeah, me too. We’re going to be screwed if we’re down to that option.” He stood and stretched. “Let’s go break the news to the others and make ourselves presentable at the airlock. I imagine there’s going to be a security detail of some kind on that shuttle, and we need to convince them we’re as innocent and forthright as pirates get.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  There had been a brief inspection, but nothing particularly invasive. They’d been checked for explosives and biological hazards with a portable sensing wand and come through the process without a problem. The security crew was belligerent but quick about it, and the pilot gave them a smooth ride to the Tortuga. Jax affected a swagger as he led his team down the long hallway that connected the shuttle docking bay with the main part of the ship.

  Athena murmured, “I have access to the public portion of the network. I’ve detected programs attempting to gain permissions to access my files and am feeding them our decoy information.” He and Athena had spent several hours in his quarters during the trip creating a backstory for the Jigsaw and her crew. The AI had turned that story into a series of supporting documents that she now surrendered, likely a little at a time if all was going to plan, to the station’s efforts to hack their comms.

  A map drew itself in the corner of his display. According to the information provided by the Tortuga, the public areas of the ship encompassed about half of its total space, clustered in the middle decks and positioned slightly nearer the stern than the bow. Icons were present that indicated sources of food, lodging, entertainment, and shopping. Pass the map along to the team, please. Their comms would only interact with the ship’s network through his, although it wouldn’t appear that way to anyone scanning or trying to access them. They’d all been in favor of trusting Athena to be their shared firewall.

  He looked back over his shoulder to address the others. “Let’s find some food, shall we? If I have to eat another ration pack on the ship, I’m going to lose my damn mind.” He said it loud enough to be obnoxious and got several scowls in return. He planned to be over the top annoying whenever anyone else could see or hear him since people generally expected the brazen idiot in any given situation to be nothing more than a stupid fool.

  Athena snorted. “You’ve prepared for this role your whole life. Who knew you were a method actor?”

  Shut it. Unlike on the Cronus, where an effort had been made to replicate the open-air feel of a city street, the shops on the Tortuga looked like exactly what they had probably been, crew quarters. The walkways were laid out in a grid, and everything was shallow. Where larger businesses existed, they were inevitably wide rather than deep. Athena observed, “Structural pieces in the center that they didn’t want to compromise. Pretty ugly result.”

  You’re not kidding. He picked the first eatery he saw, a noodle restaurant, and they took the biggest table without waiting to be seated. Cia leaned over and whispered, “Maybe a little less obnoxious. Everyone here thinks they’re top of the food chain, and might be looking to prove it.”

  He nodded and ordered a round of beers from the flustered greeter, and slipped the man a bill for his trouble. The worker’s attitude transformed from confrontation to deference, and he bustled off to get their server. “It’s a fine line, but I think I can keep my balance.”

  They chatted about things they considered normal pirate subjects—cargo, trade, finally getting a chance to relax, and so on. Their food was served family-style, with individual bowls of noodles for each person and shared sauces, proteins, and vegetables to add in. He absently added his and let the conversation flow over him while he reviewed the data Athena was feeding him.

  How far in are you? Her reply was a growl. “Only at the public level. For a ship that seems so undisciplined, their computer network is astonishingly well-protected. I’ll need a physical connection to get any deeper, I think.”

  He was distracted by Kimmel asking, “What’s next? A good night’s sleep, then some shopping and selling?”

  Jax nodded. “Sleep for sure. Then you and M can see about moving our cargo. C will make sure the Jigsaw is fueled and repaired. And A and K, you work on stocking up supplies. Get better ration packs, damn it.” Where do you think we can find a port to hook you up?

  “I’m getting the impression that the ship has two discrete networks. One is for the crew, and one for everyone else. I predict any hardpoint available in the public areas will only provide access to the latter, and that the information we need probably lies on the former. However, it’s worth verifying first.” A marker pulsed on the map in the corner of his display. “According to the shipboard advertising, this hotel claims to have the fastest network access, allegedly for those who enjoy video games. More likely, it’s a gambling den. In either case, there will doubtless be a physical port somewhere.”

  Jax switched his attention back to his team’s conversation since he had nothing to offer the AI. When they’d finished, he led the others to the hotel, then booked them all rooms for several nights. When he opened the door to his, he grimaced at the sight and sighed. “Should have figured they would turn broom-closet-sized crew cabins into broom-closet-sized hotel rooms. But you’d think they could have at least painted the walls.” The existing paint was peeling and cracking and undoubtedly hadn’t been touched since the pirates had stolen the vessel. Cameras? Audio?

  Athena snorted. “No honor among thieves. Fortunately, whoever runs this hotel is more concerned with profit than security. Behave normally for a while, and I’ll own this place in no time.”

  He chuckled. You’re getting cocky.

  “Confidence in one’s abilities is not cocky.”

  Uh-huh. Sure. The only furniture in the room was a bed that lay longways against one wall and a display mounted on the wall at its foot. A narrow door led to a minimalist bathroom. This is not luxury living. Are you positive this place caters to gamblers?

  A flurry of windows opened on his display glasses, each of them showing a card game or table game in progress. Her droll voice replied, “Pretty sure.”

  Well, they must have access to better rooms than this. Speaking of which, have you spotted anywhere we can get you a physical connection?

  “Yes, but it’s less than optimal.”

  Of course, it is. Why wouldn’t it be? Let me guess. It’s in the high roller suite.

  She opened another window in his glasses. The camera must have been in an upper corner of the room and had a fisheye lens to allow him to see the entire space. It
was a bedroom, as luxurious as anything he could imagine being present on the ship. No metal was visible, only wooden furniture and a huge bed with heavy red blankets. It looked like someone’s idea of a bordello, with the scarlet-tinted lights and the black and crimson color scheme. “No. It’s the hotel owner’s suite.”

  Jax sighed. Bloody hell. I need to think about this one for a while. He laid down on the bed, closed his eyes, and eventually fell asleep after considering and discarding what felt like a thousand plans.

  When he woke the next morning, he still had nothing. Are you sure that you can’t find anything else?

  Athena replied, “Doubtless they exist, somewhere. But this is the only one I’ve been able to locate. Any complete schematics must reside on the other, inaccessible network or a higher level of the public one.”

  Damn it. Okay, I’m going to shower and try to get my head on straight. Message the others and tell them to be in their rooms ready to chat in an hour. After that interval had passed, Jax laid back on his bed with his display glasses on. Athena, do your thing.

  The AI replied, “Cameras and audio pickups are now feeding a loop recording. All comms are active.”

  “So, I hope everyone slept well. Athena’s found the physical port we need to plug into, but it’s in the hotel’s most secure area, aside from the security room and the vault.” An image of a greasy-looking man, probably in his late fifties, appeared in his visual field. He had thinning hair that was swept over to deny that fact and carried easily forty more pounds than he should have. His clothes were ostentatious, as were the gold chains he wore and the gem-encrusted rings on his fingers. “Meet the owner of the hotel. Our objective is in his bedroom.”