“So they’ll take us in,” Ben said. “What will they do from there?”
“That depends on what you do with me,” Holt said.
“What if we shoot you in the back, just to give you a taste of your own medicine?” Kim asked.
“I was doing my job,” Hold argued.
“You had the means to kill us all and destroy our ship,” Ben said. “We’re not going to pretend it was nothing.”
“It was a safety precaution,” Holt argued. “I never had plans to use it.”
“We should have known about it,” Nance said.
“She’s right,” Ben agreed.
“Would that have made you trust me more?” Holt replied. “I don’t think so.”
“Knowing you kept it from us doesn’t build confidence,” Kim said.
“We’ll hand you back over to your friends,” Ben said. “Along with the cargo we hauled here for them. If that doesn’t prove our intentions, we’ll move on and call it even.”
Suddenly, light appeared in front of the ship. Nance removed the plot, which had taken up the lower half of the display screens, and Ben could see what appeared to be an opening in the darkness ahead.
“Welcome to hell,” Kim joked, although no one laughed.
“The red light doesn’t ruin your night vision,” Holt said. “And doesn’t stand out from a distance.”
“Can we break the tractor beam?” Ben asked.
“Most likely,” Nance said. “Tractor beam technology isn’t strong enough to hold a ship that’s trying to escape.”
“That we know of,” Kim said.
“At full power, we could easily break free,” Nance said.
“That’s good to know,” Ben said.
“Relax,” Holt said. “Despite your ill-treatment, I’ll vouch for you.”
“Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better,” Kim said.
They fell silent as the hanger bay came into view. Ben saw five ships inside. Three were mining vessels that looked almost like spiny sea creatures he’d seen in videos. The other two were cargo haulers. They looked fat, stubby, and slow. Both had dark paint, which Ben guessed would make them hard to spot in space.
Modulus Echo, this is Richmond Station. Please shut down your engines and artificial gravity in sixty seconds.
Ben powered down their engines and waited for the countdown to kill the artificial gravity. As soon as he hit the button, there was a sensation of lightheadedness. They passed into Richmond Station’s artificial gravity well at almost the same moment.
“That was weird,” Kim said.
The ship was brought slowly into the red light of the hanger bay. As soon as the ship was inside, the outer doors closed. No one on the bridge of the Echo moved. Nance had camera feeds on every side of the ship projected onto the four corners of the main display. The light suddenly shifted from red to normal light, causing everyone to blink.
Three men, all armed with laser pistols that hung low on their hips, approached the ship. Ben got up and hurried down to the cargo bay. He glanced back at the railing where Magnum stood just behind Holt as he pulled the lever to open the rear hatch. Ben couldn’t see the gun Magnum held to the Confederate’s back, but he was certain it was there.
Turning back to the ramp, it lowered to reveal the three men. One stepped forward. He had a well-trimmed beard and wavy hair.
“I’m Silas Humphrey,” the man said, catching sight of Holt on the balcony that overlooked the cargo bay. “And you are?”
“Ben Griminski. We have a load of transparent steel alloy for you.”
“Holt?”
“They’re paranoid but harmless,” Holt called from the balcony.
“May I come aboard?” Silas asked.
“Sure,” Ben said.
The wavy-haired man came up the ramp and looked at the load of steel alloy with an appraising eye.
“Any problems on your voyage?” Silas asked.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Ben said.
“Is my man a prisoner?”
“Holt was held after we found the methane bomb he brought aboard our ship.”
“Still up to your old tricks, eh, Holt?” Silas called out.
“Better safe than sorry,” Holt called down.
“He’d know all about paranoia,” Silas said to Ben. “Of course it pays to be careful. Let him go and I’ll give you a tour of Richmond Station.”
“Magnum,” Ben called out. “You can let him go.”
“Thank you,” Silas said.
“We never meant any offense, but we had to be sure.”
“I get it. This galaxy is a dangerous place. But it seems like we can help each other. And I wouldn’t want anything to spoil that.”
“Nor would I,” Ben said. He tapped the com-link on his collar. “We’ve been offered a tour of the station. Who’s with me?”
“I’m game,” Kim said.
“Me,” Magnum said.
“I’ll stay here,” Nance said. “Just in case help is needed offloading the cargo.”
“We’ll stay in contact,” Ben said as Kim appeared on the balcony and followed Magnum down.
“You have a small crew,” Silas said.
“Just enough to run the ship,” Ben replied.
“That is best, in my experience. She is a good-looking vessel. I haven’t seen a Kestrel class ship in a long time.”
“Once we’ve seen the station, I’ll give you a tour.”
“I would like that,” Silas said.
Ben drew the laser pistol from the back of his pants and handed it to Holt, who was shuffling along, still in pain from his neck.
“No hard feelings,” Ben said.
“You have a lot to learn,” Holt said. “I hope you live long enough to realize how much you don’t know.”
He took the pistol, returned it to the holster, and shuffled off the ship.
“Shall we?” Silas asked, waving toward the station.
Ben nodded as Kim and Magnum joined him. They followed Silas onto the Confederate space station, while the other two men used power dollies to unload the Echo’s stolen cargo.
Chapter 37
“The Confederation of Free Planets depends on three things,” Silas said, leading them through the hanger. “Committed activists, Zexum gas, and blockade runners. Not everyone involved in the Confederacy shares our ideals, but it is safe to say that we all have a common enemy.”
“The Royal Imperium,” Kim said.
“Exactly. The so-called rulers of this arm of the galaxy are nothing more than despots who use the citizens under their control to increase the wealth of the royal family. After that, a corrupt regime fights over what is left like a pack of wild dogs. But it’s the people on a thousand worlds that suffer.”
“And you’re going to change that?” Kim asked.
“As much as any one man can,” Silas replied. “I can do my part.”
“We aren’t really interested in joining your war,” Ben said.
“That is understandable,” Silas replied, opening a door to a long hallway. “Tell me about yourselves.”
“We’re all from Torrent Four, including the Echo. I’ve spent a decade rebuilding her. And now we’re looking for honest work off the grid.”
“Under the radar,” Silas said. “I understand that. And you need what a blockade runner needs—Zexum gas. That’s what we’re doing here. I suppose Holt told you about Bannyan Seven.”
“A little,” Ben said.
“It’s not a major producer, but we aren’t looking to supply a fleet. Just a small group of dedicated fliers, like yourself. We trade Zexum for supplies. And, because it’s in our best interest, we offer other things.”
He opened a door to a massive space. It was more than a room; it was the central hub that the entire station was built on. And there were supplies of all kinds: clothes, weapons, tools, food, tech, survival supplies, and hard-vacuum gear.
“This is the core of Richmond Station,” Silas said. “Th
is is where we trade for what we need and keep our suppliers happy.”
“What is all this?” Kim said. “It looks like the royal treasury.”
“It’s more of a swap meet,” Silas said. “Some things that are brought to the station are for the Confederacy. For instance, the steel alloy you delivered will be used here in the station. Sometimes it’s shipped out. We have other bases, of course. If you choose to work with us, then you’ll discover them in time. But sometimes, independent contractors like yourselves bring us loads of goods they are looking to trade. We do business that keeps the blockade runners flying, which in turn keeps the Confederacy operating. It’s to our mutual benefit.”
“This is really something,” Ben said.
“Well, we don’t have real meat,” Silas said, wandering down the long central aisle, “but we have a thriving hydroponics farm here on the station. Can I interest you in a meal?”
“We wouldn’t say no to real food,” Ben said.
“Very good,” Silas said. “Right this way.”
He led them into a small cafe and ordered plates for the four of them. They were served salads with mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and nuts. Ben ate his food with a sense of wonder and curiosity about each thing on his plate. They washed it all down with a foamy cider that was bright and crisp. Ben saw Magnum sneaking part of his meal into a pocket of his big coat and knew he would give it to Nance when they returned to the ship.
“So,” Silas said as they finished eating. “What did Holt promise you?”
“Promise us?”
“What did he say was the cost of the Zexum he delivered to you?” Silas explained.
“Oh, well, he said the gas was in exchange for two runs past the blockades,” Ben said. “He said four at first, two for each tank, but since the other tank was full of methane, I’m assuming we won’t be charged for that.”
“No, you won’t,” Silas said. “In fact, if you so choose, you can leave us and be done. Keep the rest of the gas as our gift to you. Or, if you are willing to make more runs, I can ensure that you have more Zexum. In fact, if you’re willing to make three more runs for us, I’ll give you a full tank of Zexum and a thousand trade credits for your crew.”
“Trade credits?” Kim asked.
“It’s how we do business,” Silas said. “Direct trading is difficult. Most runners don’t want to trade one cargo load for another. So we give credits. You can use them however you see fit. Buy clothing, supplies, weapons, more food. Anything you see in the central corridor is for sale.”
“Three more runs?” Ben asked. “What type of runs?”
“That will depend on your ship and what you’re comfortable with. Does your ship have guest cabins?”
“Yes,” Ben said. “We have six.”
“Excellent. As you can guess, most blockade runners only have cargo space. Your ship is ideal in that you can carry cargo and passengers, not to mention her atmospheric capabilities. She is a hybrid, correct?”
“Yes,” Kim said. “The Echo can do it all.”
“So, we can help each other. I might not be so generous with everyone, but your ship makes you an invaluable partner. I’ll raise my offer. How’s two thousand trade credits, and I’ll top off your Zexum tank.”
Ben looked at Kim, who had a bewildered look on her face. Magnum nodded encouragingly. The decision was his to make, and the truth was they had no other options. Silas had offered to let them leave, but they had nowhere to go. Still, he seemed anxious for their help and Ben needed one more thing.
“Alright, but we need something else.”
“Name it,” Silas said. “I’m here to help.”
“We need a bootleg copy of the Navigation Network,” Ben said. “Get us one, and you have a deal. Three more runs, another tank of Zexum gas, and two thousand trade credits.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” Silas said. “But you are in luck. I know a man who has nav copies and for a price can even produce ship transponder codes.”
Silas stuck out his hand and Ben shook it. Just like that, their fate was sealed.
Chapter 38
They divided the trade credits evenly, four hundred each, with Ben taking Nance’s share to spend for her. She preferred to stay on the ship, even after sampling the produce that Magnum had brought to her. The last four hundred was given to Kim to buy produce for the ship.
After Silas delivered the Zexum tank and the bootleg navigation files, Ben joined Magnum and Kim at the trade market.
“They have things here I’ve never heard of,” Kim said. “Do you know what an evening gown is?”
“No,” Ben said.
“Apparently, on some worlds, people have fancy clothes to wear to special events. I tried one on. It was completely ridiculous, of course. You couldn’t run or fight in it, but it was beautiful.”
“Wish I’d seen you in it,” Ben said.
“There may have been pictures taken,” she teased. “Be nice to me, Benny, and maybe I’ll let you take a peek.”
Their first priority was the weapons booth. Projectile firearms were fine under the right conditions, but in space, laser weapons were needed. For two hundred trade credits, they all got laser pistols with quick draw holsters. Ben even bought a small one for Nance that she could wear under her arm so that it would be accessible even from her computer console.
Magnum found a vendor with the percussion caps he needed to make ammunition for their projectile weapons. The other half of their money was spent on frivolous purchases. Ben could have spent all day and every credit they had on new tools. In the end he settled for a small component fabricator that could make new parts for their ship from raw materials.
Kim bought a few things for her quarters, including an old-fashioned log book and a set of dip pens to write with. Magnum bought a punching bag and several boxes of hard candy. For Nance, Ben purchased a back support for her chair and several computer hardware add-ons to increase the speed of her machines. Ben didn’t understand everything about computers, but he knew they occasionally needed repairs or replacements. The binary hardware was cheap and he returned to the ship with a large crate of supplies.
Once their shopping spree was finished, Silas called for Ben to join him in a meeting with some of the Confederacy officials. They gathered in a small room with a single long table. There were three men and two women present when Silas led Ben into the room.
“Good,” Silas said. “You’re all here. Allow me to introduce Ben Griminski, captain of the Modulus Echo.”
The strangers all welcomed Ben. They looked eager and hopeful, which for some reason made Ben worry.
“This is Tolliver, Lesley, Paula, Gregory, and Ali,” Silas said, introducing each one. “They will be your passengers on your next run.”
“We are we going?” Ben asked.
“Have you heard of the Mersa system?” Tolliver asked.
Ben shook his head.
“It’s a long run from here,” Tolliver went on. “It’s one of the old worlds. The Royal Imperium keeps a palace there.”
“The old worlds are off-limits,” Ben said. “Closed systems.”
“True, but nothing is truly closed,” Silas said. “The spaceports have been shut down and all immigration halted.”
“But we’re not immigrants,” Lesley said. “Mersa is our home world.”
“Mersa Prime,” Paula added.
“They came here on Confederate business, and we’ve been unable to get them back home,” Silas said. “That’s where you come in. You’ll also take a cargo of propaganda materials. Get them home, and you might even be able to pick up a load from there.”
“The Genovisi Shipyards aren’t far,” Ali said. “It might be possible to send a load there and update the weapons on your ship.”
“The Echo doesn’t have weapons,” Ben said.
The looks from the five potential passengers became suddenly grave.
“You won’t need weapons,” Silas said. “This isn’t a mili
tary operation. It’s a stealth run, perfect for a Kestrel class vessel. The Mersa system is closed and under Royal Imperium control, but it’s not a contested world. Their presence there will be light.”
“The issue is the planet,” Ben said. “They’ll pick us up as soon as we enter the atmosphere and report us.”
“By then it will be too late to stop you from taking us home,” Gregory said. He was an older man with gentle gray eyes that were surrounded by deep wrinkles.
“That’s true, but we can’t hide on your planet,” Ben said. “We’ve run from the Fleet before. It’s not something I’m anxious to try again.”
“You’ll have time,” Tolliver said. “The key is knowing the satellite rotations and the operators’ schedule. I used to work in the government offices, you see. I’m certain I can slip us in without drawing attention.”
“What do we do after the drop?” Ben asked.
“The Confederate forces on that world may have specific requests. If that’s the case, your second run can be carried out according to their needs. If not, come back here. I can always use a good ship and crew.”
“Alright,” Ben said, turning to the group of refugees. “When will you be ready to leave?”
“We’ll be at your ship in an hour,” Tolliver said.
“Fine, we’ll be ready to go,” Ben said, nodding to the group.
The refugees filed out. Silas waited until they were gone before speaking again.
“I’ll have access codes for you,” Silas said. “Including Genovisi. The space station there primarily operates as a legal repair and refurbish shipyard. But the operators are sympathetic to our cause. They keep weapons hidden in their vast warehouses that can be added to your ship. The Kestrel class vessels have room on their wings for missile racks.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ben said.
“Good. I think this will be an excellent run for you. Tolliver’s group has been waiting a long time to go back home.”
“Why’d they leave in the first place?”
“They were elected as representatives to approach the Confederacy for help. Not everyone on Mersa Prime wants the system to remain closed.”
Kestrel Class Page 19
