0 comments/ 8677 views/ 1 favorites The Nova Effect By: martincain Wolf 359 Tanker rendezvous: H – 40 hours With her sensor masts extended in listening mode, the Manchester Star formed a telescope of mammoth proportions. Anti-collision lights strobed red at the tips of each 70 meter boom extended along 4 axis. “Where’d that wobble on the ULF line come from?” Ajax was in zero G, anchored by hand to the sensor tech’s chair. The trace he’d noticed was nearly imperceptible. “It’s at the bottom end of the range,” The sensor tech said. “Could be the remains of a signal that’s degraded from bouncing around the system for a few years.” “You’re serious?” “It happened before- Old Earth. They used to sail ships across the Atlantic. A passenger ship called the Queen Elizabeth Two. One day their radio-room copied a message for Queen Elizabeth, a ship that had sailed fifty years earlier. All that time the signal was just bouncing around in the atmosphere.” “We're wasting time here." Ronald complained, loudly, to ensure that he was heard over the ambient noise generated by the bridge systems. Ajax pushed off from where he watched the navigator updating the plot and drifted across the bridge to the sensor station. He was unused to having room to do so. "This is going to work." Ajax said and watched for returns on the integrated-sensor array as he spun to land feet first on the opposite bulkhead. "You just have to have a little faith. They're here somewhere.” “How can you be so sure?” “It’s a busy place,” Ajax said and pointed toward a group of ghostly contacts. “Do you see that? They call it the Midgard asteroid ring,” Another more solid signature appeared at the bottom of the screen. “You’d think there’s nobody here but SOLCorp. That’s their platform skimming the largest gas giant in the system.” "It's not a matter of faith, it's a matter of percentages. We're too far out for pirates," Devolte said. "At this range, the ships coming into or out of the SOLCorp station are in transit." "Most of them are. Just because there haven't been any reported pirate attacks doesn't mean that they aren't here." Ajax said. "You don’t want to draw attention to where you live. Half of known space is within reasonable range of this place. How many ships have been declared missing or lost over that time?" "A few," Ronald said allowed. "The copy of Jane’s Shipping Almanac we downloaded at Horseman says the last one lost in this system was the Danube Duchess. Five years ago almost on the day,” He squinted and scrutinized his datapad display. “Maybe not exactly the day." "There’s more than one system in easy reach," Ajax said as he examined the sensor trace of the last contact. "It'd be pretty easy to jump in, hit a ship that's accelerating or decelerating to fuel and jump out, if you’ve got no objections all that time in a pirate freezer. You don’t wake up if there’s someone on the crew you crossed before." "The simplest answer isn't always correct." Ronald said. "It's the only system within striking range of where there's been pirate activity reported," Ajax said. As smart as he was, Devolte often proved maddeningly blind to the big picture. "Besides, most of the other systems have already been swept. You're an engineer. You do the math." "I did," Ronald huffed and pushed off towards the bridge hatch. "Now I'm going to go do what I'm paid for. If you need me I’ll be in engineering. I need to be with my people." “Nothing yet,” The sensor-tech said when he noticed Ajax peering over his shoulder. “There’s some gravitic sources to port plus forty-five degrees. Just asteroids. It looks like the edge the first belt.” Two contacts had scratched the sensors over the last two hours and the tanker rendezvous was still 40 hours away. The first contact occurred just after their arrival, a jump flare thrown from an underpowered drive, maybe ill-matched enough to be pirate-rigged. The second was a series of low-power broadcasts, encoded, from deeper in the system. The sender was unknown but the receiver had to have been on or near the SOLCorp platform. The tech flipped through other modes to examine readings. "IR and synthetic aperture are clear." "Bring up the mass detectors." Ajax said. "What? Why? They're useless past fifty-thousand K and we're doing full range scans with the synthetic aperture." "Captain, please?" Ajax said calmly as he put a steadying hand on the tech's shoulder and turned to beg indulgence from Glower. "Bring up the mass detectors, Harper." Glower said. "Aye, sir." Harper said as he bristled and shook Ajax's hand off his shoulder. When the display cleared and started the trace from a new feed, there they were, four contacts massing a hundred tons each, closing on an approach vector with twenty seconds to intercept. Activity stopped as the proximity alarm went off. "We didn't get them at long-range because their assault craft are RAM shielded." Ajax said to Glower who scrutinized the feed from his chair. "Red alert!" Glower bellowed and activity resumed at a more rapid pace. "Prepare to repel boarders.” He turned to Ajax. “How did you know?" Ajax shook his head with disgust and unsnapped his holster. "How did I know?" He said as he checked the battery on his Blazer and adjusted the discharge level to stun. "If you don't want to be seen, you minimize your signature and convince your target to dismiss you. That's how. We're going to be having special guests." The XO opened the weapons locker and was handing out Blazers to the few who did not carry a sidearm already. "Julio, what’s their status?" Glower called and traversed until he faced the tactical officer. The bridge stations were installed almost in afterthought. "Captain, all decks have been alerted. Security is moving into position." The TACO said. "Kinkaid, any idea on where they'll cut in?" "Any place that they have room to land those shuttles, captain. My guess is two on the forward docking rings and two on the hull magnetically." Ajax said as checked to see that his laser-pistol was still dummy-corded to his belt. It was there. "Double the security around engineering and the bridge. If you want to be sure something's dead, you shoot it in the heart or the head." "Are you sure they won't try to come in through the holds?" Glower said. Manchester Star carried a pirate’s dream, but also two companies of shotgun-armed TIL security troops to protect it. “We’ve got lots of those.” "Not if they want to take the cargo intact. I might be wrong, but we'll know in about eight seconds." Ajax pushed away from the sensor station and guided himself along the bridge rail until he hunkered behind the navigation console. He wedged his boot into an empty foot-strap and waited for chaos to erupt. He had time to rifle his pockets and count two spare power-cells before it did. "Report from deck three, sir. They heard what sounded like magnetic clamps coming down on the hull," Harper said. "Report from deck seven, sir. The hull has been breached!" Ajax felt the deck shudder and heard a “crumpf” just before the bridge hatch blew in. He fumbled for his Blazer with ringing ears. *** UM-3/Avalon “We lost Savage Rift,” Kray said to the already informed members of 1st Company. Authorized for 100 soldiers, 30 stood at unease in front of him, Xeno orbital strikes had seen to the rest. “We don’t have many details but what we do know is that they went off the air seven hours ago. Before that they reported a large Xeno force moving down the Little Springs/Savage Rift Access. The word from command is that they’re going to try to take us before Gale sets in again.” “Now what?” Harley bickered. “They’ve been saying that since last Gale. The Xeno has nothing without GV support. They can’t climb hills.” “Oh yes they can. It just takes them longer,” Kray corrected. “Altstadt might be safe from bombardment but they have plenty of drones to send into our bunkers. At the rate they’re moving south, they should be here in seventy-two hours.” “Do we have any help coming?” Booster said and shot a worried glance at Martinez, who cradled the Rapier tube against her head. “Those relief forces from Pax, they’re supposed to be coming, right?” Kray fixed Booster with his stare and said, “Yes. Undoubtedly.” “What about Savage Rift?” Amhatiens said quietly. “I’ve been told that skimmer troops are looking for survivors,” Kray said. “The garrison there really gave them Hell, boys. Recon has identified the wreckage of several dozen GV’s,” He stumbled over words before changing the subject. “Command is looking for volunteers. Double pay for any soldier willing to participate in the rescue,” He threw his gaze out over the assembled company. “I’m doing it for nothing. Who’s coming with me?” Hands shot up. *** Wolf 359 12 of 40 pirate boarders had been taken alive. Although two of the TIL security troops had been burned by pirate lasers, the troopers had come as a rude shock to the unkempt criminals now being held in empty cargo bay 4. Ajax looked down at them and shook his heads in disgust and wonderment. The pirates had come in all types and sizes; men, women, tall, short, black, white, and yellow. "Who's the head cheese of this mob?" Ajax said to the TIL sergeant leading the guard detail as he gestured towards the group on their knees before him. The pirates wore pressure suits that had seen better days, hasty patches covered areas where a penetrating object had gotten through, sloppy rivulets of adhesive sealant ran from the joints around the cuffs and neck. “Over here, sir. We’ve been keeping him away from the rest of the group,” The sergeant reported and led him to a brute of a man. The prisoner seemed more Viking than pirate and snarled as the sergeant pulled his head back by his wild hair. "We found a tactical radio on this one, sir. All the rest were just carrying weapons. You know how it is with this rabble, the strong rule the weak. I'd say here's your leader." "Good work, sergeant. Get him on his feet." Ajax said as he let his eyes drift over the rest of the group. Some looked scared, some looked angry. The pirate that caught his eye was bald and stocky. Gems sparkled from mismatched settings on his fingers and the gold ring hanging from the lobe of a torn ear was larger than any of the group. "And those two,” He pointed at the Tidy-clean Man and the beardless, scared looking boy kneeling beside him. Follow me." The Nord bellowed out at them in what had to be station-speak, a code of tongues describing what he had no words for, he struggled against his guards as they hoisted him to his feet. Tidy-Clean Man kept up his cool facade. The kid whimpered as two guards grabbed him and roughly pulled him up. Ajax led them out of the cargo bay, made a right into the corridor, and followed it until he came to the #7 EVA locker. "I need you and two other men." Ajax said to the sergeant as the troopers dumped the pirates onto the deck. "Have the others wait outside. Bring your shotguns." The sergeant barked orders. “Hey! Whoa! It’s time for the show!” Ajax said put out his hands as the lights in the EVA locker went to red. He danced a jig in front of the sliding pressure door and sung out an impromptu game-show tune. He stopped when the door stopped. A calm, feminine voice began warning, “Inner door is open.” He presented the airlock with a flourish. “Who wants to be our first contestant today?” The young pirate vomited as Ajax jigged in front of him. He fell to the deck and covered his head. Ajax lifted the boy’s head by greasy hair then let it drop. “We’d never get anything out of this one. He’s too young to know any smleck. He wouldn’t remember his own name.” Ajax moved next to the silent Nord. He smiled as the pirate glowered up at him. “Speekee Engleesh? No? Soap? Mouthwash? I’d take your cologne back. It smells like sewage flush,” The Nord’s eyes were on the nearest weapon. His TIL minder laughed but kept the business end of his shotgun steadily fixed. After another step, Ajax lifted a hand to Tidy Clean’s head and rolled the stud earing between fingers. “How about you? Speekee Engleesh? No? ComLan? How about brute, thuggish force then?” Ajax pulled a fist back and drove it into the pirate’s face. “Smleck-monging devilki!” Tidy-Clean man lifted a hand to staunch his bleeding nose. Ajax nodded and said, “Close enough to English. Put him in.” Two TIL troops heaved Tidy-Clean into the airlock. The pirate picked himself but not quick enough to stop Ajax from closing the airlock inner door. Ajax smiled as the pirate slammed his fist against the window and activated the inter-com. A stream of non-stop profanity issued forth in pirate lingo. He cut off the link and opened the case of a numeric keypad next to the pressure door. “Let me ask you something, friend,” Ajax said as Tidy-Clean pressed his face against the observation window. “Do you realize what an amazing invention the airlock is?” He accessed the door control and pressed the green “down” arrow Ajax accessed the manual door control. The pirate gestured frantically as Ajax met his stare with a smile and a thumb’s up. The warning message changed, began repeating, but was delivered in the same calm, feminine tone. “Outer door is open.” Urgent pounding on the observation window started. A slow, vulgar hiss came from within the airlock as the heavy outer-door lost its seal against the hull. Ajax watched through the observation window as the airlock lost pressure. Tidy-Clean was on the deck, trying to draw in as much air as he could before it all escaped which was the wrong thing to do. Gas in his lungs expanded as pressure dropped. When a sliver of raw space had been showing for eight seconds, he pushed the down-arrow key on the pad and the pressure door sealed again. The warning message changed. “Inner door is open.” TIL security dragged the barely conscious Tidy-Clean out of the airlock and threw him at Ajax’s feet. Ajax crouched and laid out a hardcopy map of the Delta Pavonis system. The sun, gas giants, SOLCorp station, and numerous asteroid belts were well marked. The guard lifted Tidy-Clean’s head as Ajax used a laser pointer to get the man’s attention. He tapped his chest, then the deck, then touched the pen on the map on the approximate position of the Manchester Star. Tidy-Clean shook his head. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Ajax said and stood. Tidy-Clean tried to resist as the guard complied, reaching for holds on the housing of the inner door as he was being pushed through, but his strength was waning. The pirate laid on the deck and cried as Ajax closed the inner door again. “They don’t understand that we have a timetable to keep,” He said to the TIL sergeant. “You just have to communicate with them.” Tidy-Clean was unconscious after the third trip and crumpled over in pain. Ajax left the outer door open until Tidy-clean was carried out by venting atmosphere. The Nord talked after his first trip “down-and-back.” *** UM-3/Avalon "C'mon... c'mon... c'mon!" Kray waved soldiers past him, urging Harley and the rest to greater efforts. The ten men, equipment rustling and clanking despite vigorous efforts to silence it, moved in single file double-time through streets filled with the rubble of demolished buildings, and demolished vehicles. He fell into step behind Amhatiens. An AS-3 gunship returning to Freeport for rearming and refueling had spotted a zapper column moving through a hug gap blown in the outer wall of Savage Rift. Kray and 1st Platoon were the only unit close enough to set up a blocking position. Crusaders could not navigate through the obstructed streets and so the infantry went in alone, or nearly alone. The rumble of artillery in the distance was a constant reminder that the battle for Savage Rift was ending on less than equal terms. Orbital bombardments from the zapper platforms had leveled much of the urban core. Shells from the garrison’s 160 and 220 millimeter kinetic howitzers tore up more. "There’s been intermittent contact with some survivors operating out of this area," Amhatiens said and swept his virtual view from one side of the cluttered street to the other. “We have skims on alert to take out anyone we find.” “Somebody spell Harley on point.” They had a kilometer to cover and less than ten minutes to do it. In his haste, Kray missed the whine of turbine engines. An AS-3 Arapaho, drawn by the heat and movement, hovered in wait between two ruined buildings. As Kray passed in front of the gunship, it illuminated them with its powerful searchlight before the gunner opened up. The squad fell prone as one. “Cease fire you maniac!” Kray shouted and pitched a stone at the spotlight. There was the sound of the stone striking metal and the light went out. The Arapaho drifted back into the shadows to wait for new prey. They had another kilometer still to run through the kill zone. Eight minutes later they arrived at the grid point that command had directed, an industrial yard filled with broken plants and a worker barracks built to house support personnel. "All right! HISS guns get set up," Kray said as they arrived ahead of the zapper GV’s. The crew-served HISS guns found positions behind tall piles of rubble or wrecked vehicles. "Rapier team get set up!” Martinez humped the Rapier tube despite her small frame. Brenner, the assistant gunner, carried two extra rounds and a rifle. Both found cover in a crumbling stairwell and assembled the tripod for their weapon. "The rest of you spread out!" Kray called out and directed them with his arms toward positions on either side. Harley, Steed, and Elroy find their own positions, line abreast, and wait for the zappers to come. Already they could feel the ground trembling. “Alpha-One-Two to base. We are in position, over.” “Have you found any survivors?” The reply from the battalion HQ was filled with jamming. The zappers learned quickly. “We had reports of some in your area. Have you had any contact at all? Over.” “Negative.” Kray said as the rumbling got louder and more intense. “If there was anyone here before, they’re gone now. How far are we from the next search area?” “Two kilometers,” Came the reply from the rescue coordinator. “How soon can you get there?” “It’s gonna be a while. We got some business to take care of.” Kray said and hunkered down behind his hasty shield wall. He found Harley crouching nearby. “The residual fires from the last bombardment must be negating their infra-red.” “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” Harley called back. He raised his head for a quick view. “Those GV’s are deploying drones. They’re moving up PDQ.” “Bravo Company has been redirected to your patrol area.” HQ radioed. “Everyone take it easy. Noone fire until my signal," Kray said. "Rapier, do you have them in range.” He glanced to his left and watched the thermal profile of Martinez lower her head to the sight. “Affirmative. Range is three-five-zero meters.” She said. “Flight time on the missile is four seconds to target.” “Let ‘em have it! Pour it into them!” Kray said and steadied the assault rifle between two pieces of broken masonry. He took a quick aim at the nearest drone and squeezed the trigger until the rifle bucked against his shoulder. The Rapier went off seconds after he gave the order, momentarily overloading his infrared sight. He counted to four and the ground shook as the missile warhead detonated 50 feet away, dropping debris on them jarred loose by the blast. He checked the magazine in his rifle then popped up above his cover and took aim at the nearest Zapper drone. It was a Beta type and was looking at the one beside with what he could swear was confusion. His M-32 kicked against his shoulder again and the two Xeno drones went down. Drones, he then realized, were helpless once their controlling GV’s had been destroyed. In most situations they were immediately slaughtered. The Nova Effect The ones not killed scattered. Another GV exploded just before he saw four streams of Hepac fire scorching earth, running out into the Xeno group, cutting down drones. Kray turned toward the source. The AS-3 was back. It hovered between two wrecked factories and was the hottest source around on the infra-red setting. “Everybody cover!” Kray ordered as he detected the distinctive sound of a GV generating a plasma stream. He checked the Arapaho again. It tipped to the left and drifted out of sight behind the remains of the Savage Rift fibrocrete factory. Across from it was the dormitory built to house its workers. The feed from his thermal blister went white as the plasma stream arrived. It tracked right to follow the gunship but only found fibrocrete. He lifted his data-monocle. “The hulk of that first GV is given the rest of them cover,” Harley said as he watched the battle unfolding ahead. “We got drones coming up each side of the street.” “That gun-skimmer’s gonna have ‘em for lunch,” Kray said and found Amhatiens. “How do we get around to someplace we can hit the ones in the back?” “They’re probably thinking the same thing about us,” Amhatiens said as he turned his Eye of Horus to the left side. “This hab complex is extensive. We could work our way through it and find ourselves in pretty good position.” “Harley, Booster, and Martinez with me,” Kray said and gauged the distance to the nearest access for the hab-complex. Thirty meters, ten over open ground. “Gunner, you let any drones get within ten feet of that hab-complex I’m gonna have your ass. Elroy, you too. The rest of you stay here and cover the gunship. Freq-boy, make sure it happens.” “Ok, top,” Amhatiens said. He lifted his Sakura grenade launcher and found an azimuth. The sensors on the Arapaho were giving him range data for his 40mm AP grenades. “We have two hours to sweep the next search square. After that a bombardment window opens. We have to be out of here by then.” “We will be.” Kray said as Harley, with a Rapier reload over his shoulder, emerged from cover and ambled toward the hab access. Another plasma jet streamed overhead. The GV’s were concentrated on the Arapaho. Booster and the #2 HISS gun went next. “Hey, top, when do I get to have some fun?” Gunner groused and slapped a fresh magazine of Hepac pellets into the ammo receiver of HISS #1. “You never let me have any fun.” Her weapon stuttered out her discontent. “Martinez, let’s go, move it out.” Kray said. The company missileer cursed and slung the loaded Rapier tube. The GV’s were ready this time. A plasma stream missed her by several feet when she made a break. Kray took a deep breath and broke for the hab-complex. *** Wolf 359 "Why have you come before Regent?" The pirate king said as, clothed in drapes, he glowered down from his raised “throne,” a defunct command chair, placed directly in front of the grated ventilation duct that provided air. His chamber took up the majority of the control room that once regulated the flow of life for the dome colony Midgard 3. "I’ve been sent to you by ION," Ajax said, speaking slowly, firmly, as if confronted by an animal that would attack if he showed any fear. The name ION was a front. “The corporate entity that employs me. We need your assistance with a matter of great importance to us. We would pay you well for it.” "Proceed." The Regent said. "Fourteen months from now, a convoy will arrive in Eighty-two Eridani from Tau Ceti. That convoy carries an advanced technology that we wish to acquire," Ajax said and let each word sink in. "We cannot act directly to seize it. To acquire this technology, we require your assistance." Regent's lips barely moved as he spoke. "What is this?" "Among other things, the convoy carries a prototype drive that would greatly improve our market edge." Ajax said, gauging the Regent's reaction. TIL psy advisors had, in writing the scenario, assumed that the possibility of getting a prototype drive would be too great for them to resist. "Our competitors refuse to market their advanced designs. If this cannot be purchased for study then it must be taken." The Regent sat back with a low, thoughtful growl and tugged on his thin beard. "Then why come to us?" He said and drummed his fingers on the arms of his command chair. "We are merchants, not warriors," Ajax said carefully. "We require your expertise in ship-boarding actions. Many ships are taken by pirates." "Such a prize would be well protected." He said thoughtfully. Ajax smiled as Regent hit his line. "This organization seeks to move in secret," Ajax said. "Dedicated escorts of any consequence would attract notice. There must be some defenses, but we believe that you would be undeterred by armed merchantmen." "Regent would be undeterred by God himself." The Regent was on the hook, Ajax was sure of it, he threw in the closer. "To show our sincerity, my employers have a gift to offer," Ajax said and raised his datapad. "With your permission?" "Proceed." Ajax opened the datapad he carried and entered in a four-digit code. *** “Thank God.” Ronald said and put his head into a trembling hand as the "clear-go" signal came through. A three-digit code meant trouble and would have had security troopers loading into shuttles instead of the crates of exotic foods and bars of precious ores. “Start getting the second shuttle loaded,” Growler said. The XO spun horizontally and pushed off, drifting toward the hatch to handle matters personally. He spun the command chair to face the TIL SecFor captain waiting nearby. “Have your men stand down but post regular guards. I won’t have scum taking me by surprise anymore. We’re not done with this yet.” “Yes, sir.” *** Long minutes passed in the Regent’s chamber. Ajax could feel every eye on him and none with compassion. In the silent chamber, he could hear his own heart thundering in his chest. Worse, he was sure that every pirate could hear it. He kept his face neutral and his eyes on the deck. He looked up when the comm.-unit built into the Regent’s chair sounded. An excited voice reported the arrival of a supply shuttle. "Another load just as this one will be our token of gratitude if you accept our job and deliver this prototype drive." Ajax said and bowed. Regent's most trusted lieutenant, an ugly, unkempt brute with an eye-patch covering a scar over one eye, leaned to whisper in Regent's ear. The pirate king nodded with quiet comprehension and fixed Ajax with his black eyes. "Utburd. There are many here that know your name. Now go," The Regent said. "You will be notified when a decision is made." Ajax half-bowed again, spun on his heel, and departed at an even, moderated pace. The guard outside the chamber escorted him to the hangar. Ajax remembered to start breathing again when the hatch behind him sealed. *** UM-3/Avalon The hab-complex was modular in design, four levels high, and covered with slabs of fibrocrete. Sections of the upper floors were blasted away but, except for the absence of lights or power, the structure seemed to be sound. The stairway for the building was just inside the doorway on the left. “It doesn’t look like there’s much of the fourth level left.” Harley said as Kray glanced up the stairwell and contemplated. The dull thud of a blast came through the walls from the far side of the complex. “We should get as high as we can,” Kray said. “That way we have a shot at the GV’s without getting vapped by any drones on the ground,” His eyes found Harley. “Third level. Let’s move out.” Harley nodded and started up the staircase slowly, with his rifle at the ready. Kray moved to follow but paused as Gunner’s voice came out of his earpiece. “Hey top, that gunship is really tearing them up. He took out the GV at the back of the column and it looks like the zappers are stuck between it and the one at the front.” “Stay where you are and remember what I told you.” Kray said and mounted the steps. “They might make a rush. Don’t let any drones get past you.” “Don’t worry,” Gunner assured him. “We got freq-boy here.” *** Kray flipped down his data-monocle and eased his rifle around the corner for a look into the corridor adjoining the stairwell. The camera in the digital sight was cable-linked to his helmet. The color feed appeared in the monocle. Although the corridor was dark, he saw a zapper control collar blinking near the other end of the hall, then the form of a drone was lit by dim lit as it bashed in a hab-unit door. It raised its hand unit and vapped the room. When it was done, it moved to the next room in line and repeated the door opening process. This time there were muffled screams from inside that were quickly silenced. The varied octaves he’d heard implied that a family had just gotten vapped. “We got drones clearing the floor,” Kray said and set his rifle to single-shot mode. Getting vapped was usually fatal. Zapper hand-units fired long pulses of concentrated heat, each one capable of burning through clothing and vaporizing two inches deep of flesh. Combat armor helped but an attack by a group of drones on a single soldier often left nothing but a mound of ash. He set the sight to infra-red and saw that not one, but three, drones worked the wide hallway. “Harley, you watch our asses.” “That’s alright, I see some ass I like,” Harley said and smiled as Martinez moved out of the stairway. “Like our good PFC Martinez. She really knows how to pack a big tube.” Martinez snorted and pushed past him. “You are a tube, Harley.” “Knock it off.” Kray said quietly as he centered the sight on the barrel torso of the zapper at work and fired. When it fell, the next one in line moved up to finish the job, when the second one went down the third one moved up. It was a methodical job that cost them drones but got problems solved with scoured efficiency. “They’ll be sending more,” Kray said and grabbed Martinez by the sleeve. He pointed to a break in the wall only a few meters away with a view of the street below. “Get set up,” He pointed out the space and released her. Kray turned to Booster. “I want you to start from that end and work back this way. Find out if anyone is left.” Harley was watching the stairwell and the mouth of an unlit access to the corridor that traveled down the hab-levels far side. “Top, do you want me to check out the other side?” Harley said. “No, I’ll handle it,” Kray said and shambled for the access. “Anybody we find gets sent back here.” “Top, I got a shot.” Martinez called. “Take it and relocate. Stick and move.” Kray called back. The resounding crack of the Rapier firing in a confined space left him momentarily stunned as the air filled with fibrocrete dust. Martinez whooped at the duller sound of the warhead detonation. He stepped into the access rifle first. The intersection with the far corridor was eight meters away. He watched for shades of orange moving past the access mouth at that end but with each step there was nothing. After sweeping both directions with the rifle sight, he stepped into the second corridor, lifted his data-monocle and activated his helmet light. “Christ and Allah.” Kray uttered when he saw that the zappers had started there. Uniformly broken in doors and hab-units black with scorch marks started at the edge of the light in one direction and continued into the other. “Top, the gunship went bye-bye,” Amhatiens called in. “What do you want us to do out here? The rest of the GV’s are coming with their drones out. I think they’re looking for a way around.” “Hold them off long enough for us to finish up here,” Kray said as he moved down the corridor. In four units there were strips of singed clothing resting atop the ash piles he found. “Whoa! I think we got something!” Booster suddenly called in. Although he had his transmitter on, he was talking to someone outside the company network. “Whoa! Whoa! It’s Ok. It’s Ok. Just settle down. We’re gonna get you out of here. Top! Hey, Top!” “Booster, talk to me.” Kray said. “We got something here, top.” *** He could see Booster framed in the open door of a hab-unit toward the middle of the corridor. Martinez had abandoned the Rapier tube and stood beside him. By the tone of their voices and actions, Kray deduced that they were losing the battle to calm someone inside it. There were survivors inside the room when Kray arrived and appraised the situation. A Solstice mother had two small children gathered to her breasts. She had a crazed look in her eyes and held a knife in one hand that she used to feebly threaten them. “What do you make of this, Top?” Booster said and took his helmet off. He ran a hand through his sweaty, greasy hair. “I tried to talk to her but it didn’t do any good.” “She’s out of her mind,” Kray said as the knife shook in the woman’s trembling hand. “She must’ve heard the drones working down the corridor and thought she was next.” “Top! We can’t stay!” Harley shouted. “I got drones moving around on the next level down.” “Martinez! Drop your Rapier and go back up Harley. We’re gonna be ex-filling in a hurry.” Kray said and dropped his 3-day pack. He rummaged through it until he found a ration pack. He removed it, tore open the top, and tossed it into the room. The woman, starving, locked eyes on the ration as it dropped. “Come on, miss, we’ll get you out of here.” The woman cast panicked eyes at the duo filling the doorway to her hab, deciding that they were not the nightmares she’d imagined them to be. She scrambled to collect the ration. Tearing it open, she took a bite from it, then offered the rest to the two children cowering around her legs. The sound of two M-32’s firing signaled the beginning of the zapper effort to reclaim the level that had been denied them. A grenade went off. “Top, if we’re gonna move, we need to do it now!” Harley called in. Kray stepped forward and grabbed the woman by her sleeve, pulling her to her feet. Booster collected the children and they made for the egress to the street. *** Wolf 359 Tanker Rendezvous: H – 23 hours Ronald was waiting inside the landing bay when the shuttle settled on its landing gear. Once the bay doors had closed and pressure equalized, he carded the hatch control and glided through. The shuttle pilot came out first and was followed by a troubled-looking Ajax. "Did the Regent go for it?" Ajax had been calming his heart and replaying the event in his mind for the duration of the trip back to the Manchester Star. Everything he could think of told him that the Regent had been convinced. "I think so." Ajax said. "We'll probably have to offer him twice as much, but if he goes for it, it won't matter." "What else have we got to sweeten the deal?" Ronald said as he pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose "We can get him whatever he wants, it's just going to take time, that's something we don't have." Ajax said. "The hook is in but we have to make sure it's in good. Could you decipher the transmissions we picked up?" "All we know for sure that it came out of a EuroCon-design set in a two-hundred bit, variable-algorithm encryption." Ronald said, looking pained. He shrugged helplessly. "The mainframes on the ships haven't got the cojones to crack it." "Did you try it on the Bonventure?" "Isn't that what I said?" "A EuroCon set? You’re sure?” Ajax knew that Devolte was a man that dealt only in facts, but he had to be sure for his own sake. "I'm surprised you ask." Devolte said. "Space it." Ajax snapped. "I've never known any pirates with codes this tight. What do we know about the transmitter?" Devolte brought up his datapad and opened the file containing the signal analysis and a picture of a small radio. The radio was broken down into three pieces for clarity and the touch of a light-pen on the screen identified individual parts. Fully assembled, the radio was the size of a book and very plain. "There it is. The type thirty-four." He said. "It's manufactured by Terradyne of Belgium and produced under license on New Saxony. They market it as a light-weight sport radio." "It looks like an intelligence rig to me." He said and used the light-pen to identify the critical components. He felt his suspicion congealing. There was only one kind of person that needed an encoder/transmitter like that. An eight microsecond burst was hard to detect and easier to dismiss. "It could be, but last year Terradyne manufactured twelve thousand type thirty-fours. You can walk around market districts from Atlantica to Avalon and find them." Devolte said. "How many has the Regent gotten his hands on?" "Probably a few, but I have a hunch that someone's got an agent on the inside. Do you think exposing a snake in the nest would convince the Regent to go along with our plan?" Ajax looked up into Devolte's soft, calculating eyes for an answer. "I think that we need to figure out who it is before we get any stellar ideas." Devolte said. "I'll work on that. Why don't you stay on the decoding." Ajax said. "If we can figure out what it says, we should be able to figure out who sent it." Devolte closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, reciting a tranquil mantra to himself in an effort to deal with Ajax's lack of comprehension. "You weren't listening. The signal is in a two-hundred bit, variable-algorithm encryption." Devolte said, opened his eyes and fixed Ajax with an exasperated stare. "Find me the encryption key or forget it." "If you can't break a two-hundred bit, variable-algorithm encryption, then what the hell is the company paying you for?" Ajax cracked in mock displeasure. Devolte could only be pushed so far. "Twit." Devolte muttered as keyed open the hatch and slipped through it, settling for having the last word. Ajax knew he would be found in Bonventure's engineering compartment, coddling the most absonant systems. It was Ajax's job to coddle the Regent, and if it would take 9 hours to get to the tanker, he only had 15 hours left to do it right. "Ajax Kinkaid, contact central control. Ajax Kinkaid." The PA system came alive. Ajax guided himself to the nearest com-station and picked up the handset. "This is Ajax." "Message for you from Midgard Three, sir. The Regent has agreed to negotiate with us." *** His escort stopped when Ajax walked through the entryway of the Midgard 3 control room into a circle of that felt familiar. It closed behind him as he approached the throne. The Regent's thin moustache drooped around a hard frown. "Does the Regent wish to discuss a deal?" "Silence!" Patch bellowed to the crowd before turning his gaze down on Ajax. "A blood feud has been declared against you, Utburd, and it must be settled before any deal." Ajax bit off a reply as he sensed commotion to his right. As he turned, he saw a compact man come out of the crowd stripped to the waist. The collagen mounds of old scars tore the man's chest and back. "Speak." Patch demanded. "My brother was part of the boarding party sent to his ship,” He tossed a hateful sneer toward Ajax. “He tortured my brother for information and then sent him out an airlock. His spirit demands vengeance. By the Kanun Lek Dukagjini, I am Zot I Gjakut." Ajax frowned and stared straight ahead. He knew what a Zot I Gjakut was- it meant Lord of Blood, a man responsible for avenging the slain of his clan. "How does Utburd respond?" Patch asked as the Regent looked on. "It was necessary." Ajax said calmly. "This demon lies!" Scar screamed and lunged. A hard glance from Patch sent two large men to restrain him. "He must pay for his crime!" "Silence!" Patch shouted and threw a hand towards the hatch. The sea of pirates parted as two girls in patched unis approached carrying a black velvet pillow between them. On top of the pillow rested two silver blades curved like crescent moons. The Nova Effect Ajax mentally swore again. He’d anticipated difficulties but, he concluded, a knife duel was going beyond what a pilot should have to expect. TIL security officer, he corrected himself. Patch stepped forward with a meter-length of cord as the Regent gestured for Ajax and the Scar to come closer. "The trial of blades will settle this feud." The Regent said in a harsh voice. Patch knotted one end of the cord around Ajax's wrist, the other end around his accuser's. "Cut the cord and it will be your own throat." Scar picked one of the knives off of the pillow and turned to face the Regent. Resignedly, Ajax took the other knife and did the same. The cutthroats encircling them quieted as the Regent sat forward. “We will discover if merchants can be warriors." Ajax grunted as his opponent jerked hard on the cord. He stumbled forward and felt the sting of a blade nicking the flesh over his right kidney. As he found his balance, he heard Scar laugh. Ajax looked up and saw him lift his knife and examine the blood tracing the blade. Scar brought the blade to his tongue and took a sample, then spat it out in disgust. "It tastes like pig's blood." Scar said and pulled back on the cord to tighten the slack. "Death will not be quick for you. I promise." Ajax brought his own knife up to ready position and tried keep a visual lock on the blade weaving in front of him. His heart thundered like a cannonade in his chest, which heaved as he sucked in air. He spread his legs into a firm stance and gave the cord and experimental tug. He ducked a slashing attack aimed at his head but the swipe he took in return was dodged easily. Scar was a better knife fighter. Ajax pulled hard on the cord while Scar was off balance and succeeded in thwarting a follow-up thrust. He ducked low and reversed the blade, sweeping it at his opponents’ midsection. Scar sucked his stomach in but not in time. A thin line of red welled up where Ajax's blade had touched. Now both men had been bloodied. "The pig is slippery," Scar said and as he circled, he snarled as he wiped his brow. His chest was heaving and Ajax could sense that he was tiring. "But it will not save him from the spit." When Ajax paused to catch his own breath, Scar attacked, bringing his blade up from underneath, cutting a neat line across Ajax's forearm. The pain of the wound caused him to drop the knife to the deck. Scar laughed. "You are nothing without your advanced weapons." Scar said and twisted the knife he still gripped in the light. "You are no warrior, you are an animal." "I'm sure that's what your brother thought when he ate vacuum," Ajax said. "He died crying shameful tears." "You can drink them in Hell." Scar's eyes narrowed and slowly a scream of rage rose in his throat. He stepped forward and drew the knife back. It whistled as it fell in an arc that would take the edge across Ajax's throat. Ajax reached out and grabbed Scar by the knife-arm, applying as much force as he could to change the direction of the swing, taking Scar's arm to the side instead of downward. In an instant, Scar's knife arm crossed over his rope-arm. Ajax swung his rope-arm in a circle, looping the slack over Scar's crossed wrists. Scar looked up with wide eyes as he realized his predicament. Ajax rocked back, then forward, causing Scar to stumble into the haymaker punch that Ajax had targeted on his nose. He felt cartiledge crunch under his fist as the blow landed. He saw Scar's eyes cross and begin watering. The pirate was dazed and still on his feet, unaware that the fight was already over. It took three more punches to put him down. Ajax stopped hammering down blows when Scar stopped moving. "When you get there say hello to Chunk for me." Ajax said and spat. He unwound the cord, then faced the Regent and held his arm up. "Merchants may be warriors." Ajax said as he gulped in air. "But they are not always killers." The Regent nodded impassively and two guards stepped forward. One cut the cord around Ajax's wrist and then assisted the second in dragging the unconscious Scar away through the crowd of brigands. Minutes later Patch took a call from the guard stationed at the nearest airlock. Wolf 357 had a new satellite in orbit, one made of flesh instead of rock or metal. "The blood-feud is resolved!" Patch pronounced and the cluster of pirates slowly separated and drifted away. The main event for the day was over. "You fight well for a merchant, Utburd." The Regent said and smiled beatifically. "The Regent will hear your request." "If only we could settle disputes with our competitors so easily." Ajax said as he examined the areas where a blade had gotten through his clothing and defenses. The cuts were shallow and most had already clotted. "In such a universe, there would be no place for a Regent." The pirate king said and chuckled. He waved a girl with a water jug over. The water was poorly filtered and had a yellowish tint. "Of course." Ajax said. "Now may we discuss a deal?" The Regent made a show of thoughtfully stroking his beard, but eventually he nodded and said, "We may discuss a deal." *** UM-3/Avalon The senior sergeants held the codes to all the empty storage bays. An ordinance locker beneath the small vehicle bay was known as the “Oil Pit” by troops of the sexes and was one of the few designated, unofficial make-out areas. The small vehicle bay was seldom used but the Oil Pit was enjoyed on a “first-come-next-serve” basis. An oversized rubber air bladder covered most of the floor. Besides that there was a stack of clean towels, a plastic basin and a dirty towel bag. A favor or a reward for good performance was the code for the day and convenient scheduling with a battle buddy or betty. “Ok, two-four-one-seven-two-three-one,” Harley’s hands shook as he tried to read the code scrawled across a strip of hardcopy by a sympathetic duty-room sergeant. Martinez crouched in front of him and was fumbling with the clasp on his camo-trousers. She turned to scan for interlopers. “Two-four-seven-two-three-one. Please work,” The lock beeped as the code was rejected. “My god, is this a nine or a seven? Is that a two or a doodle?” He closed his eyes and looked skyward. “Thomas, you sadist!” “Let me do it,” Martinez said and reached for the code strip as Harley’s trousers dropped. “My eyes are better than yours.” “I can do it,” He said calmly. “Don’t rush me,” He took a deep breath and tried the code again. This time it took. Harley smiled as the door to the Oil Pit slid open and helped Martinez to her feet. “Do you know how many times I had to volunteer to hose this place out?” “You were right about me you know,” Martinez said as she led the way in. “You’re always right,” She had her service-t off before Harley got the door closed and locked. There was a mirror on every wall. “Someone left us a present.” When he turned to face her she held a sleeve of black, Eco-safe bearing grease already leaking from its cardboard container. She took a small amount and rubbed it between her hands, then streaked it across her chest. “How thoughtful.” Harley said as he felt his face go numb. “You don’t have to be back until what time?” Martinez took out a larger glob of goo and sent her unlaced boots flying with a kick to each side. Sockless, she walked toward him in her camo-trousers, smiling as she saw his commando already at attention. His service-t was off before she took two steps. She put her palms on his chest and tweaked his nipples. “Six-teen hundred. “Oh, momma.” “So how about it then?” She purred. “Specialist-piece-of-smleck Harley. Are you ready to put-up-or-shut-up? Huh? I don’t want to be disappointed.” She rubbed her hands into his hair and pulled his face down into her kiss. *** “Top, can you spell me for a second. I gotta hit the latrine. That soy-smleck goes through me in a hurry.” Kray looked up from the forms he’d been working on. The duty sergeant was standing away from the bank of monitors at his desk. He checked his Krono and was surprised to see he’d been at his own desk for hours that he’d lost count of. “No problem, Thomas. Do what you gotta do,” Kray said and slid his seat out. “I need a break from this endless-bureaucratic-asswipe anyway.” “Thanks, top.” Kray yawned as he stood and stretched. His “Elysium Holdfast” cup was empty so he took it by the handle and walked, shaking out his stiff-legs, toward the machine warming soy-caff against the wall. He filled the cup and took a sip as he moved to the duty desk and collapsed into the seat. He put his legs up and said, “Let’s see what’s on prime time.” A switch under the desk put through the feed from a special room the sergeants had wired. He smiled and looked up for the correct monitor as a lusty feminine voice said, “How bad to you want me?” *** “I want you so bad.” Harley said as she pushed him to his knees. She oiled his back as he unclasped her camo trousers. She stepped out of them, turned, padding onto the air-bladder. She stopped for the Eco-safe and bent at the waist to fetch it. “What’s the worst way?” She said and smiled at him over her shoulder as she straightened. Martinez laughed at his barely stifled whimper. “Just say the word. All you have to do is ask,” She smiled at what she was going to ask of him. “What’s on your mind, Harley?” “Every way,” Harley said. “I want to start at the top and work my down. I want more time than we got.” Martinez used the tube to apply greasy streaks to her legs and arms, tossed the Eco-safe on the air-bladder, she let herself fall back. Her oiled skin squeaked against rubber as she bounced. “So how about it, killer,” She said and crawled on all fours toward him. “Do you want to give me your big tube now? I like them big. Haven’t you heard?” Harley gave out a whoop and leapt onto the air-bladder. When he reached for her she threw a glob of Eco-safe. “Control yourself, Harley. This isn’t a quick response drill. For the next three hours,” She said and put a hand to his chest. The hand dropped to where she could feel his heart thumping. “You’re mine.” He gasped as her other hand found him elsewhere. *** “Sweet Jesus.” Sgt. Thompson shook his head as they watched two glistening human forms writhe on screen. Kray laughed, drained his mug, and offered it to Thompson for a refill. “Who is this guy? Why isn’t he making a move?” “What do you mean?” Kray protested on Harley’s behalf. “Look at them. I’ve seen cats in heat that didn’t go at it like this.” “Do you know who they are?” “Top knows all and sees all.” Kray said. Martinez moaned from the speakers as onscreen Harley kissed her and ran a filthy hand up her side. He guided her hands over her head and nodded toward the cargo straps at one corner of the air-bladder. “I guess so.” Kray suppressed a giggle at a sudden impulse and reached for the PA microphone as Harley settled in below Martinez and prepared for chow. He’d long dispensed with “will” and “please report to” and instead delivered his amplified summons in brief. “Harley. Duty room.” The full volume command echoed through the Holdfast’s empty places. Activity on the screen stopped as Harley froze. The happy smile of anticipation that had been plastered over his face was gone. “No! Don’t go!” Martinez said and cried out as she strained against the cargo straps binding her wrists to the corner of the air-bladder. “Please!” Her plea became a feral, desperate growl of lust. “At least untie one hand so I can get myself off!” Kray laughed and zoomed the camera in on Harley’s face. “Hey, Sergeant Thomas, check this out.” Harley had been broken by the choice. There was a stunned, blank look on his face and he’d developed a twitch. His right eye jerked to the side as they watched. “Top, you didn’t just do what I thought you did.” Thomas was in disbelief. “You did. Christ and Allah, Top, that’s cold.” He threw his head back and howled with laughter. “Here we go,” Kray said with gleeful anticipation and activated the paging system again. He leaned into the microphone and, with mock anger, added, “Harley. Duty room on the double.” His eyes were instantly on the screen again. Harley, eyes wide and focused on something distant, began to growl. It started out low but grew quickly to crazy levels. He continued as he opened the locker door and ran naked into the vehicle bay. Kray centered the view on Martinez, who tested her restraints and collapsed onto the air-bladder watching the open door. The sound of his raging echoed from the empty bay but grew softer as he raced across the decking plates. *** Harley arrived to the laughter of Thomas, Kray, and the small clusters of people he’d passed in the corridor. He had a helmet on and his weapon clenched in his left fist. “CHOKE THIS” was drawled through the black grease smearing his chest. He wore a 1000 yard stare, a stony frown, and not a stitch else. “Top sergeant! Corporal Harley reporting as ordered!” Was delivered in a loud bark as Harley came to attention and used his free hand to salute. “The man” had just kibbled him for the last time. “Where’s your uniform, soldier?” Kray sternly demanded and returned the salute. Harley’s right eye developed a tic again as he dropped one hand to his side. “Top sergeant! I was ordered to the duty room on the double!” Harley barked. “There was non-sufficient time to dress!” “Christ and Allah, you’re a mess! Just what in the hell were you doing?” Harley’s mouth flapped open and shut. After a few seconds he regained his stony composure. “Repairing critical unit assets, top sergeant!” “What’s wrong, Harley? Are you afraid to get your uniform dirty? You’ve been in garrison for too long. You’re getting soft.” “Negative, top sergeant!” Harley replied at full volume and shook his weapon for emphasis. “I am not that!” “At ease, at ease,” Kray wiped the tears from his eyes. He slid off the edge of the duty desk and walked back to his own. There was a bottle half-full of the local whiskey in the second drawer. He removed the bottom and tossed it underhand toward Harley. “I think you need to unwind,” Harley caught the bottle with both hands. “Go take care of that asset. And wear your uniform next time or I’ll write you up.” “Yes, top sergeant.” Harley bellowed and came to attention with his hands at his sides. He about-faced and marched stifly away. “Christ and Allah,” Kray said as he collapsed into his desk chair. “I laughed so hard I thought I was gonna piss myself,” He shook his head and picked up the nearest stack of hardcopy. “Choke it. Holy Jesus.” He was good for another two hours. *** Tanker Rendezvous: H-21 "They made you do what?" Ronald stammered. Ajax repeated his story and lifted his shift. The wounds the fight had left on his ribs and his arms were maroon streaks. The Regent let him keep the knife. "Those barbarians." "The good news is that the Regent went for it." "Which part?" Ronald said as he rotated to float alongside Ajax as he drifted out of the loading bay. All of it," Ajax said. "He's putting off his decision until tomorrow but he's offered us his hospitality, that’s usually a pretty good sign." "Wonderful!" Ronald said and clapped Ajax on his shoulder. "The Regent is throwing a party tonight." Ajax said. "He expects me and my crew to be there. I hope you packed your cummerbund." "You can't be serious." "They’re scum, but now they're also our business partners," Ajax said as he pushed his way through the Manchester Star’s wide corridors, the wound on his arm was deeper and still oozed despite the pressure dressing he'd applied after the fight. He'd had to ask a passing crewman for directions to the Medical Bay. "Just don't wear anything fancy." "Don't remind me." Devolte said. "If I'd have had my way, we'd have spaced the whole catch." *** Ajax laughed as the Regent attempted a crude joke. It was a surprise as the pirate had seemed so humorless, perhaps the empty bottles of new age Absinthe provided by TIL had helped. All the Regent's minions were in attendance, and there were more of them than Ajax had guessed crawled out of hidden spaces to join in, enough that the security troops back on the Manchester Star might have had a rough time with them all. Ronald, sitting on the cushion next to Ajax and attended by several of the Regent's concubines, choked on his brandy when he heard the punch-line. The Regent laughed even harder than he had at his own joke and pounded Ronald good-naturedly on the back, jarring the thinner man as each fist landed. "The meal is over," The Regent roared out. "Clear these things away.” Minions scurried to comply. He looked toward the hatch. “Entertainment!" Dishes and platters were hustled away as people scrambled to fulfil his orders. After only a few minutes, a lithe figure appeared at the entryway and bowed. "Nova is my favorite entertainment," The Regent said in a lower voice. His words were slurred and Ajax winced at the pungent smell of Centauri Brandy on his breath. "She will dance for us." "Music!" Patch snapped at the few standing near the throne carrying instruments. A drumbeat started first, then other noises joined in as they found their rhythm. Nova approached and started whirling when the music became cohesive. "She's beautiful." Ajax said. Her outfit fluttered as she spun, as did the veils around her face that hid all but her eyes, brown, glittering, bewitching. "And talented," The Regent confirmed as he slopped down an earthen cup of Centaurian Brandy and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "And a hundred other descriptions that do not do her justice." "Of course." Ajax said. Each time the music changed, a sheet of colored chiffon fell lightly to earth She removed three before Ajax could see her face. She had delicate, elfin features. Three more and he could see her supple frame. As she moved, Ajax felt numbed, like the after-effects of a hit by a Blazer set to stun. "She warms a cold bed." The Regent said with a smile as he lowered his cup and watched her dance. It was refilled with brandy when it hit the table. "As well as a glowing reactor, no doubt." "I will entertain my wives tonight." The Regent said. "My Nova gets restless if she is neglected. I wonder if you would entertain her?" "How can I refuse?" Ajax said as Nova knelt before them. He could not.