Allies of Convenience: Pirates of the Badlands Series Book 1

by Sean Benjamin

  Onboard Mackenzie, that exact conversation was taking place even as Hawkins spoke. Commander Cassidy looked at Skyler Mallory after the transmission ended. “Well, that was different. How does she fit into this?”

  “Killian O’Hare commands the destroyer Nemesis and is considered the pirates’ second in command. If our recent dinner guests from Potenka are to be believed, she is a very good pirate captain who may be insane.”

  “Won’t get an argument from me. She is definitely scary. Got to admit that is a great hallie. I wonder what ‘this is payback and will be handled as such’ means.”

  “She is scary but she must be good if Hawkins trusts her to run down the OrCon battle cruiser and take them out. He’s correct in saying this will be their only shot. I suspect payback means no survivors. Make sure we find out how this turns out.”

  “Aye, Captain,” replied Cassidy as she returned to her station and Mallory turned back to her screens.

  Onboard Nemesis, O’Hare turned from her screens and looked at her Operations Officer. He stared back evenly and smiled, “The plan is drawn up based on your guidance. Do you want to review it?”

  “Is it right or isn’t it?” O’Hare snarled.

  “It is.”

  “Then send it to all Wolfpack ships and ensure they understand it to the last detail. This will be our only chance and if anyone gets away, I will be VERY unhappy.”

  “Aye, Killer.”

  Killian O’Hare smiled yet again ... and so did her wolf.

  Chapter 25

  “Gammatiga, Predator inbound.”

  “Roger, Predator. Welcome to Gammatiga. You are cleared to low orbit and join your companions in the loading process. We have much to load and little time. Captain Mallory is expected in six hours and the OrCons seven hours after that.”

  “Roger, Gammatiga.”

  The scene unfolding before Predator was of organized chaos. The three pirate corvettes each had one shuttle and these were running back and forth between the surface and their mother ships. Dragon had two shuttles and these were also working at maximum speed. There was a small two-berth orbiting dock and each berth held the Zeke support ships send back by Mallory before the Potenka battle. They were loading at a furious rate. Obviously, the base personnel had stockpiled equipment on the orbiting dock as soon as they were notified of evacuation and this stockpile was being loaded now. The Zekes had set aside supplies for the pirates at the surface base and the five pirate shuttles were rapidly loading this onto their ships.

  Rafe touched his comm screen. “Riki, you there?”

  Riko Takahashi was captain of Dragon. She was known throughout the flotilla as Riki.

  “Here, Rafe.”

  “I’m going to state the obvious and assume you have someone keeping track of where everything is going for redistribution later.”

  “Affirm. My loadmaster is doing the loading in equal shares to your three-squadron corvettes to keep later redistribution to the other squadrons to a minimum, but we have a good running account of what is going out. Lots of stuff there and we’re getting a big share. The Zekes are being generous. Even providing shuttles for loading. Rogue is almost complete and Rebel and Renegade are getting there.”

  “Excellent. Thanks for the hard work.”

  Rafe didn’t need to remind the other pirate ships that Riki had ultimate authority to redistribute all supplies, munitions, and equipment as necessary to meet mission requirements. There had been a bit of a problem with this a few years prior and everyone quickly learned how it would work in the future, except for the one ship that was expelled from Flot 1. No ship had front-of-the-line privileges or special passes to allow for more supplies.

  Rafe continued, “Predator needs a munitions resupply. I assume Tactical sent you a list.”

  “Affirm. Your stuff has been set aside. You can start loading with your shuttle, and we’ll break loose a supply shuttle for your missiles as soon as you hit orbit. I know you got to get out quickly. The Zekes are giving us the majority of their munitions. I guess they figure we’ll put it to good use against the Goths.”

  “Cosmic. Let me give you a heads-up. May need the missile ship before this OrCon thing is all over.”

  “Kinda figured. We’ll be ready to provide.”

  “You want to keep the four shuttles from our squadron while we do our mission and we’ll get them back at the Fort?”

  “That would be great, Rafe. It would really help the process. We’ll work the hell out of them and then secure them to our hull when we depart. We’ll stuff them with gear for your squadron so when you get them back they will be fully loaded.”

  “I’ll tell the other squadron ship commanders. Pleasure doing business with you,” Hawkins replied as Predator slid into position behind Rogue and prepared to launch its shuttle.

  Laughter came over the frequency. Riki was one of the good ones. Years ago, her husband had been captain of a midsize tramp trader working in the Badlands. He had been a first-rate alcoholic and a third-rate captain. Everyone knew it was really Riki who commanded the ship. Her ship did not engage in illegal activities so was never going to get rich, but it was a reasonable living. On one trip the ship was taken by pirates. Her husband had been sleeping it off when the ship was taken, and the pirates were already in control when he stormed out of his cabin. He might be a bad captain but he was not going to give his ship over without a fight. The pirates killed him on his own bridge. The remainder of the crew was dumped on the nearest planet. Riki and a few crewmembers sought out Rafe and offered to serve with him for a chance at revenge. Rafe took them in and soon hunted down and destroyed the pirate vessel responsible. Afterwards, Dragon was purchased and Riki given the command. For all intents and purposes, she served as the flotilla quartermaster and supply officer. Everyone knew she was fair and could not be bribed. All her accounts and supply books were open to all captains and everyone got a fair shake. Everyone also knew she had Raferty Hawkins’ complete support so to challenge her would mean risking much. There had been only one incident in the supply field. One year ago, one of the logistics officers for Steppenwolf had bribed two members of Riki’s crew for extra supplies including alcohol, munitions, and medical equipment so he could sell the stuff and still have the Steppenwolf’s books balance. The two men thought they were smart enough in the supply regime to hide the shortages through crafty bookkeeping, but Riki had been around for many years, took a deep interest in all facets of her ship, and had seen every dodge. When she found the shortages, she quickly found out who onboard her ship was responsible, and the two crewmembers went out an airlock, but not before they told the whole story. Since Steppenwolf was in Killian O’Hare’s squadron, Riki had sent her a P4 in hopes of handling it without Hawkins knowing. O’Hare cut short a raiding foray to rendezvous with her supply ship. Five minutes after she boarded Steppenwolf, the offending logistics officer took a spacewalk. O’Hare then informed Steppenwolf’s captain in a close up and personal manner that if this type of incident was ever repeated, she would hold him personally responsible. Word got around among the supply people and there were never any incidences after that. Hawkins learned of it but said nothing. As far as he was concerned, problem solved.

  Chapter 26

  Fregattenkapitan Fritz Steiner leaned back in his command chair, vaguely uneasy and not sure why. He reviewed the current situation for the umpteenth time. Not to say the current situation was great, but all was as it should be. His destroyer, Abendhimmel, was holding position on the forward starboard quarter of the damaged OrCon battle cruiser. The OrCon destroyer, Slavnyy, was in position on the port rear quarter of the battle cruiser. The three ships were making reasonable speed to Rosstrappe considering the damage to the battle cruiser. The fact they were here at all was a bit ridiculous. Senator was obviously finished as a fighting ship. If the damage had occurred close to an OrCon base, perhaps this would be an appropriate course of action. But there was no OrCon base within several solar systems. Senator would ge
t to Rosstrappe but then what? A long journey through Goldenes Tor space to OrCon territory for repairs that would take months? Hardly. The simple fact was the OrCon admiral did not want to order the destruction of the ship. Steiner understood this perfectly. No doubt there was some sentiment as Senator had been his flagship, but mostly the Admiral did not want to report the loss of a battle cruiser along with his other losses. He would report Senator as damaged and let higher authority order the destruction of the ship. If the Zeke force had been destroyed, the losses might be viewed as the price for victory, but the OrCons had lost a battle to a vastly inferior enemy force, which then escaped with few losses. Any way you viewed it, the OrCons had suffered a defeat, and such news is never well received at home. The OrCons had to pursue the Zekes and Senator was not a contributor. “So here we are,” thought Steiner glumly.

  Senator needing an escort to Rosstrappe was only the first part of the equation. The second part of the equation was why Abendhimmel was chosen as an escort rather than another ship. Steiner knew the answer to that also. He and his ship were here as punishment for his performance during the destruction of the pirate settlement. He had reviewed his actions there several times and couldn’t find anything he would have done differently and been able to live with himself. Abendhimmel had been the first to spot the settlement on sensor sweeps. He had dutifully reported it to Light Admiral Jochen Kaufmann in the light cruiser, Bergspitze. He had included his evaluation of the settlement as a pirate haven based on sensor readings and his own experience in the Badlands. He was surprised when the Admiral had informed the OrCons the settlement was a Zeke community and their sensors had caught the OrCons. The OrCons, having no intel on the pirates, were forced to take the Admiral’s word and had closed in to establish a gun run on the settlement. Steiner had argued with the Admiral on a discreet frequency unheard by any other ship and then argued over an open frequency in hopes the OrCons would stop the attack on their own. It hadn’t worked. Steiner had spent most his career in ships on patrol throughout the Empire. He had logged several patrols in the Badlands and knew the ramifications of this attack. Admiral Kaufmann was known as a “flagpole officer,” someone who always wanted to be at the center of power and not with the operating forces. He had spent the majority of his career at headquarters and in the home systems, working for people of power and influence. He only came out to the fleet when he needed the operational time to move up in rank. He had always kept such tours to a minimum. He had recently taken over the flotilla and this was their first operation under his command. To him, there were no rules in dealing with pirates, and this settlement was a gift from the war gods. Steiner had told him this was a target of no military value and there would be consequences, but the Admiral had brushed it off. The OrCons made quick work of the settlement, and the ships had continued onward. It was a large settlement and Steiner figured a number of ships had kept their families there. News would get out fast and the Goldenes Tor would be held responsible. The fact that the actual firing was done by OrCon ships would be a distinction lost on the pirates. Steiner was sure his objections during the attack were why the Admiral had dispatched his ship to escort the battle cruiser to Rosstrappe.

  “Bogey dead ahead, just coming on sensors,” reported a sailor on search sensor station.

  Steiner glanced down at his screens and brought up the sensor sweeps. A large bogey on a reciprocal course was closing slowly on the small convoy. Probably a freighter headed for Potenka, thought Steiner. There had been three contacts over the last several hours. All were merchant vessels headed for the large trading hub of Potenka.

  “Warn him off,” directed Steiner to the bridge watch officer.

  The officer stepped to a console and sent a message over several frequencies translated into several languages warning the oncoming merchantman to give the convoy a wide berth. In response, the newcomer altered course slightly to his starboard, but would still pass close aport to the convoy. It continued to slowly close on the three ships. As the distance closed, details became clear. The freighter was a standard midsize trader seen in the hundreds throughout the universe. There were three huge hatches on each side of the hull which slide up allowing for rapid loading and unloading of cargo containers. The two engines were mounted underneath the fuselage and the bridge was forward of the large cargo bay. Three small gun turrets protected the ship, two mounted fore and aft topside, and the third mounted underneath and aft between the engines. These stations probably housed close-up laser weapons for pirate protection.

  “IFF code is for the freighter Neptune out of Potenka,” reported the intel watch stander.

  The sensors operator added, “She is putting out some serious noise. One of the engines is damaged, probably a bearing problem.”

  “Probably why she is slower than normal and not giving us a wide arc,” added the watch officer in a disinterested tone. He was using his sensors to scan the bubble all around the convoy and ensure all was clear.

  Over the next hour, the freighter and the small group of warships closed on each other. Soon the freighter could be seen as a dot of light from the bridge windows. She continued to close and soon was almost abeam on the port side of the convoy. Suddenly computer-activated sensor alarms sounded. Far to starboard, a ship was coming out of subspace.

  “Corvette size ship,” reported the sensor operator excitedly above the alarms, “no IFF.” Everyone turned their attention to starboard. The lone ship lingered for several seconds and then set up a course to converge on the convoy.

  “What the hell ... ” muttered the operator as he stared intently at his screens. Then he shouted, “Incoming port!”

  Steiner stared at his screen. The freighter Neptune was close abeam of Senator now. Its three port hatches had slid up and a barrage of missiles was being fired at point blank range at the convoy. In addition, three ships had come out of subspace around the freighter and were sending missiles downrange. It was obvious now why the freighter was so slow and making noise; she was covering for the three ships in subspace. The lone ship coming out of subspace to starboard had been a distraction to buy the attacking force a few precious seconds to open hatches on the freighter and allow the warships to come out of subspace. “Well done,” thought Steiner.

  Abendhimmel’s computers had activated the shields to full power and began launching interceptor missiles in response. The two OrCon ships did the same. Steiner knew this was not enough to stop the incoming missiles. He absently noted the broadside from the freighter rivaled that of a battleship. The number of incoming missiles and the short range ensured the majority of the missiles would at least get to the ship shields of the little convoy.

  The missile barrage covered the short distance quickly. The three convoy warships put out interceptor missiles at maximum rate, but the incoming number of missiles and short travel distance favored the attackers. The interceptors hit some of the incoming projectiles, but the majority of the attacking missiles hit their targets. The short range had allowed for detailed targeting by the attackers. All the missiles targeting Senator impacted on the aft port shields protecting the engines. The number and rapidity of impacts did not allow for that shield segment to reinforce itself, and the segment soon drained of power and collapsed. Missiles poured through and drove into the engineering compartments. Each impact and subsequent explosion occurred deeper within the ship. She started to lose stability and roll to starboard.

  The OrCon destroyer, Slavnyy, absorbed thirteen missiles on her forward port quarter shield before it collapsed. The hull absorbed ten more missiles before internal explosions and further missile impacts turned Slavnyy into space junk. Five rescue pods launched before the explosions tore the ship apart. It might as well have been none. The attackers targeted the pods. Steiner knew these were pirates and this attack was in response to the settlement destruction. There would be no rules here. An old Goldenes Tor curse sprang unbidden from his memory, “May your sins be revisited on you tenfold.” It was certainly true
here.

  “Slide back!” Steiner ordered his helmsman.

  The Abendhimmel was on the far side of the convoy from the attackers. She now slid back and put the mass of Senator between her and the attackers. Steiner knew this was not his best moment but the two OrCon ships were not exactly comrades, and his maneuver would not make the situation worse for them. He might regret this act in the future but right now he was just hoping there would be a future.

  Several missiles at the forward edge of the barrage were already beyond Senator so continued to track the Goth destroyer as she slowed. These missiles were taken out by Abendhimmel’s interceptors or exploded on her shields. The missiles in the rear of the incoming barrage were not yet beyond Senator, so as they adjusted in mid-course to continue to track the slowing Abendhimmel, they ended up impacting on Senator. This made little difference to the large ship. She was rolling now and had slowed considerably. The attacking ships were now firing their guns at the large non-maneuvering target. Armor piercing energy shells hit the port side and then the underside of Senator as she rolled. Pieces of Senator broke off and floated away from the short inferno that sucked up all the oxygen in the ship and then flamed out. Further missiles and gun rounds impacted the hulk. Senator had stopped firing back when the power had failed. Pods began to fly off the ship. The brief shelter provided by Senator was now gone. It was time for Steiner to make a decision.

  “Starboard thirty degrees, ten degrees nose down, military power!” he ordered.

  Abendhimmel was running. The ship ceased firing, turned slightly to starboard, nosed down and leaped away. Steiner expected a barrage of missiles to follow and tried to keep the hulk of Senator between his ship and the attackers. But there was no barrage chasing them. Two of the attacking ships took up the pursuit, and the lone ship to starboard had turned to run nearly parallel to the fleeing Goth ship while slowly reducing the distance between them. Steiner looked at his screen and frowned. Time did not favor his ship. The starboard vessel would be in firing range soon and the pursuing vessels were in range now but simply holding their fire. Steiner figured the two ships were waiting for their comrade to come in range and then all three enemy ships would open fire and overwhelm his defenses. The situation was very bad.