Freighters don’t have that technology because it’s expensive, so they use probes to relay information instead. This is our best bet to get in and get out. All this information is on the computer. Take a look for yourself. If you come up with a better plan, then hell, I’ll listen. But of all the crappy plans, this one’s the least crappy.”
Blake barked and then paused getting that distant thoughtful look again, shaking his head, he said to the ship,
“Morgan, do you want to tell me how I just knew all this shit?”
Morgan answered in her matter of fact tone,
“Of course, Captain. It was downloaded into your mind while you were being augmented. Since your species has a lower brain usage than most, I was able to utilize the extra space as storage for information I believed you needed. Each one of you has a set of information geared towards your positions giving you a better chance at making an informed decision.” She finished.
Sighing and shaking her head Shira didn’t continue the argument, she knew he was right, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t the worse plan of all time. They needed current Intel and supplies. Even with the beacon, it was the right call.
She squared her shoulders and nodded.
“Alright, you’re the captain. Let’s see if we can put a good plan together, but also make sure we have a plan B and a clear exit strategy.”
Blake nodded and walked over to the console “Morgan, pull up quadrant Alpha 33-2a,” he asked. The hologram flickered, and a new system came into view.
“Now overlay known freighter flight paths within the system, take into account known slip space points, and then factor in freighter speed.
Use half-loads for speed and acceleration calculations.”
Shira’s eyebrows rose.
“Cap, this information is decades old. How do we know they are still running these routes?”
Blake pointed at the star map.
“Some installations require regular resupply. According to the records, these shipments are delivered every cycle like clockwork, So, using the typical bureaucratic ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra, they’re probably still using the exact same routes.”
He finished as Morgan adjusted the holo-view in the center of the room using the parameters that were dictated by Blake.
“These are the current trajectories based on the latest knowledge this ship has of the freighter and other patrols through this system. Based on the planet and debris shift I have extrapolated and updated, this is the closest we can get to accurate data without having seen or had recent recon on the system.”
Blake thought about that for a moment.
“Morgan, can your probes go into the slipstream, enter the system, gather data for let’s say a week, and then return with that data?”
Morgan was quiet for a moment as the computer ran the complicated calculations at lightning speed. “Including power consumption and probe emission profiles, there is a 98 percent chance that this plan would be successful with little or no modifications to the probe.” She stated
“Alright! Let’s launch one then, and have it rendezvous with us at our next location. That will allow us to wait near the black hole and hide as much of the beacon transmissions as possible to giving us time to plan and finish our preparations.” Shira got up and left the bridge,
Blake remained, staring at the jump lights. “Morgan, am I doing the right thing? This plan could get us caught or worse, dead. Hell, if this ship fell into the wrong hands, the path to Earth could be handed directly to the Empire.” He whispered at the console.
“I know Blake,” Morgan’s voice spoke softly.
“We won’t let that happen. As for your plan, it is risky, but you are correct…we need intel, and we need weapons. You and Shira may want to increase your training regiments. We are going to need those skills faster than we had thought. Once we reach the edge of the Empire’s system, I should be able to tap into a beacon and gain a plethora of knowledge on what’s happened in my absence, as well as if there are any warrants on the ship or its previous captain.” She answered using the communication ear piece instead of the speaker.
Blake just nodded. For a reluctant captive, he sure was in the thick of it now.
The Captain thought about his daughter. He would be damned if he would let the Empire find Earth! With a newly discovered resolve and a determination in his step, The Captain headed for the training room.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
FOURTEEN
Guaranteed Overnight
“I’ll triple your usual fee if you bring the ship back intact,” Craylor said to the hologram standing in front of him.
“What about any crew?” asked the shadowed figure whom Craylor only knew as Kenja.
He had done jobs in the past for Craylor’s family and always produced results.
Craylor had talked to every mercenary group and contact on this side of the galaxy, dangling a massive payout that even the most hardened bounty hunters would go weak in the knees over, to make sure there would not be a planet in the system the where the ship could feel safe.
Kenja wasn’t cheap, but he would get the job done. “Anyone on the ship is to be removed in whatever way you see fit,” Craylor said flatly.
Both parties knew full well that usually meant termination. Kenja bowed slightly.
“And the beacon, do we have an exact location yet?”
Craylor pulled up the space chart he had been reviewing so they would both be able to see it at their perspective locations.
“It was hiding in this quadrant, however, because we have no active listening posts that far out, we are not currently able to triangulate their exact position.”
His finger tapped a location on the map, and it highlighted at his touch.
“The ship is apparently on the move, making it difficult to track, but we have had pings here,”
He moved his finger, and the highlight changed with it.
“and here. I want your team ready as soon as we get a lock on it.”
Craylor closed the map, making sure he sent it to Kenja’s data-pad before exiting, and then leveled a stern gaze at the hologram.
“Kenja, this one is important to the family… very important. I cannot stress how grateful we will be if you accomplish this. We don’t forget our friends,” Craylor emphasized.
Kenja nodded and severed the connection. He was a professional and would not disappoint. Craylor placed an audio call.
“What?” said an impatient voice.
“Have you found them yet?” Craylor pushed.
The voice sighed.
“No, just like the last ten times you asked. As soon as I have a lock on it, you will know. This is what you pay me for, Craylor. Don’t call me again.” There was an audible click on the line.
Craylor would have had her killed years ago if she had not been one of the best computer slicers in existence.
He barely tolerated the disrespect. One day, when Craylor no longer needed her services, he would spread the pieces of Vee’s body all over the galaxy with a smile on his face.
He sat back reviewing his list to confirm Craylor had contacted who he needed to and then sent out a few messages to ensure that things were prepared for when he got back with the box. He closed out his terminal and picked up the mobile communicator.
“Call Neera,” he spoke into the device.
A moment later, Neera’s face appeared on the small device, looking very haggard.
“Neera, prepare the ship, please. We are leaving now,” Craylor said,
ignoring the disgruntled look, she shot him.
“Right away, sir,” Neera responded.
The call ended. Victory was approaching. It would not be long now before he would have his prize. His days as a pariah were almost over,
but he still had to put on the final touch.
It was always good to have a contingency plan in case things went south.
Craylor put in one last call.<
br />
“Send the money and the description. I want it out on the wire to every planet in and out of the Empire. I want to make sure everyone, everywhere, is looking for my ship.” He stated into the device.
“Sir, you do realize that this could bankrupt you,” the stern looking accountant floating above his desk replied.
“It is literally every credit you have left to your name. Your father will notice and start to ask questions.”
He thought about that for a second and nodded. “By the time he finds out, it will be too late. We will have the box in our possession, and he will have no recourse.”
The gentlemen bowed slightly,
“As you wish, sir.”
The hologram disappeared. It was true. His father would be furious and might even try to have him assassinated again, but with the box, he could restore the family’s status and influence with the emperor. It would be enough to stay his father’s hand, and quite possibly put him back in good graces with the old man. It was a risky game he was playing.
Should he fail, it would be his life, but he would be catapulted as the savior of his line should he succeed, it was worth the risk.
Neera was frantic. She was sure Craylor had lost his mind. Every favor had been called in, tapped, or cashed.
Whatever he was after, he was determined to get it. If he failed, everything would collapse.
This made her nervous as her fate was tied to his. She still had twenty years before she would be free to seek proper employment.
Until then, if he went bankrupt, her debt would be sold to someone else, and she had heard some horror stories.
Craylor might be a pompous ass, but he was fair and never mistreated her. Her future and survival were in doubt, and that made her extremely nervous.
She went through her desk and found the small data chip. She didn’t want to have to do this,
but she had herself to look after.
Craylor will have to look out for himself. Neera thought, justifying this breach of trust.
She put the chip in the communications terminal and started speaking when the connection opened. “Sir, you asked me to call if there was ever an issue or problem that might have ramifications for the family.”
The words ran quickly out of her mouth, all poise gone as the fear of the situation overwhelmed her.
“Yes?” the voice on the other end uttered.
Neera swallowed hard and then continued
“There are some things you need to know...”
Neera spent several minutes explaining the situation. Once she finished, she waited. There was no sound, not even breathing, on the other end of the phone.
The silence stretched for several minutes, then the raspy voice came back on, devoid of emotion.
It just asked,
“Is that all?”
Neera didn’t know what to say. She expected the man to get mad, to yell or throw things, not this calm, detached voice on the other end of the communicator.
“Y-Yes” she stammered, her heart beating like a staccato drum line in her chest.
If he was displeased, or if Craylor found out, either one could have her executed on the spot.
This is the life of an Empire slave, she thought bitterly.
Neera was not a brave person, nor was she very ambitious. This intrigue was not her;
she wasn’t any good at it, and with her life on the line, she was practically having a meltdown.
The voice finally came back on, snapping her out of her bitter thoughts.
“Keep me updated, And Neera” the voice oozed, causing the secretary to cringe
“Yes Sir?” she squeaked, swallowing hard.
“Good work,” he finished.
The communicator went dead. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She was not out of the woods yet, but at least she had covered her ass with the family. Anything from here on out was now their problem. She just hoped this hadn’t cost her, her life.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
FIFTEEN
Father Knows Best
Druzenz hung up the phone and settled back in his chair. Neera had laid everything out.
Of course, most of it he knew from his own spies, but, Craylor was still digging himself quite the hole.
Leaning back and half closing his eyes, the chair groaned from the strain of the man’s weight.
He laced his large, webbed fingers in his lap as he reflected on the situation.
Druzenz knew about the box and what Craylor had done, but only after the fact.
Dumbass! If he had just come to him with it, they could have decided how to best exploit the find. Now, the box had been found, and his son had put the word out on the ship with the offer of a handsome reward.
Druzenz laughed to himself bitterly.
Hell, why not put a big sign on it saying, ‘extremely valuable, please hold me for ransom.’
This was his chance to get his hands on the box his idiot son had lost. After the fiasco happened, he had hung his son out to dry with the Council.
Of course, Craylor would never know this, but the family had to be protected, and he wouldn’t leverage their influence to save the moron.
After all, he had gotten himself into this mess. His son was going to spend all of his personal resources, and then would probably want to borrow money.
He would have to intercede; the discovery was too important to entrust to Craylor anymore.
Indeed, his son was a brilliant ship designer and had made a good living,
but he was not practiced in the ways of politics and the subtleties of clandestine operations.
Druzenz smiled, and his black eyes seemed to twinkle in the lamplight of his large, stately office. He leafed through the documents that had been sent over from Craylor’s secretary and laid out which mercenaries he had hired along with how much had been spent on each.
He looked thoughtfully at the list and nodded to himself.
He would have to enlist Craylor’s group, but to do that, he would need someone to spearhead an operation of this sort.
He went through several names in his mind, dismissing most out of hand.
Then, after a moment of thought, he sat upright at his desk. Druzenz opened a communication channel,
an oily voice answered within a few short moments,
“Yes, my lord?”
A creature with very feline like features appeared on the holoprojector. He bowed reverently.
“What may I do for you today, sir?”
His yellow, silted eyes fixed on Druzenz.
He had worked with the man for years, and those eyes still gave him pause.
They promised pain, and Druzenz knew they would deliver.
“Selcarm, I assume you have seen the broadcast my idiot of a son has put out for the Nismel,”
he stated matter-of-factly.
The feline man inclined his head and snidely remarked,
“Who hasn’t, sir?”
Druzenz rolled his eyes.
He would have to have a talk with his son when this was done. He sincerely wished he could just tell Craylor to change his name.
Having him associated with the family was causing more embarrassment as of late than it usually did, and he would have to answer for it.
The Patriarch would demand to know how this had happened under his nose, and more importantly, how he could have let it affect the family.
“The family must always be protected,”
he would say,
“This is the way of things.”
“Then, you know why I am calling,”
Druzenz said flatly.
“You wish for the return of the ship, or what is on it,” the feline man stated.
“I am assuming the disposition of the crew is not a consideration in payment?”
Druzenz thought for a second, then formed his words carefully.
“Ensure that they have no other knowledge of the item before termination, but ultimately, the item
is paramount. Even the ship is secondary, though if you could return it, it would save time in having to build another.”
Selcarm bowed, and the hologram disappeared. Druzenz sighed in relief.
The man had never failed him in his duties.
Now he had to make a trip to visit the Patriarch and brief him.
This would fall on him, as he knew the way of things. He was responsible for his son, but to not bring in the Patriarch was to invite his wrath, and that was something he did not want to incur.
He definitely needed to take care of this before the Grand Council found out what was on that ship. If they did, they would send legions of troops out to recover it, and no one would be compensated.
The Patriarch would not stand for that kind of screw up.
If that happened, he would have to kill his son.
Of course, he would blame Craylor for everything once he was dead.
He could not be allowed to defend himself.
He would have to be made an example of,
and Druzenz knew what that meant…
poison in his drink or an assassin crawling in the window late at night;
all possibilities would be designed to seem like an accident, but everyone would know what had happened and why.
After all, that was the way of things.
Druzenz signed a few documents to give over large amounts of credit to Selcarm’s management and then began reviewing some of the intelligence reports on the device his son had ‘invented.’
They really were quite intriguing.
Of course, he had also funded investigations into this device when it was found, though his son did not know about it.
The fact that his idiot of a son had found a use for it, and stopped there, was typical.
There was more to this thing, and Druzenz would find out what it was.
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