He paused, closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and stepped out into the corridor towards the bridge. He slowed his pace about ten meters short, still breathing deeply, trying to get himself into the proper mind space. His foot falls on the plastic-coated floor echoed down the grey corridor. A holo-screen with nano-suit choices blinked on, a selection was made. His clothes morphed into the uniform of an Imperial Customs Officer, with the rank of Commander gleaming silver on his shoulders, facial features changed. His cheekbones were higher, and he sported a hawkish nose. His hair grayed a bit at the temples. The bruise on his cheek disappeared.
The fake Imperial officer added a swagger to his walk. They were arrogant. Midlevel functionaries with far too much authority. Authority he could wield any way he wished out here in the black of space. His expression was not quite neutral, there was the built in scowl all bureaucrats wore.
He strode onto the bridge. Everyone, including the captain, did a double take.
“Reporting as ordered, Captain Lex.” Robert came to the position of attention and rendered a crisp salute. Lex grinned and returned his salute.
“Stand at ease, Mr. Ford,” he said. Robert relaxed and allowed himself a slight grin.
Lex, Reznik, and Boomer all approached. Boomer was in her exoskeleton with the helmet off. “You were right, Boomer. This man is a hell of an actor. I almost grabbed my sidearm,” Lex said.
“Ah. So you have seen my work, madam?” Robert said in a clipped military tone.
Boomer’s cheeks reddened. “Yes. I saw your performance of Henry V… The command performance you gave for the King.”
She certainly is high born if she was invited to that.
“And now, you give the performance of your life,” Lex said, becoming serious.
Robert bowed at the waist. “And I have never been more ready. A few questions if I may, Captain?”
“Of course.”
“How soon to the target?” Robert asked
“They will be in visual range in fourteen minutes.”
“How will our ship look to them?”
Sparky and Boomer shared a look, both acknowledging Robert’s choice of words of ‘our ship.’
“This ship is nano capable, but it cannot make its shape precisely that of an Imperial Customs frigate. Luckily, we have a very capable slicer here.” Lex pointed at Sparky, whose arms and fingers moved in a blur. He was standing in front of three, large and visible holo-screens. Robert didn’t understand what he was looking at. It looked fast and busy. The lines of code cascaded like a waterfall.
“Sparky is slicing into their system right now. They’ll see what we want them to see,” Lex said.
“Incredible. I wasn’t aware that was possible,” Robert said momentarily dropping out of character.
“You’ll be surprised again and again, Robert,” Boomer offered. “What’s possible out here differs greatly from what’s possible in capitol city. Necessity is the mother of invention, they say.”
Robert thought he glimpsed a smile as she turned to head back to the gunner’s station.
“Is it safe to assume that they will only see my holo? Or will Sparky’s magic work for the bridge and crew?” Robert asked.
“They’ll only see you,” Lex replied, then turned to Billy McAndrews, who was now piloting the Bane.
“Stand by to maneuver,” Lex said to Billy.
Billy nodded. “Aye, Captain. Standing by.”
Robert was surprised to realize he wasn’t scared. Not even a bit. He knew he should’ve been. If this wasn’t done expertly, it would be a disaster. His very life hung in the balance of what happened in the next ten minutes. Still, stage fright had long been a thing of the past. He felt exhilarated, the same way he used to before walking out onto the stage in front of packed house. Robert felt more himself in this moment than any other since stepping aboard the Bane. It was show time.
“Sparky. Where are we?” the captain asked.
“I’m in. The visuals have been tricked out and I’m about to convince her AI that we’re transmitting the transponder signal of the—” Sparky turned to Robert with a grin. “The HMS Shakespeare.”
Robert smiled.
Captain Lex looked up slightly. “Bane.”
“Yes, Captain,” The ship’s AI responded in a voice deeper and darker than the captain’s.
“Open a comm to the prize on Mr. Ford’s mark.”
“Aye, Captain,” Bane replied.
Lex approached Robert, his hands clasped behind his back. “Ready?”
Robert nodded, and his holo-screen filled with information about the prize.
Lex pointed at Robert. “Action.”
Robert took a moment to set a scowl on his face. A comm window appeared in front of him. He hailed their target.
“Commercial Transport Ajax, this is Commander Westley Easton of Imperial Customs, please reply,” he said, sounding like a stuffed shirt bureaucrat.
There was a pause, then a short burst of static.
“Yes, sir. This is First Officer Hastings. How may I be of service?”
“Mr. Hastings, what is your cargo and destination?” the commander asked.
“Foodstuffs and machinery. We’re bound for the East Star Colony.”
Is everyone headed to bloody East Star?
“Please transmit your passage.”
“Uh, one moment sir.”
The Ajax’s passage, which was her registration, licenses, and crew and cargo manifest, appeared on Robert’s holo-screen. It was as he said, they were headed to East Star with the supplies he stated. Her crew was twelve people.
A new voice came over the comm. “This is Captain William Farnsworth of the Ajax. To whom am I speaking?” The voice was pompous and overbearing.
Robert’s eyebrow raised. He straightened and pulled on the front of his tunic, making it snap. “This is Commander Westley Easton of Imperial Customs on board the HMS Shakespeare,” Robert answered in an equally pompous tone.
“What is your business with us, Commander?” Farnsworth asked.
“We are about the King’s business. And we wield his authority, sir,” Robert said crisply.
“We have submitted our passage. Good day, sir,” Farnsworth nearly spat.
Robert’s face reddened. How dare he? “We’re not done here, sir!” Robert nearly shouted.
Captain Farnsworth sighed. “Commander, I can’t afford to hang about. These supplies are greatly needed on East Star. This delay is unwarranted, and—”
“You will bring your ship to a complete halt and prepare to be boarded,” Robert said, cutting off Farnsworth’s blathering.
“But, Commander! I just said— ”
“And I just gave you an order in the name of the King. Comply. Now,” Robert said coldly. “Have your entire crew standing by the airlock. We will need full idents on everyone. It seems a wanted man that also left Capella Major in a transport much like yours,” he added.
“Sir, are you implying that I would harbor a fugitive from the King’s justice?” Farnsworth asked incredulously.
“Stop your ship immediately and we shall see. This is your only warning.”
Robert hoped he wouldn’t call his bluff. If Captain Farnsworth told him to go slag himself and continued on his journey, he was as good as dead.
Farnsworth sighed harder this time. “Very well, Commander Easton. Slowing to stop. Approach the starboard airlock if you will.”
“Very well. Easton out,” Robert said. Then the comm cut out.
Sparky turned and began to clap. “Very well done, sir!” he said with a laugh. “I can’t bloody believe that worked.”
Robert toggled the controls for his nano cloak. His face and clothing shimmered, then he was back to himself.
Others on the bridge gave a smattering of applause, including Boomer. Robert smiled and took a few bows.
“Well done indeed, Mister Ford, but we still have to take the ship intact,” Lex said.
“I believe your strik
ers will find all twelve of her crew waiting just inside the starboard airlock. I’ve done just as I said I could do, Captain. If your strikers start shooting up the ship, that’s not my fault,” Robert said.
Lex turned and opened a comm. “Strikers, may I have your attention. It would seem that our intrepid actor has come through. You should find twelve crewmen just inside of the airlock. They should be unarmed. No shock and awe. Just rush them and take them down. Fire only if fired upon. Confirm.”
A chorus of “Aye, Captains” sounded through the comm. Lex turned and sat in his chair.
Boomer beckoned Robert over to her console. “Westley Easton?” she asked.
Robert laughed, splaying his hands out in front of himself. “Can you believe in all the time I’ve had to prepare for this, I never thought of a name?” he said, chagrined. “Had to ad-lib a bit, I’m afraid.”
Boomer laughed. “Fugitive from the capitol city?”
Robert smiled, spread his hands apart and shrugged.
Captain Lex approached Robert. “Very well, Mr. Ford. You have won your reprieve, for the time being.”
Robert frowned. “For the time being?”
Lex crossed his arms. “Your buyout is now three million coin. To cover the cost of the bounty on your head.”
“I suppose that’s fair. It is a far better deal than I expected.”
“I certainly hope you continue to be up to this task,” Lex said, the unspoken warning written on his face.
“I shall endeavor to continue to do so,” Robert replied.
Captain Lex returned to his command chair and sat. Quartermaster Reznik approached Robert from behind tapped his shoulder. Robert spun around to see Reznik holding a data pad.
“I have some additional good news for you, Mr. Ford,” Reznik said, tapping at his data pad. “You now rate better quarters.”
“This day just keeps getting better,” Robert said.
“I’ll have your new berthing assignment within the hour.” Reznik said, then stepped towards Sparky’s engineering console.
“I think I need a drink,” Robert said as he walked off the bridge.
The bridge doors closed behind him. He grimaced. I just delivered twelve souls in the hands of these devils. May God have mercy on me.
CHAPTER 34
The strikers, as usual, bounced on the balls of their feet, full of nervous energy after each of them triggered an adrenaline dump from their combat mods. Bosun Shred stood calmly. Digg noticed by his bosun’s demeanor that he had decided not to trigger his mods.
Shred turned to address his strikers. “Righty-o, lads. When these doors open we rush in with guns up, but easy on the trigger,” he said, looking directly at Digg and Hack. “This should be a soft target. Do not fire unless they pull a weapon.”
Digg cleared his throat. “Can I at least put the captain on his arse?”
Shred rolled his eyes. “No,” he said, then added. “Not unless he pulls a weapon. Are we clear?”
The strikers all grunted their affirmatives. Digg was annoyed, but held his tongue.
They all felt the thud that announced contact being made between the ships. The two large doors of the airlock had two transparent aluminum windows taking up two-thirds of the doors. They were polarized so the pirates could see out, but no one from the outside could see in. All the Shelton’s crew would see was a gunmetal surface with the silver and black logo of Imperial Customs.
The other ship’s pressure door receded. The inner doors were still closed and they could see the entire ship’s company standing there waiting for inspection. Captain Smythe stood front and center. An aged man, as were many commercial captains. He stood, back straight, chest out. His silver beard only slightly concealed his annoyance at this interruption in his voyage.
“Fancy that,” said Shred. “They’re just waiting, like Ford said they would.”
This only brought grunts from Hack and Digg.
“All right, they’re unarmed. So, like we talked about, we just rush them. No firing unless someone pulls a gun,” Shred reminded them.
Digg and Hack exchanged a glance. They closed their visors, and activated their nano cloaks. The airlock door slid open.
The pressure between the ships finally equalized. Bane’s doors slid open, and the pirates rushed out with deep growls, heavy footfalls, and weapons raised.
The ship’s crew was expecting a few Imperial bureaucrats, not large, shrieking skeletons in power armor. Hands quickly shot upwards. A few dropped to their knees. A huge bearded man in grimy coveralls pissed himself.
“Anyone moves, they die,” said Shred in his suit’s modulated voice. All hands were up. Nobody even thought about moving. Digg performed a quick scan. “No weapons detected,” he announced.
“Captain, this is Shred. The prize is secure. I think this is a new record. Fifteen seconds maybe?”
***
“Acknowledged, Bosun. Good work. Secure the crew. We’ll start unloading procedures as soon as the quartermaster arrives at your location,” Captain Lex said.
“I’ve scanned her for ID tags and heat signatures, nothing. All personnel accounted for,” Sparky announced over the main comm.
Reznik and the strikers herded their new crewmembers onboard the Bane. As soon as they cleared the airlock, Deke and his raiders moved in with exo-loaders to start moving cargo.
Lex stood in the center of his bridge, studying a high resolution 3D scan of their new ship. “Sparky, I need a full report on the spaceworthiness of the ship.”
“Aye, Captain. I’ll have that data momentarily,” the chief engineer replied, his fingers a blur as he pulled the requested data prize. Sparky had programmed a new app after they took the Pegasus. He created an automated routine that would gather all of the maintenance information in a fraction of the time.
A new holo-screen opened in front of Sparky. He looked from screen to screen. Lex noticed the engineer seemed very pleased with himself.
“Here it is, Captain.” Sparky said. “She’s in very good condition, looks like she’s had a reactor overhaul recently.” His eyes continued scanning the data. “Likewise, the engines look pretty good. I’ll download her maintenance records, just to make sure.”
Lex was pleased. Robert did exactly what he said he could do. And there was no loss of life or cargo. He allowed himself a brief smile.
The captain opened a comm screen. “Captain Frisbee. Please assemble a skeleton crew for our latest ship.”
Captain Frisbee smiled and nodded. “Roger that, Captain Lex, I’m on it.” he said, then the screen vanished.
Lex called his raider foreman. “Deke, bring back whatever cargo you have right now, we’re taking the ship with us, no need to empty her hold.”
“Affirmative, Captain. We’re heading back now. We will secure the cargo, and make ready to move out.” Deke said. “Oh, and Sir? The ship is full of industrial machinery. Including those extra-large type of 3D printers.”
Lex’s eyebrows shot up. Those were worth a tremendous amount of money. “How many of them are there?”
Deke grinned. “We’ve got ten of them, all shiny new.”
Lex eased into his command chair. “Outstanding.”
This was the second ship they had taken that was headed for East Star full of 3D printers. Whatever they were building out there is going to take a lot longer.
Captain Frisbee called about ten minutes later. “Captain Lex, the prize team is assembled and ready to board on your orders.”.
“Very good, Captain Frisbee. Thank you. Have the team board, and make her ready to travel.”
The old captain acknowledged and closed the channel.
Once again, he comes through. I wish Captain Grizz was half as efficient.
“Captain?” Deke said over the comm. “We found something on that ship, I think you’re gonna want to see it. I think Sparky might be interested, too.”
Sparky shot the captain an inquisitive look, and stood up from his station.
&nb
sp; “We’re on our way,” Lex replied.
Lex and Sparky stepped into the cargo bay. Lex could see Deke, Nigel, and all the raiders standing around a large, metallic crate. They were all looking at each other, then into the crate, then back at each other. A few of them spoke excitedly.
“Deke, what have we got here?” Lex asked, as the crowd parted.
Sparky squealed with glee, unable to contain his excitement.
Inside the crate set a bipedal robot, its legs drawn up in front of it, arms wrapped around its legs. Its head bowed forward. The robot was a metallic gray with a cylindrical torso and a spherical head.
Most robots were illegal throughout the Empire, and even the Alliance. They were banned after The Uprising nearly seventy years ago. The maximum penalty for owning one in Imperial space was death, if the magistrate could prove the owner intended to use it for criminal purposes.
Sparky looked like a kid on Christmas morning. His eyes gleamed, and his grin nearly split his face in half. He looked over at Lex, who was unimpressed by the bot.
“Can I keep him?” he pleaded, his hands clasped together in front of his chest.
A few of the raiders laughed at Sparky’s exuberance. Deke just shook his head.
Lex smirked at his engineer’s reaction. He looked back into the crate. The bot’s spindly arms and legs made it look harmless. Lex sighed. “Yes, but check it out first. If it turns out to be violent, we space it.”
Sparky nodded vigorously. “No worries, Captain. I’ll make sure he stays on his best behavior.”
The engineer turned to Nigel. “Oy, help me lift him out.”
Nigel frowned, but he grabbed the other side of the bot, and they heaved it out of the crate. They set it on the floor and Sparky opened an access panel with his multitool and peered inside with the wonder of a child.
Sparky looked up from his new toy and scanned the crowd for Deke. “Can I borrow a hover pallet, so I can get him to engineering?”
Deke pointed to a far corner. “Over there. Make sure you bring it back,” he growled.
Sparky took off running towards the hover pallets. “Don’t worry, Deke, I will. I promise,” he called over his shoulder.
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