Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  Har-Hi successfully managed to shift his position so he could see the door. “Are you hurt?”

  “Yes, but the effects of that cursed Neuro Ripper are fading fast.”

  Har-Hi looked around to see if there was anything he could use to free himself; to his dismay, the small cargo hold was completely empty.

  ***

  Mikesh and I drove in a wheeled contraption down a long winding corridor carved into the rock of the asteroid. This vehicle was basically a frame with six wheels, a cargo bed, and two seats. Mikesh drove the thing at considerable speed, and I was sure we covered at least 10 kilometers or more before the corridor widened into a big cavern and a dead end. Here, he stopped.

  A big, tough-looking machine on tracks with an articulated arm and sawtooth-covered, ball-shaped digging or drilling tool stood there, bathed in floodlights on metal stands. He gave me a proud grin. “This is a truly ancient SII – Tunnel Borer, almost 500 years old and never let me down. I know you and I don’t like the Union much, but they sure build the nicest things.”

  “I have to agree with you on that, Mikesh.” I climbed out of the vehicle and looked around. “I guess that deep-brown strata with those sparkling white rocks is the Kalium, right?” I was anxious to see what he had found so I could return to the ship, but I had to admit this so far pretty eventless trip was quite interesting, and I’d learned how a ‘roid mine looked from the inside.

  He chuckled. “Keen eyes you have behind that spooky mask of yours. Yes, that is the Kalium, but this is not what I wanted you to see.”

  He walked up to the wall where his machine had dug or drilled only recently. I followed him and now I could see the machine had uncovered a door-like opening in the rock. It was framed with a dark gray metal and he disappeared inside.

  I was right behind him.

  The room was perhaps 20 meters in diameter, and it appeared that it had once been part of a building or basement. Much of it was empty, and it all had the feel of great age.

  In the middle, sat a coffin-sized box of the same dark metal.

  The tools he’d used to pry it open still lay scattered around.

  Inside the box was a machine-like contraption. It looked truly alien, but had button-like controls and several spherical discs that glowed with a dark-blue light.

  There was writing as well.

  Mikesh said, “I don’t know what it is, but if you touch it, it talks.”

  “What does it say?”

  “It says it is the Key to the Universe. If I understand it right, it can create some sort of gates and that might be useful to a pirate.”

  “Where did you touch it?”

  He pointed at the central light, a bluish glowing disk of about 20 centimeters across. I reached out against all better knowledge and touched the disk with my gloved fingers.

  The voice was loud and not psionic. “I am the Key to the Universe. Many thousands of gates can be opened with me. The gates and I have been created to unite many to defeat you, Dark Lord, and those who come in thy name!”

  “I am not a Dark Lord. I am Captain Black Velvet.”

  While I was touching the thing, I suddenly remembered my ring. Why was I always forgetting the blasted thing, only to remember it in the weirdest moments?

  “I am the Key to the Universe; there are many like me. The Traveler came to this Star Island and made gates here. I was given to the Dominants so the gates may be used.”

  “What kind of gates?”

  “I am the Key to the Universe and when I am near a gate, I can open it. Travelers may pass through to reach other Star Islands. What is unreachable becomes reachable.”

  “Can you show me the way to these gates?”

  “I am the Key—”

  “Yes, yes, you are the Key and whoever created you wasn’t able to give you a little more sense. Well, maybe Circuit or Shea can make more out of it all.”

  I removed my hand.

  Mikesh said, “Whatever it is, I don’t want it on my rock, but if it can make some sort of gates, maybe it will be useful to a pirate?”

  “You are a good man. Mikesh. I learned a lot today and this is most certainly a priceless gift.”

  “Well, Black Velvet. You can have it and I give you the most beautiful Kalium Crystal on top of it, if you pose with me next to my digger, for a still visual. So, I have a piece of evidence that you’ve really been with me here.”

  “Of course, I can do that. Did you find anything else like that?”

  “No, this is it. If I ever dig out more, I’ll set it aside and it will give you a reason to come back one day.”

  ***

  I made a few visuals with Mikesh and his digger. Then, he used a material handler to load the entire coffin-sized box on his vehicle.

  Two hours later, we were back in his little ship and while he was busy getting us underway, I slipped into the small galley and called my ship.

  Shea responded, “Captain, good to hear from you. We were a little worried, sir.”

  “I told you I am in no danger whatsoever. I found something ancient and alien and it might be Seenian or something like that. It talks and calls itself the Key to the Universe.”

  I sent her my recordings and she said, “Narth is looking at them, too, and we are both convinced it is neither Seenian, Pree, nor Uni. I am excited to examine it, and we should return to that asteroid and examine that place in more detail.”

  “We are still pretending to be pirates. We can’t explore things, but if that thing turns out to be the key to a trans spatial gateway, I am sure Fleet Command will find a way to secure that asteroid.”

  “True that, and in the meantime, your new friend destroys perhaps irreplaceable artifacts.”

  “Can’t be helped but I think he will indeed put the stuff aside as he said he would. Now, please give me Har-Hi.”

  “Har-Hi is not aboard, captain.”

  “He is not? Where is he then?”

  “Sir, he and Elfi went disguised to take the Tullerman out to be near, just in case—”

  I frowned. “Of course, I get the picture. Now please connect me with him.”

  There was a pause.

  “Shea?”

  “Sir, I am unable to raise either one.”

  “Narth, connect to the Kelpies and locate the Tullerman.”

  Again, a pause, and then Narth said, “Captain, the Tullerman went trans-light 16 minutes ago.”

  Chapter 8: Deep Space

  “What a mess,” Elfi said.

  “Don’t worry, princess. I am getting us out of here. I am much more worried how to explain that to the captain.”

  She had to smile. “That is what I meant.”

  “I wonder why Narth didn’t notice our predicament.”

  “Because he is not a long-range telepath. I know he can sense thoughts at about 50 kilometers. He can only sense Erica no matter the distance because they shared their souls or spirits or something like that.”

  The Kermac came in. “Now you’re going to tell me who you are. My friend wants to rip you apart, but I think the Saran girl will talk after a dose of—”

  Har-Hi had used the time alone to shift his position and was now kneeling. Like a steel spring, he pushed himself up and hit the Kermac square against the chin with his head.

  The Kermac fell back.

  Still bound by tape, but agile as a snake, Har-Hi was over the dazed Kermac and bit in his throat. Blood gushed, and the Kermac gargled a suffocating scream.

  Elfi was not a damsel in distress. She, too, had crawled on her knees and retrieved the Neuro Ripper. With her hands still tied behind her back, she immediately fired as the Oghar came through the door.

  He only shrugged and kept on stomping forward.

  Elfi thanked Isis for the weapon training they had received aboard the Devi and her fingers found the power dial. With two fingertips, she dialed it to max, just as the Oghar pulled his weapon.

  The Oghar fell in agonizing convulsions as every nerve in his body w
as overloaded with pain impulses. He died of neural shock moments later.

  It did not take them too long to find a knife on the Oghar and free themselves.

  Har-Hi wiped the blood off his chin. “Maybe we’ll make it in time before the captain even knows we are gone.”

  They both went to the tiny command deck and found the Tullerman was still in Quasi and on an automated course toward a destination. Thankfully, it wasn’t a very fast ship and didn’t have a great range.

  Har-Hi checked Navigations and said, “Looks like we’re heading for that G-type star.” He pointed at the 3D screen of the tiny nav-tank.

  He cut the ISAH engines to drop into real space so he could re-align the course back to the Shattered star system, now 14 light years distant. The Tullerman’s fuel reserves would not be enough to make it.

  Elfi was busy on the tachyon radio. Their own comm equipment in their costumes had only a very limited range of about five light years. “I am sending a coded message. SHIP or TheOther should be able to decipher it.”

  ***

  “Circuit, button her up, as fast as you can. Shaka, as soon as the board shows green, get us going. The Tullerman doesn’t have a terrible range. Krabbel, check for the nearest possible destination,” I said in a calm voice as I came onto the bridge.

  While I was worried about Har-Hi and Elfi and I knew they did not leave the system of their own free will, I was the captain and had to be confident and assuring.

  I also contemplated the probability that our cover had been compromised, as I did not know who or what had abducted my friends. Their disguises were good but would not hold up to close scrutiny.

  “TheOther, do you pick up any unusual comm activity, maybe talking about a Dai and a Saran?”

  “No, captain, and I am monitoring every channel we know and SHIP is helping.”

  “All green, captain,” Circuit reported.

  “Shaka, nice and smooth and with no apparent haste.”

  “Aye, captain.”

  “There is only one system that the Tullerman could reach. It’s a G-type but there is nothing known about it in our catalogs.”

  “Sobody?”

  “I think it might be Dyne. Marginal garden world that has or maybe used to have a native civilization. They had so many pirate raids that nothing remained. I am not sure what is there now.”

  TheOther said, “I have been listening to local chatter for a while now and the place is mentioned occasionally. It is total anarchy and, unlike Sin 4, no cities and no syndicates. Just lowlife gangs fighting each other and infested with every sort of space vermin. Not even pirates go there anymore.”

  “Well, that is where we are going. There is no other place that dinghy could reach.”

  Time seemed to crawl as we accelerated well within the limits of a Karthanian and our simulated old Isahs.

  ***

  We didn’t have to go far. After just eight light years, Narth detected the small craft and TheOther received a tachyon radio message from our friends. Moments later, we were close enough for their GalCom equipment.

  But as we slowed down to take our friends aboard, the Swift Profit dropped into real space and hailed us. “I thought we had a deal and we go together to Sin 4? Isn’t a scavenger scowl a little too meager picking?”

  “We never had a deal, and I tend to change my mind.”

  “Well, I did, too, my dear. You see, you have a mighty nice chest. I don’t mean that delectable rack but the one full of polos and I want it. So, before we start shooting and all that, please pay attention to your scanners and you will notice four fighters approaching fast. You see, Ikesh Bassett was very upset that you killed two of his men and helped his rival. It was very easy to convince him to assist me. Your Karthanian trader stands no chance against us. These are genuine surplus Dai fighters and the jocks know how to use them.”

  I cut the transmission. “Mao, as soon as they are in range for sniper loads, take them out, and then place a micro load in Swift’s engineering section. Marines, prepare for boarding action.”

  ***

  It was not really a fight. Out here, I did not have to worry about our cover, as I did not intend to leave witnesses behind, and my marines had no problem either.

  I stood by the airlock as TheOther carried Swift under one of his arms.

  He was still conscious and cursed, “You managed to steal a Union Translocator! No other weapon could do that!”

  “Well, I decided to have one. It comes in very handy.”

  He looked around, and I saw the truth dawn on him. “You are Union!”

  “Yes, Mr. Swift, we are. The survivors of the Danny Houston will have a front row seat at your execution.”

  He lowered his head and then said, “At my trial, I will expose you and this illegal Union action in Freespace!”

  “Mr. Swift, we are quite legal. The only law we follow is the will of the Assembly. Besides, you have been already tried in absence. When you come out of stasis, they will take you to the gallows. Mr. TheOther, take him away.”

  Behind the marines, Har-Hi and Elfi came aboard.

  “Odin’s beard, what happened to your face? SHIP, get Cateria down here stat,” I exclaimed.

  “Delay that order, SHIP,” Har-Hi said. “I am not wounded or hurt.”

  “He took a bite out of a Kermac, captain,” Elfi said.

  Har-Hi straightened. “Captain, I am taking full responsibility. It was—”

  “It was an Erica Olafson situation. Well, at least it wasn’t me this time. I am glad you are back unharmed. I would, however, like to hear a full report. I also think you and Elfi need to visit Cateria.”

  “We are not hurt, captain.”

  “You have been exposed to a Neuro Ripper. Who knows what side effects might linger. Besides, you took a bite out of one of your captors and I assume neither one was too clean. Once she has you declared fit for duty, get cleaned up and join me for dinner. Unless you ruined your appetite snacking on Kermac.”

  ***

  An hour later, I sat in my ready room and made a call to Command. The ship was drifting in space, as we were at the very outermost limit we still could call and receive. GalCom was no longer able to establish high-resolution, three-dimensional visuals and had reduced the message to simple audio and two-dimensional video.

  “I have the crews of the Swift Profit and the rest of Bloom’s crew all in security stasis. I had no problem taking the Swift Profit, and we destroyed the ship after stripping most of its valuables.”

  McElligott leaned back in his chair and in doing so allowed the visual sensors of his terminal to pick up more of his office. It was nothing elaborate. There were a few shelves with real books. There was a strange triangular brass object on his desk and a few PDDs strewn around.

  He noticed me looking at it and said, “This is a sextant; it is a nautical instrument. I had to learn to use when I was a midshipman in His Majesty’s Navy. King George the seventh, that is, may he rest in peace. Completely useless once you leave Earth.”

  He then stabbed his PDD. “The information on Cam Elf-Na confirms a few other reports we have, and we are moving assets in the area to respond quickly if he decides to do that.

  “The good thing is such a massive Dai fleet is hard to hide. The bad part is; it is a huge fleet by any standard. We will be talking to Har-Hi’s father right after we are done to see what he thinks we can do to prepare.”

  “I am sure Har-Hi will be glad to hear his father is consulted by you.”

  McElligott smiled. “Kar-Hi is more than an adviser to me. He is becoming a friend and his advice is sound and tempered with wisdom and experience. The advice of our other friend, I am sure you can guess.”

  “I would not be able to guess the tactical and strategic decisions Admiral Stahl might make, sir.”

  “Tell me what you would do if you were the admiral and faced with a possible Dai incursion?”

  I shrugged. “I am barely getting used to be in command of a ship, sir.”


  “Just humor me.”

  “Well, I would issue a sector alert, move 10 or 15 battlegroups in the area and hide them in nearby star systems. Then I’d triple Gazelle and Specter patrols all along the border. Maybe have the Corps of Engineers beef up our outposts and every floating rock with Exo Load Cannons and as many Loki Batteries as possible. I’d make sure the Devi and the First Fleet is in the region as well. Certainly, a group of Attikan Fast Battleships to run first response would be a good idea. I’d let them come, close the back door, and make sure there won’t be any left to have similar ideas in the future.”

  The old man actually laughed. “Well, other than the fact that he is a few thousand years older than you and that you now look quite delectable, there isn’t all that much difference in you two when it comes to such things. What you just said, with just a few details missing, is exactly what he wants to do.”

  I was certain I had grown a few centimeters in my seat with the deep pride that filled my chest.

  “Sir, this is a great compliment indeed. I would not dream or dare to compare myself with Admiral Stahl, but if you see similarities then I am on the right track.”

  The Eternal Soldier walked into the visual pickup. “You certainly are, son. Now transmit your position and stop all engines and wait. The USS Shadowrunner will rendezvous with you and take that alien control device from you, also those prisoners, and bring you some supplies and an addition to your crew.”

  “Done, we are stopping right now and coordinates are transmitted.”

  McElligott blinked and said, “Captain Olafson, would you not have to notify your helmsman and your navigator?”

  “Sir, Narth has the Conn, and I relayed my orders directly to him.”

  Stahl pointed at a readout in front of him. “Coordinates received.”

  McElligott poured himself a glass of whiskey and snorted. “I should have known.”

  Stahl helped himself to a glass as well. “The Intel you gathered on the Nul situation is more serious and we are still analyzing it. Cooperation between Nul and Kermac would not be a good thing, but knowing about it is half the battle. We’ll keep you posted if we get any additional information on that and, of course, do the same if you run across anything as usual.”