Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series)

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  I smirked and said,

  “I was the fellow from Nilfeheim. I wasn’t female back then; it might be a little complicated to explain though.”

  He waved his hand,

  “Not really Captain, I read an article about that in National Galactic and my Uncle Samuel is now Aunt Samantha. He looks pretty good too now and even married,”

  I smiled.

  “Well that saves me to explain to you the details then!”

  “Wow you made Captain. Now that explains where I heard the name Olafson before. I remember you saying you wanted to become a Starship captain and you already made it.”

  “How about your plans to become an engineer?”

  He smiled.

  “Right there at Arsenal Gate I talked to the Career advisor, one of those guys in those gray rooms suggested an enlisted career path for me and he was right, I am exactly where I want to be. I am a Direct Energy Weapon Specialist and also added Ship Security Specialist to my resume.” He made a gesture around the room and added saying:

  “You can’t believe how happy I was when they picked me for a special mission and it turned out to be this ship. Now it looks like we going into unexplored space just as I have always dreamed. I bet we are going to see things no one else ever has!”

  At first he talked to me like a buddy and then it was clear he realized who he was talking too and his cheeks turned red again and he added sheepishly,

  “Sorry about all that, Captain Ma’am.”

  I put a hand on his shoulder and said:

  “I told you guys that I am not going to rip your heads off, if you forget to say Captain or do something else not exactly by the book as long as the work is done and that it is done very satisfactory, as I could see a few moments ago.”

  The other specialist with the name Harper on his uniform said:

  “Yeah she did! I told you she meant it!”

  I widened my smile.

  “Mr. Harper is quite correct. I also would never laugh about anyone coming to me with an idea. My door is open for everyone and not just for ideas, but anything that bugs you or simply to talk. For example I really do want to know how the crew feels that we might have to extend our mission for at least 24 months.”

  Harper who was much less inhibited by my presence said:

  “Everyone I know can’t wait to get it started, Captain. I mean that’s the real reason most of us have joined. Not to fly from A to B in Union space, but to see new things and occasionally kick some behind. I don’t mind if we fly to the other end of the galaxy and it takes five years.”

  Simmon nodded. “Same here, Captain!”

  I felt much better knowing that. “Now why don’t you tell me of your idea?”

  Simmons said.

  “Well I was thinking about your ship wide message about this planet and you wanted ideas. I mean. I’ve seen our treasure. Could we not simply buy that planet? It’s done all the time. I mean Corporations buy planets and I think this Local Lord bought this world from the Togar. You could say you are interested in operating your own Pirate Base, especially with Sin 4 gone it might be good business; and then when you own it and we do whatever we want with it.”

  Now it was me who gasped for a moment and then I said.

  “You know I think you are onto something. It is certainly worth a shot.”

  I turned to leave and went up the ramp and then said to them,

  “Never hesitate to come to me,”

  “I will remember that, Captain.”

  As I was in the Corridor I could hear Harper say.

  “She’s pretty damn cool, our Captain and sure nice to look at too.”

  Derek said. “Why do you think I got that poster from Sobody?”

  Still smiling I went back to the bridge. Circuit was there and had a few access panels open around the Navigations chair. I did not have to wait long to see the Holdian appear from one of them, holding a tool and a hand held diagnostic device.

  To my surprise I saw the Nul sitting at Communications and Elfi standing next to him looking like a small doll compared to his size and she was instructing him.

  Krabbel rose from the Conn position but I said,

  “As you where, Krabbel, I just came to make a local call.”

  Elfi turned. “Oh, hi Captain. I am just instructing the Prince in basic Comm protocols.”

  The Nul turned his entire body so he could look at me.

  “I decided to specialize in Communications and pursue a real fleet career before my ascent. My life giver approves this decision.”

  “Not Tactical or the Marines?”

  “I am sure this will be the choice of many Nul, but I think Communications is a good choice as it could lead to an OPS position.”

  I sat down on a chair next to Elfi and asked,

  “Any news on the Golden and Narth?”

  “Yes, they are calling in every ten minutes. They are still just walking around.”

  “How about Har Hi?”

  “He called about five minutes ago telling us that he is alright and will contact us with news soon.”

  I pointed to the Communications Console and said.

  “Can one of you see if this Local Lord can be called over the local network?”

  Elfi with her fine hands guided the brutish fingers of the Nul giant over the input panel and showed him what to do then she said.

  “Yes I am in their rather primitive Comm Network and have his Comm unit isolated.”

  “Call him, please.”

  I got up, masked myself and stepped before the main screen. I heard Elfi say to Xon.

  “This indicator shows that the bridge background is replaced with a background that matches our Janus disguise.”

  To me she said.

  “He is answering.”

  A Karthanian appeared on the screen. He looked as alien as the Captain of the Minerva but appeared much older. He also seemed surprised by my call.

  “I think you are the Captain of the Silver Streak. It shows you have some good hackers aboard your ship able to overwrite the Comm securities of our network so effortlessly. You better have a good reason to call me like this.”

  “Yes I do, Local Lord. I was wondering if your entire World might be for sale. I am thinking of getting into the Pirate Base business.”

  He said nothing for at least one whole minute then he responded.

  “You sure don’t talk around issues and come straight to the point. I am assuming this is no joke.”

  “No I am quite serious.”

  “If you can come up with 80 Million Union Credits on a safe account and add a Million in Polo you got a deal!”

  “I’ve got the money right here!”

  He sat down almost as if he was dizzy and said:

  “You are serious! For this money I can get me a real nice place on one of the Water moons of Kartheee and even buy me a non-voting seat in the Guild and once more be a respected Karthanian with nothing to worry about, except how well my Qugamt is mixed.”

  He put his hand like extremities on the table before him and made a wiping gesture.

  “Come on over and I’ll sign the deal. I’ll tell the Lord Guards they have a new Local Lord or in your case a Local Lady in charge of the place. If your money is real I give you the codes for the Planetary Defense Forts too.”

  An hour later I arrived at the Local Lord’s office, with two Marines and Hans in my wake. Hans slammed the big box down and opened it saying.

  “One Million Polo Coins.”

  The Local Lord’s tongue flickered and he made a whistling sound.

  “I still don’t believe it, you are serious!”

  I pulled my Credit Box and said.

  “I am ready to transfer the Credits too.”

  He pulled his Credit Strip and said.

  “One might not like the Union but their money is as good as Polos and so much safer. You are not kidding around. I never heard anyone buying a planet that fast and just like that.”

  I
swiped the amount on his strip and noticed that even this big transaction made no serious dent in my personal funds. It had been steadily growing. It looked like Mr. Silverzweig invested my money very wisely.

  He stared at his Credit strip and then clasped it close to his chest and said.

  “I can’t believe I just became a Multimillionaire.”

  He glanced at it again and then at the Polos. He unhooked a device from his belt and handed it to Hans.

  “This is the Control device for the three Kermac Planetary defense forts this planet has. The Access codes are open and can be reset by you.”

  Then he pushed a piece of paper across the table and said to me.

  “This is the Purchase Contract we got from the Togar when my grandfather bought this place. It is signed by the Togar Queen and declares anyone in possession of this contract the legal owner of this world. I just crossed out my grandfather’s name and added yours. I also signed it that you legally bought it from me.”

  I took the paper and folded it and thanked him.

  He got up and extended his long fingers.

  “You are the Local Lady now, so don’t worry asking me or my family for the Water Tax. We will pack and be gone today.”

  He then brushed off the seat he had been sitting on.

  “What a pleasure doing business with you. There is a nice Karthanian moon waiting for me, complete with oceans.”

  I went around the desk and sat down as he went to the door and barked for his guards. As they appeared he said.

  “Your new boss is sitting behind the desk. She is to be obeyed as she owns the world.”

  The three guards, two Oghar and a man that looked more like a big primate than human stared at me. The Karthanian slapped one of the Oghar.

  “Pay her respects you oaf or she might be selling you to the Slavers.”

  I waved them in and said,

  “You are?”

  The primate looking man and the other an Oghar looked quite perplexed, the Oghar finally spoke:

  “I am Stronht the Security Chief around here, my brother Feifht is the Tax Collector and that big guy is Ste. He isn’t talking much but he is really good at keeping order.”

  “During my absence and until my associates arrive, you’re in charge. You can keep and share all the collected taxes among the Lord Guards.”

  Stronth bowed.

  “Now that is very generous of you and we will keep the place running for you. Any special Orders?”

  “No, not at the moment!”

  The former Local Lord came back with a push cart so he could wheel his money out.

  I had returned to the ship and sat in the Den to eat a light lunch with lots of iced tea. That planet always made me very thirsty.

  Narth and the Golden came back and they both looked very dusty. The Golden helped himself to a big glass of Iced Tea and said after he had drained most of it:

  “I am not sure what we can do to change conditions here. I guess we could buy all the slaves for now and see if we can stack them in our Cargo bay until we can transfer them. Maybe we could assassinate the Local Lord or try Narth’s suggestion. We have seen lots of misery in those Slave pens.”

  Narth eyes glowed a little brighter.

  “I don’t think I can do what you ask.”

  The Golden sighed.

  “Is he that well shielded even against a Narth?”

  “The Local authority is better shielded against Psionics than any being known to Narth.”

  The Golden showed his amazement.

  “He just appeared to be a normal Karthanian. What is he? Maybe we better kill the Local Lord before he finds out what we are if he is such a strong Psionic talent.”

  Narth shook his head.

  “I don’t think it is appropriate to suggest killing the current Authority of this world.”

  Hans giggled and pointed at me.

  “Say hello to the new Local , I meant to say, the Local Lady, that is.”

  The old Merchant blinked and Har-Hi who just came in and heard the last sentences joined us and asked:

  “We captured him?”

  I played with the Kermac Planetary Fort Controls.

  “No not exactly. We made him rich and I am the new owner of this Dust Ball. I bought the Planet.”

  Sobody bend over laughing.

  “You would have made a perfect Golden my dear Captain, a solution worthy of a real merchant. I wonder why I didn’t think of it.”

  After I told him what I did he rubbed his chin.

  “I think I could not have made a better deal, even by haggling. This world is still a garden world, in a very good location for business and worth ten times what you paid for it.”

  Har Hi came in, his leather armor dull with dust.

  “What a dry world..” He helped himself to Ice Tea as well “I talked to this local Dai, he lives here for almost twenty years.. He did tell me about Kermac that have been here only a few month ago. He had taken them to a mountain out in the desert, but they had not returned with him.”

  I straightened in my seat. “Did he know why they went or what they were looking for?”

  “Not directly but he told me about a legend that out there in the desert a Celtest ship is buried somewhere in the sand.”

  Mao who just joined us said. “Celtest is the wrong term, it’s Seenian.”

  “True that, but only we know that because of Cateria To the galaxy this old civilization is still the Celtest.”

  Shea said. “The last war with the Kermac broke out because they attacked Green Hell. The reason is highly classified but they tried to uncover an ancient Saresii ship from the First Age of Knowledge because the old Saresii were allied with the Seenians and they hoped that ship had Translocator tech.”

  I said. “I was briefed on that too while I was on Pauli Station, it would sure be enough reason for the Kermac to find out more about this legend. Did your Dai friend know anything more about this legend?”

  “Yes, he claims that a desert scavenger found a Seenian artifact and was killed while he tried to sell it. He also said he would take me, and me alone tonight to someone who he said knows more about the legend and perhaps even where this ship is to be found.”

  “How do you want to do it? Camouflaged Marines?”

  He looked at me with a painful face. “No Captain, I gave him my word I come alone. It’s a Dai thing I can’t betray my word.”

  I sighed. “It is foolish you know, but if there is one thing I understand its honoring ones word. I guess we can’t ignore this either.”

  I then told him that we bought the planet and he said.

  “Now what are we going to do with it? I mean we don’t have enough room to take all the slaves in and it’ll take month to get it all straightened out.”

  “I will call the Admiral and maybe he can send some civilians. I sell them the Planet and he will know what to do. Maybe even have the new owners apply for Union Membership. The Fleet could then come and close the Slave markets for good, or they could use it as a secret base to buy and free slaves, more efficient than Captain Sposhtrah.”

  Har-Hi agreed that this was a good solution.

  Before he could continue we were interrupted by a sudden flickering of the lights and we could hear our power plants kick into high gear.

  I said.

  “SHIP, what is going on?”

  “Captain I am under attack! I need to shut down all Input interfaces, except for your verbal commands. It is in our Xeno labs, Intruder alert!”

  “General Quarters, Hans get your Security to the Lab section. I was rushing to the next Security box, it responded to my biometrics and I retrieved a TKU and a shield belt.

  “Narth can you get me there fast?”

  I did not finish thinking my sentence when the world around me changed and I was at Deck Three just outside the designated Laboratory.

  I saw the Nul stomp around the corner holding a TKU and I immediately thought he had double crossed us, but then I saw
him stumble and fall like a felled tree, he was bleeding his yellowish blood from a gash on his head. Shea and Cateria followed him stumbling, Shea held her right arm that hung limp from her shoulder and blood seeped between her fingers. Cateria was bleeding from a cut over her eyes and she said to me,

  “Captain the Seenian Battle suit activated!”

  Shea ran past me saying aloud,

  “I go and get my sword.”

  I asked Cateria,

  “What can we do to stop it?”

  She sounded defeated as she said,

  “I am not sure we can stop it at all. Circuit is on his way with new Nanites but the suit is fully operational and no Nanites will be able to penetrate its shields. It is demanding a Command Person!”

  Narth was shaking a little.

  “Captain I am currently holding the suit, but it is building counter pressure and I am not sure if I can hold it for long. It is also attacking me on a Psionic level. I am unable to talk much longer as I need my concentration.”

  The little girl Alicia and our Leedei came around the corner and without saying a word she grabbed Narth’s hands and the Leedei put his hands to his temples and Narth said with a more stable voice.

  “For now we can hold it contained.”

  I asked Cateria.

  “What do you mean it is demanding a Command Person? It is a suit right?”

  “Captain the Suit has Seenian Computronics inside making it much more advanced than SHIP. It is a Command Suit and expects to be worn by a Command Person!”

  Shea came back out of breath, holding her sword.

  “It will cut it!”

  Cateria shook her head. “Nothing can cut this suit! This is a Tyron A suit. And even if you could damage it somehow it has self-repair capabilities like you seen that I have.”

  “This Sword will cut it!”

  “Cateria, take care of the prince and yourself, Shea give that sword to me. If I am not coming back out alive, Har Hi will be in charge!”

  Shea had tears in her eyes

  “Why you?”

  I snapped at her, regretting it the same time. I kissed her on the forehead.

  “This is my ship. No time to argue!”

  Shea handed me the plain looking long sword and I walked in the Lab. There hovered the gray suit held by wafting visible energies that made the air around it flicker. The thing now looked as if it was filled out by an invisible person. The only equipment the suit has is a silvery belt with four little boxes attached to it. The tight hood was fitted around nothing, where the face of a wearer would have been was simply nothing.