Steg and Captain Dean with their two senior sergeants, Kirby and Riddell, waited for the Alliance team at the lock leading out of the shuttle bay. The four men were unarmed although they were wearing exo-armor. Steg thought the precaution was prudent. He had issued an order that no weapons were to be brought into the presence of the Alliance team. Commander Gillespie had protested—she wanted one of her marines on the bridge, armed. Steg reluctantly agreed and had advised the Alliance captain of Wasp commander’s decision to have her bridge guarded, as a matter of prudence, not as a potential threat to the Alliance team. The need had been accepted, with cautions.
Two heavily armed Alliance Marines exited the lock, apparently reported to their team and then stood to attention. Five more armored personnel followed. The apparent Alliance team leader looked at the small group waiting for them and dropped his faceplate.
“Captain de Coeur?”
Steg identified himself and followed with an exchange of introductions.
Steg said, “I’ll lead the way to the bridge conference room. Commander Gillespie is waiting for us.”
He introduced the commander after the Alliance team entered the conference room. They sat at the table, the chairs almost overwhelmed by the weight of the Alliance armor.
“Commander,” said one of the visitors. He was bearded although the growth did not fully disguise the scars on his face.
One of his companions, the apparent team leader, moved as if to protest. “Sir—”
The speaker waved the team leader’s interruption aside. “Not, now, Tomkins. Commander Gillespie, I’m Richard Montrose, captain of Defender. I thought I’d honor your courtesy by accompanying my team. Also, I’m curious and want to hear your story first hand. After witnessing the alien starship’s murderous attack when it destroyed the shuttle, I have some understanding of why you were sheltering in the asteroid belt. Now, tell me more.”
Commander Gillespie said, “Thank you. In brief, we, that is, Wasp officers and crew, together with some two hundred and fifty troops, constitute a mercenary team authorized by Sicca. I included a copy of their letter of marque in the data pack we transmitted earlier, and I can show you the sealed original. We recently negotiated a contract with the government on Eo 3d to intercept a freighter heading their way. It’s loaded with heavy weapons and munitions intended for a rebel group that is challenging the authorities. The freighter is—was—under escort of three small alien starships. You destroyed two. We believe the aliens also were planning to take control of the planet.”
“Very succinct. Who was in the shuttle that the aliens destroyed?”
“That’s where the details get a little complex,” Steg said. “There’s some more background you should be aware of. Three years or so ago Wasp rescued a small group of aliens—cephalopods. They were accommodated on board and provided technical support to Wasp and to our military force. Unfortunately, they betrayed our operation to the Xesset; in return, the cephalopods wanted to gain possession of Wasp. The mercenary commander, Colonel Attwood, was also involved, possibly misled by his trust in the cephalopods—we detected message packets he sent on behalf of the cephalopods to the Xesset. We held a meeting and as a result of our majority vote, he and his three supporters resigned. I took charge of the military force. The colonel and his group disliked their new role as passengers. They attempted to steal a shuttle, and we had a minor engagement during which one of his group was injured. We had a Charion priestess on board, who was working with the cephalopods and assisting their attempt to takeover Wasp. Later, the colonel, his supporters, and the Charion priestess, together with the surviving cephalopod, succeeded in another attempt to steal a shuttle. We suspect they were planning to warn and join with the Xesset. Then you turned up.”
“Again, a succinct briefing. I hope you have log records to support these details?”
Steg replied, “We’ve produced a more detailed briefing pack and included comprehensive files—copies of bridge logs, videos, audio recordings, copies of unauthorized communications, everything we thought was relevant.” He hoped the Alliance visitors did not raise questions about how he had gained copies of the Xesset communications.
“Tell me about the surviving cephalopod,” the Alliance captain directed.
“When we discovered the communications between the Xesset and the cephalopods, we challenged the leader. He admitted his involvement to me; unbeknownst to him, our conversation was communicated to the entire ship—I was broadcasting our conversation live. We then had a minor on-board engagement when the cephalopods tried to take control of Wasp. Only one of the four cephalopods survived. Details including copies of operational reports are included in the second data pack, which we’ll send to you.”
“You’ve had an interesting few days,” said the visiting captain.
“It’s not finished,” Gillespie said. Dean nodded.
Steg explained, “We have to complete our contract with Eos—we’re required to stop the freighter reaching the rebels. If our data’s correct, there’s only one remaining Xesset starship to deal with, although Xesset might be on board and in control of the freighter. We’re also negotiating to remove the threat of the rebels on the planet.”
“Understood. I’ll have my teams examine the additional data you’re providing. If they raise questions, I’ll expect you to respond with answers, clarification, and so forth.”
“Of course.”
“Now, I’d like my team to examine your ship. We prefer to be aware of who is operating in regions we sometimes visit. It’s a case of know your enemies and your friends. If you can make some of your people available, too?”
Steg looked at the Alliance skipper and asked. “Can you clarify that last request?”
“Oh, we’d like to talk to some of your crew and the mercs, so we get to know you better. If everything you’ve told us here is above board, we don’t plan to engage in intensive cross-examination. No, it’s simply to understand who you are.”
“I can make Dean available. There are two sergeants whom you’ve met. We have a Fain medical team. I’m sure they’ll be forthright.”
“Fain? A medical team? On board?” Apparently the Alliance captain had not expected to hear of Fain involvement.
“Yes, and they’re trained and experienced to surgeon level.”
“Interesting, indeed. Yes, we’ll talk to one or two of your Fain.” He turned to Commander Gillespie. “What about your bridge officers? You have a tactical team?”
She replied, “Weapons. Yes, you can meet with my Weapons lead. However, while I understand why you’re proposing these meetings, I want all of them recorded, and I want a member of our senior team involved in each meeting.”
Steg said, “I agree.”
The Alliance captain laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. Let’s plan this together now, so we don’t interfere with your internal operations. In the meantime, I’ll arrange to send a copy of your second briefing pack to my security team on Defender for them to review.”
*****
Chapter 24
“That seemed to go well,” said Dean after the shuttle had returned to the destroyer. The Alliance captain and his men had conducted their interviews—“discussions,” they had called them—and seemed satisfied with their intelligence gathering.
“Perhaps. They were far too affable.” Steg shook his head. “The captain—Montrose—is a very smooth operator. I think Wasp’s been contaminated by tracking and listening devices, courtesy of the Alliance team. Tell the men you want them to search everywhere for listening devices, even places the Alliance visitors didn’t check. They shouldn’t destroy anything—we need a map of what the team left behind, first, and then we can determine our response. Let Gillespie know what you’re doing. She’ll want some of her experts working with you. I’m going to be in my cabin for a while.”
Steg was curious to discover, if he could, the reactions and conclusions of the Alliance team and their destroyer captain. He suspected t
wo of the visitors were highly skilled security spooks; their interview approach had been professional. Fortunately, everything the visitors heard and observed had born out the details contained in the briefing packs. He settled back in his bunk and relaxed, seeking the mental state that permitted him to reach out, far beyond the boundaries of his cabin.
The Alliance starship, internally, was a mass of electronic activity. Little of its chatter and random data leaked out beyond the bounds of the vessel, and Steg suspected that when Defender engaged its shields, it would be as difficult to find as Wasp, if not more so. He spent time looking for communication devices, seeking a way to tap into Defender’s electronics systems in order to hear even casual conversations.
At last he discovered a small device located on the bridge, which provided visual and audio possibilities; he determined it was a monitor long superseded and probably forgotten, a surprising omission for what seemed a well-disciplined starship. That worried him—perhaps the device was intended to be found by anyone able to penetrate the starship’s electronic defenses. There might be a telltale indicating to Defender’s security team that he was eavesdropping. He stayed connected to the device while he continued to search for other methods of obtaining information, and he also watched as the destroyer prepared to get underway. The captain’s intention, it seemed, was for the starship to resume its anti-piracy patrol.
Steg had his doubts. As the starship began to prepare for s-t penetration, he released the device. He had worked out how to tap into the internal intercom function without triggering any telltales. He had also found the files produced by the captain and the small boarding party when they returned to their ship; he planned on copying and then reviewing them in depth after the Alliance destroyer departed. He listened to the bridge conversation.
“Sir, their eavesdropper has released our AV unit. I think they’d have difficulties maintaining a link at this distance—we’re now over five light minutes away from Wasp.” Steg assumed the speaker was a security officer.
“They’ve damned good equipment to link in here the first place. We missed that aspect of their abilities.” Steg recognized the captain’s voice.
“Yes, sir. My guess is de Coeur has some electronic skills—or someone in his team does, whom we didn’t meet. That’s the only way they could’ve intercepted some of the messages they provided to us. He’s good. He’s managed to take over that mercenary unit in a few months. They’re disciplined and loyal. A rare combination.” It was the same security voice.
“And those Fain—I wouldn’t like to be operated on by any of those if I was against de Coeur.” It was another voice; it belonged to one of the team members who had led the interview discussions.
“Just make sure you are never in that situation, McPhee,” said the captain.
“Yes, sir.”
“We’re far enough out to make our jump. Helm, use the course Astro prepared—let’s go visit that freighter. We can stand off to see if Wasp makes an appearance. Tac, make sure we’re not detected by either the aliens or by our new friends, when they arrive. Come on, let’s go.”
Another voice said, “Jumping in 5…4…3…2…”
Steg withdrew before the starship began its s-t transit. He wasn’t sure what would happen if he was linked to their system when that transition took place. He now had copies of the Alliance reports, and planned to spend time reviewing their contents and conclusions. Assuming always that the files he discovered were not plants—they hadn’t been encrypted, again a surprising omission for such a professional operation.
His later review of the Alliance files disclosed nothing to raise a red flag. The team that had visited Wasp had produced reports along the lines he expected. They described Wasp and the Stingers as a legitimate mercenary group operating under the Sicca letter of marque, currently contracted to Eos. There were some almost disparaging remarks about the likely effectiveness of such a small team; however, the assessment had not included an analysis of the Stingers’ exo-armor, nor of the weapons and shields available to Wasp. They had concluded their reports with a recommendation, signed off by the Alliance captain, that the destroyer would divert its patrol to the location of the freighter and monitor the operations of Wasp and its small mercenary team, unless more urgent matters arose.
Good to know, thought Steg. Wasp needs to take care. Neither the starship nor its mercenaries should go in shooting—their approach had to be legal.
###
Commander Gillespie called the strategy meeting. Steg and Dean attended, representing the Stingers. The starship was represented by the commander together with her Weapons, Systems and Astro team leads. At Steg’s suggestion, Stacia of Fain was also invited; the Fain, he had said, should have representation if they were being committed to a strategy that impacted them.
Gillespie said, “We expect to exit s-t in approximately four hours where we’ll be on the edge of the Eos system. If our navigation team is as good as it should be, we’ll be a day ahead of the freighter and its escort. Be aware, based on Steg’s information, Defender will be in the region, too.”
“How do we justify stopping the freighter?” asked Stacia.
“We’ve been authorized by the Eos authorities to act as their customs inspectors. We can stop and check any vessel heading into their territory. The freighter—it’s called Djamu and is registered with the Grange system. It’s a typical flag carrier—the crew are not Grangians—and has registered its destination as Eos. The crew is mixed, with some Terrans, including the skipper and two other bridge officers. The Xesset starship has not declared any destination.”
“So we sit and wait for the freighter?” asked Rose Curtis, the Weapons lead.
“Yes. We’ll request Djamu to stop and allow us to board for a customs inspection. There is a probability the Xesset will attack us at that point. Alternatively, they may be cautious; they’ve lost their two companions. We’ll have to be ready for almost anything.”
Steg said, “We know Eos has not issued an import license for military supplies or weapons. So, if we find any, it gives us a reason to arrest the freighter and take possession of the shipment. We expect our actions, at least, will trigger an attack by the aliens, assuming they’ve been passive to that point.”
“Have you decided who’ll lead the boarding party?” Gillespie asked.
Steg said, ‘Yes, it’s my responsibility.”
“I offered to arm wrestle,” Dean said. “He refused.”
Steg smiled. He had used his experience of fighting Xesset forces to reinforce his claim. Dean had agreed, reluctantly.
Steg said, “There may be Xesset on the freighter, either hidden or generally at large. If so, they could attempt to repel us when we first board, or let us go about our inspection and try to ambush us later. We’re using three teams, twenty marines in each. Kirby and Riddell will lead two. I’ll lead the third. Dean will have the remainder of our mercenary force at the ready here, on Wasp, in case the aliens try to board her. We’re going to review our tactics after this meeting. We’ll be armored and fully—and I mean fully—armed. If the Xesset attack, we must overwhelm them immediately.”
“Do we have any more questions?” Gillespie asked her bridge team. “No? Very well. Steg and Dean, I’ll let you go meet with your mercenaries. Stacia, you should brief your team. I want to discuss tactics with Rose and Lessa.”
*****
Chapter 25
“Wasp to Djamu. Please acknowledge.”
Commander Gillespie had taken over communications on the bridge of Wasp. The starship was half a million klicks ahead of the freighter, moving slowly to an interception point. Two shuttles, fully shielded, had launched earlier from Wasp and were now in a holding position about a thousand klicks off the freighter. The Xesset vessel was holding position about a hundred thousand klicks away from its charge. The bridge team had not been able to discover the whereabouts of the Alliance destroyer; however, they were continuing to search.
The freighter
was slow to respond. Eventually a signal reached Wasp. “Yeah, this is Djamu. Whatja want?”
“Wasp to Djamu. We’re Eos Customs. I’m transmitting our credentials. Prepare to be boarded for an inspection.”
This time the delay was even longer. “Like hell we will. Go jump into the nearest star.”
“Wasp to Djamu. I recommend co-operation. In less than five minutes you will have entered Eos jurisdiction. Either prepare to be boarded or turn back. I’m transmitting another copy of our credentials and a copy of the relevant regulations. If you continue on past our jurisdictional border without allowing our team to board, expect one of our missiles to impact somewhere between your bridge and your engine room.”
This time the wait was not as long. In the meantime the Xesset starship had drawn ahead of the freighter.
“This is Djamu. We’re carrying an important shipment of medical and hospital supplies for your planet. It’s required urgently. We can’t afford the delay your inspection will cause. People will die.”
Gillespie ignored the message from Djamu. Her concern was the Xesset ship.
“Wasp to unidentified escort of Djamu. You are entering Eos jurisdiction. Do not interfere with authorized and legal activities of Customs inspectors. Remain at least five hundred thousand klicks away from Djamu. Wasp out.”
The Xesset did not reply, although the vessel slowed and stopped its approach towards Djamu. The freighter had also slowed. Steg comlinked with Commander Gillespie. He said, “Commander, the Xesset and the freighter are in communication, trying to work out a response to our demands. The freighter captain’s requesting permission to allow us to board. He thinks he can bribe us. The Xesset are objecting.”
“Good. I’ll continue to maintain pressure on the freighter.”
Gillespie followed up with another transmission, “Wasp to Djamu. Send a copy of your manifest. Do not proceed further without our permission. Prepare to be boarded for inspection now.”
Fracture Lines (The Glass Complex Book 2) Page 16