Harry pointed at a disturbance in the water a few miles to the southwest. It was the bulbous navy blue roof of a Deep Blue submersible. Charley cruised low and approached the marine vessel carefully.
“Copy that,” Charley said, reining the Surprise in and cutting a lazy loop around the submersible.
“Transmitting my Guild ID and base stats,” Charley said, keying her wrist pad. She waited a moment while the man on the other end consulted his data. The Phoenix ran loops high above them, watching with interest.
Charley exchanged a grin with Harry.
“Glad to hear that, harvester,” Charley said.
Harry frowned. “That wasn’t the deal,” he said ominously. Charley held his hand.
“What’s your price, harvester?” she asked.
Charley didn’t know what to say. There was no doubt that Deep Blue Company would punish them for what they were doing, probably with death. It just went to show how desperate these poor workers were to stick it to the man. With a sad smile Charley keyed in a generous transfer to the credit node she detected down on that submersible. She figured 50,000 was much less than they would be receiving from the eventual delivery of the krill, but it was large enough to represent a mark of respect for the risk these workers were taking. They were showing their comrades that defiance was possible, however fleeting.
The submersible duly disappeared, sinking beneath the froth of the ocean’s surface. Within half a minute a waterproof pontoon had appeared, bobbing on the swell.
“They’re giving their lives for this,” Harry said with uncharacteristic gravity. “As pirates it is our duty to get the highest price we can.”
“I agree,” Charley said. She hadn’t meant to be drawn into the middle of a dispute between the krill harvesters and the Deep Blue Company, but if she could profit from this load of deluxe krill, she was damn well going to make the most of it. She was beginning to realize that pirates always sided with the little person. The underdog. It was against the pirate code to steal from someone with less than yourself. Charley was fine with that. She was also fine with looting the big, faceless corporations that made so many people’s lives a misery.
With renewed determination she opened the cargo bay doors and released a magnetic disc attached to a winched cable that would hopefully latch on to the pontoon. Most pontoons came equipped with magnetic receptors that allowed them to be picked up from hovering vessels. It was dangerous to land on the water here - the swell was just too heavy.
Charley breathed a sigh of relief as the disc snapped to the top of the pontoon and stayed there.
“Retracting cable,” Harry murmured.
Charley watched through the screen as the krill load was lifted from the water and toward the Surprise.
“Try and tilt the aft of the ship back a little,” Harry advised. “It helps with the load.”
Charley did just that, watching as the load reached the flat cable beam that allowed for clear delivery into the cargo bay. The pontoon slid through the doors on the cable beam and the extraction was complete.
“Closing bay doors,” Harry said in a satisfied tone. “Once we’re in orbit we’ll try and contact a salukar buyer.”
Charley gained altitude in a graceful arc, keen to be clear of Deep Blue now that they had broken one of the most serious local laws.
A message from Gronko pierced the com channel.
“I have nothing on nav,” Harry said.
“He’s right,” Harry said at length, showing Charley five pale specks on the edge of their scanning range. “Damn. Security drones. Must’ve automatically triggered as soon as we took that krill pontoon.”
“Are we in trouble, Harry?” Charley asked worriedly.
The old pirate scratched at his stubbly beard. “Well, those things are sure faster than us,” he said. “But nothing some good old-fashioned flying can’t beat.”
Harry slapped Charley on the shoulder and made a show of reclining in his nav chair. Charley wished she could match his breezy confidence. Deep Blue Company had every right to want their heads for what they’d just done.
“What’s our strategy?” she asked nervously.
“Use Gronko,” Harry urged. “Draw enemy fire and let the renki bring his hammer down.”
Charley assumed that meant flying in close to the face of the enemy. She wheeled around so the closing distance was cut drastically. The approaching drones opened fire with crackling blue laser bolts. The front shields crackled and fizzed with energy.
“I haven’t seen those before, Harry,” Charley said.
“Watch those bolts then, Charley,” Harry warned. “They’re trying to soften us up before firing their missiles.”
Charley pulled hard port and tried to evade the drone squadron. The enemy drones were flying in perfect synchronicity, and were probably piloted by androids. Very expensive. Charley groaned inwardly. Just her luck to encounter the best in corporate security just when she made her first real big business heist!
Proton fire continued to follow Charley as she wheeled and dived.
“You’re too stiff,” Harry commented. “Try and make your flying angles more organic, harder to predict.”
Charley didn’t actually know what that meant, but tried to relax her body anyway. Her fingers caressed the weapons toggles on each of the steering joysticks - she was eager to fire back if given the chance. The drones were doing extremely well to deny her that opportunity. The Surprise was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
As Charley climbed into a steep climb a hail of red laser fire crossed her starboard bough and raked the drone squadron on her tail. She was gratified to see the leading drone erupt into a ball of green flame and spiral down into the ocean. Gronko had been circling high and had picked his moment to attack. The Phoenix roared into the fray, picking off another drone with ruthless efficiency. The enemy craft, though well weaponized, seemed to be vulnerable to direct hits. Gronko was showing a very cool head as a pilot.
“Keep going, Gronko,” Charley urged as more fire thudded into the rear shields this time.
“Shields holding out for now,” Harry reported. “But we can’t take too much more fire.”
Charley took a deep breath, reached the top of her climb, then plummeted back down to the ocean. It was an unexpected move and the remaining drones were caught off guard for a moment. Charley’s targeting computer locked on to a drone and she squeezed both triggers with glee. Lasers squirted from the undercarriage, spitting at the drone venomously. She had also released a missile that thundered straight through the drone’s shields and dissolved it into a cloud of vapor. The heat blast rocked the Surprise and almost threw it off course.
“A little close for missiles, don’t you think?” Harry murmured.
Charley grinned, a little embarrassed. It was probably a good idea not to be too wasteful with the missiles. She had a feeling they would be needing all of them quite soon.
The Phoenix cut across the Surprise’s wake, its lasers peppering fire at the last two Deep Blue drones. One was crippled by the fire and fell uselessly to the rolling ocean swells. One left. Incisive proton fire struck the Su
rprise’s starboard shields, which flickered and shorted out.
“Protect your starboard flank,” Harry urged, and Charley banked accordingly. Getting the hang of dogfight piloting, she banked in a long arc that drew the enemy drone behind her without giving it a direct target lock. This allowed Gronko to send lethal laser fire into the drone, pulverizing it in green flame.
Charley leant on the controls, sighing in relief.
“Good job, pirates,” she said over the com. “Take my shoulder Phoenix and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Harry charted a quick orbital lift before any more Deep Blue security drones could arrive. The Surprise broke orbit without incident and once they were cruising though black space Charley checked on the starboard shield. It hadn’t been badly damaged and was recharging steadily.
Harry put out a coded transmission advertising the krill haul. He had told Charley that salukar traders were known to come to Deep Blue and that they might encounter one in the system. His suspicions proved correct. A medium hauler answered their call and expressed guarded interest in their pontoon.
The salukar trader wished to see the goods first hand, and Charley had no problem with receiving him aboard the Surprise. She had a twinge of anxiety as the big reptile docked his hauler and stepped into the Surprise, remembering the salukar that worked for Petyr Fallon back on Mina IV. That was a close escape.
However nervous she might have been around salukars, this meeting was mercifully brief. The big reptile took a sample of krill and pressed it into a small cube. Reading off the diagnostics, he spoke in a harsh baritone.
“This stuff is better than what I normally get,” he said. “I’m sending through an offer now.”
Charley consulted her wrist pad and barely contained her surprise. The salukar was offering 130,000 for the entire pontoon! She could only guess at the level of delicacy this Deep Blue krill had on salukar dinner tables.
“There’s a school of thought that it increases their mental acuity without addiction or comedown,” Harry whispered to Charley. “They die for that stuff.”
Charley wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Your offer is accepted,” she said as casually as possible. The salukar nodded curtly and rejoined his ship. Vanessa helped Harry transfer the pontoon on a grav pallet. The girl had been itching for some action and enjoyed the heavy work.
Once the salukar was on his way, his aft lights trailing into the distance, Charley checked her scanners anxiously. If Deep Blue knew where they were, they weren’t bothering to attack. At this range Charley’s little fleet would be able to engage warp engines well before any attack craft arrived.
Charley was happy to set a course away from Deep Blue at cruise speed. Gronko had the Phoenix on her starboard shoulder as commanded.
4
“Charley,” Harry said, laying two welcoming hands on her shoulders. “May I have a private word?”
The pair retired to the master bedroom. Charley wondered if Harry wanted to screw her, but instead he flopped into a chair and rested his head on his steepled hands. Charley loved it when he did that - it meant he was deep in thought. Something good always came of that occurrence.
“You thinking about our next move?” Charley asked. “We have two ships and our bank balance is looking very healthy.”
“That’s true,” Harry agreed. “But a job like that always comes at a cost. Screwing Deep Blue means we can’t go back there anytime soon. We’ll carry black flags on their systems, which means instant assassination. This is why a good pirate knows when to lay low for a while.”
Charley nodded slowly, seeing the wisdom of this. “So it’s a beach resort, then?”
Harry grinned. “Not quite,” he said. “Just because we can’t go back to Deep Blue doesn’t mean we can’t keep plundering the Beluga Run.”
Charley’s spirits lifted immediately. She’d been hoping Harry might suggest another adventure. Despite the recent action she felt refreshed and revved up. The Pirate Guild needed to make another play.
“I’m there,” Charley said enthusiastically. “Show me the way, Harry Teks.”
“We have two options as far as I can tell,” Harry said. “I’ve been studying the system profiles. We can either head to the Yondos system, where a big fat trade route could net us a string of wealthy corvettes, or we could take the more speculative option.”
“Tell me about Plan B,” said Charley, curious.
“The system is Mandavar,” Harry said. “Weak, brown dwarf star. There are nine rocky planets and the fourth is Frostfire. It used to be well suited to humans and was once a major hub of criminal activity. Smuggling, slavery, you name it. The old Empire built several strategic bases there. Around forty years ago a meteor crashed into the planet and knocked it off its normal axis. The global climate changed for the worse. Now it’s an icebound planet, a winter retreat at best. All the old trade routes died and the Imperials deserted their facilities. I don’t know who lives there now but I do know that the wildlife is beginning to return. There’s one creature I’m particularly interested in.”
“Are we going on a hunt?” Charley asked playfully.
“You know, sometimes a pirate has sentimental reasons for taking a job,” Harry said wistfully. “My grandfather was a superb hunter. Some of his more legendary kills netted him a small fortune. There are rich folk out there who pay top dollar for certain trophies. My contact tells me that silver elk have been seen in Frostfire’s forests.”
Charley’s mind worked overtime. Silver elk? That sounded so exotic, so mysterious.
“I take it they’re valuable?” she asked.
Harry grinned. “Their antlers are galaxy-renowned for their fibrous bone,” Harry said. “Even better, you don’t have to kill the elk to harvest them. And they grow back over time. Thing is, they’ve never been reared in captivity. They’re too sensitive.”
“So now they’ve appeared in the deep, dark, Frostfire forests,” Charley mused. “I’m thinking we won’t be bothered by the likes of bandits or Imperials on this mission.”
“Precisely,” Harry beamed. “As far as I’m concerned it’s the perfect next step. I just wanted to run it past you first. It’s speculative, which means there’s no guarantee of a payday.”
Charley looked at Harry, grabbed his hand, squeezed it.
“Old Man Teks, you know I’m a pirate through and through. Sometimes the romance of the chase is everything. We’re headed to Frostfire.”
Harry’s shoulders sagged as if he was relieved. Charley sensed that the hunt for silver elk on Frostfire was either a lifelong dream or something he wanted to do out of respect for someone long dead. Either way, she loved Harry’s spiritual side - in some ways it was what being a pirate was all about.
“Vanessa,” Charley said, unzipping her suit slowly. “Can you plot some waypoints to the Mandavar system? Ask the AI to alert us when we’re there so we can assume manual control.”
“Copy that, Captain,” came the bright reply. Vanessa sounded unbelievably sexy when she called Charley that.
“Oh, and Vanessa,” she said.
“Yeah?”
“Get in here when you’ve done that.”
Harry smiled as Charley finished unzipping herself. Her ripe breasts threatened to spill free from her loose suit. Harry made sure it happened by peeling away the sides and bringing himself forward for a nuzzle. He stayed there until Vanessa arrived. When she saw what was happening her eyes clouded over with lust and she immediately began unzipping her own suit. Charley and Harry both watched and waited for that immortal moment when her large breasts wobbled free.
Harry looked at Charley and sighed. “We’re pretty damned lucky, eh?” he said cheekily.
“You better believe it,” Charley said, helping Harry from his trousers. Before long the three of them were working up a sweat on the bed.
Harry worked up so much delicious momentum that he was
finished within five minutes. Charley followed soon after, triggering a lovely climax for Vanessa too.
The three of them lay back on the bed and enjoyed their various afterglows. Charley asked the AI for an ETA to the Mandavar system and was informed that the Surprise would build up to warp speed in two hours. The journey itself would take eight hours. Plenty of time to break out the bottle of andacour she’d been saving.
Plenty of time to try new positions…
The time passed serenely. The Phoenix had detected the Surprise’s warp procedure and had followed suit. Gronko hadn’t asked any questions, just followed orders. Charley loved the alien’s sense of unquestioning discipline.
Charley was deep in sleep when the AI gently reported their arrival in the Mandavar system. Mandavar passed by to starboard in a bright sepia flare. The various rocky planets of the system passed by as if on parade. Charley assumed control as they approached Frostfire. The planet was a milky orb smeared by huge cells of grey cloud. Charley had the others report to the cockpit to strap themselves in ahead of their orbital entry. The transition was a little rough due to atmospheric turbulence but the Surprise was soon coursing high over a barren, sun-kissed plateau of icy tundra. The Phoenix appeared dutifully on Charley’s starboard shoulder.
“Where do we go?” Charley asked Harry. The old pirate shrugged, but his eyes were alive. He was giddy like a schoolboy. Charley suspected that this was the type of adventure he might have enjoyed as a boy. In another place and another time.
“It might be an idea to start with a settlement,” Vanessa suggested, scanning a three-dimensional view of the landscape. “There’s a lot of smaller ones to choose from.”
The Pirate Commander (The Space Pirate Chronicles Book 3) Page 2