"Copy that. Just give us the signal; we're queueing up," I said. Technically, we only needed to move half the people off Hotspur to fix the CO2 issue, but my goal was to transfer them all. Without vac-suits, it would be next to impossible to move the remainder once we entered fold-space. The transfer would have to be quick; we needed to get to fold-space as soon as possible.
From my suit's HUD, I watched the progress of Sendrei's group as they turned from the berth-deck and out into the cat-walk. Sendrei carried a woman who appeared to be in bad shape, but even so, they made good progress.
"Go, Cap," Marny finally said, once the last of Sendrei's group made it to the middle of the catwalk.
I pulled the hatch-door open and looked at Flaer. "With me," I said and beckoned.
Whatever Flaer had said to the inhabitants of the hold must have been inspiring because I actually had to slow down the leaders who surged forward, ready to run.
"Welcome aboard, Captain," Kerwin said. "Nice of you to bring a group of lovelies along. This trip just keeps getting better."
"Stow it, Seaman," I growled. "These women have endured enough."
"Aww, don't be like that," he said. "They can't understand me."
"But I can," I said and turned back down the catwalk, using my grav-suit to fly along the edge past our confused guests.
"Last group," Marny said as I passed Jester Ripples.
"Is the cargo-hold empty?" I asked him.
"I am the last," he said as he continued forward.
Blue Child led the final and smallest group.
I checked the approach of the Kroerak battleship. They were just under ten minutes to firing range. It would take three of those minutes to collapse the cat-walk. We were going to make it, but not with a lot of time to spare.
Marny brought up the end of the group. "We're missing one," she said.
"Go ahead and close up," I said. "I'll find him."
"How do you know it's a him?"
I smiled and shook my head.
***
Explaining transition to fold-space to a group of people who hadn't even experienced travel by vehicle was a futile exercise. In the end, we simply explained that everyone was going to feel sick for a few minutes, but it would pass. As expected, more than a few of our passengers, who’d already felt nauseous for most of the day, became sick. Fortunately, we were prepared.
"They're all pregnant?" Ada asked, disgusted.
"Thirty-eight," Tabby reported. "We lost one of the babies. There was nothing that could be done. Most of the women had parasites and a variety of infections. Bliez’s face and neck are healing nicely, though. She is so good with the other women - very gentle - and she's a hugger, just be warned." Tabby raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t overly comfortable with random hugs. If I could hold Jester Ripples, I could manage this woman.
"How are we coming on vac-suits and liners?" I asked. We'd been in fold-space for five of our ten-day journey and our replicators had been cranking out personal hygiene and clothing items for most of that time.
"Making some progress," Nick replied. "The bigger problem is they don't understand the need. We've started some training, but it's slow."
"I spoke with Bedros this morning," I said. "For a short time, they established contact with Petersburg. Mom and LeGrande are alive, but they don't know much more. Tullas moved a ship to block the line-of-sight communication. As you might expect, Councilwoman Peraf is looking to negotiate with Belirand."
"Was Bedros able to stop her?" Nick asked.
"For now. He convinced her to wait until we showed up and see who comes out on top. Apparently, they've had scouting parties from Belirand testing out their defenses," I said.
"If Tullas brought a tactical team, they might be able to breach the colony," Marny added. "At least Yishuv has several Marines from Cape of Good Hope who should have anticipated that."
"What's our play at Ophir?" Ada asked. "We don't have much chance against Belirand's justice class Frigates."
"It's not as uneven as you think," Marny said. "Remember, we nearly took out Fist of Justice with a light frigate and Mastodon."
"Our plan is to assess," I said. "I hate the idea of combat with passengers aboard."
"I do not believe you will be given a choice," Jonathan added. "Belirand is in place precisely to prevent your passengers from surviving."
"You don't sound like any pacifist I know," I replied.
"That's not a strictly accurate description," Jonathan said. "Most of us feel humanity is too quick to resort to violence. In this instance, we believe our survival is more likely with a measured, aggressive response."
"Have you checked on Divelbiss?" I asked Tabby.
"He and Sendrei Buhari are waiting to join us in the crew's mess once we're done," she said.
"What's next?" Ada asked. "Let's say we get through this with Belirand."
I sighed and gave her a sad face. "What have we done to my sweet, optimistic Ada Chen?"
"There are only so many things we can un-see, Liam," she said. "Like how Kroerak use women as livestock. How can we survive in a universe like this?"
"We stand in the way, Ada," I said.
"How?"
"I've prepared a comm to be sent to Mars Protectorate if there is any danger of Intrepid being destroyed," I said. "When we do make it past Tullas and her thugs, we're going to set up a meeting with Admiral Buckshot Alderson and we're spilling the beans."
"Really? I thought you were against the idea," she said. "What changed your mind?"
"You and ten thousand slaves on Cradle," I said. "We don't have the capability to save ten thousand. Mar Protectorate does."
"What makes you think they'll get involved?"
"Commander LaVonne Sterra won't turn away from this," I said.
"What if she gets shut down?"
"We'll start with her and Alderson. He might have some bluster to him, but in the end, he does things for the right reasons," I said.
"He might sing a different tune if it means war with NaGEK," Marny said.
"You heard the Kroerak. They're coming for Mars and Earth eventually. They won’t want to sit on this for very long," I said. "We have to trust someone and I say Commander Sterra has earned that."
"Agreed," Nick said quietly.
Ada rolled her neck. "Now all we have to do is survive."
"One day at a time," I said.
"To that end," Marny said, "the survivors from Cradle have put together a special celebration feast in our honor."
"Now?" Ada asked.
"They're waiting for us," Tabby said as she opened the bridge's conference room door, showing an empty bridge.
I stood and walked out with Ada, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry this is hitting you so hard, Ada. Without us, many of the people we're about to eat dinner with wouldn't be alive in a couple of years. We have to look at the good we can accomplish and not focus on the evil that's been done. If we're successful, we could very well put an end to Belirand's tyranny."
"It's just so hard to leave all those people behind," she said.
"I promise you, I'm not giving up on them," I said.
"You mean it? You're not trying to hand this off to Mars Protectorate?"
"I might be willing to ask for help, but just try to get me to walk away," I said.
She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled closer to me. "Mom would be proud that this is where I ended up."
"I bet she wouldn't be a bit surprised," I said.
Tabby fell back to walk with us. "What are you two up to back here? You might make me a jealous woman, Ada Chen."
"Don't ever let this one go," Ada replied. "I won't give you a second shot at him."
I looked from Ada to Tabby and raised an eyebrow.
"Stow it, Hoffen. I already know what you're thinking and it ain't going to happen," Tabby said.
Before I could respond, we turned the corner to the crew's mess. As expected, music was playing, but two men I d
idn't recognize stood at attention on either side of the door.
Recognition and understanding registered as I held my hand out to the two plus meter tall Divelbiss. I shook my head in wonder at his transformation. Where he'd been soft around the middle before he entered the tank, he was now trim and fit. His arms and hands had been completely restored. I might not have recognized him if not for the broad smile I associated with the big man.
"Well met," I said and stuck my hand out to shake. "Tonight we'll tell the story of how Mr. Divelbiss fed the Kroerak and saved us all. Without your sacrifice, we might never have made it this far."
"Aww, heck, Captain. Frakking bugs just pissed me off," he said.
"Remind me not to piss you off," I said as I moved out of his way so he could greet the rest of the command crew.
The man on the other side looked so different in an Intrepid vac-suit and with a clean shave, I struggled to accept that I was looking at Sendrei Buhari. Where Divelbiss's transformation had been dramatic, Sendrei's was incomprehensible.
"Mr. Buhari," I said extending my hand. "Welcome aboard."
"It is my honor," he said in a rich baritone voice as he smiled broadly.
GIVE NO QUARTER
"Thank you for joining us." I looked around the officer's mess table at all of the officers of Intrepid, including Moonie and Xie. I'd also invited Sendrei, Flaer and Ganesh, the respective leaders of the three villages we'd successfully rescued, as well as the Norigans - Blue Child and Jester Ripples. "In twelve hours, we will transition from fold-space into local space near the planet Ophir. I believe you've all had a chance to review the information we have on this planet and the free settlements of Yishuv and Petersburg."
"It seems a dream," Flaer intoned in the dialect with roots in the language spoken by most people of Earth and Mars.
"The Ophie natives are of concern," Ganesh, a man of twenty-five stans said quietly.
"Yishuv is well defended," Marny offered.
"We do not know if they will welcome us," Bliez responded. "Why would they share their resources?"
"It's true, we can't speak for Yishuv," I said. "But resources are not as scarce as you experienced on Cradle and we will speak with Yishuv's Council on your behalf."
"We don't want to be ruled again," Flaer said. "We would like to settle in the location Jonathan identified and we will learn to defend ourselves from the Ophir natives."
"Is that a consensus?" I asked looking from Sendrei to Ganesh and then back to Flaer and Bliez.
"Yes," Sendrei answered.
"Five hundred kilometers and a mountain range separate this location from the closest indigenous population," Jonathan said. "It is an ideal location at the confluence of two mountain rivers where they join a great lake. The mean temperature, fertile land and natural defenses are ideal for human habitation, especially if seeded with technology and biological resources."
"Biological resources?" I asked.
"Seeds for planting, livestock, that sort of thing," Nick answered.
"We will not raise livestock for consumption," Flaer said stolidly. "No species has that right over another."
"A decision you will make for yourselves," I said. "You don't have to decide right now and I'd recommend talking with the people of Yishuv before making your final decision. We'll support you, regardless of the choices you make."
"But that's not what we're here to talk about, is it?" Buhari asked.
"You're right, Sendrei," I said, which earned me a sharp look from Flaer. "Belirand Corporation awaits our arrival at Ophir."
"They will seek to return us to Cradle," Sendrei said flatly.
"We think that's likely," I replied.
"Why did you withhold this information?" Flaer asked, still hot from her impassioned speech about livestock.
"Flaer, don't be rude," Ganesh whispered harshly. "Is it not enough they rescued us?"
"To be returned to Cradle? I'd rather die," she said.
I placed my hand on the table to stop the conversation. "If it is within our power, we will not allow Belirand to return you to the Kroerak."
"You’re telling us because it might not be within your power," Sendrei summarized. "How large of a force awaits?"
"We don't know," Nick said. "We've had only sporadic communication and what we received has had little tactical value."
"Then why are we here?" Flaer asked.
"Do you speak for your people when you say you'd rather die than return to the Kroerak?" I asked.
"Without hesitation," Flaer answered. "The last nine days, living as free women … if they are our last, it is enough. We will not live as slaves again."
"She speaks for us all in this," Ganesh agreed. "A fire has been lit and we will not allow it to be put out."
Ada spoke up quietly and firmly. "Then, we'll see that you have a chance to live free."
The table grew quiet as the finality of their decision sunk in.
I slid a small box across the table to Flaer. "There's one more thing."
"What's this?" she asked, levering the top open and pulling out a silver necklace.
"We recovered jewelry from your predecessors who lived on the moon of a planet we named Thren's Rest," I said. "Flaer, the necklace you're holding belonged to your ancestor, Thren Blively." I flicked a collage of pictures onto the vid-screen built into the forward bulkhead. "That's her in the middle."
"I don't understand," Flaer replied in a much quieter voice than usual.
Ada stood up from her chair and walked around to where the small woman sat staring into the box of recovered treasures. "May I?" she asked, gesturing to the necklace.
Flaer handed the silvery rope to Ada, who gently placed it around the woman's neck.
"Look there," Ada said, placing her finger on the still picture of Thren Blively on the vid-screen. "Her daughter was also on the mission and was one of the original people brought to Cradle."
"It's the same necklace - but how?" she asked it a small voice.
"These items were recovered from the site where we believe the Kroerak first encountered your people," I said. "You share this ancestry with a few others in your group. Our ship will be able to help you identify who. Perhaps you'd like to share the information with them before we arrive at Ophir."
"Yes. Very much," she said, fingering the small green stone that hung from the necklace.
"Cap. I'd like to request that Mr. Buhari be added to our crew as a weapon's officer," Marny said, changing the subject.
I was glad for the shift in topic. While I enjoyed returning the jewelry, I was more than happy to move on to less emotional topics. Sendrei certainly looked the part, but he'd been out of action for ten years. "Your call, but the timing makes me wonder how that would work. We're about to get into a major battle here and Sendrei has been out of it for quite a while."
"A reasonable precaution," Sendrei replied.
"Aye, that it is, Sendrei," Marny replied. "What Cap doesn't know is that you saw combat on a ship larger than Intrepid and spent more time in a gunner's nest than anyone aboard, myself included."
"Is that right?" I asked him.
He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders and acknowledged my question. "We saw plenty of combat. My specialization was missile systems and I was in charge more than I was actually in the seat."
"How much time in the seat?" I asked.
"Actual combat hours? Ninety-two on turrets, one-hundred forty-seven throwing rocks," he said. "That was over the course of eighty-two enemy engagements."
"Ninety-two hours?" Ada asked. "Four days? I don't understand."
"Don't be fooled by the numbers, Ada," Tabby piped up. "He's being modest and reporting actual combat hours. Most engagements in ship-to-ship combat are over within twenty minutes. You could add up the actual combat hours of everyone on this ship and not hit that. With the exception of Marny, of course."
"Ohhh," Ada said, mirroring my own surprise.
"I'd say check him out on simulations," I s
aid.
"Way ahead of you, Cap," Marny said. "Sendrei approached me a few days back with that very idea. His scores are triple that of the rest of the crew, but his real value is in missile targeting."
"I don't understand."
"Different ships have different vulnerabilities," Sendrei answered. "For example, Intrepid's real strength is in her engines and the fact that there are no critical systems in her bow. Yet when I reviewed your encounter with Justice Bringer, more than sixty percent of her missiles strikes were forward, a natural consequence of two ships passing on attack runs."
"Marny?"
"Sendrei reviewed our combat data-streams and pointed out a number of tactical changes we could make when engaging Tullas," she said. "The information is invaluable."
"In that case, I'd say welcome to the crew, Mr. Buhari," I said. "As for the rest of you, try to get some rest. Once we reach Ophir, we'll be in the thick of things."
As much as we enjoyed each other's company, the prospect of combat in a few hours had us all on edge and the officer's mess emptied immediately.
"Captain, I need to talk to you." Moon Rastof caught my arm as Tabby and I were taking our leave.
"Okay if Tabby joins us?" I asked.
"I guess," he replied glumly.
"What's on your mind, Moonie?" I asked. It hadn't escaped my notice that Moonie had become more and more withdrawn as the trip progressed. The once ebullient man was merely fulfilling his shifts and refused to interact with our guests. I could only imagine how he felt, having worked for Belirand and seeing the chaos wrought by his previous employer.
"Can we find somewhere quieter?" Moonie asked.
"What's this about?" I asked as I led him toward the civilian conference room.
He closed the hatch behind him. "I don't really know how to say it."
"I know how you feel, we've all had to face some ugly truths in the last couple of weeks," I said.
"That's part of it, but I've done something that I can't undo," he said. "I'm afraid it's too late."
"Not you," Tabby said. "It can't be you. How could you? I thought we were friends."
He sighed as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and holding his head in his hands, refusing to look at me. "We are friends, Tabby. I'm so sorry," he said.
Give No Quarter (Privateer Tales Book 10) Page 23