Ep.#1 - Escalation (The Frontiers Saga: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  “That is to be expected, as we move deeper into the city,” Dumar told him. He reached over and patted Jerrot on the shoulder. “You are doing well, Jerrot. How much further to the market?”

  “Less than a kilometer, I think.”

  “Good. Then it is unlikely we will encounter any more checkpoints. At least, not until we attempt to leave the city.”

  Jerrot looked at Dumar again. “I just hope your plan works. If it does not, I fear what they might do to us.”

  “You have nothing to fear, Jerrot,” Dumar replied, “as they will undoubtedly kill us on the spot.”

  Jerrot looked at him in horror. “You’re not helping matters, Travon.”

  * * *

  “Cap’n,” Marcus greeted, as he and Neli reached the top of the Seiiki’s cargo ramp and found the others gathered in the cargo bay.

  “Marcus,” Captain Tuplo replied. “What’s the good news?”

  “Nothin’ good, that’s for sure.” Marcus and Neli set their cloth satchels of food they had purchased from Haven’s local street markets down on the deck beside them. “There’s not much in the way of payin’ runs, I’m afraid. The Jung have got the PC locked down so tight, everyone’s afraid to fly anywhere within the cluster, let alone in or out of it.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of,” the captain sighed.

  “Runs gotta start popping up eventually, right?” Josh said. “I mean, people gotta eat. Even the Jung gotta eat. And people gotta move around from system to system. Goods gotta move…” Josh looked at the captain, then at Marcus. “I mean, if the Jung want to take advantage of the PC’s infrastructure, then they ain’t gonna shut it down completely. Sooner or later, the wheels gotta start turnin’ again, don’t you think?”

  “Of course they will, Josh,” Captain Tuplo agreed. “The question is, can we wait it out?”

  “Sure we can,” Josh insisted, undaunted by recent developments. “In the meantime, we can do that maintenance shit Dalen’s always complaining about not havin’ enough time to do.”

  “This ship costs me credits just sitting in port, Josh. Credits I can’t afford to spend. And that maintenance you’re talking about? That costs credits as well. Credits for parts. Credits to feed us. Credits to pay all of you.”

  “Won’t be the first time we’ve had to go without pay, Cap’n,” Marcus reminded him. “Likely won’t be the last. Frankly, I’m okay with that.”

  “Me too, Cap’n,” Dalen added.

  “That’s right,” Josh agreed.

  Marcus nudged Neli.

  “Me too,” Neli chimed in, although not as readily as the rest.

  “I know you are, and I appreciate it, I do.” He paused a moment to think, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a long sigh. Then he looked at Neli. “How many days do you think we’re stocked for?”

  “Including what we bought today? A week? That is, if Josh can refrain from eating twice his weight each day.”

  “I have a very high metabolism,” Josh defended.

  “What you have are hollow legs,” Marcus quipped. “Ever since you was knee-high.”

  “How are repairs going?” the captain asked, looking to Dalen.

  “Shields are back up, but the port shield generator is on its last legs, Cap’n. I can’t promise it’s gonna last much longer.”

  “Best guess?”

  Dalen shrugged. “Four, maybe five reentry cycles. After that, we’re really gonna be pushin’ our luck.”

  “I don’t suppose you could overhaul it again?”

  “I can try, I suppose,” Dalen replied. “But truth be told, there’s not much left to overhaul. One good spike and it’ll fry for sure.”

  The captain looked at Marcus. “How much does one of those things cost?”

  “More than we’ve got,” Marcus replied. “Even for a refurb.”

  “Maybe it’s time we pulled up stakes and left this sector behind for good,” Neli suggested.

  Everyone became quiet. It had been discussed many times before, and Neli always seemed to be the one to bring it up.

  “I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Neli,” Josh said, “but maybe she’s right, Cap’n. Maybe it is time.”

  Captain Tuplo studied each of their faces briefly. “Well, suppose we do jump out of the sector for good. If we’re lucky, we pick up a job before our food and fuel runs out, and before we lose that shield generator once and for all. We’ll have a whole new set of rules to learn. A whole new set of contacts to make, and relationships to build. And because we’ll be short on everything, we won’t be able to be very picky about what jobs we accept or who they’re for. That could very well lead us into a lot of trouble. And remember, there are not a lot of jump ships operating outside the Pentaurus sector.”

  “But that’s an advantage,” Neli insisted.

  “Perhaps,” the captain replied. “But it also makes us a target, not only for nefarious types like the two we scared off last night, but for any businessman or would-be potentate looking for an edge over his competitors.”

  “Kinda goes with the territory, though, don’t it?” Marcus said.

  “Yes, it does. But what if we don’t find work right away? What if the first port we set down in sees the potential in our ship and squeezes us out of work so we won’t be able to pay our port fees and our ship gets impounded and auctioned off? Or worse yet, make us fly for them for peanuts, just so we can keep our heads above the red line?”

  “Cap’n, we can always lift off before we run out of funds for the port fees,” Josh said. “It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”

  “And what? Float around in space until someone takes pity on us, or worse yet, we hand our ship over so we don’t starve to death adrift in space? Hell, we don’t even know if they’ll accept PC credits outside of this sector.” Captain Tuplo shook his head, frustrated by the situation. “No, if we’re gonna leave the Pentaurus sector behind once and for all, we’ve got to have the resources to do so in a safe manner.”

  “You keep sayin’ that, Cap’n,” Josh said. “But every time we get together enough to head out, something happens, and we get stuck again.”

  “It’s not like I’m not trying, Josh.”

  “I know…”

  “The problem is you’re not willing to take risks, Captain,” Neli said, interrupting Josh.

  “Nel…” Marcus scolded.

  “Well, it’s true!” Neli looked at their faces. “You all know it is!” She turned to address Captain Tuplo. “No offense, Captain, but you always play it safe. It’s not that I’m complaining, mind you. I appreciate that you’re always thinking about our safety, I truly do. But sometimes, ensuring our safety means taking risks.”

  Everyone was silent, stunned by Neli’s bluntness. Captain Tuplo examined their faces one at a time to read his crew’s reactions. He could tell they agreed with her. He even half-agreed with her himself.

  Finally, the captain sighed and looked at Marcus. “You said there’s not much in the way of paying runs, right? So, what was there?”

  “Just three runs,” Marcus replied. “Two of them from people with enough to pay some dumbass a ton of credits to jump to either Corinair or Savoy to evac family or friends, or some shit.”

  “Gotta be nobles, if they’re paying so much,” Josh stated.

  “And the third?” Captain Tuplo asked.

  “Evac a bunch of passengers, crew, and cargo off a ship that lost main power half a light year outside of Rama.”

  Captain Tuplo thought for a moment, rubbing his chin. “Well, there’s no way I’m going anywhere near Corinair or Savoy. I may be desperate, but I’m not stupid.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Marcus explained. “Both those runs were snatched up quicker’n shit.”

  “Seriously?” Captain Tuplo replied, surprised. “Who the hell was that stupid?”

  “The pay was pretty damn high, Cap’n. The pickup at Corinair alone was payin’ a hundred thousand credits. Seventy for the Savoy job.”r />
  “Shit,” Dalen muttered. “One hundred thousand would’ve been enough to fix everything on this ship, good as new, and get us out of this sector. Way out.”

  “Assuming we’d survive to collect,” the captain pointed out. “What about the Rama run? Anybody take it?”

  “Not yet. It only pays twenty, and it would take most ships currently in port half a dozen round-trips to complete the job. There’re more than three hundred people aboard.”

  “Why is it paying only twenty thousand?” the captain wondered.

  “I guess you’re worth a far-sight more if you’ve got noble relations,” Neli commented with disdain.

  “Daschew says it’s a cake run, that they aren’t even in the shipping lanes,” Marcus answered.

  “Sigmund Daschew?” the captain asked. “He’s the one paying for the Rama run?”

  “Yup.”

  “That’s why the payout is so small,” the captain surmised. “Siggy’s a cheap little bastard. Did you try and haggle with him?”

  “I didn’t bother. I was sure you wouldn’t be interested,” Marcus replied.

  Captain Tuplo sighed again. All his instincts were telling him not to take the run, but Neli’s words were still gnawing at his conscience. That, and they needed to replace the port shield generator. “Will twenty be enough to replace that generator, and leave us with a few weeks of operating expenses?” the captain asked Marcus.

  “Thirty would be better.”

  The captain looked at Dalen next. “Are we good to go?”

  “Good as we’re gonna get, without spending anymore credits.”

  Captain Tuplo shot a disapproving look at Dalen. “You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, Cap’n. We can handle the Rama run. Atmo here is on the thin side, so we can probably handle six or seven reentry cycles.”

  The captain stood still for a minute, arms crossed, a million scenarios playing in his head… Most of them not good. “Very well,” he finally said with a sigh. “Go sign us up for the Rama run, Marcus.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “But try to get thirty outta that weasel,” the captain added.

  * * *

  The delivery truck full of wine barrels moved off the main boulevard and down a side street, turning left into the small alleyway behind the market. It came to a stop, then backed up carefully to the market’s delivery entrance.

  “Good afternoon, Jerrot,” the owner of the market greeted. “You are late.”

  “My apologies, Anji. So many checkpoints.”

  “Yes, yes. They tell us it is for our own safety. We shall see. You have my usual order?”

  “Yes, sir. Eight barrels, as usual,” Jerrot promised, as he climbed up onto the truck to unlash the barrels.

  Anji looked at Dumar, cocking his head to one side. “And the cost?”

  “At a deep discount today,” Dumar assured him, “because you are such a good and cooperative customer.”

  “Your show of appreciation will not be easily forgotten. I only hope that I can continue to be such a good customer.”

  “Our hopes as well.” Dumar gestured toward the door. “May I use your restroom?”

  “Of course.”

  “What about the barrels?” Jerrot asked.

  “I will have one of my boys help you,” Anji promised. “It is the least I can do.”

  Dumar entered the market and made his way through the back storeroom. After stepping through the doors into the market itself, he looked around, noting the locations of every person in the store, both shoppers and employees. As expected, there were not many customers today. Most people had chosen to stay home and wait to see how things played out for the next few days. While it did help decrease the amount of time they were to actually spend in the city, it also increased their visibility to some extent. It was an unavoidable eventuality, as Doran Montrose was certain that the Jung would soon be conducting door-to-door searches for those who had been involved in a running gunfight from Ranni Enterprises the previous day.

  Dumar queried a passing employee as to the location of the restroom, then headed across the back side of the store. He glanced down each aisle as he passed. When he spotted Doran Montrose and his wife, he made eye contact. Without breaking his stride, Travon signaled with his eyes for Doran to follow him.

  Doran nodded, excused himself from his wife for a moment, then headed down the aisle to follow Dumar.

  A moment later, Dumar entered the restroom, and immediately turned on the water to wash up. As he did so, Doran entered the restroom as well, and stepped up to the next sink and turned on his faucet as well. Dumar signaled for silence as he turned off his water. He dried his hands, then pulled his comm-unit out of his pocket. He activated the device, and used it to scan the room while Doran continued to wash his hands.

  “It is safe to speak,” Dumar finally said, putting his comm-unit back in his pocket. “Have your people slip into the back. One or two at a time, so as not to draw the attention of the other shoppers.”

  “We are practically the only shoppers in the store. What about the employees?”

  “They are all members of the owner’s family, who is an old friend. Their cooperation has been secured.”

  “There are cameras,” Doran reminded him.

  “Which are not working today.”

  “How are you going to get us out of the city without raising suspicion? There are checkpoints everywhere. They are inspecting everyone. We almost didn’t make it here ourselves.”

  “We have a plan,” Dumar assured him. “You must trust me.”

  “You know that I do, Admiral.”

  “Do not refer to me in that way, even when we know it is safe.”

  “Of course. My apologies.”

  Dumar patted Doran on the shoulder. “I hope you like the smell of garant wine,” he said as he headed for the door.

  “What?” It was too late. Dumar had already left the restroom. Doran turned off the water and dried his hands, then left as well. He walked across the back of the store, turning up the aisle when he spotted Yanni pushing a shopping cart, and Lael strolling alongside him, carrying baby Ailsa. Doran walked toward them, pretending to search the shelves for something. He nodded politely at them as he passed, ducking in just behind them as if to grab an item off the shelf.

  “Go to the restroom in the back,” Doran instructed in a whisper as he picked an item off the shelf from behind Yanni. “Then duck into the storeroom to meet Dumar,” he continued as he inspected the item. “But first, pass the same message on to Michi and Tori, and tell them to pass it on to my children.”

  “Understood,” Yanni whispered as Doran walked away, item in hand.

  * * *

  “Jump series complete,” Josh reported as the Seiiki’s cockpit windows cleared. “The Asa-Cafon should be nearby.”

  Marcus stood behind Josh’s seat wearing a pressure suit, staring down at the sensor display in the center of the console. “So where are they?”

  “Are you sure you calculated for drift and…” Dalen started to ask.

  “I know how to plot a jump, Dalen,” Josh snapped, cutting him off, “and I know how to calculate for drift. It should be here.”

  “Maybe the Jung already got to them?” Dalen said.

  “Unlikely,” Marcus insisted. “Not this far outta the shipping lanes.”

  “Just be patient,” Captain Tuplo said. “We didn’t jump in that close. It will take a few…” The captain was interrupted by an alert tone from the sensor display. “You see.”

  “I told you,” Josh said.

  “Is it them?” Marcus asked.

  “I’m picking up their distress beacon. I’ll paint’em with active briefly.” Captain Tuplo reached down and switched the sensors to active mode, sending out a brief pulse of energy to better identify the ship. Everyone watched anxiously, waiting for the return. After thirty seconds, it came. “Size matches. Database confirms it. The Asa-Cafon. The only emissions she’s putting out is her
beacon, though. Nothing from her reactor core, and barely any thermal readings. In fact, her pressurized spaces look mighty frigid. If they’re still alive, they’re freezing their asses off.” The captain turned to look over his shoulder at Marcus. “Are you sure that docking system you rigged is going to work?”

  “If she’s got standard hatches like her registry specs say, it will,” Marcus assured him. “If not, we’ll have to break out the rescue bubbles.”

  “You couldn’t pay me to get into one of those bubbles,” Dalen said stubbornly.

  “You wouldn’t say that if they were the only thing between you and space,” Captain Tuplo insisted. He looked at Josh. “ETA to docking?”

  “Seven minutes.”

  “You got a fix?”

  “You bet.”

  “Then I’m shutting down the active scanners,” the captain said. “If there are any Jung ships in the area, I sure as hell don’t want to broadcast our position to them.” The captain turned back toward Marcus and Dalen. “Better head aft and get ready.”

  “On our way,” Marcus replied, as he and Dalen turned to exit the Seiiki’s cockpit.

  “Make damn sure you get a good seal before you pop their hatch, Marcus. And remember, send them up the catwalks and into the side corridors so we can use those as inner airlocks. That way, if we lose a seal, we won’t lose the whole ship.”

  “I remember,” Marcus replied, as he waited for his turn to descend the ladder to the deck below.

  “And don’t forget to hook up!” the captain added as Marcus started down the ladder.

  Marcus paused, his head still in the cockpit. “This ain’t my first dance, Cap’n.”

  “Asa-Cafon, Asa-Cafon,” the captain called over the comms. “This is the Seiiki. Do you copy?”

  “You’re using directional, low-power, right?” Josh asked.

  “This ain’t my first dance, either, Josh.”

  “Just checkin’.”

  “Asa-Cafon, Asa-Cafon. This is the Seiiki, in the blind. We are approaching from your starboard side. ETA is six minutes. We intend to link up to your port, midship boarding hatch. If you can copy me, have your passengers ready to disembark. We can only carry about one hundred and fifty people at a time, so we’ll have to make two trips just to get the passengers off.”