‘Cargo?’ asked Gan.
‘Prisoners,’ said Blake flatly. ‘People.’
‘A penal transporter,’ noted Vila. ‘That brings back such happy memories.’
Avon called up a schematic of the ship on his monitor and touched another control to display it on the main viewer. ‘Each pod can carry twenty people,’ he said. ‘Four pods. Even Vila should be able to work out how many that equals.’
‘Ninety,’ said Vila instantly.
Avon gave him a sideways look, but Vila simply shrugged. ‘Eighty prisoners plus ten guards. Ninety men. You don’t have to be a computer genius to know how to count.’
‘Only ten guards?’ queried Cally.
‘These ships are for low-level criminals only,’ explained Jenna as she stepped down from her position on the flight deck. She walked around to the viewer. ‘They are all secured. Two guards for each pod and two in the transporter ship – although they are technically Civil Admin pilots.’
‘So Vila’s right,’ said Gan, folding his thick arms. ‘Ninety men, on their way to a penal planet in the Kylon system. Eighty prisoners in total. What’s your plan, Blake?’
‘They’re Federation prisoners,’ Blake said. ‘So we free them.’
‘How?’
‘More importantly,’ said Avon, ‘why?’
‘How is easy,’ Blake replied with a smile. ‘Four of us teleport into the rearmost pod and take it over. We then break into the next pod along via the connecting airlock and take that over too. With only two guards in each pod, there shouldn’t be a problem. I’m hoping that we won’t even need to open fire.’
‘Now I’m struggling with the maths,’ Vila admitted. ‘Four of us? Against all those people? Someone’s going to get hurt whether we open fire or not. And I’ll bet it’s going to be me.’
‘Don’t forget that the pods contain low-level criminals,’ Jenna said. ‘Thieves, smugglers, fraudsters…’
‘Sounds familiar…’
‘They won’t want to get into a fight. They may even be pleased to see us. Chances are they’ll help us take over the rest of the prison ship. We can move right through the pods, one after another, until we reach the transporter itself.’
Cally frowned. ‘Why can’t we just teleport into the transporter ship directly?’
‘The class three flight deck is heavily shielded against cosmic rays, and we don’t know for sure how much that will affect the teleport co-ordinates. Plus it will be pretty cramped.’
Blake said, ‘There is also the possibility that the crew could alert the pod guards; they might panic and start executing prisoners. If we take the ship pod by pod, quietly and without fuss, we stand a much better chance of reducing the number of casualties.’
‘That’s all very well,’ said Avon. ‘But you haven’t answered my question: why?’
‘Because the Federation won’t like it,’ Blake replied tersely. ‘It rules by fear and subjugation. Disruption of its penal transportation system will be embarrassing and costly.’
‘We will be risking our lives for a consignment of criminals,’ Avon objected.
‘I don’t see anything wrong with that,’ said Jenna.
‘There’s a chance of picking up some new recruits, too,’ Gan added. They looked at him and he smiled, jabbing a finger at the transport ship on the view screen. ‘We were in their place, once, remember. Prisoners of the Federation, on our way to Cygnus Alpha. Now look at us.’
‘I was going to say “you can’t be serious”,’ murmured Avon, ‘but then I saw the earnest look in your eyes – and the fanatical gleam in his.’ Avon pointed at Blake.
‘It’s not a bad idea,’ Blake said.
‘I didn’t think we were in the business of building an army.’
‘We can’t bring down the entire Federation on our own, Avon, we need help.’
‘I’m glad you’re finally seeing sense, but you’re overlooking a somewhat obvious point.’ Avon waved a hand across the flight deck. ‘Five control stations. Six of us.’
‘Seven if you include Zen,’ Vila pointed out.
‘Your mathematical skills continue to amaze us all, Vila, but the result is indisputable: we are at full complement.’
‘There is room on the Liberator for more,’ Cally said. ‘There are cabins, storage holds. Plenty of teleport bracelets, guns…’
Vila nodded, sensing that he was now on the winning side. ‘Those prisoners deserve the same chance we had. They may be crooks and swindlers, but that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Look at us. Look at me! I was a thief – now I’m a freedom fighter.’
Avon grimaced. ‘You’re not helping change my mind…’
‘They should at least be given the option of joining us,’ Cally agreed. She looked at Blake. ‘Even if they don’t, they will always remember you. Freedom is priceless.’
‘We’re all agreed then,’ said Blake.
‘Not quite,’ Avon sighed. ‘It seems that, once again, I must be the lone voice of reason.’
‘And it’s for that same reason that I’d like you to come with me on the initial raid,’ Blake replied smoothly.
‘Your tone of voice suggests I should be flattered.’
‘Not at all. You’re a good man to have with me in a tight spot, Avon. And it will be tight in there.’
‘Or perhaps you just don’t want to leave me alone aboard the Liberator.’
Blake laughed softly. ‘Oh, yes, there is that too.’
‘INFORMATION.’ Zen’s calm voice filled the flight deck. ‘FEDERATION TRANSPORT VESSEL NOW IN TELEPORT RANGE: ONE THOUSAND SPACIALS.’
‘Right,’ said Blake. ‘Let’s get kitted up.’
FIVE
‘I can’t stand this much longer,’ said Zake.
Drena looked up at him sharply. If Zake was spotted talking again – at least anything more than the odd word or two – he would be severely reprimanded. And reprimands from Federation troopers were something to be avoided. Exile to a penal planet was not the worst kind of punishment.
Carefully, so as not to attract undue attention, Drena raised a finger to her lips. ‘Quiet,’ she mouthed.
‘But I can’t stand it in here, Drena…’ hissed Zake. ‘We’re gonna die. I know we are.’
One of the other prisoners turned to look at them. He was a burly young man with a thick moustache and dark, watchful eyes. His name was Melson. Drena wasn’t sure if the man was giving her a look of sympathy or of warning. Drena showed him the palm of her hand to indicate that she had things under control.
‘It won’t be long before they turn on the stasis fields,’ she assured Zake quietly. ‘You won’t know anything then until we reach K5.’
Zake’s eyes widened. ‘How do we know they won’t kill us all while we’re in stasis?’
‘What would be the point? If they wanted to kill us they could’ve done it on Earth and saved themselves the fuel for this trip. Don’t worry, we’re going to K5. Nothing will stop that.’
Drena spoke as quietly as she could. The two troopers were standing together at the far end of the gangway. She couldn’t tell if they were out of earshot or not. She hoped that their helmets might dull their sense of hearing just a little. But some of the other prisoners were turning to listen. Melson was looking at them again, his expression unreadable.
‘But I don’t want to spend the rest of my life on a prison planet,’ protested Zake. ‘That’s the whole point.’
‘Well, we don’t have much choice in the matter, do we?’
‘I’ve heard what those places are like,’ said Zake. ‘Nothing but a death sentence.’
‘You don’t know that.’
‘What will it be like then?’
‘I don’t know. I doubt they’re sending us to a holiday spa. Life will be grim.’ Drena forced a smile. ‘Still, it can’t be worse than living on Earth, can it?’
‘Don’t be so sure,’ said a low voice from nearby. It was Melson. His dark eyes glowered. ‘I’ve heard about these penal pla
nets. Grim isn’t the word.’
‘What will happen to us when we arrive?’ asked Zake nervously.
Melson glanced across at the troopers. They didn’t appear to be taking an interest. Keeping his voice low, he said, ‘First they’ll drop the pods from orbit. It’ll be atmospheric freefall until the autopilots kick in and bring the pods to land. They’re programmed to split up and act independently. Each pod could land on a different continent. One might end up in the desert. Another the polar ice-cap. Or rainforest. Or mountains. Or even the sea.’
Zake swallowed audibly.
‘There are limited provisions stored under the decking,’ Melson said, pointing at the metal flooring between his feet. ‘Food, water, basic medical supplies, a few tools and stuff. That’s all we have. We won’t know what the conditions will be like until the pod touches down and the airlocks open.’
‘Will… will there be aliens?’ asked Zake.
‘Could be. On Astralis Major a nest of giant ants ate every prisoner that arrived, so I heard.’
Zake visibly paled.
‘Stop it,’ Drena said. ‘He’s frightened enough already.’
‘He asked,’ Melson replied. ‘I told.’
‘You seem to know a lot about these places,’ Drena grumbled.
‘I used to work in Administration data processing. I had access to a lot of this kind of information. That’s what did for me in the end.’
‘Why?’
‘Sold info, didn’t I?’ Melson grinned ruefully. ‘I needed the credits. Well, don’t we all?’
‘Not any more.’
A heavy footstep sounded behind them, level with Drena’s head. One of the guards loomed over them, helmet lenses flashing. ‘What are you lot muttering about?’
Drena looked down at her feet again, as did Zake and Melson. ‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing, sir.’
‘Nothing, sir,’ Drena repeated.
The trooper unslung his rifle and held it across his chest in the ready position. ‘Watch it, Drena,’ he said. ‘I’ve warned you once already. I’ve got my eye on you both. So has Trooper Dort.’ He nodded towards the other guard at the far end of the walkway.
He walked slowly away and joined Dort by the airlock. None of the prisoners looked up or said anything until Zake whispered, ‘I’ve got to get out of here...’
‘No chance,’ hissed Melson. ‘There’s a million miles of cold vacuum outside.’
‘I don’t care. I can’t stand it in here any longer!’
‘Be quiet!’
‘Take deep breaths,’ Drena urged as quietly as she could. ‘It’s an anxiety attack, that’s all.’
Zake closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a few seconds. Drena glanced nervously at the guard, who was now loitering at the other end of the pod. It was impossible to tell whether or not the man was watching them. The lenses of the black skull-helmet completely obscured his eyes.
‘Someone did escape, once,’ said Melson. ‘Ever heard of the London? A group of convicts took over the ship and escaped.’
‘Couldn’t we do the same?’ Zake wondered.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Drena.
‘Look around,’ said Melson quietly. He leaned forward conspiratorially. ‘There’s plenty of us. Only two guards.’
‘Stop filling his head with stupid ideas,’ said Drena.
‘I’m not stupid,’ Zake objected.
‘I didn’t say you were!’
‘Oi!’ the guard called out. Each of them froze in their seats. ‘I thought I told you to shut it? One more word out of any of you and someone’ll feel the weight of my boot. Clear?’
For one awful moment Drena thought Zake was going to burst into tears. Zake was fragile. He always had been. Drena had looked after him all her life. Protected him as best she could from her bullying father, the system, the Federation. It was a hopeless task. Every sacrifice, she now realised, had been in vain. Zake couldn’t take this. He was crumbling in front of her. The slow nervous deterioration she had witnessed over the years was now accelerating. It wouldn’t take much more to send his mental state into freefall. Drena had no idea what would happen then, but the troopers wouldn’t shy away from using lethal force if necessary. She had to protect him, just as she had always tried to do.
‘It’s all right,’ Melson told the guard. ‘It’s my fault. I was talking to them, officer.’
Drena stared wide-eyed at Melson.
‘If you’re going to put your boot in anyone’s face,’ Melson continued, ‘then it should be mine.’
The trooper stared down at the prisoner. ‘Make sure I don’t have to, then… scum.’
Somehow, Melson was able to meet the trooper’s icy gaze and the black-clad figure stalked slowly away.
Drena let out a long breath. ‘That was close. Thank you.’
‘It’s nothing,’ Melson said. ‘But you have to stand up to these people. It’s the only way.’
Drena shook her head. ‘It’s standing up to them that landed us here.’
‘And it’s standing up to them that’ll get us out. All we need is one lucky break…’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I mean it.’ Melson lowered his voice so that only Drena could hear. ‘If I could just get my hands on one weapon…’
‘Out of the question,’ Drena whispered. ‘I can’t be a part of anything like that. I’m a surgeon. I don’t like guns. And besides, the consequences…’
‘Would be what? Scrounge what life you can out of the bare rock on K5? Or take a chance of freedom – if only for a second?’ Melson stared intently at her. ‘Do you intend to die a prisoner of the Federation? Or as a free woman?’
SIX
‘Get a move on, Vila,’ said Gan. He already had his gun-belt on and a blaster connected to the charging pack. Vila was still pulling on his jacket and pretending to fumble with the seal.
‘What’s the hurry?’ Vila asked. ‘I’m quite happy being alive. I’m in no rush to change that.’
‘Teleporting from this ship to another moving vessel isn’t easy, Vila,’ said Avon as he strode into the Liberator’s teleport chamber with Blake. ‘We have to match speed and trajectory precisely. The window of opportunity may be very narrow. Any delay could be dangerous.’
‘That’s fine by me,’ Vila replied. ‘In fact, if the window’s too narrow it might be best for me to stay here. I mean, it’s less risky for the rest of you, isn’t it? I’d be doing you all a favour.’
Blake raised an eyebrow. ‘Not really. We’re raiding a Federation prison ship – ’
‘Don’t remind me.’
‘ – and we need your special skills.’
Vila winced. ‘I hate being indispensable.’
‘Just get ready,’ Gan urged him, handing him a gun-belt. ‘This is what we do, remember. We help people.’
‘I’m a thief. I usually help myself.’
‘The people on that prison ship are just like we were not so long ago, Vila. Put yourself in their position.’
‘They’re prisoners of the Federation. Putting myself in their position is what I’m trying to avoid.’
‘But we can free them! That’s why this ship is called the Liberator! Come on!’
Vila strapped on his gun-belt and checked the blaster was secure in its holster. ‘It might be easier if I just shot myself now. It would save waiting for someone else to do it.’
‘Carry on like that,’ said Avon as he drew his own weapon menacingly, ‘and you won’t have long to wait.’
‘I thought we’d been through all that already. The guns won’t work against other users.’
‘That was merely the hypothesis. I am willing to continue with the practical experiment if you are.’
Vila pushed the gun barrel away so that it was no longer pointing at him. ‘Thank you, but it won’t be necessary.’
‘All right,’ said Blake. ‘That’s enough. We’ve got a job to do.’
‘What’s the plan, Blake?’ aske
d Gan.
‘As agreed, we take each pod in turn, starting with the rearmost, which is Pod Four. We move on to the next one when we’ve secured it. Pod Three, then Two, then One. All that remains then is the transport ship pulling the train. All set?’
Gan drew his gun. ‘Ready.’
Vila hurriedly closed the lid on his toolbox. ‘Can’t wait,’ he muttered.
The intercom chimed on the control desk and Blake leaned across to take the call. ‘Blake.’
‘This is Jenna,’ came the reply from the flight deck. ‘Thought you ought to know: the Federation ship has changed course.’
‘Changed course?’
‘It’s vectoring in on the planet Zotral and picking up speed.’
Blake frowned. ‘Why would that be? Any suggestions?’
‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say the pilot was angling for a slingshot.’
‘Slingshot?’ repeated Vila worriedly. Anything that sounded like a weapon was enough to worry him.
‘It’s an old-fashioned way to increase the speed and trajectory of a spacecraft by using the gravitational pull of a star or planet,’ explained Avon. ‘Blake, if we’re going to do this then we need to do it now, otherwise they’ll be out of range.’
Blake nodded and turned back to the intercom. ‘Jenna, can you match speed and course?’
‘I don’t know. It could be tricky. The pilot will be flying on manual, I’ll have to do the same.’
‘Do it. And tell Cally to get here as quick as she can. We can’t hang around any longer.’
The Liberator’s engines hummed a little louder, and just for a moment they all felt a slight flux in the artificial gravity as the spacecraft veered after its prey.
‘Maybe we should just abort the mission,’ Vila suggested hopefully.
‘No,’ chorused the three other men.
Cally came into the teleport chamber at a run and slid into position behind the control desk. ‘Ready?’
‘Yes!’ said the three of them loudly, just as Vila said, ‘No!’
Cally was busy making a series of rapid adjustments to the teleport controls.
Blake's 7: Criminal Intent Page 3