Shiver Me Timbers

by Chris Hechtl

  He was also very concerned that the plague might have been spread there. If Seydlitz and her consort had stayed on mission, the planet would be untouchable.

  And, with so many convoys passing through the system, he was fairly certain it would be stripped of the best materials. There wasn't a lot to pick from the desert world to begin with. What he would be left with would most likely be heavily picked-over leftovers. There was something to be said about raiding a world too often.

  “Ah? And why pray tell is that?”

  “Sir, I strongly advise you for us to stop there. We've got a lot of people crammed in like sardines and we need supplies.”

  “Aye, then. Tis a grand idea. We'll see you there or not.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Captain Hammer growled.

  “Best be movin' quick-like then, Captain. Put the hammer down if you have to,” the admiral growled, all playfulness out of his voice.

  “We'll keep that in mind, sir,” the captain replied as he signed off.

  <()>^<()>

  Leonidas sat back and contemplated his plans once more as his convoy slipped in to the jump point. They were only a few hours behind Saladin's convoy. Joe might think he was dogging his heels, and he was right.

  His warships had fanned out from the last jump point to search for any illusive sign of an intruding ion trail. None had been found. He still wouldn't relax until he was past Long Sands and in port though. Perhaps not even then. He could no longer feel safe in any port.

  His girls had heard the rumors rife among the ship, the whispers that he'd lost his stomach and that was why he was running. But his supporters reminded those who talked out of turn that the code said, fight to run away. There wasn't any profit in fighting a losing battle.

  Long term he needed to restructure his people. He was well aware that he couldn't convince his people to turn around for an offensive force. They didn't have the organizational skills nor the materials, training, or backbone. Pirates were murderers, sadists, rapists, and thieves, but they picked on helpless prey.

  Fighting someone who could fight back like the navy could wasn't going to happen. But, how to deal with the navy?

  Singly his ships were no match for the enemy. Even Gutt had to have realized that. Gutt was lucky to have survived his encounter. No amount of guile made up for the imbalances in their forces, which meant he had to fight smart.

  The best way he could think of was to hunt in pairs. Usually a ship went out with a freighter to take on booty it collected. Some crews did work in pairs. No, wait, they called them divisions he reminded himself. He frowned thoughtfully, scratching at his beard.

  He had spent a great deal of the journey dredging up old navy material. He'd wanted his old texts, but they had been in Tortuga and therefore lost. A lot of his files had been lost there. He regretted it, but it had to be done.

  Training was a real issue. So was the tech imbalance. Well, they'd just have to work on that. He had started fresh training when he'd gone on the hunt for the Federation convoy. Obviously, it hadn't been enough.

  And it had to be on more than just his ship he realized. It needed to be across the board. They needed to learn to fight as a proper warship as well as a fleet.

  He grimaced. That was easier said than done with his people. They were all selfish bastards, and when it came to fighting, it was usually every hand for itself.

  Long term he didn't like his options. His people were used to getting their own way. They were used to being the alpha predator in the quadrant, not prey. And they were used to getting some sort of profit for their ventures. The risk-reward calculations were normally in their favor.

  But not now. Not with the navy in the space lanes once more.

  One thing that had intrigued him was that the navy was pushing to redevelop the sector. His stops stalking the convoy had confirmed that much. Given enough time the seeds would grow. If he could find ways to get his ships to work around the jump lines, hit them from behind … it might work, at least, for a while until Commodore Logan adapted and altered her patrol patterns.

  He wondered if she'd captured the navigational databases intact. It was quite possible; his people might have fallen all over themselves to surrender in Tau-1252. Or, she might have picked them up elsewhere.

  If she had that data, she no doubt had the location of every one of his bases. And she might have many of the commonly known jump lanes that his people used. That was a problem.

  His claws ticked out as he checked his secure database. The terminal was not connected to the ship's network and kept his greatest secrets.

  Including the location of booty he had saved for himself. It might be time to dig it out and do something with it.

  <()>^<()>

  Kix received the orders from the admiral to improve training on the ship and elsewhere. He apparently wanted them to meet some sort of standard, though that part was left open.

  And the admiral was right. They expected the gun crews to meet a set standard, the watch standers, the techs … so they did need to train.

  But, the ship was full and still under repair. It would be hard to train effectively. He decided though that it would be a good diversion for the crew, so he called in his department heads to start outlining plans to find ways to train and improve on their performances.

  <()>^<()>

  Captain Dab grimaced as her latest teasing entry to get her “husband” over for a visit was ignored. She'd expected as much. The wimp was avoiding her. So be it. She'd find the time in port to look him up later.

  When was a problem though; she planned to hit space with the yard as soon as they stopped for good. She did have to wonder if they were going to stay in Dead Man's Hand though. It would be stupid to set everything up only to have to run again.

  And why Dead Man's Hand? She understood the reason not to go to Harlot's Dream. It was further away and a pain in the ass to get to with the navy in the way, but why hadn't they gone on to Virgin Holes? There was fuel and a small repair center! She shook her head at the well-worn thought.

  T'was done. What was done was done; they couldn't change it now.

  She frowned thoughtfully and then looked up what she had on Dead Man's Hand once more. In order to get the yard up and running smoothly, she needed to get a handle on logistics there. The admiral had made it painfully clear he wanted it done right away.

  <()>^<()>

  In hyperspace

  Doctor Tegan Perez smiled in relief as she checked the countdown clock. In another hour they would be arriving in Dead Man's Hand. In a few days after that, she'd be off the ship and on to other things, though she doubted they'd let her do her research on the base itself. That would be foolish.

  Where was a big question. She frowned. She'd already put in a request for a proper lab and staff. She'd learned a lot from her journey but had realized she hadn't had many to share the information with. The ship's medic was barely a bone setter, unable to grasp the concepts in lab work. That was a problem for her, one among many that she had to find a way to solve.

  She had a feeling she wasn't going to be given much more slack before a certain hairy ape started to get in her face demanding results. Results she wasn't sure she could produce.

  Maybe … could she fake it? She decided to look up a placebo and see if she could use one to get out of trouble if the pressure on her grew too great …

  <()>^<()>

  Dead Man's Hand

  Captain Gutt was on the bridge as usual as Black Corsage led her sheep across the hyper wall and into real space once more. His duty to the admiral was done. At least the first he thought looking at the base.

  “Let them know we're here,” he growled to Squint. The small elf XO nodded and then quietly passed on the word to the comm section.

  A few hours later the elf called him in his office. “Eh?”

  “Sir, we've transmitted our IFF. We are receiving IFF pings from all over the star system.”

  “Good, good.”

  “They
include a pair I thought you'd like to know about right away,” the XO said.

  “Eh? I'll be right there,” the captain growled.

  He was thinking dire thoughts about how this better be good as he stepped through the hatch and onto the bridge. His grumbling died abruptly as his eyes locked onto the main plot. Two IFFs were highlighted.

  “Seydlitz,” his voice purred.

  “Aye, sir. I thought you'd like to know right away.”

  “Ye be right, XO, ye be right as rain,” the captain said, flicking one of the XO's antennas absently as he stared at the plot.

  “This just gets better and better,” the Neoorangutan growled, eyes gleaming. “We're going to have to play this very carefully to make sure we don't have any unexpected problems.”

  There was a subdued yar from the crew.

  “But, if we do, we be getting a lab for that pest of a medic and something almost as valuable,” he said, teeth gleaming. “Revenge,” he growled.

  The crew cheered.

  Chapter 29

  Dead Man's Hand

  Black Corsage's convoy of twenty-eight freighters didn't go unnoticed to the pirates in the star system. They had never seen so many ships arrive in one force in living memory. At best the admiral would come by with a dozen or so ships every year or two. This was something completely different and unexpected.

  “Tongues be waggin’ but there be no one to say anythin' about the betrayal,” the captain growled to his crew. “Make sure all ships know that. I'll have the tongue and the mangy hide of any who break that order,” he growled.

  “What of Seydlitz and Booti'licious, sir?” his XO asked. “Captain Chen has asked to speak with you.”

  “Oh he has, has he?” the captain purred. An idea gleamed in his mind. It wasn't without its risks but if done properly they'd get fresh prizes. And that pest of a doctor would get the facilities and materials he needed to get the vaccines in order.

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Well, tell them we'll be over to talk about what happened face-to-face when we make port.” He paused as a fresh thought came to him. “Tell them we've got orders to hand deliver to them,” he said after a moment.

  “Ar,” Squint replied with black humor.

  “And don't let them know we are on to them or I'll keel haul ya! I want my visit to be an appropriate surprise,” the captain said with a grim chuckle.

  That got the crew chuckling as well.

  <()>^<()>

  Captain Chen was nervous about the news of the convoy arrival. Rumors that Tortuga had been evacuated and of a battle had him even more nervous. He was not happy about the little he'd been told. He had inquired about Doctor Wilhelm as well as Captain Layafette but hadn't heard anything back other than a repeat of the orders from Captain Gutt. A party would come over to hand deliver the classified briefing to him when they were in port.

  He wasn't sure if he should welcome them with open arms or not. He did wish they'd chosen to meet at the base though he understood why it wasn't worth the effort. He rarely went there anymore.

  <()>^<()>

  Three days after entering the star system, Black Corsage and the convoy settled into parking orbits near the base. The battle-scarred heavy cruiser sent over a shuttle to Seydlitz.

  Captain Chen had organized a formal welcome on the off chance Captain Gutt came personally.

  He was even on hand personally to oversee the boarding ceremony but then Captain Gutt shrugged as he stepped off the gangplank onto the deck with his delegation behind him. They fanned out as the ape pantomimed a return salute. “To be honest, I'm not one for ceremony.” He put his fingers in his lips and whistled.

  Pirates came boiling out of the shuttle and began to take the officers and enlisted hostage. “Nor am I much for working with traitors,” the captain said as he reached out and strangled Captain Chen.

  Once Chen was unconscious, Captain Gutt dragged him aboard while he waved his people into action. Some of the prisoners were spitted or had their throats slit on the spot. Those were the lucky ones.

  Teams left the ship in suits. They worked their way through the ship, killing or capturing the crew one compartment at a time. Captain Gutt had strict orders to not fire indiscriminately, nor loot or pillage. He wanted the ship intact. More importantly, he didn't want some fool to set off a bomb or a sample of the plague.

  <()>^<()>

  While Seydlitz was being secured, Squint arrived in Booti'licious with his own boarding party.

  His team were all suited up. They took custody of the terrified human techs while in hazmat or space suits. “Be damn careful,” the XO ordered. “Don't break anything. We may need it later,” he growled.

  <()>^<()>

  Captain Fisher was not thrilled about having a boarding party on her ship. She didn't interfere though; they looked like any back talk from anyone would get the person killed. Once they secured the holds with the plagues in it as well as all of the Horathian techs, she finally caught on that something was amiss.

  “I'm guessing something happened? Someone found out something?” she asked, eyeing the small elf in charge of the boarding party.

  The elf turned goat-like eyes on her. “Cap'n Gutt will want to talk to you when he's ready.”

  “I'm looking forward to it,” she replied, lifting her chin. “Are you goin' to interfere with my ship?”

  He eyed her coldly for a long moment. “You stay outa my way, and I'll stay outa yours,” he finally said, turning away from her.

  “That's captain or ma'am,” she said, testing him.

  He turned back, antenna bobbing for a moment. She looked at him firmly. Finally, he nodded. “Aye, Cap'n.”

  “Good. Let me know when I can see Captain Gutt. I think we need to talk.”

  “Aye, ma’am.”

  <()>^<()>

  Once the all clear was sounded, Captain Gutt ordered a thorough inspection and decontamination of the cruiser before he boarded it. Once he did so, he took himself on an inspection tour of Seydlitz. He could see that his XO wanted the ship, wanted it badly but he made no comment.

  “I see they were holding out on us,” he growled, noting some of the advanced tech. “The humans kept the best for themselves,” he growled. Technically, that was an unwritten part of the code but he was still angry over the betrayal.

  He ordered his people to copy the files and to transfer selected booty to his ship and install it. “After all, we paid in blood for it. We might as well be the first to enjoy the spoils of victory.”

  He took a round with the prisoners. He wasn't surprised that there were few. The few that were alive were battered. Each had been tested for signs of the plague.

  “Have them bundled up and sent to my ship. I'll need some entertainment to pass the time while we wait on the brass to show up,” he said with a wave of his hand.

  “Aye, sir. Sir, Captain Fisher would like to speak with you,” a Neodog stated.

  “Aye, her,” he grumbled. He checked the clock and then snorted. “Tis the wee hours of the morn. Tell her I'll see her tomorrow evening,” the ape said with a shrug as he departed the ship.

  <()>^<()>

  Captain Fisher was unsurprised that she was summoned over to Black Corsage the following day. She was surprised that she had to do so in a suit. Only after she cleared a rather thorough and invasive decontamination was she allowed to meet with Captain Gutt.

  She came to attention once they were alone in his office. She let her eyes roam the room since he had his back to her and wasn't paying attention to her. It was a stately affair, wood paneling, and trophies of his conquests. He had quite a few. Some glittering trinkets and of course a nice weapon collection. She was a bit confused by the empty display case and several plaques on the wall. There were heads mounted to several others but a few were empty. There were even brass name plates attached to the them. She could barely read the closest one, Diego.

  “So, you be havin' some questions for the likes of me,” he drawled, finally ta
king the time to look over his shoulder to her.

  She squared her shoulders and nodded. “I knew something was amiss, that's why we're still here.”

  “I did hear some scutt about your ship pickin' up a nasty harmonic,” the orangutan said, turning to her.

  She smiled, ears flicking.

  “And I see it was more than just a harmonic,” he said.

  “I'm guessing we had some sort of falling out with home?” she asked.

  He snorted. “Home be our ships now, lass. I'll not fault you for your part in this mess. You be just followin' his high and mighty's orders,” the captain said.

  She nodded, feeling a bit of relief.

  “As I was sayin', we be split twain from the Horathians. They betrayed us, all of us. The scallywags ….” He paused and then spat on the deck, large lips writhing in contempt. “They betrayed all who flew under their flag except humans. They cleansed Horath of all but their own kind, then sent those traitors to do the same to us.”

  She nodded slowly. “I never liked the plan,” she murmured, unsure of what to say. “But I did my duty.”

  His eyes gleamed at her. He slowly nodded.

  “Now, what's this be about the harmonic bein' nothin' of the kind?”

  She slyly admitted she had sensed something was up and had delayed them. “It's all code; when I realized how they hated anyone not human, I decided to stall here rather than go on.”

  “Ah,” he said. He wasn't sure if she was seeking praise or not.

  “What do you want with my ship now? Shall we send the cargo to the sun?”

  He shook his head. “Nay, for our medic needs it or so he said. He needs the droth to cook up vaccines for the plagues for our crew.”

  She flicked her ears and tail and then nodded. “It makes sense. I always wondered why they didn't offer us one,” she said.