Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (18 page)

"No, sir. Never have," Buck said. Danko, still at the astrogator plot, gave an unknowing shrug.

Blue Marlin transmitted the information on their home world to the Molly Celeste and Buck reciprocated with the sector charts for Iona.

"How are your prisoners? Causing any problems?" Buck asked expecting bad news.

"Yes, and I don't think it will get any better. They’ve been locked in the aft end of the ship for two months and, we both know what that means. I'm more concerned about the crew you loaned us. They've done a great job but I don't see how they can continue these long work schedules."

Buck acknowledged the problem and told Danko to send relief crewmen knowing the Molly Celeste crew was just as worn. "Maybe the change of scenery will give them some respite." He had no more suggestions so he offered none. They could only hope the worst was over.

***

"Think I've got it, Captain," the comm operator said, confirming their new heading. "Looks like ten T-months to Iona. That's at the best speed Blue Marlin can handle."

Buck acknowledged Danko's report and nodded toward the senor operator. "Keep me posted."

"Captain," said the sensor operator, "I've been tracking a disturbance. At least, at first, I thought it was a disturbance. Don't think so any longer. It's on an intercept vector with us but still too far to get any kind of fix or reading on them. Every course change we've made, our ghost has changed to keep an intercept. Just can't get a fix on it."

***

Five T-months from Iona, the Molly Celeste, and Blue Marlin had dropped out of hyperspace to verify their position and make any necessary adjustments to their heading.

"Captain, comm here. Got something and it isn't coming from the mystery following us. Looks like the Barnard's Star destroyers got their act together. Must have scavenged parts off a couple of ships and made five of them whole." He put the data on the overhead screen.

"And they knew we'd head for home," Buck said. "Comm, anything happening with the anomaly you detected?"

Whoever or whatever was tracking with them had become a common topic of discussion. Even betting pools had sprung up. Molly Celeste had sent comms toward the disturbance, to Iona and from what Buck had previously learned at the fleet headquarters, to locations frequented by the Ionian fleet.

"No, Sir. It is still out there, at the moment, fourteen billion klicks off our port side. Whatever it is must be cloaked."

"Hey, someone just fired a missile at the Barnard's Star ships, Captain," said radar. "Star destroyers have spread their formation and increased acceleration by fifty thousand kps."

Buck studied the plot. "It looks like they're forming up to attack."

"But who?" questioned one man.

"They'll plot the course of the missile and attack that location most likely," Danko said. It was what any competent captain would do.

"Orders, Minister?" he asked and waited.

"Put us between the destroyers and the Blue Marlin," Buck said. "For a change, let's sit this one out and watch."

"Well I'll be damned. Captain, Minister, they're ours," said the comm operator his voice high with excitement. "Looks like the fleet just now shed stealth. I'd say at least sixty ships, three battlewagons, twenty cruisers and the rest destroyers and picket ships. Oh, shit, there's a carrier too."

Buck cast a chastising look at the comm operator.

"Sorry, Minister, I just got a little excited. That carrier is almost as big as the Blue Marlin. It's the first time I've seen one."

"I served one cruise on the HMS Enmon," the weapons officer said. "She'll carry two hundred fighters."

"The Star destroyers are making a slewing vector change," reported comm.

"They want no part of our fleet and are running," Buck said and added, "Wise decision that badly outnumbered."

"Makes sense," Danko said. "They're no more than target practice for our ships."

All eyes on the bridge watched the Barnard's Star destroyers scamper on an escape vector.

"Incoming from the fleet, Captain," said comm and reported the message.

"Put on speakers," Buck said.

"Greetings Molly Celeste, and Blue Marlin; Admiral Grover Dennis, commanding. I see you had some visitors but they seem to have lost interest in you." Iona's Navy had received Buck's distress call; sent when they and entered Federation space just before their capture. By the time the fleet arrived, the Molly Celeste had disappeared. They had been on the hunt since.

Buck laughed. "Yes, Sir. It would seem so. We are pleased to see you." He understood with Barnards' cloaking capability, the fleet couldn't signal him until they had a tactical advantage.

"If the Molly Celeste and Blue Marling will join up with us, we will escort both to Iona," Admiral Dennis said. "Maybe that will discourage anyone from bothering you again."

"Yes, Sir," Buck said with a chuckle. "Admiral, Captain Lenning, and the Blue Marlin have a problem and perhaps you can assist him." He told him of the two hundred crew and Marines held in detention aboard the Blue Marlin.

Dennis told him they would render assistance.

Over the next two days, pinnaces with Marine guards transferred the detainees to brigs scattered throughout the Ionian fleet. Ionian Navy personnel transferred to the Blue Marlin to put the ship in order and relieve the Molly Celeste crewmen. Lenning's expressed his appreciation.

Chapter Eighteen:
Home

T
he Molly Celeste and Blue Marlin entered orbit over Iona, the fleet having taken up station well above the planet. Buck acknowledged the call from the Emperor's secretary for a meeting the next morning. He commed Molly and first talked with the twins, then told her he would be home after seeing the Emperor. High Fleet Admiral Hizerman invited Captain Lenning to be his guest at dinner. Launches arrived to ferry crewmen dirtside for some much needed liberty.

Waiting in the anteroom, Buck chatted with the Emperor's secretary. "I've served the monarch since he took the throne,” the man explained. “Before that, I was his chamberman. In fact, I have changed his diapers, but don't tell him I told you. I like my job." The diminutive man, barely reaching to the big man's shoulders, both enjoyed a laugh.

Acknowledging some unseen signal, the secretary motioned for Buck to enter through the open door.

"Your Majesty." Buck stopped at the imaginary three-meter line, and bowed.

Sebastian moved from behind the desk and extended his hand. "Welcome back, Buck." Without releasing the big man's hand, he led him to chairs near a window.

Seated he said, "Tell me, tell me all of it."

The Emperor seemed charged by what few tidbits of news he'd received. The Molly Celeste's experience was of particular interest.

Buck spent the next hour giving the Emperor all the details and answered a myriad of questions. "Majesty, one finding has come from this." Sebastian motioned him to continue, his interest apparently piqued. "Pirates don’t organize raids this large and this dangerous without help. Considering his involvement at Katakan, Mahoney looks to be the man behind this.”

Sebastian shrugged. "Wish I could have been there," he said. "You get all the fun and that doesn't seem fair to me." The levity ended as the Emperor became serious. "It would seem we have an undeclared war with Barnard's Star."

Buck remained silent until Sebastian said, "I need some input. What say you?"

"Sire, I think you may be right but there may be more behind the Barnard's Star attack than we know."

"How so?"

"They have always been reckless, acting irresponsibly. Their attempt to take the Molly Celeste using the Blue Marlin goes far beyond reckless. It suggests to me their government has been compromised. Surely, they know hijacking the Molly Celeste would bring the Federation and Iona against them. Sire, I believe something else is at work here. My guess is Mahoney and the pirates have gained some control, certainly influence over Barnard's Star.."

"You may be right but unless we respond, Iona will appear weak and we cannot afford that. We have border worlds that that are vulnerable and disaffected citizens looking for opportunities to leave the empire. If enough of them take the notion to do so at the same time, I fear the outcome will not be favorable." Standing at the window, Sebastian seemed to worry the thought for a moment. "Take some time, Buck and think this through. I don't want to make a hasty decision. Going to war is not something I relish."

***

"I trust you all made sure your journey went unnoticed," Jarred Mahoney said. For over ten T-years, he had surreptitiously sought men and women of means who believed leaving the Ionian Empire was in their best interests. Assembling the fifteen people in the room with him had taken three T-years and hadn’t been without peril. Any word leaked could doom them all. Alone, they stood no chance against Sebastian and collectively the outcome was not a sure thing. Mahoney had lost his planet, Woodall, earlier. He’d then sided with the Brafford Alliance, that bunch ended up on a penal colony, and lost a space battle with the Ionian Navy. For a number of years Woodall had served as an open port and a marshaling center for Mahoney's plan. He’d intended Katakan to replace Woodall and Fryman's taking that planet had destroyed his planned insurrection. Now, with the diamonds eluding his grasp, they had to rethink their strategy.

Mahoney’s question brought nods.

"Jarred," Roberto Garcia said, "Sebastian will take revenge on Barnard's Star. Our set-to with Fryman, attacking the Molly Celeste, proved a mistake. I assume it was this Fryman's idea to rid the sector of pirates." Garcia's comments seemed to reflect the general sentiment. He held vast tracts of land on Polimator, a small planet on the farthest point of the empire and rich in precious minerals. For years, he'd held hopes of claiming that entire world for himself, regardless of its residents. Similar reasons explained the remainder of the group's presence but Jarred Mahoney and Roberto Garcia by far had the most resources to bring to any breakaway.

"Am I to assume you have a suggestion?" Mahoney asked.

"Perhaps, but it has risks," Garcia responded. Seated in a circle, each with a small desk, accommodations less than what they were accustomed to, the attendees could see each other without having to crane their necks as a long straight table would have required.

"I have identified a planet that few know about. I propose, at this location, we assemble a fleet capable of confronting the Empire. It will take some time and a great deal of credits. If we are as committed to this act as we profess, building such a fleet will be within our collective means."

Not a soul stirred. This was the ultimate challenge. All or nothing.

"If we decided to do this, our lives, our fortunes are at risk, and it is possible we will lose everything we've worked long and hard to build." Garcia spoke as aggressively as he did everything.

"I'm sure each of you realizes this or you wouldn't be here." Mahoney now stood he waited for their reaction.

"Words,” he continued, “have been our expression of rebellion. Open warfare with Sebastian will not be easy. Iona has a powerful Navy. They are not invincible. Their fleet, while it has great numbers, is scattered across the empire's subjugated worlds. We'll never have to deal with their full size. We can handle the smaller squadrons. Our strategy is to occupy one isolated planet that is not a part of the Ionian empire. Our fleet will support the claim. This will gain us the initial freedom we need to complete our buildup." Mahoney regained his chair and explained that Iona would be in violation of Federation laws if they moved against an independent.

One by one, the assembled gave their pledge.

"Where is this planet?" Mahoney asked.

"It is far from here, in a rarely travelled sector next to an area called the
void
."

***

"Majesty." Buck bowed and entering the Emperor's office. He acknowledged High Fleet Admiral Hizerman and Minister of War, Roman Polins.

"Please be seated gentlemen," Sebastian said as he sat behind his desk. "I have the latest intelligence from our Foreign Minister and it isn't good." Sebastian related the increased activity noted on the far side of the
void
. "It seems dissidents have set up a base at what we called New Hope. We must assume they'll discover the long-life genetic material Lord Fryman earlier found. That may be the least of our problems. They’ll also try to stir up dissention in our outlying worlds. We cannot afford to have our Navy scattered across the sector trying to maintain control. War on two fronts with Barnard's Star and New Hope could splinter the empire." He laid the vid on his desk and gave his full attention the three men.

"Well, what say you? Do I declare war against Barnard's Star?" His steady gaze swept the three men.

Technically, Hizerman reported to Minister Polins, but that amounted to a formality. The High Fleet Admiral was the real power. What he said carried more weight than anyone else in the empire did, Sebastian excepted.

"My Emperor," Hizerman said, "I would like to hear Minister Fryman's take on this. He has the knack for unique thinking and this just might be the time for such. You know me, line 'em up, and blow them to hell." Almost a wry smile crossed his lips but he'd not said this in jest. The man had come to respect Buck's
out of the box thinking
, as had the Emperor.

"
Sailor
, you, and I are of the same mind," Sebastian responded. Calling the High Admiral,
sailor
, wasn't a slight, but a minimal attempt at humor and it served to take the edge off the conversation.

Buck didn't hesitate. "Sire, gentlemen, I would send a small fleet to Barnard's Star and tell them we will destroy their world if they do not submit to the laws of the Federation.

Concurrent with that, have the combined fleets barricade New Hope.

"As that is happening, send a number of small flotillas to selected worlds under Barnard's Star control, establish barricades and do it quickly. We should disperse small squadrons to our most troublesome regions to bolster our forces already in place.