Junkyard Dogs 1: The Scrapyard Incident (35 page)

Chapter 69

New Ceylon Orbital Station, Central Spindle,
October 10, 2598
.

Ezra Hellfire
Brimstone could not remember a time when he had been
more
angry
or more frustrated. The gall of these people to ruin all of his
carefully-laid plans! They would pay for their arrogance! He still had the self
destruct from the old cruiser and, if it be the Lord's will, he would use it.
Even if it meant his own death!

That thought made
him pause...He wasn't really ready to die. Not just yet.
Maybe
in another fifty years or so.
Trouble was... the governor and his family
had been one of Brimstone's most powerful bargaining chips...and now they were
gone. Maybe he could still get some ransom money out of the mess this had all
become. Or maybe he should just set off the device and get it all over with.

"Ezra?"

"Yes? What
now?"

"There's
some guy on the com. He says he's the new commander and he wants to talk to
you."

"I'll be
right there."

Brimstone headed
for the communications area, still fuming.

Harris greeted
him.

"This is Lieutenant
Ryan Harris, acting Commander of the New Ceylon Orbital Station."

"You!
You're the meddler from the scrapyard!"

"Yes, I
am."

"Seems I'm
cursed to have you haunt me wherever I turn! What happened to Commander
Kresge?"

"He's...indisposed
for the time being. He left me in charge."

Brimstone's face
contorted into an angry scowl. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't
just detonate this device right now?"

"Because you
don't really want to die?" replied Harris. "Surely you can understand
that we needed to take a stab at rescuing the Governor? You would have done the
same thing."

"I want
three million credits and that ship within two hours, or I set off my
device."

"The ship is
standing by and can be ready for you to board any time. Right now we only have
one million credits. The Governor is trying to come up with more, but he's
having some difficulty."

"What about
the Ambassador?"

"He has only
Meridian currency with him." Harris didn't have a clue if it was true, but
the answer sounded plausible.

"Enough!
Stop wasting my time. You have your instructions. Three million credits and
that ship within two hours! Or we all die!"

"As I said,
we're working on it."

"While
you're working on getting the money, I would like some food and some medical
supplies sent up. Since you seem to have control of the elevators, I suggest
you send these materials up as soon as possible. Use elevator number one. No
funny stuff!"

"We'll have
something for you in half an hour.
Harris out."

Harris stared at
the blank screen for a moment, frowning.

Carlisle caught
his eye.

"There's
something you need to know," she said. "You remember when I had that
conference with the Ambassador's wife?" Harris nodded. "She gave me a
Truthseer net generator and I planted it on the guard I knocked out during the
rescue. She can access it through my wrist computer and get Truthseer readings
on the terrorists. It should help with our negotiations."

"Good work,
Ensign. We need any advantage we can get!"

Harris then
contacted Hawkins and Murdock.

"Orbital station calling independent cargo vessel
Greyhound
.
Orbital
station calling
Greyhound
."

After a moment he
got an answer.

"
Greyhound
here, Helen Murdock
speaking."

"This is
acting Commander Harris calling. Start moving your ship into position to transfer
personnel out of the main airlock."

"Lieutenant
Harris? Beggin' your pardon, Sir, but where's Oskar Kresge?"

"Bad news,
I'm afraid. We were able to rescue the hostages but Oskar was wounded during
the operation. He's been transferred to the
Istanbul
for medical care. We hope to get an update on his condition within the next
hour or so."

"So he's
going to be alright?"

"I'm sorry,
but we still don't know. We're praying for him. Meantime can you move your ship
over close to the main airlock? You should be able to tether over to the
station and make your way down the outside of the spindle to the auxiliary
airlock. The terrorists can board through the main airlock when we give the
word."

"Will do,
Commander," she replied. "We're moving her now."

"You heard him,
Angus," said Murdock, "let's get a move on!"

***

The Resistance
had taken over Jane Tresham's tiny office, which was on the level just north of
the communications room, as a command center. Harris made his way there while
Carlisle used her wrist comp to contact the Ambassador's wife.

"
This is Tamara Carlisle,
" she sent,
text only. "
I have planted the
device on one of the terrorist guards; the leaders should be in range.
"

The Lady Saladin
replied, "A
ttempting to access
device now. Will keep you informed.
"

"
Will do,"
replied Carlisle. She
waited for about a minute.

"
Contact established
.
Obtaining baseline psychological parameters
."

"
How much time do you need
?"

"S
ounds like they are
having a discussion right now.
With that input, I should be able to get a basic readout within five minutes
.
Maintain the link, but do not attempt to
contact me. I must concentrate completely on this task.
Will
contact you when I have something
."

Carlisle went to
join Harris in the temporary command center and waited outside while he
finished a briefing from Tresham and Vasquez. He looked up and smiled thinly as
she came in and closed the door behind her. Outside the small office, with all
of the other Resistance leaders looking on, Harris had maintained an aura of
confidence and authority. Here, alone again with Carlisle, he allowed some
fatigue and worry to show through.

"Did
everything go okay?" he asked.

"Yeah,
Sondia got the device linked up. She's trying to get a psych reading on Brimstone
as we speak. If she does, she should be able to help us out."

"Good work,
Ensign."

Harris looked
over at Carlisle, took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

"Well,
Ensign, the operation didn't go perfectly, but we've managed to eliminate a
major liability. Now, they can't threaten to kill hostages any time they think
they need something."

"That should
greatly simplify things," she said. Her look turned to concern. "Too
bad about the Commander; I hope he'll be okay."

"He keeps
himself in great condition and he's getting the best care available. It could
be worse... I just can't allow myself to worry about him right now. We still
have to find a way to deal with our other 'little problem.'
Any
suggestions?"

"I've been
analyzing and reanalyzing almost nonstop for the last twenty-four hours. Sorry,
I don't have a solution yet, but there several things to consider."

"Such as?"

"Well... and
this is pretty big... Ezra can't make demands on us anymore without threatening
himself. That and you know all of them have got to be getting really tired.
This was never meant to be a long-term affair. It looks to me as though their
plan was to get in and out quickly. I suspect that all he really wants to do
right now is get out of here!"

"We've got a
million credits," said Harris. "I'll bet that would be enough.
Trouble
is,
what's to stop him from setting off the
bomb as soon as he gets out of blast range?"

Carlisle thought
out loud for a moment, eyes glazed, as usual, while she concentrated.

"Million credits...cargo ship...nuclear self destruct?"
She came back to the present. "Do you remember what the Ambassador said to
Commander Kresge about the bomb before we went in to rescue the hostages?"

"Something
about it being a final solution wasn't it?" replied Harris.

"Sort of.
His exact words were, 'The weapon is almost
certainly a last resort, Commander. I believe that if we convince him that he
still has options, he will be reluctant to use it.'"

"Yeah, I
remember that."

"Well, it
may be that we just need to convince him that he
does
have some options. In fact, I think I might have an
idea..."

She outlined her
plan to Harris.

"That's
crazy!" he said when she had finished, shaking his head. He thought about
it for a while longer, and shrugged, "Then again, it's just crazy enough
that it might work. I guess it really comes down to one simple question: How
badly does Ezra Brimstone want to continue living?"

Carlisle's wrist
comp indicated a contact. It was from the Ambassador's wife.

"
Psychological profile on terrorist leader
completed. I should be able read him with some level of certainty. Provide
video if possible
."

Chapter 70

New Ceylon Orbital Station, Central Spindle,
October 10, 2598.

Harris, Carlisle,
Haines and Davis-Moore crowded once again into the communications room of the
station's spindle. The rest of the members of the motley group in command of
the orbital station looked in from the adjoining corridor. Hawkins and Murdock,
having just come in through the auxiliary airlock after parking the
Greyhound
outside the main airlock, had
hastily shed their spacesuits and joined them.

"Okay, does
everyone know what we're doing?" asked Harris.

"Not much to
worry about," said Haines, "this either works or we're all
dead."

Carlisle sent
text to the Lady Saladin.

"
Preparing to place call, are you ready
?"

"
Yes
,"
came
the reply.

"Go ahead,
Lieutenant," said Carlisle.

Harris keyed the
transmitter.

"Acting Commander Harris calling Ezra Brimstone."

Brimstone's face
came onto the viewscreen a few moments later. Carlisle enabled video and audio
links from her wrist comp to the Lady Saladin.

"Greetings,
Lieutenant. I see that you have kept your word and brought me a ship. Have you
got my money?"

Harris hesitated
for a few moments before replying.

"No...
we
don't, actually. Not all of it. We haven't been able to
get more than the million credits that Governor Larkin got from the Orbital
Station Bank. I'm afraid that will have to do."

"It will not
do! I told you three million or we set off this bomb."

Harris hesitated
again before replying.

"Are you
really sure you want to do that?"

"If my
demands aren't met within an hour," Brimstone raged at him, "I will
set off this device! You are running out of time, Lieutenant!"

Carlisle got a
wrist comp communication a few seconds later.

"A
nalysis indicates only a three percent
chance that his last threat is true
."

Carlisle replied:
"
He won't detonate the device?
"

"
It does not appear that he really wants to,
but
proceed
with utmost caution..
."

Out of viewscreen
range, Carlisle shook her head and mouthed, "
He won't do it
," to Harris.

Harris gave the
terrorist leader a stern look.

"It's you
who're running out of time, Ezra. The Ambassador informed us that the
Federation was sending a fleet of ships that should be coming through the
Whitney hyperlink point in...," he checked his wrist chronometer for
effect, "...twenty-six hours and forty-three minutes. If you take the cash
we currently have and get onboard that ship, you can just make it through the
hyperlink point before they arrive. After they get here, I will certainly be
relieved of command and you will no longer be dealing with someone as
reasonable as I am. I can guarantee you that you will not leave this system
alive after that fleet
gets
here.
Your
choice, Ezra."

The terrorist
leader's face turned even redder.

"You do not
make demands on me!"

"I'm not
making demands, Ezra," said Harris, reasonably. "I'm simply stating facts.
If you're still here or even in transit to the hyperlink point when the
Federation authorities arrive, you'll either be dead or you'll be a mind-wiped
janitor in some giant Federation building complex. It's up to you, Ezra."

Brimstone began
to look doubtful.

"You are
taking a very serious risk, Lieutenant!"

"Think about
it Ezra, there is no need for anyone else to die. A million credits is still a
heck of a lot of money."

Brimstone scowled
but remained silent.

"I do have
one demand, Ezra, and this one is not negotiable."

"And what is
that?"

"When you
get the money, you take your bomb with you. I will not take a chance that
you'll set it off for spite as soon as you reach a safe distance."

"What's to
keep the Ambassador from pursuing us and attacking?"

"You'll
still have your bomb for one thing. We figure it has a kill radius of probably
twenty-five to thirty kilometers. That should deter anyone without some pretty
hefty shielding. Besides, an attack on your Christian group by the Islamic
Ambassador from Meridian is out of the question. They're on a diplomatic
mission. Don't be thinking you can approach his ship and take him out with your
bomb either. The
Istanbul
is on
standby, ready for immediate departure. You'll never be able to catch
them."

The moment of
truth had arrived.

The entire command group of the Resistance watched, unable to
breathe, as the signs of warring emotions made their way across Ezra Hellfire
Brimstone's face.
At long last, his shoulders seemed to slump in
resignation.

"I'd want all
of my men who are being held prisoner returned to me," he said.

"That can be
arranged," replied Harris.

Brimstone took a
deep breath.

"Send the
money up with my disciples," he said, "use elevator one, just like
you did last time." He turned to his men and said, "Get the device
ready for transport and prepare to board that ship. We're leaving!"

He looked back at
Harris and the rest of the command group.

"You have
not heard the last of me! If you try anything cute while we're evacuating, I
will set this device off!"

"
That last is a true statement
,"
texted Lady Saladin.

***

The evacuation by
what remained of the Veritian Brotherhood terrorist group took surprisingly
little time. A case containing the ransom money and the ten prisoners that had
been taken by the Resistance, without their weapons or armor, were sent up the
number one spoke elevator. Within fifteen minutes, the
Greyhound
was loaded with the surviving terrorists and their deadly
cargo. Since Murdock and Hawkins had left everything ready for an immediate
launch when they had parked the ship, the terrorists were able to leave for the
hyperlink point immediately. Harris, and the rest of the command group,
breathed a collective sigh of relief after the
Greyhound
completed its first microjump. The sigh of relief was
followed shortly by wild cheering.

"Do you wish
for us to pursue them, Lieutenant?" asked the Ambassador, over the
comlink.

"No, thank
you, Excellency; I have given my word that we won't. Besides, if Meridian
forces were to destroy that ship, Ezra might still accomplish part of what he
set out to do. I think it would be best to let them go...this time."

"I must
concur, Lieutenant, though it seems a shame to let them go while in possession
of a nuclear device."

"I have no
doubt that the Federation authorities will be in hot pursuit as soon as they
get here. There are only about three or four hyperlink destinations that make
any sense for the terrorists to head for. Those will all be covered
immediately."

"Of course you
are correct, Lieutenant. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your expert
handling of an extraordinarily difficult situation."

"To be
truthful, Excellency, the credit should go to Ensign Carlisle, Commander
Kresge, Angus Hawkins, and all of the other brave people on board the orbital
station. We mustn't forget your wife's contribution either. This truly was a
team effort. By the way, any word on Commander Kresge?"

"He is still
in the medical module, Lieutenant, but the current prognosis is that he will
make a full recovery."

"Thank God
for that!"

"Allah is
great," replied the Ambassador.

***

The
Greyhound,
with the terrorists on board,
arrived at the Whitney hyperlink point and translated out. Just over an hour
later, the United
Terran
Federation Navy arrived in
force with a fleet of six ships, including two heavy cruisers and four
destroyers. After another two hours of discussion while the authorities were
briefed about what had happened, the destroyers retranslated out to the four
most likely destinations that the terrorists might have gone to.

Ezra Brimstone
must have had an escape plan of some kind formulated beforehand because the
Federation destroyer
Asimov
found an
empty and abandoned
Greyhound
about
five thousand clicks from the hyperlink point in the Heard's World system.

There was no sign
of the terrorists or their nuclear device.

Several
experienced crew members from the
FNS
Asimov
brought the
Greyhound
back to the New Ceylon system
with them.