Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (21 page)

"I am Leftenant Grazos Michail. We understand you have a royal aboard. Is that correct?" asked the officer heading the six inspectors.

Danko hesitated unsure of how he should respond. "Sir, I am Captain of this ship. Why would you be concerned with any person aboard?"

"Lord Fryman is a passenger. Is that correct?" he asked in an authoritative but non-belligerent voice.

"Sir, I insist you tell me why the interest in my complement." Danko tried to keep the growing agitation from his voice—not very successfully.

"A royal was murdered on a tourist liner some time ago in this sector. If Lord Fryman is on this ship to pursue them, we insist on knowing." He turned toward the movement off to one side.

Danko motioned the SEAL commander with his armed men to stand down. From the looks on their faces, they were ready if needed.

Buck opened the comm. "Captain, you might as well tell him," he said. He never identified himself and was concerned how these people knew.

Danko blanched momentarily. "Sir, Ionian Lord Fryman is a passenger."

"Excellent. Please have the lord present himself," said the officer but this time more cordial.

"Present himself? Who in the hell do you think you are?" Danko challenged the officer. No way. If you want to talk with the Lord, follow me." Danko turned toward the hatch leading to the passageway, not waiting for an acknowledgement or to see if the officer followed.

The lieutenant hesitated and then fell in behind the Captain.

Still aggravated, Danko purposely avoided the elevator climbing the ladders to Buck's cabin six decks above.

Danko strode to the hatch closely followed by the winded inspector and pressed the stud.

"Enter," Buck said. He stood in the middle of the main room, dressed in fatigues, hands clasp behind his back with, Ivan Dovacec close behind.

Bowing slightly, the officer gawked for a moment, apparently struck with the size of the two men.

The officer repeated his purpose.

Buck said he had monitored the lieutenant’s arrival.

"Lord Fryman, you are requested to accompany me for a meeting with the Proctor." Rising to his full height still left him centimeters shorter than the two men he faced.

"And who is the proctor?" Buck asked, his voice somewhat discerning.

"She is our head of government, Sir. I suppose most would call the position more like an overseer. Seltsam's political structure is somewhat unique."

Buck nodded. "And why does she want to see me? I'm not here on any official visit. As you know, enemies of the empire killed our prince. If you have information that could be of use, I would like to hear it." The officer's truculent demeanor irritated Buck and his response came across as a demand—just as he intended.

"We are aware of what happened to your prince. Perhaps the Proctor can be more enlightening. May we go? She is a bit short tempered and doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Buck laughed, looked at Danko, and said, "It would seem a summons from this Proctor is much the same as one from the Emperor. I wonder if they're related? I'll take my pinnace. Ivan, you will go with me."

"Sir, you must accompany me in my ship and alone. No foreign vessel is permitted on orbit over
Seltsam
." The officer spoke in a quiet command voice.

"My ship and Ivan or I don't go." Buck’s matching tone clearly showed the matter was not negotiable.

The officer stepped back, composed himself, and said, "Lord Fryman, please accept my apologies. This has come off all wrong. Unfortunately, our laws do not permit a foreign craft to orbit and certainly not to land. Our shuttle is quite adequate and comfortable. Your aide," he said looking at Ivan Dovacec, "may accompany you. However, no weapons are allowed."

"Leftenant, how do you keep any ship from landing? I see no fleet to stop us," Danko questioned.

Turning to face the Captain, the inspector said, "Sir, we have over four hundred energy cannons strategically placed around our planet. I can assure you they are more than capable of fending off anyone who attempts to violate Seltsam near-space or land." His pronouncement didn't seem to come off as a boast, merely stating fact.

"Lord Fryman, you are in no jeopardy accompanying me in our shuttle. You will return to your ship when the meeting with the Proctor is over. You will then be free to leave our space."

"I assume from what you're saying that we are not free to do so now," Buck said.

The Leftenant merely nodded.

"It would seem, gentlemen, we have little choice." Buck turned to Danko and then to Ivan. "But Leftenant, be sure, if anything wayward should happen, Iona is more than capable of extracting its retribution."

"Threats are not necessary, Lord Fryman."

Danko stepped forward and faced the young officer. "What you have done, Sir: given an ultimatum to destroy us if we attempt to leave. I would call that a threat."

At a slight signal from Buck, Danko hesitated a moment before resuming his position behind the Leftenant who hadn't moved as much as a finger. The man seemed quite sure that he was speaking from a position of absolute strength.

Buck agreed. "I will do as you ask… demand. But again, I remind you that if anything happens to me, your little world, as you put it, will hear from my big world."

Unfazed, the Leftenant turned and stepped toward the hatch. Buck was certain he saw a grin on the young officer's face.

They took the elevator to the hanger deck. As they entered the shuttle, the SEAL commander, clearly upset with events, stood aside and watched. His primary mission, from the Emperor, was to protect Lord Fryman and assist in bringing justice to the prince’s killers. He could do nothing to stop what the Molly Celeste crew judged as no more than hostage taking.

***

After a ten-hour drop to the surface, Buck stepped from the shuttle onto the tarmac. The immaculately clean area and precision ground crew impressed him. Following the officer, Buck and Ivan seated themselves in a helo-car. Skimming over the spaceport and city, it wasn't long until they approached a less than imposing building. Well-manicured lawns and ample trees surrounded the white stone building. Stopping in front of the two-story structure, the two stepped from the helo, followed a guard up the few steps, and entered.

"Sir," said another guard. "If you'll follow me."

As they approached a set of double doors, the guard motioned for Ivan to stop. The giant ignored the order and continued a step behind Buck.

"Stop," the guard said his voice belligerent. "You," his hand rested on the sidearm strapped to his side as he motioned toward Buck.

Buck stopped, turned to face the man. "He goes with me. If you intend to shoot, then shoot us both." Buck doubted he needed Ivan but they'd pushed too far. It was time to push back.

"Well, shoot or remove your hand," Buck said as the two waited.

The large doors opened and a woman emerged. At a wave of her hand, the guard did an about face and resumed his position at attention, his back to the hallway wall.

"Lord Fryman, won't you please join me?" the woman eyed Ivan and added, "Your shadow as well. We have much to discuss."

Almost as tall as Ivan, and reasonably attractive, dressed in a business suit, her pepper-gray hair neatly coifed, the woman nonetheless came across as a no nonsense person.

Buck and Ivan followed her into the office and took the seats offered, Ivan reluctantly.

Buck eyed the man questioningly.

As large as Buck's office on Iona, with appointments appropriate for an elected head of state, not too lavish but not cheap, the office reflected a woman's touch. The desk seemed a bit extravagant. Buck had heard someone describe this kind of decor as neo-modern although he wasn't sure what that meant.

"Lord Fryman, I am Charlene Olbrich, Proctor of
Seltsam
. Please forgive the abruptness of my people. As you have learned, we are isolationist. Foreigners have been a bane to us and few are welcomed."

"I'm confused," Buck said. "I can't tell in which category we fit. Your demeanor has given me doubt." Buck had never met anyone so detached yet he wondered if
Seltsam
's isolation was self-imposed and what it had to do with the Molly Celeste's detention.

"Rest assured the fact you stand on
Seltsam
is sufficient."

"Madam, your detention of my vessel borders on piracy."

"Don't be impudent. You may be royalty on Iona, but it means nothing here."

"Why the antagonism? We've done nothing to warrant the rude treatment. You've virtually imprisoned my ship and crew yet cited no galactic laws we've violated, not even any of yours."

She waved him quiet.

Buck cocked his head and gave her a look meant to show the attitude lacked class.

The Proctor looked at Ivan, her demeanor softening. "I never expected to see you again, and certainly not under these circumstance," she said with a touch of angst.

Buck turned to face his bodyguard, totally caught off guard. "You know the Proctor?"

"Yes, but not as the leader of a world." Ivan’s face carried a touch of crimson.

Buck stared at the man waiting for some kind of explanation.

Proctor Olbrich watched but remained silent.

"Care to enlighten me?" Buck said. He hadn't intended for the question to embarrass the man, but the facts might give him some edge in dealing with the woman.

Danko looked questioningly at the Proctor.

She shrugged and said, "Unless you're too embarrassed, why not tell him we were lovers?" No humor tainted her words. Buck sensed a touch of fondness.

"It was on a very large asteroid called Amastan, a backwater place no more than a rock in space," Ivan said. "I was marooned there when the ship I was on got impounded."

"And I impounded it," Olbrich said with more than a touch of humor. "We became friends and then lovers. Finally, the Federation transferred me and that ended our relationship. Through some quirks, I ended up on
Seltsam
and over a period of time, became Proctor. I've held this office for five years plus."

Buck recovered from the surprise and asked but not without a touch of amusement, "Well, Proctor, where do we go from here? I would like to know how you knew I was on this ship and your interest in our prince." Buck had no idea how to handle this and what effect her past relationship with Ivan might have on whatever was on the Proctor's mind.

"I think I should excuse myself," Ivan said. "You two have business to discuss and it has nothing to do with me."

Neither responded as the big man left the office.

The Proctor stood, walked to a window, turned arms crossed and leaned against the sill. "How we know? Someone on Falter's Point recognized you. No other ship like yours has been in the area. The prince…" she paused, "…was killed by a group at war with Iona. Normally, we would have nothing to do with such matters. However, your presence has changed everything. People who war against Iona are the sole market for our goods. You might say we can find other buyers, but circumstances are such that it would mean financial ruin and most likely an attack on our world. I cannot permit that.

"You must stop your search."

"I can't and won't do that," Buck said less than casually. "You hold me and my ship prisoner, but I can tell you the Ionian Space Navy is already on its way. Even with your land-based cannons, you cannot prevail against us. Iona’s navy can stand off and keep any ships from approaching or leaving. A barricade completely nullifies your four hundred energy cannons."

"While you sit in prison." Olbrich's eyes held no warmth. 

"I've been there before." Buck's manner wasn't defiant or antagonistic.

"And what do they gain by destroying Seltsam's business? Nothing."

Something in her manner caused him to moderate his tone. "You can release me and my ship and forgo any consequences. Ionia hasn't any interest in Seltsam as such. Do as I suggest and end this unnecessary confrontation."

"And the money people? Who protects us from them? They literally control our future."

He didn't doubt her concern was legitimate.

"As I said, an Ionian flotilla is headed for this sector. I can arrange it so they provide you protection."

"You have the kind of authority that allows you to speak for the Emperor?"

"In this case, yes. I assume your benefactors provided the cannons that guard the planet. Probably to keep the visitors to Falter's Point away."

"Very perceptive, Lord Fryman. Them but others as well. We serve another purpose. Seltsam is a resupply point for Jarred Mahoney's ships. When is your fleet to arrive?"

"It's less than a T-week away." What Buck didn't tell her was the fleet was under quite different orders. It was on an expeditionary cruise to find an alternate course to Terra in what had become a troublesome area of space.

"Lord Fryman, what I am about to say will come as a surprise, I'm sure. If Iona has a sustained interest in this area, more specifically Seltsam, we would welcome their presence. Far too long, we have been oppressed by Jarred Mahoney and his minions. I suppose we'll have to come under the rule of Emperor Sebastian."

"You could do worse. You’d become the governor-general. Sounds better than Proctor. Probably pays more."

"Your humor is lacking." She said although there was a touch of a smile.

"Best I can do. Times wasting, Proctor. I need your answer."

"You may go on your way, Lord Fryman. And tell your Emperor we would be receptive to joining the Ionian Empire. I will tell you we have hoped for some time a way might develop that would permit us to free ourselves. We would welcome the opportunity to join the Galactic community. Perhaps you have given us the means but not without risk.

"My aide will give you a detailed description of the prince's killers." She paused. "There were three who shot the young man. We will give you vids and what tidbits of conversation we picked up. They may be of use to you."

Buck thanked her and graciously said he would relay her message to the Emperor. Standing he said, "Madam, I do not pry into the private lives of those who work with me. However, you would like a few moments with Mr. Dovacec?"