Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (22 page)

A smile sprouted on Charlene's face. "If he is willing, yes."

Chapter Twenty-Two:
The Chase Resumes

F
rom his cabin on the Molly Celeste, Buck sent a tight beam comm to the inbound fleet and Iona, updating their situation in detail including the prospects of adding Seltsam to the empire. Afterwards, he stepped onto the bridge and gave Danko the coordinates Proctor Olbrich had supplied.

"I need another ship."

That brought questioning looks from the bridge crew and Tommy as well. "The Proctor says some are available at this location. We won't be able to approach this planet directly. It'd be a dead giveaway and she was quite emphatic that our presence on Seltsam must not be disclosed. Once the fleet arrives, that won't matter."

He turned to Ivan, "Remind me never to underestimate you again, Mr. Dovacec."

Ivan nodded and the bridge crew cast questioning looks toward both men. "You can hire a launch or somethin' maybe bigger. You, Ivan, me and the SEALs go to wherever it is you're awantin' ta git ta."

"Good idea, Tommy." Buck motioned the engineer onto the bridge. "But just where do we find a ship?"

"Git the charts. See if there's another rock somewheres close by."

"You, sir, are veritable walking idea man," Buck said to the engineer. "Don't switch sides." His words brought derisive comments from the bridge crew.

"Found something," Danko said. "Called Dacont. Seems it has a repair and refit place on orbit. Might have a ship or two available."

Danko gave the astrogator the heading for the planet.

Two days later, they requested an orbital slot and received an assignment.

***

Dirtside, dress in civilian clothes, Tommy, Ivan, and the SEAL commander followed Buck as he searched for a ship. Inquiries took them to a dealer.

Buck watched the vids change as the dealer displayed his inventory, giving tidbits of information on each.

"Stop," Buck said. "That last one, back up. What can you tell me about it?"

That brought a cautioned look from the dealer. "It's a picket ship, Navy, belongs to Bessinger. We found it abandoned and brought it in. I've claimed salvage rights but the government has put a hold on it. Says it doesn't want any trouble with another government."

"Any chance I could buy it?" Buck asked.

"Mister, you got any idea the hell we'd catch if I sold this ship? I do… and believe me, and I don't want the trouble."

Buck pondered the possibilities for a moment and motioned for the dealer to show the next ships.

He continued to tap the icon.

"That one," Buck said.

"It's an old freighter. Runs but that's all I can say for it. Fella owed me money and put the ship up as collateral. He couldn’t pay, so I took it. Clear title. I've had it a month."

"Can it space?" Buck asked.

"Yes. Brought it in under its own power. Takes a crew of eleven and for this old girl, they had better be good at what they do. She needs a lot of attention just to keep going."

"Engines," Buck asked.

"That's one of the few pluses. They were overhauled almost ten T-years ago."

"Can it make hyperspace?" Buck quizzed.

That brought a chuckle from the dealer. "Yeah, but like I said, your electronics man better be the best. I figure she's good for local hauls; not much more."

"What's the cost to take it off your hands?" Buck asked.

"I'll let it go for what I've got against it. No charge for bringing her in." The dealer named his price.

"I'll take it," Buck said. "How's it registered and where?" Buck gave him the information to verify the money was his and available.

"Okay, it's yours but don't say I didn't give you fair warning. Spacing in this thing ain't no picnic," said the dealer shaking his head. "She's listed as the Forager, Saragosa Prime registry. I never heard of the place but the ship's chart shows the planet is on the other side of this quadrant. I may be getting you into more trouble than you want."

Buck was concerned taking a ship in that bad condition into hyperspace but it would make their approach to Barnard's Star a lot easier than a newer one—if it held together long enough to get them there. It was a risk he was willing to take considering the limited choice.

Buck spent the next T-week working with an orbit repair facility. With Tommy directing the engine checkout and him correcting any electrical and electronic systems problems, they stayed busy. Buck gave special attention to the navigation systems to ensure they were completely reliable.

When asked why he wanted such a dilapidated piece of junk, Buck answered, "I've spaced in worse. We can handle it." This far out of the usual traffic lanes, he doubted that many other ships might be available. The dealer verified the money and the refit station installed four laser cannons. Not the firepower he'd like to have but the ship’s electrical system and generators lacked the capacity to handle energy cannons.

"This at least gives me a chance against pirates."

In reality, Forager wasn't much different from the first ship he spaced with except it lacked the beefed up frame and ramming blade. Buck and the Molly Celeste's record for stopping pirates had not reached this sector, relieving him of further explanations.

With the work done and Forager ready to space, he split the crew taking Ivan, Tommy, Commander Rasby, two SEALs, and a crew of seven. The Molly Celeste would stay on the last known vector of the killer ship with the remaining four SEALs and Danko at the helm.

Buck relentlessly drove the crew of seven to learn all they could from the repairmen. When questioned why the second ship and going a different direction, Buck said, "Something the Proctor said leads me to believe it's a false trail. You stay with what you know in case I'm wrong."

"Now, I need to find a haul." Using the comm, he lined up a load of barley seed. "Not bad. No refrigeration and keeping it dry isn't a problem: should make for a good trip."

Once satisfied the load was secure in the hold, under Buck's command, Forager spaced for Barnard's Star.

***

"Lord Fryman, secured tight beam comm incoming," said the operator. Buck had it put into his cabin and made his exit from the bridge.

"Lord Fryman, Sebastian here. I must admit to mixed emotions. I asked you to find my son's killers and learned you have added another world to the empire. You have a certain way about you. I understand your heading is for Barnard's Star. My information is that the killers are on quite a different vector. I assume you've obtained information I do not have. Lord Fryman, I will not question your judgment. I would appreciate some input."

Buck prepared a message for the Emperor, sent it on a secure tight beam, and returned to the bridge as Commander Rasby arrived.

"Lord Fryman, how do you propose to handle our arrival at Barnard's Star?" asked the SEAL.

"Yes, that is a problem for Ivan, Tommy and me. It's reasonable to assume they know us as a result of the Blue Marlin. Any suggestions?"

"That leaves me," Rasby responded. "I have no idea how to go looking for the killers."

"We won't ask," Buck said. "That would alert whoever has him. No, first we find what ships have arrived on a vector similar to ours. There can't be too many coming in from that direction. If I'm right, one of those ships is the one we want. If I understand where Barnard's Star stands with the insurrection, I wouldn't let them dirtside and would make sure the crew stayed on the ship." What went unsaid was if he was wrong, this would be a waste of time—or worse.

"Won't they be askin' questions? Tommy asked. "Like, ya know, who we are an' where we're agoin', where we been?"

"Shouldn't be too much of a problem," Buck said. "I logged Forager with the shipping registry and as a freighter, passed all the food inspections. In other words, we could be coming or going based on who's buying our haul. Saragosa Prime's fish protein business sends ships to all parts of neighboring sectors so being registered there shouldn't come as a surprise to an orbit master."

"With the armament this ship carries, we could get some tough questions." Buck pondered his own remark. 

"How ya gonna handle that?" Tommy asked, hands on his hips.

Buck thought for a moment longer. "Pirates will know a load of barley can be sold anywhere and it wouldn't take long. Any kind of grain is highly sought, easy to sell and brings a good price. We need some way to protect it."

"Works for me," Tommy said with a knowing nod.

Normally, a three month trek in space soon became boring. But not this time. The
Old Girl
, as the trader put it, needed a great deal of attention. Crewmembers often put in night and day watches to keep the ship running.

In-system at Barnard's Star, Forager received a high orbital slot—typical for freighters as passenger vessels got the choice locations closer to the surface reducing transit time back and forth. Buck eased into their assigned slot one hundred thousand kilometers above the planet and prepared to receive the inspectors.

Forager quickly got clearance certified as a freighter and nonbelligerent. The laser cannons did raise a number of questions but once explained the inspectors concern focused on why other freighters didn't arm themselves.

Ivan, Tommy, and Buck stayed in their cabins minimizing the possibility someone would recognize them.

"Something doesn't add," Buck said. All three men cast a questioning look at him but waited.

"If these guys had a hand in the prince’s murder, they would have their fleet spaced expecting the Ionian Navy, and I don’t mean for a courtesy call." Buck’s gaze remained fixed on a spot on the wall, his mind churning. "This changes everything." He needed to get a message to Sebastian or the fleet but with Forager on orbit, above Barnard's Star, Barnard would know immediately and that meant the end of getting the killers. He dismissed the group.

Rasby prepared to go dirtside and search the CSR for any ship that came in on the same or similar course that brought Forager to Barnard's Star. "Want me to comm back what I find?"

"No," Buck responded as they walked onto the hanger deck. "Too great a chance the wrong people will be listening. A tight beam would expose us to unwanted questions. Copy what you can and bring it back."

Dressed in civilian clothes with documents confirming their claim as a freighter, Rasby boarded the communal pinnace for the drop to the planet. He would have preferred taking their own launch or shuttle but Barnard had a prohibition against foreign vessels landing.

Dirtside, he rented an aircar and headed for the Registry Office. As a freighter, getting vectors of potential buyers gave him unimpeded access to the public records. For three days, he researched the data, and noted arrivals that could be of interest. He recorded the activities of the ships and saw that one of the three had left orbit. With the information added to his data recorder, Rasby returned to Forager aboard the communal launch.

"I think I got what Lord Fryman wanted," Rasby said responding to Danko's question as he stepped onto the hanger bay deck. The two made their way to Buck's cabin.

Once inside, Buck thrust a cup of hot coffee into the SEAL's hand as he inserted the data chip into the computer. They scrolled through the information. Of particular interest, no one had gone to the planet surface from one ship.

"Who owns that ship?" Buck asked casting a look at the commander.

Rasby scrolled through his data and said, "It's the Teutonic. Belongs to a company called Grave's Mining, registry, well, well, original registry out of Woodward and now Barnard's Star."

"Interesting," Buck said. "Makes you wonder. They're home and still no one has gone dirtside."

They spent the better part of an hour going over every bit if information. "Good job, Commander. How's it feel being a spy?"

"Actually, Sir, it was a kick. I can see why some people go for that kind of life," Rasby said with a wide grin.

"We have to find some way to get aboard that ship." Buck’s mind was already at work on the prospects. He led the discussion but no one came up with what he considered a viable idea.

"Do we know the ships on orbit?" Buck asked.

"Should be at the end of the chip." Rasby pressed the icon until the list appeared.

"Registry as well. Good work." Here's one from
Seltsam
. Left there after we spaced for Dacont and came straight here. That may be good or bad for us," Buck said. The askance looks from the others prompted, "Maybe they're having second thought about joining the empire. Covering their tracks."

"Commander, looks like you're not through with the spy bit. I need for you to find someone from that ship, talk to them, and determine why they're here. I told you something the Proctor said gave me the idea to come here. Her sending a ship has me concerned. Especially, if her comment about joining the empire amounted to no more than a dodge. There's the possibility they're here in case Barnard learned of our visit and want to reaffirm their connection with Star. See what you can learn." He briefed the commander on the discussion with the Proctor, omitting Ivan's amorous involvement with the lady.

The next morning Rasby, again garbed in his civvies, boarded the communal pinnace for the surface.

Once on the ground, he hailed an airtaxi and headed for the nearest bar.

Entering the dimly lit tavern, he ambled to the pub and ordered a Seltsam beer.

"Hey, you been to Seltsam?" a voice asked from the end of the bar. "That's where I'm from."

The spacer stepped around a few other drinkers and placed himself next to Rasby.

"No, had some and liked it. What brings you to this place?" The commander offered his hand and said, "Name's Rothers. Yours?

"Ephram and I don't know. I'm just a deckhand. What ship you on?"

"Freighter. Doing a little business. Not too much excitement." Rasby motioned toward a table and the two sat. "Your crew hang around here?"

"Naw. After bein' in space so long, I wanted to see some new faces. Most go to a place called the Den."