Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (7 page)

"I'll be in my cabin." Trusting his manner hadn't given the crew undue concern, he quit the bridge.

Entering his cabin, he keyed the computer, checking Phoenix's outgoing signals.

"Damn." While orbiting Borcom, Phoenix's computer search had been offline. That wasn't uncommon, as a spaceship's overpowering signals fouled local communications. Their saboteur would have plenty of opportunities to send a message from dirtside.

He returned to the bridge and took his chair.

Borcom forwarded all available information on the freighter and Buck ran it through their database. As he suspected, the Galactic Space Registry (GSR) had no record of any ship by that name or captained by the man. Virtually, every ship that spaced listed its name, date of departure, destination and expected arrive with the GSR. If for any reason, they didn't make port when expected, after a reasonable wait, a search vessel would hunt for them.

"I think this is a hoax," he told the commandant.

"To what purpose?" asked the Marine.

"Capture the governor's daughters and it would put a stop to Phoenix's actions against the pirates. I am using my discretion as Captain to disregard your request."

"Okay, Captain, it's your call."

"Understood." Buck cut the link as the buzzer outside his quarters signaled.

"Come."

Molly stepped in. "You haven't taken the time to meet our guests. Don't you think you should?" With her arms folded over the chest, she waited.

"How are they behaving? Any problems?" Buck wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"No, Sir. Just the curious young men wanting a glimpse of our distinguished passengers."

"Make sure it's no more than that. No dating or whatever."

"My, my—the puritan. I think that's what they called themselves. I read that on a history vid somewhere." Her manner suggested any answer was less than necessary.

Buck's grim look quieted the woman. He ignored the retort, motioned toward a chair, and told her the commandant wanted no special treatment for the girls. Relating the call from Borcom about the distress call had Molly questioning if there would be repercussions.

"Shouldn't be. I'll live with my decision. What can I do for you?" He mellowed his voice for obvious reasons, namely, he had taken a strong liking to Molly.

"What I said coming in. I'm planning a dinner in my quarters for the two girls and want you to join us."

"Think that will go over well with the crew?" Buck didn’t want the ladies to expect that kind of treatment as normal. Just as importantly, he didn't want the crew to feel the young women were entitled to special handling… except for the hands off warning he'd issued. He expected the girls to eat the same food as the crew and told Molly so.

The discussion provided no answer. Molly left without telling Buck if she planned to go ahead with the dinner. She did know that the captain would not be there.

***

Molly gracefully handled the mini-gala, having food brought from the galley along with a special treat concocted by the cook. When dessert was served, Buck made his appearance, welcomed the ambassador's daughters, and apologized for not having done so sooner, pleading that matters demanded his time. Molly assured the girls the delay was not intentional and cited the emergency message from the Marine Commandant.

The two girls, twenty and eighteen, both quite attractive and dressed in slacks with frilly blouses, asked the captain a few questions, incisive ones he thought, concerning the pirate problem. In the course of the discussion, they mentioned the awfulness the women suffered when taken by the slavers.

"I understand all the criminals were properly dealt with," said the oldest, Janine. Janice, the youngest seemed a bit shy as she usually nodded, seldom saying a word.

Buck assured them the slavers would never bother anyone again.

"I'm sure Molly explained that your presence on Phoenix requires that you not mingle with the crew." Buck tried to keep concern from his voice. "I would suggest when you travel around the ship, go together."

"Do you think these men might harm us?" Janine asked.

"I don't know and have no wish to find out," Buck responded curtly. "Some things are better left alone. Please do as I ask."

"And if we don't?" Janine asked coyly although she seemed anything but shy.

"I shall lock you into your rooms." Buck's command voice carried no room for misunderstanding.

"Rather harsh don't you think?" Janine said her chin rose in defiance.

"Janine, behave." Janice gave her older sibling a look that said she was serious.

"I suppose you will tell father. My sister is so afraid. She thinks we must conduct ourselves as pure little angels otherwise it will look badly for father."

"No sister, I think being a bitch is unbecoming. The captain is nice enough to give us passage and his responsibilities are…," she paused, "…well, we should obey him. His crew must. And think what he'd do if one of them molested you or me." Her hard stare at her sister put an end to the rancorous exchange.

With a pleased look at the younger woman, Buck said, "You understand our situation quiet well, young lady. Three months cooped up on this ship is difficult at best. Your presence can be a pleasant distraction for the men or trouble. It's your decision but rest assured, Janice you are quite right. If a crewman should do something grievously wrong to one of you, it would cost him his job, his freedom, maybe even his life. Surely, you don't want that on your consciences." Buck excused himself from their cabin, uncertain whether Janine might cause trouble.

Chapter Seven:
The Audience

B
uck contacted Iona's orbit master, thankful Phoenix had completed the trip without incident. No pirates and the women present created a minor nuisance. Most of the men had stayed away from what became
dainty land
.

Receiving its orbit slot, Phoenix transferred its celebrity passengers dirtside. Buck set the watch and was the last going dirtside to leave the ship. Most of the crowd that greeted the two women had departed. The newsies remained for a sound bite, hopefully a juicy one.

Over the year he'd been away from Iona, regular reports kept Buck current on the other five freighters in his fleet. Two had encountered pirates and destroyed one. One of his ships had sustained major damaged with the loss of three crewmen. The inner portion of the Fastoid Sector had remained clear of pirates since that encounter.

Leaving the GSR, he commed the Emperor's secretary, requested an audience and made a mental note of the time: the next morning at ten a.m.

At home, he retrieved his blue suit, called an airtaxi to take it to the cleaners for pressing, and got a good night's sleep.

Arising early, as was his habit, and after a hearty breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and toast with a heavy dose of gravy, and a few cups of coffee, Buck called for an aircar and headed for the palace. He walked up the palace steps where he was greeted by the waiting Emperor's secretary. That was out of the ordinary as such greetings were usually reserved to high-ranking dignitaries. Buck didn't see himself in that light.

He entered the Emperor's office, stepped to the imaginary line, and awaited Sebastian's arrival.

"Ah, Captain Fryman good to see you again." The Emperor stepped through a side door." Please excuse my tardiness. The grandchildren are here and sometimes getting away from them is a major effort. A little deception did the trick." Prince Victor, sole heir to the throne, had blessed him with two grandchildren, a son, and a daughter. Sebastian often regaled guests with tales of his escapades with the children.

Buck bowed, "My Emperor, it's good to be alive and here." He didn't ask how the children were. He'd heard that kind of inquiry was considered too personal.

"I congratulate you on intercepting those slavers. A shame some women, Marines and members of your crew died. One can hardly blame the captives for wanting revenge," referring to the women killing their captors. "What can I do for you?"

Buck told the Emperor of the suspected pirate safe haven. "Majesty, I think if we could hit them with all six of our armed freighters, we could put a stop to most of the raiding. Make it the freighters taking revenge on the pirates. Keep the Royal Navy out of it entirely. The planet we suspect is the Republic of Katakan." He stopped waiting on a reaction.

"That is trouble. Our relations with Katakan are not the best. As I recall, they claim we violated their space a few times. Actually, we did but it wasn't to commit any act against them. And then there is the relationship they have with Barnard's Star." An Ionian fleet made a call on one of the worlds Barnard considered in their sphere of influence with that world's permission to thank them for rendering assistance to a number of our commercial ships. Katakan and Barnard's Star had objected to that.

Buck stood silent as the Emperor recited the recent history.

"I will convene the War Council. Would you be so kind as to join us, Captain? We'll meet here at the palace at eight a.m. tomorrow."

Buck assured the Emperor he would be there, bowed, and withdrew before realizing, too late, that his answer bordered on insolence. One doesn't respond to an order from the Emperor. Obedience is expected.

***

Buck arrived promptly at the palace the next morning and a naval aide led him to a conference room. A few of the officers he recognized from pictures, others he'd never seen before. Admiral Basselrod introduced him to each member, finishing as the Emperor arrived.

"Gentlemen." He took the chair at the end of the large conference table and motioned for them to sit.

"Captain Fryman, please repeat what you told me yesterday." The Emperor steepled his fingers. The tough tone of his voice drew glances from some of the assembled.

Buck related what he had said to the Emperor a day earlier.

"That means a war with Katakan." High Fleet Admiral Hizerman’s voice was resolute but filled with concern. "And most likely with Barnard's Star. Those two have helped each other for years and Barnard might welcome a scrap with Iona. They've been busy building alliances and that means more trouble for us. Captain, why do you suspect that area or more specifically, Katakan?"

"Perhaps Admiral Basselrod can better answer that, Sir." Buck was glad to deflect the question.

Basselrod told the group of Lt. Donaldson's spending almost a T-year on picket duty just outside Katakan's declared space.

"You're taking the word of a lieutenant?" questioned the High Fleet Admiral.

Basselrod looked at Buck.

He cleared his throat. "Sir, the pirates must have a safe haven. I realize Katakan has never declared itself an open port. I have had a great deal of time to study the information Lt. Donaldson collected. Over one hundred vector reportings on the pirates all indicated Katakan."

"And based on that, you're prepared to take six converted freighters, attack and rid us of them."

Buck smiled. "When you put it that way it does sound a little risky."

"A little risky? I say damned foolish. I wouldn't order any of my men to do it."

"What happens to you if you're captured?" the Marine Commandant asked.

"We're on our own," Buck said and added, "The crown has deniability free and clear." All knew the necessity of giving the throne cover regardless of the outcome. A number of the Ionian Navy brass had openly expressed that they would like to take on Barnard's Star. That had drawn a stern look from the fleet admiral. Outcasts from the Federation,
that bunch
, as Basselrod described them, had plagued that end of the galaxy far too long. Smaller worlds could not stand up to them and the vast distance separating the two worlds had kept Iona and Barnard's Star from clashing more frequently.

No one uttered a word for almost two minutes. Emperor Sebastian slapped his hand on the table. "I think we should do it. However, I'm not so inconsiderate to ask Captain Fryman to sacrifice himself and his men. The fleet should plan maneuvers at Brandenburg since it has accepted our invitation to join the empire. We could upgrade our embassy to Government House in preparation of the event. The fleet would be there to show the flag. That's close enough so they can come to your aid if required."

"Your Majesty," said the Fleet Admiral, "that means we will be at war." Apparently, he wanted to emphasize his concern.

"I think you said that earlier, Admiral." Sebastian cast a reproachful look at the High Admiral. "Surely, ridding the galaxy of the pirates is worth the risk. Our commercial fleet and tour ships should applaud the action as should a number of other worlds."

High Fleet Admiral Hizerman wasn't buying into the idea—yet. He had distinguished himself in combat many times. Nor did he hesitate to remind those present that it was his people who would die if a war resulted from Buck's attack.

The meeting adjourned on that note. Buck, not being familiar with how things worked with the Navy, didn't know if he had the authority to go ahead or run for cover. At least the Emperor hadn't offered him a naval commission. Turning one of those down could have been difficult. High Admiral Hizerman had made known his preference that Buck be on his own and not known as one of theirs. The Emperor apparently was of the same mind.

High Fleet Admiral Hizerman remedied Buck's dilemma. "Captain Fryman, could you join me at my office? It would seem we have considerable planning to do." To Buck, the question lacked conviction.

Buck glanced over the Fleet Admiral's shoulder at Admiral Basselrod and got a nearly imperceptible smile and nod.

Buck accepted the Fleet Admiral's invitation to ride in his aircar to the War Ministry building. Captain Billings, his aide, sat in front with the driver.

"Tell me a little of your background, Captain if you would, please."

"It isn't very impressive." Buck did his best, including the time he spent in the royal jail.

"Certainly, spicy," said the Admiral without humor. "Maybe that's what it takes to attempt a harebrained stunt like you've proposed."