Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) (6 page)

Danko commed the bridge and listened to the response. "Four slavers and lost one more Marine: total of four dead." The bridge crew, the most competent of the group, had put up stiff resistance fighting off the Marines.

Gathering himself, Danko choked back his emotions, then commed Phoenix. "Captain, we got seventy women alive, five Marines dead, three wounded, no slavers alive." His voice cracked despite his best effort.

***

Buck ordered the slave ship cleaned and then held funeral services for the dead women and Marines. A color guard opened the airlock and ejected the bodies. The dead slavers were dumped afterwards with nobody saying words over their corpses.

Grisham sent a ship to pick up the surviving women and a crew to pilot the slaver. Buck decided against claiming salvage rights on the captured ship. He wanted no part of it.

Molly was superb counseling the women.

Two days later, Phoenix resumed course for Marmon Station. Buck watched the plot board as the worst slaughter he'd ever seen shrank to nothing then left the bridge for his cabin and found Tommy waiting.

Chapter Six:
Buck's Torment

"
N
eed to see ya, Cap'n." Tommy's voice sounded like steel grates grinding against each other.

The two entered and Buck poured coffee and waited.

"Cap'n, the work I done on the engines…," he paused, "…Someone fouled them. Had to be deliberate. There ain't no way for that failure other than sabotage."

"Any idea who's responsible?" Buck's concern was legitimate as he tried to act surprised.

"No. I picked ever one in my group an' yo're askin' me if one of them did it, well, I wouldn't know which one ta lay the blame on." From the look on Tommy’s face, whoever was responsible wouldn't have long to live once discovered.

"Keep your eyes open. Whoever did it will be careful with any attempt; they'll be extra cautious to make sure you don't spot them."

With assurances he would, Tommy returned to the engine room. Buck hated to deceive his friend, but he planned to use this traitor's warning the pirates against them. If Tommy knew it was Finsterman, the man would be dead before the hour was out. His engineer left determined the sabotage wouldn't happen again. Buck held no illusions. The engines were accessible and that made them vulnerable.

***

Phoenix approached Marmon's Station, considered the garden spot of the empire. Originally a Marine outpost, the lush green forests convinced Sebastian to open it to immigration. Over the years, with much to work with, the inhabitants made it into a favorite vacation spot across the empire. The new inhabitants decided to keep the original name believing it added an element of excitement.

The entire crew prepared for time off the ship, the slavers still fresh in their minds. Danko drew the ire of those assigned the first watch and last to get liberty. The astrogator commed the orbit master for a parking slot and Buck arranged for the crew to spend a little time dirtside.

To Molly's glee, he invited her to make the planet with him. "
See the sights
," he said. He had looked for an opportunity to show that she was not just another crewmember. The visit to Marmon was the chance he'd hoped would happen.

The empire had used Marmon Station as a waypoint servicing deep space ships for fifty T-years. Something of a novelty, one of the few systems having a sun, and one planet with one moon, a distant gas giant had served to attract wandering asteroids saving it from certain destruction.

With the safeguards that now surrounded the planet in deep orbit, it would remain safe from wandering asteroids or meteors. The early inhabitants had terra-formed Marmon into a planet-wide arboretum and built a thriving tourist business.

Two days later, Buck recalled the dirtside liberty and Phoenix spaced for Borcom. I didn't take long for the word to spread that the captain and Molly toured the planet together. From what Buck gathered, the crew approved.

Buck commed Tommy then Danko and asked them to come to his cabin. He had coffee ready and each fixed his brew to their liking. Situated just off the bridge and big enough for ten people, with a cubical sleeping area, small, very small, kitchen, shower, and head, he used his cabin as his office and for small meetings.

"Ever wonder,” he said, “where these pirates are holing up? Somewhere there must be an open port. Someplace willing to let these guys replenish and repair."

"Have no idea," Tommy said in an off-hand manner.

Danko seemed to chew on the question a few moments. "Captain, Lt. Donaldson asked the same thing. He figured if there is such a place, that it wasn't well known and on the fringe of the sector off the beaten path."

"Sounds reasonable. Did he come up with anything?" Buck asked.

"Kinda. He identified three areas as the most likely." Danko pulled up a chart and reached across the desk, and fingered a series of icons. The sector they were crossing appeared on the bulkhead plot screen.

"That's almost off the chart." Tommy took a chair and leaned back legs stretched, hands locked behind his head.

Buck studied the star display for a number of minutes. "You mentioned there were three. Let's see the others."

Danko raised both charts splitting the screen. He said two were out of the question as maverick asteroids dominated both areas.

"Dangerous places," Tommy said in an intense voice. "If you're a tryin' to lose someone, they might be worth the risk to hide where most sensible people would stay away."

Buck agreed. He returned the first chart to the plot screen. This time, he studied it in detail asking questions, most of which Danko couldn't answer. The captain called up what information the computer had. It wasn't much.

"What's your interest, Cap'n ya thinkin' we can raid the place if that's where they are?" Tommy questioned.

"We've got six ships, all faster and better armed than anything the pirates have. There can't be much of a fleet guarding the place." Sure that his little fleet could give a good accounting of itself, Buck remained confident. "If we could find their hole, maybe we could fill it. Get rid of a bunch in one attack."

"Cap'n, if I ain't wrong, that planet is Katakan," Tommy cautioned in a calm and serious tone. "They ain't a very friendly bunch an' in tight with Barnard's Star. It jist might put us at war."

"As soon as we off-load the Marines at Borcom, we'll go home and talk with the Emperor." Buck's huge grin infected the other two faces. He intended at least to try to get an audience. After all, Emperor Sebastian had given him a blank check to go after the pirates. "It's a good idea to have the monarch's blessing before starting a war."

That brought a round of hearty laughs as the two departed. Buck followed them into the passageway and stepped onto the bridge.

***

Buck sat in his chair listening as the Borcom Orbit Master responded to their request. A few hours later, the pilot set Phoenix's shuttle onto the spaceport tarmac. Lt. Garibaldi and his Marines had landed first and to the Buck's surprise, stood as an honor guard when he landed. Under a clear sky with a slight breeze, he accepted their thanks, and, along with a crisp salute, praised them for a job well done, solemnly citing those who gave their lives. He walked through the assembled troops, shaking each Marine's hand. Then he requisitioned an aircar and drove to the Governor General's office. An Emperor's commission opened many doors that otherwise he'd never enter. Of course, being
just a freighter
, he'd thought the same thing about meeting his monarch.

Situated on a small rise, Government House resembled the old Terra colonial buildings he'd seen in vids. It was impressive. Tall colonnades fronted the white marble structure. A number of steps led to the main entrance.

"Captain Fryman, welcome to Borcom," said the small man who met him, hand extended. The Governor-General will see you now."

Buck entered the office ahead of the guide and greeted the Governor. The man blinked at the freighter's height and size.

The governor-general's oval face and bald head reminded Buck of a well-tanned melon.

For an outpost, Buck thought the furnishing a bit overdone. Maybe being this isolated from the rest of the empire made ostentation a necessary perk. They had to keep the morale up somehow. Wainscoted carpeting, trimmed in something resembling wood, focused the guests view on upper part of the wall, which was plastered with artists’ paintings from around the galaxy. A large desk, slightly smaller than what he'd seen in the Emperor's office—a smart move—fronted a bay window of the same kind of material.
Expensive
was the thought that came to mind.

"Captain Fryman, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Sir," said the governor as he met Buck at the door. "The Emperor extends his gratitude for rescuing the women from those awful men." Good sized but not as tall or heavy as Buck, the man seemed in reasonable physical shape. Then there couldn't be much to do on Borcom—maybe exercise filled the day.

"Thank you, Sir. I wish we could have saved more."

"Of course. We all feel the same. Some are better than none. What those women had facing them," he paused, "they could expect the most terrible experiences. Please be seated."

Buck passed on the form fit chair knowing it too small and sat on a hassock as a steward brought in coffee.

"I understand you plan to space for Iona in the next few days." The man's manner put Buck at ease, a trait most useful for a politician.

"Yes, Sir," Buck answered. "Want to give the crew some time to unwind before we leave. It's a three-month trip, as you know. Very tedious and not much to keep the crew occupied."

"They are most welcome to taste the pleasures of our little world. We may be at the edge of the empire, but we can offer most of what Iona has and turn our heads when others might be a bit more jaundiced in their attitudes."

Borcom had a reputation that bordered on bawdy. For fifty T-years, it had been primarily a Marine outpost, recently upgraded to allow civilians to immigrate. That immigration started a thriving business and industrial community. The governor had found it necessary to curtail some of the seedy side, submitting to residents demand for civility.

"I know you have other matters to attend so I'll get to the reason I wished to see you. Would it be possible for you to take two passengers and, five hundred kilos of cargo back to Iona with a stop at Grisham?"

"Glad to, but I hope these folks realize this is a freighter and not equipped for hauling passengers."

"I understand you are more than a freighter. You carry armament isn't that correct?"

"We can defend ourselves, Governor."

That brought a deep laugh. "Good, the passengers are my two daughters and of course, with the reputation you and your ship are building, I'd say a few inconveniences are acceptable as a fair exchange for a safe trip."

Buck would have much preferred male passengers. Women aboard any ship not equipped to offer the proper amenities created problems, Molly being an exception. "Well, it will take a little adjustment; might delay our departure a couple of days… have to prepare suitable accommodations. I hope they understand what we can offer will be less than first class." He tried to not be negative.

"It just might do them some good, Captain. Being the governor-general's children often shields them from what most young women experience. This might be just the thing they need to keep them firmly grounded in the real world."

"If nothing else, Sir, Phoenix is the real world." Buck hoped it would be an uneventful trip. What they'd been through so far was nothing for young women to see.

He assured his host Phoenix would do its best to see to their needs and said his goodbye after accepting an invitation to dine with the governor and his wife. He decided to invite Molly and commed her as she seldom had a chance to enjoy liberty. Most outposts catered to bawdy men and women—Borcom was no exception.

He didn't spend much time with the other planet dignitaries, no more than courtesy demanded. Those courtesies were among the drawbacks of having a commission from the Emperor: every official wanted, expected a meeting with him. A call on the Marine commandant was different. He'd lost men in the slaver raid so this stop was more than ceremonial.

This was a part of life that Buck had never expected would be his. Maybe some freighters might have fancied it, but he never had. His illusions dealt with more practical matters; such as a flask of hearty brew and a lusty woman—then he thought of Molly.

***

Two days later, the crew had rearranged, modified the area Molly had selected next to her cabin, and Phoenix had something approaching a facsimile of accommodations ready for the governor's two daughters. As Buck expected, a gaggle of people had gathered at the spaceport to see the women off. He did learn it wasn't the young women’s first time away from their parents, but never had they departed aboard a freighter. The novelty would be the talk in the elite circles on Iona for some time.

Designated to see to their welfare, Molly took to the task with gusto. Buck planned to stay clear of them. Before spacing, he'd asked around and learned the oldest girl was a bit on the uppity side, willful, expecting everyone to defer to her wishes. He'd made himself bow to the Emperor’s wishes but wasn't going to do for these girls, especially on his ship.

He thought for a moment and realized he often deferred to Molly. So be it.

***

Two days out from Borcom, Phoenix took a comm from the Marine commandant. They had received a distress signal from a freighter two parsecs distant. Borcom's deep space ship was on a mission and unavailable to go to their aid. The governor requested that Buck render assistance.

Buck keyed the comm. "This is Captain Fryman. Send me the ship and captain's name, coordinates, planet of origin, and nature of their emergency?" He suspected a rat. The governor's daughters would make a prize catch for some marauding pirates.

Following Molly's discovery of the saboteur, comm established a round the clock monitor on all space communications within range of Phoenix, incoming and outgoing, and they had received no such distress call. When at a port-of-call, tracking messages was iffy at best. He suspected Finsterman might have alerted the pirates to their passengers.