The Santana Nexus (Junkyard Dogs Book 3) (24 page)

The
three salvagers conversed for a short while longer but everyone was tired enough that sleep claimed them shortly after.

Chapter
34.

Heard's World Star System, on board Onboard
FNS Asimov,
January 8, 2599.

Captain Shirleen Nesbitt was in the process of
using the
Asimov's
stage II communicator to report back to the Reclamation Center.

"This is
FNS
Asimov
calling Commander Oskar Kresge at Scrap Central,"

Within a minute Nesbitt was looking at Kresge who
had remained on the
Greyhound
but was being patched through the Stage II communicator on the
Istanbul
.

"Kresge here,"
said the Commander.
"What is your situation,
Asimov?
Is everything okay in that system?"

"We
just destroyed two Jasmine Republican Navy gunboats, Sir," said Nesbitt.

"Two gunboats!
In Heard's World space? What the hell is going on over there?"

"We
didn't have much choice, Sir, they attacked us shortly after we got into the system."

She paused for a moment
before continuing, "We have a problem, Commander. Those ships were waiting for us! It was a coordinated attack. I allow you to draw your own conclusions as to what that means."

Kresge sighed
,
"Duly noted, Captain,"
he replied,
"Let me just say that there have been some changes in the communications personnel onboard the
Istanbul.
"

"So you have the situation in hand?"
asked Nesbitt.

"
We think so,"
replied Kresge,
"but this may not be the right time or the right venue for further discussion on the matter. Is everyone alright?"

"These
Fletcher II
destroyers can take care of themselves, Commander. The enemy may have taken us by surprise but they had no idea what they were dealing with. They paid the price."

"
Is that planetary system secure now?"

"Secure in the sense that we destroyed those two gunboats,
" said Nesbitt. "There's still a freighter parked near the moon with that derelict ship on it. I can't believe they're up to anything good. We're preparing to check it out."

"What is the status of the
Dingo
?"

"We instructed
Dingo
to microjump back towards the hyperlink point and prepare to translate out if
Asimov
ran into trouble. The enemy never had a chance to fire at her. She's fine, Sir."

"
You might consider having
Dingo
with you when you confront that freighter, Captain. Sergeant Kelley and his marines could turn out to be very useful if there're bad guys holed up dirtside in that wreck."

"That's
an excellent suggestion, Commander. We'll stand by until we can team back up with the
Dingo
."

"
I don't need to tell you to be careful! Keep us informed. Kresge out."

***

The
Dingo
microjumped back to rendezvous with the
Asimov
. Reunited, the two ships then boosted towards the moon that harbored the Veritian derelict. Surprisingly, there was no attempt on the part of the freighter near the moon to escape as the two Federation ships approached the scene. The foreign ship just sat calmly in space, parked near the moon.

"I have lifesigns on the moon near the freighter, Captain," said the sensor operator.

"That must be why that freighter isn't attempting to escape. Is there anyone onboard the wreck?"

"It...
it sure looks like it, Sir, but I can't tell for certain. We need to get a little closer."

"That's okay
, sensors, let me know when you have better intel. I have enough to go on already."

She sent a message to the freighter.

"Unidentified freighter? This is Captain Nesbitt of the Federation Destroyer
Asimov
. The wrecked ship on that moon is the property of the Heard's World government. Be warned that we have representatives of the Veritian Way with us. They have informed me that they are unaware that any new salvage permits have been issued. You'd better have a good reason for being here."

With the Heard's World natives Caleb and Hanna Jordan on board the
Dingo
, this last statement regarding legal representatives could be construed as actually being true. It took over a minute before the
Asimov
got a reply.

"
Asimov?
This is freighter
Pride of Persia
, We are salvaging power components to repair one of the systems on our ship. We were not aware that a permit was required."

"So you
didn't come here accompanied by two Jasmine Republican Navy gunboats?"

"
Jasmine gunboats?"
was the incredulous reply.
"I assure you, we know nothing of any gunboats. We've been here for several days trying to salvage some critical drive system parts. I might ask what you are doing in this neutral system yourselves?"

"
Heard's World is a United Terran Federation colony. As such, we maintain a communications platform and we provide protection as well monitor the system for any illegal activities that might be going on."

Th
is statement was met with silence. Nesbitt continued, "The Sheik of Barsoom's forces are everywhere it seems. Are you sure you aren't salvaging weapons from that wreck to arm more renegade ships?"

"You are misinformed, Captain Nesbitt, we are salvaging drive components."

"Then you won't mind if we have a look in your holds, will you? I order you to prepare to be boarded!"

There was a short silence. The captain of the
Pride of Persia
consulted with someone off screen before he finally replied,
"Of course, Captain Nesbitt. Send your cutter over, we have nothing to hide."

"
Expect our cutter within ten minutes. I would advise you that we will be targeting you with our main battery. Any suspicious behavior will result in us discharging our weapons. You have been warned!"

She keyed off her radio transmission microphone and consulted with her tactical officer.
"Sukamoto? I don't like this situation at all. They're way too nonchalant about this whole affair. My guess is that they intend to microjump while we're deploying our cutter. What's the best method of disabling that freighter without doing too much damage?"

Sukamoto ran down a short list of options in his head, his forehead furrowed in thought. "Disable? You mean to keep her from escaping?"

"Yes, with minimum damage. How would you go about doing that?"

Sukamoto thought just a bit longer before replying,
"I would target the front hold area with our main battery adjusted to the lowest power setting. One or two hits should overwhelm their shields without doing too much damage. The next part is where it gets tricky. When the shields go down, I'd fire a pulse or two from one of the secondaries aimed at a spot high up on the bridge. We wouldn't want to do too much damage, just punch some small holes so the ship starts venting atmosphere. I guarantee you that will get their attention! Oh, then we tell them that our next shot will be from our main battery and aimed at their reactor."

"Weapons?" said
Nesbitt into her com unit, "We need to be prepared in case that ship tries to run. Front main battery? Target the forward hold of that freighter. I want one pulse from each projector. Starboard first and then port. Lowest possible beam strength, if you please."

"Roger that, Captain," came the reply from the front battery, "
Target the front hold at the lowest power setting, consecutive pulses from starboard and then port."

"Just so you know,
I intend to overwhelm their shields but I do not wish to inflict major damage if we can avoid it. Forward starboard secondaries? When his shields go down, I want two five point five-gigajoule pulses fired into the upper level of that freighter's bridge. Our intent here is to inflict minor damage and frighten them into surrendering."

"Roger, Captain," replied the CPO in charge of the secondaries, "Starboard secondaries are targeting the upper portion of the freighter's bridge.
Awaiting further orders, Sir."

"
If this plan doesn't stop them and they still try to jump, I will want full power pulses from the main battery. They are not getting away to report back to the Sheik!"

"Preparing to deploy the cutter, Captain," said Sukamoto. "Bay doors are open and she is away. What the...?"

"What's the matter, Sukamoto?"

"The freighter is charging up her jump module! She's
getting ready to jump!"

"
Pride of Persia
? Cease charging your jump module and stand down. This will be your only warning!"

The face of the freighter's captain appeared on Nesbitt's viewscreen.
"What was that last transmission? We are having some difficulty with your audio."
The screen went blank.

Nesbitt
wasted no time in coming to a decision. They could not afford to let this ship return to the Sheik of Barsoom with information or with whatever else they had salvaged from the wreck. If the freighter jumped, the
Asimov
could probably catch her but they could end up chasing her all over the system to do it. The Scrapyard resupply mission forces simply didn't have the time for such foolishness!

"Front main battery?
Fire!"

A
n attenuated pulse bolt lashed out from the starboard front projector of the
Asimov
. The freighter's shield flared immediately to an incandescent violent hue. This impact was followed immediately by another weak bolt from the port projector. The freighter's shield flashed white before going down. Immediately after the shield went down, two pulses, one from each of the secondary weapons in the forward twin mount emplacement on the starboard side of the destroyer, slashed into the ceiling area of the
Pride of Persia's
bridge. Atmosphere and debris blew outward from two neat, clean holes that suddenly appeared in the hull of the recalcitrant freighter.

"His jump module is no longer powered, Captain," said the sensor operator. "The power surge when the shield failed must have kicked it off."

"
Pride of Persia
?" sent Nesbitt. "You will stand down and prepare to be boarded! My front battery is targeting your reactor. Be warned that the next pulse we fire will be at full power. You have thirty seconds to comply..."

The Captain of the freighter
, his face pale and his voice shaking, called over to surrender within the next ten seconds. In the meantime, the atmospheric venting from the bridge had ceased, indicating that the men on board had been able to temporarily patch the damage and restore the integrity of their bridge.

"
Get me the
Dingo,
" said Nesbitt.

"This is Clancy Davis-Moore, Captain, what can we do for you?
"

"Is Sergeant Kelly there with you?"

"He's right here, Captain."

Kelly came into view
on Nesbitt's screen.

"
Kelly, I need for you and several of your men to go over and secure that freighter."

"Right away, Captain."

The
Asimov
sent their cutter over to the
Dingo
to transport the marine contingent to the now subdued freighter. Faced by seven marines, five of them in full battle armor, the crew of the freighter gave up without further resistance. Kelly and his men quickly secured the ship. After about ten minutes for them to inspect the holds, Kelly called the Captain of the
Asimov
.

"Captain Nesbitt? This is Kelly."

"Go ahead, Kelly."

"We have the ship's captain and eight crewmen in custody.
We don't think there's anybody else. We've got them all locked up in a small compartment that has only one entry. Could you have sensors check the ship for life signs to see if we've missed anyone?"

"Right away, Sergeant," replied Kelly. Seeing the sensor operator shake his head
in response to the marine's query, she quickly added, "There are no additional life signs, Sergeant. It looks like you got them all. What did you find?"

"It looks like a pretty good haul, Captain. She's full of dehydrated food and
there's also some medical supplies. Oh, and several crates of brand-new Federation-issue pulse rifles. Whoever these guys are, they were up to no good."