END of LINE: Humanities Last Stand - part 3 (25 page)

“There we go, all fixed.” the head engineer announced. “We can resume course any time.”

After giving it some thought, Jon told Jarrieal to stay with the Engineers while he and the rest of the team went to investigate the ship that was supposed
to be stored away in the hold. If what they had been told were the truth, he'd need to get his shuttles onboard and have Legs go over that ships data
records. Even if it was a lie, Jon didn't want to exit the slip over a pirate base with Peacekeeper shuttles attached to the hull. He'd bring them all
inside and then make a rapid launch to attack their base using everything this ship had including his own shuttle's guns.

“Butcher to Rik. I'm taking a team to investigate a report of a pirate ship in the hold of this ship. I'm also bringing in the shuttles. We'll spring our
own surprise on those pirates' base.”

“Understood and approved Butcher. I'll contain the bridge. We may have more going on here than just simple piracy. Seems our teams throughout the ship have
met very little resistance. Most of the crew claim that they were being forced to fly what they all say is one of TransCo's flagships. The real pirates
must have all been attacking the station when we arrived and this so called captain decided to leave his men behind to face us while he escaped with the
real prize, a nice new combat ready Destroyer.”

“In his hurry to get away, he almost blew it up!” Jon filled Zeprik in on what he had learned before he entered the ship's main cargo hold.

Walking through the clear tube that acted as an airlock between the main ship and the hold, Jon could see an older ship resting on its landing pads on the
Destroyer's decking. It looked to be the same model as Jon's first FTL ships had been, except this one was much smaller. This vessel had not been well
cared for at all. It had suffered damage to some of the main super structure that had been cut away, the two remaining halves welded back together. It had
entire sections of the outer hull missing. It didn't appear to have its engines in the cowlings. There was just a collection of parts bolted together to
look like engines from a distance. Jon decided that this ship was nothing more than a decoy to lure in other ships. Something that the pirates towed into
position in space then left it to seem as if a ship was in desperate need of help. Then when some unlucky ship came to its rescue, it was over run by
pirates and either taken, like they had this Destroyer, or looted and destroyed. As for the ship used to tow the wreck that was a Cutter that would leave
this one in place and go off to find another prize before returning to retrieve the pirates hidden in this wreck. Jon and his team had already found the
tow ship and destroyed it themselves over a week ago. Jon remembered the briefing where they had all been told to be on the look out for this very vessel.

Back when he had first taken charge of the old Pluto, Wrenches had shown him where the ship's recorders were located, so that was one of his first search
areas when he went onboard the decoy ship. As it turned out, the recorders were still in place and had continued to work as they had been programmed to do
many cycles ago when the ship had been built. When he played back the logs they told a story of a once proud ship, ferrying supplies and passengers between
the inner planets. It had then fallen into the hands of a corrupt corporation that used it to transport illegal drugs to backwater worlds and smuggle
convicted criminals out to the rim planets to escape their prison sentences. One place in particular stood out as a safe world for criminals to hide from
the law while they either joined a pirate crew, or became a broker for the stolen goods coming in on the pirate vessels. The company name sounded familiar.
Jon remembered when his uncle had told them about one of the biggest criminal companies being shut down by the Peacekeepers cycles ago. The name of the
planet didn't set off any memories for Jon. The planet was called Canari Prime. It was far away from any of the shipping lanes and not on many star maps.
However, this wreck of a ship with little still working except minimal life support and this hidden data recorder had been brought back to it many times in
the last several cycles only to be towed back again to some remote location near the rim worlds.

“Get the shuttles inside! We're going to Canari!” Jon ordered through the coms. “Someone get a message through to Mercury and let them know what's
happening! Have them meet us there!”

“Butcher, you're the only one qualified to take control of a ship this big,” Zeprik commed to him. “You want to come up here and takeover as Captain?”

“On my way Rik. Jarrieal, how are things in Engineering?”

“Everything is fine here Butcher.” Jarrieal told him. “The one who thinks he's in charge says the coords from that old ship match the ones the pirate
ordered them to fly this ship to. I think we just found their base.”

“Good work Jackal, give them a hand bringing our shuttle inside. I'm heading up to the bridge. Let me know when everything is safely brought in so we can
reenter the slipway.”

Jon took an elevator up to the main command center and was shocked by how familiar it all looked. It was as if the command center of this ship and the
command center of Mercury were built in the same factory, by the same workers, and then had the rest of two very different ships built around them.

“What have you learned Rik?” Jon asked Prince Zeprik.

“The majority of the flight crew are all the victims of these few pirates Jon.” Rik told him as he pointed to four rough looking men standing under guard
in a far corner of the command center. “That one there was giving all the orders when we came in. I'm guessing he's supposed to be the Captain. We caught
them when the rest of the pirates where attacking the orbiting station. Mercury and her group ended the attack and arrested the pirates.”

“What say we teach him how it’s done in the civilized planets.” Jon joked.

“Captain, will you please come here?” Jon politely asked the unshaven male.

The pirate smiled which exposed rotten teeth with protruding lower tusks that were more yellow than white. “Sir, I must protest this military takeover of my peaceful vessel. We were engaged in peaceful trade with the mining conglomerate when your men attacked us.” the pirate stated.

Jon had all he could do not to sneeze because of the male's terrible body order, but when he spoke the stench that came from the pirate's mouth nearly overpowered him.
“Is that why nearly every member of the crew onboard this ship who isn't in need of a bath, claims that you and your men hijacked them three months ago and
forced them to fly it for you? Or can you explain the data record of the derelict ship in your hold that says it has been repeatedly towed to some spot and
left, only to be brought back to the same coords? Or perhaps that's why you ran away when you saw Peacekeeper shuttles attempting to land on your hull? If
you were involved in peaceful trade, why was the station calling for help when we arrived and claiming to be under attack?” Jon asked. “No Captain, I
believe that you were in the middle of committing some serious crimes when we came into the system and that's why you nearly blew up this ship by running
into the slip so close to a sun. I further believe that you have used this ship as a pirate vessel operating out of the Canari system. You should know that
we have either killed or captured your pirate crew that was attacking the miners. You and your officers are all that is left of your people on this ship. I
am relieving you of command of this vessel, effectively immediately. Every crewman or woman who remained loyal to the laws of the common good will be
increased in rank by one step, provided they remain at their posts and continue to serve peacefully by following any lawful orders I or any member of my
crew give them.” Pointing at the coms officer Jon asked, “Where is your rightful Captain?”

“That animal threw Captain Gillioi and Firstmate Helmip out of the lock! Sir.”

“Did he now.” Zeprik said. “I know just the thing to do with him and his bunch then, Don't I Butcher?”

“You want some help?” Jelio asked.

“If you like Lio, I can always use the advice of an intelligent female.” Rik lightly told her. Then, pointing his plasma rifle at the pirates he told them
in a stern voice, “Move you scum. Get down to the hold and that ship you came here in. When I give the word Butcher, open the bay doors.”

“Anything you say Rik.”

As a last desperate attempt to stay alive the pirate yelled out, “You guys can't takeover this ship. You're Peacekeepers. You can't own ships! Now an
experienced Captain like meself, I could fly her any place you want.”

Jon stood straight and announced for all to hear, “I am Admiral Jon Connell owner of record of the BBITCo FTL Transport Company. I am taking possession of
this vessel under the rules of salvage concerning ships taken in the act of illegal pirate operations. This ship and her legal crew are now officially a part of the BBITCo FTL deep space transport fleet. Until I can hire a replacement, I will retain command of the ship.” Turning back to his friend he said, “Get that garbage off my boat!”

“Yes Sir!” Rik responded. “You heard the Admiral, move out!” As he left, forcing the whimpering pirates ahead of him, Rik issued orders for all of the
captured pirates and the bodies of any of the dead or wounded pirates to be brought down to the hold. Once there he forced them all into the remains of the
ancient space wreck and sealed it closed after disabling any COM equipment and only then getting himself and his men safely inside the main ship. He issued
commands to open the bay doors and release the older ship out into space somewhere along the slipway out in normal space where it would never be found. It
would float in space for decades if not centuries before being found again. This time with a crew of dead pirates onboard in place of the living ones who
had stolen the TransCo Destroyer.

“How long at full power until we reach the coords I sent you?” Jon demanded to know.

“Less than an hour Sir. Its so close its a wonder it hasn't been charted before.” the navigation officer told him.

“Jackal to Butcher, Our shuttles are all inside now skipper.”

“Very good Jackal, we'll be going into slip soon.” Jon informed him. Turning back to the ship's navigator he said, “Someone probably bribed the charters to omit it. Amend the charts to show its location in the future.” Jon told the Navigator. “Now, take us back on course, best speed to destination.”

One of the legitimate crewmen asked Jon, “So now our ship just belongs to you and BBITCo?”

“Legally yes. Morally, no.” Jon told the male who was working the COM center. “I'm within my rights to claim the ship because I captured it from the hands
of pirates. That makes it salvage and any lawful citizen can claim her. What I have in mind to actually do is to use her in a raid on this pirate base at
Canari and then turn her back for Lexon II where I will contact TransCo. and offer them back their ship. I'm not in the ship stealing business. I already
own four armed ships of my own for rim hauling.”

“You may want to rethink that idea.” a male in a business suit said as he entered the bridge.

“Who might you be?” Jon asked him.

“Names Jinkly, co-owner of TransCo. Its a pleasure to finally meet the famous Jon Connell. The one owner who not only went up against the Worker's Guild to
hire blacklisted Engineers, but was the first to buy surplus Warships with full armaments to haul out to the rim worlds, brilliant idea by the way. None of
the rest of us thought of it, we all had to have our ships built in the big ship builder's yard at Hungurt. The Defiance was the first one any company
bought except for your four. Too bad we didn't hire anyone who knew how to shoot those impressive looking guns mounted on her hull.” The man was slightly
taller than a Lex, but much shorter than Jon. “I have spent the last few months hiding in the galley of this vessel pretending to be the cook. As soon as
you can get me back to Lexon II, I'll have the paperwork drawn up and turn her over to you legally. Its far to dangerous out here for my company to risk
losing another ship like this. I hope you'll find a better use for her. Besides, five is a nice number to have when you're just getting started.”

“Admiral Connell, sir. Message from the Mercury.” the female COM officer told him. “She's confirming your coords and says she can be there in four hours.”

“Thank you crewman.. ahh sorry, I mean well, shoot! How many females are on this boat?” Jon asked.

“There were ten sir.” the female coms officer told him. “The pirates took them somewhere. I think some of them are hiding on the ship. I know at least two
who were taken off by another of the pirate vessels.”

“Wonderful!” Jon exclaimed. “Its bad enough I have one on my assault team and another as my Chief Engineer, but at least I can count on those two.” Jon was
beginning to get flustered. “Now you're telling me I've got ten more hiding somewhere on the ship, plus however many are coming in on Mercury with our
assault teams. I can't be responsible for all of them if I can't even find them!”

“I can try to get them to show themselves. Maybe you could talk to them and let them know they're safe now.”

“No! One look at me and they'll all jump out of the nearest air lock! Tell them to find some place where the danger of sudden decompression is minimal and
to stay put. We're flying this ship into a hive of criminals known to have no compassion. I expect us to take a lot of very unfriendly fire!” Jon warned
them all. “The last thing I need is to have a bunch of hysterical females running around screaming.”

“Navigation reports that we will be leaving slipspace soon Admiral.” one of the bridge crew reported.

“Very well. Jinkly, can you fly this ship while I go see to getting my team on the ground?” Jon addressed the male still standing on the bridge in his
suit.

“I believe I can Captain.”

“I don't know where the coords will put us. I hope it will be out on the rim of the system. However, in case we slide in next to something mean and nasty,
be ready to open fire as best as you can.” Jon told everyone. “If that means standing in an air lock and throwing rocks, just make sure they don't hit my
shuttles!”