Gray Panthers Captain Short Blade (29 page)

The Bia and the Nike in formation, in the Tupu system

9 May 2129

“Nike, your shuttle attack on the enemy formation was outstanding. Neither friendly ship has spotted us yet. Have you been able to determine from the ship’s data the location of the pirate base?”

“Thank you, Commander Erickson. We haven’t determined the location of the base yet, but we do have a Libra admiral who’s demanding to speak with you. He says it concerns the survival not only of the League of Planets, but Earth and Dixie, as well. What should we do with the two friendly vessels, sir?”

“Keep the admiral on ice. I’ll get to him when I can. Contact the Beater through secure communication and have the captain order the Vengeance out of the system, without mentioning our involvement. We’ll then carry on with the search for the pirate base.”

“Beater, you are to maintain your position but instruct the cruiser to exit this system. You are not to mention our presence in your message.”

“Beater acknowledges orders. We are a civilian ship not under the orders of … your organization.”

“Lieutenant Short Blade, the Gray Panthers have fully mobilized. You and your entire crew are subject to military law. If you do not obey your orders, Lieutenant, we will be forced to order Commander Poland to assume command of your ship,” Adams replied. She didn’t know what to do next if her bluff didn’t work.

“Captain, we are your crew and won’t accept any orders other than yours,” Poland said. The rest of the crew showed their support, and Short Blade nodded his appreciation.

“Vengeance, on my authority as a council enforcer, I order you to proceed to the Jangwa system to repair your ship. You will remain there for sixty hours as a reserve to this mission. If you are not contacted in that time, you are to return to Glory to await new orders. Your participation in this mission is completed. You are not to mention the Jacka shuttle squadron that came to our assistance, as they are still a classified project. Acknowledge.”

“Vengeance acknowledges our orders. We are returning to the Jangwa system. Good luck, Beater.” Thrust was surprised that he wasn’t angry. He’d been given an order, and as a good officer he would obey it, but he hoped that one day he would learn what had happened.

Harve was in his quarters, frustrated and shaking in fury.
We destroyed almost the entire pirate fleet. We must be close to the base and my family. What the hell is going on?

“Captain Adams, we’ve discovered the location of the pirate base. We’re only five minutes by FTL. At this point they must be nearly defenseless, with the number of ships that have been destroyed. It would be advisable to hit them now, before they realize how vulnerable they are.”

Adams looked at her operations officer, who was waiting for a reply. She imagined the other thousand missing ships overwhelming her ship as soon as it dropped from FTL.

“Thank you, Tommy. I need to relay this information to Commander Erickson so we can draw up a plan.”
This has to be a trap,
she thought
. It can’t be this easy. We should use the Beater and a flight of unmanned shuttles. If it’s a trap, we clear up loose ends and find out what’s waiting for us. If not, I used prudent judgment in assessing enemy strengths.

“Commander Erickson, we found the enemy base. It’s five minutes away by FTL. Recommend a reconnaissance in force consisting of a flight of unmanned shuttles and the Beater. That may be enough so we don’t have to expose either the Nike or the Bia to any public attention.”

Is that woman a coward, or really intelligent?
Erickson wondered.

“Make it happen, Captain Adams, with a squadron of unmanned shuttles. Erickson, out.”

He knows, but he can’t prove anything.

“Beater, you are to jump to the coordinates I just sent to you as soon as my squadron of shuttles arrives at your location. If the enemy force is too strong, you may withdraw. This will be a reconnaissance in force. Acknowledge.”

“Beater acknowledges orders.” Short Blade replied. Addressing his crew, he said, “Looks like we’re going to be given the honor of attacking the base. I think the Gray Panthers didn’t ask permission from the League of Planets to enter their space and wants us to get all the credit—and maybe avoid a war.”

“Captain, shuttles are now on our port side and signaling that they are awaiting your orders,” Beater announced.

“Tell them we jump in three minutes. They are not to open fire unless the Beater fires first, or gives the command to.”

Pirate base, in the Tupu system

9 May 2129

When the Beater dropped into normal space, Short Blade realized right away that they were less than ten miles from their target.

“This is Captain Short Blade, of the Beater. You are ordered to surrender now, or you will be destroyed like the ships you sent out against us.”
I’ve never seen anything so big in space—there must be fifty ships cobbled together,
he thought.

“Enemy shuttles and assorted smaller ships are evacuating the base. No warships or major ships are left in the vicinity. No reply received yet,” Beater announced.

“All shuttles are cleared to go after any ship that tries to escape,” Short Blade instructed. “Try to disable ships instead of destroying them. There may be hostages.”
This is too easy.
“Shuttle flight commander, do you have any troops to board the station?”

“Beater, we are not carrying troops. Do you want us to request troops to secure the station?”

“No, shuttle flight commander, you are to withdraw and wait for orders.”

“Vengeance, I’m sending you the coordinates for the base. I need you here as soon as possible,” Short Blade advised. He then turned to Poland. “You have the flight deck, John. I’m going to brief our warriors on what to do when they board the station.”

He walked briskly through the passageway, and as he entered the cargo bay he felt a rush of adrenaline wash over him.

“Corporal Poke, we’re going to dock with the base, and your team will begin a search. There are captives on board, so avoid any unnecessary weapons fire. Attempt to round up any pirates you find. The Vengeance will be here soon with additional personnel to reinforce you. Any questions?”

“Is it true that we’ll receive ten percent of everything that’s recovered, since we’re not on the government payroll?” Poke asked.

“If so, we’ll all be rich, won’t we? Now prepare to board the base. John, go ahead and find us a docking station.”

Short Blade noticed that the hatchway lights were green. The warriors flipped their helmet visors down and exited the hatch. There was no sound of weapons fire as the hatch closed.

“Pull away, John. We don’t want anyone to board us. Are we receiving the boarding party transmissions?” Short Blade rushed back to the flight deck to once again take control of the mission.

“Sir, we’re receiving a message from the station.”

“Unidentified ship, we’ve begun to take over the station. The pirates were using us for slave labor. Those that didn’t leave on the ships are trying to hide. We’ve captured the armories and are waiting for your instructions.”

“Continue to take over the station. We’ll have ships here soon to evacuate you all. The other ships in my fleet are making sure that no one tries to infiltrate or escape. I have troops on the station already. Be sure not to fire on them. Who is your leader?”

“I am Blu Harve. I have organized the resistance to the pirates.”

Epilogue

Daniels World

19 May 2129

Dan sat in his command center reviewing the reports and closing out the operation against the pirates. The government officials on Dixie were satisfied that the League of Planets had done all it could to recover the ships and crews lost to the pirates.

Short Blade and his crew had been honored by the Jacka government for assisting the Fire fleet cruiser Vengeance in destroying the pirate fleet and capturing their base. There had been no mention of any other ships being involved. Superior Captain Thrust was awarded the Order of the Flame and promoted to admiral. His maintenance officer, Harve, was awarded the Order of the Flash and promoted to Space Dock Operations Officer. Harve’s wife was hired as a consultant.

Dan’s hands started to shake as he read the debrief of a captured Libra admiral. According to his statement, the pirates had been working for the Libra Alliance without knowing it. The ships they captured were sold to a representative of the government of the Republic. Able-bodied crews were sold along with the ships. Captured passengers were put to use as slave labor. A secret alliance had been established between the Republic and the Libras. The admiral said there had been an invasion by a new species, and for two years the Republic navy and the Libra navy had been engaged in what had amounted to little more than a delaying action. The only bright spot in the war was that the new enemy didn’t use FTL technology. The admiral stated in his report that key members of the League of Planets were aware of the war and had assisted to the best of their abilities, while keeping the war a secret. He said the unified navies had started out with over a thousand ships, but they were now down to only a hundred and couldn’t build ships fast enough to replace their losses. The Republic was preparing to admit its failure and ask for help from the League of Planets and both human planets.

Dan closed the files and turned off the lights.
Well, retirement didn’t last long, did it?
he thought as he headed for the elevator and Juanita..

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