[Future Chronology Anthology 09] • Kuiper Station

Mutiny!

“Well Jonah looks like the Captain has made a decision. Your services are no longer needed, if they ever were,” said Loring.

“What do you mean?” asked Jonah.

“I mean the Captain used you as a decoy to distract us while he set up his little surprise party. I don't blame you Jonah although I wouldn't have believed you were that gullible.”

Jonah said nothing as more shouts were heard. A modern fight with hand guns was nothing like in the past. The guns were almost silent. The projectiles were intelligent enough to guide themselves once a target was marked. They were also intelligent enough not to breach the hull of ships but only human targets unless programmed otherwise. So the only way that Jonah could judge the disposition of the battle was when someone shouted.

One of the station men returned to inform Loring that they were under attack by the ship's crew. A station man had been injured but the others were able to hold off the attackers.

Loring said, “Okay Sam, what I want you to do is get Glassen and work on the power shutdown scenario we've discussed, the rest of the men can hold out until the Captain realizes his mistake and calls off this idiot attack.”

The man ran towards the others to get Glassen.

Loring turned to Jonah, “Jonah what has happened is that the Captain is one hundred years behind in his thinking. Maybe you can use sidearms if you have overwhelming control of your environment but if you don't, maybe you shouldn't force your enemies hands.”

“What are you going to do Jack?” asked Jonah.

“We are going to wrest control of the Starfisher from the Captain from down here. The bridge will be superfluous once we are finished and the Captain will either surrender or die.”