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“You’re not locking us in again?” Steiger asked, twirling a half-empty bottle between her fingers.
Several days had passed since the covert resupply operation, and relations between the mercenary and Zack had remained somewhat strained.
“I can, if that turns your crank,” Decker replied with an indifferent shrug. “But this is your tribe, and there’s no magic to our approach.”
“As opposed to the magic that makes this ship a pocket frigate? I suppose you have a jolly roger in your flag locker somewhere.”
“Probably.” He finished his drink. “You can join us on the bridge if you like your boredom in generous servings.”
“Not very trusting are you?”
“Approaching an unknown rendezvous with colors aloft and the band playing is not really a good strategy for long-term survival. We’d rather know what things look like before we blunder into them.”
“At the risk of sounding churlish,” Kidder interjected, “that didn’t work out too well with the late Ser Syko.”
“And yet, he’s the late Ser Syko, and we’re taking a pleasure cruise along the Rim, Tran. I think that worked out splendidly for everyone, Syko and his goons excepted, and that’s a blessing for Andoth and the galaxy at large.”
“As you say.” The former silahdar inclined his head.
Talyn stuck her head into the saloon.
“I’ve decided to drop out of FTL some distance away from the given coordinates. That means we’re going silent in eight hours. I suggest you all take whatever rest, recreation, and sanitation you need. Once we’re at sublight, I’m shutting the ship down except for the essentials.”
She looked at Decker and jerked her head towards the passageway.
“I’d like a final check on our emcon condition before then. If you haven’t had too much of that Shrehari swill, we might want to do it now rather than later, just in case we’ve had a degradation in some of the shielding.”
“Roger that.” Decker tossed his bottle into the recycler and rose. “Duty calls. Feel free to enjoy the amenities for as long as you want. Like the boss lady said, we’re going to full emcon in eight, so plan accordingly.”
Steiger got up too.
“Mind if I tag along?”
“Why?” Decker asked the mercenary.
“Curiosity. Your ship is fascinating; quite unlike any I’ve seen.”
“And your curiosity doesn’t become a passenger who’s hired us to transport contraband,” Talyn said, her tone distinctly unpleasant. “Engineering and combat spaces are out of bounds to passengers.”
“And yet I’ve seen the inside of your magazine after seeing the inside of your distinctly non-standard supply containers.”
“A one-off for the sake of expediency. You’re restricted to this deck now.”
Steiger made a vaguely mocking hand gesture, imitating a salute.
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
“You know she’s trying to get under your skin, right?” Zack murmured once they were out of earshot.
“Under my skin and into your pants, which she’s thankfully managed only once.” Talyn gestured at the ladder, inviting him to go down first. “Try to keep it that way, Zack. I hope we can off-load her when we meet the rest of them. If she’s ex-Fleet as you suspect, she must have been in the security branch. They irritate the heck out of me every time I get near one. You’re sure you secured all the hatches leading off the passenger deck?”
“They aren’t going anywhere other than the saloon or their cabins, and if Steiger decides to try overriding the locks, the AI will let everyone know – loudly.”
“Doing things with the ship’s systems again that the designers never thought of?”
“Got to keep busy during a long crossing. Sex, booze and sleep will only get me so far.” They stepped into a tight maintenance passage.
“Maybe studying for a commission might occupy your time.”
“Huh.” He grunted, dropping into a crouch to check the keel junction box. “Why the heck should I go for a commission? My warrant pays me a major’s rates, I get saluted by the enlisted ranks when I’m in uniform, but I don’t have to put up with all the officer crap. The way I see it, I’m sitting in the sweetest spot of all.”
“The way I see it if you intend to have a long career, your next promotion is to major. Might as well get prepared.”
“Nope. Not in the middle of a mission.” He shut the panel and stood up. “This one’s good.”
Talyn pulled out a hand-held sensor and began walking aft, looking for emission leaks near the power conduits.
“Anyway,” he continued, following his partner down the narrow corridor, “I’ve got enough time in command of a company group, even if it was made up of Trans-Coalsack slave-soldiers, that I’m eligible for a direct commission without sitting for any exams.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You’re not a Marine, darling.” He blew her a mocking kiss. “I just have to apply and get the career management trolls to validate my field experience. After that, it’s the Commandant’s call whether I skip over the promotion list or get slotted for a career board.”
“So prepare your application.” She squatted by the aft junction box, opened the panel, and checked her sensor. “Clear. We can do the engine spaces now.”
“And we’re back to why should I bother?”
“Because you can go a lot further than chief warrant officer.”
“I never figured to become a command sergeant, so I’d say my career aspirations have been more than surpassed. Why are you so interested in pushing me up the greasy pole?”
“Because I care?” She looked over her shoulder and gave him a disingenuous smile.
“That’s the most insincere thing I’ve heard all day.” Decker’s roar of laughter echoed off the bare metal bulkheads. “You’re just trying to get me to a rank where I can shoulder some of the officer-type responsibilities for our team.”
“Guilty. Trying to explain your operational decisions to the brass is becoming a full-time chore after every mission.”
“I’m a big boy. I can stand at attention in front of Captain Ulrich’s desk and take my medicine.”
“No doubt.” She opened the hatch to the fusion reactor compartment. “But I’m the commanding officer, so I get to wear the nincompoopery of my staff.”
“May I add nincompoopery to the Decker dictionary?”
“Of course. You caused it to be expelled from my over-tired brain; but enough persiflage, mon ami. Let’s pick up the pace so we can get a decent night’s sleep.”
**
“You’re sure we can join you on the bridge?” Steiger wore an entirely feigned look of innocence. “You haven’t changed your mind about locking us up?”
“If you keep up the sarcastic warrior princess act, I will change my mind,” Decker growled, but he waved her and Kidder over the coaming anyway. “You can take the two empty stations over there. I’ve disconnected them.”
“Sixty seconds to emergence,” Talyn announced, cutting off the mercenary’s reply. “You’d better be sitting when the countdown hits zero. I’m not picking you up if you face plant.”
This time, Steiger had the grace to obey without a further word.
The universe shifted, making Decker feel like his guts were about to take a fast trip up his throat. He swallowed hard and then touched his screen.
“We’re systems down.”
“And now the boredom begins, Ser Kidder, Sera Steiger,” Talyn said, rising from the helm console. “The AI will digest and collate anything worthy of our attention. You can stay here and watch the readout. I’m grabbing a coffee. You want one, lover boy?” She asked Zack.
“My usual – black as your soul.”
“I don’t have a soul,” she shot back before disappearing down the passageway.
“So we’re going to sit here and wait to see what happens?” Kidder asked.
“We’re not exactly sitting, Tran,” Decker replied. “When our hyperspace bubble collapsed, it left us sailing along at a good clip on the same course at a non-relativistic velocity. Mind you, considering the distances involved, it feels like we’re sitting still, though I wouldn’t recommend taking a giant leap off the ship right now.”
“Of course.” He dipped his head once. “I’m a ground pounder so you’ll forgive my less than stellar knowledge of space travel mechanics.”
“But to answer your question, we want to see what’s happening at the coordinates you gave us before committing and since we’re not talking about the place next door, we’ll have to wait until useful energy waves reach us. That can take some time, especially if your friends are late.”
“You are careful, aren’t you, Ser Whate?” If Steiger’s crooked smile was meant to be disarming, it didn’t work.
“We’re alive. People who tried to screw us over aren’t. I like to keep the odds in my favor.”
Talyn re-appeared with two mugs and handed one to Zack.
“If the coffee is soulless, don’t blame me. You ordered it that way.”
She took her seat at the helm again and turned to face their passengers.
“There’s plenty left for you, but it’s self-service. I recommend having some as a way to pass the next few hours without falling asleep. Silent running is about as boring as it gets aboard a starship.”
“That’s very naval of you, Captain Pasek.” Steiger stood up and nodded towards the door. “C’mon Tran, let’s sample her brew.”
“Anything on the sensors?” Talyn asked once they were alone.
“Plenty but none of it concerns us unless you’ve suddenly developed a deep and abiding interest in astrophysics.”
“Pass. It was my worst subject at the Academy.”
“And what was your best?”
“Keeping my mouth shut,” she replied nodding towards the sound of footsteps in the passageway.
“I think you coffee has plenty of soul,” Steiger said, smiling at Talyn. “Anything yet?”
“You’re kidding right?” Decker shook his head. “According to your timetable, we’re ahead of schedule.”
“So, how long does this go on for?”
“Until I’m happy we won’t stumble into something we won’t like. I did warn you that running silent can add years to your life if you enjoy boredom.” He took a sip of his brew and winced. “Plenty of spirit in this one. You may not be the dark, empty vessel you pretend to be, mon capitaine.”
“Perhaps we should head back to our quarters where you can probe my dark empty corners,” Talyn replied, watching for Steiger’s reaction. When she came up empty, the spy shrugged. “Or not.”
Decker stretched his legs out and slumped back, balancing the mug on his stomach.
“This is nice. No one shooting at us, no systems screaming for attention; just four friends enjoying a little coffee break.”
“Maybe we could tell each other war stories,” Steiger suggested. “I’ve got a special request because my friend Tran here doesn’t want to ask.”
“Oh?” Zack’s eyebrows shot up, and a sly smile crossed his lips. He knew what was coming.
“Your little legend about doppelgangers is cute. But since we’re betting our lives on you two, perhaps it might be the right time to tell the tale of why Zack Decker, the last commander of the Fifth Orta, or what remained of it after the Garada fiasco, is pretending to be Bill Whate, first mate and gunner of a mercenary Q-ship.”
Zack grinned at his two passengers.
“Who’s never thought of changing his identity after the kind of crap I went through in the last few years?”
“Why?” Tran asked.
“Why not? I wanted to let go of the past and needed a job after we got home, one that would let me forget and more importantly let the folks who thought me dead forget. So far, it’s worked. I even had you wondering whether your memory was playing tricks.”
“And what’s your story?” Steiger challenged Talyn.
“Crazy rich lady with a starship and an itch for adventure. I met Zack in a bar on Mykonos and the one night stand turned into a partnership. He was trying to get reacquainted with the bottle. I got him reacquainted with something he’s superb at, cleaning up filth.”
“And your name is really Pru Pasek. PP for short?”
“No, but I have enough money to make that identity stick. It’ll do until I get tired of it.”
“Tran tells me you’re a heck of a military trainer and commanding officer, Sergeant – or is that Major – Decker.”
“It’s nothing at all. I’m retired from the Corps. Zack will do when there are no unfriendly ears around. I also answer to ‘hey you’ and the sound of a Shrehari ale popping open. For official purposes, Ser Whate will do even better. There are still plenty of folks in the galaxy who’d like to tan my hide and hang it on the wall.”
“It sounds like you have a knack for making enemies.”
Decker snorted.
“You have no idea, hence the change of appearance, name and career.”
“What is it you folks say: once a Marine, always a Marine?”
“Yeah. So?” Zack glanced at his sensor, hoping he looked like he was fishing for an excuse to end this conversation.
“If Tran wasn’t blowing smoke up my ass, we could use someone like you, and I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t mind going back to your old line of business.”
Steiger examined him with an almost frightening intensity, to gauge his reaction.
“I have no idea what Tran’s been saying, which means the smoke you feel tickling your butt is pretty much your own business.”
He took another glance at the sensor readout, but this time, he kept his eyes on the screen.
“I’m happy with my life these days, so you might as well put away whatever you were going to dangle in front of me.”
“And here I thought you were a merc for hire.” Steiger laughed derisively. “You should listen before making up your mind.”
Talyn gave Zack a dirty look.
“It costs nothing to listen, buddy, and we’ve got a whole lot of sweet nothing going on anyway, so I’d like to hear Sera Steiger speak her piece.”
“I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I don’t, but I got rich by listening to propositions of the financial kind before tossing them away. My companion here isn’t quite as motivated by profit as I am.”
“Yeah.” The mercenary smirked. “He’s got other motivations.”
“I’m right here, you know,” Decker protested half-heartedly.
Steiger held up her hand, palm facing Zack.
“I’m negotiating with the organ grinder now, lover.”
“As far as I can tell, we’re not negotiating anything,” Talyn replied, an amused smile playing on her lips.
“Not yet in any case,” Steiger agreed. “My people aren’t just in the market for weaponry, we’re also in the market for trained soldiers. Again, going by what Tran said, your partner would be a heck of an asset, not just as a fighter but as an advisor.”
“Are you preparing to invade the Empire?”
“No.” She shook her head. “We’re working on correcting a massive wrong done to some terrific folks. I hear Ser Decker has a thing about injustice.”
“You mean doing what he can to avoid being the victim thereof? Yeah, he’s good at it.”
Decker caught Tran’s eye and grinned briefly, to show he was amused and not at all put out by the mischaracterization.
“What’s in it for us?” Talyn asked.
“A long-term contract. Action. The virtuous feeling of being on the side of the justice.”
“Death?”
“Depends on how good you two are, especially the ex-Marine you sleep with.”
“Oh, he’s good. Take it from me.”
“Though I’m sure Sera Pasek doesn’t mean quite the same thing, I’ll second that remark,” Kidder said. “Zack Decker managed to turn around a screwed up company in no time flat and that, among his other virtues, saved two hundred lives when the mission went sideways.”
Steiger held up her hands in surrender.
“Enough. I’m sure Ser Decker, or Ser Whate if he likes, doesn’t need his ego inflated.” She dropped her hands again. “First things first. We need to get the convoy together and reach our destination without interference. I’ll hire you to ensure that we do. Once we’re there, and you’re still interested, we can make it worth your while if you’ll lend us your skills.”
“I prefer Ser Whate right now and where, exactly, is it that you’re correcting a massive injustice?” Decker asked.
“Care to take a guess? A smart guy like you must be keeping tabs on what’s happening along the Rim.”
Zack locked eyes with Steiger.
“Garonne?”
The mercenary tapped the side of her nose with her index finger.
“Any problems with that?”
“Depends. Is our pay tied to the rebels winning, or are we getting paid no matter what?”
“You’re getting paid. If you stick around long enough for Garonne to get its level three status, I’ll see that you get a bonus.”
“So our pay depends on the Senate doing what you consider the right thing? How stupid do we look?”
“The Senate will go along once we kick the Celeste administration off-planet, especially if the Fleet decides to step in.”
“Maybe the Fleet will side with the colonial government.”
“Perhaps. We’ll take our chances.”
“And you want us to take ours?”
“Got anything better to do right now?” Steiger smirked. “You’re carrying ordnance for a rebel army. If the Navy stops this ship, maybe they’ll take you in.”
“Blackmail is such an ugly thing,” Talyn said. “But well played nonetheless.”
She put her hand on her holstered blaster.
“Of course, we could always space the two of you and sell your cargo for a profit.”
Kidder looked distinctly pained, and he gave Decker a pleading look.
“Enough,” Zack snarled. “If we’re done with the posturing, why don’t we agree that we’ll give your convoy an armed escort to Garonne? Once we’re there, we’ll decide whether to stick around and extend our contract or leave, no harm, no foul. You pay in installments. That’s the best you’re going to get until we figure out what the state of play looks like. Agreed?”
Steiger nodded once.
“Agreed.”
The AI chimed softly, calling Zack’s attention back to his screen.
“Two ships dropped out of FTL near the rendezvous coordinates,” he said. “Their power curve is consistent with small freighters.”
“That must be Verrill,” Steiger said. “He was going for the mother lode.”
“And this mother lode was where, exactly?”
“You have your secrets, Captain Pasek,” she wagged her finger at Talyn, “we have ours.”
“Fair enough,” she replied. “Might I suggest that if we’re being paid to protect your mother lode, we go ‘up systems’ and join them while we wait for number three?”
“By all means, Captain.”
“I assume you have a recognition signal?” Decker asked. “It would be a shame if your man Verrill’s ships jumped out on a scare or got stupid and opened fire.”
“Of course,” Steiger replied. She fished a data wafer from her jacket and tossed it at Zack, who snatched it out of the air with practiced ease. “Feed that through your commo array when we drop out of FTL. I’m assuming we’re going to do a micro jump rather than join them at sublight speed, right?”
“Right.” Talyn turned towards the helm console. “Be prepared for your coffee to try a bid at resurrection.”
