Incursion at Elea Station by Jamie McFarlane

Author:Jamie McFarlane [McFarlane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing LLC
Published: 2020-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

14

Mutiny

"Noah, heave to," I said.

We had roughly three days before Hornblower and the larger Mendari fleet arrived. The fact that Elea's mining platform had fired at both Intrepid and the Mendari sloop was a mystery we needed to resolve before that time.

"What you be wantin' from Prajna?" Prajna asked.

"Feel like running down Intrepid's engine?" I asked.

"Trep needin' that."

"What's the drill, Liam?" Noah's face popped up on my HUD.

"You need to do a damage assessment," I said. "I'm sending Prajna after that engine. Tell Berifid that if they help capture the engine, we'll let them salvage this sloop."

"You're letting them have an operational ship?" Noah asked.

"Everything but critical ship systems to start with," I said. "This sloop is a frakking mess and it sails like a brick. I'm not sure we have anyone who can command it given the way it bleeds inertia."

"Captain, I believe you have inadvertently eliminated an option," Jonathan's Phentara group said.

"Hold that thought, Jonathan," I said. "Noah, talk to Berifid. Prajna will sail the Musi over to capture that engine. We'll conference in twenty minutes in the wardroom."

"What about Matt Matt, Inder, and Zaida?" Tabby asked.

"Good point. Bring them along," I said. "We'll move to the civilian conference room."

I slid the Mendari sloop up next to Intrepid. The two ships’ docking collars were incompatible, so Intrepid spooled out physical mooring lines, awkwardly lashing the two vessels together. In that neither ship was underway, the lines were used to keep small changes from allowing drift.

I'll admit to being a bit surprised when I was met by four Musi at Intrepid's airlock. Out of breath, they had a grav-cart loaded with all manner of tools, cables and crates.

"Captain Liam Hoffen," Berifid started. He sounded worried, but then Musi always sounded like that to me. "Noah Hoffen Munay said that we were to meet you at this airlock. That you had a ship we were allowed to explore."

"And discover treasure," Tonifi said. Tonifi was the female Musi who, I was pretty sure, figured out that my so-called simulation had actually been a live battle.

"Treasure," the other Musi echoed, mesmerized by her words. Their whiskers twitched and their small hands rubbed together like they were cleaning something precious.

"You must first help Prajna capture Intrepid's lost engine," I said.

"Intrepid lost an engine?" Berifid started to run back into the ship, the other Musi following along.

"We knew it could happen," I called after them, stopping them in place. "It was loosely connected. We were grateful it made it this far."

Berifid raced back to me. "You are not telling Berifid everything."

"No," I said. "I haven't told you about all that I found on the ship. I'm afraid some of the treasure has spilled out the back. I hope we didn't lose everything from the cargo hold."

Berifid looked around, his beady eyes darting aimlessly. "You have allowed the cargo hold to stay open? Treasure is escaping?"

I worked to keep from smiling. The Musi were easily manipulated. The fact was, I didn’t believe I would be putting them in additional danger and they would definitely benefit.

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