Pirates: Book 6, the New Frontiers Series by Jack L Knapp

Author:Jack L Knapp [Knapp, Jack L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-19T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-three

“We’ve got a target.” Lanny’s voice was calm. He might have been remarking on the state of cleanliness aboard the pirate craft. “She’s the Sage, NAU registry, Captain Simons. Mixed cargo for delivery in the Southeast Asia Confederation, departed Mars three days ago. The information is solid, from a trusted source.”

“What now, Captain?” asked A. J.

“Now I work with the computer to plot an intercept course.

Simons must be a cautious skipper. He’s been holding his acceleration down, which puts him farther away than I expected. Even so, it can be done.

“Andy, I’ll want you to supervise mounting the lasers we salvaged from the scoots. Should be easy enough, they’re self-contained, and there are four on the deck of the first scoot in the hold. Individually, they don’t pack much power, but with four that should be plenty. Make sure the scoot is fully fueled before you take it out, and everyone will be suited up just in case, even those of us who’ll be staying on board. The second scoot is backup, so make sure it’s fueled too. Elmo and Ward to stay behind, ready, in case something happens.

“Weld the laser bases above the forward viewport but be careful not to damage it or obstruct the view. Minimum necessary amps, okay? You don’t want to burn through the hull. And make sure they’re lined up with the long axis of the ship. That’s how I’ll aim them, by nudging the bow impellers. Don’t try for convergence, just align them in parallel. Mount the first one just to port of the centerline, the second to starboard, then the other two outboard of the first ones.”

“We know the drill, Captain,” said Andy. “Just don’t boost before we get back on board. Long walk from here to Terra, thirsty too. Not a single bar on the way!”

“I won’t,” Lanny replied. “We’ve got plenty of time, and it doesn’t hurt to go over the details.

“Tack-welding the lasers and the controllers shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. No recoil, so a good tack-weld should be enough. The preliminary course shows only one change during boost. First vector, toward the predicted intercept point—make that about a thousand kilometers behind the PIP—then a final vector to overtake and a nudge to bring us alongside. Gee loads, one and a half gees max to overtake, duration 186 minutes, decreasing to half a gee just before you board the scoots. Thereafter, I’ll conform to Sage’s movements.

“We’ll be approaching from the rear and below, so I’ll burn the ventral antenna mount first. Engagement range, about half a klick. Then take out the dorsal antenna mount as I come alongside. A wire would work as a temporary antenna, but only if there’s a place to attach it, and the more time it takes them to jury-rig something, the better. That’s why I’ll target the mounts.

“Terra’s only another day’s flight time, even as poky as Sage is being, and for all we know, a Patrol cruiser might already be there.

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