Privateer Tales 00.3: Marque Restored by Jamie Mcfarlane

Author:Jamie Mcfarlane [McFarlane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: privateer, science fiction series, Pirates, Space Opera, Colonization
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing
Published: 2017-02-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5 – Gila Monster

I pushed a crate of parts away from the main bulk.

“Incoming comm request,” the AI announced, not unexpectedly. I unstrapped the grenade launcher tube from my thigh, popped it open and affixed it beneath the barrel of my weapon. The Popeyes could manufacture a variety of ammunition and while not completely necessary, I found it easier to aim the RPG with the optional tube. I fired and the crate exploded brilliantly.

“Accept comm. Hello Belvakuski,” I said, as I pushed another crate away from pile and into the deep dark.

“What are you doing? You can’t hope to defeat us in those silly suits.” She was right. Sangilak was fifty percent bigger than Intrepid and there was nothing a mechanized infantry suit could do if it got down to fisticuffs.

Once the crate reached twenty meters from our position, I fired a second round and blew it up. A little piece of me enjoyed the destruction, even though I knew I was destroying something valuable to my future.

“Did you really waste all that time setting up a trap for us, just to return empty handed?” I asked, tossing a third crate.

“You understand that once you’re out of crates, there is no reason to keep you alive?” Belvakuski answered, her jewelry annoyingly clinking over the comms.

I fired at the third crate and blew it up.

“I’ve been down this road before, my dear,” I said, pushing another crate away. I was gambling that she actually wanted what was in the crates. If she was just here to stop their delivery, she could blow the two of us up with the cargo and I was making a bad play. Although the fact that she hadn’t blown up the ship as soon as she netted it gave me a certain amount of comfort. “You plan to kill us either way. I might as well buy us some time.”

“Two hours, nineteen minutes,” she replied, with my AI translating. “We are quite aware of the Abasi cruiser and will be gone well before it arrives.”

I fired another shot and pushed another crate into space. We had almost thirty-two crates. At this rate, I’d run out in fifteen minutes and we’d get to play a new, less fun game.

“Stop it! What do you propose?”

“It’s not hard,” I said. “Leave your smallest ship behind. Twenty minutes before the Abasi arrive, we’ll load the crates into your hold. If we don’t, your people can shoot us.”

“What prevents my ship from opening fire - killing you - once we have the crates? Even my smallest ship can destroy humans in their toys.”

“That’s the fun part,” I said. “If your crew can take us out, then you win. If we live, we win.”

“You are very calm for the position you find yourself in.”

“Compartmentalization,” I said. “It’s a male thing. Saves on multitasking.”

“You are very strange, Liam Hoffen. I will enjoy having you in my bed if you survive this,” she said. “I accept your bargain.”

Tabby fired at the crate that was floating away.

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