Shattered Empire Omnibus: Books 1-3 by D. M. Pruden

Author:D. M. Pruden [Pruden, D. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fuzzy Slipper Publishing

Bringing Guests

“What are you doing?” asked Hayden.

Malkovich’s attention was on the control interface as he inputted command codes. “I’m arming missiles to take out that ship.”

“You can’t. Stromm’s patrol ship is still in the area. If that repair vessel goes up, there’s no telling what kind of shitstorm will unfold.”

“Well, I’m not prepared to risk Stromm gaining control of Scimitar. Is there anyone aboard her that can put up a resistance? An automated defence system?”

Hayden thought of Gunney and the couple of engineers and techs working with Cora and Chin. Except for the gunnery officer, there was nobody with combat training. Scimitar’s only defences were the Glenatat dark energy cannons but deploying those would precipitate the same crisis he wanted to prevent.

“No, but I have an idea. I need access to communications.”

Malkovich eyed him.

“Look,” said Hayden, “there is only one solution here, and I need to talk to Scimitar.”

“I’m listening, Lieutenant.”

“We want to avoid any kind of conflict that will scare off Stromm, am I right?”

“Yes.”

“And neither of us wishes to risk Scimitar in a firefight. This ship we’re on is undetectable, at least until you fire those missiles. We can use that advantage to board her unseen. With your Rangers, we will have the manpower to quietly overpower the repair ship’s crew when they dock. We can avoid attracting unwanted attention from Stromm’s patrol ship and spooking Stromm himself.”

“We? It sounds like you joined us.”

Hayden shrugged. “You know: the enemy of my enemy.”

Malkovich appraised him. “I don’t know. You have too much of your father about you; the Kaine duplicitous nature. I’m not sure I can trust you.”

“I’ll program a five-second delay into the comms; put a gun at my head, and if I say anything to betray you, feel free to pull the trigger. Your only other option is to reveal yourself by shooting at everybody. Given that your people shot at us once before, my gunnery officer won’t hesitate to track our location and blow us out of the skies.”

“So, Scimitar is not as wounded as you let us believe, eh?”

Hayden put on his best poker face and stared impassively back at the general.

“Very well, Kaine. We will try it your way.” He unclipped his sidearm holster. “You may have your delayed communication.” Reaching across the console, he released the lockout on Hayden’s communications panel then drew his pistol. “But I’m keeping my missiles at the ready.”

“Fair enough.” Hayden set up the tight-beam transmission and programmed in the delay.

After wiping the perspiration from his hands onto his trousers, he opened the comm link.

“Scimitar, this is Lieutenant Kaine. Are you there, Cora?”

A few seconds later, the speaker crackled. “Thank goodness you’re alive. Where are you?”

He glanced at Malkovich before replying. “Umm, it’s kind of difficult to explain, but I’m tight-beaming you from about fifteen hundred kilometres off your port stern.”

An even longer pause ensued. He imagined Cora examining the output from every drone and sensor sweep that ran through her systems.

“I can’t verify that. You’ll have to prove your identity to me.

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