Three Steps to Oblivion by Ian J. Malone & Chris Kennedy

Author:Ian J. Malone & Chris Kennedy [Malone, Ian J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seventh Seal Press
Published: 2021-11-22T22:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 16

CIC, EMS Tyndall, Hyperspace

“Two minutes to emergence,” Frank called.

“Very well,” Kami said from her command chair. “Please make sure we’re all set for emergence, DCO.”

The damage control officer checked his board. “All stations manned and ready. Condition One set throughout the ship.”

“Weapons warm and ready,” the Riders’ XO, Captain Anderson, announced.

“Very well,” Kami replied.

“You think they’ll hit us here?” Taylor asked.

“Here’s as good a place as any. An out of the way system on the way to a shitty system that’s even farther out of the way. No planetary control or population.” Kami shrugged. “Yeah, probably. It’s where I’d do it if I were the pirates.”

“Makes sense.”

“I may have improved our odds, too.” She smiled.

“Improved it how, exactly?”

“You know when I went over there to talk to the ship’s new CO?”

“You said you were doing final defensive coordination.”

“Which I did. I also carried a sword when I went over there that I hid aboard the ship. I then leaked that information around the starport to further chum the waters for the pirates.”

“Oh,” Taylor said. He had to consciously force his jaw shut. “Well,” he said after a couple moments, “that certainly ought to improve our odds.”

“It sure should.” Kami winked. “That’s what the little slug bastards get for trying to kidnap my feline ass on a job.”

The seconds counted down, and Taylor had a brief feeling like he was falling. They’d arrived.

“Emergence in the Belhart system,” Frank said.

“Drones out,” Kami ordered. “Let’s see what there is to see. Let me know when the Shrzrag shows up.”

“The Shrzrag just emerged.” Anderson noted. “Drones are out; picture is building.”

“And?” Kami asked. “Have you found them yet?”

“Not yet, ma’am. This system has a lot of junk just outside the emergence area. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was—” he stopped suddenly and then exclaimed, “Contact!”

“In the junk?”

“No, ma’am. Coming from the planet.”

“How would he know we were here?” Taylor asked. “They wouldn’t have had time to see us yet, much less break orbit and head out this way.”

“Obviously, they knew we were coming,” Kami replied. “And that’s about all the confirmation I need of their intent.” She turned to her XO at the sensor/weapons station. “What are we looking at?”

“Bakulu KT-class frigate, ma’am. It’s continuing to burn toward us.”

Kami nodded, then turned to Frank. “Tell the freighter to run for the stargate and then lay in a course that keeps us between the freighter and the frigate.” Her claws tapped on the arm of her command chair.

“What’s wrong?” Billy asked.

“Something’s not right.”

“Not right how?” Taylor asked. “You said we’d get jumped here…and here comes the jumper.”

“Something’s not right in that we’re a merc cruiser and they’re a frigate. Sure, we’re a merc cruiser, and not up to full cruiser standards, but we’re still bigger and better armed. They’re foolish to attack us…unless there’s something we don’t know.”

“Maybe it’s the SI, and he thinks he’s going to be able to take us over, like he’s done in the past.

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