Tyrants Test by Kube-McDowell Michael P

Author:Kube-McDowell, Michael P. [Kube-McDowell, Michael P.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Colonel?”

Pakkpekatt glanced at the counter on the comm display. “Very well, Colonel Hammax. See if you can move it to the fantail observation deck. I believe there are cargo tie-downs there, and we will not have to concern ourselves with turning the cargo deck into a hy-pothermic cooler—” “Hold everything,”

Taisden said, sitting forward sharply and frowning at the displays. “I have a deep-scan contact alarm. Colonel Pakkpekatt, there’s something coming in fast.”

“You are acquiring Colonel Hammax’s bad habits,” said Pakkpekatt with a hiss. “What sort of contact?”

Taisden shook his head. “She’s bow-on to us and still a long way out— nine hundred thousand kilometers,” he said. “It’ll be a little while, even for this rig.”

He paused, tapping the console with his fingertips. “On the other hand, if she’s related to the late Prakith cruiser behind us, she’s probably coming in with her don’t-shoot-me lights on.”

“Combat transponder,” Pleck said. “Yes. Scan for it in the high forties—that’s pretty common for Imperial-class designs, and I don’t think the Prakith are likely candidates for a lot of field modifications.”

“I’ve got it—forty-four two, for future reference.

Uncoded, but in Prak.” Then he grunted. “Looks like General Calrissian went for all the options when he bought this yacht. The system’s giving me an on-the-fly translation—ha!”

“What?”

Despite the seriousness of the moment, Taisden was briefly consumed by a spell of deep, closed-mouth chuckles. “We are heading for a rendezvous with, and I quote verbatim, ‘The gallant and eternally vigilant patrol destroyer Tobay of the Grand Imperial Navy of the Constitutional Protectorate of Prakith, in grateful and loyal service to His Glory, the potent and courageous governor for life, Foga Brill.””

“And you thought your section commander had unreasonable expectations,”

Pleck said, clapping Taisden on the shoulder. “Do you think the Prakith navy holds public fawning competitions?”

Pakkpekatt parsed the puffery for the one detail that mattered to him.

“Patrol destroyer, Imperial Adz - class. Primary armament three class-D

quad laser cannon batteries, three class-B dual ion cannon batteries.”

“Sounds like we definitely don’t want to be here when they arrive,”

said Hammax. “Colonel, do you still want me to go after the floater?”

Pakkpekatt looked to Taisden. “How long?”

“Not quite six minutes, though she’ll have to start knocking her speed down pretty soon. Call it eight.”

“Not enough time, Colonel Hammax,” said Pakkpekatt. “Come back inside.

I need you to take over weapons control.”

“Pardon me, Colonel,” Taisden said.

“What is it?”

“Colonel, this other ship coming in may not be ignorant enough to think that we’re the ones who rearranged the furniture on the cruiser, but they’re sure as sweat going to be curious about what we know. I strongly recommend we jump out before they get anywhere near here.”

“Recommendation noted,” said Pakkpekatt.

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