Varfelis Station by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knotted Road Press

26

Alex didn’t really hate the kinds of folks that Herli Station represented, but he could see some future date when he had to lead a squadron of warships in here to either smash the place entirely to rubble or conquer it and annex it to his future government at Varfelis.

It was one thing to have pirates running around causing trouble for other people. And he was one of those troublemakers. At the same time, when it was his turn to become the law, he was going to have to make sure that his grip was more solid.

For now, Hellhound was docked, and he’d had Jeremy run an inventory of the other ships in port. Anteater was here. As was Hermes Multistellar. The former wasn’t exactly a warship but was a retired revenue cutter that was built sturdier than most. The latter was really a shell that contained a pair of old Wronlori gunboats with a better Ghost Drive and space for the crews to relax between raids.

And his old buddy Adrianna Velazquez was present, in her own escort carrier like Hellhound. Alex wondered if he’d end up having to fight a duel with the woman. Or win a drinking contest.

Bad juju, but it was what it was.

He and Jeremy were at the aft lock. Alex settled a disruptor on his hip and shrugged once to settle everything. He didn’t figure any of his enemies were desperate enough to jump him here, but he also didn’t feel like walking around with a bodyguard, lest folks start whispering that he was getting old and nervous.

Forty would be here soon, and not a lot of captains lasted long after that birthday, unless they were among the very best. Alex would deal with that when it arrived.

For now, he had a mission in mind. And a lot of funds under the table to recruit yahoos and hooligans to help.

“You’re in charge until I get back,” Alex ordered his First Mate. “Crew will get leave spread over several days, but I want to know what the locals have to say before I commit. Keep them sharp. And if I call for help, arrive shooting.”

“Understood, boss,” Jeremy replied with a sharp nod. “Most of them aren’t cowards, at least last time I checked, but make sure Adrianna doesn’t punch you in the gob.”

“Oh, I prolly got that one coming,” Alex laughed. “But only one. Then she has to listen, or I’ll knock her ass down and kick her a few times.”

Jeremy laughed back. He understood that history. Alex shrugged.

Shit happened in this business.

He exited the lock and found himself on the main station concourse.

Herli Station followed a pretty standard design. Main ring with the docking locks around the middle. Levels up and down from there, but none stuck out as far, to allow ships to attach themselves.

Not as much cargo capacity as Varfelis Station, because it was generally more of a meeting hall than a warehouse. And no refinery, because Herli was a brown dwarf that had been ejected from some nearby star system in the not-too-distant past.

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