Chapter 8: Kuiper System

They were halfway between two jump gates in the mostly empty system, on their way to the Kuiper System jump gate when the major called a leadership meeting. The Windvane was coasting above the ecliptic of the system, to avoid any chance encounters with asteroids, of which there were more than the usual amount.

The scientific theory for the number and size of asteroids in empty systems was that there were sufficient loose material to form a planetary bodies, but it just never happened. The system had a regular G-type star and an extended asteroid belt but no planets. The largest known asteroid in the system was only a thousand kilometers in diameter, but there were dozens close to that size.

“Settle down,” the major said as he and the two lieutenants entered the conference pod. Each of the marine rings had six pods, but each platoon only needed four pods for accommodation. The fifth pod was used as accommodation for the lieutenant and sergeants, with the major having a small cabin in one of the command pods. The sixth pod was the marine mess hall, where the entire platoon could have their meals together.

For this meeting, Second Platoon was called over to the First Platoon mess hall. Dane and Brad arrived before the officers arrived. When they noticed that the other two corporals of Second Platoon were sitting and chatting with the four corporals of First Platoon, they waved Brad over to go sit with them, but he declined, preferring to sit with Dane.

“We finally received enough data to tell you where we are going and why,” the major said. Just then the captain of the Windvane, Lieutenant Commander Brogan, arrived and sat down next to the major.

“Don’t mind me, I’m just listening,” the captain said. “I need to know if your people are planning to break my boat.” His comments resulted in some polite laughter before the major continued.

“We are currently in a system with no planets and two jump gates, headed for the Kuiper jump gate,” the major said as he glanced at the captain for confirmation, and got ignored. “The Kuiper system is a newly colonized system. While the jump gate to the Kuiper system has been in place and active for over a century, the Imperial Exploration Commission decided two years ago to start populating the primary planet.”

“The primary planet is still called by the same name as the system, and the ruler, Viscount Windermere, has been appointed to get the planet and the system productive enough to support itself as soon as possible. Making the system self-supporting would not take long since the planet is rich in minerals. The main problem the viscount is facing is, while the planet has an atmosphere, it is not breathable yet.”

“Does that mean we will be working in our space suits, major?” one of the First Platoon sergeants asked. Dane was a bit surprised at the question, but he was even more surprised at the major’s nonverbal response. The major usually didn’t mind being interrupted for questions, but now he looked irritated as the question.

“You are assuming things, Terrance,” the major replied. “We have not been tasked to do anything on the planet. We have been summoned because there has been a lot of unusual activity in the system. The viscount is worried about pirates.”

“Are the pirates already in the system or are they coming through the jump gate?” the other First Platoon sergeant asked.

“They don’t know yet,” the major said.

“There is a frigate on gate duty, the Slipstone, but the skipper only reported a larger than average number of freighters making use of the gate,” the captain finally spoke up. “We mostly guess that at least a quarter of all independent freighters are involved in pirate activities, at least on the side. This larger number of freighters could also be a result of the opening of the system. With freighters coming and going all the time, and with a transit time of three weeks, it is impossible to determine if the numbers entering and exiting matches.” Then he looked back at the major, indicating he was done.

“Piracy activities are classified as the theft of cargo or humans in space,” the major said. “Pirates are not above capturing people as slaves. So far there were two reports of suspected piracy activity, in the form of a freighter taking on cargo at the new and still under construction Kuiper space station, only to then disappear. That seems to be a case where the whole ship got stolen. One of those cases was where the ship departed like normal, and then the real crew were discovered to have been drugged and locked up on the station.”

“Our task?” Sergeant Rodman asked.

“I guess we will sniff around, look for unusual activity and act on it,” the major said.

“So, we can expect any boarding actions against random freighters?” One of the First Platoon sergeants asked. “Those can be tricky.”

“They should have sent some rangers out here if they don’t know the extent of the issue?” One of the First Platoon officers muttered. “They have the proper equipment for hostile ship boarding actions.”

“Actually, the only ranger equipment usable for boarding actions are jetpacks, heavy lasers, and people who are expert in fighting with spikes,” the captain said. “The Windvane have those in stores, but we don’t have the people certified to use those,” As he mentioned jetpacks, the major’s head jerked up and looked Dane in the eyes. Dane knew that the major was aware of his certifications but when the major didn’t say anything, Dane stayed quiet as well.

“You have jetpack certification,” Brad muttered softly as he and Dane made their way back to their pod after the briefing. “The major knows as well. I wonder why he didn’t say anything.”

“Anybody’s guess,” Dane replied.

“Nick also said you have long range laser certification, and then there is your specialization with bladed weapons. You are nearly a ranger already,” Brad muttered.

“Maybe that is it,” Dane said. “Maybe the major will only use a proper ranger, not a half-trained one.”

“Do you know of any other ranger abilities suitable for deep space or ship actions?” Brad asked. “From the rumors the rest of their training involves ground-base stuff like sneaking around in the dark.” Dane just snorted.

Things took a sudden turn of urgency after they were through the jump gate and headed into the gravity well towards the second of three planets in the Kuiper system. As with most of the lesser stars in the Pleiades cluster, this one had two inner planets, a relatively average asteroid belt, and then another planet.

The first planet was called a Mercury type. The reason for that name was lost in the fog of ancient history. Since the cluster was under human control for over thousand two hundred years and under the rule of a string of benevolent emperors for over a thousand years, ancient history had to be more than a thousand years.

The second planet was in the habitable zone, having liquid water, and a magnetic field to protect the planet from radiation, from both its own G-type star and from the seven massive and dangerous B-type stars known as the Sisters. The third planet lay outside the orbit of the jump gate and was a smallish gas giant.

They were a third of the way there, about two weeks of gentle breaking, when the Windvane picked up a radio message aimed at the frigate stationed at the jump gate. The message and its content filtered down from the captain, via Major Lambert and Lieutenant McCord to the four corporals. While the message was urgent, there was no way the Windvane could react quickly.

“Definitely pirates,” Lt. McCord told them in a meeting he scheduled in a hurry. “We know that a freighter supposedly carrying construction machinery was asking to dock with the space station. That in itself was a bit suspicious since heavy equipment would not be unloaded on the space station, they would be ferried down to the surface directly. The station crew became suspicious, obviously, and told the freighter to wait. The freighter then declared an emergency and forcefully docked with the station, damaging the docking port in the process. They think the damage was deliberate since the ship seemed to be stuck there now and the docking port is open.”

“So, no air leaks?” Sergeant Ramsey asked.