Chapter 3: A prefect score

I sat in on a few intelligence briefings and selected a new location. Three weeks later we were ghosting on the heliopause of a major Saint system. Saint Michael was normally a busy system with a full fleet but most had been redeployed. The few warships left in the system were deep in the sun’s gravity well. This was where the Saints research and development was.

I sat in the captain’s seat and smiled at Edgar, “Is that new ship closer?”

He grinned and nodded, “I was able to get a real good read too.”

I looked at the smaller scan holograph on the chair display before nodding, “Okay Peter.”

I hit general quarters as the ship leaped forward. I watched and it was several moments before the cargo ship started to turn. I looked at the holograph of Samantha, “Bracket it.”

She grinned and two kinetic missiles flashed out and a few minutes later exploded on each side of the cargo ship. It was already screaming on the system comm as I opened the channel, “Strange Light come to a stop and prepare to be boarded or the next missiles will destroy your ship.”

I nodded when the ship suddenly slowed and then stopped. I opened the system comm again, “All ship’s crew will go to the starboard lifeboat and remain there. If the lifeboat is launched it will be destroyed.”

“We will do whatever you say.”

I stood and headed towards the starboard airlock where the boarding party was waiting. I suited up quickly as Peter edged the ship closer. When the two ships docked we opened the outer airlock and moved to the other ship. I headed to the bridge as a couple of men went to the starboard lifeboat.

I started making checks as soon as I reached the bridge and finally called Andy in engineering, “Bridge is clean.”

He grinned, “So is engineering.”

I let Sonia slip into the pilot seat as I headed to the cargo master’s office. I started the data system and frowned when I saw it erased. I stood and walked out and around to the starboard lifeboat. I looked at the people inside, “Who erased the cargo manifest?”

They looked at each other but I saw several looking at one woman. The captain cleared his throat, “We do not have to make it easy for you.”

I smiled, “So you do not want air for your trip insystem.”

They shouted and I looked at the cargo master, “The manifest.”

She glared, “My safe but it is bio locked.”

I gestured and she came out and led the way back to the office. I watched her open the safe and cleared my throat when she started to reach inside. She froze and I gestured with the pistol I was carrying. She stepped back and I moved to the safe. I pulled out the data stick and a slim plasma pistol and looked at her, “Back to the life boat.”

I followed her and once she was in I stepped back and closed and sealed the hatch, “I am kicking the life boat free Peter.”

“Copy.”

I hit the override and the ship shuddered as the life boat was jettisoned. I went to scan the data stick and grinned at what I saw, “Get this ship moving Sonia.”

“Already under way.”

I headed towards the airlock, “How does the scan look?”

“Clear, the ships insystem are moving but it will be a couple of hours before they clear the gravity well and begin skipping out.”

I waited as the others cycled through with me and closed the inner airlock on our ship, “Clear for separation.”

I headed to the bridge and sat before bringing up my displays, “We need to make sure the cargo ship jumps first.”

Peter glanced back, “Why?”

I grinned, “They have complete prototype reactors and engines as well as new hyper missiles.”

He grinned as he turned back to his console, “Falling back to cover it.”

I opened the comm freq we had agreed to use, “We are following you out Sonia. Jump as soon as you can.”

“Copy.”

It was tense as we kept moving for almost an hour before the cargo ship opened a wormhole and jumped. Peter followed several minutes later and we appeared outside the Rodney system. I watched the displays settle, “Status Lorenz?”