The Technician's Fight, Draft 1, CH31

Gralgiran pulled his arm out from under Jer, and rolled over Toom, to tap his tablet. “Go.”

“Alpha,” the bridge’s beta said, “You’re needed on the bridge.”

“On my way.”

Jer and Toom grumbled half awake protests as he extricated himself, then were curled against each other. He hurried to dress, leaving the apartment in the process of putting his vest on. He’d have preferred a shower first, but the beta wouldn’t have bothered him if this wasn’t important.

*

“Update,” he said, entering the bridge. The beta ceded him the center.

“The prey is still just outside our claws, somehow.”

Gralgiran was a impressed. He’d asked Alix and Jer, and both had expected their reactors to give out weeks before from the constant push to maximum, even with the respites it received.

“But this is why I called you,” the beta said. “Sensor.”

The front of the bridge shimmered and showed the stars with larger forms obstructing them. Before Gralgiran could ask if they thought their prey was hoping to hide among one of the asteroids, the image shifted to a field of dim blues with a bright red glow in the center. And more.

“What’s that second energy source?” he asked, studying the yellow light partially obstructed by their prey’s propulsion output.

“No way to know for sure at this range,” the female at sensor said. “But the list of possibility is narrow with this level of steady output.”

“Top of the pile?”

“A station.”

“In the unclaimed territories?”

“Possibly. We’re close enough to the edge it’s difficult to know if it’s officially unclaimed, or claimed by the Earthers.”

The beta snorted. “It’s the Earthers. They’d claim Kelser as theirs if we let them.”

“You’re thinking of the Taournians,” Gralgiran said distractedly. “Which station is it?” He didn’t know of any in this part of the unclaimed territories, but—

“There are no stations on records here,” Comms answered.

He cursed. It meant a black market station.

“How far ahead of us is our tag?”

“It’s reached them,” Comms said.

So no passing themselves off as the Travelers.

That meant the reception would be hostile.

“Any readings on ships?”

“Masked by the prey’s propulsion.”

“That might be the intent,” the beta said.

Alix would be asleep. What were the odds pushing the reactor would give them the speed needed to catch up to the prey before they were close enough for the ships at the station to fire on them? There was no guarantee any of them would come to this one’s defense, but black stations like this didn’t attract law abiding ships. The Bane was a known hunter ship, and every pirate benefited from removing one of them from the line.

“Best estimation on when we’ll reach the line of return fire, Pilot. Stop us just outside of it.”

“Getting the prey out from among them will not be easy,” the beta said.

“We can’t catch up to them before we’re inside the return fire line,” Gralgiran replied. “And they will have to leave at some point. Comms, what’s the time frame to the closest ship of the Line?”

“Based on last update, around a month away.”

“They can do a lot in that time,” the beta pointed out.

Earthers had to be involved in this being established here.

“Prey is slowing,” Sensor said.

“Enough, we’ll catch up to them?” the beta asked.

“Not if we want to stay outside the return line,” the pilot replied. “They’re only slowing so they’ll have the right momentum to dock.”

“I’m confirming,” Sensor said.

He’d remind the pilot of procedures when the situation was handled.

“I’m estimating twenty-three ships docked,” Sensor said. “Readings on the station itself make it doubtful it’s armed.”

So no need to worry about ship destroying weapons, at least.

“Should I adjust the return fire line with that information, Alpha?”

“No.” Better the room to react to what the ships would do than be too close with no returned advantage. “Sensor, Comm. I need as much information on the docked ships as you can get me.”

“Still need them to reduce thrust further before I’ll get anything we can use, Alpha.”

“Soon as possible, then.”

He settled to wait.

*

“They docked,” Sensor said. “Still no overt reactions from the other ships.”

Gralgiran had lost track of it among the details of the stations for a time now.

“You’d think this is one time pirates would decide to work together,” the beta said.

“Any of the Halans at the station?” he asked.

“No, Alpha. No Kelsirian designs there.”

“Shapes identify Taournians, Kersosterans, Ridoshi, Dromian and Shimbarian, along with three that don’t flag as anything from the database.”

“Got to be Earther designs,” the beta said.

“Or ships that have been so modified they are unique,” he countered. “Anyone we know among them?”

“None of the ships match known pirates, Alpha,” Comms answered.

“Twenty-three of them,” the beta muttered, “and not one that’s been seen before?”

Hunters of all territories shared their files on pirates, even the Taournians, although Gralgiran questioned the veracity of those. The beta was right. For that many pirates to not be identifiable was suspicious.

“So you think this is where all those destroyed ships that have been reported over the last decades have been hidden?” the beta asked.

“If that’s the case, it means the Earthers never intended to be honest with us.” He didn’t like that thought. As reprehensible as he felt the Earther government’s actions toward its citizens were, a justification for them could be made. To establish a station here and steal ships for decades? That spoke of preparation for illicit actions within Kelsirian territory he didn’t want to think they were capable of.

“Do you think this could be the work of some of their citizens?” he asked.

“Acting without their government’s approval?” the beta asked in return.

“Hopefully.” If this was an authorized Earther operation, what he did could have long ranging ramifications. “Any indication they know we’re here?”

“We’re well within range of civilian sensors.”

Which meant the lack of query from the station pointed to this not having governmental approval.

“Are we approaching?” the beta asked.

“Not yet. We can’t handle all these ships as opposition.”

“That’s nice. Do we have enough meat to get them to the eat at our fire?”

“We don’t need them to eat with us. Just agree this is our hunting ground for the time being. Comms, wide broadcast, overwhelm all frequencies, target the station and ship docked.”

“Comms ready,” he replied.

“This is the Hunter ship Viper’s Bane addressing the black station and all docked ships. We are only in pursuit of one ship on counts of kidnapping and suspicion of slavery.” He ignored the beta’s tilted ear. The only way their prey had to proclaim their innocence of the charge was to identify themselves. “We will not target any other ship who leaves the station within the next six hours. Station, we will not target your operations unless there is active interference in our hunt if we need to board you to reach our prey.”

The lack of a reply from the station worried him.

“Station, I advise you to acknowledge that you will cooperate.”

“They’re received the signal,” Comms confirmed.

“Weapons, go on standby.”

“Six hours is giving them time to move to another ship,” the beta said.

“How easily can you track a mass of eighteen people moving off that ship, Sensor?”

“As a mass, I’ll be able to tell you they left, and where they’re going, so long as they stay along the docks. ]f they move deeper within the station, I’ll lose them.”

“If them move deeper, I don’t have to worry about them leaving with anyone fleeing.”

“I’m getting a ship powering up,” Sensor said. “Another one, three, five, eight.”

“Instructions, Alpha?” the weapon’s beta asked.

“Remain on standby. I’ll instruct once I see what they’re doing.”

“I have movement,” Sensor said, as one of the ship broke from the station. Then another and more.

“Directions?” Other than away from the station, he couldn’t tell if they were heading toward the Bane at their distance.

“Away from us.”

“The station is contacting us,” Comms said.

“How about you furballs go back to playing in your litter box?” the female voice said in Earther.

He shrugged at the beta’s tilted ear. He had no idea what a litter box could refer to in the context of the insult.

“Station, our hunt doesn’t involve you unless you step on the hunting ground,” he replied in Earther.

“Ohhh, color me scared of the big, scary kitty cat. You’re out of your jurisdiction, puss. Go home.”

He took a chance. “These are unclaimed territories. I entered them in pursuit of slavers, to whom you are now implicitly giving refuge. Federation law gives me the authority to take control of your station until the situation is resolved if you force me to. As well as bring reinforcement to ensure the return of the kidnapped Kelsirians citizens.” If they called his bluff, he doubted Toom would be able to find him regulations that could be bent to agree with his claims, but he’d deal with that if the gods decided to side with these Earthers.

“I’m picking up a second broadcast, Alpha,” Comms said, then a new voice was heard.

“Don’t you fucking believe those assholes,” a male said. “We didn’t do one thing.”

“You have eighteen Kelsirian held against their wills on your ship,” Gralgiran said.

“Oh, fuck off. No one’s talking to you.”

“I’m talking to you,” he snapped, then took a breath. “Federation Law—”

“I don’t give a fuck about your Federation. Humans are who I answer to.”

“I can get one to talk with you if you want.”

“I would love to see that,” the male replied without hesitation.

The beta frowned, and Gralgiran agreed. Not even a moment of surprise at the claim?

“Let me get him.”

“Oh sure, like I’ll believe just any voice you have talk to me.”

“You want visual confirmation?”

“What do you think?”

“You’re the ones not broadcasting visuals.”

“I’m not the one who has to prove he’s got a pet human who can talk to me.”

He ground his teeth at the mocking tone. He told Comms to mute him in ear-code.

“Earther Military?” the beta asked. “Who else is after your Heart?”

“Anyone who thinks they can make a profit selling him to the Earthers. But they wouldn’t know I could make that claim. Earther pirates wouldn’t bother with the stories Spreading Branch reports about me and him.”

The beta tilted an ear questioningly and Gralgiran shook his head. He forgot few on the ship even knew about those broadcasts.

“Jer.”

Silence.

“Jer.”

Still silence.

“Toom, Wake Jer.”

“Wha?” the next was indistinct. “Your mate’s calling you.”

“His Alpha is calling him, Toom.”

“I’m awake,” Jer said, not quite sounding it.

“I need you on the bridge, dressed.” He’d prefer him here as a hunter, but he didn’t have his uniform in their apartment.

“I’ll see him there,” Toom said.

“Print him coffee before he leaves.”

*

“What can I do?” Jer asked as he entered the bridge.

Gralgiran considered Toom, the situation, and shook his head. His friend left the bridge.

“I need you to speak with Earthers. I don’t expect anything to come of it, but play along and try to get them to release their prisoners.”

“Okay, can I lie, or…. I mean, just how far can I go here? None of my training covered this.”

“Don’t lie, don’t promise anything. If you’re unsure, code Comms to mute and ask.”

“Code? My ears don’t move, Alpha.”

Right. “Give him a gesture.”

Jeremy considered it, then made a thumbs down.

“Transmit,” Gralgiran said.

“Transmitting.”

“This is Hunter Jeremy Bradshaw. How may I address you?”

“You can fucking address me as your Royal Highness, all mighty ruler of Earth.”

Jer rolled his eyes. “How do you want to proceed, your Royal Highness, All Mighty Ruler of Earth?”

Gralgiran wondered if the hesitation was because he’d gone along with the name or they were confirming who Jer was.

“You think I’m going to believe some image on my screen? You have any idea how easy it’d be for me to send you something like you fucking one of those cats?”

“As easy as you having access the record of me having sex with one of them,” Jer replied before Gralgiran could stop him. He needed to see to it he received training in negotiation.

But the sputtering from the other male marked the reply as effective.

“Yeah,” he finally said. “Well, I’m still not buying you’re not just another cat with a holo over him, especially not after you said that. I want you on the docks so I can confirm there’s no fur on you.”

“So you want me there naked?”

“What?”

Definitely needed negotiation training.

“So, I present myself in person, and you’ll release your prisoners to me?”

“Exactly.”

Jer gave a thumbs down.

“Muted,” Comms said.

“He’s lying,” his Heart said. “This is about getting me.”

“I agree.”

“Can we still use this?” the beta asked. “We can fit four packs on a transport shuttle, he and his present themselves. The other three take position to assault the pirate ship to start the rescue.”

“If the prisoners are still there,” Sensor said. “Something’s happening.”

“Agree to their demands,” he told Jer.

“Gral, they’re—”

He took him by the shoulder. “You’re hunter now, Jer. We die, so others live.”

“I know. I was going to point out they aren’t going to want the rest of my pack there.”

Gralgiran snorted. “They’re going to have to learn to live with it. I’m not sending you in there without the best I can find.”