We the People Snippet 2

Not much of a sitrep, so here we go!

Skipping to Chapter 3:

Chapter 3

 

Alpha-G7-449351 star system

 

Captain Ivan 'the Terrible' Drakov watched his bridge crew as they slowly crossed the star system. His ship the Rosebud was a privateer, a converted freighter turned into a pirate ship with the addition of some off the shelf military hardware as well as some cobbled together weapons, shields, and other equipment.

He longed for the days when he'd had a proper warship under his boots. He'd been drummed out of the navy and was still bitter over being court-martialed and brigged. It had been stupid but he'd learned his lesson and had schemed to reach the point he was at now. And, because he'd had military grade implants and geriatric stabilization treatments, he was assured of living a long life.

To fulfill his plan he made judicious use of the stasis pods on his ship. He had calculated that if he used them properly he could stretch out his life span almost indefinitely. Sleeping in stasis beat the boredom of being on the ship during long stretches between ports.

Each successful strike added to his growing bank account and to his adopted clan. Eventually they'd be able to get to the point where he'd have his dream of having a proper warship again.

And then, oh, and then, he thought with a vicious grin. "Watch out galaxy," he murmured as his ship set her sights on his latest prize to be.

(^)#(^)

Although the terraforming station had the bulk of their satellites pointed to the ground and their work, that didn't mean they didn't have a series of satellites in geosynchronous orbit to relay communications, as well as satellites inward toward the sun to monitor it for activity. Mapping the solar cycle was a part of their package that took years of data.

Mapping the skies to make sure there were no inconvenient rocks that would hit and destroy all of their hard work was another part of the package. And one satellite, Echo-44 found something. Its computers analyzed the images and then sent it to the station for further processing.

It didn't take long for the station A.I. to note the anomaly was a starship. He dutifully logged the information and brought it to the station command team when they gathered for their daily meeting.

Aeyrn was at first interested in the contact but stiffened when she noted there was no ID. Nor had anyone announced the arrival.

"That's funny," Monique stated.

"What is?" Sho asked, sounding bored.

"The ship coming in. She's not giving off an IFF."

"What ship? Someone want to run that one past me again a little slower?" Sho demanded. He'd been focused on his implants as usual and hadn't been paying attention to the briefing. That was an ongoing problem with him, he was there physically but mentally he was checked out. He'd then complain that he hadn't been clued in to changes or no one had reminded him.

Aeyrn had taken to video recording things and then sending him the files to rub his nose into his inattentiveness.

"Could it be the resupply ship or an inspector?" Doctor Do asked carefully.

We're sure it's not Perth running a stupid drill and pranking us?" Sho demanded.

"No."

"One person at a time people," Aeyrn said evenly. She studied the readings but felt something grow cold within her. Ranginui's back trace said that the unknown came from the general vicinity of the jump points but not either one. And they were trying to come in stealthy so that said they were being cute.

Plus, she knew Klaus. He wouldn't pull a stunt like this. An inspection or supply ship would have come in broadcasting an IFF.

"Is it a false reading? A rock?"

"It's not a rock, it is slowing down," the A.I. pointed out.

"I see that," Aeyrn stated quietly.

"Where's the navy when we need them?" Sho asked caustically. You could strip paint with his tone.

"Obviously elsewhere. They waited until Perth was long gone before they waltzed in," Aeyrn said softly.

The others were quiet. Finally, Doctor Do cleared his throat. "You believe it is a pirate then," he said in a voice that said he'd come to that conclusion as well.

She nodded eyes still on the holographic image of the intruder. "It is the only thing that fits."

"What can we do?" Doctor Do asked.

"Do? Dick all," Sho scoffed. "We're fracked. They won't allow any witnesses," he said with a shake of his head.

"Can you... turn the laser satellites around? Use them to attack them?" someone asked, clearly trying to think out of the box.

"Sho, look into that."

"We don't have the means to target them."

"Flip the observation satellites too. Figure something out," Aeyrn ordered. That would keep her people busy as she tried to formulate some other response. "And look into evacuating the station."

The room broke into chatter of disbelief over that idea.

"Where?" Sho said, booming voice cutting over the chatter and silencing many protests. "To the planet? It's mostly geologically active. I don't know of much that isn't currently covered in slowly cooling lava," he reminded her.

"Somewhere is better than here," she said, shaking her head. "Just give me options," she said firmly.

Sho grimaced but then nodded.

(^)#(^)