Book 2: Chapter 42: Meetings and Understandings

Book 2: Chapter 42: Meetings and Understandings

USD: A bit earlier

Location: 92 Pegasi, Ackman Asteroid Belt, A-3123Y Orbital

Logan, this is the most stupid thing Ive ever seen you pull, and thats incredible.

Amy held onto a handhold welded to the ceiling of the old badger MKIIs cockpit, her other hand on the back of the pilots seat that was occupied by her stupid younger brother.

Trust me! System nets hot with it. Theyre offering higher rates than Ackman.

We dont have life-support to spare. Youve wasted a whole day of it by not getting in a transfer orbit with Ackman station. The scrub is going to overwork and need replacing, and thatll cost us all our money this trip.

Relax, I checked that, too. They have a spare filter replacement. Even better, they have a whole new module with a full lifespan, and its not even as expensive as the JunkRat filter replacements.

Amy sighed, feeling a bit of distress. Someone had played a horrible joke on the system net, offering better prices, and impossible to find parts.

Listen, its some silly joke. There is no way anyone has a new life-support module for a Badger MKII. They stopped building them thirty years ago. Thats why we have to make do with the scrap from the JunkRat.

Nah, I put in what we needed, and they specifically spit out a confirmation for those exact parts.

Logan, it is some prank, some ass-blasted miner-jerk put this out to probably fuck with the competition. Thats us.

The comm lit up with static.

|A small haul|

|Repeated many times|

|Large benefits bring|

What the Ertan-blessed is that? Amy blurted out.

Relax, thats how it goes, sis. Like, it is automated or something. We are getting navigation data, just like the sysnet said. We just follow it in. Dont even have to dock, drones will unload us and leave behind what we ordered. Then the balance is transferred.

Her eyes narrowed. What did you order other than the life-support?

Heh. Youre going to love this.

Logan reached over to grab his data pad and handed it to Amy, the order list still displayed on the screen.

They got everything! I think it actually produces it made-to-order, cause I havent run into anything it didnt have yet as long as I didnt put any crazy numbers in.

Amy read the list and shook her head, thinking it was a trap, or a joke. But what could she do? They were going to be shafted when they had to burn their life-support getting up to Ackman Station.

But if it worked out This was going to change a lot for all the rock rats in the belt.

One item on the bottom of the list blinked with a new entry, and Amys brow furrowed in confusion.

Its asking us our preference between kebabs or cake?

[If you are reading ShipCore this somewhere other than Royal Road, Scribble Hub, or my Patreon then you should know this content was posted without the author's permission-Erios909, Author.]

USD: A few minutes after leaving the Tears of Fire

Location: Nu Crateris, Dedia IV Orbit, Space Elevator Orbital, Governors Office Meeting Room

The rate of Rexxor activity is continuing to escalate. Seismic sensors have detected that the hive is much larger than we ever thought possible, with tunnels extending hundreds of kilometers in a vast crisscrossing network. We have detected new activity and tunnels being dug toward the front and the city. That speed is increasing, and we project it is only a matter of days before the Rexxor will burrow up inside the frontline. It is only a matter of weeks before they could be inside the city itself.

Brigadier Desersa let that set in.

Alex frowned but remained silent, examining the other faces in the room. She had a seat at the table but was conscious that all the others had brought aides or assistants. Even Captain-Major Thraker had two junior lieutenants standing behind him.

Are you saying they are purposefully covering up Rexxor intelligence in order to not violate some interstellar treaty? Alexs words hung in the air for a moment.

It is possible the experts see what they need to see for their own safety. If it turned out the Rexxor are sapient, and the treaty partners felt it was in their best interests the colony could very well be decommissioned and the colonists forcibly removed to other worlds.

Alex frowned, her brow furrowed. So they just came here and planned to take the planet from the natives because it was convenient?

Im not sure many came here with plans at all. I imagine they all had their reasons to enlist to join a frontier world, whether it was to rid themselves of debts, avoid prison sentences, or just to start fresh somewhere new. The real crux is that Dedia is not a new colony world. Its been developing for decades.

Alex blinked. And because the Rexxors and colonists havent been in conflict like this before, it just went unnoticed? I find it hard to believe the Solarian government wouldnt have been thorough in vetting the colonization effort, and they have been throwing even more people here recently.

Thraker shook his head. I wouldnt ascribe malice to any of the governments. Although I find the Corpos and Solarians to be distasteful, they are many times better than the chaos that they replaced during the collapse. Recent actions by Captain Walker seem quite untoward. I suspect he understood exactly what he was doing. I just dont know why the Solarians would do such a thing. It threatens their own interests here.

Could it have been greed? The Governor said that he kept all the supplies meant for the colonists.

Doubtful, while those supplies might be worth a billion or two credits, his admiralty will not be pleased. The Solarian Military can be quite punishing to its members that would try something like that for personal gain.

Alex noticed the time on her HUD. Major, I have another meeting with the Governor scheduled for in fifteen minutes. I would like to continue this conversation, though. Its given me some problematic things to think about. Things are going to be busy, but if there is time, Id like to have lunch again.

Thraker nodded, but his next words froze Alex in place as she stood up.

Youre not a Federation Captain.

Alexs heart thrummed in her chest, and the only thing that stopped her from breaking into a sweat was her nanites going into action to prevent it.

I have a Federation ship. Alex hedged.

Youre certainly the Captain of a Federation Ship. I am not sure about your Master Sergeant. She seemed to fit as a marine, at least.

Alex swallowed, her pulse calming as she sat back down. Denying it seemed pointless, and she wanted to know where she had erred. Why are you bringing this up? How did you find out?

My dear, I am neither the smartest nor the most experienced man you will meet. I have met and interacted with many people over my career, and I have known real Federation Captains from before the collapse.

Thraker stroked his beard while examining her as he paused, but then shook his head.

Before our first meeting, I thought you were indeed a Federation Captain, and just looked young because of the rejuv treatments. Yet it was very clear you were not after our first meeting. I believe you are exactly as your age appears to be. I know you have had considerable training in starship operations. Were you an officer cadet or midshipman on your ship?

Alex squeezed her knee. I dont have to answer that. The ship is mine, and Im proficient as its commander.

No, you dont; and yes, you are. I did not bring this up to challenge your authority of your vessel, Captain, nor to pry it from you. However, if Ive figured this out, others will be able to as well. There is also the issue of your crew. Are there only three of you?

Just how much had he figured out? Nameless had been quiet, and he would have warned her if the ship was in trouble. She didnt think that Thraker was trying to provoke her, but the worrying thought that if he had figured those two secrets did he know the real one?

Should she kill him? Just to be safe? She could use any of a multitude of her abilities to do so, and then escape to the safe confines of the Tears metal shell with Namelesss help.

Alex discarded the idea almost as soon as it came.

Youve been spying on us.

Im sure everyone who has the ability has been spying on you. My men put the suggestion together after we arrived in Dedia. Youve not had any crew come off the ship except yourself and your marine. The amount of food ordered by your ship is likewise quite low. Enough for a half-dozen people, maybe.

Alexs cheeks wanted to burn. She did not eat THAT much. Elis helped eat a lot of it, too!

My ship is quite capable. It is not impossible that we can provide our own food production and stores. Not impossible for operational security to require that we keep a tight ship, either.

Thraker nodded, One other glaring issue: The Captain of a military warship without escort on a non-military base? Unless it is necessary, the captain does not normally leave the ship. You especially should not be out without an escort, but youve had to send your escort dirt side to manage your ground operations.

A prickle of annoyance bit at Alex. What is your point? I assume you have one, revealing that you know all this?

You need to be more careful. There are those who will want what you have and take it from you if they think they can. Just as there are those who will destroy it if they find they cant possess it. My offer still stands to join the IHMC if you decide you need help.

Alexs wrist comm beeped. She was going to be late for her meeting with the Governor. Did she still even want to go? With everything she had learned, she wasnt sure if setting up a base on the planet was a good idea anymore.

Captain-Major, Im sorry, but Im going to be late for my meeting. We can discuss more later.