Alpha Man Chapter 4

[Ed Man]

Pirate Loot

Chapter 4

Before they were docked guards were waiting to escort the Pirate and Josh to the security section of the station. Josh knew the drill he had done many times. As they entered the security area the Pirate was taken to a cell and Josh was directed to the command office to give his statement and receive any reward.

Duty Officer stated. “Mr. Galen I would like to thank you for your help. What kind of scanner do you have?”

Josh stated. “Glade to be of assistance Caption Mitchell my scanner is a prototype we been working on.
It’s currently in the field trial stages and is looking very impressive. Please tell me Caption Mitchell how did it come to be that one of your pilots was on a solo run?”

Mitchell replied. “No one fly’s alone you know that, there’s been a severe foul up by the duty officer! And he will be reprimanded!”

Josh stated. “I don’t believe this was an oversight this reeks with the smell of a rogue willing to sell out his own!”

Mitchell closed the door. “Look Mr. Galen I got your record and you just got discharged under extremely guilty looking conditions. You’re a very mysterious man you’ve worked on a lot of classified projects. So that makes you a very dangerous individual to me security wise. And you don’t rank very high on my integrity list! Spooks usually mean trouble!”

Josh explained. “Look Caption Mitchell you can write this off as an unpleasant incident or you can do a little investigating and know how trustworthy your duty officer is. I‘m just passing through and will soon be gone but mistrust will never leave till you know the truth.”

Caption Mitchell stated. “Mr. Galen I don’t trust you but I do trust the officers under my command! So please leave before I have you arrested!”

Josh left heading to the landing bays to check on the captured ships, thanking no one wants to think that there friend would sell them out. But it happens all the time like it or not.

One of the ship repair and maintenance sales representatives was waiting on Josh as he entered the landing bays.

Mr. Galen I am a rep from the repair shop to inform you on the appraisal to repair or sell your ships.

Josh answered. “Ok give me the details.”

Rep explained. “The freighter is in good shape and can be repaired to flight status for 5000 credits. The fighter is in bad shape no shields and massive damage the electric systems and over 65% damage to the ship overall. The freighter has a variety of weapons and shields onboard it looks like a stock room at an equipment dock. We have a buyer interested in the wheat at 31credits a unit for the whole load of 175.”

Josh replied. “Sell all the wheat. Strip the fighter and sell it then stock the parts in the freighter.
I want a deluxe cabin with an extra sleeper on the freighter, maximum rudder and steering upgrades installed. Then repair it to flight status. I see there is a pair of repair drones aboard the freighter I’ll be using them for any other modifications.”

Ann was waiting for Josh to finish with the rep when a security officer asked her. “Are you one of the pilots who rescued the slaves of this freighter?”

Yes Ann replied. Security Officer replied. “One of them a woman is asking to speak to the ones who rescued her. She’s in medical asking for you.”

Josh did you here, I want to meet her or should we get involved? Ann asked.

Josh answered. “Lets go see what she has to say besides it’s going be a while before the freighter is ready.”

Josh ordered. “Sarah I want you to take control of the drones and modify the freighters shields to fast charging and modify the scanners to show the hidden containers on both ships. And any other simple upgrades that can be made.”

Sarah can you have the resources here to make a freight beamer for the freighter? Josh asked.

Sarah replied. “No but they are available in Argon Prime and can be here within an hour do you wish to order them?”

“No where going there anyway but instead mount a turret on back center and the front bottom of the cabin. Use APAC and mount them on a retracting hatch so they won’t be seen. Also install a larger power unit to power the upgrades.” Josh instructed.

“Freighter upgrades will take 5 hours; fighter enhancements will be complete in 30 minutes.”
Sarah responded.

Josh and Ann followed the Officer to medical where the liberated slaves had been taken. Two of them were asking to thank the ones that had rescued them. The other two had warrants and were taken into custody awaiting expedition.

This is the first one the Security Officer said opening door.

“Are you the ones that rescued me?” The man asked.

Josh answered. “Yes were the ones, please tell us who you are and how did you end up a slave?”
Josh was trying to be compassionate and maybe help him get home.

“My name is Robert Lank but please call me Rob. First I want to thank you both; they were going to kill me because I refused to help them in any way. So they were sending me to be used as a punching bag for their pit fighters. I had a good trading business started I had just bought a Vulture with all the upgrades.
I had just purchased all the sunrise flowers I could afford. While going through Profit Share I was attacked and captured by Pirates. I lost my ship and all my savings. But I’m alive and can start over now thanks!”

Josh whispered. “Ann say something to the poor guy.”

Ann spoke up stating. “Rob your welcome we were just doing our duty.”

Ann asked as they were headed to the next room. “Why'd you want me to talk to him? You’re the one who capped the freighter all I did was find it.”

Josh smiling answered. “That poor guy was looking at you like his hero Super Woman!”


Ann timidly stated. “I’m not the hero type. And I don’t have any time for men right now. I am going to be self-sufficient. After I get to where I want to be then maybe I’ll thank about companionship.”

Josh was smiling at Ann as she reacted like a pet that had just taken a bath it didn't like!

As they entered the next room the woman was hysterical; the nurse was trying to calm her down when she asked. Are you the ones that rescued me!

Josh answered. “Yes Mama we are, please just calm down and tell us your name and what’s wrong?”

“My name is Rose Shell. It’s my son Jess that monster still has him!” Then Rose started crying covering here face with her hands.
“Please help me get my son back!” Begged Rose.

Caption Mitchell was waiting outside the room for Josh as he listened to Rose.

Josh stated. “Please you have to calm down and tell us where your son is and who has him?”

Rose replied. “A Split called the Dragon has my son on a Pirate Base in Ore Belt. He’s not going to be there long there moving to a new base. He’s a pit fighter and he’s using my son as a fighting partner for a small Split boy. He has a shock collar on the boys to make them do his will. I refused him so he would beat me till I passed out, so he could have his way with me! He’s a monster please help my son!”

Josh replied. “Let me discuss it with my partner outside.”

Josh and Ann stepped outside the room to discuss what to do next when Caption Mitchell replied.
“Mr. Galen I want to apologize for my conduct earlier. After doing a little investigating I discovered a problem with my Duty Officer. He and the Pirate that attacked the Sector Officer earlier have been caught on videotape together. After confronting the Officer he confessed to setting up the duty roster so the pirates could slip their goods through our sector. He’s now in detainment awaiting a hearing.”

Josh asked. “What will happen to him and his friend?”

Mitchell replied. “The Pirate and the trader will both go to a detention center.”

Josh stated. “Caption Mitchell I’m going to rescue the boy and I need intelligence that’s where the Pirate and the trader come in. I guarantee these two will die for their crimes if you do what I’m about to suggesting. And no expensive upkeep for the state and you turn this disaster into a well planed sting.”

Caption Mitchell replied. “Ok you got my attention give me the details.”

Josh explained. “We need the two jailbirds to sing. To get them to talk and I mean tell all. You will have to offer them a pardon on the condition they inform you of all there contacts and there dirty deeds. And they have to state they were undercover agents. Your man will agree to anything to get free. This all hinges on the Pirate and if he talks. Keep them away from each other so they can’t collaborate in any way. Offer this to them in privet if they agree take them into interrogation one at a time referring to them as agents on a debriefing. Then take the tapes and put video clips of each declaring some well know but incriminating statements on the wire declaring how two undercover agents help take down a Pirate ring.
Then after its played a while send the two of them to the Space weed Drift Trading Station with 100 credits each. And let nature take its course.”

Mitchell replied. “You’re asking me to set them up so they’ll be killed.”

Josh answered. “No I’m asking you to save a little boys life and let two killers get justice.”

Mitchell stated. “I’ll do it for the mother and her child but its not pleasing for me to do such a thing!”

Josh replied. “We walk a thin wire sometimes but all we can do is try to save as many of the innocent as we can like this boy. We are sworn to stomp out evil and keep the peace and that’s what we’re doing.”

“I’ll keep you advised on the Pirates cooperation and when you can interview him.” Mitchell replied.

[collins50]

Good story, but a daring plan will it work?
will good overcome evil.
Keep up the good work, and thank you for your entertainment.