Chapter completed after the ******* (v long to make up for the gap.)
Chapter 9: Aftermath
“Your Orca has entered the sector Sire,” Hagman reported concisely in a carefully neutral tone. The atmosphere in the Station Prime control centre was incendiary, a room filled with fuel vapour, with a bomb in the centre; a bomb on a trembler fuse.
One false move, one wrong word.
No one wanted to provide the spark and Hagman had quietly routed all command functions through his console. The young female unlucky enough to be on comms when Force escaped was still sprawled on the deck. Her breathing pattern indicated she had recovered consciousness many minutes ago but she was wise to feign injury. Shot messengers under these circumstances could consider themselves lightly excused.
The rest of the command staff sat hunched in frozen fear over their consoles, attempting to look busy while they recalculated the amount of risk they had chosen to run for their share of the enterprise. It was of course, too late. Everyone, by their presence was now committed beyond redemption.
Redemption.
It was, Hagman coolly noted, a rather interesting concept for his unconscious to throw up at this time, particularly as he gave as much credence to any of the peculiar creeds the Goner claimed to have preserved from the Argon ancestral home as he did to their two conflicting myths of space exploration. He was prepared to stake much on the fact that there had never been a Federation, Empire or Rebel Alliance.
There was only one god, one being with the power of life and death and he sat brooding in the command chair, unmoving but for a single finger tapping his control panel.
“Infiltrator,” Law said, speaking the word with clipped precision, aware of the anxiety festering throughout the control room. “That ship will be known as the Infiltrator, it speaks of its purpose. Do not alter the current appearance, that too is suitable.”
He could leave Hagman to take care of the details.
Law took a deep breath and pushed the rage burning inside, down into the pit of his stomach. The stakes were much too high now to indulge the slavering, bestial aspect of his nature despite the delicious rewards. He was in the endgame now, resources committed, reserves plundered, possibilities exhausted. His allies would funnel what resources they could, but men, hard, unflinching men like Hagman and Hart, they were hard to come by.
He would swap them both for someone as lucky as Force.
The sound of his fist smashing down onto the control panel tightened the tension several more notches.
“Have Captain Hart join us aboard the Infiltrator Mr Hagman, it is time to plan our next actions. I trust this station will be fully operational and completely secure within one Argon day.”
“On my word, Sire,” Hagman responded.
“Good. Prepare my shuttle and have that woman removed to the slave pens. No one is to touch her until I have finished.”
The communications officer scrambled to her feet whimpering as she attempted to run. Hagman chopped her down with one clean blow to the nape of the neck as a grinning brute of a guard moved to grab her.
“She’s dead,” he announced bitterly.
“Old reflexes Sire,” Hagman shrugged and turned back to his console.
He could feel Law’s baleful and calculating stare playing on the nape of his neck.
The flight to the newly christened Orca took longer than it should with Law ordering the Vulture to orbit the shipyard site while he gloatingly revelled in the possibilities it opened.
The small ready room off the main bridge still had the distinctively Boron stinging ammonia tang despite repeated purges, despite the jury-rigged replacement life support system and despite the aroma of fresh, strong java bubbling noisily in the antique percolator. Law accepted a cup, dipping in a taster and waiting for it to flash safe before taking a draining mouthful that would have scoured the throat of a normal human being.
Faith Coniston poured another cup, which he took with his customary indifference to manners. She didn’t mind that, no one rose to her level of prominence in the Stoertebeker Clan burdened by either much of a conscience or social sensitivities. What she minded was the animosity in the air, a radiation more subtle than the lingering chemical bite in the air, but it was there, gathering like a cloak around Hagman. Despite her carefully hidden admiration for his willingness to be the one that sometimes had to voice the unpalatable it still made her slightly afraid. Speak when spoken to, and then only to say, yes Sire.
Or Admiral, while he was aboard. She hoped Hagman had the sense to follow suit.
Faith poured two more cups, then a third as Captain Hart arrived, sharp in a freshly pressed black tunic. Hagman took his with a smile, nodding his thanks while raising a surreptitious eyebrow. His eyes held a warning of something else, beyond the Force debacle. That though, was enough of a worry. She’d lost twenty fighters and more significantly, twenty pilots in the ramshackle flight from Menelaus Paradise and the Clan’s resources were almost as stretched as Law’s patience with setbacks. It would be some time before the shipyard could assemble replacements or complete the upgrades on the Black Heart.
Faith waited until Law took the seat at the head of the small oval table, squeezing his bulk into one of the few furnishings aboard suitable for human anatomy. She, Hart and Hagman then sat in hastily adapted Boron designed loungers, forced to perch uncomfortably on the lip to avoid slipping back prone. One more thing for the refit manifest she noted.
“Report,” Law demanded and drained the second java, slamming the insulated cup to the table. “Tell me some good news.”
Coniston licked her dry lips and took a small sip from her cup.
“We jumped as soon as the Nav-Sat signal appeared, there were fewer escorts than we were expecting, the TL shields and life-support failed precisely as promised. We took every freighter in the convoy aboard, teleported the TL cargo and left the empty hulk for the Xenon and jumped again to the independent sectors. The station owners were persuaded to co-operate, a Skull patrol attempted to intervene but were destroyed to a man. The recall came in before we could complete all the transactions. The Skull Clan is alerted to our supply lines now, we should move only in force when in that region Admiral.”
Rehearsed and concise.
“Shield armour, weapons components, laser towers?” Hart interjected. “Onboard,” she answered. “With independent traders engaged to bring more material to specified collection points.”
Law’s eyes held a stare long enough to trickle cold sweat down her arm-pits.
“Very good Captain, you have done well. It is a pity the same cannot be said for your pilots.”
He let the words hang in the air and the trickle became a rivulet, snaking down to her waist. She’d lost count of moments like these, waiting powerless to see which Law would emerge in the face of setbacks. All to often it was the monster, although not when her judgement was in question, yet. She had been at his side for twenty years, and for a few too long weeks, in his bed and that was not a memory held fond.
“However, no-one anticipated the Boron could complete the refit of that ship in the time available, or that it would arrive at that moment.”
Faith remembered to breath again.
“For now we must build a fortress of this sector. Deploy all available point defences save those for TL protection and redouble our efforts to recruit more pilots. My command ship will remain in-sector, ensure sufficient Hornet missiles are installed. Morn did make good that promise?”
He had, but just twenty five.
Law turned to Hagman and smiled.
“And better soldiers. Spend whatever is necessary.”
“As you command, Admiral. What about the Xenon?”
Cruisers and carriers from the Xenon sector bifurcating the New Frontier beyond Black Hole Sun arrived on an almost weekly basis, ignoring the Clan presence in favour of whatever business they had beyond the northern jumpgate.
War and rumours of war.
How the persistent below deck scuttlebutt of another hostile alien species arose she could not say but conjecture had long since solidified into fact in the minds of the common pilot.
Ships with skin that shimmered, alive. Seen by friends of friends in sectors they should not have been.
“Continue to let them pass but consider how we can embroil them with Force.” A single muscle twitched spasmodically in his left cheek.
Law did not seem to notice.
Two hours later Law returned to Station Prime and Coniston commandeered the only working human shower to scrub the fear sweat from her skin, wishing she was once again the Black Heart First Officer.
*********************************************
A circus, nothing more than a bloody circus, Corrin thought as he watched from atop a small pyramid of unprocessed cargo canisters. They’d been hastily pushed to the side of the Orca docking bay to clear space for the dozens of journalists and their menagerie of support staff and provide vantage points for an armed Raiders security team. The plasma rifle was heavy across his knees as he scanned the pack for assassins, fighting down the temptation to shoot a hover-cam darting around his perch.
Max sat at a long table atop an improvised platform, set to diagonally block access to the pilot ready-rooms, alongside Tyre and Anje Delenari, fielding questions that the PR woman picked out from the baying cacophony. She was in her element and appeared to know every journalist in the universe by sight and name, even the Split contingent. In the light of recent events and with Law’s new base now public knowledge, interest in his war with the Stoertebeker Clan was at an all-time high and she had loudly insisted Max faced the universe press.
“It’s a sensational story Max, I’m fielding offers for holo-vid rights that run into the millions so get out there and talk it up!”
Max reluctantly agreed but now he looked like he was about to either kill or pass out. Despite the endless mugs of scalding black Java, fatigue had blanched his face to a bone white that contrasted sharply with the shades. He looked worse than Tyre, who had at least accepted a medicinal stim along with the regenerative spray on her gashed forehead. She had insisted on remaining at Max’s side and he seemed to draw strength from her presence and her touch, her hand often finding his to squeeze when his response to a stupid question became monosyllabic, hostile. There was a shining bond between them now and thinking of how Kaitrin illumined his own old soul he smiled. Max deserved better luck with women than Gragore ever had.
In the hours since his dramatic escape Max had barely been given time to breathe, let alone rest and the two of them had exchanged no more than an emotional bear-hug when Corrin’s Mamba finally docked. While Max and Sinas took control of the Trading Station Corrin took charge of sector defence, touring each orbiting installation to bludgeon, bribe and shame as many pilots as he could into space.
Law cast a long shadow but another dozen fighters flew CAP around each jumpgate, supplementing the Raiders forces stretched thin to protect Menelaus Paradise, the new Orca and the Chip Fab in Teladi Gain. A Raiders wing flew blockade around the Bio-Gas Factory Max suspected of being a front for the Stoertebeker Clan. Raider troops were already kitted up for the assault, waiting only for him to give the word.
The speed with which Delenari had corralled the media pack and arranged a jump-capable ship was awesome, almost as awesome as the Paranid cruiser they arrived on. Uncounted tons of squat menace, The Fist of Xaar still orbited the sector, and with the grudging permission of the other four governments provided temporary protection while the Raiders scrambled to cope. It would depart with the media once they’d sucked the incident dry and Corrin decided he would make sure Tyre was on it, heading for a full check-up by Argon physicians. He hoped Max told a good story, they’d need more ships now Law had two jump capable TL’s.
A good story! After a lifetime in the Special Ops shadows it just felt wrong for Max to be sitting in the spotlight but his notoriety guaranteed it’s focus, even without Anje’s manipulations. Lurid selections of gun camera footage were already running as parallel ‘exclusives’ across all news networks, thanks to her. Corrin could almost hear the masses cheering over beer and pretzels but as the fees the woman had extracted would almost pay for a fully equipped Piranha he had held his tongue.
After a rehearsed outline of the events encompassing his escape the questioning became cogent explorations of the economic, military and political ramifications of the situation. Max fielded these with Xela-inspired erudition from behind his shades but his views on the politics of the New Frontier held little sensation for most of the reporters crowding the dais and his face showed what he thought of the close scrutiny his personal relationship was receiving.
His PR seemed more than happy to encourage that line though, the better to sell the story to the masses, Corrin supposed.
“You, McGee! Has the Universe Enquirer got a question that does not involve an alien love child or mysterious organic ships, Jack?”
For a small woman, she had a very loud voice.
Five different species equivalents of a knowing chuckle rippled through the media ranks and a dishevelled looking man with unfashionably long and unkempt hair stood up, sporting a rueful half grin.
“Yea, very funny guys but we got the DNA and the sensor logs. One question Max, how many people did you kill when you blasted your way out of that Clan Station? It must have been a lot right? How do you feel about it, my readers..”
“That’s three questions at least and the general circumstances are covered in the background briefing,” Anje intervened. “I really don’t think Max wants to answer that right now, just wait for the holo-flick and divide by ten! Next question.”
Max stood up, cutting off the reporter’s protests.
“No, that’s okay Anje.”
He stood up and removed the shades to fix McGee with sunken eyes and the crowd fell into a whispering silence.
“A **** of a lot McGee, is that what your readers want to hear? I broke skulls, pushed nasal bones into brains, burned off limbs with plasma and shredded them with grenades. I left a trail of gore, shit and entrails every place I went, bodies so mashed up their own mothers wouldn’t recognise them. How do I feel? I killed everyone except some guy who hauled me away when I was playing dead, the rest of his buddies got burned in a trap. I feel fine, I kill people all the damn time,” Max answered, lapsing into bitter sarcasm.
“Was that sensational enough for your readers?”
Tyre put a restraining hand on his elbow while the publicist shot a glare.
“What Max means to say,” Anje interjected smoothly, “Is that he did what he had to do to rescue Ms Annis from the pirate clan. In the heat of events he didn’t keep score.”
“Just do what you normally do and make something up,” came an anonymous voice from the pack. Laughter cleared the moment and even Max managed a smile as he sat down.
It went on for another butt numbing hour with Max getting more fractious by the minute under the barrage of demands for trivial, personal detail to flesh out the story. When did you both first meet? Tell us about your childhood? Have you any plans to revive gate racing now you control this sector? That one of course brought a gleam to the PR woman’s eyes despite Max’s curt rebuttal.
At the end Max stood up.
“Before you go, I’ve got something important to say.”
He took off his shades as the rival hover-cams jostled for position.
“You listen to me Law, I know your spies have a channel on the sector nav-sat you murdering bloody psychopath so damn well listen good. My spies know every damn move you make so you’d better start looking over your shoulder because I’m coming for you, I’m coming for you, beginning now!”
That was the signal Payter and his men were waiting for to begin the assault on the Bio-Gas factory. It would be good practice for the coming attack on Law’s Teladi Gain base although it seemed unlikely the station would put up much of a fight in the face of overwhelming force.
Corrin slipped away to the Bridge Ready Room as soon as Anje called for final questions and had a large snifter of 25-year-old brandy ready for Max when he arrived.
“Welcome back Max,” Corrin said simply. “I can’t tell you,” he answered, unable to say more as tears stung his eyes. He collapsed into one of the small easy chairs; his hands shaking so much he almost spilled the brandy as he took a sip.
“You left it pretty late though!” he managed to force the humour past the swelling in his chest, smiling weakly.
“We’d have been there sooner but Sinas had to bludgeon the override Nav-Sat codes from the Boron Navy. Jackson’s flying him back from the Trading Station now he’s cleaned house and put his own people in. He’s Governor Sinas now; your authority does not extend to the planetary colony, Oceania they call it so I guess there’s a lot of water beneath those clouds. It’s mainly a bunch of Boron mystics being at one with the unspoilt wilderness so no loss there. You should talk Max; else it’ll eat you up inside. What really happened?”
Max took a deep, steadying breath and a jolt of brandy.
“Perhaps we should go down and light a candle for Borass. Joker stiffed me Corrin, as soon as we docked, just to get a shot at Law. He didn’t stand a chance, Law isn’t that stupid.”
“Revenge does strange things to a man’s head, drives out good judgement.”
“Tell me about it,” Max smiled, Corrin was pleased to hear the irony in his voice. “But what choice did I have? The rest of it went pretty much down as I said, give or take the heroic gloss.” Max finished the glass and waited while Corrin refilled it. “It took Zee a couple of days to crack through and when she did I popped a couple of those damn stims and went through that place like Death’s draft board.”
His hands were shaking again.
“I just went insane; blood and slaughter, too many to count. It felt good and that can’t be right.”
“You did what you had to Max,” Corrin offered, “those people put themselves in your sights just by being there, they weren’t innocent bystanders. You’ve killed people before, and not just ship to ship.”
“True, but I’ve never enjoyed it before either, with that M70 I felt like a god.”
He paused.
“I can still smell the blood despite the clean threads.”
“If we win this thing Max we’re probably going to kill them all. Hand to hand or hornets at two klicks, blood will be on our hands just the same.”
“Maybe,” Max shrugged, “but it sure feels different when it’s a machine in the crosshairs. Trite but true, I guess that’s why grunts pick on pilots in every damn bar in space. Law’s changed too you know, I thought he’d kill me there and then, long and slow like the psych profiles say. He isn’t like that now, he’s thinking.”
“That’s how he used to be, when I was green, when he was hungry. That’s not good news but we’ll deal with it,” Corrin said confidently. “How do you really feel?”
Max took another sip as he sifted through his roiling emotions.
“She loves me Corrin, and I love her. I’d kill them all again, a thousand times over. Is that lack of judgement?”
“Laddie, if you’ve found something fine in all this mess you’d better damn fight for it. That doesn’t make you a killer, the fact we’re having this conversation proves that. Max, you’re a warrior in the true sense of the word and in my book you’re a bloody hero. And not just my book either, you should hear how your boys talk about you. Hell, the reserve squadron threatened mutiny if they weren’t promoted to full Raider status and freelancers are kicking down the gates to join you. People need heroes lad, it makes them feel that if the chips were down then maybe they’d do the right thing too and it inspires them. And don’t underestimate the power of myth, Anje doesn’t and she’s one bloody clever woman. One legend is worth a hundred ships, that’s why people love those Goner tales even though they know it’s all bull. They give us hope that if the time comes we could all step up to the crease.”
“Everyone seems to be a philosopher recently,” Max said. “I like yours a whole lot better than Law’s although I don’t feel like Kirk or Luke,”
He managed a weak grin. “And I sure as hell hope Tyre isn’t my sister!”
“Or Law your father,” Corrin laughed. “Anyway you’re Han, the rogue redeemed. Heroes have a thousand faces Max and if I had a medal I’d pin the bugger to your chest. But if you pull a damn fool stunt like this again without taking me along, then it’s light sabres at dawn!”
Max couldn’t speak through the lump swelling in his throat and blinked back the tears.
“Where’s Tyre?” Corrin asked, filling the silence.
“She’d better be on her way to Antigone Memorial for a full check-up in that Paranid brute. Anje said it was your idea but I bet she’ll be selling a few more exclusives while she’s recovering. I sent a few of the boys along to make sure Law doesn’t go for a repeat performance. Fill me in before the others arrive.”
He tossed Xela’s data-padd to Corrin, who caught it with one hand.
“You’d better link her up, do we have a C and C system in place?”
“Nav-sats all through the Boron part of the New Frontier,” Corrin confirmed. The Orca might have been old but it had been practically gutted in the refit and was now as advanced as anything in space when it came to sensors and command and control systems. With energy weapons it could have given a cruiser a fight but even the ingenuity of the Boron could not violate the physical laws that governed the inertia-free drive systems.
Even at fifteen million credits it was, as Jackson enviously put it, ‘a steal’ and it was a price that drew deep from the stock of goodwill Max’s war against their mutual enemy had built. But four hundred assorted missiles, everything from heavy silkworms to agile wasps and mosquitoes gave it claws and the dozens of fighters it could carry in sub-space holds a punch to match a carrier. Sinas had quietly given the order to adapt the old transporter for human use as soon as he had agreed the price, working to Xela’s specifications. Even so the Kingdom End shipyard had still been forced to throw every asset into the battle to complete the work while Corrin and the Raiders chafed helpless against the barrier presented by the single Xenon and three Split sectors beyond Black Hole Sun.
The days following Max’s disappearance beyond Menelaus Paradise had been the longest and worst of his life and if it had not been for Sinas’ restraining arm he would have led the Raiders in a charge through Xenon space and dared the Family Whi to act on their threats. It could have been the spark that ignited that part of the New Frontier, pitting the war-mongering Split Family against the Boron in a conflict that would spread like wildfire through the tinder-dry undergrowth of the ancient animosities between the two temperamentally opposite species. Failing that he would have taken Max’s jump-enabled Mamba and single-handedly stormed Law’s new citadel. Only the knowledge that such an assault would be both futile and a deathblow to the mission he was honour-bound to complete if Max fell, had held him back.
Sinas, with consummate political skill, parlayed the incendiary threat to peace into the huge and precious capital ship jump-drive hardwired into the Orca and immovably encased in clear plasteel embedded with sensors to trigger the self-destruct mechanism. As justification the Force Corporation was awarded the Royal Charter to supply the Boron sectors of this New Frontier appendix. It was a crock, a potentially lucrative crock, but it flew, despite the diplomatic barrage from Director Morn and the Family Njy who argued that only their own Frontier supply ships could be trusted with such a responsibility.
Strangely Corrin had never given up hope. Not only was Xela there as back-up but as an old romantic he just had to believe whatever powers there were behind the universe they knew, they would not let a man fall on such a quest. It was a belief tested with each passing hour Max did not appear and when a Bayamon shot through the jump-gate with others in hot pursuit he knew his faith had not been misplaced.
Max absorbed the briefing in silence, killing the brandy in one swallow as Corrin finished.
“Law mentioned Njy, I think The Butcher is part of his plan. Laser Towers Mirv, we’re going to need plenty of LT’s if we’re going to hold onto this place with that Paranid ship gone. How much do they go for?”
“One point five million credits, plus a couple of hundred thousand in raw materials and components,” Xela offered, a disembodied voice. “This is one fine ship you brought us Corrin. State of the art command and control systems, interplanetary scale sensor arrays, a girl could feel right at home!”
“Thank you lassie,” Corrin answered, “But it’s your specifications and Sinas’ boot up a few Boron tails. I just appointed Jackson delivery boy. Speaking of which?”
“They docked a couple of minutes ago, they’ll be here soon. Max, if we set up an LT station we should go the whole hog and set up a vertically integrated production chain. With tensions at current levels weapons systems are going to be in demand and it will make sense to keep others from skimming off any of the cream. We can just about afford it but we might need to acquire a few more Xenon ships to keep the credit-flow up. And if The Butcher is allied to Law we could be in a heap of trouble. He controls all the Split sectors this side of the Frontier and even with the Boron between us and him, that’s a lot of firepower. We will need more ships.”
The Ready Room doors slid open as she was finishing her sentence. “And another Bliss Place Max my boy!” Jackson interjected, grinning. “I’ve got hungry mouths to feed too. You really kicked some ass huh? Pity you didn’t smear that SOB.” Sinas followed him into the room.
“A Bliss Place for our friend here, Zee. As Acting King of the Universe or whatever the hell I am can we set one up here, what’s my authority? That was great timing Jack, thanks. You’re one lousy judge of character though.”
“Joker? Nah, I made sure you had back-up didn’t I? You owe me too much for me to let you get yourself killed over some chick right?”
“She isn’t just some chick but appreciated Jack,” Max said. “Appreciated.”
“Do you want to hear about your authority or shall I just book you both a room?” Xela cut in and continued without pausing for an answer. “Basically you have the customary emergency powers as defined by treaty, broad discretion subject to protected individual and property rights. You did all this stuff back in basic training remember?”
“Mostly,” Max said vaguely. “No summary executions or expropriation of private or government property?”
“I’ll write up a summary you can study later Max,” she answered with a sigh. “But you have broad discretionary authority to act for the duration of any State of Emergency, should one be declared in this sector. I expect you could find some lawyer that can prove growing spaceweed is absolutely vital to the continued health and well-being of the sector.”
“Hasn’t one been declared already?”
“I don’t know Max, you tell us.”
Max grinned. “Then let word go forth that King Max the First says ‘don’t panic!”
“Consider it done but consider it re-written,” Xela confirmed. “You should get a whole lot of sleep Max but first you all better see this.” A large view-screen seeped from the rear wall, like molten metal solidifying.
“Cool!” Jackson whistled
“Impressive as this new liquid metal technology must be to the male brain,” Xela continued archly, “I was referring to this.” The Universe Network News logo appeared on the screen as a man’s voice spoke deep and authoritative over the urgent signature beat.
“And in other news, reports are coming in of the complete destruction of a Teladi re-supply convoy out of Ianamus Zura bound for Scale Plate Green. Sources close to Director Morn of the Teladi Trading Company suggest that the convoy attempted to deliver urgently needed defensive equipment by cutting through Xenon space.”
The standard map of the known sectors flashed onscreen with the route from Ianamus Zura, through Eighteen Billion and the unnamed Xenon sector to Scale Plate Green highlighted.
“A source close to the Director’s office has told our reporters that although it is not uncommon for traders to take advantage of the fluctuating Xenon presence close to the jumpgates, the attempt to run an entire convoy through, regardless of the urgency, represents a clear misjudgement on behalf of local commanders appointed by the late General Daht. Steps are underway to ensure no such officers remain in position to again allow their grief to over-power their judgement in this manner. Such was the loss of fighters, weapons, shields and laser defences Scale Plate Green should continue to be considered hazardous territory.”
The map was replaced on screen by the face of a sombre faced middle aged man. He looked soberly into the camera for a second before his face brightened.
“And after the break, the Argnu that thinks she’s a Chelt!”
Xela cut the channel.
Jackson was first to break the heavy silence.
“Oh crap!”
No one questioned his judgement, the truth was obvious, as the Prophet once said, you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Despite the warmth of the brandy Max’s face retained the bone-white hue of extreme fatigue and Corrin forced the ensuing discussion along at a brisk pace. Although the Raiders probably had Law out-gunned, he had a single defensive position while Max’s forces had not only an entire sector of stations to protect but also two stations in two different sectors. The Orca too would be constantly on the move and at risk of ambush from one or both of Law’s own TL carriers.
“And if Morn is brazen enough to deliver an entire military convoy into Law’s hands who knows what else he’d dare. The Chip Fab is absolutely vital to our research project and it’s right in his backyard. Defending that is vital, particularly as I’ll have to be there a lot of the time. Then there’s Njy, and we all know what The Butcher is capable of.”
“One step forward..” Max sighed wearily. “I’m clean out of ideas. Sinas?”
“There’s a limit to what I can do Max, I’m sorry. This is your sector for the time being, if the Boron play too explicit a role the Teladi and the Split will scream foul. Our ship and equipment deals still stand and if you have anything I can put a commercial gloss on I’ll do what I can.”
“We need more credits,” Xela said. “Just for a change.”
Corrin looked at Max and stood up.
“Okay, this meeting is over. Max, you’re going to get twelve hours sleep and no bloody arguing. Then you’re going to meet all the station heads in this sector and then you are going to spend a full week with Tyre on some expensive Three Worlds resort beach.”
Max started to speak.
“No, I mean it Max. If you burn out you’re no good to anyone,” Corrin said firmly. “We gave Law a bloody nose and he needs to consolidate just as badly as we do. You can be spared for a week. We’ll drop you off in the Orca when we pick up an LT kit.”
“After sorting out that interplanetary assault ship I need,” Jackson said evenly.
“Agreed and agreed,” Max said quickly, heading off a contest of wills. “I’ll have a little talk with Skull on the way to the sun, sea and sand.”
“Thanks buddy, Jack needs a new base. I think I’ll name it Jackson’s Redoubt. You should name that Boron rust bucket, it’s bad luck not to.”
By pilot superstition he was right and Max thought for a second.
“The Enterprise,” he said, “it’s Law’s name for his little conspiracy. It’ll be a message and a challenge.”
He turned to Corrin and winked. “And it can’t hurt to get a bit of mythopoeic resonance going.”
“I’m not your dictionary Jack,” Xela said, forestalling his query. “Get your own vocabulary.”
Jackson shrugged and grinned.
“Make it so Max, why not go the whole hog and paint it white. Man, I love those stories!”
“Probably got the action figures too right?” Max laughed. “These stations Mirv, you got something in mind?”
He had but the idea was only partially born.
“After you’ve slept Max, now go!”
Max allowed himself to be led to the Captain’s quarters. He tumbled into a deep, dreamless sleep before his head had sunk into the pillows.
Rogues Revenge Ch 9 completed 13/7/03
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
Rogues Revenge Ch 9 completed 13/7/03
Last edited by SteveMill on Mon, 14. Jul 03, 14:32, edited 3 times in total.
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Gandalf The White
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: Sat, 9. Nov 02, 12:21
Very nice read. Yes, Law seems a bit upset. Curious as to which TL they were talking about. But I guess we soon will find out 
I'd say that continuous Xenon cap ship traffic could work well in with Max getting access to Law's sector ... Shadow Skin one again. This time Law does not get info from the Boron one would suspect, which leaves him guessing when that ship is about to arrive. To stirr the Xenon in MEnelaus Paradise he would have to send in fighters from is it Blueish Snout? That again should be noticed by Force. So things won't be easy for him.
Looking forward to the next installment.
noticed one thing, which may be deliberate:
"Goner" - do you use it as sigular and plural? While I tend to use the same word for all other races, I somehow tend to use Goners, when talking about more than one.
I'd say that continuous Xenon cap ship traffic could work well in with Max getting access to Law's sector ... Shadow Skin one again. This time Law does not get info from the Boron one would suspect, which leaves him guessing when that ship is about to arrive. To stirr the Xenon in MEnelaus Paradise he would have to send in fighters from is it Blueish Snout? That again should be noticed by Force. So things won't be easy for him.
Looking forward to the next installment.
noticed one thing, which may be deliberate:
"Goner" - do you use it as sigular and plural? While I tend to use the same word for all other races, I somehow tend to use Goners, when talking about more than one.
Thanks - the TL side of things will soon be explained. Not usre about 'Goners' and'the goner'. Goners would suggest any random plurality of goners but 'the goner' seems right for the collective as an organisation. Can't think of any real world examples though, apart from 'the Knights Templar'.KiwiNZ wrote:Very nice read. Yes, Law seems a bit upset. Curious as to which TL they were talking about. But I guess we soon will find out
I'd say that continuous Xenon cap ship traffic could work well in with Max getting access to Law's sector ... Shadow Skin one again. This time Law does not get info from the Boron one would suspect, which leaves him guessing when that ship is about to arrive. To stirr the Xenon in MEnelaus Paradise he would have to send in fighters from is it Blueish Snout? That again should be noticed by Force. So things won't be easy for him.
Looking forward to the next installment.
noticed one thing, which may be deliberate:
"Goner" - do you use it as sigular and plural? While I tend to use the same word for all other races, I somehow tend to use Goners, when talking about more than one.
Yes - the shadow skin would allow one ship to get past the initial laser towers protecting a gate. It wouldn't take long to reprogram them though.
I'm still not sure how the sector can be invaded yet.
Doc - perspective will change in the next section.
Adam - I wish I jknew what that meant!
Nice tension building situation (or two ), but apparently Law realises he actualy might need these people, except the fainter of course, I do wonder if Hagman killed her deliberatly tho? I bet his neck was crawling while Law stared at him after the chopping incident, mine was!
Good read Steve, cheers.
), but apparently Law realises he actualy might need these people, except the fainter of course, I do wonder if Hagman killed her deliberatly tho? I bet his neck was crawling while Law stared at him after the chopping incident, mine was! Good read Steve, cheers.
Perhaps they are but I think it unlikely, unless you mean they will just abandon Law at some point! because no matter what fate has in store for Law, all his people are still murderous scum, not likely they'll be forgiven by anyone, especialy Max.KiwiNZ wrote:I agree, looks like his most trusted commanding officers are shifting carefully their loyalty.Moss wrote:I do wonder if Hagman killed her deliberatly tho?
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Gandalf The White
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lol. Well, I can't imagining him employing any of them, that's unless of course, he has plans for retrabution. If Max was pushed hard enough, perhaps.
But what is going to prove interesting, is what he will tell his gf about his real self and facial features. I wonder what her reaction will be
But what is going to prove interesting, is what he will tell his gf about his real self and facial features. I wonder what her reaction will be
some who deserve life receive death. Others who deserve death receive life. Can you give it to them? Don't be eager to deal out death in judgement, for not even the wise can see all ends.
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Gandalf The White
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: Sat, 9. Nov 02, 12:21
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Gandalf The White
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: Sat, 9. Nov 02, 12:21
EXCELLENT!! I have been looking forward to get that story a bit untangled. Cool one. Made me shiver in some parts, I did not cry though, honestly
Yes, Max certainly is in a very vulnerable position. Setting himself up with weapon production out their really may be a good idea considering the stirr-up he causes.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Yes, Max certainly is in a very vulnerable position. Setting himself up with weapon production out their really may be a good idea considering the stirr-up he causes.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Very nice Steve, I certainly hope Max and Tyre's vacation is trouble free, they both need a break after visiting the ever charming Law 
.
Still much to do yet tho by the look of it!
I guess R Gunns ship had a good few old movies aboard when it got lost in the X part of the galaxy, light sabres at dawn indeed
Having the Njy Butcher one side and Law on the other doesn't sound much fun.
Looking forward to more, as allways, hope the sun keeps shining for you, and the story keeps flowing for us, cheers Steve very good read.
.Still much to do yet tho by the look of it!
I guess R Gunns ship had a good few old movies aboard when it got lost in the X part of the galaxy, light sabres at dawn indeed
Having the Njy Butcher one side and Law on the other doesn't sound much fun.
Looking forward to more, as allways, hope the sun keeps shining for you, and the story keeps flowing for us, cheers Steve very good read.