Everyone aboard that ship was dead.
Everyone.
Pieces of the ship has exploded out in every direction, making any recovery impossible. Leaving any of the few people who might have survived the blast dead men standing.
And there was nothing Edward could do but stare, slowly realising the horror in full as his orders were revealed to be useless. Hundreds of lives and a scarce lead on the pirates both gone at the same time. Though the tragedy of the lives lost stung the most. Far, far more than just a missed objective.
“D-Did we make sure to command them to only fire when they had a side-“
“No!” Edward snapped, whipping his head around to Alex, his eyes wild, “I didn’t! I didn’t and I should! Fuck! This is something the captain should have realised as well! This-”
He took a breath, realising the fool he was making of himself in his panic. With yet more revelations dawning has he battled himself in his head. The round could have still triggered the explosion with the fuel in a side on hit to the aft. He could have ordered a warning shot. He could had ordered a shot before it started to run.
But it did not matter now. Those people he could have spared were now freezing and asphyxiating.
But all because of something he should have been aware of as a god damned admiral! It was a basic factor of how powerful railguns are and how fragile old cruisers were.
But instead, a string of people not thinking about that, starting with him, caused this.
“David… Cancel the rescue and reload the shuttles with marines to board the other ship… Its too late for them.”
David nodded, looking Edward in the eye as he picked his phone back up, “It was within the RoE sir, and they knew what might happen.”
But still…
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The officers of the captured tender were a somewhat sorry sight. Dishevelled and dirty with unwashed uniforms and faces. With bodies left slightly gaunt for the incoming signs of dehydration and malnourishment. That and there were only eight of them huddled in the brig. Though that did fit with their vessel’s small size at least.
But still, Edward couldn’t help but worry about the state of the other pirates. Even if they were murdering outlaws. The past had shown that the world seemed to always like throwing white into the black with unwilling conscripts and desperate men driven to desperate means.
But still, a revelation came. A dark one, but one that could be useful.
If taking the station crippled their supply situation to the point that they were having to ration supplies like this, it might suggest that they could surrender without a fight given a little more time… Maybe…
He could see the one they had singled out at the hyperspace drive technician and navigator at least. A Russian woman who’s eyes were still glaring with fury as she sat on the brig’s bench.
From that look, Edward guessed she’d need more than just being offered a shower over moist towelettes for a wash and something resembling a decent meal to get her to talk.
He turned, walking out of the room and heading straight to the officer’s quarters.
He wasn’t sure if they’d be fine to do it, but this was an opportunity for them to do something. Something that would be helpful.
He wrenched open the door, revealing Elliot’s quarters.
It was a fair bit smaller than Edward’s with only one slim room with a small bed, desk and set of drawers. On one of the light grey walls was a poster of the cover of “All that is left in the world” tacked on. He couldn’t help but smile at it every time he saw it. A nice little reminder of their shared reading list.
But he was unfortunately here on more serious business.
Elliot looked up from his desk as Edward walked in. Their eyes a little shaky as they connected with Edward’s melancholic expression.
“What is it?” He asked, the words slowly creeping from his throat.
“El, I have something for you to do but… Are you okay with doing interrogations?”
His blue and green eyes widened, “You mean-“
Edward shook his head, “No, no, no! Not beating them up or anything! That’s a war crime! Just… I want you to see if you can convince someone to tell us where their base is. They don’t seem to be in a good state and I don’t have great people kills so…”
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The panic drained from his body as “So, you want me to go in and talk to them.”
“Yes.”
“And when do you need me to do it?”
“As soon as possible.”
Elliot swallowed, “N-now?”
“I’ll brief you quickly. Just… It’d be best to get this entire mission over with soon. That and if we want the best chance of catching the pirates off guard and possibly getting them to surrender, we need to get moving quickly.”
“I-I’ll do it!” He said, “Just, give me a moment. And… For tonight?”
A small smile returned to Edward’s face, “It’s still on, don’t worry.”
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A small and simple interrogation room was luckily aboard the ship. Though, while he was only one room away, he couldn’t help but feel nervous about leaving Elliot alone with the pirate officer. With only a video and audio link providing a connection between them.
The prisoner had been given a new set of clothes before they went in and a wash, with their hands bound. Their glare still there, bearing down on the small framed diplomat.
Elliot was keeping his composure well, dressed in a simple set of trousers, a shirt, and an open jacket. Something Edward could only guess to be some sort of attempt at creating a more inviting atmosphere. Though, he wasn’t quite sure if it would work.
Elliot’s composure was steady however with a slight, pleasant smile displayed across his face. “Hello, I’m Elliot hill. I’m not with the military and I’d like to know what your name is and if you speak English.”
The woman snorted, “Do you speak Russian?”
“No.”
“Well, I can speak English then. I’m Shpak Mara Maximovna.”
The scratching of pen across paper was caught by the microphone.
“And what did you do aboard your ship.”
“I’ve told you lot that,” She groaned, “I was the navigation and hyperspace technical expert. Now what do you lot actually want!?”
Elliot paused, placing his pen onto the paper, “Not much… I understand that your group hasn’t been doing well in terms of supplies.”
Shpak wrapped her arms around her torso almost instinctually, “No thanks to you making us outlaws.”
Elliot raised an eyebrow, “How so?”
“We got the news from our captains of what will happen if we surrender.”
Edward knew exactly what she was talking about. Russian propaganda got rather extreme rather quick, quickly spreading the idea that surrendering troops would be executed. Something that was credible to the troops on the ground considering that was what they were being ordered to do to UN POWs in several instances.
Elliot however had to pause once again. A pause that could only help in the woman’s conviction. Luckily however, it wasn’t too long. “We never gave out such an order miss Shpak. What would the point of that be?”
“To make sure we can fight against you and so we won’t be in your way when it’s over.”
Elliot seemed a little more shaken by that. Not unresponsive like last time, but instead more horrified by the notion presented. “I- I- don’t think we have the same mentality about this. I’m very sure we have never issued such a order and we’re willing to give you and your comrades amnesty if they surrender and cooperate!”
“Cooperate with what American?”
“With our search for your… Fellow privateers.”
“Fellow what?”
“Pirates.”
“Ahhh… I cannot deny we are them. Though I know some like to call us “Partisans” currently. I cannot say I have many illusions of being one myself. I’m just not letting myself get into your clutches, well, until now.”
“And we are now offering you full amnesty if you give up the coordinates of the base you have been using in this system. You’ll have written in paper the agreement and its terms, with everyone else also given the opportunity to surrender.”
The woman sighed again, “But why would I trust you? How do I know you’ll keep to those words that have been scribbled on a piece of paper.”
“Because I, and everyone else, will be legally bound to it. We take that seriously. I can provide you with examples if you don’t believe me.”
She sniffed, leaning back in her chair, “There’s still some issues with that, but if I took you at your word westerner, what would happen?”
“Both of us would sign an agreement saying that the courts would commute your sentence for all of the activities you engaged in as a pirate. Then in return, you would give the coordinates of the base. If you purposely provide false ones however the agreement will become void. It’s a simple and short agreement. You’d also be on the way to earth aboard the next secure transport if the coordinates are correct.”
Shpak fell silent, her brow furrowing as she thought. Edward couldn’t help but feel his heart start to beat as he waited for her answer, staring closely at the screen. The seconds all dragging out as the woman weighed all of her options.
“And what happens if I don’t sign this?”
“You’ll be sent with the rest of your comrades to face trial for piracy, theft, hijacking and a set of other charges. You could be facing a life sentence depending on how much you were involved with the more damming charges. I can’t help you when it comes to that.”
“I’ll sign it then.”
His heart fluttered as his muscles finally relaxed. The woman and Elliot both signing the pre-arranged document. Sealing the deal in that moment with no fuss. To be honest to himself he thought it would take longer to get through to them but he was proven wrong in the best way possible. Now it was a matter of writing down the coordinates they gave and seeing if they were actually legitimate.
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A few lights glimmered above the brownish dwarf planet. Probably the reflections from scattered satellites and ships. There even seemed to be some sort of surface installation from the telescope images. Though at this distance it was especially hard to make out anything but smudges, even with specialised equipment. But it was something he could work off of and Webb could probably squeeze a few more drops out of it.
The light at the end of the tunnel was now so close… But there was still one question that lingered in Edwards head as he looked at the pictures.
Could have these pirates come into contact with the “directorate” at all? The pirates had hyperspace drives and if the directorate had a system close to this system, it was perfectly possible that they could have drawn the ire of them. Ire that would complicate any sort of first contact possibly.
He shook his head and laid back in his office chair.
At least they hadn’t turned up yet, which did suggest that they could be a fair way away. Maybe they hadn’t even managed to get out of their home system? Then they would be far, far away relatively. They would not be a problem for him to worry about at all. Unless he got sent off to try and make a proper first contact. Now that would be something… Though the descriptions of them…
They seemed like the sort who wouldn’t take too kindly to a bisexual admiral espousing freedom and democracy. Hell, they’d seem like the sort of be violently allergic to that. The “Awakened Directorate” sounded just like the sort of insane pompous cunts to cause issues no matter what the situations of their contact was.
Hopefully they were just far away…