A new beginning III

CIC, INS Gift, Sigdio System

3087

I sat in my chair in the CIC, watching the crew going about their work. De Muler was currently directing the ship into docking position at the station. Over the optical sensor I was watching how the wharf crew moved the huge docking clamps into place. With a dull thump the ship was moored. The gangway extended next and provided a walkable connection between both airlocks.

“Docking completed, Commander.” De Muler reported.

Tirso looked over from his console. “The away team is ready. As discussed.”

I rose from my char. “Watch out while I am gone. As soon as there is even the slightest hint of danger get the Gift out of here.”

“Sí, Comandante.” Confirmed Tirso with a nod while I left the CIC and made my way to the airlock. There, three marines were expecting me led by Lieutenant Emilie Steyer. Lieutenant Cutler would stay on the ship to coordinate defenses, in case someone on Achenbach tried to pull anything stupid.

She saluted before me. “We are ready, Commander.” I let my view gaze over them. They were all wearing their default full body combat suites with a full set of short and long weapons. They had been ordered to remove all emblems, coat of arms and other markings that would identify them. I myself wore my default officers uniform. I too removed emblems and changed the uniform up as much as possible. That, the 121 years that had passed, and hopefully no one would notice it as an imperial uniform but any random ship or mercenary uniform as used by the billions. I had my trusty T-12 in a hip holster at my right side and wore a body armor below the uniform.

This was a civilian station on the fringe of known space. Even before the time jump I would have been careful. It was not unheard of that a captain had been kidnapped while on leave as a mean to take over the ship. Now though? I was extra careful.

“Okay, Lieutenant. You are only here for protection. Keep you eyes open and don’t speak if not absolutely necessary. Let’s move out.“

“Aye, Commander.” With a wink of her hand the other marines fell in line and we entered the gangway to Achenbach Station. The first thing I noticed was the slight smell of bad air infused with oil and other scents I couldn’t complete identify. It remained me of the smell on the Gift during the time we fought the failing life support. I my mind I saw Alex’s body hitting the deck again for just a split second.

The smell matched the ragtag appearance of the station. Already from far away when we were on route to the station we had been able to see the makeshift repairs and extensions made to it. It was obvious that fate hadn’t been good to Achenbach since the Gift had left it the last time. As soon as we exited the gangway the smell became worse and the outside appearance matched what we now saw on the inside. The station was run down. Dirt, open panels and cables defined the image that I saw, complimented by sparse and unreliable lighting.

The hallways were mostly deserted only the one or other dock worker or guard was seen going about their business. As hoped for. This wharf should be restricted for normal residents after all. A blinking sign showed the direction to the portmaster’s office, which I followed. After a few corners I went affet Emilie inside a small office, while two of the marines took post outside the door. Inside, a clerk was sitting behind a counter, looking at us uneasy. It probably wasn’t every day armed marines entered his office.

I approached “I am Commander Hauck of the ship Gift. We just docked. I am here to see the portmaster.”

“Ah, of course. I will notify him momentarily. He should be here shortly. Please take a seat.” I nodded and took a step back from the counter - preferring to stand - while the clerk continued working his computer station.

A few minutes later a door behind the counter opened and a sturdy man entered the room. He took a moment to take in the visitors and then came straight for me. He stretched out his hand which I grasped. A firm handshake. “I am Per Haskell, nice to meet you, Commander. I am the portmaster here at Achenbach station. Please, follow me into my office.”

“Likewise portmaster. Please, go ahead.”

I followed him into the back. He offered me a seat across his office table which I took.

“Well, Commander Hauck. That is a very interesting ship that you have there. Isn’t every circle that we harbor a military ship of this size. May I ask, is it of imperial origin?”

I nodded, “Yes, an older frigate design.”

“I thought so. Even below all the damage a true beauty. You don’t see ships of this quality around often anymore. Anyway, how can I be of service?”

“As you already said, the Gift is in need of repairs. I have the know how and the man power but I’d like to borrow some of the stations heavier equipment. I am also in need of spare parts and a resupply is in order.”

“Of course, I can set up a rent contract for equipment. I assume the details are to be discussed with your chief engineer?” He asked to which I nodded. “For the resupply I can point your quartermaster to a few ship chandlers. They should have everything on basic supplies that you’d need. But any spare parts are going to be a problem.”

“How come?”

Haskell frowned. “My dear commander, this is a fringe system and proper spare parts out here are as rare as virgin hookers but you are looking for imperial spare parts on top of that. Ships like the Gift aren’t build any more. I can’t imagine you’d be able to find many spare parts even on core worlds.” He shook his head. “I can name a few part traders but don’t expect much. They mostly deal with parts that most other would consider scrap.”

“Well, I take what I can get. How is the station equipped for medical emergencies?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“We have proper facilities for most situations. We are the only station in the system. We provide the primary care for all the miners out here. Taking a wounded to the next system would take way to long. Why’d you ask?”

“Ah, nothing important.” I dismissed. “Our ships doc, doctor Cottle just liked a second opinion on one of his patients. Noting serious.” I was not going to admit I had 39 deep frozen half dead humans in storage right now. That might come across wrong and they might start asking questions. We already had enough attention as is. I’d let doctor Cottle figure out if the facilities here were sufficient for saving my comrades.

“Ah, then I will add contact information for our hospital to the list as well. Anything else you’d need, Commander?”

“No, thank you. That is all.”

“Alright.” he took out a datapad and started to enter some information. “Then lets get down to the numbers. This wharf is rented by the circle and will put you back 90000 credits each circle. How’d you like to pay?”

“Do you accept imperial som?”

He frowned. Again. “Commander, you know as good as I do, that imperial som are no longer used and have no value anymore. Since decades now. Don’t play games with me.”

I had almost expected that. All imperial ships had accounts and hard cash on board for all kind of expenses. In imperial som that is. It was the standard currency used in the empire back in my time. I have never heard of a currency called credits. I didn’t even know how much 90000 credits were!

“I am afraid I am unable to pay for the docking right now. I’d have to sell some equipment for now.”

His frown deepened. “Commander, are you telling me you are owning a billion credits worth rare war machine with what? 300 crew and you can’t pay a simple docking fee? You got to be kidding me. Station law prevents you from leaving the wharf and enter the public sectors of the station or trading with any merchants until the docking fee is paid. You’d understand if you’d know now many tried to skip the fee before the law came into effect.”

“I understand and respect your situation portmaster, but you also have to understand mine. Isn’t there a way how we can handle this situation?”

Haskell propped his face up with his hand in a thoughtful position. “The Gift is a warship. You are mercenaries, right?”

Well, seems like we are now. “Yes, we do mercenary work.”

Suddenly there was a glint in his eyes. “The miners had problems with pirates for some time now. We aren’t able to do much. The station is safe from major attacks as it is armed and just too large to be a target for them. But the mining ships that travel into the belt are getting raided quite often now. It is massively hindering the mining operations and we don’t have any… movable… noteworthy military capabilities out here. We wanted to send for mercenaries with the next messenger ship. But now that you are here… If you are interested I could set up a meeting with some of the miners. I am sure they’d give you an down payment since they would otherwise pay for the mercenaries journey here.”

I threw up my hands. “Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice. Set up the meeting.”

---

After the meeting with the portmaster, Emelie the other marines and I went back for the ship. Haskell came trough with his promisees. He send over prepared contracts for the equipment we’d need as well as contacts to merchants and doctors. Although all of this wasn’t of any use until we had full station access. He also directly sat up the meeting with the miners. I’d guess he had a great self interest in us disposing of the pirates as fast as possible. Haskell seemed like… how should I put this? More like a business man than a portmaster. An enterprising fella. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could get me illegal goods or contacts to smugglers. I was quite sure there was a story between him and the pirates...

The miners were rather loosely organized. Some smaller miners joined forces and founded guilds, while the bigger fishes could commence their operations on their own. In between all these small and large mining cooperation there were of course freelancers and privateers. So no one was in charge. Which was really great for negotiations. Not.

Haskell had explained the mining operations in the system roughly to me. Mining ships would work in the belts and extract minerals from the asteroids. Those minerals would in turn be loaded onto freighters that shuttle between the belt and the station. Here the resources are being directly processed for in system use or prepared for export shipping.

In theory the pirates had three attack points. First the mining ships staying in the belt. Second the freighters running between the belt and the station. Third the ships leaving or entering the system. Pirate activity focused on the belt for now. The asteroids provided cover, allowing the pirates to sneak up until it was to late for the mining ships but I’d bet it was only a matter of time until they’d need to start hitting ships that import wares to the system. There is only so much loot on mining skiffs. Haskell also suggested the pirates had some kind of larger outpost in the system to support the operations, although it hasn’t been found until now.

We invited the heads of the largest mining organizations – those that had joined up to post the bounty - to the Gift. We were sitting in one of the meeting rooms right now.

“… the Gift should patrol in sector 29! My operations have been hit substantial in the last week!” Shouted one of the miners, a small sturdy man with a braided full beard.

“Which is why they won’t hit that sector again so soon, dumbass!” Another miner shouted back. He looked thin and sickly. It was obvious that he had lived to much time outside of a gravity field at some point. “They should clearly patrol sector 13. HT Industries has planned a larger operation there. It would surely entice a raid. It could be used as a trap.”

“Its no secret that there are now mercenaries in the system. The pirates aren’t stupid. They will smell the trap a lightyear away!” The second miner barked back.

“Gentleman, please. This leads to nothing.” I tried to interject.

“You just want the Gift for your own protection and we small miners are left to our demise as always!” Interjected a third miner.

“That is slander! We have always stood by the contract of…” The sturdy miner started – in my head I nicknamed him dwarf – when suddenly a loud whistle echoed through the room and silenced all present.

“The Commander has the word.” The angry and cold voice of Tirso cut through the room like a point defense laser through infantry.

“Thank you, Colonel. This discussion leads to nothing. You will pay us for each day that we patrol in the system and you will pay us for destroyed or captured pirate ships as well as killed or captured pirates. Leave the details to the professionals.”

“But, Commander…” the thin miner started – in my head I had named him elfie – but I interrupted him. “But nothing! If you don’t like my conditions you can wait for mercenaries to arrive from another system. I am pretty sure you are able to calculate the projected losses for the months you’d have to wait. The only thing we have to decide on is the contract duration and remuneration. “

You could say what you want about those miners, but they weren’t stupid. They knew that they needed the Gift and they knew that I needed them. On top every one of the miners was looking out for his own advantage. It was an exhausting chaos. Setting the payment alone took another hour. But at the end of the day we had an agreement. It wasn’t a great contract. Not that I had much experience in negotiating mercenary contracts or knew what a good or bad contract looked like. It was all we had for now.

The miners would pay two million credits up front. It should pay for the wharf and tool fees as well as for some needed supplies. The contract would start in one week. It was a tight schedule but should be enough time to fully repair the Gifts structure and armor, making her as combat ready as possible without some impossible to get spare parts.

Patrol duty would come at 200000 credits per circle, which wasn’t much. I think. I was still trying to figure out the economy and value of credits. I didn’t have to pay any salaries yet but sooner or later my crew would demand – rightfully so - to be paid. They would cut me some slack due to the situation but they deserved it. I estimated an average payment of 130 credits per circle and soldier. Around 40000 credits per circle in total. This didn’t include food, water, medical, uniforms and other expenses I would have for each of my crew. There were also the ship’s maintenance cost. For now the Gift had enough fuel. But sooner or later I had to buy new fuel rods, service parts and operating fluids. I’d guess the daily patrol payment would cover the operating costs but nothing more.

Hunting the pirates was were we could actually earn some money. For every pirate ship that we were able to take out we’d receive a base payout of 15 million credits. The exact payout was depending on ship size and classification. Larger ships would bring in more, smaller ships less. The 15 million base payout would be the case for a gunship class vessel.

Killing or capturing pirates would earn an additional bounty of 1000 credits per head. 100000 for a high ranking officer like a lieutenant or captain.

On top of that they insisted on sending liaison officer to the Gift. Least thing I’d need right now was some miner snooping around aboard my ship. I tried my best to convince them otherwise, but they were adamant on their decision and I had to give in...

Rarely I have felt the pressure of command as intensely as that day. I always had the responsibility for my crew, always had to get them home save, but never to this ... completeness. Until that fateful day the Imperial Navy provided salary, supplies, fresh earther – soon to be spacer - and even missions. Now it was all on me. It was now my job to find a course and decide where to set sail. Right now the tides were pointing towards bitter needed money!