Chapter 8
“Breach” I was sitting on a stack of crates watching the team with the upcoming training enter the flight deck. I had the simulation software turned off as I was the safety observer this round. Ten off duty crew flinched as two simulated grenades flew into the room, in the real world they just looked like plastic cylinders that did nothing but I knew in the helmets they wore was a bright flash and simulated ringing noise it wasn’t hundred percent accurate but better then throwing real explosives around when not necessary.
The five crew filled in and began “shooting” the simulator rifles that had built in mechanisms to simulate recoil and the helmets would show flashes but from the outside it just looked like both teams were just shaking them at each other like kids toys. The assault team used the flash suppression to move into decent firing positions taking out one of the defenders. The team returned fire and one of the attackers staggered but got back to cover. The assault team's armor was simulating the battle armor they would be issued if they were being deployed by the government.
Two more defenders went down before a group of four led by Ashley flanked the assaulters taking out two before they were taken out the other three defenders were late joining the attack so the final three attackers turned back before they made it to cover. The defenders got in one more good hit before the attackers finished them off. Because the attackers didn’t know how many defenders there were, the exercise didn’t end until the attackers cleaned the hangar and made it to the door to engineering.
“End exercise!” I called over the training comms channel used by the helmets and climbed down from my perch. The two teams took their helmets off, “Ashley why don’t you go ahead and debrief the teams with what you saw and I will jump in if there is anything I think needs to be added?”. Ashley had been taking the lead in ground and small arms training thanks to her background.
“Sure, first the assault team you stalled out your more armored and had all the toys there is no reason you couldn’t have broken that initial stalemate with a few grenades and even followed them in the grenades fragments over 3 yards can’t penetrate the armor you're wearing. Also should have secured your flank for obvious reasons. Defenders, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, you had double the numbers and knew it ahead of time two shooters per attacker would have made it impossible for them to advance, also when I say attack on my first shot I mean the first not the fifth at you three” she pointed at the last group “very well could have taken them out and saved some of my team if went right away instead of waiting to see if it worked.” The three in question looked chagrined and nodded. “ Anything else, captain?” , “ just that I want to say that the last three attackers did a good job sweeping the hangar to make sure it was clear.” I said and then took over again “ ok reset Ashley your on safety watch, assault team back to the hallway, defenders help me change up the defenses.
* * *
“End exercise, end exercise, end exercise” Ashley called on the training circuit, taking my helmet off I looked around as everyone else did the same thing. “Alright people let's head over and …” I was cut off by the overhead speaker, “ Captain to the bridge, Captain to the bridge.” This was the first time Paladin had made an announcement since the one with just Emily and I onboard. I handed my helmet off to the nearest crew member and began to jog to the bridge. I remember reading somewhere an officer wasn’t supposed to run as it might panic the crew, but I had a good crew and seconds could matter so I tried to balance it and made sure to not look panicked but still moved with a purpose.
I arrived on the bridge and noticed immediately that something had happened when Marcus called from his station “Captain on Deck” I responded by route “ as you were” this was the first time I was glad no one ever used my chair. I sat down and pulled up my screen “ talk to me people”. The man at sensors spoke up “ Captain passive sensors have picked up four contacts that look like corvette size ships coming out from behind the moon.” I looked at the sensor report where he mentioned and could immediately see what he ment.
“This could be nothing but I don’t like the look of this and it's suspicious as hell this is happening at the exact midpoint on a regular shipping route.” I thought for a moment then made a decision. “ clear for action!” there was a beat then Paladin sounded an alarm “action stations, action stations down and forward on the starboard side up and aft on the port side! Action stations, Action stations!” Three minutes later Max came running onto the bridge in a full pressure suit followed by a second bridge crew. I ran to my day office and took off the training equipment and grabbed my armored pressure suit and threw my helmet on a quick system check to make sure it functionally sound.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Returning to the bridge I took my seat back “ operations, status?” I asked . “All sections report ready” Ashley called out. I acknowledged the report then turned back to sensors recognizing James Rolley, the day shift sensors operator. “James, can we hit them with a low end pulse, something that makes it look like a civilian grade and not military but would still paint them? Let's see what they do.” James hit a few buttons “yes sir, ready on your mark.” ,”do it!”
A few moments went by then finally “contacts have firmed up one actual corvette three modified small haulers retrofitted with what looks like external launchers.” Marcus spoke up “ that clinches it, Pirates.” I raised an eyebrow “ since when has this side of League space had a pirate problem?” Marcus shrugged “ there were a few reported instances when I was out here ten years ago, but nothing like this with multiple ships and a military vessel even if it is a hundred years old”.
“hey”, I retorted with false anger. “Our old girl is almost that old”, “yes but she was rebuilt from the ground up to serve as one of only five full size vessels in a newly independent nation that's entire existence could have come down this one ship and has been painstakingly repaired and maintained by a crew Paledes citizens, that” he said pointing at the corvette on the display “was one of literally thousands mass produced for the war, hauled off a scrap heap somewhere repaired to a functional level and is crewed by a bunch of people who aren’t willing to get a real job and would rather steal for a living.”
Max and I both knew they were still dangerous regardless of their regular employment opportunities. But as I looked around the bridge and saw the crew sitting up a little straighter I knew the conversation had the desired effect. The crew member at communications spoke up “ captain, someone from the incoming vessels is demanding to speak to “the idiot in charge”” I decided to take my helmet off and adjust the camera so only my face was showing and the bulkhead behind me “put them through”.
The image of an unkempt man sitting in a captain’s seat with an oversized pistol in his lap greeted me. I spoke first “ this is the Paladin what can we do for you?” I intentionally avoided mentioning our nation, no merchant vessel from Palades had ever been seized by pirates. There had been three attempts two had been chased off by the crews who like most Palades citizens were more heavily armed then the crews of League ships the pirates were used to preying on and the last had destroyed when the Paledes vessel took them under fire with the small ship bored cannon they had fitted on to the ship after a near miss the month before in the same area. Because of those events Paledes vessels had a bit of a reputation deserved or otherwise for fighting back and we didn’t have enough ammunition for a drawn out battle with these guys.
“ I, Captain Korban, hereby inform you that you have entered Brotherhood space without permission as a consequence of this infraction I will be seizing your ship, cargo, and personnel until your debts are paid cut your acceleration and prepare to be boarded, if you do not comply we will destroy your ship and take what we can as payment!” the channel closed. “Well that was mighty unneighborly” I remarked sarcastically then continued more formally “ just for the official record, comms, were we informed of the League ceding territory when we passed through Marconus three jumps ago?” the communications officer checked his saved logs before answering. “No Captain we were not.” I nodded already knowing the answer but also knowing these logs would likely be reviewed by the authorities at Anvilus when we arrived. “ Then in accordance with all modern treaties and conventions I understand these to be vessels to be Illegally attempting to seize our ship and thus pirates. Mr. Rolley, change the markers to hostile and label them bandits one through four."
The large sensor plot changed from the yellow of unidentified to the red of hostiles. “ Helm, follow the nice man's orders and cut our acceleration.” The helm officer paused for a moment then called out in a confused but respectful tone “aye sir cutting acceleration.” I turned to Ashley “ Corporal Ozawhich is our best shooter in training who might fit Emily’s armor, I’m going to have her meet you and the bosun in the armory get them in marine armor.” Ashley and the bosun left as I called out. “ Paladin ship wide” the distinct click of the speakers everywhere but the bridge coming on could be heard.
“All hands this is the Captain, as you all may be aware we are under attack by four ships we believe to be pirates. We have enough ammunition to scare them off but they will likely just do this to another less well prepared ship. We don’t have enough ammunition to take them all on in an extended engagement, so I intend to lure them in this will mean allowing one of them to dock, this is a merchant vessel not a warship but I know a lot of you took the same oath I did, so I am calling for volunteers, any noncritical crew willing to assist in repelling boarders please report to the armory on deck four, thank you for your time.” I turned off the speaker and turned to the tactical station. “Weapons I want you to line up the long nines with where they are most likely to be when they get here. Can you hit them without the active sensors?” weapons responded “maybe, but it would be fifty, fifty”. We didn’t have the ammo for that. I Commed Ashley and asked her plan. “ We hid flash bangs in the air lock and rigged them to remotely detonate, when they hack open our outer lock we will detonate it then emergency open our side and rush them, we have closed the halfway emergency doors in case of a breach in the fighting.” ,” thank you Ashley, Weapons when I give the command go full active and fire on the three vessels not attached to us.” the weapons officer nodded “yes captain”. With that I sat back and waited.