Inadvertent Adventures by Loren K. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

closed.
    "The cartel wouldn't ship us junk," the supervisor snarled back. "You stole our cargo."
    "Your cargo is all present and accounted for. Maybe you should talk to your supplier."
    The confrontation was getting heated when a junior manager came down. "I have examined the cargo. All of the boxes are full of junk. However, all of the boxes are properly sealed, and the micro circuitry of the seals is intact. Sign here," he said as he handed over a memo pad to register their payment. When she handed it back he sneered at her. "Now get out of here. I don't know what your part in this game was, but I'm not amused."
    "We need fuel…" Captain Denise began, but the dock supervisor cut her off.
    "Get it someplace else. I won't fuel you."
    "Exactly where else is there to get fuel? This is the only dock in the system."
    The man smiled nastily and said, "Well ain't that just too bad for you." Then he turned and walked away while Captain Denise gaped at his back.
    Olaf and Will were standing by the hatch as she turned around. "This is bad, Captain," Will said. "We barely have enough fuel to get out of this system."
    "I know. I've always been afraid of something like this in one of these remote ports. Olaf, get with Silver and get a course plotted to the closest system. Forget about Columbia."
    "Yes, Ma'am," Olaf said. He hurried away while Captain Denise and Will closed up the ship.
    "We can make it back to Lung Chin, Captain," Olaf announced as soon as she entered the control room. "It'll be close, but it's doable."
    "Very well. Set course and keep our acceleration low to conserve fuel. It might take a day or three longer, but we won't arrive with empty tanks and have to call a tug to catch us." Captain Denise collapsed into her chair. "Take us out, Mister Olaf."
    The Jolly Jane had been underway for seven days when Silver started catching some strange signals. "Captain, someone is using a coded transmitter in the system. First from ahead, then behind, then ahead again."
    "Can you decode it?" she asked, leaning forward to see his panel.
    "No, Ma'am. The Kiev could, but that's just asking too much from this gear."
    Captain Denise sat back and shook her head. "I don't like this. That raider knew who we were and when we were going to arrive. Silver, start scanning with the navigation sensors. That raider may be back, and if we're right about Amberson's they may be setting us up."
    "Aye, Ma'am," Silver replied and immediately began scanning. It didn't take long. "Captain, I have a ship at zero-zero-one by zero-six-three. He'll cross our course in two hours."
    "It's got to be the raider, Captain," Olaf said as he looked over his shoulder.
    "Oh, Lords of Space," Captain Denise softly cursed. "Olaf, do what you can. Silver, can you think of a way for us to make it to a fleet base system closer than Columbia?"
    "No, Ma'am. There may be an alternative, though."
    "I'm listening."
    Silver grinned up at her. "Ann took Willy and the boys to Hobson's Planet. It's not much farther than Lung Chin and the heading's not that far off."
    "Plot it and change course, Olaf. Silver, record everything you can about the raider as we pass."
    Both men said, "Yes, Ma'am," and began their tasks. Two hours later the raider was bearing down on them and made contact.
    The close range radio beeped and a voice announced their choices. " Jolly Jane , cut your accel and prepare to be boarded. Or you can try to run and be blown into fragments."
    "Silver, can we break free?" Captain Denise asked.
    "It's close, Captain. We're almost up to point one C, and we're far enough out to break into hyper. Unfortunately, we're in his weapon's range. Germanicus recorded that very clearly."
    Captain Denise sat back and closed her eyes, then pushed the button on her console for the ship-wide announcing system. "Crew, we're going to make a run for it. All hands suit up." She thumbed the button again and looked at Olaf and Silver. "You two get suited up. I'll go as soon as one of you