Smuggler's Dilemma by Jamie McFarlane Read Free Book Online

they have. The armor is difficult and expensive to replicate and can withstand both kinetic and energy weapons well beyond anything in use today, at least in the private sector."
    "Great information." I said. There was something else going on and I wasn’t sure what it was. I looked at Nick and said, "What? You’ve got that look."
    He answered. "If we’re going to buy that ship, we need someone who can help us bring it back to full function. Most of the internal systems need updating. This thing is a money pit, but Marny and I both see the value. We’ve never had the tactical advantages of speed and stealth."
    I looked back to Jake, "Don’t get me wrong, I definitely appreciate the information, but what’s your interest in the Hotspur beyond the academic?"
    Jake pushed his shirt sleeves up. "In short, if you’re putting the Hotspur back into active service, I’d like to help. I think I’m asking for a job."
    Nick stepped in, " Hotspur’s first run probably won’t be anything too exciting. I can’t get into the details, though. We’ve had some run-ins with unsavory types and as a result we don’t share our destinations outside of crew. We’ve got good reason to trust you two, but I don’t see any reason to talk about it just yet. I’ve got a proposal for you though, Jake."
    "No offense taken," Bit added. She sat with arms crossed, leaning back in her chair, clearly enjoying the conversation.
    "What’s your proposal?" Jake asked.
    "We’ll pay you a retainer of a thousand credits if you help us through the purchase of the Hotspur and get her ready to sail. If the deal falls through, the thousand credits are still yours. Either way, we’ll all have a chance to work together and decide if this new team is a good fit."
    "Hard to beat that," he said. "I’m in."
     
    ***
     
    The next morning I was up early. I’d spent most of the last two days either shopping for a ship or hanging out with Tabby. I needed to turn my attention to finding a load for the tug and a freighter. If we stuck with the CA-12 we’d have two hundred cubic meters and if we got the Hotspur I’d need to fill six hundred.
    Pulling up the TradeNet interface, I created two fleets. The first fleet was a CA-12 cutter and a four hundred meter T400 barge. The second was the Hotspur and a T400. I ran loads starting at one, two, three, and four weeks out, varied the burn plans and widened our arc through the solar system. There were so many variables that I couldn’t fathom how I’d ever found work without TradeNet. The permutations seemed endless and I worked with it for a couple of hours until I heard a knock at my door.
    "Come in," I said.
    "Coffee?" Nick asked as he entered my hotel room. He handed the cup that he was carrying to me and sat. "I thought I heard you awake in here. What 'cha working on?"
    "Just trying to find a load that will get us close to Colony 40 and the outpost," I said. "Paying for our own fuel sucks and the Hotspur really burns it up. I don’t think the Brits considered that in their design."
    Nick chuckled, "No, I don’t suppose they did. Jake and I just finished reviewing a recent survey of the Hotspur ."
    "Jake’s here?" I asked.
    "Been here since 0600," Nick answered.
    "What’s the verdict?"
    "We offered eight hundred thousand, contingent on the sale of the frigate."
    "Did he take it?"
    "There’s more," Nick answered. "Weird Wally countered. Eight-fifty, with us selling him the frigate at nine hundred thousand, and that’s where we stand at the moment." Jake had come to my bedroom door and leaned against the frame to listen to the conversation.
    "That’s not bad," I said. "We started at one hundred thousand apart, and he’s at fifty. That’s close. Send me a contract that has eight-fifty for the Hotspur and a million for the frigate. I’ll get him to sign it," I said.
    "You really think you can?" Nick asked.
    "If I take Jake with me, we have a very good chance. Weird Wally wants to see this ship fly again.