Allies of Convenience: Pirates of the Badlands Series Book 1 Read online

  ALLIES OF CONVENIENCE

  Pirates of the Badlands Series Book 1

  Sean Benjamin

  Copyright

  © 2014 by Sean Benjamin – All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be copied or reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  Dedication

  For my brother Larry

  A warrior first, last, and always

  It seems like there is always enough time ... until suddenly there isn’t.

  Table of Contents

  ALLIES OF CONVENIENCE

  Pirates of the Badlands Series Book 1

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Table of Contents

  Author’s Note

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  This is a tale of space ships and people in the far future. I will be the first to admit the physics do not work in all cases but, hopefully, the story does. One of the adjustments to physics is the concept of subspace. The adversaries must have the ability to surprise each other regardless of their level of technology or number of weapons. In this story, surprise is accomplished by warships having the ability to go “subspace.” Ships can vanish off all sensor sweeps while still being “there.” Star Trek connoisseurs will see a similarity to the Romulan cloak of invisibility, but I based subspace on World War II submarine warfare. Submarines used stealth and surprise to approach, and attack enemy ships - often ships of greater size and abilities. Navies responded to the submarine threat with tactics, sonar, and depth charges. If a submarine could be detected during its approach and attack, there was a very good chance it would be destroyed. These same principles apply in subspace warfare. Ships in subspace attempt to approach targets at a slow speed to keep noise to a minimum and then come out of subspace at a time and place of their choosing to attack their targets. Ships in subspace can be detected through listening devices and then be placed in a general location. Once detected, subspace ships are open to counter measures from ships in regular space. Ships in subspace can’t fire weapons and communications are very limited. When they come out of subspace, they are vulnerable for a few seconds to attack as they cannot raise shields or fire weapons until completely clear of subspace. As with all tactics, there are advantages and disadvantages to going subspace. Use it at your peril.

  I have taken a second deviation regarding future combat. With the continuous advancement of technology, if there is a future need for warships in space, these vehicles will be unmanned or manned with very small crews. Humans will make the strategic decisions on when and where to engage an enemy force. Once the strategic decisions are made and battle is imminent, humans will make the tactical decisions on employment of forces at the battle site. Once the battle is joined, computers will fight the enemy. These machines will fire the weapons, assess damage, deliver follow up attacks, and make the thousands of decisions required by a rapidly changing battle situation. The speed of warships and complexity of the weapon systems will demand nothing less. However, in this story, I have kept more of a human element in the fighting - probably less realistic but definitely more fun.

  Several terms used in the story may be unfamiliar. Members of any occupation, age group, geographical location, or lifestyle talk in abbreviations or specialty words unknown to people not of the same membership. A glossary is included to explain these terms.

  Introduction

  This story takes place in the future far out in space. Mankind has moved out into the wide expanse of our universe. Much of the history of earth is being repeated on a larger galactic stage. Empires have been formed and competition for trade, territory, power, and riches continues. There are three main political entities and numerous minor powers involved. The largest entity is the Aurora Empire. Ruled by a governmental structure much like the United Kingdom, they are a democracy with a monarch as the head of the state. They have been first among equals for decades. Their home planet is Zelenka, so they are commonly called the Zekes or, more derisively, the Zeros. The Orion Confederation is the closest rival to the Aurora Empire in size and abilities. The OrCon government has representative institutions but power rests with a committee, and the chairman of the committee rules with an iron fist. The last Empire is the Goldenes Tor. It is smaller than the other two empires but matches them in ambition. The Goths will play both sides of any situation and continually look to expand in size, treasure, and power. All three Empires have common borders with each other and are constantly jostling to improve their positions through trade, military power, or political arrangements.

  There are many solar systems and individual planets that have local rule and are unaligned with any Empire. Also, there are solar systems and planets claimed by several powers. Much of this story takes place in a multi solar system area informally called the Badlands. Disputed by two empires and many smaller governments, this region is lawless and ruthless as individuals, organizations, corporations, local governments, and the empires jockey for advantage. Pirates and criminals abound; violence and death are daily rituals. Although outlawed in much of the universe, the slave trade flourishes. Money, influence, and power trump decency and morals. Such is life in the Badlands.

  Chapter 1

  “Mackenzie, come in.”

  Someone was calling the flagship over an open frequency. Despite the fact that the call came over the comm speakers and could be heard by everyone on the bridge, Communications Petty Officer 3rd Class Janice Chou instinctively put her right hand to her ear to ensure her earpiece stayed in place as she swiveled back to her communications console in response to the hail.

  The calm voice repeated his call, “Mackenzie, come in.”

  Janice scanned her board. Sure enough, the hail was coming in on the common port frequency monitored by all ships while in orbit above Potenka.

  Janice keyed her microphone, “Station calling Mackenzie, identify yourself.”

>   The voice did not answer the question but responded with a request. “Let’s go covered.”

  The watch officer walked over and leaned down to Janice. “Go ahead and shift him to a covered channel and find out what he wants.”

  Janice nodded, “Station calling Mackenzie, shift to 347.95 and prepare to go covered.”

  “Aye, Mackenzie.”

  A few seconds passed and the voice returned on the designated frequency. “Mackenzie, I am up on 347.95”

  Chou responded, “Got you. Prepare to synch up ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Go.”

  The voice changed slightly as the transmission became modulated to prevent eavesdropping. “Up and covered.”

  “Mackenzie, up and covered. Go ahead, caller.”

  “This is the pirate vessel Predator.”

  Quiet grew on the bridge as officers and ratings turned toward Janice’s station. It wasn’t every shift that a pirate craft called on one of the Queen’s ships. Chou had the certain feeling that what had seemed to be the beginning of a boring bridge watch was about to take a turn in an unanticipated direction. She didn’t know if that was good or bad, but it would definitely be different. After weeks of showing the flag and routine training, she looked forward to different.

  The voice continued. “Let me see you.”

  Janice started in surprise, “Say again, Predator.”

  The voice calmly restated, “Let me see you. I don’t do audio only.”

  Janice glanced back at the watch officer and got a shrug in response. “Well, why not?” She had never seen a pirate before. Janice touched her keypad. A man immediately appeared on her screen and she viewed him with interest. Dark blond hair, dark blue eyes, and lean in stature, the man was dressed in brightly colored civilian clothes. The pirate captain leaned back into his wide captain’s chair with his left leg draped over its left arm. The pose revealed knee high black boots with a knife hilt displayed from the top of the left boot. He wore the authority of command with a quiet, competent air as if it were the obvious natural order of the universe. He stared evenly back at her. A few seconds passed.

  “You through?” he asked, not unkindly.

  Janice started again, “Huh, sorry, I was ... curious.”

  “Never seen a pirate before?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Quite alright. Captain Raferty Hawkins here.” He tilted his head, obviously waiting for her to respond in kind.

  “Petty Officer 3rd Class Janice Chou.”

  He smiled. This transformed him from an average looking man to something quite different. “Very nice,” thought Janice, “very nice indeed.”

  “Well, Petty Officer 3rd Class Janice Chou, I have some information to pass on to your command, but I’m only going to tell the tale twice so you all have to decide who you want in the audience. After two renditions, I’m sure I will be too bored to do it again.”

  The watch officer leaned over Janice’s shoulder.

  “Lieutenant Commander Paul-Henri Boulanger here. You can tell your story to me.” His voice carried a hint of condescension.

  “Fine.” If Hawkins had noticed the tone in the voice, he chose to ignore it. He casually relaxed his left hand on the hilt of his boot knife. “I receive a brief from my intel officer each morning. Yesterday she informed me there was a Confederation squadron with a Goth escort hiding behind Bolton’s Planet. Their intentions were unknown, but we assumed they were preparing to hit you. They moved out earlier today so I expect you’re going to be hit within the next ten hours, and hit hard. This is part of a series of OrCon attacks against the Aurora Empire. I assumed you knew this force was coming, but after seeing the disposition of your forces and your lack of preparedness, it is obvious you do not know so I’m telling you.”

  The pirate flashed his smile again. He then placed his right elbow on his chair arm and settled his chin in his right hand as he waited for a response, the perfect image of congenial boredom. Silence gripped the Mackenzie’s bridge. Everyone fixated on Janice’s station. Several people moved up behind her and the watch officer to peer over their shoulders at the pirate on the screen.

  “That’s not possible,” stated Boulanger flatly.

  “Hold that thought. It will make a nice epitaph,” Hawkins shifted in his seat, obviously impatient to get the next and last telling of the tale done. “That’s one rendition. You have one left. Who’s the audience?”

  “You may have to repeat your story more than once for verification and details,” Boulanger said somewhat absently as he considered his best course of action.

  “Nope. You’ve just burned up one rendition and two is my limit on this.”

  “Standby, please.” Boulanger reached up to his comm earpiece.

  Chapter 2

  Skyler Mallory, captain of the heavy cruiser Mackenzie, Duchess of Albithor of the Aurora Empire, and a highly decorated naval officer, leaned back in her seat at the head of the dining table. Having been born into the aristocracy of the Empire, she had attended official meet-and-greet dinners all her life. In fact, she could do them standing on her head. It was always a good idea to meet the movers and shakers of any given geographic area in a social setting so relationships could begin on a positive note. After all, human contact was vastly superior to visual comm and printed texts. Getting to know people on a personal level at these social gatherings now would pay dividends in the future. Yes, indeed, always a good first step ... except for the fact that she hated the damned things!

  This conversation she was now ensnared in was an excellent example as to why. David Thorton, an Empire representative in the Badlands, was droning on about his hard life here and how unappreciated he was back in the Home systems. Sky only pretended to listen and sympathize. She flashed back to the times she had been standing watch while her senior officers were attending social events. Back then, Sky thought the junior officers were working hard while their seniors were off playing. She shook her head. She had had many crazy thoughts as a junior officer.

  “Why are you shaking your head?” asked Thorton.

  “I’m just amazed at how well you hold up despite all your responsibilities here,” Sky responded without missing a beat.

  “It is a wonder, I assure you,” Thorton nodded in confirmation.

  “It’s a wonder I don’t throw myself out the nearest airlock,” reflected Sky as she smiled at the bureaucrat.

  Thorton was the caricature of the midlevel government official who seems to have existed since the beginning of bureaucracies. He was contrived, ornate, and self-important. He believed his many talents were being wasted here in the backwater of the universe and he desperately desired to return to one of the Empire’s many centers of power. He didn’t care which one as long as it got him out of here and back into the mainstream of Empire life. He managed to convey all of this in the first minute he was in the room without saying a word. Surely all the locals would have the same impression of him, so whatever good he was doing for the Empire here could probably be summed up in one very short sentence. He was ill suited for his job. Sky briefly wondered what he had done to be exiled out here, but then she decided she didn’t care.

  Sky and her new River class heavy cruiser had arrived in the system three weeks prior to take command of the small, nearly obsolete squadron that was representing the Empire here. For decades a squadron had been kept here, but the demands of policing the Aurora Empire had steadily reduced the squadron here in both numbers and capabilities. The Empire’s continuous squabbling with the Orion Confederation had further reduced the squadron as ships were moved to contested sectors on the other side of the Empire. Sky had found her units scattered throughout the Badlands showing the flag, enforcing the laws, and generally ensuring the Goths realized the Empire did not recognize their claim on the region. She had brought her ships together for a tour of the major planets and ports of call. The transit time between planets was used for the sorely needed training to mold her squadron into a cohesive fighting force and not just a rag tag
collection of individual ships. Her force consisted of two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, four destroyers, and two auxiliary support ships. Outside of Mackenzie, all the ships were old with limited capabilities, but the crews had worked hard and improvement had been quickly forthcoming. Sky had immensely enjoyed these training times. The planet visitations left much to be desired. Meeting the many politicians, business leaders, religious figures, and military commanders had left Sky annoyed and frustrated. Vain, self-serving, and myopic were inadequate terms to describe the majority of these people. They constantly complained about all the other planetary leaders, made threats, and looked out for themselves at the expense of their people and the future. It was no wonder these systems were largely lawless with scant progress and little hope. The Badlands nickname was well earned.

  Now Sky’s force was in outer orbit around Potenka, third largest and most populated planet in the Oliminate system. Her ships were clustered about the flagship, cleaning up their vessels while awaiting the commencement of liberty to the planet below scheduled to start the next morning. A two-day break richly deserved after twenty-one edays of work.

  The inner orbit had thirty-two ships of various sizes and flags maintaining a close orbit above the city of Aquaban. Several of the ships were small military vessels belonging to a variety of planetary governments. The others were traders of all sorts of goods, both legal and illegal. Potenka was the busiest port in this sector and this was a typical day for the space harbor.

  Sky looked over her dinner party guests. At the opposite end of the table was Commander Ari Goldman, her chief of staff. Although Sky had not known him prior to his recent assignment to her command, he had proven to be resourceful and dedicated. Despite the recent lull in the Cold War with the Orion Confederation, good combat officers were always in high demand and she had been lucky to get him, especially since he was the only officer assigned as flotilla staff. He was responsible for all the administrative work and coordination of staff functions on the flotilla level. He had worked hard at his duties, and Sky was impressed by the results. The remainder of the flotilla staff work was done by Mackenzie officers, making for long work shifts. Keeping this in mind, Sky kept flotilla admin work and duties to the bare minimum for her ship officers.