A Matter of Honor (Privateer Tales Book 9) by Jamie McFarlane Page B
Authors: Jamie McFarlane
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Exploration, Space Exploration, Space Fleet, Space Marine
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carried an iron hinge strap over to the newly exposed sandstone block. They lay the strap next to the channel that had been carved from the block centuries ago. They slid pins, four centimeters in diameter and ten centimeters long, through the strap and stepped out of the way.
Pessach directed his crew to fill the empty channel with mortar and then seated the strap and pins in the soft bed, clearing the extra material by deftly flipping it away with his trowel.
"Lift now. We don't have all day," Pessach barked at the laborers, who'd been assembled to man the block and tackle. It took several minutes of fussing before he was satisfied with the block's placement. "Check your measurements now, Merik," he said. "Once we release this stone, we'll not be moving it again today."
Merik verified the measurements and nodded for them to continue.
At 1200 they stopped for lunch, having set the four straps on the left side and the first on the right.
"I'd thought Merrie would return by now," Nurit said to Amon as they sat under the shade of a tree twenty meters from the front gate.
"I hope she didn't fall asleep. She didn't rest last night," Amon said, leaning back against the slick trunk of the tree. "Is Master Pessach always in such a foul mood?"
"His wife was killed in the last raid. He blames Merik and me for the failure of the blasters and gates. I understand his grief," she said.
"There's Merrie, now," Amon nodded in the direction of the gate. Merrie had joined Merik, and the two were talking with Pessach.
"We've a long afternoon ahead of us," Nurit said. "We might as well get back to it. I'll have you start assembling the hinges on the doors."
"Very well."
It was 1830 when the second door's final hinge pin was slid into place and the cap-nut securely welded onto its end.
Captain Gian, who'd been checking on their progress throughout the day, approached as Nurit and Merik were adjusting the gate's locking mechanism to fit with the new configuration.
"Will we be able to lock it this evening?" Gian asked.
"It is locked now," Merik replied, smiling. "I believe there will be some settling over the next tenday, so we'll be back to make further adjustments. For now, however, it's all yours."
Gian sighed audibly. "That is a great relief. Although, now that the Ophie have discovered the weakness in our blasters, I'm afraid they'll attack the southwest gate."
"I have a plan for making our remaining blaster mobile. It would allow us to relocate more efficiently if another gate comes under attack," Merik said.
"We're vulnerable if they simultaneously attack multiple gates. Is there no way to restore the broken weapon?" Gian asked.
"No, it is beyond our ability," Merik answered.
"I see. That is indeed bad news, but we'll plan accordingly," he said. "On another matter, I've been receiving reports of activity in the old tannery. Was it your apprentice that I saw over there?"
"Yes. My apologies for not informing you earlier."
"What was she doing?"
"It's a project you might find interesting. Merrie, would you share with Captain Gian what you've been doing?"
Merrie's face turned bright red as the conversation turned unexpectedly toward her.
"Yes, of course. Really, it's a multi-disciplinary project. I believe I've constructed a furnace that will allow us to smelt steel," she said.
"Why is this significant?" Gian asked.
"Steel is twice as strong as iron - properly tempered, even more so. With steel, our blacksmiths will be able to craft long blades that are practical for your protectors to wield. Additionally, we will be able to produce long bows and arrow heads that I believe will pierce the natural armor and be small enough to penetrate to the vital organs of an Ophie."
"Is this truly feasible, Merik?"
"Time will tell..."
IRRESISTIBLE OFFER
Radium Sea, Planet Curie, Tipperary Star System
The cylindrical submersible docked aft-first onto the armored side of the domed structure. The subtle whirring of motors was the
Pessach directed his crew to fill the empty channel with mortar and then seated the strap and pins in the soft bed, clearing the extra material by deftly flipping it away with his trowel.
"Lift now. We don't have all day," Pessach barked at the laborers, who'd been assembled to man the block and tackle. It took several minutes of fussing before he was satisfied with the block's placement. "Check your measurements now, Merik," he said. "Once we release this stone, we'll not be moving it again today."
Merik verified the measurements and nodded for them to continue.
At 1200 they stopped for lunch, having set the four straps on the left side and the first on the right.
"I'd thought Merrie would return by now," Nurit said to Amon as they sat under the shade of a tree twenty meters from the front gate.
"I hope she didn't fall asleep. She didn't rest last night," Amon said, leaning back against the slick trunk of the tree. "Is Master Pessach always in such a foul mood?"
"His wife was killed in the last raid. He blames Merik and me for the failure of the blasters and gates. I understand his grief," she said.
"There's Merrie, now," Amon nodded in the direction of the gate. Merrie had joined Merik, and the two were talking with Pessach.
"We've a long afternoon ahead of us," Nurit said. "We might as well get back to it. I'll have you start assembling the hinges on the doors."
"Very well."
It was 1830 when the second door's final hinge pin was slid into place and the cap-nut securely welded onto its end.
Captain Gian, who'd been checking on their progress throughout the day, approached as Nurit and Merik were adjusting the gate's locking mechanism to fit with the new configuration.
"Will we be able to lock it this evening?" Gian asked.
"It is locked now," Merik replied, smiling. "I believe there will be some settling over the next tenday, so we'll be back to make further adjustments. For now, however, it's all yours."
Gian sighed audibly. "That is a great relief. Although, now that the Ophie have discovered the weakness in our blasters, I'm afraid they'll attack the southwest gate."
"I have a plan for making our remaining blaster mobile. It would allow us to relocate more efficiently if another gate comes under attack," Merik said.
"We're vulnerable if they simultaneously attack multiple gates. Is there no way to restore the broken weapon?" Gian asked.
"No, it is beyond our ability," Merik answered.
"I see. That is indeed bad news, but we'll plan accordingly," he said. "On another matter, I've been receiving reports of activity in the old tannery. Was it your apprentice that I saw over there?"
"Yes. My apologies for not informing you earlier."
"What was she doing?"
"It's a project you might find interesting. Merrie, would you share with Captain Gian what you've been doing?"
Merrie's face turned bright red as the conversation turned unexpectedly toward her.
"Yes, of course. Really, it's a multi-disciplinary project. I believe I've constructed a furnace that will allow us to smelt steel," she said.
"Why is this significant?" Gian asked.
"Steel is twice as strong as iron - properly tempered, even more so. With steel, our blacksmiths will be able to craft long blades that are practical for your protectors to wield. Additionally, we will be able to produce long bows and arrow heads that I believe will pierce the natural armor and be small enough to penetrate to the vital organs of an Ophie."
"Is this truly feasible, Merik?"
"Time will tell..."
IRRESISTIBLE OFFER
Radium Sea, Planet Curie, Tipperary Star System
The cylindrical submersible docked aft-first onto the armored side of the domed structure. The subtle whirring of motors was the
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