Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) by Kenneth E. Ingle Page B
Authors: Kenneth E. Ingle
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commandant.
"To what purpose?" asked the Marine.
"Capture the governor's daughters and it would put a stop to Phoenix's actions against the pirates. I am using my discretion as Captain to disregard your request."
"Okay, Captain, it's your call."
"Understood." Buck cut the link as the buzzer outside his quarters signaled.
"Come."
Molly stepped in. "You haven't taken the time to meet our guests. Don't you think you should?" With her arms folded over the chest, she waited.
"How are they behaving? Any problems?" Buck wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"No, Sir. Just the curious young men wanting a glimpse of our distinguished passengers."
"Make sure it's no more than that. No dating or whatever."
"My, my—the puritan. I think that's what they called themselves. I read that on a history vid somewhere." Her manner suggested any answer was less than necessary.
Buck's grim look quieted the woman. He ignored the retort, motioned toward a chair, and told her the commandant wanted no special treatment for the girls. Relating the call from Borcom about the distress call had Molly questioning if there would be repercussions.
"Shouldn't be. I'll live with my decision. What can I do for you?" He mellowed his voice for obvious reasons, namely, he had taken a strong liking to Molly.
"What I said coming in. I'm planning a dinner in my quarters for the two girls and want you to join us."
"Think that will go over well with the crew?" Buck didn’t want the ladies to expect that kind of treatment as normal. Just as importantly, he didn't want the crew to feel the young women were entitled to special handling… except for the hands off warning he'd issued. He expected the girls to eat the same food as the crew and told Molly so.
The discussion provided no answer. Molly left without telling Buck if she planned to go ahead with the dinner. She did know that the captain would not be there.
***
Molly gracefully handled the mini-gala, having food brought from the galley along with a special treat concocted by the cook. When dessert was served, Buck made his appearance, welcomed the ambassador's daughters, and apologized for not having done so sooner, pleading that matters demanded his time. Molly assured the girls the delay was not intentional and cited the emergency message from the Marine Commandant.
The two girls, twenty and eighteen, both quite attractive and dressed in slacks with frilly blouses, asked the captain a few questions, incisive ones he thought, concerning the pirate problem. In the course of the discussion, they mentioned the awfulness the women suffered when taken by the slavers.
"I understand all the criminals were properly dealt with," said the oldest, Janine. Janice, the youngest seemed a bit shy as she usually nodded, seldom saying a word.
Buck assured them the slavers would never bother anyone again.
"I'm sure Molly explained that your presence on Phoenix requires that you not mingle with the crew." Buck tried to keep concern from his voice. "I would suggest when you travel around the ship, go together."
"Do you think these men might harm us?" Janine asked.
"I don't know and have no wish to find out," Buck responded curtly. "Some things are better left alone. Please do as I ask."
"And if we don't?" Janine asked coyly although she seemed anything but shy.
"I shall lock you into your rooms." Buck's command voice carried no room for misunderstanding.
"Rather harsh don't you think?" Janine said her chin rose in defiance.
"Janine, behave." Janice gave her older sibling a look that said she was serious.
"I suppose you will tell father. My sister is so afraid. She thinks we must conduct ourselves as pure little angels otherwise it will look badly for father."
"No sister, I think being a bitch is unbecoming. The captain is nice enough to give us passage and his responsibilities are…," she paused, "…well, we should obey him. His crew must. And think what he'd do if one of them molested you or me."
"To what purpose?" asked the Marine.
"Capture the governor's daughters and it would put a stop to Phoenix's actions against the pirates. I am using my discretion as Captain to disregard your request."
"Okay, Captain, it's your call."
"Understood." Buck cut the link as the buzzer outside his quarters signaled.
"Come."
Molly stepped in. "You haven't taken the time to meet our guests. Don't you think you should?" With her arms folded over the chest, she waited.
"How are they behaving? Any problems?" Buck wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"No, Sir. Just the curious young men wanting a glimpse of our distinguished passengers."
"Make sure it's no more than that. No dating or whatever."
"My, my—the puritan. I think that's what they called themselves. I read that on a history vid somewhere." Her manner suggested any answer was less than necessary.
Buck's grim look quieted the woman. He ignored the retort, motioned toward a chair, and told her the commandant wanted no special treatment for the girls. Relating the call from Borcom about the distress call had Molly questioning if there would be repercussions.
"Shouldn't be. I'll live with my decision. What can I do for you?" He mellowed his voice for obvious reasons, namely, he had taken a strong liking to Molly.
"What I said coming in. I'm planning a dinner in my quarters for the two girls and want you to join us."
"Think that will go over well with the crew?" Buck didn’t want the ladies to expect that kind of treatment as normal. Just as importantly, he didn't want the crew to feel the young women were entitled to special handling… except for the hands off warning he'd issued. He expected the girls to eat the same food as the crew and told Molly so.
The discussion provided no answer. Molly left without telling Buck if she planned to go ahead with the dinner. She did know that the captain would not be there.
***
Molly gracefully handled the mini-gala, having food brought from the galley along with a special treat concocted by the cook. When dessert was served, Buck made his appearance, welcomed the ambassador's daughters, and apologized for not having done so sooner, pleading that matters demanded his time. Molly assured the girls the delay was not intentional and cited the emergency message from the Marine Commandant.
The two girls, twenty and eighteen, both quite attractive and dressed in slacks with frilly blouses, asked the captain a few questions, incisive ones he thought, concerning the pirate problem. In the course of the discussion, they mentioned the awfulness the women suffered when taken by the slavers.
"I understand all the criminals were properly dealt with," said the oldest, Janine. Janice, the youngest seemed a bit shy as she usually nodded, seldom saying a word.
Buck assured them the slavers would never bother anyone again.
"I'm sure Molly explained that your presence on Phoenix requires that you not mingle with the crew." Buck tried to keep concern from his voice. "I would suggest when you travel around the ship, go together."
"Do you think these men might harm us?" Janine asked.
"I don't know and have no wish to find out," Buck responded curtly. "Some things are better left alone. Please do as I ask."
"And if we don't?" Janine asked coyly although she seemed anything but shy.
"I shall lock you into your rooms." Buck's command voice carried no room for misunderstanding.
"Rather harsh don't you think?" Janine said her chin rose in defiance.
"Janine, behave." Janice gave her older sibling a look that said she was serious.
"I suppose you will tell father. My sister is so afraid. She thinks we must conduct ourselves as pure little angels otherwise it will look badly for father."
"No sister, I think being a bitch is unbecoming. The captain is nice enough to give us passage and his responsibilities are…," she paused, "…well, we should obey him. His crew must. And think what he'd do if one of them molested you or me."
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