could do by myself against a fleet of Rigorian warships.”
“And yet it ended up not being a fleet at all.”
“That’s correct. It was a deception. But we had no way of knowing that at the time,” he countered.
Riyad took a deep breath. “But Captain, you know, as well as I, that the Rigorians are not that aggressive against us. We have never encountered them that far out in The Void.”
“Again correct, my General. But when Jiden and Meldeon left, I had no choice but to follow.”
“The two of them will be dealt with.” Riyad stated acidly. “So where is the ship now”
Angar glanced to his right and then turned back to Riyad. “They are just now entering the Nimorian system. They should be making planet-fall in about six hours. We could attempt to catch up to them, but we will not be successful.”
“Tell me you were at least able to secure some treasure before you gave up the ship”
Again Angar shifted in his seat. “Unfortunately, no. There wasn’t time and the only cargo we could readily see appeared to be a room full of primes in stasis.”
Even through his anger, this news piqued Riyad’s curiosity. “Was this a slave ship”
“Hard to tell. The primes were all in good condition and in sophisticated hiberpods. There were around 70 to 80 of them in the room.” Angar hesitated before continuing. “And they had all been recently killed by the ship’s crew.”
Riyad was taken aback by the last comment. “Killed All of them Why”
“Impossible to tell. But it appeared they had been killed at the same time we were attacking the ship.”
“What species were they”
Angar seemed to grow more nervous than he already was. Riyad noticed his body language. “What is it, Captain What’s the problem”
“Well, my General,” Angar began hesitantly, “they appear to be of the same race as you.”
Riyad was sure Angar saw the look of total shock sweep over his face, and even though his mind was exploding with a thousand questions, he knew it was important to maintain his composure in front of his underlings.
“Can you confirm this information, Captain” he managed to say, hoping his voice didn’t come across as too excited.
“I saw them with my own eyes. I have no doubt. You are the only one of your species I have ever seen, until today.”
Riyad remained silent for a few moments as he digested the information. This changes everything!
“Captain Angar, I have new instructions for you,” Riyad began evenly. “By my orders, you will have Captains Meldeon and Jiden return to K’ly. Then you will proceed to Nimor and secure that ship’s computer core and bring it to me immediately.”
Angar looked stunned. “But General, the ship will be locked down until the salvage is settled.”
“I don’t care about that. We’re pirates — we don’t go by the rules, Captain. Contact our allies in the Ministry. I want to know everything about that ship and where it came from. And Captain,” Riyad leaned closer to the screen, “no one else is to get that computer core. Don’t screw this up again.” Then he cut the link.
Riyad rushed out of the comm room and proceeded quickly to the forward section of his ship. As he neared his quarters, he felt the welcoming increase in gravity, a consequence that kept most of his crew out of his private sanctuary. It was also the reason why he spent so little time on-planet anywhere.
He entered his quarters and shut the door. Too excited to sit, he began to pace the room nervously.
Humans! And lots of them!
He had not seen another human for how long Six years or so. And here was a ship carrying dozens of his kin. He had been more than a little surprised to hear that they had all been killed, but once he thought about it, it made perfect sense.
The aliens must know of our abilities. That was also the reason they were transporting the humans in stasis. After all, look what Riyad had done with the pirates of the Fringe, and he was just one human!
“And yet it ended up not being a fleet at all.”
“That’s correct. It was a deception. But we had no way of knowing that at the time,” he countered.
Riyad took a deep breath. “But Captain, you know, as well as I, that the Rigorians are not that aggressive against us. We have never encountered them that far out in The Void.”
“Again correct, my General. But when Jiden and Meldeon left, I had no choice but to follow.”
“The two of them will be dealt with.” Riyad stated acidly. “So where is the ship now”
Angar glanced to his right and then turned back to Riyad. “They are just now entering the Nimorian system. They should be making planet-fall in about six hours. We could attempt to catch up to them, but we will not be successful.”
“Tell me you were at least able to secure some treasure before you gave up the ship”
Again Angar shifted in his seat. “Unfortunately, no. There wasn’t time and the only cargo we could readily see appeared to be a room full of primes in stasis.”
Even through his anger, this news piqued Riyad’s curiosity. “Was this a slave ship”
“Hard to tell. The primes were all in good condition and in sophisticated hiberpods. There were around 70 to 80 of them in the room.” Angar hesitated before continuing. “And they had all been recently killed by the ship’s crew.”
Riyad was taken aback by the last comment. “Killed All of them Why”
“Impossible to tell. But it appeared they had been killed at the same time we were attacking the ship.”
“What species were they”
Angar seemed to grow more nervous than he already was. Riyad noticed his body language. “What is it, Captain What’s the problem”
“Well, my General,” Angar began hesitantly, “they appear to be of the same race as you.”
Riyad was sure Angar saw the look of total shock sweep over his face, and even though his mind was exploding with a thousand questions, he knew it was important to maintain his composure in front of his underlings.
“Can you confirm this information, Captain” he managed to say, hoping his voice didn’t come across as too excited.
“I saw them with my own eyes. I have no doubt. You are the only one of your species I have ever seen, until today.”
Riyad remained silent for a few moments as he digested the information. This changes everything!
“Captain Angar, I have new instructions for you,” Riyad began evenly. “By my orders, you will have Captains Meldeon and Jiden return to K’ly. Then you will proceed to Nimor and secure that ship’s computer core and bring it to me immediately.”
Angar looked stunned. “But General, the ship will be locked down until the salvage is settled.”
“I don’t care about that. We’re pirates — we don’t go by the rules, Captain. Contact our allies in the Ministry. I want to know everything about that ship and where it came from. And Captain,” Riyad leaned closer to the screen, “no one else is to get that computer core. Don’t screw this up again.” Then he cut the link.
Riyad rushed out of the comm room and proceeded quickly to the forward section of his ship. As he neared his quarters, he felt the welcoming increase in gravity, a consequence that kept most of his crew out of his private sanctuary. It was also the reason why he spent so little time on-planet anywhere.
He entered his quarters and shut the door. Too excited to sit, he began to pace the room nervously.
Humans! And lots of them!
He had not seen another human for how long Six years or so. And here was a ship carrying dozens of his kin. He had been more than a little surprised to hear that they had all been killed, but once he thought about it, it made perfect sense.
The aliens must know of our abilities. That was also the reason they were transporting the humans in stasis. After all, look what Riyad had done with the pirates of the Fringe, and he was just one human!
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