for the type of hard line negotiating he was trying to do. “Go onto the next matter.”
There was another pause as the avatar stood perfectly still. The operator was obviously looking for more information and didn't want whatever they were saying or doing to be transmitted. The hologram resumed its animation as the representative went on. “Yes sir. Regent Galactic has had some difficulty in their outer solar systems concerning the Holocaust Virus.”
“What kind of difficulty?” Lister Hampon asked with a growing grin.
“The virus created by mister Meunez has taken hold on several colonies. Artificially intelligent machines have started attacking humans and other biological beings in and out of our employ. We haven't been able to troubleshoot the problem. None of the deactivation codes provided to us are working.”
“I suggest your citizens and military personnel begin raising one hundred thousand Core World Currency Credits each.”
“Why is that sir?”
“So they can apply to be listed with the Order of Eden. Here is the account information.”
“That account isn't registered with Regent Galactic, sir.”
“I know.”
“Do you have an update for our artificial intelligence programs that we could apply? To protect us from further viral infection or assault? We don't want this to spread to other systems.”
“I'm afraid not. The only true safeguard is to list with the Order of Eden and join the West Keepers. Oh, and if an artificial intelligence tells you to do something, you'd best obey.”
The hologram stared at him, there was a real appraising look there and it lingered for long moments before she nodded her acknowledgement. “Watch for my personal deposit. Is there anything else I can do for you sir?”
“No,” he deactivated the transmission and with it the micro wormhole that allowed him to instantaneously communicate across several hundred light years.
“Sir, we have a ship coming in,” announced a voice from the bridge over the intercom in the large darkened sitting room.
He stood and looked through the transparent section of outer hull to the rich planet of Pandem below. “This is a major port, that's bound to happen from time to time.”
“I know sir, but I thought you would like to be notified since this one is marked as a Freeground vessel. There is a notice here saying-”
“Thank you, you have followed my instructions perfectly. Capture them alive.”
“Yes sir.”
Crazy Pilot
“I don't understand, there's debris everywhere. Evidence of hundreds of collisions,” Ayan said as she looked through the combat scanner readout. She overlaid the transmission she was getting from Navnet. “Navnet says everything's fine, our trajectory is guiding us to a carrier in orbit on the other side of the planet.”
“What are it's markings?”
“They're blocked. Actually…” Ayan scanned through the port channels and shook her head. “Everything but Navnet is restricted. Thank God for this old comm equipment otherwise we would have missed it. Any modern gear would have just skipped over any channel marked as restricted or unavailable.”
Minh pitched the ship into the bulk of the debris and started turning off everything but basic manoeuvring thrusters.
Ayan braced herself. “What are you doing?”
“Going cold. There's a group of fighters coming around to meet us and a few tugs out there that are still moving,” he pointed at the combat hologram on his side of the cockpit. “I don't like being taken in by strange ships that block their transponders.”
“I agree. I don't think going in cold is the answer though, there's too much space between us and the planet.”
“We don't know if there's anywhere safe to land there, for all we know the anti-air batteries will kill us before we make it down.”
“It'll be easier to hide down there. Up here we're sitting ducks. I can't safely manoeuvre any faster anyway.”
Ayan looked through the cockpit window and at the dimmed combat scanners. Even using close range passive detection she could see that there was so much large debris, cargo carriers, passenger liners, military ships, pieces of the construction yard nearby drifting around that he was right. It was a near impossibility to pick one's way through the field in orbit at any greater speed. She watched silently as Minh expertly guided the bulky craft between much larger pieces of debris, just tapping thrusters to inch them around the remains.
“One of those tugs is following right behind us. They're using a repulsor field to push the smaller debris out of the way.”
“How far back are they?”
“At this pace they'll be on us in about fifteen seconds. Should I get into a turret?”
“Oh no, even I think they're death traps and I'm crazy.” He increased their speed a little using the cold rear thrusters and brought them around a large set of girders.
“Nine seconds.”
“I just need to get a clear look at the planet. When I activate the main engines, turn everything on and lock all three turrets backwards. I think we'll need to try and distract them a little.”
“You think maybe I should try and reinforce the shields?” Ayan said, getting ready to start turning systems on.
“Oh, yeah, shields would be good.”
“Do you know where we'll be landing?”
“One of those beaches might be nice. I've always liked surfer movies.”
“That would be a no then.”
“Hey, one crisis at a time.”
“That tug will have a clear line of sight on us in a couple seconds.”
Minh came around a large, jagged section of hull. The blue and green planet came into view and he activated the engines, closely followed by the afterburners.
“If you come in too steep we'll burn up!” Ayan shouted over the deafening roar of the solid fuel afterburners as she activated shields, weapons and supplemental inertial dampening systems.
“We won't come in too steep then!” Minh said as he struggled with the controls. The wreckage of a large carrier loomed in the cockpit view.
The turrets began firing backwards at the debris field, not specifically striking any target but causing the slowly milling mass behind to become agitated and start churning. “That's a distraction,” she turned to look at the tactical scanners and saw two groups of fighters closing on them. “We're about to come under fire, setting our shields for ventral and aft.”
“Starting atmospheric entry.” Minh said as the afterburners cut out. “Look, I'm right on course,” he pointed to his main navigational display. “No burning up.”
“I wasn't voicing a doubt, just a concern.”
“There's a difference?”
“And so we solve the mystery of why you're single. Women appreciate the subtle differences,” Ayan said as she checked the hull integrity.
“Bah, I'm saving myself for someone who really understands me,” Minh shot back with a grin as he maintained their course.
“It'll be a while,” Ayan chortled.
They cleared the upper atmosphere and the island dotted ocean below came into view. Minh flipped the ship right side up and began their descent. “How far back are those-” a sharp impact on the hull jarred the ship.
