Chapter 24: Piracy
"Lieutenant Richards," said Jack to the exhausted crew member. "Don't make me have to discipline you again," she said as she slapped his backside.
"No, ma'am," he responded.
He left with a flushed expression, but nothing more anyone could see. The last fifteen minutes had been enjoyable and the man had surprising stamina, but now she needed to get to business.
Although a very talented biotic, Jack had no practical experience in space combat. Her crew couldn't afford to know about this, but she thought about lessons she had learned from her own lifetime. She had often been hunted, and was looking forward to being the hunter. An attractive young woman fighting in the world of men, she wondered just how different war was from sitting at the bar.
An idea began to form in her head and she asked Thane to join her.
"Garm," she said, making sure always to remain in character, "What do you make of our situation?"
The Drell assassin replied, "I think we are in great danger, and should look to get out of here as quickly as possible."
Jack said, "Live a little. We have command of a starship, a sturdy crew, what more could we want?"
"Not to have guns pointed at our heads," was his droll reply.
Offering a cheeky half-smile, Jack said, "Point taken. So what do we do now?"
Krios said, "I think we have to follow through, not draw too much attention to ourselves, and look for an opportune moment to slip away.
"Even if we wanted to do that, can you fly this thing?" she asked.
"No, I cannot," he said.
"So we need the crew?"
"It would appear so."
Jack asked him, "Why do you think these guys joined the Blue Suns?"
Thane said, "Money. A sense of purpose. Belonging. The same reasons every gang forms."
With the Drell making her point, the young woman agreed, "Then why don't we give it to them. If there was one thing I learned from Shepard, it is that the crew should serve the captain."
"A logical observation. But what will you offer them?"
Jack smiled and said, "Victory, booty, and all the spoils of war. If we're supposed to be marauders, we will do better than anyone expects."
Thane frowned slightly at this response, saying, "You're talking about taking on Alliance ships. If we attack them, they will have no choice but to respond in force."
"Good," she said as she leapt up. "They will weaken the Blue Suns and give us an excuse to run."
"If we survive," said Thane.
"Look," she began, "Do we really have any other choice?"
Thane paused to consider all the options. As an assassin, he was taught to blend in and not do anything outside expectations. For a mercenary captain, the suggestions his partner was making seemed right, yet they felt wrong. He wondered how their actions had led them to fight against who should be their allies, but he didn't think too deeply about it.
"None that are better," he concluded as his eyes shifted about. "I concur."
"Don't look so glum, Garm," she said, "We've been through much worse."
She was interrupted by Lieutenant Richards, "Ma'am, we've spotted an Alliance support vessel on the long range scans. It looks like a small cruiser."
"I'll be up," she said, indicating for Krios to follow her.
She reached the bridge and looked at the display. The vessel was no larger than her own, and she didn't expect to find the fleet so close to her own backyard. Maybe this was just a scouting vessel.
"Can they see us?" asked Jack.
"If we can see them, yes," responded Chebek.
"They're on a steady heading passing through the system. If we remain where we are, they will most likely leave us alone," added Richards.
"How are we supposed to get rich thinking like that?" she said. "The first thing I want us to do is get all these people out of these Blue Suns uniforms. Switch into something functional but not uniform."
Wondering what she had planned, her crewmates were paying closer attention.
"I will show you how this is done."
"Yes, ma'am," they both said as they left their stations temporarily to pass the orders to the men.
"What do you have in mind?" asked Krios.
"A damsel in distress." She smiled her most girly smile and said, "No boy can resist helping a hurt little girl."
"You want them to find us?" he asked. "Do you think it wise to act right here, right above the base?"
"A production needs an audience," she said. "We need to have some malfunction, and ask them to stop to provide help. Then, you and I, we take the ship."
"Just like that?" he said.
"Just like that," she agreed. "You and I are worth an army. I don't want to hurt anyone, so I'll throw a few bodies against the walls, and take home our prize."
Krios considered how audacious her plan was, and thought it could actually succeed. "You mean to keep the ship."
Jack simply smiled and nodded her head. "You better get ready, Garm. If anyone looks like they are going to take the shot, you know what to do."
"This isn't what we signed up for," he said.
Exasperated, she said, "Life doesn't always give a damn what we want, does it? Now, go!"
He said nothing, and then left her side to get his weapons ready and Richards and Chebek came back with the crew, all dressed in various outfits like you might find on a commercial space vessel.
"Good," she said, "Here's the plan. We're going to be experiencing some technical difficulties. Richards, Chebek, how difficult is that?"
"Not at all, ma'am," said Chebek. I can vent a little plasma and it will look like we've been damaged.
"We're going to signal the Alliance vessel and seek help. I want the two lieutenants with me as well as Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Wilson. If we have all Humans, they'll feel safer."
The Batarians grumbled at this and said, "How do we know you're not going to just give us over to the Humans?"
Jack looked right at his nose, the trick she had developed for staring at the four eyed species, and said, "You don't. But I'm telling you now you have to trust me. We're here to make some money, to make names for ourselves, and I don't care what you breathe, eat, or shit, you're my crew."
A few nods went through the crowd so she used her biotic powers to amplify her persuasive abilities, making her voice louder and more compelling. "We're going to get ourselves a ship today. When you're here on this vessel, I'm going to take that ship and we're all going to get a share of a real catch."
With more enthusiasm now, the men and all the members were excited.
Looking at the Batarians she said, "Trust me. They brought me here for a reason."
The tallest of the lot looked at her critically, and then nodded his head in assent. "Aye, ma'am."
"Everyone, get to your stations, but don't do anything violent. I want the Batarians on the lower deck, Humans topside."
As the crew began to move to their positions, Jack turned to her flight crew asking, "Does this ship have a name?"
Chebek said, "The registry of the vessel is the Encounter, owned by a corporation working out of Omega."
Jack had a sinister smile and said, "This is one blind date these boys won't soon forget. I want you to send a message we are having trouble, and asking for assistance. If they seem hesitant, make it seem like we're in danger of the ship going up in flames."
"You do that, and I'll do the rest."
The Encounter drifted into space in the general direction of the Alliance ship. They began their ploy by sending out a general distress signal. Alarms were activated and sounded throughout the ship.
"All vessels. This is the Encounter. We have a plasma vent leak that is destabilizing our hull. We require immediate assistance and request evacuation."
After a moment, a response came on screen from the command officer of the Alliance vessel. The man speaking before them identified himself, "This is Lieutenant Commander Jacob Grayson of the Alliance Vessel Prowler. To whom am I speaking."
Making up a name she knew would be reported, she said, "This is Captain Jack Normandy of the Encounter. We need your help, Commander. We have a leak here and we can't contain it. It's threatening to floor our life support and we need immediate evac."
"Affirmative," said Grayson. "Our sensors show a leak off your port bow. How did that happen?"
"This area has been swarming with Batarian raiders. We were making a run to Therum hoping to pick up some metals for delivery, but they took a few pot shots at us. We got away, but not without some damage."
Shaking his head, the other captain said, "We've had reports this area is swarming with them. Anything you can tell us would be much appreciated it."
"Gladly," she said, "If the whole lot of them disappeared, I'd be happy."
Nodding stiffly, Grayson said, "ETA three minutes to link up, Encounter. Get your men ready for evac."
Offering her gratitude, Jack said, "Thank you, Commander," as the screen shipped off.
"Captain Jack Normandy," asked Krios, who had heard the conversation but remained out of sight while the conversation took place.
"I had to make something up," she said.
"No matter now. It's time for us to do our thing. Are you ready, Garm?"
He nodded and waited with the preternatural stillness that made him such an effective hunter. She decided the safest way to do this was to leave the crew aboard this vessel, and travel with only Krios as her companion.
Jack asked Thane, "Do you have a way to deal with the guards who first come aboard this ship?"
Considering the question, Krios said, "Send them to the Batarians below deck."
While not an ideal solution, it would have to do.
As the Prowler came beside the Encounter, the men scrambled into their positions. Jack and Thane were waiting at the door for the party to connect. A docking platform was extended between the two vessels. Two guards came to the portal which Jack then opened.
"I'll start getting the men over to your ship," Jack said. "We have some stuck in the hold, but need someone to blast them out. Can you get them?"
Nodding, the troopers proceeded to the hold beneath, and Jack and Krios squirreled their way up the tube connecting the two ships. It was a perilous thing connecting two ships in space, as there was just a thin corridor keeping them from the vacuum of space, and the hand holds on the ladder were tricky to climb as they rotated. But knowing time was of the essence, Jack and Thane bridged the gap in about thirty seconds.
Climbing onto the Alliance vessel, she took a quick glance at how many guards she saw. Four in this room, and probably more on the bridge, but none were armed.
Legitimately out of breath from her quick escape, Jack asked, "Where's the bridge? I need to speak with the captain."
Pointing toward the fore of the ship, the guard offered an escort which she gracious accepted telling Thane, "Garm, wait here and make sure the rest of the crew gets aboard safely."
The Drell nodded and took a place against the wall. He picked a spot where he could draw his weapon on any of the guards before they could get to him.
A short walk later, Jack found herself on the bridge with three command staff, the escort, and herself. Perfect, she thought. Very easy to handle.
"Captain Normandy," said the Lieutenant Commander, "What happened?"
"There was an attack by a Blue Suns raider, and an Alliance ship was lost," she said.
Confused, the lieutenant commander said, "That makes no sense."
Jack replied, "That's because it is happening now. Using her biotic abilities, she created a stasis field strong enough to hold each of the four crew members in place."
The flight crew struggled to move, but couldn't, and Jack drew her own sidearm and placed it at the head of the Lieutenant Commander.
"Captain Linn of the Blue Suns, at your service," she said.
At almost the same moment, she heard a distress call come from the two scouts who had gone to check the hold beneath where the Batarians were waiting. "The Batarians, they…"
The message broke up into sounds of violence, angry cries from the Batarians, and then silence. Jack didn't know what happened down there, but she could guess.
Assuming the action drew the attention of the other crew members, she contacted Thane and asked, "Krios, what's the situation."
"The entry way is secure. Two hostages waiting, and a third has been knocked unconscious."
Holding the bridge for two minutes, she waited while her crew joined her. Richards and Chebek were the first ones through coming with weapons and securing the flight staff and the guard.
"What happened to the scouts who came across?" Jack asked.
"They're both in pretty bad shape. Unconscious and bleeding. It was a struggle down there."
"Will they survive?" she asked.
No one had an answer. Jack didn't have time to get the answers now, so she directed the crew to take custody of everyone except the captain whom she would question herself. Releasing the field, she invited him, "Take a seat, captain,"
"I cannot believe a Human would work with those savage beasts," he said. "When I get free…"
She slapped his face, telling him, "If you get free, it will be because I choose to let you get when it suits me. I appreciate you rushing to save us, but next time, you should do your homework a little bit better."
Jack said, "I'm going to ask you a few questions, and if you cooperate, no one will get hurt."
He glowered at her and responded, "Grayson, 54-Alpha-387-Beta…" and this time she put her hand out and force slammed his head against the back of the chair. "In case you didn't notice, we're pirates. The rules of war don't apply. Don't make me ask a third time."
She noticed his eyes kept wandering over to the ensign who was currently being detained by Richards. Jack said, "Richards, send the girl over here."
"Yes, ma'am," and he pushed her towards Jack.
Only slightly taller than Jack, the ensign was on the verge of tears and looked like she had never seen a real fight before.
"Honey, what's your name?" asked the biotic as she watched Grayson.
"Ensign Holloway, ma'am."
"Have you ever been in a real fight before, Ensign?"
Crying, she said, "No, ma'am."
"Have you ever seen someone get killed before?"
She started sobbing hysterically, and wanted to collapse to the ground, but Jack held her up with one hand, and pointed her sidearm at the captain with the other.
"Last time, Grayson. Or you get to pick who goes first."
"You sick bitch!" he screamed. "Let her go. I'll talk."
Jack released the ensign who crawled to the ground and went into a corner.
"I can be nice too," she said, putting her fingers on his lips. "But only when I get what I want."
"I want the command access codes for this vessel, a detailed description of your mission, and in exchange, your men will be spared and released."
"You'll get it," he said. "Just don't hurt my men."
Jack nodded and instructed the crew to gather the Alliance soldiers into one room. Each was bound. While their emotions were raw, only three had actually suffered any damage. Thane had rendered one guard unconscious who was otherwise okay. The two who had been with the Batarians, however, were a different story. They were bruised badly and would die without medical treatment.
Seeing them in such a state, Jack went to the big Batarian who was smiling and said, "It was a good fight, Captain Linn." Six against two was hardly a fair fight, and she wanted very badly to deck him, but instead Jack bit her tongue.
Looking at the two crew members who had been hurt, she said to the Lieutenant Commander, "Do you have any medi-gel? They're in bad shape."
"Why would you care about that?" he spat at her.
"I won't hurt anyone unless you make me." Jack was thinking of all the stories she'd ever heard about pirates, and knew this one thing. If crews expected to die anyway, they would fight to the death. She would let her victims live, and tell her praises.
Grayson said, "It's in the hold above the rear cargo bay."
Looking at Thane, she said, "See what you can do for them. Take them onto the bridge and work there."
Krios nodded and had another crew member help him move the bodies to the back of the bay where he could take a closer look. It was impossible to determine the extent of the internal bruising, but he did the best he could with what was available. He sent the crewman back to report to Jack, leaving him alone on the bridge.
Locating the communications panel, he sent an encrypted message back to Omega, using a quantum encryption sequence agreed upon between Zaeed and Thane before they left: "The Blue Suns base is on Edolon. Jack and I are gathering more information and will return when possible." He also included the coordinates of the base in his transmission, and sent it out.
Back in the hold, Jack took a breath and realized what she had accomplished. As the men had come onto the Alliance vessel, they looked around and found mostly military supplies. There were a few small ground vehicles, a number of uniforms, and mostly probes. As a haul, it wasn't worth that much, but the ship itself was quite valuable.
As she took a seat against the wall, Richards came amongst the crew and said, "Three cheers for Captain Linn!" Everyone roared at that, and though she was a sweaty mess at this point, she couldn't help but laugh and smile. Much had been risked, but much had been gained.
Loud enough to ensure the captive Alliance crew heard her, she said, "Let the Blue Suns know what we caught ourselves today."
Author's Note: It was so tempting to call her Captain Jack Sparrow. But anyway, I want to thank those who are reviewing, and let you know I appreciate your commentary.
I often post these either with only a very light editing, or no editing at all. If I was writing for more than fun, I think there's a pretty good plot here, and I'd tighten it up a bit. But the next few chapters are worked out in my mind now, and the action should be picking up.