Every class of ship was in for repair or upkeep. There was more military hardware there than any of them had ever seen in one place and the Samson was allowed into the area because of its status amongst the Privateers. It was the unofficial flagship for the unofficial fleet.
The hospitality docking area was under what looked like a shelf and when the Samson latched on they were hidden on top and bottom by the massive hull of the sub-base. Ashley worked through her post flight list with Jake's help. “You seem distracted,” he said quietly.
She looked at him and smiled uneasily. “I've never seen anything like this. I should feel safe with all this around but I don't. These warships are huge, but they're half wrecked. Makes me wonder what would happen if the Samson ever got caught in a real fight.”
Jake looked around the cockpit. Finn was scrolling through the profiles of all the different ships in the area on a secondary display at his engineering station and Stephanie was right there looking on, commenting on some of the more interesting military vessels. It occurred to him then that none of them had seen this kind of thing, but it still didn't feel new or unusual to him. “It's almost like any other port. The real differences are that everyone here knows who we are and we're on their side. This is the safest place in the galaxy for us right now. As far as the Samson getting caught by a big warship, well, we're a lot more manoeuvrable and faster than most ships in that class.”
“That doesn't mean I'd ever want to experience it.”
“I can't disagree with you,” Jake replied with a thin smile.
Finn and Stephanie were still looking through a display of ships in the area. “This destroyer has forty eight guns and it's only three hundred meters long. Some of these ships are just downright malicious looking,” Stephanie commented.
“But look at the damage. This cruiser's got so many holes in its starboard side that I'm surprised it made it back to port. More than half the ships here are in for serious repair.” Finn said as he brought up the profile of a six hundred meter long multi-role cruiser. It had fighter bays, and was loaded down with guns and armour. “I hope they have five ships out there for every one that's in for repair.”
“Better hope for fifty,” Stephanie said. “Regent Galactic is much larger than this government and their systems. RG has a couple hundred worlds, most of which produce a profit. Their military has to be pretty impressive.”
“It is. Good thing this won't be our fight for much longer. It's just about time to move on,” Captain Valance said as she got out of the copilot's seat. “Any transmissions from the station?”
Cynthia was sorting through the advertising and other chaff, trying to find important messages. “Just the regular acknowledgements and advertising. I think I've almost got a filter built. Too bad I couldn't figure Burke's out, it would have saved me a lot of time.”
“I'm not surprised. He was a good comms man but he didn't like anyone else using his tools.” Jake watched her sort through the messages for a moment before his personal communicator silently signalled that he had an incoming call. He checked it and sat down in the command chair before bringing up the holographic representation of Minister Timmer on his arm command unit. “We just received the initial report on your capture Captain Valance. Word has already been leaked to the press, we don't know how. Regardless of that, congratulations are in order.”
“I hope I've met your expectations.”
“You've far surpassed them. I expected you to take down a few supply ships, perhaps capture a scout or picket vessel if we're lucky. Taking on an armed hauler with thirty warships has several departments very happy you're on our side. I had to give the treasury department a direct order to issue your reward, otherwise they would have stalled for as long as possible. You've caught everyone by surprise.”
“I hope it makes a difference.”
“Oh, it will. We'll be putting these vessels into service as soon as possible.”
“What you do with them is your business. I'm wondering if you've had any word on Alice.”
“If she's headed here we will know something soon. If she's coming in our direction someone will report it. I expect she'll have to stop to refuel along the way. You'll be the first to know anything, trust me. I'm wondering, are you going back out straight away?”
“No, we're taking a break. The crew haven't had a chance to stretch their legs in a while.”
“They deserve leave after your most recent capture, as do you. I recommend you find somewhere small, quiet. You're becoming a popular man, the press is after you as hard as anyone from Regent Galactic.”
“Being too popular isn't good for someone in my occupation Minister. I'll wait for the treasury department to deposit our reward then we'll be on our way.”
“Thank you Captain. If we had a dozen more of you we might just win this thing. Good luck.”
The channel closed and Jake Valance sat there for a moment. The question everyone on the bridge wanted to ask just hung over them like a wet blanket. What was the bonus? The payday sounded huge, but how big was it really?
“Regular crew will be getting a bonus. Everyone else has one hour to figure out whether they're staying or going. Make sure they know we may not be doing any more privateering,” he told Stephanie.
“Yes sir, we'll be undermanned.”
“I know. We'll probably be down to fifteen.”
“How big of a bonus do you think?” Ashley asked in a hushed whisper.
“Big enough to get out of this war zone and not look back.”
“What about our obligation to the Aucharian government?”
“They already have enough footage to run a miniseries thanks to the recorders built into our armour and the Samson's holographic sensor logs. I sent everything ahead from hyperspace so they'd know what they would be dealing with when we arrived.”
“That explains why port control knew what to do with us as soon as we entered the area.”
“They may not like it, but after we've delivered thirty combat ready ships they shouldn't complain about it.”
“There's a message from Frost marked urgent,” Cynthia announced. “It came in with the communications packet but I didn't find it until now.”
“Put it on the main display,” Captain Valance said with a sigh.
“It says it's for your eyes only.”
“Sure it is. Put it up anyway.”
“Yes sir,” Cynthia said with a smirk.
A moment later Frost's head and shoulders appeared on the main holographic display on the bridge and Ashley recoiled exaggeratedly. “God, that's just gruesome.”
“Captain, it's a difficult thing ta admit, but I've seen the error of my ways.” He paused for a moment, red faced and not looking straight into his wrist recorder. “Silver and Burke drained my accounts and made off with me savin's. I'm marooned on Ao Katamari with nothin'. I've been marked as a ship thief so no Captain will have me. I pray on yer kindness sir, I'll serve on the Samson as an able crewman if that's yer pleasure, just make your way over and pick me up in Ian Vale Market. Please, there's no one else.”
The communication cut off and as everyone else on the bridge went into hysterics Captain Valance just lowered his head. When the mirth subsided Stephanie shook her head. “Ao Katamari, wow, that is a good place to find a ship, but a two meter by one meter night chamber costs over five thousand credits. That is unless you end up in the lower levels. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even Frost.”
“We'd better go pick him up. I know the Market he's talking about.”
“We're taking Frost on again?” Ashley said with a groan.
“I'll make leaving you alone a condition of his service, don't worry. That and he'll have to deal with our new First Officer,” he said, eyeing Stephanie. “That should bruise his ego a bit, but at least I won't have to look for a new tactical officer.”