3.1:New Station
Phillips and Rackham opened up the conversation over the synthesized digital voice messenger.
‘Everything okay with your new craft Phillips?’ asked Rackham.
‘Yes,’ came the synthesized voice that sounded the same, except if it was a female voice, then it reverted to a female tone. ‘This Manx is as nimble and as fast, as anything I have ever flown before.’
‘Just remember Phillips, not to draw too much attention to ourselves. As far as anyone is concerned at New Station, we are trading furs from Diso, to Belaho - no more. Do not say where we go from there; that has not been decided.’
‘Understood Rackham, understood.’
‘Don’t even mention Sol, banks or even Bonny and Avery. It’s just you and me, on a standard, boring flight, selling first to a distant star, which just happens to have an average surface temperature of -10 degrees. So furs are a legitimate trading commodity.’
‘Alright, I’ve got it! No loose talk, fine!’
‘Okay, we are in communication range of New Station. I will send out a request to dock. Follow me in, stay alert for exiting craft - they can come out faster than you can manoeuvre whilst docking. Switch to autopilot if you feel you are having any problems.’
‘Alright old-timer; I think I can manage to land this by myself, even though it’s the first time I’ve ever flown one,’ replied Phillips.
‘New Station here, request your requirements.’
‘To refuel and take on provisions,’ said Rackham.
‘Just checking your status . . . Okay fine, you’re clear to enter New Station. Proceed to docking bay 3A. Have a pleasant stay.’
The entry door opened, and a Panther Cruiser similar to Rackham’s slipped out; it dropped below Phillips and Rackham, it was preparing to hyperspace. There was a blue glow around the craft; at the front of the ship, a portal had appeared. The ship became engulfed by it, within seconds, and had totally disappeared.
Phillips checked his Hyperspace Detection Equipment, ‘Gone to Aylace, not too far, probably be back by the time we get out of this metal can,’ said Phillips.
‘Ah, it’s not too bad Phillips,’ replied Rackham, ‘at least the drink is cheap up here, no taxes to pay, and they are allowed to sell tobacco and other illegal goods in the taverns.’
Phillips followed, and landed the Manx neatly behind Rackham’s larger trading vessel.
‘Let’s order our ships’ stores, before we settle in,’ said Rackham as he slowly descended the steps of his Panther XL. Phillips waited, having beaten Rackham out of his ship. Though Rackham was getting a bit old for this sort of thing, no one would want to mess with him, when he was behind the controls, of his well-armed Panther.
There was a self-service machine, where you could order your fuel and ship’s supplies, at the exit of the bay. Phillips punched in his ship’s location and supply needs. Rackham did likewise. Rackham charged it all to his business account, which seemed to have an endless supply of finance for him, since he invested his pension for stocks and shares, via a broker in the Vega System. Part of the deal Phillips had arranged, with Rackham, was that he paid his expenses for this mission.
Rackham had no reason for taking up this mission; apart from that, he just enjoyed the thrill of it all, and felt a certain amount of responsibility towards Phillips, who he had know for over twenty years. Phillips knew that Rackham was reliable, when things got tight for him. It wasn’t the first time Rackham had helped him out.
‘Let’s find us a good tavern Phillips,’ said Rackham. ‘I haven’t had any tobacco since we hit that supply ship, in the Van Maanens Star System. The Captain was a chain smoker, and only gave up the ship’s supplies after he negotiated enough tobacco, to get himself back to the space station.’
‘What I am looking forward to, is the female company.’ Phillips replied. ‘I know that you can find yourself a good co-pilot, if you know what I mean. So many women find themselves stranded on space stations, for various reasons, often the case that they have escaped a bad relationship, and are looking for a way out of their predicament.’
‘Just be careful Phillips,’ warned Rackham, ‘some damsels in distress can be more than they seem. We do not want anyone hearing of our plans, especially some desperate female, who could sell her information to the authorities.’
‘Alright Rackham, I’m not stupid. I know once, I would have done something foolish. But, after what I went through with Roberts, I know to watch my drink and my tongue.’
The men left the landing bay, and entered the central plaza of the station. It had a glass roof, that you could see glimpses of the home planet through, as the station span slowly on its axis; hanging gardens below with waterfalls with various flora and fauna. Cafés, bars, and eateries vied for attention, with their brightly coloured signs and ample outside seating.
One sign caught Phillips’ eye, as it looked like the kind of place a woman would go, who expected to find someone who was single: “Redux” flashed the orange neon sign. ‘In here?’ Phillips asked.
‘Okay Phillips, I know your game, but remember any sign of trouble, and we are straight out,’ replied Rackham.
Two odd looking men stood in the doorway, regarded the two pirates, as they strolled into a riotous bar; smoke was thick, Rackham could taste tobacco in the air. Phillips scoured the bar for any female that was standing on her own, looking like she was nursing her drink.
Rackham slid his way to the bar, between a mass of people. A DJ had lit up a small dance floor, in a lower section of the bar, and a few revellers had noticed that a dance beat had started, and were making their way to the dance floor.
Phillips spotted one lady in particular, that hadn’t even noticed, nor seemed to care, that the music was starting to play.
‘Hello,’ said Phillips.
‘Hello yourself,’ said the scantly dressed lady, with a small glass of wine.
‘My name’s Phillips, Doug Phillips,’ he said trying his charming smile, ‘can I get you a drink?’
‘Yes if you insist. My name’s Julie.’ she brushed her hand through her short bobbed blonde hair. ‘Have you been here long Doug?’
‘No, just landed,’ he replied with expectation.
‘I’ve been here for three weeks now, trying my best to get a passage back to Ross 154; fat chance here, nobody is even going that way,’ she said flapping her long lashes.
‘Well, I might be able to help you out there,’ Phillips said, in a slow, warm, voice.
3.2: Sleepy Ridge
Avery and Bonny sped towards what she had described, as an idyll at the foot of the mountain. Sleepy Ridge, the place her father had decided to retire, after his wife found out that he had a heart condition and instructed him to give up his sky-taxiing. Daisy died two years later, and Bonny had been offered the taxi after her scrape with the law - the vehicle they were travelling in.
‘You’ll like my dad Avery; he has a lot of stories to tell about his forty years as a taxi driver,’ Avery said nothing.
Suburbs turned to grass planes and farmland, until there were just dense, tall, thin trees with small clearings. In these, stood small wooden huts, built by smallholders, who had bought the rights to logging and fishing.
Jim, Bonny’s dad, was outside his cabin chopping wood for his winter’s supply, when Bonny appeared over the trees, waving as she landed the sky-taxi, next to his land utility vehicle.
He had noticed that his daughter was not alone, and walked over towards his former taxi, with the axe over his shoulder. Marie was his only child, and after the death of his wife, his only relative who visited.
‘Hi dad,’ said Bonny. ‘This is Captain Avery; he has made me an offer of a lifetime.’
‘What sort of an offer?’ inquired a mean looking ex-taxi driver. Jim had tattoos up both arms, sunglasses and shaven short-back-and-sides, with the middle bit, just tufts of hair.
‘Don’t worry yourself dad,’ Bonny said, as she hugged him, disarmed and kissed him sweetly on
the cheek.
‘Captain Avery -’
‘Call me Ben,’ said Avery.’
‘. . . Ben has offered me a part in a get-rich-quick scheme. All I need to do is fly with them, pick up some money, buy goods and bring them back here to trade,’ explained Bonny.
‘Sounds suspicious to me. Come in anyway; let’s discuss this over some green tea. I’m boiling the kettle on the fire as we speak.’
Sure enough, smoke was rising from the chimney, Avery felt like he had been transported back 150 years in time. There was no power; no running water and the water closet was in the backyard. A mountain stream flowed through towards the back of the property, acting as a fresh water supply. The contents of the WC, acted as manure, for Jim’s vegetable patch.
‘Wow, this place is er . . . rustic,’ said Avery as they entered the cabin. Its stove, powered by wood, was the only visible modernish item in the place. No inter-web connection, nor was there any way to contact the outside world. The only form of contact Jim had with the outside was via the Diso City Gazette, which kept him in touch with what was happening.
‘Come, sit down. Warm yourselves by the fire. I’ll get some glasses.’ He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with three; pulled the iron kettle off the holder, over the fire, with a thick mitt and poured green hot liquid into the large glasses.
‘Here,’ he said as he passed his first effort to Avery.
‘Thanks,’ Avery replied.
‘Marie,’ he said passing his second pour to her.
‘Thanks dad.’
‘Now, what is this all about a job?’ inquired Jim of Avery, whilst pouring his own.
‘Well, as much as I can tell you, I will divulge. It’s a bank job, not risky, very profitable and I have calculated that it is 95% certain that we will be successful.’
‘A bank job,’ said Jim, as he turned to his daughter. ‘Marie, are you sure you know what you are getting into?’
‘Yes dad, I can’t stand driving a taxi - no offence - but I want to get back into the space lanes, make enough to buy that place by the lakes and invest my money in a steady income.’
‘It’s your life. I remember that time a bunch of bank robbers hijacked my taxi: lucky to be sat here today, I can tell you that. Nothing good came of their efforts.’
‘Why, what happen?’ Avery asked.
‘I was just minding my own business. Sat at a rank in the city’s Business District, hoping to pick up some lunchtime trade, when bang, the doors opened and three masked men got in. A stun gun at my face, I wasn’t going to argue. “Drive pops,” the gunman said. I lifted off and took their directions. I ended up at a disused warehouse, outside the spaceport.’
‘What did you do then dad?’ asked Bonny, even though she had heard the story at least ten times before.
‘Well, I figured there would probably be a reward put out for these men, so I followed them into the spaceport.’
‘You followed them!’ said a shocked Avery.
‘Yes, of course, Marie was going to college the following year, and I needed the finances to pay for her.’ The flames of the fire lit-up Jim’s face and he seemed to have lost ten years, as he described his actions.
‘Went to the spaceport, asked the lobby-man if three men had come in, as I had a request to pick them up. He told me that he had given them directions to the Hotel Bella, and that they were staying there the night. Went to the reception of the Bella, inquired, got their room number and called the Crime Hotline. Bang,’ he clapped his hands together for affect, ‘10, 000 Federal Franks came my way.’
Avery laughed at this old man’s skill and cunning: outdoing some criminals, and sending his daughter to college. He liked this guy.
‘That is quite a story Jim, quite a story,’ said Avery admiringly.
‘Your turn Ben,’ said Jim, looking at Bonny, as if he had just entered into a competition for her approval.
‘Well,’ coughed Avery, ‘have you any cards or cubes?’
‘Yes sure, got both,’ replied Jim.
‘Cubes will be fine.’
‘Okay, I’ll just get them,’ said Jim.
Jim went off to a draw, pulled out a container with dice in, six in all, and passed it to Avery. He pulled three out, looked them over individually, by the light of the fire.
‘Okay Jim, if I can throw six triangles, what would you say the chances of that are?’
‘I don’t know, I suppose it is long odds, though I can’t imagine that anyone could throw that well.’
Avery threw one cube at a time: 1: Triangle 2: Triangle 3: Triangle.
‘Wait a minute,’ protested Jim. ‘How are you doing that? You must be using some sort of trick?’
‘Yes, it’s called weight measuring,’ answered Avery as he threw the remaining cubes individually: 4: Triangle 5: Triangle 6: Triangle.
‘Wow!’ Bonny laughed, ‘That is some trick.’
3.3: Ross 154
Phillips had heard about the women from Ross 154; they were supposed to be amongst the most desirable in the Galaxy. The only trouble was that there was only one woman, for every three men on the habitable planet. Therefore, to find one outside the system was rarer still.
Phillips, had offered her a ride back to Ross 154, not only so he could spend the night with the beautiful Julie, but there was another interesting fact about Ross 154, it was the only place you could buy military equipment, for private vessels. Therefore, with the money he was planning to make on trading alcohol to the liquor free space station: he figured he would make enough to upgrade the firepower of the Manx to the latest military standards.
The next morning, Phillips and Julie, glided out of New Station, and prepared for the hyperspace jump to Ross 154.
‘I’m so glad that you decided to take me home Doug,’ said Julie.
‘Well, I didn’t want to spend the next four days with Captain Rackham; we get on up to a point, then we end up arguing about the silliest things. As long as I’m back to rendezvous, with Avery and Bonny, then this trip will be worth it. I have a hold full of liquor, which will fetch me a mighty sum on your space station, and I want to buy something for the ship.’
As they cleared New Station, Phillips opened up the hyperspace dial and rotated it until Ross 154 came into view, moved the light over the star and hit the connect button. Light spewed out around the Manx and with a small forward thrust, the craft was spat out in the vicinity of Ross 154.
‘Home sweet home,’ said Phillips. ‘Let’s just locate your planet’s legend by following Ross 154,’ Julie just smiled sweetly.
Meanwhile, back on Radian, Avery was preparing to go fishing with Frank, on his lake in the forest. He and Bonny had spent the night in separate rooms. Frank was old fashioned that way, and Bonny had given him a dark stare, when he had insisted on Avery having the couch, whilst Bonny stayed in her own room.
‘You have been fishing before, right Ben?’ said Frank, as he began picking up the fishing gear from the hallway.
‘Shooting, but not fishing,’ replied Avery.
‘Slightly different; I’ll show you the ropes. Help me load this gear in the back of the truck.’
After which, both men climbed into the pick-up and drove off towards the lake. Bonny had awoken, and was standing on the veranda, with a hot green tea from the stove, watching the dust trail from the rear of the vehicle, in the distance. ‘Well I’ve lost him for the day now,’ she said out loud to herself.
Near Ross 154, Phillips prepared to land at Satem 154, the only operating space station of the only habitable planet Satem.
‘Requesting clearance to land,’ said Phillips.
‘Checking your identity. . . Okay, proceed to bay four,’ said the voice receiver in a female tone. The craft glided in and red flashing ground lights guided them to bay four. Phillips landed gently, in a vacant space.
‘Well Julie, I will have to leave you here and return to New Station tomorrow,’ Phillips said, with a certain amount of regret in his voice.
r /> ‘Thanks for the ride. I will be able to get a shuttle down to the surface from here. I thought I would never see home again!’ She kissed him on the cheek, jumped to her feet and walked down the hydraulic steps before they touched the ground. Julie ran into the space station, leaving Phillips sat there wondering how he was going to shift his cargo and pay Rackham back.
Avery drew back his rod and cast it from Frank’s small fishing boat. The boat had no motor, just ancient oars, which Frank had used to power them to the centre of the lake.
‘Not bad, not bad,’ said Frank, considering Avery’s cast. ‘You like Marie do you Ben?’ inquired Frank.
‘Yes, she’s a fine lady, and can fly too, always an advantage.’
‘She’s a good girl, always looking out for her old man. Make someone a fine wife one day, a fine wife,’ added Frank.
‘I’m sure she will, if she makes it back in one piece from this mission. Nobody can be too sure what will happen. Things can go wrong very quickly. I’ll do my best to take care of her for you Frank. I can assure you of that.’
‘You do that Ben, and I would have no objections to you, if you get my meaning.’
‘I hear you loud and clear,’ replied Avery.
Phillips knew that if he could find an illegal bar, then he was well on his way to shifting his contraband. He noticed that there were various different types of people passing in the shopping arcades. Most looked sober; some though, appeared that they had access to illegal liquor.
‘Hey, mister,’ he said, grasping a man by the arm, who it was clear to anyone, had been drinking. ‘Do you know where to get a drink around here? A man could die of thirst!’
‘If I tell you,’ said the man slurring his words, ‘you must buy me another drink.’
‘Okay, fine,’ replied Phillips.
‘Follow me, I’ll take you to Fink’s, he’s got some great Sigma Draconian wine in at the moment, great! ’He was pulling at Phillips’ jacket with wide-eyed excitement at the prospect.
Phillips followed him along some back alleys, and took a right, now only two steps behind him, into what looked like a dead end.
‘In here,’ he said in a quiet voice, as he entered a fire exit.
Phillips followed; there was an odd rumbling, and the sound of large balls rolling on a smooth floor, the crashing of objects followed by a machine like sound: they had entered the back of a bowling alley.
At the end of the room, stood a bar, with three tables. A music machine played some old recordings, from a bygone age, and a gambling machine, that allowed you to bet on various live animal races, being staged on Satem.
Phillips and his new found friend, staggered up to the bar, where Fink was polishing the few glasses he possessed.
‘Gentlemen’, he uttered, as they came within earshot, ‘what can I get you? Wine, wine or wine?’ He laughed as if his joke would never run thin unlike his Mintell.
‘One from Sigma Draconis for me and one for this gentleman.’ replied the drunkard.
‘Fine Jake,’ replied Fink. He obviously knew the man well. ‘What brings you here?’ he asked Phillips.
‘Business.’
‘What sort of business?’ asked Fink.
‘Liquor, a whole shipload; know anyone that would be interested?’
‘What sort of liquor?’ asked Fink.
‘Diso Bourbon.’
‘Are you serious?’ asked Jake.
‘I know someone that will take it off your hands,’ said Fink.
Avery and Bonny made it back to Frank & Louis and took their respective crafts to make it to New Station, at the agreed time. She had arranged for the taxi to be sent to her old employer, to be sold on, and for the money to be sent to her dad.
Avery and Bonny had spent enough time together, to realize that there was more to their relationship than a purely professional one. Jim, had made it clear that he was suitably impressed with Avery, and did not seem to mind when he found them both coming out of her room for breakfast that morning. Everyone seemed happy.
3.4: Leaving New Station
‘I didn’t think you were going to make it back in time Phillips,’ stated Rackham.
‘I was cutting it fine, I know.’
They sat in a luxuriant bar with plush sofas and a view of the brightly lit atrium on one side and the view of outer space on the other. The contrast seemed to complement the old friends.
‘Where are Avery and Bonny? Don’t they know we’re leaving tonight?’ asked Rackham.
‘I haven’t seen them, since they arrived back this morning. I think they booked into a hotel, but not one that you pay for per night!’ said Phillips.
‘Oh, like that is it? Well, we don’t want that interfering with any plans we have, nor do we want it impairing anyone’s judgment, when it comes down to it,’ said Rackham.
‘Quit worrying Rackham. Avery is not the sort to let a bit of skirt impair his judgment. I’m sure this is a brief encounter, if you catch my meaning.’
‘Indeed. Well, if you trust his judgment, then I must also,’ returned Rackham.
‘Gentlemen,’ Avery entered the bar holding Bonny’s hand, ‘I would like to introduce you to the future Mrs. Avery.’
‘What were you saying Phillips?’ said Rackham.
‘I’ll get the drinks in,’ said Phillips, giving Rackham a quizzical look. ‘What was he thinking?’ said Phillips to himself as he headed towards the neon lit glass topped bar, with what can only be described as a wounded walk.
‘Barman, a round of drinks for me and my friends.’
‘Coming right up!’ said the android bartender, who knew exactly what everyone was drinking, due to the PSI device fitted to its forehead.
‘This is a bit sudden?’ said Rackham to Avery.
‘Well, I figured that if you only take a chance, sometimes it might just pay off: show Rackham your ring Bonny.’ She held out her hand, to reveal a large stone-encrusted band.
‘Nice!’ said Phillips, returning with the drinks.
‘I like it,’ said Bonny, ‘it matches my eyes.’
‘Wow!’ said Rackham, ‘How much?’ Ah never mind, I don’t want to know. Nevertheless, what I will say to you both is that we don’t want this relationship clouding your judgment. What I mean to say is, no heroism, no taking unnecessary risks for each other.’
‘Understood, I don’t think you need to worry about that,’ said Avery.
‘Good, now we leave at midnight tonight. Avoid any sort of unwanted attention. We hyperspace to Zeandin, which allows us plenty of time to wait for the convoy to arrive from Zeanlia,’ announced Rackham.
‘What do we do from then, depends on the information provided by my source,’ continued Phillips. ‘We reckon on ten fighter escorts, but could mean that they might have an awaiting escort, which means more work for us.’
‘Best get ourselves in position first, before we take out the welcoming party - If there is one - as we won’t want to take on both at the same time,’ suggested Avery.
‘Don’t fancy our chances if we don’t,’ agreed Bonny.
‘There’s no way that anyone will be able to get a message to the incoming fleet?’ asked Avery.
‘No chance of that. By the time the message has reached Zeanlia, we would have already left. At least that is the plan,’ replied Phillips.
‘Yes, of course. I take it all our ships are provisioned, fuelled and ready for action. Let’s finish these drinks and be on our way: midnight approaches. I want the least amount of people to see us leave this station, and even less to see us hyperspace and, out of curiosity, check our hyperspace trails, to identify our destination. Ladies and gentlemen, raise you glasses to success!’ concluded Rackam.
“Clink, clink, clink.”
‘To success!’ they all said.
Drinks were consumed at a pace, and there seemed a sense of urgency in the air, as if a dream they were sharing, may leave without them, if they didn’t get out of the bar within the next couple of minutes.
‘Phillips, you leave with me, Avery and Bonny, leave soon after; let’s not make it too obvious we are a band of space pirates, come bank robbers!’
‘For sure,’ said Avery. ‘We will have to hyperspace separately, as well. If we get thrown to different parts of the system meet up at Andrew’s Station, but do not enter, just hang about, as if waiting, which of course we will be.’
‘Good thinking Avery,’ said Phillips. ‘We don’t want to look like we are planning anything when we meet up. Maintain radio contact, but only use the radio if necessary.’
‘Okay Phillips,’ said Rackham, ‘we should be on our way; we will see you both outside, prior to hyperspace. Maintain radio silence, we will hyperspace first as two traders, then you two follow us.’
The two had already risen to their feet and were making their way to the exit, leaving Avery and Bonny staring into each other’s eyes, as what would appear to a common bystander, a stupid look on their faces.
‘Come on Avery, let’s go do this job,’ said Bonny.
‘As soon as we have done this, we will be married,’ said a besotted Avery.
‘Let’s not rush anything Ben. Just remember what Rackham said, about not letting our emotions run away with us: we have a job to do, so let’s stay focused.’
‘Yes you’re right Bonny; let’s keep it surnames, until this is over.’
‘Okay Avery.’
‘That’s better Bonny; let’s get this show on the road, hey?’
‘Right Avery, to our ships.’
4 ACTION