* * * *
On the bridge of the Fury Jasper was drumming his fingers impatiently on the armrest of his chair. His cybernetic implant clicked and whirred as his scar twitched irritably. “Where the hell is the Iconian fleet? No wonder they called this the hundred years war. It takes their ships that long to get anywhere.”
Alice scanned the sensors displays, checking and rechecking the data. “Sir, I’m detecting multiple wormholes forming on the far side of the system. It’s the Iconian fleet.”
“At last.” exclaimed Jasper turning to Jackson. “Deactivate and purge the virus, we wouldn’t want it contaminating our Iconian allies now would we? Wilkes set a course for the Icon system we’ve got a paycheque to collect and I’m tired of this miserable little planet already.”
Jackson and Wilkes nodded.
“Wait.” said Alice. “I’m picking up something on the far side of the planet. A shuttle has just left the atmosphere and is drifting towards an old battleship moored on their military hub.”
“Put it on the main display.” Jasper slid his right forefinger down the side of his face, tracing the line of the angry red scar than ran down it. Bringing his finger and thumb to rest on the rough stubble of his chin as he stood up and studied the holographic display . “Do we still have control of their orbital defence grid?”
Jackson pushed his goggles back up onto his forehead. “Negative, I’ve initiated the purge.”
"Pity." he replied.
“They’ve broken free of the hubs docking clamps and activated their docking web to bring the shuttle in, shall I plot an intercept course?” asked Alice.
Jasper shook his head. “And give those tight fisted Iconian bastards an excuse not to settle the balance of our contract? I don’t think so. Have the Iconian’s seen them yet?”
“No the planets between them and the hub, but I’m reading a power surge, they’re firing up their wormhole generator to jump to hyperspace.”
Jaspers cybernetic eye clicked and whirred frantically as he focused in on the vessel. Releasing the multiple locks on the alien wetware Jackson had installed inside his skull. He extended the range and scope of his vision beyond the bridge, deck plating, and the heavily energised and shielded hull of the Fury, into the cold void of space, and touched the Sultan. He closed his eyes and chuckled, as he withdrew his mind back into his skull and the confines of his ship.
“It would be a mercy to shoot them down. An obsolete ship full of refugees. that’s been stripped out ready for decommissioning, with barely enough food or fuel to reach a friendly system. So we let them go.”
Angelica smiled and nodded. “Yes, yes, I see your logic and if by some miracle they do survive they will tell people what happened here. People will tremble at the mere mention of your name and pay tribute to you for protection. Jasper the destroyer of the unworthy and protector of the wealthy.”
Jasper rolled his head back and laughed as the Sultan jumped to Hyperspace. “That’s right word of mouth, the best advertising in the universe and it’s free. Now set a set a course for the Icon system, we’ve got a contract or two to collect on.”
“I hate to spoil the party.” interrupted Jackson as he lifted himself out of his seat. “But I believe you promised me some fresh test subjects for the lab and using the crew isn’t exactly good for ships moral.”
Jasper turned his attention back to the holographic display, spinning it around above their heads, till he located a suitable Draconion ship drifting helplessly close to theirs. “How about this one?”
Alice checked the scanners. “It's a heavy assault rigged for boarding. I’m detecting multiple life signs, probably marines, they're weak, but alive.”
“Very well bring it aboard and have a guard detail escort them to the guest’s quarters, next to the lab. I’m sure Jackson will make them feel at home. Then lay in a course for Iconian home world. I’ll be in my quarters, you have the bridge Alice.”
Jackson smiled and nodded. “And I’ll be in the lab.”