Privateer's Commission 2 -ch 10-

Chapter 10

Ralph adjusted the glove on his left hand, fidgeted with it, then put his hand down in his lap. On his left was Liseth, on his right, Delilah.

He’d wanted Winnie and Marionette with him, but the former had declined, and latter wasn’t feeling well.

At all.

She’d gotten sick a day or so after they left the prison with Janey on board and hadn’t gotten much better. To the point that she was sleeping in her own compartment at night, rather than his bed.

Liseth had told him with Marionette’s permission what was wrong.

It was the longevity treatments she’d gotten a bit ago.

That it wasn’t that she was actually sick, but that she was having a reaction to the longevity treatments. A rare reaction, but not unheard of.

That as the DNA changed, reacted to the treatment, and it propagated those changes, there was always the chance of a rejection of sorts. Which would involve her being somewhat sick for a number of days to months.

Ralph respected it, wished her well, and did all he could to help her out. As far as he had seen, she was suffering something similar to a full body flu that looked incredibly uncomfortable.

“So a genetically modified Blood, a too well known Bounty-Hunter turned ship’s mistress, and a Privateer multiple times over walk into a bridge of a Space Naval Flag ship,” Delilah murmured as if it were the start to a joke.

Liseth made a hissing noise that sounded somewhere between a sigh and a laugh.

“Is this the ‘porno or bar joke’ game? Cause that really sounds like the start of a porno,” Ralph answered in a neutral tone while turning to look at Delilah. “Or is that wishful thinking?”

“I believe if I were Winnie, I would now be quite adamant about which choice this is. I’ll merely point out that I couldn’t say such a thing, but I can through Winnie,” demurred Liseth, her head turning fully to look at Ralph.

Smile and all.

“When did you get this forward?” Ralph asked, looking back at her.

“I have no idea what you mean? I merely pointed out Winnie’s preference. Or perhaps Delilah’s?” Liseth asked and tilted her head to the side, looking past Ralph.

Ralph turned to follow her gaze only to find Delilah shaking her head while looking at a tablet in her lap. Her cheeks had a faint redness to them.

“Marionette is rubbing off on Xas, Winnie is rubbing off on Liseth,” Delilah grumbled.

“And you’re just rubbing off?” suggested Ralph with a wide grin.

“Ugh. You… that… Ralph… really?” Delilah finally got out, lifting her head up and meeting his gaze.

“I mean, we’ve got the Doc right here. I’m sure she’ll say it’s healthy,” suggested Ralph.

“Very healthy. I absolutely recommend it. It should be said I would never suggest something I didn’t believe in or practice,” Liseth confirmed.

Her level or flirting is weirdly high-brow, yet so direct it’s weird.

Unable to help himself, Ralph laughed, slunk lower in his chair, and just grinned. With Marionette somewhat ‘out of action’ he’d found himself feeling rather down. She still gave him a great deal of attention, and her time, but he genuinely missed spending every free moment with her.

He felt lonely without her.

“Well,” he began. “I get ‘thrust in me and knock my guts around’ with Winnie on one side and ‘wordy byplay that I can’t actually prove’ on the other. Where does that leave you, Delilah?”

“Dead center I guess,” she muttered, still watching him. “Uhm… it’d be great if you could knock… or uh… that… I’d love to be in the middle of you and… yeah, no. I’m not good at this. Whatever.”

There was a clatter and a clunk from behind them and the door to the meeting room swung open.

In trooped near forty or fifty individuals.

All the chairs around the three of them were quickly sat in by everyone else near wordlessly. All of people joining them were in officers uniforms of various ranks and designations.

Liseth, Delilah, and Ralph stood out for their almost mundane clothes in comparison. Ralph had been dressed by Marionette and he looked quite dashing and professional, but not very military.

Delilah had worn up a professional looking set of clothes that could likely be classified as ‘office wear’.

Liseth had also put on similar clothes that looked as if they’d been taken straight out of Delilah’s closet, though it was a bit more reserved. A bit more starch to her.

“Welcome everyone. Thank you for being here despite the early summons,” said a voice from the back of the room coming toward the front. A feminine voice that sounded as if was tired, worn out, and not very happy. “I’m especially glad our specialty recruit was able to make it.”

Around the corner came a woman that was around five foot seven, dull blonde hair that looked like it could be called brown, sharp brown eyes, and a figure that was lean and looked fit.

“To be sure, I wasn’t certain you’d make it Privateer. Quite glad you did,” said the woman as she walked to the front of the assembly. All the chairs were laid out in front o fher and she stepped up to the podium. “I’m Rear Admiral Haya Tolas. You’re all here because you’re my boat-captains in my task-force.

“Some of you have worked with me before, some of you haven’t. That’s fine, I’m not hard to please and even easier to understand. So here the fuck it is.

“We follow the book when it suits us, we go off script when it’s warranted, and we break the laws when needed. It’s that damn straight forward. If you need me to repeat it, or put it in an email, get the fuck out and leave. You’re dismissed here and now and that’s all.

“You can tell the Administration you couldn’t handle me. Won’t be the first time, definitely not the last. Just like my last damn husband.”

The room was dead silent, but Ralph was suddenly feeling better about the whole situation.

“Fucking wonderful. Welcome to my Task Force,” she growled, looking around the room as she spoke. She spent a few seconds looking into each person’s eyes since she first entered the room. Moving from face to face. “Our job is getting blessedly simple and yet damn hard at the same time. We’re being sent to watch over some back areas for House Bertson.

“When I say back areas, I mean so far in the back that if I nurse went there for a sample, you wouldn’t know if you were coming or going. I fucking hate it, but it’s the area we’ve been sent to. With any luck, we’ll be able to make this work out without too much issue.

“In the same breath however, we’re technically not at war with anyone, but we are. We’re at war with House Zane and all their little butt-buddies. That means if we get an opportunity to fuck them over without blowing them up, great.

“Though let’s be honest. There’s no way we’re not getting dragged into this. No way in hell and I don’t think House Bertson or House Ginil are thinking how shitty this whole war is going to go.

“I’m thinking this’ll turn into a Confed War. House to house, all the way down the line. There’s already five major houses involved and it’s growing.”

Five?

Five houses already? Holy shit.

It is a Confed War.

Just one without the formal name or declaration yet.

“We’ll be operating on the fringes of a system that’s in danger for a period of time, and then it’ll be out of range of the enemy,” Tolas continued with a grumpy frown on her face. Her hands were gripping the podium now. “We’ll be operating as a normal Task Force. Defenses. Patrols. Lines of supply. A presence. Unless something kicks off, then be unaliving a great number of people. Great providers of un-healthcare for everyone that wants attention.

“We’ve got a lot of Mirkil Ground Forces shifting up to assist with the planet-work as well. We’re not providing direct cover, but we won’t be far off from it either.”

Tolas looked around the room, the same displeased scowl on her face had only grown in intensity.

“Thats it kids. Anyone got anything for me?” asked Tolas.

Ralph raised his hand and offered her a smile when her eyes flicked to him.

He was the only one with a question it seemed.

“Privateer?” she asked.

Standing up, Ralph made himself presentable and stiffened his shoulders and spine. He met her eyes, lifted his chin and kept her gaze.

“Rear-admiral Tolas, I’m Ralph Turlan, Privateer assigned to your task force,” Ralph said by means of introduction. It’d help everyone else to know who he was if they hadn’t figured it out yet. “I was wondering how you would feel if I put in a request for House Bertson to hire me as a Privateer, wandered off from your Task Force, caused havoc, and maybe got some intel at the same time while we’re playing baby-sitter.

“Because if the system is in danger, doesn’t that mean the enemy is also… in danger?”

Rear Admiral Tolas’ smile was immediate, feral, and hungry.

“Privateer Turlan, I’d be damned happy if you just so happened to do such a thing, but I could never in good conscience condone, or order you to do such a thing,” she said while nodding her head at him. “Do be a dear and make sure you get me a comms-log if you’ve got a honey-do list. Also I’m looking for husband number five. You look like you could handle a career woman.”

“Flattered ma’am, you’re too much for me,” Ralph said with a warm smile. “If I may though, please do send me a honey-do list and I’ll do my best to clear it.”

“Understood. Thank you Privateer. Consider your question answered and my orders to you for the Task Force will be to ‘shadow the Task Force and act at your discretion’. Did I mention I’m damned pleased to see that nasty bitch of a Man-of-War of yours in my Task Force? I went over the logistics of it. Nasty thing,” Tolas complimented him, her smile growing wider. “I genuinely can’t wait to see how nimble she is when she throws a broadside as well.”

Ralph dipped his head to her, then sat back down.

He had an in-road to start causing mischief, get information, data, and prizes, while operating within protocol.

I really like Tolas.

Really, really, really, like her. We’ll need to ask to work with her in the future.

At least, so long as her combat doctrine holds up in combat and she can manage the job.

“Dismissed. Get moving. We’re leaving on the next shift change in three hours so get your kit squared,” she bit off, stepped away from the podium, and left.

Not waiting, Ralph, Delilah, and Liseth left the meeting room. They paused only briefly to secure all the supplies and equipment they requestioned. After it’d been confirmed it’d all been delivered, they took a shuttle back to the Toll.

Stepping back onto the Toll, Ralph was already going through the message he wanted to send out to House Bertson. It’d have to be clear, precise, and offering them what he wanted, without inviting them to give him more.

A letter that would tell them enough, without making the intent obvious.

Because the last thing he needed was the Confed getting involved in his business because he let too much slip.

“Heyo captain Ken-doll!” Janey called from the dinning table with a mouth full of burrito, it looked like. “How’s it looking? We gonna get to plunder some military ships? God I want to plunder military ships. We’ve got a god damned black market AI piloting the ship.

“We’ll get so much money gun-running after the fact. So much. I want guns. Guns and ammo. Mm! Also, these burritos are great. I’ve never heard of this brand before?”

“Yeah, gonna run some raids on military groups,” Ralph said, eying Janey with a grin as he walked by her. She had settled in quickly in the days since they’d left the prison. She’d been gruff at first, but had rapidly turned thankful for a bed, a door with a lock, and a modicum of luxuries. “And yeah, Xas is amazing with that stuff.”

“Haha, I’m amazing. You’ll be begging me. Beggin me, Ralphy!” Xas cheered, her red-headed avatar appearing at the cockpit area. “So how’s it looking? We got problems? Rear admiral trying to stuff us in the rear? In your rear? Their rear?”

“None of the above, actually. Against all odds, against all tropes, we got someone who I think is going to use us in a great way, and respect us in the morning,” Ralph admitted as she flopped into the pilot’s seat. He leaned over the screen, pulled up the interface, and started typing in a message directly. “I need you to send this to the House Bertson Defence command, Xas.

“We’re going to make them offer to become a Privateer for their House and see about taking some ‘work’ from them. Except I’m not giving them a choice about what kind of work, and I’m mostly just asking them to give me a Letter of Marque so I can break from the Task Force and be a pirate bastard.”

“You know, that really doesn’t sound that surprising knowing you,” Xas said cheerfully, her avatar’s grin was ear to ear. “I’ve brought the Shadow into alignment with the Armory and the Siren. I’ll store them in safe space in a dark area unless we need them. Though, if we get the Letter of Marque from Bertson, we should save it for the carrier!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ralph muttered as he kept working away at the letter. He was picking his words and making sure they fit.

“Oy, captain Ken-doll. Include a picture of yourself,” Janey cat-called from the other room.

“Actually, that isn’t a bad idea, my captain,” Liseth remarked as she sat down in the co-pilot seat. “There’s always the possibility of some… lonely heart confed officer behind the keyboard, no?”

“You’re as bad as the rest, you just hide it behind intelligence,” growled Ralph, glancing over at Liseth. Only to find Delilah looming over him. Then she put her hands on his shoulders and leaned over the chair.

“Massive comms packet came through right as we were leaving,” Delilah murmured quietly. “I didn’t go through it but I wanted to make sure you knew. In case you don’t check your inbox before we head out and you need to respond to something in the packet.

“We’re linked up to the House Mirkil comm system right now so we’re getting everything in and out of the Confed network in it’s entirety. I’ve been posting all the notices I can and getting updates on our shipments we ordered and things we were selling.”

Delilah was watching him from above. Her eyes boring into his face.

“Thanks, Delilah, I’ll go through it,” Ralph said with a grin. “Did you get your contract cleared by the way? No longer a bound ship’s mistress to me for all time?”

“It got fixed, yeah,” Delilah confirmed with a nod of her head. “It’s only set for one to five years now based on how long you keep me.”

“Sounds like I should make myself Lady Shadow,” Liseth put in with a neutral tone and expression. “Since I’m technically already cargo and a hired hand, would it be somewhat of a promotion at that point?”

“Rio would like that,” Delilah said with a grin for the doctor as Ralph returned to his typing. He kept at it for another few sentences. “I think she’s got in her head to have everyone on board as a Ship’s Mistress. She sees this whole thing as a film just waiting to be made, I think.”

“To be fair, it’s all rather fantastic, isn’t it?” Liseth agreed.

“It sure fucking is!” Janey called from the dinning area. “I didn’t expect to end up on a Privateer’s ship with three different Ship’s Mistresses on it and a black-market AI. If this isn’t made for film, I don’t know what is.

“Maybe I should take that ship’s mistress gig after all. It’d piss off Winnie if I could get in your bed before she can.”

Ralph smirked at Janey’s words. Winnie had been present often, but also very deliberate when she showed up. The time she spent around him was limited but she always made time to sit with him and the others for dinner or movie time. She was present, but at the same time, she was working a lot with her therapy program and the therapist.

In a moment of honesty, she’d told him she was trying to get as many hours in as possible before they went communications dark.

“— rail me like he’s a plumber laying pipe, yeah?” Janey called out loudly. “Then again I’d have to talk him away from that perfect super model known as Marionette. Speaking of the smoking hot thirst trap even in a mechanic jumper and a snow coat… sup Rio.”

“Xas, check that and send it for me. We’re hopping for a reply before we hit a comms blackout,” Ralph murmured, turned, and found Marionette rushing toward him. She was bouncing in a way that was eye-catching and he suddenly realized he’d been without her warmth in a bed for too long now.

“Ralph,” she squeaked, collapsed in front of him, and slammed her face into his neck. “Ralph… my parents.”

Her voice choked off on the word and Ralph had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“My parents. They’re safe. I got a communication from them,” Marionette got out in a shuddering voice. Followed by a sob. “They’re safe. They’re in Mirkil space. Cavalier Hesh found them. He was on a mission and he-he-he-he got them a transport shuttle out. Just because. Because they were there. Civilians, in a warzone, that didn’t belong. So he did it.

“He got them out on his own word and authorization, on his own transports. Straight to Mirkil. They’re safe. My parents are safe.

“I read their letters, I heard their v-voices. I sent them a response already and I might get a chance to ta-ta-talk to them before we go!”

Oh?

Cavalier Hesh did it?

Well.

Sounds like I owe the man.

I’ll have to make it up to him someway, somehow.

Marionette tried to say something else, broke off in a whimpering cry, then just clung to Ralph. Pressing her face into him as her fingers clutched at him.

Crying openly.

Loudly.

I owe the man a lot.

She hadn’t heard a damn word from her parents since the war started, and now she’s heard a great deal, and might get to talk to them.

Well… hopefully I can arrange some time for her to talk to them soon. We’ll be heading into a blackout soon.

It’ll be boring for a time as we move into the operations area.

Then we might be moving to do privateer work while the Admiral holds a position.