Maniacs The Krittika Conflict

CHAPTER 2



"Welcome to the Foxy Lady," Mason said.

Erin turned to him with a painful look and smiled beneath gritted teeth.

"Really? The Foxy Lady?"

"Sure. She used to be named after the Boss' wife, but after his third marriage, he figured it was time for something more...universal."

"Classy."

"We thought so. She's a Leander class transport, top of the line twenty years ago, and still as solid as ever. Seen us through hell and back more than a few times."

"Looks homely," she said sarcastically.

"Sure is."

Her sarcasm had been wholly lost on Mason, who was never more pleased than when he returned to what was his home. The ramp closed behind them, and they began to lift off from the planet they'd all rather never see again in their lifetimes. Erin turned to see Skylar was being handed a cup of coffee from a crewmember she hadn't met. Skylar was still shaking and in shock. The fact Erin wasn't sparked Mason's curiosity. He led her over to Skylar and the other man who was in his mid-fifties. His hairline was receding, and he had a deeply weathered and wrinkled face. Despite this, he had a pleasant smile and the look of a trustworthy and friendly sort of fellow.

"This is Archibald Andrews, but we mostly called him Wizard. He's the ship's go to guy."

"Go to for what?"

"You want to have a good meal, stitch up a wound, or blow shit up, he's your man."

"That's quite a résumé."

"A what?" asked Mason.

"Nice to meet you," added Andrews. "I was told we'd only be having one guest."

"Yeah, this one was down there too. She'll be catching a ride with us."

"Until Gutierrez pays up," Josiah added.

"You've already met the merry one among the bunch. Josiah."

"Hey, I only want what is rightfully ours. We risked all our lives in there to get her out."

"And I am very thankful," replied Erin.

"Josiah likes his thanks in cash, and I can't say there ain't one among us who doesn't share that thought," stated Mason.

Erin looked down at Skylar. She was still weeping.

"And helping a girl in need isn't enough?"

"Good will doesn't pay the bills," replied Mason.

She was taken aback.

It clearly hasn’t occurred to her that money might be so much an issue.

"You've come from money then. Why's no one paid your ransom?"

"I...I was only taken yesterday. Nobody knows where I am."

"Trust me, those scum would have been more than keen to tell the world where you were if it meant some cash in hand. So why didn't you tell 'em?"

She went quiet, clearly not wanting to explain her circumstances.

"What are you, a runaway? Deserter? No, you can handle yourself, but you are no soldier. What have you got to hide?"

Andrews stood up and strode to her aid.

"Gentlemen, the girl's been through enough. Leave her be."

Mason backed down, but they all knew it would not be the end of it.

Carter strode into the room from the bridge.

"Well, now that's over, I'd like to personally welcome you both aboard. I am Ed Carter, the Captain of this ship. We were hired by your father, Miss Gutierrez, and whom you will be returned to shortly. And you, we were not introduced?"

"Erin."

Carter was in his late sixties and clearly coming to the end of his chosen career. His hair was silky grey and short. He was tall and workmanlike in his appearance and walked with a stiffness in his left leg, which was inevitably a combat wound. He and Erin couldn't be from more different worlds, but she instantly felt as though she could trust him.

"Evidently, your manners haven't rubbed off on all your crew yet, Captain."

He smiled in response, which got a few laughs from those standing around.

"She thinks you're a charmer," Mason grinned.

"You've got no idea," he said with a smirk.

Carter turned to Skylar.

"We're en route to meet a representative of your father’s. We rendezvous in about six hours. Until then, we will do our best to make you comfortable."

"A representative, my father won't be there?"

Mason shook his head. He wanted to rib the girl's father, but he turned to Erin and could see her shaking her head for him to back down. Something in the sincerity of her eyes made him do so.

"We're meeting his head of security, Arlon Thompson."

"Great."

"You have a problem with that?"

"Who cares?" added Josiah.

"Whatever, just get me there," she hissed.

"Gotta love the appreciation for us risking our lives," Josiah carried on.

"I thought you risked your lives for a payday," added Erin.

Josiah shot a glance over to the older girl, but she looked back defiantly. He wanted to take offence, but he wasn't ashamed of his mercenary ways.

"Any payday is a good day."

Erin sighed. She turned and looked to Liu who sat wincing in pain.

"You going to help him?" she asked Archibald.

"Yeah, just as soon as our guests are comfortable."

"Don't get paid if the goods aren't delivered on time and as expected," said Mason.

"That's what we are to you?"

"Today, yes," he replied and turned to Skylar.

"Your father really going to pay for your friend here?"

She dipped her head to shy away from eye contact."

"Well?"

"I think so..." she whispered.

"Think!"

"Take it down a notch, Josiah. We've got a few hours till the meet. Get some rest. This is my last job, so don't fight me," ordered Carter.

Josiah turned away and strode off, still fuming.

"Come on, I'll show you both to some fresh beds where you can get a little rest," said Archibald.

Skylar obliged and got to her feet with his help. He turned to see if Erin would join him.

"It's okay. I'm fine here."

"As you like it."

She looked around the room. It was the main cargo bay of the ship, but there were few commodities. Each side were the entrances to what must be the crew quarters. There were no names on the doors, only numbers. A small corridor at the far end from where they had entered seemed to lead to the bridge. A simple kitchen lay just before it. She guessed the table and chairs they were sitting around were the closest the ship came to a mess hall.

It was small for a transport ship, with a small payload, and surprisingly fast. The room was just three metres high, and mementos from a hundred worlds hung from the ceiling, flags, tapestries, models, and old pre-laser weapons. A police riot shield, and even the door to what looked like a bank vault was up there.

"I'm guessing you don't do a lot of commercial transport?" Erin asked.

"We do whatever jobs we can get. If that's moving something from A to B, we'll do it, but the kind of people who pay us to move stuff expect us to fight like hell to protect it. Not give up the goods at the first sign of trouble."

"Which side do you fight on?"

"Our own."

"Come on, you're soldiers. You must have some allegiance. The war’s been going for what, six years, and you're telling me you're not involved?"

"Wars come and go. Life goes on. You know what the military pay you for putting your ass on the line for their cause?"

"And the pension policies suck," Liu added, smiling.

She looked over to him, still wincing in pain from his wound.

"Let me help you with that."

She walked over and helped him out of his armour. She reached for Wizard's med kit and pulled out a pair of scissors.

"You know what you're doing?" Mason asked.

"The basics, yeah."

She cut around his shirt and prised it from his skin. She was surprised to see a police tattoo on his upper arm. It was obvious that she recognised it.

"You are a Veni police officer?"

"Yeah, I was," he replied in a sad tone.

"And you aren't any longer?"

He looked up at her as if to ask if she was serious.

"I guess it's a long story of how you ended up here."

"It ain't that interesting. You're familiar with Veni?"

She hesitated for a moment. "I was there for a while some time ago."

"And anytime recently?" asked Mason.

"No," she replied. Her tone was sombre.

"We don't have much cause to ever go near a capital like Veni. We get plenty of jobs from there, but god forbid our employers would ever want us setting foot there," said Mason.

"So where are we meeting Mr Thompson?"

Her sudden subject change did not go unnoticed, but they were willing to entertain it.

"Luthien V, it's an IPA station. One of the only places we can safely meet him in the area. The girl's father is a key investor in USV worlds, and we're deep inside Alliance territory. God knows what she was doing out here in the first place. She'd be worth a fortune to any Alliance officials who knew she was here."

"We're in Alliance territory?" she asked with surprise.

"Sure are. The fact you didn't know that gets me curious. How did you end up in that cell?"

"I was on a research mission to a frontier world when our ship was attacked. That was the last thing I remember. But we were still in Vasi territory when that happened."

It sounded as if she was telling a half-truth.

"It's possible," added Liu. “Kidnappers working on the border and taking Vasi civilians back within Alliance worlds. It would give them a layer of protection from official responses."

"Sounds like you're making shit up. There's been something not right about you since we found ya down there. But f*ck it, what do I care? Another few hours, and you're a bonus for us in what was already a fine pay day."

"Nice to see I can bring some sunshine to your day," she snapped.

Mason smiled as he walked away and muttered, "Sunshine, hell I've had enough of that for one day too."

They were all tired, and most managed to get some sleep en route, but were glad to hear the Boss’ voice over the intercom.

"Luthien V is up ahead, arrival in fifteen minutes. Have the girls ready for departure."

Mason stepped up to the deck to join the Boss who had become such a lifelong friend.

"This is it, you're really gonna call it a day here?"

"It's been a long time coming. My body ain't up to this work anymore. I've worked decades to amass enough money to retire to a good life. My luck can only go on so long. Time to get out and move on."

"Same here."

Josiah and Peter stepped into the room.

"All of you? You're going through with this?"

"We get paid what we're owed for this mission, and I'm taking the cash back to the wife and gonna buy a Mk5 Dauntless. Travel the universe and make some money carrying goods as we do it."

"Somehow, I can't picture you living that life."

"It was always about the money. All this shooting and running, it's for you young guys."

"Peter?"

"Got a job lined up, security consultant on Themis II."

"Themis?"

"What of it?"

"Ain't gonna see a lot of action there."

"That's the point. No firearms allowed; lowest violent crime rate for twenty-five years running of any colony known to man. A quiet easy life."

"And you?" he asked the Boss.

"No idea. I figure I'll find a little peaceful world somewhere and kick my feet up."

"Sounds like you're all in for a barrel of laughs."

"Hey, I've had enough for a lifetime."

They turned back to the cockpit glass. Mitchell was coming in for his final descent to the station.

"Ever been here, Max?" asked Mitchell.

"No, you?"

"Yep. It was my last flight before I lost my licence."

"What licence?" asked a voice from behind them.

They all turned; Erin had made her way into the cabin.

"His commercial flight licence," Mason answered.

"Why?”

"Because he's a junky son of a bitch.”

"Hey, f*ck you, Josiah, who saved your ass this morning?"

"That's enough!" yelled Carter, pushing Josiah back. "He's needed to fly this thing, you're not. Another hour, and you'll never have to see each other again, so go and cool off."

He grunted and strode of angrily.

"It's true," said Mitchell. "I had some issues which I have since overcome. Been clean for two years. You can call me Felix."

"She ain't gonna be with us for much longer, so don't get too friendly."

"You're a cold mother, you know that, Max?"

Mason turned to Erin for some support, but she could not help but nod and agree, which brought a smile to Carter's face. Erin looked back, enjoying the moment with Felix. He was six foot, black, and of average build. His head was shaven, and he had a well-kept goatee and moustache. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and managed the controls while talking like a pro.

They felt the landing gear connect with the deck below. The landing pad immediately withdrew into a sealed hangar area where they could see people and vehicles going about their work. A greeting party of three people was waiting for them. They all wore perfectly cut and clean suits, which meant they could only be Arlon Thompson and his people.

Carter led the crew down the ramp with Skylar and Erin kept securely at the rear, until they were satisfied they were both safe and getting paid.

"I trust you were successful?" asked Arlon.

He couldn't see the girl because she was at the back of the crew.

"We got her out unharmed, yes. You have the final payment?"

"Let me see the girl."

Carter turned back and nodded for the crew to do so. He caught sight of her, but showed no emotion at all. They could also see that to him the girl was nothing more than a business transaction. He lifted a datapad from his pocket and tapped a few keys.

"One million credits deposited to your account. Please confirm."

Carter lifted his arm and looked at the display screen attached to his forearm. He already had his account open and smiled as he could see the money present and available.

"Before we finish up. We found another girl held in a cell next to Miss Gutierrez. She promised us her father would compensate us for our efforts in also rescuing her."

"Skylar, this girl, had you met her before your kidnap?"

She shook her head.

"Is she related to anyone you know back home?"

She responded the same.

"Then there is nothing I can do. This operation has already cost Mr Gutierrez substantially, both financially and his reputation amongst his business partners. Our business arrangement is as arranged and complete as soon as you transfer Miss Gutierrez to our custody."

"We risked our lives for this other girl!" Josiah protested loudly.

"And that was both your choice and now your problem."

Josiah went to speak, but Carter lifted his hand to stop him.

"Deal is a deal, Joe."

"F*ck sake," he muttered.

"I told them my father would help her," pleaded Skylar as she staggered towards Thompson.

"These fine men have rescued her, and she is now safe and free.”

"Hey, Thompson?"

He looked up.

"You're a security chief, right?"

"Yes."

"Bet you're paid a damn fortune, and you haven't got a f*cking clue what you're doing. Next time Gutierrez's daughter gets kidnapped, I'll be doubling our price to get her back, based on the fact it'll be your stupid fault," Mason spat.

The verbal assault and being looked at by the scornful eyes of the crew took Arlon Thompson aback. He looked to Carter, as if to ask him to get his man under control, but the Boss only shook his head.

"Come on, let's go," he said to Skylar.

She turned back quickly to Erin. "I'm sorry."

"I'll be fine. You get along now."

Thompson led her away to their ship; a lavish luxury yacht they all knew would have cost more than any of them would likely earn in a lifetime.

"All money, no balls," said Josiah.

"Yep," replied Carter.

He turned and looked at the crew. "So, this is it."

Mason watched Mitchell lower several large crates from the cargo bay.

"You're leaving here and now?"

"I've got a ship waiting for me, and Josiah and Peter if they want to join me. I have been waiting to do this for too long. I wait another day, and there'll be another mission, and I'll never get out."

"There's no changing your mind?" asked Mason.

He shook his head.

"It's been a good run," Liu added.

"Max. Ship's yours now. I wish you every luck. I've already transferred your shares to your accounts. If you ever need me, you all know how to find me."

"Enjoy it, Boss."

"What, Max?"

"Retirement."

Carter looked puzzled. He’d not really thought of it like that before, and it brought some sadness to his face. It was clear he was deeply torn between staying and going, but time was creeping up on them all. Mason reached out his hand to the Boss.

"Been an honour."

He shook his hand as Mitchell pulled a cart over to them loaded with the three old timers’ gear.

"You sure about this now, Boss?"

"Sure as I ever will be, Mitchell. Good luck, to all of you."

It was time. He grabbed hold of the controls of the cart and walked away with the other two at his side. Mason turned around, looking at the crew who were left.

"You don't feel like joining 'em, Wizard?"

"Hey, I ain't that old yet."

"Fair enough. Glad to hear it.”

“What about me?” Erin asked.

“We got you out, and for free I might add. This was your lucky day. The IPA will help you contact your family and get you home.”

“I don’t have a family to go home to.”

“Not my problem.”

“So you are just going to leave me here?”

“What more do you want from us? We saved your life and got you here.”

“And it’ll be worth nothing if you leave me here.”

“What are you running from?”

She was silent for a moment, and almost snapped back an answer, but knew she was in danger of revealing more than she wanted to.

“Look, I have nowhere to go. Everything I owned was taken from me when I was kidnapped. Let me go with you, just as far as a VASI colony.”

He shook his head, looking at the crew. Mitchell shook his head, but Liu gave him pleading eyes that already made him feel guilty for not trying to help.

“Mitchell, how long till we get across the border to USV territories?”

“Probably a few weeks, depends what work comes up, if any.”

“All right, Erin. I know you’re hiding things from us. I am not buying this damsel in distress stuff, but we’ll give you a ride. Can you cook?”

“Sure.”

“Then that’s your new job while you’re aboard. No idle bodies on this ship, not unless they pay their way.”

She scowled at the idea, knowing she could do nothing but accept.

"I can do more, you know."

"I'm sure. You'll have plenty of time to blow our minds with your skills."

They all went silent as she didn't find it funny, and the others only found it awkward.

"All right, what are we still doing here? Let's move out."

Within an hour, they were sitting at a table in the cargo area with their meal; the same table Skylar had sat at that day. The tone was sombre. The mission had been a complete success, and the pay was good, but the retirement of the three original crewmembers was a dark day for them all.

"This ain't half bad," Mason commented.

Liu chuckled. They both knew it was the best meal they'd had in a good while, and Erin glared at him as a result of knowing it.

"So you're the Captain now?" she asked him.

He looked down at his food and nodded as he took a bite.

"That's the way of it. I've been on this boat longer than anyone, even Wizard. Boss handed the reins over to me, but that don't make it any less a home to the rest. You pull your weight, and you can call it home too, but somehow I doubt you're in this for the long haul."

She shrugged her shoulders and didn't respond.

"So you got a last name?"

"No."

"Your parents not love you enough to pass on the family name?"

"My parents are none of your business," she snapped.

So that struck a nerve!

"All right."

"And you, your given name is Max?"

"Yes. So you said you were in USV territory when you were captured, and that you had everything you owned with you. Explain that to us."

Liu coughed and jabbed his elbow into Mason's side with little subtlety. He turned and answered his friend’s reservations.

"No, no. We expect to have a little trust towards those aboard, and I think we deserve to know, after all we have done for this girl."

"Girl? I'm twenty one in a few weeks."

"Okay, well, that's a start. Carry on."

"I was going in search of the last family I have left. My uncle. There was nothing left for me where I was."

"And where was that?"

"Enough for one day. Let the girl rest. Not like we have ever had your life story out," said Liu.

"That's probably because there isn't much to tell."

"With what I saw today, I doubt that," replied Erin.

Three days went by, when the lights began to flicker and power surged through the ship. Mason was asleep at the time and leapt out of bed as it happened. He rushed to the bridge, wearing just his underwear and t-shirt.

"What's going on, Mitchell?"

"We’re having power difficulties. This is internal."

He turned to see Wizard stepping aboard the bridge. His arms and face were filthy from working in the engine bay.

"We gotta problem."

Mason's eyes widened. He could already see he wasn't going to like the news.

"Long story short, we need to put down somewhere with a habitable environment now."

"How long do we have?"

"A minute, an hour, two, it ain't good."

"Christ, how did that happen?" asked Mitchell.

"No goddamn idea. A few things were a little worn no doubt, but nothing would have suggested this."

"Right now, it doesn't matter," Mason said. "Felix, what's the nearest world to here?"

"He tapped his console, searched through, and responded a few seconds later.

"We're in 61 Cigni, so... Krittika..."

"Never heard of it."

"I don't care. If it's got air and a chance of finding components, it'll do."

Liu rushed into the room. "What the hell's going on?"

"Ship's f*cked. We have to get to ground ASAP. Gather the suits together. We may need the air.”

Liu's face turned to fear. Being stuck in space with no power or air was every traveller’s worst fear. Mason knew they all felt as sick in their stomachs as he did.

"How long to reach Krittika?"

"At our current speed about three hours. I don't want to risk using the thrusters anymore. Using the engines for life support is putting enough strain as it is. We need at least a little power to slow our descent."

"We could cut the engines now, use our suits to breathe, and fire them back up when we get there?"

"No, once those engines stop, we aren't likely to get 'em started again without a fair bit of work."

Mason sighed, "So what can we do?"

"Your idea about using the suits isn't a bad one. We could cut all life support systems and reduce the strain on the engines as much as is possible. It might help. Downside is, if the engines do fail en route, we'll already have been using up our oxygen reserves," replied Wizard.

"You remember when I recommended buying that old two-seat fighter a few weeks back. This is exactly the kind of situation we could have done with it," added Felix.

"Yeah, big help."

Erin stepped into the room. She had followed the sounds of the heated discussion and overhead the very end of it.

"How about sending out a distress signal?" she asked.

"From a privately registered small transport in these territories? Anyone who didn't assume we were pirates would be a fool."

"So maybe we pray for a fool?"

"Sorry, princess, we never have that kinda luck. Break out our suits. Everyone needs to be running on their own air in the next five minutes. Felix, shut everything but the essentials down in two. Wizard, you better be with those engines, and make sure they give us everything they have to give."

Fifteen minutes later, all but Wizard were sitting on the bridge in their space suits. The lighting was down to emergency only. They knew there was nothing to do now but wait. For a long time an uncomfortable silence loomed over the bridge until Erin finally broke it.

"This world we're heading for, what's there?"

"Don't look at me, never heard of the place," replied Mason.

"It's a frontier colony. Back to basics," Felix said. "Says here there was a substantial migration there after Balkatide crystal deposits were discovered in several parts of the world."

"They aren't poor then," replied Liu.

"How so?"

"It's used in construction," said Erin.

"And how would you know something like that?"

"Because I read, Max."

Liu laughed, and Felix couldn't help but join in.

"Laugh it up, junkie."

Felix's smile was instantly removed from his face.

"Hey, that shit ain't funny, man. I thought we just left that crap behind."

"Hope so," he replied. "So go on, what is this Balkatide?"

"A key component in creating the power chips in laser guns, as well as ancillary engine components. and all sorts of other things. With the war, they must be booming," Liu replied.

"Well, we should at least get access to some workshop supplies then. They must have transports in and out all the time."

"Hope so," said Andrews.

"And this world is still in Alliance territory?" Erin asked.

"Afraid so. You seem pretty desperate to get out, why?" asked Mason.

"Because any family or friends I could get help from are that side."

"Yeah, but you aren't a combatant. You could hop on any transport out of here."

She shrugged her shoulders. He could see she was uneasy about the Alliance forces getting hold of her, and that made him suspicious. Liu could see he wanted to pry further so intervened.

"Hey, we all have secrets. She doesn't have to tell us."

"Not unless it puts this crew at risk."

Liu turned to her. "Does it?"

"No," she replied sternly, but Mason wasn't convinced.

The conversation continued and moved on to less stressful and more trivial topics to pass the time, until finally a red blinker light flashed on the console to say they were approaching the world. It was not the hive of activity they had been anticipating. Just one ship could be seen leaving the atmosphere. Had they not known otherwise, they would have doubted the world was inhabited at all.

"One of the first few planets to ever be terraformed," said Felix.

"I suppose you've been doing your reading too?" Mason grinned.

"All the money you got from the last job and others you have done, surely you could buy a new ship?"

"The cost of the operations and the logistics either side are much more than you'd think, Erin," Liu explained.

"And anyway, I like this ship," Mason added.

"You hang on to things so dearly, and they have a habit of breaking your heart," muttered Andrews.

"Hey, she's got us through hell more than a few times. It'll take more than an engine malfunction to end the Foxy Lady's days."

"All ladies get old," he replied.

"Well you're a real cherry bastard today, aren't you?" asked Mason.

"This is it. I'm gonna try and reverse thrust the engines to slow our approach."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"I got another idea, but you're not gonna like it."

"Then make the first plan work."

The engines roared to life as they approached the atmosphere, but as they got half way through, there were two loud cracks from the engine bays, and the power dropped off.

"Shit this is gonna be rough!"

They burst through the clouds at double the speed they would normally and were heading nose first for a vast salt lake.

"We ain't got a lot of power!"

"Use the landing thrusters."

He hit the switch and it began to reduce their speed, but not quickly enough.

"Deploy the chutes."

"Not at this speed, they'll tear right off."

"Wizard, we need you!"

Mason turned to see Archibald was already gone.

"Six thousand feet!" yelled Felix.

He had got the nose up a little, but there wasn't enough power to get the lift he needed.

"Five thousand!"

"Come on, Wizard," whispered Mason.

"Four Thousand!"

Mason ripped his helmet off and rushed out of the bridge towards the engine bays. Mitchell’s voice still echoed through the corridors over the tannoy.

"Three thousand!"

He reached the engine bays. Wizard was drilling through into a compression chamber. He lifted up an electro rod and slipped it into the hole, picked up a huge wrench, and threw it to Mason.

"Two thousand!" came Mitchell's voice.

"Hit that with everything you've got!" yelled Andrews.

"What? How can that work?" yelled Mason.

"Just do it!"

"One thousand metres!"

He got a good grip on the wrench that was a metre and a half long and weighed twenty kilos. Mason swung it back and smashed the rod with every ounce of strength he could muster. Sparks burst from it, and a pulse of electricity rushed down the wrench and into Mason's hands. The shock threw him off his feet and three metres away onto his back where he landed hard. Rolling over to his side, he coughed out a little blood as he heard the engines roar with power.

"Five hundred metres, four, three."

They could feel the engines begin to push the tail down and quickly level them off. Mason looked up at Archibald from the deck and prayed. Twenty seconds went by when they both expected to crash and burn at any second.

"We've done it!"

"Just as the call came over the radio, the engines coughed and spluttered and cut out."

"All right, here we go. Hold on to your asses," said Mitchell.

They hit the ground hard, but a lot lighter than they had expected. They bounced just a metre off the ground, landing once again with a jolt, and sliding a hundred metres through dirt and dust.

"This is the pilot speaking. Welcome to Krittika. I hope you had a pleasant flight and appreciate the fact you’re still alive."