A Pirate's Tale: The Only Solution Is Retribution (28 page)

T
wo days later, the Thermopylae arrived and took the large shuttle into the landing bay.  Leonidas was waiting and Carl exited first as Embree shutdown the shuttle’s systems.  “Captain, this box they installed in the shuttle is armored with battleship grade armor.  I was told by the engineers that any attempt to examine what’s inside the armor would result in an immediate explosion.”

“Did you learn anything about it?”

“Not really.  They moved it in and bolted it to the deck.  It carries its own power supply so there wasn’t much to see.  There was one item I missed that Embree discovered while the Romanov Engineers installed it.  The box they installed emits one of two frequencies constantly.  One frequency is emitted when it’s in send mode and a different frequency is used when it’s in receive mode.”

“How did he see it and you didn’t?”

“I suspect he discovered it because he’s our communications expert and has forgotten more about electronic frequencies than I’ve ever known.  The two frequencies are far off the range of any communications channel I’ve ever seen.  I suspect they’d be pretty much invisible to anyone using normal scanning equipment.  My scanners did not detect them.”

Embree emerged from the shuttle and Leonidas looked at him, “Em, how did you detect those frequencies?”

“I leaned against the box while the Romanov Engineers installed it.  I felt a small vibration on the surface of the box.”

Leo looked at Carl and he shook his head, “I placed my hand on the box and I didn’t feel anything.”

Leo looked back at Embree and saw him shrug, “Captain, I could feel it!”

“Ok, let’s assume that it is vibrating; why did you assume it’s a communication frequency and not a mechanical device that has a low frequency hum?” Leo asked.

“Captain, everything that vibrates produces a frequency.  Even mechanical devices that have a humming sound caused by a motor emit a frequency vibration that can be detected.  When my scanner didn’t detect a frequency coming from the box, I pulled out a device I developed when we were fighting for the Legion to track frequencies and even it turned up nothing.”  Leo nodded for him to continue.  “Well, then it became the principle of the darn thing and, as you know, I do love a challenge.  I made some adjustments to my device and kept adjusting it until it began reading the two frequencies.  I detected both frequencies while the Romanov Engineers were testing the module and switching between them.  They are way off the normal spectrum of communication frequencies but it’s clear they are making contact with something outside the shuttle.”

“Why would someone use those frequencies, Embree?”

“Captain, they would have to be something entirely new that the device requires to operate or they are used to prevent anyone from detecting the presence of that box.”

“Captain, the credits are inside the box,” Carl interrupted.

Embree smiled, “They’re in large denomination credits but they still filled up the box.”

“Carl, I want you to get the crew to start packaging the credits into bundles that will fit in a back pack.”

“Sir, they will fill every backpack we have on board and then some.”

Leo thought about it and said, “Then put them in large boxes that can be carried off the shuttle.”

“What do you intend to do with them, Captain?” Carl asked.

“When we arrive at Tortuga, I’m going to deliver them to one of the major banks and ask for them to be deposited.”

“Do you think they’ll be safe in a Tortuga Bank?” Embree asked.

“Embree, they’ll be safer there than on our ship.  I don’t want pirates thinking they can follow us if we leave the planet and take what we have on board.  If we move it to a bank, they’ll realize its wasted effort to go after my ship.”

“Until you decide to withdraw it,” Carl added.

“We probably won’t do that.  We’ll use those funds on Tortuga as much as we can.” 

Carl nodded and went to the crewmen gathered in the landing bay and shouted, “Go and take some large boxes out of storage and let’s start packing.”  Everyone stared at him and Carl snapped, “ARE YOUR FEET FROZEN TO THE DECK!?!  GET MOVING NOW!”  The crew immediately started moving toward the storage lockers.

Leo looked at Embree, “I need you to do some research and determine which bank on Tortuga has the largest deposits.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Leo lifted his communicator, “Barney, start moving us toward the Tortuga filament intersection and set a course to the planet.”  Leo was thankful he had moved the ship close to the Tortuga filament where the installation of the box was done.  He had deliberately moved it closer anticipating another call from the Romanovs.  It should take just a few hours to arrive at the intersection and several more to arrive at the planet.

Leo yelled at Embree as he left the landing bay, “Once you make that determination, I want you to be prepared to connect me with the bank when I arrive on the bridge.”  Embree nodded as he disappeared from the landing bay.  He looked at Carl, “Was taking Embree with you a good idea?”

Carl turned around and nodded, “Sir, he’s pretty incredible in his understanding of electronics and communication frequencies.  I never would have found those two frequencies.  I honestly don’t know if they represent anything important but it’s good to know they’re there.  I’m pretty certain we can be tracked as long as that box and the shuttle is on the Thermopylae.”

“Thanks, Carl.  Let me know when everything is packed up.  We’re going to drop the shuttle off the Tortuga filament before we arrive on the planet.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Leo left for the bridge and Embree looked up from his console as he sat in his command chair, “Sir, the First Bank of Tortuga is the largest bank and holds the most assets.”

“Contact them and request that the main officer speak with me.”

“That individual might be difficult to reach, Sir.”

“Tell him there are fifteen million reasons why he should interrupt his busy schedule.”

Embree smiled and began pushing buttons on his panel.  Fifteen minutes later, a Tortugan appeared on Leo’s console’s display.  Leo tried hard not to smile but the being looked very much like a turtle without a shell.  It also spoke in a very deliberate voice, like a professor thinking every sentence through before saying it, “Uhhh…Captain…I understand from…your subordinate…that you wish to make a…sizable deposit into my…care.”

“I do.”

“And…he says it…is about…fifteen million…Unity Credits?”

“It is.”

“And…you contacted me…because?”

“I have never come to Tortuga in the past and I understand that my ship might be stopped by your Traffic Controller to be inspected.  I do not wish to put my funds into jeopardy by having that happen.”

“Uhhhh…what makes you…believe that…your ship would be…in danger?”

“Because until a new vessel has made a deposit and established residency on Tortuga, it is open for anyone on the planet to attack until residency is established.  I’ve been told that you can remove those obstacles before I arrive at your planet.”

“It is possible that…they could be removed…but it comes with a fee for me to assist…in making it happen.” The bank official said as it leaned back in its chair.

“How much?”

“A hundred…thousand…non-refundable…Unity Credits paid in advance.  Another fifty thousand…Unity Credits are required once the…obstacles…are removed and…residency established.”

“Do you accept direct transfers?”

“I…do.”

“I’m going to give you an account number and request you transfer a hundred fifty thousand credits to your establishment immediately.”

Leo would have never believed that a Tortugan’s face was capable of smiling with their hard shelled beaks but discovered he was wrong.  It smiled by moving its tongue from one side of its face to the other.  “That would be quite satisfactory, Captain!  It’s rare to have someone arrive with your expertise at getting things done.”

Leo knew it had to be rare to have a pirate show up with enough wealth to do it.  He did notice that there was no hesitation in the Tortugan’s speech with that statement.  Leo entered the account number into his communicator and sent it.  The Tortugan looked away from the display and then turned back to him, “What is…the name of your…vessel…how many crew serve on it…and who commands…it?”

“It is named the Thermopylae, there are twenty crewmen on board, and Leonidas Alexander is in command.”

“I will notify records…that your ship is now registered…as a resident and…you will be afforded…every benefit and right…our planet offers.”

“I would like to send a shuttle down to deliver my deposit.  When may I come to make the delivery?”

The Bank Officer smiled again, “You are cleared by Tortugan Traffic Control to deliver your deposit immediately upon arrival.  I will provide the security at my bank to insure your delivery is not in jeopardy when you arrive.”

Leo now understood, without doubt, that a smile straightened the Tortugan’s speech right up.  “We’ll arrive in about six hours and I’ll immediately move my vessel into orbit and send the shuttle carrying my deposit down to your establishment as soon as we’re parked.”

“I’ve notified Traffic…and the coordinates for you to park your vessel…will appear on your panel…now!” the bank official said.  “Do you require living…accommodations…for yourself and your crew?” the Tortugan asked with its head leaning toward the display in anticipation.

“Do you offer quarters for new arrivals?”

“We do…have a selection of various…quarters based on…how much you wish…to pay.”

“What would you recommend?”

“We have a building…suitable for yourself and…your crew on the…outskirts of the city…for a reasonable rent.”

“How much?”

“Eight thousand credits…a month.”

“Do you have anything closer to the center of the city?” Leonidas asked.

The Official’s tongue went across his face again, “We have a luxury building on the river in the center of the city that requires twenty thousand a month.”

“I’m transferring another quarter of a million Unity Credits to you immediately.  That should pay for the first year, wouldn’t it?”

Leonidas wondered if the Tortugan’s tongue was ever going to stop moving across his face.  After a minute the Official said, “It is now your quarters and will be awaiting the arrival of your ship to assume occupancy.”

“Thank you for your excellent service and I will shuttle my crew to their new home once we complete the delivery of my deposit.”

“That would be excellent.  I am also going to send you a copy of the laws and regulations that govern your behavior while on Tortuga.  You should go over them before you arrive to avoid making a mistake and possibly having your residency rescinded.”

Leo saw the Tortugan’s tongue continue moving across its face and knew he had been taken but didn’t care.  This should make a grand entrance into the pirate community and get them noticed.  He was going to need that to get close to Blakely.  “Thank you and I will go over the regulations on the way to Tortuga.”

The display went dark and Leo looked at Barney, “Move the ship in to those parking coordinates above the planet as soon as we arrive at Tortuga.  Call me when you leave the intersection.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Leo looked at Embree, “When the regulations arrive, I want you to go through them thoroughly and provide me a summary of what I need to know.”

“Yes, Captain.”  Leo smiled, Embree was the fastest reader he had ever known.  He would probably have the document read before it completed downloading.  He went to his quarters and began changing his clothes.  He had spent a lot of time thinking about what he would wear on Tortuga.  Every Captain dressed to be noticed and the more flamboyant the look the better.  He looked at the tri-corner hat with a large feather coming out of the hat band and then picked up what would set him apart from all the others.  It had cost him a lot, but the ancient Spartan Breast Plate was worth every credit.  He had polished it until it shined and it fit him perfectly.  It was heavy but his enhanced muscles didn’t even notice it.  He thought about a Spartan Helmet but decided that was taking it a bit too far.  He put on black shirt under the armor and then put the tri-cornered hat on.  He looked at himself in the mirror and knew Victoria and Desiree would laugh at his appearance…but he liked it. 

He undressed and smiled as he went to his bed and closed his eyes.  He thought about capturing John Blakely.  He smiled, this would be good for business.  He wished Desiree was here to help in the planning.  He continued smiling as he thought about her being here beside him.  Then, he thought about Ana.  Either of them was a good image to think about.  He closed his eyes and slept.

• • •

Leonidas’ communicator started vibrating and he pressed the connect button, “Yes!”

Barney appeared, “Captain, we’ve left the intersection and are now inside Tortugan Traffic Control.  Eight ships began moving toward us but have been ordered away by Control.  Embree says that there has been a high level of communication traffic once our ship’s name became known.”

“That’s understandable; we did have a run in with some of the locals.”

“Embree tells me that we cannot have any of the ship’s weapons energized inside a million mile diameter from the planet.  The fee for violating that ordinance is ten thousand credits the first time, a hundred thousand the second, and expulsion from the planet for a third offense.”

“Shut the blasters down, Barney.  However, make sure the missile batteries are active.  The launching ports cannot be seen from outside the ship and they do not radiate energy that could be detected.”

“Yes, Captain.  I’ve already issued the orders.  We should arrive in less than another hour and a half.”

“Have the boxes of credits been packed in the shuttle?”

“Yes, and there are ten members of the crew that have been assigned to go with you to make the delivery.”

“Who are they?”

“The blaster crews, Captain.  I’m keeping the missile teams at their stations.”

“That’s a good plan, Barney.  I’ll be up in a few minutes.”  Leonidas stood up and went to the bathing compartment.  He had grown his hair long over the previous six months and he wanted to make sure his moustache and hair were clean.  You never get another chance to make a first impression; he wanted to make sure it would be a good one.  He pressed the ship’s intercom button on the wall and said, “All crew members will change into the clothes they’ve chosen to wear on Tortuga.  You should also pack a bag to take with you to our new living accommodations after we make the deposit.  We’re here and now the hard work begins.  Remember to avoid saying anything that might cause a hole in our cover story.”  Leo pressed the button turning off the intercom and went to cleanup.