New Neighbors
Chapter 15
In spite of what Amy had told them, Kate and Jones knew that the PDF would continue to be as much trouble as the Iberians, maybe more. But right now they had to get ready for the new settlers. The primary planet was in good shape, but the second planet would need much work. Especially since the valley where Blythe was located had to be off limits. They did not want anyone but the special team going into that valley. There were other valleys and plains areas on the planet for the settlers to start out in though.
Kate had just sat down to breakfast when the alert sounded. As she entered the launch area she took note that Turrini was the one on primary patrol today, at least Toddus wasn't making first contact again. Kate glanced at the contact report as soon as she was at her station. The problem was two Iberian ships, Turrini was already on his way. The alert had been sent by the perimeter drones. Kate also noticed that Jones was the backup this time. Just then the drones opened fire on the ships, but the weapons were not being very effective. The missiles would be the next used. Kate scrambled the ready fighters for the planet.
Just as the last fighter took off Jones and Turrini opened fire with plasma cannons and hyper-missiles. The shields of the Iberian ships were stronger than before and the missiles were having a hard time getting through. This wasn't good. One of the Iberian ships took out several drones with one shot. Things were going to get very interesting this time, Kate thought. Jones reported that he had multiple jump points forming behind the Iberians, ten PDF ships came through the jump points and opened fire on the Iberians with standard weapons, and they were hitting!
As Kate watched the tactical display, she saw their own fighters appearing and heading towards the Iberians. But the fighters seemed to come to a stop as they approached the ships. The fighters were cloaked and were just barely moving when suddenly missiles were everywhere and the Iberian ships were taking hits, big hits. First one then the other Iberian ship exploded. The fighters were reporting several life pods had been ejected and were making for the closest planetoid. That particular planetoid was nothing but rock, no atmosphere, gravity .25 of Earth's, and had a surface temperature that was near zero Kelvin. Any pods that made it there would only last as long as their life support held out. Kate brought half of the fighters she had launched back to base.
Jones was hailed by the lead PDF ship and asked for permission to enter the system. Jones was curious as to why such a large force was here and granted permission for entry. As the ships came forward Jones noticed that only five had power, the other five were being towed. Jones asked the lead ship for an explanation but one was not forthcoming. This made Jones nervous. He contacted Turrini and Kate on a private channel and advised them to be prepared for trouble, he also sent a message to Amy and the Mars base about the ships.
Once the ships were close to the planet the leader of the PDF ships requested permission for himself to come aboard Jones's ship and explain everything in person, permission was granted. When the PDF captain arrived he was being escorted to Jones's ready room when the weapons scanner went off. The captain was not happy to see five people with weapons pointed at him. He started to yell when he was told that weapons were not allowed without the permission of the Captain Jones. When five people stepped out of the shuttle, the ready fighters rose up and pointed their guns at them, and bells started sounding. Soon more troops came into the hanger and they were in full battle armor. The six men were searched and all weapons removed by the time Jones came into the hanger.
"Well captain, it seems you were up to something not quiet honest. You had the sense to ask permission to enter the system and to come onboard to talk with me. But you didn't have the sense to leave your weapons and men behind. All of you ships are targeted as we speak and the least little thing could result in them being blown apart. Would you like to explain your actions to me or to the Admiral?" Jones stated calmly.
"How was I to know that weapons weren't allowed? Nothing was said about that. And how dare your security people point weapons at me. My men only came out to protect me." the captain shouted back.
"What would have happened if I came onboard your ship with hidden weapons and hidden men? Would you have been comfortable knowing I was armed, as were my men? I think not. You and your crew would have reacted the same way. It is a common courtesy where I come from to not bring weapons to a conference, not to mention armed men. If the men had exited with you then we would have known they were your escort. But when they come running out of your shuttle with weapons drawn then it looks like an attack on my ship. Now I'll ask you once more for an explanation of your being here and your actions." Jones replied, still calm sounding.
The captain made a mistake, he lunged at Jones. He never made it to Jones, at least not on his feet. Once he had caught his breath, the captain explained that he had intended to take Jones as a prisoner so that his ships could make use of the repair station that he had heard about. Now they would have to do it the hard way. With that the captain pushed a button on his belt and grinned. When Jones didn't react the captain started pushing the button furiously. Jones just stood there and smiled. Finally Jones told the captain that all means of communication had been jammed as soon as the weapons alarm went off. Jones then looked at his chief of security and told him that he guessed that they had just acquired 10 more ships and to make arrangements to take control of them as soon as possible. The chief just said "Yes Sir" then removed the device from the captain's belt.
It took about two hours for the ships to be taken control of, only five were manned. The other five were wrecks and could not even put out enough power to support life without an environmental suit. The five manned ships weren't in much better shape. The captain had been taken to the surface to be detained and questioned further. It finally came out that these weren't PDF ships, they were stolen from the PDF in the past month. Jones brought Amy up to date of what had been found out and asked her what she wanted done with the ships and the crews. Amy asked if there was room in the valley for the men and if the ships could be used for parts before calling the PDF to come get them. When the captain was told he, and his men, would be put in with Blythe, he went white as a sheet.
"You are the one that captured Blythe and you let him live? That man is pure evil. He'd kill his own mother if it suited him. You can't put me in with him. That would be the same as shooting me and leaving me to die slowly on some dessert planet." the captain shouted.
Toddus came into the room at that time. He took one look at the captain and started laughing. After he got control of himself, Toddus explained that this captain was exiled by Blythe a year ago for not sharing his mate with Blythe. Toddus talked with the captain for a few minutes and asked who was with him. Afterwards he told Jones that these men were not really bad just a result of the abuse that Blythe had inflicted. Toddus told Jones, and now Kate, that given the chance, most of the men would gladly join up with them as he had done.
Jones, Kate, and Toddus left the captain alone and went to talk. Toddus repeated his assurance that the majority of the crews would join, he even suggested asking Lucas's opinion. When Lucas arrived he told Jones and Kate that 99% of the crews would join if he told them to do so. The only problem would be if they found out where Blythe was, then they would all try to kill the man. The four of them went back in to talk with the captain who was happy to see Lucas. After talking for a short while, the captain looked Jones straight in the eye and said he was sorry for upsetting him. Jones just told him it took a big man to admit he had made a major mistake and then shook the captain's hand. Jones now had 250 more crew members and at least five more ships. They would have to see what shape the "wrecks" were really in.