Pyxis

9781483502175

Chapter One

Pranadium, the most precious commodity in the galaxy, has been fought over for centuries. Its use for fusion in hyper interstellar travel is indispensible. During the Pranadium Wars planets rose and fell and alliances were forged and broken. Out of the hundreds inhabited planets in the galaxy, two emerged victorious; Temoc and Naroden. A shaky truce was made and the galaxy was divided in two. The demand for pranadium was still great among the other defeated planets and a new threat emerged shortly thereafter…Marauders.

A small asteroid belt circles a dead moon. On one of the larger asteroids, deep inside a cavern, the starship Pyxis lies in wait for the Temocan freighter Elos. Captain Gene Talbot sits at the helm intently watching the view monitor. Talbot, mid-forties, curly salt and pepper hair, and of medium build rubs his weary eyes. He looks around and finds a small bottle of neon blue liquid. He squirts a couple of drops in each eye and his pupils immediately dilate. The new first mate, Asper, sits at her station going over star charts. She is petite, has short blonde hair, blue eyes, and is in her mid- twenties.

It doesn’t make any damn sense. she states.

What doesn’t? asks Talbot, already knowing what is on her mind.

Why would a Temocan freighter come out of light speed at the edge of an asteroid belt? There’s nothing here. She takes a deep breath and looks at Talbot.

He gets up from the helm and goes over to Asper’s station. That’s what it’s supposed to look like.

I still don’t get it, Cap.

Take a look at your surroundings and tell me what you see.

She takes a closer look at the chart. I see a small asteroid belt that surrounds a dead moon.

I don’t think that moon is as dead as we think.

I’m not reading any life signs. , says Asper. What makes you think that?

Overlay the current radar over the star chart. Asper does as instructed and Talbot points to a narrow swath in the asteroid belt on the holographic star chart. There, right there. See that swath in the asteroid belt?

I see it. , thinking how could she be so blind. It leads to that large crater in the moon.

Exactly., he states, feeling the metrilox tingle around the back of his head. How many swaths have you seen cut out of and asteroid belt?

None., replies Asper.

That’s how we know it was made. It’s just wide enough for a star freighter to fit through. There are only two times a day when the trajectory is just right for them to get in.

Asper shakes her head in disbelief and says, If there is some kind of hidden base there, they must have been alerted to our presence by now.

Maybe no one is home and the Elos has the only key?

Or maybe they are waiting for the Elos to get here so they can spring a two prong attack on us?

Talbot smiles, Ever the optimist.

You mean pragmatist. Asper confidently replies.

Watch her for a few. I’m going down for a bite. You want anything?

"No thanks, Cap. I’m good.

The bridge door opens and Talbot climbs down the ladder into the galley. The galley is the largest living social space on the Pyxis. Forward of the galley is a bulkhead with a steel ladder that leads up to the bridge. Aft lays a hallway where living quarters are located. On the port side of the galley are the standard star ship appliances while on the starboard side is a large table for the crew. At the table sits the chief engineer D. Kexel who is in his early fifties, has a slim build, thick reddish grey hair and the beard to match. Across from the chief sits Sy Lenex, the weapons and cargo handler of Pyxis. He is of medium build, late thirties, tall, and bald. At the end of the table, sipping something out of a small cup, sits the stunning Nunki. She has long dark hair, distant green eyes, a nice shape, and her blood lust matches her beauty. A Jill of many trades, her specific skill set was intelligence.

Captain Talbot comes down the ladder and smiles mischievously at Chief Kexel. Something smells good, Chief.

I saved a plate for you.

Thanks Chief. he says going toward his plate. How’s your lady doing?

There was a hiccup in the reactor but I think she’ll get us out of here quick enough.

Talbot gets his plate off the counter and sits beside Chief Kexel. The tingling in Talbot’s head moves throughout his body and he feels his senses becoming sharper. Lenex impatiently taps his finger on the table and the sound slightly amplifies in Talbot’s ear.

We’ve been sitting here twelve damn hours, Cap., states Lenex. Where’s the Elos?

Patience, she’ll be here. Talbot replies.

How do you know the information was good? Lenex asks while Nunki sips her drink and smirks. What’s so damn funny, Nunki?

You are. she replies.

What?! shouts Lenex.

I got the information. Nunki calmly replies.

From where?

Nunki slowly sips her drink. From the mistress of a Temocan ambassador.

How? asks Kexel.

I had the mistress’s ten year old daughter ransomed for the information.

Then where the hell is the Elos? asks Lenex.

The ambassador only had a twenty four hour window of arrival. Talbot replies.

Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Nunki calmly sips her drink and answers, Because I like to see you sweat.

Talbot and Kexel start to chuckle and Lenex slams his fist on the table. Go fuck…!

The intercom begins to crackle as Asper’s voice comes on. We have a ship that just came out of light speed! It looks like the Elos!

Stations people! , Talbot orders. We all know our jobs so let’s get to it! Talbot rushes up to the bridge as Nunki follows behind. Chief Kexel runs to the engine room and Lenex goes to the cargo bay and stands ready at the winch.

Aboard the bridge of the Temocan freighter Elos, Captain Shullen watches the narrow swath in the asteroid belt get larger in his view monitor. First officer Denom approaches the treacherous entrance.

Be very careful, First Officer Denom, instructs Captain Shullen. You don’t want to bump this volatile cargo into anything.

Yes, sir.

Aboard the Pyxis, Captain Talbot sits at the helm, Asper is checking the sensors, and Nunki gently taps her finger on the weapons console.

The Elos is 1500 meters from the opening and closing. Asper states, her heart starting to flutter.

Are you feeling restless, Nunki? asks Talbot.

A little.she replies.

1200 meters from opening.

What happened to that ten year old girl you had ransomed for this information? he asks?

There was no ten year old girl. Nunki replies. The ambassador’s mistress made him believe she had a daughter. A male Temocan’s lust and his judgment are often in conflict.

900 meters. states Asper.

And it is written in some cultures the female is the weaker sex. he says.

It must have been written by a male. retorts Nunki.

Talbot smiles, Indeed. He flips on the on board ship communicator. Ready to go, Chief?

Set and ready, Cap. Kexel replies, monitoring the fusion reactor in the engine room.

How are we doing Lenex?

Grapplers are ready to go, Cap., answers Lenex in the cargo bay. Flak cannons are loaded if you need them.

400 meters. states Asper.

Talbot checks the pilot control sensors. Asper, you let me know when the Elos gets 200 meters inside that swath.

Understood.

Nunki, as soon as we take off we are going to have to get in behind the Elos. Some of those Temocan freighters have rear defenses that can activate quick. Make sure you take them out quicker. instructs Talbot.

They won’t know what hit them.

150 meters. states Asper.

Stand by, everybody. Talbot says.

Okay, they are going in.

Light off the reactor, Chief. orders Talbot.

The Pyxis hovers out of the canyon of the asteroid and takes off. She comes around to the opening of the swath right behind the unsuspecting Elos.

Shields up, Asper.

Asper activates the shields. Shields up, Cap.

Nunki targets the weapons. Firing.The Pyxis fires two laser blasts. One hits below the bridge of the Elos and the other blast hits the rear defense cannons towards the stern of the craft. Their weapons and main propulsion systems are down.

Good shooting, Nunki.

They’re hailing us. says Asper.

Put it on screen, Asper. he says.

Asper cuts on the viewer and Captain Shullen appears. He is in his late fifties, has sandy grey hair, and a medium build. You marauder scum, we are a Temocan flagged vessel in Temocan space!

That will be enough right there! points Talbot. Put your ego away and take a good look at your situation. Your weapons and main propulsion systems are down.

Captain Shullen looks down at his sensors for a moment. When he looks up Talbot can see the look of realization on his face and the humility that quickly follows. What is it you want?

Dump your pranadium cargo now! orders Talbot.

Okay, fine. pleads Captain Shullen, Just please give us a little time to check the damage to our other systems.

Nunki says under her breath, He’s stalling.

Don’t bother stalling. says Talbot. We have flak cannons aimed at your life support systems. Dump your cargo now!"

Captain Shullen nods in agreement and within a few seconds Talbot sees the cargo doors open from the top of the ship on the viewer.

It’ll take at least sixty seconds to load the pranadium and have it lifted up where you can get to It., says Captain Shullen.

You have sixty seconds. No tricks or I’ll send a flak shell right through your bridge. responds Talbot.

Understood. Captain Shullen addresses his crew. Have the pranadium loaded on the cargo platform and sent up immediately!

Asper looks over her scanner. I’m detecting activity in the cargo bay.

Talbot cuts on the ships communicator. You’re up, Lenex.

Copy that. responds Lenex.

The rear cargo doors of the Pyxis open as she turns 180 degrees. Inside the cargo bay, twenty meters behind the cargo bay door, on the port and starboard side, was a launcher which fired magnetized grappling hooks. Ten meters behind the launchers was a large wench with a cable. Above the wench, on a catwalk, was the control room for the wench. Lenex looks out the cargo bay door intently on the Elos from the control room. The air shield from the open cargo bay door starts to flicker yellow. Chief, the air shield is starting to flicker.

Stand by, I’ll check. responds Chief Kexel.

Lenex wipes a bead of stinging sweat out of his eye. Getting sucked out in the cold ass vacuum of space is not how I pictured my day.

You complain more than my third wife. In the engine room Kexel rushes to the air shield generator aft of the reactor. He notices three flickering lights on top. That isn’t good. he says as he always prone to talk to himself. Kexel taps the control panel on the generator and the flickering lights become dim. He picks up a large tool and hits the generator. The lights quickly brighten up. Lenex comes on the intercom. I think that’s got it, Chief.

Back on the bridge Asper kills the sound on the view monitor and continues to monitor the scanners while Nunki and Talbot calmly watch Captain Shullen.

Cut the chatter, guys. Talbot says over the ship’s intercom. Lenex as soon as that platform gets up and you can get a clear shot you take it.

Copy that.

The cargo platform is starting to rise. says Asper. On the Elos a large pranadium container (twice the size of a standard shipping container) on the platform slowly starts to rise. The top of the container becomes visible to the crew on the Pyxis. It rises about three quarters of the way up out of the top of the Elos and stops. "The platform has stopped