Free The Terran Privateer by Glynn Stewart Page A

she should say, then shook her head.
    “Thank you,” she told them. “We will go home. We will save Earth. I promise you.”
     
    #
     
    The files from Dark Eye and Orbit One opened instantly to Annette’s codes. They were little more than direct data dumps, sensor data organized by date. There was some analysis in the Orbit One file, but nothing that leapt out as “the captain must read this now.”
    She forwarded those files to Rolfson for his team to review. Tornado had some truly amazing computer support, which, combined with the team her tactical officer had combed from the best of the UESF, should allow him to pull something useful from the data.
    Annette intentionally left the data dump from Nova Industries for last. If anyone was going to include any surprises for her, it would be Elon Casimir. She wasn’t surprised in the slightest that the moment she typed in her old Nova Industries security code, her screen promptly faded into a video.
    The long-haired chubby face of her former employer faced the screen from a room she recognized as his office in the BugWorks facility.
    “As I record this message, the A!Tol fleet has just sent their ultimatum,” he began. Unlike any of Annette’s crew, he nailed the tongue click that was the closest any human could come to the beak snap in the middle of the word.
    “You are receiving this message because Villeneuve has ordered you to flee the system and raid enemy shipping. The order hasn’t been given as I sit here, but these are the circumstances that call for that option.
    “I must apologize, Annette. While Admiral Villeneuve and I had discussed Case Privateer, we never raised it with you. We hoped to have more time. Hoped that we’d have all four XC ships fully equipped and deployed at least, and that you wouldn’t be the only Captain we’d be sending off into the deep void.”
    Casimir stood, the camera following him as he crossed the un-appointed office to a window looking out over the ring of the station. His office was in one of several “towers” originally built to expand working space on the spinning station. The station no longer rotated, but the towers made for a useful separation from the main ring.
    “I know…I knew more than I told even you, let alone Villeneuve,” he confessed. “ Of Course We’re Coming Back was only one of three survey ships. Hidden Eyes of Terra was…lost. Captured by the A!Tol, I believe. Oaths of Secrecy and Of Course We’re Coming Back scouted over a dozen systems and placed scanners in all of them.
    “ Oaths of Secrecy completed a sweep to pick up all of the data they’d acquired. Both the raw data and my people’s assessment are included. There are several systems and apparent trade routes that will be of value to your mission.
    “ Of Course We’re Coming Back will be leaving shortly after you do, with whatever she can record of the final battle. Oaths of Secrecy is better able to hide herself. She’s going to hide in-system and try and learn what she can of how these A!Tol implement their conquest.”
    He shook his head.
    “Both of their Captains have been advised to place themselves at your disposal,” he told her. “They’re not warships, barely even useful as transports, but that’s two hulls you won’t have any other way. Of Course now has an interface drive. Oaths has the parts aboard to install one but is currently using ion thrusters for stealth.
    “If we’d had more time, you’d have been pulled into the Case Privateer preparations inevitably just by having a hyperspace-capable ship. We’ve been using the two we have to place caches of supplies—munitions, fuel, food—in several systems. The largest is in Alpha Centauri and is where the survey ships are expected to meet you.”
    Casimir stepped back to his desk, looking at the camera and appearing far older than his limited years as he appeared to consider saying something.
    “I’ve known about the A!Tol Imperium for sixteen months,” he