Free Rebellion of Stars (Starship Blackbeard Book 4) by Michael Wallace Page B

would be easily repaired, but that was one captain who wouldn’t be enjoying his mercenary bonus.
    A subspace had been waiting for Drake when the battle ended. It came from a source in the fleet, one who had already passed Drake valuable information on two other occasions. Dreadnought had jumped into the Gryphon Shoals. That was not the course for Saxony. It would, however, bring Dreadnought toward Hot Barsa.
    Rutherford came on the viewscreen as the fleet reorganized several hundred thousand miles out from Hot Barsa. His face was flushed.
    “Lindsell, hah! Cocky shopkeeper’s son. Did you see him tuck his tail and run? That was a beautiful thing.”
    Drake would have smiled to see his old friend abandon his decorum. And he was feeling some of the same. They’d fought an able opponent and thrashed him. But the truth was that Lindsell had escaped with his forces intact. Those two destroyers were still maneuverable and keeping up with the enemy fleet as it made for Cold Barsa, some fifty million miles farther out from the sun. Wait until Lindsell joined Admiral Malthorne.
    “Your pirates did well enough,” Rutherford added. His tone was grudging. “I expected them to cut and run, but they went right up against those orbital fortresses. Of course, it helps matters that the forts offered such a feeble defense. The fools were confused, I dare say. Didn’t know if they should defend themselves or defend the planet.”
    Yes, that. Drake had now had a chance to think, and he doubted Rutherford’s explanation held. This was the second attempt at Hot Barsa. Admiral Malthorne was the largest landowner and slaver on the planet by far. He knew they had the antidote. Surely, he knew by now why the rebels were so keen to get a team planetside, and had ordered the most vigorous possible defense to prevent it from happening.
    “Does this mean you trust Isabel Vargus at last?” Drake asked.
    “I trust her far enough not to abscond with our plans and join the enemy. I will concede that much.”
    “How about our silver? Would she abscond with that?”
    Rutherford narrowed his eyes. “How do you mean?”
    “Because I mean to send the mercenary fleet back to San Pablo with our remaining coin.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “If the mercenaries leave now, they have time for a quick trip to San Pablo and back. Buy as many arms as we can afford. Hire on a couple of merchant galleons if we can.”
    “We’ll need more than our remaining coin to pay for all of that,” Rutherford said. “Might have to see if your friends at the yards will offer the goods on credit.”
    “Credit is probably necessary,” Drake agreed.
    HMS Melbourne may or may not be finished with her repairs by the time Vargus arrived. If not, Drake could offer the cruiser as collateral. If she were ready, he’d face the small matter of fitting her with a crew. Might not be possible in such a short time.
    “I am not sure it is necessary,” Rutherford said. “We are well set for arms already. And why wouldn’t we accompany the mercenaries if there’s time for a round trip?”
    “Because you and I are going to attack those orbital fortresses. This time, we’ll go in with all guns blazing.”
    Rutherford’s frown deepened. “That little scrape was one thing. A full-on assault is another matter entirely. What makes you think they won’t hit us with all their firepower this time around?”
    “It’s not a question of won’t ,” Drake said. “It’s a question of can’t .”
     
     

Chapter Nine
    The first torpedo boat missed Tolvern’s away pod with its guns. It was past them in a blink, tossing the pod in its superheated wake. A second boat came in, guns flaring. Most of the bullets zipped harmlessly past, but at least one slammed into them. It punctured the pod.
    Something splattered Tolvern’s face. Brockett screamed. She wiped away the splatter, thinking it was liquefied science officer, but was relieved to find it was meat sauce. The bullet had hit a crate