Free Galactic Freighter: Scourge of the Deep Space Pirates (Contact) by Kenneth E. Ingle Page A

they'll give both of us cover in case Barnard's Star Navy pokes its nose in."
    "That's good to know, Captain and if the raid goes badly please hurry." Both men laughed, Buck thought it a bit too macabre. "Tenkiller, you must be old Earth native Indian."
    "Count on it, Captain and yes sir, that I am; Chiricahua Apache. And you must be old Earth English."
    "That I am." That brought an easier laugh from both.
    "Tomorrow, I would appreciate spending some time with you. I understand your thinking is a bit unorthodox and I would like to get to know you better."
    Buck wasn't too keen with the description— unorthodox . In his thinking avoiding archaic ideas about what would or could work brought the best results. After all, that was what concerned the Admiral—the inability of his officers to think outside the box. They agreed on a time and Buck suggested Phoenix.
    "Having the foresight to send a ship to Katakan was a stroke of genius. I see what the Admiral means about your being unconventional—unorthodox. If there were any doubters in the room, that little salvo took care of them."
    They shook hands and Buck headed for a launch and on orbit.
    ***
    Early the next morning, the hanger doors closed and the bay pressurized as Buck waited in the loadmaster's office. It took a few seconds to adjust the latching rails to accommodate the Navy shuttle as he made his way to greet the captain.
    "Permission to come aboard," Tenkiller said and saluted the flag and then Buck.
    "Permission granted and welcome aboard Phoenix, Captain."
    Buck took Tenkiller on a tour, specifically showing him the cannons and ramming wedge. "What caused the dust up?" His question concerned talk about an attack on someone.
    "What did you hear?" Tenkiller reputation's remained intact. Close mouthed covered it.
    "Someone rushed High Fleet Admiral Hizerman's aircar."
    Standing at the forward screen, Tenkiller seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the blade protruding from the ship's nose.
    "Which version was right, grapevine, or the newsies?"
    "It was cleansed, both of them. Someone tried to kill the Admiral. His aide, Captain Brader, and driver died."
    "Sorry to hear about the men. The killer?"
    "One of your crewmen, named Finsterman." Tenkiller's voice carried no accusation.
    "Damn. I should have turned Tommy loose on him. The man regularly sent information to the pirates on our headings and I didn't stop him," Buck's voice carried the weight of his actions. "We used that to ambush them—turned it against them." Buck hated to hear of the two men's deaths and wondered what if any effect it might have on the building relationship between him and the Navy.
    "Don't feel too bad. He fooled us. Our intelligence people knew about him, too, and did nothing. The man was a consummate liar."
    "Admiral Hizerman?"
    "He'll be okay. Just a little rattled. The Captain and Sergeant's death hit him hard. He's lost men before and will again."
    Buck didn't think the Captain was being casual or insensitive, but suspected military people reconciled themselves to losing people early on in their careers. Hanging onto it ate at man's soul.
    "Think this will have any effect on our mission?" Buck asked.
    "Admiral Hizerman says no. He was quite emphatic. I talked with him before coming up. He says not to blame yourself. I have no doubt he means it, Captain. He can't afford leaders who feel sorry for themselves."
    Buck let a slow breath escape. "I won't. I've lost people before. Anyone know why the attack and why Admiral Hizerman?"
    "Finsterman's real name is Moline, Arty Moline. The guy is a for-hire assassin. He has contracted with a number of worlds; been in the killing business for years. We think your coming to Iona gave whoever hired him an unplanned opportunity to take out the Admiral. We have our suspicions about his employer but that's all."
    "And?" The reason for the attack eluded him. "You haven't told me all of it, Captain. It makes no sense that Finsterman would