Chapter Fifteen
The Merimore
Pax checked the log and saw that Vivra and Yon had just left the Garna. He kept his Minky running so he could track when 806 entered the atmosphere and landed. He’d sent a message to Yon when he left to notify him immediately if he needed backup. It was in the back of Pax’s mind to do so anyway, but he wasn’t sure if that was instinct or his concern and overprotection of a female crewmate.
He was protective of all his crew, but he had a soft spot for females and their suffering. He’d had to endure watching and hearing what the bastards on the Angny planet did to the so-called fairer sex that they took prisoner.
Vivra’s sweet scent had rubbed off on his clothes. Her essence was drawing out new habits. Unexplainable ones. He didn’t wash the clothes, just left them on a chair so he could smell her when he returned from his shift.
Her smell would keep him grounded. Images of slipping between her luscious thighs played on a loop in the back of his mind. They didn’t take up his conscious thoughts, but they were there like familiar old friends. Pax had a team to run and protect.
The door to his office opened, and Sci walked in. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. I’ve decided you’re coming with me down to Brica. You can thank me later for being so thoughtful. I also thought you might want to meet my new team.” He stuffed his pad into his pocket, and they both left, headed to the training room at the other end of the level.
Once inside, he saw all sixty-one new members of his crew.
“All right, listen up. If you are not with weapons and tactical response, then you need to leave the training room right now,” Pax called out. He waited and saw only two people leave. As they left, he linked to the Minky screens in the room and began his debrief. “Petty officers, direct your attention to the screens. We received a distress call from the Cenlura mine on Brica. See the red dot on the map?” He tapped the pad, and another red dot appeared. “This is the current location of a ship that unlawfully entered the planet’s atmosphere while we were in transit. As you can tell, it’s about thirty miles away from the Cenlura mine. And since An-Kor, the captain of the Merimore, has been so discourteous and has ignored our pings and attempts to find out why he’s still on a restricted planet, we’ve been given permission to seize the ship and detain him, taking anything he may have gathered from Brica.”
Pax touched the screen again, and a blue dot appeared on the far upper left side of the map. “We also have two crew members headed here. They are picking up some necessary items for the ship. Any questions so far?”
All eyes turned to him. No one spoke or asked any questions. Pax gave them a few seconds and then decided to continue on with his verbal debrief.
“We will have two ships, two teams. Team one will go to the Cenlura mine in galleon 502. That team will sweep the mine, gather any intel you can, take out any hostiles…you know the drill. Team two will head to the Merimore in galleon 817 and seize and capture the ship and crew. So,”—he scanned his team that had spread out in a half arc around him—“who wants to investigate the plundered mine, and who wants to play pirate crush?”
Sci turned to him. “I’m impressed with your debriefing style.”
“It’s a gift,” he responded.
Some of the crew members looked at the screen. Some looked at him. One, the female cyborg, had moved to the front and was eyeing Sci. Pax remembered that her name was Shady.
She was a cyborg, and Pax knew that Sci couldn’t hear their thoughts, but maybe she didn’t know that. “Is there a problem, Shady?”
Shady answered, “He’s a Cerebral. An OutWorlder not allowed in Federation space let alone walking freely about on a Federation ship. As a weapons and tactical response expert, it is ill-advised to inform such a person of our mission.”
Pax slid the Minky pad into his pocket and addressed the room. “Does anyone else feel this way?”
A few hands shot up, all young cyborgs.
All right, then. “Sci is married to our primary flight pilot. He is a registered spouse and archiver. This information is known and approved by the council admirals.” Pax scanned the males and females, making sure to give Shady a pointed look. “He has proven to be an asset in other missions, and I have personally asked him to join this one.”
Shady didn’t respond. But Pax wasn’t sure if she was even listening since several red words flew across her irises. The crimson letters were a signature feature on Federation cyborgs.
Holding out his arms, he ended with, “And anyone who can’t accept my word or his presence may excuse themselves now and head to the galley to enjoy your last meal on the Garna. Because I will not tolerate anyone who can’t trust me or follow my orders. Your transfer will be swift.”
When the red lettering stopped flying across Shady’s eyes, she asked. “I’ll be on whatever team the Cerebral is on.”
“Well, then I guess you’re with me on team two.” Unfortunately, he had planned to have her lead team one. He would have to find another leader in the next few minutes. “Hands up to all those who want to be on team one?”
Shady asked, “How far does his telepathy reach?” Pax was about to point out that now was not the time for those details. He needed to round up members for a team one. But Sci answered.
“Fifty miles,” Sci replied in an unemotional tone.
Shady didn’t stop there. “Telekinesis range?”
“Same.”
“Do you get mental fatigue after a certain amount of time when engaged in both activities?”
“Yes.”
“Define,” Shady almost commanded.
“Not sure this is the right time for this,” Pax mentioned. His words were ignored as Sci answered again.
“My capabilities drain fastest when I am forcing communication with multiple minds at the same time.”
One cyborg behind Shady spoke up. “How many of us can you communicate with at a time?”
“None. I can’t hear the thoughts of cyborgs.”
Shady folded her arms, but it looked like she was relaxing instead of being defensive. So, she wasn’t a fan of having her mind read. Pax could understand that. Not many people were. But to intrude on her commander’s debrief because she didn’t want the Cerebral in her mind was irritating. But again before he had a chance to say anything, Shady commented.
“That’s unfortunate. It would have been handy to have that connection so we all knew what was going on and could assess the situation at the same time.”
Oh, really?
Sci shrugged as if her comment didn’t have merit.
Pax folded his arms. When exactly had he lost control of his debrief? “The questions and answers for the Cerebral are over. Eyes on me.” He looked at his sixty-two team members. “Since no one wants to volunteer, here’s how we’re going to split it up.” Pax held up his finger and pointed at the first twelve cyborgs. “You twelve will be going in 502 to the Cenlura mine. I assume that is a sufficient enough number to get the job done. If you are overwhelmed and need assistance, you will contact Clalls. He can send backup from the ship and notify me. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.”
Then Pax pointed at the one with the highest rank and said, “You will lead team one.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What’s your name?”
“Byalo.”
Pax said the name five times fast in his mind so he would remember when he updated the mission report. “Take your men, Byalo, and get to the ship. The pilot is already waiting.” A pilot from the latest round of transfers he had yet to meet.
All twelve quickly left the training room.
“Sol, come forward.”
The one and only Bolark on the team moved from the very back of the pack to the front. Pax didn’t miss that he was not wearing a cerebral blocker. “Like I said before, you will be on the bridge. I want you working with Clalls. Do not feel obligated to play nice, he’s a tarq. I want constant updates regarding my team and any dangers in the area.” Pax held up one finger to add a side note to the male. “And keep an eye on cargo transporter 806.”
“Yes, sir,” Sol answered with sincerity.
“You’re dismissed.”
Now, Pax was down to forty-nine team members. Four Yunkin, eight Graches, two Hettens, and thirty-five cyborgs. Add Sci, Sasha, and himself, it made for a small team, but the force multiplier should equalize anything they came up against. Sci being the main force, of course.
“Team two, direct yourselves to 817. It’s time to commandeer a pirate ship.”
Sci walked out beside him and whispered, “I seem to remember how much you enjoyed taking over pirate ships. Is it your birthday?”
Pax chuckled. “No, but it feels like it.”