Read Online Reavers (Book 3) by Benjamin Schramm - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Benjamin Schramm
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operations and one troubling development on the rim.”
“Troubling?” he asked.
“As per your orders, we have been intercepting communications in all sectors with heavy pirate activity.”
“Please tell me you’ve got some prime intelligence on those vermin.”
“We’re not entirely sure, sir. A Navy patrol visiting the rim world of Lintilä transmitted a burst of encoded data before engaging its self-destruct. I assigned some of our best analysts and they are . . . troubled by what they’ve found.”
“How so?”
“We expected an ambush or some other standard pirate tactics, but what we found was . . .”
“Spit it out.”
“It’s hard to explain without sounding a bit crazy, sir. The short of it is the ship was assaulted by what appear to be asteroids that displayed impossible maneuvering capability. On a level beyond even our best prototypes. After that the entire crew was subdued by a mass Weaver assault.”
“A new pirate weapon, no doubt,” Renoff said with a sneer.
“Doubtful, sir. The analysis ruled that out. They are hesitant to admit it, but they don’t know what could be responsible for the attack.”
Renoff set aside his pad and stood, pulling on the bottom of his shirt to eliminate a few wrinkles.
“Since the Shard decimated the Navy, the pirates have grown bold to a degree no one would have ever suspected possible,” he said in an annoyed tone.
“That’s true, sir. However . . .”
“They out number us, they out-gun us, and at the moment they out think us.”
“Sir?”
“The entirety of the Commonwealth is focused on rebuilding. The Navy wants new ships, the government wants their glistening cities back, and the military wants an army strong enough to repel the Shard - should they come back. No one is thinking ahead, just focusing on the now. Except for the pirates. They are always looking for an advantage.”
“That may be true, sir, but we can’t . . .”
“What is the tactical value of Lintilä?”
Isabella pulled out her pad and double checked the data before answering.
“Negligible. No valuable natural resources, no strategic value to location, and no exploitable infrastructure.”
“Now, imagine you are some weapons designer the Circle paid to build some new toy. Doesn’t even have to be the Circle itself, say just one of the larger pirate guilds. You’ve gone and come up with this new weapon, but they won’t give you full payment until you’ve tested it in the field. Could you ask for a better location than Lintilä?”
“I see your point, sir.”
Renoff smiled victoriously. He took her words as agreement. The man was incapable of realizing she still disagreed, but was unwilling to waste time arguing. She wasn’t have any more trouble is assessing her new superior. This was a man who wouldn’t listen to any point of view besides his own once he had made up his mind. Isabella knew she would have to take matters into her own hands if she wanted results.
“I’ll just forward the data on to the Navy then,” she said in a neutral tone. “They should know they lost one of their ships to some new pirate weapon.”
“No,” Renoff said slowly. “We don’t want the Navy to overreact.”
“Overreact, sir?”
“You know exactly what I mean. They would rush off like a bunch of blind zealots. Divert too many ships and devastate a small pirate research operation to ash. All the while leaving more territory unguarded for the pirates to plunder. Or worse.”
“We can’t simply do nothing, sir. If the pirates control Lintilä, any trade ship visiting to resupply would fall to them as well.”
“Excellent point.” Renoff turned to stare out the window behind his chair. “Have the area cordoned off. Something subtle. Navigation network failure or something. Have a ship sent out to observe. Maximum discretion. If the pirates do have Weavers with them, they might detect us at
“Troubling?” he asked.
“As per your orders, we have been intercepting communications in all sectors with heavy pirate activity.”
“Please tell me you’ve got some prime intelligence on those vermin.”
“We’re not entirely sure, sir. A Navy patrol visiting the rim world of Lintilä transmitted a burst of encoded data before engaging its self-destruct. I assigned some of our best analysts and they are . . . troubled by what they’ve found.”
“How so?”
“We expected an ambush or some other standard pirate tactics, but what we found was . . .”
“Spit it out.”
“It’s hard to explain without sounding a bit crazy, sir. The short of it is the ship was assaulted by what appear to be asteroids that displayed impossible maneuvering capability. On a level beyond even our best prototypes. After that the entire crew was subdued by a mass Weaver assault.”
“A new pirate weapon, no doubt,” Renoff said with a sneer.
“Doubtful, sir. The analysis ruled that out. They are hesitant to admit it, but they don’t know what could be responsible for the attack.”
Renoff set aside his pad and stood, pulling on the bottom of his shirt to eliminate a few wrinkles.
“Since the Shard decimated the Navy, the pirates have grown bold to a degree no one would have ever suspected possible,” he said in an annoyed tone.
“That’s true, sir. However . . .”
“They out number us, they out-gun us, and at the moment they out think us.”
“Sir?”
“The entirety of the Commonwealth is focused on rebuilding. The Navy wants new ships, the government wants their glistening cities back, and the military wants an army strong enough to repel the Shard - should they come back. No one is thinking ahead, just focusing on the now. Except for the pirates. They are always looking for an advantage.”
“That may be true, sir, but we can’t . . .”
“What is the tactical value of Lintilä?”
Isabella pulled out her pad and double checked the data before answering.
“Negligible. No valuable natural resources, no strategic value to location, and no exploitable infrastructure.”
“Now, imagine you are some weapons designer the Circle paid to build some new toy. Doesn’t even have to be the Circle itself, say just one of the larger pirate guilds. You’ve gone and come up with this new weapon, but they won’t give you full payment until you’ve tested it in the field. Could you ask for a better location than Lintilä?”
“I see your point, sir.”
Renoff smiled victoriously. He took her words as agreement. The man was incapable of realizing she still disagreed, but was unwilling to waste time arguing. She wasn’t have any more trouble is assessing her new superior. This was a man who wouldn’t listen to any point of view besides his own once he had made up his mind. Isabella knew she would have to take matters into her own hands if she wanted results.
“I’ll just forward the data on to the Navy then,” she said in a neutral tone. “They should know they lost one of their ships to some new pirate weapon.”
“No,” Renoff said slowly. “We don’t want the Navy to overreact.”
“Overreact, sir?”
“You know exactly what I mean. They would rush off like a bunch of blind zealots. Divert too many ships and devastate a small pirate research operation to ash. All the while leaving more territory unguarded for the pirates to plunder. Or worse.”
“We can’t simply do nothing, sir. If the pirates control Lintilä, any trade ship visiting to resupply would fall to them as well.”
“Excellent point.” Renoff turned to stare out the window behind his chair. “Have the area cordoned off. Something subtle. Navigation network failure or something. Have a ship sent out to observe. Maximum discretion. If the pirates do have Weavers with them, they might detect us at
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