Read Online Rookie Privateer by Jamie McFarlane - Free Book Online
Authors: Jamie McFarlane
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satisfaction that Nick had begun welding long strips along the door frame. He continued to add structure to his welds and I doubted the door would ever be useable again.
A bright light burst from the top of the gun turret as my laser broke through. Molten metal froze in puddles on the chamber of the now completely useless gun. Satisfied with his work on the door, Nick jumped down and welded the station clamps to the attack ship, turned brick.
" Nice job!"
" No celebrating at half-time," Tabby admonished, but her grin said it all. She was loving this as much as I was.
We looked up the length of the tether. The elevator was docked next to the control tower , but with the station gravity out, we wouldn’t need the elevator to get up there. Disabling the perimeter defense guns was our last and most important objective.
" Grab the plasma cutter, Nick. Let's do this thing," I said.
Tabby and I both carried pressurized canisters that were about a meter tall and Nick had his welding rig that doubled as a plasma cutter. We glided up the tether toward the security control office. Down below, I saw the warm reds and oranges of the slagged metal.
The elevator was docked at the only door to the security control center. We would have to go through the elevator to get to the control room. Nick switched his portable welder to cutting mode and broke through the locked outside door. It didn’t take much time, but it meant we had lost whatever element of surprise we might have otherwise had.
The door to the control room led to an airlock we could see through. The problem was, those inside could also see us. There were three people inside who were completely suited up. Two of the inhabitants were pointing long guns at the door. From the corner of my eye I caught the tell-tale signs of atmosphere being vented from the control room.
"They are venting," I informed Tabby and Nick, who both understood the implications. Once the atmosphere was vented, the pirates would be able to simultaneously open both doors of the airlock. There was no place to hide.
" Nick, get out." This was about to get real sketchy. I placed my pressurized canister directly in front of me, blocking the pirate’s view.
Nick started to argue, but Tabby simply grabbed him and shoved him out the door.
"I got it," Nick shot back excitedly. "Get your canisters in the airlock when it opens. Trust me!"
There wasn't time to argue and the Loose Nuts pod-ball team thrived on running the play that was called. I had always told myself that I trusted Nick and Tabby with my life. Today I would prove it. The door opened and Tabby and I stuffed the meter tall canisters we carried into the lock. We pulled back just as slugs started hitting the elevator’s walls and floor. My left leg exploded with pain just above my foot. It was like no pain I had ever felt and I had to fight to stay conscious.
Through the glass of the airlock, I saw a bright beam of light strike the back canister. Almost immediately, Tabby and I were violently thrown back into the windows by the force of an explosion. I felt Tabby's vice-like grip on my arm dragging me through the outside door. I was unable to focus, the pain in my leg was overwhelming, and I welcomed the blackness that invaded my diminishing vision. This must be what dying felt like.
AFTERMATH
Well, I clearly hadn't died . I woke up to faint nondescript music. My mind wandered, recalling that I had once heard this referred to as elevator music, which made no sense at all considering elevators were for moving materials, and lifts were for moving people.
I gagged when I tried to swallow. There was something in my throat and I desperately needed something to drink.
"Relax son. You are safe and you have a breathing tube. We'll get someone to take it out." It was my dad's voice.
I felt a squeeze from my right side. I was pretty foggy but I could tell that it wasn't Dad's hand since it was smaller than mine. It must be
A bright light burst from the top of the gun turret as my laser broke through. Molten metal froze in puddles on the chamber of the now completely useless gun. Satisfied with his work on the door, Nick jumped down and welded the station clamps to the attack ship, turned brick.
" Nice job!"
" No celebrating at half-time," Tabby admonished, but her grin said it all. She was loving this as much as I was.
We looked up the length of the tether. The elevator was docked next to the control tower , but with the station gravity out, we wouldn’t need the elevator to get up there. Disabling the perimeter defense guns was our last and most important objective.
" Grab the plasma cutter, Nick. Let's do this thing," I said.
Tabby and I both carried pressurized canisters that were about a meter tall and Nick had his welding rig that doubled as a plasma cutter. We glided up the tether toward the security control office. Down below, I saw the warm reds and oranges of the slagged metal.
The elevator was docked at the only door to the security control center. We would have to go through the elevator to get to the control room. Nick switched his portable welder to cutting mode and broke through the locked outside door. It didn’t take much time, but it meant we had lost whatever element of surprise we might have otherwise had.
The door to the control room led to an airlock we could see through. The problem was, those inside could also see us. There were three people inside who were completely suited up. Two of the inhabitants were pointing long guns at the door. From the corner of my eye I caught the tell-tale signs of atmosphere being vented from the control room.
"They are venting," I informed Tabby and Nick, who both understood the implications. Once the atmosphere was vented, the pirates would be able to simultaneously open both doors of the airlock. There was no place to hide.
" Nick, get out." This was about to get real sketchy. I placed my pressurized canister directly in front of me, blocking the pirate’s view.
Nick started to argue, but Tabby simply grabbed him and shoved him out the door.
"I got it," Nick shot back excitedly. "Get your canisters in the airlock when it opens. Trust me!"
There wasn't time to argue and the Loose Nuts pod-ball team thrived on running the play that was called. I had always told myself that I trusted Nick and Tabby with my life. Today I would prove it. The door opened and Tabby and I stuffed the meter tall canisters we carried into the lock. We pulled back just as slugs started hitting the elevator’s walls and floor. My left leg exploded with pain just above my foot. It was like no pain I had ever felt and I had to fight to stay conscious.
Through the glass of the airlock, I saw a bright beam of light strike the back canister. Almost immediately, Tabby and I were violently thrown back into the windows by the force of an explosion. I felt Tabby's vice-like grip on my arm dragging me through the outside door. I was unable to focus, the pain in my leg was overwhelming, and I welcomed the blackness that invaded my diminishing vision. This must be what dying felt like.
AFTERMATH
Well, I clearly hadn't died . I woke up to faint nondescript music. My mind wandered, recalling that I had once heard this referred to as elevator music, which made no sense at all considering elevators were for moving materials, and lifts were for moving people.
I gagged when I tried to swallow. There was something in my throat and I desperately needed something to drink.
"Relax son. You are safe and you have a breathing tube. We'll get someone to take it out." It was my dad's voice.
I felt a squeeze from my right side. I was pretty foggy but I could tell that it wasn't Dad's hand since it was smaller than mine. It must be
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