Read Online Star Traders (Corporate Marines Book 3) by Tom Germann - Free Book Online

and act as such. They were hit with a major meteor strike two days ago, and there are likely going to be survivors who need that help now, and we do not have time to worry about the possibility of pirates.”
    Eight and Two look at each other. Eight quirks his eyebrows and Two turns back to the captain. “It is not just that this is an ambush scenario from training, captain. This is a perfect scenario for that ambush. A recent accident that leaves an automated signal going along with an indication of survivors desperately in need of help, yet no verbal communications. Nothing other than that perfect signal. The strength of that signal is too much. If the equipment can push out that much energy for an omnidirectional signal, then there should be other signals with it. That is just how human nature works.”
    The captain shakes his head in the negative. “No, Two. This is a rescue mission. If there is anything funny about this, then Patroe, my security chief, will be able to deal with it. No pirate ship is that big or well-crewed.”
    Two tries another tact. “Very well, captain. Can we at least activate our armor in case it is something besides just a straight rescue?”
    Again, the captain nods in the negative. “The armor is not needed and I will not have personnel worrying about why it is being released. This is a Corporate ship, yes. But I am not going to have loose guns walking around. The armor stays secured. If anything pops up, you will have enough time to armor up before they get to us. No armor. Am I clear?”
    Both Two and Eight nod and respond, “Yes Captain.”
    Both Two and Eight get up and head out the door while the captain and security chief go over preparations for the coming rescue.
    Two and Eight head for their quarters at a brisk walk. On their way they see almost no crewmembers and those they do see are preparing equipment and personnel for the shuttle run to the space station.
    When they finally get into their quarters, Eight looks at Two and starts the conversation. “Spit it out, Two, or you’re going to explode.”
    Two glares at Eight. “The captain does not like or want anything to do with weapons, military or violence. He just wants to be a long-haul captain and pretend that there are no risks out here in the way of ‘pirates’ or whatever else you want to call them. He is making a huge mistake.”
    Eight nods. “Yup, he is. But he is the captain and it is his ship. There is no direct threat right now so he is ignoring that and dealing with what he perceives as the real problem. Maybe he is right and it is just an asteroid strike and the crew is dead. If not, then we should have some advance notice and be able to get our armor up and running fast enough. So we need to follow orders.”
    Two nods but continues anyway. “His constant worrying about what we are going to do is getting on my nerves. That, and it takes us so long to get armor up and the Pig is a big ship. What if the pirates are able to get close using some sort of plan that we can’t anticipate?”
    Eight shrugs. “Then a bunch of them die and we eventually get there to save them. Or, maybe they fend the pirates off on their own and we are free and clear. Why worry about it?”
    Two glares at him as the door chime sounds. They both turn and Eight calls out, “Come in.”
    The door slides open and the security chief stands there, still looking expressionless. Eight waves for him to come in, which he does. As the door slides shut behind him, he looks at the two Marines and nods before starting. “I want you to know that I realize that this could be a trap. I have had the sensor watch put passive scanners to full three-hundred-sixty-degree search. We should be able to get up to an hour’s notice if there is a ship and it is coming in fast. Twenty-five minutes’ notice if it if coming in under good emission controls.”
    Two and Eight stare at Patroe questioningly.
    He continues on. “I realize that the captain would