Black Cutlass (Privateer Tales Book 19) Read online

  Black Cutlass

  Jamie McFarlane

  Fickle Dragon Publishing LLC

  Contents

  Preface

  1. To the Victors

  2. Short Life of Victory

  3. Mystery of the Minx

  4. Unburdened

  5. Timing is Everything

  6. Itsy Bitsy Spider

  7. Chasing Insurrection

  8. Coward's Retreat

  9. Storm of the Quiet

  10. Its Own Class

  11. A Good Question

  12. A Beautiful Lie

  13. Accidental Wisdom

  14. Bane of Command

  15. Compulsion

  16. Bengerici

  17. Mission Creep

  18. Golden Rule

  19. Overlord

  20. Runners

  21. Blood Bonds

  22. Bowling for Spiders

  23. Devious

  24. Greater Good

  25. Footloose

  26. Rigorous Defense

  27. Cost of Battle

  28. A Thousand Cuts

  29. Out of the Frying Pan

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Jamie McFarlane

  Preface

  Sign up for the author’s newsletter and receive a free Jamie McFarlane starter library.

  Tap to get started:

  http://www.fickledragon.com/keep-in-touch

  One

  To the Victors

  Silver Hoffen, my mother and the woman known as Gray Lady to the people of Elea Station, Marny James-Bertrand, my mentor and dear friend, and I walked three abreast onto the open deck of the captured Mendari battle cruiser. In line behind us were Tabby, my warrior wife, Nick James, my business partner and best friend, as well as Ada Chen, the finest pilot I'd ever had the joy of sailing with. Behind this group, an entire host of our finest soldiers proudly marched.

  At a wide steel table, sat the three ranking Mendari. Behind them were their officers, numbering almost thirty.

  Originally, I wanted to give Marny the privilege of accepting the Mendari surrender. In the end, she'd convinced me that the occasion of accepting the Mendari nation's surrender was my responsibility.

  In my experience, I'd run into two different types of Mendari. The first were the warriors, equipped with mechanical spider bodies beneath a humanoid torso. If not for mechanical modifications, the Mendari species resembled humanity more than any other alien species we'd encountered. The second type of Mendari kept their human form, but added two sets of telescoping, flexible arms. The Mendari admiral, whose name I didn't yet know, was of the second type.

  "Admiral Benechov, you will stand in the presence of the Primus of House Bold," Marny growled. The admiral, flanked by his two top commanders remained seated, glaring at our approach.

  The Mendari admiral tilted his head, locking eyes with Marny. "You have bested my fleet, but do not prod a wounded beast backed against a wall," he growled back. "We fought a battle against a foe with superior defenses. Most would say we could not hope to defeat you, yet we pressed you for days on end. Do not further insult us."

  Before I knew what was happening, he drew a hidden weapon. Even faster, Marny pulled her own blaster and shot him squarely in the chest. The Mendari to the admiral's right used his mechanical arms to grip the table and propel himself forward in an attack. His progress was arrested when another shot, originating from behind me, opened a perfectly centered hole in his chest. Both the admiral and his second in command fell, neither making it beyond the edge of the steel table.

  I glanced over my shoulder. Marny and Nick's son, Peter, caught my glance and nodded in acknowledgement. Peter and I had baggage, to say the least. And yes, the problems stemmed from our relationships with the same girl – Tabby, to be exact. While no one’s fault, the issues had been difficult for both of us to get beyond. Surviving the Mendari war, however, had somewhat trivialized those past events and I envisioned a time when bygones could be left in that past.

  "Frak, Marny. What was that?" None of the other Mendari officers had so much as flinched as the events unfolded. The remaining Mendari at the table placed his hands together as if praying, and stood, keeping his eyes on my chest.

  "Admiral Benechov made no secret of his intent to make a final stand at this ceremony," Marny said. "It was made clear to the Mendari officers that this action would be met with force."

  "Other than his number two, nobody else even moved," I said.

  "Captain Skotoff, the remaining senior officer, assured me that only the admiral and his second would present a problem," she said.

  "And you believed him?"

  "Not exactly," Marny said. "Right now, Noah and Prajna have turrets lined up on their ranks. If anyone flinches, they'll open fire."

  "How do you know to even think of this stuff?"

  "You really should read more history."

  "Do we want to get to the matter at hand?" Mom asked. Even though she stood proudly, she was starting to falter, weakened from recent illness.

  I turned and locked eyes with Peter. "Mr. James, would you honor the Gray Lady by finding her a chair?"

  "Liam, I don't need a chair," Mom objected.

  I started to respond but Peter beat me to the punch. "Of course, ma'am. We'll bring three chairs post-haste." Before she could further object, he and two of his friends set off at a jog. A grin pulled at Marny's lips as she observed my interaction with Peter. The tension between us had caused her pain and I watched a covert joy briefly flit across her face.

  "Marny, is there a specific ceremony you wish to observe?"

  She turned to Captain Skotoff. "What say you on behalf of the Mendari nation?"

  "The Mendari people are a proud race," he replied, his eyes still focused on my chest. "We are also a defeated people. While our fall is complete here on the deck of this proud Mendari warship, it started many hundreds of years ago at the zenith of our arrogance. Had we sought peace with our newly discovered human neighbors, I believe we could have grown away from the path of destruction and flourished. But such was not on the minds of those who awoke with a thirst for conquest. I cannot say that I am saddened by this day because I, like many, foresaw its coming.

  "To House of the Bold, I formally surrender without reservation of any right or claim. All that is the Mendari people — each person, every ingot of iron, every drop of water, every scrap of food — I offer in total supplication to the mighty and worthy House of the Bold. If it is my life that you require, I offer it without reservation. If it is the life of those officers who stand on the deck behind me, I offer those without hesitation. Strike us mercilessly, as surely as we would have struck you. I ask only one thing and with no expectation of bargain, but only as a plea between warriors on the field of battle."

  I looked at the Mendari as I processed his words and realized that the officers behind him had sunk to their knees and bowed their heads. It was a grand gesture and drew an audible gasp from the soldiers gathered behind us. "Captain Skotoff, what is this request that would cause you and those behind you to prostrate themselves in this manner?"

  At that moment, my attention was drawn to the chat lines flipping on my HUD. It was a conversation between Tabby and Ada.

  Ada: "Who uses the word prostrate?"

  Tabby: "Do you think he knows what it means?"

  Ada: "Frak, I think he's reading our chats."

  Tabby: "Shhhh…"

  I sighed and closed my eyes trying to bring myself back to the current conversation.

  "Not all who are Mendari desire conquest," Skotoff replied. "There are many who wer
e left behind incapable or uninterested in war. They grow our food and repair our vessels. They hope for a leader who would give meaning to their lives. Slake your need for blood on those who've led the fight, but I beg of you to show the Mendari people mercy. Be a demanding ruler, enact your laws, punish us all for our sins, but please, provide to our people the seed of hope we see burning in the eyes of your people. I offer to you our lives as proof of our commitment."

  "How many Mendari remain?" I asked.

  "The entire Mendari remnant was awakened from their cold slumber to set war against House of the Bold. Our once great civilization has been reduced to but two thousand men, each of whom await the great transformation," he said.

  "Men?"

  "Yes, it is as you fear," Skotoff said. "War has thinned our candidate men. For each man, there are six others who are aged to feebleness, or who are woman."

  I didn't need to look at the erupting chatlines on my HUD to know what Tabby and Ada thought of the Mendari captain’s attitude toward women. Idly, I wondered if the two were now onboard with his original sacrificial proposal.

  "Do Mendari not consider women as equal?" I asked. "Surely, you understand that your fleet was defeated by the great Captain James-Bertrand and our own Gray Lady. I wasn't even here for most of the battle."

  "And yet, it ended when you returned," Skotoff answered quickly, then seemed to regret it. "No. Women are not equal citizens in Mendari society, even though some have shown themselves worthy of transcendence."

  "You mean they weren't," I said. "I do not accept your proposal. There has been enough death. I accept your surrender. I accept your ships, your water, your ingots of iron and your scraps of food. I accept only the blood of your people already shed and hereby announce that as of this moment and forever forward, Mendari is a state of House of the Bold. To this, I demand that this new Mendari state will never again mutilate its people for the purpose of transcendence. You, Captain Skotoff, will make an accounting for all arms, equipment, vessels, foodstuffs and personnel. Further, once we arrive at your home world, each officer and soldier will submit themselves to your deep storage facilities where you will once again hibernate."

  "Liam?" Marny interrupted.

  I held my hand up to let her know I was still going. "The length of this hibernation will be determined by the success of this new state in creating a successful, prosperous civilization. No more will Mendari prepare for war. Instead, the Mendari people will prepare for peace and with that peace, prosperity. And only when this society has the respect of the other states of House of the Bold, will we consider reintegrating the warriors who have gone so far astray.

  "Tell me, Skotoff, do you accept the terms as they have been presented?" I asked.

  "On behalf of the Mendari nation, I accept these terms," he said.

  "Gray Lady, do you have anything you would add to this?" I asked.

  "There are many details to be worried through, but the navigational path you have presented is suitable to the people of House of the Bold," she said. "I am proud of you, Liam."

  I smiled. It always felt good to hear Mom say that. "Captain James-Bertrand, would you add anything?"

  "Only that we will brook no deviation from complete surrender," she said. "Punishment will be swift and final for any who challenge the authority of this house."

  "With my own life, I will enforce your words," Skotoff said. "As will every officer who kneels in front of you today."

  "Seriously, where do you come up with this stuff?" Tabby poked my ribs when we were finally in the elevator, headed back to Mom's quarters for an afterparty.

  "You were brilliant, Liam," Marny said, pulling me into a hug. I closed my eyes as we embraced, enjoying the closeness we were too seldom afforded, but I was caught off guard. In her early fifties, Marny was approaching middle age for a human. It wasn't her age that caused my surprise, but the weakness I felt in her frame.

  For most of the time I'd known her, she'd been a larger-than-life, heavily muscled naval veteran. That changed when we'd been taken out of the action and she'd spent twenty years living in the wilds of the alien planet, Fraxus. The harsh environment and a life spent struggling to survive depleted her muscle mass and left behind a much thinner, leaner woman. We’d found our way back, only to return to food shortages. Like so many of us, Marny now struggled to maintain even that lean strength..

  I grinned at her as we separated. It was no secret that I leaned heavily on my friends and family for strength. That they allowed me to set our direction continued to amaze me and I knew my role was often to simply be the mouthpiece between my team and the rest of the universe.

  "What you don't know is that Nick gave me crib notes while we walked over," I said, answering Tabby's question while looping my arm around her waist to draw her close. "He didn't tell me about the admiral, however. Did you know he was going to go off like that?"

  "As your personal security, I was read in. I saw his move well in advance. You and your mother were never in any real danger." Tabby leaned in and grabbed my chin for a lingering kiss.

  When we separated, Ada was fanning her face. "My, is it hot in here?" she quipped. Tabby wrapped a free arm around Ada and side-hugged her. For me, Ada was something of an enigma. Petite and almost painfully beautiful, she'd found it difficult to settle, instead choosing short, intense relationships, always making her way back to our crew. I was pretty sure Tabby and I were both in love with her, at least as much as two committed monogamous people could be with a third. Somehow, Ada returned that love without crossing lines. It was a difficult dance, but one I wouldn't have traded.

  "We really don't have time for a party," Nick said as the five of us stepped off the elevator. We were met with the noise of a celebration well underway. Just down the hallway, Mom's assistant Jasinder noticed our arrival. She must have caught Nick's assertion, because she waggled a finger in warning as she approached.

  "Oh, no you don't, Nicholas James," she said. "While I appreciate your desire to avoid all social contact, it is imperative that the Governor, Admiral and Prime make a short speech to the assembled."

  "Did someone hand out titles?" I asked.

  "Yes," Jasinder said, clearly unintimidated by current company.

  I looked at Marny and raised an eyebrow. "Admiral?"

  "It was your mom's idea," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly.

  "Seems right to me. Mom is governor of Elea Station?" I asked, clarifying with Jasinder.

  "Which would make you Prime," she said, only a tad petulant.

  "Point to Jasinder," Tabby said, her voice full of mirth.

  "We need a conference room, Nick," I said. "I'll find you in twenty minutes or so."

  "Three-oh-two is available," Jasinder said. "I'll have refreshments for ten delivered. Will that suffice?"

  "Thank you, Jas," Nick said. "Marn, I'll see you down there?"

  Ada grabbed Tabby's hand and pulled her toward the party sounds. "Catch us up later? 'Cause these girls need to get loose!"

  It was more like an hour later when Marny and I extracted ourselves from the excited throng of Elea Station residents and made our way to Nick's conference room.

  "Bold Prime, Admiral Bertrand, it is my privilege," the Felio prime of House Mshindi greeted us as we entered the conference room.

  Umija was the leader of the small remnant of the once-proud Mshindi house. I'd known her grandmother back when Mshindi was arguably the most powerful Abasi house. House Kifeda had all but destroyed Mshindi after the Kroerak war when the Mshindi fleet had returned victorious but in tatters. The feline-featured woman was barely out of her teen years and was responsible for almost six hundred others, many of whom were juvenile.

  "Mshindi Prime, you honor us with your presence." I brought my fist to my solar plexus as was the Felio custom.

  "Nicholas James did not share with us the reason for summons. I have learned, however, that he is not one to waste effort. We will gladly assist in any manner you request," she said,
returning the low-fisted salute. Behind her stood Nyota, First of Mshindi, and Sempre, a friend who'd recently returned to Mshindi's ranks.

  "Thank you, Umija," Nick said, more casually than I could have managed. Of course, Nick and Marny had spent the last couple of months working with Mshindi to defend Elea Station while I'd been out procuring supplies. "Marny and I wanted to put our recommendations for sharing part of the captured bounty from the Mendari on the table."

  "The weapons and armor you allowed us to retrieve from the fallen Mendari were quite sufficient," Umija said. "We seek a formal trading arrangement for the products our Neema faction will soon produce. There is little else we could ask for."

  "But there is much you would find valuable," Nick said. "Please hear me out. I've given this considerable thought."

  "I better sit down." I recognized Nick's tone of voice. He was about to say something I'd find crazy and when I decided to argue with him, he'd show me why I was being dumb. It was a trap I saw coming and yet I wouldn't be able to avoid it.

  Sempre smiled as she sat next to me and placed her paw atop my hand companionably. "It brings me joy to see you, Hoffen Captain."

  "You too, Sempre."

  Nick ignored the exchange other than to clear his throat.

  "I'm not an eloquent man," Nick said. "But it is clear that just as Bold rescued Mshindi by intervening against Kifeda, Mshindi rescued Bold by joining with our forces at Elea station to hold back the Mendari forces."