Clause 185.23

Damn, she was going to have to rely on the computer again.

"Open communications channel to unknown contact." she stuttered.

"Channel open." The calm air of superiority in the voice, once again, didn't go unnoticed.

Steadying herself as best she could, Karen began, "Unidentified vessel, this is the cargo ship 'TSC Gold Rush' en route to Titan via Saturn, beacon 030, please identify yourself..."

Nothing.

"This is the cargo ship 'Gold Rush' of the Titan Starliner Corporation, respond." the panic was showing in her voice, piracy wasn't unheard of these days, not now that anyone could pick up the older, slower ships that had been retired from service. She had heard about ships disappearing in this region, the crew, never heard from again. Out here in the asteroid belt all ships were equal, too many hazards to jump safely, too many unknowns for even a computer to calculate.

"Collision in T-minus ten minutes"

"Computer, can you identify unknown contact?" She was reaching, she knew the computer could only identify a craft...

"Unknown contact has no transponder signal."

...from it's transponder. That was all she needed to know, it must be pirates. Two choices, die at the hands of pirates or risk jumping inside the belt. Which policed system was closer? Mars?

"Override, Lawrence K. pilot third class, operator number PC3-11/07/2132-21899530. Prepare calculations for jump to Mars, beacon 008." Not a hard choice.

The computer did not respond, commands were scrolling down her primary display, too fast to read. She tried again, "Override, Lawrence K. pilot third class, operator..."

"Pilot third class Lawrence K. This is Captain Morel of the ' Letter of Marque' contracted to the Titan Starliner Corporation, we have control of your vessel, do not try to override your systems."

"Wait, so you're not pirates?"

"No Ma'am, we're here to, ah, inform you that the 'Gold Rush' is being retired from service and escort you to Titan," something in the voice, something's not right, "just sit back and relax, we'll take it from here."

"Why did you deactivate your transponder?" She knew damn well why, she could spot a lie instantly, it was an ability she prided herself on, "I'm only getting you on radar." Karen tried to make sense of the commands flowing across her display, navigation, communications, emergency beacon even the life pod, she had access to nothing.

"Pirate activity has been high in this region, we're taking all the precautions we can."

A single green light flashed to red on a small display to her left, but Karen didn't notice it. She was too busy running scenarios through her head, not that she had many options. Had she been looking, she would have realised that the 'Letter of Marque' had locked its weapons systems onto her. As they moved into range, she caught a glimpse of a beam turret mounted on the ' Marque slew round to face her.

"Son of a..." she sighed, sat back, closed her eyes and waited. The 5 Terawatt particle beam heated up, time to retire the 'Gold Rush', and Karen Lawrence.