The Alpha Protocol: Alpha Protocol Book 1 Duncan Hamilton (affordable ebook reader .TXT) 📖

than adequate patrol vessel with one or two software and hardware upgrades, which can easily be carried out in the Capsilan Depot’s hangar bay. It has a full suite of refit drones, and an Ager Dynamics Utility Vessel, even one as old as the Bounty, has plenty of generic mounts that will accept modern naval units.’

‘Aye, sir.’

‘It is very possible that there are other interested parties from our species operating in your sector, and they are just as much a threat as an alien hostile. We need to scare them off. Make sure they know the Navy is on the scent now.’

If it was pirates or smugglers, and they had the capability to destroy the Sidewinder, Samson didn’t know what the Bounty would be able to do, but it wasn’t his place to comment.

‘I’m not sending you out with the intention of getting killed,’ Iyabo said, as if picking up on Samson’s misgivings. ‘All we want is for you to keep watch. Gather as much intel as you can. Let us hit the ground running when the relief ships arrive.’

‘I understand, sir.’ He wondered if now would be a good time to mention that all of his sailors had mutinied, and one of them remained under arrest.

‘Good. There might be serious players involved out there with you. There’s a list to choose from as long as my arm. The Ophiuchan Separatists are still operating behind the scenes; the Cruxian Autonomy Movement is growing fast, and there are a half-dozen others, not to mention corporations or crime syndicates.’

Samson grimaced. It was a list of groups he’d much rather not get tangled up with. Even in the Sol system, there were people saying the Union was too big and should be broken up into a federation of semi-autonomous constellations. Some took it farther than that, forming groups whose commitments to the cause ranged from political lobbying to terrorism and outright rebellion, as in the case of the Separatist Wars, which had ended nearly a hundred years earlier but remained fixed in the pantheon of fears the Navy had. If any one of those groups got hold of advanced alien technology, it could easily upset the power dynamic in the Core. He supposed the best that could be said about facing aliens or human criminals was, ‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.’

‘We need to make very sure the Navy keeps this buttoned down,’ Iyabo said. ‘Even if that orb you found was nothing more than a decorative light fitting, being the first to claim contact and being able to back it up with physical evidence will bring a hell of a lot of prestige. If it isn’t us, people will ask questions, and lose confidence. This is the most exciting thing to happen to mankind, and potentially the biggest threat the Union has faced.’

‘I understand what a big deal this is, sir,’ Samson said.

Iyabo nodded slowly. ‘Good. Although the Peterson and the Nautilus will be with you first, the Third Fleet, under Admiral Khaimov in the Warspite, is also being readied for dispatch to Capsilan. I expect your region of Frontier space is going to get very crowded over the next few months.’

‘Sounds like it, sir.’

Iyabo took a breath, and his demeanour softened. ‘What condition is the ship you commandeered in?’

‘Not the best, sir. We’ve been touch and go with her, but she’s seen us through so far.’

‘I’m sorry to have to send you out in her again,’ Iyabo said. ‘But we need ships in the water on this, and you’re the only one we have right now. The hangar drones should be able to knock her into better shape in a couple of days.’

‘I hope so, sir,’ Samson said. He wanted to say that if they encountered the hostile vessel again, they’d be good for little more than target practice no matter how many upgrades they’d made—but that really wasn’t the Navy way, and certainly not the impression he wanted to give the commodore.

‘It’s not ideal, Lieutenant, but we have to work with what we’ve got. I’ve had a look at the depot’s stores. There are two replacement Gauss gun modules that could be retrofitted to generic hard points on the Ager Dynamics Utility Vessels. There are replacement comms and sensor systems, and backup power modules and reserve banks that can also be fitted. With the depot’s drones and a bit of sweat, you can turn the Bounty into something you can use in short order. She won’t have much armour, but she’ll have teeth and the power to use them. What do you want to call her?’

Samson shrugged absent-mindedly, then sat straighter in his seat, hoping Iyabo hadn’t noticed. ‘We’ve been calling her the Bounty, sir.’

‘Not the most auspicious of names, but it’ll do. I’m giving her temporary designation as TUS Bounty. You will upgrade her as directed and as you feel necessary to successfully carry out your command, then proceed with all haste back to the site of the destruction of TUS Sidewinder, and commence an investigation of the area, to include the alleged hostile vessel and any trace of non-human artefacts. I’m transmitting written orders. I’ve also had an acting field promotion authorised to raise you to lieutenant commander. Play your cards right and it will be made permanent. This could be a major stroke of luck for your career, if you don’t mess up. You have your orders, Lieutenant Commander.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘You’ll be contacted by the Peterson when she reaches the depot. She’s commanded by Captain Bill Wright. You’ll transfer to his command when she does, until such time as the Warspite arrives and Rear Admiral Khaimov takes full command of the sector.’

‘Aye, sir.’

‘Good luck. Frontier Command out.’

Samson slumped back in the chair. Lieutenant commander. He certainly hadn’t seen that coming. He’d thought their problems were over, but it seemed their real work was only just beginning.

Samson returned to the mess hall, where the idle time had clearly taken its toll on