The pirate vessel sat motionless in the dark void, stationed along a path that would keep them safe as they drifted through the asteroid belt, waiting for their prey. They’d arrived early enough to prepare the trap and had even gone a step further by setting it much deeper into no-man’s zone than initially planned. It was harder to pull off—especially when one considered how quickly things could turn disastrous—but it would add another layer of protection to their strike.
Jean drummed his metallic fingers on the armrest of his captain's chair and pulled a long pipe from inside his jacket. Rodney initially resisted his request, but he eventually gave in and instructed the replicators to create a small amount of tobacco and sensation. The first would sharpen his mind, dulling the ever-present gnawing that craved the substance, and allowing him to think clearly. The second was a celebratory drug that he would gladly enjoy, but only after the incoming frigate was under their command. While still running his eco-warrior movement on Earth, he discovered sensation and found it allowed him to revel simply in the moment of victory rather than dwell on how little they had actually accomplished despite their efforts.
He packed the pipe with tobacco and slipped the stem between his teeth. The movies from Earth always talked about how stupid it was to have an open flame while on a ship, but he had been assured their life support system could handle a little smoke here and there. With a long match held between his fingers, he lit the pipe and puffed until it was burning comfortably. Satisfied, he shook out the match and leaned back in his chair.
The enemy ship was visible on the tactical map long before it was within striking distance. It floated cautiously, ionization engines flaring occasionally to adjust course and dodge stones as they navigated through the asteroid field for the thousandth time. They weren’t on high alert, despite not having shields. In such confines, a shield could be more of a hinderance than anything. Jean could imagine their thoughts at that moment; why bother with caution? This path never had enemies on it before. Why would anyone risk themselves for a relatively small reward when so many larger targets were significantly softer?
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“Fighters, move your asteroids into position. Low output ion thrust only.” Jean ordered the two small fighter pilots that were stationed on a pair of floating rocks. This was another incredibly risky move; with how limited their fighters were, any unnecessary risk was sheer stupidity. Each captured cruiser came with a pair of the small spacecraft, but despite having the plans for them, the pirates didn't possess enough raw material to build new ships every time one was lost due to stupidity.
On his map, a pair of asteroids closed in and sealed away the frigate's retreat. It was the seventh time they’d moved stones behind their target, and each layer added another obstacle in case the Scaladorians tried to retreat.
The ship passed his position, and Jean smiled. “Gun one, take out their ship killers. Gun two, target the missile battery. Fire when ready.”
A line of hot plasma knifed through the darkness, slamming into each gun emplacement as the pirate gunner disabled their defenses. Simultaneously, another line of plasma whipped across the missile battery, leaving a trail of slag that would need to be physically chipped away before the individual bays would open again. The target ship tried to maneuver, momentarily slamming on their thrusters before cutting them immediately as the pilot recognized the nature of their trap. A shield began to form but was broken moments later upon encountering a myriad of asteroids.
Mik’t had explained this method a long time ago; Scaladorian shields were strong, but they required void space to fully form. It was why they didn’t have personal shields built into their armor. Any matter that crossed the path of the shell would interfere with its formation and force the process to restart. Since the frigate powered down the shield prior to entering the asteroid field, it was nearly impossible to create another in such a tight confine.
It wasn’t a flashy fight, but it didn’t have to be. They’d planned a trap and sprung it well, all without the enemy gaining enough of a footing to fight back. If the boarding process went smoothly, then the pirate fleet would gain a powerful weapon with no blood spilled.
No human blood spilled, that was. Jean was all but certain the decks of the frigate would soon be covered in the viscera of their enemies.
