Read The Terran Privateer for Free Online Page A

‘experience’ you speak of has now become obsolete.
    “No one else in this system has as much experience with the interface drive as my crew does, so the Space Force brought us in to man the first true starship of the United Earth Space Force,” she concluded. “My understanding is that Nova Industries intends to start delivering civilian interface drive ships inside the next four months—before the end of the year.
    “It is necessary for the Space Force to have ships capable of matching the performance of those civilian vessels to maintain our role as the arbiter of peace in the system.
    “That requires a crew and captain experienced with this type of ship. I was not selected over more experienced officers, Miss Robin,” she said flatly. “I was selected because I was the only experienced officer.”
    Robin made an odd glance aside, and Annette realized she was wearing video contacts linked to the headset. Someone was getting a live feed and sending the reporter questions. From the way her face momentarily twisted in disgust, the suggestions they were providing weren’t to her taste.
    “Is it true, Captain, that Dark Eye is suggesting we’re going to see alien contact in the next few years?” she finally asked, and Annette stared at her for a long moment. The reporter had acquired a mischievous grin that made her all-too-perfect face suddenly far more human—and much more attractive.
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said slowly while reminding herself the reporter was at least ten years her junior.
    “Please, Captain, the Dark Eye Interstellar Surveillance System is an open secret now,” Robin insisted. “You’d have been briefed on it as a senior Nova Industries employee, let alone as a Space Force Captain!”
    “Miss Robin,” Annette said flatly. “ If some sort of sensor net like you discussed existed, I would not be allowed to talk about it, regardless of whether or not the secret had been compromised.”
    Dark Eye was a network of small and mid-sized satellites spread throughout the inner system, a joint Nova–Space Force project. She’d seen the results and agreed with Casimir— somebody was out there. She was also bound not to talk about it by both her Nova Industries’ nondisclosure agreement and the United Earth Space Force Code of Justice.
    “But if aliens were coming, they’d have ships like Tornado ?” Robin asked.
    That was a sensible question. From the way the reporter’s eyes were flickering to read whatever feed was coming to her contacts, it was probably less sensationalized than her bosses liked.
    “Most likely,” Annette allowed. “That is why Admiral Villeneuve is seeking funding to upgrade the Space Force as quickly as we can. Our fusion-torch warships are obsolete; they would stand no chance against a fleet of ships similar to Tornado .”
    Out of view of her headset’s cameras, Robin made a clear “touché” gesture. Whether she’d meant to or not, she’d allowed Annette to bring the conversation around to convincing people to support the Admiral’s expansion plan.
    The reporter opened her mouth to ask another question, but she was cut off as every Space Force communicator in the room went off with an emergency alert.
    Annette pulled hers out and opened the scroll-like device, skimming the text. Dark Eye had detected multiple hyperspace portals forming just inside the asteroid belt. Current estimate was twenty ships had emerged from hyperspace fifteen minutes previously.
    Even if all four XC hulls and the new survey flotilla were complete and online—which they weren’t —Earth didn’t have twenty hyper-capable starships.

Chapter 5
     
    The room exploded into chaos. Annette waved the reporter back and charged into the crowd, forcing her way through to Admiral Villeneuve. The UESF Chief of Operations was surrounded by shouting, swearing, panicking officers
    “Admiral!” She tried to get his attention, shoving through the crowd somewhat