Refusing Excalibur by Zachary Jones Page B

missile tubes was visible on the ship’s sides as well.
    A vessel like her wouldn’t have lasted thirty seconds against the Osprey . But she probably would never have to face a ship of that caliber in combat. Not unless she was very unlucky.
    Walking up the short boarding ramp, a squat, muscular heavy-worlder stood at the top to greet them.
    “I see you found a new recruit, Captain.”
    Warwick nodded. “That’s right, Fowler. This is Victor, the newest addition to our boarding party.”
    “More meat for the grinder then,” the heavy-worlder said.
    Victor didn’t need to be a genius to know what he meant. Boarding operations were notoriously dangerous. And he guessed that Fowler must be Warwick’s second-in command.
    “Now don’t go scaring the new recruit. He beat a man half-again his size in a fist fight at Natalia’s,” Warwick said.
    “ Hrmmph . Well, at least we can handle ourselves if we ever have to board a hostile bar,” Fowler said. He walked away.
    Warwick leaned toward Victor. “Don’t mind Fowler. He doesn’t like getting attached to new people.”
    Victor nodded. “I take it the average life expectancy for boarding specialists is rather low.”
    “Oh, it’s not as bad as you think. Most of the time we beat the fight from other ships before we ever have to board them. You’ll be on glorified cleanup duty most of the time,” Warwick said.
    Skeptical, Victor nodded anyway. He followed Warwick to the center of the ship’s hull, where bunk pods lined the walls. Sitting at a small table was a short hairless man, heavily muscled and covered in what looked like tribal tattoos. The only parts of his body that didn’t have tattoos were his fists, which appeared to be made of metal.
    “You’ll be bunking in here. The bottom bunk on the right is yours.” Warwick pointed at the tattooed man. “That’s Gaz. He’s the leader of our boarding party. You should introduce yourselves.” He departed, leaving Victor alone with Gaz.
    Gaz gave Victor an appraising look and stood. Like watching a snake uncoil. When he spoke, Victor realized the man’s teeth were filed to points.
    “So, who’re you?”
    “Victor.”
    “That it?”
    “That’s it.”
    “I was led to believe we’d be getting some big ol’ fucker who likes to hang out at Natalia’s.” Gaz crossed his arms.
    “If we’re talking about the same guy, I left him on Natalia’s floor.”
    “A lanky fuck like you beat a big fuck like him?” asked Gaz.
    Victor shrugged. “I’m stronger than I look. You should ask your captain. He can vouch for me.”
    Gaz nodded. “Captain Hyde has an eye for talent. He wouldn’t have brought you aboard otherwise. Plus, I know sword-calluses when I see ’em. What blade you use?”
    “Variblade,” Victor said.
    Gaz laughed. “A variblade?” He looked at Victor’s belt. “I don’t see no variblade on you, fucker.”
    Gaz sure did like that word. “It was taken from me.”
    “How?”
    “I lost a fight. I mean to earn it back. Or get a new one at least,” Victor said.
    Gaz nodded. “That I can understand. You got any gear?”
    “Not yet,” Victor said.
    “Can you buy any?” asked Gaz.
    “Some,” Victor said. He wouldn’t mention the currency card.
    “Well, you should get some stuff in town. We take off in a couple days. We’re patrolling a trade route ahead of a convoy.”
    “Escort job?”
    “Nah, patrol, like I said. We’re looking for pirates hidin’ along the route to blast ’em,” Gaz said.
    Victor nodded. “Understood. Looks like I have some shopping to do.”
    “Looks like. Be sure to get some sheets too.” Gaz nodded toward Victor’s new bunk. “The guy before you was kind of a pig.”

Chapter 6
    Two days later, the Fortune took off from Marksburg Spaceport and set course for the Vivian system jump point. It would take a week for them to reach their destination, a deserted system along the Mustang-Vespa trade route simply called Trine. The system got its name