The Technician's Fight, Draft 1, CH15

“We let them into our systems,” Beta Batrix sel Gezbil stated. “That’s how they were able to hide not just their approach, but them breaching the hull and moving about the Bane. They took control of our sensors and showed us only what they wanted us to see.”

“Within limits,” Kergirik Dromitoura Virisos added. “Trying to tailor every detail would have been too data intensive to go unnoticed. They used a masking program to target a transponder. Anything around it within a fixed range, other than the ship, was removed.”

“Which is why even the civilians and crew were vanishing when they stepped within that range,” Gralgiran said.

“Yes, hiding their ship was simpler. So long as nothing passed behind them, we couldn’t tell it was there.”

He looked at Filinan Taro Jeomonatlin. “And we let them in?”

“When we hacked into the Earther ship on arrival, they used our datalink to enter ours.”

“How are they familiar enough with our system to install that program without anyone noticing?”

“I don’t know, captain.”

“The most likely way,” the beta said, “is that they used their previous stay here to learn it. There are always Kelsirian ships at this station.”

“There has to be more than that,” the comm office said. “The Bane’s systems are military grade. Hunter ships only come to stations when required, and most of the time, they’ll come under an assumed civilian identity. Someone provided them details.”

“The Taournians have begun the process of shepherding the Earthers within the Federation,” Beta Descinikal Dosirar said. “And we know they’ve gotten their grabby little claws on at least one hunter ship.”

He nodded. There had been little left of the Rotimarikal’s Soar, according to the report he’d read. So little that if not for the transmission they’d managed to force through the blocking field, no one would have known what had happened to them.

Pirates, the Taournian leadership had claimed, as always. But no mere pirate ship could have taken on the Soar.

“I want Information to go over everything. We’re here for at least three days while the hole in the hull of repaired. Shut down every non essential data system and have them scrubbed. Then I want plans of action to ensure no one takes control of my ship away from us again.”

“Alpha,” Batrix sel Gezbil said, “those are hard wired systems. The Leadership will never approve modifications to them.”

Gralgiran was tempted to tell them what he thought of what the Leadership wouldn’t let him do to keep his people safe. He didn’t. Modifying those systems would be a reason to recall him to Kelser, put him before an evaluation board again. And this time, he didn’t know what he could tell them to justify his decision.

Keeping his people safe only went so far, as far as they were concerned, when those people had signed up to give their life to protect their people.

“Have the plans made, have the Informatician send them to their equivalent within the Leadership. Have them gather ever report filed regarding what took place to support the need for stronger systems.” Another excuse for them to recall him, if they decided to adopt the changes, but no bite to their claims he wasn’t fit to captain his ship. “In the meantime, I want them to make whatever alteration they can justify to make what happened as difficult to reproduce as possible. We have Builders. Let them come up with ideas.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the betas said.

“Yes, Captain,” those of his crew answered before they left.

*

“What’s the estimate?” he asked the hangar’s Repairer.

The shuttle, now resting among the others, was utterly different. Small and sleek. There had been eight Earthers in it, and he couldn’t imagine forcing half that many hunters in and expecting them to be sane when they reached their destination.

How did Earthers manage it?

“I have no idea,” the female answered. “I can give you some rough value based on the mass and the price of those raw materials, but this is Earther tech. Unless you’re looking to sell it back to them, at which point you’re have to rely on how much they’d claim it’s worth, I can’t tell you what to sell it for.”

Since it was attached to his ship while the Earthers had committed their crimes, it was officially his to do as he wanted to with. He had no use for an Earther shuttle, so he planned on selling it, but he wanted to get the best price he could. Everyone on the ship received a portion of the profits and he wanted them to get as much as possible.

“You have a scan of it?”

“Of course, it’s the only way to get its mass and the composition of the materials.”

“Send it to me. I’ll see if I can’t have someone get more information.”

*

The male leaned forward against the counter, head bent down and let out a moan as Gralgiran approached.

“Quartermaster.” Was the male ever not getting his cock played with?

He raised his head and smiled, eyes half lidded and ears lazily back. “Captain, it’s such a pleasure to see—” he groaned. “—you.”

“I need all your attention. Tell them to come back later.”

“You heard the captain,” the Quartermaster said. “We’ll finish later.”

The male who stood didn’t look at him, muttering a quick, “sorry captain,” before hurrying away.

The quartermaster smiled. “How can I service you, captain?”

“Take out your tablet. I’m sending you a scan.”

With a quizzical tilt of the ear, the male did so. He looked over the image. “Whose design is this?”

“Earther, it’s the ship they used to board.”

“What do you want me to do with this?”

“I need to know how much it’s worth. Actual value, not has melted slag.”

“You might be overestimating my capabilities, Captain. I move products around.”

“You have access to an information network. Use it to find out how much this tech can be worth.”

The Quartermaster nodded. “I’ll ask around. But it’s going to cost you.”

“Can’t you ever do something just because it’s the right thing to do?”

“I’m Tal’halan. If I don’t get something out of it, it’s not worth doing.”

Gralgiran sighed. “What are you asking in return?”

“When you find out the recording was made public, you don’t show up to rip my balls off.”

“What recording?” he asked, eyes narrowing.

“The one of your Heart and the friend of yours fucking like they were having the time of their lives.”

Gralgiran leaned forward. “How did you get your hands on that?” he demanded. “If you had your hacker—”

“I got it through the station’s information network for a fair price.”

“You’re lying. No one has access to it.”

“Really, no one? Not even one elderly adjudicator who discovered he kind of likes Earthers?”

“He wouldn’t sell the recording. I could bring him to adjudication for that.”

“True. I doubt it’s him. But whoever made it available got it from his home system.”

“And you’re selling it to the people on my ship? Jeremy’s going to have your balls for that.”

“Let me worry about keeping that from happening. And it’s not like this would remain hidden, anyway. I’m just ahead of anyone else and making a small profit on the side. Oh, one other thing. You don’t tell him about this deal.”

“No.”

“Okay.” The Quartermaster moved to delete the scan.

“Fine.” He could explain this as being important enough. “But whien this come out, you explain to him how you blackmailed me into staying silent.”

“You’re really hoping he’s going to rip them out, aren’t you? It’s a deal.”

*

“Please?” Toom whispered, nuzzling Gralgiran’s neck. He’d needed to relax after dealing with the Quartermaster, and his friend had been the first person he’d thought of. “Pretty, pretty please?” he added.

He chuckled. “How do you even know about it?”

“Really? A shuttle designed by another species in the hangar and you’re surprised I heard about it?”

“It’s not like you can fly it.”

Toom snorted. “If you think that little of my skills, I don’t think we can have sex again.” He moved to roll away, but Gralgiran stopped him.

“Too late.” He rubbed muzzle with his friend. “Look, I don’t even know what it’s worth, so I can’t sell it to you.”

That Toom could have that kind of money didn’t surprise him. Not counting his family connections, he wasn’t a spender. So his pay, and any bonus he earned, accumulated.

Toom licked his ear’s pavilion, and Gralgiran shuddered. “I’ll give you the price in slag,” he whispered. “Plus a hefty finder’s bonus.” He ground his hard cock against Gralgiran’s also hard one.

He laughed and let his friend proceed to convince him.

If nothing else, that got him out of the deal with the Quartermaster.

*

“Yes!” Toom squealed, looking at the shuttle. He hugged Gralgiran and rubbed muzzle with him. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Why are you thanking me?” he replied. “It’s not like I gave it to you. You paid a fair price for it.”

Toom licked his lips. “Oh, I am so not done paying.” He pulled Gralgiran along and into the shuttle. Now that he owned it, it had been moved to the civilian section of the hangar. The only shuttle there since he didn’t have anyone of high wealth on his ship.

“Are you sure you want this?” he asked as they stepped into the small crew area.

“It’s too late for me to have doubts, isn’t it?” Toom replied, not sounding bothered by the close walls and low ceiling.

“Don’t you think it’s small?”

His friend was already in the cockpit. “It’s not small. It’s intimate.”

Gralgiran forced himself to look at the space again, and to ignore what the shuttle had been used for. How many Earthers had been in it. And, as a personal one? As a shuttle one person used? Maybe brought on a friend? It wasn’t horrible.

Arms wrapped around him from the back. “And I’ll be able to claim more space when I remove all the needless storage.” they pulled his vest off. “You’ll see. I’ll have space for a comfortable bed, a nice eating area.”

Gralgiran turned and removed his friend’s vest. “Shouldn’t we be doing this after, then? Isn’t it tradition to thank Danirag once you are able to fully get joy out of your ship?”

Toom reached into Gralgiran’s pant and cupped his cock and balls. “If he has a complaint about me having sex in his name too early, he’s welcome to come down here and tell me in person.”

Gralgiran pushed his friend down to the floor between the benches. “Then we’re better make sure he has a lot to complain about.”

*

Gralgiran sighed contently and held Toom tightly against him. He nipped through the neck fur and his friend shuddered.

“How long until you need to go back home?” Toom asked, grinding his ass against Gralgiran’s crotch.

“A few more hours. Jer has work, and he’ll spend time with friends since we’re together.”

“He’s really adjusting?”

“He is. We even talked about me and my other friends, and he’s okay with it.”

“And the ship?”

Gralgiran chuckled. “I’m keeping it to small steps. If he gets comfortable with this, then I’ll tell him about the clubs and finding males there. Maybe he’ll come and find himself someone to enjoy for an evening.” He reached down and stroked his friend.

“I hope he does.” Toom pressed into him. “He shouldn’t keep himself just to you.”

He shifted until his cock was between the cheeks. “You could spend time with him. You’ve already had sex and shortened names.”

“Yes to spending time with your Heart. But I think I’ll wait until we’re comfortable shortening our names more before I suggest we have sex again.”

“I guess it’s up to me to keep you happy, then.” He shifted again and pushed.

Metal groaned at the hatch.

“It’s just the ramp,” Toom said. “They do that when someone walks up them.”

“Did you ask someone else to join us?”

“Maybe we’ve finally offended Danirag enough he’s coming to complain.”

“I don’t think he’d bother walking up a ramp. Did you lock the hatch?”

“No idea how. Alien system, remember?”

The list of who it might be was small. The Quartermaster had taken the news Gralgiran no longer needed his help well. Maybe too well? How long until he’d found out Toom had bought it? They’d walked through the hangar, one of the male’s unending lover could have informed him, and it was just like a Tal’halan to invite himself to a thanking of Danirag.

“It’s probably someone from Repairs checking if—” The hatch opened, and the Earther hurried in.

Gralgiran was up as they locked eyes, and another hand became visible. He had to end this quickly. The Earther was shoved forward by the second one as he reached them. She took one look at him, her eyes dropping to his crotch and growing wide in horrified surprise. He kicked her out. At worse, he’d given himself time to deal with the male. If Xeniila’haran glanced his way, someone would have heard her land and one of the hunters working in the hangar would have her restrained.

He’d deal with how they’d escape their cells after.

He struck fast and hard, uncaring of the damage he inflicted, short of doing something that might kill the male. The one punch the male landed had enough strength behind it Gralgiran felt it, but not enough to force him away. Then the male was in the cockpit, unconscious.

He caught his breath, forcing himself to turn. The female ran up the ramp with a snarl. He readied himself, his breathing nowhere near settled.

She came at him hard, and he blocked, backing. He cut her side open, but she returned to the fight harder. He was between the benches and happy Toom had found a place to hide. He forced himself to attack, but he was sloppy, out of breath, his vision blurring. He managed a shoulder into her and gave himself space too breath. But not enough.

With a vicious smile, she returned to him and he couldn’t block all her attacks. His back pressed against a door and he focused on taking the hits. He thought he made out motion behind her. If the other Earther was awake and ready to help her, he was in trouble.

The impact sent her to the side, and the board then hit the wall.

“Ow, ow, ow.” Toom dropped it, shaking his hands.

Gralgiran kicked her in the face as hard as he could.

She slumped, and he breathed.

Toom was against him. “You were so amazing. A ballad hero.”

“Who needed rescuing.” He rubbed muzzle, then pushed his friend away. “I need to find out how they escaped and if the others are still in their cells.”

Outline section 

Gral loved Jeremy, but he was also enjoying the fact that Toom was back on the menu, to coin a phrase. Yes, there was the size and energy, but also just the creativity. But there was also his creativity. Like breaking in his new ship.

Not that Toom will be breaking out on his own any time soon, as the shuttle acquired from the human marines was not only small but also all human tech. When Gral put all the non-blackops gear acquired from the kidnappers up for auction, he was expecting just the weapons to be sold. Turns out there is nothing really fancy about this ship, the humans just got into their systems and made the sensors blind to it’s approach.

Of course, when he saw the ship going up for sale he expected Xenial to grab it. Instead, Toom swooped in. Apparently he’s been waiting for just such an acquisition, even if it’s one he’s going to have to get Jeremy up here and help him figure out how to pilot. All ship consoles are just rows of buttons, but the logic of where humans put them or the colors they choose to differentiate them are slightly off from current kelsirian designs.

Somewhere in the afterglow of all this, the two of them hear someone walking up the boarding ramp. The only two people to expect are Jeremy to join them, or Xenial to negotiate Toom possibly selling him the ship. Instead it’s one of the human prisoners... and if he was expecting two kelsirians lying together in the afterglow to be unarmed then he forgot about claws.

After taking the human down alive, they search for the others... don’t find anyone. Which is bad; military crews don’t abandon their own so easily. Gral messages the bridge about the escape, and asks to know where the rest of the humans are. There is a pause as the ship does a scan of itself, and Gral is eventually told that aside from Jeremy with them in the hanger bay all humans on the ship have somehow infiltrated acquisitions. Of course, the human with them at the moment isn’t Jeremy, so what is going on is easy enough to figure out.

Chapter switch Jeremy and Xenial fight the humans

The two of them race down to acquisitions, even if the hunter teams will get to them before them, but when they get there they don’t find a line of hunters ready to charge or even having already charged and taken care of things. They find a bunch of tied up humans with a slightly beaten up Xenial and Jeremy standing above them. Without their full combat gear Jeremy is a fair match for them, and Xenial doesn’t play fair to begin with.

There will be some congratulations, and maybe Xenial likely has heard the news by now that Jeremy is opening up sexually. He’ll have to wait in line, however, as Gral still gets dibs.

Addition 

No Additions

Previous alterations lead to significant changes to the outline. Mainly references to Toom and Jeremy.

I added the explanation of how the humans moved around, because I kind of had to.

The bribe, of sort, for how Toom gets the shuttle was pretty much always there.

Them going to rescue Jeremy and finding them victorious was removed from here because I wasn’t going to leave that fight implied. And man am I glad I made it an actual scene