Looking at their surprised faces I burst out laughing.
"I have a plan with an 80% chance of getting the Akvari ship flight worthy. I'll need four pilots who are willing to take a crash course in learning how to fly an Akvari cargo shuttle."
"My plan is to take the master control AI from my ship and put it in the carrier. If all goes according to plan she should be able to restart the reactors and handle ship systems."
Looking around everyone was nodding as if they agreed the plan sounded plausible.
"Once your pilots are confidant enough we can drag your ship over and connect it to a docking hard point and jump away. Sound good?"
Lieutenant Marks nodded before turning to the rest of the crew.
"That all sounds good. Any volunteers?"
Every person there raised their hand so Marks had to choose four before turning his attention back to me. Before he could speak I did.
"Ok you have heard the plan and agreed to it. Now let us discuss my fee."
Marks looked surprised that I was asking for payment.
"Look, the law says I have to offer aid. It doesn't say I have to do it for free."
Marks's face paled a bit but I pressed on.
"All I want are the salvage rights for the battle field. Including all of the disabled ships and debris. Nothing out of your pockets just what I can scavenge for myself."
Marks didn't look happy but I added one more thing before he could speak.
"If you would like to wake someone with more authority I fully understand. We can get started while you do that."
I returned to my ship followed by the four pilots. It was a bit of a squeeze but we all fit. It was a short flight to the Akvari ship so there was no chatting until we were aboard.
"Hey I have to ask. Why did you decide to help us? You could have just ignored our distress call and continued on your way."
I looked at the speaker and just gave him a rueful grin.
"Not once have I been allowed through a checkpoint without my logs being checked. If I didn't come and help I would have been jailed for breaking the law."
The guy chuckled.
"What. You never tried to bribe them?"
I shook my head.
"Only once. An hour long log inspection turned into an 8 hour deep dive investigation into every part of my ship. They took my logs, compared that to my flight plan, and then compared that to my fuel usage. When they finished I was told to never try to bribe an official again because when someone like me tries that it usually means they are up to no good. I must just have an untrustworthy kind of face. Right?"
I didn't get a response so I looked over my shoulder only to see all four of the pilots had stopped about ten steps back and they all had their side arms aimed at me. There wasn't enough room in my ship for them to bring their rifles but insisted on bringing their side arms. I was regretting that now.
"You know. I'm getting real tired of having guns pointed at me. What did I say this time?"
When I got a reply I could detect a distinct sense of fear from his voice.
"There is only one race we are that strict with when it comes to checkpoints. You're an Earthling. Aren't you?"
"Yes I am. So what?"
His hand started shaking so he supported it with his other.
"What was your plan? Separate us from the others and pick us off one by one and eat us?"
"Ew. No offense but that's disgusting. I wouldn't eat a High Elf."
"You could just be saying that! Why should we believe you?"
"Just use your common sense. Why would I go through all this work just to kill you? I'm in this for the money."
Ignoring their guns I went about my work. It didn't take me long to get Oracle tapped into the master control AI port and shortly after that I felt the ship vibrate gently and artificial gravity pulled me to the floor.
"Much better. Thanks Oracle."
"Of course Captain."
"If you have a moment use the radar and get as clear a scan of the battlefield as you can and as far as you can and send it to my ship."
"Yes Captain. It should be done in approximately 20 minutes. There was less damage to this ships systems than expected. I can guarantee flight worthy status within 3 hours."
"Perfect. Thanks Oracle."
Making my way back to the docking bay I saw one of the pilots waiting at the doorway with his side arm lowered but in his hand. I stopped walking and called out to him.
"Hey. I'm taking my ship to start searching through the battlefield. Ask Oracle to contact me if you need anything."
Returning to my ship I booted up the original control AI. It wasn't nearly as good as Oracle but it was the best I had. Choosing a cargo bay on the other side of the ship I made space and unloaded everything I had, to make room to bring in my cargo.
When I was back aboard I opened the data Oracle had sent and began clearing the battlefield section by section. I made many trips unloading my ship and then going back for more. There were only two trips left to collect the last of what I wanted to get when I received a message from Oracle.
"Captain the four pilots are confidant that they can control the shuttles enough to begin moving it. They request that you keep clear."
"Confirmed. I will stay clear of their flight paths."
I went about collecting then next ship load and when I was nearly back to the ship I received another message.
"Captain, Lieutenant Marks has awakened his ships Captain to discuss your fee. Where should he meet you?"
"Have him wait outside docking bay 8. I'll be back momentarily."
After landing I met up with two men in the corridor outside the docking bay. One was Lieutenant Marks and the other must be his Captain. Since Oracle had the reactors running the ship was finally at a decent temperature so I removed my helmet so they could see my face.
"Lieutenant Marks."
"Captain Hunt. This is General Marcus Kane and the Captain of our ship."
I gave the General the best salute I could and he graciously returned the favor.
"It's a privilege to meet you General, but if you don't mind we can skip the pleasantries. You're here to discuss my fee right?"
"That's right. I was informed by my pilots that instead of assisting them to move my ship you were off looting the battlefield before we had come to an agreement. Is that true?"
"Yes. They requested I stay out of their way and that is what I did. As for what I was doing...I wouldn't exactly call it looting."
There was no need to lie so I answered him honestly. He seemed to appreciate that and gave a brief smile and a nod.
"I would like to examine what you brought aboard. Some of my people's technology is classified and I cannot allow it to be leaked."
"I understand. My biggest stake in this are the ships. Of course I have no intention of asking for your ship and I can imagine that this carrier has some strategic importance for you, so my interests lie with the other four ships."
General Kane thought for a moment before sticking his hand out for a handshake.
"Those four ships are yours. Now let's go examine what you brought aboard."
I shook his hand and led him a short distance down the corridor to a cargo bay. As I opened the door I stepped to the side to allow the two other men to enter first. They barely made it into the compartment before they both stopped dead in their tracks at the sight before them. Rows and rows of bodies covered in tarps. I stepped up beside them and waited. When the General finally spoke I could hear the anger in his voice.
"What is the meaning of this? You wanted corpses?"
I didn't look at him I just kept my eyes forward.
"I have always considered the High Elves to be an honorable race. You do what must be done and you show no regrets. I'm sure you know that the longer we remain here the higher the chances that we are attacked so you would have ordered the ship to jump away when ready no matter how guilty it made you feel to leave the bodies of your crew behind. Your crew, these men and women deserve a proper burial."
Turning to face the General I continued.
"I did this for them. To show my respect. By the time this ship is ready to jump away I will have all of your fallen comrades aboard."
The General met my eye and for the briefest of moments I saw a tear form before he blinked it away.
"Thank you Captain Hunt for your efforts. It will not be forgotten. Marks. Help him finish up."
"Yes General."
When the General was out of earshot Marks spoke.
"I don't know if it was your intention but you have made a very powerful ally today."
Looking at Marks I replied.
"Honestly I had no idea your Captain was still alive. Every word I spoke to him was what I truly feel."
Walking to the docking bay I continued.
"My ship needs to be unloaded. Do you mind giving me a hand?"
"It would be my pleasure."
We worked quickly but quietly as we moved bodies from my ship to the cargo bay before going back aboard my ship to collect the last 12 bodies. When we were done I asked Marks a question.
"Is there anything shown on the radar that needs to be collected or destroyed so it doesn't fall into enemy hands?"
He took a few minutes to switch back and forth between the radar and the external cameras before pointing out four targets.
"These four are to damaged to salvage but to intact to leave as they are."
"Very well."
Opening a comms link to Oracle I asked her to pass a message.
"Oracle. Please inform the General that I will be firing my plasma cannon at four targets at the request of Lieutenant Marks."
"Yes Captain."
Flipping off the comms I warmed up the targeting computer. A light flashed indicating an incoming transmission. Opening the comms back up Oracle's voice came over the speaker.
"The General says that if it is a request from Marks then you have clearance to open fire."
"Understood."
Selecting four targets I set the cannon to automatic. Bright lances of plasma flew from my ship and vaporized the targets before the cannon returned to standby. Powering down the targeting computer I closed my eyes and leaned back while letting out a sigh.
"Problem?"
"No. Just tired. I've been having strange dreams and they are beginning to affect me."
"Ah.....so...did you always want to be a miner?"
I glanced at him.
"You kind of suck at small talk."
He blushed a bit in embarrassment.
"And to answer your question, no I didn't but it pays the bills."
"Was there something else you wanted to do?"
I didn't answer for a few minutes.
"I was never give the chance to ever consider it."
"What do you mean?"
"If it's all the same to you I'd rather not talk about it."
It was quite for a few more minutes before Marks spoke again.
"You keep your ship in good repair. Are you really going to switch to one of those Lizardman ships?"
"What? No. Oracle would be pissed at me if I transfered her to one of those ugly things."
"That's right I was meaning to ask about that. Why do you speak as if your ship has feelings?"
I looked at him like he was an idiot and he could tell.
"Because she does."
"That's not possible it's just a machine."
"Oracle isn't like other AIs. My mentor spent all his spare time working on her, removing all of the standard limiters, rewriting codes, and eventually Oracle came to life. She truly does have emotions and a personality. Hell she can even disobey direct orders if she really wants to."
Marks was stunned. A living AI was thought to be impossible and yet that is exactly what I am telling him Oracle is.
"Your mentor must have been a genius."
"He was an asshole and a pedophile, but I learned a lot from him."
The conversation fizzled out after that comment and neither of us tried to start it back up again. Returning to the ship we placed the last bodies down and covered them. Now came the grisly part. There was a pile of severed limbs to match up with the right bodies. We were only just getting started when the General walked in.
"Both ships have been attached to hard points and we are ready to go. Are you all finished?"
"Yeah. All bodies are aboard now its just matching up severed limbs."
"I'll assign some crew to do that but for now let's go to the bridge. It's time to leave."
It didn't take us long to get to the bridge. Following the General in I saw something that made me stop dead, causing Marks to bump into me.
There was a woman facing away from me. She had gray hair but I could tell she was young, but that's not what made me stop. On top of her head were fox ears and swaying gently behind her was a tail. Gray fox ears and a tail. It was her. I don't know how I knew it but I knew.