Page 14 of Vikingr
"Has anyone responded to our broadcast yet?" I asked Torsten.
"No. Although I don't think we can expect a friendly response. They might stay silent until they reach us, hoping for the advantage of surprise."
I chuckled darkly. "They have no idea what's waiting for them."
We'd broadcast a video of the Peritan female on all frequencies we knew the Albyans favoured. She looked miserable in the footage, vulnerable and scared. It was perfect for our purposes, but I didn't have to like it. I'd had to fight the impulse to run to the simdeck and cradle her in my arms. It was all for a greater purpose, I reminded myself. After I'd found my mate, I'd compensate Steff for her troubles. I had more money than I'd ever need, so giving her some of it felt like a good idea.
But first, we needed an Albyan ship to take our bait.
I paced around the bridge until Torsten snapped at me to sit down because he couldn't concentrate on his work. If any of the others had talked to me like that, I'd put them in the stocks for a week, but he had the most important role of the entire crew just now. His algorithms were still running, trying to find us suitable mates. The new strategy, getting an Albyan scientist to share their method with us, might not end up working. If it did, its chances of success were probably higher, since they knew all about Peritans and what to look for. Torsten was building his search algorithms from scratch without having ever met a Peritan.
I clenched my fists. I was getting impatient. A deep need burned within me, an ache that could only be soothed by my mate. I needed to find her fast. I was already worried I was not making rational decisions. As the captain of the Valkyr, my crew relied on me to keep a cool head, but how could I focus when I could almostfeelthat my female was out there, waiting for me?
Talking to Steff had triggered something, some slumbering instinct that was now wide awake. It confirmed that I might have a mate among the Peritans, because why else would meeting her have this effect on me?
A triple beep signalled an incoming transmission.
"Put it on the main screen," I commanded before Torsten could announce who was hailing us.
"Yes, sir."
An Albyan male appeared on the screen, flickering unsteadily.
"Boost the signal," I ordered while observing him closely. Both pairs of arms were crossed in front of his chest, matching the scowl on his pale face. His skin was several shades lighter than that of Steff. Without his extra set of arms and the mating antennae on his forehead, he could have passed for Peritan.
"This is Donail of Clan Maclen, captain of the Islay," the male said coldly. "What is the meaning of your broadcast? Why have you taken the Peritan female hostage?"
His face betrayed no emotion. Behind him, two other Albyans stood in the same position, arms crossed, their chests bare. They wore kilts, one in a green chequered pattern, one in blue. The kilts were too colourful for my taste, too garish for a true warrior.
"We have been told the Peritan female is important to you," I said in an equally cool voice. I didn't bother introducing myself. "If you want her back, send an Albyan scientist involved in your mate-matching research to our ship."
Donail frowned ever so slightly. "This is a trading vessel. And even if we had scientists on board, we do not respond to the demands of pirates."
I didn't correct his assumption.People often confused Vikingar raiders like us with pirates.
"Release the female immediately, or you will face the consequences."
"She stays where she is," I replied, not feeling threatened at all. On the smaller screen in front of me, their ship's weapon and defence ratings were visible. We outgunned the Islay, and our shields could easily take hits from their weapons. For a military vessel, they weren't well equipped.
I ended the transmission and asked my crew, "Do we know yet if he speaks the truth? Did anyone hack into their crew manifest?"
"He lies," Torsten confirmed. "There are two scientists listed in the manifest. And I found something else. The ship's destination is the Peritan city of Glasgow, close to where you found the female. They may be on the way to meet with that mating agency."
"My hamingja really has returned," I grinned. "Luck is back on our side. What are their shields like? Can we hack them to port the scientists over onto the Valkyr?"
Rune made a non-committal sound. "I can try, but it will take time. And we'd have to get closer to them, which might be exactly what they're hoping for."
"The Valkyr will withstand any attack they can muster," I said confidently. "Let's change course towards them. We'll get these scientists one way or another. Engage raid alert."
A deep hum filled the bridge at the same time as orange lights began to flash, alerting the crew everywhere on the Valkyr to ready themselves. I knew everyone was desperate for a good raid.
My attention flashed to the view of the simdeck. Steff was looking up at the orange lights, her expression fearful. I had to fight the instinct to run to her. She was not a priority just now. Yet I still couldn't resist activating the speakers in the simdeck.
"It's nothing to worry about," I told her, watching as she sat up straight when she heard my voice. "We are not under attack. We're just preparing for a raid. You will be safe in the simdeck. If you require food or more H2O, tell the Valkyr and it will be supplied."
"How much longer are you going to keep me here?" she asked, her voice thick with anger and resentment.
"I will come to you after the raid," I promised before ending the transmission.
