Privateer Tales 3: Parley Read Online Free Page B

my contact with Mars Protectorate Navy.
    Attach all recent combat data streams to the following message.
    Greetings Lieutenant Belcose – Sterra's Gift has rendered aid to the merchant ship, Baux-201, which was eventually destroyed. Captain Adela Chen was killed by the action of a well-organized pirate team. We arrived too late to help Captain Chen, but were able to rescue her daughter, Ada Chen, and in the process destroyed two pirate ships and captured a third. I believe we will end up requesting a prize claim for this captured ship and will take this up with the captain who takes control of the now secured combat area. We intend to continue to render assistance to Ada Chen until the Mars Protectorate Navy instructs us otherwise. I have attached combat data streams for all of these actions.
    I’m concerned about discovering pirate activity this close to Mars since we are less than a week out. On a personal level, I hope you and Captain Sterra are doing well.
    Hoffen Out.
    I heard Ada in the adjacent shower room. It was a good sign that she was taking care of herself. I rejoined Marny and Nick on the bridge.
    “I know the timing is bad, but we should probably talk to her about the cargo. The way we treat this could have a big impact on her,” Nick said.
    “I’m not following …”
    “It depends who owns Baux-201 . Tugs are pretty commonly owner-operated. If that’s the case and the cargo is lost, then they’ll forfeit their bond. If they don’t own the ship then it’s probably not as big of a deal. Either way, we should help her figure that out before the Navy shows up. We could rightfully salvage the load and demand its value, as well as the value of the actual barges from whoever owns it. We’d have to get a lawyer again,” Nick never ceased to amaze me with his understanding of these types of details. I wondered if he ever slept.
    “That sounds pretty mercenary,” I said.
    “Right, but if we leave it here, what’s going to happen to it? Probably get picked up by pirates. Point is, you’re not going to feel good about it unless she’s part of the conversation. It really depends if her mom owned the ship and held the bond.”
    “Ugh, got it. Not sure she’s ready for this.”
    Nick had forwarded me some of the easier to understand legalese related to salvage rights. The laws were essentially the same as they had been since the Roman Empire. As salvager we could ask for repayment equal to the value of the load, including the barges. If we went that path and the Chen family had a bond, they would not only lose their tug but also their bond. Most small trading families couldn’t take that type of loss and survive.
    I waited for a few minutes after Ada got out of the shower and then knocked on her bunk room door.
    “Come in.” Her voice sounded small behind the door. I pushed it open. Ada sat on the edge of the bed and was drying her hair with the towel.
    “I’m really sorry, you’ve been through a lot, but we should probably talk about some things before the Navy gets here. We have some decisions to make that could affect you.”
    She looked up at me with distrust in her eyes. I didn’t blame her, it was way too much to take in.
    I continued. “At least let me tell you how we read it.”
    She nodded and I leaned against the door frame. “A lot of this hinges on whether you and your mom owned the tug and if you hold the bond on the load.” Her answer showed in her face before she had a chance to say anything. She probably wasn’t much of a poker player.
    “Okay …” she said, trying not to give anything away.
    “Let’s just say that’s the case.”
    “It is,” she interrupted.
    “Well, that’s mostly bad. As it stands, the company you contracted to will collect the bond since you have no way to complete the delivery.”
    “What about the other tug? Is it yours?” Ada asked.
    “No. It belonged to the pirates. We have captured it, however, and will make a claim on it.”
    “Is that