The Alienbutt Saga, Book 1. War of the Coffee Bean. Part 14.

Piestoff left the cruiser a hundred beans lighter but with clearance to fly through the enemy’s space, and a contact name at their main base with whom to trade the rest of his beans. Also having slipped the camera from Poodles’ collar after he was searched and onto his own jacket collar as he left to see the captain, he had pictures of the enemy’s fleet position in that system from a star chart behind the captain. Added to that he had gained a nice collection of rare gemstones and precious metals, a sack of Mingrolian starberry chillies and two cases of the local firewater.

Piestoff had realised that what Snoodgrass had told him before he left was true; if you look like a drunken fool then people treat you as one, and if you're dealing with criminals then you can always get what you want if you offer them a big enough profit. He sent his new-found information back to the Ick fleet and jumped to light speed, while on the cruiser, the captain had just sent a message to his brood brother at the main base about a stupid trader with coffee beans. After the trader was taken to the slave pens the captain wanted his gemstones returned and the trader's pet so he could use its pelt to make into a coat.

Aboard a ship a few systems away, both messages were intercepted and the captain of that ship ordered that Alienbutt's ship was to be captured before it reached the main base.

CHAPTER 5
Bum-plug Safety Off.
INTERSTELLAR NEWS CHANNEL 9 NEWS FLASH

The Coffee Houses today announced the first five of its new coffee production planets had come online. With the new security measures in place, it expected to start delivery through the official Federation Coffee Distribution Program, increasing production by twenty percent over the next several months and bringing production close to pre-rationing levels.

Wickede sat in his office trying to concentrate on the reports in front of him. Failing, he stood and walked over to the drinks locker to pour himself a large drink. He picked up a bottle of whiskey, then put it back down and returned to the computer screen. Still no word from Piestoff, and the Ick fleet would set off in under an hour, a day early in case Piestoff had been captured and forced to reveal their plans. They had received his report on the enemy fleet lying in wait and the intelligence that the main base was where they suspected, but then nothing. The door opened and Snoodgrass and Blackarachnia walked in. Both looked as worried as Wickede over the lack of contact from Piestoff. Wickede was thankful that Nifty was not aboard his ship, but had heard about her reaction to Piestoff not sending back his now overdue report. He looked over at Blackarachnia and the black eye he now sported.
“We need to order the fleet to prepare to move, Wickede,” Snoodgrass said quietly, Wickede slumped into his chair but nodded and reached out to press a button on the table, opening communication with the bridge.
“Mr. Hollandaise, order the fleet to stand by to deploy.” He released the button and looked at Blackarachnia. “We hold to the original plan. Just move the timetable up by a day, unless we get a fix on Alienbutt, then the top priority is rescue. He’s resourceful but more importantly he is cursed by Lady Luck at her most nasty, so she will look after him with that evil sense of humour that has typified his life so far.”
“She does love to torture him, so she’s bound to keep him safe, if only to continue the fun she’s having,” replied a grinning Blackarachnia. Despite them trying to make light of the fact that he was late sending his expected report, all three were worried, while Nifty was unapproachable. After what had happened to Blackarachnia no one else wanted to risk personal injury. Even Mr. Fluffy was keeping out of her way.

Piestoff cursed the handling of the trading ship. It was like trying to steer a brick through mud. This was made even more difficult as the enemy cruiser continued to batter down his shields. He was used to flying the nimble fighters or even his old taxi cab; they were fast and you could spin them on a credit coin, while the trader needed a written invitation to change direction. The cruiser had jumped out of light speed and fired on him before he knew it was there, knocking out his light speed drive. He had been trying to lose the ship for a couple of hours now, desperately trying anything he could come up with to lose the pursuit, but his ship was now heavily damaged and he was struggling to fly it. He knew it was a matter of minutes before they got a tractor beam lock on him and he would be dragged in. Poodles yelped as another computer exploded in a shower of sparks and Piestoff lost lateral controls. Now he knew he was a sitting duck waiting to be plucked. He felt the ship jerk as the tractor beam locked on. He quickly reached over and started the auto wipe on the onboard computer to remove all traces of stored data. While he was waiting he started a bottle of whiskey. When he saw the message; 'Wipe complete,' he stood up and went to the weapons locker and removed two hand blasters. Putting them in their holsters he strapped the belt on. Looking at the view screen he saw he was half way to the enemy cruiser, about five more minutes he judged.

Thanks for reading, all images are my own work.