Cait and Rhys looked from the comms panel, to each other.

“That’s a live signal. Source unknown.” Cait confirmed as she scanned the signal. There was no IFF metadata which meant either they didn’t have one or were choosing not to broadcast it. “That means they’re within range to establish a realtime connection with us.”

“It’d have to be close, to be another ship.”

“We don’t really know what’s actually out here. But yeah, those are the odds.”

“Do we answer?”

“At this point I don’t think we have anything to lose.” Cait said, a metal finger paused over the receive button. “I’m putting it on voice only.”

Cait hit the button, accepting the signal. There was a long pause then a gruff male voice started speaking.

“Cait’s Chariot, we know you have our signal. I recommend that you respond.”

Cait started to respond but Rhys cut across her, speaking first.

“This is Cait’s Chariot.”

“Chariot, this is Erebus.” The voice responded. “Am I speaking with your captain?”

“Yes.” Rhys confirmed, then muted the line. “Cait, I’m sorry, but these guys are probably pirates and…”

Cait cut him off with a gesture, she didn’t need him to finish the sentence to know what he was getting at. Meanwhile the Erebus continued to talk to them.

“Do you have a name, Captain?”

“Nichols. Rhys Nichols.” Rhys confirmed, unmuting himself.

“Nichols, this is Captain Montague of the independent vessel Erebus. As you have likely surmised by now, we are not cargo haulers, or military, or otherwise affiliated with any of the allied Terran or Colonial governments. While I disagree with the nomenclature, I believe you would best describe us as pirates.”

“I believe I would.” Rhys muttered through gritted teeth.

“So we have an understanding, we are currently on an intercept course and expect to rendezvous with you in a little under six hours. We will be commandeering your ship and cargo, and strongly recommend that you do not attempt resistance.” Montague said firmly. Cait suspected this was not the first time he had delivered this speech.

“Can I make an alternate suggestion, Montague?” Rhys suggested.

“No.” Montague answered bluntly. “You are not in a position to bargain.”

“I’m not sure what’s in this arrangement for me.”

“If you cooperate you will live, and your crew may one day see their families again.”

“It’s just me here, Montague.” Rhys lied, hoping that he would present no value as a prisoner. “I’ll drop my cargo and go, this doesn’t need to get messy.”

“This is not a negotiation, Nichols. You have six hours. Resistance will be met with force. Attempt to dump and run, you will be destroyed. Erebus out.”

The signal was terminated and Rhys raked his fingers through his hair.

“I’m sorry Cait.”

“You tried. They clearly want the ship as much as they want the cargo.” Cait glanced back in the general direction of the long container they were hauling. It was mostly comprised of large compressed tanks full of oxygen and nitrogen. On the return trip they’d be filled with helium and hydrogen harvested from Jupiter’s atmosphere. In amongst the tanks was a number of various items, mostly consumer goods that the Colonial stations did not currently have infrastructure to produce locally.

“Or the crew.” Rhys posited.

“Admittedly a prisoner could be useful for them, even if only to keep you from reporting back that they exist.” Cait paused for a moment. “They probably have no idea that Fleet is already onto them.”

“If Aspire was just a regular hijacking and they didn’t actually expect whatever classified cargo was on board…”

“…They’d be oblivious that Aspire not turning up on time would trigger a full scale Fleet investigation.” Cait finished Rhys’ thought.

“But wouldn’t they have figured that out by now?” Rhys queried.

“Not if it was concealed amongst regular cargo.” Cait gestured back at their own haul. “We’re mainly hauling gas but there’s all kinds of shit back there. We could be carrying something classified for all we know.”

“So what now?”

“Firstly I’m purging all logs of my conversation with my father.” Cait said, moving back to her station and doing just that. “So that they don’t know Fleet – or us – are onto them. We don’t let on that we know anything. If we’re lucky, Fleet vessels will be all over this area in a few weeks and find us – wherever we are by then.”

“And when Erebus catches up with us?”

“I don’t know, Rhys.