{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep 444 Dino Space Pirates by Stu Chebooch","description":"This month's patron-funded story is "Dino Space Pirates" by Stu Chebooch, narrated by Nobilis Reed. The ship hung derelict in space. Puffs of gas escaped intermittently from the hull. Its drive engine lay ripped open, inner parts exposed. The fuel had long since evaporated. Inside the hull, two people were working. \u201cCrap,\u201d said Marianne Vega. She pushed back from the machine she had been working on, holding out the soldering iron. \u201cThere's hardly any battery power left. This will keep life support going for another few hours. Maybe five, if we're lucky.\u201d Peggy Terrid took the soldering iron and put it back on the work table. It clattered slowly in the low gravity. \u201cHow about a distress call, Captain Vega?\u201d \u201cNo good,\u201d she replied. \u201cThe hyperwave fried during our last call. If anyone had heard us, they'd be here by now. It was a war zone, after all, we're the last thing they'll be thinking about. We could send radio waves, but they won't be received for months. We'll be long dead. Us and our 25 passengers.\u201d She looked at the soldering iron. \u201cWe may as well turn off the rest of the gravity. Divert everything to life support.\u201d As Peggy packed up the tool box, Marianne Vega placed a hand on her shoulder. \u201cDismissed, Lieutenant. I'll be on the Bridge. Do as you see fit.\u201d \u201cIf it's all the same, I'll be there with you, Captain,\u201d Peggy replied. Captain Vega made it to the bridge before the gravity cut out. She strapped herself into her Captain's chair. Eighteen adults and their children had put their trust in her to get them out of the war zone. \u201cIt should have worked, damn it,\u201d she muttered. \u201cOne lousy stray shot.\u201d Peggy Terrid came onto the Bridge. \u201cGravity out in two minutes,\u201d she announced, then took a seat at the navigator's station. The gravity lessened, then went to free fall. The lights dimmed. Captain Vega drifted, then began to doze.  Minutes passed, and rolled into hours. Her head drifted to one side in the microgravity, weightless. Her eyes blinked, then squeezed open. A red light was blinking on the console. \u201cPeggy...\u201d she started. But Peggy was already on it. \u201cIncoming signal, Captain,\u201d she said briskly. Her swiftly moving fingers activated the console. Captain Vega straightened in her chair. \u201cFull lights. Onscreen.\u201d \u201cAhoy, the ship!\u201d called a voice. \u201cDinos...\u201d Peggy said in a low whisper. \u201cCaptain Skraark of the Free Wind,\u201d he announced. Reptilian skin covered a massive face. The nose protruded from a combined mouth and snout. His crest extended well above his head. The scale of the other ship was hard to discern from the viewscreen, but Dinos were usually over eight feet tall. Captain Skraark waved a scaly hand. The claws on his fingers extended for several inches and looked very sharp. \u201cWhat is your status?\u201d \u201cSee for yourself,\u201d Captain Vega replied. \u201cYes. Yes, we have,\u201d he replied. \u201cWe actually came in for salvage, then noticed a faint signal of active life support. How many are you?\u201d \u201cTwenty seven,\u201d she replied. \u201cTwo crew, the rest passenger. What do you seek?\u201d she asked. \u201cWe offer the usual deal,\u201d he replied.  \u201cI've heard of your terms,\u201d she responded.  \u201cWell then,\u201d he went on. \u201cIf you agree to the deal, then find your volunteer.\u201d \u201cI just want to be sure that my passengers will be safe.\u201d \u201cCaptain!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cWe are...free traders...but we have our honor. None of our species has ever reneged on this deal.\u201d  \u201cScreen off,\u201d Peggy announced. She swiveled her chair to face Captain Vega. \u201cYou can't be serious! I've heard Alliance soldiers talk about their...deal! Death here on the ship would be better.\u201d \u201cI might choose that for myself,\u201d said Captain Vega. \u201cAnd accept your choice as well. But there are twenty five other people counting on me.\u201d She pulled her clothing to make herself as formal as possible. \u201cScreen on.\u201d Reluctantly, Peggy pressed the controls to reactivate the communication link. \u201cCaptain Skraark, I accept your offer,\u201d announced Marianne Vega stiffly. ","author_name":"AudioThrust","author_url":"http:\/\/nobilis.libsyn.com","html":"