by M. D. Cooper
Options filtered through Rika’s mind, and she ruled them out one after the other. The conclusion wasn’t hard to arrive at, she just wanted to examine all the angles and be certain that she’d not missed a simpler explanation. When it didn’t come, she said,
A slow rumble of laughter came from Piper.
Rika felt a pang of sorrow for Piper.
Something occurred to Rika, and she was surprised that she’d not considered it earlier.
Rika laughed.
It was apparent to Rika that Piper had a plan, and an ask. She was certain she knew what it would be.
she replied.
Piper began, but Rika interrupted.
Neither Rika nor Niki responded at first; then Niki said,
Piper made a choking sound.
Rika felt a large databurst pass to Piper, and the AI made a sound rather like a contented sigh.
Rika asked.
JUST VISITING
STELLAR DATE: 10.23.8949 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: MSS Fury Lance, near Delta Moon
REGION: Epsilon, Old Genevia, Nietzschean Empire
“What a terrible place to live,” Heather commented, staring at the view of Epsilon on the bridge’s main display.
“Why’s that?” Chase asked, while wondering where on the six moons and dozens of stations, shipyards, and mining platforms Rika could be.
Heather glanced at him, and gave an understanding smile. “We’ll find her. Or she’ll find us.”
“Provided we haven’t missed her on the way in,” he grumbled.
“Sir,” Chief Ona said from her station. “I’ve picked up signals from the buoys we dropped. We have a chain clear out to the jump point. They’re all squawking softly on the same freq that Rika used for the shuttle. If she’s on an out…outsystem? Outrogue? Whatever, if she’s leaving, she’ll pick it up.”
“Good work,” Heather said, nodding at Ona and Garth before looking back to Chase. “I think it’s just more depressing because it’s always night here. Even though we spend a lot of time in space, there’s always a star nearby. I think you can feel their energy. Out here, it’s just dead.”
“Never took you for one of those star-mystic people, Smalls,” Chase said.
She shrugged as she scowled at the view of Epsilon. “I’m not. But stars feel like living things, you know? Like the universe’s ultimate creative forces. I dunno…stupid, I guess.”
Chase placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, not stupid. I think I like that. OK, it’s time for us to act; no more waiting around. Potter, we know that Rika’s ship docked at one of the stations near that moon they call Delta, but that doesn’t mean she stayed there. We’ll bring the fleet close and then deploy infiltration teams to each of the main stations around it. The moon itself doesn’t seem to be getting any traffic right now, but those stations are all hornets nests, so let’s get in there and see if we can find our queen bee.”
“I think you mixed your metaphors, there,” Heather said with a laugh as she looked over the display. “Stars, there sure are a lot of those old Harriet carriers out there. I’d hoped to never see one of those again.”
Chase shrugged as he turned to leave the bridge. “Me too. Nothing for it, though.”
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m going to take a team to that outermost station—Farthing.”
“Chase,” Heather said quietly. “When we kick the door in, all hell will break loose, and that’s when we’ll finally figure out where Rika and
Leslie are. Do you really want to be slogging it out in some station corridor when we figure out where she is? Or do you want to be up here, free and maneuverable?”
Her words made sense, and Chase nodded. “OK, then, I’ll stay up here ‘til we know where she is.”
“Good.” A predatory grin split Heather’s lips. “I told you I wanted to get into the shit and kick some ass. I’m going in with a team.”
A laugh burst from Chase’s lips. “Don’t let me stop you, Smalls. Go take out your frustrations on the Niets.”
PIPER
STELLAR DATE: 10.23.8949 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: NMSS freight shuttle orbiting Delta Moon
REGION: Epsilon, Old Genevia, Nietzschean Empire
Rika kept her mental tone even.
Rika cocked her head.
Rika decided to ignore the barb…and the one before that, and instead related the plan. Whether they rescued Piper or not, destroying the klemperer rosette required them to land at the ancient facility on Delta Moon, then get down to Piper’s node chamber.
Both his bandwidth and his access to the world outside his mind was restricted by a physical buffering device. There were also defensive NSAIs set up to ensure that the buffer wasn’t removed. Rika still hadn’t reviewed all the data on those, but Piper seemed to think they would be exceptionally challenging.
Regardless, once they had reestablished Piper’s full connection to the RMS systems, he could initiate a destabilization within a short period. The AI had explained that the moons each had a miniature black hole at their core, and that he could use one to shift the moon’s orbit. The moons sped around Epsilon at such a high velocity that the first collision would happen within days. Hours, if Piper could control the RMS systems on the other moons, which he believed should work if the remote access systems still functioned.
Leslie gave a mental sound of amazement.
Rika chuckled.
* * * * *
“Well that’s odd,” Ellya said, frowning at her console.
“What’s that?” Noah asked, looking up from the Private Huzzah cast he was watching—not the new one; they’d moved on to repeats by then.
Ellya gestured at the comm display. “We just got new orders. We’re to land on Delta Moon, and dock at the control facility there.”
“We what?” Noah asked. “I thought that place was restricted?”
“Me too. Orders check out, though. I guess they’re trying to clear the orbital paths and are doing some inspections down there.”
Noah half turned to Ellya. “Inspections for what?”
“Orders don’t say, but I pinged Chief Watson back on Farthing Station. He said fugitives escaped from that ship that came in, the Spine of the Stars.”
“Huh, that’s nuts,” the man said, his voice only wavering a little. “I guess we’d best get down to Delta. Maybe they’ll let us get off the ship and stretch our legs ‘til this all blows over.”
Ellya glanced at him. “Uh…yeah, I bet they just let anyone wander around one of the top secret installations down there.”
Noah didn’t reply, and Ellya altered the shuttle’s course, slipping into the flight path that the moon’s STC had provided.
Rika chuckled.
she answered, still laughing.
Leslie groaned.
* * * * *
The freight shuttle had just settled on a cradle in the moon facility’s main docking bay, when a squad of soldiers rushed in, weapons drawn and leveled at that ship.
“Oh, shit…” Noah muttered, glancing behind himself. “They know you’re here!”
“Know who’s here?” Ellya asked, twisting in her seat.
“Dammit,” Rika muttered as she materialized. “They didn’t know. You should have kept your yap shut.”
At that point, both Noah and Ellya screamed. Rika supposed that having a two-hundred-plus centimeter mech appear right behind you was an alarming experience for most people.
e messages you got from the STC with the orders to dock here on Delta. Kay?”
“Uh…OK,” Noah replied, while Ellya just nodded.
“Good.” Rika faded from view. “Remember, I’m watching you.”
She rushed to the rear hatch as it finished opening, and barely managed to slip past a pair of soldiers storming up the ramp.
Across the bay—which she noted also contained two of the interstellar-capable pinnaces—Leslie pinged her location at one of the exits.
Rika nodded, while Leslie asked,
A laugh nearly escaped Rika’s lips.
Leslie laughed as she and Rika rounded a corner, continuing at a brisk jog through the facility.
