So this would be an unexpected day then.
This time Mia was standing at the airlock when it opened. In noted contrast to their prior arrival, she wore jeans, boots and a red cowled sweater. After all, this was no longer about formality and proper impressions; it was about survival.
She waved them back toward the rental ship and followed them in. “We need to take care of a few things before you return to your ship.”
She dropped a large bag on the table and started handing out gear. “Fashionable—but not too fashionable—hat, sunglasses and jacket for each of you.” Caleb accepted the items with a nod. Alex looked a little perplexed and vaguely suspicious, but after a hesitant pause took the gear.
Next to come out of the bag was several small containers. “Drops to change eye color. They last around two days. Hair dye as well.” She glanced at Alex. “I’d still recommend pulling your hair up, and maybe curl it or something when you go out.”
Alex frowned at her—frowned more, anyway. “Are you certain? I thought it would be better to wear it down and obscure my face.”
Mia regarded her curiously, then shifted her attention to Caleb. He was leaning against the wall in an attempt at appearing relaxed. It was a good attempt; she wasn’t fooled. “She honestly has no idea, does she?”
A corner of his mouth tweaked up as his head shook. “No, she doesn’t.” His focus drew over to Alex and…oh god, he really is in love with her.
“Um, hello? Standing right here?”
She gave a dry laugh. “Alex, how you’ve never realized this in your however-many years of existence is beyond me, but you are a rather uncommon-looking woman—especially with that hair of yours. Not in a bad way, mind you. But your image is being spammed across the galaxy right now, and people are most definitely going to remember it. So try to keep that in mind when you show your face in public, okay?”
She didn’t give Alex a chance to respond. “Now I took the liberty of setting up a comprehensive false identity for you. Load it into your cybernetics and it will pass a mid-level scan, change your fingerprints, the whole works. The name’s Zoe Galanis. I hope it works for you. Caleb, you have many of those. Pick one.”
“Already done. Riley Knight, mechanical engineer for Atmospheric Solutions.”
Alex studied the details on the ID. “How did you manage to get your hands on this so quickly?”
Mia shrugged. “I set it up myself.”
Alex’s eyes shot over to her. It was possible this time they showed a glint of appreciation. “Impressive.”
“Well I did pick up a few useful skills during my indentured servitude. The serial number and registration for the Siyane were doctored when you arrived, and as soon as the news broke I back-masked the corridor records. You’ll want to load the doctored information into the ship before departing.”
She checked the bag to confirm it was now empty, then turned to them, a sigh on her lips. “Listen guys, even given all this, you should try to lie low. Your faces are everywhere, and with the war heating up the Romane government is having kittens trying to make sure it doesn’t piss either side off. Independent or not, they will extradite you in a heartbeat if you’re caught.”
Alex nodded distractedly while she continued to study the ID. Caleb smiled. “You’re a lifesaver, Mia. We owe you.”
Were you able to take care of the other matter?
Your girlfriend has some ridiculously tight security on her ship—but yes, it’s done. Secondary encryption key is Д085401Н129914С.
Makes sense…an anagram of the dates of her father’s birth and death with his initials.
Yeah, Meno said the same thing.
Meno?
My Artificial.
Mia….
Don’t lecture me.
Fine, I trust you’re being careful. Listen, thank you. I mean it. And know—it’s only in case I need it to save us both.
You never have to explain yourself to me, Caleb. Are you okay?
No. I’m pissed.
Then they had better watch out.
She shook her head. “No, I still owe you—but I think I might see ‘even’ on the horizon.”
He chuckled…and she suddenly realized how tired he looked. “Fair enough. We’ll be here for another day, day and a half. We need to make a couple of upgrades and stock up on supplies.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “Stock up for…what, exactly?”
81 Earth
Washington, Earth Alliance Headquarters
Marcus reviewed colony reports while the workers moved his furniture into the new office. He wore a perfect mask of grave concern as befitted the situation, but beneath it he was feeling quite pleased.
The Foreign Minister merited both a larger, better-appointed office and a suite filled by aides to go with it. The view was different; instead of the gardens, his office now looked out on the Potomac. It painted a congenial scene, but he didn’t intend on getting attached to it.
Barrera had come to him the night before the Assembly ‘no confidence’ vote to bring him up to speed on developments and to provisionally offer him the post of Foreign Minister.
Barrera had emphasized the severity and gravity of the circumstances and reiterated what everyone in settled space already knew: the post was, for all intents and purposes, the most powerful one outside of the Prime Ministership itself. He had expressed confidence Marcus was up to the task of serving as the Alliance’s ambassador to the galaxy.
He had reminded Marcus that while in cases of removal of a Prime Minister by the Assembly for cause, the position passed to the Speaker, this was not the case in the event of a Prime Minister’s death or unforeseen inability to perform his duties. In those instances the administration otherwise continued unchanged, and the line of succession passed through the Foreign Minister’s office before any others.
He had asked if Marcus was willing to bear such a solemn responsibility.
Marcus had carefully and thoughtfully considered the question, then answered in the affirmative.
Barrera actually believed it was all his idea.
Marcus switched from the colony reports to personnel matters and walked over to one of the windows to give the movers more room. Most of the existing bureaucracy would remain, since it consisted of career civil servants capable enough at their jobs and generally not beholden to any party or faction.
Nevertheless, there were a number of appointments for him to make—an opportunity to put sympathetic and loyal personnel in place. Then there were additional postings which he did not bear responsibility for filling, but with respect to which his opinion had been requested.
He scanned the list…and a smile grew on his lips as for a second he forgot the need to publicly maintain a troubled demeanor.
See, Marcus? If you are patient, solutions to difficulties will often present themselves—almost as if the winds of fate act on your behalf.
It seemed a vacancy had opened at the position of EASC Chairman, on account of General Alamatto’s tragic death in the bombing. It was the Prime Minister’s appointment to make, but his recommendation—along with the Defense Minister’s, for the pittance it was worth—carried significant weight.
He may not be able to eliminate Miriam Solovy right away, but perhaps he could render her irrelevant until the scandal of her daughter’s involvement in the bombing ultimately forced her to resign. And the best part was, he didn’t have to do anything more than submit a name. He was certain the man he named would take care of the rest on his own initiative.
He pulled the draft report containing his recommendations back up and added an entry to the bottom of the list.
Earth Alliance Strategic Command Chairman: Southwestern Regional Commander General Liam O’Connell
When the movers had at last departed, he sank into the plush, natural leather chair. Behind the privacy of a closed door his lips rose in a smile which reached his eyes in a bright sparkle and his posture in the rise of both shoulders.
As wi
th all plans, not everything had proceeded as envisioned. Solovy’s daughter and the Senecan spy remained on the loose for the moment. Though as fugitives they were actually easier to incriminate for the bombing than his initial plan, due to Olivia’s failure to deliver the final element of an airtight frame there existed a miniscule but nonzero chance the two might eventually be exonerated. Not that he expected either of them to live long enough for it to matter. Miriam Solovy lived and Alamatto did not. A high-ranking Senecan Intelligence official had been killed—necessarily so, but when it occurred on the same night a string of bodies littered downtown Cavare it risked attracting unwanted attention.
A series of loose threads lay scattered around their corner of the galaxy, any one of which if tugged on sufficiently hard would unravel the entire operation. But so long as events continued on their current trajectory they would soon move beyond the point where anyone could alter their path. The inertial force of a galaxy-spanning plan in motion would soon become far too powerful to be diverted.
He only had a minute to relax, so the boxes cluttering the office were going to have to stay packed for now. Following a quick meeting with Barrera to receive instructions and guidance as to the new administration’s official stance on numerous issues, he was headed to the Orbital to meet the governors of the First Wave worlds. The meeting would be followed by visits to Romane, Sagan and several other notable independent worlds in the hopes of persuading them to express public support for the Alliance in the war.
Such support would be the first step in coaxing them under the political and military umbrella of the Alliance, but one step at a time. He should—
We require your attention.
Jesús Cristo! He scrambled to make sure the security shielding remained active from the office’s previous occupant, then took a deep breath and straightened up in his chair. The alien couldn’t see him—at least, he didn’t think it could—but it helped set the proper frame of mind and demeanor.
“Certainly. I have news as well. Matters are proceeding according to plan, and I have achieved a position from where I will be able to exert far greater control over events.”
Your plan is now irrelevant. We warned you escalation may become unavoidable, and so it has.
“I request you exercise restraint for a short while longer. The war is approaching criticality and will soon overwhelm all other concerns. I promise you, everyone will forget the Metis Nebula even exists, much less the fantastical ramblings of two wanted fugitives.”
Knowledge of our existence has expanded beyond our or your capability to contain it. Already others have ventured near, seeking answers. We are left with only one option.
For a brief moment his polite, respectful composure cracked in frustration. He was trying to save the human race, dammit—he simply needed a little more time. “Pray tell, what option might that be?”
Annihilation.
82 Romane
Independent Colony
Alex gave Kennedy a quick hug at the hangar bay door. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Of course. But what’s going on?”
“We’ll talk about it in a few. Come on inside. Caleb’s heading out, but he wants to meet you.”
“Does he now? And what have you told him about me?”
“That you’re a spoiled, over-entitled daddy’s little rich girl.”
“You didn— ”
“I’m kidding. Not much I’m afraid. We’ve been a bit busy.”
“With what you’re doing that you’re not telling me.”
“Right.” She motioned Kennedy ahead of her into the ship.
Caleb was leaning casually against the data center, an easy smile lighting his features. He pushed off the table and met them halfway, his hand extended. “Caleb Marano. It’s a genuine pleasure, Ms. Rossi.”
She was as always the picture of grace and accepted his hand in style. “The pleasure’s all mine—and please, call me Kennedy. I understand you and Alex have had quite the two weeks.”
“It’s been…well, I’m very glad we met.”
A wicked grin fought valiantly to pull her lips ever further up. “Indeed.”
“And now, I will let you two get to work.”
Alex had paused at the edge of the couch to enjoy their introduction. Caleb came over to run his hands gently along her arms while pressing his mouth equally as gently to hers. She rested her hands on his hips and, when the kiss finally ended, whispered against his lips. “Watch your back, will you?”
“Always. I’ll only be gone a few hours. Promise.”
As soon as he had left Kennedy spun around, eyes wide as saucers. “Oh, girl—”
“Let’s go downstairs. You can help me get the module installed.”
“And you can tell me how you managed to win the romance lottery while cavorting in uninhabited deep space…Alex, are you okay?”
She glanced over her shoulder from the second step. “Sure, why?”
“You’re…limping. Stepping gingerly. I don’t know, not barreling through the ship as per usual.”
“Oh, yeah.” She rolled her eyes at the ceiling. “I got shot.”
“You’re serious.”
“I told you it was worse than you knew.”
They reached the hatch to the engineering well, and she gingerly climbed down the ladder. “Which is why we’re heading back.”
Kennedy skipped the last two rungs and landed on the floor. “Back where? Not to Metis—not to the alien ships?”
“Yep. Though there’s no reason to assume the ships are still there. Regardless, we need answers and Metis is where they are.”
“You’re insane.”
She laughed a little and removed one of the panels protecting the core engineering systems. “That’s what Caleb said. But no one else is going to do it. I don’t trust anyone else to do it anyway. Someone, perhaps the aliens themselves—don’t look at me like that—doesn’t want the portal investigated. So it’s exactly what we intend to do.”
“Wait. You’re not planning to go through the portal, are you?”
“Um…” her nose scrunched up “…probably.”
“Dear god, you really are insane.” Alex motioned for the module, and she handed it over. “You know, you ought to think about….” Her voice trailed off as she peered at the floor. “What happened to your hull?”
Kennedy’s attention had been drawn to the wide streaks of almost luminous silver winding along the center of the hold. It matched neither the onyx of her hull material nor the muted bronze of the salvaged material from his ship.
“Caleb ripped it open with a pulse laser—to clarify, this was before we were sleeping together—and we had to patch it using scrap from his ship.”
“Which you blew up,” she mumbled, bending down so close to the floor she was all but lying on it.
“Right.”
“What was his ship made of?”
“Amodiamond. The discoloration is on the seams where we melded the two materials together. It started changing color once it cooled. Some kind of chemical reaction I assume. Do you think it’s weakening the structural integrity?”
“No, quite the opposite.” She reached behind her and pulled a small scanner out of her bag, then ran it above a segment of the discoloration. “Integrity is definitely solid. Stronger, even. The materials have fully bonded together and….” She glanced up at Alex. “Is it okay if I take a piece back with me to analyze? Just a sliver.”
“Sure, but why?”
“Because I think you’ve made something new.” A metamat blade materialized out of Kennedy’s bag; she carefully shaved off a thin three-centimeter long strip. She placed it in a gel pouch and dropped everything back in her bag. At Alex’s raised eyebrow, she chuckled and hugged her knees to her chest. “Ship designer, remember? Exotic metals turn me on.”
“Everything turns you on.”
“Hey, that’s low. True, but low—especially when your sex life is far more interesting than mine at the
moment.” Her voice lost most of its teasing tenor. “I can’t help but notice you’re using ‘we’ and ‘us’ a lot.”
“I know.” Alex shrugged. “What do you want me to say? I like him.”
“Clearly. And I am the last person to dissuade you from running off on a crazy romantic adventure, but this is serious business. He’s accused of terrorism and murder and you’re already being sought for questioning.”
“He’s being framed. Someone tried to kill us, and did kill his boss. Besides, I could give a fuck about political posturing.”
“Believe me, I know—though I’m not certain I’d call the military police ‘political posturing.’ Regardless, I wouldn’t be your best and most marvelous friend in the galaxy if I didn’t point out there might be a few negative consequences from all…” she gazed upward and twirled her hand in the air “…this.”
“Well, as for the frame, Richard’s on it. It’ll get sorted out.”
“And your mother?”
Alex closed her eyes and dropped her head against the wall. “What about my mother?”
“You being implicated in the bombing is going to complicate her job, particularly since she—thank goodness—wasn’t there when the bombs went off.”
“I can’t care about that right now, I don’t have the bandwidth. My mother can take care of herself. She excels at it. And if she needs to disown me in order to keep her power, so be it.”
“Alex—”
“Don’t, Ken. We’ve had this conversation dozens of times. Nothing has changed.”
“There’s another war. An impending alien invasion. Your life is in danger.”
“Granted. Look, I actually mean it. She needs to concentrate on this war—not the Senecan war but the war to come. If she has any sense—and she does, as much as I hate to admit it—she won’t let me interfere. It’s too important.”
“Have you told her any of this?”
“Well, I think so. I mean, I told her to do something. I thought I was pretty clear.”
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