by E M Garcia
"Did you even read the mission briefing?" he asked.
My eyes snapped up to him. “Try again with less insubordination, Commander.” Gale may have talked his way onto my ship, but he was under my command.
He cleared his throat. “TF Command approved your request for our transfers… with two conditions.”
“The first being that you’re XO." I sat down. “How much ass did you have to kiss to get Alix tossed out on his?”
“He made the trip, didn’t he? If he'd gotten a promotion at any point in the past decade, it wouldn’t have been so easy. You bury yourself, you live with the consequences.”
"Consequences? It's a pleasure cruise, Gale. No crazy rescues, no dog fights, no vid worthy escapades. Just a cruise from Aurora to [Planet]."
He wagged a finger, easing down into the chair across from me "That's what I thought to until I heard Command’s other condition. They want--"
My desk speaker chimed. Cal's emotionless lilt cut through Gale's words. "Ambassador Cage, the commanding officer of the Hammer would like to speak with you.
“The Hammer?”
"That's the second condition,” Gale said, “I’ll let him explain. I'm getting out of the blast zone.”
"Commander Price asked to speak with you as well, Commander Howard,"
Cal said.
“On-screen,Cal" I said, before Gale could run.
Salazar Price popped up on the screen. He had traded his gray lab coat for black fatigues, but there were other, more jarring little tells. The neutral smile he wore at the lab had disappeared, replaced by a stern line that made his lips look twice as thin as they were. The tighter cut of his military uniform reveal his thick, muscular frame. That body spent more time on an obstacle course than behind a desk.
I forced my voice to sound pleasant, though I could feel pressure building at my temple.. "So it was Commander Price, was it?"
"It was a necessary deception Ambassador Cage." He said without even a hint of remorse. "I received the mission just before you arrived. I didn’t your clearance code when we spoke last night. Saying the wrong thing could have blown my cover.”
It took every ounce of self control I had not to point out asking personal questions “I assume since you're talking to me, I made the cut. So, why was the Federation spying on a private Alliance citizen?”
“I didn't reach out to answer questions, Ambassador, just to give you my end of the mission brief." His clipped tone left no room for argument. "The Hammer is underway. We'll following you the whole way, running dark. Unless there’s a problem, you won’t hear from me again.”
“If you’re running dark, how do we get ahold of you if there is a problem?” Gale asked.
“The mission briefing doesn’t anticipate any issues. Ambassador, if you have a second Command wanted me to ask you a few questions.”
I tensed. Price’s brand of questioning was still fresh in my mind. "Just a second, Commander Howard makes a good point. Last I checked, we don't have authorization to kick on the stealth functions. It's not like we can hide and wait if we get fired up."
A strange smile sprang to Price's lips. It gave be the same pin and needles sensation I felt at the lab. This time, I shivered before I could stop myself.
"Nothing like that is going to happen," he said. "This is just an extra layer of protection extended as a curtesy to Dr. Cage."
"And the fact that you were spying on her on Aurora is just a coincidence," Gale said through grit teeth.
Price's black eyes flicked to Gale, flashing electric blue for a second before fading back to their usual color. He turned back to me, letting the smile fall away. "Ambassador Cage, before the Hammer goes dark, I need to ask you about the incident at the gala."
"It's been a hell of a week, Commander," I said. "If you want details, it's best to look at the testimony I gave that night."
"I have." Price leaned forward. "Station security believes it was a demonstration by Radiance Lives."
"It was," I said, my fingers moving to the pendant at my neck. Something about the intensity in Price's eyes unsettled me. For the first time in a week, I was glad Gale was nearby. "I saw the neck tattoo on the team leader."
“I see. Ambassador Cage, are you aware there have been reports that Wes Mason was on Aurora Station?”
"That's an interesting" Gale said. "But Trick isn't dumb enough to come this far into Alliance space. He knows he's a wanted man."
"Wanted for better than half a decade and still a free man." Price said. "With his technological skill level--"
“Any junior guard looking for a promotion could still spot him in thirty seconds.” Gale said. “Tech know-how is no replacement for brains, Price. Trick isn't stupid and you're wasting our time."
I looked from Gale to Price, not saying a word. Gale's defense of his former teammate was admirable, but I knew better. "Commander Price, whether Mason was on Aurora isn't our concern. He's not on my manifest and as far as I'm aware, he's not on my ship."
Something flashed in Price's eyes but he watched me in silence. Suddenly, I had the sense that I was being tested. Had I told enough of the truth to pass?
"I didn't think he was, Ambassador. I'll resume contact when we reach the facility." Price reached to his side, and the screen went black.
"Asshole," Gale spat. He leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers together. "You think he was above board?"
"He's Fleet," I said. "You'd know him better than me."
Gale shrugged. "He's black ops. You don't get that rank there by being flashy."
I scanned Gale's body for his little tells. He was telling the truth, but an officer at his level would be an accomplished liar. But after ten years, it was like reading a stranger. Either he was lying to Price or he hadn't known Mason was on Aurora. I couldn't tell which.
"A stealth ship chasing a stealth ship doesn't make any sense." I braced my elbows against the desk. "They could just have given us clearance to run dark if they thought we needed it."
He nodded. "They want eyes on us. Well, joke's on them. Like you said, it's a pleasure cruise. Whatever the Federation has their ass in a twist about, it'll smooth out by the time we get the Lady squared away."
My chest tightened at Gale's words. In the rush to get underway, I had almost forgotten why I'd organized the trip. But hadn't that been the point?
I climbed to my feet, crossing to the small beverage generator embedded in the wall. Focusing on pressing the buttons in the correct order for my special stress relieving tea mix was a welcome distraction. "You should brief the Wreckers. Just in case Price is right about Mason."
"Price isn't right," Gale said flatly. "Wes isn't stupid enough to pull something like what happened on Aurora and waltz onto the station himself. The kid's a little out there, but he's no fool."
Gale said the words with so much conviction I felt sorry for him. The Federation didn't teach their soldiers to lie this well. He couldn’t have known Wes was on Aurora. “Ten years is enough time to become a different person."
"Not deep down." He slid to his feet and walked toward the exit, pausing at the threshold as the door panels slid apart. "Get into enough fire fights with anyone and you learn who they are. Jack used to say it was the only way you could know a person."
I let out a sigh as the door slid shut again. My fantasy of a calm trip threatened to disintegrate. Izzy's report lay unread on my terminal, now hours out of date and hopelessly beyond use. Even if she mentioned Price and the Hammer, the Federation would never admit to spying on J'Selle. It wasn't in the report. Wes Mason's visit to Aurora wasn't in the report. I needed better information.
"Cal?" I called. "Locate Doctor Cage."
The speaker chimed. "Doctor Cage has asked not to be disturbed."
I covered the sinking sensation in my stomach with a scalding sip of tea. Eyes watering and tongue burning, I cleared my throat and tried again. "Cal, locate Alix Barnes."
Another chime, then. "Lieutenant Barnes is in the h
anger bay."
10
After a short stop at the mess hall to grab a coffee, I headed for the hangar. In the old days, it served as the Wreckers' weapons locker and shuttle bay. The guys' heavily armored shuttle was relic somewhere. Now, my cruiser sat in its place. She would never win a firefight, but she had speed, and that made me love my little ship all the more.
Alix stood in front of a stack of crates, a pad in his hand and glasses half an inch down the bridge of his nose. He ran one finger up the length of the data pad and scowled as if he hadn't found what he was looking for. Below the neck, his exposed muscular arms and fatigues screamed soldier. Above the neck was a different story. The glasses balanced the rough edges of his face, giving him an air of sophistication that didn't fit and yet still suited him. I started to step into the light, but hesitated for a moment. Part of me was conflicted. LT had done me a favor at the yearly dinner, I couldn't pay him back with manipulation.
"I didn't figure you for the type to wear accessories, LT," I said loudly enough to announce my presence.
He paused then looked up, his blue eyes connecting with mine. A sheepish smile settling on his lips, making him look almost carefree. "They're not cosmetic, ma'am. My implants are a few upgrades behind. Didn't see much point in staying on the cutting edge when I'm just training recruits."
I wrinkled my nose. I hated being called ma'am even more than I hated being called Tammy. It felt like a title I hadn’t earned. "Don't let the Admiral will hear you say that. He has a thing about keeping weapons at the ready."
Alix scoffed and pulled the glasses away from his eyes, tucking them into his chest pocket. Without them, his face seemed sterner. I suppressed a sudden urge to ask him to put them back on. I hadn't come down here to ogle my crew.
"I've heard the speech a few times over the years," he said, snapping me back to reality. "Part of a running argument."
"You disagreed with the Admiral?" I set the coffee on the workbench and motioned for him to help himself. I wouldn't stoop to manipulation, but I wasn't above a small bribe. "That's brave."
“It’s a slight difference in philosophies, is all. Not an actual disagreement.” He plucked the cup from the bench and brought it up to his nose, inhaling deeply. “At least the coffee’s the same, ash and battery acid.”
I smiled. “Most of the crew doesn’t drink coffee, so Mac gets free run of the supply. It never comes up unless we have visitors.”
He snickered. “I’ll bet the suits love choking that down. Do you warn ‘em?”
“Depends on how negotiations are going.” Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a handful of cream and sweetener tubes. “This might help it go down easier. Sorry, it’s artificial. We don’t take the real stuff on long trips.”
Alix waved a hand, turning his full attention to the steaming metal cup in his hands. He poured in two tubes of cream and a tube of sweetener, tearing the thin plastic with his teeth and sending the waste into the trash basket beside the bench with a deft flick of his tongue. His drink prepared as he liked, Alix brought the rim to his lips and took a deep sip.
“This is perfect.” He took another gulp then set the mug on the table. “Actually, I’m glad you came down here, Ambassador. I wanted to talk to you.”
“I’ve been getting that a lot today,” I said. “I thought we agreed you would call me Tam?”
"When I'm on duty, it's ma'am or Ambassador. We’re understocked, way understocked. " He picked up the pad and swiped through the list again. "There's less than a quarter of what we should have and what’s here is shit. Light vests, old-school helmets, and barely enough ammunition for a hunting expedition."
"I'm surprised command sent anything at all," I said, letting my eyes drift to the stack of crates stamped with the Alliance insignia. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Federation arranged them. Was this Price’s plan if we ran into trouble? "We don't stock heavy arms or demolition gear. None of the crew is cleared to use it."
Alix furrowed his brow, visibly disturbed by my response. “Not a single person? What’s the crew compliment.”
“Three, unless there’s a good reason to have more.” With every admission, Alix’s expression hardened until the scowl was back on his lips. “The AI can run most of the systems without our input. The ones it can’t only need an occasional correction.”
“What about your security detail?” he asked.
I shrugged "Never needed one. I made it through combat training at the Academy, and I'm not exactly a hot target."
“What’s the point of a warship without weapons?” He looked away, turning his attention back to the crates and the substandard equipment therein. My answer wasn’t satisfactory to him. He and the Admiral had that in common. Suddenly, I wished I had brought my tea or a pad down with me, anything to keep my hands busy.
I looked around the shuttle bay and tried to see it through his eyes. In her golden days, the Calypso's crew had access to the best tech the allied governments could offer. Between the allied scientists and Wes Mason’s genius, no soldier in the galaxy had better equipment.
"This isn’t a warship anymore, LT.” I said. “The Cal's more of a relic now."
"Ain’t that a kick in the ass?" Alix sighed and turned to me again. The smile on his lips didn’t quite reach his eyes. "But you didn't come down here to talk about the change in the decor. What can I do for you?"
My heart sank. Our conversation started well, but I should have known better than to get too comfortable. No matter how much I liked Alix Barnes, I was there to pump him for information on his former teammate. Xaveer had been to break the law to see him. I had to consider that the others might have been too.
“I’m hoping you can tell me what you know about Wes Mason.” I said. There was no point in delaying the inevitable.
Alix’s shoulders tensed. "He disappeared about two years after Jack died. Far as I know, he made a shit load of money and then betrayed his species for That's what Federation and Alliance brass say?"
"What do you say, LT?" I asked, watching him for any sign of emotional reaction. Other than the tensed muscles, there was none.
"
He looked at me over his shoulder and blinked "I wouldn't know, ma'am. Like I said, I haven't seen or spoken to Wes Mason in ten years." His tone suggested he wanted to keep it that way.
"That doesn't mean you don't have an opinion." I leaned back against the workbench, folding my arms across my chest as I watched him. "You can speak freely, Alix. There's nobody here but me."
"And Cal." Alix jerked his thumb toward the speaker embedded in the ceiling about hIzzyad. "Trick has a hot-head full of a lot of high ideals. There's no quicker recipe for a kicked ass in the galaxy. ”
"He's also a technological genius. One with a point to make and a lot of cash to do it."
Alix walked back to the table, tossing the pad on the surface."Why are you asking me about Wes, Tam? Are they trying to pin the RL attacks on him?"
"You don't seem surprised," I said.
"With Mason, it's best not to be. He's always been out there, and he's a trained killer. But bombing innocent people and taking hostages?" Alix shook hIzzyad. "No, ma'am, never. The kid's got some problems, but that's way outside of his wheelhouse."
"I hope you're right, LT." I said, turning to head back to my cabin. "Thanks for the information."
It was heartwarming to hear the Wreckers defend their fallen comrade. I wished I could have shared their certainty in Wes Mason's innocence. Even with J'Selle's impending departure, Wes being on Aurora during two RL attacks was too big of a coincidence. If he wasn't involved, someone had gone damned far out of their way to make it look otherwise. That had to be why Federation Command set the Hammer and weapons. Alix and Gale might agree, if they knew, but I didn't have it in me to tell them. Not unless I had to.
11
The western face of Mt. Victoria bulged toward the forest below. Tiny columns of black smoke rose from the surface, joining an angry black cloud gathere
d over the summit. The [word] mountain I'd watched my entire life had transformed into a bomb, waiting for the proper moment to go off. It wasn't the bulge on the mountain that worried me most it was the sounds coming from it. A deep guttural roar and a high ethereal whisper flowed from the mountain in terrible harmony. If the alarm rang in town, I would never hear it over that awful groan. I should have been afraid, but I wasn't. Jack was in town. He would hear the alarms. He would come get me.
The soft chime of my private cabin door pulled me from the dream. I opened my eyes and sat up, peering into the dark to get my bearings. After a few seconds of deep, trembling breaths, I realized I wasn't on N'Cali. My father would never have let anything as “alien” as my curved Qu’ren glass table into the house. I doubt it being a gift from his daughter-in-law would have softened [Name] Cage’s stance. I was back on the Cal.
My door chimed again. I checked my comm, 0600. For a second, I thought about laying back down and waiting for my stomach to settle. The third chime convinced me it was a bad idea. I climbed out of bed and padded to the door, grabbing my hoodie as I went. I tugged it on, but didn't bother zipping it closed. Whoever was disturbing me this early deserved a dose of my morning breath and a full view of me in my pajamas.
“Good morning,” Izzy said in a sing-song tone as the door slid open. Her gently curled red hair hung loose around her shoulders. The light in the corridor sparkled against her gloss-stained lips as they slid into a smile. “It's brunch day, and don't try telling me you forgot.”
I pulled my hoodie closed, shaking my head. Fuck. “Of course not. I just overslept. Give me 10 minutes to shower and change, then I'll head to the mess with you.”
"Why would we go to the mess?” She asked, brushing past me and shoving the bag into my arms. The clink from inside sounded suspiciously like wine bottles. "We can do better than this. Light's on, Cal."
