Exiles

by Richard Alonzo

  Chapter 27 A Pressing Engagement

  Jasper sat back in the Captains chair and smiled. Wilkes brought the reconvened Nova-7 press conference up on the main holographic display. It was like being there, in the room. The bodies, blood and debris, had hastily been cleared away. Although the blast marks and damaged wall panels were still clearly visible. The security had been noticeably increased, heavily armed and armoured guards covered all the exits. This time it was a closed conference, with only the press present. Sarah, as always, was at the heart of the action for Galaxic News.

  He tuned to Angelica. “Relative of yours? She has an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time.”

  She snorted dismissively, like a pedigree pony whose lineage had been called into question. “We share a common birth mother, but she is genetically inferior to me in every way. A Propaganda Corps reject, which is why she works for a news agency.” she emphasised the last two words, her lips curling with contempt, as she spoke them.

  “I suppose your innate sense of superiority to everyone else was genetically engineered by the Propaganda Corps as well.” muttered Alice under her breath.

  “Although, as you’ll see, she still has her uses, unlike some members of your crew.” Angelica continued.

  “Enough!” Jasper held his hand up to silence them. “I want to hear what Clarkson has to say.” he turned his gaze momentarily towards Jackson. “Although I was lead to believe your new toys were going to eliminate him.”

  Jackson pushed his goggles up onto his forehead and gave a disinterested shrug. “I think if you listen to the man, you’ll find they performed adequately enough, and achieved their mission parameters. Although perhaps not in the way you envisaged.”

  It was Jasper’s turn to snort dismissively as he turned away. One day that man was going to outlive his usefulness to him, and when he did he would take care of the matter personally, but that day was not today.

  Clarkson was in full flow. Reiterating his thanks to Ford and Faiz for their assistance in defeating the swarm ship, saving Nova-7 from the Anterian attack. Which he believed was provoked by their efforts to end the meat run. A shocking and appalling trade in human misery, undertaken by a rogue band of Raiders. Raiders who he had been trying for months to track down and eliminate. Now that their friends had located and eliminated their base in the Scorpion Nebula, hidden in a once profitable and prosperous mining colony, he was determined to ensure it could never happen again. Therefore Nova-7 was forsaking it long cherished neutrality to seek admission to the Federation of Free Planets. The Scorpion Nebula would be designated a Federation Protectorate. Here refugees and alyssum seekers could start a new life, and earn a decent living, by bringing the long abandoned mining colonies back to life. Additionally he’d already been in talks with Tasha, the president in exile of the Dracon peoples, and the Icon leaders, to pave the way for a Federation peace mission. A mission that would finally end the devastating between their worlds, with the promise of a quad-lateral trade agreement between all the parties. One that he hoped would bring peace and prosperity to a once troubled corner of the universe. He sat down and waited for the reporter’s questions.

  Faiz clapped, whispering in Ford’s ear as he did so. “At times like this I’m glad I’m a simple military man and not a politician.”

  Ford smiled at the cameras as they continued clapping and whispered back. “Well at least no one’s shooting at us this time.”

  Faiz stopped clapping, scanning the sea of reporters clamouring for attention. “Well at least not bullets, yet.”

  Clarkson pointed at Sarah indicating he was ready to take her question.

  She waited for the hubbub around her to subside. “Thank you Governor. Do you have any information on who was responsible for the terrorist attack on the station and the attempt on your life?”

  Clarkson smiled. “Thank you Sarah, no, no one has claimed responsibility. However we believe those human cyborg's were engineered by the Anterian’s. That they were programmed to kill the Raiders, prevent them from standing trial, and exposing how they came to establish this unconscionable trade with them.”

  “And what are your thoughts on that?”

  “I don’t believe it’s helpful to speculate. I prefer to deal in facts. All I can say for certain is that their secrets have died with them and perhaps it's better that way. It makes it harder for anyone to try and emulate them, to resurrect a truly despicable trade in misery, suffering and death.”

  Vlade smiled or perhaps it was a snarl. It was hard to tell sometimes when he showed his teeth. He spoke softly into Ford’s ear. “Perhaps we should have let the Cyborg kill him?”

  Ford nodded politely, a smile fixed to his face like a death mask, as if endorsing the Governor’s words. He hissed back through the side of his mouth. “He‘s putting on the performance of his life, for his life, assuring Jasper he won’t expose him.”

  Clarkson gestured to another reporter as Sarah sat back down. “Sir, do you have any thoughts on why they had an assassin target you?”

  “I’m flattered, but I don’t believe I was the sole or even primary target. They had reason enough to target and eliminate any or all of us.” He gestured with his hands to Ford and the others as he spoke. “After all, we’re all implicated in the meat run, in one way or another, with exposing and ending it that is.”

  Jasper smiled and acknowledged Jackson. “Not the result I was looking for, but I’ll grant you a mission accomplished this time.”

  Jackson dipped his head slightly in recognition and slipped his goggles back over his eyes. “Thank you, now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to attend to in the lab.”

  Jasper waved him away dismissively with his hand and turned his attention back to the press conference. It appeared to be wrapping up. “It’s almost worth losing a friendly base to discover that our holier than thou Guardian Ford will deal with the devil himself, to advance his so called cause.”

  “It’s not over till the fat lady reporter asks the final question.” interjected Angelica.

  Sarah was on her feet again, waving the microphone in Fords direction, as they stood up to leave. “If I may, I have some questions for Guardian Ford on behalf of our viewers.”

  Ford turned to Clarkson. “I hardly think it fair for me to take the floor. It is after all the Governors conference, were just here to show our support for him.”

  Clarkson looked at Sarah, then Ford, and back again. “Please be my guest, were all friends here.”

  “Thank you Governor. Guardian Ford are you aware of the rumours circulating that it was in fact the man you claim is your arch nemesis, Jasper, who disabled the swarm ship? That you and your colleagues are in fact taking, perhaps stealing, the credit for his actions?”

  Ford turned to face the cameras, he could feel Vlade tensing behind him, like a coiled spring, waiting to pounce. “Well Sarah I wish Jasper were her to account for his actions. Our intelligence suggests he transmitted a computer virus that disabled a good many ships, on both sides, and systems on the Nova-7, before the Fury jumped to hyperspace to escape the battle.”

  “So you admit that he disabled the swarm ship?”

  “If they did indeed transmitted the virus before they ran from the battle, then yes, it may have helped, but it also crippled our systems and cost us and the Nova-7 a lot of good people.”

  “Perhaps, having made a decisive contribution to the battle, he left to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with a man who has sworn to hunt him down? Perhaps those people would still be alive, had you allowed him to stay and fight alongside you?”

  Ford gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. “You’ll have to ask him why he ran away. And when you do, ask him to explain his actions to the parents, children, siblings, friends and lovers of those who fought and died defending this station, humanity and everyone on it.”

  “Well you have to admit, you’re a dangerous man to be around. Death and destruction seem to follow you around the galax
y and visit those who follow you, even your closest friends. Is it true some of your senior staff were seriously injured or even killed in the terrorist attack?

  He put his arm out to hold Vlade back, as he curled his lips back, snarling, showing his teeth in defiance. “The universe is dangerous place. Ask those we found on the Amastra. Those we liberated from the Raider base in the Scorpion Nebula. Ask them who saved them and if the sacrifices those people made to do it were worth it?”

  Sarah shook her head. “I’m asking you. How you sleep at night, having sacrificed those closest to you to pursue your goals, whatever they are?”

  “Enough!” snarled Vlade threatening to break free of Ford’s grasp. He pointed to Horra beside him. “Perhaps you should ask us why we have chosen to follow a man wanted by our governments, a man who saved us when our leaders abandoned us.”

  “According to your governments your common vagabonds, criminals and outlaws.”

  Clarkson stepped in. “Sarah, these people are our guests and I say on behalf of Nova-7 we are grateful for their assistance, whatever their background. We have always provided a safe haven for exiles, whether they deserved to be exiled or not, and long may that be so. Now I believe it’s time to end this conference.”

  He gestured to his security team to begin emptying the room and cut the live feed.

  Logan turned to Ford. “I bet that bastard primed her to ask those questions. We do all the hard work and end up looking like Raider scum. He comes out of this smelling sweeter than a Dionysusian whore at our expense.”

  “Really I’m hurt. If I had any idea she was going to be so hostile I would never have allowed her to question you like that. Ask all those hurtful questions about your crew. I do hope they make a full recovery.”

  “So do I.” said Ford. “So do I. Now if you’ll excuse us, I believe we’re finished here.”