The Star-Keeper Imperative

by C N Samson

  “Too small. Scanning...”

  “Oh, Great Lord!” Drummond shouted. “RGM incoming! Everyone brace!”

  Rheinborne leaped to his feet. RGM meant remote guided mine!

  Kassyrinx opened his mouth, but he never got to ask the obvious question. There came the deafening BOOM of an explosion that echoed through the ship. The sidhreen emitted a shriek of distress as the artificial gravity failed. Everyone began to float into the air.

  Gravity returned moments later. Rheinborne landed awkwardly, wobbled and fell onto the sofa. Hurgompo flopped onto his stomach, while Kassyrinx managed to remain standing.

  Valicia raced into the lounge. “Are you all okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” replied Rheinborne, pushing himself upright. “How about you?”

  “I’m not hurt.” Valicia went to help a struggling Hurgompo regain his footing.

  Rheinborne exited the lounge, dashed to the door of the cockpit. “Captain, open up!” he shouted.

  The door slid open. Rheinborne flung himself inside. Tahla swiveled in the co-pilot’s chair and looked at him, stunned and shaken.

  “How is everyone?” Drummond asked, his attention on the control console.

  “They’re all fine. Where’d that mine come from?”

  Drummond swiped on a console panel, transferred the stern camera view to the main screen. It showed a larger starship rapidly gaining on them.

  “It came from them, apparently,” the captain said.

  “What’s the damage?” Rheinborne asked.

  Tahla consulted her screens. “Catastrophic fault on all stardrive indicators,” she said. “Port sublight engine is erratic, starboard is still operational.”

  “Then let’s go back to the planet,” Rheinborne said.

  “Incoming transmission,” Tahla said.

  Drummond nodded at her. “On main view.”

  Tahla typed on her console. A man’s smug, smiling face filled the screen.

  It was Agent Norland.

  CHAPTER 24

  “ATTENTION, WHOEVER you are,” Drummond said. “I demand an explanation for this unprovoked attack!”

  “He’s a traitor to the DSI,” Rheinborne said.

  “Oh, is that the real Mr. Rheinborne?” asked Norland. “Good to see you again, so to speak. Where’s the esteemed Dr. Parzo?”

  “I’m calling in the PSR,” Drummond said.

  Norland wagged a finger. “You do that, and I split your ship in half.” He glanced off to the side. “Go ahead.”

  “We’re being fired upon!” Tahla shouted. She brought up a tactical display of the immediate area, showing a wireframe outline of the planet and both ships. A short line of particles shot out from Norland’s ship toward the Libertine. Through the cockpit window, Rheinborne saw the fiery stream passing overhead.

  “That was your one warning,” Norland said. “I’m sure you know what point-defense shells can do to a ship of your tiny size.”

  Valicia entered the cockpit, stopped short when she caught sight of Norland’s image on the main screen.

  “Oh, there you are!” the man said. “Have any success, Doctor?”

  “No,” Valicia said, coming to stand behind Tahla. “We found nothing. It’s gone.”

  Norland was jostled aside, replaced by the roughened face of Simeon Prester.

  “Look here, you little straddletart!” Prester said, his voice raspy with menace. “Give up the artifact, or—” He jerked his head to the side, looked offscreen. “What do you want?” he asked sharply. The screen went blank.

  “Well, that’s the most horrible person I’ve ever seen in my life!” said Tahla, grimacing.

  “How could they have found us?” Drummond wondered. “Was there an information leak somewhere?”

  The screen blinked back on, showing Norland again.

  “We’re bringing your ship aboard,” he said. “Don’t try to run, don’t try to resist—”

  “Foozwacker!” Tahla yelled at the screen.

  Valicia gripped the girl’s shoulders. “Tahla, please calm yourself,” she whispered.

  “That’s right, put a muzzle on her,” Norland said with a nasty grin. “See you all soon.” The transmission ended.

  No one spoke for a long while. The tactical display was still up on the main screen; the computer had read the IFF transponder of Norland’s ship and labeled it Science vessel – Skyward. The ship was moving into a position below the Libertine, in preparation for the forced docking maneuver.

  “Okay, so, what now?” asked Tahla, twisting around to regard the others. “Do we still call for help?”

  Captain Drummond shook his head. “It’s too late for that.”

  Tahla’s fingers flew over the console. “We couldn’t, anyway. They’re jamming all frequencies.”

  “Excuse my intrusion,” Kassyrinx said from the door of the cockpit. “But the situation seems to have taken a distinctly dire turn.”

  Hurgompo stood behind the sidhreen. “We fight?” he asked.

  “Why not?” Rheinborne said. “We have weapons.”

  Drummond rubbed his eyes. “They have superiority in every way that counts. Any sort of resistance would not be advisable.”

  “So, okay, we just threaten to destroy the Chythex thing unless they let us go,” Tahla suggested.

  “Norland won’t fall for that,” Valicia said. “He knows I wouldn’t do it.”

  Captain Drummond stood, smoothed out his flight suit. “I hate to say that we ought to ready ourselves for inevitable capture, but...well...” He flapped his hands, a gesture of dismissal.

  “Hold on, Captain,” said Rheinborne, catching hold of the man’s shoulder. “We’re not just going to roll over and surrender!”

  “If we want to live, that’s what we have to do.” He shrugged off Rheinborne’s grip. “Now please, there’s nothing more to be done.”

  Everyone exited the cockpit. Drummond retreated to his cabin, saying that he needed a minute alone; the others congregated in the crew lounge.

  Rheinborne and Valicia sat together at the table beside the lounge window.

  “What does Gwynne say?” Rheinborne asked.

  “He’s furious, as you’d expect,” replied Valicia. “But he’s on his way back to Treilath. He can’t do anything for us.”

  “Yes, he can,” Rheinborne insisted. “Tell him to turn around and bring in the whole fercocking fleet if he has to. We’re out of options, so if he wants the artifact, he’ll have to come and save us first.”

  Tahla bounced up to the table. “You know what I think happened? Some twerkins at the station put a tracking beacon on us!”

  A series of deep, muffled thumps sounded, as if something had struck the bottom of the ship.

  Tahla went over to the lounge screen, switched it on. “Computer, display ventral camera, please.”

  The requested view blinked up on the screen. Rheinborne saw a series of metal cables snaking down from the belly of the Libertine, attached by electromagnets that clung to the hull. The ship was being pulled down into the open jaws of the Skyward’s dorsal hangar bay.

  CHAPTER 25

  NORLAND AND PRESTER observed the capture of the Libertine from the bridge of the Skyward. Given that the original captain and crew were dead, their replacements had been recruited in Langensbern. Norland wasn’t entirely sure about them, but one had to go with what was available.

  Agent Vance, his team’s pilot and technical specialist, reported from the ops station that the Libertine was locked down and that the hangar bay doors were closed.

  “Good,” Norland said. “Send them in. Non-lethal force only.”

  Beside him, Prester scoffed. “What’s with this non-lethal drett? You only need the woman, isn’t that what you said?”

  “We also need to ensure her compliance.”

  “Ah. You’re right about that,” Prester admitted, crossing his arms. “Think I’ve been in the office too long. Starting to forget how things are done.”

 
“Sir, look at this,” Vance said.

  On the main screen, the view of the hangar bay zoomed in on the Libertine’s cockpit window. A short-haired girl looked out, making faces and obscene gestures.

  “Who is that?” Prester asked, chuckling.

  “Ship’s engineer, most likely,” answered Norland.

  Prester laughed. “Must be a Guildie. I like her spirit!”

  A purple-skinned hrulaphan appeared behind her and pulled her out of sight.

  “Cargo ramp’s down,” Vance said. “Looks like they’re surrendering.”

  The main screen view zoomed out to show the entire bay. Dr. Parzo emerged, holding an aluminum case. When she reached the bottom of the ramp, she was secured by Emlyn and the rest of the STAR soldiers, all clad in tactical gear and fully armed.

  “Open a channel,” Norland said.

  Vance obeyed the order. “Go ahead, sir.”

  “Agent Ranzka, please confirm that we have the package.”

  Emyln seized the case, lifted the lid. Vance zoomed in; the artifact was inside, half-embedded in blue cushioning gel. “Confirmed, sir,” she said.

  “Good,” Norland answered. “Take it to the lab, then get the rest of those people off that ship and put them into holding.”

  “Agent Norland, I want to negotiate.” It was Valicia, speaking off-screen.

  Vance widened the view to include her.

  Prester snorted and said, “Are you being serious?”

  “Let my friends go, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re misreading the situation,” Prester retorted. “As of now, you all belong to me. Get them out of there.”

  “Yes, sir.” Emlyn secured the case and pushed Valicia into motion. The tactical team swarmed up the cargo ramp and into the Libertine.

  “Very nice,” Prester said, a note of admiration in his voice. “I have to say, that went easier than I thought. I figured they’d put up more of a fight.”

  “A peaceful resolution is preferable,” Norland remarked.

  “Sometimes,” said Prester. “By the way, make sure that ship is disposed of as soon as possible.”

  Norland frowned. “Disposed of?”

  “Yes, as in thrown back into space. The stardrive is wrecked, so it’s of no use to us, is it?”

  It seemed like a waste to do so, but Norland didn’t want to contradict Prester at the moment. “Will do.”

  “Sir,” said Vance, “should we get under way?”

  “Not yet,” Norland answered.

  Prester’s expression darkened. “Why not? What the fercock are you waiting for? Did you forget that we’re under the clock?”

  “There’s no point in taking the tech to Briggston if it doesn’t work,” said Norland. “We’ll get Dr. Parzo to set up a demonstration first.”

  “She can do that on the way.”

  “What if she left a vital piece of it back on the planet?”

  “Now why in the Great Lord’s name would she do that, if she didn’t even know we were here?”

  “Paranoia? Insurance? I don’t want to underestimate her again.”

  Prester grunted in agreement. “Two hours, then we’re gone no matter what.”

  CHAPTER 26

  THE Skyward, as Captain Drummond explained while they were being marched along the ship’s corridors, was a long-range science survey vessel, from the Moonwind class of ships. It had two decks, a crew complement of 35, and a stardrive rated L6. The point-defense gun was, of course, an aftermarket addition.

  It galled Rheinborne to have to surrender as they did, but Valicia and Drummond had been in agreement; refusing to go quietly was pointless. Norland possessed all the advantages, they had none, so in the end the group—except for Tahla—had agreed to give themselves up.

  He was a bit surprised when Valicia tried to cut the deal, but he knew they wouldn’t go for it. Still, Rheinborne held out hope that Gwynne might have assets in the area that could turn things around.

  He and the others were taken to an empty storage compartment, where they were searched and relieved of all loose items. A technician went around with a diagnostic gun and used it to shut down their ECMs. Rheinborne wondered if Valicia’s XCM would be affected, but he obviously couldn’t ask at the moment.

  Throughout the whole process, Hurgompo gave off signs that he was preparing to fight, but four soldiers kept their weapons trained on him at all times. Tahla made snide remarks under her breath until Emlyn gave her a resounding smack on the head. Kassyrinx appeared as if he was going to be ill, but managed to keep his composure.

  Emlyn touched the side of her head. “Understood,” she said.

  “Are we to be executed?” asked Drummond.

  Emlyn ignored the question. “Take the hurlie to the medbay,” she told the soldiers covering Hurgompo.

  “According to the General Articles of Conflict,” said Drummond, “prisoners are entitled to certain—”

  “We’re not at war, so shut up!” Emlyn snapped. After Hurgompo had been escorted out, she seized Valicia’s arm and shoved her toward two other soldiers. “Take that one to the science lab.”

  Rheinborne surged forward, but Emlyn blocked his way. She trained her pistol on him until Valicia and her guards were gone. To the remaining soldiers, she said, “All right, let’s move out.”

  “Bye, Andrea!” Rheinborne called, his tone as scornful as he could make it.

  Emlyn scowled but said nothing as she and the soldiers departed. The door shut behind them.

  “What a bitchness!” Tahla blurted out. She turned to Rheinborne and asked, “Do you know her?”

  THE Skyward’s science lab was a long, off-white room shaped like a half-compressed octagon. Norland stood at one of the work tables, upon which was the open case that contained the Chythex component. He had first seen the strange green ovoid when it was still embedded in the ancient shuttle. He reached out to touch the component, hesitated. What was the age of the thing? Five hundred years, at least. He lightly brushed his fingers across the textured metal surface.

  The inventory label was still attached to the inside of the case: “CHX.TCH.6621.00A.008”. There were other artifacts recovered from the crashed ship, still in the Skyward’s secure cargo hold, but this was by far the most valuable. The scientists had nattered on about how it could lead to a leap in technology, as big as the leap that had occurred when humanity reverse-engineered the Chythex stardrive.

  But that was all a vague abstraction to him. His present interest was turning it over to the right people and getting rewarded for it. Prester would try and claim all the credit, of course; but there was enough evidence to prove who truly deserved the majority of whatever remuneration would result from this discovery.

  The lab door opened. A pair of soldiers brought Dr. Parzo inside.

  “Welcome back, doctor!” Norland said, holding his arms out in welcome. She said nothing, kept her arms behind her back.

  “Take her restraints off, please,” he ordered. One of the soldiers did so. She rubbed her wrists, still remaining silent.

  Norland told the soldiers to leave and stand guard outside. When they were gone, he motioned for her to join him at the table. As she came over, his gaze roamed over her body. As always, he wondered if she wore any underwear.

  “You slaughtered everyone on my team,” Dr. Parzo said. “It was completely unnecessary.”

  The woman stated that in the same way she would have reported the weather. Not for the first time did Norland entertain the idea that she was some sort of advanced mechanoid, but no—she was human, all right, and he sorely wanted to prove that beyond all doubt.

  “And how does that make you feel?” he asked.

  “If Gwynne were here, he would say that you’re nothing but mendacious filth,” she answered.

  That last phrase gave him pause. Gwynne had said that on several occasions, as a buildup to a rant against people that he greatly disliked.

  “I’m guessing that our mu
tual friend is unhappy about my defection.” He grinned wickedly, anticipating her reaction to what he was about to reveal. “But do you want to know the truth? He’s angry that I did it first.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Norland stroked her arm. She flinched away.

  “If Gwynne really wanted this thing back, he would have alerted every military force in the galaxy. He would have called the president himself, saying that a Chythex artifact was about to fall into the hands of organized crime. But what does he do instead? He hires a covert team to try and recover it by stealth.”

  Dr. Parzo leveled a cool gaze at him. “He explained his reasoning for that,” she said.

  “What he left out was the fact that he was planning to sell the artifact for his own profit.”

  “That’s what you’re planning to do, isn’t it?”

  Norland laughed. “Where do you think I got the idea? After that demonstration with the robot, Gwynne called me and said that the big transport corporations would pay beautifully for the technology. He wanted me to arrange for it to vanish, so I had to make my move first.”

  “I have it on good authority that you’re a malignant, deluded liar.”

  “Such big talk,” said Norland. “You sound like Gwynne himself.”

  The lab door opened. Prester stormed into the room.

  “Enough faffling around, Norland!” he shouted.

  “Mr. Prester, I—”

  Prester ignored him. He jabbed a finger at Dr. Parzo and said, “You’re going to behave, or your friends will suffer.” Turning to Norland, he asked, “Can you get the medbay from here?”

  “Yes, just give me a second.” Norland tapped and swiped on a nearby console surface. The lab’s viewscreen blinked on, showed a view of the Skyward’s medbay. Two soldiers stood on either side of the door.

  “Bring up the isolation unit.”

  Norland selected the requested view. The purple hrulaphan was strapped to the table inside the unit. His ears flapped listlessly, and his trunk lay flaccid across his chest. A number of wires were attached to his body at various points.