by Amie Kaufman
A ragtag collection of Hypatia and Alexander crew members man the bridge, a bunch more standing by the door in quiet conference. There are literally no spare rooms to hold their meetings.
Kady Grant’s humming tunelessly and has her boots up on a console, one tapping slowly, and Boll looks like this might just be the thing that breaks her.
Grant, unaware of her mortal peril, is holding a battered datapad in one hand, frequently consulting it as she stabs at her keyboard with one finger. Her fading pink hair falls around her face, and she’s biting her lip, frowning at the console in a way that would cow a lesser system.
“Do you need more terminal space?” Boll can’t help herself. Back straight, hands clasped behind her, she stares at her last, best and only hope like she’s a misbehaving cadet.
“Huh?” Kady doesn’t look up.
“I can give you more monitors, at least.” Boll waves at the datapad. “You seem to be using the smallest screen on the ship.”
“All good,” Kady replies. “It’s got all my personal stuff on it.”
Captain Syra Boll has no idea what—or maybe after all this, we should say “who”—is actually in it.
Grant looks tired and worried, but there’s a sliver of energy running through her, visible in the way she taps her sole against the computers in front of her, drums her fingers on the datapad’s edge. She never expected to find Heimdall in one piece, let alone her father alive and waiting for her. There’s a nervousness to her movements, and she blinks too often.
“This makes zero sense. See those signatures up there on the main screen? Tell me how those make sense.”
“I can’t,” Boll replies, though she gazes obediently. “That’s why you’re here.”
“Oh, uh…” Grant had actually been speaking to the datapad when she asked that question, but now she turns the conversation to Boll. “Yeah, sorry, Captain. So listen, both these replies are coming in from the station almost simultaneously. They’re using the same hacked network, set up by the same admin—our initial contact, Ella Malikova. Malikova greenlit both these accounts, and both these names are in her initial transmission. And each one of these users is claiming the other one is dead.”
Boll paces in closer to the screen, narrows her eyes. “Is there any chance it’s just one crazy person pretending to be two? Or two crazy people using the same device?”
Kady shakes her head. “Two different idents, two different log-ins. It’s not the same device. And it’s not the same person. Syntax, slang, grammar, typing speed.” She glances at her datapad, then back to Boll. “I mean, I don’t think we have time for me to talk to you about the subtle differences in their content. But the fingerprints feel different.”
A woman breaks away from the huddle by the door, where another makeshift conference has ended. Though there are 868 UTA staff members aboard, thanks to Kady and AIDAN’s rescue, former First Lieutenant Winifred McCall is in a Hypatia uniform. Her UTA resignation clearly still stands, and the badge on her sleeve indicates she’s on Hypatia’s security team now. “We don’t have time for anything, Captain,” she says, closing in on Boll. “If these contacts are right, we’re about to watch an assault fleet jump straight through that wormhole to destroy us. Who cares which one we believe? They’re both sending the same warning.”
“We can’t believe either of them until we know more,” Boll snaps, then reins herself in. “They could both be setting the same trap.”
Ezra Mason’s moving more slowly as he follows McCall across the bridge, coming to a halt behind Kady and reaching down to squeeze her shoulder. He’s still in his UTA uniform. “They have your dad, right, Kades?”
“That’s what they said. He’s not the one talking to us, but they have him.” She lifts her hand to rest it over his. “Or access to his command codes.”
“Okay,” says Ezra quietly. “Then let’s use him. Tell these Nik and Hanna people to ask him something only he would know. Whoever gets the answer right, they’re the one we trust.”
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 4824
PARTICIPANTS:
Hanna Donnelly, Civilian
Isaac Grant, Chief Engineer
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 17:25
HANNA D: Chief, are you there?
ISAAC G: I’m here, Hanna. Are you using Nik’s headset?
HANNA D: I’m using…I think her name was Russo. Kali, they called her.
ISAAC G: Is everything all right?
HANNA D: Nik died, Chief.
ISAAC G: Oh God.
HANNA D: Nik died.
HANNA D: And Ella isn’t answering comms.
HANNA D: And they found us before we could disable the wormhole, and I can’t go back because it’s crawling with lickers and BT ops.
ISAAC G: ****.
HANNA D: I’m sorry.
ISAAC G: It’s not your fault, Hanna. Are you okay, at least?
HANNA D: Your daughter, she’s called Kady. Did I remember that right?
ISAAC G: Yes.
HANNA D: Chief, she’s alive. I spoke to her.
ISAAC G: Say again?
HANNA D: I spoke to the Hypatia, I tried to warn them. Ella tied my palmpad into her comms channel so I could answer in case…something happened to her.
ISAAC G: I…I…How are they doing? Is Helena there? What’s their status?
HANNA D: Their status is, they don’t believe me, and they’re saying Nik is talking to them, but I know he’s not, he’s dead. Someone from BT has to be on the palmpad network.
ISAAC G: You tell Kady you have me here, I can prove it’s me.
HANNA D: I told them. They’ve gone quiet. They’re thinking about it, I guess.
ISAAC G: We don’t have TIME for them to think about it!
HANNA D: Tell someone who doesn’t know, Chief. Nik just died trying to save them.
ISAAC G: God…I’m sorry, Hanna. I wish we had time to honor what he did properly, I really do.
HANNA D: No, I know. And I know what he’d want me to do. I’m trying to— I can do this.
HANNA D: I refuse to die here.
HANNA D: We have to do something about the Kennedy fleet. Even if Hypatia won’t listen to us, maybe we can stop them.
ISAAC G: If disabling the wormhole is out, then it’s got to be Command &…
HANNA D: Chief, you there?
ISAAC G: Sorry, it’s the pain. I think…the dust is wearing off. Worried I’m going to black out.
HANNA D: Are the bandages holding? You’re not losing too much blood?
ISAAC G: …Don’t think so.
HANNA D: Okay, then. This isn’t my first choice, but if you black out, I’m screwed. Look next to the water bottle I left for you. You see the spoon there? Lick it.
ISAAC G: Excuse me?
HANNA D: I left some traces of dust there. It’ll give you another lift. Shouldn’t be so much you can’t think straight.
ISAAC G: I hope you’re right. Done.
HANNA D: So you think I can get into Command & Control? I’ve got Kali’s headset, so I can hear their comms. Not sure how many of them died in the reactor, but it’d be a few, at least.
ISAAC G: Maybe. Their numbers are down, that’s going to thin the guards…in Command & Control, at least. If you can get in there, I can talk you through our Defense Grid Systems. They’re not exactly top tier, but there’s a chance we…can do some damage to this fleet when it arrives.
HANNA D: What about the hostages? We have to get them off Heimdall somehow.
ISAAC G: If we can destroy the Kennedy fleet, that buys more time. If not, maybe you can…unlock the docking mechanisms on some of the civilian ships, give them a chance to run.
ISAAC G: I’m going to try and move while the dust is working…get to a terminal so I can give you some support. You’ll need it, with Ella gone.
HANNA D: We don’t know she’s dead. She might just be cut off for now.
ISAAC G: It’s a possibility. But I think w
e have to proceed on the…assumption she’s not going to be able to help us again.
HANNA D: God…
ISAAC G: Hanna, I know this is an impossibly stupid question, but are you…Is there anything at all I can do? Your father, Jackson…now Nik and Ella.
HANNA D: I never killed anyone before.
HANNA D: I played it out in my head right before I did it. I wasn’t even thinking about the fact that she’d be dead afterward. I just wanted to get to Nik.
ISAAC G: You did the right thing, Hanna.
HANNA D: I know.
HANNA D: But.
ISAAC G: I know.
HANNA D: I want my dad.
ISAAC G: Oh, Hanna.
HANNA D: I’m going to save Kady for you, I promise.
ISAAC G: I’ll be with you all the way, as much as I can.
ISAAC G: Start heading for C & C, and I’ll get to work on…a terminal. Find out how many staffers they have inside there. Got any ideas…about entry strategies?
HANNA D: Ever heard of a city called Troy?
ISAAC G: Is this one of your father’s stories?
HANNA D: He’s here with me all the way too.
HANNA D: Don’t worry, Chief. I have a plan.
PALMPAD IM: D2D NETWORK
Participants: Hypatia (unregistered)
Hanna Donnelly, Civilian (unregistered)
Date: 08/16/75
Timestamp: 18:12
Hypatia: Hanna, are you in contact with Chief Grant?
Hanna D: I thought you’d ditched me for good
Hypatia: Apologies. This is Captain Boll. You must understand we need to be cautious. Either you or Mr. Malikov is attempting to lure us into danger. One of you is not legitimate, and as far as we know, perhaps neither of you is.
Hanna D: listen, I’ve been chased and shot at and watched Nik KILLED trying to save your lives, so if you don’t trust me, I can’t help that, captain boll. I’ll do what I can without you.
Hypatia: Would you be willing to answer a few questions to verify your identity?
Hanna D: Such as?
Hypatia: Are you in contact with Chief Grant?
Hanna D: Yes, by radio
Hypatia: I have his daughter here with me.
Hanna D: Yes, Kady. She told me her name before.
Hypatia: That’s right. If you can have Chief Grant answer a few personal questions put by his daughter, we’ll know you’re working with him, and we can proceed from there.
Hanna D: hang on
Hanna D: oh he’s REALLY excited
Hanna D: okay put Kady on
Hypatia: It’s me.
Hypatia: Okay, first thing, tell him I love him.
Hanna D: loves you back. Asking are you and your mom and your cousin Asha okay
Hypatia: Tell him I’m fine. Did you tell him we need answers to verify who you are?
Hanna D: he says fire away
Hanna D: now he’s laughing at his own joke, because he got shot
Hanna D: sorry, I had to medicate him again, he’s a little…
Hypatia: No, those are just his jokes. Especially when he’s excited.
Hypatia: First question. Ask him what he sent me for my last birthday.
Hanna D: he missed your birthday because comms were down. birthday before…ok maybe he’s saying motherboards? is that possible?
Hypatia: That’s right.
Hanna D: he’s not very good at presents, is he?
Hypatia: Ask him what he did, my first date with Ezra.
Hanna D: he’s laughing again
Hanna D: he says 20 questions
Hanna D: no wonder our dads were friends
Hypatia: Ask him what’s the biggest fight we ever had.
Hanna D: …rehydrated potato salad? Is that the answer or is he high?
Hypatia: That’s the answer.
Hanna D: there’s something he wants me to say
Hanna D: I’m passing on what he’s saying word for word
Hanna D: Kady, I love you both very much. You’re everything to me. I’ve missed you more than I can say these last months. I thought of you both every single day. It doesn’t matter what happens here, but you need to listen to us. This is real. The fleet is coming for you. Stop talking, find a way to fight for your lives. Do it for me.
Hanna D: you still there?
Hypatia: Tell him we love him too.
Hypatia: Very much.
Hanna D: Kady, can i ask you something?
Hypatia: Okay.
Hanna D: your mom’s not there, is she? or your cousin?
Hypatia: don’t say anything to my dad
Hanna D: I won’t. but I’m going to tell him you love him for you, one more time. never miss a chance to do that, trust me.
Hypatia: The captain needs to speak to me.
Hanna D: don’t be long, visitors are on their way. we’re doing what we can to slow them down on our end, but…
Hypatia: Roger that. Hypatia out.
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 413
PARTICIPANTS:
Tracy “Mantis” Lê, Corporal, Computer Systems
DR-782XII, Artificial Intelligence Matrix, Assault Fleet Kennedy
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 18:22
DR-782XII: AUDIT TEAM F-XII, THIS IS KENNEDY ASSAULT. RESPOND, OVER.
MANTIS: Roger, Kennedy, this is Audit Team. We read, over.
DR-782XII: KENNEDY ASSAULT INBOUND TO HEIMDALL STATION ETA 24 MINUTES, 47 SECONDS.
DR-782XII: REQUEST STATUS: HEIMDALL WORMHOLE. OVER.
MANTIS: Kennedy, Audit Team. We had some internal trouble here. There’s some kind of infestation in the Reactor Sector, but—
DR-782XII: KENNEDY ASSAULT, REPEAT. REQUEST STATUS: HEIMDALL WORMHOLE. OVER.
MANTIS: Look.
MANTIS: I know there’s precious little room in your matrices for societal constructs, but you combat drones are rude little *******s, you know that?
DR-782XII: ACKNOWLEDGED, AUDIT TEAM. CONFIRM WORMHOLE ONLINE? OVER.
MANTIS: …Confirmed. Successful pingback from Kerenza-side waypoint station. Systems nominal. Green lights across the board. Over.
DR-782XII: AUDIT TEAM WILL ADVISE KENNEDY ASSAULT OF ANY CHANGE IN STATUS OF HEIMDALL WORMHOLE. OVER.
MANTIS: Say “please,” you little ****.
DR-782XII: AUDIT TEAM WILL ADVISE KENNEDY ASSAULT OF ANY CHANGE IN STATUS OF HEIMDALL WORMHOLE. OVER.
MANTIS: …Confirmed, Kennedy. Audit Team will advise. Over.
DR-782XII: ACKNOWLEDGED, AUDIT TEAM. KENNEDY ASSAULT OUT.
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 4824
PARTICIPANTS:
Hanna Donnelly, Civilian
Isaac Grant, Chief Engineer
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 18:24
ISAAC G: Hanna, where are you?
HANNA D: I’m en route. I’m chancing it in the hallways. There are so few of them left, I’m just hoping nobody’s out and about.
ISAAC G: Hanna, the Kennedy fleet is en route too.
HANNA D: Running as fast as I can, boss.
ISAAC G: Hanna, they’re close. Minutes away.
HANNA D: ****.
ISAAC G: There’s no reason for them to delay going through the wormhole once they arrive.
ISAAC G: You’re the one chance the Hypatia has.
HANNA D: I’m running.
RADIO TRANSMISSION: BEITECH AUDIT TEAM—SECURE CHANNEL 771
PARTICIPANTS:
Travis “Cerberus” Falk, Lieutenant, Team Commander
Tracy “Mantis” Lê, Corporal, Computer Systems
DATE: 08/16/75
TIMESTAMP: 18:24
MANTIS: Top, this is Mantis, you reading me?
CERBERUS: Mantis, Cerberus. Go.
MANTIS: Everything okay in there? Sweep complete?
CERBERUS: Cujo, Poacher and Nightingale are flatline. There were dozens of the *******s. But the lanima infestation is dealt with. Re
actor area is secure. All thirty stories.
MANTIS: Have you spoken to Kali? Suit tracker had her with you in the reactor, but now she’s situated in Alpha Sector?
CERBERUS: I tried her on comms. No reply. She’s hunting rabbits, I assume. They slipped the net. But I presume whatever sabotage they were about failed?
MANTIS: Roger that, Cerberus. Mercury confirms wormhole is still five by five. And we just got hit up by Assault Fleet Kennedy. Drones are inbound, about twenty ticks away.
CERBERUS: Bliss. I want you and DJ ready for system purge—that entire network is to be burned from the inside out, clear? I don’t want one byte of data recovered from the wreckage.
MANTIS: Sir, yessir.
CERBERUS: I’m sending Sensei and Eden to watch over Mercury in Engineering while she sets the reactor to overload. Two-Time is prepping the Mao. As soon as Kennedy crosses the threshold, we light out and watch the fireworks.
MANTIS: What about Rapier?
CERBERUS: He’s MIA. And therefore not our concern. He can die with Heimdall.
MANTIS: Roger that. Prepping system burn now. I’ll notify you when Kennedy arrives.
CERBERUS: Roger that. Good work, Mantis. Cerberus out.
Footage opens on Mantis and Rolf “DJ” Møller hunched over terminals in Heimdall’s C & C. The two are working on Falk’s system burn, systematically wiping entire sections of the Heimdall network. They’re spread thin, manning the whole of C & C by themselves, but they’ve worked together for a long time, and like a pair of experienced dance partners, they send files flying back and forth, working in tandem. Neither moves until a figure outside the security door raps her knuckles against the Plexiglas viewing portal.
DJ lifts his head—unlike the petite Mantis, this guy looks like a bruiser, like his fingers should be too big to type properly. Like he’d rather be scratching himself or hunting down prey with a club than handling the kind of sophisticated programming an op like this requires. Maybe there’s a reason the final burn is his favorite part. Just saying.
He nods at the door. “Think I worked out why Kali’s not answering comms.”
