“I’m not sure you understand exactly what is going on here,” Gavin cautioned.
“It seemed pretty obvious to me,” Jax shot back. “They’re afraid of this Delegation they mentioned and think that attacking Hull will give them an edge. But that is what makes it ring false. The Admins were never afraid of any outside threat because there is no outside threat—there’s nothing out here besides the Vast and a whole lot of sand.”
Gavin pointed toward the viewing screen where the dunes rolled by. It certainly appeared as empty and desolate as Jax described. “It may seem like that to you, but I can assure you that the trace was accurate. I still need to run more to get all the details, but this much I can tell you: the Delegation is real and if war comes to the Vast we don’t want to get caught in the crossfire.”
“But you have seen the Collective fleet,” Halerin interjected. “Even though they lost half of it in the Core, what force could possibly stand against that?”
“Malthus mentioned that they were preparing for war,” Gavin continued. “I didn’t believe him back then, but after seeing this, I understand what they were doing in the Viscera. Manx Core was a military installation. They did not build those ships overnight. They knew about this enemy, and they knew there was a possibility that the Delegation might find them.”
“But say the Delegation is real.” Raif’s mind scrambled to resolve the dilemma. “What do we care if they’ve got their sites locked on the Collective? Let them fight it out. They might just do us a favor and do each other in.”
“Can we be certain the Delegation won’t do the same to us?” Jax asked.
“I don’t know,” Gavin confessed.
“I trust your judgment, Gavin,” Von replied, even more resolute and grim than usual. “But either way it seems like the only real option we have is to go somewhere where the Collective—and this Delegation, whoever they are—can never find us.”
“But what about the prisoners?” Halerin reminded them. “We can’t just abandon them.”
“I agree.” This brief thought shot through the minds of everyone around the table like a blast from some internal alarm. Were they really going to attempt to go up against the Collective again? The channel rippled with questions and doubts, but Gavin continued on amidst the mental static. “I have been thinking about this trace ever since I saw it last night. And I have settled on what I believe is the best course of action for us to take. But it won’t work unless we’re all on board. I warn you, though, this plan involves a great deal of risk.”
“Well, our last plan was pretty cracked, too. Those seem to be our specialty.” Raif remarked.
Gavin studied the men around the table. Adan could sense his hesitancy return.
“I think we need to attempt the rescue in the middle of the Collective attack on Hull,” Gavin stated.
Jax made a face like he had something in his mouth that he wanted to spit out. “That would be suicide.”
“Jax is right,” Cade put in. “If we don’t get shot down by the Collective, we’re likely to get targeted by the forces defending Hull. Our ships look exactly like the ones from the Collective.”
Von’s frown deepened. “A stealth mission—preferably under cover of a storm—would have the best chance of success.”
Adan wrung his hands under the table. Gavin’s plan didn’t make much sense, but that wasn’t what worried him most, it was the thought of Senya and her family. The chronotrace sequence he had just witnessed had convinced him that the Collective invasion would claim her life as well as those of her sons and everyone else imprisoned in Hull.
“What about the Welkin, Gavin? There are probably hundreds of innocent people inside that city.” Adan blurted out frantically.
“Don’t tell me you want us to risk our necks for those people, too?” Jax balked.
“Of course we will,” Gavin replied. “We’re going to save everyone we can, Werin and Sentient both. But one thing at a time. For now, let’s figure out how we’re going to free the captured Sentients.”
“What’s your plan? A full-out assault?” Jax scoffed. “They’ll see the Maven coming from a dozen clicks away, unless we go under cover of a storm like Von suggested.”
Gavin eased back down into his chair. Adan thought he might lose them at that moment, but instead of responding to the assessor’s remark directly, Gavin began to unpack his thoughts to the group in a careful, methodical way, forgetting his reservations this time.
“We know that the Persepolis is the only ship with the facilities to hold prisoners. I can use the chronotrace to determine the exact location of the captured Sentients, but even once we find that out, there isn’t any way for us to get in by covert means. Not without a great deal more planning than what we have time for. The only reason we got onto the Maven in the first place was because of the tunneler. And since we have no chance in a straight fight, I think we will have to recreate the same set of circumstances that got us inside before.”
“So you’re saying we just order up a massive quake and drop a tunneler on their head again?” Raif joked.
Jax bristled at the idea. “You cannot be serious.”
“It sounds like fun, actually,” Raif added. “I will say this, though. I ran a few preliminary tests on the velar hull and cross stream energy does seem to affect it. So Gavin’s plan isn’t completely crazy.”
“We won’t need the quake, only the tunneler this time,” Gavin clarified. “And we won’t have to drop it onto the Persepolis, just land it on top using a citus and then drill in from there.”
Each of those gathered wrestled with the idea to varying degrees. Several of them shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. Once again Von took the initiative and responded first.
“I suppose it could work,” he offered. This admission relieved the tension in the room somewhat, but Jax remained unconvinced.
“You are all either the bravest men I’ve ever met or the biggest fools,” he commented.
“He is no fool who risks his life for his friend,” Gavin cast a glance at Adan.
Von nodded, continuing to warm to the idea.
Jax dug in. “I’m not against risking our lives to bring back the prisoners, but you’re asking us to throw them away. They’ll never let us get close enough for a stunt like that,” he countered, ignoring the growing sentiment of approval within the group for Gavin’s plan.
“That is why we will wait until their focus is on Hull,” Gavin explained.
“Okay, maybe. But the ships in Hull—are they really sophisticated enough to keep the Collective occupied long enough for the mission to succeed?”
As the only one of them who had ever been to Hull, Adan knew first hand that the Waymen ships would be little trouble for the Collective. The Persepolis alone might have been enough to conquer it since it was doubtful the Waymen had anything which could penetrate its fuselage.
“We will have to add our own ships into the mix,” Von surmised.
“I had not gotten to that part yet, but yes, I do think that will give us the best chance of success,” Gavin replied.
Jax huffed, but for once kept his thoughts to himself.
“I have to admit, that’s a pretty deadly gambit you’re calling for there,” Raif remarked.
“And yet…it just might work,” Halerin put in. “Does anyone else have a better idea?”
The mental exchange ebbed once again as each man mulled over the implications of Gavin’s plan. It sounded like it would be nearly impossible to pull off, but Adan trusted that Gavin would not have proposed it if there had been a better one. Adan was still anxious to hear what plan he had for rescuing the prisoners from Hull, though the more he thought about it, the more he realized that freeing hundreds of prisoners who were likely scattered throughout the city might prove even more difficult than boarding the Persepolis.
“All right, I’m in,” Von declared at length, staring at Jax as if throwing down a challenge for him to join. “The plan is risky, but it is probab
ly the only shot we’ll get to free the prisoners.”
Von’s reply was met with several nods as, one by one, Raif, Cade, Halerin, Trey, and Adan agreed to go through with the plan.
Jax was the last to respond. “None of this makes any sense, but I’ll go along with whatever the group decides.”
“It’s settled, then,” Von concluded. “We will bring back the captured Sentients. They would do the same for us.”
The tension in Gavin’s face finally released, but he retained his solemn air.
“If it’s okay with everyone, I’d like Raif to fly on the team infiltrating the Persepolis,” he suggested.
“Sign me up,” Raif responded enthusiastically. “I’d love to be the one to punch a hole in the Persepolis’ skull.”
“Actually, I was thinking Cade might take on that role. He knows most of the captured Sentients and I thought the prisoners might prefer to see a familiar face. Cade, would you be willing to man the tunneler team?”
“Absolutely,” Cade replied without hesitation.
“Raif will fly you in on a citus and pick you up once you get the prisoners,” Gavin explained.
“Well, at least you’re not leaving me completely out of the party. I’ll never turn down a chance to fly one of those streamliners,” Raif replied.
“And I’d like to lead the assault,” Von volunteered. “If that’s all right with you.”
“You read my mind,” Gavin replied.
“And I’ll be his second,” Jax offered, surprising everyone with his shift in attitude.
Gavin paused. It was clear that he had someone else in mind for that role, but he acquiesced. “Very well. I’ll leave it to the both of you to recruit two additional pilots for the mission.”
“I know a couple of men who would be more than suitable for the task,” Jax stated and neither Von nor Gavin showed any objection.
“I take it you’ll coordinate the operation from the Maven?” Von inquired of Gavin.
“Yes, I think that might be the best course to take. I would prefer Halerin to stay with me to help.”
“I was hoping to go with Cade,” Halerin commented.
“I thought about it, but coordinating the mission from the Maven will be just as important, if not more so, than the rescue operation itself. We could use your level-headedness back here on the ship,” Gavin replied.
Halerin folded his hands and regarded the former Developer with quiet resolve. “I’ll serve wherever I’m most needed. I just hope they don’t decide to take the fight to us. Raif’s analysis of the praxis defenses revealed that it is vulnerable to disruptor attacks and those have a much longer range than the hybrid cannons. If they manage to disable our shields they could drain our power and drop us like a stone.”
“Our shields are substantial,” Gavin reminded him. “It would take a concerted effort to knock them out. They won’t have enough ships to devote to that kind of concentrated attack, not while they’re trying to capture Hull,”
“All the same, I’ll keep analyzing the Maven’s systems to see if there is any way around that weakness,” Raif offered.
“Excellent,” Gavin remarked. “Whatever surprises we can manage to pull off will give us that much more chance for success.”
“And the Werin? What about them?” Adan finally asked, fearing that Gavin might actually have forgotten them after all.
“Well for that part, I do think a more backdoor approach is in order,” Gavin answered. He leveled his eyes on Adan who felt his skin tingle in response. He wants me to do this, he realized. And though it would likely be just as dangerous as what Raif, Cade, Von, and Jax had just signed up for, he found himself nodding deliberately.
“What do you want me to do?”
Seven
Good Intentions
News of Gavin’s plan spread quickly through the Maven. By the following morning, everyone on board had been briefed and most of them assigned a role in the upcoming mission, even if it was just to help process the influx of refugees from Hull.
Since Adan’s mission would be physically demanding, Gavin sent him to his quarters to get as much rest as possible. He had been asleep for a slice and a half when his bioseine alerted him to the presence of Sierra coming down the hall towards his room. Though she was still too far away to read her thoughts, he was certain her visit must have something to do with the upcoming mission.
He threw on a soft black robe and dashed over to the dispenser, splashing water on his face to both wake himself up and steady his nerves. He poured himself a cup of water, his hands shaking slightly. As parched as he was, he couldn’t bring the cup to his lips; he was too nervous, imagining what Sierra might say and how he would respond.
The door brushed open so silently that Adan would have missed it had he not been waiting for it. Sierra stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She remained like that for several moments, just looking at him, an enigmatic expression on her face. Adan found it impossible to read her thoughts at that moment. Normally, she was the easiest person to read that he knew, but her thoughts were swirling and he could make no sense of them. Ever since she’d found out about Senya and the Welkin, things had not been the same between them.
Since he couldn’t read her, Adan found staring at the cup of water an easier proposition. The tiny ripples played across its surface like a mirror of his own agitated spirit.
“Why don’t you want me to go on the mission? Does it have something to do with your friend?” She put a peculiar emphasis on that last word.
“No, I told Gavin the reason. Didn’t he tell you?” Adan looked up from the cup. He wanted to say more, but his throat clenched. He took a sip of water instead. His parched insides soaked it up in an instant, but his mouth felt as dry as ever.
Sierra stepped inside his room and the door flicked shut behind her.
“Gavin said you were worried about my safety. But after everything we went through in the Viscera, you know I can handle myself. So what’s the real reason?”
Adan smacked his bone dry lips. He had thought that she would see his decision as part of his promise to protect her. Sending her on the mission to Hull seemed like the last place Sierra would want to be. She needed to stay on the praxis, where it was safe.
“Sierra, there are hundreds of Waymen in that city, with advanced weapons. Maybe not like what we have, but they’re not just using spears there. It’s a dangerous place and I don’t want you getting hurt. I thought—”
“You thought you’d just keep me out of it—without even asking what I wanted. That’s what you thought.”
“Sierra—”
“You decided you’d just go off and throw your life away—get yourself killed and then…”
Her eyes glistened with barely contained tears. Suddenly the connection between them flared back to life. Adan understood once again the emotions battling inside her heart.
“Adan,” she began, the fire in her voice sputtering, “I’ve lost Zain and Wik and Yar and Ket, and so many others and I don’t want to lose you too. I know it will be dangerous, but if something happened—”
“Sierra, you don’t have to do this,” Adan said, struggling to swallow the knot rising up in his throat.
“I may be just a handler, but you need one on this mission. Gavin said so himself,” she pressed him. “And I’m the only handler who’s had experience in hostile situations. It makes sense for me to go.”
“But—” he choked on the word, unable to master his emotions.
“I can’t—I can’t let you go alone. If you didn’t make it back, I—” her words faltered as well.
The angry expression on her face disappeared. The old Sierra, that tender person who wore the secrets of her heart so openly reappeared. Gazing into her eyes he realized that, as much as he wanted to keep her safe, she was right. If anyone got hurt, or if any of the Welkin they met were in need of medical attention, her skills as a handler would be critical.
“Okay,” he said gently. “
I think I see what you mean.”
“Not that you seem to need any medical attention to heal,” she said lightheartedly, referring to his mysterious ability to rapidly recover from any injury. “But just in case.”
Adan breathed out a long sigh, a great weight lifting as the tension between them faded. At the same time he felt a counter weight settling back down onto his shoulders: the weight of knowing that Sierra’s life would be in his hands.
The Maven passed Breaker’s Hollow the following day, but they stayed well beyond the ten click range of the Persepolis’ scanners. Disturbances in the atmosphere made it impossible to scan beyond that distance, but Gavin wasn’t taking any chances. He ran near-constant traces of the Collective’s activities to make sure the fleet remained hunkered down inside the canyon.
Meanwhile Adan sat on a bench in the mission prep room, waiting for the rest of his team to arrive. He was nearly half done winding his kaff around his head when Raif sauntered in behind a chromium cart, his shockingly orange hair brightening up the room.
“I come bearing gifts, oh, most fortunate one.” Raif gave Adan a mock bow as the cart stopped in the middle of the room. Like the rest of the praxis, the prep area had dark metal walls. They were lined with tall lockers, each large enough for a man to walk into. On the far wall, a reflective screen functioned like an enormous mirror, depicting what was happening in the room, but it could be switched to show other rooms aboard the Maven or hook into the view screens in the Command Center.
“You have any solec in that cart?” Adan asked. He wasn’t actually serious about needing some of the metabolic enhancing drug, but he certainly needed something to boost his energy. He’d gotten four slices of sleep the night before and even less the night before that. Briefings and planning for the mission had kept him working almost continually.
The Chronotrace Sequence- The Complete Box Set Page 74
