by PP Corcoran
Emperor Paxt raised his hand. “Enough of this verbal maneuvering. Mr. Beckett, ask us what you want to ask and be done with it.”
Aaron was caught slightly wrong-footed by the emperor’s intervention. He had expected to spend at least another ten minutes playing verbal chess with Hozal before eventually getting to the point but it would seem the emperor was not a man for wasting time.
“Your Majesty. While the courier was holding at the outer marker, it identified five unknown ships equipped with gravity drives approaching its location. The courier’s computers could not identify the ships as belonging to any of the members of the Commonwealth and since Alona does not have access to Commonwealth gravity drive technology…”
“Only because you deny us it as part of your policy of refusing the Empire the weapons to protect itself,” spat Admiral Raga angrily.
A glance from the emperor silenced him.
Aaron detected an opening.
“Protect yourself from whom, Admiral? Surely you do not believe the Commonwealth has any intention of initiating any form of armed conflict with the Empire. Have we not always be open about our intentions of establishing peaceful trade relations?”
Neither Admiral Raga nor Minister Hozal said anything. Both instead looked toward the Emperor who leaned forward in his seat and pointed an accusing finger at Aaron.
“Your use of the phrase ‘open about your intentions’ is one I find amusing in the circumstances, Mr. Beckett. If your government wanted to be open with the Empire then perhaps there would be no need for secrets between us.”
Aaron’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. He didn’t like the way this was going. “I’m sorry, your Majesty, you have me at a disadvantage. The Commonwealth has always been open and honest with the Empire.”
The Emperor let out a loud ha! “So when were you going to tell us about the Others?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Investigations
EARTH – SOL SYSTEM
Elizabeth Wilson was having a bitch of a day. When her driver had picked her up from her home on the outskirts of Geneva for the ride to the shuttle port that served the Terran Republic’s capital city, she wished she’d passed this particular job off to someone much younger. In the nearly four years that she’d been working for General Keyton Joyce she had to admit there’d only been one time that she had seen him so determined that she get results and that had been when that sniveling wretch Geoffrey Rawson was implicated in a bribery scandal during his short time as Secretary of Defense. That particular waste of rations was now rotting in a cell of the maximum security penal colony orbiting Titan and long may he stay there.
The shuttle port operated around the clock but when Elizabeth had passed through at three o’clock in the morning local time, there was hardly a soul to be seen. Even still, Elizabeth was in civilian clothes and her driver had selected one of the unmarked ground cars for their use. A good thing as the sight of an aging female admiral of naval intelligence may have turned a few heads. The local Federal Investigation Bureau were under express instructions from their director to ensure that there was no security personnel around to ask any questions so when she arrived at the security checkpoint, the two officers on duty suddenly found themselves deep in conversation about some sporting event or other. Similarly in traffic control the duty controller gave permission for the shuttle that was not squawking any identifier permission to depart before, while a senior FIB agent stood looking over his shoulder, he wiped the computer records of the departure. As the agent departed, he dropped a gentle reminder of how federal offenses carried a mandatory five-year sentence. The controller had been working the night shift for nearly a decade but this was the first time he’d had a fed hanging over his shoulder and threatening him with a trip to a penal colony. Whoever or whatever was on that shuttle must be pretty important but you could bet your bottom dollar he wasn’t going to say anything.
The Naval Intelligence Service didn’t actually own any ships, but when you get a personal call from the Chief of Naval Operations, you tend to just say yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir, so when Lieutenant Commander Kenichi Sutou had received such a call and was told to expect a civilian shuttle craft in the next fifteen minutes, the passenger of which he was to give his total and unquestioning cooperation, he had done just that and the second the CNO cut the link, Sutou had flipped the cover off the large red button that sat alongside his bed. Kenichi hesitated for just a second. This could be nothing, Kenichi he told himself. Like hell! The CNO does not call a lowly destroyer captain in the middle of the night for nothing. Kenichi’s finger smashed down on the red button and the battle stations alarm screamed its call to arms throughout the Havoc class destroyer TDF Sorcerer. Kenichi ran down the narrow corridor, buttoning his uniform shirt as he went. Sleepy crew member dived out of his way as they too rushed to their posts. As Kenichi approached the bridge bulkhead, a marine leveled his pistol at him until he confirmed the identity of the captain, even then the pistol stayed out but was moved to the more comfortable guns south position. It was unusual for a ship the size of Sorcerer to carry its own marines but the Havoc destroyer’s main mission was anti-piracy patrols and convoy protection so there was a marine platoon on board to carry out boarding actions. The fact that his was the only ship apart from battle fleet currently in Earth’s orbit that was capable of carrying out boarding actions didn’t escape Kenichi’s notice.
Ensign Milett’s face was white as a sheet as Kenichi entered the bridge. It had seemed like the ideal time for the young ensign to get some bridge time while the ship had been safely tucked into orbit. To her credit, she only spared Kenichi a hurried glance before she went back to updating her board as section after section reported ready. As the last section reported ready, Kenichi’s XO, Lieutenant Morgan Malek, burst onto the bridge.
“What the hell is going on, skipper? We’re in Earth’s orbit for Pete’s sake.”
Ensign Milett was still working the sensors and her voice cut off any reply from Kenichi. “Unidentified shuttle on approach. No IFF being received. ETA four minutes twenty seconds. Computers have a firing solution, sir.”
Kenichi held up a finger to stop the question he could see Morgan wanted to ask. “Keep a lock on that shuttle ensign, but do not fire without my express permission. Morgan, you have the bridge. I want to be able to fold out of here in the next five minutes. Get the marines to meet me in the boat bay loaded for bear. They have…” Kenichi’s eyes flicked to the bridge clock. “Three and a half minutes. And before you ask I have no idea what’s going on either but let’s be ready for anything.”
Morgan gave him a curt nod and bent to work as Kenichi headed for the Sorcerer’s boat bay.
Three minutes later, Kenichi stood at the shoulder of the boat bay petty officer as he checked the tell tales on his board ensuring that the small boat bay, which looked even smaller now the civilian shuttle sat next to the Sorcerer’s own two shuttles, was sealed and pressurized. Already in the boat bay were twenty Wraith-suited marines formed up in two ranks with Second Lieutenant Vernetti front and center. She and her marines must sleep in those damn suits to have got here before he did.
Kenichi strode through the boat bay hatch and took post beside Vernetti as the shuttle steps extended and the hatch cracked open. A slim female figure appeared at the top of the steps, pausing to take a good look around the boat bay. Hints of gray in her hair glinted in the bay’s lights as she made her way sprightly down the steps. Without Kenichi hearing any word of command, the marines behind him came to attention and presented arms. The female in civilian attire stopped precisely on the yellow deck line that represented the thresh hold of the Sorcerer.
“Permission to come aboard, Commander Sutou.”
Well she knows who I am, thought Kenichi. “Permission granted ma’am. I and the Sorcerer are at your disposal.”
The twinkle in her eye caught Kenichi by surprise. “Of course you are, Commander.” The smile that hovered on her lips was infec
tious and Kenichi felt himself smile in return. As she stepped over the yellow line she stuck out her hand and Kenichi took it. “Admiral Elizabeth Wilson, by the way.” Elizabeth felt Kenichi stiffen. “Yes I am that Admiral Wilson and you and your crew come highly recommended.” Elizabeth released Kenichi’s hand and indicated the twenty marines. “Praise which I see is well deserved. Just how much notice of my arrival did you get, by the way?”
“Less than fifteen minutes, Admiral. Sorcerer is currently at battle stations, all sections show a green board and we are ready to get under way at your order.”
Elizabeth allowed a small chuckle to escape her. “Not too shabby, Commander. Not too shabby at all. Why don’t you have Lieutenant Vernetti join us on the bridge and I’ll fill you in on the details of our little early morning jaunt.”
#
Kenichi Sutou couldn’t say he was happy with the admiral’s plan but CNO had been explicit. Total and unquestioning cooperation. The fact that Admiral Wilson wanted Kenichi to fold from Earth’s orbit and then come out as close to the Pathos reclamation yards as possible was stretching that cooperation. The region of space around the yard was strewn with space junk and if Sorcerer came out of fold space in close proximity to said junk it could all be over before the crew knew what hit them. Kenichi had spent quite a few anxious moments going over the fold with his navigator but at last he was ready.
Admiral Wilson had never actually had a ship-board command. Elizabeth had spent her entire naval career in intelligence but by the pained expression on Kenichi’s face when she had outlined her plan she could tell that he wasn’t too thrilled but he said nothing, just got together with his navigator and started plotting the fold. Lieutenant Vernetti on the other hand, had been grinning from ear to ear when she left the bridge to brief her marines on their role in the operation. Boarding actions were few and far between these days and a federal warrant that authorized the person executing the warrant to use any and all force necessary to secure evidence and suspects was even rarer.
“Excuse me, Admiral, but we’re ready to fold. Perhaps you would like to take your seat?”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Kenichi took his own seat and muttered a prayer under his breath. “Navigation. Execute!”
“Three. Two. One. Fold!”
Kenichi swallowed as the familiar wave of nausea swept over him, then it was all over and the collision alarms blared their warning.
“Shut that damn sound off! How close navigation?”
Lieutenant Joanie Wiggins slumped in her seat then slowly turned to face Kenichi as a smile crept across her face. “473 meters.”
Crap, that was close! Kenichi gave her a big thumbs-up as he activated his link to Vernetti. “Marines away!”
Changing channels, Kenichi called the yard control room. “Pathos control, this is the TDF Sorcerer. I am in possession of a federal warrant. You are hereby ordered to open your outer hatches and all personnel are to refrain from operating any computers and gather immediately in the mess. Marines are entering the structure and have orders to use force up to and including lethal force in the execution of the warrant. No further warnings will be given. Sorcerer clear.”
#
Stacey Vernetti and her marine platoon were all anchored to the hull of the Sorcerer by the magnetic clamps of their Wraith suits. When Admiral Wilson explained the importance of the time factor when boarding the yard, Stacey suggested that the marines could save time by pre-positioning along the outer hull of the Sorcerer before it entered fold space. Commander Sutou looked like he was going to have a meltdown. No one had ever traveled through fold space attached to an outer hull before. Was it even possible? Stacey calmly pointed out that just because nobody had ever done didn’t mean it couldn’t be done. There was certainly no technical reason why it couldn’t and it would save the marines vital seconds clearing the Sorcerer’s airlock. Reluctantly, the commander agreed, and Stacey and twenty marines were the first to witness fold space with their own eyes. There wasn’t much to it. One moment she was looking down on a blue-and-white Earth, a brief wave of strangeness, and the next she was looking at the hulking steel form of Pathos yard.
“Marines away!” called Sutou over the link and with that, Stacey pushed off with all her might. The mechanical muscles of her Wraith suit pushing her toward the personnel lock highlighted in her heads-up display. The counter on her flight time flew toward zero and the suit’s computer rotated her and bent her knees to take the shock of impact. Bang! She was down and her magnetic clamps secured her to the hull dead on target. Whoever was in the yard’s control room followed Sorcerer’s instructions, for the airlock in front of her began to open and the marines piled in.
“Team One in the forward airlock.”
“Team Two in the rear airlock,” said Gunny Sabin. Vernetti would sweep the forward half of the yard and secure the control room and the manager’s office while Gunny Sabin and his team would sweep aft securing the computer core, power plant, and mess hall.
The airlock gained full pressure and the inner hatch slid open. Stacey brought up the yard schematic in her display as she stepped into the corridor, taking a second to orientate herself.
“OK, One Bravo you’re this deck, forward two frames and that should be the control room. Alfa we’re one frame forward, stairs on our right, one deck up manager’s office. Move out.”
The marines bounded forward, the sound of their armored feet reverberating down the corridor. Twenty meters and Stacey swung right up the staircase, taking the steps three at a time as the staircase shuddered under her armored weight. Top of the stairs and she caught a fleeting glimpse of a scared male face disappearing behind a closing door. Damn! Stacey ran forward but when she reached the door it was locked. A quick examination showed it to be nonstandard. Someone had removed a bulkhead door from a military grade ship and replaced what would ordinarily have been a door flimsy enough for Stacey’s suit to punch through. The clock’s ticking, Stacey thought.
“Blow it.”
Stacey stepped back as the next marine in line pulled a small explosive charge from his leg pouch and attached it to the locking mechanism. In her heads up display a new countdown clock appeared. Five… four…three… In Stacey’s ear a warning tone sounded, two… one…Flash! The Wraith suit’s computer automatically dimmed her visor and dialed down her external audio but she still felt the whole corridor shake as the charge went off. Without hesitation, Stacey was through the breach and in the office. Movement! Struggling to get off the floor was the male she’d seen just as the office door slammed shut and he had something in his hand. Stacey’s hand was already moving before her brain fully recognized the threat. Gun! As if from nowhere, Stacey’s PEP side arm appeared in her hand and fired of its own accord, taking the male in the center of the chest. The impact sent him flying back from the desk and slamming into the rear wall of the office, where a small needle laser fell from his hand. PEP still up and ready, Stacey advanced on him using one servo-assisted hand to fling the office desk to one side. Her suit sensors showed him to be unconscious but alive. The Pulsed Energy Projectile infrared laser pulse-emitting pistol created a rapidly expanding plasma on contact with the target. The resulting sound, shock, and electromagnetic waves stunned the target and caused pain and temporary paralysis.
“Corpsman to the manager’s office. One civilian casualty.”
Stacey moved into the smoke-filled corridor, leaving one of her marines guarding the injured man.
“Team check?”
“Team One Alfa. Control room secured.”
“Team Two Alfa. Computer core and power plant secure.”
“Team Two Bravo. Mess hall secure. By my count we’re short three crew.”
“Two Bravo from Two Alfa we have two secured in the power plant I’ll have them escorted to you now.”
“One Alfa has the third unaccounted for crew member. All crew accounted for. Good work, marines.” Stacey switched channels. “Sorcerer. Team One. The
yard is secure. One civilian casualty. Non-fatal. Suggest you send over the tech team to the forward airlock and I’ll have an escort waiting for them.”
“Good job, Marine. Tech team is en route.”
On the bridge of the Sorcerer Kenichi Sutou let out a deep, gratified sigh as he leaned back in his seat and the stress of the last few minutes evaporated. Admiral Wilson caught his eye and gave him a silent applause.
Maybe now he would find out what this was all about.
#
A loud groan escaped Arnjad Harb as he crawled back to consciousness. His chest hurt like he had been kicked by a horse and his head pounded like the worst hangover he’d ever had. Arnjad made to raise a hand to rub his aching chest only to find that his arm wouldn’t move. Arnjad forced his eyelids to open against the harsh light and looked down at his unresponsive arm to see that it was securely strapped to the arm of a chair. What the… Arnjad’s mind reran events in his mind’s eye. The sudden appearance of the TDF warship off the yard. His mad dash from his quarters to his office. The office door being blown out and the image of the armored marine coming toward him. He’d pulled the needle pistol he always carried and tried to shoot the marine but the pistol had hardly cleared the holster when the marine had shot him and he had receded into darkness. Arnjad had thought he was dead and his nightmare was over. Obviously not.
“Glad to see you’re awake at last, Mr. Harb,” a gentle voice said.
Arnjad tore his eyes from his bound arm and focused on the elderly female in civilian clothes sitting at the low table opposite him. Arnjad swallowed as he tried to lubricate his dry throat. “I demand to see a lawyer. I have rights.” A wry smile was on his face.
A gentle laugh from the woman wasn’t what Arnjad had expected and the smile left his face as his self-assuredness was replaced by a growing feeling of unease. “Ah, Arnjad, I see that you’re not fully aware of your present situation so let me enlighten you. We, that is, the navy not the FIB, I wouldn’t want to get you confused so early in our conversation; executed a federal warrant to search for evidence of treason committed by persons unknown. That treasonable offense was specifically the sale of technology during a period of hostilities which could aid and abet a foreign power…”
