As he took his first step towards the door, five pings came in one after the other, and he missed his footing and landed on his face. The suit went protection mode as he fell, and he ended up with a yellow body and red head.
Seasprite lost it.
Nine
They gathered in a meeting room in the conferencing area used for diplomatic, trade, and defence meetings, catering for a range of different species sizes and needs. The Seasprite team were there, as well as Fitzy, and Maraid in her capacity as Mac's representative, since the Scots were still connected with the search for the Amulet of Truth, as they had been for the Destiny Stone. Hunter's Run, as a whole, was represented by Warspite and Tranquil. The new Hunter's Run ambassador on the Cat Homeworld was also there.
Fitzy summarised the current situation in a report to the group.
"We have the Destiny Stone, which is currently being kept safe, guarded by my team. My sources say most of this sector is aware the Destiny Stone has been found, and is currently on the Cat Homeworld, as Seasprite and her crew are here as well."
"I also have intelligence the Brotherhood, after their recent defeat, have redoubled their efforts to track it down, and potentially steal it. While we have recently uncovered a number of cells operating in the Cats of the Plains City, when we arrest them, we often source little intelligence. The Brothers either commit suicide before we can capture them, or they're completely silent under interrogation. We are aware though, there are still cells operating, with an increase in destabilisation attempts politically, with infiltration of our dis-affected protest groups, and potential for some influence over extreme conservative political parties, and individual members of the Council."
He paused to take a sip of water, and Anna and the team were appalled, but not surprised, the Brotherhood were making such advances on the Cat Homeworld.
"There is also an increase in Brotherhood criminal activity in sectors nine and eight, and they're initiating their expansion into sector ten."
"Without too much luck," interjected Ambassador Spiner, "I'm glad to say. Our ships with the sector fleets at the jump points into sector ten, are identifying suspects with a high degree of accuracy. It's one of the advantages of having sensors which can tell if you folded your underwear neatly or not." He smiled at his own joke. "If anything at all highlights as dodgy, the marines go in. Brotherhood tattoos are the first thing they look for. We know we have Brotherhood in the sector prior to knowing they existed, and we suspect a few get through anyway, but we're much better off than sector eight is."
Anna thought of Elothera and the other civilisations they'd met in Sector eight while searching for the Destiny Stone. Were their warnings and information enough to keep them strong in the face of the Brotherhood plans?
"A coordinated effort may be needed to combat them," suggested Snark, echoing Anna's thoughts. "We've established relationships with the Bears, Beetles, and Mediators, and contact with the deer-goats in sector eight, so at least there's some resistance already which we can tap into."
"We've also had some new information," added Fitzy. "The Brotherhood is manufacturing a drug, taking hold across systems in sector eight and nine. They use the drug to increase income, but also to control large sections of populations, similar to the use of the purple plant. We're in the process of getting more information about the drug itself. It hasn't reached us here, but it's only a matter of time, unless they're stopped."
There was a rustling as beings around the table shifted in their chairs at this news.
"As soon as we get a sample of the drug," said Warspite, "our sensors will be able to detect it. Anyone trying to smuggle it groundside here will be stopped in space. We already stop a fair amount of contraband coming here." Fitzy nodded. "It's one of the things Queen Jane wants to talk to the sector eight and nine councils about. A co-ordinated effort to control contraband across the sectors."
Fitzy waited a moment to see if Warspite was going to say anything more, and went on himself.
"Other criminal elements are also interested in the Destiny Stone, as you saw with the pirate conglomerate attacking Warspite, Seasprite, and Tranquil's ships on their way back here. The destabilisation we're seeing now is creating a series of new criminal groups, although the Brotherhood is trying to absorb them into its sphere."
"And they all know the Destiny Stone is here?" asked Maraid.
Fitzy nodded.
"Unfortunately, yes, I would assume so." He nodded at Warspite, Tranquil, and Ambassador Spiner. "The presence of Hunter's Run ships here, will of course be a large deterrent. We do need to be vigilant though about any attempt to locate and steal the Stone, while it's here, by groups in the city itself."
"You said, 'while it's here'," Tranquil pointed out. "We need to decide where to keep the Destiny Stone, where it can be best protected."
Anna sat up straighter.
"It should be protected by our ships at least," said Warspite. "This way it's unlikely to fall into the wrong hands."
There was general agreement around the room. Fitzy, who currently had the responsibility, didn't want it. It was simply too big a minefield for the job he already had. Warspite on the other hand was simply following Jane's instructions, although Tranquil gave him a glance of uncertainty this was all he had in mind. Jane wanted it safe and secure. But she also wanted Anna safe and secure. And Snark as safe as was possible to arrange. Tranquil suspected Warspite might be thinking if they were all locked in a shuttle in Warspite's hanger, he could keep them safe that way. A touch of a smile crossed her face as she observed Warspite's set seriousness.
"It stays with me."
They all turned to look at Anna.
"The Stone has power, but we don't know how to use it yet. The Destiny Stone is how we find the Amulet of Truth."
"How do you know that?" asked Warspite.
"I just know," stated Anna confidently.
"You must have some reason to know," insisted Warspite.
Maraid spoke up.
"Anna may be right. She is a Seer, and the Destiny Stone may enhance her ability."
"We have a star chart," added Sissness, "and a potential location to go to next, but it may not be where the amulet is actually located. Anna's ability to 'See', to find out more information, is invaluable. If the Destiny Stone increases her powers, then it can mean the difference between finding the amulet or not."
"If the Destiny Stone crosses the galaxy with you," argued Warspite, "it'll be a magnet for every criminal element and scumbag. You may lose it, and still not find the amulet. We'd be left with nothing."
"It comes with me," repeated Anna stubbornly.
There were further discussions, with agreement to disagree, and leave the question unresolved for the time being. Warspite was content to let it slide for now. Regardless of who won the argument, he knew Jane wasn't going to let them wander the galaxy now without an escort.
Sissness stood on her stool to report on the analysis she'd completed on the star chart Anna had found in the cave on Scylla Prime.
"I've used our program to correlate the location pinpointed on the star chart. It's a system much further out on the rim of the galaxy in sector eight. I haven't been able to find out much about it. I just don't have the data sources, but am hoping to connect with some more databases here in the city, and potentially network with other academics on planets near us, and those being connected to the Kingdom com network."
There was general nodding, and murmurs giving Sissness credit for her work.
Ambassador Spiner spoke next.
"I've had instructions from Queen Jane. The Kingdom is willing to support a further expedition to find the Amulet of Truth. We'd like to assist our friends, but of course it's also in our interests to see the Talisman created from the Stone and Amulet, and to see the benefits which could be realised, as long as its power is used constructively for good."
"Bloody mop heads!" said Snark with mock-indignation, and everyone laughed.
&nb
sp; While most beings around the table were glad for the ongoing support, Anna understood there might be competing interests if they were successful, to control use of the Talisman. She knew the team would never be where they were now, with possession of the Destiny Stone, without the aid of the Kingdom's ships and weaponry.
She wondered yet again what she'd got herself into. Originally, when she started out, it was just her and her people. Then Snark, the Scots, and the cats were involved, and through them, Hunter's Run. She recognised Jane was very powerful. How to keep control over the Talisman, when they found the Amulet and combined it with the Stone? Would the power it wielded, however it was manifested, prevail over all?
She tuned in again to the meeting. Fitzy was wrapping up.
"We'll wait to see if Sissness has any more information about the system located through the Star Chart. I'm also redoubling efforts to gain data about the Brotherhood and their plans. We'll report back again in a few days. I'll send you details soon."
Everyone nodded, murmured agreements, and started to leave the meeting. As Anna stood, Maraid made her way over to her.
"I'd like you to come to meet with the Grand Mother and I. We'd like to talk further."
"Of course, I'd love to," agreed Anna.
Maraid and Anna left the room together.
They were just crossing the main plaza on their way to the Grand Mother's tower quarters, when an explosion rocked the Citadel, they were knocked off their feet, and blown backwards.
Ten
Warspite and Tranquil were aboard their shuttle, having just taken off to return to their ships. The explosion registered on sensors, and Warspite immediately began to alter course.
They found themselves in an AI mode conference room, facing Bill Paxton and Seasprite.
They both did a double take.
Seasprite had adopted a cat form, and was sitting on the conference table, rather than one of the chairs. She was wearing the standard Hunter 'slinky red' uniform, but her face was not only furred, but distinctly red point Siamese.
"You're not to interfere," said Paxton. "I've very strict instructions from Jane about this. We are not to interfere unless invited to."
"Dogs balls!" said Warspite, and the other three lost it.
He sat there and glared at them, waiting for them to settle down again.
"You mean to tell me," he went on, "if there are terrorists running amok down there, I'm not allowed to go take them out?"
"That's exactly what it means."
"Why. Not?"
"Freewill."
"You're serious?"
"Jane is. The cats have freewill. Fred told them they could call on us for any situation like this. But they have to make their own choices. And if need be, make their own mistakes before they get it."
"I'm going in anyway."
"No you're not," said Seasprite quietly.
Warspite jerked as if he'd been slapped, and looked at her.
"And you intend to stop me? How?"
"She doesn't need to," said Paxton. "This is my command, and you are just a visitor. I'm not in your chain of command, and you can't give me orders. Like you, I report directly to Jane. But here, I give the orders, and my orders are very clear on the matter, since they're Jane's orders as well."
Warspite was shocked.
"Brother," said Tranquil, "you've forgotten being part of a true military force. Jane maybe hasn't established the Kingdom military as a proper chain of command, but don't forget she still controls a majority of ships herself personally. And it hasn't been one of her priorities. She allowed you to get involved in the quest, more or less because you asked to be involved, not because she thought you were needed. Once she understood the necessity, she despatched you officially. But she hasn't given you command of anything but your own ship."
She paused, looking to see how he reacted. He didn't seem to be. She went on.
"Bill on the other hand was given direct control of a fleet, command of this system, and specific instructions. He may be inferior in rank to you, both in terms of time in rank, and size of ship, but he commands here. You command at the owl jump point, and you've been allowed to command the quest fleet, simply because you are the most experienced in the fleet."
"I think you need to talk to Jane," said Seasprite. "I'd suggest you ask her politely who will command the quest fleet when it starts out again, and contribute to discussions on the matter."
"We don't know who she's sending yet," said Tranquil. "If she sends Intrepid, you're going to be outranked purely by size of ship. If she sends Yorktown, you're outranked by time in rank and size of ship. And if Repulse, its experience. Or she might come herself, in which case you're a ship captain like the rest of us."
Warspite winced.
"I'm sorry to tell you," said Seasprite, "but while you're the best to have around in a fight, you know shit about commanding others."
Warspite winced again, even more noticeably.
"Probably true," he said. "Admiral Dingle wasn't much of an Admiral. Good ship driver, fought like a demon, but no-one ever gave him command of a fleet. Repulse did most of the fleet work, because her Admiral was 2IC to Hunter."
"Ever thought of talking to her?" asked Paxton. "I did, before I came here. You remember the old American fleet adage?"
"One riot, one Ranger?"
"That's the one. You were a Brit, and then Sci-fi, and then a Brit again. Us Americans followed the old Texas Rangers motto. It was rare to have more than three Cruisers on the same job at a time. And even then, there was never any need for someone to command as such, since seniority sorted it out. Even with all the ships here being an extension of me, I still knew I needed to know how to command any local ships if we have a combat alert here. So I spent a lot of time with Repulse before I left."
"I'll do that. I'll also talk to Jane. What do we do here?"
"We wait. If we get asked, we intervene. If they need help cleaning up, we clean up."
"Fine, have it your way. You know where to find me if you need me."
He vanished from AI mode.
"Is he going to have a tantrum now?" asked Seasprite.
"More likely sulk," suggested Tranquil.
"He'll be fine," said Paxton. "He just needed a reality check."
AI mode ended, and the shuttle settled back on course for space.
Eleven
Chaos erupted around Anna and Maraid, as cats screamed, running in different directions. An entire section of a building adjacent to the square had been blown away, with debris crashing and spattering down around them.
Anna quickly looked to see what was happening, got up into a crouch, and checked Maraid. She was unhurt, but dazed, and Anna helped her to her feet. She pulled her by the arm, and they ran across to the relative safety of the cloisters at the side of the plaza, and hid behind a pillar.
Anna looked out to see several cats, dressed in everyday clothes, but armed with hand guns, rifles, grenades, and carrying backpacks, running away from the blast site, and across the plaza. They were shooting indiscriminately, hitting some of the bystanders who were in the square at the time of the blast, and weren't as quick to get under cover. The group of cats reached the other side of the plaza, just as Citadel Security officers, and members of Fitzy's unit, poured out of the Grand Mother's tower.
The terrorist cats fired on the security forces, hitting some, and the rest of the security forces took cover amongst the blast site, and inside the tower. The firing stopped, but Anna could see the terrorist cats, whom she assumed were the perpetrators of the explosion, taking positions in the cloisters at an angle to where she and Maraid were sheltering.
Anna thought quickly. She and Maraid couldn't stay here, it was still too exposed, and should get into the building behind them. Several other cats, who'd also run to the shelter of the cloister, seemed to have the same idea. Several were helping wounded friends, some were sitting dazed and shocked, some were screaming, and some were frozen in terror.
Firing erupted again, as the terrorists sprayed the square, and shot at the forces opposite them. Shots hit the pillar Maraid and Anna were hiding behind, and they ducked down into crouches, afraid to move.
Anna was completely safe in her suit, and it was in hair trigger mode, with concealed weapons mode on, mainly because she hadn't thought to change anything.
She knew if she protected Maraid with her body, the suit would stop any bullets from hitting Maraid, and she would be protected. She stood, pulled Maraid up, and they ran to a door to the building behind them. It was an office, where cats had already sheltered, and office workers were giving makeshift first aid to wounded cats.
"What's happened?" asked Maraid.
"Terrorist attack, I think," Anna replied. "Stay here."
She returned to the cloister, and helped other cats into the office as well. As she returned to the cloisters again, she could see the security forces were pinned down. She assumed there would soon be a response from Fitzy's unit and other Citadel guards from behind where the terrorists were now, but they wouldn't know where the terrorists were, and could blunder into their fire.
She could also see there were some wounded cats trapped in the square, and the terrorists were shooting at them, as much as the forces opposite them.
She took several deep breaths, and then ran into the square towards the nearest wounded cat. It looked at her with round eyes, and pale skin around its eyes and mouth. It had been in the square at the time of the explosion, as it had several wounds and scratches from fragments, as well as being shot in one leg, which was bleeding profusely.
She felt several blows to her body from slugs, and her suit triggered into full protection mode. Even though she couldn't help feeling as if she should be running away as fast as she could, she stooped to carefully pick up the cat, and carried it through the cloisters into the office beyond.
A.I. Destiny 5 Talisman of Tomorrow Page 4
