by Blaze Ward
Jessica had been to Ballard once, on an early deployment, transporting a group of medical researchers to the ancient university there, the Earth–born AI system that was Alexandria Station. The population of Ballard primarily was Finnish, but the planet had maintained a long and close trade relationship with one of the other Founders of modern civilization, Zanzibar, even after both worlds were absorbed into the Republic of Aquitaine.
Navin the Black would have fit right in on the streets of Ithome. She would have to tell him that, sometime.
“Enough, people,” Jessica said instead. “Necromancer, Anastazja, what is your status?”
The woman had a no–nonsense air about her in everything she did, a quiet professional who stood in sharp contrast to Cayenne’s commander, Hollis Dyson aka Gaucho.
Anastazja nodded at the screen as a placeholder while she looked down to check something on a panel in front of her. “In position, Auberon,” she said, “ready whenever you give the word.”
Jessica looked at each face around the table.
Expectancy greeted her. Smiles, even. The kind from people who had just survived doom. They had become a team. She would be able to do a great deal of damage to the Empire with a team like this.
Jessica pushed a button to send the audio channel to the whole squadron, encrypted at the highest level. Everyone wanted to hear what was coming next.
Moirrey was turning into a radio star.
“Necromancer, this is the Flag,” she said, “you may fire when ready.”
Anastazja looked down and pushed a button.
Jessica nodded at her evil engineering gnome with a smile and let the woman take over narration of Ao–Shun’s doom again.
On the projection, they all watched four bolts of lightning spring out from Necromancer and fall into orbit around Ao–Shun’s equator.
“Ooh,” Moirrey began, falling into her lilt, “what’s this? Mean, nasty Auberon’s come back for more trouble? Haven’t ye bastards done enough already, with the plagues and nightmares and blowin’ t’ings all ta hell? Oh, crap, shooting stars now? Headed south from the pole? Not like last time. That one jes blew itself up and poisoned the whole damned planet.”
A long minute passed as the four missiles fell into formation, a perfect square girdling the planet.
They held their formation for a ten seconds and then began broadcasting static as loud as they could on all channels, with the anthem of the Republic of Aquitaine playing very softly underneath it.
That was an extra special touch.
“Uh oh,” Moirrey continued, “something just knocked out me afternoon soaps, and the game. Haven’t they left yet? What do they want with us? Hey, is that music? Weird.”
On the screen, the four probes brightened slightly as they moved forward with their choreography. From a porthole, Jessica knew she would be able to actually see at least two of them as they began to burn giant magnesium bars, each a wrist thick and three meters long.
From the ground, everyone should be able to see at least one new star in the sky, daytime or night.
“What’s this then? Have we gots a new supernova next door? That thing’s almost as bright as the sun. What hae those Republic bastards done naow? Ohmygod, they’ve come to finish us off fer good this time. AAAUUUGGGGHHHHH!!!! Somebody does something, please. Call the fire department. Call the police. Call the navy. Can’t anybody do nothing about this?”
On the screen, the four lights flickered out as the probes burned themselves out and dove into the atmosphere to burn up.
Moirrey’s voice dropped to almost nothing.
“And then, darkness fall across the land. The Evil Witch of the North cast her great and deadly spell upon Ao–shun and turned all the wee little people into newts. Can’t anyone find a handsome prince to come save them? Or a beautiful princess to give ‘ems a kiss and break the spell? All was woe as she turned her army and rode off into the ascending darkness.”
Jessica just shook her head as she listened to the barely–suppressed giggles around the table.
“We now return yous to your regularly scheduled war,” Moirrey concluded. “Please join us next week for more adventures of Denis the Hedgehog, In The Land Of the Giant People.”
Jessica turned to her First Officer with an eyebrow. One translation of Jež was hedgehog.
He grinned back and her and shrugged.
So, an inside joke for the family. Another thing that would keep them going.
“Squadron, this is the Flag,” she said crisply, “proceed to rendezvous at point Omicron and prepare for transition to Jumpspace.”
It was almost time to go home and see what waited her. Ao–Shun was likely to rattle an awful lot of cages.
Chapter XXXVI
Date of the Republic March 23, 393 Qui–Ping system
She expected a lot of yelling shortly. What was unclear was who would be doing it.
Jessica sat in the big conference room down in Engineering for this meeting. She hadn’t really needed the physical space for what was coming, but for the emotional volume it would be better.
Upstairs, the small conference room had a much more militaristic, judicial feel to it. That’s why it was used for those sorts of things.
This conference room was where her evil engineering gnomes did their work. Probably while giggling and singing songs. They were that weird.
The door opened and Senior Centurion Denis Jež entered, dressed in his best field uniform, but not his formal dress attire. This was not a Court, nor was it a reception for visiting dignitaries. At least, not friendly ones. Not yet, anyway. The day was young.
The woman following Jež was extremely tall, taller even than he was. She was long and lanky, but moved with the smooth confidence of a ballerina.
Dr. Yuda Alyona.
She would have been Russian, once upon a time, back when it still existed as a place instead of a frame of mind. Ash–blond hair French–braided and down nearly to her waist. Bright eyes, sharp, somewhere between blue and green, depending on her mood. Her mind was just as sharp, with advanced degrees in medicine, chemistry, and several other things.
Dr. Alyona scowled at the room as she entered, locking eyes with Jessica even as she made her way to her seat at the head of the table, rather than across from Jessica.
Jessica guessed that the doctor wanted communication today, not confrontation.
Denis sat across from Jessica, next to Auberon’s Surgeon, Dr. Zephan Samara, a fussy little man who had to be pried out of his Medical Bays to be here today, and only consenting to come when she informed him who their guest was.
Apparently, Dr. Alyona was his idol.
She was probably that for a number of people, considering her life and her work. She had even impressed a newly–minted officer on her very first cruise after Academy, twelve years ago, while being given a ride by the RAN to a field visit at Ballard.
Not that she was likely to remember Jessica.
Dr. Alyona sat primly, calmly, quietly. She suffered to be waited on. Tea, hot and black, with a dash of honey.
She fixed her gaze on Jessica. Studied her. Weighed her soul.
“So,” she said finally, “the bright–eyed young Cornet has grown up to be a common pirate?”
Yes, she still had that razor–sharp tongue to go with the razor–sharp mind.
Jessica smiled to herself as she took a sip of coffee. It would be easy to get into an argument with this woman.
It would also serve no purpose.
She hadn’t brought her Purser, Auberon’s Legal Affairs Officer, to this meeting. That would just look like she was trying to hide behind legalisms. She had not brought her Flag Centurion, who really should have been here, simply because he would be a knot of contention with Dr. Alyona over the whole affair.
“It’s good to see you again, as well, Dr. Alyona,” Jessica replied politely.
“The Imperial Authorities at Ao–Shun are demanding that you be arrested and extradited to St. Legier to st
and trial for a whole range of crimes, including, but not limited to Biological Warfare and Crimes Against Humanity.”
“I’m aware of that,” Jessica nodded.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched the impact of the conversation on Jež and Dr. Samara. Both seemed relaxed.
“However,” Dr. Alyona continued, “Admiral Emmerich Wachturm, who is, I might add, a cousin of the Emperor, was not so sure. He said it didn’t fit your personality.”
Really, the Admiral had made enough of a study of her to say something like that to a civilian?
Jessica wasn’t sure whether she should be honored or paranoid that she rated such attention. But, it was attention well wasted on this frontier.
If he was that focused on her, he would not be lending his tactical and strategic genius to the War Frontiers. On balance, it helped the Republic. That was no small thing, considering her mission.
“I’m surprised that I rate that highly in his eyes, Dr. Alyona, or yours. Especially if I am, to use your words, a common pirate.”
The woman leaned forward and redoubled her intensity.
Jessica felt the impact of that personality concentrated on her. It was almost physical in its visceral tones.
“What did you do, Keller?” she bit off each word angrily as it came out, like bitter lemons, or nails driven into her flesh.
Jessica smiled enigmatically and let the moment hang.
“I am not at liberty to discuss that with you right now, Dr. Alyona,” she said simply. “What you don’t know won’t hurt you. Your ignorance, in fact, lets me ransom you with a minimum of fuss. If you did know, you might have to be held as a prisoner of war for a very long time. I would like to avoid that, if possible.”
The tall woman leaned back in her chair. A canny look, came over her face. “So why am I here, then?” she asked quietly. The anger had been for show, apparently, or was, more likely, just masked for now.
Jessica opened a folder on the table in front of her. “I had to check,” she began, “because I simply could not remember. The medical community that is the hospital ship, St. Albertus Magnus, actually dates back to before the founding of the Republic by over seventy–five years.”
Dr. Alyona looked confused now. Probably a safer way to get her off track.
“That’s right, she said warily, “I plan to retire completely from public service during the quincentennial celebrations. What does that have to do with you?”
“I would like,” Jessica continued, “to ask for your oath and your assistance.”
“Would you?” The look she gave Jessica might wilt flowers. At least, the soft, weak kind. Not the ones with thorns that grew in aggressive brambles and crowded out the lesser vegetation.
Jessica’s kind.
“I would.”
“Why?”
Jessica smiled. It was a smile First Lord Kasum had taught her, long ago, in an Advanced Tactics class. It was not warm. It was not friendly. It offered no solace to the weary. Cats often offered it to voles.
“Because your ship was captured in an active war zone providing assistance to enemies of the Republic of Aquitaine. You struck your colors honorably, and have served your ransom with honor and dignity.”
The doctor smiled slyly at her words.
“Your ship is another story.”
Jessica watched the Doctor’s face drop. That was what pure shock looked like.
“I could order all of your data banks wiped clean and upload just enough navigational data for you to get home in less than a year.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” the woman hissed. She leaned forward like a gladiator flexing.
Jessica leaned forward as well, mirroring her.
The two men sat perfectly still rather than draw any attention to themselves. The room was electric with tension.
“It would certainly be the end of my career if I did so, Dr. Alyona. We both know how highly you and your staff are esteemed by both Republic and Empire.” She tapped a finger on the table in rhythm with her words. “If I thought it was necessary, I would sleep fine afterwards. Right now, you are an enemy of the Republic.”
“And you are a pirate, Keller.”
“And you, Dr. Alyona, have never aided pirates before, have you?”
Jessica had matched her scowl for scowl, snarl for snarl, up until this moment. Now, the woman leaned back, blushing furiously as she breathed. Jessica broke the confrontation and leaned back as well.
She felt, rather than saw, Jež relax.
“I am a medical doctor, sworn to help,” Dr. Alyona whispered.
“I will hope,” Jessica continued, “that this action will not be necessary, because you and I can come to an agreement.”
She let the woman work her way through whatever thought processes were necessary to step back from her own brink.
It only took a heartbeat. Jessica was even more impressed with the woman.
“Okay, Keller,” she said with a calm, professional air, “that’s the stick. What’s the carrot?”
Jessica let go a breath she had been unconsciously holding.
“My staff can make a pretty good estimate as to what research of yours was directly related to the events on 2218 Svati Prime, and not part of your general studies. All of that research on this planet, the data, the materials, the samples, the personal logs, will be transferred to Auberon and stored until such time as it is safe to release it to you and the Imperial College of Medicine. It will then be deleted from your records, your backups, everything.”
“And where does my oath come into this?” Dr. Alyona said quietly.
The room had gotten very small, very personal. Jessica could only imagine what it would have felt like in a smaller space.
“I want you to supervise the entire operation for me,” she said.
She watched the Doctor lean forward angrily, about to lead off with a string of profanities, or possibly something more prosaic, like Are you out of your mind?
She subsided into silence instead and leaned back.
Jessica counted the heartbeats.
Dr. Alyona contented herself with sipping her tea, eyes watching Jessica over the rim like a rabbit spotting a hawk.
“Why?” she said finally.
Jessica decided to go with the most honest answer she could. It would help her sleep nights, that way.
“Because my staff is good, Dr. Alyona,” she said simply, “but we’re not up to your standards as a research university. And you would never forgive me if anything happened to that data. I can’t imagine it will be too long before I can return it all to you.”
Dr. Alyona got a cagey look in her eyes. “You’re up to something,” she observed.
Jessica shrugged grandly, mostly for her benefit. “We have been from the very beginning, Dr. Alyona,” she said. “You aren’t allowed to know what until this all done. Then, I promise I will make it all clear.”
For a few moments, Jessica wasn’t sure the woman would go for it. This was only partially a bluff on her own part. She could take the time to wipe those records, but if she made any mistakes, she would be answering the Senate rather than the First Lord. And she had many fewer friends there.
Dr. Alyona sighed and put down her tea. She held out her hand for Jessica to take.
“Okay, Command Centurion Keller, my bright–eyed, grown–up pirate,” she said, with the faintest taste of something. Warmth? Respect? Hard to tell. “You have my oath.”
Jessica felt the knot in her stomach let go. “Thank you, Dr. Alyona. Please, call me Jessica.”
“Jessica,” she replied, tasting the name. “Call me Yuda.”
Jessica smiled and took her hand.
She might just pull this whole thing off, yet.
Chapter XXXVII
Date of the Republic March 30, 393 Qui–Ping system
The pilot’s ready room, down on Auberon’s Flight Deck, was finally nearly empty.
Jessica waited with Dr. Yuda Alyona, reviewing their final chec
klists together. Around them, her crew grabbed the last few random crates and hauled them down into the storage chambers deep in Auberon’s bowels. She’d have compared them to an old wooden sailing ship’s bilge, but those ships were plagued by rodents and lacked climate controlled lockers.
Yuda penciled the last item and signed at the bottom. She handed the clipboard over and smiled. “Well, Jessica,” she said warmly, “it has certainly been an interesting week. You run a tight ship.”
“Thank you, Yuda. I wish we could have done this under less stressful circumstances. I would like to host you sometime for a formal reception, preferably one where I don’t have to worry about being stabbed by one of your scientists.”
“I’m sure something can be arranged, after all of your secrecy has died down.”
Yuda paused to study Jessica’s face closely. “Just how long do you expect we’ll be detained, Jessica?”
Jessica pointed to a young man who had been trying to stay unobtrusively against one wall. She gestured him to join their conversation. He had a courier’s bag at his waist with several key documents in it. Jessica didn’t trust this information being carried electronically.
“Yuda, this is Yeoman Naoki Ungaretti,” she introduced them formally. “Yeoman. Dr. Alyona of the Canton Hospital Ship St. Albertus Magnus. Give her all the respect and courtesy you would afford me, while you travel with them.”
“Aye, sir,” he said politely. He nodded to Yuda. “Doctor, it is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to voyaging to Ladaux with you.”
“Yeoman,” Alyona replied carefully.
“I don’t know the current state of affairs back home, Yuda,” Jessica continued. “We’ve only been to a base once in the last six months, and then just long enough to pick up supplies. I am sending a complete and up–to–date report for the First Lord to read. Nils Kasum will treat you and your staff exceptionally well, and hopefully be able to give you a much better idea than I do. At the very least, you will be detained on the nicest planet in the Republic. More likely, the Republic will hire you to do things in a distant, internal sector while we wait. That was my recommendation.”
