“Okay, what is it this time?”
Edward leveled a cold gaze at her. “Disaster. Our insider has been arrested. His exact allegiances and motives have yet to be discovered by Lashmere Intelligence, but it won’t stay that way. Sooner or later, they’ll have the truth from him. His Karn accent filled his words with venom.
Hugh rapped the table. “What we need now are contingencies. We can’t allow this one agent to cause us any further hassle. What can we do to stop him from completing his investigation?”
“We don’t know anything about the situation. The only information I have is that Cobb has been reinstated and promoted to Deputy Director,” Edward said. “The only reason we know that is because the counselor of planetary Operations must be informed of this kind of action taken by the Director of Intelligence. I get copied on most of her correspondence. Certainly, something as important as this will spread like wildfire. By this time tomorrow, most of the planet will know there has been some kind of shake-up near the top of the agency.”
Allison spoke right over Hugh, who was trying to respond. “We can’t allow this to stand. A disgraced agent, suddenly given the second highest intelligence office on the planet? It’s completely unacceptable. The presidential advisory council will not allow this promotion to be confirmed, I can assure you of that.” Her voice rang with certainty.
Hugh shot her a dirty look across the table. “Regardless of whether or not he can be confirmed to the post, the point is that he is in the position at this moment. With all the privileges and abilities the post entails. This could be a real problem for us.”
Geoff spoke for the first time. “We have to stop Stone from telling them anything.”
Edward looked the junior senator over. “How do you propose we do that?”
“We’ll just have to eliminate him. We should take out Cobb while we’re at it.”
Allison nodded. “That’s the perfect solution.”
Chapter 30
Hanlon maneuvered the shuttle out of the main docking bay. Tolon loomed over her as the chairs, designed for humans, simply did not allow the hulking creature to sit next to her. She repeatedly turned to glance at the Ulef, having it standing directly behind her made her distinctly uncomfortable.
A moment later, the small craft cleared the bay doors and entered open space. The massive gas giant hung in space to the starboard, dominating Hanlon’s view of the surrounding area. She tapped at the navigational controls for a moment and brought up a scan of the area.
“Where do we need to go, Tolon?”
Her breath caught as one of the massive claws came into her peripheral vision and a tentacle extended to tap the small screen. “Here, Captain. I must tell you, I have noted an increase in your respiration, cardiac rhythm and surface moisture since we boarded this shuttle. Can you tell me why this is?”
Hanlon busied herself setting a course for the indicated ship before she answered. “Having you standing directly behind me makes me nervous. My autonomic systems respond in that way because of my heightened emotional state.”
“You are concerned I will move to kill you again,” Tolon said.
“I don’t think you will actually do that, Tolon, but I feel very vulnerable despite your assurances.”
“Leader has demanded I kill you more than twenty times since we left the command center on New Dawn, Captain. I have refused to comply with its demands in each instance. I can think of no other circumstance that might engender more trust in our mutual situation.”
Hanlon turned and saw the Ulef bouncing in place. She sighed. “I don’t disagree, Tolon, but that doesn’t change the fact that you could kill me at any time you wish. I have no way of defending myself here.”
“That is true, Captain. Only time will prove my trustworthiness, it seems. Are all humans so slow to trust?”
“After nearly being killed by the one they are then asked to trust? I’d have to say yes, Tolon.” She wanted to laugh, but she was still too frightened of the massive being to really feel humor at the statement.
She turned back to the navigational monitor and said, “We have about five minutes until we’re in docking range of Leader’s ship. What happens when we get there?”
“I will be challenged by those most loyal to leader. I will first have to convince them I can make a legitimate claim for leadership. Should I be successful, they will allow me to pass, and I will then confront Leader in the presence chamber.”
“What happens if you fail to convince the loyalists?”
“Loyalists? Ah, I understand. Yes. If I fail at that juncture, I will be summarily executed. I know of no precedent that pertains to an alien in accompaniment of a challenger. I presume you would be similarly put to death.”
“So, what can I do to help?”
“Remain silent while I continue to formulate my challenge.”
Hanlon shut up. She watched the slow progress as the shuttle approached Leader’s flagship. Her sense of unease grew as the ship got closer and closer. She wished she had more control of the situation, but Tolon had proved through his actions that he could be trusted to a degree, at least. Her thoughts spun in useless circles, moving from one point to another about Tolon’s motives and how far she could trust him. She simply lacked sufficient understanding of the Ulef to come to a decisive judgment of the situation.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the alert chime of the shuttle as it approached Leader’s ship. She moved the small craft into an open docking bay and bumped against one of the open airlocks. Tolon moved to the door and cycled the airlock, admitting both beings to the interior of the ship. She looked over her shoulder at the robot sitting idly at the back of the shuttle. She wondered what the module it carried was for.
Three Ulef stood by the inner airlock door. All of them wore the sky-blue band on their harnesses. Tolon stepped forward and stood motionless before them for a lengthy period. Hanlon grew restless at the delay. What were the Woduur doing to New Dawn while they were held up here with Leader’s flunkies?
Two of the Ulef stepped away from Tolon and backed against the bulkhead. Tolon turned to face the remaining loyalist. Without warning, both Ulef locked their claws into each other. The struggle of pent-up force against force was awe inspiring. Tolon’s legs pushed against the hard deck of the boat bay, and slowly, the other Ulef was pushed back.
A sudden release by Tolon’s claws and then it jabbed Leader’s Ulef just below one of its eye sockets. The carapace cracked where Tolon struck, and several tentacles quickly wormed their way into the crack. The Ulef made a shrieking sound, and Tolon’s tentacles came out with a gory chunk of orange flesh. Ulef blood streamed through the crack, and a foul smell began to fill the air. The defeated Ulef sank to the floor and landed on one side.
Tolon turned to face Hanlon and said, “I apologize for the violence of my display. This one insisted you be killed at Leader’s orders. I refused to allow it.”
“Tolon… you killed one of your own kind in defense of my life. I’m… I’m shocked.”
“Leader’s demands are unjust. I did give this one the option to stand aside before I killed it. We must hurry to the presence chamber. Time grows short to make the challenge.”
Tolon set off at a sprinting pace, and Hanlon simply could not keep up. She ran as fast as she could, but Tolon was disappearing around the next corner as she rounded the one behind it. Her legs burned, but she kept them pumping as fast as she could.
Captain Hanlon, neural link communications restored. Dawn’s voice filled her mind.
“Great,” she gasped between spasming lungfuls of air. “Status!”
Woduur have been neutralized by internal security systems. Remaining Ulef warriors have all paused in their activities. There is significant damage to the command center, but all vital systems are still functional at previous levels. I am beginning repairs.
“Good,” Hanlon managed to say, as she saw Tolon coming to a halt far down the passageway. Thank goodness! Her heart felt lik
e it was going to beat its way through her ribs.
Tolon entered the room, and she followed a moment behind. Her breath was still coming in sharp heaves of air. “Continue the repairs. We’re at the presence chamber. If Tolon fails the challenge, you must neutralize the remaining Ulef and leave to Lashmere if at all possible.”
Failsafe instructions received, Captain. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
“Me too,” she muttered.
Tolon stood motionless before Leader. They were the only two Ulef in the room. As before, the lacquered walls took Hanlon’s breath away in their beauty. The dazzling array of colors and shapes, while abstract, had a kind of synergy as well. Hanlon raised her right hand, the one the Ulef had regrown for her. The skin was still dark, but the hand felt completely normal.
A moment later, she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Leader seemed to lean forward slightly and reached into its harness. It pulled a crimson band of color from its harness and held it in its tentacles before Tolon. Tolon took the red band and, with a series of moves that seemed to have a kind of formal reverence to them, wove it into its own harness.
Tolon turned to address Hanlon. “My challenge has been successful, Captain. Your safety has been assured.”
Hanlon felt a knot of tension release from her stomach. “That’s great, Tolon.” She was about to continue, but Tolon interrupted her.
“Captain, you must address me as Leader, now. To call me by name is considered quite disrespectful.”
“Ah, sorry, Leader. Can you tell me what just happened?”
Tolon bounced several times before saying, “I made my case for leadership, Captain. Has your hearing been damaged?”
Hanlon smirked at the question and said, “That’s not what I meant. What did you tell the other Ulef to gain leadership?”
“I understand now, Captain. My primary argument was that the Ulef have historically been allied to the humans and, despite our recent conflict with your people, you have proven far more trustworthy than the Woduur. I also pointed out the highly capricious nature of the deals the previous Leader was making, first by agreeing to assist you and then betraying that agreement for one with the Woduur. I have observed, through my interactions with you, that humans wish to live peaceably with us if possible, while the Woduur desire only one thing from the Ulef: subjugation. No matter what agreement we make with them, the Woduur will always want to take us as slaves. It is that argument that allowed me to supplant the previous Leader.”
“Well, congratulations on securing the leadership, Leader. Can you return to New Dawn with me or do you have to remain here?”
“I must stay here to oversee the needs of my people. I will assign a new Ulef to accompany you on board the New Dawn.”
Hanlon was disappointed by the news, but she really couldn’t disagree. As the sole leader of the Ulef, she was sure Tolon had a lot more to concentrate on now. “I understand.”
Tolon motioned a claw at the old Leader. “This one is known as Ur. It will accompany you aboard New Dawn to see to your needs.”
“Ur? You mean the old Leader? Is that wise?”
Tolon bounced in place for a moment before saying, “You cannot question me in that way any longer, Captain. Ur is utterly loyal to me. Its defeat has rendered it unable to express true independence for many years. You must not disagree with this command.”
Hanlon caught that Tolon was trying to tell her something, but the nuances were lost on her. Nevertheless, Tolon had proved itself to be trustworthy in the end, and she felt she could continue to trust its judgment. Still, the idea of taking the old Leader, who had not more than an hour ago been incessantly demanding she be put to death, was somewhat unsettling, to say the least.
“Captain, there is an arrival of numerous Woduur ring ships in the system,” Tolon said.
Gorgon appeared in the system where Captain Ektezul would meet them. Patho turned his attention to Hilleman. “What’s our status, Exec?”
Hilleman tapped at his console for a moment. “Systems are operating correctly. It looks like the repairs are solid.”
Patho nodded and said, “Excellent. Check the system for raw materials and active power readings. If we can spend some time rebuilding our drones and mines, I’d like to do so.”
Guiles said, “No power readings, but there is a dense asteroid belt sixteen light minutes from here. There are also two gas giants. Both of them look like they should be able to provide fuel.”
“Excellent. This is a nice system Captain Ektezul sent us to to wait. Refuel first, then gather resources to finish our repairs. With luck, we can get it done before the Juggling Leili arrives.”
The orders were carried out efficiently. Gorgon made a short jump to orbit the gas giant and filled its fuel cells a few minutes later. Gorgon then turned itself towards the asteroid belt. The manufacturing process was nearly complete when Guiles said, “Sir, I have what looks like an arrival signature. I’m pretty sure it’s Captain Ektezul.”
Patho studied the sensor readings for a moment before saying, “Looks like it. How long until we have full systems and onboard materials?”
Hilleman looked up from his console and said, “Moments, sir. We can leave at any time; we’re just topping off our onboard materials reserves now.”
“We’ll move once we’re back at one hundred percent,” Patho said.
“Comms request from the Juggling Leili, sir,” Guiles said.
“Put her up.”
Captain Ektezul’s sharp features appeared on the main plot. “Hello, Captain Patho,” the Etyrni said. Her lips were curved into a grin. “I must say I’m delighted to see you here. Shall we begin?”
Patho inclined his head at the Etyrni and said, “Your nine days start now, Captain. We’re already involved in manufacturing operations. Send over the specs of what you’d like built, and I’ll get started on it.”
“Excellent,” Ektezul replied. A moment later, Patho received the first of many schematics for Gorgon to construct. Days passed as Ektezul relentlessly passed one set of instructions after another. As the parts came out of the small manufacturing ring Gorgon possessed, it started to become clear what Ektezul was building - ship, but far larger and significantly more powerful than the one she currently flew. The large sections being built by Gorgon could be joined along their edges. Patho became increasingly restless at the potential capabilities of the Etyrni design. On the sixth day, once enough instructions had been passed along that he had a good idea of what the ship would look like in its final form, he sent a comms request to Ektezul.
“Good day, Captain Patho,” she said with her near perpetual smirk. “Are you done with that part already? I didn’t think it would be for another couple of hours.”
Patho shook his head and said, “No, Captain. I’m curious about the ship you’re building. What do you plan to do with it?”
“Why do you ask, Captain?” Ektezul’s eyes shone with curiosity.
“I suppose I feel partly responsible since I’m helping you build it.” Patho had assembled the ship in a simulation, and it appeared to be quite formidable.
“Captain, I thought your kind were intelligent,” she said with a look of regret on her face.
“What do you mean?” Patho asked.
“Only a fool feels responsible for the actions of another. No matter what I do with this ship, all you’ve done is fulfill your part of a bargain fairly struck.”
“I guess I didn’t think about it that way,” he replied.
“So I see. Fear not, Captain. I will not blame you for my future actions.” She smirked at him through the screen. “Although, you are cute, trying to make sure I don’t do something to make you look bad. I may have to come find you one day.”
“Um, what?”
Ektezul laughed. “Nevermind, Captain. Thank you for following through on your agreement. I won’t take your good deed and besmirch your honor with it.”
She closed the comm channel a second later, cutting off any
reply Patho might have made.
Patho pondered Ektezul’s words for a while before getting back to his duties. His crew quickly settled into a routine of gathering materials and then manufacturing the next part of the Etyrni ship. On the ninth day, with the last part forming in the manufacturing ring, Patho sent a comm request to the Juggling Leili. A few seconds later, Ektezul’s face appeared.
“Captain Patho, what can I do for you?” Her eyes danced with unexpressed mirth as she gazed at the human officer.
“I see we’ve received the last of your plans. It should be done in about five hours.”
Ektezul’s lips widened into a grin. “It sounds like we should celebrate. What say you to an invitation to dine aboard the Juggling Leili?”
Patho considered the offer for a few seconds before saying, “I accept.”
Ektezul nodded and said, “I’ll come alongside your port airlock. I hope your kind eats meat.”
Patho nodded and said, “We do, indeed. I look forward to it.”
A few minutes later, Patho stood in his dress uniform at the port airlock. Ektezul’s ship nudged against Gorgon, and a moment later, he was cycling through the airlock. A short cofferdam extended between the two ships. He saw Juggling Leili’s outer door opening as well. On the other side stood Ektezul herself.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you in the flesh, Captain,” Ektezul said. Her eyes traveled languidly up and down Patho’s form. She curled her finger and turned, almost swaying in the motion. “Follow me,” she said over her shoulder.
Patho fell in behind the Etyrni captain. Her movements had a kind of feral grace that drew Patho’s eye as he followed her. The interior of the ship looked much like the inside of most spacecraft. Metal bulkheads, painted and covered in conduits and wiring runs with exposed structural members. The illumination was slightly blue compared to what he was used to on Gorgon. The deck was lined with a patterned tile that looked to be wood of some sort. Doors appeared at regular intervals along the passageway. After a short walk, she stopped at a door set into the bulkhead.
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