Casimir Bridge: A Science Fiction Thriller (Anghazi Series Book 1)

by Darren Beyer

  “Dauntless can accelerate at five g’s?”

  “Eight, in a pinch.”

  Mandi’s jaw dropped. “How?” She was no expert on spacecraft, but she’d worked on enough stories to know that most ships were lucky to manage two g’s.

  “Apply power quickly enough to accelerate propellant to near the speed of light, and you can get places in quite a hurry.”

  “But I did a story on a racer once. It could barely make five, and that thing was nothing but a power plant, engines, and fuel.”

  “Those racers are all fusion-powered. They can produce only so much power for their weight—it’s called ‘specific power.’ But Dauntless doesn’t have just any power plant. Remember the ring that circles the back of the ship?”

  Mandi recalled the striking feature. It had gleamed granite gray, absorbing light.

  “That’s the antimatter storage ring.”

  “Antimatter? Are you kidding?”

  “I’m not the best one to explain. Particle physics are not my—”

  “I know what antimatter is,” Mandi interrupted, briefly annoyed. “There’s only a handful of experimental plants on Earth, but they’re small and considered decades away from commercial use. I know AIC is a leader in antimatter research, but how did you get one operational, much less into a starship?”

  “Some things I just can’t tell you—yet.”

  Mandi looked into his kind, but guarded, dark eyes. She could get lost in them. She held his gaze for a moment. Yes, she could.

  Chapter 33

  Eridani

  “Please do not contact security,” a man’s voice said in a slight European accent.

  The lights turned up to a dim setting, and Jans jumped.

  “It would do you no good.”

  Across Jans’ living room stood a tall, blond man in dark clothing. For a moment Jans almost called out to the computer to summon security, but the man’s look and demeanor were like a snake ready to strike. He would get it out, but it might be the last thing he ever did. Besides, Jans wasn’t sure the computer would work. So he waited, alert and on his toes.

  “Thank you,” the man said. “I have a jammer in place to make sure that there are no eavesdroppers.”

  “Who are you?” Jans balled his fists. “How the fuck did you get into my quarters?”

  “I have been tasked with meeting with you.” The blond man moved, exaggerating his deadly grace. “This meeting will contain highly confidential information. My mere presence on Eridani must be kept secret—for now. I could not simply walk up to your secretary—”

  “Assistant,” Jans corrected.

  “I could not simply walk up to your assistant—” The man let slip a grin. “—and ask for a meeting. You are a busy man. Such a request would not be met. And yet this meeting is essential to both of us. So here I am.” The man spread his arms.

  “So here you are,” Jans echoed coldly.

  “Please, do not let my unorthodox entry distract you. I am not a diplomat—”

  “What are you then?”

  “Someone able to deliver messages unseen.” The blond man reached behind his back.

  Jans considered bolting for the door, but thought better of it.

  Out came a portable holovid, and Jans breathed the smallest sigh of relief.

  The blond man returned an equally small smile. “Before I proceed, I must have assurance that what you are about to see will not be made public. If it were, no further contact would be made, and the contents would be considered null and void.”

  “How can I agree without knowing the nature of the contents?”

  “That is a question that only you can answer. I have been instructed to leave, and destroy the device should this stipulation not be met. The choice is yours.”

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is not important.” The man was slippery, his accent distinctly Nordic. “I work for Gregory Andrews.”

  Jans’ blood ran cold.

  Chapter 34

  Rho Indi System

  Mandi fell to all fours on the floor of the med-bay. Her earlier meal of a chicken and mashed potato pack splattered to the floor, as dizziness and disorientation flowed through her in waves.

  “Sorry about this,” she managed between heavy gasps. “I don’t know what’s—” She heaved again.

  “Don’t worry.” Grae was at her side. “I’ve seen it all before.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “This drive is pretty potent, and it isn’t fully tuned, which just makes it that much worse.” Mandi felt a pinprick in her arm and turned groggily to see Grae pulling away a small syrette. “It’s an anti-nausea drug designed especially for jump sickness.”

  Mandi sat back on her knees, head bowed, breathing hard. In the periphery of her vision, the med-bay began to spin. Closing her eyes made it worse. Her stomach heaved, but there was nothing left to come up, so it pulled at her muscles as though tearing her apart. It passed, and she fell sideways to curl into a ball on the floor.

  “Stay right here. I’m going to get the medic. He has a special concoction.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” Mandi gave Grae a wobbly smile.

  ***

  Whatever was in the red liquid that the medic had given Mandi, it had cleared the nausea. At first the sweet smell had threatened to cause another bout of dry heaves, but soon she was steady enough to tilt back her head and take it all down in a gulp. The liquid had been cool and smooth, with a taste like nectar. Almost immediately the effects of jump sickness had begun to subside. In what seemed like only seconds, the nausea was completely gone, and she felt energy returning. In fact, she felt good enough to stand.

  “Whoa,” she said aloud to no one, extending a hand to the wall. “I think I should head back to my berth. Maybe I’ll play with the gravity controls.” She let out a giggle. Why did she giggle? She didn’t know and giggled again.

  She triggered the door to open. Grasping the frame, she swung out into the passageway beyond, narrowly missing a crewmember who dodged into med-bay in the nick of time. She wasn’t the only person suffering the effects of the jump.

  Finding her quarters wasn’t a problem. Her mind was surprisingly alert. However, everything seemed amusing, if not simply hilarious. When she entered the room to find Grae standing shirtless in front of his open bunk, changing from the shirt he’d been wearing as he’d helped her, she began to laugh uncontrollably.

  Grae frowned as he pulled his clean shirt quickly over his head. He ruffled his black hair, and closed his bunk with a push of a button.

  The frown made her laugh harder, and she doubled over.

  “I got a call from the med-bay.” Grae crossed to her. “They said you checked yourself out,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t think it would be this bad,” he added under his breath. He gently pulled Mandi up by the shoulder and guided her to her bunk, opening it with the button. “You better get to bed. Roboso hits hard.”

  “Roboso?” She half-stifled another laugh.

  “It’s a drink from Eridani. Does wonders for jump sickness. It has a few other effects, as well.” He brushed her shoulder as he reached past her to her bunk controls to open the cylindrical door. Mandi’s face flushed, and her pulse quickened. She spun to face him with her back against the wall, hands flat against it.

  “With everything that’s happened and all we’ve been through, there’s one thing that I don’t get.”

  Grae’s eyebrow shot up.

  “You haven’t come on to me.” She giggled as she moved close.

  Grae’s face reddened.

  “You play the hero pretty well, but in most of the stories the hero finally kisses the girl.” Mandi leaned in, her eyes bright.

  Grae began to lean down but abruptly pulled back. “I can’t.”

  “Too chivalrous?” She pushed him playfully. “You’re taking the white knight thing a little seriously.”

  “It’s not that.” Grae stepped back and dropped his head.

  “What then?” />
  “It’s—it’s—”

  “Does this have to do with my mother?” She jutted out her chin.

  “I made a promise to keep you safe. I’m not going to betray that trust.”

  “There is no trust to betray regarding me and my mother. And what does ‘keeping me safe’ have to do with anything? I’m a big girl.”

  “I’m not going to talk about this while you’re drunk.”

  “I’m not drunk,” Mandi said indignantly. She looked above the door and saw the label ‘Berth C-7.’ An idea sprung into her mind.

  “Dauntless.” She had a devious smile on her lips. “Berth C-7, zero gravity.”

  “Berth C-7, zero gravity, aye.”

  The tug of gravity subsided, and Grae, taken by surprise, floated suddenly facing Mandi. She pushed off from the wall toward him, mischief in her eyes, but the push turned into a launch, and she slammed into him hard. His arms flew up, her arms flew out, and her momentum carried them both through the berth doorway into the passage beyond. He flailed for the jam but missed, and they fell through. In the unexpected gravity of the passage outside, they fell hard to the floor, Grae with a loud grunt and Mandi with a second as she landed on him. She shook her head, a slight taste of blood on her split lip.

  “Ahem—”

  Mandi jerked up her head.

  A man in a captain’s uniform stood, hands on his hips, looking sternly down. Her flash of embarrassment passed in the instant, and she was convulsed with giggles. In a moment, she rolled off Grae, laughing hysterically.

  “Sorry, sir.” Grae stood awkwardly, holding his side. “I was just trying to help Mandi into her bunk.” His voice was strained.

  “It seems our medic is giving out jump-sickness cocktails again,” Captain Stanton said in a deep British accent. He looked down at Mandi and shook his head. “Please get this taken care of and then report to the bridge.”

  “Aye, aye, sir.” Grae rubbed his side, wincing as he stood. “May I stop by the med-bay first? I think I cracked a rib.”

  Chapter 35

  Eridani

  “Mr. Mikel. Jans.” The face and chest of Gregory Andrews spoke from a portable holovid. His graying face was drawn, but his eyes were sharp.

  The blond man stepped back from the desk in Jans’ suite, his smile calculating.

  “It’s been a long time since we last met, Jans.” Andrews gripped the head of his cane. “It must be ten years at least. A lot has happened. I’ve stepped down from TSI to join the Assembly, and you have flown a dozen star systems away. Although we were competitors, I have always held you in the greatest esteem, and since entering public office I have watched your exploits with interest. You’ve done things most thought impossible. I must say that I’m proud of what my worthy competitor has attained so quickly. Yet I am pained by what AIC is now suffering in the Assembly and the press. You are an icon, Jans Mikel, a testament to the human spirit. To see that ideal under attack is disturbing.”

  “You didn’t send your underling here to convey your congratulations,” Jans muttered under his breath as he sat stiffly in the half-light of his room.

  “This Alexandria business is messy, and if anything from Mars is related to it, I fear the aftermath. It won’t be good for the Euramerican Coalition, or trade between Earth and Eridani. AIC could pay the ultimate price. I am reaching out with what I see as an opportunity.”

  Jans glanced at the man, who had faded into the shadows.

  “I’ve accomplished much in my lifetime, Jans Mikel. At one time, I thought that attaining high public office would be the pinnacle of my career. Unfortunately, it hasn’t played out that way. I am left feeling that I have more to accomplish. In the current state of affairs, I can’t help but think that saving AIC—and with it the reputation of corporate Euramerica—could be my last hurrah. It could cement my position in the annals of history and leave me feeling fulfilled in my life’s purpose.”

  “I still hold considerable sway inside TSI. I’ve made inquiries. There is the feeling that TSI has lost its way, gone too far into military contracting, too far from its roots. An appetite exists for me to return to the helm. This is where I see the opportunity—” As though in reflex, Andrews thumped his cane.

  “As a condition of returning to TSI, I would require that we spin off the Military Services Division in order to focus on what got us our start: good old technology research, advancement, and development. We would use the funds from the military spinoff to facilitate a future with AIC. Now, I know what you’re thinking, Jans. But this would not be an acquisition of AIC by TSI. No. It would be a merger in all respects. For my part, I would see the deal through and continue for a limited time as CEO. You would be my number two, and when I step down you would be heir-apparent, running a much larger company than AIC alone, with more reach and influence. Think about the possibilities. At the swipe of a pen, any messiness associated with Alexandria or Mars dissipates. I hold influence over key members of the Euramerican Coalition. I could minimize the impact. There would be no criminal proceedings against AIC. No untimely leaps to mistaken conclusions in the press. Public perception would shift instantly, and the pressure upon you right now would dissipate. Together, we would grow the company. We would create something to stand for generations and take humanity to places of which it has never dreamed.”

  “I’ve given you a lot to think about, I know.” Andrews’ eyes glittered. “There are many details to work out. In the end, everything comes down to money, but in this case there is much more at stake—much more opportunity for both of us. I believe that you, like me, are committed to what this opportunity could bring. As I’m sure you know, I’ll be leading the nuclear inspection team to Eridani. We’ll be on a high-g transport, and I’m told that travel time will be cut to only a few weeks. I’m hopeful that when I arrive we can quickly complete our inspections, find everything in order, and get down to business.” Andrews’ face flickered briefly, and the screen went blank.

  Jans sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin.

  The blond man folded the portable holovid and secured it in his bag. “Mr. Mikel, I am not officially here yet. Should you have any questions, I will send contact instructions.”

  Jans narrowed his eyes.

  “We’ll look forward to hearing from you.” The man nodded, clicked shut his bag, and went smoothly out the door. The room’s lights went to full illumination, and Jans looked up at them, suddenly angry.

  Jans frowned at his comm. “Call Danny Dagan.”

  Dagan’s face appeared in the corner above Jans’ eye.

  “Calling so soon? I must be your favorite person.” Dagan attempted a chuckle.

  Jans narrowed his eyes. Neither of them was going to sleep that night.

  Chapter 36

  Rho Indi System

  The small two-person skimmer hovered in the vehicle bay of Dauntless, looking like a miniature, stub-winged orbital shuttle. From its underside, a dull blue light emanated from a dozen glowing discs. The air seemed to shimmer, and an odd hum filled the bay. Beyond, a slightly larger skimmer hung silently, suspended on its short docking pilings.

  Mandi peered through the door, looking for Grae. Ever since the episode in their quarters, he’d been avoiding her. Sure, they had seen each other getting in and out of their berths, and Grae had been cordial when they’d crossed paths, but his demeanor had become distant. Whatever else the roboso had done for her—or to her—it had released her inhibitions.

  The clang of a tool echoed from behind the skimmer.

  “This is an interesting little ship.” Mandi projected her voice.

  Grae, startled, stuck his head out and hit it on the small horizontal stabilizer.

  “Sorry.” Mandi chuckled. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

  “I’ve suffered worse.” Grae rubbed his head and checked his fingers for blood.

  “So this is where you’ve been hiding.” Mandi surveyed the vehicle bay. Sensing his unease, she moved closer to the skimm
er, running her hand delicately along the leading edge of a wing. “What are you working on?”

  “This is one of our new skimmers.” Grae moved out from behind the craft. “I’m making sure all its parts are in working order.”

  “I’ve seen skimmers like this before, but I thought they were atmospheric. What’s it doing on a spaceship? And is it floating on its own, or is Dauntless doing that?”

  “No, it’s all the skimmer. The same technology that’s pushing you to the floor right now is used by the skimmer’s grav pods to keep it floating. During reentry, they keep the skimmer high in orbit as it slows down, and then they let it drop into the atmosphere at a leisurely speed to avoid overheating. So it’s both orbital and atmospheric. There’s nothing else like it.”

  “That’s amazing.” Mandi’s face lit up. “It’s so small, and there’s no heat shield.”

  “It has a heat shield, just not as bulky as those on orbital shuttles.” Grae paused, looking around the launch bay. “Anyway, I’d better get things stowed. Rumor has it we’re going into a high-g burn.” Grae moved to gather his tools.

  “More than Dauntless’ artificial gravity—the anti-gravity—can compensate for?”

  “That’s the scoop,” Grae said without looking at her. “I hear that we’ve picked up a hit on long-range mass sensors, but our velocity vectors are off, so we need the burn. You might want to get to your berth and make sure everything is secure.”

  “Grae—” Mandi stepped closer. “Are you ever going to tell me where we are and what you’re doing here?”

  “Mandi, the mission is need-to-know.” Grae sighed.

  “Who am I going to tell? Maybe I can give you a reason for me to be in the know.”

  Grae looked at her.

  “I’m a journalist. And I’m the only link you’ve got to the enriched uranium back on Earth. This is a small ship—I’ve picked up a thing or two. The crew believes that there’s a chance whatever you’re investigating out here is somehow related to what happened on Earth. If that’s true, then I’m the only one with direct knowledge of both. I could provide a missing link, an important shred of evidence. You know I’m good at problem solving. And you need someone who can tell the story later. I’m the most qualified.”