by Marc Stevens
Sael held up all her hands and said, “No thanks, I would find the Fusra Pus virus more comforting on my face than your lips.”
Tria and I both burst out laughing. Get the hell out! The old witch was developing a sense of humor.
She had a neutral look on her face when she turned to Tria and said, “Could we please get on with the briefing before your primate ways start affecting me like other members of my race.”
The smile on Tria’s face was reduced to a grimace, but she held her tongue. Justice was right on cue with a call that put any tension in the air at ease.
“Commander, I have prepared the briefing room and the crew has been alerted.”
The walk to the lift tube was quiet, so I asked a question that had been on my mind for some time now. “Sael, have you heard from your council since your disappearance with your ship and crew?”
We stepped into the lift tube and were whisked upward. She finally commented on my question.
“The threats of execution for traitorous desertion have ceased, if that is what you want to know.”
“Sael, I have known you long enough to know you would not let such charges stand against your crew. I surmise your participation in my operations have been reported in detail to superiors who favor your continued service.”
We stepped out on the command deck. Tria and I both turned to the Operative with expectant looks on our faces.
“I find your continued use of logic irritating. You are giving me little grounds for calling you a primate.”
While I smiled at the comment, Tria did not. She took my hand and gave me a tug. “Save it for the briefing room.”
Tria apparently wanted Sael to fess up to being in communication with her superiors to the crew as well. Sael made no comment and followed us to the briefing room.
We took our seats and Sael looked at all of us and quipped, “I am glad the defective A.I. that runs this relic has figured out how to select proper seating.”
That brought a round of polite laughter from all of us. I was relieved that any perceived tension in the air was now gone. Sael helped herself to one of the glasses of water Justice was so kind to supply us. She stood and cleared her throat, then started off with an explanation to her comments in the lift.
“As you have evidently conjectured, my military council has come to its senses. They have gone through a reorganization that has long been overdue. The new leadership is composed of progressive, younger minds that are not tied down by the old status quo. The new leadership has come to the same conclusion I have. The continued cooperation between you and your followers is one of the most important alliances our people have made in a very long time. In short, your recent discoveries have the ability to bring yours and my people into a new technological age. The Guardian tech you have uncovered, along with the live Prule Hunter, are truly amazing.”
We were all smiles at her disclosures. There was the very real possibility we would now have access to some of the Chaalt’s best tech secrets. The smile left my face when I saw Sael was not sharing our joyous occasion with the same zeal.
“Senior Operative, I take it we still have complications that will have to be addressed.”
Coonts surprised me when he said, “Commander, what the Operative has not stated is the fact that the military council still has to answer the leaders of the Chaalt home worlds. The leaders of her race are some of the oldest and considered by many to be the wisest of the Chaalt people. The Grawl people and many others for that matter have attempted such alliances only to be turned away by the Chaalt leadership.”
The Operative gave Coonts a steely eyed stare that insinuated she did not like the interruption, but she did not deny his claims either. I knew of the Grawl attempts to gain Chaalt technology. Not all were an honorable effort.
Sael centered her attention back on me. “What I was going to say before I was interrupted was that the Chaalt people cannot be seen showing favoritism to a group that many might consider to be vigilantes. We are already in direct conflict with certain agreements we have made with the Galactic Union. The leadership of my people will not risk further deterioration of those agreements by openly acknowledging our association with you or your followers.”
I should have figured this angle all by myself. Many governments back on my home world operated in the same manner — it was called plausible deniability. It was a way of getting the nitty gritty done without having the cooperating power’s fingerprints all over it.
Tria asked the next question on my mind. “Senior Operative, how do you fit into this covert scheme? You cannot be seen using Chaalt military assets to attack what could potentially be Union allies or trade partners. Your reputation is well known by many.”
“Contingencies are now in place to spread the story of my departure from the Chaalt military. It has been made public that there was a major changing of the guard in the military counsel. Rumors have been spread to all of the outlets that usually leak information. There is now a story circulating of my great displeasure with the change in power. Since I essentially took a Chaalt warship without the proper clearances, the record will show that I have been stripped of my command status and released from service. It has already been well documented by my former colleagues, many of which have greatly perpetuated the stories currently circulating to all of our allies and others. Many are already speculating on my mercenary status. The Chaalt security services are reporting several covert inquiries for my known talents.”
Klutch asked another obvious question. “What does this mean concerning your ship? They cannot let you get away with taking a military asset without revealing this ruse for the deception it actually is.”
“You are correct, Troop Master. I will be given a new ship to command. It is a prototype fast attack ship that was designed from Oolaran discoveries, among others. It was placed in storage when we determined the cost to integrate all of the various systems into one ship was a drain on our other military projects. It is our hope that you will be able to contribute to its completion.”
That statement got everyone’s attention. All eyes turned from the Operative to me. They were going to leave it up to me to ask the next big question that was on our minds.
My crew looked back at the Operative. “Contribute in what way, Sael?”
“Justice has the knowledge to help us make use of the Oolaran systems we have recovered while salvaging the void. I also know that many of your scientists have studied the Legacy for an extended period of time. We would like your permission to move our prototype to your facility for completion. We would pay you an extraordinary amount of credits to finish the project.”
Wow. To say we were all surprised by this turn of events would be an understatement. What I did clearly understand was the Chaalt really needed us if they had any hopes of completing the project in the near future. I also knew we now had a big enough bargaining chip to get something that I really wanted.
31
My crew looked like they all wanted to start talking at the same time, and I knew what the subject was going to be. I had to put a halt to the direction this was going until such time we could discuss it at length in private. This would involve all of my scientific staff. I was not going out on a limb without talking to them first. The steady gaze coming from the Operative said she knew where this would lead as well.
“Without discussing the matter with my scientist, I will neither confirm or deny your request. Your new council is taking a lot for granted. We have not forgotten about the deceit perpetrated on us by your superiors. It makes me wonder why they would even make such a request in the first place. If you were to look at it through my eyes, it would seem like a very good way to place a large number of spies in my complex under the guise of scientists and engineers.”
Sael did not like my rebuttal, but she did not refute it either. Before I could get an opportunity to say anything more, Justice interrupted my current thoughts on the subject. He commed me on my Backscatter transmitte
r. I stopped with my mouth open as if to say something. Sael frowned, trying to decipher the strange expression on my face. Justice’s message left my mouth agape. Glancing around the table, I saw it was a group announcement because my crew looked the same way.
Sael’s frown became more menacing by the moment. “Don’t sit there pretending you are not getting a message from the defective machine that runs this ship! You are not hiding it well, what has happened?”
I thought about it for a moment and decided, if anything, the information could only help our bargaining position. The timing could not have been any better.
“Justice, would you please enlighten the Operative.”
“Senior Operative, we have had a breakthrough on the research we were conducting on the spacecraft designated as Daggers. We have discovered the A.I. access code sequences necessary to gain entry. I am now researching the capabilities of the spacecraft and have every intention of making them an operational asset.”
Now Sael’s mouth was gaping. She promptly snapped it shut with yet another frown. I could tell she was carefully digesting Justice’s statement.
“While I don’t care if you play mind games on my council, I would like to think you’re beyond doing the same to me.”
Justice left enough awkward silence after his statement to let me know he was messing with the Operative for her defective machine comment. I was going to intervene, but he cut me off.
“Senior Operative, some of the amazing revelations I am currently collecting from the Dagger’s processing cores directly contradict information your council stored on the data cube for us to review.”
Sael looked like she was on the verge of a meltdown. “Are your cores faulty!? You are well aware I had nothing to do with the council’s deceit. What is your point?”
“Senior Operative, I am not referring to the misleading information left by your people to draw me into their architecture collection algorithms. I speak of the informational theories your scientists determined to be facts. Based on my initial studies, many of the suppositions are in error. Some aspects of Dagger technology surpass the current technological advancements incorporated into the Legacy. A situation, I might add, that will be addressed in the near future.”
Whoa! Justice, was getting a little vindictive. He wasn’t just picking at Sael; he had her face down, rubbing her nose in it. He must have decided that she was ordered to report on our technology to the new management on the Chaalt military council. I felt a little sorry for her because it was probably a requirement for immunity to her recent transgressions. The look of anger on the Operative’s face was replaced by a forced neutrality. She would not look me in the eyes, choosing instead to stare at her clasped hands. The reaction confirmed Justice’s suspicions.
Sael finally looked up at me and said in a quiet voice: “You must know, I now walk a very fine line. Many have questioned my loyalties, and for good reason. My recent actions have several council leaders calling me a rogue. However, the one thing they can all agree on is that no single Operative has ever advanced our technological gains as much as I have. They attribute this success to my relationship with you and your followers, and rightly so.”
I was now scratching my head, wondering if Justice knew all along the Operative was hiding information she was ordered to withhold from us. He certainly seemed to be compelling her to divulge her secrets. The manner in which he chose to reveal the breakthrough with the Daggers was interesting to say the least. I could only describe his efforts as the old carrot on a stick routine. He was leading her to a rock and a hard place. It was working.
“A new rank designation has been added to my Senior Operative status. I am now the Principal Investigator for my people. This new rank comes with a freedom no other Chaalt military officer has ever been granted.”
I interrupted her before she could carry on. I wanted her to admit something that I had a suspicion I already knew. “Sael, did the new rank come before or after you revealed we might have another Prule discovery on our hands?”
She cleared her throat and let the silence that followed, answer for her.
“You know, if we were to withhold information from you, it could easily bring doubt to the council’s minds, and to your new rank status.”
Her expression showed the displeasure my comment earned me.
“Nathan, neither I nor my council is oblivious to your ambitions of acquiring transporter technology. You would do well to continue your cooperation if you wish to achieve your goals.”
Touché! Eventually, we would have ended up at this crossroad, and it was foolish for me to think otherwise. This pissing contest was over, and Sael had a bladder beyond my capacity. It was time to move on. We would discuss this new cooperation at a later date. Justice had forced Sael’s hand and, at the same time, leveraged our position if any meaningful tech trade were to present itself.
I held my hands up to Sael. “We have a briefing for you on the new target. How much longer will your repairs take?”
“The damage to our shield emitters was worse than we thought. We have to completely replace three, possibly four. A good estimate would be five hours minimum, six if we have to replace the fourth. If you have the exact target location, you should recon the area. Once you have coherent data, brief me and I will put together a plan of action.”
Sael got up and headed for the door. I was going to escort her, but she held up her hand and gave me a look that said she would not be good company. She was being granted almost unlimited power by her people, but it meant nothing without our full cooperation. She was learning the hard way that regardless of the wonderful tech she has already given us, we were under no obligation to toe her line. After having it her way for who knows how long, she still found it difficult to understand why we would not submit to her authority. Justice put a view screen on the wall showing us Sael’s progress. She did not deviate from her march to the hangar, where she closed up her armor suit and jumped back to the hangar bay of her ship.
“Justice, stealth the Legacy and take us to the target.”
“Affirmative, Commander. I would also like to add that I am preparing a briefing on the Daggers. It will take some time because my inquiries to Alpha base are ongoing. I have some of the information available for viewing in the science lab.”
I looked at my crew members, waiting for the questions I knew they were about to ask. Tria commented before anybody could get a word in edgewise.
“While Sael might act at times like she is conceding to your authority, I can assure you that it is not the case.”
I smiled and nodded. I had already figured out that little jewel of information all by myself. “Back where I come from, they call it a love–hate relationship. She doesn’t have to like it, but she does have to deal with it.”
Coonts and Xul promptly stood up and Coonts said, “Commander, if you have need of us, we will be in the science lab.”
I waved them off and they disappeared out the door. That left Klutch sitting on the other side of me, and he was mysteriously quiet. I leaned forward and studied the expression on his face that did not change with my move. Looking closer, I saw that the Troop Master had his eyes closed. He was leaning precariously back in his chair and it dawned on me the big wanker was asleep! I looked at Tria and she had her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. This made me frown, and before she could stop me, I stuck my boot under his chair leg, and levered it upward. Tria, got up and raced for the door as Klutch got dumped backwards out of his chair onto the deck. The scent that filled the room was instantly nauseating and eye watering. Klutch bolted upright, swearing. He looked around the room, figuring out what just happened.
He gave me a big toothy smile. “My apologies, Commander, I must be suffering from battle fatigue.”
He got up and made a hasty retreat from the room. Battle fatigue my ass! I was trying to hold my breath to keep from gagging but had inhaled enough of the Tibor’s warrior scent I could almost taste it. I got up and ran for
my cabin in hopes of retaining what little I had in my stomach. Ultimately, I failed. As I washed my face and rinsed my mouth, I could hear Tria giggling behind me.
“I tried to warn you.”
I grimaced. “You should have warned me harder!”
She laughed again and gave me a hug. She turned her head away from me, just to make sure I would not attempt to kiss her. I gave her a wicked smile and attempted anyway. She retreated out my cabin door and closed it behind her. Freakin’ Tibor! I took a shower and lay down on my bed for a quick cat nap. Justice woke me two hours later.
“Commander, a Scrun Mothership entered the system and made a close approach to our target. Three shuttles debarked and landed at the facility. The Mothership appears to be leaving the system.”
“OK Justice, I am on my way to the bridge.”
Jumping up, I threw on a fresh uniform, and made my way to the bridge. One by one, my crew joined me and took their stations. As if on cue, my IST transmitter went live.
“Nathan, why are you letting that Scrun ship escape the system!?”
I wasn’t about to tell her I was sleeping and did not have a clue what was going on. I hoped the irritation I felt when I responded was not picked up by Sael. I needed a little more from Justice before I could give her an answer. No matter what I said, I’m sure she would not agree.
So, I did the next smartest thing. “Senior Operative, please hold,”
If Sael was trying to muzzle her oath, it was a failed attempt. I ended the transmission. “Justice, I know there was a reason you did not stop the Scrun ship, could you please enlighten me.”
“Commander, destroying or stopping the Scrun vessel would have alerted the base and possibly others to our presence at this locality. The Scrun Mothership entered the system at high speed and only slowed enough to dispatch the shuttles. It then made a high-speed exit. While it would be speculation on my part, I believe there is a possibility the ship was in route to the system we had previously vacated. Even if that were not the case, I found it unwise to reveal our location. I suggest we make a covert assault on the Scrun facility and attempt to recover one or more of the shuttles intact. I believe the A.I. systems aboard the shuttles will provide us with the codes necessary to access the slave distribution center. This is only a recommendation, and I stand by ready to follow any orders you might issue.”
