had already been interrogated, and sent the requested information when
he saw that it had.
"I thought since they already have the information and we have nothing
to hide, there was no harm in complying," Manazar explained. "But the
very next thing, they wanted to talk to the master of the vessel, with
full holocomm. I've been putting them off until you got here, but I
don't think they like being put off."
Barjas nodded. "You did fine, Mazz. I'll take it from here."
"No," said Eckels. "On the starlanes, this ship is yours, Captain, but
here in orbit, the expedition leader is in command. I will deal with
this."
He crossed the bridge to Penga Rift's small holocomm booth and settled
himself inside it. "Monitor to station one. Record to personal log
Eckels. Begin transmission." After a moment's pause, he said, "This
is Dr. Joto Eckels of the Obroan Institute, expedition leader. Whom
am I addressing?"
When the answering holo formed before him, Eck-els felt his body trying
to retreat deeper into the seat.
The face was not only intensely alien, but both inhumanly large and
close enough to violate Eckels's psychological boundaries. It could
have been no more than that the other was leaning forward toward his
holo lens, but it made Eckels feel cornered in the booth.
"I am Colonel Ejagga Pakkpekatt of New Republic Intelligence, said the
other, showing teeth that were distinctively those of a carnivore. "My
mission in this sector is under the direct authority of the director
of
operations, and with the knowledge and consent of the Senate
Intelligence Council. What is your business here?"
"We are conducting a contract survey and excavation of Maltha Obex."
"And what is the purpose of your survey and excavation?"
"This is an archaeological research vessel," said Eckels, recovering
some measure of his equilibrium.
"Not surprisingly, we're here to do the things archaeologists do--to
retrieve biological samples and cultural artifacts related to the
former inhabitants of this planet."
"Who contracted for this expedition?"
Eckels considered refusing to answer. There were nondisclosure clauses
in the standard Institute contracts that offered not only a suitable
pretext, but also a reasonable defense of his actions after the fact.
But being difficult would not help move the conversation forward to
what the visitors really wanted--though Eckels was already sure in his
own mind what that was. He had had but one thought since the ship had
arrived, only one explanation for this coincidence--this
confrontation.
"Harkin Dyson, a private collector," said Eckels.
"But come, you know all that already. Tell me, what did Dyson do? I
should not have trusted him. Men with that much wealth do what they
want and let the law try to catch up. Please tell me he didn't try
selling the remains piecemeal."
Pakkpekatt did not seem interested in Eckels's confessions.
"Was this contract the only basis for your interest in Maltha Obex?"
"No," said Eckels. The alien's unblinking gaze was becoming an
annoyance. "We lost some people here, folks who were working another
contract. But I would guess you know all about that, too. The rumor
going around the Institute was that it was an NRI job."
"Dr. Eckels, I have not asked of you that you tell me only things I
did not know already," said Pakkpekatt, somehow managing to loom even
closer.
"Have you encountered any other vessels since your arrival here?"
"Just the other NRI ship--" The holo display suddenly dissolved in a
burst of snowy static. "What happened?"
"I broke the link," said Manazar. "Doctor, this Pakkpekatt--I just
identified his species. He's a Hortek."
"And?"
"They're supposed to be telepathic. That's why he demanded the holo
link. He's probably already found out everything he wanted from
you."
"Well, I am not telepathic, and I have not found out everything I
want," Eckels said frostily. "Restore the link."
"There you are, Doctor," said Pakkpekatt a moment later. "Your reply
was garbled by the equipment malfunction."
Eckels nodded. "It was no malfunction, Colonel just a bit of
clumsiness."
Pakkpekatt fanned his fingers and gestured dismissively.
"You were speaking of an NRI ship."
"When we reached Maltha Obex, there was a military vessel here. I
presumed it was NRI, though nothing was ever said Openly," Eckels
said.
"It was the ship that brought our late colleagues here. The pilot
guided us to their bodies before he left. That was an unexpected
courtesy, to have him wait--I do give you credit for that."
"It was no courtesy, Doctor," said Pakkpekatt.
"Just a bit of bureaucratic paralysis."
"I see." Eckels sat forward in the booth. "It was impatience that
killed Stopa and Krenn, Colonel--their own, and that of whoever dangled
a bonus worth twice their annual research budget in front of them.
It's curious that what was so urgent suddenly became unnecessary.
Or did it? I was willing to accept Dyson at face value, as another of
the artifact hunters who hover around the Institute. But your arrival
here is one coincidence too many. Dyson is one of you, isn't he?"
"I don't know who he is, Doctor," said Pakkpekatt. "A meddler who's
succeeded in manipulating both of us, it seems."
Eckels was taken aback by the unexpected answer, but quickly recovered
his momentum. "What is your business here? And what's this about our
vessel being at risk? Did you mean that as a warning or a threat,
Colonel?"
"A warning," said Pakkpekatt. "A ship may be coming here--a ship that
has already destroyed or crippled at least five warships from four
different navies.
Our business here is to intercept it. Your vessel will be at grave
risk if you remain here. I suggest you wrap up your work and move
on."
"That's not possible, Colonel," said Eckels. "We're scheduled for
another thirteen days here, and we need every minute of every hour."
"It may be possible for you to return at another time," said
Pakkpekatt. "But Maltha Obex is not a safe place to be now."
"That has been the case for quite some time, Colonel."
"Are your people willing to keep working on the surface knowing that
you can't promise them you'll have time to come back for them? Are
they willing to risk freezing to death with the memory of seeing Penga
Rift turn into a very brief bright spot in the sky?"
"You are trying to frighten me, Colonel. That shows a disappointing
lack of respect," said Eckels.
"I am trying to save your life, and the lives of those under your
command."
"You are trying to protect your secrets," said Eckels.
"What kind of ship is coming here, Colonel?"
"One that destroyed an Imperial-design cruiser with ease, just two days
ago," said Pakkpekatt. "Perhaps you should consult with the captain of
Penga Rift and ask him how he views the pr
ospect of commanding it in
battle."
"I will not cede Maltha Obex to the NRI," said Eckels. "The work is
important--and a friend died here.
Both of those things matter to me, Colonel, even if they mean nothing
to you. Do what you need to here. We won't interfere with your
business if you grant us the same courtesy."
"It isn't our interference you need to be concerned with," said
Pakkpekatt. "Doctor, I cannot offer you protection--" "Oh, yes, from
the mysterious ship that's no threat to your vessel, but a terrible
threat to ours. The rampaging juggernaut that dispatches warships with
ease, yet apparently will cower when confronted by your yacht. I don't
believe a word of it. Really, Colonel, couldn't you have invented a
more plausible lie? I thought spies were supposed to be good at
that--" Pakkpekatt hissed and lunged forward, his threat ruffles
unfolding. Eckels startled, sitting straight up.
Even Barjas, watching on the flatscreen display, flinched noticeably.
"I have spoken only the truth to you," Pakkpekatt said, his voice thick
with anger. "The dead will wait for you. Leave this place before you
join them."
This time, the threat was effective. Only simple stubbornness trumped
the sudden flash of fear that showed in Eckels's eyes. "Perhaps you
are telling the truth, as you say," he said. "But if you had the
authority to order us to leave, you would have already done so. So let
it just be understood between us that we're staying.
We accept the risks. Others may return here in the future, but this is
our time."
"You do not know what you risk by that decision, Dr. Eckels."
"You remain free to enlighten me," said Eckels.
"What kind of ship is coming to Maltha Obex?"
Pakkpekatt sat back and folded his hands in his lap. "A Qella ship,
Dr. Eckels."
Eckels stared, dumbfounded, then cast his gaze downward. Twice he
opened his mouth as if to speak.
Both times he momentarily clOSed his eyes and shook his head, as though
disowning the thought trying to
reach his lips. Finally he ran a hand back through his thinning hair
and raised his head.
"Would you care to come aboard Penga Rift, Colonel?"
Eckels said, his voice surprisingly steady. "I believe I owe you an
apology, and then we need to talk."
"That's what you wanted from the start, isn't it?"
Taisden said when the link was terminated, looking at Pakkpekatt in
surprise.
"I never intended for them to leave," Pakkpekatt agreed. "That ship
contains all of the New Republic's experts on the Qella. What they
know--however little-mmay be the difference between success and
failure."
"Sure--and if we can make use of them, better to keep them here than
chase them away. But you played him like a kolo-fisher working a
record catch," said Taisden. "Chances are you left him thinking he won
that showdown, with a chance at the vagabond as his reward for hanging
tough."
"I had the insuperable advantage of being able to tell the bait from
the hook," Pakkpekatt said, rising.
"Still, perhaps there's something about sitting in Calris-sian's couch
that brings such manipulations more readily to mind and tongue."
"What manipulations?" Taisden asked, his expression innocent of
humor.
"After all, Colonel, just as you said, all you told him was the
truth."
But they both knew that Eckels had not yet heard all of the truth.
Pakkpekatt left Colonel Hammax in command of Lady Luck's flight deck
and charged Pleck with making the arrangements with Coruscant for the
recall signal to be rebroadcast from NRI stations and vessels operating
in the open. Then he and Taisden went across to Penga Rift in the
research vessel's skiff.
They brought with them a selection of images from Gmar Asklion, a copy
of the genetic catalog, and a re quest for one of Penga Rift's orbital
relay satellites.
Standard equipment aboard research and exploration vessels--but not
aboard Lady Luck--the generic hel-met-sized units were ordinarily used
in sets of three to give a single ship global comm coverage.
"We can and will originate the recall signal from Lady Luck," Taisden
explained. "But for obvious reasons, we might not want to be right
next to the antenna if and when the vagabond jumps in-system."
A profoundly distracted Joto Eckels agreed with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, of course. We carry two spares--Mazz will make one available to
you." The holos of the vagabond escaping from the armada, juxtaposed
with selected views of the destroyed Prakith cruiser, had made a deep
impression on Eckels.
But the major distraction was the dispatch containing the report on the
Qella genome. "This is very good work," Eckels said, studying the
sequences on his datapad. "These Eicroth bodies--what an extraordinary
discovery. This report is based on the single example I delivered to
Harkin Dyson, yes?"
"I assume so," said Pakkpekatt. "It appears to be the only Qella
material to have left the system."
"Then we do not know if these Eicroth bodies are typical of the
species, or indicate an abnormal condition, or represent a variant of
the species," Eckels said.
"With only a single example, no generalizations can be made."
"Presumably not."
Eckels closed his datapad. "Colonel, we have five additional Qella
bodies in the specimen lab. They've all been fully scanned, but the
scans haven't yet been reviewed in detail--" "Why not?" Taisden
interrupted.
"We scan them as soon as we receive them because of the risk of sample
deterioration," Eckels said, turning toward the younger man. "Analysis
is something we can do on the way home, or at the Institute." He
looked back at Pakkpekatt. "Colonel, we did not know about this
secondary genetic material. If I could take this data
back to the lab for a few hours, I may be able to answer that
question, and perhaps some others as well."
"That copy is for your use," said Pakkpekatt, "assuming that you will
accept one restriction."
"Any reasonable one," said Eckels. "This really must be looked at
right away."
"I ask only that the data not leave this vessel in any form, by any
channel, until we better understand it. If what you hold there is in
fact the key to stopping and controlling the vagabond--" "I
understand.
An intact Qella vessel would be a treasure far too valuable to risk.
This data will not leave my personal custody," Eckels vowed. "I will
do this work myself, under isolation protocols. Will that be
satisfactory?"
"Entirely satisfactory," said Pakkpekatt. "In the meantime, we will
return to our vessel with the relay satellite and continue our
preparations."
"I'll signal you when I have something," said Eck-els, waggling the
datacards. "Can you find your way back to the skiff by yourselves? I
want to get started immediately."
"Of course."
&n
bsp; "Thank you. I'll have First Officer Manazar meet you there with the
relay satellite."
As they waited for Manazar at the skiff, Taisden asked quietly, "When
are you going to tell him about the general being onboard?"
"When I know that Calrissian is still onboard," said Pakkpekatt. "By
now even the most prudent rationing, the most severely restricted
activity, will have exhausted their personal consumables. I have been
wondering if that might be the explanation for the beckon call to Lady
Luck--a last act of desperation by the last surviving member of
Calrissian's team, in the last hours of his life."
The somber mood set by Pakkpekatt's words stayed with them all the way
back to Lady Luck, and cast a long shadow on the work waiting for them
there.
Instead of signaling, Dr. Eckels came calling. By the time the skiff
came alongside Lady Luck, her entire complement had gathered to learn
the reason for the change of plans.
"Colonel," Eckels said, ducking his head as he stepped through the
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