Mercenary Mage - A Dark Space Fantasy (Star Mage Saga Book 4)

by J. J. Green

  Cadwallader and Atoi would probably be killed. As officers, they presented the greatest threat to the captors as the most likely leaders of escape attempts. On the other hand, the enemy could just kill everyone.

  “What’s happening, Carina?” Parthenia asked shakily.

  “We’ve been hit. Just sit tight, everyone, until we know more information.” She couldn’t think what else to say. The thought of the danger her family was in was killing her.

  “Is everything going to be okay?” asked Oriana.

  “Just sit tight,” Carina repeated.

  An age seemed to pass. Each second Carina imagined enemy soldiers coming in to search the bay and finding her, Bryce, and her family. They still had the weapons they’d been carrying for the rehearsal. They could fight back, firing and Casting, but what would be the point? They had nowhere to go, no safe haven to retreat to. The Duchess was so damaged that even if they managed to take her back and expel the boarders, they couldn’t escape in her.

  The shuttle’s console was not connected to the Duchess’s diagnostics, and Carina didn’t want to distract Cadwallader or Atoi from whatever they were doing to save the ship and the mercs, not even for a second, so she couldn’t find out what had happened. They all waited, not speaking, for whatever would happen next.

  First, the dreadful clanging stopped. Whatever had been loose aboard the ship had been sucked into space. Then, the roaring faded away. The atmospheric readings on Carina’s visor began to rise. The mercs had sealed the breach. Or had it been the enemy, after boarding the ship? No one had entered the bay.

  Carina couldn’t wait any longer. She unfastened her harness.

  “What are you doing?” Bryce asked.

  “I’m going to find out what’s going on.”

  She opened the pilot’s hatch and climbed down onto the floor of the bay. She could hear voices but they were distant. She lifted her visor. No fighting seemed to be in progress so either the Duchess hadn’t been boarded or the fight was over.

  She stepped over a clamp that held one of the shuttle’s feet and crossed the bay to the exit. The portal had been open the entire time, but since all the mercs had left Carina hadn’t seen anyone cross it.

  She walked out into the passage. Running footsteps echoed from the metal floor and walls. It sounded like just one, heavy person, running in booted feet, getting nearer.

  She turned, intending to scoot back into the bay, but she was too late.

  A figure appeared, wearing an EVA suit. It was a merc, her visor down. Carina’s was up so she had no HUD to tell her who it was. The person didn’t slow down or break step as they drew nearer. Carina was about to back into the wall to make room, when the merc grabbed her into a hug, lifting her off of her feet.

  Atoi lifted her visor. “You’re alive! Stars, I thought you and the kids had been sucked into space.”

  “We waited in the shuttle,” said Carina. “When I saw the attack I told everyone to strap in.”

  “Good that you did. We’ve lost half the platoon. It’s going to take us forever to retrieve them all.”

  “So we weren’t boarded?”

  “No, they don’t seem interested in us, whoever the hell they are.”

  “Huh? They didn’t even try?” asked Carina. “Or did we damage their ship after all?”

  “Not enough to stop them from trying to board. C’mon. I’ll show you what happened.”

  “Wait,” she said. “Is it safe for the kids and Bryce to leave the shuttle?”

  “Should be fine. We’ve sealed the hole pretty tight.”

  Carina comm’d Bryce with the good news then set off with Atoi.

  They didn’t have far to go. Atoi took Carina to the Duchess’s docking port, mechanics brushing past the two women, running to and from the structure.

  A breach sheet covered the circular hatchway. Hollows dipped across the entire sheet’s surface, outlining thick bars that ran across the farther side.

  “We had to weld the bars in place,” said Atoi. “But it’s pretty tough now. Should hold until we reach a planet or shipyard.”

  “The enemy cut away the docking port?” asked Carina.

  “Cut right through it,” said Atoi.

  It seemed an odd thing to do. Boarding a ship was hard when atmosphere and miscellaneous objects were flying out of it. Then she remembered. “But…that’s what was…”

  “Connecting us to the Zenobia,” Atoi finished, nodding. “It was the Zenobia they wanted, not us. As soon as they’d severed the Duchess from her they stopped firing. They grappled her.”

  In one way the enemy’s focus on the passenger vessel made sense. The Zenobia was carrying plenty of valuable contraband—but that meant the attackers knew about it, and Carina couldn’t figure out how. After she’d gotten the information about the ship’s tracker from Lomang and sent a message packet to the Black Dogs, she’d been careful to shut the device down. In any case, the point of the tracker was to enable Lomang to locate his ship, not someone else. And they’d traveled for weeks since then. Had the enemy ship trailed them the entire way, following the Duchess and Zenobia’s traces?

  Atoi laughed at her expression. “Yeah, we can’t figure it out either, Car. But you’d better go and see Cadwallader. You two have to decide what happens next.”

  Carina realized her new situation with shock and dismay. Now the Zenobia was gone, so was her only way of paying the Black Dogs. And if she had nothing to pay the mercs, there would be no attempt to infiltrate the Dirksens’ headquarters, no protection from Ostillon’s hungry mobs, and no safe passage anywhere in the sector, let alone to Earth. What was more, she hadn’t a clue how she would pay Cadwallader for services rendered so far.

  She would have to rely on his generosity for food and board until they reached the nearest habitable planet, too. Surviving the enemy’s attack had seemed a miracle, but for her personally it had brought a disaster.

  “I’ll come with you,” Atoi offered.

  “Thanks,” Carina said. “Together, we might pierce the man’s flinty heart.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Cadwallader was in his office. He’d changed out of his EVA suit, though it was draped over a chair, as if he imagined he might need to put it on again in a hurry.

  “I thought I might see you soon,” he said as Carina and Atoi walked in. He seemed unsurprised that Carina hadn’t been harmed, but she realized he had access to all the EVA suit signal data. He knew she’d been in the shuttle the whole time.

  “Sit down, Lin. Atoi, you’re dismissed. Go and supervise the repairs or do something else useful.”

  Atoi raised her eyebrows at Carina as she turned and left.

  Carina sat down opposite the lieutenant colonel. She unfastened the front of her EVA suit and removed her helmet. “Sir,” she said, out of force of habit. She couldn’t sit in that room with that man and in a subordinate position without reverting to the familiar salutation. “Is there any chance at all of getting the Zenobia back?”

  “Not a single one in all hell’s domains,” Cadwallader replied. “We’re damned lucky to have come out of the engagement with so few casualties. I’m not prepared to risk the Duchess for even twice the contents of the Zenobia’s hold.”

  “What about Lomang’s other ship, the one that can travel between sectors? We could go there and—”

  “Impossible. The Duchess would never make it that far.”

  Gloom settled deeper over Carina. “How many lives were lost?”

  “Four, so far.”

  “What happened to the guards you left aboard the Zenobia? Are they still there?”

  “No, I recalled them when the battle started to turn sour. I was prepared to lose the Zenobia to boarders but not the Duchess.”

  “In the end the decision was made for you.”

  “Yes. The casualties resulted from the massive decompression after the particle lance got us, but we’re in contact with most of the troops who were sucked out of the ship. Stevenson�
�s going to take the shuttle out to retrieve them.” Cadwallader’s jaw muscles flexed as he mentioned the pilot’s name.

  Carina regretted that he’d been reminded of Stevenson’s refusal to follow orders so that she, Bryce, and Darius could get back to the shuttle before it returned to the ship. The delay wouldn’t have made a difference to the outcome of the battle, but to Cadwallader, that wasn’t the point. She felt bad for Stevenson, who had been flying with the Black Dogs for several years and was well liked.

  “Thank the stars they were wearing EVA suits,” she said.

  “Indeed.”

  An uncomfortable number of seconds passed.

  Cadwallader leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. He passed a hand over his face and his shoulders slumped. His adamantine facade crumbled a little and his pale blue eyes became tired and defeated. “Lin, things aren’t going too well for the Black Dogs. As time has gone on I’ve come to understand why Tarsalan agreed to all those suicide missions. It turns out the mercenary business isn’t as lucrative as some might imagine. This job you offered us was set to restore the company’s financial reserves, which have nearly run dry. The Duchess needs extensive repairs, restocking and refueling. This all cost money we don’t have. I’m afraid it’s the end of the line for us, and with the best will in the galaxy, we won’t be able to help you in your undertaking.”

  “That’s okay,” Carina replied. “I guessed as much. But, well, now we have nowhere to go, so…”

  “For goodness’ sake, I’m not planning on marooning you all. You can stay with us until we reach a world where I can sell the Duchess and all our equipment. Then I’ll split the proceeds and the mercs can disembark.”

  Carina exhaled. “Thanks.”

  “It’ll be a squeeze,” said Cadwallader, “but we’ll find berths for you all. Perhaps you can pay for your passage by providing entertainment with your tricks.”

  Carina’s eyes widened.

  “Just kidding.” Cadwallader cracked a smile. “Ahh…” He stretched his arms and back. “It’s been an interesting few years but perhaps it’s time to move on to something new.”

  “Will you sign up for the military again?” Carina asked.

  “I don’t know. The only options available these days are to work for the Sherrerrs or the Dirksens, and I don’t like either of them. Maybe a whole change of pace is what’s called for. A new beginning.”

  “That’s what I would like too,” said Carina. “For me and my family.”

  “I wish you luck,” Cadwallader said. “You and your bunch of gutsy youngsters.”

  A light flashed on his desk’s console, and he pressed it.

  “A shuttle has left the Zenobia, sir,” said a voice.

  “Is it heading our way?” asked Cadwallader.

  “No, it appears to be heading into deep space.”

  The lieutenant colonel frowned. “Deep space? Where the hell is it going?”

  “Nowhere, as far as we can tell, sir. Its current trajectory doesn’t lead anywhere.”

  “Is the destroyer firing on it?”

  “Not yet, sir.”

  “Well, is it sending out a distress signal?”

  “No. Oh, wait a minute. Yes. It’s just started…sir.”

  “The Zenobia’s shuttles are tiny,” Carina informed him. “They’re two-seaters, emergency evac only. I checked them out when we took over the ship. They don’t carry much fuel or provisions. Whoever’s inside it won’t get very far.”

  Cadwallader seemed to turn over the news in his mind for a moment, then he said. “You know what, I’m interested to find out what this whole thing has been about, even if it means one or two more mouths to feed” He spoke into his comm button. “Stevenson, your first pick up is that shuttle that’s just left the Zenobia. Tow it into the bay.” He closed the comm. “Let’s go and see who’s so desperate to get away from the smuggler’s ship,” he said to Carina.

  ***

  The Zenobia’s shuttle was spherical. Four pointed legs stuck out from its base so that it rested securely on a flat surface. Carina and Cadwallader watched it through the window of the closed bay door, waiting for Stevenson to leave on his next trip to begin picking up the stranded mercs and for the outer doors to close.

  Carina had passed Bryce and the kids on her way over to the bay. To her relief, her siblings hadn’t appeared too shaken up by the attack.

  Whoever was inside the tiny ship in the bay had the good sense not to emerge while the transition was going on. When the safety light activated, Cadwallader opened the bay’s inner doors and motioned for the pair of mercs he’d asked to accompany him to go inside.

  Together, he and Carina walked to the dull gray sphere. A single line traced a rectangle on its surface. The two mercs stood on each side of the rectangle, aiming their weapons at it. As Carina and the lieutenant colonel arrived at the shuttlecraft, the line broke. A rectangular chunk of the shuttle’s hull pushed out and lifted up on slim hydraulic cylinders.

  When the occupant emerged, for some reason Carina couldn’t quite understand, she was not at all surprised to discover it was Lomang.

  The smuggler had slimmed down some more since the last time she’d seen him. His weight loss was fortunate: he might not have been able to fit through the hatch otherwise. His iridescent blue, conical hat had returned to its usual position on his head and he smiled ingratiatingly.

  A ladder of woven metal had dropped from the shuttle. Lomang climbed down rather clumsily before speaking. He bowed and said, “My humble thanks for rescuing us. Your kindness and mercy will be long remembered in my family.”

  “Us?” said Cadwallader. “Tell whoever remains in your vessel to come out immediately.”

  “Naturally,” said Lomang. He spoke in another tongue, issuing a command toward the hidden passenger.

  This time, Carina was surprised at who emerged from the shuttle’s interior. It was the giant. The ladder swayed and creaked as the huge man descended it. In truth, he could have probably stepped down from the open hatch directly to the floor without much difficulty.

  The giant displayed nothing of his former threatening demeanor. Like Lomang, he appeared grateful and submissive, bending as low as his large frame would allow.

  “Please allow me to introduce my twin brother,” said Lomang. “Though I believe you have already met.” He looked sheepish.

  “Your twin brother?” Carina blurted.

  Annoyance paid a brief visit to the smuggler’s features, then he was all smiles again. “Fraternal, of course.”

  Cadwallader commanded his soldiers to search the brothers and the shuttle. When no weapons or explosives were found, he ordered them to take the men to the mission room.

  After the smuggler and his brother had left, Cadwallader took a look at the interior of the shuttle himself. Appearing to be satisfied with his inspection, he climbed down the ladder.

  “What do you think this is about, Lin?”

  “I can only think that Lomang must have made himself more than one enemy in his time in this sector. He was dealing in illegal goods so it seems inevitable he would rub up against some dangerous people. Maybe he tricked someone and they’ve hunted him down, though I’m not sure how.”

  “That would explain why their beef was with him, not us,” Cadwallader agreed.

  “And how the attacker knew the Zenobia was carrying highly valuable cargo.”

  “The Duchess isn’t exactly worthless,” Cadwallader pointed out, “but it’s pretty obviously a harder prize to win. You know this Lomang better than anyone. Would you help me question him?”

  “I’d love to.” Carina’s curiosity was deeply piqued. There was clearly a story behind the recent events, and the slimmest of chances she might learn something that would lift her out of her current mess.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  As Carina settled in for another interview with Lomang, she considered immediately Enthralling him in order to be confident that what he told her and Cadwallader
was the truth, but she dismissed the idea. The problem with interrogating an Enthralled person was that they would only answer the exact question you asked them, and in an emotionless manner. They would give no indication of the sensitivity of the information they were telling you, and hence no clue about when it was appropriate to probe more deeply.

  Unless you knew the right questions to ask, you might skirt past a vital fact without even knowing it.

  Questioning a subject when they were in full control of themselves and reading their ‘tells’ would be more effective. Carina would also be able to hear the difference between what Lomang said while not Enthralled and then while he was under, which might reveal something he wanted to hide.

  Lomang and his brother sat side by side in the mission room, flanked by two mercs pointing weapons at them. Even so, Carina didn’t feel entirely safe in close proximity to the giant. He looked capable of inflicting considerable damage before pulse rounds would fell him.

  “I would like to introduce my brother,” Lomang said, noting Carina’s gaze on the large man. “His name is Pappu. As I said, we are twins, but I am older by three minutes.” Lomang held up three pudgy fingers and grinned. “Such small accidents of fate make all the difference, do they not, brother?”

  “They do, brother,” said Pappu, folding his arms and gazing at Carina.

  The way his muscles bulged and moved under his skin reminded Carina of the animals they had ridden on Pirine when leaving the Matching. Was he remembering she left him in the hold, trapped within the mech’s pincers, for hours?

  “Tell us everything you know about the people who attacked us,” said Cadwallader.

  “Ah, where to begin?” Lomang replied. “It is a very long story.”

  “We have time,” Cadwallader said. “However, if I feel you’re wasting mine, I’ll return you to your hollow ball and send you back into space.”

  “Then I will tell you the condensed version,” said Lomang. “The dear person who so badly wanted the Zenobia as to inconvenience yourselves is the illustrious Mezban Kabasli Noran, Procurator of the Majestic Isles, Member of the Encircling Council, and—I am deeply proud to say—my wife.”