by Jason Kent
Dagger licked her lips. Kate was not exactly sure, but she thought the pilot looked...excited. Dagger's eyes gleamed and there was just a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Kate had seen the same gleam in Dagger's eyes before; when the pilot snuck up and killed the mech with only a knife back on Transom Station. Dagger turned her glinting eyes on Kate.
"You know where the tree is, don't you?"
Kate was surprised at the question. She felt a smile creep onto her face. The pilot had seen her reaction to the map and she knew exactly what it meant.
"Tral!" Dagger's grin broadened into a toothy smile. "I knew it!"
"We just need to get there," Kate remarked and waved the sheaf of tickets.
"The Tallinn's are so going to bite it!" Dagger threw her head back and laughed. She slapped Kate on the back and draped her arm over the other woman's shoulder. Together they started off again.
"Don't you want to know exactly where?" Kate whispered.
"When we're airborne," Dagger answered, equally quiet. She glanced back at the terminal. "When we're on the way out of here."
"So, how'd you get these?" Kate asked, turning the conversation back to the tickets.
"Charged 'em."
Kate tried to wrap her mind around the idea of a having a line of credit on a Tallinn colony world.
"But..." Kate began.
"Let's just say there's this guy I know. He's a member of the Aesti Provincial Assembly," Dagger explained. "We scratch each other's back now and then...when it suits us."
"He won't mind you put these on his account then?" Kate waved the sheaf of tickets.
"Oh, he'll mind," Dagger laughed. "Quite a lot actually. But, with the financial system they have around here, he won't find out until we're all the way to," she waved her hands in a generally northern direction, "wherever."
Kate thought back to the map. 'Wherever' was the province of Saaremaa. She was sure of their final destination for one reason; it was not on the map. Knowl was in Kaali, a wide depression situated at the edge of the mountains in Saaremaa. Kate knew, in the way she had become familiar with, knowing without knowing how, the valley of Kaali had been created by a meteor impact many millennia ago. Knowl found a home there and thrived. Now, after all these years, the ancient being needed help. For some reason, Knowl had reached out to Kate and she had answered.
This was where Kate's understanding ended. For now. She did not know what Knowl needed her to do. Kate could not even imagine what she could possibly do for Knowl. Kate looked at the others, all now looking expectantly at her. She took a deep breath. They were close. So close now.
"Let's go to Sindi," Kate said. She gripped the tickets tightly and headed for the ramp leading up to the passenger gondola. Kate's steps were deliberate. Determined. She fell in step beside Merrick and together they started up the gangway.
Let's go see Knowl, Kate thought.
Chapter 14
Staying The
Course
Halfway up the ramp, Kate noticed the name of the airship, painted on the black hull in flowing white letters and outlined in gold-leaf. She read it aloud, "Katrin's Koit."
"Sounds like something you try not to catch," Sparrow breathed.
"It means 'Catharine's Dawn'," Andrea translated. "Best not to insult the name a Tallinn Captain has picked for his ship."
"I'll keep it in mind," Sparrow replied.
Kate looked up at the blimp some twenty meters above. It almost completely blocked out the sky now. Although the gas bag and the gondola had some aerodynamic features, neither looked as elegant as the name implied. Perhaps the Captain had been aloft, caught sight of the orange sun as it rose and inspired a moment of poetry. She put the question on the back burner and promised herself to ask him, if she got the chance.
They reached the passenger hatchway and stepped inside. Kate felt the same of d j vu she experienced back on the Tallinn ironclad. By stepping inside the airship, Kate and the others were transported back to the year 1937, ready to ply the blue skies of the home world. The image of the Hindenburg came unbidden to Kate's mind.
"Wow!" Sparrow exclaimed.
"Yeah," Andrea agreed. "If the Tallinn's know one thing, it's luxury."
Kate thought she detected a tone of longing in Andrea's voice. Kate had not been able to speak much to Andrea on the journey from Transom. Most of what she knew about the woman came from what Kate caught while unavoidably overhearing the many arguments between Dagger and her sister. Most of these ended with Andrea storming off to her cabin followed by a slammed door. Obviously, Andrea had not considered herself a prisoner. But, Kate wondered what would have happened to her if the Councilor lost interest in her? What would have become of Andrea if Bevin decided he needed a newer model? Andrea completely believed she had Bevin wrapped around her finger and she held the upper hand in their relationship. Dagger's arguments to the contrary, punctuated with many colorful descriptions of what Dagger considered Andrea's true role, appeared to have fallen on deaf ears. As Kate looked around the sumptuous main entry of the dirigible, she found herself agreeing with Andrea and could not help but feel a little sorry for the woman. One could get used to living in luxury.
A steward in bright red livery stepped around from behind a huge desk inlaid with silver. The man eyed Merrick and the others wearily. Kate wondered if his usual passengers came more lightly armed. He managed to hide any discomfort. Kate figured the steward knew his tip depended on first impressions of his willingness to serve.
"How can I be of service?" the steward asked.
Merrick looked over at Kate. The man took the cue and focused his attention on her. Kate let Sparrow sag down into a plush chair set off to the side in an alcove beside the hatchway. During flight, the tilted windows no doubt offered an excellent view of the countryside as it passed below the airship.
"Madam?"
"Yes!" Kate breathed. The heavier gravity was once again playing havoc with her body. She wondered if she would be planet side long enough to get used to the increased pull. Kate pushed the thought aside and pulled out the sheaf of tickets.
The steward eyed the packet warily. He reached out and took the haphazard pile between two elegantly manicured fingers. The man took the time to straighten the tickets then knocked the sheaf on the wooden desk to align the edges. He licked his finger and flipped through the tickets. When Dagger, Garrett, Georges and Ross joined the others inside the entry lounge, the Steward looked from the tickets to the new arrivals.
"Your party is all here?" The Steward asked. He stood on his tiptoes and tried to look beyond Ross to the gangway.
Kate did a quick head count.
"It would seem we are all present and accounted for," Kate noted.
"There are tickets for ten first-class staterooms and all of Katrin's second-class berths..." The Steward flipped through the pile and his bushy eyebrows knitted together. "Perhaps there are others still outside waiting to board?"
Kate glanced sideways at Dagger. The pilot gave Kate an impatient gesture. Kate turned back to the Steward.
"I like my privacy," Kate stated and attempted to sound as pompous as she could.
The Steward was no stranger to passengers with particular tastes. He nodded.
"Of course. I shall call for assistance with your luggage."
"Don't bother," Dagger replied. She stepped forward and flung her pack at the Steward. Startled, the man managed to catch the heavy bag before it hit the ground. "Just show us the way."
The Steward smiled tightly and inclined his head. "This way." He started off deeper into the airships interior and took a right turn down the wide, central corridor.
"Off we go then," Kate remarked. She helped Sparrow to her feet and followed the Steward. Dagger fell into step beside them.
"You bought out the entire ship," Sparrow laughed. "So much for keeping a low profile."
"Once we're in the air, no one will be able to track us," Dagger commented quietly.
Kate glanced at Dagger.
The pilot's eyes were boring into the back of the Steward's head. Kate wondered what sort of plan was taking shape in Dagger's mind. She was not sure she liked where this line of thinking would lead them.
The Steward stopped near the front of the gondola. Here the hallway narrowed slightly as the passenger section of the dirigible conformed to the aerodynamic shape of the airship's prow. With a practiced flourish, the Steward opened a pair of finely carved wooden doors.
Kate gasped and stepped into what could only be the first-class lounge. Red carpet embroidered with golden birds stretched out to the other end of the room, which was actually the prow of the airship. The entire wall was composed of large panes of glass held in place by steel beam frames. Kate stepped up to the floor to ceiling curved wall of glass. Since they were still on the ground, their view consisted of the terminal building where she and Dagger just obtained their tickets. Actually, Kate corrected herself, where Dagger essentially bought them an entire zeppelin. It was not hard to imagine the fantastic view passengers in this cabin would enjoy once in flight.
Kate turned, a wide smile plastered across her face. All around her furniture made of expensive wood and draped in red velvet filled the cabin. Overhead, a huge crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the room, secured in place by golden chains. The room was, in a word, sumptuous.
The Steward opened a door at the back of the room. A large bed surrounded by pillars as thick as a tree trunk and draped in a thick down cover was visible. The bed momentarily confused Kate.
"Isn't this the lounge?"
"No, ma'am," the Steward answered with a polite cough. "This is the Katrin's Chancellor's Suite. As specified by your...tickets." He waved the thick sheaf still in his hand. The man made a show of pulling out a brass hole-punch from a tooled leather sheath hanging from his belt.
As one, Dagger, Merrick, Georges, Ross, Garrett, and even Sparrow in her weakened state, drew their weapons, aiming them at the Steward before his punch cleared its holster. The room fell silent save for the slight whine of Ross' accelerator cycling up to full power.
The Steward paused and glanced around at the crowd.
"My God," Andrea gasped. She turned to face the window. "I am so embarrassed."
"Tickets," the steward announced and licked his lips. "I need to punch the tickets..." He raised the papers in his hand ever so slowly. His shaking hands rattled the pile.
Garrett lowered his crossbow a fraction. "Got it."
Merrick, Ross, and Georges lowered their rifles slowly. Sparrow let both of her pistols fall heavily to the cushions of her commandeered couch.
"Get on with it then," Dagger said as she sheathed two knifes at the small of her back.
The steward held the brass hole-punch with a shaking hand. He managed to knock off a serrated corner from each of the tickets. Kate was impressed he could do anything after the shock the man experienced. Finished, he started to hand the tickets back to Merrick, who stood closest to the Steward. Merrick did not reach for them.
The steward cleared his throat. "Please feel free to take you pick of any of the other cabins." He eyed the strange assortment of passengers, then added, "We appreciate your loyal business." He laid the tickets on a nearby inlaid side table and left a thick ring of keys. He backed out of the room pulling the massive twin doors closed behind him.
"That went well," Ross remarked. He slipped off the extra rifle slung over his back and set it next to the door where it would be within easy reach.
"Sergeant Merrick, check out the rest of the rooms," Georges ordered. He tossed the keys to the sniper. "Andrea, if you would care to join Sergeant Merrick. Perhaps you could spot anything out of the ordinary since you are familiar with Tallinn equipment."
"As long as it gets me out of this nuthouse," Andrea grumbled. She flung her hair over her shoulder with a flip of her head and strode out into the corridor.
"Pick me a nice cabin," Sparrow called after them. Andrea turned back and gave the link sprite a half smile. "We'll do our best."
When the doors were closed again Georges moved to stand in front of the wall of windows. He glanced at the plush benches and sofas which lined the opulent observation port and began to pace. He made two back and forth passes of the entire width of the room before he stopped to face Kate.
"I am wondering, why are we here?" Georges asked with a gesture which took in all of the Chancellor Suite. "This does not seem to be the optimal way to reach our goal."
"Since we know where we are headed," Dagger added. "Why not use the Blade to get to Knowl?"
Kate stared out the window before she faced Dagger and Georges. She shrugged. "I'm not sure. We did not just use the Blade because I really had no idea where we were supposed to go until we went inside the terminal. Once Dagger started bartering for tickets, I looked at the map and...well, knew."
"I see," Georges grunted then nodded. "I apologize. This is not how I am used to running an operation."
"That makes two of us," Kate laughed. "Before I ran into Javin, I used a checklist for everything I did. Heck, I made lists of lists just so I was sure I didn't miss anything. Now..." Kate threw up her hands. "Now I'm not even sure what the next hour will bring. I certainly entertained no plans to fly in a luxury suite aboard a flying Tallinn hotel."
"What are we going to do when we get there?" Sparrow asked from her spot on the couch. Her eyes were closed and her face tilted toward the ceiling as she rested her head on the back cushions. "Do we chop it down or talk to it?"
"We get there first," Georges said, a little too sharply.
Sparrow's eyes opened to slits. She stared at her long-time mission partner.
Kate did not have wireless signal circuitry embedded in her skull like Sparrow, but even she picked up on some unspoken meaning behind the Colonel's statement.
It was Dagger who responded first though. Perhaps any woman would have picked up on Georges' tone and become suspicious.
"What did you do?" Dagger asked. She crossed her arms over her chest, planted her boots on the deck, and glared at Georges.
"I've seen enough of Kate's navigation to accept the direction on face value alone," Georges replied.
"Got it. Now," Dagger said and leaned forward, "what did you do?"
"I always plan for...contingencies."
"It's true," Sparrow added. "He's good."
Kate caught Georges' eye and fixed him with a stare.
"What contingencies?"
"There will be Fleet ships in this system in..." Georges checked the hands on his old-fashioned watch, "about twenty hours."
"What are they going to do?" Kate's heart fluttered. She was not sure she wanted to know.
"Whatever they need to," Georges replied.
"What have you done, Rand?" Sparrow sat up.
Kate was surprised. It was the first the she heard anyone use the Colonel's first name since their stressful first meeting outside the assault shuttle.
"Something is happening here on Aesti," Georges explained. He turned halfway to Sparrow but did not meet her gaze. "Whatever it is, Earth cannot defend against it. We may be forced to use any means necessary."
"You mean nuke the entire place," Dagger snarled. "If we don't have the Blade nearby, we'll go right along with the rest of the rabble."
Kate's mind drifted back to the image of the massive tree rising from the peaceful field. She imagined the feel of the cool water dribbling from her cupped hands as she drank deeply from the pool nestled among Knowl's roots. Kate did not want to find Knowl only to have the being destroyed.
"Hopefully, we will find another way," Georges said. "After all, as I understand how this is working, we don't have our full instructions yet."
Kate's eyes blazed and her heart pounded so hard her chest hurt. She thought about their destination. An unmarked spot on a map yet she knew the name of the place.
"More will come," Kate said. She tried to sound sure of herself, but this time she really did not know.
"Before we run out
of time?" Dagger snorted. She turned from Kate and stalked over to the window. Kate heard her mutter, "Should have taken the Blade and ran."
Kate watched the pilot for a moment.
Her time will come.
Kate blinked. Javin's voice popped in when she least expected it. She watched Dagger's back but the pilot showed no sign she was headed for the exit. Kate tried to think of anything to say to Dagger which would end any thoughts of leaving. Nothing popped to mind. Somewhere along the way, this quest became Dagger's as well as Kate's. Dagger was here because it was what she wanted. This was as good a reason as any Kate could hope for.
"Still, it doesn't make sense," Georges commented.
"What part of any of this makes sense?" Sparrow asked.
"We could be there in a few hours, minutes even," Georges said. "Why use this airship?"
"Do you think we should get back to the ship and try it?" Sparrow asked. "Twenty hours is not long. Who knows what bright ideas Fleet will get once they arrive. We're going to need as much time as possible to figure out how to neutralize the Tallinn's greatest asset once we get there. This..." she waved at the airship, "this could take a while."
"I don't think so," Kate replied. "Knowl wanted us to use an airship. Not just any airship, this one. Katrin's Koit." She turned and studied the carved panels which lined the back wall. Flocks of birds took flight everywhere she looked. A thought occurred to Kate. She looked down at Sparrow, her mouth hanging open in sudden comprehension.
Georges followed Kate's gaze to the couch where Sparrow rested.
Dagger sensed the sudden silence behind her and turned from the windows.
Sparrow's eyes opened as she sensed everyone staring at her.
"What?" She ran a hand over the circuits in her scalp. "Did I short-circuit?"
Kate glanced at the delicate birds in flight on the wall. She noticed the pattern was repeated in the carpet, a flock of small birds flying. They followed each other in a graceful swoop which made them appear to head straight for the link sprite's sofa.
"It's Sparrow," Kate whispered.
"What's me?" Sparrow asked. She pulled herself up a little straighter. The deep cushions made the task harder than it should have been.
