A Greater Interest: Samair in Argos: Book 4

by Michael Kotcher

  Kol nodded, grimacing a bit. “I do understand, Ms. Samair. It makes sense. But it would have been nice to bring Wotan to another star system, show him where the designs for his ship came from, but I get it.”

  There were smiles from the assembled officers. “You are really taking a shine to your ship’s AI, aren’t you, Captain Raydor?” Stella asked, impishly.

  He affected a haughty demeanor. “Wotan and I work closely together. Why shouldn’t he and I get along?” More smiles.

  “Back to Maitland,” Tamara said, attempting to regain control of her own expression. “Captain Vikashev, I want you to get fully supplied and loaded up with extra fuel and then get going. Once you get to Byra-Kae, your job is to gather as much information as possible from that system. Don’t risk your ship too much, but we need to know as much as possible about what the pirates are doing in that system. Republic forces were defeated there, that much we know from the good Commodore and her crew. But once, there was a great deal of hardware and workers but once the Republic forces were defeated there was no telling what happened to what was left. Anything Maitland can bring back will be welcome.”

  “I’ll get it done,” Alexsei promised.

  Tamara nodded. “Excellent. Now, we’ve got some housekeeping items to take care of. The tugs at the mining station were all still operational after the attack, and I understand that the Samarkand and their crews have the station partially online again. Some of the processing nodes. According to reports, the station is back up to about thirty percent capacity.”

  Nasir nodded. “Another forty-five days or so and we’ll be back to full capacity. Another month after that and your second industrial furnace and additional processor will be up and running.”

  “Excellent. All right, moving on…”

  Chapter 11

  As time passed from the battle with the pirates, the people of the Seylonique star system were trying to make sense of the madness. The media, of course, were looking for any and all tibits of information they could find about what had happened. Every reporter, every editor, every blogger with a vidcam was doing everything in his or her power to find out all the juicy details. So far, the First Principles’ reps that they’d all interviewed had been forthcoming with all the information that they had, but the problem was that anyone who actually had any real information about the battle wasn’t on the planet or the orbital, they were out at the Kutok mine in the outer system. S-Int News, as well as every other major news outlet were doing everything in their considerable power to try and land an interview with Tamara Samair, Galina Korneyev, Vincent Eamonn, any of the AIs, any of the ship captains but so far they were deflecting. First Principles hadn’t yet set up a media affairs office, much to the delight of the reporters, so they were sending messages to anyone who worked for the company.

  It was annoying, really, that only the company had had any ships out there during the battle. The media knew government people, even some of the local companies; they had their ins. But First Principles had, not by design, managed to isolate most of their personnel from media influence by headquartering out at the Kutok mine, the shipyard and the mining station, not to mention the various ships in their fleet. While Vincent Eamonn was known to perform for the cameras, Tamara Samair was a bit more shy. Apparently she didn’t want to get put into what might be considered a compromising position as the reporters loved to do. Of course, her bodyguard wasn’t too keen on reporters sending her messages, and it seemed as though the FP AIs were doing their bit to shield the upper eschelon of the company from the newsies as well.

  They were getting some, but there wasn’t enough meat on the bones of this story to maintain it for long. It was hard to write articles and exposes on what they had, but the public were still calling in, wanting answers, wanting anything that the news outlets could give about what happened in the outer system. It was still a story, and it was one that the S-Int News in particular was trying to keep alive. It had everything going for it: action, a dangerous foe, the valiant citizens of Seylonique protecting their homeland. What limited sensor data that the reporters had been able to get from the government (courtesy of what one Aloicius Greer could get from Persistence of Vision’s data banks by throwing his weight around and when pressed, by asking) showed scans, records and vid footage of the destroyer and the FP starfighter squadrons savaging the pirate cruiser before it turned tail and ran. It was certainly a good ending to the news story.

  But they still wanted more. And barring any actual information, interviews or further sensor data, the news agencies were scrambling to get more.

  “This is Vanessa Marchant with S-Int News, here with Carriger Hroth, one of the members of the Administratory Countil. Councilor, what can you tell us about the recent battle in the outer system? Our viewers are concerned that this whole affair has been nothing more than gossip and fear mongering designed to increase military spending in a misguided attempt to increase faith in the government.”

  The female lupusan councilor looked as though she’d been amushed outside of her office on the orbital, but she looked a little too well-groomed for that to be the entire truth of the matter, Tamara thought, watching the interview. Carriger flattened her ears and bared her teeth just slightly. “I don’t like what you’re implying, Ms. Marchant. This is not some political game being played here. There was an attack in the outer system and I know that you and your viewers have received the sensor updates we’ve received from the destroyer Curroth that we made public as soon as the task force arrived in that area.”

  “I know that we’ve seen a fair amount of wreckage from a number of ships,” Vanessa replied, managing to both smile and frown without looking as though her face was contorting. In fact, it made her all the more attractive. She was putting forth a look of both comradery and disagreement with what the councilor was saying. “And I know that we’ve received an updated status feed from First Principles, saying that apparently their mining station out by the asteroid belt had taken some damage. So what is it you are saying exactly happened out there, Councilor?”

  Carriger scowled briefly, then her face smoothed back out into one of concern. “What happened, Ms. Marchant? What happened is exactly what the council has said has happened. There was an attack by a large independent pirate force which hit the assets on the edge of the system. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any naval units out there to help defend the various civilian stations and ships out there, but that is a situation that has since been rectified. We’re also looking to sending out more ships once they become available.”

  “So you’re going to be sending more military resources to the other part of the system?” Vanessa asked, her voice sounding incredulous.

  “More ships yes,” Carriger replied. “We will also have some new ships being built that will be staying in range of the planet for defense. And when the trade mission to Ulla-tran returns, the Leytonstone and her escorts will resume patrols of the system.”

  “So it sounds as though the council is taking steps to help ensure the protection of star system?”

  “The council is working with our citizens to keep all of us safe,” Carriger affirmed. “The attack by these pirates was a surprise and unfortunately the battlecruiser was out of the system at the time. It was not something we could have forseen, sadly.”

  “Why was the Leytonstone sent out of the system then, Councilor?” the reporter asked, looking genuinely puzzled. Tamara snickered. There was no way that wasn’t a calculated question.

  “At the time it was determined that a show of strength would help our case in the trade negotiations,” Carriger said. “I agreed with that decision then and I do now. We need to know that our trade delegation and our cargo ships will be protected.” She huffed out a sigh. “We couldn’t have anticipated an attack, certainly not with the numbers that came here.”

  The reporter brightened. “So you’re saying that the government was completely unprepared for an attack?”

  Now Carriger openly gr
owled. “You’re twisting things and I don’t like it. We were prepared. It was just the timing of the attack that was unexpected and unfortunate. But with the plans we have in place, and the resources we are putting into system defense, we will be ready should another such attack occur.” With that, she gave a little bow and walked away.

  The vid camera turned back to focus on Vanessa directly. She’d watched the councilor go, but quickly recovered from the abrupt exit. “There you have it, viewers, Councilor Hroth from the head of the government, working to keep us all safe. This is Vanessa Marchant, S-Int News.” The vid clicked off and Tamara grimaced.

  “Clearly the admin council is looking to try and expand their influence in this part of the system,” she said aloud.

  “That’s not a surprise,” Galina Korneyev said, raising a large, wide mug of tea to her mouth. “They’ve already started that, what with the Curroth and the other two corvettes being posted out here. In fact, I’d be surprised if that’s the extent of the government oversight out here. They’ve left you, well us, to our own devices for far too long. We’ve been lucky, but I think those days are over.”

  Tamara sighed, running her fingers through her hair then letting her hands fall to her sides. Turning, she flopped on the couch opposite Galina, in the plush main compartment aboard Tamara’s ship. “I wish I could say you’re wrong and that you’re being paranoid, but I know you’re not. I’m just wondering what it is that the government is actually going to do.”

  “That statement that Councilor Hroth gave makes me think that Curroth and the good Captain Greer are going to be receiving a lot of help.”

  “It’s the kind of help that has me concerned,” Tamara admitted. She sighed heavily. “You’re right. We have been able to operate out here without too much in the way of oversight. And it’s been nice, I will admit. But I think you’re right. Playtime is over.”

  “Playtime?” the lupusan asked, sounding amused. She took another sip of tea.

  Tamara scowled. “I’m sure that’s what the council thinks of all our work out here. Just a little bit of respect. That’s all I want. Just a little bit of thanks.”

  Galina chuckled warmly. “Tamara, please tell me you’re not that naïve. You’re as old as that Star Chaser that you keep around.”

  “Don’t heap on Konstantin, Galina. I know you don’t like that he’s a priest-“

  “A priest?” Galina asked, incredulously. “He’s a loon. Do you know about the vigils he’s held, praying to the stars for guidance? Or the sermons he delivered on the promenade levels at the orbital, beseeching people to look to the stars for aid? He’s crazy, Tamara. You’re just lucky that he hasn’t been doing any of that nonsense while he’s been working for First Principles.”

  She nodded, then eyed the lupusan female suspiciously. “He was chief medic aboard the Samarkand while you were its captain. Why do I get the feeling you had a chat with my friend and told him that he was to knock off all the star chaser stuff?”

  FP’s CFO looked away, but she was unable to hide a slightly guilty look on her face. “I’m not going to apologize for actions that I took while I was commander of the repair ship. I did nothing wrong.”

  Tamara nodded. “I’m not gong to second guess you, certainly not about something like this. But I will ask you to leave off of him, please?” She sighed again. “For my sake?”

  Galina stared at her for a long moment, then huffed. “I don’t understand what you see in him, Tamara.”

  “We served together,” she replied, with a one shouldered shrug. “We became friends when we were both a lot younger and more foolish. He was still very devout, but he didn’t have the reputation he seems to have earned for himself now.” But then she waved a hand dismissively. “But getting back to what we were talking about, I am slightly concerned by a larger Navy presence here in the outer system.”

  “You know it’s just something that we’re going to have to adapt to, Tamara,” Galina said. “You had to know that something like this would happen. And what would have happened if those ships had been out here when the pirates showed up?”

  “I know. I just hate that smug look on Greer’s face.” Tamara grimaced. “All right. Enough complaining. Corajen has lined up some new guards for me to meet. Gotta bring the contingent back up to strength.”

  “Good. I know your Serzhant is severely overworked trying to keep you safe on her own. We’ve all been concerned about your safety.”

  “I’ve been either aboard this ship or another piece of FP property, surrounded by my own employees. Viktoriya has been a little stressed, sure, but she’d hardly been run ragged.” She held up a hand. “I know, I know. I’ll be good. But they’d better be too. They have some big shoes to fill.”

  “I’m sure that Chief Nymeria can find some more good people for you, Tamara. She did a good job with the last group.”

  Tamara nodded, then got up and went over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. “I sure hope so.”

  “I’m here with Triarch Kozen’ck as well as Councilors Carriger Hroth and Hyacinth Cresswell,” Vanessa Marchant was saying. They were seated in the main conference room aboard the orbital seated in chairs around the table. There were a pair of vid cameras floating around lazily, getting footage of the room and its occupants, and especially of the interview taking place. “Now we spoke with you earlier, Councilor Hroth about what happened in the outer system.”

  “Yes, Vanessa, we did.” Carriger seemed very calm and relaxed now, as opposed to their last meeting where Vanessa had ambushed the lupusan. “It was a tragedy what happened there and I only wish we could have been more prepared for the attack.”

  But Vanessa pounced on what she perceived was an opening. “So you’re saying there was more that could have been done.”

  Carriger flattened her ears to her head and was about to make a hot retort but Kozen’ck cut her off. “Of course there were other things we could have done… with the knowledge of hindsight. If we had known there was going to be an attack, we could have shifted forces to the outer system. But of course, knowing what we know now… We had no reason to expect that the forces that First Principles had stationed out there would not be enough to stand up to a pirate attack.”

  “So then you’re saying that it was a blunder on the part of the ships and forces out there? The disaster could have been avoided if First Principles had managed their own assets better?” Vanessa asked, doing a poor job of hiding a smirk.

  “That is in fact, Vanessa, not what we were saying at all,” Kozen’ck replied. “In fact, I’m impressed at the work of Tamara Samair and her associates. They did excellent work under very difficult circumstances.”

  “Tamara Samair had a lot of hard decisions to make,” Carriger agreed. “She was the female on the spot, so we can sit out here on the orbital and second guess her all day long, but in the end, we weren’t there. We weren’t the ones making the decisions. Samair had to do the best she could at the time with the resources she had on hand.”

  “But that isn’t going to happen again,” the Triarch interjected. “The admin council is going to be appointing a government representative to oversee national interests in the outer system. Also, we’ll be sending additional naval resources there to supplement the ships that are already out there.”

  “You’re going to pull ships from from defense of the planet?” The reporter actually seemed aghast. “So instead of the blunder on the head of a civilian executive, you’re going to take full responsibility yourselves? You’d strip the planet of its defenses?”

  The two council members shared a look. “We have a whole series of new Navy ships being constructed, including a host of corvettes through some of the engineering firms here planetside. A few of those ships will be sent to the outer system to patrol because those are Seylonique citizens out there, not just employees from a company that happens to operate in this star system. Those are our people out there. We need to make sure they’re protected.”

  Van
essa gave a shining smile. “Good to see that the admin council is taking charge as well as responsibility. I know I feel a great deal safer.”

  The two councilors stared at her for a long moment, trying to decide whether she was being serious or sarcastic. Then Carriger gave a nod. “We are entrusted with the safety and prosperity of this system. The system, not ourselves, despite what some blaggards might try to suggest.” She gave Vanessa a very piercing look, flashing fangs. The reporter swallowed hard, any trace of her regular smug confidence vanished. But an instant later the lupusan’s face returned to normal and the sudden chill in the air went away.

  Vanessa took several seconds to compose herself; Kozen’ck turned his head in the direction of the lupusan and his antennae flicked a warning. The wolf woman shrugged and looked back to the human woman, who had recovered. She cleared her throat. “Yes, well. Ahem. I’m glad to see that there are decent people running our star system.”

  “There have always been decent people running this star system,” Kozen’ck replied, but it appeared that he’d gone one step too far, if Vanessa’s grimace was any indication.

  “So we’re really going to be sending someone out to the gas giant to represent the admin council?” Carriger asked, some time later, after the reporter, her cameras had left… and the various surveillance devices she’d tried to leave behind had been discovered and swept up.

  Kozen’ck clacked his mouthparts. “When I said it to Ms. Marchant, I only meant it as a PR piece as a way of showing that the council is looking out for the long-term interests of the star system. But now that I’ve had time to think about it, it isn’t a bad idea. It’ll keep Samair toeing the line a bit more and give us a better idea of what’s actually happening out there. Besides, keeping Greer on a shorter leash can’t be a bad thing.”