The Pride of the Damned

by Peter Grant

  “Thanks, darling,” Hui said drowsily, snuggling closer. He hugged her as the momentary disorientation of the hyper-jump hit them… then she suddenly frowned. As the ship’s speakers signaled a return to normal space, she withdrew the net and sat up, hugging her knees.

  “What is it?” he asked, looking up and seeing the concern on her face.

  “I… I think I know where the Brotherhood is planning to get more warships,” she said slowly.

  He jolted awake. “You do? Where?” He sat up beside her.

  “You remember how you got your first warships?”

  “Yes. We stole some old, antiquated, unserviceable patrol craft from a planet in the New Orkney Cluster. Do you think they’re planning to do the same?”

  “Not old, antiquated ships, no. Think about it. Where can they find more destroyers exactly the same as the one they’ve got, so they can train passage crews to operate them without needing any familiarization or working-up period at all?”

  He drew in his breath with a sudden hiss. “You mean…?”

  “Yes. I think they’re planning to steal their embargoed destroyers from New Skyros. It’s what I’d do, if I were in their shoes.”

  “But – but how? There are armed guards on board every ship, and they’re only provisioned with minimum fuel and stores. They couldn’t leave New Skyros in that condition.”

  “Guards can be bribed or overpowered, and ships can be refueled and resupplied by others. You’re doing that right now for the vessels maintaining a watch over the Brotherhood’s base. Why can’t they use one or two of their freighters to do the same once they’ve got the destroyers out of orbit, before they hyper-jump away?”

  They stared wordlessly at each other.

  13

  Plans

  NEUE HELVETICA

  Pal Sejdiu finished scanning the electronic brochure, shook his head, and filed it in the database. That planet was probably ideal for the Brotherhood’s purposes, but far too expensive. So far there were three options within their price range, but all had drawbacks of one kind or another. He was beginning to think that an in situ inspection was the only way to find out which would be the most acceptable option.

  Idly, he logged into an interplanetary message service, just in case. He was startled to see a file addressed to him. He had not expected to receive it so soon. Nominally, it appeared to be an English literature assignment, an analysis of a poem; but it concealed a coded message from his wife. He impatiently copied the message to his personal data assistant, and set the decoding program to work.

  The message appeared, line by line.

  Dearest husband,

  Commodore Cochrane has asked me to inform you that the Gesellschaft, the dominant criminal enterprise on Neue Helvetica, is aware of your presence, and is trying to monitor your communications and activities. I do not know how he knows this, but he assures me it is the case. He advises you to take extreme precautions to protect yourself, as they may try to force you to provide information.

  He has sent a package to you, care of general delivery at the post office in the United Planets headquarters building, addressed to Herr Sigmund Bachmeier. It is from Alexandru Dumitrescu of Constanta, and contains letters from me, your son, and himself. He thinks you should have little trouble obtaining planetary identification in that name, and using it to collect the package, or alternatively having someone you trust do so. He urges the greatest possible caution. He says you should consider yourself under surveillance by experts at all times.

  I love you. Be safe, darling!

  Pal hissed softly between his teeth. The niggling feeling at the back of his neck had started only a couple of weeks after he and Gjerg had arrived here, and grown stronger every day. However, despite his ‘sixth sense’, honed over decades of security work, he hadn’t been able to detect any definite sign that they were being followed or monitored. If the Gesellschaft was doing so, that explained it, of course. They were served by consummate professionals, some as good as he was himself.

  I wonder how Cochrane found out? he pondered mentally. He must have his own people operating here as well. Were they trying to monitor me, and found someone else doing the same thing, and identified them? That is the most likely explanation. I must never forget that we have enemies on all sides!

  Forged planetary identification was not difficult to obtain, but the Gesellschaft would probably know about it within a matter of hours. However, if he only used it once, to obtain the package, and then discarded it, the knowledge would do them no good.

  He scribbled a quick note on a sheet of paper, then took his jacket from a hook behind the door of the office suite used by Vaterland GmbH. He walked into the office next door, where Gjerg Hyka was reading yet another electronic brochure, offering yet another planet for sale.

  Gjerg looked up. “Going out, Pal?”

  “Yes, something’s come up.” He slid the piece of paper across the desk, and watched Gjerg read his warning that they were under surveillance, and that he should be extremely careful in all he said or did. His colleague stiffened as he read, then looked up, his eyes wide. Pal held out his hand, and Gjerg slowly returned the paper.

  “I’ll be back this afternoon. I suggest you stay here until I return.” He nodded meaningfully toward the desk drawer – like him, Gjerg kept a pulser on hand at all times – and then mimed locking a door.

  Gjerg nodded his understanding as he slid the drawer open and took his weapon from it. “I shall.”

  The food court attached to the UP headquarters building was thronged with people during lunch hour. The dozen restaurants and fast food joints around its perimeter did a roaring trade, with long lines of people waiting to order and pick up their food. Pal picked one at random, and stood in line with everyone else, glancing around as casually as possible. He could not detect anyone following him, but knew they must be in the area somewhere.

  He collected his tray of food, and walked into the huge seating area shared by all the fast food patrons. He found a table against a wall, where no-one would be able sneak up behind him or read over his shoulder, and sat down with a sigh of relief. He took occasional bites of his food as he opened the three letters in succession, and photographed each page using his comm unit. It automatically quantum-encrypted each image, making them indecipherable to anyone else. When he’d finished, he tucked all the pages into an inside pocket, then settled down to read the images.

  His wife was overjoyed to be able to talk freely and at length. She spent two pages telling him how much she loved him and longed to see him again – sentiments he wholeheartedly returned. He felt a wave of desire surge over him, but forced it down.

  Commodore Cochrane has told me something of what he will propose to you. I will not try to persuade you either way. You are a free agent, and I am not. I may not be able to see all sides of the problem. I trust you to do what is best for our people, and for us as a family.

  The Commodore says he cannot send us to meet you at Neue Helvetica, due to the threat from the Gesellschaft, who he thinks would like nothing better than to capture us and use us against you. Instead, he suggests that you meet his courier ship at a neutral location to be mutually agreed. He will allow us to be together for a day or two aboard his ship, subject to strict security precautions. Our son will serve as hostage for my return. If you wish to see him on another occasion, the Commodore will allow this under similar conditions, with me as hostage for his return.

  I long to see you more than I have words to say, but I cannot make any commitment to the Commodore on your behalf. Only you will know what is possible – but please try, my dearest love! His letter will give you more details.

  One last thing. Our son has requested something in his letter. I will not spoil it by revealing it here, but I approve, if you do. The final decision is yours, of course.

  I love you with all my heart. Be safe, darling! I long for the day when I can once again be in your arms, and you in mine.

  Pal felt tear
s prickling at the back of his eyes as he finished his wife’s letter. He blessed the day she had agreed to marry him. His life had never been the same since then… and hopefully they would continue to be a blessing to each other for many years to come, if they could only get past this accursed conflict!

  He opened his son’s letter. Alban assured him he had made a full recovery from the battle injury that had resulted in his capture. He spent a couple of pages dwelling on the charms and attributes of the young spy, Aferdita, who had been captured while trying to kill his mother and himself. Pal was vastly amused, and had to struggle not to let a broad smile break out on his face. It was obvious where his son was going. Sure enough, Alban eventually got to the point.

  Father, I should like to marry Aferdita. Mother approves of her, and of our relationship, but she says we need your permission, according to our traditions. I accept that, but waiting is very hard, being so close to my beloved, yet unable to do anything about it! I hope you understand.

  Pal understood very well how his son was feeling. He, too, had had to restrain his urgent, almost irresistible desire for his wife until they were married, particularly because the glare of publicity about their romance had been so strong. She was the Patriarch’s granddaughter, after all.

  I know we would normally wait until our wedding could be held on Patos, but we have no idea when that may be possible. Therefore, I ask your permission to marry at once. Commodore Cochrane has agreed that if we do, he will allow us to live together as husband and wife aboard the ship where we are held captive. Will you please give us your permission and your blessing?

  Pal mentally promised his son to send both, as soon as he could. However, Commodore Cochrane’s letter had to be dealt with first.

  His nominal enemy – now the unlikeliest of allies in his quest for security for the least guilty of the Brotherhood – gave details of the Gesellschaft’s interest in Vaterland GmbH, including its account with the United Planets broker, then raised a number of important points.

  I do not know whether the Gesellschaft is acting on behalf of one or more of the Big Three in this matter. We know it is associated in some way with the Cosa Nostra, but the Nuevo Cartel and the Dragon Tong also have a presence on Neue Helvetica. It is impossible to say for sure who is acting for or with whom; but I am certain the activities of the Brotherhood are of interest to them all. In particular, they know of your account with the UP broker, and will try to find out if and when you try to buy a planet.

  I therefore suggest that you do not do so at all through your present corporation. Rather establish something completely new, if possible acting through another broker or lawyer, so there is no easily identifiable link between you or the Brotherhood and the new company. It can then bid on a planet with no-one the wiser.

  I do not know whether moving part of the Brotherhood to a new planet will protect those involved. If the worst of the threat perceived by the Big Three from your organization has been dealt with, they might be willing to ignore a remnant trying to build a new future for themselves, provided it is not aggressively criminal, as the Patriarch was. However, this cannot be guaranteed. I shall try to think of alternatives. Furthermore, time grows short. I think you will have to do something concrete within six months, or risk losing everything.

  Pal nodded silently. That was his estimate, too. Fortunately, it dovetailed with the timetable for recovering their destroyers. If that plan succeeded, they would have enough warships to protect their people and belongings as they moved from Patos, first to the secret base, then on to their new home. If not… he shook his head, thrust the thought from his mind, and returned to the letter.

  As for the members of the Brotherhood who might be spared; I think those who are most militant, most committed to the Patriarch’s vision, will not be trusted by the Big Three. They will probably prefer to eliminate them. Those less committed or less active may be allowed to survive, but I cannot say for sure. I think it will be better to get as many as possible out of the way of the coming fight, rather than hope for mercy from your enemies that may not be forthcoming. For our part, Hawkwood will do its best to avoid targeting the less guilty.

  I suggest you concentrate any elements of your space forces who fall into that category aboard a single ship. If possible, she should be instructed – covertly, of course – to surrender at the earliest opportunity if battle comes, rather than fight to the finish. If you identify that ship to me, I shall try to inform the Big Three, and ask that she be given the chance to surrender: but I cannot guarantee that they will do so. You will have to decide whether it is worthwhile to attempt this.

  Pal nodded slowly to himself. It was a slim chance, but slim was better than none at all.

  Cochrane went on to propose that Pal rendezvous with one of his courier ships at a neutral planet, if his movements allowed. He listed three that might be suitable, provided they could arrange the date in sufficient time to set up the meeting. He would send Jehona to meet him, and allow them to spend a couple of days together before she returned to Constanta. If that went well, he would try to send Alban and Aferdita to meet him in the same way on a later occasion.

  Pal sighed with longing, but dragged himself back to reality. It would be difficult, although not impossible, to arrange such a meeting; but there was much to be done first. His mind raced as he considered possibilities and alternatives.

  He finished his meal, then headed for a business services provider near the food court. There, he paid for the use of a commercial shredder and furnace. He fed the pages of the three letters into it, watching through a plasglass panel as they were first chopped into strips and fragments, then incinerated in a clear gas flame. Only when they had all been reduced to ash did he turn away.

  Late that night, he took Gjerg up onto the roof of their apartment building, where he was fairly sure no microphones had been emplaced. He led him out into the center of the flat roof, and spoke in a low voice. He began by outlining what he’d learned that morning, without disclosing its source.

  “I think we should set up a new company through which to bid for a planet. Our lawyers can act on our behalf to do that, working through another lawyer if necessary, without disclosing that we or the Brotherhood are behind it. Once established, it can open an account with the UP brokers.”

  “That makes sense,” his older colleague agreed. “What then?”

  “I think we should visit each of the three prospective planets in turn. We have learned a lot about them from brochures, but a personal visit will allow us to confirm whether or not the brochures are telling the truth. If we agree that one of them is suitable, we can ask the Council to approve its purchase. If they do, we can arrange to send enough gold to Neue Helvetica to purchase it. We shall deposit the gold in our Devizenbank account to convert it to francs, and then transfer the money to the UP broker.”

  Gjerg shook his head. “That is a great deal of traveling, Pal – too much for an old man like me. I am already worn out from the journey here, and the hard work we have been doing since then. You set a very fast pace, my friend.”

  “I am sorry, but time presses. We need to move fast.”

  “I understand. How about this? Let me return to Patos, to tell Agim and the Council what we have done so far, and about our new company. Meanwhile, you can go see the three planets, and decide whether one will do. You can then return to Patos to brief the Council about it, and ask them to approve the one you choose. If they agree, I shall go to our base to collect the gold to pay for it, while you return here to make arrangements. As soon as I reach here, we can proceed. We can sign the necessary documents here, or take them to Patos for the Council to approve.”

  Pal regarded the old man with approval. “Those are good ideas, Gjerg. Let us do that. I shall charter a courier ship to take you to Patos, while I take the one we have already leased to look at the planets.”

  Gjerg winced. “More expense! Such ships are not cheap.”

  “No, they are not, but time
is more costly to us right now than a charter fee.”

  As they turned toward the stairs, he thought gleefully, And somewhere between the three planets and Patos, I can arrange to meet Jehona!

  “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”

  The team leader quailed before the executive’s anger. “S-sir, they made the arrangements at a business services office. We could not follow them inside without giving ourselves away. By the time we realized something was going on, they’d already boarded the Elevator and were on their way to orbit.”

  “Both of them? They left no-one to staff Vaterland’s office?”

  “No, sir. They sent the former office manager away when they took over. There’s a note on the door referring all inquiries to Gottschalk, Hauptmann and Widderhorn, their lawyers. They’ve forwarded their comm lines to an answering service. We asked them, but all they would say was that Vaterland’s people are absent on business, and will return at an unknown future date. Meanwhile, they’re passing all messages to its lawyers for action.”

  His boss scratched his chin. “They wouldn’t go to all this trouble and expense, and then simply walk away. We know they approached several planetary exploration firms. I wonder if they’re making an inspection tour, to see what’s worth buying?”

  “That’s possible, sir.”

  “I think it’s the most likely explanation. Very well, keep an eye on their offices. They’ll be back, sooner or later, likely before too long. When they return, that’ll probably mean they’re ready to file their bid for a planet with the UP. That takes billions – no, tens of billions of francs. As soon as the funds reach their account at Devizenbank, I want to know about it. The Gesellschaft can think of lots more – and better – ways to spend that money than they can!”