Orchestra of Shadows

by Charles Nall

  Teresa located and picked up a suitcase from a nearby cart. “Yeah, some are bigger. They are like little towns in space. This is one of the nicer ones.”

  They walked together past the crowd of people. Above the spacious floor they were on, another floor filled with customers and shops was bustling.

  She continued, “Pretty good food too. Which reminds me, I'm eff'n hungry. Care to grab a bite to eat?”

  Jacob nodded. “Sure, the next transport isn't for a couple hours.”

  “To Artemis, then you will be going to Exodus, right?”

  “Yeah...”

  Teresa laughed. “If you want to kill yourself so bad, just jump off another level or something. If that doesn’t work for you, I'm sure you can work something out with the dock workers and get spaced if you want.”

  “Yeah, no thanks.”

  “Anyways, there's a decent burger joint near customs, McKing's, ever been?”

  “No, I haven't, and wait–real burgers?” Jacob said.

  Teresa answered, “Yeah. I have no idea where they get their cows though, I don't ask.”

  “Artemis is close by, maybe from there?”

  “That's disgusting.”

  “What?”

  “Artemis had that terraforming problem, I don't think I'd eat something from there,” said Teresa.

  Jacob continued looking around at the bustling town in space.“Half of Artemis is fine though. I'm sure the cows would be fine.”

  “Some folks say they have health problems, even on the 'safe' side of Artemis. Some say they have psychic powers too. Bullshit.”

  “I haven't heard that.”

  “Whatever chemicals got into the water make people sick or, alternatively, give them mind-powers. Life is so fair,” she said sarcastically.

  Jacob accidentally bumped into a large man in a gray Galactic Union uniform. “Oh, sorry, sir.”

  The man turned to Jacob. “Oh, it's nothing. Wait–”

  Jacob scanned over the man's uniform, he was an admiral in the Galactic Union. The uniformed man asked, “Do I know you?”

  Jacob shrugged. “I don't think so, I'm Jacob Carpenter and this is...” He motioned toward where Teresa was, apparently the mercenary had other places to be. Perhaps the mercenary did not want to see the admiral.

  Two guards were accompanying the official. The guards began whispering to one another. The admiral looked toward where Jacob was motioning. “It appears you aren't with anybody anymore.”

  Jacob laughed. “I guess she had somewhere to be.”

  “Ah. Well, regardless, I am Admiral Bradley Akeldamas. Your name doesn't ring a bell for me, and I doubt my name does for you.”

  “No sir.”

  “Well, I suppose you have a familiar face. Or maybe I'm just sick from hyper-travel still, it can get to me sometimes. The ship I was stationed on is docking here until the next transport to Artemis is ready. Figured I'd stretch my legs a bit.”

  “Oh? I'm going to Artemis too.”

  “Oh, is that right? Well, safe travels to both of us! I'll let you try to track down your friend.”

  Jacob smiled. “Yes sir, good day.”

  Akeldamas smiled and walked away.

  Jacob walked away from the admiral. He glanced around looking for Teresa as he was walking. Someone grabbed him behind a large potted plant. “Oh hi, Teresa. Didn't care to talk to the admiral?”

  Teresa growled, “I normally wouldn't be caught in the same sector as him. I had no idea he was going to be here, or any Union pigs for that matter.”

  “Not a fan of our military?”

  “I'm not a fan of some of the admirals, yes. Listen, I hear crazy things in my line of work. I don't want to associate with those Union pigs.”

  “You are so pleasant! That man seemed nice enough, I don't know what your problem is. You think he'd recognize your picture and lock you up for being on some list of fugitives?”

  “Har har. Let's just go get something to eat and hope we don't run into any other pigs.”

  They started walking away when someone yelled at them. “Teresa?! Teresa Day is that you? God, girl, I haven't seen you in forever!”

  Teresa looked defeated. “So much for not seeing any other pigs.” She sighed. “How are you, Trevor?”

  A tall, lanky, smiling man with shaggy ginger hair was approaching. “I'm good, I’m good! I was worried about you, babe!”

  Teresa put her palm on her face. “Don't ever call me that.”

  The man continued smiling and looked at the thoroughly confused Jacob. “What's this? Another squeeze? Oh, you are breaking my heart.”

  Teresa snarled, “It's my pleasure to break your heart, Trevor. This is just someone I met on a transport here. Nothing more.”

  Trevor stood right next to Teresa, “He's pretty young too, you like the young ones, don't–”

  Teresa ended that sentence with a slap to Trevor's face. “Shut the hell up.”

  “Oh man, I knew you liked it rough.”

  “Don't make me slap you again.”

  Jacob interjected, “Uh, good day, I'm Jacob and you are?”

  “Trevor E. Reynolds. I used to do some business with Teresa, and I am her secret lov–” Teresa slapped Trevor again. “Ow, okay I'll stop.”

  As Teresa was slapping Trevor, Akeldamas and his guards stopped and looked back toward Jacob. “Is it him, sir?” asked one of the guards.

  “Yes, I believe so.” Akeldamas looked back the way they were walking. “I suppose if the opportunity arises we should take it.”

  “Weren't we ordered not to kill him?” asked one guard.

  The other guard spoke up, “There were rumors that he, for whatever reason, can't be killed.”

  Akeldamas scoffed, “What is he, immortal? Complete hogwash. We should eliminate him for his crime.”

  “But sir, how do we even know what we are told is true? He seems like an average person.”

  “Looks can be deceiving,” replied the admiral. “I believe there is someone here that can be of service. No matter what was said, I'm sure that the master would be proud of us for eliminating Jacob Carpenter.”

  “And how are we going to eliminate him?” asked a guard.

  Akeldamas smiled. “Simple. Just a bullet to his head.”

  January 29, 0270 AC - 14:35

  CFS Iriguchi, Deneb Sector, Asteroid Belt

  New Nippon State, Orion Confederation Space

  ”Ah, Mr. Kurosawa, I trust your arrangements are to your liking?”

  The gray-haired man smiled. “Yes, Captain Oshiro, everything seems to be absolutely stellar. You and your crew are to be commended.”

  Oshiro and Kurosawa were perched on a catwalk that spanned the engine room. Four cylinders full of energy rose from the bottom of the room, two on either side of the catwalk. Wires, pipes and machinery filled the landscape.

  Oshiro nodded. “We try our best, for the glory of the Emperor and the States, Peace. And call me Tanari.”

  “Peace.”

  “Speaking of peace, I see you are watching the colors stream in the energy channels here in the engine room. It is quite peaceful in a way.”

  “Yes, Tanari, the hums of hyper-drives are like beautiful songs. This ship is designed to be portable jumpgate, and you can tell the engine is different–it's more like an orchestra than a battleship's engines.”

  “I understand a couple of battleships are accompanying us on our journey.”

  Kurosawa nodded. “Yes. I was told that. Doesn't that violate some treaty?”

  “It would, but our warships are stopping at the edge of the neutral zone. We need to be prepared if there is some sort of attack. The treaty is worded in such a way that a warship can enter neutral space if it is morally right thing to do. Such as to save a stranded ship or protect a civilian ship from enemy fire.”

  “Well, this ship is not a civilian ship.”

  “Some folks will split hairs and say we are violating the treaty. However, as the treaty is worded, t
his ship is not considered a warship. Although we do have weaponry, there is considerably less than an actual warship of this size. Hyperships aren't made for battle, just potentially facilitating the battle.”

  “And there may be a battle soon. It's a dangerous time.”

  Oshiro leaned against the railing overlooking the hyper-drive and reactor system. “Can you tell me a little about what your group is doing?”

  “I'm an ambassador of New Nippon and the Confederation. Me and my colleagues are tasked with discussing possible treaties with the mercenaries in case the situation with the Galactic Union escalates. You know, only accepting contracts that share our interests. Easier said than done, they are interested in just money.”

  “Not all of them. Silver Cove is a bit different than most mercenary organizations. It's a home to many mercenary groups, but they all abide by set rules set up by the ruling body of the Cove. Respecting their fellow man is their number one rule. I used to be mercenary and lived there, actually,” Oshiro said.

  “Oh?” Kurosawa said.

  “Yes, I know quite a bit about Silver Cove. I served in a mercenary regiment called the Marauding Mad Cats. Served with Jerry Turner and Teresa Day and some other great people. The gang is still together in one incarnation or another, but I quit that game many years ago. Teresa is still in it, but I think she has legal troubles right now. Sometimes you have to walk a fine line with some contracts you get. Jerry, though, you probably heard of him on the news, which reminds me, I should send him a link sometime.”

  “Oh, he's commanding the ship going to Andromeda, isn't he?” Kurosawa asked.

  “Yes, indeed, pretty exciting,” Oshiro said.

  “Very brave.”

  “He always was. Eventually he settled down with a wonderful woman and started his own salvage operation on Artemis.”

  “Salvage operation–doesn't sound too much different than being a mercenary, just not as dangerous I suppose!”

  “Not quite! He enjoys it. He recently bought himself a little California-class corvette, he loves it.”

  Lieutenant Riko Maeda approached the two men and bowed before the visitor. “Good day to you sirs, I hope I am not intruding?”

  A smile went across Oshiro's rugged face. “No, we're just chatting. What can I do for you, Lieutenant?”

  Riko Maeda was beautiful. She had eyes you could get lost in. A smile that washed away despair. Oshiro wasn’t attracted to her; he just admired her beauty. She was a fantastic member of the crew. She used to be a fighter pilot, but transferred to Iriguchi two years ago and became the communications officer. In those two years he had grown to love Riko. He considered Riko his daughter. He never told her that. He regretted never having kids, but Riko was close enough. She was dedicated and honorable, but also had her playful, fiery side.

  Riko Maeda continued, “Engineering says we are prepared to jump. Enough charge is in the capacitors and the fusion reactor systems are reporting no errors. We are stable enough to go to hyperspace. I have relayed this information to our accompanying ships and they are ready to jump. Shall we jump, sir?”

  “Of course,” Oshiro said, “we may get their earlier than planned. Go ahead and start the jump sequence. However, this is a pretty important jump. Run a quick diagnostic and scan hyperspace to make sure there aren't any gravity storms nearby.”

  Riko Maeda nodded, “Yes sir, if there are no problems we will jump into hyperspace soon. Remember though, when we enter the jump point–”

  Oshiro laughed. “I know, this area will be bathed with a short burst of radiation when we cross into hyperspace.”

  “Not a lot of radiation, but some, yes. Alright, good day to both of you. Peace.” Riko Maeda walked away and pulled out a small computer from her pocket. She began to read over diagnostics.

  Oshiro and Kurosawa walked slowly out of the engine room and down a hallway, passing occasional crewmen.

  “Regarding Silver Cove,” said Kurosawa, “part of the job is to get them on our side but the other is to get to the bottom of the bombing. This is the heart of the issue and why we want to get on their good side. The bomber, as you may know, was Jun Souran, an accountant for one of our biggest suppliers of weaponry.”

  “Yes, Bloodforged Technologies of New Nippon.”

  Kurosawa replied, “It was reported that he yelled, 'This is yet the beginning of the bloodshed! Fear the Confederation, for Peace!' and blew himself up...”

  “Tragic,” Oshiro said.

  “Yes, but that's about all we know at this point. Silver Cove is doing most of the investigation, and we'll hear what they have to say. I wonder though, you have experience with the Cove. Can you assist us in this investigation?”

  “Yes, of course. I'll do anything to help.”

  “Great,” replied Kurosawa, “We both have our work cut out for us. Tensions are high and I'm not sure the general populace wants anything to do with us. And this bomber, it really makes no sense and it’s quite frankly unnerving.”

  “Why is–” Oshiro was interrupted by Yamato Koizumi over some speakers in the hallway.

  “This is Lieutenant Koizumi, we will be shifting to hyperspace soon. It may be a bumpy ride so be careful. Please exit the engine room if applicable. Jump sequence initiated. Drives are spinning up. Happy travels! Peace.”

  Both men walked over to the side of the hallway and held on to a pair of rails to brace themselves if the hypership encountered initial turbulence entering hyperspace.

  “You were saying that something unnerved you out about the bomber, Souran?” Oshiro asked.

  “Oh, yes, we did as many background checks as we could when we heard the news. The last known location of Souran was his desk in New Nippon. There is no records of him traveling from New Nippon to Silver Cove. We have no idea how he got there.”

  The ship lurched as it entered hyperspace.

  Oshiro pondered. “Wait, there are no records of how Souran got to the Cove?”

  Kurosawa shook his head. “None at all. Very unnerving.”

  Oshiro sighed. “I think Souran was right. This is just the beginning.”

  January 29, 0270 AC - 11:50

  Space Station Grauer

  Galactic Union Space

  “So you see, that's what is at stake.” Akeldamas leaned back into his chair as his acquaintance took a puff of his cigar.

  The acquaintance blew out the smoke into the air, where a thick cloud of smoke was already hanging. The men were in a secluded bar located on an upper level of the space station. The man Akeldamas was meeting looked like he was from an old Western movie, in full cowboy garb. The angle of the dim lighting and the man's cowboy hat hid his face in shadows.

  Akeldamas slammed his fist into the wooden table, causing the glasses on the table to shake. “Listen, a person of my stature is not usually seen in a place like this. I'm a busy man! Answer me!”

  “An extra fifty thou and an escape route,” replied the other man.

  “We already had a deal earlier, I don't believe–”

  “You come to me with a business proposition, you come to me because you’re too much of a pussy to do it yourself, and you get angry? Get angry at yourself, chief.”

  Akeldamas was furious. “Listen you–”

  “No, you listen. Cortes hooked me up with the goods. I delivered the goods to your boys. My job is done. No issues at all. Was a good day. So I decided to come here and just drink my sorrows away because I know exactly what I transported. You know how dangerous that is? Jesus Christ, man, if I was caught can you imagine... and now you want me to kill someone in a crowded space station. The last job's risk, although high, wasn't anything compared to this. And I delivered.”

  Akeldamas shifted uneasily in his char. “Yes, you did. Fine. I will meet your demands if you can get rid of this nuisance.”

  The man nodded. “See, now you’re being reasonable. Where is he?”

  “Finishing a meal at McKing's down a few levels,” Akeldamas replied.

 
“Perfect. My escape route?”

  Akeldamas pondered. “He's with a mercenary, Teresa Day. I don't particularly care that her gang of thugs infiltrated a classified area. We're not sure where she's going and if she's selling any information, or if she even uncovered anything. It's not like anybody would believe her outlandish claims. She's just a minor annoyance. However...”

  “Oh. So, you want me to take her out–”

  “No, you don't have to take her out, but that's what we'll tell everyone. You were hired by me, by the Union, to eliminate her due to her crimes. I'll protect you. However, you conveniently miss Teresa Day and kill Jacob Carpenter. Or kill both of them. That's fine, too. You will then escape on a transport.”

  “That's not a good enough–”

  Akeldamas interrupted the assassin by slamming his fist into the table again, more forcefully, causing other people in the bar to glance over at the two men. “It’s good enough! I cannot compromise my mission.”

  “Yeah, I know, with the cargo. If you eff this up, I will tell everyone about that, you know.”

  Akeldamas sighed. “I know.”

  “Now, I'm not an expert in what you guys are trying to do. I just follow orders. A few days ago I saw Carpenter on a hit list, but his name was removed afterwards. Should he be killed or not?”

  “It’s asinine. We detected his presence on Urbania, but we were told not to kill him. Even though we know full well that it'd be a great thing to get rid of him.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I cannot divulge the details, let’s just say that eliminating Carpenter would be a great service to our benefactors.”

  “I better not be getting screwed here.”

  “Of course not. So it is a deal?”

  “Yes, I suppose. Let me get my gear ready. I'll take care of Carpenter. You had better have my back.”

  “Obviously. Oh, by the way, what was the number of the cargo? How many did we have?”

  The cowboy grimaced. “Plenty.”

  “You think I could use one for a personal matter? I mean, it will benefit the new Alliance,” Akeldamas said.