by Ryk Brown
“Aboard the Mirai, for now,” Deliza replied. “At least until we can make other arrangements.”
“We need to get the fabricator and all the equipment that we brought from Earth unloaded,” Commander Telles reminded them. “We only have four days before Nathan’s execution, and we still have a long journey to Nor-Patri ahead of us.”
* * *
After eight days of wandering about the capital, Armin was nearly out of patience. He had checked more than twenty-eight government facilities with flight decks either on top of the buildings, or in a nearby courtyard, and had scanned every one he could find. He had even scanned the ones that were obviously not detention facilities, on the off chance that Captain Scott was being held somewhere other than in one of the many holding facilities in the capital.
Patrisk-Dortah was an enormous city. It was, in fact, fifteen different cities that all ran together, sprawling over hundreds of kilometers, from the edge of the Dortahn Sea to the base of the Iridor Mountains. It was the capital of the entire Jung Empire, and thus was constantly busy.
Luckily for Armin, the city had an extremely efficient public transportation system, most of which had managed to escape damage from the fallout from Zhu-Anok. However, on occasion, Armin had been forced to walk some distance between stations due to damaged rails and roadways, which had slowed his progress.
Unfortunately, the credit chip from the man whose identity he had assumed was running out of funds. Had it not been for the public assistance stations that had sprung up all over the city after the attacks, and the shelters that seemed to be in every neighborhood, he would have run out of funds long ago. At the rate he was spending, he calculated he would have to start looking for work soon.
Fortunately, the chaos that followed the destruction of Zhu-Anok had begun to settle. The displaced were mostly sheltered, and the hungry were being fed. In addition, the most critical infrastructures were coming back online all over the capital. Soon, the cleanup and reconstruction would begin, and work would be plentiful once again.
But, for now, Armin had a more important task to complete. He had to discover where the Jung were holding Captain Scott, and only three days remained until the captain’s public execution was to take place. All he had were the identification numbers on the side of the shuttle that had carried him to the judicial complex at the center of Patrisk-Dortah each day for trial. Always from the same general direction, that of the coast. But he was less than a kilometer from the coastline now, and there were very few potential targets left. If the shuttle had been taking a direct path each day, then Armin would eventually detect Captain Scott’s nanites. But if the shuttle had been purposefully taking a roundabout course in order to confuse anyone who might have been tracking them, then Armin could be headed in the wrong direction altogether.
* * *
“I have an urgent message from Porto Santo operations, for Commander Telles,” the Avendahl’s communications officer said, from the doorway to the captain’s ready room.
“Relay it to the Mirai on the surface,” Captain Navarro instructed without a pause.
“Yes, sir,” the officer replied.
Commander Golan watched the communications officer leave, and then shifted in his chair to look at his captain again. “You’re not interested in the content of the message?”
“The message was not for me,” the captain replied, his attention focused on his data pad once more.
“Even though it was marked urgent?” The commander received no response. “They are up to something.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Captain Navarro agreed.
“And you’re not at all curious about what they are doing?”
“Of course I am curious,” the captain replied. “But if they wanted me to know, they would have told me.”
“I’d at least peek at the message.”
“It is most likely encrypted.”
“Our comm officers always break the encryption, regardless of the recipient.”
“I am aware,” the captain replied. “After all, I am the one who gave them that order.”
“Then why not peek?” the commander wondered. “Information is power.”
“And too much information can be a curse,” the captain countered. “Besides, I’m sure Commander Telles expects us to break the encryption. I doubt the unencrypted version is in plain text. Takaran, Angla, or otherwise. All we would see is a meaningless string of words and phrases, which could be interpreted in fifty different ways.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” the commander resigned, looking back down at his own data pad. After a few moments, he spoke again. “I’d still peek.”
* * *
Commander Telles touched the screen of the data pad several times, then carefully read the decrypted message.
“What is it?” Jessica asked.
“Two sets of planetary coordinates,” the commander replied, “as well as weather forecasts for the target planet.”
“I’m afraid to ask which planet,” Loki said, as the commander handed the data pad back to him.
“We will depart immediately,” the commander announced.
“For?” Loki cringed, awaiting the inevitable.
“The Patoray system,” the commander replied. “Or just under one light year from it. I will provide a more precise arrival point once I have calculated our insertion parameters.”
“Insertion?” Josh wondered. “What insertion?” Josh looked around the cargo bay. “I hope you’re not planning on flying this ship into Nor-Patri. Even I’m not that crazy.”
“We brought our own insertion systems,” the commander replied.
“Where?” Josh wondered, looking around the cargo bay. He noticed the two long shipping crates on the port side, each of them about the size of a coffin. “Those things?”
“Personal Jump Insertion Systems,” Commander Telles replied.
“I like to call them ‘PJs’,” Jessica commented.
“They will get us into the lower atmosphere of Nor-Patri,” Commander Telles assured Josh. “All you have to do is put us on the proper course and speed. The insertion systems will do the rest.”
Josh looked at Jessica. “Seriously?”
“Don’t look at me,” Jessica said. “It wasn’t my idea.”
“It’s your design, I’ll bet,” Josh said, pointing an accusing finger at Deliza. “And you all think I’m the crazy one?” Josh exclaimed.
“If you please, gentlemen,” the commander said, pointing forward. “Time is of the essence, since we may be forced to make several detours to avoid Jung patrols as we near the Patoray system.”
Josh and Loki headed forward. Commander Telles turned toward Marcus. “The other crates contain the launching rig. We will need to assemble it in transit.”
“No problem,” Marcus assured him.
“Then I guess I should be going,” Deliza said.
“Remember your promise,” Jessica said to her.
“If you do not return, I shall see to your family, and especially Ania’s, well-being.” Deliza stepped up and wrapped her arms around Jessica. “Good luck,” she whispered, a hint of worry in her voice.
“I’ll bring him back,” Jessica whispered back.
Deliza pulled away from her, and looked her in the eyes. “I know that you will,” she replied softly. She turned to Commander Telles. “Good luck to you, Commander,” she said, offering her hand.
“Thank you, Miss Ta’Akar,” the commander replied, shaking it.
Deliza smiled. “Thank you for not calling me ‘princess’,” she added, before turning and heading down the Mirai’s cargo ramp.
“At some point, you are going to explain to me how to use those things, right?” Jessica asked, pointing at the crates containing the i
nsertion systems.
“You are already experienced at orbital insertion jumps, are you not?”
“I am.”
“And I’m assuming you have used a wing-suit before?”
“I have,” Jessica replied, her eyebrow rising.
“Then you should have no problem,” the commander insisted, “as the insertion devices are mostly automated.”
Jessica sighed. “Why is that not making me feel any better?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Jump complete,” Loki reported. “Scanning the area with passive.”
“I can’t believe we haven’t run into any ships yet,” Jessica exclaimed.
“The Jung have likely moved all ships near the Patoray system back to Nor-Patri in defense of their homeworld,” Commander Telles said. “It will take some time for more distant ships to move into position to take up their patrol routes.”
“They will detect our jump flashes,” Loki reminded them.
“Eventually, yes,” the commander agreed, “by which time our mission should be complete.”
“But, theoretically, they could use old light and eventually track us all the way back to Corinair, right?” Josh postulated.
“Without jump drives, it would take them centuries to do so,” the commander assured him. “Even if they had the resources, they would need a good reason to use them. We do not intend to give them any reasons.”
“You don’t think they’d want to investigate some jump flashes just outside their home system?” Loki challenged.
“The Alliance is jumping in recon ships at regular intervals since the attack,” the commander said. “Ours will be one of many flashes.”
“How long are they going to be doing such recon?” Josh wondered.
“Until the Jung demand that they stop,” Jessica said. “I’m sure it will come up in the cease-fire negotiations.”
“Well, I’m not picking up any ships in the area, so I guess we’re clear to jump in,” Loki reported. He turned to look at Jessica and the commander. “You guys better head aft and get ready.”
“We will require approximately ten minutes to gear up,” the commander replied.
“You got it,” Loki nodded.
Jessica pulled her helmet on, tightening the strap under her chin.
“Your rigging checks,” Marcus announced, patting her on the shoulder.
Jessica stepped up to her insertion vehicle, climbed onto it, and lay down inside. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this,” she muttered.
Commander Telles lay down in his vehicle as well. “If all goes well, we will be on the ground before you know it.”
“If all goes well,” Jessica repeated as the long, half-cylindrical door swung closed over her, trapping her inside a five-meter long, jump-enabled projectile. You’re gonna owe me big, Nathan.
“Sled One, secure,” the commander’s voice announced over Jessica’s comm-set. “All systems show ready.”
Jessica glanced at the tiny display screen in front of her face. “Sled Two, secure. All systems show ready.”
“Final jump in thirty seconds,” Loki announced.
“Hey, why do we call these things sleds?” Jessica wondered. “They’re basically missiles, after all.”
“The term is less disconcerting,” the commander replied.
“Finally, we agree on something.”
“Jump complete,” Loki reported. “On course for insertion. Speed is five hundred and ninety-five meters per second.”
“Why so fast?” Jessica asked over the comms.
“Any slower and we’d have to be deep inside the Patoray system for your systems to be able to reach Nor-Patri,” Loki explained. “We’re only half a light year from the Jung homeworld as it is.” Loki looked back down at his display. “Thirty seconds to deployment.”
“How are we going to slow down?” Jessica asked.
“After the insertion jump, a drogue chute will deploy from the tail of the sled. This will reduce our speed by twenty percent.”
“That’s still pretty fast.”
“It will be enough,” the commander assured her. “However, you should know that there are no inertial dampening fields in these sleds, so we will feel it when the drogue is deployed.”
“Great.”
“Opening the cargo bay,” Marcus announced over the comms.
“No turning back now, I guess,” Jessica commented, trying to distract herself from the fact that she was about to be shot like a missile at the Jung homeworld. “You are so gonna owe me,” she mumbled.
“Can you repeat?” the commander asked.
“Not important.”
“Bay is open, ramp is level,” Marcus reported. “Extending launch rails.”
Jessica took several deep breaths, letting each out slowly, trying to remain calm.
“Deployment in fifteen seconds,” Loki added.
“Rails extended. Ready to deploy,” Marcus announced.
“Deployment in three……two……one……”
Jessica felt a small jolt as the locking clamps released. There was a crackling sound and the faint jolting of acceleration as the low-power mag rails propelled them out the back of the Mirai into space.
“Sleds away,” Marcus reported. “Retracting rails.”
“Sleds are clearing our jump field perimeter,” Loki reported. “Sled speed is six hundred meters per second and holding. Course trajectory is right down the green line. Jump point in one minute. You’ll be out of comm-range in thirty seconds. Good luck to both of you.”
“Just make sure you’re at the pickup point on time,” Jessica said tensely.
“We’ll be there, Jess,” Josh promised.
“Begin radio silence,” Commander Telles ordered.
“Killing comms,” Jessica replied. “See ya on the surface.” Jessica switched off her comms. Although the commander’s sled was coasting just fifty meters ahead of her, she had never felt more alone. Drifting in a small metal tube, one originally constructed as a weapon, inside the Jung home system. If her jump drive failed to trigger, she would continue to coast toward the Jung homeworld, probably for hundreds of years, before its gravity well finally pulled her in and burned her up on atmospheric interface. Luckily, if that did happen, she’d already be dead, having suffocated several centuries prior.
She glanced at her display. Twenty seconds left. The Mirai had likely already jumped away, wanting to keep their risk of detection as low as possible. From the deployment point, it would take six months for the Jung to detect their jump flashes from Nor-Patri, considerably less by ships patrolling the system.
Ten seconds.
Jessica wondered what Nathan’s reaction would be once they reached him and told him of their rescue plan.
Five seconds.
Most likely, he would call them crazy.
Three seconds.
He would be right.
Two seconds.
“The things I do for love,” she said to herself.
One second.
Jessica closed her eyes and tightened every muscle in her body as the unseen display changed from one to zero.
The entire sled shook violently. Even though she had expected it, the violent movement nearly caused her to cry out. At the same time, the silence gave way to the roar of air rushing over the outside of the projectile.
“Oh, fuck!” Jessica swore, as the sled continued to shake. She could feel her shoulders and hips bumping into the padding around her, and immediately wished she could tighten her restraints. She opened her eyes to look at the console, verifying that she was indeed in the atmosphere of Nor-Patri, but the sled shook so much that she couldn’t read anything. Instead, she tried to concentrate on the countdown display, to ant
icipate the opening of the drogue chute that was supposed to happen within seconds of jump completion.
There was a terrible shrieking sound, like something had torn free of the sled. The sound of the rushing air changed, and Jessica was thrust upward, toward the nose of the sled.
Or was it downward? Her shoulder restraints dug in deeply, causing extreme discomfort. “Shit!” she cried out in frustration and pain. But there was no one to hear her, and all she could do was ride it out. The next step would come in less than a minute, and despite the fact that it was the most drastic change of all, she welcomed it.
“Both sleds have jumped,” Loki announced. “Can we go now?”
“Now we can go,” Josh agreed.
“Jumping in three……two……one……”
The windows on the Mirai’s cockpit turned opaque as the ship’s jump fields washed over them.
“Jump complete,” Loki reported. “Starting retreat jump series to staging point in thirty seconds. Come to new course. Two one four, twenty-eight down.”
“Two one four, twenty-eight down,” Josh acknowledged.
“That wasn’t according to plan, Josh,” Loki warned.
“I know,” Josh replied. “I just wanted to be sure they jumped. Those things hadn’t been fully tested.” He looked at Loki. “Tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing.”
“You’re right,” Loki admitted. “I was.”
There was another jolt. The clamps that held her in place released, just as all three sides of the cylinder split apart like a metallic flower blooming. Her ears filled with the sound of air rushing past them, as she fell away from the sled. She glanced upward, toward her toes, and spotted the sled still dangling from its drogue chute, as she accelerated away from it. Within seconds, it disappeared in the dark storm cloud that surrounded them.
Swirls of mist engulfed her, barely illuminated by the waning twilight of the Jung homeworld. Every few seconds, the mist would light up with flashes of lightning. Each time, she felt as if her heart skipped a beat, the breath stolen from her lungs. She was certain that the next flash would strike her, and her life would end.
