Ep.#4 - Rebellion (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  If only he had listened to his friend.

  The lights suddenly snapped back on, painfully blinding Birk. He had spent so much time in absolute darkness that his pupils were fully dilated. There was the sound of the door being unlocked, then opened, followed by footsteps, several of them.

  Two men grabbed Birk, one of them holding him firmly while the other cut away his restraints.

  “Please don’t kill me,” Birk pleaded.

  As if responding to his pleas, the man holding him let go, and both men disappeared behind the bright lights. The door slammed shut and locked again, and Birk was left alone in the room, still blinded by the two white lights.

  Or was he alone?

  Birk rubbed his sore wrists, wondering what was about to happen. He tried listening for the sound of another person in the room, but his own irregular, panicked breathing made it impossible. He thought of standing, exploring the room he was in, now that the lights had been left on, but was afraid. If there was still someone in the room with him, were they waiting for him to stand, before executing him? Was it some twisted code that demanded they release a prisoner from his restraints prior to execution?

  Birk had little choice but to sit quietly and await his fate.

  * * *

  “Any sign of that first ship?” Nathan asked.

  “Nothing,” Vladimir replied. “They probably thought we were an echo. They only sent one pulse.”

  “They could be trying to remain stealthy, trying to sneak up on us,” Josh commented.

  Nathan stood there in the middle of the Seiiki’s cramped cockpit, his arms folded as he thought. “It’s possible,” he admitted. “But if it’s a Dusahn gunship, wouldn’t they just sweep the area with active sensors? If the Mystic doesn’t even know about the Dusahn invasion, they wouldn’t be trying to remain hidden, and the Dusahn would likely know that.”

  “Would they?” Loki wondered.

  Nathan looked at Loki, puzzled.

  “I mean, would the Dusahn even know about the cloud? Would they know that the Mystic would be out of touch?”

  “We knew,” Josh argued.

  “Because you two flew these routes all the time,” Loki said. “I knew about the Mystic, but I didn’t know she was normally out of contact during most of her journey.”

  “Good point,” Josh admitted.

  “The Dusahn obviously had some intelligence before they invaded,” Jessica said, as she stood, straddling the access ladder at the back of the cockpit. “However, they may have been concentrating more on military assets, and how many jump ships were in operation in the PC. They might not have paid much attention to routes and such, at least not with the civilian ships.”

  “I’m getting another weak contact,” Vladimir interrupted.

  “The same ship?” Nathan asked.

  “I do not know,” Vladimir replied. “Roughly twenty-eight thousand kilometers, directly ahead. Slightly below our track.”

  “Which direction is the contact headed?” Nathan asked.

  “The contact is still too weak to tell,” Vladimir admitted, “but there is no apparent motion.”

  “Which means the contact is either standing still, or is headed toward us.”

  “Showing slight drift down and away,” Vladimir added. “Still a very weak contact.” Vladimir studied the sensor readings further. “Twenty-four thousand kilometers, I believe. Yes, closing. Definitely.”

  “Standby to reduce our closure rate,” Nathan instructed. “Keep an eye on the contact’s drift,” he told Vladimir. “If it stops, or even worse, reverses, let me know.”

  “Of course,” Vladimir replied.

  “Give us a nose-low attitude, Josh,” Nathan instructed.

  “Nose-low, aye,” Josh replied.

  “Eyes peeled, scan straight ahead,” Nathan ordered over his comm-set.

  “If I can still keep them open,” Dalen complained.

  “Contact is firming up,” Vladimir reported. “Twenty thousand kilometers, still drifting down and away.”

  “And you’re sure it’s not that gunship?” Nathan asked.

  “I’m sure. It’s much bigger. Eighteen thousand kilometers, now.”

  “If we can detect them with passive, then they can detect us,” Jessica pointed out.

  “Decrease our closure rate, and slide us down below the contact’s projected course track,” Nathan ordered.

  “Can we reach them on comms?” Jessica wondered.

  “Doubtful,” Vladimir replied. “But if they are detecting us, they will notice that we are maneuvering, which will tell them that we are a ship, and not a chunk of rock, or something.”

  “They’d go active, wouldn’t they?” Loki surmised.

  “Maybe,” Nathan replied. “Or they’ll change course to avoid a collision. Either way, they’ll know we’re out here.”

  “Isn’t that risky?” Loki wondered. “What if it’s another Dusahn ship?”

  “Then we jump forward a few light minutes,” Nathan replied.

  “Fifteen thousand kilometers,” Vladimir reported. “Definitely a contact. Still weak, but it is not an echo.”

  “Captain, if it is the Mystic, or any other ship for that matter, we are closing in on it awfully fast,” Loki warned.

  “Five kilometer separation,” Nathan insisted. “I don’t want to take a chance of not spotting her.”

  “Nathan, at that range, I should have positive contact on sensors,” Vladimir assured him. “Visual will not be necessary.”

  “If we miss her, we may not find her again,” Nathan reminded him. “And we need that ship.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll remind you of that, if her captain turns us down,” Jessica told Nathan under her breath.

  Nathan shot a disapproving glare at her over his shoulder.

  “Ten thousand kilometers,” Vladimir reported.

  “We’re paralleling the target’s course,” Loki announced. “Opposite direction, five-kilometer offset.”

  “We’ll start decelerating at five thousand kilometers,” Nathan said.

  “That’s not going to be enough distance to reverse course and match the target’s forward speed,” Josh warned.

  “I just want to slow down enough to get a good look at her as she passes. If it’s her, we’ll come about and come alongside, assuming her captain grants permission for us to do so.”

  “What if he does not?” Vladimir wondered.

  “Plan C,” Jessica mumbled.

  Nathan turned to look at her, a cross look on his face. “What happened to plans A and B?”

  Jessica shrugged. “Just staying flexible.”

  “Well stop it,” Nathan insisted. “He’ll grant us permission.”

  “We are an armed ship, remember,” Jessica said. “He might just jump away.”

  “He might, but I’m betting he won’t,” Nathan replied.

  “Maybe it would be better if we had been a little more covert in our approach,” Vladimir commented.

  “You too?” Nathan said.

  “It is just an observation,” Vladimir defended. “Five thousand kilometers.”

  “Begin deceleration,” Nathan instructed.

  “Got it,” Josh replied. “Flipping her over and firing mains.”

  The Seiiki pitched down quickly, as Josh brought the ship into an aft-first attitude. A low rumble began to build, as he brought the Seiiki’s main engines up to full power.

  “If she did not see us before, she will definitely see us now,” Vladimir stated.

  “That’s the idea,” Nathan replied. “Just be ready on that escape jump, Loki. The minute that contact targets us…”

  “My finger is already on the button, Captain,
” Loki assured him.

  “Three thousand kilometers,” Vladimir reported. “Contact is solid, now. They’re changing course, veering away from us.”

  “They’re trying to avoid a collision,” Nathan said.

  “They’re definitely not a warship,” Jessica concluded. “Otherwise, they’d be targeting us right now.”

  Nathan smiled. “Correct.” Nathan stooped down slightly, reaching forward to the overhead communications panel between Josh and Loki. “Mystic Empress. Mystic Empress. This is the Seiiki. Do you copy?”

  “Two thousand kilometers,” Vladimir updated.

  “If that other ship is in the area…” Jessica began.

  “I’m using a directional comm beam,” Nathan told her. “So unless they’re on the far side of her, we’re good.”

  “One thousand kilometers.”

  “Mystic Empress, Mystic Empress. This is the Seiiki. We are now…”

  “Eight hundred,” Vladimir said.

  “Eight hundred meters and decelerating for rendezvous. We have important information for your captain. Do you copy?”

  “Maybe they can’t hear us?” Loki suggested.

  “They can hear us,” Nathan said. “Right?” he asked Vladimir.

  “From this range, yes. I am sure of it.”

  “They’re trying to decide if they should answer,” Jessica said.

  “Can they see our gun turrets?”

  “From this distance?” Vladimir replied.

  “I meant with sensors,” Nathan said.

  “If they have optics, yes.”

  “Roll us over and keep our belly toward them,” Nathan instructed. “No need to scare them.”

  “Rolling over,” Josh replied.

  “They will see our guns eventually,” Vladimir warned.

  “Mystic Empress, Mystic Empress. This is the Seiiki. It is imperative that we meet with your captain. We have information that is vital to the safety of your ship, and your passengers. Please respond.”

  “One hundred kilometers,” Vladimir warned.

  “How far off are we going to pass?” Nathan asked.

  “Still five kilometers,” Josh replied. “I adjusted to maintain the range you asked for.”

  “Good. Keep us at five.” Nathan turned to Vladimir. “Are they still maneuvering?”

  “Negative,” Vladimir replied. “Target is holding course.” Vladimir watched his display, as the contact finally resolved completely. “I have confirmation on the contact, Nathan. It is the Mystic Empress.”

  “Mystic Empress. Mystic Empress. This is the Seiiki. For the sake of everyone on board, please respond.” Nathan waited, growing frustrated with each passing second of silence. “This is just downright rude,” he finally exclaimed. “By the rules of interstellar navigation, they should answer us and at least tell us to veer away and get lost.”

  “Their communications gear may not be as good as ours,” Vladimir pointed out.

  “Trust me,” Nathan replied. “Our comms gear is not that good.”

  “Seiiki, Seiiki. This is the Takaran ship, Mystic Empress. Your course is illegally close to a passenger ship. Veer away immediately.”

  “Finally!” Nathan exclaimed. “Mystic Empress, Seiiki. We request permission to speak to your captain, in person. We have important information that affects the safety of your ship and everyone aboard her. You will need this information before you leave the cloud. We are requesting permission to come aboard and speak to your captain directly.”

  “Fifty kilometers and closing,” Vladimir reported.

  “Bring up the ventral cameras,” Nathan instructed.

  “The what?” Josh asked.

  Nathan suddenly realized he was thinking of the Aurora. “Deploy the landing gear, and give me the nose gear camera.”

  “Okay,” Josh replied.

  A few seconds later, the image came to life on the view screen in the center of the forward console.

  “Thirty kilometers.”

  “Seiiki, Mystic Empress. Who is your captain?”

  Nathan turned to look at Jessica. “Should I?”

  “You’re going to have to sooner or later,” Jessica replied. “In this case, it just might help.”

  Nathan tapped his comm-set. “My name is Nathan Scott. Captain Nathan Scott.”

  “Nice try, Mister. Captain Nathan Scott died seven years ago.”

  “You’re right, I did, but I’m back. Now grant me permission to come aboard and speak to your captain directly, so I can prove it to you.”

  Again, there was a long pause.

  “His captain has got to be standing right there,” Nathan commented, annoyed.

  “Ten kilometers,” Vladimir announced.

  “Roll us back over,” Nathan decided.

  “What?” Josh replied, surprised.

  “They’ll see our gun turrets,” Jessica warned.

  “We need them to trust us,” Nathan said. “If we don’t show them now, they’ll see them when we approach to dock, and we’ll spook them. Better to be honest with them now.” Nathan looked at Josh. “Do it.”

  “You’re the captain,” Josh replied, initiating the roll.

  Nathan and the rest of them stared out the windows as the Mystic Empress came into view, and passed overhead.

  “Nice looking ship,” Loki commented.

  “Is that one big window along her side?” Josh wondered in disbelief.

  “That is most impressive,” Vladimir exclaimed.

  “Seiiki, you are armed! Are you threatening this ship?”

  “Like you’re gonna answer ‘yes’,” Josh laughed. “How dumb is this guy?”

  Nathan motioned for Josh to be quiet. “Mystic Empress, Seiiki. We mean you no harm. Our gun turrets are for defensive purposes only. If your captain will agree to meet with us, I’m sure he will understand once I share the information I have for him.”

  “Who is we?” the Mystic Empress’s comms officer asked.

  “Myself, and Lieutenant Jessica Nash, of the Ghatazhak.”

  “Like that’s not going to scare the hell out of them,” Josh commented.

  “If they knew her, they would be,” Vladimir commented dryly.

  Jessica reached out and hit Vladimir on the side of his head with a flick of her finger.

  “Speed is matched,” Josh announced. “Shall I continue the burn?”

  “Yes,” Nathan replied. “Mystic Empress, Seiiki. I should tell you that your captain’s wife and child are safe, and on board the Glendanon, at an undisclosed location.”

  “Now they think we’re kidnappers,” Josh said with another laugh.

  “If that’s what it takes to get aboard that ship peacefully, and talk to her captain face to face, then so be it,” Nathan insisted.

  “We’re starting to gain on her again,” Josh reported.

  “We’ll be side by side in a few minutes, Captain,” Loki added.

  “Come on,” Nathan said impatiently.

  “Seiiki, Mystic Empress. Permission to dock, starboard side. Only Captain Scott and Lieutenant Nash will be allowed aboard, and your ship will disengage and remain at least one hundred kilometers distant while your captain is on board. Security will escort you to our captain. No weapons will be allowed on board, and you will keep your guns deactivated while in the vicinity of this ship. Do you understand?”

  “No way!” Jessica protested.

  “Mystic Empress, Seiiki. We understand, and will comply,” Nathan replied, holding up his hand to silence Jessica’s complaints. “Take us in, Josh.”

  * * *

  What had likely been minutes, felt like hours, as Birk sat quietly, rubbing his now unrestrained hands. He wanted to stand, to
walk around the room, if only to get the blood circulating in his legs again, but he feared the presence of another in the room. Finally, he could take no more. “Are you going to kill me?”

  “Should I?” the voice asked from behind the bright lights.

  “I am no threat to the Dusahn,” Birk admitted. When he had first opened that case of weapons, he had entertained thoughts of starting a resistance, becoming a leader in the fight against the Dusahn. After all, with Na-Tan on their side, surely they had a chance. If Na-Tan could come back from the dead to fight again, then anything was possible. The idea of becoming a mighty warrior against oppression, like the Corinari legends of the war against the Takaran Empire, had an almost hypnotic appeal to him. Had it not been for Cuddy…

  He would never forgive himself for his friend’s death.

  “That is a shame,” the voice replied.

  “I… I don’t understand.”

  “We found the case of weapons,” the voice said smugly. “It was buried in your yard, just as you said. Was there only the one case?”

  “Yes, only the one. I swear it,” Birk replied earnestly.

  “Also a shame,” the voice said.

  By now, Birk’s eyes were becoming accustomed to light again. He squinted, trying to see the man through the bright lights. “Who are you?” he finally summoned the courage to ask.

  “You wanted to speak to Anji,” the voice said, as he stepped into view. “I am Anji.”

  The bright lights switched off, and a single overhead light came on, illuminating the room at a normal, more comfortable level.

  Birk stared as the man stepped forward. “You are the man in the store. The man with the gun.” Birk’s mind was spinning. “What is going on? Why are you doing this to me?”

  “We had to be sure,” Anji replied.