"For the good of my people, and all of Sagittarius, yes."
"Then I'll go to him now and get the voice sample," Miri said.
"Please do, Miss Gaon." Tia returned to her seat and took in the sight of the others, those on the vidlink or in person, focusing their eyes on her. "The rest of us need to get busy. Mother Sarno's right. We're running out of time."
She drew in a breath, aware of the weight of what she was saying. She couldn't help but feel it, an oppressive force weighing her very being down with the responsibility of what lay ahead. The fate of her world, maybe even the whole galaxy, was going to be decided by her actions, and history written accordingly.
She thought of her uncle, remembered the intent look of his gray eyes, the way he'd rub at the patch of black and gray hair on his chin whenever he was being thoughtful. Uncle Guillaume, is this how you felt when you and Comrade Thaksin made the decision to launch our revolution the last time? Is this why your spirit seemed so heavy when we last spoke? I wish I could ask you for advice, but all I can do is get justice for your suffering and murder.
Seeing the others were still waiting for the word, even Lou, she folded her hands on the table. "For our people, all of our peoples across Sagittarius, even the innocents in the League itself, we must act now. We have everything we need, or at least, we will by the time we jump into Hestia." She directed her eyes to the images of Lou and Sarno when she said that. "It's time to get our fleet moving. Any further shipments of materials can rendezvous with us on the way."
"I'll have my fleet coordinate with yours," Lou pledged. "They'll have the last of the war material, troops, and crews for those cruisers."
"I'll get Kepper's codes and go down to fly the Nimrod up," Miri said. "By the time we get there, Captain Chagger's people and I will have the ship ready to transmit Kepper's image and voice over our own."
"We'll begin embarkation immediately," added Sarno. "And I will also arrange for our incoming ships to meet us before the final jump to Hestia."
Tia's eyes went to Linh. Her friend nodded, and her metal hand clenched into an eager fist. "The Venture Star is ready to launch and Cera and Piper are in position to fly her, I just need to give the word to Pieter and Samina to fire the engines up."
"Give it." Tia's eyes set on Henry's last. "It's all going to rely on you, Jim. Are you ready for this?"
He smiled gently. Again, his demeanor seemed changed from what it'd been before, a certainty showing in his eyes and expression that rarely showed during all those years she'd served on the Shadow Wolf with him. Is this what he was like in his CDF days? she wondered. When he gave his answer, it was firm, and it was confident. "I'm ready. It's what I'm here for."
"I'm glad to hear it." She stood from her seat. "Let's go."
39
It took all of Antoine's patience and control to keep his anger contained before he returned to his office from the latest Business Council meeting. Damn them all was the sentiment that most dominated his thoughts, and he finally gave it voice once he was alone. "Ungrateful bastards!" He dropped himself into his chair and nursed his anger.
Despite everything, the Council still wasn't entirely on board with the neural implants. They wouldn't block his new law, but they wouldn't be employing the implants in their own companies. They wanted to let Rigault take the blame and weather the storm.
I should put them down. Once the fleet's fully ready, I don't need the HBC anymore!
He let that thought stew while he checked the status on the cruisers. Their trial runs in-system were complete. The crews on the lunar station reported the first cruiser would be ready for launch within the next couple of days. Being aboard for the launching would be a pleasure to cap his success in the upcoming Assembly vote.
After calming himself down, Antoine checked his messages. The day-to-day messages were the usual, records of arrested strikers or shirkers, discoveries of unauthorized food plots or hunting activity with arrests as well. More subjects for Doctor Breivik, he thought.
But there was no message from Kepper.
It might take him time to find them, Antoine reminded himself. Neutral Space was large, after all, and his own intel networks were only strong where Rigault had holdings. Kepper would find his marks, that was what he was known for. He just had to be patient.
Yet it was hard to be. Things were coming to a head now, and he wanted—frankly, needed—Kepper available. He needed his help against Aristide if the League made any unkind moves, or barring that, Kepper's skill made him an excellent asset for when the time came to start building his empire. He had enemies in the Company that had to be eliminated so he could be in charge. And the HBC would soon outlive all usefulness to him.
Those bloodless fools. It was like he was the only one sitting on the Council who understood what capital, what wealth, was for. To them, it was all numbers, and the higher the number, the better. But they had no desire to actually use what those numbers represented!
Wealth is a means to an end. They don't see it, Rene doesn't, none of them. With the power we wield, we could all be kings. And it is the kings who are written into history, not corporate executives. A smile slowly crept over his face. And soon, I will be a king.
* * *
For Jan Breivik, the new lab on Rigault's station provided for tighter working spaces. He found himself utilizing every square centimeter of lab space as was humanly possible, including wall-mounted shelves for some of his supplies and equipment.
Sitting in front of him was a young Hestian man. His eyes were still red from the terrified tears he'd been shedding before the implant was turned on and control of his facial muscles assumed. Breivik watched quietly as his assistant scientists operated the man's limbs through the controls, moving him around and prompting him to stand and sit.
This isn't what we're supposed to be focusing on, Breivik pondered bitterly. Motor control was just the first phase. He wanted to start testing for the finer control involved in thought interaction. Commander Aristide's orders are clear, he reminded himself. Rigault's needs come first.
Observing the testing, he jotted down another note. Subject continues to function as needed for purposes of controlled labor. Projected failure rate likely below one percent, but that is a figure I wish to bring further down. We cannot have one in a hundred, or even one in a thousand, suffering from debilitating physiological issues linked to implant use, or the device's primary purpose is undermined. More testing is still required.
While jotting down the note, Breivik's thoughts wandered once again. Ever since he saw that Tam'si woman and endured the pain she'd inflicted on him, he couldn't keep Oskar out of his head.
At first, the thoughts were entirely bitter. Oskar's sabotage and desertion cost him years of work, with unwelcome scrutiny from Internal Security that interfered with rebuilding the project. External Security's arrangement on Hestia gave him a reprieve from that scrutiny, but they expected, demanded, results. Antoine Rigault was even worse.
Gradually, that bitterness gave way before the warm memories of their careers spent helping each other out. Their work brought them together, but their need for friendship in Sagittarius kept them there. The cruelties of the socialization camps wounded them both. Why couldn't you have just worked with me, Oskar? he wondered. We could've ended those cruelties together. With your implant, there will be no more anti-Social thought. No more need for socialization camps. Why couldn't you understand that?
Still… maybe there was time. If he was still alive after all of these years, then maybe… maybe he could be convinced. Reasoned with!
"Doctor." One of his medical assistants approached. She looked to be mostly recovered from her run-in with the lab invaders and her injuries at their hands, a thought that reminded him of his own injuries. She handed him a tablet. "The autopsy results you wanted."
"Thank you, Doctor Woods." He looked the results over. Male, age 22, died of cerebral hemorrhaging during testing. He read the rest of the information. "You believe
it was the implant, then?"
"A manufacturing fault; the implant didn't perform properly. The hemorrhage was the result of an overload in the CNS."
"I see. Have Dr. Kurabashi look over the implant in question, see if the manufacturing fault can be identified."
"Yes, Doctor."
She walked away. Breivik returned his attention to the current test. His mind lingered over the dead man. He wasn't the first subject to die in this work, and each one was a loss.
But it will be worth it. The end to all suffering will make it worth it, he insisted to himself.
40
A distant M4 star did little to illuminate the hulls of the small armada gathering near one of the star's orbiting gas giants. The ships were arranged around the automated helium-3 station that gathered the vital element from the gas giant's atmosphere for use by passing ships.
Henry looked over the sleek silvery shape of the Nimrod and drew in a breath. A feeling he'd been missing for over sixteen years came to him, combining the anticipation of danger with the certainty that it would be all right. It's been a long time since I've felt this way. It's like I'm back in the CDF and we're about to get into a fight with the League. He drew in a breath and silently prayed, "Heavenly Father, Lord of Hosts, help us out here."
"Everything all right?"
He turned his head. Miri walked up in the same model of unpowered combat suit he had. She'd evidently completed her final pre-flight check. "Just praying," he said.
"I see."
"You've got everything you need from Kepper?"
"Yes. Combined with what intel I could get from other sources, we should be able to get where we need to. And the Nimrod's systems are set to transmit the false video and audio returns. I'm going to play Kepper if we get confronted. I know how to sound like him better than you."
"So you do." He noted it wasn't a boast. "Wu's ready?"
"Lewis is still not recovered from his wounds, so he's staying behind. Wu is bringing the rest."
He let out a low whistle. "Nine of us against a space station, then. At least until the others come in. Who's commanding on the Venture Star since you're with me and Yanik's with Tia?"
Miri grinned. "It's going to be Piper. She looked like someone was about to land the ship on her head."
Henry let out a belly laugh. "'Deer in the headlights' look; that sounds about right."
"So it does." Miri grinned at him. "These past couple of weeks, you seem like a new man, Captain. I'm glad to see it. Have you given any thought about what you'll be doing when this is over?"
"Assuming we win?"
"Assuming we win, yes."
Henry nodded and grinned. "Well, I don't know. The Venture Star's a good ship, at least. And it's not like I'm welcome in the Coalition right now. Maybe I'll take her out on a trading run to the Jewel Box. Just to see what it's like that far out."
"I think I would like that," Miri said. "Long term?"
"Don't know about that," he admitted. "And honestly, even the Jewel Box thing might have to wait. The League's still going to be an issue. I've had some ideas about it, but it's going to have to wait until we see how this turns out."
The far door opened. Wu entered with his entire team, save the injured Captain Lewis. Henry knew only a few by face: the Levantine Lt. Sadiq, Canaan-born Lt. Sanchez, and the team's medic, Lt. Emily Waters, a New Appalachian whose CDF uniform bore a faith patch of a Seventh-day Adventist. "Coming in uniform?" he asked.
"Damn right we are," Wu said emphatically. "Rhodes can kiss our backsides. Just because she's blind to the threat of the League doesn't mean she gets to dictate that to us."
"You're officially rogues; you know what that means."
The entire team nodded. "Rigault can summarily execute us, yeah. Like they wouldn't already."
"Alright." Henry wasn't about to protest their choice. Rhodes can kiss my ass too. "Go ahead and stow your things. We're leaving soon."
The team moved on to the airlock. As they entered the hold door opened again. Tia walked in with Yanik and Linh. Henry walked up to them. "Everything ready?"
"We've got every ship we can get," she said. "A couple of independent spacers are with the fleet too. People who don't like the HBC any more than we do." She frowned. "Still no sign of our other allies. I haven't heard anything either. Maybe they're not coming."
"We knew it'd take them a while to get everything together, so they may not show up until this thing has started," Henry said. "No word doesn't mean much, since they don't want to tip off the League or Rigault either. Whatever happens, don't lose faith."
"Funny to hear you say that." Tia chuckled. "Actually, just seeing you like this is… it's odd. And inspiring. But mostly odd."
Henry laughed. "I can imagine. You're used to the Jim Henry who just wanted to survive."
"Well, as many good times as we had, I'm glad to have this Henry here in the fight instead. I actually like him a lot."
"You wouldn't in other situations," he pointed out, chuckling again. "I'd be getting us into a lot of trouble around Neutral Space."
"I guess that's true. But right now, we need it. We're going up against a tough fight."
"Is Linh going with you?" Henry asked.
"No."
After Tia provided the immediate answer, Linh spoke up to give the explanation. "I'm going aboard the Venture Star," she said. "You're going to need trained engineers on those Rigault cruisers. I'll be working on one of them."
"Alright. I'll see you station-side."
The conversation was due to end, but saying so proved unnecessary. Tia's link let out a tone and she answered it. "Yes?"
"Chairwoman Nguyen, the last of our ships have arrived," Sarno said. "We await your transfer to the San Papa Gregorius."
"I'm on my way, Mother Sarno." Tia ended the call. "That's it, then. We'll be waiting for word to jump in."
"We won't keep you waiting long," Henry promised. "Good luck down there, and Godspeed."
A small smile crossed her face. "I'm the agnostic, remember?"
"Yeah, but I'm no longer the lapsed Methodist," he playfully retorted.
"Well then, for luck… Godspeed, Captain Henry."
"Indeed." Yanik nodded. "May we uphold Krassha and win the blessing of the Divine."
They parted ways. Henry had faith it wouldn't be for the last time.
41
The Nimrod went first. Miri jumped the League-built ship straight to the lunar L2 point. Kepper suggested it as something he'd do and Rigault would expect. It minimizes the amount of time the ship could be spotted by a League vessel en route to the station, Miri recalled.
Wu and his team were in the cabin area behind the cockpit checking their gear. Henry sat beside her, acting as co-pilot and watching the comms and sensors. "The Venture Star just jumped in at the solar L2," he said. "They're on course to Hestia at a slow burn. There's a cutter heading for them. Now it's time to see if Lou's ID codes work."
Henry couldn't patch in to the comms, so they could only sit and watch as the cutter drew ever closer to the Venture Star. After several minutes, it changed course. They breathed a small sigh of relief.
She regretted it a moment later when Henry spoke up again. "Incoming transmission. I'm setting up the fake voice and visual return." After a moment, he added, "There. You're good."
Miri drew in a breath. She thought of Kepper, of what it was like to be him, to be that confident murderer hiding his sadistic impulses under a shell of professional demeanor.
The cockpit screen added a visual display to show Antoine. From his surroundings, Miri figured it was in his office. "Kepper, what took you so long?
"It took some time to track them down, Director," she answered. "Then I had to isolate them to make sure I tagged the marks." She reached over and tapped at the controls for the comms. She set the system to transfer the fake image of Tia and Linh after being fatally stabbed. "Got them both in the end. Close work, some of my best."
Antoine's eyes g
linted with satisfaction. His electronic eye made that particularly disturbing. "Well done. As always, you get your marks." Pleasure filled his voice. "I will see you as soon as I finish with the legislature. I have more jobs for us to plan. We are coming to the culmination of my plans, and you will be quite busy over the next few weeks."
"Sounds good to me. I'll hear from you later." Miri had just enough time to finish saying that before Antoine ended the call. She breathed out a second, deeper sigh of relief. "He didn't seem suspicious."
"No, but with someone like that, you can't always tell." Henry glanced back toward the cabin. "Major, just to be on the safe side, get your people ready for Plan B."
"As if you have to ask," Wu replied.
* * *
With the call over, Antoine took a moment to enjoy the image of his dead enemies. Kepper's knife work was thorough.
What little conscience Antoine had made him reconsider one of his uses for Kepper. Maybe I can just ease Rene out… no. That won't work. Sorry, cousin, but you lack vision. I'll just ask Kepper to make sure it's quick.
A prickle of doubt came to him. What if this was a trick? It'd taken Kepper quite a while, hadn't it? Could he have been turned to work for the other side?
He pushed that thought away. Paranoia is part of being a ruler, but I should know better than to let it control me.
Still, it didn't hurt to be certain, and he had to ensure the League was kept far from Kepper.
He tapped on his link to initiate a call to the Lunar Station. "Security, I want to have a team assigned to where the Nimrod lands," he said. "There is no issue with the pilot. I simply wish to be assured of his safe arrival and transfer to his lodgings."
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 32
