by Daniel Gibbs
"How would we fire them?" asked Tia with evident skepticism.
"They're made to be remote-controlled," Henry said, pre-empting al-Lahim. "Once they’re launched into space, they’re fed targeting data, arming, and activation orders into their systems, and off they go."
Tia still seemed uncertain. "We don’t have missile tubes installed… so we'd have to leave the holds in vacuum with no gravity. Someone would then have to push them out manually.”
Yanik eyed the vehicles. "I could do it," he offered.
"I will man the holds in that event," al-Lahim said. "And if need be, you could restore atmosphere to deliberately decompress the compartment, should you wish to throw them all out at once."
"Colonel Goldstein did that during one of my patrols on the Sun Yat-sen back in the day," Henry remarked. "Vented our armory into space after the launchers jammed, and later remotely triggered the missiles to catch a League cruiser on its weak side." He tried to give Tia a reassuring look. "It's a viable tactic."
She raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like it."
"So we'll put them in the middle holds. The front holds I'm setting aside for some of the Trinidad militia. They'll provide us boarding parties so we can retake the ships, or even whatever base the Leaguers are using."
"I'll make the arrangements, then," Tia said. "Do we have a departure time?"
Henry crossed his arms in front of him. "Tomorrow, 1000 hours sharp.”
After working a full shift to finish the last of the repairs to the Shadow Wolf's electrical systems, Samina returned to her quarters. The scent of Tal'mayan sweet smoke still came to her in all its cloying, irritating manner. The passing of a week aboard had only just started to get her used to the smell.
It couldn't distract her for long. Samina's heart was heavy from the conflict raging inside of her. The fear that made her accept Captain Henry's decision to leave her behind wrestled with a growing shame about that. She was supposed to be a member of this crew now. With them going to face their greatest trial, how could she stay behind? They'd need all the help they could get.
You may die, her fear reminded her. Or be captured, and be thrown into one of those camps to be starved and worked to death.
I'm in space. There's lots of ways to die in space, countered another side of her mind. You have a responsibility! You have to do the right thing!
The right thing. It was what her parents taught her to do growing up. What her uncle encouraged in her, and the community in Quetta. The right thing, not the easy thing, not the thing that made her feel better. It was the only way to keep her soul free of guilt in the eyes of God. And right now, part of her was saying the right thing was to risk her life and freedom for the sake of her new crewmates. Even if it meant defying her uncle's dearest wishes and Captain Henry's decision.
It's not like I can stay aboard anyway. The Captain's made it clear I'm leaving in the morning. I mean, I'd have to sneak back aboard. And to do that, I'd have to… Samina stopped the thought as fear filled her. No, no, I can't be thinking of this! I should stay here with Uncle Ali! I can go back to being a fetch tech and find another ship one day!
Until the League takes over the station, and they get you anyway? Or drive you away as they did on Jinnah?
The warring thoughts consumed Samina for the rest of the night.
15
Trinidad Station
Magella System, Neutral Space
24 August 2560
From the catwalk of the forward port hold, Henry and Yanik watched the volunteers from Trinidad Station set up bunks and weapon stands. Their weapons were all directed energy, primarily charged particle and plasma rifles, befitting an armed force for a space habitat. The men and women who made up the force were the station population in microcosm.
"They will put a strain on our atmospheric filters," Yanik noted, referring to the filters used to chemically separate carbon from the carbon dioxide exhaled by most species, including humans and Saurians. This resulted in the creation of fresh oxygen to be blended back into the ship's atmosphere, extending the time needed between refills of a ship's atmospheric system. The more carbon dioxide in the air, the more carbon built up in the filters, and the more likely they might run into trouble.
"Pieter's got it handled," Henry said. "We have plenty of filters thanks to Khánh."
Yanik flicked his tongue thoughtfully. "I see. Are we ready to depart, then?"
Henry checked his watch. "0956. I'll head up to the bridge now."
"I shall ensure these people are secure."
Henry left him to it, heading out through the hatch leading into the lower deck. It was a quick trip to the stairs up and on to the bridge. Tia and Cera were already there, as were Piper and Felix. Felix remained standing near the rear as the other four took their usual places. "Time to launch?"
"Three minutes," Cera answered.
"Engineering is bringing all systems online," Tia added. "Everyone's aboard, and we have full food stores, equipment, life support, and fuel."
"Good. Take us out when we get launch clearance, Cera."
"Aye, sir."
For Henry, there was nothing left but waiting. When the time came, the gantry around the Shadow Wolf separated, freeing the ship. Piper confirmed the launch with traffic control. The doors opened, and Cera, with extreme precision and care, flew the Shadow Wolf free.
The makeshift fleet around them was the most impressive display Henry had seen since his CDF days. Seventy-four ships of varying size and mass, everything from re-militarized jump-capable gunboats barely fifty meters long to a large hauler covered with armaments. They ran the gamut from organized privateer groups like Commodore Dulaney's or the Tokarev brothers' to individual pirates or spacers looking for a quick score. A sleek Tal'mayan-built blockade runner flew beside the flying brick of a Harr'al-built frigate. "There must be twenty worlds represented out there," he mused. A smile crossed his face. "I wonder how many are here just for a chance to kick the League in the teeth."
"I can sympathize with them," Tia said. Despite the lingering pessimism that Henry could sense in her expression, she grinned slightly. "As much as we think you Coalition types are moralistic busybody god-botherers, a lot of people in Trifid know the League is even worse, whatever their governments claim."
Henry chuckled. He'd been out here long enough that he felt some sympathy with Tia's take on the Coalition. "Well, let's hope they can work together enough to win this."
For a time, nothing more was said. The Shadow Wolf took her place in a formation of ships of similar size, the furthest such group. The entire fleet burned out for the Lawrence limit. As they neared it, Henry looked to Piper. "Has our friend given you a course?"
She nodded. "He's being slippery about it too. We only have three jumps plotted, but I'm pretty sure none of the systems in jump range of our final destination would work for this kind of base."
"He's being cautious. He knows the moment we give him the final jump coordinate we could turn on him, so he'll wait until the last second to give it up."
"And what's to stop us from turning on him then?" Tia asked.
"He'll probably claim he planted a bomb somewhere critical," said Felix. "Bluff us. Alternatively, he'll gamble we don't want to deal with taking him prisoner before we get into the fight. I have to admit I wouldn't. If we board their ships or a space station, we'll need every gun."
"Agreed. I'm going to live up to our deal, and we'll have to tolerate his paranoia." Henry glanced at the holotank. The fleet was already passing the limit. "In twenty seconds, the fleet will be beyond the limit. Piper, relay the jump coordinates to everyone else."
"Doing so now." Seconds passed. "Dulaney's signaling for the fleet to commence jump."
"Engage."
Wormholes started forming ahead, and, one by one, the fleet departed the Trinidad system.
After feeling the acceleration and sensation of the jump, Yanik went to the stairs and ventured down to the floor of the front-port hold, where
he approached a fairly small figure with a full hood on their suit. "You came back."
The person turned. "H-how did you know?" asked Samina.
Yanik let out a low laugh and tapped his nose. "Humans always underestimate our senses. Your scent is not new to me."
"But you didn't tell Captain Henry?"
"He did not ask," Yanik said. "His order to me was to ensure you left the ship before we launched. You did so. That you came back is your choice, and I was not instructed to keep you from returning."
"Oh." Samina drew in a breath.
Yanik could see the fear she felt. He could nearly smell it, he thought, even as it was evident she was fighting it down.
"You… you're okay with me coming back?"
"You are a member of this crew now. That is what matters. To refuse you a chance to join us would demean your place here."
Samina nodded. "I guess it would, yeah. So… should I stay down here with the militia or…?"
"I would not advise it," Yanik said. "Your place is with Engineer Hartzog."
She was uncertain about revealing herself. Now that she'd done it, Yanik knew it was occurring to her that she was a stowaway, at least as Captain Henry would consider it.
"While the Captain will be displeased, he will be even angrier the longer you hide," Yanik proposed. "Since I am the reason you are still here, I think I have the right to ask your cooperation on this."
Samina had to accept the big Saurian's argument on the matter. "Yeah, you do.”
Less than half an hour later, Samina found herself swallowing and trying to not think of how much trouble she was in. That came from the look of sheer frustration and anger she saw on Captain Henry's face.
They were in the galley, along with Yanik, Tia, Pieter, Jules Rothbard, and Vidia. The expressions of the others varied. Vidia was quietly supportive, Jules was calm, and Pieter looked divided between being upset and relieved. Tia was almost as angry as Henry.
"You were told to stay on Trinidad," Henry said in a firm voice, full of stern and disapproving authority. "That this wasn't part of your job. Now, you seemed to understand me before, so what made you decide to defy that and stow away on my ship at the same time?"
Samina swallowed and drew in a breath. It had been quite a while since she faced a scolding in front of so many people. She used the breath and the time she took to settle her thoughts and feelings to make what she was feeling as clear as she could. "I'm sorry I defied your orders, but… but I'm a member of this crew too, and I'm as responsible for you as you are for me." She kept her head up and tried not to think of the disapproval in Henry's eyes. She glanced at Tia's face to see some of the same emotion. "Chief Khánh asked me to take care of you. To help you. And I want to. Even if I'm scared of what we're doing and where we're going."
Tia let out an exasperated breath. "Linh didn't mean this," she said. "She'd never have sent you to risk your life like this."
"That's how I took it."
"It's a moot point, I think," Vidia said. "We're already underway. Nobody's going to jump back an' take her home."
There was silence after that. The point was a good one and there was no escaping it.
And yet, Samina knew that wouldn't be enough. "Captain, I'm sorry," she said. "But I had to do this. This is important. And you'll need every hand you've got. I want to be here, even if it's not safe. Please understand. Please, I can do this job even if it’s dangerous, you know that. I'm afraid, but I can do it."
Henry and Tia exchanged silent glances.
Tia sighed and turned away first, shaking her head as she did.
Henry faced Samina. "You're just a kid, and you shouldn't be here," he began. "Doesn't matter that you're a member of the crew. I didn't sign you on for this, and…" Seeing her intent stare, he sighed. "Listen, I know you're eighteen, and for a lot of people, that's the age when you start becoming an adult. In the Coalition, it's the age they let you enlist, or even conscript you, and I've served with those kids. Some of them weren't very good, some were good at learning, and some were naturals. I'll say you're a natural. So I know you can do the job, and it's not why I wanted you off the ship." Henry's expression turned to one of old pain. "Because I also saw some of those kids die. I saw them hurt, I listened to their screams, cries and pleas to their mothers as they were crushed to death in debris, sucked into space or burned alive, and it's hard. Damned hard. It's why I asked you to stay with your uncle, Samina."
Jules walked up to Henry and set a hand on his shoulder, a gentle expression of understanding and support.
For her part, Samina nodded in understanding. "I see. Thank you for believing in me, Captain."
"No problem there, Ms. Khan." Henry looked toward Pieter. "Any objections to having your Engineer's Mate available?"
"None at all, Captain," Pieter said cheerfully. "She's good, and we're going to need her."
"Alright then, this is handled. Everyone back to their rest or their posts." Henry went for the door. "We won't have long before the shooting starts."
16
The sun was out and the most massive crowd seen in Gamavilla since the bombing filled the Plaza of the Republic. With backs to the damaged Parliament Building, they directed their attention toward the carefully-constructed stage lined with the Lusitanian national flag. The seal of the President was displayed on the podium at the center of the stage, kept on a raised dais. Holocorders were arrayed around the stadium to send 2D and 3D images from the stage to the planet's communications network, to be transmitted across the world and even to other planets. Unseen generators powered protective deflector fields that would stop any attempt to bomb or shoot anyone on the stage. Ascaro stood in the back of the stage area, behind several curtains, in the middle of a protective detail that included Palmeiro. Her new colleagues were assembled with her to watch the crowd via a holo-viewer. Black-clad RSS agents, armed infantry of the Capital Defense Regiment, and the Gamavilla police were all out in force as well, securing the entire area.
However the people might feel about their presence, there were still cheers as the slim form of Emiliano Vargas stepped up to the podium. He waited for quiet to return before speaking. "People of Lusitania," he began. "We have had many terrible days since the cowardly strike against our Assembly. The Government is working diligently, on all levels, to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice."
"But it is just as important to our well-being that our institutions continue to function. I am pleased to announce, among the surviving members of the Assembly, a new Cabinet has been formed. A Government of National Unity will see us through to new elections and a return to normal. It is with pleasure I introduce the Prime Minister, Duarte Vitorino!"
There was applause, especially from those who feared the pronounced name would be "Cristina Caetano." Vitorino's reputation lent itself to easing their fears. He approached the podium, smiling and waving, and shook hands with Vargas before the President stepped away.
"I am before you by a miracle," he said, his words slow and precise. "I am one of the lucky few who survived this terrible tragedy. It has given me a new perspective on our world, its needs, and my place in it. I owe it to my slain peers to devote everything I am to Lusitania's recovery and prosperity. The divisions that have ripped through our people must be healed. And so, I have assembled a Cabinet of my fellow survivors with that thought in mind. We will govern for the common good until elections restore to our nation its representative government. Allow me to present my fellow ministers."
First came Domingues, who was greeted with polite applause. Al-Amin of the Socialists was next, and she received louder applause.
To her surprise, Ascaro received the loudest when she came last. She walked out, in a proper business dress suit, and took her place between Vitorino and al-Amin. Vitorino finished introducing her and the ministries she was assuming control of for the duration of the emergency government. "It is my great pleasure that Assemblywoman Ascaro survived to join this Government," he inform
ed the crowd. "I hope to work with her, especially in bridging the gap between those of our people who believe in the goals of the Estado Novo and those concerned with their civil rights. It is not my goal to oppress or diminish the rights of the people, and I trust she will ensure we do not."
There was sustained clapping. Ascaro smiled, though she knew the words were hollow. I may control the economy, but Vitorino has the guns.
Vitorino invited the Cabinet members to make their speeches on the policies of the National Unity Government. They spoke in the order introduced. Domingues spent twenty minutes talking about his intention to pursue capital punishment against the bombers and maintain Lusitanian diplomatic initiatives, including neutrality in the war. He ended with several scolding lines about the attacks, denigrating them the "natural result" of the political violence and thuggery that gripped the planet before the bombs went off. His language was bitterly condemnatory toward the PdDN, the kind of speech that would've been unthinkable for a Conservative before.
Al-Amin, her Portuguese quite beautiful with a hint of a Moroccan accent, spoke of "democratizing" the education system by ending the regulations demanding political loyalty oaths from students. She promoted Lusitania's place as one of the technically adept worlds of the Trifid Region and the need to maintain their edge.
Ascaro was next. She checked her notes and stepped up. "I thank Minister Vitorino for giving me the opportunity to serve our world at such a terrible time," she said. "His gesture is not simply magnanimous in the light of the differences between our parties; I believe it shows his intention to protect the rights of Lusitanians, a cause I have always upheld."
From there, she commented on economic issues, assuring everyone that the situation would improve. Measures were being taken to re-stabilize the economy. She kept her descriptions short and to the point, avoiding the kind of wording that would bore.
