"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jonathan," Tabby said ironically. "I'm glad it was Sendrei's argument that swayed you."
Ada slumped in acquiescence. "Fine. Where do we go?"
"You won't regret it," Tabby said, closing her eyes and slowly bowing her head. "This morning, the Iskstar showed me the bomb that destroyed the Mendari people. At the bottom of the crater, there is a broken mother crystal. Millions of Iskstar were killed, but even so, over a million still live."
"Ma'am?" pilot Nikulinsky asked, not having not received a formal order.
"Take us back, Andrei," Ada said and turned back to Tabby. "No one told me how lonely leadership would feel. Tabby, Liam will never forgive any of us if you die and I won't blame him."
Ada sank back into the chair and watched nervously as Nikulinsky turned Intrepid around and proceeded to enter the planet's turbulent atmosphere.
"It's just as I dreamed," Tabby said as they finally approached the bottom of the rocky crater. Dust swirled around the ship as Intrepid settled into a wide valley, devoid of life.
"What will you do?" Ada asked.
"I feel the crystal," Tabby said. "I must go to it."
Chapter 18
Weapon of Choice
Mhina System, Hornblower
"Liam, you're going to want to talk to Tabby before we get into this," Nick said.
I looked at him expectantly, still holding the quantum communication crystals that would link us to Mshindi Prime and Mars Protectorate. It was true that Ada had taken many of our critical crew off on a mission that seemed to be a bust, but there was no question in my mind what our next move should be. We had an advantage over the Kroerak and knew right where to find them. It was time to act. The numbers were overwhelming, but I had no doubt we could overcome the odds.
"Intrepid would have some value in the fight we're headed into, but honestly, we're going to need big iron for this fight," I said. Mid-conversation, I recognized his 'you're not getting it' face. I pushed on regardless. "She'd be fighting way above her weight class. What?"
"Take the crystal to your office and call her. While you're out, I'll see about raising M-Pro and Mshindi," he said, holding up the comm crystal that linked to Intrepid. The crystal looked out of place in his hand. He had to have entered my quarters to retrieve it and it was unusual that he'd done so without my knowledge.
My pulse quickened. I chatted with Tabby nearly every night. Something was up, but when pressed, she only said she'd been feeling tired. I assumed she was talking about burn-out. I felt it too. We'd been on the run for months, our lives constantly shifting between battle and recovery. The pace was taking a toll, but we both knew what was on the line and there was nothing either of us wouldn't do to put an end to the Kroerak menace. I'd privately worried that something more was up with her and Nick's actions set those alarm bells off.
"How bad?" I asked, accepting the crystal from him.
"I'm not sure," he answered. "Ada is worried, though."
If I'd needed any further prompting, his words were more than enough to push me along. I accepted the crystal and half-jogged, half-walked from the bridge, palming my way into my quarters. I was only partially surprised to find that Marny entered a moment later, carrying a sleepy Little Pete in her arms.
"Nick said something's up with Tabby. I don't have to stay if you want privacy," Marny said.
"It’s okay," I said, sliding the quantum crystal into its socket. "Intrepid this is Hornblower over," I called.
It took only a minute before Ada answered, "Liam, this is Ada, go ahead."
"I just talked to Nick," I said. "He said something's up with Tabby. I thought she recovered from the Mendari attack."
"It's not the Mendari. It's Iskstar. I think Iskstar is hurting her," Ada said. "Are you having any symptoms?"
"Symptoms, like what?" I asked.
"Loss of function. Tired. Bleeding at extremities," Ada said.
"Frak, Ada, no. Let me talk to her."
"She's not on the ship, Liam."
"What do you mean she’s not on the ship? Where the frak is she?" I felt a bead of sweat roll down my cheek.
"We've landed on the fourth planet," Ada answered.
"I thought that planet was a rock," I said. "What are you doing there?"
"You and Tabby haven't talked about it?" Ada asked. "Rings of Saturn, Liam, I thought she was working this out with you."
"Working what out?" I was so far behind in this conversation and the world was spinning out of control around me.
"Iskstar, Liam!" Ada said, her voice sharp enough to get my attention. "She said the Iskstar was calling to her and that she had to make a sacrifice for the greater good."
"Sacrifice? What did she mean by greater good?" I could barely form coherent sentences. My thoughts were overrun with worry.
"Her fingers are blue, Liam. And I don't mean she's not getting enough oxygen. It looks like there's crystallization and she's lost control of her right arm."
"And you let her leave the ship?"
"Without sedating her, she wasn't going to be stopped," Ada said. "She said there's an Iskstar mother crystal on this planet that the Mendari didn't completely destroy and millions of Iskstar would die if we didn't do something."
I started to speak but felt Marny’s strong hand on my shoulder. "Ada, does Jonathan believe she's in communication with Iskstar?"
"We do, Marny," Jonathan answered. "We believe the dreams given to Tabby were specifically targeted to bring her to this place."
"What is her medical condition?" Marny asked.
"On last scan, Tabitha had lost forty-percent of the function of her limbs and her internal organs are under considerable pressure," Jonathan said.
"Why?" I asked. "Why would Iskstar attack her?"
"We can only speculate based on Tabitha's own admissions," Jonathan answered. "She invited Iskstar to utilize her body as a host. We believe this is due to media failure of the crystalline host. In short, we believe she is allowing her body to be transformed as a life-raft for Iskstar."
I blew out a breath. I knew it was the panicked state of my mind, but I was having difficulty tracking. Intrepid had been sent on a mission to help Mendari defend against an imminent Kroerak invasion. As far as I could tell, no part of that remained true. The only attack was against the only woman I'd ever loved and to make matters worse, she was helping them do it.
"Liam, you have to trust her," Marny said, sensing my thoughts. "Tabby is going through something right now that's hard to understand, but she made the call."
I shook her off, confusion and fury battling for control. "You're all nuts. Iskstar has twisted her mind."
"Cap, are you saying you're not fit for command?" Marny asked.
"Of course not. But I'm not the one letting an alien take over …" I blinked, trying to comprehend her question. "Frak, Marny, I'm fine. Are you seriously questioning me?"
"You've set a high standard, Cap," Marny answered. "You take big risks and they pay off. You put your life on the line repeatedly and people have been saved because of it. You can't question it when Tabby does the same thing. Let her call the play. Do you really believe Ada, Sendrei, and Jonathan don't have the same concerns you have right now? They're there. Trust them."
"Frak, that's a big ask," I said. "She's my world, Ada."
"I know, Liam," Ada answered, her voice quiet and filled with emotion.
I had difficulty swallowing around the lump in my throat, but Marny was right and I knew what had to be done. "Ada, last night we discovered that Greg Munay had information on the location of the Kroerak homeworld. Later this morning, we'll be talking with Mars Protectorate, Mshindi Prime, and hopefully a representative from the Confederation of Planets. I'm going to push for an all-out assault."
"When will you set sail?" she asked.
"That'll require some coordination, but I'd expect soon. What's your fuel situation?"
"It's not good. The best case is a schedule-C burn which will
take us thirty-four days minimum," she said. "What's the nav-plan to the Kroerak homeworld look like? Maybe we could intercept Hornblower and refuel on the way."
"No good," I answered. "The only common jump is the exit from Mhina. I just don't think we'll be able to wait long enough for Intrepid to arrive. Maybe, though. It's a developing situation."
"Copy that," Ada answered. "Keep us updated. I'll do the same and I'm sorry for not telling you about Tabby."
"I do trust you, Ada," I said. "So does Tabby. I need you to look out for her even when she doesn't want it."
"We'll be lifting off in no more than two hours," Ada said. "Even if I have to tranq her."
"I'd pay to see that," I said, chuckling mirthlessly. "Hoffen out."
I looked over to Marny who was rocking back and forth with Little Pete as she stared at me. "You're doing the right thing," she said, sympathetically.
"Doesn't feel like it. I feel like we're marionettes and the Iskstar are pulling our strings."
"It's possible," Marny answered, "but you're forgetting one big thing. Without Iskstar, we'd all be dead. That's a pretty big show of good faith."
"But Tabby."
"But nothing," Marny answered. "I'm serious about the fit for duty conversation. Either you're under control of Iskstar or you're fit for command. You can't argue both sides. Don't make that mistake with Tabby. She's either in control of her mind or not and she believes there are a million Iskstar at risk. Tell me, Cap, how many Piscivoru would you put your life on the line for?"
"These aren't Piscivoru," I said, fondly remembering the small reptilian people who had taken us in and treated us like family.
Marny raised an eyebrow at my weak response. I didn't like where we were at, but her point was made. I needed to move past it, at least for now.
"Admiral Sterra, Admiral Alderson, thank you for agreeing to talk with us," I said, sitting forward in the conference room chair and staring intently at the communication box. We hadn't been able to facilitate a simultaneous connection with Mshindi Prime, so rather than wait, we had decided to push forward with Mars Protectorate.
"Anino says you've a line on the Kroerak homeworld." Admiral ‘Buckshot’ Alderson was a force of nature and I wasn't a bit surprised that he was ready to take charge of the conversation. "What do you want for that information?"
"Not a negotiation, Alderson," I said. "We're transmitting it now."
"I know you, Hoffen. You want something or we wouldn't be having this conversation," he said.
"And I know you, Admiral," I answered. "You're trying to manipulate me into doing something you want, but something you don't think I want. For as smart as you are, you've totally missed the mark on who we are."
"So, you don't want anything and we can just hang up now? I can't fathom any reason for us to talk further now that you've given us the enemy's location," he said pompously.
I grinned, even as I gritted my teeth. I dearly wanted to punch that man in the face – because he was right. There was an epic ask in the offing and he knew it. Just how he'd gotten me to suggest otherwise was beyond me.
"I believe we've sent data-streams of the combat effectiveness of Iskstar-tuned weapons against Kroerak vessels and troops," I said, trying not to directly answer his jabs.
"Mr. Anino was kind enough to pass them along. We assume they've arrived with limited editing," he answered.
"They were unedited," Thomas Anino's boyish voice added. I hadn't realized he'd been included in the conversation. The ridiculously wealthy inventor of the TransLoc system of interstellar travel had been both benefactor and a friend in previous adventures. I'd learned to be careful of his involvement, as things were rarely simple when he was around.
"I understand you've been given an entire solar system for your discovery of this Iskstar weapon. So perhaps not the humanitarian you'd have us believe," Alderson said.
"Right," I said, not looking to mince words with him.
"Admiral, let's skip the posturing," Admiral Sterra said. It had been a long time since I'd heard LaVonne Sterra's voice and I smiled, despite the annoyance I was tamping down. She'd given us our first break so many years ago when she'd accepted our application to becoming privateers.
"You give these Loose Nuts boys too much credit, LaVonne. You always have," Alderson said. "They're wolves in sheep clothing and I'm wise to it."
"Do you ever make yourself tired with all this, Admiral?" I asked, finally having enough. "The deal is as simple as it always is. You're the one who makes this hard every single time. We've shown you where the Kroerak homeworld is and have evidence they're gathering their ships and bringing them home. We have a weapon that destroys them. This is simple. We just need a fleet to go take them on."
"You want to oversee said fleet, no doubt?" Alderson shot back.
I held back the sigh I wanted to release. "No. We just want to come along. I need to make sure Kroerak get dealt with once and for all."
"How many Iskstar crystals do you have available?" Sterra asked.
"I think a better question is, are the estimates from Munay correct? Are there really twenty thousand Kroerak vessels? I don't care what kind of weapon you have, at some point quantity has a quality of its own," Alderson harrumphed.
"Do you recall the range of the Kroerak lance weapons as compared to your longest-range laser or blaster weapons?" I asked, answering neither question.
"It varies," he answered.
"We've developed a new class of weapon with the data gathered from Piscivoru. We can put a beam out about ten thousand kilometers. It's low power, but I believe it'll work," Anino said. "You need to know that Alderson is playing hard to get because you've already given him what he wants."
"Which is?" I asked.
"The location of the Kroerak homeworld," Anino answered. "Right now, Alderson has a team headed to Picis. His people will visit the Iskstar grotto – or whatever you call it – and collect their own Iskstar crystals."
"I could have you tried for treason, Anino," Alderson growled. "You're giving away state secrets. The fact of the matter is, we don't need you, Hoffen."
"You do know that Iskstar doesn't accept everyone," Liam said. "Connecting with this species is dangerous."
"Sounds like someone trying to protect their territory," Alderson answered. "The fact is, we have a lot to offer the Piscivoru. I think they'll be more than open to a trade."
"Iskstar and Piscivoru are different species," I corrected.
"I think we can figure it out," he said. "We've sent our best xeno-biologists, along with the translation matrix provided by Mr. Anino and his pet, Jonathan."
I turned to Nick and shook my head. "I'd love to see this guy negotiate with Strix. Talk about peas in a pod."
"Do you think we'll have trouble negotiating with the Iskstar, Liam?" Sterra asked.
"Anino, did you give Admiral Sterra Jonathan's analysis on Iskstar and how they view time?"
"We've all read it, Liam," Anino answered. "But I don't see why one of the biologists wouldn't be able to establish the same rapport as your team did."
"Because they don't need you. I believe the only reason the Iskstar communicated with us was to get rid of Kroerak over Picis," I said. "It’s likely you'll be ignored, and if you try to take crystals by force, your crystals will be dead."
"As in blackened, or dead as in clear but not glowing blue?" Anino asked.
His question was a dead giveaway. There were a million ways a crystal could appear dead. Blackened was exactly what happened to a crystal when it was detached and the Iskstar no longer inhabited it.
"How many people do you have on Picis right now?" Nick asked. "And by the way, you better be treating them right or you'll risk an incident with the Confederation of Planets."
"You pompous little …" Alderson started.
"We've been there for three weeks," Sterra interrupted. "We're in negotiations with the Piscivoru and are currently not welcome on the planet."
"You tried to for
ce them," I said, catching up.
"We'll do whatever it takes to eliminate the Kroerak, Hoffen," Alderson answered. "I'd swallow a live cobra if I thought it would finish the job."
"Very graphic," I quipped. "Time to open wide in that case."
"At least you understand your role," he answered.
"How many ships can you field?" I asked.
"Enough," he answered. "How many crystals do you have?"
"We have two hundred ships, Liam," Sterra cut in. "Only twenty of them are capable of carrying the weapon Mr. Anino has alluded to. We need four hundred fifty crystals, give or take. Do you have that many?"
"We do. Are you ready to negotiate now?" I asked. "I'm sure I'm not as bad as a live cobra."
"What do you need, Liam?" Sterra asked.
"We want access to fold-space again," I said. "You've either turned it back on or you've made something new."
I raised my eyebrows at Nick and he nodded appreciatively.
"Why you little shite," Alderson spat.
"And you'll invite Abasi and Confederation of Planets to be part of the battle group," I said. "Kroerak are as much their problem as they are yours. They deserve to share in the victory."
"Feels like you're counting chickens well in advance of hatching," Anino said. "Kroerak Empire hasn't survived this long without a few challengers."
"Anything else?" Alderson asked.
"When this is over, you return all of the Iskstar crystals to the Piscivoru," I said. "Might be the grand gesture you need to establish a good relationship."
"If we take out Kroerak, we won’t need to be friends with the Piscivoru," Alderson said. "For frak's sake, there are only a few hundred of them."
"I’ve always heard you were a master negotiator, Alderson," I said. "Are you sure your dislike for me and mine hasn't pushed you to make bad decisions? We have the technology needed to rid humanity of its premiere threat. We're willing to share it and the price is more than fair. We're just asking you to restore what we've lost. The cost to you is negligible."
Judgment of the Bold Page 21
