Boundless

by Jack Campbell

  “If they’ve harmed any of the Tigres or the families,” Geary said, “I hope you haul it back here again.”

  “We just might,” Iceni said. “Our reputation, like your own, is worth more than a single battle cruiser. Colonel Rogero also committed to the safety of those people. We’ll get them off Kane. Now, Ambassador Rycerz, please outline your proposed new offer.”

  Rycerz flashed a smile of her own. “You asked for two Alliance hypernet keys. I was sent here with an offer that included no Alliance hypernet keys. You understand, I hope, that if I’m perceived as having given in to your demands, the Alliance won’t ratify the agreement. On the other hand, I understand that you cannot be seen as giving in to Alliance demands, and must have something to show you demonstrated your independence, as well as the means to sustain your economy. Admiral Geary tells me the costs of supporting the new battle cruiser for Kane will be borne by you as well, increasing our interest in properly rewarding Midway for its vital role in maintaining freedom and stability in this region of stars.

  “In light of these factors, I propose a compromise. One Alliance hypernet key in exchange for allowing us to modify your gate and use the hypernet here.”

  “One key?” President Iceni asked, eyeing Rycerz. “So you can say we demanded two but you only gave one?”

  “And so you can tell your people that we offered none and you demanded one,” Rycerz said.

  President Iceni stroked her chin, watching Rycerz. “I assume that you know hypernet keys can be duplicated.”

  “Can they?” Rycerz asked, her voice sounding innocent of any pretense.

  Iceni’s smile stayed in place this time. “I see. But regardless of what we tell others, I need to know that will not create any claims of deal breaking from the Alliance.”

  “The agreement will contain nothing about duplicating hypernet keys,” Rycerz said. “Is there a need for that?”

  “No need at all. Why should it address hypothetical issues?”

  General Drakon frowned at Rycerz. “So you’re deliberately leaving a loophole for us to exploit.”

  Rycerz shook her head. “I’ve said nothing of the kind. I’ve simply asked if the issue needed to be addressed.”

  “Fair enough,” Drakon said, also smiling.

  Geary, watching him, thought again that Drakon’s smile was the sort of expression that with only minor changes could be either reassuring or frightening.

  “But,” Rycerz continued, “given the magnitude of my concession, I’m hoping that Midway has something to offer that will provide the sense of a balanced deal to the Alliance. The Senate has to approve this deal. Kommodor Bradamont indicated there might be such a thing at hand.”

  General Drakon nodded. “Kommodor Bradamont brought her proposal to us, and President Iceni and I both saw merit in the idea. There’s a Syndicate research facility at a star named Kahiki not far from here. We’ve taken possession of it.”

  Ambassador Rycerz’s eyes watched him closely. “What kind of research?”

  “Theoretical long shots that might yield something of use in dozens of areas. Due to its isolated location, Kahiki was deemed safe for the most cutting-edge research funded by the Syndicate.”

  Dr. Cresida, who’d appeared zoned out earlier, had fastened her attention on Drakon.

  “What are you offering in relation to that?” Rycerz asked, her voice cautious.

  “We can’t exploit the potential of much of what Kahiki holds,” President Iceni said. “But, if someone with substantially more resources were given access to it, they might gain some valuable insights.”

  “Which they’d be expected to share,” General Drakon said.

  “That’s . . . an intriguing offer,” Ambassador Rycerz said.

  “Here’s some of what they’re working on,” Drakon said, gesturing over the table. A virtual paper list appeared on the table in front of Geary, Rycerz, and Dr. Cresida.

  After struggling to comprehend any of the topics listed, Geary looked at Cresida, who was studying her copy intently.

  “Dr. Cresida?” Ambassador Rycerz asked.

  Cresida looked up, blinking. “Interesting.”

  “Are they of value?”

  “Yes.” Cresida nodded, looking back at the list. “I mean, this is indeed theoretical research into some extreme concepts. Many of them might lead nowhere. But even failures would be extremely valuable in what they’d tell us. I’m not a specialist in some of these areas, of course.”

  “Should the Alliance help fund this effort?”

  “Absolutely.” Dr. Cresida looked at the paper again. “Absolutely,” she repeated.

  “I think we have a deal,” Ambassador Rycerz said.

  That brought another smile from Iceni. “Good. The best deals are those that offer equal benefit to both sides. I believe that is what we have. Once we finalize a few details, our gate experts can talk to your gate experts about the next steps.”

  “Excellent,” Ambassador Rycerz said.

  After Iceni’s and Drakon’s virtual presences had left, Bradamont lingered to salute Geary. “Thank you for getting my colonel back safely to me, sir.”

  Ambassador Rycerz beamed at her. “They understand now, don’t they? That I really am in charge here?”

  “No,” Bradamont said, shaking her head. “They still think he runs the Alliance, but is doing so behind a screen. Even his time leaving Midway to go to Kane is to them simply more proof of how Admiral Geary is maintaining the pretense of answering to you rather than you answering to him.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “No, I’m sorry, I’m not. That’s how they view the universe, and everything they see is filtered through that. But they also view Admiral Geary as an, um, enlightened leader in their own mold, which is why they remain willing to deal with the Alliance as long as the Alliance is perceived to be Admiral Geary’s kingdom.”

  “Fine.” Ambassador Rycerz had apparently developed yet another headache.

  This mission, Geary thought, seemed to produce a bumper crop of headaches.

  After Bradamont’s virtual self had vanished as well, Rycerz turned to Dr. Cresida. “Doctor, I’ll get you connected to Midway’s gate technicians as quickly as we can once the deal is finalized. Let the absent Dr. Kottur know that we’re going to be proceeding. Keep me informed of important actions.”

  Dr. Cresida tilted her head to one side as she considered the last statement. “Do you want to know when we deactivate the safe-collapse system on the gate?”

  “What?” The ambassador stared at the doctor. “You’re going to deactivate the safe-collapse system?”

  “We have to,” Cresida replied in a matter-of-fact way. “Otherwise that system would block our attempts to entangle the gate with the Alliance hypernet.”

  “Why did Dr. Kottur never mention that to me?”

  “I don’t know. He was supposed to.”

  “Yes,” Ambassador Rycerz said in the manner of someone keeping tight control of her feelings. “I want to know when the safe-collapse system is deactivated. And when it has been reactivated. And exactly what is wrong with Dr. Kottur that he keeps missing these meetings.”

  “I’ll inform Dr. Kottur of that,” Dr. Cresida said. “I do think there’s something wrong with him.” Having made that ambiguous statement, she left.

  The ambassador made a quick call. “Colonel Webb, we have a complication. It turns out the scientists will have to deactivate the safe-collapse system on the hypernet gate in order to do their work.”

  Webb frowned. “That creates a window for real trouble if anyone knows of it.”

  “Exactly. I want to keep that information held tightly among those who need to know. And I need you to keep an eye and an ear out for any signs that anyone is taking too much interest in the state of that safe-collapse system.” She gestured to Geary. �
��Keep the admiral informed as well. Have you spotted anything we should be aware of?”

  “Nothing much. There’s been a lot of access of the files on the aliens. Everything that’s known about them. But that’s hardly suspicious when we’re getting ready to head into their space. Our science team has been monitoring the hypernet gate and analyzing the operating system, but that’s their job.” Colonel Webb made a face. “Oh, and Dr. Macadams. He keeps demanding things. Get the original translator from the other ship, as if I could overrule an admiral. Trying to block any socializing between his people and anyone else on the ship.”

  “Is he trying to hide something?” Ambassador Rycerz asked.

  “The living stars only know,” Colonel Webb said. “And questions about the status of the work on the hypernet gate.” He paused. “Which now looks particularly interesting. I assumed it was just because we couldn’t head for alien space until that part of the mission was done. But in light of what you just said . . .”

  “Keep an eye on him, Colonel,” Rycerz ordered. “He’s surely figured out that I’m slowly edging him out of his job.”

  “How are your people holding up, Colonel?” Geary asked. “This duty must be pretty boring for them.”

  “It’s nothing we haven’t been through before,” Webb said. “Hurry up and wait, you know. They’re working out, running through sims, the usual things. I admit they can’t wait to get moving, and really envied your Marines getting to go have some fun at Kane.”

  “I’m not sure I’d call it fun,” Geary said. “What about that bug? Did you learn anything more about it?”

  Webb looked at Ambassador Rycerz.

  Rycerz made an angry gesture. “We found another, in this office, while you were at Kane. Which I suppose rules out anyone on any of the ships you took with you.”

  “But otherwise,” Colonel Webb said, “no fingerprints at all, electronic, manufacturing, software, anything. Even the materials have been mixed from a variety of sources to be generic so we can’t identify any particular source.”

  “But someone with access to the ambassador’s office,” Geary said.

  “Or someone who has access to someone who has access to this office and made them an unknowing carrier of the bug,” Webb said. “Which really doesn’t narrow it down at all. What about that Dr. Cresida? She’s an odd fish, and it’s obvious she doesn’t like you at all.”

  “No, she doesn’t like me,” Geary said. “But I think she really wants to see if she can make this gate entanglement work. And she’s been in here for important meetings, so why would she need to plant a bug?”

  And that, unfortunately, was where they had to leave it.

  The next day, Midway approved the deal, and the technicians and theoreticians began their work.

  NINETEEN

  “THEY’VE deactivated the safe-collapse system on the hypernet gate.” Ambassador Rycerz looked as angry as Geary had ever seen her. “They did it this morning, and I only now found out by accident.”

  He had just met her aboard Boundless once more. “Maybe that’s the reason for this urgent meeting that Dr. Kottur summoned us to.”

  “It had better be. Every time I meet him the man is pleasant and easy to talk to, but his behavior when he’s not with me is getting more than annoying.” They walked together through the passageways of Boundless, toward the section where the science offices were.

  As they reached the door to Dr. Kottur’s office, Geary could see Dr. Bron approaching. “Do you know what this critical meeting is about?” he asked Bron.

  Dr. Bron shook his head, looking annoyed. “He said it was absolutely vital before the attempt to dual-entangle the hypernet gate. We should be preparing for that now, but this has called us away and is delaying the attempt.”

  “We were told we had to meet with Dr. Kottur at exactly 1210 ship’s time,” Ambassador Rycerz said. “Why?”

  Dr. Bron gave them a hapless look. “I’m sure Dr. Kottur must have a good reason.”

  “It’s a quarter to twelve now,” Rycerz said. “I have no intention of standing around for almost half an hour waiting on Dr. Kottur.”

  Dr. Bron leaned closer to the door to examine it. “It’s locked, on a timer. It’ll release at exactly 1210.”

  Ambassador Rycerz rubbed her nose, her unhappiness growing. “Why does he think we need these kinds of dramatics?” She tapped the door alert, waiting for Kottur to respond, then tapped it again, harder. “And does he think the admiral and I have nothing better to do but wait outside his door?” Pulling out her personal pad, she tapped a link. “Captain Matson. The door to Dr. Kottur’s stateroom is on a time lock. I want it opened now.”

  Geary could hear the voice of Boundless’s captain reply. “I’m ordering an override of the time lock, Madam Ambassador. You should get a green open light in less than five seconds.”

  It actually took only two seconds before the time lock blinked to zero. “Thank you, Captain,” Ambassador Rycerz said.

  Since Dr. Bron seemed hesitant to enter, Geary pushed open the door, leading the way inside.

  He stopped when he saw Dr. Kottur sitting slumped at his desk. Kottur’s eyes were closed, and he didn’t move. A small, empty glass sat on the desk before him.

  Dr. Bron ran forward with a small cry of shock, grabbing Kottur’s arm and neck, feeling. “There’s no pulse, no respiration. But he’s still warm and no stiffness has set in. It must have happened less than an hour ago. We have to—”

  His words cut off as another audible click filled the room, perhaps a circuit set to detect the presence of the others. A virtual image of Dr. Kottur appeared, standing beside the chair, his usual comradely smile firmly in place. “I know you’re wondering why I called you together,” he said, his smile growing a bit. “I’ve always wanted to say that, just like an old-style detective. Let me start by apologizing for what’s about to happen. I really do regret the necessity of my actions. But I had to ensure you all knew the reasons for them, and why they were required for the sake of all humanity.”

  Dr. Kottur’s image gestured outward. “For a long time, humanity could take comfort in knowing only it existed as a truly intelligent species. When the discovery was made that other such species existed, it became clear that the universe and the forces which rule it, in their wisdom, had placed such species on widely separated stars. Intelligent species are not made to coexist. It violates the laws of nature.”

  Geary stared at the image of Dr. Kottur, feeling a growing sense of dread though he didn’t know exactly why.

  “Look at Old Earth,” Dr. Kottur continued, still smiling as if this were a collegial meeting to discuss minor matters. “Humanity’s cousins, other intelligences like the Neanderthals, were either absorbed into humanity, or exterminated. That’s how it has to be. The enigmas understand that. They want to exterminate us. And the homicidal cow creatures understand as well. They make no secret of it.”

  Kottur raised one hand to wag a finger at his audience as if they were a lecture hall filled with students. “But the spider wolves are more clever than that. They know what must be, but they pretend to be our friends because they’ve seen how fiercely humanity will defend itself against open enemies. They want to infiltrate human space and human society, becoming a common presence, their claws and tentacles gaining access into all of our systems. With what purpose? To do what nature demands. When they are ready, humanity will die in a single night. Or be reduced to perpetual slavery. Or perhaps turned into docile sources of food for the maws of the spider wolves.

  “How could I let that happen? This mission was so badly misconceived that it had to fail. The forces of the universe needed an agent to act on their behalf.”

  “What the hell . . . ?” Ambassador Rycerz whispered, her expression increasingly aghast.

  Dr. Kottur’s image pointed to his desk. “At exactly 1200 ship time, I sent a command to the
hypernet gate, which has had all of its protective software disabled preparatory to the attempted realignment. That command contains the program to cause a maximum destructive output when the gate collapses. The gate will be destroyed, producing a nova-force blast that will destroy everything in this star system. But I’m afraid that you won’t witness that event. Even though there shouldn’t be any possible means of preventing it, I don’t want you all suffering or making futile efforts. This ship will itself be destroyed in only a couple of minutes.”

  Kottur’s image paused, the smile briefly wavering. “I truly am sorry that you’re all going to die, along with everyone else near this star. It’s unfortunate. I couldn’t even attend the meetings with those from Midway, knowing that I’d have to be the agent of their deaths. And worried that they might see through me. But my actions are necessary, you see. A few millions or billions of lives are nothing compared to the greater good. Compared to the future of humanity. Please don’t run around wasting your final moments in futile efforts to stop my last project. There’s nothing you can do. As for me, I wouldn’t want any panic on your parts to result in painful injury to myself, so I will drink from this small glass on my desk, and very quickly fall into a slumber from which my spirit will depart my body. I don’t fear that! No, I’m certain of my reward. But I am sorry you all must die, and wanted you to understand why it had to be.”

  The image vanished.

  “Oh my ancestors,” Dr. Bron whispered, his voice strained by disbelief. “We’re doomed.”

  Maybe it was because of his experience with time-delayed communications, but Geary grasped a vital fact before the others. “We weren’t supposed to enter this room until 1210. That’s . . . twenty minutes from now.”

  “Twenty minutes.” Ambassador Rycerz whipped out her personal pad again. “Captain Matson! I want everything on this ship capable of sending an external transmission shut down now!”

  Matson took a few seconds to reply. “I don’t understand—”

  “There’s no time to explain! Shut down your transmitters!”