Modulus Echo

by Toby Neighbors

  “Thirty seconds,” Nance announced.

  “Staff Sergeant,” General Pershing said. “I want your team on full alert.”

  “Roger that,” Visher said, stepping back from the bridge and speaking quietly into his personal com-link.

  “You’re expecting trouble?” Duke Simeon said.

  He sounded fine, but Ben could see the royal fidgeting nervously.

  “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst,” Pershing replied. “I’m not expecting trouble, but it if comes, I will be ready for it.”

  “They’ve extended the docking tube,” Nance said.

  “Touchdown,” Kim said. “We’re connected.”

  “They’ve begun towing us onto the dock,” Nance added.

  “Alright,” Ben said. “Probably the best thing is for Magnum and I to go onto the station first. We’ll search for a wave generator and hopefully find someone with the rebellion. Then we can set up a meeting.”

  “Take one of Visher’s men,” Pershing said. “He can go in plain clothes and make sure you aren’t doing anything foolish.”

  “You have to be kidding me,” Kim snapped. “She sprang out of her seat at the cockpit and stared daggers at the general. “We’re risking our necks to give you what you want and you still don’t trust us.”

  “Like you said,” Pershing replied calmly, “you aren’t soldiers, but this is a military operation. I want my people involved in every phase of it. Including making contact with the rebels.”

  “You should start referring to them as Confederates,” Ben said. “A small show of respect could go a long way. Don’t worry, Kim, as long as they aren’t in uniform, I doubt one of Visher’s men will be a problem.”

  “Better not be,” Kim said, her tone softening. “There’s no telling who might be waiting for you in that station.”

  “We’ll have our guard up,” Ben said, before turning his attention back to Pershing. “But remember, the Confederates don’t trust you. If this is going to work, you can’t just order them to do it.”

  “Just get me to them,” Pershing said. “Leave the rest up to me.”

  “Alright, I’ll do all I can,” Ben said. “Magnum.”

  They left the bridge and went down to Engineering, where they took their pistols from the storage compartment. Magnum wore his low on his thigh, where his long arms made the weapon just within reach. A laser pistol on one side, his old-fashioned projectile firearm on the other. Ben slipped his own pistol in a hip holster on his right side. He checked his pockets to make sure he had Imperium credits. They still had Brimex credits, but he wasn’t sure the station would still honor them. Two hundred credits was more than enough to purchase an old component with, even a rare one. Satisfied that they had everything they needed, Ben tapped his com-link on his shirt collar.

  “You read me, Nance?”

  “Loud and clear, Ben,” Nance replied. “Corporal Dial is on his way to join you.”

  “Good,” Ben said. “We’ll be in touch soon.”

  “You better,” Kim said.

  Brimex Station was a manufacturing installation with large berths for cargo ships. Their docking facility was built for moving large containers and easily accommodated the Echo’s rear hatch. Corporal Dial was waiting by the stairs. He was armed with a small pistol in a shoulder holster under his jacket. An old hat covered his military haircut.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” Dial said. “I had to borrow some clothes and we’re about the same size.”

  “No problem,” Ben said. “Just don’t get any holes shot in them.”

  “Yeah, that would be bad for both of us,” he said casually.

  Ben looked at Magnum who was standing by the hatch controls. He gave the big man a nod, and Magnum pulled the lever that opened the rear hatch. It lowered slowly, revealing a surprise waiting for them just inside the docking arm.

  Chapter 42

  “Len Webb,” Ben said, as the vice president of customer relations appeared in the hallway of the station’s spartan docking arm.

  “Mr. Griminski. It’s good to see you again.”

  “Is it?” Ben replied, feeling a little uneasy.

  Webb moved forward with an outstretched hand as the short, rotund businessman waddled forward.

  “You’ve made quite a name for yourself,” Webb said, grabbing Ben’s hand and pumping it up and down. “And some waves too. Who’s your friend?”

  Ben turned. Magnum and Corporal Dial stood just behind him to his left.

  “You know Magnum,” Ben said. “This is Johnny D. He’s a friend of a friend.”

  “It’s good to have friends,” Webb said with a clear note of suspicion in his voice.

  “That’s right. Look, we need an old wave generator. Do you know where we might find one?”

  “Sure, sure,” Webb said. “But why don’t we have a chat first. Just you and me.”

  “Fine,” Ben said, knowing that the idea of privacy on the Brimex Station was a joke. He was sure there were hidden cameras and microphones built into every nook and cranny of the entire station. Someone somewhere was watching, listening, and recording his every move.

  “This way,” Webb said. “I’ve got a conference room reserved.”

  The businessman was flanked by several associates. Some were underlings, others were undercover security, Ben guessed. Webb wasn’t the man at the top of the Brimex hierarchy, but he was a VIP handling a significant portion of the corporation’s dirty work.

  They moved down the long corridor on a conveyor belt built into the floor that whisked them along at the pace of a fast walk. It was cool inside the space station, but Webb removed a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his jacket and dabbed at his bald head. Ben guessed the businessman didn’t get out of his office very often, and the fact that he was waiting at the docking arm meant he’d rushed down as soon as the Echo dropped out of hyperspace. That fact revealed two important details to Ben. The first was that the Brimex Corporation never intended to turn them away. And second, they wanted something from him. It was something they wanted bad enough to get Webb rushing from his comfortable, high-rise office.

  “What’s new here?” Ben said casually.

  “Oh, nothing important, really,” Webb said. “Just a lot of accounting. It’s pretty boring stuff. I’m much more interested in what you’ve been up to. It’s been a while since we heard from you. I’d love to know how you managed to get taken off the Royal Imperium’s most wanted list. That’s not something that normally happens while a person is still alive.”

  “I convinced the queen to do me a favor,” Ben said.

  Webb burst out laughing, as if the bad joke was actually hysterical. They reached the end of the conveyor belt and stepped off. Webb led the way through the double doors and into the wide lobby where guests were quartered on the space station. They all came up short when a group of people stood up from the lounge chairs that were gathered around a holographic display in the center of the wide-open room. The group quickly spread out, and Ben recognized the man in the center. He felt his heart drop a little, and his hand moved to the grip of his pistol.

  “Well, well, what a surprise?” Holt said.

  The grizzled Confederate always seemed to show up at the worst of times. Ben was hoping to meet someone in the rebellion, but he was hoping it wasn’t Holt. There were few people Ben trusted less than the old Confederate, who had risked blowing up the Echo on their very first run for the rebels.

  “It looks like you’re in a hurry somewhere, Webb,” Holt continued. “I need to speak to Ben. Can we meet you somewhere when we’re done?”

  “No, he’ll speak to me first,” Webb insisted. “This is Brimex property, and we have the right to deny access to anyone at any time.”

  “Oh, that sounds like a threat,” Holt said, but he didn’t sound worried in the least. “I suppose your gun thugs are going to shoot it out with me right here and now.”

  “If that’s what it takes,” Webb said.

  T
he air seemed to thicken with tension. Ben glanced around. There were weapons everywhere. A few of the Confederates with Holt had already drawn theirs and weren’t trying to hide the fact.

  “I have business with Ben,” Holt said.

  “So do I,” Webb said. “He needs my help.”

  “What I need,” Ben said calmly, “is for everyone to put their weapons away.”

  Magnum had moved close beside Ben, and he was grateful to his big friend. Magnum was a more-than-capable fighter and very protective, but a fight wasn’t going to help anyone.

  “I think I know what you both want,” Ben continued. “But let’s go somewhere where we can talk about it.”

  “First things first. Who’s he?” Holt asked, pointing at Corporal Dial.

  “A new friend,” Ben said. “Give me a chance, and I’ll explain it all to you.”

  “Oh, that’s explanation enough for me,” Holt said. “Word is you’re working with the Imperium now. I didn’t believe it, but I’ve been wrong before.”

  “Holt, I have an offer for you that you need to hear.”

  “I don’t need to hear lies from a traitor like you,” Holt said. “I knew the first time I saw you that you couldn’t be trusted. I don’t care what people are saying about you. I think this whole thing is a scam by the Imperium to break the Confederacy.”

  “What’s he talking about?” Dial asked.

  “Rumors,” Len Webb said with a chuckle. “Nothing more. Let’s not lose our heads, gentlemen.”

  “He’s right,” Ben said. “There are a lot of rumors going around, and the only thing that really matters is that there are aliens in the galaxy.”

  Holt chuckled. “Is that the best the Imperium could come up with. Aliens? How dumb do they take us for?”

  “It’s true,” Ben said. “Professor Jones worked out his theories, only things got out of hand. Let me explain.”

  “No, I think you better just turn the professor over to us, along with your ship. The Confederacy no longer needs your services, Ben. Make the call and get your people here now.”

  “No,” Webb said. “You don’t make the orders here.”

  “Look, Lenny, you’re out of your depth,” Holt said, signaling one of his men who opened a small briefcase with explosives inside.

  Ben felt a lump forming in his stomach that seemed to weigh more than he did. His knees trembled, and his mouth was suddenly dry.

  “Now I know this magnificent complex has more than enough safeguards to ensure it isn’t all destroyed when we blow a hole in it and the hard vacuum of outer space sucks everything out. But just think of the money you’ll lose.”

  “Don’t threaten me,” Webb said, his voice shaking with either fear or rage.

  “What do you want, Holt?” Ben asked. “I’m not giving up the Echo. I can make one call and they’ll be gone, including the professor.”

  “You know, I never thought of that,” Holt said sarcastically. “I mean, if I had I might have a dozen ships just waiting for that move, guns hot and ready. You know what I mean?”

  “You’ve heard what happened when the Imperium tried that,” Ben said. “I don’t care how many ships you’ve got. We won’t be bullied.”

  “I’ve heard lots of rumors, but there doesn’t seem to be any proof,” Holt said. “And that’s the problem. Your Imperium friends spun a fantasy that’s just too hard to believe.”

  “They want to meet with you,” Ben said. “They’re offering amnesty.”

  “It’s a lie. You think they haven’t tried that before? We’re not looking to avoid a little jail time, Ben. And we’ll never bow to their authoritarian rule. Not ever. So whatever game you’ve cooked up, you can just keep it. I want the professor, and I want your ship.”

  Chapter 43

  “No,” Ben said.

  It was as if someone had cranked the thermostat to over a hundred degrees. Holt’s men looked scared, and the old Confederate’s face was turning red.

  “Then I’ll just have to take it,” he said.

  His hand was already by his pistol, and Ben saw his shoulder flex. In one smooth motion, Ben drew his own pistol and had the weapon pointing at Holt before the older man could clear his holster. Ben’s move was almost casual, like he was sparring with a child who had no hope of besting him, which eased the tension a little.

  “Put it back,” Ben said. “This is getting stupid.”

  “You’re a cocky little bastard,” Holt snarled, but Ben ignored him.

  “We all want the same things,” Ben said loudly. “Freedom. Things are changing, and I can guarantee that the Confederacy has a seat at the table when the negotiations start. But we can’t do that if we continue shooting each other over perceived threats.”

  Ben holstered his laser pistol and stepped toward Holt. He spoke in a tense whisper.

  “They aren’t rumors,” he said. “We made the professor’s rocket and set it off in the Celeste system. It opened a wormhole to another galaxy.”

  “I don’t believe in bedtime stories,” Hold sneered.

  “You don’t have to believe me, you just have to listen.”

  “Wait a second,” Webb said. “The Brimex Corporation has a stake here. We won’t be cut out of this deal.”

  “The deal,” Ben said turning back to Webb and speaking loud enough for everyone to hear, “is amnesty in exchange for help fighting a new threat. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve got the new admiral general, the queen, and Duke Simeon with me. They’re ready to talk. Take that news back to whoever is in charge. But don’t waste time. We’re only going to be here a few hours, then we’ve got to back to the Yelsin system.”

  Ben saw one of the other Confederates nod. He had no idea if they believed him or not, but he was hopeful they would spread the message.

  “I’m going to meet with Webb,” Ben continued, speaking softly to Holt. “I need some replacement parts for the ship. Why don’t you come with us?”

  “So you can betray us all and kill me in the process?”

  “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” Ben said, getting angry. “We’re not the enemy.”

  “You’re not a Confederate either,” Holt grumbled.

  “We never said we were,” Magnum replied.

  “I want the professor,” Holt insisted.

  “He’s not mine to give,” Ben replied. “But you can talk to him. If he wants to go with you, I won’t stop him. But you should know he’s working to find a way to close the wormhole. He feels responsible.”

  “Fine, fine,” Webb said. “That’s all well and good, but there is business to be done. This way, please, gentlemen.”

  The Confederates dispersed. Ben couldn’t help but admire how quickly their weapons disappeared, and they seemed to somehow transform into ordinary, unassuming figures. Within seconds they set off in different directions. It would be impossible to follow them all. Only Holt stayed behind, glaring at Ben.

  Webb led the way toward a small meeting room, and Ben followed him. Magnum and Dial brought up the rear of the little group as Holt moved up beside Ben. The rest of Webb’s people followed at a distance.

  “This isn’t over,” Holt whispered to Ben.

  “Whatever,” Ben replied, trying not to let the angry rebel get inside his head.

  They went into the meeting room, which had a long table in the center surrounded by fancy executive chairs. Webb waved to them, “Have a seat, please.”

  Ben sat down, and Holt sat across from him. Magnum and Dial stayed on their feet by the door. Ben wasn’t sure if he was in the same meeting room he’d met Holt in the last time he was on the station. That particular time, Webb hadn’t bothered to come down from his office.

  “I know your time is valuable,” Webb said, launching right into his sales pitch. “So I won’t keep you long, but there are rumors that you have developed a new shield technology, and the Brimex Corporation is interested in helping you develop it for market.”

  “It’s not his to sell,” Ho
lt said.

  “You don’t speak for me,” Ben told the older man. “And I’m sorry, but I’m not looking to sell anything. I’m here to buy some replacement parts.”

  Webb chuckled before he spoke.

  “Ben, relax. We’re all friends here. And I guarantee this room is completely secure. Let us help you protect your invention. Someone as bright as you could have a great future here at Brimex.”

  “I’m really not here to sell anything, Mr. Webb,” Ben said. “You’re right about the shield. I developed it and we tested it. But it isn’t for sale.”

  “Everything is for sale, my boy. Trust me. Name your price, let me see what we can do.”

  “We’re here to enlist the help of the Confederacy, not to sell technology.”

  “That’s because he’s already sold it,” Holt said in an accusing tone. “You’ve already given it to the Royal Imperium, haven’t you? We trusted you with our greatest resource and you betrayed us!”

  “No,” Ben said. “In fact, the Imperium doesn’t have the time or the resources right now to care about our tech. It would take their R&D department too long to adapt the shield I developed for the Echo and use for their ships.”

  “All the more reason to develop it with us,” Webb said. “Let us do the work and distribute it to both sides.”

  “Sounds fair to me,” Magnum said. “As long as we get a percentage.”

  “Of course, of course,” Webb said, pulling a contract from the inner pocket of his jacket. “All we need to do is fill in the numbers and sign it. I’ll have a notary sent in.”

  “No,” Ben said. “That’s not what we’re here for.”

  He shot Magnum a look, and the big man shrugged his shoulders.