by C. Gockel
Roland’s purser, Preston, hovered in the corridor when they came out of the airlock. "An urgent message has arrived for you, Admiral. Just a few moments ago. It’s encrypted."
"Thank you. If I may take over your comms room?"
"Help yourself," Roland said.
Saahren sat down and activated the security provisions. He knew what the message was before his implant had decoded the data. Code five, top secret, contact Leonov. Leonov’s face was tense, his eyes strained.
"We’ve shut down Tisyphor and installed a garrison. I’m having my people check to see where they were getting that ordnance from. Especially a military InfoDroid. Your demolition work with the laboratory did a good job and our people finished it off. The thing is, van Tongeren and O’Reilly weren’t there. Neither was Tepich."
"Maybe they followed us when we left."
"Whatever they did, we have a serious problem, Chaka," Leonov said. "We’ve detained van Tongeren. He met Rostich on Tau Ceti and took delivery of a container. We found one canister in the container and that’s gone to our research facility, where the staff confirmed it holds a virus."
Saahren waited. Leonov wouldn’t be calling to tell him they had the virus. There had to be something else.
"The problem is I don’t think we have it all. The container we confiscated is designed to hold two canisters. It only held one. Also, when van Tongeren met Rostich they talked about testing the substance. Van Tongeren claims he doesn’t know anything about a virus, that he was carrying a culture to be used to develop a medicine. He was intending to patent the material, hence the secrecy. He’s sticking to his story and he’s tough."
"What about Rostich?"
"He’s dead. He noticed the tail we had on him, tried to run for it at a transit station and fell under a train. But van Tongeren also had a meeting with Sean O’Reilly on Tau Ceti. O’Reilly left Tau Ceti for Carnessa a few hours later. The luggage scans show a canister in his luggage."
Blast. His worst fear may yet come to pass. "Where is O’Reilly now?"
Leonov shrugged. "We’re trying to find him, so far without success. He seems to be very good at avoiding surveillance."
"I expect he’s had some help."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that Allysha probably built some tools for him." Surely he wouldn’t have to involve her in this? "Have you any idea what he’s doing?"
"We can guess. They’ve already tested the virus on a Ptorix, so they know it works. The next test would be a broader experiment. The medical people said they would want to get it into something like a climate conditioner in a public place. Then they could see how many were affected and how the thing spreads."
He shuddered. Going by the diary, it would spread in days, throughout a city and anywhere an infected person went to. Where, though, where?
Leonov kept talking, clinical, unemotional. "Then it’s a matter of location. A mixed world would be best so you could kill the Ptorix without affecting the humans. We don’t know a lot about O’Reilly, but we do have a profile for van Tongeren. He’s vindictive, tends to take revenge. You can be certain he knows your lady was involved in the destruction of his Tisyphor operation. That, and the fact that O’Reilly’s carrying the delivery tends toward the idea it’s going to Carnessa."
Saahren’s stomach lurched. This was getting worse. Forenisi all over again. "If that virus is released, the Ptorix population of Carnessa will be decimated. You can bet it will be leaked that a human released the disease. Anxhou will claim justification and send a fleet. It will be war. What are you doing about it?"
"We’re trying to track O’Reilly. It’s very, very difficult, not least because our agent in Ullnish was found murdered a week ago. The grand admiral wants you back here, Chaka, if for no other reason than to frighten Anxhou. You’re officially reinstated."
Reinstated. The news didn’t exhilarate him as it might have done a week ago. "Better wheel out my double to graciously accept and have somebody else look at the strategic situation. I’m going after O’Reilly."
"Chaka—"
"I want O’Reilly for my own reasons. And I have the person most likely to be able to find him. If this virus is released, I doubt if it’ll matter if I’m there or not."
"What do I tell the grand admiral?"
"I don’t know. You’re the head of intelligence. Tell him you can’t find me, I’m out of reach of a multi-dim."
"What about Brjyl? Have you been there yet?"
"Yes. We have some data. I’ll get her to send it to you."
"How was the security there?"
"The Qerrans have a security post. They made us take a Ptorix guard with us. We tricked him into leaving Allysha and me alone for long enough to get the data. He searched us both but I’m not sure he was completely convinced with the story we spun him."
"So the story might get out that you were there." Leonov let out a deep sigh. "To tell you the truth, Chaka, Roland will probably be a good bet. That ship of his has a handful of identities. Get him to change the ID to something else and be aware that you may still be a target. The story’s out about how a ship cleared off from Chollarc station."
"Understood. She’s still a target, too. Don’t worry, I’ll be taking very good care of her."
Saahren closed down the connection. What should he tell Roland? He needed the man’s ship to get to Carnessa. He stepped out of the comms room and found the journalist waiting for him, leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
"Your security’s good." Roland’s eyes blazed with curiosity. "Couldn’t pick up a thing. So what’s the deal? Head for Malmos and end this standoff?"
"Not yet. Have you spoken with Allysha? Do we know what she has on that backup?"
"No. She shrugged me off and disappeared into her cabin."
"Look, I need to talk to her. And then we all need to talk. Don’t set a destination yet."
Roland grinned. "This is getting to be a very interesting trip. I’ll be in the lounge."
Saahren knocked on Allysha’s door. "Allysha?"
"What?" she said.
"We need to talk. Don’t interrupt. This is not a social visit."
She sighed. The door swished open. "Well?"
He pushed his way in and sat down on the chair. "Close the door."
She did as he asked, a glare fixed on her face.
"Van Tongeren escaped with the virus. He’s given it to O’Reilly, who is in all likelihood taking it to Carnessa."
Emotions flitted over her face from belligerence to surprise to alarm. "Are you sure?"
"No. But it makes sense." He told her what Leonov had told him. "If that virus is released, it’s all over. We’ll be at war with the Khophirate."
"You have to stop them."
"I think we have to stop them."
"We? You have a fleet."
"The fleet can’t go anywhere near Carnessa, Allysha. And even if we could get away with suggesting if a Ptorix ship is there, why wouldn’t a Confederacy ship be there as well, we’d still have to find your husband. If we go now, quietly, we have a chance. Your dear husband will still want to talk to you. He has this job with Tepich, remember?"
"As you pointed out before, it’s his problem." She looked away, arms folded.
"Our intelligence people report that he has a knack of being able to disappear."
That got her attention. She cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at him. "Yes, well. I built him some things. He has a private shield."
He’d won. "Can you track him?"
She sighed and nodded. "I’ll have to build some things. But yes, I can beat anything I built. When you say Carnessa…" Her voice trailed away.
"Maybe Ullnish. But our people suspect Shernish. Partly because van Tongeren is known to be a vindictive bastard who will try to punish you for what you’ve done to his operation and partly because that’s where your husband will expect you to go."
Her lips bared in a snarl. "Stop reminding me he’s my husband."
He suppressed a smile. At least she wasn’t likely to want a reunion with O’Reilly. And if they did find him, divorce wasn’t the only way to end a marriage.
"So you’re prepared to help? Go to Carnessa and try to find him?"
"Of course I am. But… on a whole planet?"
"Fleet Intelligence is searching for him, too. They’ll keep me informed. But we’ll go to Shernish. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?"
She met his eyes for a fraction of a moment and smiled. "True. All right."
He hated himself. If she thought he’d leave her there, he was going to disappoint her again. But for the moment, as long as she did as he needed, the consequences would have to wait.
"What about this thing you brought back from Brjyl?" he said.
"It’s there. It contains data. I’d have to convert it to run on a human display system."
"We have people who can do that. Can we send the data to Malmos in its current state?"
She nodded.
"We’ll do that first, then see if Roland is game for a trip to Carnessa."
30
"Carnessa? Why?" Roland reclined on a sofa in the lounge, drink in hand.
"Allysha’s husband is there, carrying a biological weapon," Saahren said.
Allysha cringed. Her husband. The thought was an embarrassment.
"Her husband, eh?" Roland grinned, showing teeth. "How long’s he going to live?"
"He’s not to be killed." She glared at Saahren. She wouldn’t put it past him to take Sean out.
"We can’t talk to him if he’s dead," Saahren said.
"Why can’t your intel ghosts grab him?" Roland swirled his glass, setting the ice cubes tinkling.
"He has some gadgets that help him avoid detection."
Warmth rose to Allysha’s face. Roland noticed and winked at her. He eased himself forward on the sofa, eyes sparkling. "Oh man, this really is getting interesting. What’s the plan? Heading in to gather news again?"
"I don’t think that will be enough. We have to be able to get into places where he might release this weapon," Saahren said. "Places with a climate conditioning plant are high on the list."
"What is the weapon?" Roland said.
"Some sort of virus, apparently," Saahren replied. "We don’t know a lot about it, except it’s deadly."
That was a ‘keep your mouth shut’ if she’d ever heard one. Fine.
"Use me," Allysha said. "We can pretend we’re heading for the University to fix something. Say they’ve called me in. I’ve worked there often and I’m a local. It gives me a reason to go to Shernish and I’ve worked on the processors for climate conditioners before. Somebody can come with me to carry my bags." She aimed a malicious grin at Saahren.
He ignored her. "Do you have another identity for this ship? It’s possible we may have been marked on Brjyl and some people may take an interest."
"I’ll need some help from the lovely Allysha." Roland winked at her.
She smiled at him. Let Saahren scowl. "What’s it to be, Marius? Do you have data, Tyne?"
Tyne pushed out his lower lip and flicked through data on his comlink. "Queen of Tyrone?"
"Fine," Roland said. "Owner Thadeus Marchant, headed for Carnessa from … where? Not Chollarc."
"Tau Ceti," Allysha said. "Sean and I stopped by there on the way to Tisyphor."
"Sounds good," Roland said. "I suppose you’ll insist on coming, Admiral?"
"Of course. And I suppose you will, too?"
"Of course. Anything to look after the beautiful Allysha. I’d like to take Tyne, as well, to collect pictures. It’ll be a good story; life on a besieged planet."
"Should we take Grallaz?" Allysha said.
Roland’s lip curled. "Not a chance." He put out a hand, instantly placatory. "Just… I wouldn’t feel comfortable with him along. And you can translate if necessary. Sorry, Tyne."
"We should keep the number to a minimum. I don’t want to attract attention," Saahren said.
"We can sort the details later," Roland said. "Set up the ID for me and I’ll get Melching to set course for Carnessa."
Allysha went off with Tyne and Grallaz to make the changes to News Hound’s identity.
As soon as the ship had switched to shift-space and the harnesses had withdrawn, Roland, Tyne and Saahren got down to business sitting on sofas opposite each other. Allysha pulled up a chair.
The IS projected an image of Carnessa on the table between the sofas, blue and white and green. Allysha felt a pang of homesickness as the aerial image zoomed in on the coastline of Ayriz, largest of the three continents. Closer and closer. The curve of the mountains fell away, the ocean became a multi-colored, swirling pattern of greens and blues. Coastlines resolved into bays. And there was the University. The ancient fortress stood on the hill inside its limestone walls, the river curving around three sides. The port at the river mouth, the sea cliffs to the west, the beaches to the east. The streets bustled with traffic and pedestrians, everyone calmly going about their business.
"How old is this?" Saahren asked.
"It was taken a few months ago but at least it shows us the topography," Roland said.
Tyne frowned, fingering his goatee. "Is there anywhere we can put down the lander without being detected?"
"Why be devious if we don’t have to?" said Allysha. "Why can’t we just dock at the space station in the usual way, go down to Ullnish in a shuttle and catch a train from there?"
Saahren shook his head. "We can’t go via Ullnish. The place is in turmoil, it’d take too long and it’s the obvious place to pick up a tail."
"But it would be good if we could still dock at the station, and take a lander down from there," Tyne said.
"We should do that," Saahren said. "We have to remember that Ptorix warship. We’d look suspicious just going into orbit. They’d be sure to ask questions."
"We can probably bring a lander in here." Allysha pointed at the fields above the cliffs. "And why hide it? We’ll just say its official, that there’s something wrong with the systems at the University and we were flown in urgently."
"Why wouldn’t you land at the University?" Tyne said.
"There isn’t anywhere, except on the road outside and that’s always busy," Allysha said. "Besides, that way we can go through the town and check out the other possibilities."
"We plan on landing on the cliffs so we can check the town," Saahren said. "On the understanding that plans must be flexible. Do you have to prepare anything?"
"Yes. I’ll need to create a letter of authorization from the Chancellor at the University so I can enter wherever I want to carry out maintenance. Do you have a long-range, hand-held tracker?" She looked at Roland.
"I have, lovely lady."
"I’ll need to modify it a little to find Sean. I’ll take over your workshop and get to work."
"Certainly," Roland said. "I’ll take you down."
He led her down the walkways to the workshop near the engine room. He sank down onto his haunches, searched through a cupboard under one of the benches and pulled out a slim, rectangular object about half the length of her forearm.
"Here’s the tracker." Roland rose to his feet and handed her the device. "Your friend Grallaz should be able to find whatever else you may need."
She looked the tracker over. A screen, sensitive signal collection and recognition; good enough.
Roland’s voice broke into her thoughts. "I like the way you think, Allysha. Consider that job offer. I can afford to pay you very well. Let’s say a three-month contract? It’ll get you away from Saahren if that’s what you want, and from this ex-husband of yours. What do you say?"
She looked up into his handsome face, open and charming. He’d been unfailingly polite—to her, anyway—had never made any sort of advance. He was well-read, articulate, interesting. It was an option; yes, a serious option. "It’s tempting, Marius. Let’s get this business over with and I’ll give the matter serious consideration."
His smile lit up his face. "Fantastic. Great. Well… I’ll leave you to it, then."
The beacon lights of Carnessa’s single jump gate gleamed against the starscape behind Queen of Tyrone as she decelerated to orbital speed. Allysha stared at the view screen, eager for a first look at home. Carnessa hung below, a fragile sphere in the blackness of space. Most of the planet was in daylight but she couldn’t see Ullnish or Shernish. A mass of cloud hung over the continent.
"Look." Roland pointed at the view screen. The Ptorix warship appeared, four long protuberances like tentacles jutting from its bow, as it rounded Carnessa’s mass. "They love weird architecture, don’t they?"
"It’s not weird from where they stand." She looked at the technical specifications being displayed on the screen as the warship decreased the distance between them. "Is this a big one? What would it compare to in your fleet?"
Saahren’s voice startled her. "A frigate. But it’s fifty percent as big again as one of ours." He stood behind Allysha, eyes on the screen.
"What are those tentacley things?"
"Highly flexible beam weapons," he said. "They can point them in any direction."
Allysha’s heart rate climbed as the warship approached. Deep shades of violet and purple, overlapping and blending together, covered the ship’s surface. If she hadn’t been so nervous she might have been amused. The Ptorix even decorated warships.
"This is Khophiran Ship Xentrex. What izz your destination and purpose?" The voice was hissing and sibilant, the words delivered in Standard but with a labored Ptorix accent.
Melching’s voice came from the cockpit. "What did it say? The accent’s thick."
Allysha translated.
"Acknowledge, Xentrex. We are proceeding to dock at Carnessa’s space station, carrying technical personnel for Shernish University," Melching said.
"The warship is dragging our identifiers and scanning," the IS said.
She held her breath. This was where they found out if her work on the ship’s ID could withstand a probe from a state-of-the-art Ptorix military system. Seconds ticked past. Allysha moistened dry lips.