by Tim Pratt
“Fine. What do you know about wormholes?”
Felix frowned. “As much as anyone does.”
“And what’s that? I may travel in more informed circles than you do, and I don’t want to leave out any context you might need to understand.”
Felix was beginning to see Azad’s point about keeping the man sedated. “Wormholes are naturally occurring portals, scattered randomly throughout the galaxy. They link distant points in space, so they’re one of the main reasons interstellar nations and trade are even possible. They’re vitally important strategically – control a wormhole, and you control vast swathes of space. A trade dispute over the Quann wormhole a few thousand years ago turned into a shooting war that brought down the old Lazax Empire.”
“Solid grade-school-level overview,” Thales said. “Except for the bit about them being naturally occurring. Some of them might be, but they can also be made. The Creuss do it.”
Felix shuddered. The Ghosts of Creuss. He didn’t know much about the aliens – nobody did – but they were bogeymen, beings composed of energy instead of matter, difficult or impossible to kill or even fight, with a mastery of technology beyond anything the other races of the galaxy possessed. If Thales said the Creuss could make wormholes, he believed him. “If you say so.”
“My personal area of expertise is wormhole physics,” Thales said. “When we found out the Creuss could create wormholes, replicating their technology became my personal mission. Creating wormholes isn’t easy for them, apparently – they do so rarely, at great cost, and mostly use FTL ships like everyone else. Still, if the Creuss can do it, that means it’s possible, and I refuse to believe there’s anything they can do that I can’t, given sufficient time and resources. I turned my mind toward the problem, and quickly began to make progress. Just knowing it could be done removed the greatest psychological block.” He leaned forward. “Tell your superiors I’ve found a way to open wormholes anywhere I want, anytime I want. Tell them, if they can afford me, I’ll give them the keys to the galaxy.”
Chapter 5
“You’re saying you can make wormholes. You can actually, really, physically make wormholes.” Felix was staggered by the implications. Thales might as well have said he could eat a planet.
Thales showed all his teeth in what must have been intended as a smile. “Imagine what a bunch of pirates like the Coalition could do with my technology. You could open a wormhole, without warning, anywhere you wanted. You could drop a fleet into orbit around any planet or station in the galaxy, strike your target, and then vanish. I can close my wormholes, too, so no one will be able to follow you back. Ha. What do you think of that?”
I think it sounds too good to be true. “I think extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
“I always knew I’d have to give a demonstration to potential buyers. I’m prepared to do that, if the Coalition will help me complete my prototype. The theoretical basis is essentially complete – at this point, I just have to solve a few small engineering problems.”
“What exactly are you asking for?” Felix asked.
“I’ll require the Coalition’s full support in gathering the resources and materials I need, and protection from the forces arrayed against me. I was hoping that security through obscurity would prove sufficient, but the Federation found me, so I’ll concede that security through being surrounded by armed people with guns also has its advantages.” He waved his hand. “Go on and tell the people who pull your strings my terms.”
Ordered around by a civilian on my own ship. Felix snapped off a salute so formal and stiff it could only be read as mockery, turned smartly on his heel, and marched out of the infirmary. Then he initiated quarantine procedures so nothing short of a catastrophic hull breach would allow the door to open. At least he could keep Thales from wandering loose on his ship.
•••
Felix didn’t get to talk to a representative of the Table of Captains, of course. They were far too busy and important. He invoked the name of the well-respected Commander Meehves, opening contact with a higher echelon of officials, and after a circuitous route of transfers, his screen connected to the office of the assistant undersecretary of special projects, a Hylar named Fololire Jhuri. Jhuri was a member of a sub-species that didn’t require any special breathing apparatus to live out of the water, and he spoke through an artificial voicebox in tones clearly based on the human star of a popular adventure romance serial– a mellow, deep voice Felix found a bit incongruous coming from a bulbous green head trailing fronds of tentacles, with a face glistening with cybernetic implants.
“It all sounds a bit implausible,” Jhuri said. “We’ve heard stories of what the Creuss can do to space-time, but there are so many outrageous tales about them it’s hard to know what’s true and what’s nonsense. Wormhole physics isn’t my area, but I reached out to a few of the local experts, and they haven’t heard of anyone making the kind of progress Thales claims. Since he refuses to give his real name, I can’t vet his qualifications, but on the whole, I’m inclined to think he’s overstating the level of his research at best, and outright lying at worst.”
Felix felt a little disappointment, but it was mingled with relief. An exciting mission would have been nice, but having Thales on board the Temerarious was like having a splinter under a fingernail. “So, should I drop him back at Cobbler’s Knob?”
The Hylar’s tentacles undulated. “I didn’t say that. Commander Meehves assures me that significant resources were expended trying to capture Thales, so we can’t discount his story utterly – someone wants the man for something. Once we properly interrogate the mercenary you captured, we may find out more. In the meantime, we are willing to provide Thales with limited support, at least until it becomes evident that he’s a fraud. It’s a gamble, but we’re the Coalition. We try things. Honestly, I don’t believe his claims, but if he can do what he says it’s worth exploring just on the off-chance. We don’t want to be the fools who threw away a winning lottery ticket.”
“What are you giving him?”
“I’m authorizing the reassignment of some Coalition personnel to provide protection for Thales, and to assist him with logistics, and the acquisition of any necessary materiel.”
At least Thales wouldn’t be Felix’s problem any more, though his sympathies went out to whatever crew had to deal with the man. “Understood. Where am I taking him?”
“Anywhere he wants to go, I suppose,” the Hylar said.
“Wait,” Felix said. “What? Oh.”
“Quite. You, your ship, and your crew have been seconded to my office, temporarily reassigned from your patrol duties. Officially, you and your crew are not operating as military assets, but as contractors and consultants hired out to a civilian scientist.” The Coalition sometimes rented out personnel for money, so the explanation wasn’t implausible. “In reality, you’re working for Operation Chicane, and reporting to me.”
Felix had various questions, but for some reason the one that popped out was, “Why is it called Operation Chicane?”
“We have a long list of code names generated by computer. That was the next one.”
How unsatisfying. “What about my, ah, regular duties?”
“Patrolling the Lycian system? Your work helping the colonists is vital, of course, in its way, but we can move things around to cover your territory. It’s one of the quietest systems we control, after all.”
“Historically,” Felix said. “I’d like to point out that there was an armed attack on this system by violent outsiders rather recently.”
“The first such incident since that system was settled, in fact. You dealt with the attack well, which is why you’re being given a better assignment. I’m surprised you aren’t more enthusiastic – Meehves told me you were eager to serve the Coalition in a more active capacity. Was I misinformed?”
Felix scrubbed a hand
through his hair and let himself look as sheepish as he suddenly felt. “No, of course not, I am eager, it’s just… Thales. He’s awful. I don’t like the idea of working for him.”
“Then console yourself with the fact that you’re actually working for me. Get Thales whatever he needs. Prevent anyone else from abducting him. See if he can build the thing he claims he can build.”
“When you say get him whatever he needs…”
“Within reason. He doesn’t need a platinum statue of himself, or his own personal warship – but if he asks for something that seems plausibly necessary for his research, accommodate him. Don’t start any wars. If you break any laws outside Coalition territory, try not to get caught. Otherwise… use your judgment. If your judgment proves inadequate, well, you’re a deniable asset now, captain. If you get into serious trouble, we’ll just say you went rogue and cut all ties with you.”
“Oh good,” Felix said. “That’s comforting.”
“Come now, captain. Don’t be worried. If you do well, you’ll be rewarded. Even if Thales doesn’t accomplish anything, I’ll remember your service, and if he does produce a miracle… you’ll play an instrumental role in helping the Coalition rule the galaxy. Look at the potential advantages. Anyway, I’m sure it won’t be too strenuous an assignment. The man is a researcher. I can’t imagine he’ll require anything too difficult from you.”
•••
“What, all I get is you?” Thales said. “Ugh.”
Thales was wearing his own clothes again, and sitting in Felix’s office, leaning back in a chair and scowling. Felix sat behind his desk, partly to lend himself an air of authority, and partly because it put Thales farther away from him. The authority part wasn’t really working; Thales didn’t seem impressed by any authority outside himself. “I’m happy to tell undersecretary Jhuri that you don’t require our services, if you’re unhappy.”
“Jhuri, eh? Sounds like a Hylar name. My life is infested with those creatures.” He sighed. “Don’t be stupid. You’re better than nothing, if only barely. Once I give that wriggling squid you report to a demonstration of my technology, he’ll start treating me with the proper respect. My whole life, I’ve had to prove myself to my inferiors. I’m used to it by now. In the meantime… well, you’re enough to be getting on with.”
“I’m so delighted we meet your immediate needs. We can set you up with lab space on the lower decks. I’ll have the files and equipment we recovered from the mercenary ship taken down. We’re going to take the Temerarious out of this system, since people might come looking for you here, though we’re still deciding where to go. It depends on the supplies you need, but we can find a place near a trading route, with a raider fleet nearby in case we need backup. Just give me a list of materials and–”
“All that’s fine,” Thales interrupted, “but the first thing I need, the very first thing, before we do anything else, is Shelma.”
“What’s Shelma?” It sounded like some kind of chemical reagent, or, possibly, a drug.
“Not what. Who. Meletl Shelma. My research partner. I’ve reached a point in my work where I require her expertise – she’s the best engineer I’ve ever known, and she’s absolutely crucial to transition from theoretical underpinnings to practical applications.”
Felix sighed. He was going to be a taxi service, then. “All right. Where is she?”
“The last I heard,” Thales said, “she was in a prison camp in the Barony of Letnev.”
•••
“But you specifically said, don’t start any wars,” Felix said.
Jhuri was unmoved. “You won’t start a war, because you aren’t a military operative right now. You’re a civilian contractor, and we don’t have any treaties or diplomatic ties with the Barony. If Thales really needs this engineer, see if you can get her. At least look over the situation and decide if a breakout is feasible. Try not to get captured yourself – we won’t be able to do much for you if the Barony locks you up.”
“I thought Azad was contemptible for doing basically what you’re asking me to do,” Felix said.
“Perspective is so important,” Jhuri said. “Anyway, there’s a difference between abducting someone from a planet where he’s chosen to settle, and rescuing someone from a Barony prison. Their habit of jailing political dissidents is shameful. Tell yourself you’re striking a blow for freedom if it helps.”
Felix thought about it. Plotting a prison break was, in the abstract, an appealing idea – his whole nation was founded on a prison uprising, after all, and the work certainly wouldn’t be boring. “I may need extra resources. Mercenaries of my own, or equipment, or money bribes.”
“I realize. I’m providing you with access to one of my department’s discretionary funds. There’s not enough to retire in luxury – I’d hate to tempt you so – but you should be able to fund a small operation like this. It’s amazing the sort of things you can classify as ‘research and development’ in a budget report. Technically true in this case, even.”
Resources, and a mission – this was exactly what Felix had been hoping for. Of course, he was stuck working with Thales, but no situation was perfect. “I assume you’ll want regular mission updates?”
“Is that what you assume?” Jhuri said. “The whole deniability thing works better when we don’t talk constantly, you know. You needn’t tell me about every little prison break. The less I know about what you’re doing the better, in some ways. I am interested in results. When Thales has a working prototype, get in touch. Or when it becomes clear he’s a complete fraud. Or, I suppose, if you run out of money – though that won’t make me happy. Otherwise, do your best to muddle along, and if I want updates, I’ll reach out to you.” The connection went dark.
“I suppose I’ve got my orders, then,” Felix said aloud. He checked the ship’s operating account – the funds held in common to buy supplies and repairs if needed – and saw it was much healthier than it had been a few minutes ago. Time to have a family meeting, then.
•••
Tib was present in the galley, but not visible, since she wasn’t in the mood to have abuse hurled at her. Cal sat across the table from Thales, looking at him with those large predator’s eyes, taking him in calmly. Thales was smiling at the Hacan in a way that made Felix queasy. He sat at the head of the table, slouching in what he hoped looked like easy and effortless command, not that anyone was admiring the pose. “So,” he began, but Thales interrupted him.
“What did your ancestors do to get exiled to the penal colony?” Thales asked Calred. “Currency manipulation, was it? Loan sharking? You Hacan do love your money, don’t you?”
“Family tradition holds that my many-times-great grandmother had a disagreement with a representative of the Lazax emperor who behaved rudely in her presence,” Calred rumbled. “She ate him.” Cal showed all his teeth, which usually tended to render people speechless.
“Devoured a tax collector, eh? Sounds like Hacan.”
“Can you please be less racist toward my crew?” Felix said. “We have to work together, you know.”
“This again.” Thales shook his head. “I’m not racist. I hold all the species of the galaxy in equal contempt.”
“I don’t doubt it, but you’re expressing your contempt through horrible stereotypes and–”
“Humans are also garbage,” Thales interrupted. He interrupted a lot. “For one thing, they talk endlessly and never get to the point. Are we going to break Shelma out of the prison camp or not?”
Felix took a deep breath. “I have been authorized to assist you in creating a prototype of your wormhole device, whatever it takes. I have been given complete discretion and autonomy–”
“You’re not a total waste of my time, then. Good. First–”
Felix leaned across the table and flicked Thales on the tip of the nose, hard, making the scientist rear back and blin
k furiously. “What? How dare you–”
“The Table of Captains think you’re full of shit.” Felix spoke quietly, so Thales would have to stop sputtering to hear him. “If they believed you, they would have assigned more than three people and one ship to this operation, don’t you think? Since there’s a small chance you’re telling the truth, though, they’re willing to waste my time and a small quantity of money to hedge their bets. They see it as a small risk with a potentially large reward.” He leaned over the table. “But here’s the thing, Thales. You don’t have any direct line of communication to my superiors. Everything goes through me. If I tell them you’re a con artist trying to bilk the Coalition for money, they’ll believe me.”
“You people are the thieves and swindlers and pirates!” Thales cried.
“True enough,” Felix said. “We take pride in being clever and sneaky and getting the upper hand by any means necessary. Which is why we don’t trust people who tell us they just need a little help to make all our dreams come true. You seem to be under the impression that I have to keep you happy, Thales. I don’t. You have to keep me happy, because as soon as you annoy me too much, I make a call, declare this mission a waste, and drop you off on the nearest rock to starve to death. Do you understand your situation?”
Thales glared at Felix furiously for a moment, then leaned back, and then began to chuckle. The chuckle built into a belly-rumbling laugh as the scientist smacked the table. “You showed a little backbone there, captain! I can’t work with someone I can’t respect, as much as I can respect anyone. I thought you were a pudding-hearted sort of man. Of course, if I could push you around, I would, but if you say you have limits, I can accept that. I’ll keep my opinions to myself unless they’re relevant to the mission at hand, then, all right? The lion and the toad won’t hear another harsh word from me.”
“He’s so much better already,” Cal murmured.
“That would be marvelous. I’d like you to apologize to my crew first, though. So we can move forward with a clean slate in a spirit of collaboration.” Felix thought that was probably pushing it, but he couldn’t help himself.