“Yes, sir.” The Lieutenant hesitated. “The Senator’s aide has been on again. The Senator is demanding you come immediately.”
He ducked through the hatch and took his seat in the gig’s cabin. “Very well, I shall make contact with them once we are clear. Carry on, Mr. Banks, keep a sharp watch—I think that shadow we spotted may attempt something against the ship.” He cut the link and nodded to Warrant Officer Proctor. “To the Voyager, Jack. It seems the Senator is impatient.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” Jack Proctor, a big man keen on his sport, grinned and entered a series of commands through his interface. “Mike, secure the hatch, open the bay and release the docking clamps. Tony, bring the drive online.”
Harry watched as the trio performed their preparations and the gig slowly eased clear of her bay then turned before it soared up and over the Lagan as it sped toward the liner. Harry used his cyberlink to connect to the gig’s AI, and instructed it to give him a coms link to the Voyager. He’d best contact the Senator and at least try to placate her.
Stepping from the gig, Harry found himself facing a harassed looking man in the uniform of a Merchant Captain, who stood next to two men in plain clothes with insolent expressions on their faces, and an officer in the same uniform as the Captain. Something about this fourth person struck Harry as odd, and at the same time the ship’s AI linked to him and data flashed into his memory. It appeared to be lists of names. Pushing it aside, he extended his hand in greeting to the Captain, his eyes trying to read the man’s face. “Captain Korrelli? Commander Heron. Your Engineer has not yet sent us the details of the problem they need help with. I assume this means they have resolved it?”
Captain Korrelli glanced at his companion. “He hasn’t? I’ll have to speak to the Chief Engineer and see what the hold-up is.”
“You can deal with that later, Commander. The Senator wants to see you now. This way.” The interruption came from the smaller of the two civilians who stepped forward and reached out to take Harry by the arm.
Harry side-stepped the move, and his expression froze. So did the air between him and the rest of the group. Then, very deliberately, he turned to address Captain Korrelli. “Captain, I believe you have a comlink on your wrist. Please be so kind as to contact your Chief Engineer and order him or her to send the information to my ship immediately.” His eyes moved past the Captain and found the second officer. “I have reason to believe there are pirates in this area—or some other agent—and I have no desire to waste time playing games.”
The larger of the two civilians moved toward him, but Harry moved faster, stepping into the man’s path so they nearly collided, then he leaned closer to the man’s face. “I have no idea who you or your companion think you are, or what authority you think you may have over me, sir, but I suggest you take great care not to make any threatening move toward me.” He stepped back and nodded toward the access hatch to the gig. “My gig crew will not hesitate to use their weapons in my defence.”
The smaller man put a restraining hand on his companion’s arm and square himself in front of Harry. “Commander Heron, we’re the Senator’s personal protection squad, assigned by the Internal Security Agency. You don’t want to make trouble with us.”
“Indeed? I, sir, will see your identification, and I will have your names, ranks and numbers before I have any further conversation with you. I will also run your details through Fleet Security, and I can assure you that, as an officer of the Fleet, I will not be intimidated by your bullying tactics.” He held out his hand. “Your credentials, please.”
For a long moment the man hesitated before he reached into his jacket and in one swift movement produced a weapon, aimed at the access and fired, diving aside as he did so.
Harry threw himself to the deck and narrowly missed being shot by the second man. He returned fire, hitting his target and noting, with satisfaction, that his Coxswain appeared to have already taken out the first gunman. What he missed was the officer behind Captain Korrelli who produced a strange device, aimed it at Harry, and fired.
Lieutenant MacKenzie-Banks watched Harry’s gig enter the Harmony Voyager’s docking port. He glanced around the Lagan’s command crew. “Have we got any contact with the gig?”
“Yes, sir. ComsRate Dvorak reports there’s some kind of reception. It’s all on the recorder the Commander is carrying, sir. Warrant Proctor has taken precautions, sir. Says he doesn’t like the look of the two heavies who claim they’re the Senator’s protection squad.” He hesitated. “The Commander’s been attacked, and—”
“Sir!” the voice of the ScanRate cut in. “There’s a ship closing fast on our starboard quarter!”
“What? Where? Put it on display!” The Lieutenant stared at the strange ship that was almost alongside the Lagan. “He’s trying to grapple us. Helm—transit!”
“Aye, aye, sir.” The ship trembled briefly and vanished into transit.
“Evasive manoeuvres, Navigation. If he’s followed us, I want to lose him, but keep our plot to return active—we can’t leave the Captain to …” He hesitated.
Lieutenant MacKenzie-Banks was feeling lost. He was pretty sure the ship had anticipated his order to jump, but couldn’t be certain. So much had crowded in on him in the few minutes—seconds even—between the Captain’s arrival on the Voyager, the attempt on him by the security fellow and the sudden appearance of a completely unknown ship alongside the Lagan, that he’d almost lost control. Worryingly, now the Commander’s recorder had ceased to function—though they were still getting something from another source.
“Get me Flag.” He tried desperately to think what he would say. What should he do? “Weapons, what the hell was that ship that jumped on us? Did you get a look at it? Have we a record of anything like it—something we can give to Fleet Command?” He shifted uncomfortably as his eyes met those of Lieutenant Sci’enzile, the Lacertian weapons officer. Her contempt for him seemed to radiate across the Command Centre. He’d have to deal with that as well.
The room swam slowly into focus as Harry regained consciousness. It took him several seconds to comprehend that the reason he could not move was that he was strapped to a chair. It took several more seconds to realise the reason his vision was restricted was because his head was encased in a tight-fitting helmet with narrow slits through which to see his surroundings. Small openings at his mouth and nose allowed him to breathe, and, as he soon discovered, to speak.
“About time, Commander.” The voice was honey smooth but with an underlying edge of impatience. “You’ve cost me two very good people, disrupted my plans, and landed yourself in more trouble than you could possibly imagine.” The speaker moved into his line of sight. “Your connection with AIs is an inconvenience to us, as evidenced by your spoiling the Montaigne Show. So I have arranged your removal. It’s simply too inconvenient to keep you around any longer.”
Recognition flared, and so did his rage. Then the anger passed and left cold calculation in its wake. As calmly as he could manage, he demanded, “Do you really think the Fleet will not pursue my disappearance, Senator?”
“The Fleet will soon have other concerns, Commander.” The woman smiled, a malicious parody of the expression. “I expect you’ve noticed you are no longer in communication with any AI network here, there or anywhere. The helmet works extremely efficiently, my associates tell me.” She casually sipped from a tall glass. “You were identified as a risk to those plans when you neutralised our allies’ control devices.” She held up a hand as Harry started to speak. “Yes, your puny little ship has escaped, for now. Your First Lieutenant is, however, a man who has a lot to lose.” She examined a manicured fingernail. “He will soon be receiving instructions to rendezvous with this ship and place himself under my orders.”
A cold feeling went through Harry. Banks would obey the instruction to the letter if he believed it would rescue his career. A thought occurred to him. Where were the recorders he’d brought? “I have every c
onfidence in Mr. Banks,” he retorted, hoping his doubts didn’t show. “He will have seen the assault on me and my men, and will respond accordingly.”
“Ah, your personal recorder. Such a pity we recovered it and have amended the recording to show that you attacked my men. It will show how you went for a weapon and shot both my security personnel without warning before making your escape in your damaged yacht.”
“I hardly think that will stand scrutiny, madam.” Harry was thinking fast, an action not helped by a certain fogginess in his mind apparently caused by the electronics in the helmet. “After all, there will be a search for my gig. It has a homing beacon and is constantly tracked.”
“It had a homing beacon. That has been taken care of.” She paused. “No, Commander, I don’t think I have any further use for you. My associates wanted to put you through some tests, but there isn’t time.” Her parody of a smile was back. “We are currently closing a rather inhospitable planet. You and your two surviving men will be placed aboard your little vessel and sent down to the surface. Mind, it will be a one-way journey. I hope that’s not a problem, and I do apologise if it interferes with your personal plans or lofty missions or whatever else drives you. If you survive the landing, you may be lucky enough to survive a few weeks there, but it won’t take you long to succumb. The official record will state that you died when your little ship was lost, of course.”
Harry’s pulse increased. So they were to be marooned and left to die. He hoped his second recorder was relaying this information—but, if, as seemed likely, Banks did receive orders to return, and had already handed the Lagan over to this vile woman…
He pulled his thoughts back to the conversation. “I see, so we’re to be killed. Perhaps you’d care to enlighten me as to why. What are the stakes here? If I am as good as dead, at least do me the courtesy of telling me the reason.”
She laughed. “You are certainly a cool hand, Commander.” She fixed him with a calculating look, a half smile playing round the corners of her mouth. “Why not? You’re hardly going to be in a position to do our plans any further damage. You are a threat because of your ability to access the AIs.” She took a drink. “My associates have introduced me to some interesting and very advanced aliens. With their help we hope to make a few changes to the way the Confederation run things, and then perhaps the World Treaty Organisation as well. Humanity needs improvement, and I do believe my new allies have the solution and the means to help us.”
“That sounds remarkably like treason to me,” Harry expostulated. “Your allies sound like the Charonians. From what I have heard, they may prove dangerous to your own cause.”
She smiled again. “So you’ve heard of them. That interesting piece of headgear you’re wearing is theirs, and I’m told it can be programmed to control you completely. Sadly, that evidently requires more time than we have. Should you survive, we may return for you so I can have that tested.” She stood. “Now it is time for you to be on your way. Don’t be difficult; it will only mean having to knock you out again.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to challenge her on this, but he let it drop, and instead asked, “I am curious. Why did you lure my ship into this trap?”
“Surely that is obvious, dear boy. We need a Trojan horse, and we also want to know why our very careful arrangements to allow our new alien friends to take control of the target ships failed. This ship is too big and far too obvious. Besides, her original crew and passengers are already assisting my friends, and their replacements won’t pass a full screening. Your little ship and her sisters are ideal for our purpose.” She nodded to someone behind Harry. “Better keep him restrained. Put him in that little yacht of his and send him on his way. We have work to do.”
Someone seized Harry from behind and secured his arms even as he was freed from the clamps that held him in the chair. “Thank you for the hospitality, Senator,” he snarled through the mask opening. “I shall be glad to see you and your friends and allies in hell one day. The sooner the better, in my opinion, and if I can assist your passage there, it will be a pleasure.”
“I think you’ll lose on that, young man.” The amused sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable. “I hardly think you’ll be in a position to do anything constructive about it—even if you survive the godforsaken planet where we’re depositing you.” She made a mocking gesture, half salute and half a dismissive wave of the hand. “Goodbye, Commander Heron. I doubt we will meet again.”
Harry made no resistance as he was lifted, turned, and frog walked from the stateroom.
Chapter 11
Rocking the Boat
_________________________
“Flagship online, sir.”
“About time.” Banks composed himself. “Put them on my link.”
“Yes, sir. Commander Keane on link, sir.”
“Commander? Lieutenant Banks, acting in command, NECS Lagan. Commander Heron and his gig crew were attacked on the Voyager, sir. We had to transit out of the area when we were closed by a hostile ship of unknown origin.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of any of this. An unknown ship? The Voyager? What is this about, Lieutenant?”
“Commander Heron reported a while ago, sir. We encountered the Harmony Voyager in our patrol area. She claimed to have a malfunction.” He swallowed hard to choke down his fear. Something was not right about this situation. He’d heard his Captain talk to the Flag Captain. Why would the Admiral’s Chief of Staff not know about it?
“Senator Samland was aboard, sir. She demanded Commander Heron come in person. He tried to contact the Admiral, but was ordered to render assistance immediately, sir.”
“So you say the Voyager made a hostile approach?”
“No sir. As soon as the Commander’s gig was aboard the Voyager, he was attacked.” He swallowed again. “By the Senator’s private security people, we think. We got it on the Commander’s recorder link. That was when an unknown vessel tried to grapple us.”
“I see.” Commander Keane paused. “And your CO is still aboard the Voyager? I think you’d best explain from the start, Mr. Banks. Begin with why he went aboard the Harmony Voyager, please.”
“We—I—haven’t got much.” Banks explained the contact with the Voyager and the summons from the Senator.
“Why didn’t he contact Flag for instructions? Was there some obvious emergency?”
“He did contact Flag, sir. Captain Greenacre ordered him to attend the Senator immediately and do whatever she wanted.”
“Captain Greenacre …” Commander Keane turned his head to listen to someone out of view. He turned back to Banks, his face fully visible in the holo-image again. “And Commander Heron obeyed. And then what?”
“The Commander went aboard the Voyager, sir, with his gig and crew, and was attacked minutes after he stepped out of it.” Banks paused. “The Commander was carrying a personal recorder, but whoever attacked him made sure it stopped transmitting as soon as they took him down. Four people met him: one was the liner’s Captain, two claimed to be from the Senator’s personal protection squad, and of course the Senator was there as well. One of her goons shot out the gig’s recorder unit and wounded the Commander’s EngineerRate, possibly the Coxswain as well. I think the Commander shot the man who tried to pull a weapon on him, but then he was shot by the man who posed as one of the liner’s officers. We got a record of the whole thing up to that point from the Commander’s recorder. He instructed the ship to record everything.”
“I see.” The face in the holo-image changed from the Commander to that of Admiral Le Jeune.
“Mr. Banks, I want that recording transferred to my ship immediately,” said the Admiral. “Now, what can you tell me about this unidentified ship?”
“We captured some images of it, ma’am, but it matches nothing in our databank, and it uses some form of jamming technology that hides it from our scanners. It was right alongside us before we detected it.”
Th
e Admiral frowned. “I see. Yet Commander Heron seems to have suspected something. What alerted him?”
“The Commander noticed there was a shadow, as he called it, when we focussed our scanners on the Voyager. It vanished as soon as we tried to lock the targeting system to it.” He glanced at Sci’enzile, who nodded agreement. “It will be in our recordings,” he added. “I can send that to you as well.”
“Do so. Now, I expect you’d like us to retrieve your commanding officer.”
“If those are your orders, ma’am.”
“They’re not. Someone back on Earth is insisting your ship be sent to rescue the Senator, as they put it. Call me suspicious, but I don’t like the sound of that. I have four frigates on their way to intercept that damned ship, and they’ll deal with it. You will bring the Lagan to the coordinates that Commander Keane is sending now. Don’t stop for anything, don’t divert to anywhere, go directly to the rendezvous. Clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He felt like a schoolboy being admonished by the headmistress. Damn them. It wasn’t his fault the whole mess had gone wrong, but now it seemed they wanted to make it look that way. “The data transfer is complete, ma’am.”
The Admiral glanced at someone out of view. “We have it. Good, the coordinates have been sent. Your navigator should have them already. Best speed all the way. Do not, under any circumstances, have any further contact with the Voyager, and do not make any attempt to engage that unknown ship.”
Felicity Roberts snapped awake at the first chirp of her link. “Commodore.”
“Sorry to disturb you, ma’am, but we have an unusual message coming in addressed and encrypted FYEO.”
“What? Who sent it?”
“That’s just it, ma’am, not an individual, a ship—the patrol ship Lagan, Commander Heron, but the message is ‘Lagan to Commodore Surveillance Operations’ with no personal tag.”
“I’m on my way. Is there no comlink from anyone aboard the Lagan?”
Harry Heron: Hope Transcends Page 10