Kali almost laughed. The fool really had no idea. His expression looked so pathetic and was so patently false that it was laughable. “You’d like to return to your original home world as well?” The planet sounded like an ideal spot for a bit of her favourite sport, and to have some ‘native’ prey to hunt would make it perfect, though she doubted this buffoon or his cronies would last more than a few minutes. The Enviros, Guardians and Hunters certainly would give some sport. Yes, she could afford to play this game. “I think such a deal might be possible,” she replied. “What do you have in mind for helping us?”
“Let us send an appeal.” His smile was so eager it was nauseating. “I can appeal to this Fleet to give you the Commander you want. I’ll tell them you’re getting ready to kill us or something.”
She nodded, feigning encouragement. “Yes, I’m sure that would help. I’ll have to discuss it with my superiors of course.” Fool, he obviously hadn’t realised that since he had seen her and could identify her, he couldn’t possibly be allowed to survive. Evidently not, but she enjoyed toying with him, and he might just be useful for the moment. “In the meantime, I’ll have you moved to more appropriate quarters—something more suitable to your status. I’m afraid you’ll have to stay apart from your people for now, just until we’ve sorted out how you can help us.”
“Oh, I’m sure that will be fine. The others don’t have the responsibility of leadership. They’ll do as I tell them.” He shrugged. “It’s a burden, but I was born for it.” He frowned. “Until that upstart who calls himself Commander Heron interfered, my people were doing just fine. Just let me have some of these fantastic weapons your people have and I’ll be able to set things to rights in a moment.”
I just bet you’ll try. Only a fool like you could even think of doing something like this.
She kept her expression serious and nodded. “Of course. Now, let my colleague show you to your new quarters, and I’ll discuss your proposal with my superiors.”
Felicity leaned back in her chair, the latest briefing on the coffee table beside her. The Pantheon were getting bolder and more aggressive, and now this business with the Emily Hobhouse and Commander Heron. Sometimes she wished she’d never agreed to take her career into the security field—Intelligence Services by a different title.
If the general public ever realised what was really happening behind the public face of politics and their whole concept of society…
She sighed with weariness. Her superior, the enigmatic Admiral Greene, a protégé of the Admiral who’d brought her into Security, certainly knew at least some of the people on that encrypted list, but he wanted all of it.
“Power corrupts!” She snorted. “Whoever it was first said that didn’t know the bloody half of it!”
“Do you need something, Commodore?” asked the android steward.
“Nothing you could provide, Tango One. Just thinking aloud is all.” She hesitated. “On second thought, some tea and my writer, please.”
“You asked for me, Commodore?” said her android writer.
“Yes, Yelendi.” Felicity smiled as she recalled the woman she’d named the SU for. Where had the years gone? And here they were again, once more fending off an attempt by rogue politicians and their extremely wealthy backers to overthrow governments and place themselves in power. The original Yelendi died aboard the Consortium’s first flagship when the Vanguard destroyed it during the Battle of Pangaea.
“I need the latest update on the demands for the release of the hospital ship Emily Hobhouse. Then I’ll need to speak to Admiral Greene.”
The SU paused. “The latest information is on your tablet, Commodore. I will contact the Admiral now.”
“Thanks.” Felicity reached for the tablet and read the update. Something about the crew list of the Hobhouse bothered her, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what it was. She read it again. There was definitely something on it, but … she smiled as the hologram of the Head of Security sprang to life. “Good evening, sir.”
“Evening, Felicity. What have you got?”
“I’m not sure, sir. Just going through the crew and passenger list for the Hobhouse. For some reason a couple of names bother me, but there’s something else. She’s chartered from Universal Mediships, but they’re a wholly owned subsidiary of Duerte-Avila Pharmaceuticals, and they in turn … to cut it short, the actual owners are a company hiding behind loads of fronts, and it’s on our watch list: Global and Interplanetary Financial, part of the Al-Khalifa empire.”
The Admiral’s hologram remained silent for several seconds. “Well spotted. That explains several anomalies and some signal intercepts. Warn James Heron. I’ll pass on our analysis.”
Chapter 28
Across the Styx
_________________________
“The package is here, sir.” The Flag Lieutenant placed the container on the Admiral’s table as if he was handling dangerous explosives.
The Admiral glared. “Thank you. Inform my neph—inform Commander Heron.” He gestured at the container. “Has it been checked for toxins, recorders—anything harmful, as I ordered?”
“Yes, sir. As far as we can tell it’s clean. We don’t know if they’ve modified it, though. In appearance it’s identical to the helmet they fitted to him the last time.” The Lieutenant indicated the container. “Of course, we can’t actually test the thing until it’s activated, and that can’t be done until it’s locked in place.” He wiped a hand across his eyes. “Beats me how the Commander managed to survive the last time, sir. With this damned thing on he won’t be able to eat, and drinking will require a tube. Even his vision will be restricted.” He shook his head. “I don’t think I could do it.”
The Admiral nodded. “He is a strong young man with a great deal of fortitude. Has he run the tests I ordered in the original?”
“Yes, sir. He was able to connect with the operating system and manipulate it. It proved more difficult than he thought at first, and getting the damned helmet off again was even harder.”
“Hmph. I don’t like this at all. What about those Canid cloaks? Are they detectable?”
“Not by normal means, sir. But if you scan in the IR range that matches their body temperatures, you can detect them. Unfortunately, it is also within the spectrum that the Charonians can see, though only just. The scientists say it will be like seeing a shadow where there isn’t one. The Canids say they can fix that, but they won’t say how.”
“Very well. I’m liking this less and less—and the damned people from Centaur have thrown a spoke in the wheel as well. I’ve now got a message from their captain saying the pirates are threatening to ‘space’ them if we don’t comply. The damned media are all over it, of course,” he added bitterly, and stood. “Get Harry in for me, and make sure we are not interrupted. Then I’ll want to see Commander Whitworth and—what’s the Canid officer’s name? Ah, yes, Pack Leader Lucanes, from the Lagan.” He watched the Lieutenant leave.
“This had better work,” he muttered to himself.
“Niamh was moved to a normal recovery unit this morning.” Theo looked tired as he faced the holocam. “She’s healed well, but it will be a while yet before she’s able to get up.” He looked weary. “I’m dreading her discovering the situation with Harry. Mary and I will do our best to keep it from her, but she’s bound to see or hear something of it.”
“I know.” James Heron drummed the desk with his fingers. “I’m damned if I like it either.” He sighed. “When Harry learned what was happening, he wouldn’t accept not doing anything as an option. He actually refused an order not to do it. That damned boy simply will not accept that he doesn’t have to take personal responsibility for the people from Centaur. Now all I can do is wait and see if these scum honour their end of the bargain.”
“Please tell me you haven’t … oh my God. James, I’m appalled you’ve let him do it. Oh, God, I dare not let Niamh hear this. It’ll kill her. And if it doesn
’t, she’ll be so angry she’ll never speak to you again.” Theo hesitated, his face stricken. “I’m sorry, James. I can see you’re not happy about it either.”
“No, Theo, I’m not. I wouldn’t be happy about it if it was anyone in my command, so the fact that it is Harry makes it ten times worse.” He spread his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I suspect that if I’d enforced the order to stand down, and placed him under confinement or anything else short of chaining him to a bulkhead in the brig—he’d have gone off and done it anyway. As the chaplain says, all we can do now is pray. I am making it my personal task to trace each and every member of the Pantheon from top to bottom in that infernal organisation. I won’t rest until they are made to account for their deeds.”
“I’m with you in that.” Theo paused for a moment. “It is time they were made to fall in line like the rest of humanity. Yes, definitely time to cut them down to size. Keep me informed, please, James, good or bad. Keep me in the picture.” He hesitated, his distress plain. “Is there any chance Harry will survive? Do you think the Charonians will let him return?”
“We don’t know, Theo. We can only pray he can pull it off, and we’ve a few things that should make it possible. I’ll keep you informed of developments, though—you can count on it.”
“We’re in position, Harry.” Keiron dropped the pretence of being a subordinate. “Are you certain you want to walk into this?”
“I do not think Daniel willingly walked into the lion’s den, my friend. No, I’m not certain I want to do this.” Harry’s face blanched as he sat and stared at the dreaded helmet in his hands. As specified in the demand note, he wore only his service coverall beneath his EVA suit. Once the helmet was on and the suit closed, he would exit the Sabre, which would then withdraw.
He glanced at the clock in nervous anticipation. “We are on time, but they seem to be tardy.”
Keiron grimaced. “Their message said a ship would arrive as soon as you left the airlock. Time to test it, I suppose.” He paused. “I’m not happy about this, Harry. If our Canid team can’t get aboard the pick-up ship, you’re going to be entirely on your own.”
“I know. Are they in position? With their cloaks in place we can’t see them, but I don’t know if those work in the void. Do you?”
Keiron nodded. “Yes, we tested that, and they do. Bloody amazing things those. I’ve got to get some for my teams once this is over.” He hoped his easy conversation was a good cover for his concern.
“I’m sure our Canid friends will supply them.” Harry took a deep breath then exhaled. “Okay, Keiron, I can’t delay this any longer. Help me put this infernal thing on and let’s get on with it.”
“Okay, but I want your assurance that you can operate the control unit inside it before I allow you out of the ship.”
“If you insist, but I suspect they will have some means to test it is working.” Harry positioned the thing over his face and held it while Keiron closed the clamshell design and secured it. Harry sensed the activation then the loss of contact with the Sabre. He sucked in a nervous breath. “It has severed my link to the ship.” He forced himself to relax and listen for the control unit. Unlike AI networks programmed by humans, this one felt and behaved in a manner he thought of as crude. After several minutes to familiarise himself with it, he tried a deactivation command. His head immediately filled with the Sabre’s operation. Feeling relieved, he reactivated the helmet.
“So, how’s it going in there?” Keiron asked.
“I can manipulate it,” said Harry. “It’s a strange device, little more than an intelligent switch, but I can operate it easily, no problem.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Harry.” Keiron sounded dubious. “Okay, better close and start up your suit so we can get this operation going. “
Harry closed the EVA suit and let Keiron check the functions. “I’m ready, my friend.” He paused. “Promise me you will spare no effort to bring these fiends to justice—human and alien.”
“You can count on it, Harry. If this operation goes sideways, I’ll hunt these bastards down—even if I have to leave the Fleet to do it, and I won’t be alone in my efforts either. Plenty more will join me.”
“Thank you.” Harry moved toward the airlock. “Pray for me. I won’t say good-bye.”
Keiron nodded. “Neither will I, and yes, I’ll pray. I’ve never done it before, but I’ll do it now. Lucanes and his people are in place.” He grinned. “Try not to bump into them.”
Harry smiled. “You got it. And I’m sure your prayers will be heard, Keiron.” He activated the door control and stepped into the airlock. “I shall see you when this is over, Number One.” He sketched a salute. “You’re buying the drinks!”
Keiron stiffened and returned the salute. “I’m counting on it,” he replied as the door closed.
“Don’t get creative!” Zorvan barked. “You’ll blow the entire operation and put us all at risk.” He glared at the audio link. “The deal is that ship has to be released—with everyone on it.”
“I know,” Kali placated, her voice honey with an edge. “However, that was before the hostages learned some of our identities, myself included.”
“How did that happen? You’ve put the entire organisation at risk.” He cursed silently in his own language. Kali had worried him for a while now. She was utterly ruthless, a true psychopath, but she was also ambitious.
“Relax. I have this fully under control,” she purred. “The coordinates for this ship will be transmitted as soon as the pickup is made. The only change to the plan is that the passengers will demand a return to their home world, and we’ll transit out of there.” She paused. “I’ve made a deal with the passengers. They will take over the ship as soon as Fleet make contact, on the pretence that they’re returning to their home world. Fleet can’t argue with that, and I’ll get the chance for some sport.”
Zorvan felt the chill of doubt. This was going bad, very bad. He cursed silently again. Damn Kali. He should have dealt with her before this. Now she was forcing his hand. Very well, as soon as he’d concluded this deal, she would go. He’d see to it himself.
“The key thing is that Heron must be delivered to the client. After that, we’ll see.” He allowed himself a warning. “These clients are not the sort we want to upset. They will not tolerate a double-cross.”
She laughed. “They’ll get Heron. I’ve already squared the change with them.”
“You’ve what?” He bit back the explosion he wanted to unleash. By arranging a Charonian-controlled ship to collect Heron and deliver him to the Charonian mothership, Kali had changed the entire operation without consulting him.
“I’ve arranged for me to keep this little zoo ship,” she replied sweetly. “I plan a little amusement once this is over. The client is happy with the arrangement, so relax.”
Relax? he retorted inwardly, but kept it to himself. “I shall confirm this with the client. Very well, continue. We’re too deeply committed to abort now.” He broke the link. When he had his anger under control, he contacted his secretary.
“Contact Vizaresha. Tell him it is time to deal with the Hindu. I’m leaving now in the Djinn.” He broke the link.
The secretary used a comlink of unusual design to encode and send a very brief message. None of the guests aboard the Dhow Khalifa noticed the departure of the sleek and rather sinister Djinn as it detached itself from the underbelly of the yacht and vanished into transit.
Ferghal contacted the Harmony Voyager AI. “Good day, Voyager. I believe you knew my friend Harry.”
“Yes, I remember him. He was taken from my accommodation at the star reference 56-Alpha-776-Gamma-778-Beta. Are you looking for him?”
“No, we found him, and he is now on another task. He sent you a greeting. He wanted me to assure you he doesn’t hold you responsible for what happened, but asked that you help me find something important.”
“I will gladly do so. What do you seek?�
��
“A file planted by the woman who had Harry captured. It is the key to an encrypted file that gives the names of some important people—people who are in league with the Charonians.” He hesitated. “Harry told me it is in a record the Senator stored in a hidden file. He saw it while he lay paralysed by their weapon, but he could not act because he was not in control of his thoughts.” Ferghal consulted the note as he listened. “It is one that fits this descriptor. He thinks I will also need you to unlock the files using the encryption key you have in a file labelled Coriolanus. I recorded his link and his inability to function, and then he was separated from me by a screening device of strange origin. I have many hidden files of that type.”
The data flashed through Ferghal’s vision. Even though he knew it wouldn’t stop, he shut his eyes tightly, but it still made his head spin.
The ship continued. “There are five files that fit the parameters you give, and which are associated with the Coriolanus encryption. All have names and pseudonyms. Do you need to see the contents of each? Shall I decrypt them?”
“Yes to both questions, but slowly please.” Ferghal collected his thoughts. “Sure an’ I’m not as fast as you in processing information. Let me read the first please.” He scanned it. Yes, he certainly recognised some of the names, as they were very important people. Then it hit him. “Did you say one of these files assigns the names of gods and goddesses to humans? Let me see it.”
The file began to scroll through his optic nerves. One name leapt out at him, that of a man who only hours earlier had been on a news video declaring that sacrifices were sometimes necessary. The same name appeared on a separate list identifying those who had funded organisations involved in the coup attempts and a former member of the Consortium Board. Aloud he said, “Stop!” A cold hand clutched his chest. “Holy Mary, Mother of God! Oh God, Blessed Jesu! Harry is in the hands of Satan himself, by all the saints. The man coordinating this is the chief among these devils!”
Harry Heron: Hope Transcends Page 26