by Kal Spriggs
Brian stood up, “Nothing, nothing at all. I'm going to check with Bob on the bridge, make certain he hasn't sold us out and abandoned ship before the Guard Fleet arrives, that sort of thing.”
“Right...” Mel said with a roll of her eyes. She knew he was only half-joking. Brian didn't trust anyone, as far as she could tell. Well, he seemed to trust her, but that was about it.
“Let me know how that goes,” Marcus said, nodding. She couldn't tell if he was serious or if he was poking fun at the genemod. Knowing him, probably a little of both.
Mel restrained a sigh. She was surrounded by paranoid men. Sometimes she wondered why they hadn't just killed one another. That would probably take all the fun out of it for them, she thought.
That left just her and Marcus and the silence grew long and uncomfortable. In the heat of the moment, just after they had pulled it all off and survived, Mel had felt like they were close again. She had felt all her old feelings for him rush back...
And then she had felt a wave of guilt. This was the man who had killed her parents. Before she'd even met him, he had been a ruthless agent for Guard Intelligence, a man so feared that even his own agency thought him a loose cannon. How could she feel anything for him when he had so much blood on his hands?
She could see that he felt guilt as well. She could see the ghosts that haunted his eyes. He didn't want forgiveness, she knew, he wanted punishment. He wanted to die or, failing that, to escape his feelings in a haze of drugs or booze or whatever it took to make him feel empty again.
“So...” Marcus said. “Do you think things will go alright with the money transfers?”
Mel sighed. He had already made it clear that he thought anyone would betray them over this amount of money. For that matter, she didn't entirely disagree with him. Yet for now, at least, no-one aboard the crew had anyone else to turn to... well, no-one besides Lace and Bob.
Brian has suggested he has a network of some kind that he's tied into, she reminded herself. “I don't think we have any choice but to go on trust, for now.”
“Look, Mel,” Marcus said, “the reason I bring this up is because of everyone here besides you and Swaim... the rest of us could take that money and vanish. Hell, Swaim could probably manage to transfer that money and vanish; he only needs to hide from Guard Free Now, after all.”
Mel shook her head, “You wouldn't do that to me, you wouldn't walk away.”
Marcus shook his head, almost as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't interrupt her.
“Bob has made it clear that whatever he was investigating, he seems to think we're as good a place as any to stay, plus I figure his organization, whatever it is, seems to keep tabs on him. Brian seems to like us...”
Marcus snorted at that, “He thinks of you as a pet. The rest of us he could kill without batting an eyelash.”
“... and that leaves Lace, who could have betrayed us at any time. We didn't know she wasn't a harmless hacker...”
“We suspected her, after your brother tipped you off about the possibility,” Marcus shook his head. “Brian and I were both watching her. We'd have gunned her down if she tried.”
“...which is why we trusted her enough to send her to talk to her people,” Mel finished despite his interruptions. She felt a little proud of that.
“Okay,” Marcus waved a hand, “So, let us assume everyone here plays fair. What, then? I can tell you aren't all that keen on mercenary work. Doesn't your homeworld have a mercenary company? We could sign on with them.”
Mel nodded. Century was out on the Periphery, technically that meant they weren't under Guard Charter, so they didn't need to follow it, but in practice, operating above board prevented any kind of excuse for a Sector Commander to send a task force out to seize the system.
She didn't know the exact details, but she knew that Century's Planetary Militia had some reserve elements that operated under the Mercenary Guild, which let them take contracts out of Hanet. It wasn't uncommon for planetary militias to do that to give some of their people real combat experience. Century was a bit unique at the size of their component, but they also had a sizable planetary militia... and the Periphery was a rough place for those without strong defenses.
Her grandmother, Admiral Armstrong, had some role in that, she knew, but she didn't want to dive down that rabbit hole just now, especially not when her brother had made it sound like her grandmother might be involved in Guard Free Now. She didn't want to believe that, but she wanted to do some investigating before she contacted the woman.
“They do, but I doubt they want to sign on an illegal automated warship,” Mel said truthfully. “Especially not one crewed by convicted criminals.”
Marcus snorted at that. “I don't know, might be a useful thing on a resume... but yeah, with how grabby Guard Fleet has been, it's probably best that they don't give them a pretense to show up and seize the planet.”
Ten Sisters would be on everyone's mind, Mel knew. Guard Fleet had seized the independent system and then a cluster of stars nearby, systems which had been on the Periphery for centuries.
“So an independent Company Charter or working for one of the darker companies,” Marcus said. The so-called 'black' Companies were rarely spoken about. They were the ones hired for the most secretive missions and they paid an extra fee to the Guild to keep their assets off the public database. Guard Fleet looked other way on that, mostly because that allowed them to employ those companies and also to keep them operating under the Guild... who strictly forbid any actions against the Guard under their founding charter.
There were also freelance mercenaries, privateers, and pirates, but the Mercenary Guild policed their own ranks and dealt very harshly with freelancers in general, which kept the Guard happy also. By and large, Hanet was seen as a necessary evil by Guard Fleet... which was why getting under the umbrella of their protection would be good for all of them.
Even if someone in Guard Military or Guard Intelligence suspected them of breaking some laws, they would overlook it because they wouldn't want to risk their relationship with the Mercenary Guild. Outright proof would be something else entirely, but hopefully that could be prevented.
“What about clean identities?” Mel asked. That was her big worry. They had discussed it before. With her marked as dead, it would be impossible for her to open a personal bank account, get any kind of electronic identity, or conduct any business. Since proving she was alive would put Guard Intelligence and Guard Free Now on her tail, that wasn't an option either.
That left either scrubbing her data out of the system or changing identities... which still wouldn't solve the problems with her biometrics. The problem was that the system databases were all independent and they policed corrupted data.
Given time, Fenris could hack almost any star system's data network and erase her files out... but the next time a courier ship came in with an update it would put her file right back into the system. It would have low priority, since she was officially dead, but if it happened enough, automated procedures would flag it in the system.
The same went for all of her companions. The problem was the decentralized network. Either they would have to hit every system simultaneously, or somehow work it into a major data update. Otherwise, they might as well not bother.
“Bob is clean,” Marcus said. “Swaim is as well, though he's got to worry about Guard Free Now identifying him. They'll start to get curious if he reappears from the dead... and then start to wonder about the rest of us and this ship.”
Mel nodded. She felt more than a little temptation to leak information out that way, in order to draw her brother out. Yet she knew that it was more likely that Colonel Frost or one of his comrades would show up. She shivered a bit as she thought of the Guard Free Now officer, a man who had sacrificed the lives of his men and who had planned to have her executed.
My brother was just going to watch, she thought, he didn't believe it would come to that... but I wonder if it would have change
d his mind if it had.
“The Mercenary Guild might have some people with access to put us in the system,” Marcus shrugged. “For that matter, even if they don't, they might want to keep us off the books. I'm certain there are missions they take where they'd like to have some deniability.”
“Those are hardly the type of mission I'd like to take,” Mel said. A mission like that would be high risk, with a good chance of being captured or killed.” She really didn't mind some risks, but suicide missions were not big on her list of things to do. “Even if they aren't illegal, immoral, or otherwise compromising.”
“I'm not big on that either,” Fenris growled. The gravelly voice of the warship was another reminder of someone who needed an identity.
“A ship,” Mel said, “is harder to hide. The Wolf-class battlecruisers were pretty unique. I doubt they're in most ships' emission profiles, but a ship with a unique appearance is something that would stand out.”
Marcus nodded, “I know.” He looked up at the ceiling, “For all I know, they might have a new hull for you, if that would even be possible. Feel like an upgrade?”
“I like my body,” Fenris said. “It isn't perfect, but it is mine.”
His words echoed an earlier conversation Mel had had with Lace. The woman had casually commented that Mel could have a full reconstructive surgery. It would change her face, body structure, even alter her iris and retina imprints and fingerprints. For that matter, Lace had access to illegal body implants that let her take on the features and biometrics of a target. If that was her only option, Mel could consider it... but she would rather keep her face. I look like my mother and grandmother... she thought, it feels wrong to cut that last connection to my past when I've lost everything else.
Marcus shrugged. “Have it your way, but it's an idea to consider. I'm certain we'll have to make some changes... I just think we should think about this a bit beforehand... as long as Lace hasn't walked off with our bank accounts, anyway.”
Mel growled, “I told you...”
Marcus held up a hand, “Answer me this: are you saying that she couldn't have taken our bank account information or that you think she wouldn't?”
Mel opened her mouth to snap out a sharp denial... and then closed it suddenly. The woman had maintained a perfect cover as a hacker for months, under close observation from the crew as well as through a Guard Intelligence interrogation and imprisonment. Lace was extremely intelligent and devious and there was no doubt in her mind that if she had wanted to empty the bank accounts and abscond with the money, she could have.
“That's what I thought,” Marcus said. “That's why Brian and I have Fenris attacking you with his repair robots. Just because we're paranoid it doesn't mean someone isn't out to get us. We have made enemies, Mel, and even if they're dead, it doesn't mean you can trust the people you meet. You have to be ready for anything.”
“I am ready for anything,” Mel snapped.
“Good,” Marcus said.
Just then another of the spider bots dropped on her from the ceiling. Mel gave a shout and her chair toppled backwards.
She hit the floor hard and her head struck the metal deck with enough force that she saw stars. “God! I hate you both so much.”
Time: 0900 Zulu, 24 June 291 G.D.
Location: Outer System, Hanet System
Lace stepped through the airlock and gave them all a cheerful smile, “I've got some good news.” To Mel's surprise, the woman wore set of black fatigues, with a unit patch of some kind and rank pins on the collar.
“Did you bring food?” Swaim asked hopefully.
“Better,” Lace said, “we showed up at a perfect time. Hanet's Blisken Station is basically empty. It's located in the outer system and mostly sees use when a Company wants to build a ship or get repairs done quietly, so they have a good place for Fenris to berth... and my company was able to coordinate things pretty well.”
“How much will that cost us?” Marcus asked with narrow eyes.
She shrugged, “For my help? Nothing, actually. Your arrival actually might put my Company in a very good position as facilitators.” She gave a sly smile, “There was a contract that the Guild needs done, with a few very specific skill sets required.” She shrugged, “Fenris here can cover down on several and the rest of you can probably do the rest.”
Marcus shot Mel a look and she nodded. It seemed he was right about the Guild having some high risk, high deniability missions.
“If you end up doing the mission successfully, my company will get quite a bit of credit from the Guild for fixing the problem,” she said. “If you don't...” she shrugged, “We'll still come off looking good, just for trying to help.”
“Great,” Brian said sourly, “the fact that you care so much about our survival warms my heart.”
“Don't worry,” Lace said, “It's nothing personal, just business. I'd feel terrible if you died horribly, really. I'd probably tear up a bit.”
Mel sighed. The mercenary was not helping her case. “Who is it you work for, anyway?”
A man stepped out of the hatch behind her, “I'll take it from here, Colonel.”
Mel's eyes shot up at that and she saw Marcus mouth the word “Colonel” in surprise. It seemed that Lace was a woman of many surprises. The man nodded at them, “I'm General Maleketh of Bane Sidhe.”
Mel felt her stomach sink a bit at that. Bane Sidhe was one of the “black” mercenary companies. The little bit she remembered about them was that they specialized in quiet operations. Those contracts might be anything from industrial espionage to assassination... but their byline was that most times, only their employer had any idea that they had even been used.
He waited a bit for them to process that and his pale blue eyes showed amusement at their looks of surprise. “We've an employment opportunity, through the Hanet Mercenary Guild, all of it strictly off the books.”
“Will we have some time to consider it?” Mel asked.
He gave her a smirk, “Of course. However, I might note that if you accept their offer to refit at their Outer Dock, then you'll be something of a disappointment if you turn down this assignment.”
He didn't have to say more than that. They might well make enemies of the Mercenary Guild if they turned down the mission.
“Okay,” Mel said. “When would we get more information?”
She didn't miss how Lace smiled; clearly she had won some points by speaking up. Malekith gave her an evaluative look before he spoke, “I don't have the details, this is is a senior Guild matter. From what I do understand, the situation is still developing... so they'll probably wait to brief you until they have a better grasp of the situation.”
“Okay,” Mel said. “Where does that leave us?”
Malekith pointed at Lace, “The Colonel will act as a liaison for the Guild, for the moment. She turned down three months of paid leave to take that assignment, so apparently your treatment means something to her.”
To Mel's surprise, she saw Lace flush a bit at that. Apparently the woman did have some attachment to them. Mel barely restrained telling Marcus “I told you so.”
“One more thing,” Malekith said with a glance at them all, “I understand you have some funds you've... acquired. The one thing we can't have is any of that money being tracked back to the Guild. Any money you spend on repairs has to be clean. That is non-negotiable.” He waited for Mel to nod and then he said, “The Colonel can guide you in. Traffic control will route you to the Blisken Station. Good day.”
He turned and left. A moment later the airlock cycled and he was gone.
“Well,” Lace said, “any questions?”
Bob was the one to speak, “Colonel in the Bane Sidhe, huh?”
She shrugged, “It's something of an honorary title.”
“Right,” Bob said with a tone of disbelief. He shook his head, “Well, I suppose if you trust me, we can try to launder the money through some people I know.”
Mel pursed her lips, “Not
through your organization?” Whoever he worked for, they seemed to give him quite a bit of leeway.
Bob shook his head, “Nope, they don't have much of a presence way out here and I wouldn't want to put what they do have at risk. But some of my contacts from when I infiltrated Guard Free Now might be able to help us.” He shrugged, “They operate out of the Chrysalis system, so a week over, a day or two to make contact, a week back and we should have money that won't be traced back to anyone.”
“You sure about them?” Marcus asked. “This is a lot of money.”
Bob gave a shrug. “Not really, but if we show up with enough presence, you me, Brian, maybe the good Colonel here, they should play nice.”
Mel bit her lip. This was a discussion they had earlier, when they had chosen to go with Lace's offer. It had seemed like a big risk then, even just going along with someone from the Mercenary Guild. Now they were talking about dealing with outright criminals.
She finally gave a nod, “Fine, let’s do it. How long will it take?”
Bob shrugged, “I'll have to make contact there, arrange things. Maybe a month?”
Mel looked over at Lace, who just shrugged.
“Okay, we'll try that. In the meantime, let's get Fenris to Blisken Station.”
Time: 1200 Zulu, 24 June 291 G.D.
Location: Bliskin Station, Hanet System
“Yep,” Mike Majors nodded as he pointed out exterior damage to the ship's forward ring, “That'll need some repairs.”
It was a bit of an understatement, in Mel's opinion. Having experienced the wrenching sensation of the off-balance warp drive, she would have said both damaged rings would have needed to be replaced. Their surfaces were covered in emitters designed to warp space... many of those emitters were damaged, out of alignment, or simply destroyed.
“I was hoping to get some upgrades,” Fenris said, his voice a gravelly baritone.
Majors didn't even bat an eye at being addressed by the AI… which made Mel wonder just how many Guard laws that the Mercenary Guild bent or outright broke out here at Blisken Station where people paid extra to keep their secrets.