Broken Glass (Glass Complex Book 1)

by John Hindmarsh

  Another voice intruded into the conversation. The xeno officer had contacted his team leader. “You were warned about interfering with alien artifacts. Totally against regulations. Just see what you have done. We’ve lost—”

  Denke made a rude, exasperated noise.

  “I will report you, lieutenant.” The xeno leader backed away, still threatening.

  Denke continued his discussion with Steg. “Do you think you can start it up again? Without losing data?”

  “Re-starting the system is no problem, as long as we first isolate its communication functions. We need to prevent the other ship from taking command.”

  “Let’s do it.” Denke was ready to act. “I’ll get my tech team to disconnect the communication equipment. You stand by.” He gave rapid-fire commands over his comunit and his technical team quickly arrived on the bridge. The xeno team, protesting, was pushed out.

  Steg watched and assisted Denke’s technicians. Eventually the tech lead stood back and announced completion of the task.

  “That’s it. As far as we can determine, the Xesset computer is isolated. Basically, the ship’s system is now blind and deaf, cut off from all its external sensors, unable to receive or transmit data.”

  Denke and Steg went through a detailed checklist with the technicians, covering every possible linkage. At last they were in agreement. The Xesset computer was isolated from the outside world.

  “I think we should link to Ziangka data storage units and copy across everything we can,” advised Steg. “That way, if anything goes wrong, we’ll have a copy of the Xesset data.”

  “What if the Xesset manage to insert their worm program into Ziangka’s system? Will we lose everything to the Xesset?” Denke was suddenly aware of the greater risks arising from their activities.

  Steg was confident. “We can manage that by isolating some storage units.”

  “Hmm. I think we’d better play this through official channels. We need the Captain’s permission before we write off his computer system. Oh, it’s OK for me to commandeer crew, maybe a cutter and possibly a fully crewed warship. But I think I should be prudent and ask first. I must remember not to step on too many toes.”

  They—Steg, Denke and the technical team lead—assembled on the command bridge. For once Steg was unaccountably apprehensive. He looked around as they waited for Captain Gallos to attend, curious to see that the waiting group included the xeno team lead, a ship’s sergeant at arms as well as Cat and a number of senior officers.

  “I think we’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest,” commented Denke with private amusement.

  Gallos strode onto the bridge and turned to face the assembled group. He focused his attention on Steg, his face livid with anger.

  “I gave you an express order. Do not interfere with my ship’s computer system. Correct?”

  Steg straightened to attention, surprised and alarmed at the venom in the captain’s voice.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Steg noted Denke expressed no surprise at the turn of events. With a sudden sinking sensation Steg realized he had indeed disobeyed Gallos’ instruction.

  The captain turned to the sergeant at arms. “Sergeant. This officer is to be placed under arrest. The charge is disobeying a direct order during enemy action. I will post court-martial details later.”

  The sergeant at arms moved to Steg’s side. “Sir, are you armed?”

  “I am unarmed.” He turned back to the captain. “Sir—”

  “Silence. Permission to speak denied. You will be allocated a lawyer when I post the court-martial details. You are now under arrest and will be confined accordingly.” He turned his attention to Denke. “Now, Major—what can I do for you?”

  Denke explained the situation. “Captain, the Xesset computer has a substantial database which will assist our understanding of the species and provide us with details of their base and origins. We’ve isolated the main system from all external communication and sensor devices—the system is now deaf and blind. Lieutenant Ross suggested, and I concur, that we should move Xesset data into Ziangka memory to protect it against loss or corruption. We need your authority to proceed. This is a critical issue.”

  Captain Gallos looked thoughtfully at Denke as he considered the request. He turned to the waiting group of officers, his command group.

  “Gentlemen? What do you think?”

  There followed a very agitated discussion and exchange of opinions. At its conclusion, one of the officers, the chief systems officer, voiced their shared objections.

  “Sir, this could contaminate our system. The linkage may allow the Xesset to penetrate our system and access our data, as well. We do not recommend this action.”

  “And you, de Coeur? What’s your opinion?”

  Steg was stunned at the use of his name. His surprise was shared by the group and an excited buzz filled the room, to be silenced by a frowned reprimand from the captain.

  “Well?”

  “Sir, the Xesset system contains data which will be invaluable to us in the search for their base and for understanding their culture and motives. We can isolate a section of Ziangka memory and transfer data to that, without undue risk.”

  “Thank you. How would you isolate a portion of our memory units?”

  Steg explained his proposal in detail, carefully omitting any reference to his ability to communicate with both systems. Denke made no comment. Gallos sought verification from his officers after Steg completed his explanation. Finally he addressed his officers.

  “Gentlemen, this seems to protect my ship,” the captain concluded. “Do you have any comment?”

  “Sir, the proposal seems safe enough. But in reality—”

  “Reality? What I’ve heard seems real enough to me.”

  “The risks sir, if something goes wrong. Our entire system will be open to the Xesset.”

  “And how many freighters have Xesset attacked and stripped bare? How many?” Gallos glared at his officers, striking his desk in emphasis. The chief systems officer edged away, his face red.

  “Sir, I don’t know.”

  “Hah! I’ll tell you. At the last count the total was thirty. Thirty Imperial freighters. Had we not saved the last one, it would have been thirty-one. And how many computer systems have Xesset had access to? Thirty! Thirty!” The shock wave of his fist hitting the desk disturbed papers and they fluttered and scattered. Steg watched with hidden amusement. “So,” continued the captain. “We have an opportunity to strip out a Xesset system. The first one. Tell me, what is the real risk situation?”

  The question was met with silence as the officers looked at each other, reluctant to give voice to further objections. Denke was intent on a detailed examination of a wall print. The sergeant at arms was still at attention; his only interest was the effective custody of his prisoner. The silence grew and deepened. Steg realized he had inadvertently made another enemy as he caught the glare of the chief systems officer.

  “I take it we have no further objections, gentlemen?” No one responded to the captain’s almost rhetorical question. “Good. We need the contents of this system. See to it.” He dismissed his officers, signaling to Denke and de Coeur to stay behind. The sergeant at arms did not stir. Gallos waited until the room emptied.

  “Tell me, Denke, is the risk acceptable?”

  “If de Coeur’s in control—”

  “How can I permit that?”

  Steg was tempted to speak, to be silenced by a frown from his companion. He decided to bide his time.

  “Damned Navy. OK, so he’s broken some of your rules. Remember, we captured the Xesset ship as a direct consequence of de Coeur’s assistance.”

  “Be that as it may, your point is irrelevant to the question of discipline on board my ship.”

  “Captain, I have seen worse and you know it; the penalties have been a slap on the wrist rather than a court-martial. Despite your objections, I want de Coeur involved. He can handle the Xesset end of the data transfers. Le
t your specialists set up the link and we’ll look after the rest.”

  “Denke, if you make your request official, I will release de Coeur into your charge. But I want him back. Sergeant, you can stand down, for now.”

  The xeno team expressed their reluctance to withdraw from the Xesset command bridge, with it treasures of artifacts and documents. Denke quickly silenced their protests with threats.

  “If you do not leave this bridge in the next sixty seconds I will conscript you all into the Special Force with a downgrade of both rank and privileges. I should not need to point out that you then would be subject to our rules and discipline, which are far more severe than those of your Xeno Service. Leave this bridge now.”

  He turned and spoke softly to Steg as the xeno team reluctantly made their way off the bridge. “I’d probably be subject to a court-martial myself if I recruited that lazy bunch. Now, de Coeur, to work. The system’s all yours; no one will interrupt or interfere, so get to work.”

  Steg relished the task which would take his mind off his pending court-martial and also allow him to test and expand his abilities. He carefully began to reactivate the Xesset system, checking step by step to ensure the system was under his complete control and isolated from the commands from deep space. At last the technical crew signaled their system was ready to accept the flow of Xesset data. He initiated the transfer process. Denke and the technical team were unaware that he had incorporated a small program to extract data items of interest which later could be forwarded to the Glass Complex. Steg had an overriding desire to protect himself and to ensure the continuing survival and independence of Homeworld.

  Hours passed. Denke grew bored and wandered off to speak with the team in the engine room. Block after block of data transferred to Ziangka. Navigation tables. Star tables. Weapon systems. Personnel statistics. Routine orders. Maintenance procedures. His private reservoir of data now held complete details of the Xesset drive, including its design, construction, and operation and maintenance procedures. Eventually the Imperial technical teams would distill the same details from their painstaking efforts. Those results would be held within Fleet, and possibly released to corporations friendly to Fleet officers, perhaps to the House of Aluta.

  Steg wanted that information for Homeworld. The Acolytes could use the data to influence the design of new drives for Homeworld’s fleet, for both military and trading vessels. That would be a major benefit for Homeworld. He instructed Ziangka’s system to dispatch his copy of the data to Homeworld without alerting the technical team. He relaxed and continued to monitor the transfers.

  Eventually Denke returned. Steg tapped at the Xesset keyboard and drew his attention to the display.

  “This is a complete translation, Denke. A full description of the Xesset base, including coordinates. And some indications of their home system.”

  Denke almost bared his teeth. “Good work. Their base is not that far away. We need to pay them a visit. I’ll talk with Gallos. He’ll want to see these details. I know he wants to follow through on this. We can leave the Xesset ship here with the Fleet experts because we now have the most important details. We need to go get some pirates.”

  He strode off, leaving Steg to conclude the data transfer. The Xesset system had been exhausted of content, a copy of its data now was safely stored in Ziangka data storage units, and the process had completed without damage or loss.

  ******

  Chapter 17

  Ziangka was on course to the Xesset base; however the promise of pending battle had not diverted the captain’s intention to bring Steg before a court-martial board. The appointed defense counsel had proven almost negligently inept and Steg had ignored the man. Steg fully realized he was being railroaded out of the Fleet and the process was in its final stages.

  The presiding officer addressed Steg with practiced and almost glib formality. “Lieutenant Ross—you’ve heard the case presented by the prosecuting officer, with supporting evidence from prosecution witnesses. Do you wish to call witnesses for your defense?”

  Steg ignored the unspoken inference that his witnesses—if he had any—would never match those of the prosecution. He replied with matching formality.

  “I do not wish to call witnesses.”

  “Do you wish to make a statement to the Board?”

  “Yes, sir.” Steg realized he must make some attempt to mitigate his offense. While he didn’t hold out much hope, he needed to combat the enmity flowing from Captain Gallos. He had sought shelter under the wings of the Fleet and now that shelter was fast losing substance. He suspected the House of Aluta somehow had discovered his whereabouts and brought pressure to bear on the captain. Gallos wanted his discharge from the Fleet; that was obvious to Steg.

  “Very well. Proceed.” The officer hid a yawn.

  “Thank you. I admit that in technical terms I did interfere with the Ziangka system. I changed the display program, and made other unauthorized incursions into the system. However, my contacts with the system were not malicious. Instead they were beneficial to the crew and to the star ship. I submit that success of the attack on the Xesset ships was aided by my actions.”

  “We have seen no supporting evidence, nothing has been presented to the court in support of this ambitious and doubtful claim.”

  “Major Denke—”

  “While the major is a renowned Special Forces officer, he is not Fleet. Further, he is not present to assist this court. We do not accept your statement in mitigation. My fellow officers on this board agree unanimously—your interference with Ziangka’s system occurred during a period while the ship and crew were in conflict with an enemy combatant. Further, your actions were in direct contravention of a direct order issued by Captain Gallos. Therefore your actions constitute a deplorable breach of discipline and at least represented conduct prejudicial to the well-being and survival of the ship and crew. Our unanimous verdict is guilty, Mr. Ross.” He paused for effect. “The decision of the Board is that you be discharged from the service of the Imperial Fleet, without honor. Your discharge will be of immediate effect. Then, as a civilian whose presence on board ss Ziangka is unauthorized, you will be confined to quarters under guard. When we next touch down at any Imperial location, you will be expelled from the ship. Of course Fleet will arrange a standard travel warrant, for your return trip to Althere. Do you have any questions?”

  “Do I have a right of appeal?” Steg was struggling to remain calm.

  “Of course. You may appeal firstly to the captain of ss Ziangka. And then you may appeal to the Fleet Admiralty. Such appeals would result in a full review of this court-martial. However, the maximum penalty for your offense is up to ten years servitude on a Fleet planet or in a Fleet prison. You should be aware Captain Gallos requested the maximum penalty. You have fourteen days to consider whether you intend to appeal.”

  “I understand.” Steg’s tone was bitter. The presiding officer had made his point. The House of Aluta had reached deep into the Fleet to find and trap him. And somehow Denke had disappeared. He could not determine whether the two events were linked. He did know the House of Aluta had not finished with him, and he would need to be continually alert to avoid the next step in their plan. He probably was safe while he was on Ziangka but once he disembarked the star ship, his very life would be at risk.

  The presiding officer nodded. “You will be escorted to your new quarters. You may take your personal belongings, except for weapons. Private weapons will be returned when you disembark. Your servant may attend you, although you will remain under guard. Any questions?”

  Steg realized further protests would be futile. It would be difficult for any agents of House of Aluta to reach him while he was under guard, so perhaps the loss of his weapons pack and Ebony would be only a temporary inconvenience.

  The presiding officer signaled the sergeant at arms. “Take this civilian to his new quarters and keep him under guard until he disembarks this ship.”

  “Oh master,” the lit
tle alien was disconsolate. “Tziksis sad is. Misfortune heavily on young princeling falls.”

  “I agree misfortune indeed has fallen. Now tell me, what is the latest news?”

  Tziksis still maintained his communication network. “Star ship Ziangka is heading towards pirate planet. Trip three days more will take.”

  “Have you managed to find Denke?”

  “No, young master. Tziksis sorry is, but of the major, no sign is. Most strange, much effort Tziksis has applied.”

  The major had disappeared; either he had somehow disembarked in mid-space, had fallen victim to an attack in some dark corridor, or else was very thoroughly hiding his on board location. Steg discounted the last two alternatives. It would be easy for someone to hide, although motivation to do so was a mystery. Ziangka was a large ship with vast and unused facilities, with empty deck after empty deck, built to carry a substantially larger crew. Tziksis had organized numerous small search parties and despite their efforts, the major was nowhere to be found. Steg was extremely disappointed at the major’s failure to support him.

  “Keep searching, Tziksis. Leave messages that I would like to speak with him as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, oh master. Tziksis now will go, search continues.” Tziksis bobbed his eyestalks as he turned away.

  When the little alien departed, disturbing the taciturn guard on duty outside his quarters, Steg attempted to settle back onto his narrow bunk, the only item of furniture provided for his comfort. His quarters were almost cell-like and obviously intended to be basic accommodation for himself and Tziksis. A work crew had replaced the standard door with a heavier one, as though Captain Gallos was expecting him to escape. Or at least, to make an attempt. The armed guard outside added to the impression that Steg was a prisoner. He was being treated with extreme caution. While Tziksis was allowed to leave the cabin unescorted, Steg was very constrained. He was permitted to exercise although the nominated gym was always vacant when he attended. Generally, he was isolated from the star ship’s routine and from members of the officers and crew with whom he was acquainted. He minimized his contact with the star ship’s system; he did not wish to reveal to the captain the extent of his ability not only to communicate to the system but also to take control of it.