by Alex Kings
Hanson gave him a small smile. “About as well as I expected. It was worth a try, I suppose.”
“It was,” said Lanik.
“Miller,” ordered Hanson. “Send a message to Councillor Kuta.”
“Yes, sir.”
They waited, and Hanson called up some text on his tablet.
“Sir, we have a response,” said Miller.
“Put it through,” said Hanson.
Kuta appeared on the display.
“I'm sorry to hear about your homeworld,” she said. “I assume that's why you find yourself on our doorstep once again?”
“I'm afraid so,” said Hanson.
“Well, you have managed to upset Rok. He has retired to his throne room in a sulk. His lackey Surrot isn't too pleased either.” Kuta gave them a smile full of sharp teeth. “So for that, I'm in your debt. Tell me what I can do to help you.”
“It's a little awkward to ask,” said Hanson. “But we need the Varanid Republic on our side.”
“Hanson,” began Kuta. “Only the Chancellor can do that. It's beyond my power.”
Hanson sighed. Here was the difficult bit. “Not if you issue Rok with a formal challenge for 'gross negligence and/or threatening the safety of the Varanid Republic'. Section 12, paragraph 72 of the –”
“I know my own constitution,” growled Kuta. Her smile had vanished. “Are you really asking me to try and overthrow my own government?”
“Not overthrow. Save.” Hanson held her gaze. “I know this isn't ideal. I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't important. You've seen what the Ancient ships can do. You know what's at stake here! Pierce and the New Terran Dominion won't stop with Earth. We have evidence that they want to take over the whole galaxy. And Rok is just ignoring that. You tell me, doesn't that count as gross negligence and threatening the safety of the Varanid Republic?”
Kuta growled. “No, Hanson. I will not do this.”
And that, clearly, was the end of the matter.
After a few moments, Kuta sighed. “I'm sorry, Hanson. I want to help, but this is too big.”
“I understand,” said Hanson. “There is something else you could do.”
There was a hint of suspicion in Kuta's voice. “What?”
“First of all, I have a confession. Remember when you told us that Ancient artefact was trying to talk to you? I kept something from you. We also had an artefact talking to us. It was on Mars. Pierce stole it, and we think he's using it to control the Ancient ships.”
“Ah,” said Kuta at last. “So when I risked my career to share information with you, you kept information from me. Is this supposed to make me trust you? Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because we're supposed to be on the same side, against IL,” said Hanson. He turned away from the screen and gave an order: “Lieutenant Miller, transmit all the data we have about the Ancient Speaker artefact.”
“Yes, sir,” said Miller.
Kuta checked to make sure she had received the data. “Well,” she said, her voice underlined with a warning growl, “now we're past that bit of theatrics, what do you want?”
“We have an idea. If we use Ancient technology to try and communicate with the Ancient ships, we might be able to override or disrupt Pierce's control of them.”
Kuta finished the thought for him: “And since our artefact is similar to the one Pierce is using, it's the best place to start.”
“Exactly,” said Hanson. He ordered Miller again, “Connect Yilva to this conversation.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yilva was already ready, apparently. Judging by the background, she was hanging from the ceiling of Vyren's pool. She greeted Kuta.
“Alright,” said Kuta. “You can have all of our research data. I hope it will be useful.”
“Oh, uh. Yes. Maybe,” said Yilva. She seemed uncertain. “I don't know. I think I need to see the artefact properly. I have hypotheses, but I need to test them.”
Kuta rolled her eyes. “Of course the data isn't enough. Fine. How do you propose to get down here without having Rok's forces rush in?”
“Well, we do have a new complement of stealth shuttles,” said Hanson.
Kuta stared at him.
“I can't believe I'm doing this. Very well. Come to the following co-ordinates in three hours. We may be doing this in secret, but the usual restrictions apply: No weapons of any kind. You'll have thirty minutes to study the artefact. No more.”
Yilva grinned. “Thank you!” she said.
“Yes,” said Hanson. “Thank you.”
Chapter 13: Clandestine Meeting
The shuttle flew in slowly to avoid leaving a trail of heated air. Kuta's co-ordinates led them to a small, boxy outpost in the shadow of a volcano. In the distance, Hanson could see the edge of Ghroga's Eternal Storm, a cloud of ochre dust peering out from over the horizon, lit by frequent flashes of lightning.
The outpost was surrounded by automated gun towers. None of them rose to look at the shuttle.
“Did we have to do the no-weapons thing? Again?” asked Agatha.
“Yes,” said Hanson, without looking up from the shuttle's controls. “Kuta's an ally.”
“I want you to know that if you weren't flying the shuttle, I'd throw something at your head,” said Agatha.
“Well, thank you very much,” Hanson said with a grin.
Yilva and Vyren were having a rapid conversation about Ancient technology filled with so much jargon that it was impossible to follow.
Agatha's attention went to Srak. “Hey, buddy, how are you feeling?”
“Alright,” grunted Srak. Hanson heard his fingers drumming on the shuttle's floor.
Hanson settled the shuttle under the overhanging roof behind the facility.
The broad door was already open. Kuta stood there, waiting. She watched the five of them leave the shuttle, then turned to Hanson. “Are they Ancient experts too?” she asked, nodding towards Srak and Agatha.
“They're good to have around, just in case I need to fight anything,” said Hanson.
“That shouldn't happen here,” said Kuta.
“You'd be surprised.”
Kuta turned to Srak. “Well, glad to see you back on Ghroga, in any case.”
Srak's rather grim, thoughtful expression was replaced by a brief smile as soon as he heard this. “Good to be back,” he said, lifting his head and looking up into the dusty orange sky.
Kuta led them inside.
A large chamber sat in the middle of the room, a little below floor-level. It emitted tangles and pipes and wires, and various technical equipment was arrayed around it. A ring of five portholes in the chamber gave a view of the Ancient Speaker artefact inside. Computer terminals were placed around the edge of the room. Two of them had Varanid scientists working at them.
“Don't worry,” Kuta said. “They're loyal.” She showed Yilva to a terminal. “We don't have Isk, I'm afraid, but you can plug your tablet in here and run a translation. Ukku here will help you.”
Soon, Yilva, Vyren, and the Varanid scientists were crowded together over one of the terminals, looking over all the available telemetry from the artefact.
Kuta stood beside Hanson, watching them work. “What did you think of Surrot, then?” she said with a faint smile.
“Charming, isn't he?” said Hanson. “Why did we get the honour of speaking to him?”
Kuta snorted. “He's wormed his way up the hierarchy by being Rok's right-hand man. Does all the things Rok can't be bothered to do.”
“Ah.”
“He also has a number of, let's say, not entirely legitimate income streams. Contracts with traders a Councillor shouldn't have. That sort of thing.” Kuta growled. “I'm sure he does. Haven't got any hard proof. He's too oily for me to pin down. Yet, anyway.”
Yilva, meanwhile, was advising the two Varanid scientists. “We need more precise measurements before we can do anything. It's all hiding in the terahertz frequency band. Do you have anything that can
do that?”
“Of course.” The scientists set about taking out new equipment.
For a while they stood back and watched as Yilva and the scientists worked, settling up new equipment and running tests. Occasionally Yilva called Vyren on the comms to report something to him and get suggestions.
Agatha sat by the door, idly scratching at the scuffed toe of her boot. Srak stood behind her, head up, watching their surroundings.
Agatha watched him for a while, then shuffled up closer to him. “Well? Are you going to talk to her or not?”
“What?” said Srak.
Agatha nodded at Kuta, who seemed to be occupied with her tablet. “You keep looking at her. She keeps looking at you. It's awkward.”
Srak glared at her. “You're one to talk.” He looked up at Hanson briefly.
“Just do it,” said Agatha.
Srak sighed and lifted his great body from the floor. He strode over to Kuta.
“Hello,” he said.
Kuta looked up from her tablet and smiled. “Hello,” she said.
For a moment, the only sound came from Yilva and her team setting up some new tool.
“So, uh, I like your … lab,” Srak said.
“Thank you,” Kuta said, a little uncertainly.
“I …” Srak frowned. “I mean. What's it been like, living on Ghroga all this time?”
Agatha, who was watching all this, sighed. “There he goes,” she said to Hanson. “One of the best mercenaries in the galaxy.” She looked thoroughly unimpressed.
Then she frowned briefly. Her expression became unsure. She turned to Hanson. “I wasn't like that, was I?”
Hanson smiled at her and shook his head. “No, you always played it cool. Mostly.”
After a while, Srak and Kuta managed to find their way into an actual conversation. Kuta made a show of disapproving of all of Srak's exploits as a mercenary, but couldn't disguise that fact that she was actually quite curious. For his part, Srak had become garrulous again. Hanson stood beside Agatha in companionable silence.
The front door slammed open with a sound like an exploding shuttle, and a Varanid holding a shotgun the size of a cannon stepped through. “Nobody move!” Kuta stepped back in shock and bumped against a console. The intruder was followed by another two armed Varanids.
After them came Councillor Surrot. “Well, now, look at this. A clandestine meeting with aliens in a secret facility.”
Chapter 14: Challenge
For a few seconds, everyone watched one another. Hanson studied the room, looking for any tactical advantage. None came. Four armed Varanids in a confined space, three unarmed Varanids plus his team. If things came to a battle, things wouldn't go well for them.
“Well, what do you think?” Surrot asked. “Treason? Confess now and you might avoid execution.”
“Do you know what would be useful right now?” said Agatha. “Some fucking guns!”
“Wouldn't help,” Kuta told her. She hadn't moved from her position by the console.
Surrot gave Agatha a predatory grin. “She's right, you know.” With a free middle arm, he reached up and tapped a black device strapped to his collar. “This is recording everything. If I'm hurt, it transmits automatically. A full regiment comes in. Councillor Kuta here gets executed for certain. And I imagine you, little human, will get shot down when you try to leave.”
Agatha thought about this for a moment. “Well, that sucks,” she muttered.
“Well, Kuta?” said Surrot. “Are you going to give in, or do you have any desperate plans you'd like to try on me?”
Kuta sighed. She closed her eyes and seemed to deflate a little. Then she straightened up and stared directly at Surrot. “Yes, actually,” she told him in a low growl. “Tell me. All those meetings you've had with traders. All those Varanid weapons suddenly appearing in the Glaber territories. It would be pretty bad for you if someone found records of that, wouldn't it?”
Surrot stared at her for a moment. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
“Of course you don't,” said Kuta. “So you shouldn't mind if I press this button, right?” She nodded to her lower-left hand, which was hovering an inch above the console.
Surrot seemed lost for words. He snarled. One of his guards gave him a questioning look.
“Come on, Surrot,” said Kuta.“You know me. You know I like to stay prepared. Just like you.” She pointed his camera. “Let's say I anticipated something like this happening. So I gathered up all evidence of your misdeeds and packaged them together on my account, ready to be shared at the touch of a button from a computer terminal anywhere in the world.”
Surrot snarled again. “What are you trying to accomplish? Even if … if you did have evidence to send, everyone's already seen your treason.” He tapped the camera.
Kuta nodded. “I don't think so. You said the camera was recording, ready to transmit. You didn't say it was a live feed.” She grinned at him. “Which is a smart strategy, because it keeps you in control. If the recording looks good for you, you could share it. If it looks bad for you, you could just delete it.” She leaned forward without moving her hand from the button. “Let's try it, shall we? Take the camera off and delete the whole recording.”
The Varanids stared at one another for a few seconds longer. Eventually, Surrot's hand went up to his shoulder. He disconnected the camera and tapped at it.
“Now destroy it,” said Kuta. “Just to make sure. Put it on the ground and step on it.”
Surrot hastily tapped at the camera a little more, then dropped it and crushed it underfoot.
“Drop your weapons and slide them over here,” said Kuta.
The guards glanced at Surrot. He nodded. They did as they were told.
Kuta nodded in approval.
“This doesn't change anything,” said Surrot. “When I tell Rok about this, he'll find enough evidence to get rid of you, I promise. It'll take longer, but it'll end up the same place.”
“Uh-huh,” said Kuta, clearly not impressed. “You tell him that. And you can also tell him that I'm going to challenge him for endangering the Republic.” After a moment she leaned forward and added, “And as for you Surrot? You keep your head down and I promise it won't roll, okay?”
“Damn, Varanids are brutal,” said Agatha.
This seemed to catch Kuta's attention. “I think you'd better leave,” she told Hanson. “It doesn't help my case if you're on the planet's surface.”
“Alright,” said Hanson. “Come, let's go” he told his team. At the door, he said to Kuta, “Good luck.”
Kuta rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure,” she said. She turned to Srak and gave him a brief smile. “Goodbye, Srak. If all goes well, let's meet in the Capital.”
“I'd like that,” said Srak.
Hanson led them out the door and into the shuttle.
*
They were leaving the atmosphere when they received an incoming signal. It was a public broadcast across the whole of Ghroga.
Hanson put it on. Kuta's face appeared on the screen.
“Citizens of the Varanid Republic,” came the voice through the speakers. “I am Councillor Kuta. I hereby openly and publicly challenge Chancellor Rok for endangering the Varanid Republic.”
She paused for effect, then went on: “I did not wish to do this, but given his recent actions, I can no longer stand by and allow him to threaten our nation. You may have heard of the Ancient ships attacking Earth. Rok has called this an internal matter. He is wrong. For proof, I have included a document along with this transmission, written by the organisation controlling those ships and detailing their plan to take over the galaxy.
“We can no longer stand by and hide from the rest of the galaxy. If we do not stop this threat now, it will soon come to find us. And by then it may be unstoppable. I believe the Varanid Republic has a lot to offer the rest of the galaxy. We can help stop this scourge.” She nodded formally. “Thank you for listening.”
The broadca
st ceased.
“Well,” said Agatha. “That was a thing.”
Chapter 15: Bribes and Blackmail
Rok lay on the great cushion in his throne room, the six heat lamps above turned up to maximum. Propped up in front of him, a tablet a full square metre in area replayed Kuta's announcement.
He stared at it, his teeth bared, thinking. He knew what it meant. He should be angry. Furious. But the emotion seemed overloaded, and refused to come.
There was a knock at the door.
“Yes?” Rok growled.
The door opened, and a Varanid leaned in. “Councillor Surrot to see you.”
“Send him in,” said Rok.
Surrot rushed in. “Chancellor,” he said. “We have a problem with Councillor Kuta!”
“Really?” Rok said flatly “That does come as a surprise.” He glared at Surrot.
This seemed to take Surrot by surprise. “We – what?” he said. “You knew?”
Rok picked up the tablet and hurled it at Surrot with enough force to shatter stone. Surrot winced but managed to catch it.
While Surrot watched Kuta's announcement, Rok lifted himself from his cushion and stretched. His bare claws went tak-tak against the flagstones as he walked forward. “Yes,” he said, when the clip was over. “I would say we have a problem with Councillor Kuta.”
Surrot nodded silently.
“What happened? Did you find her collaborating with the aliens?”
“Yes,” Surrot said quietly.
“And? Did you get the recording or not?”
“No,” said Surrot. “She destroyed it. The aliens left in a stealth craft. There's no evidence.”
Rok glared at him. “What?”
Surrot retreated a few steps. “I'm sorry, Chancellor.”
“Sorry?” growled Rok. At last, the anger came rushing out. “You'll be a lot more than sorry!” He snarled, paced from one side of the room to the other, and slammed his fist into one of the mosaic flagstones that made up the floor. It represented the eye of some ancient Varanid philosopher. Despite the full force of his punch, the stone remained intact.