The Wrong Side of Space (TCOTU, Book 3) (This Corner of the Universe)

by Britt Ringel

  * * *

  “…and I forwarded your orders to Curator and thanked Lieutenant Arnold for his service,” Heskan concluded. It had been a grueling three hours. Despite memorizing his official report during Kite’s entire sail from Anthe-4 to the orbital, Heskan painstakingly parsed every word in his mind before stating it on record. Any inconsistency, any deviation from his written words would be inviting additional scrutiny, and the full attention of Brevic Internal Security was something to avoid at all costs.

  Brewer nodded and said, “Good report, Garrett. I believe we can move past the mission debriefing now.” He paused briefly to scratch lightly at his right ear. Another nod and Brewer stated, “Can I offer you refreshment?”

  The door opened and the man-mountain entered to place a tray containing two glasses and a pitcher of water on the table before disappearing once more. Heskan, parched, gratefully filled a glass and drank. In between sips, he asked, “Mr. Secretary, am I to understand that Admiral Hayes and Avenger are safe?”

  Brewer nodded once more and said, “They wouldn’t have been if Hayes had simply dove into Sponde and ran for Pan. We had forces in-system but they wouldn’t have been able to support Avenger before those Hollaran light units chasing her dragged her down.” Brewer smiled like a saint. “But, you don’t become an admiral in the Brevic Navy by playing things straight. Avenger dove in, sent a burst communication to Pan informing them of the situation and requesting support and then came about and dove back to Kale.” His smile grew wider. “When Avenger returned to Sponde six days later after tunneling out and straight back, the situation was much more pacified.”

  “Brilliant,” Heskan said, and meant it.

  “That is why Hayes now wears a second star.” He cleared his throat. “Speaking of Hayes, and I am getting ahead of myself but, the pilots you recovered in Kale are to all be placed under arrest for dereliction of duty and failure to follow lawful orders to fire their fusion missiles upon the enemy.”

  “But some of them might be innocent,” Heskan responded but immediately cringed inwardly. Dammit, Heskan, shut up.

  “We’ll sort it out, Garrett, at the court martials. No innocent man is ever convicted in the Brevic court system,” he assured. “I want you to confine them to their quarters, under lock, until a suitable I.S. ship dives in to relieve you of them.”

  “Understood, sir. I can make that happen.”

  “While I’m on the subject, your navigator… what’s her name?”

  Heskan’s stomach lurched. “Selvaggio, sir.” He was feeling dizzy.

  “Ah, yes. Lieutenant, junior grade, Diane Selvaggio.” Brewer flipped more pages on his datapad. “Here she is. New Roman, I see.”

  “I think she’s from New Milan, actually,” Heskan corrected.

  “Same thing.” Brewer shrugged and continued, “She spent a considerable amount of time on Phoenix, didn’t she?”

  “Well, most of it was unconscious,” Heskan laughed agreeably, trying to thread the needle.

  “Yes, she owes her life to the Hollarans, doesn’t she?”

  Heskan faltered. Trapped. “I hadn’t thought of it like that before but yes, she does,” he admitted.

  Brewer shook his head with mock sympathy. “It must be difficult to hate an enemy that saved your life. To hate an enemy that you’ve spent so much time interacting with.” Brewer, almost absentmindedly, asked, “I’ve spoken with that Komandor… um, Lombardi. She’s from New Roma too, isn’t she?”

  Heskan nearly said “New Bari” but caught himself in time. He felt his skin flush with heat as he narrowly avoided the landmine. How could I possibly explain knowing that? What was in that water? Focus, Heskan! He adopted a sincere expression. “I really don’t know, Mr. Secretary. She’s a Hollie so I imagine that Selvaggio views her as a traitor to her ancestors.” Heskan smiled. Glad I got that in there.

  “Interesting word you bring up, Garrett,” Brewer replied without missing a beat. “Do you have any concerns about the loyalties of your navigator?”

  “No, sir. She’s never given me a reason to think she is anything but completely dedicated to the Republic.”

  Brewer nodded. “You’re probably right. But, then again, it’s my duty to safeguard the people so I can never be too cautious. Let’s confine her to quarters as well and I’ll have a talk with her to determine if she is a threat to the Republic.” He gave Heskan a pensive look and nodded as if to reassure himself of his decision. “Yes, that’s the safest course of action for the Republic. Can you make that happen, Garrett?”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “Excellent.” Brewer paged through more notes on his datapad. “I want you to know that, at great personal risk, I’m defending your cooperation with the Hollarans given the desperate situation you were thrown into. I’ve pointed out that it was Captain Grey that colluded with the enemy and you were simply following her orders.” He paused and smirked before adding, “Others have questioned your integrity but I can’t sit idly by and allow a good man to be used as a political pawn. And I know how dedicated you are to following orders.” If the statement was intended as a barb, the Brevic official made no hint of it. “I’m also defending your inability to secure Phoenix up until now. Some of my colleagues have their doubts about you, especially in light of Lieutenant Arnold’s testimony, but I know you better than they do and I know you would never fail the Republic. Would you, Garrett?”

  Heskan swallowed. “I’d die first, Mr. Secretary.”

  Brewer smiled at the choice of words. “Besides, even I have had difficulty punching and counter-punching with that komandor. She’s quite intelligent, and obstinate.” He finished looking at his datapad and stared at Heskan directly. “What is your opinion of Phoenix’s internal security? Assuming that I could land I.S. forces on Phoenix, how difficult would it be to take her by force?”

  Heskan’s heart threatened to beat from his chest even as a fog was descending upon his mind. What do I tell him? “I don’t know, sir. I-I’ve never been on board her ship.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You sent your first officer over, didn’t you?”

  Oh, no! What have I done?

  Brewer pressed a finger against the screen of his datapad. “Joseph, arrange an interview with…” He looked at Heskan questioningly.

  Heskan heard his hollow voice answer, “Lieutenant Stacy Vernay.”

  “Yes, Stacy Vernay. I want her brought over by I.S. We can use one of the advisors I am sending to Kite.” He closed the channel.

  What?

  Brewer explained, “As a courtesy, Garrett, I am tasking a squad of my Internal Security forces to help you arrest those pilots. I’ll loan you Agent Jennings as well. He’s my right-hand man when it comes to minutia such as this. You’ll find him very helpful. Jennings and the I.S. detail will give you full authority to legally exercise these actions.”

  “We certainly want to abide by the law, sir,” Heskan said as his stomach continued to tumble down the abyss.

  “Naturally,” Brewer agreed. “I think we’re done here, Garrett, for now. You’ve been most useful and I am sure you’ll continue to be an asset to the Republic. This whole process must be discomforting for you but rest assured that I will get this business behind us shortly and allow you to move on to more important things.” Brewer looked around the room as if ensuring he still had its faux-privacy. “Just between you and me, Garrett, don’t get too comfortable on Kite. If I read you right and you remain an important piece to the successful resolution of this situation, you can expect Bree’s gratitude. The Republic rewards those who demonstrate loyalty to the cause.”

  Heskan looked downward and said listlessly, “I’m just honored to be able to help, sir.”

  After several seconds of silent appraisal, Brewer smiled cunningly and asked, “Aren’t you curious, Garrett? This is a milestone in your life. These events could launch your career farther than you could possibly imagine.”

  The corner of Heskan’s mouth turned upward and he look
ed roguishly at Brewer. “I have quite an imagination.”

  Brewer returned the devious smile. “How does the Star of Honor, promotion to full commander and the command of a battle cruiser sound?”

  Our highest honor… and command of a BC? It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. “It sounds like I’m your man, Mr. Secretary.”

  * * *

  The door to the interrogation room closed, leaving Brewer still seated and alone. Field Supervisor Jennings and his detail of agents would escort the lieutenant commander back to Kite and ensure a sufficiently short leash.

  “Can we trust him?” a voice asked over Brewer’s earbud.

  “Yes,” Brewer responded simply. “I knew his father and I know this man. The proper combination of intimidation, bribery and coercion works wonders on him.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because it’s worked before.” He turned slightly and smiled into a camera. “Give this man a medal and he’ll backflip through any hoop we ask.”

  “You offered him much more than a medal,” the voice noted.

  “This backflip is much more intricate,” Brewer countered.

  “But a Star of Honor?” the voice pressed. “Are we creating a monster today?”

  Brewer shook his head. “He’s not getting a Star of Honor. Once we’re finished with him here, I’ll tell him the best I could do was a Navy Cross.”

  “And what about the promotion and command?”

  “Assuming this operation goes smoothly, he gets them,” Brewer judged. “Especially the promotion. Make that happen. We reward loyalty to our cause. The next time I see him, I want to hand him full commander’s insignia.”

  “Hand-feed him,” the voice agreed.

  Brewer nodded. “That’s how you own them.”

  Chapter 22

  Heskan led Field Supervisor Jennings and a nameless agent down Kite’s corridor. Although fully aware of how much the next thirty minutes would change his life, he had resigned himself to his course of action. I won’t see Stacy again until after her debriefing but I might see Diane before she leaves the ship, he judged. He swallowed bile as he broke the threshold of the portal sensors and stepped onto the bridge.

  “Captain on the bridge,” Vernay announced with a friendly smile.

  Heskan ignored Vernay and instead stepped to his command chair. Taking a deep breath before addressing Selvaggio, he ordered, “Lieutenant, you will follow this I.S. agent to your quarters where you will be confined until such time as you can be transferred off Kite.”

  Selvaggio turned to Heskan, her confusion obvious. “Sir?”

  Heskan nodded. “You heard me, Lieutenant. Get off my bridge and surrender your datapad to Mr. Jennings.” Heskan desperately wanted to look away from the befuddled navigator but kept his eyes locked on her. I can’t show any weakness in front of Jennings.

  “Captain—” Vernay started.

  “Shut your mouth, Vernay!” Heskan barked fiercely. He turned to stare at her, trying to convey hidden meaning into his words. “You need to learn to watch what you say and recognize when to be quiet.”

  Vernay’s expression was abject horror. Heskan studied her to see if she noticed his subtle hint but the young first officer merely blushed bright red and looked toward the deck. She faintly muttered, “I-I’m sorry, sir.”

  Heskan took three aggressive steps toward her and nearly screamed, “Don’t be sorry, learn from this! Everything you say has consequences, Vernay! You’ve been a professional enough officer but I’ve never liked your attitude! Some of your comments… if I were another man, your record might look a lot different.”

  Vernay withered under the firestorm but managed to nod. She backed away from Heskan as Selvaggio stood, unsure what to do. She looked at Truesworth with a desperate expression.

  “Go, Selvaggio!” Heskan commanded as he pointed at the bridge door. She gave a last look to Truesworth and slinked around Kite’s captain on her way to the exit.

  Jennings held out his hand as she passed. “Please follow Agent Simons. Your datapad, please.”

  After Selvaggio had left, Heskan looked at Truesworth who glared defiantly back. “Truesworth, give me One-MC,” Heskan demanded.

  The sensorman’s eyes never left Heskan even as he reached back to activate the ship’s main channel. “You’re on… Captain.”

  “Attention, Kite. This is the captain. I want all pilots that Kite recovered from Kale to gather in Rec Room One immediately. Bring your datapads.” Heskan spun in place and moved toward the exit behind Jennings. As he was leaving the bridge, he ordered, “Vernay, you’re with me. Spencer, you have the bridge.”

  Somewhat recovered from Heskan’s initial assault, Vernay twisted off of her chair and growled, “Should I bring my datapad, Captain?”

  While Jennings issued orders to his remaining agents through a throat mic hidden under the high, stiff collar of his white uniform, Heskan looked at Vernay. It was his intention to offer an expression of both caution and assurance, but Vernay refused to look at him.

  “Yes, Lieutenant Vernay,” Jennings answered for Heskan. “You should bring it because you will accompany me to Envoy-Three for interview. I trust you can do that, Lieutenant?”

  Vernay stumbled slightly as all color drained from her face. “Okay,” she said docilely.

  Throughout the entire trip to Recreation Room One, Heskan tried to make eye contact with Vernay but she had retreated into her own mind. Heskan passed by the I.S. agents lined up in the hallway and entered the large room. He heard Ensign Gables call the room to attention. Heskan stepped to a long table and spoke without preamble. “Ladies and gentlemen, you will deposit your datapads on this table. By order of Admiral Hayes and effective immediately, each of you is under arrest for dereliction of duty and failure to obey a lawful order to fire upon the enemy.”

  Despite the pilots still being at attention, Heskan heard gasps and then muted conversations. One voice spoke over the rest. “Captain, most if not all of us had good reasons for not launching,” Gables insisted. “My missiles failed to launch due to faulty connections when they were mounted to my Pup.”

  “That will come out in your court martial, Ensign,” Jennings assured. “Each of you will be escorted to your quarters now by an I.S. liaison. Any contact with the outside world will be through your liaison from this point forward.”

  Another ensign protested loudly, “We’ve served honorably, Captain.” Heskan could not attach a name to the face but recognized him as the man who had volunteered to follow Kite’s marines with a handheld welding unit to help secure doors from infected during Parasite attacks. Heskan’s cheeks burned as he looked around the room. All of these men and women had willingly accepted menial but important positions on Kite without any thought as to whether their jobs demeaned their rank. Many of them served under petty officers and spacemen as their assistants. And this is how the Republic repays them. “Your service on Kite is appreciated,” Heskan said. He looked hard at Vernay again. “But you have to realize that everything you do is scrutinized by the Republic and any failure will have consequences.” Vernay still rebuffed him. Sighing, he scanned the room and immediately regretted doing so when he saw the shimmering eyes of Denise Gables.

  Agents began to escort the pilots from the room when Jennings spoke. “Lieutenant Vernay, it’s time. The Republic needs your assistance.” He motioned toward the exit. Heskan wanted to reach out to his friend but she took a wide berth as she walked past him. Jennings followed behind her, breaking Heskan’s line of sight to his first officer completely as she led him out the door. She’s gone. Please do the right thing, Stacy. You have to save yourself.

  Heskan did not return to the bridge. Instead, he sat anxiously in his quarters awaiting the return of his first officer. He replayed the entire scene starting on the bridge and ending in the recreation room, kicking himself for missed opportunities to warn her further. The entire day had been an unparalleled nightmare. In half an hour’s time, he had thr
own away six months of friendships. He had betrayed people loyal to him, and betrayed himself. When he had arrived at his own quarters, he had been half-surprised to discover that no I.S. agent was stationed at his door. I guess my soul was worth enough to buy my freedom. He shook his head as he stared at the chronometer on his datapad. His self-loathing was entering its third hour. You did what you had to do, Garrett. The handheld device chirped to punctuate his day.

  The short message contained official orders relieving Lieutenant Vernay of her duties aboard Kite.

  * * *

  “What is the purpose of your visit?” the I.S. agent asked mechanically.

  “I’m supposed to disable out-going communication abilities in the prisoner’s quarters.”

  The agent looked suspiciously at the lieutenant for a moment. “Why isn’t your Operations officer doing this?”

  “Because you’ve arrested her,” Truesworth spat back. “This is her room.”

  The agent took Truesworth’s datapad and produced a sniffer device from his pocket. After sweeping the device over the sensorman, he handed the datapad back to him. “Five minutes,” the agent said as he unlocked the portal.

  Truesworth stepped inside and allowed the door to shut. “Gabes?” he asked as he looked around the vacant room. “Are you okay?”

  Ensign Gables emerged from the bathroom, her eyes rimmed with red. Sniffing heavily she answered, “Who is it?” Upon seeing Truesworth, she smiled apathetically. “Hi, Jack. No, I’m very screwed. What’s going on?”

  Truesworth shrugged. “I don’t know, Denise. Ever since the captain came back from his interview, he’s been completely different. Now, Stacy is missing. The captain moved Spencer up to first officer.” He gestured in frustration. “I’d ask him what happened to Stacy but he might have me arrested like he did Diane.”