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

by Britt Ringel

  Truesworth moved deeper into the destroyer, turning corners without thought, walking a path he could walk in his sleep. As he approached the final corner before Recreation Room One, he stopped whistling and took a deep breath. Steeling himself, he took his first steps toward treason.

  Stationed at the door, the two guards stared intently at the sensorman.

  “You ready for this, Tyler?” Truesworth asked.

  Gunner’s Mate Second Class Pruette nodded. “If Vernay is in, I’m with her.”

  Truesworth appraised the able spaceman next to Pruette. “Lee?” he asked, testing Lee Thomas.

  The teenager jerked his head toward Pruette. “I’m with him. Besides, Denise Gables saved my life.”

  Truesworth exhaled loudly before stating, “Okay. Remember to look like we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. If someone stops us, act annoyed, not nervous.”

  The trio entered the large room. Standing ready were the seventeen prisoners of Kite. As Truesworth crossed the threshold, Diane Selvaggio ran the four meters necessary to embrace her co-conspirator. The crowd broke out into friendly whistles and catcalls.

  Removing his arms from around Selvaggio, Truesworth grinned and said loudly, “Okay, settle down, people. Remember, I’m taking you all to the detention facility on the orbital. Try not to look too excited about that.” Truesworth looked at the prisoners to ensure they were wearing their service uniforms. Satisfied, he commented to Selvaggio, “I’m glad you got word out on the dress code for tonight.”

  “I got that but not much else,” Selvaggio chided. “You know, I expect better communication from my boyfriend if he wants this to last.” She softened her faux-stern look. “But I guess I can forgive you given the circumstances. I can’t believe this is really happening.”

  Truesworth turned to address the crowd. “Okay, folks, I understand you don’t have a lot of information. Here’s the deal. I am escorting whoever wants to follow me to a place away from Brevic authority. Once we’re safely away, I will explain more to you but I don’t want to get into details now because I’m not sure if you all want to go.” He looked around the room. “If you want to stay in custody and take your chances at your court martial, we’ll tape you up and you’ll be found at the start of the next shift.”

  Denise Gables stepped forward and turned to face the pilots. “Just because I’m going doesn’t mean the rest of you have to, but don’t kid yourself, this is your only chance for freedom. You know Hayes is going to make examples of all of us and our Republic is more than happy to let him.” She searched the crowd gravely. “Does anyone want to stay?”

  No one stepped forward during the long silence. Gables turned to Truesworth and said, “Let’s get the hell off this ship.” The remaining fifteen pilots rumbled agreement.

  “First things first,” Truesworth said loudly. “Everyone, take off your name tags.” The crowd murmured as they unpinned their small plastoy nametags with white block lettering. When finished, Truesworth said, “While you’re on Kite, look tired and defeated. When you’re on the orbital, look tired but victorious. At all times, keep your mouth shut.” Truesworth smiled, “Any questions?”

  The throng filed out of the room, two by two. Truesworth confidently led the pack with Pruette and Thomas bringing up the rear. They marched through the empty halls of Kite to the nearest elevator to reach Deck Four. It took two elevator trips before the group was reassembled and ready to continue travelling. During the whole journey to the airlock, they encountered just one petty officer who shot a brief look at Truesworth but otherwise appeared disinterested.

  Each step closer to the airlock buoyed Truesworth’s spirits. When he had learned that he alone would be escorting the seventeen off of Kite, his stomach had set itself to core overload. The thought of breaking them out and then brazenly leading them through the command orbital gave him real pause for concern. When he learned that Vernay had recruited two willing accomplices during her final visit on Kite, the meltdown in his stomach had reduced to a mere core breach. Each step closer to the airlock reduced the tension and he began to believe the simple but audacious plan could work.

  Truesworth entered the airlock control room and waved casually to a petty officer second class behind the control station. “Heya, Percy. I’m taking the dogs out for a walk.” He then looked sternly at the prisoners and waved them up to the airlock.

  Percy waved amiably back but dropped his feet from the station. “What?” The man rose and moved swiftly to Truesworth. “Wait a minute, L-T. What are you doing with the prisoners?”

  Truesworth attempted his best smile. “Oh. We got orders from the captain. I.S. wants these guys moved to that courier ship tonight.” He glanced expectantly between Percy and the airlock doors.

  Percy began to shake his head. “One second, sir.” He moved back to his station and consulted a screen. “Sir, I don’t see any orders regarding prisoner transfers. Are you sure it was the captain?”

  Truesworth swallowed. “Yeah. Look, you know those I.S. jerks don’t think they have to play by the rules. That head guy probably just comm’d the captain and said, ‘Make it happen.’” Truesworth felt his knees begin to shake.

  Percy looked hard at the lieutenant. His eyes drifted to the prisoners, partly in the room, partly down the hall. “Where’s the armed escort, sir?”

  “Huh?”

  Percy scrutinized the lines. “The regulations say you need one escort for every five prisoners. You’re short one person. Plus, at least one of you needs to be armed.”

  “Uh, I guess we didn’t know that…”

  “Don’t move,” Percy directed. “I’m going to call the captain for confirmation on the order. I’ll also get you an extra escort with a weapon.” He began to work his control station.

  “LIEUTENANT!” Chief Brown’s voice boomed.

  Truesworth’s legs nearly gave out when he saw an angry and armed Chief Brown standing at the threshold.

  “L-T,” Brown growled, “I just got reamed by the capt’n because you couldn’t wait five minutes to follow proper procedure!” He stormed over to Percy’s control panel. “You’re gonna learn the hard way ‘bout Operations protocol, son.” He punched savagely at the panel and the airlock doors opened. Brown stomped across the room to stand directly in the face of Truesworth and said threateningly, “Capt’n wants to speak with you after we deliver the prisoners. You might wanna think about grabbin’ yer old ensign’s rank from yer room first though.”

  “Chief,” Percy asked timidly, “do I need authorization?”

  “What fer? I opened the damned doors,” Brown snarled. “But if you wanna call the capt’n, it’s yer funeral.” Without further word, Brown marched through the airlock.

  Truesworth scrambled to catch up to Chief Brown. The whole line was moving now, off Kite and onto the narrow docking tube connecting the destroyer to the orbital. At the end of the line, Pruette and Thomas subtly removed their nametags.

  “Thank you, Chief,” Truesworth said gratefully. “I was dead in the water. But how?”

  Brown shot Truesworth a stern look but then smiled. “I knew when Pruette an’ Thomas volunteered fer tonight’s night shift that somethin’ was up. I’ve been watchin’ the feed to the airlock room ever since their shift started.”

  Truesworth’s stomach tumbled; he had completely forgotten about the camera monitoring access on and off the ship. “Okay, Chief. Now, why?”

  Brown shook his head resolutely. “Ensign Gables wouldn’t be in this mess if I hadn’t pushed her into officer’s training school.” He gave the lieutenant a defiant look and vowed, “An’ no sectionmate of mine is goin’ to get court martialed fer doin’ the right thing.”

  They reached the end of the docking tube and Brown swiped his datapad over the panel. The doors retracted and Truesworth felt his ears pop as the pressure equalized. Brown slung the rifle over his shoulder and said, “Now, I suppose there’s a reason you’re takin’ off yer nametag?”

 
; “Yeah,” Truesworth said. His eyebrows shot up. “Are you coming with us, Chief?”

  Brown chuckled while pulling off his nametag. “Sure as hell ain’t goin’ back to Kite.”

  * * *

  Heskan and Vernay walked down the main commerce corridor of the Anthe orbital. Heskan reconfirmed the transaction and locked the screen on the datapad before placing it into his coat pocket. Both were in civilian clothes again. Heskan’s recently purchased suit was a Newmani design. He had nearly choked when the store’s apparel assistant informed him of the price but the fact that Brevic Internal Security was paying for it eased his mind. Walking next to him, Vernay wore a smart Malari skirt suit. Although the pair was overdressed for the orbital’s “open air” market, neither stood out too much.

  “You received the list from Anelace’s logs, right?” Heskan pestered.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re sure?” Heskan asked.

  “Yes. You know, it’s not the subterfuge that will kill you. It’s the worrying, Captain,” Vernay quipped. The couple left the market and entered the commercial docking ring. Heskan consulted a wall screen and walked toward a much narrower hall.

  “And you have all the engineering manuals?”

  “Yeah… and thanks for those,” she said sarcastically.

  “Sorry, Stacy, but you’re going to need an engineer for the trip back,” Heskan reasoned.

  “I’m delegating that role to someone else,” Vernay promised herself. “No way am I spending the next week locked inside a room taking a crash course on engineering systems.”

  Heskan glanced sideways at her. “I’m not even going to ask you to check to make sure you have the ISC regulations.”

  Vernay smirked lightly. “Then I’m not even going to think about how much of a pain you’re being.”

  Heskan stopped in the small corridor and brought a hand to her shoulder. “Stacy, I just want you and everyone else to be safe. You have dangerous work ahead and, as the leader, you’re going to have to adapt creatively to however the situation evolves.” He smiled at her. “And I know I picked absolutely the best person for this job.”

  “Thank you, Captain.” She smiled widely at him. “We’ll be safe. We’ll be successful. We’ll see you in two and a half weeks.”

  “Okay, then let’s get on with it.”

  The pair walked to an intersection, turned a corner and approached an attractive woman holding her own datapad. She stood at the entrance of a docking tube. The small wall screen above the tube displayed the words, “Jewel of the Night – Non-Stop Anthe / Erriapius – Welcome Aboard!”

  Heskan stopped at the attendant and asked, “Miss Scott?”

  The woman’s practiced smile made it no less welcoming. She reached out to shake hands while saying, “Mr. Heskan, I presume. Please call me Joanne. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your business.” She turned her attention to her datapad while adding, “We’ve received your group’s luggage and it’s been stowed on board.”

  Heskan gave the attendant a slight nod. The luggage consisted of a complete set of civilian clothes and two casual jumpsuits for each of the seventeen former prisoners of Kite. The attire had all been purchased at a store named Maritimes on Pallene. Heskan hoped that if Internal Security was monitoring his purchases on the account Secretary Brewer had given him, he could explain the credit amount away as the cost to rent a one-man sailing craft.

  Scott continued agreeably, “Our captain wishes to thank you for the more than generous payment personally if you would be so kind to wait one moment.”

  Heskan gruffly shook his head as Vernay stood stoically near him. “I don’t have time for that, Ms. Scott. I am late for an appointment. The overpayment is to ensure that your passengers are afforded every amenity and privacy possible. My assistant will make certain that these heroes of the Republic have Lux-Liner’s full cooperation during this trip.”

  Scott once again reached out to shake hands. “Pleased to meet you, Miss…?”

  Heskan looked at Vernay and said absentmindedly, “Give her the ‘Vernay’ credentials.”

  Vernay nodded professionally back to Heskan and answered coldly, “Affirmative, Commander.” She turned to face Scott and transformed into a completely different persona. Her blue eyes warmed considerably, her face lit up like a beauty queen’s and she cheerfully said, “Lieutenant Stacy Vernay, Joanne, and it’s wonderful to meet you.” She held out her datapad helpfully.

  Startled by the incredible and instant conversion, Scott swiped her datapad over Vernay’s and then looked peculiarly at Heskan. “And the other passengers, Mr. Heskan?”

  Heskan looked at her emotionlessly and held out his own datapad. “This will serve as their identities, Ms. Scott. During the trip, your staff can refer to them by ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am.’”

  Scott swept her datapad over Heskan’s and looked curiously at it. Heskan could see his Naval Identity Information appear on her screen. Along with his rank, other pertinent information played across the device. His job title, handcrafted by Brewer, was appropriately nondescript: “Advisor, Internal Security.” Surprise flickered across Scott’s face but she recovered quickly and said, “Of course, Commander. The Jewel of the Night will grant them every convenience and confidentiality. We’re thrilled the Republic has contracted with us and we’re happy to serve. We hope to continue this relationship with your, um, department.”

  I bet you do, thought Heskan. I paid you triple what a normal charter would have charged. Ten years of frugality had been nearly erased in one credit transaction. It was necessary, he reminded himself. We need these people focused solely on the money and eager to get more of it. “Precisely why I selected your liner, Ms. Scott.” Heskan turned to Vernay and barked, “You have your mission, Agent.” Without waiting for a response, he spun and walked away.

  Vernay let a dramatic shiver pass through her body as the darkly dressed figure receded into the corridor.

  Reflexively, Scott also breathed a sigh of relief. “We won’t disappoint you, uh, Lieutenant Vernay.”

  “‘Stacy’ is fine, Joanne,” Vernay mollified as they watched Heskan disappear from view. “This particular cell of agents was heavily connected to some recent news events within the system. I trust I can expect your crew’s discretion should they accidentally overhear anything.”

  “Of course! I’ll notify them before we disembark.”

  “I’ll also need complete privacy in your ship’s lounge.” Vernay looked up as if struggling to remember. “The Star Lounge, correct?”

  Scott nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, and your friends have access to the entire ship normally available to passengers. The Star Lounge, the entertainment room, restaurant and gym are all open twenty-four hours a day. Plus, each of you will have your own suite, naturally.”

  Vernay nodded keenly along with Scott. “Right, but I meant as soon as we disembark. I must conduct a mandatory I.S. post-mission debriefing reminding my agents of their responsibilities even while on leave. That debriefing is classified so the Star Lounge will need to be cleared of your employees.” Vernay’s heart skipped several beats when Truesworth and Brown turned the corner. She felt her fake smile blossom into a natural one as they drew near. “Let’s get them aboard, Joanne.”

  Scott gestured to the wall screen overhead and said in a loud but pleasing voice, “Welcome to luxury, ladies and gentlemen! The Jewel of the Night welcomes you to nine days of respite, entertainment and comfort.” She motioned fluidly to the portal leading to the docking tube. “Your boarding permissions have been prearranged, so please continue and take your first steps toward extravagance.” She smiled at each and every passenger while continuing her speech. “My name is Joanne and my staff will create a travel experience for you unlike any before. Follow Lacy and Mike to your berthing suites and we’ll get you settled in promptly.”

  Vernay purposefully tried not to watch Truesworth and Brown board for fear of blowing her cover. Seeing Brown had nearly given her a
heart attack and she immediately wondered what sequence of events had conspired to have the chief change his mind. Each sailor merely smiled and nodded at Scott as they boarded and none of them spoke more than simple greetings. Truesworth was supposed to have warned them about remaining silent but Murphy was always watching for opportunities. When the last two in line walked past Vernay, Pruette threw a wink toward her and she curtly nodded back.

  “Well,” Scott said as she grinned at Vernay and reached out to guide her to the docking tube, “that went well. Are you ready to board, Stacy?”

  Vernay took one last look at the orbital behind her and nodded. “Let’s start the fun.”

  Watch for

  Loyalty to the Cause

  Coming later in 2014

  For updates on future books, visit http://www.thiscorneroftheuniverse.com. If you liked The Wrong Side of Space, consider leaving a review where you bought the book.

  Stellar Map for TWSOS

  Anthe Star System

  Table of Contents

  Buckler Class Escort Destroyer

  Fleet Organization Charts

  Officer Ranks of the Terran Navies

  Hollaran and Brevic Enlisted Ranks

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15