Ep.#11 - A Rock and a Hard Place (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  “The man who has been investigating me for the past week,” Gunwy replied. “Please, come in, Lieutenant.”

  The lieutenant’s left eyebrow raised slightly at the use of his rank.

  “It is an honor to meet an actual Ghatazhak,” Gunwy complimented as he stepped aside to allow the lieutenant to enter. “My people have only heard stories.”

  “You seem to know much about me,” the lieutenant said as he entered the spacious suite.

  “I think it is only prudent to learn as much as possible about someone who is trying to do the same about me.”

  “Indeed.”

  “To what do I owe the pleasure, Lieutenant?”

  “It seems that you have considerable influence on this station. I have asked many questions and have received very little substantive information. Either you are new to this station, as you claim, or everyone is afraid to speak about you.”

  Gunwy laughed as he made his way to the kitchen. “I assure you, no one is afraid of me, Lieutenant. However, they may be concerned about my employer.”

  “SilTek.”

  “Yes. It is a large and powerful company. Many would liken it to a planetary government, albeit one whose primary concern is profit.”

  “Which makes me wonder why the people of Sanctuary fear it.”

  Gunwy returned from the kitchen with a multicolored bottle and two glasses. “SilTek provides the defensive system that protects this base from those who might do it harm.”

  “Then they should be praising your company, not fearing it,” the lieutenant pointed out.

  “Join me in a drink, Lieutenant?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Are you sure? It is the best vintage my world has to offer.”

  “Alcohol dulls the senses,” Lieutenant Rezhik stated. “But, I appreciate the gesture.”

  “As you wish,” Gunwy replied, pouring himself a drink.

  “Perhaps you could elaborate as to why the people of this station seem to avoid answering questions about you and your employer.”

  “I’d be happy to,” Gunwy replied, sipping at his beverage. “You see, Sanctuary was once a very remote outpost, with only the occasional visit by faster-than-light ships from other systems. As word of the station’s hospitality grew, ships began to utilize it as a rest stop of sorts. Being so removed from any heavily populated worlds, the station became a hiding place for pirates, smugglers, and confidence artists. At its height, the station, although economically strong, was a dangerous place to be.”

  “I am aware of Sanctuary’s troubled history, Mister Vout,” the lieutenant assured him.

  “The introduction of the jump drive only made matters worse,” Gunwy continued. “That’s where SilTek came into the picture. We quickly recognized the economic potential of this facility, as well as its markets, particularly its tech and weapons markets. In exchange for access to those markets, we upgraded their defenses, their internal security systems, their environmental systems, their fabricators…”

  “And all SilTek wanted in return was access to the station and its markets,” the lieutenant stated, in obvious disbelief.

  Gunwy paused a moment, examining his guest. “Why are you here, Lieutenant?”

  “I am attempting to determine whether or not it is safe for Mister Taggart to continue his association with you; more importantly, if the Karuzari Alliance should establish a relationship with SilTek.”

  “Is that not for Marcus to decide?” Gunwy wondered.

  “Mister Taggart is a good man, but the security of our contingent on Sanctuary is my responsibility.”

  “Wouldn’t that be the responsibility of the station’s security forces?” Gunwy said.

  “Would you be here if SilTek had not corrected this station’s security problems?”

  “I suppose not,” Gunwy admitted.

  “I am simply trying to determine if you and your employer should be considered an ally or an enemy.”

  “That’s a rather simplistic view of things, don’t you think?”

  “It is a starting point,” the lieutenant insisted.

  “SilTek seeks mutually beneficial business arrangements. My job on Sanctuary is to monitor its markets for technologies that we feel are worthy of investment.”

  “For the purposes of profit,” the lieutenant stated for clarity.

  “Is that not the motivation of all successful business entities?” Gunwy asked.

  “In my experience, mega-corporations often seek more than just wealth,” the lieutenant replied. “They also seek power.”

  “Power over market share, perhaps, but nothing more,” Gunwy assured him.

  “Yet, SilTek owns an entire world and its population.”

  “SilTek does own the entire planet; however, its citizens are there by choice. They are free to leave at any time. SilTek even provides transportation to those seeking to immigrate elsewhere.”

  “Interesting arrangement.”

  “SilTek wants its employees to be happy. It improves productivity and, therefore, profit,” Gunwy explained.

  “So, all the people of your world are employees of SilTek?”

  “That is correct.” Gunwy thought for a moment. “Perhaps your leaders would like to visit SilTek?”

  “You can arrange this?”

  “I can contact the appropriate people, and they can make the arrangements,” Gunwy explained. “I am just a technology scout.”

  “I will pass the invitation on to my superiors,” Lieutenant Rezhik said, rising from his seat.

  “I hope I have answered all of your questions,” Gunwy said, also rising.

  “For now,” the lieutenant replied. “Although, I suspect I will have more in the future.”

  “I am always happy to help,” Gunwy assured the lieutenant. “And, please, tell Marcus I look forward to resuming our lunches together.”

  * * *

  Vladimir strolled into the captain’s ready room, looking quite pleased with himself as he plopped down on the couch.

  “Does anybody knock anymore?” Nathan wondered.

  “On metal bulkheads?”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be fixing my ship?”

  “I came to update you,” Vladimir announced, “and to see if you wanted to get some lunch.”

  “It’s twenty-two thirty.”

  “A late-night snack, then,” Vladimir suggested.

  “Out with it,” Nathan instructed.

  “This ship now has ten times the energy production capacity than it had with all four antimatter reactors,” Vladimir bragged, “and in less than half the space, I might add.”

  “What about the jump drive?” Nathan asked.

  “Did you hear what I just said?”

  “I did,” Nathan replied. “What about the jump drive?”

  “There are eight more emitters to be installed, after the four that are being installed as we speak.”

  “When?” Nathan asked, growing impatient.

  “Day after tomorrow, at the latest,” Vladimir assured him, putting his feet up on the edge of Nathan’s desk. “But we will need another day or two after that, to install the additional energy banks in the two empty reactor bays.”

  “That’s a day late.”

  “Actually, you are getting a working jump drive four days ahead of the original schedule, which was impossible to begin with. You just won’t be able to jump more than twenty light years until the additional energy banks are ready.”

  “Cameron will not be happy,” Nathan pointed out.

  “Cameron is never happy.”

  “She doesn’t like the shortcuts you’ve been taking,” Nathan warned. “I told her not to worry, that you knew what you were doing.” Nathan looked at his chief engineer. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “No, I have
been making it all up as I go,” Vladimir declared indignantly. “Of course I know what I’m doing, Nathan. I’ve been fixing this ship for nearly ten years. Cameron is spoiled by seven years of strict adherence to all her lovely little policies and procedures, most of which go out the airlock as soon as the shooting starts.”

  “Please, don’t ever say that in front of her,” Nathan advised.

  “You think I’m an idiot?” Vladimir chuckled. “One of the first two things you learn in engineering is to never tell your captain how you manage to do all the miraculous things you do.”

  “What’s the second?” Nathan wondered.

  “Always tell your captain it will take you twice as long to fix than it truly will. That way, you always look good.”

  “So, you’ve been lying to me all these years?”

  “It has not been necessary,” Vladimir boasted. “I am that good.”

  “Just make sure none of your ‘shortcuts’ come back to bite us in the ass in the middle of battle or, worse, during a jump.”

  “If I thought they would, I would not have taken them,” Vladimir assured him as he rose from the couch. “Do you want to eat, or not?”

  * * *

  “No, a hanna is a beautiful woman,” Commander Andreola corrected as they sat in the jump seats of the Reaper, facing the jump sub aft of them. “Are you sure this thing is safe?”

  “I’ve used it a number of times,” Jessica assured him.

  “I didn’t ask how many times you’ve used it. I asked if it was safe.”

  “As safe as it can be,” Jessica replied, “considering it’s jumping more than a light year and has to hit a target that is miniature, by astronomical standards, and that it must do so at exactly the right speed and angle, or we’ll both be killed instantly.”

  “So, not safe.”

  “I’m still here,” Jessica pointed out.

  “That is because you are a kicka,” the commander told her. “Someone who is hard to control or hard to kill, depending on context.”

  “Fits. What else you got?”

  “A yakka, is someone who talks too much.”

  “Are you making an observation?” she wondered.

  “Not at all,” the commander assured her. “I’m assuming that you will not be speaking very much once we are on Orswella, so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone were to say, ‘She’s not much of a yakka, is she?’”

  “Your people have an unusual way of speaking.”

  “It seems perfectly normal to us,” the commander insisted. “Unusual would be getting into that thing and jumping into a puddle of water.”

  “You volunteered,” Jessica reminded him.

  “Agreed would be more accurate,” the commander corrected. “I was your only option.”

  “Which reminds me,” Jessica said, “I never asked you why you agreed to go.”

  “Yes, you did,” the commander corrected, “and my answer is still the same: because it is a chance for my people to be free of the Dusahn, once and for all.”

  “There’s no guarantee that Captain Scott will agree to take out the Dusahn’s ground forces on your world,” Jessica reminded him. “In fact, it’s highly unlikely at this point.”

  “I understand.”

  “Did I warn you that I’ll kill you if I suspect you’re playing us?”

  “Three times, now,” the commander replied.

  “Just so we’re clear.”

  “Is this how you build trust?”

  “Nope,” Jessica replied. “Fear. I find it works better than trust.”

  “Well, you’re definitely a binka.”

  “Okay, I understood hanna and yakka, but what the hell’s a binka?”

  “In your vernacular—a ‘scary-ass bitch.’”

  “So, I’m a hanna-binka?” Jessica asked.

  “Precisely,” the commander confirmed.

  Jessica smiled as she looked at the time display on the wall. “Keep them coming,” she told him, “we’ve still got a few hours until arrive.”

  “Jarmers,” the commander replied. “That means wonderful.”

  * * *

  Lieutenant Vulan sat down on the park bench next to General Hesson. After looking around, he spoke. “It is becoming difficult to evade the trackers. Soon, the entire net will be complete, and I will no longer be able to meet with you.”

  “I have made arrangements with the houses handling the project,” General Hesson assured the lieutenant. “You will have the ability to deactivate your tracking chip at will.”

  “Is that not just as risky?”

  “When you deactivate your chip, the system will show it as still active. The trick will be to re-activate at the same location, so it appears that you had not moved.”

  “Then, the nobles are on our side,” the lieutenant realized.

  “Enough of them, yes,” General Hesson replied. “Men of greed are easily manipulated. They care not under which flag they operate, as long as their profits continue to flow.”

  “Then, they have agreed to grant you nobility.”

  “Once I have assumed command over the caste, each house will gift me ten percent of their assets, and house Hesson will become the most powerful house on Takara, making it the ruling house. It will all be in strict accordance with both Takaran and Dusahn law.”

  “And what of the rest of us?” the lieutenant wondered.

  “Those who wish to continue to serve will be allowed to do so, either as crew on our ships or as employees of one of House Hesson’s new acquisitions. The Dusahn will finally have both an empire and peace. The only cost will be the removal of the Dusahn name from that empire.”

  “There are those who will be unable to accept the loss of their heritage, General.”

  “Those who do not adapt to change are left behind,” the general stated. He turned toward the lieutenant, measurably lowering his voice. “Takara has far more to offer than glory and conquest. These people once had a serum that extended the human life span for hundreds of years, one that works far better than our own genetic manipulations.”

  “Why have I not heard of this?” the wide-eyed lieutenant wondered.

  “It was supposedly lost when the empire of Caius Ta’Akar fell, but I believe it is still on this world, waiting to be found.”

  “Have you told Lord Dusahn about this?”

  “I have not,” the general replied. “He would tear this world apart looking for it. He does not understand diplomacy and negotiation. He only knows war. Decades of studying only one side of the Chankarti has made him this way. There are other ways to build an empire, ones that do not require massive loss of life.”

  “An odd statement, coming from a man who has sent hundreds of thousands to their deaths in the name of the empire.”

  “As I said, times change, and we must change with them.”

  “Change is difficult for many of us,” the lieutenant said, “especially our leader.”

  “His dream of being the one who finally returns our caste to greatness, and seizes control of Nor-Patri in the name of his family, has all but consumed him.”

  “He is planning a massive invasion of the Rogen system,” the lieutenant said.

  “What?”

  “If he cannot destroy the Aurora, he will destroy the worlds that support her. Those were his very words.”

  “How many ships?”

  “I am uncertain,” the lieutenant replied. “At least three battleships, including his flagship.”

  “Then he will lead the attack himself?” the general asked.

  “That was my understanding.”

  “When will this attack occur?”

  “The battle group departed this morning.”

  “The man is a fool,” the general said with disgust.

  “You must act sooner t
han planned,” the lieutenant urged.

  “No, we will wait,” the general insisted. “Even if Captain Scott survives, his forces and the Rogen worlds will be desperate. He will have little choice but to accept our offer.”

  “Then you will not be warning him?” the lieutenant surmised.

  “I will,” the general replied. “If, for no other reason than, to maintain appearances.”

  “What are we to do now?” the lieutenant wondered.

  “All is in place,” the general replied, appearing quite satisfied. “Everything is going as planned.”

  * * *

  Commander Andreola slid down into the jump sub, taking the seat directly behind Jessica. “This really does not seem like a good idea,” he complained as he pulled the hatch above him closed.

  “You can swim, right?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Jessica assured him as she powered up the jump sub’s systems. “There are a lot more difficult ways to be covertly inserted onto an enemy-held world. Trust me, Commander, I’ve used them all.”

  “Perhaps it is time you started calling me Stethan.”

  “Reaper Six, Jump Sub,” Jessica called over comms. “Ready for release.”

  “One minute to release point,” Ensign Weston replied.

  “I cannot believe I am returning to Orswella,” Commander Andreola said, half to himself.

  “How long has it been?” Jessica asked as she checked her systems.

  “More than a year. They keep the Orswellan ships away for months at a time.”

  “If you’ve been away that long, how can you be sure the Dusahn don’t have some sort of tracking system set up to keep tabs on the movement of all your people?” Jessica wondered.

  “They have never installed such a system,” the commander insisted. “Their focus was always on building and maintaining their ships. It is unlikely they would do so now.”

  “But you can’t be certain.”

  “No, I cannot,” the commander admitted.

  “And there is no planet-wide identity database that the Dusahn can check at will?”

  “There is not. Our world has avoided computer networks since the beginning, fearing the same thing that happened to Earth might happen to us. All technology on Orswella is very localized. My people are only required to carry an ID card.”