by PJ Strebor
They shook hands. The Pruessen engineer examined his as if he were a faulty component.
“You’re a bit young to be a Captain, aren’t you?”
“Acting Captain, if you prefer, Commander.” He shrugged. “Circumstances.”
With Sarah in tow Spaatz began the tour. The commander ran a clean section with barely a speck of dust to be seen. Like everything aboard this massive boat the engineering section spoke of an impressive design. Nathan particularly liked the triple redundancies on the critical systems.
Following the engineering tour Sarah showed him some less interesting sights. Finally the school sections.
“Kindergarten, junior and senior levels,” she said as they passed the open hatchways. Nathan paused at the hatch leading to the kindergarten. Kids of this age, his children’s age, made him think of his family. One of the children spotted him and waved. He sent a wave back to Jeremy.
“The teachers are female,” Nathan said. “I thought that was frowned upon within Pruessen society.”
“Frowned upon?” Sarah set her eyes on him, her face turning rigid. “It’s illegal. Women of the empire have about as many rights as a slave.” She shook her head. “I don’t expect a southerner like you to understand.”
“I’m feeling a little hungry,” Nathan said. “How about showing me the mess.”
She continued to stare at him with barely-concealed loathing. Their walk to the mess was made in cold silence. Nathan selected a mince pie and fresh orange juice.
They sat at a table near the hatch. Sarah looked everywhere but at him. She wanted the tour to end.
“You’re angry,” he said. “I hope it wasn’t something I said.”
“You just don’t understand.”
Four years as a slave meant he did, but he couldn’t share that with her. Or anyone.
“Very well, Sarah, help me understand.”
She took a deep breath, breathing out slowly.
“Very well, Nathan, I’ll try. Before the end of the last war women held positions of authority and power. High ranking naval officers, politicians, business executives, that kind of thing. Then the Republic fell and the Empire rose. And with it the Imperial Reformation Executive. My mother was the manager of a huge tech company, a position she’d fought to achieve through years of grueling work. The IRE decreed that all women of childbearing age must have at least three children. Love, marriage, none of that mattered. Women had only one purpose; procreation. All women found themselves on benefits as their positions were taken by men. The IRE’s fanaticism to repopulate the Empire brought about the end of women’s rights. Centuries of fighting for equality, squashed as if women were nothing better than human incubators.” She shook her head fighting the inner rage. “Naturally, there were protests. It was at this time that we were introduced to the Human Resource Service. I wasn’t around at the time but my mother described them as brutally effective. The new regime would tolerate no form of dissention. Imprisonment, labor camps, and worse awaited a raised voice.
“Years later I was born in a fertility camp. I was my mother’s third child. The HRS forced the issue with any women who did not produce offspring within a specific time period. Fertile men and women were brought together for only one purpose. I don’t know who my father is. The practice is still in place to this day. When I was seventeen my mother died. She had survived the camps but a complete lack of hope was finally too much for her to live with. That is the future that awaited me. I decided to act. Thomas Pitzen was the youngest of his family but still fifteen years my senior. I used my womanly wiles to entice him to bed and from there into marriage. He wasn’t a bad man and he provided for me but there was no love. I knew that going in but would do anything to avoid the fertility camps.” She stared at Nathan, grief and rage reflecting from her glistening eyes. “I will never be a human incubator. I’ll die first.”
Nathan cleared his throat, moved by her heartrending tale. “Within the League of Allied Worlds, women are the equal of men in every way. My first commanding officer is a woman and is now a vice admiral. You can be whatever you want, achieve any success you apply yourself to. Maybe find a man who you do love, and start a family. Anything is possible.”
“I want to believe that,” she said. Her incredible green eyes bored into him. “And I desperately want children, Nathan. Just not Pruessen children.” She continued to stare at him until he felt a stirring of unease. “Do you have children?”
“Yes, a girl and a boy.”
“So, you are fertile.” Her lascivious smile made him squirm internally.
“I also have a wife who I adore.”
“I don’t expect you to love me, Nathan, just give me a child.”
“What?” Nathan was caught off-guard by the audacity of the proposal. “I’m married, Sarah.”
“So?”
“So I will not betray the love I have for her to accommodate your needs.”
“She would never know.”
“I’d know.”
“So you don’t want me?”
“If I was single, yes. I’m not so …”
“Would you consider in-vitro fertilization?”
The word no had almost formed on Nathan’s lips but he thought about it. Aid in the creation of a new life without participation in the child’s upbringing? That notion didn’t sit well with him. He decided to dodge the issue.
“I’ll think about it.”
They continued the tour, stopping at the supply department. As expected the cargo holds were as huge as they were immaculate. The supply officer was an affable fellow who was more than happy to show them around.
As lunchtime approached the tour ended. He and Sarah strolled in that direction. As they awaited a lift, Nathan’s back flared.
The man came at him with a knife raised high. Nathan pushed Sarah aside and caught the man’s arm above the wrist. A quick twist and the knife clattered to the deck. He released the man who lunged at his throat with outstretched arms. Nathan struck him a glancing blow under the chin, and he collapsed to the deck.
“Sarah, contact the Captain and tell him what’s happened.”
As she did so the man stirred. His eyes fluttered open then became huge with unadulterated terror. Nathan held his hands before him in a gesture of peace.
“You’re going to kill us all,” the man screamed. “I’ve heard about what southerners do to Pruessens.”
“Kill them on sight?” Nathan sighed.
The terrified man nodded his head with a jerky motion.
“I’ve been on this ship for two days. Heard of anyone dying?”
“But the government broadcasts say you’re all cold blooded killers.”
“What’s your name?”
“Carl.”
“Well, Carl, you shouldn’t listen to propaganda. You just gave me a very good reason to kill you, but still, you’re breathing.”
The lift opened and Captain Pitzen stepped out accompanied by two large crewmen.
“What the devil is going on here?” the Captain asked.
Carl’s face had transformed from fear to curiosity. Nathan held out his hand and helped him to his feet.
“Captain,” Nathan said, brushing Carl down, “someone really needs to let Carl know who the good guys are.”
Later, in the mess he bumped into Moe.
“How did your tour of the ship go,” she asked.
“Great.” A woman wants to have my child and a man tried to kill me. Just another day in the Corps.
CHAPTER 42
Date: 19th September, 326 ASC
Position: Transport ship Odenwald, traversing hyperspace. Northern Quarantine Zone.
Nathan’s restlessness continued to grow. The feeling of impending disaster lingered in his waking and sleeping mind like a darkly menacing intruder. He knew he had to do something, but how could he escape the inescapable. Moe picked up on his disposition.
“What’s up?” Moe asked.
Nathan shook his head. She coul
d always read his moods.
“Talk it out, Nate. You know it helps.”
Within the briefing room they could talk openly.
“Something’s wrong.” He rubbed at the bump above his right eye. “It’s something
new but familiar at the same time.”
“Something bad?”
“ Very.” He sighed and shook his head. “It’s so vague I can’t get a fix on it. It’s
almost as if …” his brow furrowed as he shook his head again. “I don’t know. And that’s
driving me crazy.”
“It’s almost as if … if what? Come on Nate, finish it.”
“It’ll sound crazy.”
“So, the usual then.”
They laughed.
“Very well then. It’s almost as if someone’s walking around inside my head. Someone
really dangerous. My Prep screams when it’s happening.”
“Is it like when you were a kid?”
“Yeah, just like that.”
“So when you were a child slave someone tried to get into your mind,” Moe said. “And this felt like that?”
“Yeah, a Pruessen Naval Intelligence officer. A young ensign. I got the impression that
he lacked confidence. Perhaps his training was at fault. His self-assuredness was patchy at best.”
Nathan struggled to remember the details. He’d only seven years-old at the time and the years had long since clouded his memories. Except for the monstrous cruelty that still chilled his heart.
“It reinforces my belief that there’s a sub culture in the Pruessen Intelligence network which has developed such powers. But this is different. Before it was amateurish and benign this is far more powerful, far more malignant.”
“All right hot shot, so deal with it.”
“Deal with what? I don’t have such powers. How do I counter something like this?”
“Take your own advice.” Moe raise an eyebrow. “There’s always another way. Always
another plan.”
“Sounds good in theory but there’s a bigger issue.”
“All right, I’ll bite.”
“I can sense his influence growing stronger by the day as if he’s getting closer. What if this connection with me allows this joker to track me? If he finds me he finds Adroit and Odenwald.”
“Yeah.” She stared at the deck.
Neither of them wanted to admit what needed to be done.
CHAPTER 43
Date: 22nd September, 326 ASC
Position: Odenwald, en-route to rendezvous with Deception. Northern Quarantine Zone.
Nathan briefed Grace as to his problem before adding his solution. Grace stared at him with dull resignation but remained silent while she digested the news.
A silent question hung in the air between Nathan and his very best friend. .
“Very well Moe, it’s time.”
He knew she didn’t want to agree with him and what it would cost her to articulate what she must say.
Moe stared at her hands then looked Nathan squarely in the eye. “If it was just us I’d say stand and fight. But we are now responsible for Odenwald’s families. Women and children. I’ll hate myself forever for saying this but you’re right.”
“Hold on, this is crazy,” Grace said. “We don’t know that there’s someone tracking us. Not for certain.”
“I know,” Nathan said. “Moe’s right. I’ve been procrastinating. As long as I remain aboard, you’re all at risk. So, Moe will take command of Adroit and I will transfer to Deception and make a run for it.”
A hush fell over the room. No one wants this but they know it’s the only way.
“Hey,” Nathan said, “this isn’t a democracy. I could make it an order, but I won’t. I want you both on side.” He held their eyes for a long moment. “Just say something glib like, if you think it’s the right thing to do we’ll support your decision.”
“I feel sick,” Grace said. “There has to be another way.”
Moe squared her shoulders. “There isn’t. I’m sorry, Nate, more sorry than you can imagine. But you’re right. For the sake of the women and kids you must leave.”
“Grace?”
Her lips spread thin, she could only nod.
Moe hugged him ferociously. “If you get killed I’ll never forgive you.”
“I’m not that easy to kill,” Nathan said, brushing her hair back from her face. “You know that, right?”
She nodded. “When?”
“We’ll rendezvous with Deception early tomorrow morning.”
Neither of the women spoke.
“Grace, Deception will need resupplying. Get together with Fish and Odenwald’s supply officer and get it done. She doesn’t have much room so bear that in mind.”
Grace hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Nathan.” Her voice quaked.
“Hey, don’t make such a fuss,” Nathan said. “I’ll be fine. I always am, right Moe?”
“Yeah, you’re nothing if not a survivor. Just don’t die,” Moe said. “Alright”
“Not a problem.”
Of course Nathan knew that his chances of not getting killed were lousy. One thing remained certain. He’d die before being captured and thrown into slavery again.
CHAPTER 44
Date: 23rd September, 326 ASC.
Position: Preparing for departure. Northern Quarantine Zone.
By the time Nathan got to the airlock, the supplies from Odenwald had been loaded aboard Deception’s landing boat. He stopped by the hatch and turned to the two officers.
“Do I need to tell you that this boat cannot fall into enemy hands, again?” Nathan said.
“I’ll hit the self-destruct myself, before I let that happen,” Moe said.
“And if she can’t, I will,” Grace added.
“Get this tub moving as soon as I undock.”
“Hey, Nate, relax,” Moe said. “We’ve got it covered.”
“Nathan,” Grace said, “I’d just like to say that it’s been an honor serving under you. Please take care of yourself.”
Nathan cleared his throat. “Same here, Grace.”
Moe hugged him fiercely and held on. “Remember your promise to me,” she whispered into his ear.
“I will.”
When she released him Nathan turned and entered the landing boat without a backward glance.
***
Nathan and Max stepped onto Deception’s bridge.
“Look who I found loitering about,” Max said, around a broad grin.
“Welcome back, Nathan,” Stella said, as they shook hands. “Your presence and skills have been sorely missed. No offense, Max.”
“Absolutely none taken,” Max said.
Nathan took his place at the helm, checked on the condition of the boat, set course due north, then ingressed into hyperspace.
The pain in his left hand had eased over the last six weeks and he’d found that by avoiding the pain medication, his fingers, with the exception of his thumb, worked reasonably well. Enough for him to hit most of the controls on his panel. He had Max take over and stepped to Stella’s station. He nodded toward the briefing room hatch.
“Can I see him?”
Stella stared at his damaged hand. “Yeah. He’s expecting you.”
Nathan stepped through the hatch and took a seat opposite Commander Spotiswood. He’d been in touch with the commander so cut to the chase.
“The joker who’s on my case,” Nathan said, “what can you tell me about him?”
“I’ve been hearing rumblings about Oscar Draeger’s people for years.”
“Who?”
“He’s the head of Pruessen Naval Intelligence and he personally runs a subsection of that organization which is apparently the equivalent of our Special Projects Division. Getting hard intell on anything he does is next to impossible, but people talk, speculate.”
“I’m operating in a vacuum,” Nathan said, “so I’ll take speculation no matter how outlandish it
might be. I need to know how to fight this.”
“Very well, here’s what we’ve managed to glean. He runs a small number of special operatives who’ve gained a reputation for accomplishing extraordinary feats. Some suggest that they can even control minds, but that sounds a bit farfetched to me. If half the rumors can be believed, these agents have mental abilities that are well beyond the norm.”
“When I was on the King Charles battle platform I met a Bret Captain called Cowdry, who I believe had been brainwashed. Like the old sleeper program they initiated during Earth’s twentieth century.”
“Yeah, my counterpart in Bretish Naval Intelligence thinks so too,” the Commander said. “Cowdry’s been given every test in the book and we still don’t know how they managed to get to him. It’s a bad sign for the future.”
“Someone called Saxon activated him by a comm message. That would fit with the sleeper idea.” Nathan rubbed the bump above his right eyebrow. “I can feel this fucker inside my head. I can’t block him out. Is it possible he can track me?”
“We know so little about these operatives that anything’s possible.” They fell silent for a time. “I’ve lost five agents trying to get close to Oscar. Five very good men. He seems to have the ability to sense danger. Perhaps even read minds. Remind you of anyone?”
Nathan felt his forehead crease. “I can’t read minds.”
“But quite a coincidence wouldn’t you say?”
Nathan found it curious to hear that someone else could sense danger, but Nathan didn’t feel comfortable talking about it further.
“Good thing we’re on the fastest boat in Tunguska,” Nathan said. The Commander didn’t reply. “We are, aren’t we?”
“Probably.”
“Probably? Come on Spotiswood spit it out.”
“It’s just another rumor, probably means nothing.”
“I like rumors,” Nathan said, “so give.”
“The latest scuttlebutt is that the Pruessens have cracked the Y space protocol.”
“Shit.”
“Like I said it’s probably nothing. I hope it’s nothing because the rumor also says that they have fitted working prototypes to some of their courier boats.”