Ayan didn’t reply but followed a faint hunch that struck her just as she was about to turn off the hologram. The images shifted and whirled to follow her gaze until self-updating reports on the Triton and Port Rush were brought side by side. The Triton’s report confirmed everything Oz said, that his hull was finally in good repair, and they would be back to full thrust in weeks, perhaps days if things went well. The latest report from Port Rush indicated that more property owners and entrepreneurs were pulling out, as the Carthans promises of support were broken. The port was failing. Signs of the worst future the Victory Machine had to show her for that place were plainly evident. At the same time, the Rangers had just taken a small island near Port Rush’s shoreline by conquering the Order of Eden bunker there. She could allow herself to be led back in that direction, and with a new position in Haven Shore’s government, she could try to get the Council on board with helping Port Rush.
She stared at a few bits of video feed, and immediately recognized one of Patrizia Salustri’s ships lifting off from the patch of land they'd defended nearly seven months before. They had left nothing useful behind. Another video clip playing beside it showed a group of people in protective suits dumping scrap metal from the side of a shanty home into a furnace. The weatherworn residents could only look on as armed men kept them from their home. “Are we building in the wrong place?” Ayan whispered to herself.
“Do you have a minute to check the referendum results with us? Your crystal ball will keep,” Lacey teased.
Ayan nodded and turned off the hologram. “Sorry, I get caught up in current events.”
“Did you really see the future, Ayan?” asked Iloona.
“Bits and pieces,” Ayan replied. “Most of what I saw either already came true, wasn’t quite right, or isn’t supposed to happen for a very long time.”
“Anything about me becoming Defense Minister in there? I haven’t been unemployed since I was a teenager; I’m already restless,” Victor Davis said with a smirk.
“No, but I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that for long,” Ayan replied. She noticed the time on her command unit and nodded. “The voting deadline is up in three minutes. How did we do on issue comprehension?”
“Only fifty-nine percent of our voters demonstrated a level of comprehension high enough to vote on the issue,” Iloona said.
“That’s low,” Ayan said.
“Way too low,” Victor agreed. “And they’re angry at us for testing them on the issue during registration.”
“For once, I don’t care if they’re angry. If they don’t understand the decision they’re about to make and won’t educate themselves on it, then they can’t be involved in the process.”
“Absolutely,” Lacey agreed.
“What’s Oz hoping for?” Victor asked.
“He’s hoping they go against, then he gets to keep all his bots,” Ayan replied. “What are you hoping for, Iloona?”
“My older children work in the jungle now. It would be nice to have them home more, but they love what they do there. They don’t want to be replaced by bots; they don’t even want to supervise them. On the other hand, I want bots in our hospital even if their artificial intelligences are restricted, so I voted for including them in the general workforce. They probably voted against, so that’s three of them to one of me.”
“And Alaka?”
“He didn’t bother debating it at all, and voted with me. Probably for harmony’s sake,” Iloona said with a smile.
“The results are in,” Lacey said.
“Here goes,” Victor said, cringing.
“Seventy-four percent of the vote is against expanding bot usage into the regular workforce,” Lacey said, looking at the results. “I’m sorry.”
“What does Insight say about their motivations?” Victor asked.
“Most of it is what you’d expect,” Lacey replied. “Twenty-seven percent of those who voted against this believe it’s not worth risking another virus incident, twenty-four percent believe that the bots would displace them, so they’d have to find another job.”
“What about the rest?” Ayan asked. The Insight system was a part of the Crewcast software that picked up on people’s motivations, and in matters of government it was a constant aid. She suspected it picked up on something that no one there wanted her to hear.
“Well, one-point-eight percent indicated in one way or another that using robots was against their religion,” Lacey replied.
“I’ll look it up myself.” Ayan brought up the Insight results and saw everything Lacey reported and one more thing. Insight recognized that thirty-four percent of voters blamed Ayan for driving Liam Grady away from Haven Shore, and would not vote yes because they knew she supported the introduction of robots into the general workforce. The remainder of motivations behind the no votes were undeterminable. “Well, that makes things crystal clear. I cost us this referendum and personally set back the future efficiency of Haven Shore.”
“This just means the bots can stay where they are,” Victor said, “in construction.”
“I wonder how the maintenance worker who gets sewage calls for days at a time will reflect on this vote,” Ayan replied. “Or what dock loaders who do nothing but move boxes for fifty hours a week will think?”
“We know, we’re on your side,” Lacey replied. “People are fickle, especially when they vote with their hearts.”
“Someone should find a way to screen that out,” Ayan said. “It should be part of competency testing.”
“Now, you know that’s not fair,” Victor said. “It crosses a great big line.”
“I know, I’m just sulking,” Ayan said with a sigh. “I just can’t believe I cost us this. Maybe I should take a few months away from the Council so things can cool down, concentrate on other things.”
“And leave everyone on their own to deal with Tyra and whoever else she manages to nominate?” Lacey asked, shocked. “Your name is on dozens – wait, no, probably hundreds – of blueprints and action plans down here. You were our first diplomat, and probably one of the only people who straddle the line between civic and military duties. Who knows what’ll happen to everything you built without you on the Council.”
“Not to mention, you technically own over ninety percent of our assets, including this building,” Victor said. “What is the Council without you?”
“It was only a thought,” Ayan said, raising her hands in defense. “You know I couldn’t leave you to sit through whatever cause Tyra wants to support now that she has a seat.”
“I was wondering for a minute there,” Victor said.
“Besides, so much work is wrapping up on Haven Shore, and I’ll see that finished, especially the Everin Building. I feel like I have family here.”
“That’s reassuring,” Iloona said. “Speaking of family, I’m wondering… does this seat stretch out into a bed?”
Ayan looked to Lacey, who shrugged, then looked absolutely startled. It took her a moment to catch on, then Ayan realized what was happening and looked to Iloona. “You’re in labour, aren’t you?”
“These ones are eager,” Iloona said. “Bed?”
Ayan pressed a button and the long sofa slowly converted into a queen-sized bed. “Sorry, do you need anything?”
“No. Alaka has been alerted and he’s on his way, but I do have a request,” Iloona replied as she got comfortable and sprawled out on the thick mattress.
“Ask me anything,” Ayan said, observing Victor’s silent astonishment.
“Can I borrow your apartment? I noticed the one adjacent to it is empty, so we could expand into that one, and the view really is lovely.” The last word came out as a squeak as Iloona reacted to a labour pain.
Ayan laughed and nodded. “Sure, I’ll set it up for you.”
“Doing it right now,” Lacey said. “Someone will come by and reconfigure them tomorrow. I’ll set you up in one of the newer units near the top of the building, Ayan. You’ll have space for
your own shuttle.”
Iloona took Ayan’s hand and looked around. Her fur was soft, and the fingers beneath felt long and delicate. “This should be very nice for the next month or two. There’s even enough room for Alaka to sleep, behind Victor, who looks like he’ll be frozen in shock there for at least a week. I always find that human male reaction to childbirth amusing. You can relax, Victor, they’re not your babies.”
“Sorry, I’ve just never been around for, um, do you mind if I just…” he pointed to the door.
Ayan couldn’t help but laugh as Iloona nodded and Victor made his escape. The Nafalli set her big brown eyes on Ayan then. “I’ve learned that humans have an invited parent tradition for their young. We do too, but there are so few Nafalli I’ve come to know as well as I know you. Would you like to be godmother to my children?”
“Absolutely,” Ayan replied without reservation. “Absolutely, yes.”
“Thank you,” Iloona said as she squeezed Ayan’s hand and tensed up for a moment.
“Godmother to eleven,” Lacey said. “I’ve got to see what babysitting that’s like.”
“You’ll get a chance,” Ayan said. “You’ll be around to help, too.”
“Oh boy,” Lacey replied. “I’m going to go find some extra blankets and pillows.”
CHAPTER 19
Loot
“The hazard markers are set and Triton is watching over us,” Finn said from the bridge of the Warlord. Minh-Chu’s Samurai Squadron was watching the perimeter around the Warlord, where it held position just inside of the Rega Gain Solar System boundary. Minh-Chu was thankful that Singe offered to run the patrol mission so he could take Jake up on his offer to come along for the examination of the loot. Not only had Minh-Chu never seen a cargo train like the one they’d captured from the inside, but it was the largest take Jacob Valent had ever gotten away with. His full combat armour was a reminder that it was also the most dangerous take the crew had ever hauled.
“All right, Frost is going to take the vault car at the rear,” Jake ordered. “We’ll head for the quad-car that reads like a couple million bugs.”
“Aye, Sir,” Frost replied, taking Stephanie and Agameg with him.
Jake led Minh-Chu and David, one of the slaves freed from the Palamo near Ossimi Ring Station, to the container he chose. “Just wondering, why did you send Frost’s team to the vault car?” Minh-Chu asked.
“He’s gotten into trapped vaults before,” Jake replied. “There’s a good chance the captain of the Torano set up that container to blow the whole train if it’s opened wrong.”
“Oh, so the hazard markers aren’t for the container we’re opening?” Minh-Chu asked as they took a ladder down to the narrow access hallway. The hall ran the length of the cargo train and another hundred metres longer. Large manual levers for releasing the individual cargo cars hung along the walls beside their computerized control panels. The panels also contained manifests for the car they were affixed to. Jake ignored everything they’d already accurately scanned and verified using the cargo train’s link to the Warlord.
“The hazard markers are for the whole cargo train. There’s a chance this is the best take we’ve ever had, but that could come with some complications.”
“Valuable means dangerous?” Minh-Chu asked, to Dave’s amusement.
They traversed down the access walk running down the length of the one point six kilometre long cargo train free of gravity. The passage was dimly lit by the status screens they passed, telling them only basic information about what was within the cargo containers that were affixed to the train’s spine. There were hundreds of seven and fourteen metre long shipping containers, all attached to hard points on the shipping train’s spine. There were three hard points every seven metres, and the access way they travelled down was triangular. Minh-Chu glanced at the status panels they passed, noting a variety of goods ranging from high density foodstuffs, construction bots, hard to produce colony support equipment, hardened portable shelters, a few vehicles, and a few other valuable articles.
“In this case, definitely,” Jake replied as he stopped to stand between three heavy hatches. “Here it is.” Each led to one of the joined cargo cars that surrounded the corridor. The displays that were supposed to contain the manifests and have release controls were dark.
Minh-Chu’s suit scanned the system and found that the power to the automatic system linking the cars had been cut.
Jake opened the inner door after a quick scan and held a high-powered hand scanner up to the inner hatch. Minh-Chu watched the display as it indicated that it was scanning.
“If these cars are a forma farm, I’m gonna break down and cry right here,” Dave said.
“I might join you,” Jake answered.
The first part of the scan results started coming in and Jake opened a channel. “Warlord, I need you to drop the train and get outside of the hazard marker I’m setting. Do it now,” Captain Valent said in a level tone.
“Aye, Captain,” Finn replied. A few seconds later, the sounds of the Warlord decoupling from the cargo train filled the narrow gangway.
“Dave, give me your pry-bar,” Jake said.
David complied and stepped back. Minh-Chu followed his example and moved back down the rough corridor.
“A few feet won’t save you if I get this wrong,” Jake said. “Frost, watch your panel for any incoming signals.”
“Aye, what’re you up to down there?” Frost replied over the communicator.
“Just seeing if this is wired the way I think it is, doing a little prying.” Jake lightly touched the bar to one edge of the hatch and stopped.
“Hold it! Hold it!” Frost shouted. “I’ve got a relay lighting up.”
“Trace it,” Jake said, not moving a millimetre.
“Got it, there’s a cable running down the central spine to the oversized container you’re in. It runs to some kind of tube filled with a solvent and a detonation wire.”
Jake gave the crowbar back to Dave. “All right, what do you want to do?” he asked.
“The easiest way to make sure this entire train doesn’t turn into a bomb is to disarm all the cars except for the vault, one by one. We do the vault and the Xetima factory last.”
“Xetima factory?” Minh-Chu asked. “We’re standing inside a fuel factory?”
“Aye, Ronin,” Frost replied. “If I opened the vault car in the back, or any of the other cars, that tube would burst and the solvent would pour out. When the solvent hit the Xetima in the quad-car you’re standing in, it would blow up so bright that they’d see the flash from Tamber.”
“Time to leave?” Minh-Chu asked. “I don’t know anything about disarming this.”
“David, can you stick around and give me a hand?” Frost asked.
“There’s danger pay in it for you,” Jake said.
Dave didn’t seem to pay attention to his captain’s offer. “Sure, I’ll stick around. Just walk me through.”
“How long do you think it’ll take to make all these cars safe?” asked Jake.
“Gimme twelve hours,” Frost said. “They did a hell of a job setting this up, they just didn’t expect anyone to hesitate when they were opening the containers, so I can track all the wiring. Oh, and there’s a detection circuit for lasers, plasma cutters, and all manner of cutting gear, so we’re working with manual tools from the outside.”
“Space walking, cool,” Dave said. “Oh, Captain, can I ask a favour?”
“What’s that?” Jake asked.
“Don’t let Nerine find out what I’m doing here until we’re done. No need for her to worry.”
“No problem,” Jake said. “Minh, you’re sticking around. I’ll walk you through this while we work.”
“It’s a day of firsts,” Minh-Chu said. “Just wondering, are we going to run into a lot of these things?”
“No, this is a once in a lifetime catch,” Jake said. “Xetima is made by genetically engineered cockroaches, and I think what we have he
re is an active nursery. There are millions of them in there maturing right now.”
“I was asking about trapped cargo trains,” Minh-Chu said.
“Oh, probably not. Trapping a cargo train can backfire; it can go off, destroying the cargo.”
“Good. I have one more question: how do they make Xetima?” Minh-Chu asked, suspecting he already knew the answer.
“They poop it,” Stephanie said over the communicator. “They eat patented food, and poop fuel. I’m coming to help, by the way.”
“I think I saw that in an old cartoon somewhere,” Minh-Chu said, finding the idea amusing and disgusting at the same time.
“This oversized container could be the nursery that provides for an entire production facility,” Jake said.
“Are there any markings telling us which one?” David asked.
“No, but whatever facility these were bound for won’t be increasing production, that’s for sure,” Jake said. He looked at the hatch with a disposition that seemed pensive to Minh-Chu. “This could signify a strategic victory against the Order, not to mention the advantage we might gain here. The Rega Gain system doesn’t have a license to produce Xetima – they have to buy it like everyone else. Whoever gets this will be the first ones to offer it to the region.”
“I’m thinking at least some of those materializers in the other cargo containers can convert biomass or proteins to make food for these little buggers,” Frost said. “This is a whole setup. The only people who can afford this is the British Alliance, and they don’t use Xetima for their thrusters unless they have to.”
“I’m not selling it,” Jake said.
“What? We can't be going into production with this, it’d take way too-“
“Don’t worry, Frost. I have a plan.”
CHAPTER 20
Reunited
Randolph Lalonde - Spinward Fringe Broadcast 08 - Renegades Page 14