“Good,” said March. “Thank you.” Hiring Colder had been expensive, but it seemed that March had gotten his money’s worth.
“A fine ship,” said Colder absently, gazing up at the Tiger. “Of course, the Mercator Class 9 light freighter is an excellent vessel, but you’ve had this one extensively modified, haven’t you? The thrust-to-mass ratio is superb.” He shook his head. “Anyway, have you decided what to do with the damaged reaction chamber?”
March hid a smile. “Figured I would take it back to Calaskaran space with me. The alloy to build those things is expensive. Hiring you wasn’t cheap, and I might be able to recoup some of the cost.”
“Ah,” said Colder. “Calaskaran reaction chamber alloy is quite high quality, you know. The chamber would have to be melted down and recast, but most of the metal can be salvaged. I think we might be able to come to an accommodation. Perhaps, say, a ten percent reduction in your bill?”
“Let’s say thirty,” said March, and Colder’s eyebrows went up. “You know just as well as I do that the Custodian doesn’t allow industrial facilities of that scale on Monastery Station. The alloy has to be shipped out here, which means the price goes up, and that means you’ll be getting a bargain with my old reaction chamber, even if it’s damaged. So, thirty percent.”
After that, it was all over but the haggling. March and Colder settled on nineteen percent, and Colder and his remaining technicians departed, carrying the damaged reaction chamber out on a hover cart. Before they left, March paid Colder, and sent Tanner the rest of the promised payment.
“That was clever,” said Caird.
“A waste of time, though,” growled Vasquez. March suspected the waiting was getting on the Marine captain’s nerves. “Which so much at stake, was it worth taking the time to haggle over another nineteen percent?”
March shrugged. “We can’t leave until Vigil finishes calibrating the reaction chamber, and that will be another nine hours at least. And it will do us no good to leave Monastery Station only to find that we can’t pay the docking fees at the stops on our way to Calaskaran space.”
“True enough,” said Vasquez, shaking his head. Even through his armor’s helmet, the gesture managed to convey weariness.
“I had an interesting talk with both Mr. Lorre and the Ninevehk hunt commander,” said March. “You should probably hear about it inside.”
“Right,” said Vasquez. “Perry, take charge here. Let us know if anything unusual happens.”
“Sir,” said Perry, saluting and turning to face the bay doors.
March nodded, and they walked up the ramp and into the cargo bay. He checked first to make sure that the strong room door was still secure. As far as he could tell, no one had tampered with it. He climbed the ladder to the dorsal corridor, Caird and Vasquez following him, and went into the engine room. The room smelled of hot metal and solder from the installation. The displays on the system console showed the status of the new reaction chamber and the calibration procedures. So far, all the status lights showed green.
“Vigil,” said March. “Status on calibration?”
It took the computer a few seconds longer than usual to answer. All of the pseudointelligence’s processing power was going towards calibration calculations. “Twelve percent complete, Captain March. I estimate that calibration will be complete and we will be ready to initiate a dark matter reaction within seven to nine hours.”
March nodded. That was well within the timeframe for the Honest Profit’s departure. “Any unusual activity while I was gone?”
“None,” said Vigil. “Mr. Colder and his men did not attempt to access any unauthorized systems or areas of the ship, and there was no unusual activity outside the vessel.”
“Good,” said March. He looked at the other two men. “Let’s talk in the galley.”
They entered the galley, and March closed the door as Vasquez removed his helmet and sat with a sigh, the bench creaking under his armored weight. March thought about getting a cup of coffee, but dismissed the idea and sat at the table.
“So,” said Caird. “It seems like you had an interesting time.”
“And then some,” said March. “I don’t know what Lorre wanted. As for the Ninevehk…”
He described his conversations with first Lorre and then Hunt Commander Tashnakha, though he left out the part where he and Lorre had challenged each other’s motivations.
“Good God, man,” said Vasquez. “You actually went hand to hand with a Ninevehk? Without any armor?”
“And won, too, apparently,” said Caird, looking at March’s shredded sleeve.
“Yeah,” said March. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Lorre couldn’t have seriously thought you would consider his offer,” said Caird.
“No,” said March. “No, he didn’t. I knew it, and he knew it. I don’t know what he actually wanted. To gain time for something, most likely, but damned if I know what.”
“This business with demons,” said Vasquez. “What do you make of that?”
“We don’t know much about Ninevehk religion,” said Caird. “At least, I don’t, and I doubt too many other people in the Navy do. The Ninevehk aren’t big into talking about themselves. But there are stories and legends. Humans aren’t native to this part of the galaxy, but the races that are native to this area speak of ancient races of mighty power and technological prowess that once ruled empires here.”
“Stories and legends,” scoffed Vasquez.
“There must be some truth to them,” said March. “Someone built the Custodian and left it to watch over this system.”
Vasquez nodded. “That’s true enough.”
“And there are ruins on some worlds and moons,” said Caird. “Shreds of technology and pieces of wrecked ships that we don’t understand. Maybe the Machinists found something like that and figured out how to turn it into a weapon.”
“The Ninevehk certainly think so,” said March, “and the Machinists have been acting as if the machine in the strong room is priceless and cannot be replaced.”
“So that machine isn’t a mind-control device, then?” said Vasquez. “It’s some kind of superweapon?”
“A mind-control device at the right time and the right place could be a superweapon,” said Caird. “If you could use it to take over, say, the helmsman of a fleet carrier in the middle of a battle.”
“Or the King or the Prime Minister,” said March.
“That’s a terrifying thought,” said Vasquez.
“The only weakness I’ve seen so far,” said March, “is that they can’t use it by remote control. The machine seems to require physical contact with its victim first. Lorre went through a lot of effort to find a victim for his machine.”
“So what are we going to do?” said Vasquez.
“For now,” said Caird, “it’s best that we stick to the plan, I think.”
“Agreed,” said March. “The Honest Profit is starting its run to Constantinople tomorrow morning, and we’ll follow it out if the dark matter reaction doesn’t blow up the ship. I’ve given our vector to the Ninevehk, and they’ll follow us for at least the first jump.”
“Won’t that piss off the Consortium and Prince Horgan?” said Vasquez.
“It might,” said March, “but there are levels of anger. The Consortium does business with the Ninevehk occasionally. The Machinists attack the Consortium’s freighters when they can get away with it, but the Ninevehk do not. If the Ninevehk show up and attack the Machinist capital ships, the Consortium won’t care, and they might even be glad of it.”
“Then you’re sure the Machinists are going to follow us when we leave the station?” said Caird.
“I’m certain of it,” said March. “They’ll do anything to get that machine back.”
“Could we do a short hyperjump to interstellar space and then change our vector?” said Vasquez.
“We could,” said Caird, “but the risk of a navigational error is very high. The only safe way
to do that is to leave a system for a fraction of a light second, turn around, and jump right back to the system you left to let its gravity catch you. Otherwise, you risk screwing up your navigational calculation and shooting into deep interstellar space.” He shrugged. “Most of the galaxy is empty space, and it’s easy to get lost. The Machinists will know the trick, and I’ll wager they will leave at least one ship behind to watch if we return.”
“If a Navigator says it’s a bad idea, it’s a bad idea,” said March. “No. We’ll leave tomorrow once the Honest Profit departs. Which means if the Machinists are going to try to grab the device or destroy the ship before it leaves the station, it’s going to be tonight.”
Vasquez nodded. “I’ll assign the men to guard the cargo ramp and the entrance to the bay. If anyone tries to force their way into the ship, we’ll know about it.”
“I’ll keep the laser turrets charged and ready to fire,” said March. If the Machinists tried to attack the Tiger in the bay, the laser turrets could deal with any number of attackers on foot and even a few light assault vehicles. “Remind everyone not to fire the first shot. They did well outside of Tanner’s Tavern, but if the Machinists ambush us, they might shoot first and think later.”
“I’ll remind them,” said Vasquez, getting to his feet.
“Go get started,” said Caird. “I need to have a word with Captain March first.”
Vasquez hesitated, nodded, and then left the galley, the door hissing shut behind him.
“Actually,” said Caird, “I think you want to have a word with Elizabeth.”
March looked at the macrobe. “All this talk about demons and elder races. Do you know anything about them? If I understand the theory right, you’re as old as the universe.”
“Older, probably,” said Elizabeth. “But it doesn’t work that way. The material universe is as alien to me as hyperspace is to you, and I can only perceive material reality and time through the perceptions of Mal.” She smiled at her host. “But I do know that there used to be wars in hyperspace, wars that started in the material world and spilled over into our plane of reality. They ended a long, long time ago, and material beings did not come again to hyperspace until your race and others discovered how to manipulate dark energy.”
“I think,” said Caird, “that’s the longest speech she’s ever made.”
“But the thing in the strong room,” said March. “The Machinist device. It uses dark energy.”
“It does,” said Elizabeth. “At least, I think it does. It leaks a little dark energy.”
“Well,” said Caird, “at least we know more than we did before. I suppose we have no choice but to try and escape tomorrow.”
“Agreed,” said March. “I’m going to the flight cabin. If anything comes up, anything at all, call me at once.”
Caird nodded, and March got to his feet and headed to the flight cabin.
###
March dozed in the pilot’s acceleration chair, the lighting dimmed. The displays had been divided up between the progress of the reactor calibration, camera views of the cargo bay, and camera views of the landing bay. March had configured Vigil with a dozen different contingencies for awakening him, such as reactor failure, or an attack on the ship, or someone attempting to force access to the strong room.
So far, nothing had happened.
Maybe the Machinists would not attempt anything until the Tiger took off.
His left shoulder hurt, but his left shoulder always hurt, and he could sleep through it. Dreams flickered through his mind. He walked through the labor camps on Calixtus, the cybernetic Machinist soldiers glaring at him. Then he trained as an Iron Hand, joined to the hive mind, fighting against his fellow recruits in the training exercises. Later he saw Roanna Vindex crying after she killed her brother to save his life.
Then he heard the beeping.
His eyes shot open. “What is it?”
“Captain March,” said Vigil. “There is an incoming call, designated for your eyes alone.”
March frowned. “Who is it from?”
“Designation unknown.”
That couldn’t be good.
“Composition?” said March.
“Video and audio both,” said Vigil.
“Very well,” said March. He straightened up, rubbed his face, and blinked a few times. “Put it through.”
A chiming noise came from the speakers, and one of the displays cleared, showing a chair surrounded by shimmering holographic displays of blue light.
“Hello again, Captain March,” said the woman sitting in the chair.
March inclined his head. “Emissary Logos.”
Sophia Logos leaned back in her chair, her legs crossed before her. A part of March’s mind noticed that the white trousers of her uniform fit her legs very well, and started to wonder what her legs would look like without the trousers. He rebuked that part of his mind and put the thought aside.
“It seems you had a busy day after we parted outside of Mr. Tanner’s establishment,” said Logos. “Discussions with both a Machinist agent and a Ninevehk Hunt Commander, and repairs are underway on your vessel.”
“Since you obviously know every single thing I have done since I came to Monastery Station,” said March, “I fail to see why you need to recount it to me.”
“I was impressed,” said Logos. “I thought you would have been killed within the hour once you made your deal with Tanner and Prince Horgan. And I was entirely certain that Tashnakha would kill you and eat you.”
“Well,” said March. “I’m pleased to have disappointed you.”
“Clever of you,” said Logos, “to have used your cybernetic arm like that. Tashnakha’s teeth would have broken against your arm.”
“Yes,” said March.
They stared at each other through the camera. March wondered why she had called. Certainly, she seemed less cool and more…amused than during their previous encounters. Perhaps watching him beat a Ninevehk in hand-to-hand combat had entertained her.
“Have you figured out why I am calling you yet?” said Logos.
“Let me guess,” said March. “The manner of my arrival caught the attention the Custodian, and it directed you to learn more.”
“That is true,” said Logos. She leaned a little closer, her blue eyes glinting in the light from the holograms. “But I will be honest with you, Captain March.”
“Really,” said March.
“Your activities aboard the station have caught my attention,” said Logos.
“Since you haven’t had me vaporized by security drones,” said March, “I assume you approve?”
“I wish to talk with you more,” said Logos.
“We’re talking now,” said March.
“In person,” said Logos. “Alone.”
March thought it through. What could Logos have to say to him that she couldn’t say over a radio transmission? The call was encrypted, but the Machinists might be able to break the encryption if they cared enough to try. With the sensors on Monastery Station, Logos could track his every move. Why talk to him in person?
“What does the Custodian want?” said March.
“It wants the same thing every AI wants,” said Logos. “It wants to fulfill its purpose.”
March frowned. “And it thinks that I can help fulfill its purpose?”
“That’s for the Custodian to say,” said Logos. “But we’re not talking about the Custodian now, Captain March. We’re talking about you.”
“And what about me?” said March.
“It’s like I said,” she said, and she smiled. “You’ve caught my attention. I think it would be to both our advantage and benefit if we spoke in person.” She glanced at one of the holographic displays. “Based on the energy readout from your ship, it looks like you’ve got another three hours before you’re capable of hyperspace travel.”
March blinked. He had been asleep for longer than he had thought. “More or less. There’s always a margin of error in the calcu
lations for calibrating a new dark matter reaction chamber.”
“Not even the most precise calculation can see the future,” said Logos. “It is something that annoys the Custodian to no end.”
“An AI can feel annoyance?” said March.
“Evidently,” said Logos. She leaned back in her chair and considered him. “Let’s play it this way, Captain March. A cargo drone will remain in front of the doors to Bay 997 for the next hour. If you decide to come talk to me, it will bring you to my location. I’m not far away, and you will return in less than two hours. If you don’t wish to speak with me, then the drone will depart, and that will be that. But I think it would be to your advantage to discuss some matters in person. Do as you will.”
She ended the call, and the display went dark.
March stared at the screen, the metal fingers of his left hand opening and closing again and again.
Why did Logos want to talk to him?
For a man in his line of work, the only reason a beautiful woman would want to talk to him alone was to lure him into a trap. Under any other circumstances, March would have assumed that was the reason and not given the matter any further thought. Yet if Logos wanted to make trouble for him, she needn’t bother with anything so subtle. She could have the security drones impound the Tiger. She could have the security drones kill him and destroy the Tiger, and March doubted the Custodian would care. If Sophia Logos wanted to stop him, she needn’t play games. She need only flip a switch.
But if she wanted to help him…
March’s frown deepened. Why would she want to help him?
He weighed the problem. The Ninevehk were potential allies, as was the Honest Profit and Prince Horgan. Yet given how desperate the Machinists were to reclaim or destroy the device, March knew that might not be enough. He could not turn away any potential allies.
“Hell,” he muttered.
He looked at the security camera displays. Vasquez had gone to sleep, but Perry was on guard at the base of the cargo ramp. Caird was awake, sitting in the galley drinking a cup of coffee. Interestingly, while March could see Elizabeth in person, he could not see the macrobe over a video link. He wondered if the Navigators had the same limitations.
Silent Order: Wraith Hand Page 13