“Give me a second to piece together what you just said. Yeah, okay, the crew’s mess would probably work.”
A definite lull in conversation did occur when Ek entered the crew’s mess, but human ideas of politeness soon returned them to their conversations, especially when they saw she was accompanied by Sergeant Caine.
One man’s reaction to her presence was more pronounced than his fellows. Ek turned to whisper to Caine. “There is one whose reaction warrants further investigation. Please give no sign we have noticed him. He is sitting alone underneath the display showing human news.”
“That’s Ensign Moreno. You want to investigate him? Why?”
“His distress points to possible wrongdoing, and I wish to gauge his response to questioning, which won’t take long and will stay very gentle. It is possible I am incorrect, or that his wrongdoing amounts merely to stealing extra rations from the galley. But First Lieutenant Husher brought me on the Providence so that you might see things more clearly. That starts with her crew.”
“Okay. Fine. But I’ll watch you question him.”
Ek nodded. “During the questioning, I will submit several fabrications. You need not endorse them, but I do request you refrain from contradicting them.”
Caine appeared uneasy with the idea, but she didn’t object.
As they approached, Moreno grew visibly more agitated. “Yes?” he said once they reached his table and stood over it. “What?”
“May we sit?” Ek asked.
“What’s this about?”
“I am a Fin who travels the galaxy doing contract work for anyone in need of my services. Currently, I am employed by the Tumbra, who are concerned about conflict between humans and Wingers. They wish to uncover its root causes and hopefully restore peace as soon as possible.”
Moreno narrowed his eyes. “The Tumbra? Aren’t they supposed to be neutral?”
“Yes, and they have become quite assertive in their neutrality. They know that war will mean a disruption to the service economy that provides many Tumbra with their livelihood. Captain Keyes shares their aim of peace, and so he has suggested several distinguished crewmembers for me to interview.”
“Distinguished? The old man called me distinguished?”
She hesitated, as though confused by Moreno’s skepticism. “He called your performance exceptional. May we sit?”
“Sure.”
To her credit, Caine maintained a blank expression as she lowered herself into a chair, though Ek sensed her discomfort. For her part, Ek had to lean forward to make room for the breather strapped to her back, which also distributed moisture throughout her suit to prevent her skin from drying out.
“I don’t see how talking to me will bring peace with the Wingers,” the ensign said.
“Peace begins with dialog between the warring parties, even if that dialog must happen through me.”
“All right. What do you want to know?”
“What is your opinion of Captain Keyes’s decision to retreat down Pirate’s Path?”
“It was the right decision.”
“That’s it? You are in perfect agreement?”
“I can’t see how he had any other option.”
“Interesting. Several other crewmembers have said that they think the captain should have remained within the Larkspur System, using the Providence’s superior engines to perform evasive maneuvers until Fleet reinforcements arrived. And yet you seem perfectly content to delve into an unstable region.”
“What are you getting at? The Providence’s fuel won’t last forever, and it would have been pretty disastrous if we’d shut down in the middle of enemy territory. Spinning our wheels in Larkspur would have accomplished nothing. We’re much better off out here, where we can gather information and outrun pursuers if need be.”
“Please, do not be upset. If you would like my opinion, I agree with your assessment. I can see why the captain considers you such an asset. It is fortunate your superiors saw the Providence as a good place for an enlisted man to start his career—”
“Actually, I’m not enlisted. And I came recommended by Command. From my exam scores, they figured I’d be well-suited to undermining the insurgency in the Bastion Sector.”
From studying Moreno’s microexpressions, Ek could tell he was lying, and that his carefully concocted story was meant to conceal something. She had to tread carefully, here. If she let Moreno know she suspected him, he would likely stop unconsciously volunteering so much information.
“Do you consider fair the orders you’ve received from Command?”
“It’s not really a question of fairness—it has more to do with necessity.” Anxiety flitted across his face, and next he attempted to walk back what he’d said. “Of course, I haven’t received any orders from Command since arriving on the Providence. I act under Captain Keyes’s orders, here.”
“Of course. Thank you for your time, Ensign Moreno.”
“No problem.” The ensign sat stiffly in his chair, no doubt trying to decide whether he’d exposed himself.
Caine cast a glance backward as they left the table, then turned to scrutinize Ek’s face. “What just happened?”
“It would appear UHF Command is acting against Captain Keyes. To what extent, I cannot yet say.”
Chapter 20
Insubordinate
Keyes rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to process what Husher had just told him. The young officer rested his elbows against the wooden chair’s back, having reversed it, and he sported stubble again, which Keyes hadn’t gotten around to chastising him for yet.
Fesky paced what little space remained in the office, looking even more anxious than normal. The feathers of her head and neck stood at attention, and every now and then she added a little hop into her pacing, causing her voice to hitch.
“It’s just as the Ixan Prophecies predict,” the Winger said, hopping without seeming to realize she was doing it. “It will begin with the soulless vessel sinking. That’s the empty ship that crashed into Spire’s ocean. I always assumed ‘soulless’ meant demonic or something else, but it just meant the vessel wouldn’t have anyone on it!”
“Cut that out,” Keyes snapped. “We’re not about to start consulting Ixan propaganda for ideas on how to proceed.”
Head whipping around with its characteristic speed, Fesky stayed her pacing to stare at him. “But Captain, there’s more.”
“I don’t care. What good does it do us to entertain Ixan fanaticism? Even if the Prophecies held water—which they don’t—they predict the downfall of humanity, for God’s sake. Are you suggesting we simply lie down and accept our fate, Fesky? Would you have me surrender the Providence?”
“No, sir.”
“Then can that nonsense, and certainly don’t spread it to the crew. That’s an order.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Ek thinks someone wanted this war to happen.” Husher ran a palm over his proto-beard as he spoke, and Keyes felt his eye twitch.
Mention of Ek caused Fesky to resume her pacing. The Fin’s presence appeared to agitate her even more than thoughts of the Prophecies did.
“Do you agree with her, First Lieutenant?” Keyes asked, struggling to remain calm.
“Not necessarily, sir. On the other hand, it might be useful to follow the thought to its logical conclusion. Who would benefit from more war?”
“Darkstream, and the politicians who serve them.”
“Right. Which gives us a next step, if we’re looking for one. To follow this lead, we need to look for Darkstream’s headquarters. You said you think it might be hidden along Pirate’s Path.”
Keyes nodded. “I—” Husher’s hand returned to his facial hair, and Keyes couldn’t contain his irritation any longer. “Husher, if you haven’t shaved that thing by the next time I see you, I’m going to hack it off myself. In front of the crew. Is that clear?”
Husher blinked, his hand falling to his lap. “Yes, sir.”
“Go
od. Now—” A beeping from his console interrupted him. “Admiral Carrow,” he muttered, causing Husher to rise to his feet and Fesky to head for the hatch. “Stay where you are,” Keyes barked. “And don’t make any noise to reveal your presence. I want more ears on this than just mine.”
That was true, but he also intended the order as a rapport-building exercise. The people Keyes felt confident trusting were few, and he knew he could count on Husher to stay true to his ideals. Yet if the first lieutenant didn’t trust Keyes in return, then he would prove next to useless.
A captain must see his crew as partners, not tools. Orders would get followed either way, but there were many more versions of “following orders” than most people assumed.
If Admiral Carrow had looked displeased during their last conversation, now he looked about to have a stroke. “Congratulations, Keyes. You’ve convinced me. You are absolutely insane.”
“Can you clarify, sir?”
“I can, but it’s astonishing I need to. Starting a brawl with the Wingers at a Coffee Station? The Tumbra have sent me three complaints about it, each more pissed off than the last. Do you hear me, Keyes? You’ve pissed off the Tumbra.”
“My intention was to discover the reasons behind the Wingers’ aggression.” Visiting the Coffee Station had been Husher’s idea, but he’d probably appreciate not getting the credit for it.
“And all you did was make matters worse. Keyes, I am ordering you to stay put until we’ve gotten a handle on things in the Bastion Sector. I don’t want you stirring up tensions any more than you already have.”
Keyes took a deep breath. “Based on the intelligence we collected from the Coffee Station, I have reason to speculate that this war may have been orchestrated.”
“You’re not paid to speculate, Captain. You’re paid to follow my orders.”
“Sir, I’d ask that you pay attention to this. Doesn’t it worry you that the man you put in charge of the UHF’s only remaining supercarrier is having these thoughts?”
“It does worry me, Keyes, but not in the way you’re thinking. It makes me question your sanity. And please don’t try to wear your command of that floating junkyard as some badge of honor. You’re there because you’re the public’s pet, and removing you would be a PR nightmare. You command an obsolete museum, you’re bordering on insubordination, and if you don’t stay where you are I will devote myself to seeing the Providence decommissioned, public fallout be damned. Do you understand me, Captain?”
“I do, sir. And I respectfully decline.”
“What?”
“I swore an oath to serve humanity, and humanity is not served by parking the Providence in a time of war. I am uniquely positioned to get to the bottom of this, and I plan to stop the fighting if I can. Keyes out.” He ended the call.
Husher studied him with widened eyes, and Fesky stood rigid.
“To protect the crew from sharing in my insubordination, I don’t intend to inform them of that call,” Keyes said. “But you two have a decision to make. You can put your careers on the line by joining me on this mission to end the war, or you can attempt to rally the crew to mutiny and relieve me from duty. I’m not saying I won’t try to stop you from doing that, but I do want to be upfront about your choices.”
“I’m with you, captain,” Fesky said.
“First Lieutenant?”
Slowly, Husher nodded. “I’m with you, too, sir.”
Chapter 21
Conspiracy
Another closed-door meeting, this one with the captain, Husher, Caine, and Ek, who Fesky was trying hard not to stare at. Like most of her species, Ek’s face betrayed no emotion. She was quite becoming, though that wasn’t unusual. Fins were considered attractive by most species in the galaxy.
When she’d heard about a Fin on board, she had trouble believing it. Surely the humans were mistaken. Fins did not leave their ocean. Fins did not have legs.
But this one did have legs—legs made from some lightweight metal, which protruded from where her tail began. After Fesky’s exile, facing a Fin was unsettling enough to begin with, but facing one who wore a breather and traveled space on metal legs? It left her truly speechless, and she sat in silence as the others talked.
The captain sat with his hands clasped on the conference room’s oaken table. “I hope you can understand, Ek, that I’m having trouble taking your information at face value. Fins are close allies of the Wingers. How do I know you haven’t been sent to sew discord between me and my crew?”
“The word ‘allies’ is not quite accurate, Captain, as it implies that Fins are inclined to make war. We are not. I would also note that there is a Winger sitting at this very table.”
Fesky gave a start, then dug her beak into her shoulder to hide her embarrassment, tugging at the feathers there.
“That’s a fair point,” the captain said, “or it would be, if Fesky had not proved her loyalty on so many occasions. She once saved my life, and besides that she recently fought on our side in a battle against Wingers.”
Raising his hand from the table, Husher said, “If I may, sir?” The first lieutenant was finally clean-shaven, which seemed to have smoothed relations between him and the captain. For the time being, at least.
“Go ahead. Everyone at this table has permission to speak freely for the duration.”
“Ek isn’t asking you to simply accept her conclusions. She’s recommending you use them as a starting point for collecting more evidence.”
Keyes shook his head. “Even if there is a conspiracy, uncovering every member of it would involve violating the privacy of everyone on this ship. That’s something I simply won’t do.”
“You need not access everyone’s private communications, Captain,” Ek said. “Just one person’s.”
“Moreno’s?”
The Fin nodded. “I submit that your primary aim should be to determine whether or not there is a conspiracy against you, and I believe Moreno’s private message logs should contain the answer. If you find that there is a conspiracy, there is a much faster method for determining those involved.”
“How?”
“The Kaithe. They will know your crew’s hearts in an instant.”
“So you’re proposing we deviate from our mission for the off chance the children might be willing to help us.”
“The children help those they consider worthy. I believe you are worthy.”
“How flattering. What do you make of this, Sergeant Caine?”
Caine removed her chin from her palm. Before the captain addressed her, she’d looked like she was deep in thought. “I think you should access Moreno’s logs, sir. I’ve seen what Ek can do, and I have to admit, her insight is incredible. If a little annoying.”
“And what about you, Fesky?”
Fesky started again, her head jerking upward even faster than usual. Take a breath, she told herself. “I doubt it’s right for me to comment, sir. Wingers tend to defer to the wisdom of Fins.”
“I suppose that’s an answer in itself. Very well, Ek. In the absence of a judge, I will have to make the call that we have reasonable suspicion of Ensign Moreno. Husher, kindly bring me the tablet from that side table.”
In Fesky’s experience, most officers bristled when asked to perform such a menial task. But to Husher’s credit, he fetched the tablet for the captain without complaint or sign of displeasure.
They sat in silence for a long time as Keyes stared at the tablet, thumbing through page after page of Moreno’s private shipboard communications.
After a half hour had passed, the captain placed the tablet on the table and folded his hands once more, staring across the room at the space above Fesky’s head. He looks sad.
At last, he spoke. “It would appear we are going to visit the Kaithe. Ek was right about the conspiracy, and it goes a lot higher than Ensign Moreno. I just read a conversation in which he discussed the destruction of the Providence with my XO.” The captain stood up, his eyes icy as he met the gaze of
everyone sitting at the table. “I want every last detail of this meeting kept secret, on penalty of treason. Is that understood?”
And the juggernaut stands alone, divorced from its peers, beset on all sides. See how it looks to the children for aid. See how they betray it. More lines from the Ixan Prophecies, which the captain had forbidden her from speaking.
Chapter 22
The Children
Glancing toward the corner of the shuttle, Husher suppressed a smile. Wahlburg had embarked on one of his many failed attempts to charm Davies. She might as well have been a brick wall, for all the ground she was giving him.
“Hey, Court-Martial,” Ryerson said from the crash seat across from Husher. “Dare you to take that thing down. We’ll meet you planetside. Or what’s left of you, anyway.” The private first class glanced back and forth between Husher and the black reentry suit, eyebrows raised. Eventually, he’ll realize I don’t intend to rise to the bait.
“Can it, you two,” Caine called back, and Husher did resent being lumped in with the stupid jarhead across from him. “We know very little about the Kaithe, so your time would be much better spent trying to imagine what we might face down there.”
“You ever meet one, Husher?” Davies asked him. For some reason they all seemed to expect the unexpected from him.
“Once. They do leave their planet on occasion, usually to visit Coffee Stations. That’s where I met the one I did. People tend to underestimate the Kaithe, but this one showed me that’s a very bad idea.”
“You underestimated it?”
“A Gok did. Figured it could pick on something so much smaller than it, I guess. But the Kaithe are surprisingly strong—the one I saw spread its legs for stability, using its long arms to strengthen its stance. The Gok tried once to tackle it, but the Kaithian didn’t budge. Then it used its head-tail to start tossing the Gok into tables. The proprietors asked the Kaithian to leave because of all the destruction it was causing, and it just strolled through the exit without saying anything.”
Supercarrier: The Ixan Prophecies Trilogy Book 1 Page 7