“Excellent. Next jump sequence. Commence.” He contacted the Communications Officer as the ship leapt into her next course. “Manfred, are the weapons systems back online yet?”
“Yes, sir, but Navigation is still down.”
“Keep working. We are about to engage the enemy. Get Navigation online and notify me when it is.”
The ship dropped out in an empty sector of the solar system, and the scanners immediately identified several asteroids and a single comet.
“Captain, we have a ship on scan. Presumed hostile. She identifies as a Consortium heavy cruiser.”
“Good,” exclaimed the Captain. “He’s taking the bait, and he doesn’t know we’re regaining control. Now, Lieutenant Grossmann, our final jump, if you please.”
The ship surged into a microtransit then dropped out seconds later half a million miles from her previous position just as the Consortium ship vanished in a transit of her own. “Weapons, prepare to fire on the enemy as soon as he appears on screen. I want him engaged as soon as I close the range. Lieutenant Grossmann, Herr Heron — stand by for the next manoeuvre.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” responded Harry, already calculating the navigation solutions.
The Captain gave Harry a curious look. This youth was far more unusual than he had been told. He made a note to talk to him as soon as they had dealt with the present crisis.
“Target, sir. Consortium ship at our previous coordinates. He’s locked his scan to us. He’s jumped again, sir.”
The Captain snapped his attention back to his ship. “Weapons, stand by. Open fire as soon as you have a target lock.”
The Consortium ship flashed into view a few hundred kilometres from their position.
“Lieutenant Grossmann, bring us to the position for firing.”
As the ship slowed and swung, her weapons sent their brilliant beams of destruction arcing across the space between the ships. For the first time Harry, Franz, and at least one of the Lieutenants saw the awesome power of the plasma cannon and particle beam weapons as great bursts of energy tore chunks out of the Consortium ship’s hull. The Consortium Captain reacted with commendable swiftness, his weapons returning fire even as his hyperdrive pods lit up and the ship leapt out of range to vanish into the singularity she had created.
The Der Große Kurfürst followed, leaping away from the scene of the engagement and placing herself almost a million miles from that position. But, instead of the expected return manoeuvre by the enemy cruiser, three ships dropped out between the DGK and the spreading debris, immediately identifying themselves as Fleet reinforcements.
“Herr Kapitän.” The voice of the Communications Commander resonated throughout the observation dome. “The AI is now fully restored, but it insists there are still two nodes it is unable to access.” His frustration was evident in his voice. “We have checked and double checked, but all our recorded nodes are clear and functional.”
“Does the AI indicate where these nodes are? What are they controlling?”
“The two nodes are what it refers to as mobile units. One is in the dome, the other in Engineering, and neither is on my schematic. I’m sending someone to check the dome now.”
“Very good, Manfred. Keep me informed.” The Captain turned to his officers. “We will return to the Command Centre. Well done to you all. Mr Heron, your calculations were very interesting. Thank you for your efforts.”
They had barely resumed their stations in Navigation when Commander Pösen arrived with two technicians in tow. He stopped and glared at the displays. “Alright,” he growled. “Who has the mobile interface that is still blocked?”
The assembled team stared at him in surprise.
He didn’t wait for an answer. “According to the AI, the mobile interface node that was in the dome is now here.” His gaze swept the watch-keepers at their stations, taking in Harry, Franz and Lieutenant Haäkinen. “Come on, who has it? I haven’t time for silly games, and I have another to check in Engineering.”
“What is this, Manfred?” asked the Captain. “There is no portable or mobile device here, and we had nothing but the portable chart display and a tablet in the dome. Can the system not identify the unit properly?”
The Commander’s face went through a moment of struggle. “It can. I shall ask it to identify the position on the schematic display. May I use your console, Siegfried?”
“Natürlich!” replied the Executive Officer.
Commander Pösen strode to the console and entered a series of commands. The screen filled with the schematic for the displays and consoles in the centre, each identified by a serial code. Just below the console identified as the one the Commander was using, and shown as not connected to the network, was a single unit with a separate code that flashed on and off. The Commander turned with a triumphant look. “Ich hab’s!” He stared at the schematic again then glared at Harry, who stood with his pad and books clasped in his hands, a puzzled expression on his face as his mind cast about for a logical explanation of the dread he sensed.
The Commander pierced him with a pointed stare. “Was ist das? Where have you hidden it?”
Harry glanced about him, making sure the Commander was speaking to him. Certainly he hadn’t done anything!
“Hidden what, sir?” he asked, embarrassed that his face turned bright red as it always did when he felt singled out.”
Lieutenant Haäkinen stepped forward. “Sir, I think it must be the device Herr Heron uses to block the AI, which he has been ordered to keep activated and on his person at all times.”
“Let’s see if you’re correct, Lieutenant,” said the Captain, somewhat doubtful of this possibility. “Herr Heron, please deactivate your device.”
“As you wish, sir. ” Harry put down his books and pad then reached into his pocket and withdrew his screening unit. He pressed the switch. Instantly the console display showed the mobile node reconnected to the neural net.
In his eyes and ears Harry was aware of the rush of data as the system tried to run a diagnostic scan in his head. He winced as it flashed code in his vision. He sent an instruction to the system that he did not need a diagnostic scan. Opening his eyes again, he said, “The system seems to think I am part of it, sir. It is trying to ascertain whether I am functioning correctly. I have told it that I am.”
There was a long moment of silence as the assembled officers digested this.
Captain Haakon spoke first. “Let me understand this correctly. You could have given commands to the system and run scans if I had ordered you to turn off that device?”
Harry looked surprised. This possibility had not occurred to him. The realisation sent a shiver down his spine. He was now part of the intelligence that ran this ship. Slightly stunned by this revelation, he stammered a reply. “I’m sorry, sir, I . . . I did not think . . . I mean, I did not realise . . . .” He stumbled to silence, at a loss to explain the turmoil in his mind as the full impact sank in.
“SO HERON AND O’CONNOR ARE A PAIR OF MOBILE NODES as far as the system is concerned. We could have used them to access it and bypass the devices the saboteurs installed. Is that correct?” Captain Haakon’s fingers played with the data chip before him. “Why didn’t they tell us they could do it? Heron must surely have known!”
“It certainly seems that the system regards him as part of its network,” said Commander Pösen. “I have talked to him, sir. He simply did not think of it, and he was absorbed in doing manual calculations using pencil, paper, and logarithm tables so that we could make the necessary hyper transits since we had no access to the AI navigation system. We forget he is still very much a man from four centuries ago. I have no idea what is causing this interface. The neural links are not supposed to operate in this way — mine certainly does not.”
“Nor does mine,” said the Captain. “Yet these two are able to go into the system as if they are part of it.” He paused. “Could they have triggered or disabled these devices?�
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“It’s possible, yes. I could test it with them. We do know the devices they carry were operational the entire time. The network activity log shows they were isolated before and throughout the period.”
“That is so,” interjected Commander Pösen. “At best they could have activated only the devices close to them. That would not explain how the rest were activated. I think there is another device available here — and we must not forget that we have an officer and two TechRates missing.”
The Captain’s frown deepened. “That is true. And the device Herr Eberbach found — have you analysed it?”
“Yes. It is another of these neural disruption devices. The Surgeon Commander ran a DNA check, which showed that you had handled it as well as Herr Eberbach, Lieutenant Otto Marx and several others not connected with this ship. There are also minute traces that seem to be two of the passengers from the College, but they are inconclusive.”
“I see,” said the Captain. “So it appears that Marx may have the device that activated these. But he may not be the only person involved.”
“That is correct, sir. It may be that the DNA is a result of handling by others before the unit was delivered.” He consulted his tablet. “The DNA from the College could be from any of five or six people there — or two people on the ship now.”
“Very well, hand it all over to the Security Service. They will have to sort it out.” The Captain paused. “What have we learned from the lifepod that was ejected? Have we recovered anyone or anything from that?”
“Nothing, sir, but there was evidently some haste to evacuate the occupants because one of them damaged his survival suit in the hatch. A small piece of the suit was left on the locking mechanism.” He smiled. “For the wearer’s sake, I hope he was not too long in the vacuum.”
Chapter 14 – Seeing Double
The DGK’s return to the huge docking station in geostationary Earth orbit met with a media circus. It got worse when the first people to board were members of Fleet Security.
“How was the ship damaged?” parried a persistent news reporter, eager to get the scoop.
The Security team brushed past him, but he was undaunted.
“There’s a rumour of sabotage. Who’s responsible?”
“No comment. Fleet will issue a report later.”
“Looks like she’s been in a battle — I recognise plasma burns. How’d it happen?”
“No comment.” The stern man leading the security squad swept the crowd with cold eyes. “Fleet will release a statement in due course.” Turning abruptly, he led the way through the boarding tube, his men closing rank behind him, with two armoured and armed men stepping aside to let him pass then turning to face the throng, their expressions unreadable as they hefted their weapons into the ready position.
The DGK’s Executive Officer greeted the visitors, saluting. “Welcome aboard, sir. The Captain has the pair you’re here to collect in his quarters. This way please.”
“Captain.” Captain Haakon stood to greet his visitor. “We got your message. Midshipmen Heron and O’Connor have been isolated and are waiting for you.”
“Isolated?” The visitor paused. “They’re not under arrest.” His frown lifted. “But it will fit with our plan. Very well, I apologise for the lack of courtesy, Captain Haakon, but, as you are aware, the situation is a bit tricky. There’s been a leak, and now the media are on the dock demanding answers.” His smile flashed and vanished as swiftly. “It serves our purposes very neatly — plenty of witnesses for what we have planned. Where are they?”
Touching his link, Captain Haakon said, “Jaakko, bring in Heron and O’Connor please.”
The door opened, and Lieutenant Haäkinen walked in followed by Harry and Ferghal.
“Mr Heron, Mr O’Connor, sir,” said Jaakko.
“Thanks, Jaakko. Mr Heron, Mr O’Connor, Captain Brandeis is here to escort you to Earth.”
Harry nodded. “Aye, aye, sir. I believe the Captain has a code to impart.”
Surprised, Captain Haakon frowned, but his visitor laughed. “I do indeed, Midshipman.” He handed over a datachip. “I think you’ll know what it means.”
“Thank you, sir.” He drew out his tablet and glanced at Captain Haakon. “With your permission, sir?”
“Go ahead.”
Inserting the chip, Harry studied the image that opened. “Indeed, sir, I know what to do with this.” Smiling, he showed it to Ferghal. “Admiral Popham’s Signal Book. Repair on board.”
Ferghal nodded. “Been a right long time since I’ve seen a hoist like that,” he added with a grin. “Takes me right back to the Spartan.”
THE NEWS MEDIA SCRUM BECAME A FREE-FOR-ALL when Harry and Ferghal stepped through the access port into the dock with their escort.
“Are they under arrest?” said one of the journalists.
“Was the ship sabotaged?” demanded another trying to push his way to the front.
“Don’t answer that,” snapped one of the escorts as he shoved the reporter aside.
“What’s going to happen to them?” shouted another. “Hey, I recognise them — it’s that pair they say are from the past, the ones Dr Sherring says are a danger to society!”
“Now watch them get it all wrong,” Captain Brandeis growled. Touching his link, he ordered, “Marines, clear our route.” To Harry he said, “Let them get a good look at you, but stay close.”
“What are they talking about? Who is this Dr Sherring?” Harry gasped as he was hustled forward through the space the newly arrived Marine escort created.
“Some damned crackpot making a name for himself. Ignore them, Mid. Bloody journos. You can always rely on them to get everything fouled up.” He snorted a derisive laugh as they reached the access to the transporter that would take them to the shuttle. “They say it’s their job to keep the public informed — misinformed more like.”
“Why do they think we’ve been arrested?” Ferghal frowned as he straightened his jacket and prepared to enter the transport car. It was all too clear in his memory what happened to men in his day who were arrested and accused of some crime.
The officer snorted again. “Fleet put out a statement that the scheduled cruise and the trial firing had to be curtailed because of an accident aboard.” He shrugged. “Someone leaked that there’d been sabotage.” He jerked his thumb in the general direction of the dock they’d just left. “Those vultures put two and two together and got five.”
“I think I understand you, sir.” Harry’s frown deepened. “But it is most unpleasant to be considered a criminal. I’m sure Ferghal agrees with me.”
The officer laughed as the transport slid to a halt. “There are worse things. It does serve a purpose, though — it will distract them while my people pick up the guys we’re really after. Now then, gentlemen, another shuttle is going to take us to a safe and secure location once our decoys have led the pack in the wrong direction.”
Ferghal’s exclamation of surprise drew his friend’s attention.
Harry looked in the direction Ferghal was staring, and was stunned at what he saw. There stood two young men, exact duplicates of himself and Ferghal.
“Amazing what a bit of facial remodelling can do. These fellows are going to keep the media and a few other people thinking that you’ve departed on the shuttle.” He turned to their body doubles. “You’ve been briefed. Any questions? No? Right, you know your tasks. Join your escorts, and let’s get going. We’ll give the word to go as soon as we’re set up.”
Watching the doubles set off, Harry asked, “Will they always resemble us, sir?”
The officer laughed. “No, certainly not. It can be undone. Now it’s your turn to get a new face. This way, please. This’ll take about half an hour.”
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, HARRY COULDN’T HELP LAUGHING. The makeup and the prosthetic remodelling of his face had aged him and changed his appearance completely, nor did it end there. His hands had been fitt
ed with thin gloves that aged his hands to match his face, and that also gave him new fingerprints. The makeup and partial mask were uncomfortable and felt very strange, as did the uniform, which he quickly realised was not quite as it appeared and had some kind of armour built in.
He glanced at Ferghal and laughed. “You look exactly like Eon Barclay!”
“Do not say so!” Ferghal tried to see his reflection. “Surely not!”
Studying him critically, the security officer frowned. “There’s a resemblance, but it is mainly the build, I think. Never mind. I want you to change into the uniforms we have here. Then we had better get moving. Your body doubles will be doing their part already.”
“Why is this necessary, sir? Surely we could simply board with our class and be removed from this place that way.”
The officer hesitated. “A rather large reward has been offered for your elimination. To send you planet-side with your class would endanger them too. This way we hope to deliver you and everyone else intact.” After Harry pulled on the Fleet Security jacket and checked himself in the mirror, the security officer said, “Ready? Let’s go. Stay close to us, and do whatever we say immediately, without hesitation. Got it?”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Harry and Ferghal responded in unison, and within minutes they joined the throng of reporters hurrying to watch the body doubles of themselves leave the station as taunts of “Traitors!” could be heard among the crowd.
“What on earth is happening?” Ferghal asked. Like Harry, he was finding the facial prosthetics irritating.
“We’ve had a tip-off.” The officer lowered his voice. “Please don’t say anything more than yes or no to anyone. Your accents and manner of speech are so unique that anyone will guess you’re the real you.”
Harry nodded. “Aye, aye, sir.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.” The man smiled. “Look, it’s important the newshounds don’t realise what we’re doing. You’re about to appear over there with your escort. You’ll be taken to a shuttle — or rather your doubles will be — and we’ll tag along behind as if we’re part of the crowd. While everyone’s eyes are on the shuttle, we’ll slip through the crowd and take a different transport.”
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