The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2)

by Kal Spriggs

  “Of course,” Lucius said. They were supposed to brief him tomorrow on the scout deployments, but he had full confidence in their ability to conduct that. “I'll be in touch via ansible for any major issues but maintain communications security on our individual operations.” The ansible network was supposed to be secure, but they still didn't want to put out operational information on it if they didn't have to.

  Lucius at least would get an opportunity to see how the development in and around Faraday was progressing. From what he understood, the Chxor prison colony was rapidly becoming not only self-sufficient but actually producing products for the rest of the system. Kral's appointees there, while not trusted to work with humans directly, apparently were at least competent managers. He could also make time for the research and development scientists and even the engineers working on the Balor ships. Hopefully he could even stop in and talk with Anthony Doko and reassure his friend that not only was he needed, he was missed.

  All that assuming that whatever has Alanis so upset won't use up more of my time, Lucius thought. The thought wasn't particularly welcome, especially as he thought of the handful of things that might upset her to this point... and what his own reaction was likely to be.

  I wasn't there to help her when the Chxor took Nova Roma, Lucius thought, but I am here now. He would do whatever necessary to make things right.

  ***

  Faraday System

  United Colonies

  September 25, 2403

  Reese gave a contented sigh as he stepped out of the lift and onto his floor. The apartment that he and Alanis shared in Michaelston wasn't all that high and he could have taken the stairs, but it felt good to indulge himself a bit. It had been an interesting week, seeking out work for the first time since he joined the Fleet. Really, for the first time in his life, as the Nova Roma Fleet had signed him on with few questions asked.

  Luckily, his skills were in high demand and several of the start-ups companies were offering ludicrous salaries for skilled communications and programming experts like himself. Granted, he privately thought that some of those offers were due to his family connections, but he wouldn't complain about that. They'd get a hard-working employee and if they hoped he might have the ear of the Baron, well, he wouldn't dash those hopes. Not that I'd go to Lucius for anything, Reese thought darkly.

  It felt good to have solved his problems, his way. And while Alanis was totally dedicated to her goals of becoming an officer in Lucius's glorious United Colonies Fleet, well... Reese gave a satisfied smile. He was certain her priorities would change.

  He opened the door to their apartment, but he frowned as he heard Alanis was home already. Normally she was out most of the afternoon, either trying to improve her physical training or training with Anthony Doko. Reese grimaced at the reminder of what had happened to Anthony. Beached... all but a disgrace, because that bastard Lucius wouldn't stand up for him, Reese thought. It was obvious that Anthony Doko would never have betrayed the Baron, but for the sake his his precious alliance with the Nova Roma Emperor, Lucius had thrown his long-time friend to the wolves.

  He stepped into the dining room with a smile, “Alanis, you won't believe what these fools are offering for even a halfway decent programmer.” He started to go on when her appearance broke through to him. She was seated at the dining room table facing the door, her hands in her lap out of sight. Her shoulders were hunched, her face was pinched, her eyes were bloodshot from crying. “Alanis, are you okay, did something happen?” His first thought was that something had happened to Lucius and he couldn't help a pleased feeling at that.

  “You know damned well what happened!” Alanis snarled.

  “What?” Reese asked, confused.

  She grabbed a sheaf of papers from the top of the table and threw them at his chest. He caught them and stared at them with a confused expression for a long moment. It took him a moment to read and make sense of it. It was an official response to her application to the Faraday Military Academy. He looked up and did his best to keep his relief off his face, “You were rejected? Why?” She didn't respond, so he flipped the pages to the indicated section. He felt his heart sing when he saw. “But, Alanis, this is wonderful news, you're pregnant!”

  “Yes, Reese,” Alanis snapped. Her voice was sharp and her tone suggested that Reese was acting like an idiot. “I'm pregnant. I also have a reproduction implant, you know, the little device that prevents that sort of thing... or enables if properly triggered.” Her dark eyes bored into him and Reese couldn't help but flinch and look away.

  “The first thing I thought,” Alanis said, her voice almost dead, “Was that my implant must have failed. That happens, sometimes. So I got out my datapad and did a diagnostic.” Reese felt his stomach drop. This wasn't how it was supposed to have gone. “You know what I found? Someone hacked it's programming to gain access. That same person switched the implant settings over from preventive to fertility enhancing. Why, I asked myself, would anyone do that?”

  Reese couldn't meet her eyes. The anger seemed to radiate from her, a palpable thing that made his face burn. “Alanis, listen...”

  “No, Reese, you listen,” Alanis snapped. “I didn't want to think it was you. I wanted to think your apology was well meant, that you really wanted to support me. I traced the code... you didn't even try to hide it, it was right from your datapad.”

  Reese opened his mouth and searched for words. Finally he settled on the truth, “I thought you'd be happy. We're having a child!”

  “No, Reese, I'm having a child. There's a distinct difference,” Alanis said. “And I'm having a child because you lied to me, you hacked my implant, and because you wanted to manipulate me and prevent me from going to the Academy. Do you think I'll happily set here and be your brood mare?”

  Reese shook his head, yet his confusion fast faded in the face of her anger, replaced by a roiling anger of his own. “I expected you to do the responsible thing. You talked about how important this move to the military was for you... what about me? What happens to me when you go and die, when I'm left alone with nothing but memories? I did what I had to do, Alanis. You left me no choice, so I did what I could to prevent your attendance... and if this hadn't worked, I would have found some other way. I love you, and I refuse to let you throw your life away!” It was obvious that she'd taken this the wrong way, but what else could he expect from her?

  “You refuse to let me live my life,” Alanis said in a level voice. “I thought it was bad enough that you couldn't support my decision. I thought it was bad enough that you destroyed your own military career to spite my brother. But to lie to my face... to pretend to support me, just to sabotage me from behind?” The raw anguish in her voice seemed to punch Reese right in the gut. “How can I ever trust you again? How can we be married when you would do something like that to me? What kind of person are you that you'd bring a new life into the world in an attempt to shackle me to you?”

  Reese felt real panic at those words. “Look, Alanis, I'm sorry that I did it this way, I really am. It was wrong, I shouldn't have done it this way.” I knew I should have just hacked the Academy database and rejected her that way, Reese thought. He'd worried they would notice, particularly if she had Lucius look into it. But he was a better programmer than most, he could have covered his tracks. I should have covered my tracks from accessing her implant, Reese thought, but I thought the news of parenthood would override her disappointment over the Academy. “But think of everything we have shared, think about how our child needs us, needs a mother and a father–”

  “No,” Alanis snapped. “Not our child, my child.” She brought her datapad out from her lap. “I typed up an initial report of the hacking of my implant but I hadn't sent it yet. I also made a recording of this conversation. I just sent both to the local branch of the Faraday Investigation Bureau. Along with a notification that I am currently in a domestic dispute with my ex-husband. Oh, that's right, Faraday's contract law is very efficient, I als
o submitted the paperwork for our divorce and received approval already.”

  Reese felt his heart stop. He wanted to open his mouth, to protest, yet he didn't know what to say anymore. She continued speaking in a low, angry voice, “I looked it up, hacking any medical implant is a felony, with a minimal sentence of ten years and a maximum penalty of fifty years. Doing so with the purpose of blackmail or extortion carries additional time, up to fifty years at the judge's discretion. I think a decent prosecutor could make a case for that, how about you?” Alanis's dark eyes bored into him. “But because of what we once shared... I'm giving you fair warning.” She looked down at her datapad, “It informs me that the police will arrive in the next ten minutes. I suppose that if you don't want to spend ten to a hundred years in prison, you should probably leave.”

  “Alanis...” Reese hated the whine in his voice. Yet she had just destroyed his life. He'd have to flee Faraday for certain, especially with who her brother was. A warrant for a felony, even from a backwater colony, would show up on any kind of background check. He'd have to change his identity if he wanted to get any kind of decent job somewhere else. For that matter, when Lucius found out...

  “Eight minutes, now,” Alanis said, her voice cold. “Better get running Reese.”

  For just a moment, a wave of rage washed over him. Reese took an angry step forward and growled, “You showed me no restraint, why shouldn't I do the same? Eight minutes is long enough...”

  She pulled a compact pistol from under the counter before he could even finish. “The arrest was me showing restraint, Reese. You don't want to know how close a decision it was between me squeezing this trigger instead of hitting send. But I thought it would be better for my child not to have to know I killed its father.” She glanced at her datapad and looked up again and her eyes were empty and dead of emotion as she stared at him. “Clock's ticking... seven minutes, Reese.”

  ***

  Halcyon Colony

  Garris Major System

  September 26, 2403

  Somewhat unsurprisingly, Stavros Heraklion had the most impressive appearance of the assembled privateer captains. With his bright silver pants and the open gold vest, with chest bared, it was hardly astonishing that was so. Even then, though, there were some who could almost give him a run for his money. Mason maintained his outward relaxation even as he ignored the smirks and leers of various captains. Half this lot are so new at this they don't really deserve the name privateer, he thought, the other half are serious hard cases who even I wouldn't have recruited in my worst times.

  He really had a feeling that something wasn't quite right with the situation. On the one hand, there was the professional behavior from Counselor Penwaithe and on the other there was... this.

  This was an assemblage of thirty privateer captains for a gathering. Most of the newer ones didn't seem to know exactly what to do, while some of the others seemed bound and determined to posture and establish dominance. Speaking of which, Mason thought wryly as a short, thin man, with slicked back, black hair walked up to him. “You're Stavros, eh?” His voice was light and cultured. He looked, Mason thought suddenly, much like Baron Giovanni if someone were to attempt a spineless caricature of him.

  Mason gave him a courtly bow, “Captain Stavros Heraklion. I see my reputation has proceeded me.” He looked the other man over, “And you are?”

  He leered with a superior expression, “Captain Damien Walters. And before this is all over, you'll remember that name.” His high voice had the slightest affection of a lisp.

  “Well, my friend,” Mason said in a kindly tone, “I'll try to do that, but I'm afraid I'm not very good with names. Who did you say you were again?” That this specimen managed to be a captain around here did not bode well for the planet.

  The privateer Captain walked a circle around Mason, “You must have the absolute worst taste in clothing. You do know that those leather pants are absolutely ghastly, don't you?”

  Mason gave him a leer of his own, “The ladies seem to love them... or taking them off anyway.”

  “You think–”

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” a high, clear voice spoke from the far end of the room. “Thank you for your patience.” Mason felt some of his tension ease as he recognized the voice. Evidently, the reason for this gathering was politics.

  “All of you are signed on as privateers with Halcyon,” Admiral Lucretta Mannetti said, her voice dripping with sincerity. “Which I'm sure provides you with a feeling of righteousness. However, before you get too carried away, I'd like to explain some of the basic rules.”

  “Why would we listen to you?” One of the other privateers interrupted. The big man strode forward and the other captains parted around him. “Just a bitty little woman in a low cut uniform.”

  “Captain Archambault, I'm speaking for all of us, here. And I marshal far more forces than your pathetic little destroyer, so when I speak, you should chose to listen,” Admiral Mannetti said.

  Mason walked close up behind the man as she spoke, in part to get a better view and in part because he saw something of an opportunity.

  Captain Archambault grimaced, “Listen, bitch–”

  Before the pirate could finish, Mason kicked out the back of his knees and pulled one of his concealed knives and had it to Archambault's throat. “Sorry, for the interruption, my Lady, I think you were going to explain the rules to us?”

  The short, dark haired woman gave him a smile, “Indeed.” Mason could tell she had a pistol her hand, concealed behind her body by the tenseness of her frame and the set of her shoulder. She tucked it back behind her in a motion Mason almost didn't catch and then gestured at Mason and his captive. “First off, there is no violence between Captains here. Captain Stavros, I think your patrons will overlook that right now due to the circumstances, but you should let Captain Archambault go. I'm sure he's learned his lesson. We're all in the same alliance. You lot work directly for Halcyon while I work with them as their ally.” As Mason let his captive go, Admiral Mannetti pointed behind her at a figure near the door, “Much like Admiral Collae, here.”

  Mason felt his blood go cold. He flicked a glance at the rogue officer, but the other man's dark eyes seemed to see nothing more than his absurd costume. And it's best I don't stand out too much when I'm around him, Mason thought, to give him reason to look past that.

  “Now, the other rules are simple,” Admiral Mannetti said. “Most of them are about what you can and can't take and being fair and even with the loot we do take. Share and share alike, gentlemen.” The warmth in her voice leached away with her next words, “However, some rules are more important than others. Myself and Admiral Collae provide coordinates, convoy information, and will direct your attacks. In particular, if you cross us, if you disobey our orders in battle, we will not hesitate to put you down and make an example of you.”

  On that cue, Captain Damien Walter swept past Mason and stood before the hulking Captain Archambault. “You have insulted the honor of Lady Kail. I challenge you to a duel.”

  The big man grinned down at the diminutive Captain Walters, “I'll break you like a toy.” He took a step forward and Damien took several steps back.

  “Well, I'm glad you accepted his challenge,” Admiral Mannetti said as she walked up and put a possessive hand on Damien's shoulder. Looking between the two, Mason didn't doubt that they had planned for this. From the nervous look on the small man's face, he wasn't as sure of the outcome as he'd like, however.

  Captain Archambault gave a sneer and his hand went for his holstered gun. Captain Walters was faster, though Mason recognized the sure signs of someone with cybernetic augmentation with his jerky, mechanical draw. He's fast, but poor control, Mason thought. At the short range of three meters, he didn't need to be a marksman. The shot rang out and Captain Archambault toppled to the ground.

  “While fighting in the ranks is not permitted, of course, dueling is,” Admiral Mannetti said, her voice sultry, even as she swept her hand d
own Damien Walter's arm like she were stroking a pet. Given his similarity to Baron Giovanni, that said some interesting things about her psyche, Mason realized..

  A cold wind seemed to sweep through the chamber at her words and in the shadows near the door, Mason saw Admiral Collae give a grim smile. So, Mason thought, the purpose of this was to establish that they're the ones in charge, regardless of who handles the goods and payment. That made things look even nastier for the folks of Halcyon.

  Still, Mason realized that he had inadvertently stumbled upon the pair's central operation. With both of them present, something here on Halcyon was important enough that Admiral Collae was already maneuvering to betray Admiral Mannetti. Now Mason just had to get to the bottom of it.

  His eyes went to the corpse nearby. Well, Mason thought, get to the bottom of it and survive.

  ***

  Faraday System

  United Colonies

  September 26, 2403

  Tony frowned as he noticed a glitch in his home network. That was... odd. He wasn't the best programmer, but he could tell when something was wrong when his face was rubbed in it. Right now, since he was trying to program a new simulation for the Baron's sister, the sudden grinding halt that hit the system told him something was wrong.

  “Liz, you doing something on the network?” Tony asked.

  She looked up from where she sat on the couch, “Just reading a book.”

  “Well, the whole system just glitched and now...” he trailed off and then snorted in disgust, “Now it's down. I just lost four hours of work!”

  For a moment she looked puzzled as she pulled up the system diagnostics on her datapad. Her eyes went cold a moment later, “We're under attack.”

  Tony didn't respond, but he did reach down and pull the sidearm from under his chair. Unlike Lucius, he practiced regularly. Granted, he wasn't as good a shot as Lizmadie, but he hadn't had to shoot anyone when his life was on the line... she had.