Not With A Whimper: Preservers

by D. A. Boulter

  “Well, then, Captain Yrden, perhaps I could schedule some time with you when Ms White takes a break from her work. I presume she has others to interview as well?”

  “No need,” Yrden replied. The other two watched the interplay closely, barely touching their meals. “Bill Tannon tells me you’re looking for information with respect to Amalgamated 684. True, Venture did pick her message off the Earth-African Nations Waypoint-2 buoy, but that’s the extent of my knowledge on the subject. I wasn’t aboard Venture at the time, and haven’t heard the transmission, myself. But I understand it’s fairly basic.”

  Sharon covered her surprise by forking a piece of potato and popping it in her mouth. He hadn’t been on Venture even then? What had happened?

  Yrden apparently guessed her thoughts. “I had leave. My daughter and I spent our vacation time on Manila.”

  His daughter and him. No mention of his wife or son. That further suggested that trouble existed within this family. And now daughter and wife remained on Venture while son and husband left for FTL-1? Everything fit. Her information stated that he had returned to Earth some time ago, and then taken up residence here. That suggested that somehow the Family had ousted him from his captaincy of Venture as well. Lots to work with.

  “Well, then, Mr Yrden, that covers most of what I wished to interview you about.”

  She could see him relax slightly. Little escaped her. Training in Logistics Investigations saw to that. And now to surprise him.

  “However, I’d still like to see you. I’d also like to go over to Venture to interview her captain and crew. Perhaps you could help me there.”

  Yrden barely reacted, but his son did. She filed away that little piece of information, and then smiled.

  “But, more than that, I’d like to enjoy my first real meal in space. I didn’t eat before coming up – just in case.” Everyone grinned at that. “So I’m rather hungry.” She forked a piece of meat. “Delicious. I felt a little queasy on the way up, what with the weightlessness, but that’s all in the past, now.”

  “I know what you mean,” Helen said. “I, too, had a reaction to that. I don’t know how these people do it.”

  Major Temple smiled at her, neophyte comrades-in-space. She lifted her glass of juice. “To Gravity,” she toasted, and accepted the smile of the professor.

  CHAPTER 14

  FTL-1

  Mon 19 July

  The picture on the wall-screen depicted the Grand Canyon, but Sharon’s eyes didn’t see it, though she gazed directly at it. Her meeting with Johannes Yrden hadn’t produced the intended results. She had not received an invitation to shuttle over to Venture to interrogate – uh, interview – her crew. Instead, Yrden had fobbed her off with the excuse that trading, and loading the ship, had the crew too busy to take time out for her questions. Besides, he said that, instead of to him, she needed to go to Venture’s captain – one Bettina Yrden – for permission.

  It appeared more and more likely that the Yrdens had forced him from captaincy. Did his refusal to intercede for her mean that he was persona non grata, or did he just want to make her life more difficult?

  The more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that General Wingrove had nailed it: the Yrdens hid something.

  “Tell me what you know about Jaswinder Yrden.” She turned her gaze from the picture to Captain Grenville, who sat at the other seat in her office.

  He raised his eyebrows. “She’s a hyperspace physicist. Born and raised in Plender. Had a professorship at Plender University before she met Johannes, and went to space with him.”

  Sharon held up her hand. Plender University? Helen White had come from there. She didn’t believe in coincidences. “Continue.”

  “Not much else, Major. As I told you, rumour has it that she and Johannes have marital difficulties. She – and Venture – were supposed to pick him up from his holiday on Manila.”

  His eyes met hers, and she nodded.

  “She didn’t. She returned here, leaving him to come by another Family’s ship.”

  “Who told you that?”

  He grinned. “I’m just a lowly Space Force captain. Young, and not really all that bright. I listen, and pretend I don’t hear when they talk.”

  So, not as useless as she had first guessed. “Good work, Captain. Troubles in his family life, hey?”

  “Some,” Grenville admitted. He stood, and walked over to the wallscreen, which now showed an image of Diamond Head, Hawaii. “I had more time than you to prepare for this posting. While we waited for the Families to give us access, I spent a lot of time studying. I’ve spent more while on the station.

  “Anyway, Jaswinder Yrden fits the scientist stereotype. She appears to spend all her free time in her laboratory. Missed her son’s graduation. That really ticked off the boy.”

  “Thank you, Captain. Most helpful.” She stood, and left the office. She thought better while moving, and so took a tour of the public parts of the station.

  Not a good mother. Perhaps, then, her best course of action entailed engaging with the son – Owen, she remembered his name. If he wanted or needed a mother figure, perhaps a major in the USNA Space Force might provide just such a thing, though she had neither the years nor the experience to stand in for the mother of a young man of his age.

  Nonetheless, she had taken care of her sister for a time, knew what kids wanted, needed. She didn’t like to think of that. Owen. Yes, Owen might give her an in to the Family. And if Johannes noted her superiority in this regard to his seemly-estranged wife, she might win him over that way.

  * * *

  London, England

  Thursday 22 July

  Sidney contemplated the computer screen, a grim look on his face. Tensions had indeed risen, and intelligent commentators – unlike those who populated the news vids – actually brought up the possibility of war, though they mostly thought it unlikely.

  But the thought led him to some less-than-reputable sites. There, he found plenty to worry about – if he believed in conspiracy theories. Talk abounded about the great powers having secreted nuclear weapons, about the development of genetic weapons. They intimated – no, make that directly declared – that the latest avian flu epidemic to hit Europe came directly from its enemies.

  He suddenly started laughing.

  “What is it, Sidney?” Kiera asked. She looked up from the trashy book she had been reading.

  “Some idiot, here,” he pointed at the screen, “says that Allam Seed Co. is developing a disease to take out our wheat variant.”

  “That sounds dangerous, not funny.”

  “The Trans-Planetary Corporations do not attack each other. Allam has its HQ in the USNA, true, but we deal with it on a day-to-day basis. We co-operate – unlike the governments. They try to throw up barriers, but we meet on the space stations. Nothing they can do...”

  “What is it, Sidney?”

  “Nothing. A thought just occurred to me. I need to do more research.”

  He entered his own company’s site, logged in, and then began doing searches for company officials. He cursed to himself. He should have seen it back when Williamson went upstairs. And his trip to Spitzbergen? Coleman said they had been caught shorthanded. Shorthanded didn’t misstate the situation. Many of the top officials had relocated up to the stations.

  And that could mean one thing only – they feared something down here. Up there, amenities lacked – or so he’d heard. No theatre, few restaurants, little nightlife. It seemed akin to living in a small town, rather than a city – with a lack of weather thrown in. Sidney liked weather, the sun on his face, the rain.

  He, personally, would never willingly live on a space station. He had worked too hard for the comforts he now possessed to give it up for anything less than an imminent catastrophe. He supposed that he didn’t find himself alone in that. Yet the higher ups had begun literally moving higher up.

  He checked out the business sector, not noticing Kiera moving behind him
, reading over his shoulder.

  “Christ!” The Nakamura Family had made a very large purchase, which caused the stock of Kinkaid Enterprises to rise. He owned stock in Kinkaid.

  “That’s not the only one,” Kiera said from behind his left shoulder, causing him to jump.

  “It’s not?”

  “No, the Yrden Family has begun spending like there’s no tomorrow. They ordered four of the latest 3D printers – the ones that can make alloys. The really, really expensive ones.”

  No tomorrow? She might have spoken more truly than she knew. And since when had foolish little Kiera interested herself in business dealings?

  “Where did you hear that?” he asked, even as he searched for that very deal.

  “Last month I was watching The Lottery. The Yrdens now have their own draw in it. They picked up a guitar maker.”

  He shook his head. “And you heard it there?”

  “No, silly. Tremdor Manufactoring had a commercial for their 3D printers. They bragged about how sales were up, and how if the Families preferred Tremdor printers, we, too, should consider them. ‘Big or small, we have them all. A printer for every need’.”

  Ah, an advert. He understood now. But that raised still more questions. What did the Families know? He closed the screen.

  “Kiera, how would you like to go back to Paris for the weekend?”

  She stiffened a moment, before relaxing. “I liked Paris. Who am I supposed to see this time?”

  “I thought we would take a little time to see the sights.”

  She brightened perceptibly.

  “We?”

  “Yes, we. Are you up for it.”

  “Sounds wonderful, Sidney. I’ll start packing.”

  * * *

  Friday 23 July

  The Hotel Charlemagne did justice to its five-star status. No wonder Kiera had enjoyed her stay.

  Sidney, however, had other, darker things on his mind as they unpacked their cases in the privacy of their room.

  He went to the screen, and put in a query. The computer voice came back. “Mr Fontaine regrets that he cannot answer the call at this time. Please leave your name and room number. He will either return your call or otherwise contact you tonight.”

  “Sidney Tremblay. Room 1404. It’s important, Pierre.”

  Kiera sighed, and lay back on the magnificent bed. “Did we come to see Pierre, darling?”

  He heard the hesitation in her voice. Her last visit had troubled her, but she had given Pierre what he had wanted. Such a good, obedient little thing.

  “No,” he said, figuring that she didn’t need to know of his priorities, “but while we’re here I thought we might drop in. He’s a friend.”

  “But you said it was important.”

  He shrugged, and walked over to the window, looking out at the Eiffel Tower still standing resplendent over the city.

  “I wish to talk with him. If he thinks it’s important, he’s more likely to get to me sooner. Once that’s over, we can go out. I don’t want to be stuck here all day just waiting for him.”

  “Oh.” She closed her eyes. “I have time for a short nap, then?”

  “You do. But Pierre might wish to see you later.”

  She jerked a little at that, and Sidney wondered what Pierre had done to warrant that reaction. Kiera hadn’t wanted to talk about it. He shrugged again, this time to himself. If that’s what it cost, then that’s what it cost. He could always find a new girl – though he doubted he might find one as malleable as Kiera. He cocked his head to once side as he watched her lying there, breathing, breasts rising and falling. He would miss her.

  The comm chimed, and her eyes flicked open.

  He turned to the comm, and activated it. Pierre’s face came up. “Ah, Monsieur Tremblay, how might I help Agri-Inc. today?”

  “Agri-Inc. finds itself in the best of shape, thank you, Monsieur.”

  His eyebrows went up. “Mais, you said important.”

  Sidney smiled. “Important to me – and perhaps to you. But it is personal, not business.”

  Fontaine’s eyes went up, and he knew that the man had seen Kiera, who had risen and now stood a little behind him. That would get the man’s interest. Fontaine hesitated for a moment, and then smiled. “But of course, Monsieur. I invite both you and Ms West to dine with me. We can discuss ‘personal’ over a meal. Most civilized, I believe.”

  “That sounds most convivial, Monsieur Fontaine. But I wonder if I could trouble you for a private meeting – just you and me – before dinner?”

  Fontaine shifted his gaze back again. “Of course. Come right over. I have a little time before I must make a call.”

  “Right. Thank you, I’ll do that.”

  He disconnected, and then turned to Kiera. “On your best behaviour for Monsieur Fontaine. Dress like I taught you. I’ll be back in time for us to discuss it further before dinner.”

  She nodded, and turned to her closet. He slipped out the door, and headed for the bank of lifts.

  Fontaine opened the door only seconds after the chime. He stood back to allow Sidney in.

  “So, my friend, what commands the titles of both personal and important?”

  “We need privacy to discuss this.”

  Fontaine blinked twice, and then nodded. “Very well, then privacy shall we have.” He went to his desk, took out a disrupter, and turned it on. “Very efficient. No one will hear what we say as long as you sit close and do not speak loudly.”

  They sat on chairs close to each other and to the device.

  “I am not a stupid man, Pierre,” he started out, causing the other man to cant his head.

  “I have never so implied, Sidney. Pray, tell me to what you refer.”

  “The Families are spending like drunken sailors. The higher-ups in my company are relocating to space. Tensions between Europe and the USNA have reached an all-time high. It looks like war.”

  “I did not know this about your company’s officials. Yes, the Families are spending, but you TPCs have much to do with it. You have engaged with the governments of Earth, and we fear sanctions.”

  Sidney snorted. “Don’t try to fob that off on me, my friend. I know what I know.”

  Fontaine held up a hand to stop him. “Peace. Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that you have rightly interpreted the matters at hand. What can I, a lowly trader in my Family, do about this situation?”

  “I want to get off Earth.”

  “Emigrate to one of the colony worlds? New Brittain? That should be simple enough. Unless you, too, have spent like – what expression did you use? – oh, yes, like a drunken sailor, you should have sufficient resources to accomplish just that. Why come to me? Do you wish passage on a Fontaine ship? Simply call our office.”

  Sidney snorted. “Live out my life on some backward planet where they consider standing in a field and looking up at the stars an evening of entertainment? No, Pierre, I want a place in the Families.”

  Fontaine coughed. He stared at Sidney, astonished. Sidney waited for him to process his request. It took a couple of long minutes.

  “This, what you ask, it comes not so easily. Yes, we recruit. However, we recruit carefully and deliberately. I do not think that you have the skills that we look for. And you have not the wherewithal to buy into a Family, I think.” He paused, and then narrowed his eyes. “Is this request for you alone or for two?”

  Sidney had prepared for that question. “For two if we can manage it – or for one if the Families have difficulties with that.” He gave Fontaine a knowing look. “Or for one if a certain Family member would like to make an offer of his own to the other. As I’m sure you will agree, she has a certain talent that has its own worth.” He paused, and then said quietly, “You need not actually take her up.”

  And that caused the Frenchman to reconsider. Sidney gave an inner shrug. If Kiera could help him buy his way to safety, then she had served her function well. Fontaine licked at his lips, but then began to shake h
is head.

  “I fear, Sidney, that you do not know–”

  “There’s more,” he interrupted. Better to not let it progress to an actual denial of his request.

  Fontaine sat back. “Then continue. I guarantee nothing more than a moment to listen.”

  “That’ll be enough.” Sidney had thought it might come to this. “If there is war, rumours hold that it will involve nuclear weapons, as well as other weapons just as nasty. It could poison everything on Earth for years and years. Do you disagree?”

  “No. If the governments have lied, and they still possess and decide to use nuclear weapons and various other things in their arsenals, it could prove very unhealthy to live on Earth – or to even trade with it.”

  “Exactly. Consider our last trade, my friend. You paid a great amount for it, proving its worth to you, to the Families.”

  “Yes. You wish to make a similar trade?”

  “If it comes to the worst, then yes. I know how to get access to the Seed Vault on Spitzbergen. You have shuttles. Think of liberating not just a few kilos of seed, but tons of it. Twenty-five to thirty people work there at all times. You could fit them all in one passenger shuttle, and promise them relocation to one of the colony worlds. To save their lives, they would take the offer. On top of that, we would need at least four other shuttles to carry the contents of the vault.” He paused, allowing that to sink in.

  “Wouldn’t that give me a life-time pass to live and work on any Family station or ship, to unlimited travel, and trips to and from the colony worlds as I desired?”

  Fontaine looked shocked, unable to speak.

  “And you, as the Family go-between, wouldn’t a successful venture of this magnitude under those circumstances guarantee you a rise in station within your Family and the Families entire? And, as a personal plum, you could have the remarkable Kiera West to make your life more pleasant.”