Her eyes searched his, looking for he knew not what.
“We all felt it. Not just me.”
“But, as coordinator, you felt it most keenly. If you failed, the whole might fail.”
“Make your point.”
“Jaswinder has the same pressure on her. Haida Gwaii represents the future of the Families. It can repair spaceships, can even build them once completed. With it, we can bring the colonies up to speed even more quickly, giving them machine tools to make their own machine tools. And then they’ll fully be able to support us, too. Without it, within fifty years at most, the last of the Family ships will no longer be capable of safe travel. We’ll have to drop down to planets. Hyperspace travel will end; each colony will survive – or die – alone.”
Helen tilted her head to the side. “Your wife taught at Plender. Professor Preston mentioned that before he left for Haida Gwaii. But why should a professor have the weight of its success on her back?”
“More than just taught. She’s the pre-eminent hyperspace physicist alive. If Haida Gwaii remains here, we’ll likely lose it. World governments’ patrol ships will return, will take it over and use in for their own purposes. Likely they’ll fight over it, and one side will destroy it to prevent another side from having it.
“Our only chance to save it is to move it through hyperspace – something that has never before succeeded, not with something that big, and especially not with something unfinished.”
Helen closed her eyes. “And your only chance of moving something that big and unfinished is if Jaswinder Yrden, pre-eminent hyperspace physicist, can get it safely into hyperspace.” She steepled her fingers.
Johannes nodded. “You had Jill and me to rely on. Take Jill or me out of it, and Bill Tannon would have brought in someone else, maybe not as good, maybe better, though Bill swears that Jill was the best we had. Take you out of it once the extractions had begun, and we would have used Connie. Take Connie out of it, and we’d still have you. Jaswinder has no one who can replace her. The Families live or die on her work. Despite us spreading ‘The Knowledge’ as you intended, the future of the colonies rely on her, too. It’s either centuries to get back into space – if ever – or decades.”
Helen rubbed at her temples. “So, if she succeeds, then the pressure is off. And you want to cut her some slack until that time. I understand, Johannes, I truly do. However, the situation wasn’t all roses and puppy dogs before, was it?”
He stood, and she stood with him.
“No, we had our share of problems. But I love my wife, and I love my family. I owe both them and me one more effort to bring harmony and joy.”
She took his hands in her own. “And if that doesn’t work out, how many more efforts until you recognize it? How many years living for a dream that can’t come true?”
He brought her hands up to his mouth, and kissed her fingers. “If that doesn’t work, then I’ll know that I did my best. Then I can, perhaps, move on.”
“And you’ll remember me?”
“And I’ll definitely remember you.”
“I might not wait.”
He gifted her with a sad smile. “I pray that you don’t. I pray that you search for and find someone to give to you – and to receive from you – what you deserve.”
She looked down at their hands, fingers holding fingers.
“But if I don’t find that...”
“If you don’t, and if I discover that I must move on, then we shall meet again.” He then squeezed her fingers. “Of course, it may not work out at all.”
She released him. “But we will have fun finding out.” She stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow when I get on the shuttle to Venture.”
“Yes. And you won’t be alone, Helen. The shuttle will bring Connie up, and the two of you will travel together to Venture. And Carol’s already there.”
“Be well, Johannes.”
“Be well, Helen.”
* * *
Sunday 22 August
“Time to go,” Johannes said, checking over her survival suit one last time, as the other passengers filed into the shuttle. “Connie’s waiting for you. Your new life is waiting for you.”
Helen turned to face him, reached out and brought his head down for a kiss on the lips.
“So you won’t forget,” she said.
Then, she turned and walked away without looking back. Johannes watched her until she disappeared from sight.
CHAPTER 24
FTL-1
Monday, 23 August
Major Sharon Temple pressed the intercom button on her desk to see what Private Milton wanted.
“Captain Harrison here to see you.”
“Send him in.”
Harrison entered, and deliberately did not salute her – partially, she suspected, to tweak her, having the defence ready that she had given the order for no saluting on station.
“Captain,” she said, looking up at the hawkish face. “Problems?”
He shook his head, and sat at her wave.
“No problems. My people are getting a little restive, and I have them in the gym at all hours, but they’ll shake it off soon enough.”
“Good. We don’t want problems at this stage.” Whatever this stage entailed. “I just got you your last week. Tannon’s replacement, Simon Fontaine, didn’t put up much resistance – thanks to the good behaviour we’ve exhibited. So, just another week to go.”
He gave her a feral smile. “Not even that.” He studied her for a moment. “Have you received your orders, yet?”
Temple shook her head. “Not yet. Not much doubt as to the contents, though.”
Harrison raised a bushy black brow. “No?”
“I’m pretty sure that we’re taking over this station.” She pursed her lips, wondering how far to go in eliciting information that he obviously had. He had asked if she had ‘her’ orders, not ‘their’ orders. “It will make a good base of operations.”
“How do you feel about that?” He didn’t deny her guess, nor did he confirm it.
“I’m like you, getting tired of waiting.”
The feral grin returned. “Not much longer. Your report on security helped.” He barked a laugh. “Security. They haven’t a clue about real security. We’ll wrap them up in no time.” He rose to his feet. “Well, Major, just checking in. Glad to see you’re on board.”
Sharon nodded. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
As soon as the door closed, Sharon reached for the comm, then brought her hand back. What if he tested her? On orders from General Wingrove? Or on orders from somewhere else? Wingrove didn’t seem the sort to trust with an operation like this. They – whoever ‘they’ were – probably told him only as much as he absolutely needed to know. He probably operated on no more information than she had.
She sighed. She dared do nothing out of the ordinary. But she had a lunch date with Owen. If she broke up with him, he’d go to Venture, be safe.
Looking inward, Major Sharon Temple shook her head. She had allowed herself to get involved. Not smart. Not smart at all.
* * *
“Hello, Owen.” She accepted his kiss before they seated themselves in a corner booth at Darcy’s. Neither wanted to eat at the Family Cafeteria, as they might meet Johannes – or someone who held similar views – and find their time together ruined.
“Good to see you.”
Sharon looked over the lunch crowd – not nearly as many as even a week ago. They would have some semblance of privacy.
“What would you like to order today?” he asked.
No use to drag it out. Just break up with the boy, send him on his way.
“It can wait. We have to talk.”
His eyes snapped to hers. A sudden hurt look came to his face. He suspected. And she would hurt him worse than he’d probably ever before been hurt.
“We can’t–” she began, but stopped. She couldn’t do this, either.
“We can’t what? Can’t see each other any more?
”
“That, too. But listen; I haven’t much time.” What the hell was she doing? “You have to get off this station immediately. Get back to Venture. Better, get back to Venture and jump out of the system.” She spoke low, fast.
To Sharon’s surprise, his hurt expression disappeared, and he looked at her out of serious eyes.
“Tell me.”
In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought. “And take your father with you.”
She glanced around again. No one close, no one from the military in the place, and the waiter taking his time before coming over to receive their order. No real surprise there – they usually spent some time talking before coming to any decision.
“Remember when you told me about survivors?”
Owen nodded.
“I put most of it together then. I just needed a few more pieces. I got them today. So, pay attention. The USNA plans to take this station by force in less than a week. The reason your father doesn’t want us together is that he knows that the USNA is behind some, if not most, of the pirate attacks.”
“What! I don’t believe it.”
She brushed a wisp of hair away from her face. She saw her career going down the tubes, possibly a charge of treason forthcoming – and all over a boy. She caught herself. No, much more than just the boy … the young man. For right.
“Your ship rescued a pilot and a flight attendant, who had survived the pirate attack on Amalgamated 684 in a lifeboat, right?”
He nodded, mute.
“The pilot obviously saw something, and reported that same to your captain. Now here comes Johannes Yrden, with nothing more than the typical resentment of Earth’s militaries. He returns from leave – I looked it up – goes to Venture, gets the news. The next thing you know, he’s warning you against us. We are not your friends, he says.”
Owen shook his head. “You don’t know that. Maybe I just never noticed it before.”
“Tell me, Owen. Why did you get orders to not talk about the survivors? Why does no one know about them? Surely that should have hit all the news channels.” She stared at him, willing him to make the connections.
No one could call Owen stupid. Hell, she wouldn’t have lost her sense of judgment over him were he a fool.
His eyes went wide. “If anyone talked, if everyone knew, those behind the attack would suspect they had seen something. No problem if true pirates attacked 684. But if they saw a USNA patrol ship.... Dear Lord!”
“Precisely.” She allowed a short smile of approbation to come to her lips. “My orders sent me up here to find out what the Yrdens knew. When I reported that you knew nothing, that you had only picked up the transmission from the buoy, my superiors lost interest. They weren’t interested in the pirates or in a liaison to help catch pirates.”
His gaze warmed. “Then you didn’t tell them.”
“No, I didn’t. And if they find out I didn’t, I’ll get a court martial.” She waved off his sudden protest. “Too late for all that, now. Don’t worry. Just pay attention; it gets worse.”
“Worse?”
He had a lot to learn about how even a bad situation could go further south.
“Yes, worse. I received new orders: scout out FTL-1’s security. And then they sent me my ‘relief troops’, which didn’t relieve anyone.”
“Topside-Two has problems.”
“Caused by us. But why would they send them so soon with orders to me to get the Station Supervisor to agree to a three-week stay.”
“Three weeks? I heard one.”
She almost laughed at the naïveté. “If I’d asked for three weeks, Bill Tannon would have denied me. So, we say we have a slight problem that should be cleared up in a few days. Then a few days more, etc.”
She saw the waiter watching them, and she held up five fingers. He nodded.
“But I knew about the three weeks – which would take us to the 31st. So, I thought we could have our time together – you said you’d have seven days after the course – and then you’d get away fine. We might find each other again after whatever happens happens, or we might not.”
He stared at her, and she felt an inner pain. Yes, she’d have led him along, saying nothing. She cared little for the other Families, and Johannes disliked her. So what? But Owen?
“Those replacement troops – have you seen them?”
“Not much. They keep to themselves.”
“Under orders. Stay quiet; stay invisible. They are no ordinary liaison troops; they belong to some elite fighting outfit, and they’re champing at the bit to get into action, to conquer, perhaps to kill, rape, and pillage. They frighten even me.
“Anyway, their captain let slip today that the 31st isn’t the date. It’s within the week.”
Owen licked at his lips. “When?”
“I don’t know, and I didn’t dare ask. The only thing keeping you safe is that Captain Harrison believes I’m behind him one hundred percent. If he knew about this conversation, we’d both end up dead before we could tell anyone.” She held his gaze. “That’s how important this is.”
“So, within the week?”
“Yes. And tomorrow is within the week. I need you to remember everything I’ve said. Can you do that? Good. And take it to your father as soon as you leave here. Tell him everything – including your telling me about the survivors. One last thing: I wondered why they would send Harrison and his troop so far in advance. Harrison made another slip. He’s an over-confident SOB. He told me that they couldn’t have too many of them moving at once.”
Owen caught on quickly. “In other words, ‘they’, whoever they are, probably have a considerable number up here by now, on other stations, a few at a time.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
She took his hand again and squeezed it. “Can you remember all that?”
“I can. But what about you.”
“I can look after myself.” She frowned. “Look, this can go two ways.” She paused, ordering her thoughts. “We can break up now – you go off hurt and in a temper. Then you get to your father and Simon Fontaine and tell them everything. Try to get as many people off the station as you can as soon as you can, but tell them if it becomes obvious, they might act sooner rather than later. And they’ll know I talked – which won’t do much for my prospects. However, your people will do what they have to do.”
He nodded, understanding the importance of quiet action.
“Me, on my side, I’ll say that I’d gotten all I needed from you, and now I want a real man, not a boy.”
He looked shocked, hurt.
“Owen, it’ll be a lie. But they’ll believe it, and that’s what counts. It gives us cover.”
“What’s the other way?”
“We have a nice, enjoyable meal, talk about inconsequential things, and plan to meet after I get off work. But you’ll call me, saying that you’ve been recalled to Venture. Very sad. Too bad about the five days we’ll lose, but when you’re next in-system, you’ll look me up.”
He nodded again.
“But, either way, you get the hell off this station – today.”
“There’s a third way,” Owen said. “I get recalled to Venture, and you come with me.”
Such a sweet man. “I do that, and they’ll know I talked. They’ll act, and you won’t have time to save anyone.”
Owen sighed. “Then it’s the second way.” He raised his hand and flagged over the waiter.
* * *
Monday 23 August
Two hours after returning from lunch, Major Temple reached out to answer the comm.
“Major Temple,” she said. A face formed as the screen lit. She smiled for him.
“Sharon,” Owen said, “I have some bad news.”
“Bad news?”
His face took on a sad expression. “Yes, my Family decided that, as I’ve passed the detector course, I should put my new ticket to use. They’ve recalled me. We won’t get the last five days of my leave. Instead, I have to depart today.�
�
Relief came over her. At least she wouldn’t have to answer for this one’s fate. She put on a sad face of her own. “I’m both sorry and pleased to hear that. You must look me up whenever your ship comes to Earth.”
He showed her a sad smile. “I’ll do that.” Then his eyes took on an intensity. “But I want to see you before I go.”
“You just saw me.” She laughed, not feeling at all like laughing.
“I know. But this time to say good-bye. If you can get a hour off...”
Sharon laughed again. “I’m the boss; I can take all the time I want as long as I get my job done. Where shall we meet?”
What kind of fool was Johannes Yrden that he didn’t send Owen immediately off station – and go himself? She picked up her cap, and straightened it on her head.
“I’ll be gone for an hour,” she told her adjutant.
“Yes, sir.”
She walked to the Concourse, where she saw Owen waiting for her. Smiling for any who might see, she walked up to him, and gave him a hug.
“You must be so excited,” she said.
“I am.” At least he could act a little. “But there’s something I want to show you before I go.”
Her eyebrows went up, but he didn’t elaborate. To her surprise, he led her through an ‘authorized persons only’ door, and led her into the bowels of the station.
“Where are you taking me?”
“When we get there,” he said, ignoring the startled glances of Family members they passed.
“This way,” he took her down a narrow passageway that ended in an airlock.
Stopped, he took a datastick out of his pocket, and handed it to her. “Directions, only, Sharon.”
Bemused, she accepted the gift, and put it in her pocket. “Directions to what?”
“To this door.” He indicated the airlock. He then uncovered the entrance pad and, with her watching, entered the code. The red light above the door turned green. Instead of opening it, he hit cancel. “Your turn.”
Not With A Whimper: Preservers Page 26