“What systems were affected?” Lilith inquired.
Bel Lyra pulled out a small hand terminal from her jumpsuit. A holographic image of the ship appeared and lit up with small points of light.
“Twenty-five percent of our Inter-deck ULF psiever relays are fried, and ten percent are damaged and operating below normal threshold. Of these, I’m estimating that about four percent are going to fail in the next few hours. I’ve already taken dozens offline just to try and save them before they can’t be salvaged.”
“I thought we were supposed to be shielded against this kind of thing,” Lilith said.
“We are,” Bel Lyra replied. “Our shields can deal with everything from micrometeorites to gamma bursts on up. Whatever this was, it went right through them like they weren’t even there. Even stranger, nothing else was affected. Everything that’s psiever driven is still running just fine. Only the ULF relays are damaged.’
“And we still have psiever communications, but its line of sight in a lot of places. The RSE girls got around this problem by going over to old-fashioned radio devices right away, but even these aren’t able to get through everywhere—there are still plenty of dead zones. They bitched about it, but I told them that we just don’t have repeaters for that kind of tech. They might as well have been asking us to string telegraph lines.”
“I see,” Lilith returned, stroking her cheek pensively. Then, “Chief, I want you to continue taking the ULF relays offline and create more holes in the network. The more restricted that we can make their communications, the better.”
“Already doing that, ma’am,” the Engineer grinned. “By the way, I took the one down for this room. No one is going to think a message upstairs to the bridge.” She glanced pointedly at their prisoners, all of whom had had their throat mikes removed. These, Lilith saw, were currently in Captain t’Gwen’s custody.
“Well done, Chief,” Lilith said. ”Do we know exactly where these RSE Teams have been stationed and what their strength is?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Engineer answered, and the holo changed. The damaged psiever relays disappeared and several zones became highlighted. She zoomed in on each one as she spoke.
“They’re holding the armory, the computer core, the engine room, and of course, the bridge. We also have some loose teams holding other key spots, including a group stationed at the Main Lift terminal on deck 5”
“Counting the officers, we’re looking at roughly forty hostiles, mostly trained teams,” T’Gwen supplied.
Lilith considered this. She wasn’t overly concerned about the teams that weren’t inside the sensitive areas. And once she instituted the Polaris Protocole and had neutralized the bulk of the RSE forces, she was certain that the Marines could handle those loose elements easily enough.
T’Gwen had more to tell her. “Ma’am you should also know that there’s a good chance that they have some sleeper agents aboard—you know how the Agency loves its spies. So far, no one has given themselves away, but we should be prepared for surprises.”
“We’ll see to that part, Lily” Grammy offered. “We have ways of ferreting out enemies.”
Lilith’s head whipped around in annoyance. “We? What exactly do you mean by ‘we’, Grammy? While we’re at it, would you care to finally explain to me how you performed that little trick in the Hangar Bay?”
Kaly was shaking her head again, but Lilith ignored her. “Well?”
“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about,” the old woman answered innocently.
“Whatever, “Lilith said, disgusted. “Let’s get this over with. Looking upwards, she addressed a point near the ceiling. “Commander n’Leese, this is Vice-Admiral Lilith ben Jeni, requesting a private channel.”
A holo of the ship’s personality matrix materialized. “Identity confirmed, Admiral ben Jeni.”
“As of this moment, I’m declaring a hostile incursion, Protocole Polaire. “ Lilith told her. “Transfer all command functions to the secondary helm in Engineering and take the bridge offline. Lock down all sensitive areas and introduce GZ gas into those spaces. Also, have our medical and security teams ready to respond to the affected areas once they have been pacified.”
“I’m sorry, Admiral,” N’Leese answered regretfully. “I can’t do that. I have been prevented from implementing those commands.”
Lilith was stunned. “By who? When?”
“General Angelique bel Thana, shortly after she and her party came aboard,” the matrix explained. “They employed a customized program to delete that particular command string. I’m very sorry, but I just can’t help you.”
Lilith wanted to scream aloud in frustration, but the matrix spoke again. “Oh! Judi says that she can help. One moment…one moment…“
N’Leese’s image flickered, and then it was replaced by none other than Dana bel Hanna. “Hello, Lilith,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?” Lilith asked in surprise. “Where is N’Leese?”
“She is taking a nap. This whole thing was simply too much for such a young matrix,” Bel Hanna responded. “I convinced her to let me handle things.”
“But--you’re AWOL!” Lilith exclaimed. “Every search program in the Sisterhood is looking for you! You’re a wanted fugitive!”
Bel Hanna laughed softly. “I am at that, and before this is over, I’ll disappear again. I like my freedom and I have no intention of submitting myself for summary deletion. Really, you should be glad that I’m here. I am helping you after all.”
Once again, Lilith found herself struggling to comprehend the incomprehensible. Matrix’s like Bel Hanna didn’t just abandon their brains and become fully independent, disembodied beings that went wherever they wanted to. It was physically impossible.
“How did you--?”
“That’s a very complicated question Lilith, and I really don’t have the time to explain. Suffice it to say that consciousness is not what you think it is. I am proof enough of that. The living proof.’
“Now, I have removed you and your companions from the ship‘s tracking systems, so you will be able to move undetected. I wish I could do more, but Bel Thana’s changes are hampering me. You’ll need to go to Engineering and manually institute the Protocole there. The Chief and I can silence any alarms along your route and I will try to help as much as I can.”
“But—?“
“Lilith,” Bel Hanna advised, “if I were you, I would just be grateful for the miracle, and start moving towards Engineering as fast as my little legs could carry me. Colonel bel Thana is bound to grow suspicious if this drags on much longer.”
Lilith shook her head in bafflement, and then addressed Kaly. “Kaly, we’ll need your help. Can you get us there?”
“Aren’t we going to wait for Skylaar and the others?” Kaly asked.
“No, Kaly,” Lilith said. “If they haven’t arrived by now, there’s a good chance that they were turned away. We’ll have to go it alone and hope that they catch up. There’s too little time to wait. Can you help?”
“Not alone,” Kaly answered. “I’ll need my teammates to pull it off.”
“No,” Lilith replied firmly. “They were involved in a conspiracy to hijack a naval vessel and if we survive this, they’ll probably be charged with high treason. I can’t just give them their weapons back and let them go.”
But Kaly was just as determined. “Ma’am, you’re wrong. I know these girls. They didn’t get into this on purpose. They were just following orders that they thought were legit. You need to give them a chance.”
“I appreciate your fidelity, Corporal,” Lilith replied, “but their innocence is something that their Advocates will have to prove in court.”
“Admiral, I know I’m right,” Kaly insisted. “I also know that we’re going to be coming up against a trained team in Engineering. We’re going to need my teammates. All of them.”
“And how will you know if they’re lying to you or
not?” Lilith asked skeptically. “They could tell you anything to save their own skins.”
“No, that’s not the way they are, Admiral,” Kaly averred. “They’ll tell me the truth. I know it. I’ve worked with them. We’re family.”
At this, Grammy re-inserted herself into the conversation. “Lily, Kaly is right, and Jan and I can make sure that they’re telling the truth. We both have certain—um, talents--for that, especially Jan. Let us try.”
Not at all pleased with this, Lilith regarded her in-law doubtfully, but she couldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Not after her experiences at the Tree. Jan did have strange powers, although she didn’t even pretend to understand them, and apparently, so did Grammy. She also didn’t have any other options at the moment.
“All right,” she finally agreed. “This seems to be a day where I am being forced to make command decisions that I don’t care for. We’ll speak with your teammates, Kaly, but we’ll keep it short, and the final word is mine. I have a little experience ‘reading’ people myself.”
With that, they went over to their captives. At Lilith’s signal, the securitywomen guarding them removed the tape from their mouths. Lilith spoke with their officer first.
“Do you know who I am?” she asked her.
“Yes, you’re Vice Admiral Lilith ben Jeni.”
“Indeed, and you and your women took over my ship,” Lilith said coldly. “My friends here believe that you did so acting under orders that you thought were legitimate. They were not, and as we speak, this ship is being targeted by other Navy vessels. I’m going to offer you a choice; you can fight with me to retake the Athena, or you can sit it out and take your chances in court. What will it be, Captain?”
“Fek you,” the officer spat. “Once Angelique gets the Tree, you’re all done. The Sisterhood will finally have the kind of leadership it needs and weak women like you will—“
Before she could continue with her rant, Lilith had the securitywoman re-tape her mouth. “Well, that’s one we can count out,” she remarked acerbically. She turned to Senior Troop Leader Ben Di next. “What about you? Do you feel the same way?”
Ben Di looked her straight in the eye. “We didn’t know. They told us we were coming out here on a classified mission, and that some of you were working with the Marionites. Our job was to make sure that the ship wasn’t taken over by hostiles. That’s it.”
Lilith looked over her shoulder to Grammy and Jan. The Ensign had her eyes closed, and seemed to be deep in concentration, but they both nodded back to her.
“She’s telling the truth,” Grammy said.
Lilith had already sensed the same thing, and without the aid of any special occult gifts. She addressed Margasdaater and T’Jinna. “Is that so?” she asked them. “Is that how it was, Troopers?”
Margasdaater and T’Jinna both shook their heads vigorously. “Yah,” the Zommerlaandar answered. “Z’s juzt like zhe zaid. Zat’s vat zey told uz.”
“Very well. I’m going to let you go,” Lilith informed her. “You’ll help us.” This wasn’t a question.
“I’ll also make this warning to you,” she added, “if you play us false, I’ll have you executed on the spot. Kaly here, will be your commander and you will do exactly what she says. When the time comes, I’ll make certain that your cooperation is taken into account, but I can’t promise you anything more than that. Is this clear?”
“Yes, Admiral,” Ben Di agreed. “It is.” Their guards came up and cut their bonds.
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Lilith replied. “You can start helping us by giving your Ops leader a call. She’s bound to be wondering what happened to you. Tell her that you had to stun us, and that you’ll be on your way to security once we’ve recovered. That should buy us a little time.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
One of the securitywomen handed Ben Di her com-set, and as she put it on, Captain t’Gwen placed a needlegun to her temple. “Keep it short,” T’Gwen suggested quietly, “and stick to the script. No fekking around.”
Ben Di didn’t take any offense at this, and relayed the message exactly as Lilith had instructed. When she had finished, T’Gwen re-holstered her weapon and the two women exchanged simple nods of acknowledgement and mutual respect. To them, such harsh measures were simply part of the day’s business. Nothing personal, and fully expected by everyone involved.
Kaly was similarly unaffected. Making no comment on the threatening exchange, she signaled Ben Di and the others to join her and the Chief. To her private relief, Ben Di took charge right away. The Senior Troop Leader was much better qualified than she was for this kind of thing and she was glad that the woman was stepping up and bringing her experience to bear.
“Chief, show us the layout of the secondary bridge,” the Aran requested. “If we have it, we also need to see ‘vid feeds that show where the team has positioned itself.”
“Not a problem, “Bel Lyra said. “We still have feeds there. That’s something these RSE girls haven’t figured out—yet. No offense.”
Ben Di smiled crookedly. “None taken.”
The Chief called up another image that showed the area, overlaid with live footage. The RSE team had positioned two of its troopers near the entrance, while another woman hovered near the Command chair and the fourth had staged herself back and behind her, with a view of the entire area. Ben Di and Kaly both saw the flaw in their defense strategy right away.
“Is there some way that we can get underneath them?” Kaly asked, “And hit them from behind?” Ben Di and her teammates grinned at this idea.
“Yes,” Bel Lyra said. “It’ll be a tight fit, but once you reach the end of the access tube, it opens up and there’s space under the decking. The panels can be pushed up.” Each panel was numbered, and the Chief had highlighted the ones that would allow them to come up behind the Team.
“I like it,” Ben Di declared. “They won’t expect us to pop up from the floor. We’ll also need to have their radio coms cut out right before we hit them. Can you manage that, Chief?”
“Sure. I can generate interference using the infrastructure in the area,” Bel Lyra replied. “That should make sure they can’t receive or transmit.”
“Then I think we have a workable plan,” Ben Di announced. “If Corporal n’Deena is happy with it, of course.” She looked to Kaly, who inclined her head in agreement.
“Good,” Lilith said.
“You’ll stay behind us,” Kaly told her, “and you’ll follow instructions. If things get hot, you’ll retreat right away. That’s an order, Admiral.”
Lilith raised an eyebrow, but didn’t contend this. This was Kaly’s operation, at least until they had secured the secondary bridge.
“There’s something else, “Kaly added, addressing both Lilith and Ben Di. “I don’t want any of the troopers killed. I don’t care about Bel Thana or her officers, but those troopers are my sisters, right or wrong.”
“I can’t make that promise, Corporal,” Lilith returned. “There is much more at stake here than a handful of troopers. We’ll do what we have to do.”
“If you want my help, then you’ll agree,” Kaly insisted. “Otherwise, you can count me out. I’m a civilian and I don’t have to do what any of you say.”
“We could use stun grenades and the pistols from security,” Ben Di volunteered. “That, and the element of surprise should do the trick.”
“Is that sufficient, Kaly?” Lilith asked.
“It is.”
Kaly however, was not the only one who had special demands to make. Jon and Jan bar Daala pushed their way into the group.
“I want to come along too,” Jon announced. “This is also my fight and I want to see it to the end. And someone has to watch over the Admiral and the Chief. Jan and I can do that.”
Kaly shook her head. “No. You two need to stay here with Celina and the others. No offense Jon, but this Op is no place for a man.”
Even as she said this, she was surprised at her own
conservatism, but equally certain that the neoman would just get in the way and get himself killed. Ex-Marine though he was, this was way out of his league. As for Bar Daala, she had no idea what her skill set actually was and she wasn’t in the mood to find out ‘on the fly’.
Bar Daala however, was just as adamant. “We’re going with you, Kaly, and if you won’t take us, we’ll follow. You’ll have to shoot us if you want us to hang back. And Jon here can help. He might not have your training, but he’s big, and if nothing else, he can drag the Admiral out of there if things go bad.”
From Jan’s stance, and the hard look in Jon’s eyes, Kaly realized that she wasn’t going to overcome their insane determination to become casualties.
“Fine,” she agreed at last. “But it’s the same deal as the Admiral and the Chief. You two stay with them, and you stay behind. If we fail, you get them out.” She glanced over at Grammy, fully expecting for her to ask to be included. Everyone else certainly had.
She was just beginning to formulate her refusal when Grammy surprised her pleasantly. “I think I’ll just stay here with Celina,” she said. “I’m far too old to be crawling through access tunnels and fighting armed women. We’ll just sit here and get acquainted with one another.”
“Wonderful,” Kaly said. “Let’s gear up.” She went with Margasdaater and Ben Di over to Captain n’Willa, and promptly stripped her of her protective garments. Although the Conversâzi woman tried to resist, in short order, Kaly had all the equipment that she needed for the Op and the officer was left sitting there in her underwear.
She also asked for, and received, a pair of blast/projectile resistant vests from the securitywomen for Lilith and Bel Lyra to wear. While these weren’t up to the same standard as the ones the team and Kaly were currently wearing, they still afforded the two women a certain measure of protection. In addition, the securitywomen handed over a pair of side-arms that they had confiscated, along with their own stun pistols.
Jan and Jon received the energy pistols, and Kaly and Ben Di pocketed the stunners. The load-out for their group was far from ideal, but given the circumstances, Kaly knew that it was the best that they could hope for. With luck, they would overcome the enemy team, and then take their equipment.
Sisterhood of Suns: Daughters of Eve Page 78