He had made some inquiries about her and what he learned had made him anxious, very anxious. He knew she would keep digging and that she had the authority for the ultimate sanction. He stood up and went to the window and looked out over the city. It used to be a picture of wonder to him. Now, with the security patrols and media broadcasts it looked odious. ‘What has become of us?’ he asked himself.
His communicator rang from back on his desk. Reluctantly he walked back to it, picked it up and answered “Likta.”
“Bakun, it’s good to hear you my friend” said Aras Leptude.
Bakun thought he was going to have a heart attack and nearly dropped the communicator. He slumped back down into his chair. “What do you want?”
“Some information. The details are in a message you should already have. It’s urgent. Get back to me tonight.”
Bakun was grateful Aras had terminated but he knew there was now every likelihood his communications were being monitored. He argued with himself for a minute on whether they would be able to link Aras Leptude with Meeka Sallusam and discounted it. He thought about whom to ask for the information needed. ‘Meelanda!’ he said to himself.
He rang her number but no answer. He checked the register and she was still in the building. He grabbed his communicator with the details of the message and headed out to find her. Her assistant had left for the night. In fact the entire floor was dark except for the security lighting and the light on the wall outside the conference room which indicated the room was occupied.
He knocked on the door. Inside no one heard the knock because of the heated debate going on. Bakun, knocked again more forcefully. Finally he tried the door but it was locked. He used his pass key to open it.
There was shock all round. Bakun recognised each of the people around the table and he was absolutely sure about what he heard before they stopped speaking. In a moment of inspiration, he knew exactly what he should do. He stepped in, closed the door and ensured it was locked. Meelanda and her cohorts were all frozen.
Bakun smiled. “Very interesting, you will need transport. I can help there.”
Meelanda was still in a state of shock but she recovered the quickest, though ‘recovered’ was not the correct description. “Mr Likta?” she said surprised as she got to her feet.
“Indeed. Don’t worry. I want to join you not betray you. But first I need your help Meelanda. It’s most urgent – even more than this. I promise I will help you with this directly after.”
Meelanda was still dumbstruck. She looked around at the others while what had just happened sunk in. Her wits were returning and now her mind was accelerating. “What is so important?” she asked.
Bakun explained about the need to find out who developed a device which could exchange energy for mass. Meelanda took a step backwards. “How do you know about that?”
“What, you know of such a device?” countered Bakun. Meelanda nodded. “Well?” he asked.
She explained about the activation of the device in Qwantum. Bakun sought the assistance of an empty chair and collapsed into it. “My god!” he said. “He wants to use it.”
“Who?” demanded Meelanda.
“Aras Leptude” said Bakun, though he wasn’t really focussing on the conversation. His mind was already off following another thread.
“Who is he?”
“Oh Meeka Sallusam, the former Admiral of the Fleet.”
“What?”
Bakun refocussed and looked straight into Meelanda’s eyes. “It’s a long story but I helped him get a new identity and now he wants me to help him acquire this device…this weapon. He has a hold over me and I’m afraid he will release some information which will see me shot by the Imperialists. You see I have every reason to see an end to this rotten system. Please trust me. I can help you. I have nowhere else to turn.”
Meelanda had known Bakun for many, many years. She had never seen him like this, so vulnerable and so open. In that moment she believed him. “I am prepared to trust you” she said and turning to her fellow conspirators added “but it’s not up to me alone.”
There was an anxious moment for Bakun who was placed in a position he had never been in before, one of being dependent on the assessment of others. He was relieved when the consensus was to trust him for now.
“Thank you” Bakun said “I won’t let you down.”
There was a minute of silence while their minds all focussed on different things. They all started asking their own question at the same time. “After you” said Meelanda to Bakun.
“Thank you. I cannot …we cannot allow Sallusam access to this device. Yet I…we need to buy some time. It’s going to take some time to prepare and mount this operation of yours…ours. We need to remain in our current positions till then. So I need to give Sallusam something. Do you know who has developed it and where?”
“I may but I think it best I keep that information to myself at this stage. I am certainly not going to release it to Sallusam.”
“So your trust has its limits then?”
“Yes it does for now Mr Likta. Tell him that you have a lead but it will take more time.”
“He will want more than that.”
“Probably but that is all he is going to get for now.” Meelanda pondered and then added. “Where is he?”
“Why?”
“There are other ways of dealing with this problem” she said coldly.
Her chill reminded him of the icy look he received from Torine earlier. He pondered telling them about her but decided against it. “He’s in Dyritka, Margvon. He’s the manager of our office there and goes by the name of Aras Leptude. He has a new visage.”
“You paid for that didn’t you and gave him the position?” asked Meelanda. Bakun nodded. “Do you have his new image?” Bakun nodded again. “Give it to me and I will see what we can do about him.”
“I need to get back to my office. We can adjourn to there if you like.”
So they rose together in the elevator and made their way to Bakun’s office. Bakun showed them Aras’s identity pictures and transferred these along with all other relevant information about the thorn in his side that is Meeka Sallusam.
Bakun rose and went over to the panel in the wall, touched it and retrieved two bottles of ice cold wine. Two minutes later they raised their glasses. “To the Resistance” said Meelanda.
A few minutes later as the effects of the alcohol mellowed those around her, Meelanda joined Bakun as he looked out through his window to the landing pad. His hopper glistened under the lights.
“Do you have permission to fly that?” she asked.
“Yes. Why?”
Chapter 32. Alpha 1, Cheklin 2315, 15 August
It was a very tired Tola that waved goodbye to Felis. The door of the hopper closed. Tola could just make out Meelanda’s face in the window before it rose and accelerated away. She patted her pocket where the memory stick now resided with details that just might bring some human justice to Meeka Sallusam.
“All right folks, mount ‘em up and move ‘em out” she said to Madge and Judy. Whiskey 7 with the marines on board was already rising into the night sky. Whiskey 8 was powering up.
As she sat back in the cloaked warthog Tola reflected on her day. ‘Well Tom you won’t believe what happened to me today.’
Chapter 33. Phantom to Chelora 0700, 16 August
Aubrey’s eyes were definitely open now and despite the fact that she had declared today a rest day, being their first in what would be two weeks of warp, she couldn’t rest. She had sent the signal off to Dave and the Admiral prior to warp. It had been a brutally honest report.
She had insisted Tola and the Commodore sign off on it. Despite her fatigue Tola read it as the ship’s clock ticked past 0200. Tola said there was no need to mention certain facts on her account but Aubrey had insisted.
The Commodore had already had his quiet chat with her during the evening while they waited for the Whiskeys to return. ‘Impetuous’ she said t
o herself. ‘I have never seen myself as impetuous.’ She recalled his words.
‘There’s a fine line between audacity and recklessness and you crossed it today. Learn from this. Recognise the boundary and check yourself before you act. You have an XO for a reason and it’s not to handle the administration. Tola has a good head on her shoulders. Use her. Sound out any plan with her. If it gets past her then it’s probably not impetuous.’
As Aubrey lay on her back staring at the cabin sensor on the roof flicker its tiny red light she realised that yesterday had been a tough ride, especially for her ego. She knew in that moment that it was in part due to her ego. She admitted to herself that her desire to protect Evie had a good deal of self interest in it. She did not want their death on her hands under her watch ‘and I was prepared to risk the death of so many others to avoid that.’
She rolled over onto her side and pulled her pillow in tight. How she wished she could curl up in Brennon’s arms right now.
Chapter 34. Rollinium 1100, 16 August
They had been at it since 0800 deploying the BMS. The radar and ladar arrays were bolted in outside the terminal. The portable terminal was setup in the basement in what had once been an office, though John could not think of anyone working down here without a window. But then he realised it was no different to a ship.
It was time to do the final test. “You ready Chad?” hailed John.
“Give me a minute to remove the safety locks on the laser” he replied. He was currently outside on the small rise where they had setup the laser for the ladar system. The sun was beating down and he couldn’t wait to get under some shade.
“Crystal” hollered John.
“Coming” she hollered back from the main corridor of the basement where she had just secured the ruggedised cases.
“Resolute this is Rollinium Control” he hailed.
“Control this Resolute” responded Jasmin “we’re ready when you are John.”
“We’re a go” hailed Sgt Chad Preston.
“Activating radar” hailed John.
Crystal stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. She did so quietly. John was facing the other way towards the terminal.
“We register your radar” advised Jasmin.
Crystal undid her belt and lowered it to the floor quietly
“Commencing initialisation test 1” hailed John.
Crystal took off her boots…quietly.
“Acknowledged and confirmed” hailed Jasmin.
Crystal dropped her trousers around her feet and stepped out and over.
“Commencing verification test” hailed John.
Crystal began unbuttoning her shirt.
“Verification confirmed” hailed Jasmin.
Crystal undid the last button.
“Take cover Chad” hailed John to ensure Chad did not look at the laser.
Crystal leant down and placed her shirt on the growing pile of gear.
“Taking cover” hailed Chad.
Crystal undid her bra and let it drop.
“Activating ladar” hailed John.
“Confirmed” hailed Jasmin.
Crystal dropped her knickers.
“Verification test commenced” hailed John.
Crystal stepped towards John…quietly.
“Confirmed. Good to go John” hailed Jasmin.
Crystal stepped right behind John.
“Yep it all seems to working. Thanks Jasmin.”
“Have a nice time down there John. We’ll miss you.”
“Ditto” hailed John.
Crystal leant forward so her breast rubbed up against his ear.
“Oh!” said John with the sensation. He swivelled the chair and Crystals breasts rubbed against his face. He gave up any idea of speaking and instead kissed her soft flesh. He then looked up and saw her smiling at him. His hands went for her buttocks.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly” she said as she drove her hands down to undo his belt. The holster clanged onto the floor. He pulled back his hands and arched back to allow her better access. She took advantage and undid his trousers and pulled them down around his ankles.
“I like a proper thank you” said John with one of his tell-tale grins.
She did the same with his underpants. “Oh my, you really are a big boy” she said gleefully.
“What about your policy?” said John as a moment of rational thought forced its way in.
She lifted her leg over his and straddled him. “It was a fucking stupid policy. Besides, technically this is not on a ship.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“Are we done Sir” hailed Chad.
With one hand John reached for his communicator and brought it to his face. His breathing was definitely faster. “Not quite Chad, give us a few minutes.”
“We might need more than that” said Crystal.
Chapter 35. Resolute to Chelora 1500, 16 August
Dave had closed the door to his office so he could get some time alone. He was still tired. His entire crew were still tired. He had found Crystal asleep at one of the dining tables at lunchtime. But at last they were heading back to Chelora, well those that weren’t buried in the temporary graves east of the spaceport. It had been a moving speech by Ivan at the service. At least Dave thought so.
The wrecks of the AFVs still littered the open fields behind them as they shovelled dirt on top of the bodies. Rentra’s words were also heartfelt. It was a bond formed over shared blood. It was an encouraging start.
Dave reflected on how the Phantom’s report of an anomaly had led to them securing a base within rogan space. ‘Albeit a temporary one’ he said to himself. Thinking of how Aubrey had the insight to do the preliminary investigation and file the report, Dave commented to himself ‘a classic example of how professionalism pays off’.
“I do hope that message got to her in time” he said out loud.
Chapter 36. Washington DC 1100, 12 August
Julian Morrow grasped his forehead in anguish. Then he pulled it away and glared at the two scientists sitting opposite him.
Obeida Mbone was only just calming down after reacting to Banki Soong’s little tirade. She was supposed to be the project lead on finding a solution to reverse the PME now collapsing in Qwantum. “Don’t look at me” she said angrily and she turned to glare at Banki.
The diminutive form of Banki belied his nature. He saw himself as a giant and in part he was right. He was the acknowledged expert on mass exchanger technology but as Obeida had just enunciated in her own colourful style he was a right royal pain in the arse to work with. He jutted out his weak chin presenting a picture of defiance. He knew they needed him and that would count a lot.
But what he hadn’t counted on was Julian Morrow, the much overworked Defence Minister. He had had it up to here with prima donnas. He turned to face Banki and shook his head. “I’ve had it with you. You’re out.” Banki’s jaw dropped in sheer disbelief. Julian turned to Obeida. “Get MkClusky. I want him by tomorrow.”
A satisfied smile came over Obeida’s round, dark face. She threw a smug ‘I told you so’ expression at Banki. He was still in a state of shock, frozen in his seat.
“Are you still here?” asked Julian.
“McKlusky’s an idiot” pronounced Banki.
“Maybe” replied Julian “but he knows how to work as part of team. Goodbye.” Banki could not believe he was being dismissed. He kept shifting his gaze between Obeida and Julian. “Go…now!” directed Julian.
Finally Banki stood up and left. He cast a final glance back before closing the door behind him.
“Thank god for that” said Obeida.
“You told me you could handle him” said Julian.
Obeida shrugged her shoulders. “There’s a first time for everything. Don’t worry McKlusky is good. I’ve worked with him before.”
“Don’t fuck this up Obeida. Just remember four billion lives are depending on this.”
That bought a sobered expression to Obeida’s face. She nodded. “I won’t.”
Part 4
Decisions, Decisions
Just when I thought I had it all worked out
Along comes news that puts a spanner in the spout
Now I am faced with a dilemma
Do I leap at this opportunity and abandon my plan
Strike out for new gains, with a new front man
Am I really that sort of fella
Too fickle to hold fast and stick to his guns
Too easily swayed by the sound of the drums
Or do I squander opportunity when it comes knocking
Decisions, decisions…now stop balking
Chapter 1. Lewista 0930, 17 August
Arkimon Fetula could not believe it. He made the deputy chief run the broadcast again. “Who else has seen this?” he asked.
Jella Totenkum knew that the answer would not please. But there was nothing for her but to spit it out “You, me, the assistant director comms and probably everyone else in his branch and that’s just within ISS. The local government’s comms department would, of course, also have seen it and they would undoubtedly have informed the government.”
“But for now it’s only within the government and security services?”
“For now.” She shrugged her shoulders and added “It’s a general broadcast, we can only control this while we have the security op in place. Once that ends, and it will end, well everyone will know. It’s our worst nightmare.”
“We need a counter explanation and before this op lifts. Get onto Slidwon and tell them to give this priority.”
“They must be aware anyway. This has rippled its way from star system to star system all the way from Qwantum.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the other systems. This is our patch here. Get onto it now and forget the op. This is your number one and only priority.”
“Of course” she said as if she had heard these same words a million times before. “And if they don’t have or are unwilling to provide?”
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