I was also pinging Diana’s phone location, so I’d know if she went into one of the other hangars, though I was fairly sure all the smaller ships left were in that hangar. The rest of them had combined to build those small warships, and they were actually in orbit.
I powered it up, and I noted there were two guards outside the hangar.
Then I waited, and waited some more, relatively comfortable with the fact I had no awareness of what was going on where I was in orbit of Jupiter. It was my least favorite part of my magic, but then I’d never been so isolated before.
Six in the morning came and went. Diana’s phone was on, and it was on another part of the base. The idea of powering up, taking off, and swooping her away occurred to me, but I held off. Partially because the government and I had a temporary alliance with the alien attack coming. I honestly didn’t think they’d try anything until the upcoming attack was fought off, and me stealing a ship, blowing up stuff, and kidnapping their head scientist sounded like a good way to end that truce.
But mostly, I held off because she was on the move. That reassured me she wasn’t being held in one place, or she wasn’t stuck in a dangerous situation. Several minutes passed while I waited, and I was on pins and needles when she started to move toward the hangars. Or at least, her cell phone was, I tried not to think too hard about that.
The sensors picked up voices a minute later.
The guard said, “Halt, identify yourselves.”
I was floored by the response, or rather the voice I heard give the response.
Cassie said, “Cassiopeia Reed. Stand down. Doctor Young is here to test a new theoretical ship configuration.”
Cassiopeia? I hadn’t seen that one coming, I’d never heard her full name before. Never mind the fact why she was there at all.
The guard replied suspiciously, “That’s not on the schedule, maam. I also don’t recognize your other companion.”
The sounds of very brief struggle reached the sensors, as flesh met flesh, and the two guards went down.
Cassie said, “I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to do that, let’s go.”
The large hangar door started to slide open, and I felt a major shock when I saw who the third person was. If I hadn’t been lying down, and working through my magic, I imagine I’d have felt unsteady.
What the hell was Jayna doing there?
It turned out I didn’t even have to mess with the access, since Cassie was an administrator of the system and already an approved pilot. The three of them got on the ship, and Cassie slid into the cockpit. A few moments later, the ship shot out of the hangar and steeply climbed toward space.
“Umm, what’s going on?” I asked brilliantly.
Cassie said, “Not right now, I’ve got seventy-five small warships to avoid, they might not be finished building mass and missiles, but they’re operational.”
Oh, shit. Good point.
Jayna said, “That’s so creepy, aren’t you on Saturn, or Jupiter or something. What have you gotten me into this time, Scott?”
“It’s not my fault a general tried to assassinate me.”
Cassie sighed, “Not now, children!”
Oh, right. I’d have blushed, if I could feel my body.
The small ship arrived into space, and Cassie immediately went to sixty gravities of acceleration. She was pointed rim-ward of the solar system, but her course wasn’t even close to pointed at Jupiter, she was off by at least thirty degrees, on both declinations.
Diana said, “We’re being hailed. Hi Scott.”
I almost laughed, “Hi Diana.”
Cassie shook her head, “This is a test flight, approved by General Mortenson.”
The ship replied, “You will cut engines and standby while I verify, there’s nothing on the schedule.”
Of course, there wasn’t. I was even kind of impressed, the control room and ship network setup they had seemed to be tight. The United States military were sharp people, which was why my paranoia was so sharp those days.
The warship in progress broke out of orbit, and they started to follow. At least only one of them had. I had my attention split between the small ship and the command center, although it wasn’t easy. I’d be able to see if the warship brought its weapons online. Then… I’d have to react.
Diana spoke, “This is Doctor Young, it would be inadvisable to stop the test at this time. We don’t have time to play games, the enemy will arrive in just over two weeks.”
Another voice joined the argument, “This is General Mortenson. I approved no testing for this morning, stop that ship, by any means necessary.”
Oh crap, the jig was up. Who knew the general would be a morning person?
The warship captain said, “You heard the general. Last warning, cut engines and prepare to link up, or we will open fire.”
Well, shit. This wasn’t going to help my relationship with the U.S. government. I was about to abandon the small ship, go to the big ship, and brick it. Basically, remove all permissions and turn it into the largest paperweight ever made. I’d fix it later of course, once they were out of missile range which was two to three light seconds depending on relative speed and vectors.
But Diana had her own plan, and she beat me to it.
“Got it, activating stealth shielding.”
As soon as the shield came up, Cassie changed her course to point directly at Jupiter.
The captain and general weren’t happy, but I only half listened as the general tore the captain a new ass for letting the ship evade them.
“Stealth shielding?”
Diana said, “Not as cool as it sounds, I designed it based on our own scanners, it won’t work against the aliens unless their scanners are calibrated the same as ours. In short, it’s a one trick pony for this escape. I thought it best if you didn’t have to get involved, they hate and fear you enough already.”
I sighed, “Still cool.”
Diana giggled, “Isn’t it? I do have real upgrades though, a second missile type, and shielding updates to defend against it. I plan to share it with them, but I thought it wise to give it to you first.”
I shivered, no doubt it was something that would’ve given them enough edge to kill me, unless I bricked their whole fleet, which would end in the alien destruction of Earth. Not really an option.
“So, Jayna, Cassie?”
Cassie said, “Long story.”
I laughed at the typical Cassie dodge, and her lips twitched.
Cassie said, “We’ll fill you in when we get there. I don’t think we should trust the comms through the command center, and you probably shouldn’t spend hours with your mind in the ship.”
“Alright, sounds like a plan. I’ll also arrange two more sets of quarters.”
Cassie grinned, “Good, we have supplies in this ship you know, if you haven’t checked. The thirty shuttles have been outfitting the crew quarters on the warships for days.”
That was good, because soft beds and sheets were the one thing that I couldn’t make them. I did have a whole lot of leather flight seats though, and I could add a few to the command center and galley.
“What kind of missile?”
Diana said, “You know how gravity tech and inertial dampers don’t function as well in a planetary gravity well, it’s why we can’t go sixty gravities of acceleration until we leave Earth’s well.”
“Yes.”
She continued, “I built a gravity missile that pulses a high gravity gradient through an enemy ship when it hits. If the ship is moving at high acceleration it will screw up inertial dampening for a split second, long enough to make the crew pancake against the closest bulkhead. Even without acceleration, it could do serious harm. As an added benefit, it wouldn’t harm the ship itself, which could be claimed at the end of battle. Our current shielding doesn’t block gravity at all.”
That sounded wicked.
“Alright, I’m going to cut off the magic. I’ll work on those quarters, and I’ll hail you as soon a
s we’re in communicator range. I’m looking forward to the story, though I’m sorry you two got dragged into it.”
Cassie said, “Not your fault, let’s put the blame on the assholes, where it belongs.”
Jayna said, “I agree, and I’m fine. Doesn’t mean I won’t give you shit though.”
I laughed, “Good to know. I’ll see you all soon.”
I cut off my magic, and got to work setting up another two quarters, showers, metal furniture, and all that. I also moved those leather flight seats around. I had plenty of time, it’d be almost fifteen hours before they arrived.
Chapter Twelve
The emotions that flooded me when I set eyes on Diana scrambled my brain, and the welcome kiss I got from her had other side effects that made me a bit of a mental mess.
She smiled widely as she took a step back, and despite the blush on her cheeks she didn’t break eye contact until I looked toward the others.
Cassie said, “We have a lot to talk about.”
My paranoia had considered it might all be a setup, but ultimately, I’d dismissed it, and was fairly calm standing there unarmored in the same room as an ancient vampire.
I gave Jayna a hug before I replied, and I could tell she was as worried as I was, but equally glad to see me whole and well.
“This way,” I took Diana’s hand as I walked them to the center of the growing behemoth that was my space station.
She looked startled at the gesture for a moment, but then smiled almost smugly as she squeezed my hand and held it.
“So, what happened?”
Cassie said, “I gave you the time you needed to appropriate the fifteen scout ships by going over everything in timeline order, all hell basically broke loose when I got to the part where I explained the plan we’d come up with together. They didn’t agree with my reasoning at all, that for the moment the Earth was in danger and we had to work together. General Mortenson is even a bigger asshole than Schafer was. Anyway, I was arrested for treason, which I still think is a matter of opinion.”
“How could they not agree?”
Cassie shrugged, “They think the seventy-five small warships will be plenty to defend Earth, that we don’t really need the ten larger warships or your space station. That you were an unknown quantity, too powerful, and uncontrollable, even more dangerous to the security of the United States than the aliens who will want to wipe us out. Idiots.”
“How can you be so sure, capacity equals intent kind of stuff.”
Cassie snorted, “Because I’m three hundred years old, and I know how to read people. You are dangerous, and you’d make a horrible enemy, but you’d be a much better ally if we’d chosen that route, and you’re trustworthy. I’m a good judge of people, and I thought they would take my recommendation, but General Mortenson is an asshole, and dismissed my judgement. He doesn’t know me.”
She shrugged, “Anyway, I cooperated the last two weeks, from my cell and under guard I expanded the access rights for the ships. That made them pretty nervous, with the General and Jemma dead, there weren’t all that many of us left that could grant access to our ships. I suspect that kept me alive since you’re the only one who can add more admins.
“Diana visited me a few times, she was obviously afraid for you, especially with those new missiles being developed from the new sciences and disciplines that were opened up for us. My loyalty still lies with America, I just… have a very different outlook than those who are currently in charge at the moment.
“Regardless, your sister was picked up two days ago, I’m surprised you didn’t notice.”
I sighed, “I’ve been busy building a fleet, I’ve been keeping tabs on her phone.”
Jayna said, “I don’t have it anymore.”
Right, I figured that out already, so I’d screwed up.
Cassie took up the story, “Anyway, when she showed up in the cell next to me, I decided their plans were likely to get a lot of people killed when you figured out what they were doing, so it was at that point I stopped cooperating. Sometimes paranoia can lead people to stupid decisions, and military counter-intelligence was about to get the world destroyed in my opinion, if you and they came to blows before the invasion.
“I used compulsion to gain my freedom, while I stayed mostly in my cell. I was able to find out what their plan was. When you took the ships back to Earth to hand them over, they were going to demand you turn over the space station as well and submit to arrest, using threats against your sister as leverage. Turn yourself in and be assassinated in your cell, or watch your sister be destroyed. That kind of thing.”
I felt a surge of rage at the thought, but the fact my sister was ten feet away and giving me worried glances, calmed me down.
“Yeah, so much for my warning.”
Cassie smirked, “I warned them against messing with her rather strenuously, and I told the general straight out it would get him killed and merely put the country, the Earth, in jeopardy. Anyway, Diana visited me right before she called you, that’s when we made our plans. When Diana came to the jail to pick us up early this morning, or yesterday as the case may be, I broke myself and Jayna out, and we drove over to the hangars, you know the rest.”
Well, that explained why Diana’s phone had been across the base, and why they’d been late.
“So, what are your intentions?”
Cassie smirked, “Don’t trust me?”
“For now, I do.”
She sighed, “I get that. I pretty much ignored you the whole time, and made no effort to get to know you, that’ll change over the next two weeks, and I’m sorry for it. I was following orders, doesn’t really excuse me for my part of things, does it?”
I nodded, “Being open with me would be a start.”
She replied, “I need sleep, but we can talk more tomorrow. As for my intentions, I think I’m done working for the government for a while, being a fugitive and all. Working in a space station sounds interesting, and I have mad organizational skills.”
“Seriously?”
She nodded, “If you’ll have me. There’s no jurisdiction in space for one. I’m also well connected, and older than the United States. If you really want to turn the station into a tourist trap, private and commercial ship building and selling, and have companies open stores and stuff, I can help with a lot of that. I even know a few blood sucking lawyers who are very good at international business law.”
“Vampires?”
She snickered, “Nope, just the normal kind.”
Oh, lawyer jokes, I snorted.
“Alright, we can talk. I honestly have no idea where to start on something that big, and I could use the help.”
She nodded, “The first thing we have to do is find a sponsor country. Like a cruise line ship on the ocean, at least until space law is worked out. I’ll give it some thought, and I’ll run it by you tomorrow. We have what, two weeks to kill, and all your building is static, preparing for and assuming success against the aliens, we might as well get started right away.”
“Jayna?”
Jayna sighed, “I don’t know yet, I know I can’t go home, at least I hadn’t had a new life to disrupt yet in my new city. Wasn’t there long enough to establish myself, and to find new friends.”
I frowned as guilt shot through me, “Sorry.”
Jayna shook her head, “Sorry, not your fault. Well, mostly not your fault. Let me sit in on your meetings tomorrow, maybe something will come up around here I’m interested in doing. I’m sure the two of you will need help.”
I nodded, “On the good side, you can get in touch with all your friends, at least online and on the phone. There’s no reason to hide from your old life anymore, even if you can’t physically go back.”
Jayna smiled, “That’s something at least,” then pulled out her phone, “Your magic is creepy, how the hell do I have a signal, and four G access?”
My sister was an elemental mage, not nearly as powerful as Jemma was, or even Dale, but more than
respectable in power. She also had the same light blonde hair and ocean blue eyes I had, and we had similar looks. I had no idea why my magic was so weird, or uniquely related to tech, but it definitely wasn’t a case of adoption.
I snickered, “I built a cell tower on the station with nanites, that’s quantumly linked to a communication satellite in Earth orbit. You might notice a small data lag when surfing on your phone, from the satellite link, but voice you shouldn’t notice at all.”
Cassie said, “We’ll have to address that, when we offer space for companies, create our own for ships, register with a country, and all that, we can’t be stealing data or voice network time.”
I replied, “Got it.”
We arrived at the center of the ship, even with two weeks of building left, it’d been almost a two mile walk from where the small ship was docked. The last mile of diameter would grow the slowest, as the spatial mass went up geometrically.
While we’d been talking, the ship itself had moved the furniture and all that to their quarters using flowing nanites and small gravity fields. That, and personal hygiene items for their bathrooms, towels, sheets, and all that.
I showed them our common living area, which was essentially a kitchen, and I’d used some of the extra leather seats to create a living room and media and entertainment room of sorts. Real furniture would be better, but for the moment we had metal end tables and a coffee table.
I’d also improvised a workout room and equipment, which was again, all metal, but much better than nothing.
More of the leather seats had gone into the creation of a meeting room off the kitchen, with a flat-screen for presentations, and a conference table made of metal nanites. Last but not least, Diana was pleased to see her own private office and lab, which was decked out with several advanced computer systems, a comfortable leather chair, and desk.
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