by Damon Alan
“I am not. That is a directive from High Lord Urdoxander Komi,” Cothis answered. “I am not in favor of such actions. But I am not the High Lord.”
“Bannick didn’t do it? Did he organize it?” she demanded to know.
“That would be hard for him to accomplish at the moment. He is not in the Mindari system, and has no knowledge of the event.”
Sarah stared at the man’s face, suddenly feeling annoyance for the prisoner’s arrogant tone. “Where is he? I’d love to speak to him in person.”
“Regrettably Lord Bannick Komi is engaged in an activity that may make speaking to him a less than leisurely endeavor. But he wished for me to tell you exactly where to go to find him, so I will.”
“A trap?” Heinrich growled at the man.
“No, a trade. Lord Komi has been called to the Komi system to meet with his father, High Lord Urdoxander Komi summoned him with the same courier he used to order the civilian executions. Lord Bannick wishes to speak to you regarding a cessation of hostilities and a trade you’ll find much to your liking, I think.”
“Why did Bannick get a summons? Do you know?” Sarah asked.
“He suspects that his father is intending to arrest him or depose him from the line of succession because of the humiliation you’ve brought to Bannick’s name.”
“Humiliation?” Sarah asked. “Why would I care about that?”
“Because Lord Bannick Komi has your friend,” Cothis replied. “He wishes to release her into your care in exchange for—”
“Yes, yes, my stardrive,” Sarah said, waving at Cothis dismissively. “He can’t have it.”
“No, madam Admiral. He wishes for you to kill his father. For him to do so directly is treason, and the houses would never accept his succession. But if you do it, his hands are clean. You are, after all, a terrorist of some reputation.”
“I’m the terrorist?” Sarah asked, stunned.
“We all write the story from our point of view, don’t we Admiral?” Cothis asked in response.
“Why would I want to help Bannick do anything? He’s conquered the Alliance, tortured and imprisoned people, and who knows what other horrors.”
“You will have incentive. In exchange for your aid in the death of his father, he will return your friend, declare a truce with Oasis, and provide the resources you keep raiding our space for. He didn’t know about the executions that have you so angry, but I can promise for him that while Mindari will remain under Komi occupation, there will be no more atrocities that violate galactic concords.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Cothis parroted. “The Komi Syndicate is large, Admiral, and is a very giving friend.”
“I have a hard time believing your empire has ever had friends,” Sarah answered.
“Bannick in charge of the Komi is the best you can hope for,” Cothis said. “You should consider his proposal.”
Sarah stared at the man in silence for a few moments. If Bannick could be trusted, it was a door that might mean she could get on with her more important business. “I’m worried about my ability to trust your Lord Komi. You say Bannick knew nothing of the executions, but what sort of man holds a woman prisoner and tortures her? What sort of man bargains for the death of his own father?”
“A man who is backed into a corner, mostly because of you. Despite your constant harassment of his holdings, he’s willing to bargain with you and will be grateful for the death of his father. He agrees to help you in return,” Cothis answered. “He believes that, thanks only partially to you, the situation in the Komi Syndicate has degraded to the point that it is either his father’s life or his own. Both cannot exist much longer.”
“I know nothing of the Komi system,” Sarah replied. “Or even where to find High Lord Urdoxander Komi.”
“I was captured with a holocrystal in my pocket,” Cothis replied. “It is probably stored on the infamous Michael Stennis with my other gear. That holocrystal has secret military data on Komi. Base locations, normal strength of units, supply caches, and much more information. Information that Lord Komi said was only for you.”
“And you just happened to have it on you when captured?” Heinrich asked, skeptical.
“I may have had to meet with you at a moment’s notice,” Cothis replied to Sarah, ignoring Heinrich. “As you can see, I didn’t get to pick the time nor place.”
“Good point,” Sarah agreed. “What’s on it?”
“It’s encrypted. I will give you the encryption keywords and you can see for yourself.”
Alarin silently shared with her Cothis’s keywords, the admiral couldn’t help but think them when he thought of them.
“You mean ‘insidious meritocracy’?” Sarah asked Cothis.
His face showed his surprise, but he regained control quickly. “It would appear that your mind scanning capabilities match your FTL capabilities.”
“We have much more we have not shown you, Admiral, but you will get to see much before I give you back to your master,” Sarah replied. “We will continue this conversation shortly.”
She ordered the crystal read on the Stennis and the data transferred to the Sheffaris. The team took some time to study the details of the data, while Cothis explained what he thought needed explained.
“I advise against this,” Kuo said. “There is a minimum of six thousand ships of various classes in that system.”
“But none of them can move without us seeing it,” Heinrich countered. “It’s not like they can sneak up on us. If this data is correct, we can slip among them virtually undetected, from rock to rock, moon crater to ring system. We will be almost invulnerable.”
“And then what?” Sarah said, looking at Cothis, “We just attack the palace complex and take out the leader of the syndicate?”
“The course of action is up to you,” Cothis answered. “I wouldn’t presume to advise tactics to a woman who has consistently beaten my own repeatedly. You shouldn’t assume the palace to be an easy and undefended target, however.”
“It would solve a lot of our problems if Bannick Komi’s word is worth anything,” Kuo told Sarah. “We need ships. The Komi seem to have a large supply.”
“We need people too, and the Komi would stuff those ships with spies and assassins,” Seto said. “We can’t trust him!”
“I have never known Lord Bannick Komi to tell a lie,” Admiral Cothis said, glaring at Seto. “It is you who have lied, the ruse with Hamor being an example.”
“Unforeseen circumstances kept me from meeting my own deadline,” Sarah said. “There was no lie. The circumstances are the same as Bannick Komi promising to release Sachelle under one set of terms, then altering those terms to meet his present needs.” She stood up from the table. “Fortunately I prefer the second set of terms more. Captain Harmeen, prepare to move the Sheffaris to Korvand. Hold for my command. I wish to show Admiral Cothis the power we cradle in our hands so he can explain to Bannick the significance of betraying us should he choose to take that path.”
Harmeen jumped up behind her. “Right away, Admiral.” He rushed toward the briefing room exit.
Sarah looked at Inez. “We’ll secure this prisoner in quarters here. I wish to speak to him more. Leave the marines, we’ll feed them well.”
“Yes, Admiral Dayson,” Heinrich responded. “Captain Kuo and I will be undocked and away inside five minutes.”
“Prepare the Stennis. You’re coming with us.”
“Admiral?”
“As soon as you recover your ships that are away, secure for transfer. We’re going to Korvand. Please don’t make me repeat that again, I am in no mood,” Sarah said, eyes narrowing slightly. She was starting to hurt from her still healing internal injuries. She didn’t wish to seem gruff, but pain tended to do that.
Repeating her orders didn’t help.
“We have already secured almost all the away ships, Admiral. As soon as Kuo and I dock, and we recall the ELINT shuttle, we’ll be ready to transfer.”
/> Sarah put her hand on Inez’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m a bit grumpy and it has nothing to do with you.”
“I’ll be your shoulder anytime you need it,” Heinrich said.
“I know. I have a shoulder for now, so I’ll keep yours in reserve for the future.” She turned to the marines securing the prisoner. “Corporal, private, welcome aboard. XO Seto will show you your quarters, and show you where to secure the prisoner. I want him watched around the clock by at least one of you. How you accomplish that is your business. If he does anything suspect, shoot him in the groin.”
Both marines smiled as they saluted and grabbed the admiral by the arm.
Cothis managed to look indignant and imposed upon as he was led from the room.
He was probably getting jostled a bit more than was necessary, from the looks of things. But that was okay. It didn’t start to make up for the evil the man was part of.
Marines. She loved them so.
Chapter 41 - Preparation
26 Seppet 15332
Eris searched the fleet and civilian databases she had access to, furiously looking for information to take back in time with her. The days she had left to complete the task might be short. As far as she knew, Peter and herself might time travel tomorrow.
Gaia either didn’t know when it would happen, or wouldn’t tell her.
Now that she knew she and Peter created the vast colony ship ten thousand years prior, it sort of felt like Gaia was a brooding teen, wanting to share time with her parents, but unable to do so cooperatively because she lacked the emotional skills.
That didn’t matter at this point, at least not as much as what she was doing.
Next to her a small carrying case sat open, inside were holographic data storage crystals. So far she’d filled six, she expected the case would hold twenty-four along with a machine to read them. Which probably didn’t exist in the time they were headed to.
Peter looked up from the couch, where he was reading a history book, studying up on the AI Wars and the aftermath. It took thousands of years for humanity to recover, and some scholars still argued that it never did.
Surprisingly little was known about the few thousand years immediately after the AI Wars. The section of the galaxy settled at that time was a small fragment of what mankind occupied in her current time. Only tens of thousands of planets instead of the millions listed in the current galactic navigation database.
That reminded her. She should get a copy of the current galactic navigation database.
“You should get a c—”
“Navigation database?” she asked. “On it. And this thing between us is getting spooky.”
“It’s something about this world,” Peter replied. “Somehow this system is a focus point of the universal consciousness, and it’s aligning our brain patterns to some degree. No wonder we stay married for our entire lives. We’re practically mind bonded.”
“Wild speculation,” Eris replied, laughing. “If you need an excuse to stay with me all that time, then that’s fine. I’ll be with you because I love you.”
“No,” he sputtered. “It’s not that I need an excuse. I really think that’s what is happening.”
“We should get another round of longevity nanites before we go if we can, and maybe take a supply. Are you packing a case for the trip?”
“You mean clothes? Soap?” he laughed.
“No, dingbat, things we’ll need that we probably can’t get in that time,” she fired back derisively. “You need to take this seriously. We could go any second.”
“Relax,” he said.
She threw her hands up in the air. “How can you say that? We’re going back in time!”
“Because, love, we already know it turns out well for us. Our son told us so.”
She looked at him for a moment. Stars. Logic wasn’t her thing when she was flustered. “Of course. You’re right.” She waved her hand at the carrying case. “Do you think I should just recycle this stuff?”
“No, I don’t. I think it’s genius of you to give us a leg up.” He stood and walked over, stopping next to her table. “Are you going to carry that with you all the time?”
“That was the plan.”
“Can you send me a list of what you have in those files? I will make sure I don’t overlap you on anything that’s superficial, but double up on the critical information so we’ll have it if either of us loses a case.”
“If I thought it was superficial, it wouldn’t be on my list.”
“Having different lists just means we’ll have a broader database, love.”
She jumped up and grabbed him, wrapping her arm about his midsection, pulling him close.
“I’m scared,” she admitted.
“We know we survive, and prosper,” Peter said. “With no Hive about.”
“There is knowing, then there is knowing,” she sighed.
“I get that,” he agreed. “I’m a bit scared too. We have no idea what to do, when it will happen, what our circumstances will be when we get there, or how to act day to day.”
“Well that helped,” she said sarcastically.
“But we know we do the right thing,” he continued. “We build Gaia, without which none of this going on around us would happen. Humanity would expand, one day accidentally create the Hive nanites, and everyone would die.”
“Cheery.”
“That’s the point. We are the hinge of history. Because of you and me, humanity gets a chance. How can we not go back knowing that?”
She held him, her head on his shoulder for a long time, processing everything he said.
“You’re right,” she admitted. “We have no choice.”
“No,” he said. “We don’t. Probably literally. But I’d rather live there with you than here without you. Let’s get on top of this like we do every other issue. Make your storage crystals. I’ll make mine. Always carry a sidearm. I will too. I’ll carry your medical data, you carry mine.”
“Is that all we can do?”
“It’s all I can think to do. We know we go back in time in a shuttle, which means we must appear in a system with fuel enough to get to a place of safety,” he replied. “We could move onto a really nice shuttle, keep it fueled, stocked with great food, and never step outside.”
She laughed. “No, weirdo. We’re not doing that.”
“We could stay together, to make sure we go together.”
“We already know we go together,” she responded. “So it doesn’t matter. That’s your logic.”
“Maybe we time travel together because we decide to stay together… ” he said, then laughed.
“So much for sneaking out in the middle of the night to pick up ice cream,” she said.
“You do that?”
“You don’t?”
He laughed. “I have history books to search. Lots to learn. Go get some ice cream.”
“I thought we were staying together?” she said, blinking her eyes at him.
“What? Oh yeah… you’re right,” he admitted, grabbing her hand, smiling. “Let’s go get ice cream.”
“Together?”
“There is no other way,” he answered.
Chapter 42 - Aftermath
27 Seppet 15332
Sarah watched Cothis carefully as the Sheffaris transferred. She’d ordered him brought to the bridge and restrained to a station where he could see the transfer and the aftermath of the Korvand nova. When the scene on the main screen changed from normal space to churning nebula, his eyes grew wide.
“I felt nothing,” he exclaimed, clearly impressed. He meant physically, of course.
“Really? The first time I transferred I felt all sorts of emotions,” Sarah said, laughing at his reaction. “What you should feel is an overwhelming sense of helplessness knowing that any one of my ships or fleets can move anywhere in the galaxy I please with no delay, yet yours take a month to get to the nearest star systems. What you need dozens of fleets to accomplish, I can do with o
ne.”
Harmeen swiveled his gravcouch to face Cothis. “You are now in the Korvand Nebula. When we arrived we displaced some material, the slight ozone tang to the air is actual nebula material that filled the spaces between the molecules of our interior air. We experienced a bit of gamma radiation exposure as well, some matter overlapped at the atomic level and was converted to energy. Fortunately that effect was slight.”
If any of that bothered the admiral, he gave no sign.
The ship lurched slightly as the automated collision avoidance systems steered them clear of a piece of debris. Rock that may once have been part of a planet, or an asteroid.
“The material around us is both incredibly hot, and denser than the vast majority of space. It’s still essentially a vacuum, however,” Harmeen said. “You’re in the presence of what was, until a short time ago, a middle aged main sequence star. We killed it to deny the Hive territory.”
“You blew up this star?” Cothis said. A sneer crossed over his face. “Preposterous. You’ve simply taken me to a nebula.”
That irritated Sarah. Cothis calling her a liar twice in one day was crossing her line. She’d missed the deadline for proving her abilities at Hamor before, but that was because she was laying in a hospital with cooked insides. Life is full of promises that aren’t kept. That doesn’t automatically make a person a liar. She felt her anger growing at the disrespect. Fortunately for her, or maybe more so for Cothis, bridge activity interrupted her train of thought.
“Sheffaris, Stennis. This is a rough ride, and the temperature of this material isn’t very hull friendly. How long are we staying?”
Sarah answered. “Only a few seconds, Inez. We’re off to Hamor next.”
“Hamor! We don’t—”
Sarah killed the link. She wouldn’t have her orders questioned in front of the enemy admiral.
“Mister Algiss, let Emille know we’re headed to Hamor. Set it up with her, and transfer our fleet when ready,” Harmeen ordered.
“Battlestations. Battlestations. Set condition one. Defensive railguns and missile batteries online. Full passive sensors immediately after the transfer.”