“Of course,” she said.
“Do the Spacers know the coordinates to the New Men’s Throne World?”
“No.”
“Do you know the extent of the Swarm Imperium?”
Shu laughed softly. “We don’t even know where they are, let alone the extent of such an imperium.”
“Have the Spacers searched for either?”
“Oh, yes,” Shu said.
“And none of you thought to tell the rest of us about that?”
“You must understand. We had hoped to find the location of the Throne World before the New Men revealed themselves to humanity. Concerning the Swarm, we knew as much as you did.”
“That they control ten percent of the Milky Way Galaxy?”
“Not what you learned from the Builder,” she said. “We knew the Swarm used to exist, but until lately, we didn’t know they still existed.”
“How do you know about the Builder and what I learned from him?”
“We have a Visionary, Captain. There is little that remains hidden from us over time.”
Maddox wondered if Shu really believed that. Maybe the Visionary was part of a religious order that had an excellent intelligence division. He didn’t believe “the Spirit” communicated with the old woman. Yet, it could be useful for the lower-ranked members of a society to believe that. It would help to keep them in line.
“What do you know about Strand or Professor Ludendorff?” Maddox asked.
“Spacers know the names, of course. They are both hideous agents of evil. Both have attempted to corrupt humanity many times. Both consort with androids, and both are excessively irreligious.”
“Do you suspect that either Strand or Ludendorff is in collusion with the remaining androids?”
“That seems obvious,” Shu said. “Strand and Ludendorff are creatures of the Builders just like the androids.”
Shu stiffened, pointing at the horizon, trying to speak, but unable.
Maddox shaded his eyes from the sun. He saw it then, a zigzagging cruise missile heading in their direction. He glanced around for the interceptors. He spied one in the opposite direction as the missile. The other plane had left their vicinity, it seemed.
“What are we going to do?” Shu said.
Maddox watched the racing interceptor. A missile dropped from a wing and ignited. The antiair device zoomed fast, heading for the cruise missile.
Shu clapped her hands in appreciation.
Maddox followed the antiair device with his eyes. The thing streaked across the sky as the cruise missile continued a zigzag course toward them.
“Get down,” he told Shu.
She threw herself onto the ground, covering her head with her arms. Maddox put one knee on the soil. The cruise missile stopped its zigzag course as it rushed straight at them. Before it reached them, though, the antiair missile—
Maddox’s stomach clenched. The antiair missile curved away from the cruise missile, heading down. Did the cruise missile have electronic defenses?
The antiair missile exploded harmlessly against the ground.
“I don’t believe it,” Shu whispered starkly. She was looking up. “You’re di-far. The cruise missile shouldn’t be able to reach us—to reach you.”
“Maybe it won’t,” Maddox said.
“No,” she said from the ground. “Don’t be arrogant. The Spirit leaves in an instant if arrogance reigns in one’s heart.”
“My conjecture has nothing to do with arrogance,” Maddox said.
“The missile is almost here.” Shu gazed up at Maddox. “I wish we’d had more time together. I would have liked to get to know you better.”
“You still may.”
“No. It’s too late. Nothing can save us. Good-bye, Captain.”
Maddox had looked higher than the cruise missile. As the interceptor’s antiair missile had streaked at its target, the captain had seen a distant speck high in the sky. The speck had grown the entire time. Now, he spotted a shuttle. No doubt, it had left Starship Victory some time ago. Likely, Sergeant Riker had taken it upon himself to come down.
Would the sergeant reach the cruise missile in time? It was going to be close, especially if Riker used antiair missiles.
No, a beam speared from the shuttle. It struck the cruise missile’s nosecone. Seconds later, the missile overshot them by several hundred meters. It plowed into the ground, throwing up grass, dirt and—
A ripping metal sound told of the missile’s crumpling destruction. The warhead had failed to go off, but the impact with the Earth still shredded it.
“I can’t believe it,” Shu whispered. “You are di-far. But I doubted. I’m unworthy of the Spirit. No. This is awful. I’ve tainted myself.”
“Luckily,” Maddox said, “because you’re still alive, you’ll be able to do something about the oversight.”
Shu regarded him, climbing to her feet. Then, she dropped to her knees, bowing her head as she beat her chest. She moaned pitifully and began to weep.
Maddox watched for a moment, stunned. The shuttle was coming down fast. It would be here in thirty seconds or less.
“Here, now,” Maddox said, going to Shu. He grabbed her upper arms and hauled her to her feet. Tears streaked down her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she whispered, throwing herself against him, kissing his face fervently. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, di-far.”
As Shu did this, the shuttle landed with a thud. Maddox looked up into the window as the Provost Marshal continued to kiss him. He expected to see Sergeant Riker grinning at him. Instead, Meta frowned down at him, growing angrier by the moment.
-8-
A shuttle hatch slid up and Meta jumped to the ground.
“You’re going to have to stop that,” Maddox told Shu. “It’s unseemly.”
“You’ve saved my life twice today.” Shu arched up onto her toes to kiss him again.
Maddox grabbed her arms, restraining her. “You should thank her,” he said.
Shu looked at him blankly.
Maddox twisted the Spacer around to face the approaching Rouen Colony woman.
Meta had been born on a two G planet. Her muscles and bones were denser than a regular human’s. She wore a tight uniform, showing off a voluptuous figure, making Shu look like a child. Meta had long blonde hair that bounced as she strode toward them.
“Meta just destroyed the cruise missile for us,” Maddox said.
Meta’s eyes were alight and her features tense.
“Why is she so angry?” Shu asked.
Meta must have heard the comment. Her gaze flickered to the Spacer and then fixated on Maddox. She marched up to him and swung—no doubt to slap his face.
Maddox was too fast for that. He caught her wrist, and by straining, held her arm in place.
Meta ripped her arm back, stumbling as she gained her freedom. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
Maddox took Meta by the arm, walking her several paces away as he began whispering to her. “That’s what I love about you. You always get physical.”
“This isn’t a joke.”
“We’ll talk about this during dinner tonight.” Meta still glowered at him. “No one kisses like you.”
“Why were you kissing her then?”
“If you’d looked a little more closely, you would have seen that she was kissing me, as I just saved her life. It was a gesture, nothing more.”
“It looked like more.”
Maddox squeezed her arm. Normally, Meta understood him better than others did. Like him, she’d been modified at a secret facility. Some of her problems were just like his problems. He liked that she could take care of herself. That he could depend on her. He also had a strange desire to take care of her. She seemed to feel the same way. He treasured that as something rare.
Meta’s glare had softened just a little. Maybe she could hear him now.
“We’ll have wine later,” he said, “make it an evening to remember.”
“Okay…” she said.
“Excellent,” Maddox said, turning to Shu. “Meta, this is Shu 15, a Spacer Provost Marshal. Shu, this is Meta, one of Victory’s combat specialists.”
“I’m his woman,” Meta said.
One of Shu’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry. The captain saved my life. I was showing him my gratitude.”
“I saw what you were doing,” Meta said, becoming heated again.
“I am very sorry,” Shu said, bowing at the waist. “I am sure that during our voyage we will become friends and learn to laugh at this day.”
“What?” Meta said.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Maddox said smoothly. Before he could say more, a klaxon began to wail from the shuttle.
“Let’s go,” he said. “I suspect they’re firing another missile. It’s time to use that, track down our hidden enemy, and wring a few answers out of them.”
***
The shuttle lifted with Meta piloting. “You’re right about a cruise missile,” she said, glancing at a board. “It’s heading…straight for us.”
Maddox saw it on his weapons board. He studied the telemetry data, the missile’s size and warhead. “There’s nothing unusual about the weapon… Wait. I’m detecting an electronic warfare pod.”
“Why are you delaying firing?” Meta asked. “It’s getting too close. Destroy it.”
“Yes,” Maddox said, absently. He manipulated the panel. The engine accelerated as a laser beamed. On his screen, Maddox watched the missile’s EW pod trying to fool the targeting computer.
A flash on the screen showed an explosion.
“Hit,” Meta said.
“No,” Maddox said, tapping the panel. “Its warhead prematurely exploded. The laser must have triggered a proximity fuse.”
“It’s gone, we’re here,” Meta said. “That’s all that matters.”
“A reasonable assumption,” Maddox murmured.
“Do we head upstairs to Victory?”
“Not yet,” Maddox said, tapping his board, activating a comm. “Galyan.”
“Here, Captain,” the AI answered.
“Were you tracking the missile?”
“Affirmative.”
“Give me the coordinates to the launch site.”
“Done,” said Galyan. “I should point out it is a mobile launcher.”
Meta examined her panel. “The launch point is fifty kilometers from here.”
“Galyan,” Maddox said. “I want you to scan around us. Search for anyone using flash signals.”
“Radio signals?” Galyan asked.
“Flash signals of any kind,” Maddox said. “If the missiles are launching fifty kilometers from here, there must be a spotter nearby feeding them information.”
“Why does the spotter have to be nearby?” Meta asked. “Couldn’t it be an orbital spotter like Victory?”
Maddox stared at Meta, nodding after a moment. He should have already thought of that. “Good point.” He swiveled around, studying Shu.
“Is something the matter?” the Spacer asked.
“No,” Maddox said, turning back to his board. What was wrong with him? Why was he being so overt?
Meta tapped on her screen.
Words appeared on Maddox’s board. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
SHU IS DIFFERENT FROM A YEAR AGO, Maddox typed back. I’M BEGINNING TO WONDER WHY.
WHEN DID YOU MEET HER BEFORE?
IN THE LIN RU HOTEL IN SHANGHAI, Maddox typed. SHE ACTED DECISIVELY THEN, WITHOUT EMOTION, ALMOST KILLING ME.
DO YOU THINK THE SPACERS MIGHT HAVE LAUNCHED THE MISSILES AS A COVER FOR HER?
“Anything’s possible,” Maddox said aloud. Meta had an interesting point. Was the Provost Marshal a Spacer Intelligence agent? The missiles would be a heavy-handed approach to getting them to trust her.
“I may have something, Captain,” Galyan said. “Two missiles just lifted, one from sixty-three kilometers out and another from a lake one hundred and three kilometers away. I eliminated both missiles, along with the surface launch vehicle. I have already informed Star Watch about the underwater launcher. They have scrambled together an attack team to neutralize and another team to investigate.”
“Good work, Galyan.”
“Thank you, Captain. It is enjoyable to be active again. I should note that events pick up the moment you are out of training and back in action.”
“You didn’t alert me just to say that.”
“You are correct,” Galyan said. “My superior ship sensors have picked up a strange trace of radiation, a subtle source. I might not have noticed if you had not alerted me to unusual space activity.”
“What’s the source of the strange radiation?” Maddox asked.
“A Cestus hauler,” Galyan said, “one that belonged to Octavian Nerva’s company several years ago.”
Maddox considered the information. “Star Watch vetted the hauler?”
“Correct, Captain,” Galyan said. “This is Cestus Hauler AB 731, the Marius III. It is in a tight Earth orbit and in visual range of you. It is three hundred kilometers from my present position. I had thought to call the hauler and demand an explanation for the unusual radiation signature. Past experience suggested you would wish a different avenue of discovery.”
Maddox sat back, thinking. He glanced at Meta, “Take us up.”
“Captain,” Galyan said. “I overheard that. I should point out that the second Stokes android said the Lord High Admiral wished to see you. I doubt that was a fabrication.”
“The admiral can wait,” Maddox said. “Is the hauler occupied?”
“Unknown,” Galyan said.
“What does the present manifest say?”
“A moment,” Galyan said. “According to orbital security, the Marius III is on automated standby. It is awaiting a shipment of Nerva electronics to take to the Augustus System. Captain, this might interest you. The Marius III recently visited the New Carolina System.”
“Why would that interest me?” Maddox asked.
“Such a route to Earth would take the hauler near the Xerxes System. It would be easy to drop off or accept a shuttle such as Kane used to do.”
“Yes,” Maddox said. “The androids are of Builder origin. The Nexus is of Builder construction. Ready a combat team, Galyan.”
“For breaching and entering the Marius III?” Galyan asked.
“Yes,” Maddox said. “Sergeant Riker will lead the insertion. Everyone is to wear a vacc suit or combat armor.”
“Yes, Captain,” Galyan said.
“I plan to join them once they’ve secured the hauler.”
“I had already anticipated your coming,” Galyan said.
“Captain,” Meta said.
Maddox turned to her.
“If Galyan has anticipated you, and if the android and missile attempts to kill you just now were of Builder origin, might the enemy also be anticipating you?”
“You think this is a trap?”
“Why would they have allowed Victory to spot the ‘strange’ radiation leakage? Whoever made these attempts has remained hidden all this time for a reason.”
“What are you suggesting?” Maddox asked.
“That you alert Star Watch and let them handle the situation.”
“I’m alive today because I acted promptly each time I faced an enemy,” Maddox said. “I’m also weary of being on the defensive. To win, one must eventually attack. We are about to attack.”
Maddox glanced at Shu. Those dark goggles made her harder to read.
“Galyan,” Maddox said. “What happened to the Spacer airship earlier?”
“It has grounded, Captain.”
“Voluntarily?” Maddox asked.
“Negative. It outran a wing of atmospheric interceptors, but Star Watch issued a worldwide alert. Orbital strikefighters joined in the chase and forced the airship to land. Star Watch Marines presently surround the vessel with combat vehicles. The airship’s commander is claiming diplomatic
immunity. For the moment, that has produced a standoff.”
Maddox looked at Shu as he asked Galyan, “Is the airship’s commander asking for anyone’s return?
“Negative,” Galyan said.
“Why doesn’t the Visionary want you back?” Maddox asked Shu.
“She follows the Spirit’s guidance,” Shu said. “The Visionary must realize I’m supposed to go with you.”
Meta made a disdainful sound.
Maddox ignored it as he asked Galyan, “Has Riker been notified and the combat team assembled?”
“I have initiated the process,” the AI said.
“I want you to closely monitor the Marius III,” Maddox said. “Incapacitate the hauler if it attempts to leave orbit. Eliminate any offensive weaponry the moment it tries to warm up.”
“On what authority are you ordering this?” Meta asked.
Maddox hesitated. He didn’t like anyone questioning his orders, not even Meta. With a shrug, he said, “Self-defense. The brigadier will back me up.”
“You’re a Patrol officer now,” Meta said.
“True,” Maddox said indifferently. What had the first Stokes android said? Once an Intelligence officer, always an Intelligence officer. In that, the android had been correct.
-9-
Sergeant Riker’s stomach grew queasy as the armored shuttle approached the gigantic Cestus hauler.
The older man sat in the shuttle’s command cabin as Keith piloted. Riker wore an armored vacc suit with the helmet in his arms.
Riker had weathered features and his left eye and arm were bionic. He had been with Captain Maddox in Intelligence for quite some time now. Nothing was routine with Maddox. Originally, Riker was supposed to have been a foil to the young man’s rashness. Lately, the sergeant had begun to wonder about his original assignment. Maybe he had done something wrong back then to upset a high-ranking Intelligence officer. Maybe this had always been a punishment detail but no one had told him.
One thing was certain, an Intelligence operative shouldn’t be riding shotgun with a commando team heading for a Nerva hauler. Who knew what waited for them on the spaceship? Behind the cabin hatch was a seven-man Marine squad in combat armor. They were trained for hostile insertions. He was just an aging sergeant thinking more and more often about his pension and visiting his two nieces in the Tau Ceti System.
The Lost Patrol Page 5