I think so. Call it ninety percent likelihood.
What does ANNIE say?
I haven’t asked her—this is my own work. I didn’t want to distract her from the Metigen analysis.
Right. Alex couldn’t have written the Fionava virus, which means she got the Detention Center hack from someone else. I’ll work on it.
Uh, sir, respectfully…how do you plan to do that when she’s missing? Unless you know something the rest of us don’t.
I’ll let you know when I have intel.
Nice!
Bye, Devon.
He stood to ramble around the compartment. There were a number of topics they needed to discuss with Alex, and he suspected she was going to have a number of topics to discuss with them. But while it may not rise to the top position on the list, this topic had to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Restoring communications to Fionava was essential for the task of moving ships and people throughout NW Command. And while it wouldn’t single-handedly enable them to find and stop O’Connell from committing whatever heinous misdeeds he intended to carry out, it would make for a damn fine start.
9
NEW CAIRO
SENECAN FEDERATION COLONY
* * *
THE EAS AKAGI APPROACHED NEW CAIRO with due caution. The single defense array orbiting the planet wasn’t an insurmountable threat, but it was a threat.
Earth Alliance General Liam O’Connell motioned in the direction of the on-duty Weapons Officer. “Send a drone into the planet’s atmosphere and set its identification beacon to broadcast.”
“But, sir, once the array detects the drone, it will go on full alert—”
“It wasn’t a suggestion, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir. Deploying drone.”
Liam thumped his middle finger against his thigh while he waited. He didn’t want to sacrifice resources before his offensive had even begun, but he harbored a suspicion he wasn’t going to need to.
The display to his right followed the drone as it advanced on the planet. It reached the orbiting array, passed within two kilometers of one of the nodes…and continued on into the atmosphere.
Liam gloated in triumph. “As I expected. The defenses aren’t programmed to view Alliance vessels as hostile—a gift courtesy of the farcical ‘peace treaty.’”
“Navigation, begin planetary descent. Go ahead and take a corridor. I doubt we’ll encounter any resistance on the other end.”
Gavril Peshka carefully guided his son’s arm up and back past his shoulder. Then he withdrew to leave only fingertips on the forearm, ready to encourage the next motion. “Okay, now forward—remember to arc it, not throw it…and…quick-stop.”
The fly line flopped unceremoniously into the water a meter from shore. Gavril stifled a lament.
“Dad, I can’t do it. The line’s too long.”
He patted his son’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Robert. You simply need to practice. Learn to take care of the rod and the line will take care of itself.”
Robert grumbled and plopped onto the grass. “Why can’t we use a real fishing rod? It’ll catch the fish for us.”
He made a show of considering the question before joining his son on the ground and draping his arms atop his knees. “Fly fishing isn’t so much about catching fish as it is about enjoying the quiet, peaceful beauty of nature.”
“Then why bother with fishing? We could just, I don’t know, walk around or something.”
How to explain the art of meditation to a six-year-old boy? Would he comprehend the concept of occupying the hands and conscious mind in order to free the unconscious? Probably not quite yet.
Instead he tousled Robert’s mop of dark hair. “Well, if we did catch a fish, it’d be a cool bonus, right?”
His son shrugged sheepishly. “Yeah. That would be neat.”
Gavril stood and lifted Robert up to his feet. “Come on. Let’s do some of that walking and stroll down the river bank.”
New Cairo was so named not because it had been settled by a predominantly Arab population, though in time a fair number of people of Arab descent had moved there. It was so named because of the similarity of the location chosen for settlement to the Nile delta. The river they walked beside widened into a lush coastal plain to the north and wound through a minor jungle to the south. Here, the riverbed nourished tall, reedy grasses and short trees sporting broad limbs and golden leaves.
The standard of living on New Cairo was rural but hardly poor. The cultivation of exotic, edible fruits competed with nature tourism for the dominant industry, and money flowed easily into the colony. They had no one urban center but rather a series of townships located near prime growing land and scenic locales frequented by the tourists. Most modern conveniences existed here as well; they were merely tastefully tucked away in discrete locations so as not to overpower the natural setting.
His gaze drifted to the right, but he was unable to detect the levtram route which hid behind a flawless cloaking field twenty meters in the air. Originating at the port eight kilometers north, its course followed the river for several hundred kilometers before diverging toward other, more remote settlements.
“Dad, can we go see grandpa on Elathan? I want to ride in the space transport again.”
“Not right now. Maybe soon.” He made sure his tone remained casual. He was trying to keep his son unaware of the encroaching alien invasion for as long as he could, be it another day or another hour. Once innocence was lost it was never regained. So he took his son fishing and strolled along the river and pretended as though the galaxy wasn’t on fire.
“Hey, what’s that?” Robert pointed at the sky, his face lit up in a child’s excitement.
He followed his son’s gape upward and frowned. The silhouette of a lustrous shale-hued ship grew in the distance. Long but blocky in design, it didn’t resemble most Federation ships. His steps slowed, his hand instinctively reaching down to grasp his son’s shoulder protectively.
He hadn’t been overly invested in the aborted Second Crux War. He’d lived his entire life on Federation worlds—even before they were Federation worlds—and was generally content with how the government operated. But he had moved to New Cairo in part to get away from scheming and machinations, whether they be political, corporate or otherwise. The games the galaxy played seldom touched those on the colony, so when the Alliance and Federation renewed their war he’d shaken his head and continued on with his life.
The vessel encroaching from the north was an Earth Alliance warship—of that he had no doubt, the fact the war was supposed to be over notwithstanding.
“Dad, let’s go back to town. I want to see the ship!”
Town was the last place he wanted to be right now, but he did feel uncomfortably exposed. They needed to find shelter. He scooped his son up in his arms and quickened his pace. “Come on, there’s a levtram station not too much farther south.”
The sound of an explosion assaulted his ears. He whipped around to see a plume of smoke rising from the general direction of town. Orange flames licked up the smoke trails. A silver laser streaked from the ship toward an unseen target as two fighter craft became visible on the horizon.
“Why are they shooting, Dad?”
“I don’t know, son. Let’s get somewhere safe.” Was their home being destroyed as they ran? A lifetime of possessions gone? He couldn’t fathom what purpose might drive the Alliance to attack a civilian population, but he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was protecting Robert.
If they could reach the station in time they’d ride the tram farther south, into the jungle. If not, they’d…they’d make for the tiny farming enclave to the west. Surely the attackers wouldn’t bother with so small a settlement.
“Dad!” Robert was fidgeting in his grasp and pointing up at the sky once more.
He looked back to see one of the fighters racing above the river, a steady laser stream scorching the grasses and setting the trees afire.
The water boiled where the laser strafed across it.
Then the laser swung left and carved through the levtram assembly. The cloaking failed as the laser impacted, sparking as it died to reveal frame rings wrenching apart. The laser crisscrossed the frame again and again, slicing the rings to pieces and sending shards hurtling through the air.
They stood no chance of making it to the station before the fighter reached it. Behind them the landscape burned, and the river was too deep and wide to cross. They needed to run west, but that would take them under the levtram route. Perhaps if they waited until the fighter moved on—
—a tram heading south burst into view as it reached the area where the cloaking had failed. With no more rings to guide it, the tram pitched into open air. Its momentum sent it soaring toward them.
He gasped and squeezed his son tighter. “I love you, Robert.” Then he sprinted for the water, knowing even as he did they would not make it.
10
PANDORA
INDEPENDENT COLONY
* * *
AS ON SENECA, THE SIYANE did not land at the public spaceport but rather a secret landing pad. This pad belonged to a hidden, sprawling luxury estate completely enclosed by a fifty-meter-high wall and force-field dome. A holographic projection of a business tower displayed outside the wall to ensure no one on Pandora knew the estate was there, for reasons Alex simply didn’t have the bandwidth to care about.
The attached dock had enough room for four small craft, which was good seeing as there would be at least three ships arriving: the Siyane, her mother and Richard’s transport and Delavasi’s shuttle.
Following their rooftop interlude, Caleb had negotiated an uneasy truce of sorts with Delavasi. It was far from reconciliation, but he recognized they needed the man’s help for now.
He had drawn the line at the Director accompanying them to Pandora on the Siyane, however, much to her relief. She had no desire to spend any length of time in an enclosed space with the two of them, intercepting their glowers while trying to keep them from killing one another.
The estate was owned by a man…and that was effectively all Alex knew. Well, she had also been informed the man was extraordinarily wealthy—not a surprise—and a major player in a consortium which apparently ran Pandora. Those facts were closely guarded secrets, and the man’s name far more so. But Delavasi knew it, which was one reason they needed him.
Though closer to Seneca, Pandora was located directly along the route to Earth, thus making it a convenient place to meet. Its security measures and government were minimal and non-intrusive, thus making it a convenient place to hide. Delavasi had arranged the use of the estate—as well as heightened security both outside and within the estate—as a safe and discreet meeting location for as long as they required it.
However safe and discreet it may purportedly be, Caleb was insisting she carry her Daemon and a blade on her at all times. As she donned a pullover to conceal the gun she sensed him come up behind her.
He shifted her around to face him and kept his hands on her shoulders. “Are you ready for this?”
He meant the impending reunion with her mother, of course. His expression was tender and a little teasing, but the lines deepening along the edges of his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept a wink.
Despite a vague, lingering tension between them neither were ready to resolve, they had found their way into each other’s arms not long after leaving Seneca. Their lovemaking had been fervent, desperate, almost primal…and sometime after she’d dozed off he had slipped out of bed.
On waking she discovered him upstairs, sitting in the cockpit sipping coffee and staring out at the blurred shimmer of the superluminal bubble. He’d spent the intervening hour giving a stellar impression of normalcy. She wasn’t fooled.
He seemed determined to work through the repercussions of what he had learned on his own. It stung, but on the other hand she wasn’t exactly an expert on things like compassion or empathy. Still, she was willing to try; for him, she wanted to try. But until he asked for more she would give him the time and emotional space he sought.
Her nose wrinkled in uncertainty. “Yes. No. I have no idea. It doesn’t matter. What matters is to convince her this plan can work.” She rolled her eyes at the smirk growing on his lips. “And maybe a few other things matter, too, but only once we accomplish the primary goal.”
He went to retrieve his own weapons. “Just make sure she doesn’t try to arrest me again?”
“I think you’re in the clear. Are you ready?”
At his assent she opened the hatch and followed him out. Two exceedingly serious security personnel met them at the bottom of the ramp.
She regarded them with an air of wariness. “I’m Al—”
“We don’t need to know who you are, ma’am. If you’ll follow us, we’ll show you to where you’ll be staying.”
She arched an eyebrow at Caleb as the guards started walking away. He gestured dismissively in their direction, which she took to mean he was familiar with this particular routine.
The grounds were decorated in Earth-style flora and fauna, highlighted by perfectly-trimmed grass, manicured hedges of juniper and rows of dwarf aspens. The landscaping created a sense of privacy and seclusion around every curve of the pathway.
They were shown not to the enormous mansion at the center of the estate, but to a nonetheless impressive guest house near the rear of the property. The exterior was decorated in synthetic stucco, retro columns, high windows and an upstairs balcony. The owner of the estate had eclectic tastes.
Their escorts opened the door and entered ahead of them. Once she and Caleb were inside one of the guards pointed to a panel beside the doorway.
“If you require any assistance, we can be reached via this panel at all times. You are free to explore the estate with the exception of the main house. The kitchen and other rooms are fully stocked with all the amenities you may desire. Two guests have already arrived. You will find them in the business center straight ahead and to the left.” Then they were gone.
“Well this is all a bit…strange.” She assumed the guards’ knowledge of the others’ whereabouts meant they enjoyed real-time access to security feeds from inside the house. So no real privacy here, either.
“Typical reclusive billionaire setup. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“If you say so.” She steeled herself and embarked down the broad hallway the guard had indicated.
Richard met them at the open entrance to the business center and grabbed her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground like he had when she was a child.
“Alex, girl, do not do pull that kind of disappearing act again, you hear me?”
She was laughing as he set her down. “I’ll try. It is good to be home, so to speak.”
Her mother stood at a table farther into the room, conversing with someone. The admiral’s uniform was nowhere in sight; instead she wore charcoal slacks and a navy blue turtleneck. Her hair was bound back, but beyond the nape of her neck it flowed freely.
“Christopher, I have to go. I’ll touch base soon.” She turned to them, and a hand came to her mouth. “You’re here.”
Alex crossed the room, a shaky smile blossoming of its own accord, but fear—yep, this was definitely fear—gripped her heart in its icy fist and stopped her short before the last step.
“Mom….”
Her mother reached out and pulled her into an embrace nearly as tight as Richard’s had been.
Stunned, she tried to reciprocate, but it felt clumsy and strange and she wasn’t sure if she was even doing it right. Over her mother’s shoulder Richard and Caleb had begun talking, but Caleb caught her wide, slightly panicked eyes and gave her a reassuring nod.
At last Miriam backed up to hold her at arm’s length, scrutinizing her up and down as if inspecting for injuries or significant alterations before finally meeting her hesitant gaze. The look on her mother’s face was not something she had seen for more than twenty years.<
br />
“It is such a relief to see you, Alexi—” her mother cut herself off and pressed her lips together briefly “—Alex.”
“What….” She found herself at a loss for words. “You…you don’t have to call me that. It’s all right.”
Miriam shrugged almost flippantly. “It’s what your father called you—why wouldn’t I do the same?”
Her eyes still felt as though they were inappropriately wide and she was fairly certain her mouth was hanging open. She had hoped to find her mother open to some level of reconciliation. She had not expected this.
“I…okay then. If you insist.”
Awkward silence fell then, abruptly and with all the subtlety of a passing elephant stampede. She scanned the various details of the well-appointed business center until her mother dropped her arms and stepped away.
Alex watched as she approached Caleb and thrust out her hand. “Welcome, Mr. Marano. I understand I owe you a formal apology on behalf of the Earth Alliance, and personally.”
Caleb was the picture of charm as he accepted the hand in a manner Alex recognized as genuine. “Apology accepted, but it isn’t necessary. You did what you thought was right…” his gaze alighted on her “…as did we.”
God how she loved him. Whatever challenges they may encounter, whatever hurdles they may be forced to overcome, she loved him.
“And we’re all very glad that unpleasantness is behind us, right?” She made a show of rejoining them. Yet as soon as she arrived she found she was staring at her mother, taken aback and somewhat flummoxed by the woman’s demeanor.
“So, Fleet Admiral? That’s insane. Dad would be so proud of you.”
It appeared as if her mother blushed, but it was an absurd notion. “I’d like to think so.”
“I’m proud of you.” Oops. The thought had accidentally come out of her mouth in the form of words. Should she be mortified? Cover it up with a quick, snarky remark? Dammit, now it was too late to recover….
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