“Having the kids actually thinking helps,” Steve said. “I feel slow and stupid compared to some of them.”
Sameena shook her head in awe. Steve felt slow and stupid? There had been times on Logan where she had felt stupid compared to Brad or Steve or the rest of their family. Ignorance was not stupidity – Ethne had reminded her of that, more than once – but bad habits could take a lifetime to erase. Ginny had been lucky, she knew. She hadn't been exposed to Earth’s educational system for very long before she'd moved to Rosa.
“Oh yes,” Steve confirmed. “They look at the technology, they actually understand it ... and then they start asking questions. Given a few years, we might even be able to improve on the Phase Drive. I think that Professor Sorrel was talking about setting up a proper university ... which I think is a terribly bad idea, by the way.”
Sameena looked over at him in surprise. The naked hatred in his voice was very unlike him.
“You do?” She asked. “Do you hate him?”
“I’ve had to deal with one or two graduates of Imperial University,” Steve admitted. “They had degrees in social anthropology or some such nonsense and they wanted to do research into the trader sub-community. It wouldn't have been too bad if they’d approached with an open mind, but they were already crammed full of ideas and preconceptions that had taken over their minds and refused to make room for anything else. Do you know they believed that traders effectively enslaved their own children?”
Sameena blinked. “Really?”
“Yes,” Steve said. He sounded as if he was about to start ranting. “And that was minor, compared to some of the others. Apparently, we also exploit planets by charging them through the nose for minor deliveries, smuggle contraband whenever we can and generally exist on the seedy side of life. Oh, and that we buy and sell slaves and put them to work on our ships. And that we all worship Mammon.”
“Oh,” Sameena said. Mammon was the personification of wealth, she’d discovered after leaving Jannah. The Guardians frowned on great wealth, but there had been no attempt to link it to anything satanic. She suspected that the sin was in hoarding wealth, rather than using it to create more and improving the local economy. “What happened?”
“There was a fight; one of the boys, it seemed, believed that trader women were easy,” Steve said. “They got sent home. I don't know what happened after that.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn't place any credence in a university without a great deal of practical experience being included,” he added. “And learning experiences that actually teach the kids to think for themselves.”
“You can help design it,” Sameena said. “But for the moment the scholarship program seems to be working fine.”
“It will need to be expanded again,” Steve admitted. “There will always be shortages of trained manpower.”
Sameena nodded. “Something else to do,” she said. “It never ends, does it?”
Steve shook his head.
She allowed him to take her on a tour of the growing complex, admiring his work. They’d come a long way, she knew; the crews were delighted to have a chance to meet her. Sameena couldn't help feeling crowded as they surrounded her, but somehow she managed to shake hands and share a few words with them. They seemed to appreciate it.
“They appreciate you,” Steve muttered, when she said that out loud. “If you hadn't started all this, they would be lucky to have gainful employment anywhere.”
Sameena saw the way some of them were looking at her and nodded. It was almost worshipful, something that bothered her on a very primal level. And yet part of her welcomed it, considering it nothing less than her due. The conflict gnawed at her as she walked onwards, pressing the flesh, and finally reached Steve’s personal quarters. She sagged the moment the airlock hissed closed behind them.
“It can be overwhelming,” Steve said. “But you did fine.”
“Maybe,” Sameena said. “But it was also terrifying.”
The storm of emotion surrounding her had been almost physical in its intensity, threatening to overwhelm her. She hadn't felt anything like it since she’d prayed with the other women on Jannah, where the emotion had been more focused. Here, it had been utterly uncontrolled. She'd wondered why mobs went crazy and did things that they would never do as individuals. Now she knew.
“They wanted to meet you,” Steve said. “There isn't a person on the platforms who wouldn't die for you, for what you offered them. That's something you have to bear in mind.”
“I’d rather they lived for me,” Sameena said, remembering the would-be kidnappers. They’d been fanatics, prepared to die rather than surrender. “And I want you to live too.”
“I will,” Steve promised. “You’ve given me one hell of a challenge.”
He scowled as an alarm chimed. “An unscheduled starship?”
Sameena leaned forward. “Who?”
“One of the courier ships,” Steve said, looking down at the datapad. “They’re transmitting an urgent message.”
He scanned the message and turned pale, then passed the datapad to her. “They came directly from Madagascar,” he said. He sounded utterly stunned. “The Empire has abandoned us. They’ve abandoned the entire sector!”
Chapter Thirty-One
It was this process that destroyed the Empire. Having achieved supreme power, the Grand Senate set about ensuring that their power would never be challenged. They wrote the laws in their own favour, making it harder for competitors to arise, and taxed the politically-weak outer worlds mercilessly. This not only supplied the Empire with raw materials, it also ensured that the outer worlds would not be able to establish their own economies.
- Professor Leo Caesius. The Science That Isn’t: Economics and the Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire.
Sameena wasn't sure what she expected to see as Lead Pipe returned to Madagascar. She’d worked out dozens of contingencies over the years, but there had been no way to tell which way people would jump. It was possible, she knew, that the asteroid’s population might have torn itself apart – or that it was trying to come to grips with the new situation. There was no way to know until she actually made contact with the asteroid.
“The Imperial Navy ships are still there,” Paddy said. “All of them.”
“Curious,” Sameena said. The message hadn’t been very detailed, merely stating that the Grand Senate had ordered the remainder of the Empire’s personnel to head back to the Core Worlds, abandoning the entire sector. It probably wasn't the only one either. The entire Rim might have been abandoned. “Are there any power readings?”
“I can't tell at this distance,” Paddy admitted.
“I’ve got in touch with mum and dad,” Jayne said, from her console. “They’re safe!”
Sameena allowed herself a sigh of relief as she turned to stand behind Jayne. Captain Hamilton looked older and greyer than she remembered, but he was alive! She smiled at him and relaxed as he smiled back. No one was dead, then. Yet.
“Everyone seems to be stunned,” Captain Hamilton said. “We’ve moved the kids and their parents to Logan, but we’re unsure of what to do next.”
“Take them to the base,” Sameena said, decisively. Rosa might be a better choice, but it was hopelessly vulnerable if pirates or secessionists came knocking. “What’s the Imperial Navy said?”
“Very little,” Captain Hamilton said. “All personnel were recalled shortly after a light cruiser arrived and passed on the message. Since then ... nothing, apart from the light cruiser departing several hours later. There’s even some speculation on the datanet that the entire base has been abandoned.”
“Unlikely,” Paddy said, turning to look at them. “The ships could be taken back to Earth, if nothing else. They wouldn't be likely to leave them drifting in space for someone to recover.”
If that were possible, Sameena thought. Jamie had told her that five ships weren't capable of going FTL any longer. They’d be stuck in the Madagascar System unless
they managed to rebuild their drives. But it looked as if almost all of the squadron had been left behind.
Paddy had a more pertinent question. “How is the fine population of Madagascar taking the fact they’ve been abandoned?”
“Stunned, as I said,” Captain Hamilton said. “Everyone seems to have battened down the hatches and prepared for trouble, but so far no one’s started anything. God knows how long that will last; the asteroid’s administrators haven’t said anything since the official announcement. Several ships have left for undisclosed destinations.”
Sameena scowled. The economy was doomed, unless her contingency plan worked – and if the economy of the sector went down, civilisation would go with it.
Her lips quirked in a bitter smile. If nothing else, the cartel would be gone too.
“We’re going to dock as soon as possible,” she said. How would the asteroid react to new starships, now that the Empire was gone? “Is that likely to be safe?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Captain Hamilton said. “But you might be better advised to wait and see what happens.”
“No time for that,” Sameena said. She’d learned enough to know that either she sought to take control of the situation or the situation would take control of her. “And I need you to call a Meet.”
“One has already been called,” Captain Hamilton said. “It’s going to be held in two weeks, but I have a feeling that not everyone will be available to attend.”
Sameena felt her scowl deepen. The traders weren't precisely a democracy or a dictatorship, but some strange combination of the two. What was agreed on at the Meet was binding on the attendees, everyone agreed, yet it didn't apply to those who hadn't attended. And she needed most of the traders assisting her or, at the very least, staying out of the way. A few more years to lay the groundwork would have been very welcome.
Not going to happen, she told herself, crossly. Concentrate on what you know to be true.
“I’m going to have to discuss matters with the Imperial Navy,” she said. “I’ll speak to you afterwards, I hope.”
“Good luck,” Captain Hamilton said. He knew enough about her plans to try to help, even though he’d been doubtful that she could succeed. “And I’ll ensure that Brad is safe.”
Sameena felt a twinge of guilt as the channel closed, silently resolving to spend more time with her son if they survived the crisis. Pushing the feeling to one side, she sent a brief message to Jamie’s communicator, silently praying that he hadn’t gone back to Earth. He was the only Imperial Navy officer she knew well.
A response came seventeen minutes later, asking for an immediate meeting.
“He’ll probably want you to come onboard his ship,” Paddy said. “It's a fairly typical tactic for placing you at a disadvantage, as by coming to him you appear a supplicant. Invite him here instead.”
“I prefer not to have him exploring this ship,” Sameena said. She considered it briefly, realising that Paddy was right. “I won’t forget what I have at my disposal.”
The Imperial Navy destroyer Pinafore was a blunt hammerhead of a ship, bristling with weapons and sensor blisters that tracked Lead Pipe as the two ships rendezvoused. It was a gesture of trust, she knew, one that was almost completely unprecedented. Normally, the Imperial Navy preferred to shuttle freighter commanders over into their ships, rather than linking docking tubes. If Sameena had been carrying a nuke she could have vaporised both ships before they could hope to react.
She left Paddy behind at the airlock and stepped into the Imperial Navy starship, looking around with interest. It looked cruder than her freighter, somehow; the bulkheads were cold grey metal, rather than the colours freighter crews added as a matter of course. There were no paintings, no photographs, nothing to personalise the ship. The crew seemed competent enough, she decided, but by the way they held themselves she could tell that they were nervous. They'd been abandoned too.
“Welcome onboard,” Jamie said. He looked immensely relieved to see her, something else that was largely unprecedented. Outside friendships like the one they shared, Imperial Navy officers tended to sneer at freighter crews and freighter crews thought the Navy snobbish and stuck up. “It’s good to see you again.”
He didn't say anything else until they were in his cabin, with the airlock firmly shut. Sameena had ample opportunity to inspect the ship as they walked through the passageways, catching sight of hundreds of places where maintenance had been trimmed down to the bone. Pinafore wasn't quite a death trap yet, she decided, but it was getting there. Jamie poured himself a glass of something that smelled like pipe cleaner and took a swig.
“Rotgut?” He asked. “Or water?”
“Water would be fine,” Sameena said. It was hard to be sure, but Jamie seemed to be on the verge of collapse. His face was lined and gray with stubble, as if he hadn't even been able to muster the will to run a shaver across his chin. And she didn't like the signs of him drinking, even if he didn't seem to be completely drunk. “What happened since I left.”
Jamie barked a harsh laugh. “The Admiral fled,” he said. “Took his aide, a couple of his staffers, a handful of other officers and flew off back to the Empire. And the Commodore had a heart attack when he heard the news. I am the last commander of this sector.”
Sameena stared at him. “But you’re a Commander.”
“Admiral promoted me before he left, stuck me in the Commodore’s slot,” Jamie sneered. “You’re talking to Commodore Cook.”
He snickered, darkly. “And I’m here to watch helplessly as the lights go out,” he added. “My crews are on the verge of mutiny, half of my officers think they should have my post ... hell, legally they’d probably be right. Jumping me up three whole grades isn’t exactly kosher, even if the Admiral did have broad authority. The bastard just fled. Didn't even bother to try to take the remaining ships.”
And thank God for that, Sameena thought. She didn't say it out loud.
“We’re doomed,” Jamie said. He picked up the bottle and took a long swig. “We’re going to float here forever and die when the atmosphere runs out.”
Sameena stood up and walked over to the drinks cabinet on the bulkhead. By law, there should be a selection of sober-up tabs there for her to use. Finding one, she carried it back to Jamie and pressed it against his neck. He let out a yelp as she shot the drug into his system, then scurried over to the washroom. Sameena gave him what privacy she could as his system violently expelled the alcohol.
“You ... you ...”
She had to smile as Jamie stepped back into the cabin, leaving his jacket behind. “I think we’d be better off talking if you weren't on the verge of drunkenness,” she said. She’d learned to recognise the symptoms from Jayne, who had told her that alcohol was a persistent menace on tramp freighters. Jamie hadn't been a heavy drinker and that much rotgut would have hit him hard. “Now, what is the current situation?”
Jamie scowled at her, then picked up a glass of water and washed his mouth out before speaking. “Assuming that there are absolutely no more supplies from the Core Worlds, and that is what I was told, we will be able to maintain the current level of operations for around three months before our equipment falls below our ability to maintain it,” he said, bluntly. “We might be able to eke out another couple of months through cannibalising equipment and supplies, but we will be completely worn down then. That will be the end.
“There are four thousand crewmen on the station or ships, all convinced that they’ve been abandoned and the only thing to do is wait for death,” he continued. “Several commanders have been making noises about relieving me, or taking off on their own along with their ships. Discipline is in the pits, drunkenness is on the rise ... and we’re thoroughly screwed.”
He smiled at her, wanly. “There doesn't seem to be any way to save ourselves,” he concluded. “I just ...”
“Started crawling into a bottle,” Sameena said, tartly. “I don't think that was very helpful.”
&nbs
p; She looked him in the eye. “Answer me a question,” she said. “What do you want to do with yourself? And your people?”
Jamie did her the honour of considering his words before he spoke. “Most of us don’t have any family, but the Navy,” he said. “We spend so long away from our biological families that we eventually lose touch with them. But right now, we’ve been betrayed by the Navy we trusted. That family has been shattered.”
He shrugged. “Ideally, I would like to remain in space and continue to work on a starship,” he said. “Right now, it’s looking like the best option is round up a couple of freighters and head for a colony world. We might be able to settle down before our tech fails spectacularly.”
“I brought you supplies,” Sameena said, quietly. “You don’t have to surrender to entropy.”
Jamie laughed, harshly. “You might as well keep them,” he said. “What are we without the Imperial Navy?”
Sameena leaned forward. “Remind me,” she said. “What oath did you take when you entered the Academy?”
“To serve and protect the Empire,” Jamie said. “But the Empire is gone.”
He snorted. “There were all sorts of joke oaths going around,” he added. “The joke was that you had your chance at a slot if you actually read the oaths first before making them and realised that they weren't serious.”
“Civilisation exists in us,” Sameena said. “If you don’t uphold civilisation, all that is left is barbarism. That's what is going to fall over the sector now, unless you help us. You’re in command of the last remaining bastion of military power in the entire sector.”
“Not the last,” Jamie said. “There are other starships out there. We’ll have to tell them the truth when they check in. I don’t know how they will take it.”
The Empire's Corps: Book 05 - The Outcast Page 30