The Pride of the Damned

by Peter Grant

  “That’s right, sir.”

  Cochrane spoke for another ten minutes. By the end of that time, the Captain had begun to smile.

  “So, you will not bring your ships to New Skyros itself, where they could be identified?”

  “No, sir. We’d restrict them to your outermost planet, where we believe the Brotherhood will set up its rendezvous.”

  “What makes you so sure of that?”

  “It’s by far the most logical place, sir. It’s clear of both inbound and outbound traffic lanes. There are no scientific, industrial or commercial installations on it, because it has no resources worth exploiting. It’s easily found by navigators, particularly those aboard ships that are new to them, using systems that may or may not be in peak operating condition. That eliminates so many problems, they’d be fools to use a rendezvous that will be more difficult to locate.”

  “I take your point. So, if the Brotherhood vessels were to encounter enemy ships there, and be defeated, there could be no proof of just who or what those ships were?”

  “No, sir. You could issue a press release that your System Patrol Service was responsible for thwarting their plans and destroying their ships.”

  “That would be very useful to the Minister, and to the government. Such publicity would be very valuable in preparation for planetary elections next year.”

  “Yes, sir. There’s another thing. If your forces do as I suggest, and you stop the Brotherhood from hijacking the destroyers, your courts can condemn them as prizes recovered from pirates. Their value in the Prize Court should be very high – after all, they’re a full division of four brand-new warships, and their extra missiles and the depot ship would add to their value. I’d say you could expect to get at least seven or eight billion Neue Helvetica francs for them all. Under New Skyros law, a third of that sum goes to the forces making the capture; and you, as their overall Commanding Officer, would receive a very attractive per centage. It might go a long way toward making your retirement more comfortable.”

  “It might indeed!” A broad smile spread over the Captain’s face. “I’ve been thinking about running for elected office, on a platform of strengthening our armed forces. The publicity for such a victory might help me to do so. In fact, it might make the difference between being elected or not.”

  Cochrane covered a smile with his hand. “I think it would. You might also suggest to your Minister that if some of the government’s share of the prize money was to be used to buy new patrol craft or corvettes, the security of New Skyros would be greatly enhanced. That might also be an important factor in next year’s elections.”

  Kokinos nodded firmly. “I’m inclined to go along with your plan, Commodore. There are three stipulations. One: we have some space mines – old and outdated, to be sure, but still in our inventory – that I want you to use.” He explained rapidly. “Please make sure they are destroyed in the operation. That will not only make it easier for my service to claim the credit, but we can also indent for new, much more modern replacements, on top of the purchase of more, and more modern, ships.”

  Cochrane made a mental note to replace New Skyros’ suspect mines with ones he knew would work. Captain Kokinos need never know of the substitution. “That will be a pleasure, sir. Next?”

  “Prisoners. We shall classify as pirates all those we take prisoner aboard the destroyers. New Skyros law specifies an automatic death sentence for anyone caught in an act of piracy in this system. There is no lesser punishment for that offense. However, I do not have enough forces to both escort the destroyers back to orbit, and deal with any survivors at your position. They will have to wait until we can reach them. If any of your ships are lost or damaged, please rescue their survivors yourself, because we shall automatically classify as pirates all those we recover, and treat them accordingly. They may even receive summary justice on the spot.”

  The Commodore nodded silently.

  “Third, when your ships arrive, they must not be detected. They must creep in under minimum power, taking care not to let any other ships or sensors identify them, and must leave our system in the same way. That way, the explosions that will inevitably result can be credited to our equipment and our own preparations. It will take my patrol craft several hours to escort the destroyers back to orbit, then get out there to investigate. By the time they arrive, your ships must be gone, as tracelessly as they arrived.”

  “I agree, sir. Given the destroyers’ scheduled completion date, and our other commitments, we have just enough time to make those arrangements.”

  “You want no share of the prize money, Commodore?”

  “No, sir. We want the Brotherhood neutralized. That’s reward enough for us.”

  Captain Kokinos smiled. “I am glad to hear it. It will leave all the more for us!”

  “I hope you enjoy it, sir. With your permission, let’s make our arrangements as quickly as possible; then I must leave, today if possible. I have a couple of long space flights ahead of me to get our side sorted out. There’s a lot to do, and not much time to do it in.”

  MYCENAE

  Cochrane stood as Commander Keir Hardie was shown into his minuscule office aboard the courier ship. “Good to see you again, Keir.”

  “And you, sir.” They exchanged handshakes, then sat down. “What brings you to the Mycenae system, sir?”

  “You do – or, rather, your fast freighter does. Is Rorqual ready in all respects for a tricky and very confidential mission?”

  “We need to top off our tanks and fill up on stores and supplies, sir. We’ve been running them down over the last month. Given a day to do that, we’ll be ready.”

  “Good man! You’ll be busy here for a week or so, making preparations: then I’m sending you to New Skyros. I’ve just come from there, setting things up for you.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been to that planet, sir.”

  “That’s about to change. I’ll give you detailed written orders later today, but in brief, this is what you’re going to do there.”

  Cochrane spoke for almost ten minutes. Hardie’s eyes grew wide with surprise as he listened. When his boss had finished, he said quietly, “This is going to be tricky, sir.”

  “Yes, it is. That’s why I’ve selected you and your ship. You’ve trained your crew very well, and they’ve proved their efficiency. They’re among the best we have, and we’re going to need every bit of their skill.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

  “Your ship will use the name Fairway during your visit to New Skyros. She’s a freighter registered on Troon. She’s never been to New Skyros, so they don’t know her there. Set your transponder beacon to that identity, and use your frequency modulator to disguise your gravitic drive emissions, so no-one will later be able to associate Rorqual with Fairway.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  “All right. Head over to Vulcan II and ask her skipper about the technicians you’ll need. They’ll go with you to New Skyros. Meanwhile, I’ll prepare your orders, then speak with the Station Commanding Officer about thinning out his ships and defenses. He’s not going to be happy with me, but that can’t be helped.”

  CONSTANTA

  Hui welcomed Cochrane with a warm hug and a kiss. “I’ve missed you!”

  “I missed you too, darling. What’s happened in my absence?” He tossed his cap onto a hook, and began unbuttoning his jacket.

  “Mrs. Sejdiu is obviously missing her husband very much, but she reports they had a wonderful time together. She sends her grateful thanks. Her husband has sent you a letter via her, and she passed on your messages to him.”

  “Good. At least that’ll give him a chance if the Big Three go after him on Neue Helvetica. What did he say aboard the courier ship? Anything to interest us?”

  “A lot.” She grimaced. “I know you chose your words, very carefully and very specifically, when you promised that you wouldn’t record her aboard Zaqar. Even so, I’m sure she thought you meant you wouldn’t r
ecord her husband, either, or their time together. It feels almost like cheating.”

  “It was cheating, darling – and I’ll do it again in a heartbeat if I have to! It was easy enough to instruct the ship’s AI to ignore anything said by her, but record anything said in the passenger area by anyone else. We’re coming to the climax of a struggle – a war, really – that’s gone on for over half a decade. We can’t afford to lose it because of misplaced scruples. Cutting out all the bedroom talk, what did he have to say?”

  Hui described what Pal had said about his forthcoming activities and arrangements. “That gives us an approximate timetable for Frank Haldane’s first operation.”

  “Yes, it does.” Cochrane thought for a moment. “All right. Let’s get Frank in here, and discuss his final preparations. I’ll fill him in on what I’ve arranged for New Skyros, then he’d better be on his way. If the Brotherhood Council approves buying that planet, and Agim Nushi sends word to their base to ship the gold, we’ve only got about two and a half weeks for Frank to get into position. He’ll be cutting it terribly fine. Any word from Gustav?”

  “Yes. He’s ready from his side.”

  “All right. All the pieces are on the board, or soon will be. It’s almost time to start the game.”

  She shivered. “I’d hardly call it a game when people’s lives are at stake!”

  “It’s the oldest, most savage game in the history of the human race, my love. It’s called ‘Kill Or Be Killed’. If it comes to that, I want as few of us to die as possible, and as many as possible of the enemy.”

  17

  Purchase

  PATOS

  Pal clicked his remote control, and the final image disappeared from the three-dimensional display hologram. He put down the remote, and looked around at his audience.

  “Based on everything I have seen and learned, I recommend that this Council approve the purchase of Ostrovy. The seller is asking fifty-five billion francs, but I think I may be able to negotiate that downward slightly. It will not be much less, but any saving is welcome. While I am doing that, I shall also price the basic infrastructure we will need: things like flat pack housing, aeroponic and hydroponic structures to produce fresh fruit and vegetables until we can establish farms, a reverse-osmosis water purification plant, a portable fusion reactor for power generation, a containerized sewage and wastewater treatment facility, and so on. Most can be prefabricated, then erected or assembled by robotic constructors as soon as we arrive. They are standard designs, needing only to be adapted to suit Ostrovy’s specific environmental conditions. I estimate they can be ready in six to nine months at most if we pay half in advance, and half on completion, with strict penalty clauses for any delays.”

  There was a hum of approval from the councilors. Agim rose, and Pal stepped back to give him the podium.

  “I think we owe Pal Sejdiu a debt of great gratitude for the very hard work he has done, so quickly and so well,” the chairman began. He was interrupted by a round of applause, in which he joined enthusiastically, nodding at Pal. When the noise died down, he continued, “I second Pal’s recommendation that we purchase Ostrovy.”

  “And I!” Gjerg called from his chair. “I, too!” “I also!” came from other councilors.

  “I think we already have a consensus, but let us vote, to make it formal,” Agim said. “All those in favor?”

  Every councilor raised his hand.

  “Thank you. Brothers, we now have a new home, and the foundation for the Fatherland Project. I shall send instructions to our base to load the necessary sum in gold aboard our courier ship, and send it via Mavra to Neue Helvetica. Pal, how much will you need, over and above the planet’s price?”

  Pal thought for a moment. “I think I can negotiate a couple of billion off the asking price. Will you please send sixty billion francs? That way, even if we pay full price, I shall have five billion with which to place orders for infrastructure. If my negotiations are successful, I may have more. I can come back to the Council for more gold if I need it, but I would rather not empty our reserves. Let us hold something back, in case of future need.”

  “That is very wise. I shall send sixty billion, which will leave about ten billion in reserve. Given the time delay to send orders to our base, and then the trip via Mavra to Neue Helvetica, it should be with you in about three weeks from today. Gjerg, will you please travel with the gold, so that the Council is represented from start to finish at every phase of this purchase? You will join Pal at Neue Helvetica, there to sign the necessary documents on our behalf.”

  “More hard work for old bones!” Gjerg mock-complained, to laughter from the others. “I shall do so, of course, Agim. It will be an honor.”

  Pal smiled. “Thank you, Gjerg, and you, Mr. Chairman. I shall make sure to reach Neue Helvetica in good time to arrange the conversion of our gold into francs, and begin the purchasing process. I hope you will allow me a few days’ leave first, to see my children and my son-in-law.”

  “Of course. You have more than earned them.” Agim looked around. “Now, another important question arises, brothers. We must obviously rename Ostrovy. What shall we call our new home?”

  Pal entered the hobby shop, to be greeted enthusiastically by the owner. “Pal! Where have you been? It must be months since you were in here!”

  He grinned, returning his friend’s fierce embrace. “I have been off-planet, as usual. It is good to see you, too, Afrim. How is business?”

  “Not so good when you are not here to give me money!”

  Pal laughed. “I hope I shall soon be able to do so again, my friend. I need to ask you a very big favor. When can we sit down and talk in private?”

  Afrim must have heard the tension in Pal’s voice, even though he had tried to disguise it. He looked at him sharply. “I can lock up the store early, if you like. It is only half an hour to closing time. I doubt I shall lose much business.”

  “I should be very grateful. I would not ask it if this were not important.”

  He waited while Afrim wound up the day’s accounts, turned out the main lights and locked the doors, then took his friend to a restaurant offering private booths, where he knew they would not be overheard. They ordered food, then settled down with a beer apiece.

  “What is it?” Afrim demanded without preamble.

  Pal took a deep breath. “There are… things happening elsewhere… that might affect the safety and security of the Brotherhood here.”

  Afrim snorted disdainfully. “When have such things not been happening? It has been that way for us since the beginning!”

  “Yes, but these things are more than the usual vague rumors or fears. They may become all too real.”

  His friend sipped his beer. “So why are you telling me this?”

  “I want you to think very carefully about who you really want to get to safety, if the worst happens. This cannot be everyone you know, or even most of them. I am thinking of your immediate family and your most intimate friends. How many people is that?”

  Afrim stared at him. “You are serious, aren’t you?”

  “Serious as a heart attack, my friend.”

  “I… I see.” He thought for a moment. “Apart from you, of course, I should say no more than five others, plus myself, of course.”

  “Of course. Will they follow you if you tell them, without notice, to drop everything and meet you at a designated point, bringing nothing with them and telling no-one else?”

  “Hmmm… that reduces the number to three. I could not trust the other two to do that without babbling about it.”

  “Three it is, then, plus yourself. I need you to set this up with them over the next couple of days. They must keep a comm unit with them at all times from now on. If they receive a prearranged message from you, something that sounds innocent but that they will understand, then they must drop everything, stop whatever they are doing, and head for a rendezvous point. There may be very little time for them to get there. This may literall
y be a matter of life or death.”

  Afrim looked at him solemnly. “I must ask, Pal… is the Council aware of this?”

  “They are aware of the threats, yes. They are more sanguine than I about our ability to withstand them. I fear we may not be as strong as they think.”

  “And you are a security specialist. If you say that, I must believe you know what you are talking about. If we are able to reach the rendezvous, what then?”

  “You will be collected, and taken somewhere else. That is all I can say for now.”

  “Security again, eh?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “All right. I’ll do it – but only because it’s you, mind! I wouldn’t trust anyone else like this.”

  “Thank you, Afrim. There is another favor I must ask in connection with this.”

  “Here it comes! I knew there would be a catch somewhere!”

  Pal laughed. “Of course there is. There are three people, a married couple and a teenage boy – almost a man now – whom I cannot tell about this in advance. They are neither my family nor my friends. If it is at all possible, I need them to be collected and brought to the rendezvous as well. That is very important. Have you any idea how that can be done, particularly if they do not see the need, or try to call others to discuss it?”

  Afrim shrugged. “The same way we were taught to do it when we trained to serve the Brotherhood. A swift kidnapping solves a lot of problems.”

  “I had not thought of that, but you are right. I know you are still fit and spry. Would one or two of your friends, the ones you plan to bring with you, be able to help you?”

  “I think so. What’s more, I’ll trust them to do so, then keep their mouths shut about it.”

  “Excellent! I shall give you a letter to show to the three, but they do not owe me obedience, so they may not be persuaded by it. If they are not, use whatever means you find necessary.”

  Pal paused while a waitress slid plates of hot, steaming, aromatic food onto the table. Afrim sniffed, and smiled. “I am going to enjoy this! Another beer, please, miss.”