"Aye, Captain."
Some four minutes later the com chief said, "Captain, the Denver reports they are on their way here and instruct us to hold position. They anticipate arrival in sixty-three hours. They say you're to send a copy of the ship's log and all other information regarding our mission to Captain Lidden."
"Helm, all stop. Tac, check the Detect. Helm, cancel our envelope if we're clear," Sydnee ordered. "Navigation, send our revised location coordinates to the com. Chief, transmit our location to the Denver." Her next act was to address the ship. "Attention crew of the Justice. We have just crossed into GA space. We're home. The Denver is coming to meet us and will arrive in two and half days. To our passengers, welcome to the GA. You will now start to enjoy the freedoms extended to all sentient life in the Galactic Alliance. That's all."
The message was then repeated in Yolongi.
*
Sydnee's announcement was met with jubilant shouting in every part of the ship. Many of the former slaves fell to their knees and wept tears of joy as they hugged the people nearest them. It was a day many had never expected to see in their lifetime. Anese hurried to her daughter and they hugged one another as they also cried tears of happiness.
As the former slaves regained their composure, Anese called for silence. When the habitat deck was as still as could be expected, she said, "My sisters, I want to suggest something. Today is the ninth of June on the GA calendar. I want to propose that from this day forward, every June 9th be celebrated as the day we officially gained our freedom. I don't want to diminish the efforts of the Aleoxlene Reqoppl or the entire crew of the Justice, but Captain Marcola was the driving force behind getting us here. We wouldn't be here if not for her. I know that I, my daughter, her children, and their children's children will observe a minute of silence on this date forever as we and they think of and remember the captain. Do you agree? June 9th is Captain Marcola day?"
A cheer went up and someone started yelling, "The 9th of June is Captain Marcola day— forever." A few others picked it up and soon the entire habitat container was rocking as they shouted in unison. The chant quickly spread throughout the rest of ship, finally reaching the people living in the shuttles, at which time they began chanting as well.
*
"Com, what's that noise?" Sydnee asked from her command chair.
"I'll check, Captain."
A few second later the com chief said, "It's the former slaves, Captain. They're all chanting, 'The 9th of June is Captain Marcola day forever.'"
"Permission to put some vid images on the front monitor, Captain?" Lt.(jg) Templeton at the Tac station asked.
"Go ahead, Tac."
Images from the security cameras around the ship began to play on the large monitor at the front of the bridge. In every image women were hugging, kissing, weeping, and chanting.
Sydnee was shocked at first but then recognized it as the way the women had chosen to release the angst they'd still had that something might happen to prevent them from reaching the GA. They needed to remember and celebrate the day— the moment, when they learned they were definitely free.
* *
When the Denver arrived sixty-three hours and twenty-two minutes later, it was accompanied by a Quartermaster's ship. The Justice was ready to be disassembled into separate components and merged with the destroyer. All living areas had been organized and bedding stowed. All of the former slaves were gathered in the habitat container originally used just for satellite storage. The three twenty-meter by ten-meter deck areas were crowded to the maximum, but the women had grown used to it, and they knew things would be substantially better once they were aboard a larger ship. No one was going to complain that the journey to freedom was anything other than the best trip they'd ever taken.
The food stores had naturally been reduced since being acquired in Clidepp space, but there were still massive amounts of food piled up in the passageways. All corridors had to be cleared, so the food was being piled up in the Marine mess hall.
Sydnee examined every area before declaring the preparation work complete. The gravity decking would ensure that the deck was always the center of gravity regardless of its position relative to the ships, but Sydnee warned the former slaves to be prepared for some slight inertia issues as that habitat container was separated from the Justice, then moved into the quartermaster ship. The other habitat containers were likewise sealed and would remain that way until they docked with the Denver and the connection was declared complete and airtight.
When Sydnee was confident the Justice was ready, she gave permission for the four shuttles to detach and enter the Denver's shuttle bays and for the small, unmanned tugs to begin disassembling the habitat container section. When the Justice had been reduced to its main CPS-14 component, it would move into the special shuttle bay aboard the Denver.
"It's kind of sad, isn't it, Captain," Lt.(jg) Olivetti said as they watched the exterior work on the large monitor at the front of the bridge.
"Sad? I'm actually glad to be back, even though we didn't complete our main mission or our secondary mission," Sydnee said.
"No, I'm not talking about reaching the end of our mission; I meant seeing our home dismantled into individual segments. We still have the Denver of course, but I've kinda thought of the Justice as our home also."
"Oh. Yes, it's sad to see it pulled apart, but we have to remember that the next time it's needed, it'll be quickly reassembled again. Outside of the core, the Justice may not have the same configuration, but it'll seem like home again— a home that's merely undergone a bit of remodeling work that changed the appearance a bit to give us a better configuration."
"Yes, that's true."
"The Denver says it's ready for us to enter the large shuttle bay, Captain," the com chief said. "The hatch is being opened."
"Notify them we're ready and have been standing by to enter the ship. Helm, take us in."
"Aye, Captain," Caruthers said as he began applying power to the maneuvering thrusters.
As the Justice entered the large bay, Caruthers slowed the ship so much it hardly seemed to be moving at times. The fit was tight enough that it wouldn't take much for damage to occur from a slight scrape with the sides of Denver's hatchway. There was little chance that the Justice's Dakinium-sheathed hull would be damaged, but the hatch framework could be damaged enough so they couldn't establish an airtight seal. Sydnee knew that Caruthers, of all the pilots on the Denver, was the best helmsman with the CPS-14, whether tight maneuvering was required or simply general piloting of the small ship, so she never had to pay close attention when he was at the helm.
As the Justice settled to the deck after completing the temporary airlock procedure and then gliding to an available parking location once the temporary airlock walls were raised, Sydnee breathed a silent sigh. She dreaded what was to come. Until receiving the request for her log, she hadn't filed a full report since the first attack on the Yolongus capital, so no one aboard the Denver or in Space Command had known she was returning with one thousand three hundred ninety-six civilians.
"Captain, Captain Lidden wants you to report to the office in his quarters ASAP," the com chief said.
"Acknowledge that I'm on my way."
"Yes, ma'am."
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Six
~ June 23rd, 2287 ~
It was 0200 GST so naturally Lidden wouldn't be in his office just off the bridge at this hour. As she approached the door to his quarters, the Marine Corporal on duty there braced to attention. Sydnee moved to where the annunciator system could identify her and ascertain she wanted access to the captain's quarters. After it notified Lidden she was in the corridor and he approved her entrance, the door disappeared into the bulkhead pocket.
Sydnee was surprised to see Lidden in uniform at this hour. She'd expected informal wear. Even more surprising were the five other officers standing in the sitting room. All were in uniform except one— Winston. The Denver's XO, Commander Bry
ant was there, and Commander Knight, whom she had met during her mission briefing. She didn't know the others, but she understood their presence when she noticed that each had an SCI insignia on their collars. Sydnee stopped a meter away from the group of officers and braced to attention. "Lieutenant Sydney Marie Marcola reporting to the captain as ordered."
"Lieutenant, you're out of uniform. You're wearing the wrong rank insignia."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. I didn't have the correct insignia and there was no one else onboard the Justice from whom I could borrow one. Now that I've returned to the Denver I can procure the insignia during first watch."
"You're excused owing to unavailability of the insignia aboard the Justice."
"Thank you, sir."
"At ease."
Sydnee noticed that Winston was grinning. She wondered if he had previously learned her correct rank.
"You know Commander Bryant, of course," Captain Lidden said, "and the SCI lieutenant commander and agent who wishes to be referred to today as Winston Cornwallis. I'm also sure you remember Commander Knight from your pre-mission briefing. These two other officers are Captain Salido and Commander Brookstein."
"Sirs," Sydnee said as she nodded to the men and, "Ma'am," as she nodded to Commander Knight, although Space Command regulations and protocol permitted her to include all officers in a group with the male designation.
"You've had quite a voyage, Lieutenant," Salido said. "Winston tells us you somehow managed to avoid starting a war despite attacking the capital city of the Clidepp Empire not once but twice, crippling their power and communication systems."
"Uh, I hoped my actions wouldn't result in war, and I did everything possible to conceal our identity. If there had been any other way I would not have ordered the attacks, but my orders were to get Winston out at all costs, and I only took the actions I deemed necessary."
"The second attack took place after you knew Winston had escaped from the facility where he was being held."
"Yes, sir. Following the first attack, a large part of my crew had been forced to take refuge in the GA embassy. They couldn't leave because the Qummuc had arrived after they entered the bunker. With the APCs watching the embassy, they would have been observed if they tried to leave. That would have been sufficient proof to the Triumvirate that the GA was responsible. The second attack was an attempt to pull the Qummuc APCs away so my people could vacate the embassy."
"But your ruse didn't work?"
"No, sir. I don't know why it didn't."
"We're indeed fortunate that the Triumvirate didn't accuse us of being responsible. It would, no doubt, have gotten very messy, and you might have lost those shiny new bars you haven't even acquired yet."
"Yes, sir. I expected my actions might mean the end of my career, but if I had it to do over again, I'd do the same things. And if you could have seen the faces on the slaves when they knew they were finally free after we crossed into GA space, I think you would have done it also."
"Where's the package, Lieutenant?"
"He's in Shuttle-One with two of my Marines as guards. He can be returned to his accommodations here on the Denver until another mission is sent to complete our work. The Justice was so packed with slaves it would have been impossible to perform the satellite placement, but we did get the eight satellites placed around Yolongus."
"I don't know what's going to happen when the news is released that almost one thousand four hundred slaves have reached freedom here in the GA. I'm sure we can't keep it a secret, but we intend to try to keep Space Command's responsibility for the escape a secret."
"Why, sir? The entire GA should know and be clamoring for action against the Clidepp Empire. The Aleoxlene Reqoppl estimate the number of Terran slaves in the Clidepp Empire to number in the millions. Only a quarter are Terrans who were captured and enslaved. The others are part of a breeding system to supply slaves to anyone who can meet the price. We have to end that, sir."
"I agree. But I don't make the rules, Lieutenant. Winston speaks just as passionately about correcting these wrongs, and in time things may change. People's eyes are being opened with every slave who is freed. Newsies looking for breaking news and authors looking for book subjects will probably learn of the slaves you freed before too long and start writing those stories and biographies, but we must conceal our participation in the Great Slave Escape of 2287 lest we be accused of perpetrating those very attacks you worked so hard to cover up."
"Yes, sir. In that regard Marine Captain Blade created an imaginary insurgent group he called the Terran Freedom Coalition. After we departed for GA space, he carried out four more raids where he rescued the slaves being forced to work in four factories. He also downloaded all data from their computers before setting fire to the factories. The Marines involved in the operation dropped leaflets and spray-painted the walls with the TFC initials to support the fabrication. With luck, it will further help to deflect attention away from Space Command and the GA. I might suggest you report that the slaves were freed through the efforts of that group and returned to GA space in a freighter. We've also interviewed all of the former slaves and collected a lot of information for SCI. And by the way sir, we were able to download all of the files in the government database when we raided the slave pens to recover the slaves Winston was trying to bring out."
"What?" Winston said. "You never told me you were able to access and copy their slave census files."
Salido looked over at Winston and frowned.
"Sorry for interrupting, sir."
"It was a busy time, Commander," Sydnee said.
"Lieutenant," Captain Salido said, "I've asked Captain Lidden if you're free to take another trip into the Clidepp Empire."
"If I'm allowed, sir, I'd like to go back and finish the mission we started."
"He thought you'd say that. But this would be a different mission. Winston believes he has discovered the true identity of Citizen X. We'd like you to take him with you and track down X, returning the Rebel leader for questioning as you did with the package. If he's responsible for the attack on Freight-One, he'll receive the maximum punishment for that crime. Would you be willing to go back into the Clidepp Empire and track him down for us?"
"No, sir."
"No? That's hardly the answer I expected from you, Lieutenant. Everything you've done in the past indicates this is a mission you'd relish."
"Sir, going back into Clidepp space to search for Citizen X would be a complete waste of everyone's time."
"You don't believe he's guilty of ordering the attack on Freight-One?"
"It's not that, sir. The trip is unnecessary because I've already captured Citizen X. He's sitting in Shuttle-Two with the Marines I assigned to guard him."
"What?" Winston practically shouted as he unconsciously took a step forward towards Sydnee.
Salido looked over at Winston again and once again frowned at the SCI agent, then returned his gaze to Sydnee after Winston stepped back to where he had been standing. Winston's face mirrored the embarrassment he was feeling for his outburst.
"I'm as surprised as Winston, Lieutenant. Who, exactly, do you have in Shuttle-Two?"
"I have Citizen X, sir. He's cuffed and under guard by four of my Marines, sir. You can begin interrogating him whenever you wish. So you see, there's no need for us to travel back into Clidepp space for that purpose."
"You couldn't possibly have X!" Winston yelled.
This time Salido glared at Winston for his outburst and continued to stare at the SCI agent.
"I'm sorry for my outburst, sir." Winston said. "I'm just— I'm just— I'm just…"
"Stop repeating yourself, Commander. And stop interrupting."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
Returning his gaze to Sydnee, Salido said, "Who do you have in custody? What's his proper legal name, not his Rebel code name?"
"His name is Plelillo. Aderses Plelillo. He's the son of the Clidepp Prime Minister. He's in Shuttle-Two, and his two top Rebel deputies a
re in Shuttle-Three. They're also cuffed and under guard by a fire team of Marines. I've kept the Rebels separated since their capture."
"Impossible!" Winston shouted.
"Commander, for the last time, control yourself!" Salido said. "If you don't, I'll have you removed from the room under guard."
"Uh, yes, sir. Sorry again, sir. It's been a very long time since I've had to follow proper military protocol. I apologize."
"I understand, which is why I've gone easy on you up until now. Agents are recruited before they graduate from the academies for the very reason that we don't want them so indoctrinated in military protocols that they can't properly assume the role of an undisciplined individual. Now just stand there and say nothing unless you're specifically addressed."
"Yes, sir."
"Now, Lieutenant, tell us how you managed to capture the individual we believe might be X and his two top deputies."
When Sydnee had explained about the strange communication stream that appeared to be coming from a stationary space yacht just outside DeTect distance from the planet, then destroying its temporal generator when it refused to heave to and tried to escape without calling for help from the Clidepp fleet, and subsequently learning who the yacht belonged to, all of the senior officers in Lidden's quarters, including Lidden, seemed to be in shock.
Winston finally found his tongue and asked, "Permission to ask a question, sir?"
"Granted." Salido said.
Looking at Sydnee, Winston asked, "And just how did you learn Aderses Plelillo was suspected of being Citizen X?"
"Why, you told me, Commander."
"I never said a word to you about Citizen X."
"No, not verbally. I read it in your report to SCI."
"She couldn't have read my report, sir," Winston said to Salido. "I never showed it to her, and it was triple encrypted."
"Yes, the encryption did present me with difficulty for a few minutes," Sydnee said, "but I knew I had to break it because I thought it might give me a clue to your whereabouts on Yolongus. I had an unfair advantage in that you used a computer system aboard my ship to write and then encrypt your report. Even though you tried to cover your tracks, I had access to computer files you either don't know about or were unable to delete. I used every trick they taught us at the Academy and managed to peel away the encryption levels one by one until I was able to read the message. I know the report was not for my eyes, but I believed it might provide me with a clue as to who had grabbed you. And it did because it mentioned Aderses Plelillo. I already knew his father controlled the Qummuc secret police, and my people were able to learn from an Aleoxlene Reqoppl coordinator on the planet where the Qummuc had taken you for questioning. I knew I had to get to you before the Yolongi crippled you for life or even killed you while trying to get you to talk. I didn't learn you had already escaped until after we raided and secured the Qummuc facility where you had been held. And, in your defense, only the captain of the ship has access to the files that allowed me decrypt your message. It should also be stated that the appointed captain of a Space Command warship, even a warship as small as a CPS-14, routinely has access to data classified as Most Secret."
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