When he reached the double-shielded blast doors that protected the rest of the ship from the Stores, he saw a small brown-skinned woman standing there, dressed in a long, dark robe. Her head was shaved bare, and she sported one long heavy-looking earring in her right ear, with multiple links that brushed the top of her shoulder.
From his childhood training, he knew that this meant that she was a priestess of one of the many goddess-worshiping sects that permeated the Sisterhood, and based on the great length of the earring, a highly placed one at that. He made a sign against witchcraft as subtly as he could, and walked up to her.
The priestess noticed the gesture, and smiled tolerantly. “Greetings, Jon Fa‘Teela I am Ophida n' Marsi, the Ship’s High Priestess. I had heard that you were aboard, but I hadn’t had the time to drop by for a visit until now. Please accept my profoundest apologies.”
“None are needed, Sister,” he said formally.
Ophida smiled again, this time at the honorific he’d used. “I know that my Temple has little to offer you, but I’d like to think that the truth comes in many guises. Perhaps you’ll drop by some time, if only to talk. I’ve heard a bit about your religion from Dr. elle’Kaari and frankly, it fascinates me.”
“Yes, Sister,” Fa‘Teela replied, already hoping that his duties would prevent him from having to keep such a promise.
“In the meantime,” she continued, “one of my congregation passed along the sad news that you had recently lost a possession that was quite near and dear to you. I hope that I’m not presuming, but I took the liberty of procuring a copy of your sacred book so that you might have something to give you comfort during your time aboard the Athena.”
The priestess reached into her robes and pulled out a brand new copy of the Revelation of Mari.
Jon took it from her. “Thank you, Sister,” he said, amazed that a non-believer like herself, a witch if his training had been accurate, would do such a thing for him. “I’ll try to drop by the temple when I’m off duty.”
This time, he meant it earnestly. Surely, Jesu’s light had managed to penetrate her heart, he thought, if only a little. Nothing else could have explained her kind gesture.
“I won’t keep you any further, Jon fa‘Teela If you decide to visit, just ask any crewwoman, or your pathminder for directions.”
“I will,” Jon assured her.
Watching him walk away, Ophida smiled to herself. Although he did not suspect it, the destruction of his first copy of The Revelation had not been the product of random vandalism by any means. It had been a simple matter for her to arrange the event, and its real intent had been to make certain that her gift to him would be accepted.
The copy that the neoman now had in his possession was going to do much more than provide him with spiritual comfort. It would also help her with her surveillance. In addition to the religious text, the book contained a built-in sub-microscopic computer in the spine that tracked every page that was turned, as well as other equally sophisticated microelectronic features. From this point onwards, she would be able to see what captured his interest, and if he took the little book with him, where he went, and more importantly, who he met with and what they said to one another.
CSS C-JUDI-GO, Nosferatu I, Nosferatu System, Frontier Zone, Xee Protectorate, United Sisterhood of Suns. 1043.02|11|08:86:09
Maya watched the Belle Starr on the JUDI’s forward sitscreens as they orbited in tandem around Nosferatu’s only planet of note, a huge orange and yellow G-Class gas giant. The escort ship had come along partly to maintain the illusion that the JUDI wasn’t Null-capable, and also for the added protection that their guns offered. Given the volatile nature of their clients, having the extra firepower around for their meeting was only smart, she reflected.
Sarah spotted their “guests” first. “The Hriss have arrived,” she said barely above a whisper. Maya looked, but she saw nothing on her displays except the JUDI and the Starr. Just the same, she didn’t doubt that the woman was correct.
“There are five of them,” Sarah told everyone, “one freighter and four smaller ships, fighters. They are separating now. One of the groups will be coming out of stealth momentarily.”
The Hriss merchanter and its pair of escorts came up on the long-range scanners at the exact instant that Sarah uttered this, but the other two fighters remained hidden from the JUDI’s instruments.
That fighters were the only escort that the freighter had, was normal enough for the Hriss. According to Zara, the Hriss preferred to employ fighters for their Null escorts, rather than heavier cruisers like the Starr. Evidently, they considered it a greater challenge to traverse Null with a lighter escort. And perhaps it was, on some insane level, Maya mused.
The second pair of fighters, still in stealth, was an entirely different story, and she wondered what they were up to. Knowing the Hriss, it was nothing pleasant.
“Maya, keep an eye on the scanners,” Bel Lissa instructed. “If that second group appears, you sing out. If they’re here for what I think they are, they’ll be inside gun range when they finally let you see them.’
“Also, send a burst transmission to the Starr and let them know what’s going on. Captain n’Jarri’s probably smart enough to guess about the second group, but I don’t want to take any chances that they might surprise her.”
Maya quickly brought up a holographic keypad and tapped out a brief message to the Starr, then sent it.
The Starr replied immediately. “Captain, the Starr is ready,” she reported, “they’re powering up their guns and asking us to let them know when we have any more information on group two.”
“We will, as soon as we know,” Bel Lissa replied.
In the meantime, the Hriss merchanter had hailed the JUDI. “This is T’Nesh’velaka of the cargo freighter T’Pekzaa,” a brusque voice informed them. “We will be assuming a docking orbit with you shortly. Prepare for cargo transfer.”
“This is Captain bel Lissa of the C-JUDI-GO,” Bel Lissa answered. “Standing by for you on this orbital track.” She cut the Com line and turned to Sarah. “Anything more on that second group?”
Sarah didn’t answer her right away. Her eyes were closed and her face was an expressionless mask. After a moment, she stirred and met Bel Lissa’s gaze.
“The second group is assuming an orbit below and behind us,” she said. "They are remaining in stealth mode. These,” she tapped out a figure on her own holoboard, “are their rough coordinates. I detect a sense of latent hostility and suppressed joy coming from the pilots. Apparently, they do not think we know about them, and are gleefully anticipating our terror when they finally decide to reveal themselves.”
“So, it’s to be an ambush, then. What a surprise,” Bel Lissa remarked drolly.
Maya shook her head in disgust. The madness of their thinking completely confounded her. Cutting a deal with someone, and then trying to kill them afterwards was nothing short of psychopathic.
Before Bel Lissa could ask her for it, she turned her sensors in the direction Sarah had given them, and tried to detect anything that would give the JUDI more of an exact fix on the hidden fighters.
“Try looking for a spatial distortion,” Zara suggested. “If they’re where Sarah says, and they probably are, you should pick up some kind of anomaly. That’s if the planet’s magnetosphere doesn’t interfere and block it out.”
She looked hard, and found nothing. Then the Starr’s veteran crewwomen contacted them with another scrambled burst transmission, and confirmed Sarah’s coordinates.
Double-checking her display again, Maya finally spotted them; a pair of distortions, barely detectable against the backdrop of space and the planet’s noise. While the ship’s computer assigned the targets a probable orbital track, Maya flushed with embarrassment. She had been hoping to be the first one to find them, but the role of heroine had been denied her.
By this point, the T’Pekzaa was coming in close to dock with them. “Maya and Zara,” Bel Lissa said, “get down to the ca
rgo bay and get the package ready for transfer.”
The two women left their stations and hustled down the ladder together to the bay, while Bel Lissa kept up a running commentary on the ship’s status over the general com.
“Target coming up and slowing,” she stated. “T’Pekzaa, please ease down your engines and match our speed.” Then, “Assuming docking position. Both ships confirmed at equal speed and attitude. Crew, prepare for docking.”
There was a soft bump against the JUDI’s hull and Maya guided the hovercarry over to the egress hatch. The panel over the hatch came alive, indicating that pressure was being equalized in the docking tube. When it flashed green, the door popped open, revealing a passage across to the T’Pekzaa.
The T’Pekzaa’s egress hatch opened next, and Maya thought that she detected the faint odor of something that smelled like cinnamon in their common air. A Hriss, armed naturally, came into the tube and walked out to its center, waiting for them.
If Zara was nervous, she didn’t show it, and Maya kept her own features placid. Had the Hriss really wanted to, they could have used the docking tube to simply board the JUDI, eliminate everyone and sieze their prize. But as she pushed the hovercarry forwards into the passage, she realized just how impractical and unlikely this notion actually was. Docked as they were, both ships were vulnerable and any weapons fire would have spelled doom for everyone on both vessels. Even so, she was anything but comfortable as she came close to the creature.
“Remove the cargo container from the carry, wretched females, and stand away,” the Hriss commanded in heavily accented Standard. Maya and Zara lifted the plastic box from the hovercarry and set it down at the creature’s feet. The Hriss slung his weapon and opened the case to examine its contents. It was the forward section of the anti-ship torpedo.
Satisfied with what he found, the Hriss spoke into his personal com unit to his ship, and then he straightened and handed Maya a credit chip.
She tried to take it from him without touching his hand, but this proved impossible, and she was revolted by their physical contact.
The Hriss sensed her distress, and laughed. “Gutless weakling,” he said, “even my touch sends you into spasms of terror. I am amazed that such miserable creatures have anything to offer beings as noble as ourselves. Be off now, spineless ones, and be grateful that I allowed you to continue living.”
Maya wanted to answer with something equally haughty, but she bit her tongue and backed away into the JUDI with Zara instead. The egress hatch closed, and as they watched him through its small window, the Hriss casually lifted the heavy cargo box onto his massive shoulders and walked back with it into his own ship.
“Hideous things,” Maya said.
“Aye-yah,” Zara agreed, “that they are. Let’s get back up to the bridge, girl. The easy part is done. Things are going to get a bit tricky from here on out.”
By the time they had reached their stations, the T’Pekzaa had disengaged and was heading out to make its transit into Null with its escort. But the second group of fighters was remaining in orbit with them.
“All hands, strap yourselves in,” Bel Lissa commanded. “The fun should be just about to start.” Maya obediently drew her safety harness around her and double-checked its settings, fervently hoping that Bel Lissa was wrong about the situation.
The T’Pekzaa entered Null and vanished with its prize just as she finished with her straps. In the meantime, the second group of ships had not only changed orbits, but had also come out of stealth. They were headed straight towards them, she realized. And then an alarm sounded. The JUDI was being bracketed by their targeting radar.
“Here comes a whole shipload of shess!” Bel Lissa warned. “All hands stand by for combat!”
The Hriss pilots didn’t waste any time issuing a challenge or any of the usual insults. Instead, the two fighters fired anti-ship missiles at the JUDI and the Starr simultaneously.
“Initiate countermeasures!” Bel Lissa shouted. Zara immediately launched a pair of military-grade decoys from the JUDI’s stern. They activated and Bel Lissa engaged the ship’s engines, driving the vessel straight down towards the face of the gas giant. As its pale atmosphere began to fill the view ports, the JUDI shuddered from an explosion.
“Decoys destroyed,” Zara reported. “The fighters are following us and launching another volley.”
A second string of missiles arrowed down at them, and Zara responded with more decoys. The missiles went for the bait, but everyone aboard knew that the battle was far from over.
“They’re closing up to gun range,” Bel Lissa announced, increasing the JUDI’s angle of descent.
Outside, the universe changed from the stark blackness of space to a strange dream world of orange and yellow mist that reminded Maya of Null. They were descending into the gas giant’s atmosphere. It was a move that would either save them, or seal their doom. She held onto her seat with a death grip as they dropped into the mists, unsure of what she was supposed to be doing to help.
The JUDI shook from another detonation and Bel Lissa gave her the guidance she needed. “Maya,” she said, “watch the altitude readings. Let me know when we get near 6,700 meters and keep an eye on the hull-pressure. It’s going to rise a bit.” Maya nodded, and consulted her display. Already, the readings were starting to climb sharply.
She wasn’t completely sure why the 6,700-meter mark was so important, but she guessed that this was probably the JUDI’s maximum safe depth. If they exceeded that, the ship would implode under the incredible pressure like a squashed kzizka bug. The only consolation was that their end would be swift, and relatively painless.
Her dark train of thought was interrupted by something happening on the forward screens. She looked up and saw ice. No, she corrected herself, not ice, but chunks of frozen ammonia being pulverized as the JUDI went through a band of frigid air.
The fighters behind them fired their plasma guns, lighting up the frozen crystals as they tried to score a hit on the merchanter. Maya kept her eyes on her readings, trusting that Bel Lissa and the JUDI’s AI were doing all they could to evade the gunfire.
One bolt hit though, and demonstrated that the JUDI was not the average merchanter that she appeared to be. Thanks to their OAE connections, the little ship was equipped with military grade blast-resistant armor. Watching the readouts, Maya was shocked to see the energy from the plasma being absorbed and channeled into the vessel’s reserve power supply.
The enemy pilots were also just as surprised and ceased firing. They also accelerated to bring other armament to bear.
“Captain” she said, still marveling at her discovery, “we just hit 450,000 bars, altitude 4,572 meters and dropping. Outside pressure is 458,872 kilos per centi.”
“Acknowledged,” Bel Lissa replied as she increased power to the grav bubble and throttled up the thermal drive to compensate. At the same time, she sent the JUDI spinning into another evasive maneuver. “Zara? How are the reactors holding up?”
Unlike earlier warp-based systems, spaceships like the JUDI didn’t possess shields in the archaic sense of the term. Thanks to the nature of gravitronic engines, the particles which surrounded the ship not only provided it with motive power, but also acted to protect the crew from the forces of acceleration and impacts with foreign objects.
But they required power to do this, and the greater the force being brought to bear against them, the greater the demand on the reactors. And every ship had its upward limits.
“They’re starting to dip into the yellow with all this tossing around,” the Engineer answered.
“Keep an eye on things,” Bel Lissa told her. “I’m routing some power from the reserves.”
Then she glanced at the displays and added, “Everyone get ready for some turbulence; it’s going to get a little rough.”
“Rough” proved to be an understatement. The JUDI cleared the band of ice and came out of the upper atmosphere into a relatively clear section of sky. But here the mer
chanter was pummeled by wind gusts exceeding 320 kph. The JUDI trembled like a giant’s hand was shaking her, and Maya was thrown hard against her straps.
Above and behind them, the fighters weren’t faring much better; a glance at a rearward display showed them being tossed violently about. While they fought for control, Bel Lissa managed to regain the JUDI’s helm and pitched her nose into an even steeper descent. Abruptly, the merchanter cleared the jet stream and entered a calmer layer of atmosphere.
“Now, for a little payback,” she said fiercely. “Zara, let’s use those mines that we paid so much for.”
Zara grinned and launched the devices. In the meantime, the fighters had just entered the clear zone themselves. Having closed the distance at last, they had switched over to railguns and pieces of metal spat out at the JUDI at hypersonic speed.
A sharp pang sounded on the bridge as one round managed to penetrate the grav bubble and scored a hit. Then a voice-alarm calmly announced a rapid drop in the cargo bay’s pressure. It was followed by a sharp whistling sound and Mayas ears began to hurt. Half a second later, the ship’s automatic safety systems engaged the airtight emergency doors between the bridge and the cargo bay, and her pain retreated as the pressure rose to tolerable levels.
Outside, the mines that the JUDI had dropped finally detonated and the explosions sent the fighters spinning. One of them, damaged beyond recovery, spiraled down into the misty depths to meet its inevitable destruction. The other managed to recover from its tumble though, and renewed its attack.
In the meantime, Maya realized that their altitude reached the critical mark. Exterior pressure was now an unbelievable 683,209 kilos per centimeter, and she knew that except for gravitronic field, the JUDI would have been nothing more than a flattened ball of titanium by this point. But even this wouldn’t save them if they dropped much further, she thought. There was only so much they could take.
“Captain!” Zara yelled as they entered another band of wind, this time exceeding 500 kph. “The power drain’s too much. We’re in the red! The bubble will collapse in 45 seconds!”
Sisterhood of Suns: Pallas Athena Page 37