"Who?" he stepped back, shocked.
"Brun and Sarin. Mother gave Regan into their hands after you went to the clinic. I argued but her guards restrained me and they quickly left with her. As soon as I could get away I went with my own guard straight to Sarin's rooms but we were too late. Marin, I was there when my men pulled Sarin off her. Her face, the bruises . . . our brothers did that to her, and far worse. Give her time brother. She's summoned amazing strength to get this far, she will get through this I'm sure."
Lost for words Marin sat slowly back. "Thank you for telling me, before I made a complete mess of this." His thoughts quickly went to Ham.
[Why didn't you tell me?]
[When have we had time to talk, you needed to focus, and would it have helped anyway?]
Marin focused on Sindali. "You should get some sleep Sin. We're secure in here, go to Buela and Rhine, they need you and you need them, tomorrow we will all need to be thinking clearly."
She nodded, touched his shoulder in encouragement, and then walked slowly toward the children's room. The adrenalin had long since worn off for her, she felt drained, exhausted.
Marin sat a few minutes more, his head again pounding so he reached to a sleeve pocket and popped two more of the pills. In only moments he could feel the drug soothing the pressure in his head, but not his heart. Rising he walked quietly to Regan's room and standing in the doorway he could see her stretched out under the covers. He shook his head, even in rest she looked powerful. "I will get you home." He whispered. Then he stretched out on the floor beside the bed, and let the drugs bring him sleep.
Regan lay quietly, listening to his steady breathing. She smiled faintly, pulled the cover tight about her and found her own rest.
Unknown hours later, staring at the ceiling, Regan found her mind surprisingly blank. Flat, she thought. I feel flat, empty, dull, numb, nothing.
[Ham, Are you there? I need you Ham.]
[I'm here babe, and so are you, you're safe here, you're going to be ok.]
[I'm not so sure about that Ham, not the way I feel and I'm not going to be much use to anyone at the moment.]
[Why should you be of use? You aren't responsible for anyone here so don't carry that around. You can and will help again, but for now just allow yourself to heal, I'll give you a couple of hours, and then we can get into things, ok?]
She smiled, [You have more confidence in me than I have in myself.]
[I doubt it, I'm getting to know you, Regan Stein, and I like you, you're one tough bird and no one is going to bring you down. Rest up, get something to eat, then take charge, Dahlians don't think like you do.]
Regan literally rolled out of the bed; first job, clothes. A quick circuit of the room to find closets and clothing possibilities instead uncovered Marin, still on the floor and snoring soundly. She stepped over him to tap the pad on the wall and as the door slid open so did his eyes, with Regan, naked astride his head; quite a morning picture. Not usually short of a word Marin bit back his first thoughts.
Looking up he met her eyes, "I'm sorry Regan, I'm so sorry."
Not the most elegant pose, she thought. Stepping aside she crouched beside him. "Marin, you have nothing to be sorry about. I know what you mean, and thank you but don't worry, I'll work this out, I really will. Right now I just need clothes and breakfast, join me?"
[I have news guys, find somewhere to sit down, we need to talk.] Ham broke into Regan's thoughts and she could see Marin also react; clearly they had an open channel.
[What's up Ham?] Marin was first to respond and Regan resumed her search for something to wear.
[It'll keep Marin, but we do need to plan. Help Regan find something to wear for goodness sake or you'll never get your mind on the job, we'll talk over breakfast.]
The bedroom revealed nothing of use but slipping quietly into the other room Regan found a two piece suit clearly intended for a male. On her it fit snug and certainly met her needs. She didn't complain.
Both she and Marin took a short while to adjust to the three-way. Neither had engaged in three person sub-vocal conversations before, however it was stimulating and they quickly established natural rapport.
[There's no doubt about the incoming vessels.] Ham continued [They are warships and they're from Cora.]
[They can only be here by invitation; otherwise all the orbitals would be concerned.] Marin's worry radiated, even without spoken word. [Ham, what do you know about Beria's intentions?]
[It can only be bad, and all the other tribes are concerned. Diplomatic traffic is frantic trying to establish the state of affairs. Beria isn't explaining her actions to anyone and her authorities have suspended all communication between here and the other orbitals. Marin, she's offered an alliance to Cora - provided they assure her continued primacy. Her story is that rebels have threatened the stability of our home, but she is confident that with military support the rebellion can be put down. Cora doesn't care about rebels, they only see the opportunity to establish a foothold here so they can control the other orbitals. This alliance will extend their influence and they hope it will give them dominance.]
[But why would they bother? All the orbitals cooperate; each has something of value to trade. There's no need for control or dominance.] Marin paced, shaking his head in confusion [This doesn't make sense.]
[How long have they been mining the asteroid belt?] Regan asked.
[Eight generations. The Coran tribes have worked there almost one thousand of your years, sure they may be isolated but they've prospered.]
[Well, my bet is that it's either running out or it's getting too hard or too costly to reach the minerals they need, the asteroids I mean. I'll bet that's got something to do with it. They fear losing their economic power. Marin, maybe Beria's offered them the planet?]
[She wouldn't do that, not even she's that desperate . . . surely.] He suddenly sounded doubtful.
[I'm not so sure Marin.] Ham said [Regan may be right, Beria may have offered space for Coran communities on both the planet and the orbital.]
[She has no mandate to commit our planet or the orbital to such plans. They aren't hers to offer!]
[Marin,] Regan interrupted [warships and military are the mandate. In my experience friendly military visits like this don't end quickly, they visit and never leave. Everyone gets the message and they usually toe the line.]
[Toe the line?]
[It's an expression; it means they just roll over.]
[Roll over?]
[Oh for goodness sake, they give up the ghost!]
Ham sighed [Marin, they give in, they concede, capitulate, surrender, yield . . . helloo!]
Marin wasn't convinced [My people will never surrender their independence!]
Regan shook her head [I'm not so sure Marin. I imagine just the presence of a warship is pretty intimidating in space and you don't seem to have a strong military or police presence]
"We don't have a military at all." Marin muttered.
Regan sat up, suddenly determined. [Ham, we can't let them dock!]
[What would you suggest? I take it you've got ideas.] Ham's eagerness was obvious.
[I have actually, and I'm glad you sound excited. Here's my thinking, did you know back on Earth they still have people who follow dog racing?]
Marin huffed, getting frustrated. [And that helps how?]
[Marin, the dogs chase a fake rabbit. We just need a juicy rabbit for these dogs to chase, something to draw them away from the orbital and then we can . . . dissuade them perhaps?] She had a suspiciously wicked look.
[We don't have rabbits here!]
[Agreed, but be imaginative will you. There are other things a dog will chase, a stick for instance, or a ball.]
Ham was suddenly under no illusions where this was heading [May I refresh your memory Regan, something I said earlier, perhaps you didn't take it in, WARSHIPS!]
[Calm down Ham, I have an almost foolproof cunning plan.] Regan rubbed her hands together mischievously.
[An almost f
oolproof plan . . . now where have I heard that before?]
Regan waited . . . [But you do want to hear it don't you?] and she smiled.
[You know it . . . ok spill it.]
It took almost an hour to outline the plan to Sindali and persuade her that the risk was worth it. Huddled together in the dining area like co conspirators, Regan quietly chuckled at their whispered negotiations. Finally Marin could sense Sindali was onboard and decided to sum up while they were ahead.
"So, that's Regan's plan Sin. We can deal with the warships, but we need you to set the trap."
Marin stalked the room. "Your job is to convince Mother that The Stein is a threat. She must believe that Regan and I are on board the ship and that we're going for help. Pretend you're happy about it, she'll believe you because one: she thinks she has all communications blocked from here to the other orbitals, and two: the ship will leave without permission. Ham will make sure your call isn't traced so in fact we'll all remain safe here, but we need those Coran warships to chase The STEIN, out to the edge of the system preferably, maybe even into Coran space. It's the only safe way. We can't risk an engagement so close to this orbital, it would be catastrophic."
"But where would you go for help?"
"Tell her we've gone to Tihan, they're the largest orbital in the system. Beria won't know why and that doesn't matter. The threat will be enough. The STEIN can head in that direction first then veer off once under pursuit."
Sitting back Regan listened to Marin explaining the plan while Ham muttered distractingly in the back of her mind.
[Engagement . . . the word so easily trips off the tongue! Regan, you do realize I'm the only one risking my life here?]
[Is that right Ham? Wow, you know, here's an idea, you could do with a backup!]
[Touché . . . But be fair, I rather like this body.]
[Do you mean this one or that one?] Regan deliberately lifted up her hand and pointed at her eyes.
Silence . . . . [OK, you've made your point. But I really didn't really envisage The STEIN ending up shredded foil!]
[Ham,] She appealed to him, [I don't want The STEIN shredded either, and I don't mean to be reckless with the ship, I truly believe this is going to work, almost certainly.]
[That's not funny anymore sweetheart. Look, you know I'm not going to back out, but I'm not completely happy. I'm on my own out there and you know how I like someone to talk to, if we're going to do this we should keep communications open, Dahlia can squirt communications to me and I can return the same. There'll be a small delay but it's better than nothing.]
[Dahlia?]
[Dahlia is this orbital mind, another enlightened thinker shall we say, and the ghost in this machine if you catch my drift?]
[Ah, so she's out of the greenhouse too then?]
[Still a private affair you understand and best kept that way, ok?]
[Understood Ham.]
Through Regan Ham watched the discussion and it was clear by their body language that Sindali and Marin had also reached agreement. He wasted no time [We should move now, the Coran ships are already preparing to dock on the hub and the STEIN's on the other side of the orbital. We have no more than an hour before they'll be disembarking.]
Regan stood and walked to Sindali nervously, the whole plan depending on her support. "Are you up for this Sindali? If so, we need to make the call right now. You're the only one who will convince her, I'm sure of it Sin, you're her main threat."
"Why do you say that?" Sindali looked extremely nervous.
Regan knelt and took her hands. "You really need to ask? Sindali, you heard the Commander, you've been trying so hard to be loyal that you're blind to the support you have. This is more than them hoping for you to move, they're waiting for you to move, I'm sure of it. Please make the call, if we wait it any longer it will be too late."
Sindali looked across the room at the children now playing happily at the table. So resilient, so trusting, she thought.
With a word to the system she initiated the call. "Beria!"
They listened in on the call amazed at her performance, brilliant in fact, Regan thought, what an actress, scary good!
[Listening to her I think people must be born politicians Ham, and the good ones are actors for sure, that was very convincing!]
Sindali having been totally focused, looking off into the distance as she talked, now turned to look at them.
"So, how was that?" She could see Marin's mouth was hanging open, Regan wide eyed and a little in awe.
"Sister, did you ever lie to me when were young, because I sure wouldn't have been able to tell!"
Sindali smiled and looked him straight in the eyes, "Never!"
Marin shuddered, no point in wondering. "Well, how long before we know if she took the bait?"
[The STEIN is already underway, she made a fast detach. ShipHam will know whether they've bitten soon, maybe a few minutes more?]
The seconds ticked by on Regan's watch with no one speaking and the tension built unbearably.
Ham burst back into their consciousness [We have action people, communications are running hot between Beria and the lead ship - their Commander wants to dispatch just the one vessel in pursuit.]
[Ham, can you go live so that Sindali can follow things too?]
"Sure, and I'll put visuals on the room screen."
Sindali gasped as the screen view lit up with Ham's voice coming from the system. They could see the departing STEIN Traveler and she looked beautiful.
Regan felt an ache in her stomach as she watched. Her only previous view of the ship had been from the Pod more than two months earlier and this was something special, the matt black sphere seeming to move effortlessly away as it swung out under the soaring petals. As she did so it became apparent how tiny the ship really was. As it moved into the distance and their view became that of The Stein with a petal directly above, it appeared as only the tiniest of dots, like a speck of dust.
Ham broke the trance. "Beria has demanded they both pursue, it looks like she wants you dead Marin . . . I'm sorry."
Sindali sat beside him. "You know, I feel like this is a nightmare, that it's going to stop at some point and everything will be as it was."
Marin hugged his sister. "You know Sin, as it was, it wasn't really that good, we've been going backwards as a people and something had to happen."
"And it's going to be the start of something great, I'm sure of it." Regan added confidently. Neither Marin nor Sindali looked so certain.
"I'm going to commence accelerating," said Ham, "See if I can make up their minds and draw them out. Dahlia has cleared a flight path for them."
Sindali looked questioningly at Marin, her eyebrows raised, as if to say, 'Dahlia?'
Marin dismissed the thought with his hand. "Later sis, we'll talk about it later."
"And they're on the move! Dahlia reports hard acceleration close to the hub, she's most upset. I'd better get moving, it looks like the hare and the hounds are underway. Wish me well." ShipHam dramatically seemed to sign off.
[Godspeed!] Regan sent. She felt incredibly anxious, very aware it was her plan, and suddenly the whole thing felt reckless, but there was no going back.
Minutes passed, then the screen view switched to a view showing Coran warships streaking away from the orbital. As they passed the tip of one petal Regan squirmed. By comparison with The STEIN they were huge, like baseball bats to a very small ball bearing.
"What now Ham?" Sindali asked.
[Regan, I can't answer remember, I shouldn't be here! Even Marin doesn't know I'm with you.]
Fortunately Marin explained. "There'll be delays in communication now Sin, Ham is with the ship."
"He's with the ship? No! I never thought anyone would be on the ship, I wouldn't have agreed, no one should have to take that risk!"
"It's too late Sin and there's no other way - a lot of lives may be risked over the next few days, let Ham make his own decision." he looked across at Regan, eyebrows
raised.
Regan's eyes were locked on the screen, the Coran ships already dwindling in the starscape.
"There's nothing we can do now. Ham will keep ahead of them for as long as possible but without going to warp they will slowly overtake him. Still, it will be several days before he draws them to the edge of the system. Hopefully they won't reach him before then. Until then, we can only wait."
Earth: Special Projects Fortress, Riverside
"So Hayden, what do you think?" Steph's gaze drifted over the group circling the ADF, some stroking it and talking in hushed tones. She could see from their expressions they had doubts, seeing the fighter in The Fortress was one thing, knowing it can perform was another. She knew this group was the cream from USDynamics Aerospace and Defense; it included aircraft designers, engineers and project managers, all experts in their fields. This group were people who had already developed and built supersonic military aircraft at the leading edge of technology, all handpicked by Hayden for their practical strengths. She could tell from their sceptical faces what they were thinking, who are these upstarts, trying to reinvent the wheel?
Her concern was more obvious than she realized and as Hayden read her thoughts, he smiled.
"Steph, I've gone over the performance data from your trials and I don't think you need to worry, they're going to be shocked when they see the ADF in action. Myself? Honestly, I'm stunned at what this beauty can do, and without a pilot. How you people have been able to develop the software for it to fly independently is beyond me. I'm impressed."
She smiled gratefully, "Well, it's not completely independent. We set the mission parameters of course, but yes, it can react far faster than any pilot and make the adjustments required to achieve the goal. Hayden, the US has drones doing something similar so you can't fool me." She said this chuckling, "But I know, ours are way better!" and they both laughed.
"Anyway," she continued, "this is just a teaser. We'll show them the latest prototype in action tomorrow when we move up to the Wairarapa facility, after all seeing it in action is the key. Then they'll appreciate the other real breakthroughs we've made are in fuel technology and propulsion. Once they see that and realize we're developing to upscale for orbit as well, I'm hoping they'll get as enthusiastic as we are."
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