Web of Truth (Cadicle #4): An Epic Space Opera Series

by DuBoff, Amy

“I know.” Taelis sighed. “It’s not something we’ll be able to overcome in a timely manner.

  At this rate, we’ll never have the fleet ready in time. I don’t want to know how Wil would react if he found out about the true extent of this deficit. “We need to do something.”

  “Clearly.” Taelis looked down. “You know I wouldn’t normally ask it, but I need your help. See if there are any strings you can pull to get additional capacity at any of the shipyards in your jurisdiction.”

  “Our TSS shipyards are already working overtime, same as yours.”

  Taelis looked pensive. “Civilian?”

  We may not have another choice. “I’ll look into it.”

  * * *

  Wil entered Banks’ office to find his father already waiting in one of the guest chairs.

  “You wanted to see me?” Wil asked.

  “Yes,” Banks replied. “Have a seat.”

  Wil sat down in the chair next to Cris.

  “I hear you’re planning a trip to Tararia,” Banks stated once Wil was settled.

  “Yes. It’s past time I took Saera. This is the first leave she’s had that’s long enough.” Plus, we need a vacation.

  “Yes of course.” Banks pursed his lips in thought.

  “I assume it would be okay if Kate and I accompanied them,” Cris added.

  Banks nodded. “I figured that would be the case.” He steepled his fingers. “In fact, I was counting on it. I was hoping you could conduct some business on behalf of the TSS while you’re there.”

  “What kind of business?” Cris asked.

  “I’ve been talking with Taelis, and it’s become clear that the TSS shipyards are no longer able to keep up with production demands, especially not with the recent delays to the IT-1s. We need additional capacity,” Banks explained.

  I was afraid that might happen. It’s obvious where he’s going with this. “So you want us to strike a deal with SiNavTech?” Wil asked.

  Banks smirked. “I was going to ease into it a little more slowly than that, but yes.”

  Cris shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We’ve always been intentional about keeping the military and civilian vessel manufacturing separate, especially if the Priesthood insists on knowledge of the war staying within the TSS.”

  “Yes,” Banks replied. “But, I’m asking now because I have recently learned of a shipyard near Prisaris that has been shut down. My hope is that we can acquire the facility for our exclusive use.”

  “Prisaris… That’s one of the outer colonies near Bakzen Territory, isn’t it?” Wil asked. It makes strategic sense. We could construct a rift gate and easily get the new ships to H2.

  “Precisely,” Banks confirmed. “So you understand my rationale.”

  Cris took a deep breath. “I don’t know if they’ll go for it, but we can try.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Saera stared with wonder out the window of the shuttle. The landscape of Tararia below was lush and mature, carefully preserved through stewardship and technology. Vibrant green trees and a rainbow of decorative foliage stood out between historical structures and along grand parkways dotting the developed land. Her home back on Earth seemed tainted and abused by comparison.

  The shuttle descended at a shallow angle over a vast lake and passed the sprawling city of Sieten on the way to the Sietinen estate atop a terraced hill. Ornate stone buildings filled the city, with a unique mixture of old-world charm and modern elegance that contrasted against architectural accents of gleaming glass and metal.

  A white stone wall five meters tall surrounded the enormous Sietinen estate, and within its confines the gardens bloomed across the full spectrum, arranged to create dazzling geometric patterns. Beds with exotic flowers lined white stone pathways, and vast lawns of luxurious grass surrounded the main mansion and annex buildings. Behind the estate, an evergreen forest rose up the hill and stretched into the mountain range beyond. The mansion itself was constructed of the same gleaming white stone as the perimeter wall and pathways through the gardens. Expansive windows overlooked the grounds, tinted for privacy and to minimize the sun’s afternoon glare. Terraces and balconies protruded from each of the mansion’s three levels, adorned by potted plants in bright colors that stood out against the white facade.

  The shuttle set down on a paved port at the southern end of the estate grounds. Saera’s chest tightened as the shuttle depressurized and the main door opened. She looked over at Wil, who had been calmly staring out the window on the other side of the aisle as they made their approach.

  Seeing her apprehension, he gave her a reassuring smile. “Come on.”

  Taking Wil’s hand, Saera felt calmed by his presence but the knot in her chest persisted. She followed him out the side door. Relax. There’s no reason to be nervous. You’re just meeting the extended family.

  Saera descended the steps from the shuttle, immediately struck by the freshness of the air. She squinted behind her tinted glasses in the afternoon sunlight; after so many years in space, it was an assault on her senses. As her eyes adjusted, she saw a man and a woman approaching, accompanied by several people in dark gray a few paces back. After a moment, she realized that it was Cris and Kate coming to meet them.

  “Welcome!” Cris greeted once they were within acceptable range.

  Saera and Wil returned the pleasantries.

  Though she’d had plenty of dinners with Wil and his parents, it was strange to see Cris and Kate outside the context of TSS Headquarters. They both wore their tinted glasses in the bright sun, but otherwise their identity as Agents was muted. Cris wore only the black t-shirt and pants from his most casual Agent uniform, and Kate had donned a flowing light blue dress that suited her so perfectly it would make anyone question her position within the TSS. While Kate seemed completely at home, Cris had a tightness in his lips that suggested an inner tension.

  “Did you have a smooth trip?” Kate asked.

  “Yes, uneventful,” Wil answered. “Sorry we were delayed getting out of Headquarters, but it looks like you’ve taken the extra time to get settled in.” He looked around the nearly empty port. “Not that I mind, but I’m surprised there isn’t more of a welcoming committee.”

  Cris let out an aggravated grunt and shook his head.

  Kate collected herself. “It was decided to have our family reunion be a more formal affair.”

  “What your mother is trying to say is that my father is making our lives difficult, as usual,” Cris interjected with more than a touch of bitterness in his tone.

  Oh dear. Saera looked to Wil for help. “Should I not be here?”

  “Of course you should be here,” Wil insisted.

  “They’re just honoring tradition,” Kate assured.

  Cris looked like he had more to say on the matter, but he kept it to himself. He turned and led the way along the main path toward the mansion.

  The path was wide enough for the four of them to comfortably walk abreast—Cris to the outside right, Wil to the left, with their partners next to them in the middle.

  “What does this formal meeting entail?” Saera asked as they walked.

  “We’ll have dinner with my parents tonight,” Cris informed her. “And then there’s supposed to be some sort of reception with delegates from the other Dynasties tomorrow night.”

  “A reception?” Wil muttered with a hint of disdain.

  “It should be relatively painless. I’ll instruct you on everything you need to know for tonight,” Kate told Saera.

  “Thank you.” This trip is already taking on a life of its own. I was worried this would happen.

  A light breeze caught a strand of Kate’s hair, and she tucked it back behind her ear with her left hand. The light caught a ring on her finger, sending a fractured rainbow in a flash across her face.

  Saera had never seen Kate wear the distinctive ring before; it had a large round center stone that resembled a diamond and several smaller stones set into the band amid delica
te swirls in the white metal.

  When Kate lowered her hand, she noticed that Saera was admiring her accessory. “I don’t get to break this out of the vault too often,” she said with a smile.

  “It’s beautiful,” Saera breathed.

  “He did pretty well with the design.” Kate flashed a knowing smile at Cris. “It’s made from a Starstone. There are only ten such gem veins known anywhere in the galaxy. The High Dynasties each have claim to one. Only enough material for one set of wedding rings is produced by each vein every generation.” She took Cris’ left hand and held their rings close together. It was then that Saera noticed Cris had on a different ring, as well—inset with stones rather than the plain white metal band he usually wore. The stones in the two rings glowed slightly in a shifting rainbow when they came into close proximity. “The Starstones from each vein all carry memory of their kind and resonate when they come close to other gems cut from the same vein.”

  “Don’t even ask about the price,” Cris added. “I’ll just say that each High Dynasty may have first right of refusal, but even if the claim was turned down it’d be next to impossible to find another buyer.”

  “That’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Will I have one eventually?

  “You’ll see a lot more tomorrow night,” Cris said.

  They approached a side door of the mansion. Once indoors, Cris, Kate and Wil removed their tinted glasses.

  Saera followed their example. Even though she’d only had the glasses for a few months, already she felt exposed without them.

  “Since dinner isn’t until later tonight, I figured I may as well give you the grand tour this afternoon,” Cris said. The glow in his cobalt eyes was visible even in the well-lit hall.

  “Sure.” Saera looked around in awe at the interior hallway of the mansion. It was even more grand inside than out. The stone walls were carved with abstract patterns reminiscent of flowers and vines, and accents of gold and silver adorned even more detailed molding along the ceiling and floor. On the outer wall, arched windows spanned nearly floor to ceiling, overlooking the gardens. On the interior wall, tapestries and paintings of mountains and other natural landscapes covered much of the space between decorated doorways.

  Saera shook her head. It hardly seems real. “I can’t believe you grew up here,” she said to Cris.

  “Neither can I,” he replied. “It feels like another lifetime.”

  The group spent the next hour following Cris on a tour around the property. The grounds and mansion were even more breathtaking up close, each area displaying the finest craftsmanship and materials. They wove through the halls—passing sitting areas and training rooms—and into gardens and several outbuildings that contained pools, recreation facilities and gazebos for lounging.

  Saera tried to take it all in, but it was overwhelming. I came from so little. I don’t belong in a place like this. “You always talked about the family’s wealth, but I guess I could never really picture it before now,” she commented as they strolled through a particularly exquisite hall with striking sculptures of animals displayed on pedestals along one wall.

  Cris shook his head. “Honestly, this is just evidence of the old wealth. Transport and colonization have been on the upswing over the last few generations, and the balance in the central bank account makes all of this seem modest.”

  I can’t even fathom that kind of lifestyle. “Where does all of that money go?” Saera asked.

  “Most of it just sits in various accounts collecting interest,” Cris replied. “But we do take care of our people. You won’t find a single homeless, hungry, or uneducated person on Tararia.”

  “We just send anyone who doesn’t pull their weight off-world,” Wil added flippantly.

  Saera’s eyes narrowed. “Why charge for services at all if there’s that much to go around?”

  “Why not? It keeps all of us Dynastic types feeling so great about ourselves,” Wil said.

  Kate gave Wil a stern look with her glowing hazel-green eyes. “Not here.”

  “That’s just the way it is,” Cris answered Saera more seriously. “It always has been, and so it persists. Things are much better than they used to be, though.”

  “There’s a reason we don’t come here often,” Wil continued. “Once you’ve been in the TSS long enough, where status is earned rather than assigned at birth, it’s tough to be back in a place with such clear distinctions.”

  It was this way in so many places on Earth, too. Things may look better on the surface here, but it’s an illusion. “I know what you mean.”

  “Don’t worry,” Cris said in a low voice, “we’re working on it.”

  They finished the tour in the gardens, and then Kate gave Saera a quick tutorial on how to properly greet the Heads of the Sietinen Dynasty. It seemed straightforward enough. They practiced a few times until Saera felt comfortable with the routine. When they were finished, Wil and Cris left to meet with Wil’s grandfather on some TSS business.

  A servant showed Saera to the guest suite she would share with Wil, which consisted of a sitting room, a lavish bathroom, and a bedroom with a terrace. Saera was about to go onto the terrace when she noticed two ornate evening gowns hanging from hooks on the wall in the bedroom. This is no casual family get-together.

  * * *

  Cris led Wil toward his father’s office on the other side of the estate. He was reluctant to discuss business with Reinen, but they may as well get it out of the way.

  When they reached the large outer office, an attendant directed them back to Reinen’s private study.

  Reinen stood when they entered. “Cris, Wil, it’s good to see you. It’s been too long.”

  Too long for you, maybe. “Hello, father.”

  “Grandfather.” Wil inclined his head.

  “You’re looking well,” Reinen continued, venturing a smile. His hair had turned predominantly gray, but there were very few lines on his face to show that he was in his mid-eighties. He still carried himself with shoulders square and a straight back, and he looked quite regal in his dark blue suit that more closely resembled a robe. “Has it really been almost five years? You’ve grown up, Wil.”

  “Has it? The last few years have been a blur,” Wil replied.

  Reinen looked him over. “It appears you recovered well.”

  “Yes, I got right back on track as soon as we returned,” Wil said without missing a beat. “I’ve been much more careful in practice since then.”

  Except there never was a training accident—only an assassination attempt by a traitor. Cris eyed the guest seating in the office. “Should we sit down?”

  “Yes, forgive me. Please, make yourselves comfortable.” Reinen gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “I understand you wanted to discuss some business with me before dinner tonight?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Cris said, taking a seat in the left chair.

  “It’s a somewhat sensitive matter,” Wil explained. “I’m afraid we can’t get into the specifics.”

  Even the High Dynasties don’t know about the war. “The TSS is seeking additional ship production capacity. We would like to negotiate for SiNavTech to provide use of a facility.”

  Reinen examined them. “The TSS has always tended to its own affairs. Why the change of heart?”

  Cris glanced at his son. “We’re making some preparations. There are time constraints.” More than we’ve wanted to admit, apparently. Banks would never have asked for this if there weren’t a dire need.

  Reinen folded his hands on the desktop. “What did you have in mind?”

  “We’d like to acquire the Prisaris shipyard,” Wil stated. “The TSS is prepared to pay a fair price for the facility.”

  The Head of the Sietinen Dynasty leaned back in his chair. “Business isn’t always about the money. There is a significant amount of proprietary technology at that facility.” He shook his head. “Besides, that shipyard is shared among several Dynasties. I can’t make a sales d
ecision for everyone.”

  Cris let out a slow breath. The ship manufacturing division of SiNavTech was one of the more complicated, since it was taken over from the fallen Dainetris Dynasty several generations before. “What kind of compensation would make it worth your while?”

  “Well, I understand that the exclusivity on the independent jump drive has expired. We’d like to license the technology for civilian use,” Reinen replied without hesitation.

  They’ve been gunning for that technology for years. It was a smart business move, after all—an independent jump drive put the entire SiNavTech beacon infrastructure in jeopardy. Cris looked to Wil. I can’t speak for him on this.

  Wil frowned. “That isn’t something I ever intended to commercialize.”

  “You personally hold the license. You can do whatever you want with it,” Reinen said.

  “Still, I developed it for a specific military application.” Wil shifted in his chair.

  Reinen leaned forward. “Wil, you have the opportunity to change the face of space travel. Since you have resisted working with SiNavTech directly, the least you can do for this family is license your work to us.”

  Wil laughed with disbelief. “Resisted? You have no idea how busy I am with the TSS. I have no time to work with SiNavTech.”

  “Both of you have given your lives to the TSS. It’s time to start thinking about your duties to Tararia.” Reinen rested his gaze on Cris.

  He shouldn’t try guilting me. I’m above that now. “Wil, it’s your decision about what to do with your work. We have other manufacturing options if SiNavTech isn’t agreeable to working with us.” I’m not sure what those options are, but there has to be something… right?

  “I’ll need to think about it,” Wil said.

  Reinen evaluated Cris and Wil. “You came all this way but weren’t prepared to negotiate final terms? Surely you had another reason for coming all the way here to Tararia.”

  Wil shook his head. “This business was just coincidental timing. The purpose of this visit was always to introduce you to Saera and begin the process of getting her enrolled under the Advancement Act.”