“That really isn't necessary.”
“I think it is,” Cordova replied. “You're ColSec. That makes you the bad guy. Simple as that. I've had a chance to take a nice long look at your record, and...”
“And I was as corrupt as they come, but at no time did I execute a reign of terror over the local population. Frankly, most of the time I just allowed them to get on with whatever they wanted to do. We never had a significant rebel presence before you showed up.” She smirked, and added, “Becoming an operative of the Commonwealth helped, as well. Makes it easier to keep the traitors under control if you're commanding them yourself.” Looking at a nearby office, she asked, “Are we planning on holding this conversation in the corridor, or have you got something else in mind?”
“This way,” Cordova said, gesturing her towards an open door.
“None of this is necessary. I made my decision back at Sinaloa.”
“You saved your own skin.”
“And yours, as well, in case you didn't notice. And in such a way that I'm certain my name has been added to the list of Most Wanted by now, with a political citation that guarantees that I'll never walk free on a Federation world again. A pity. I had a nice apartment in Kyoto...but I suppose they'll have confiscated it by now.”
“You seem awfully calm about all of this.”
“Not much point working up a sweat about something I can't control. I learned a long time ago to play the hand that I was dealt. And to cut the cards myself where I could.” She paused, then said, “We still have a deal. You'll put me off at the next neutral port.”
Stepping into an office, the lights flickering on as they crossed the threshold, Cordova replied, “I'm surprised you still want that deal. No Federation colony will have you, and the Commonwealths don't like you very much.”
“There are still plenty of places out on the frontier that don't answer to either side, Major. I've visited quite a few of them in a professional capacity over the years, and there are more than a few people out on the Halo Worlds that owe me a favor. So while your concern for my future well-being is touching, I assure you that it isn't necessary.” Looking at the pistol again, she rolled her eyes, and said, “Do you think that I'm planning to escape? Maybe you're waiting for me to tunnel my way out of here.”
“I feel rather more comfortable knowing that I can bring your life to an immediate end if I choose,” Cordova replied, “so I think that I'll just hold onto this for the moment.”
“That doesn't sound like something the good Commander would endorse.”
“He's got something I don't have. A conscience. I lost mine when I watched my father being gunned down by ColSec operatives...”
“While he was in the process of attacking a penal outpost, if I remember the record correctly,” Saxon said. “Not that I'm in a position to make ethical judgments on the morality of his actions, but he must have known the risk he was running when he planned the mission. That only one person died is something of a testament to his skills.” Sitting down on the only padded chair in the room, she placed her arms carefully behind her neck, stretching out cat-like on the seat, and continued, “Though I suppose I don't have the covert operations experience to know.”
“This is all a game to you, isn't it?” Cordova asked. “You're talking about my father...”
“Who had the rare privilege to die for a cause he believed in, as a hero whom I am sure will be remembered as the first martyr of your revolt. Not many people have that luxury, Major, and I think that you are taking it surprisingly lightly.” Flashing a toothy smile, she replied, “Though to an extent, you're quite right. Life is a game, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you can start playing to win.”
“You don't seem to be doing very well at the moment.”
“Sometimes the dice fall your way, and sometimes they don't, but as long as you're sitting at the table, you're still in with a chance.” She raised an eyebrow, and said, “Was this a request to discuss my philosophy of life, Major, or did you have something more involved in mind. Not that I'm anxious to get back to my accommodation, you understand, but I would have thought that you'd have more important things to do than trade shots with me.”
“Keranos,” she said.
“Ah. I wondered when you'd get around to him. I presume that Commander Curtis managed to get hold of the data he was looking for?” At a nod from Cordova, she continued, “Then you've got all the information I have about his discovery.”
“We have some concerns about the reason for Polaris' apparent abandonment.”
“There was nothing wrong with the man, if that's what you are thinking. He had a surprisingly complete, and unusually expensive physical examination when he returned to the station. Possibly he had the same concerns as you. In any event, they didn't find anything out of the ordinary, I can assure you of that.” She frowned, and added, “I had the same thought, and rest assured that if there had been any chance that his arrival could have affected the lives of the people of the station, I would have ended that threat instantly. After all, as soon as I realized he might pose a problem, I dealt with him quickly enough.”
“Why did you kill him?”
“Doctor Ransom had my reasoning worked out, Major. A surprisingly talented individual. Which is why I've been quietly supporting his clinic for some years.” At Cordova's expression, she continued, “Don't look so shocked. And it isn't a matter of a twisted ethical notion, but simple common sense. If he's willing to keep our labor force healthy, who am I to stop him? Just because the Medical Directorate looks upon their profession like some sort of holy order doesn't mean I have to go along with them.”
“Then you killed Keranos because...”
“I killed him because he was going to bring nothing but trouble to the station. He had notions of some sort of auction, which was an insane plan from the beginning. If he'd come to me with his data, I would have seen that he was well rewarded for his discovery. ColSec can be surprisingly generous at times, and so can I. But no, he wanted to sell out to the highest bidder, and opened links with the Commonwealth, even your people.”
“And that would have brought too much attention onto your little schemes.”
“Precisely. A lot of lives would have been put at risk. Not least my own. Killing Keranos would have kept things settled down, and after an appropriate interval, I would have made the information available to my superiors. Or perhaps to the Commonwealth, depending on the situation.”
“You're no better than he was.”
“I have the competence to support my ambitions, Major. Keranos was an opportunistic thug. Don't weep for him. At one point, he ran a protection racket in the Underdeck nasty enough that I was forced to take official notice of it. He left the station just before my people were preparing to snatch him. There are a lot of people in the lower levels of Sinaloa that would sleep sounder knowing that he was no longer among the living.”
“We didn't know about that,” Cordova replied.
“Of course not,” she said. “You think everything goes on the official records? On paper, Sinaloa is just like every other Federation facility. A well-ordered, smoothly-functioning machine to generate revenue for the people of Earth. In reality, matters are a lot more complicated. Life in the upper hierarchy is always a compromise between truth and fiction. The Parliament is a lot happier believing that everything is running as it should. They don't need to know everything, nor should they.” Cracking a smile, she added, “Hell, they all worked their way up the same way. They're smart enough to know that some sleeping colonies should be left to lie.”
Before Cordova could manage a retort, an alarm resounded through the corridors, and she raced to a hall communicator, slamming her hand on the controls and asking, “What's happening?”
Strickland's panicked voice replied, “Security breach. Hyperluminal communications. Someone just sent a signal, a big o
ne. I've got a team heading down there, but...”
“I'm closer. Lock down the deck. Make sure whoever it is doesn't go anywhere. And page Commander Curtis.”
“He's on his way.”
Cordova turned from the door, Saxon rising to follow, hands carefully raised, saying, “Aren't you forgetting something? This isn't a secure room.” She frowned, then said, “Maybe I should accompany you. I believe the communications suite is only two decks down, and you'll only be delayed if you have to escort me all the way back to the detention suite.”
“One false move and you die.”
“I believe we have already established the perimeters of our working relationship, Major. That being the case, perhaps I should lead the way.” Cordova gestured for Saxon to move into the corridor, following her as they jogged towards their destination. She watched every move the ColSec commander made, alert for any sign of treachery, but as they darted into the elevator, she saw no trace of deceit.
On general principles, though, she still wanted to shoot her down where she stood. Colonial Security brought in the worst dregs of society, placed them in a uniform, and set them to intimidate and dominate otherwise helpless populations in the Colonies. There had been enough examples of atrocities over the years, even after the Purge had supposedly been brought to an end. Still, she had to admit that there had never been any hint of such activities at Sinaloa.
The elevator doors slid open, and the two of them sprinted along the deck, coming to a halt by a sealed blast hatch, locking down the corridor. Cordova reached for the controls, entering an override code, but a series of red lights flickered on, the system rejecting her commands. With an exasperated sigh, she reached for a communicator, opening a channel to the bridge.
“Strickland,” she said, “Open up this door.”
“I can't, Major,” the hapless technician replied. “They've locked it down from their end.”
“If I may,” Saxon said, moving to the terminal. “There are always some back doors that we don't tell the freighter crews about. You never know just when they might end up being handy.” Her fingers sprinted across the keypad, entering a series of complicated sequences, and the door struggled open to a triumphant grin from Saxon, her arm waving to gesture Cordova inside.
“Nice trick,” Cordova said.
“Many more where they came from, Major. As I've said, I can be of great use to you, if you will simply permit yourself to accept my services.”
“Forgive me for thinking the price a little too high.”
With a shrug, Saxon replied, “Shall I lead?”
“By all means.”
The two of them raced past the doors, jammed half-open, the sound of heavy footsteps on the deck rushing towards them. Cordova turned a corner, and spotted two figures walking towards a service elevator, one of them with a heavy sling in her arm.
“Halt!” she said, raising her pistol. “Squadron Leader, stay right where you are.”
Kani turned, raising his hands, defiance spread across his face, with a sheepish Nguyen by his side, looking with a growing frown at an amused Saxon. The door to the hyper-spatial communications suite had been forced open, a black burn where the lock had been attacked, dangling wires from the remnants of the alarm system. Cordova peered in, shaking her head.
“Why?”
“Squadron Leader Winston Kani, Serial...”
“Don't give me that crap!” Cordova said. “Why did you betray us?”
“I'm no traitor,” Kani said.
With a sigh, Saxon stepped into the room, sitting down at the console, and said, “This shouldn't take long, Major. Assuming you want me to find out what he sent, and to where?”
“Go ahead, but...”
“Death if I screw up. I got it. You really need a better catchphrase.” Running her hands over the console, she said, “This was a pretty professional job. My complements, Squadron Leader. You came pretty close to covering all of your traces. Unfortunately, I happen to be an expert, rather than an admittedly gifted amateur.”
Cordova stepped towards Kani, and said, “We trusted you.”
“I am an officer of the Commonwealth Systems, loyal to the Council,” he replied. “I know where my duty lies, Major, and I have my orders. There are people back home depending on me, and I will not let them down. You can shoot me if you want.”
“Where's Voronova?” Cordova asked.
“As far as I know, asleep in her quarters,” Nguyen said with a shrug. “We decided not to cut her into the loop on this one. She's been making too many noises about switching sides. I think you might have yourself a recruit there. But then she's always been more than a little naive.”
“Got it,” Saxon said. “Dispatch to Eta Cassiopeaie. Golgotha, I think. Khiva Station?” she looked up at Kani's shock, and said, “You don't really think that's a secret facility, do you? The Federation's known all about your little city in the clouds since before the Uprising.” Looking up at the screen, she added, “Code. But I think these are location co-ordinates, and I don't need to be Alan Turing to work out that you've sent them the estimated location of Polaris.”
“That was their mission, after all,” Curtis said, stepping into the room with pistol in hand, Rojek by his side. “Shut it down, Felix, and restore the primary firewall access.”
“You knew about this?” Cordova said, eyes wide. “You let them do it?”
“Certainly,” Curtis replied, to Saxon's approving nod. “And for the record, Major, this is a strange place to question a prisoner.”
“We were in the middle of our...never mind. I don't understand.”
“You set us up?” Kani asked.
Walking towards the pilot, Curtis holstered his pistol, and said, “I'm afraid so, Squadron Leader. I counted on your sense of duty and your ethics to do what you considered to be the right thing. In this instance, calling in the cavalry. How many ships are on the way?”
“That's not...”
“Three,” Nguyen replied. “And if you surrender to them on their arrival, I'm certain you'll get excellent terms. Maybe even a position in the Commonwealth Fleet.”
“You'll forgive me for not being willing to turn traitor quite yet, Lieutenant,” Curtis replied.
Shaking her head, Cordova said, “We already had two capital ships heading for us. Now we've got five. Who the hell are you working for?”
“The Underground,” Saxon said, a smile spreading across her face. “My complements, Commander. You're a man after my own heart.” Looking up at Cordova, she continued, “Two Federation Starcruisers against three Commonwealth Monitors is a pretty even fight. And while both sides are fighting each other, we'll have a chance to sneak through the middle on Polaris. Ingenious.”
“I'm glad you approve,” Curtis said. “Squadron Leader, I still want you to fly those sensor runs. I anticipated that you'd pull something like this, and given that I was essentially complicit, I'm not going to hold it against you. This time. But given the circumstances, I think for the present, our interests coincide.”
“Besides,” Saxon replied, “You're now in the same situation as I am. As soon as those ships emerge, they'll run right into a Federation task force. Your leadership will undoubtedly assume that you've decided to switch sides. They won't be able to risk any other judgment. I assume, Commander, that you've taken steps to encourage such thoughts?”
“It's a distinct possibility.”
“I don't have a choice, do I?” Kani asked.
“Realistically, no. Take heart, though. Once we find Polaris, you'll have some fighters to play with. That's something to look forward to.” Turning to Cordova, he asked, “Have you learned everything you're going to from Saxon?”
“Probably.”
“Then there seems no purpose leaving her in detention. Find her suitable quarters.” Looking down at Saxon, he added, “I hope you w
on't be offended if someone monitors you at all times.”
“Not at all. I'd expect nothing less.” With a side glance at Cordova, she added, “You found a good man there, Major. Your rebellion might just have a chance.”
Chapter 14
The shuttle dropped way from Hanoi, Kani carefully navigating clear of the side of the bulky tanker, cautiously playing his thrusters to launch his ship on the first leg of the search pattern. He looked out at the shining belt before him, many of the rocks glowing a dull red, the star dangerously close, less than a million miles away. Already he'd disengaged several of the warning alerts, the outer hull temperature higher than the designers would have liked, and he was cautiously looking at his readouts as the main engine fired, hurling them onto trajectory.
“I still can't believe it,” Nguyen said. “He played us. Like the biggest rookies in the Fleet.”
“That's one sharp commander,” Kani replied. “I wish he was on our side.”
“I think he is,” Nguyen said.
Shaking his head, Kani replied, “Don't worry about it, Mel. We'll find a way to talk our way out of this mess once our forces arrive. Besides, you think they'll care about the details if we manage to retrieve Polaris? Knocking out a couple of Federation Starcruisers would be a hell of a coup for McKinnon. She's been trying to get onto the Council for years.”
“A collection of ever-aging bureaucrats,” Nguyen replied. “You don't really think they'll ever admit anyone who wasn't actually born on Earth, do you?”
“The youngest of them is eighty-four, and more than two-thirds of the population are star-born. Sooner or later, they're going to have to make up their minds to open things up a bit.” Turning to look at his wounded copilot, he added, “You're beginning to sound like Voronova.”
“Maybe she's talking more and more sense these days.” She flicked on her sensor display, and said, “We've done nothing but the occasional raid for years. Even our little excursions haven't done anything really important. If Curtis and Cordova do manage to get their new Uprising off the mat, you think they might have a chance of pulling it off?”
Starcruiser Polaris: Blood of Patriots Page 14