Hellhole Awakening

by Brian Herbert

  Haveeda couldn’t answer, and that was how Michella preferred dealing with her sister. “Of course you do. Remember when you thought you saw me push our brother … but you were just imagining things. As soon as your memories are repaired, we can wake you up. In the meantime, enjoy your beauty sleep.”

  Though Michella’s voice was calm and soothing, she did not feel that way inside at all. Most of her life she had been furious at Haveeda for causing all this trouble. At least this one problem had been solved, neatly and efficiently.

  The Diadem withdrew her gloved hand and stepped away, then on impulse she kicked the frozen canister, releasing her frustration. It might have been kinder to kill her sister, but Michella was hardly ever in the mood to be kind.

  42

  Warning the other DZ worlds to watch for a sneak attack from the Constellation, General Adolphus called all the planetary administrators to Hellhole for an urgent summit meeting. At this point, he hoped Escobar Hallholme’s fleet was merely lost, but he was wary of another unexpected strike.

  With his growing concern, Adolphus had half a mind to order the frontier worlds to blow their stringlines and cut themselves off from the Crown Jewels. That was the safest alternative, the only way to be certain, but many of the administrators would be reluctant to take such a radical action. On some worlds, he might even face a civil war.

  As the representatives arrived over the course of several days, depending on how swiftly stringline transports could carry them to the Hellhole hub, his staff prepared the largest conference chamber at Elba, and Sophie gathered data from her various factories and installations to give a full summary of the Deep Zone defenses.

  Carlson Goler arrived from Ridgetop wearing the fine business suit he had reserved for formal high-level meetings when he was the territorial governor; now he looked every bit a dignitary—a liaison between the Deep Zone and the Crown Jewels. General Adolphus noted that Goler’s posture was straighter, his shoulders squarer, his lantern jaw lifted in a demeanor of confidence.

  Three of Adolphus’s original coconspirators—Eldora Fen from the planet Cles, George Komun from Umber, and Dom Cellan Tier from the small, low-gravity world of Oshu—arrived together and immediately began unofficial strategy sessions in the conference room. The discussions grew more heated as additional representatives arrived over the following day.

  George Komun was impatient to get down to business. He sat several places down the table from Adolphus. “Every day I’m away is a day my planet could be overrun by the Diadem’s military.”

  Dom Cellan Tier let out a snort. “Who would want Umber? It’s a rock.”

  When the man looked indignant, Eldora Fen added in a sarcastic voice, “This is the Deep Zone. The Constellation labeled all our planets worthless until we gave them value.”

  “Candela was never worthless,” Tanja Hu said. “The Diadem is only interested now because we declared ourselves independent.”

  “She is interested because we’ve cut off all tribute payments,” Governor Goler said. “We’ve hurt her in the treasury, and in her pride.”

  Looking a bit scruffier than usual, Ian Walfor took a seat close to Tanja. “The Diadem gave up on Buktu years ago and left us to rot. I’ve been thumbing my nose at her ever since she abandoned our stringline, and she hates the fact that my people survived just fine without her.”

  “We’ll all survive just fine,” General Adolphus said.

  All but one of the fifty-four anticipated planetary representatives were crowded inside Elba for a day of strategy discussions. Adolphus noted that the only one not present was Sia Frankov from Theser. Though he was reluctant to start formal meetings until everyone had arrived, he needed to get started. From the head of the conference table, he launched the session with an optimistic statement. “In the long run, the future is bright.”

  “Except for the black hole in our way,” Sophie added, taking a sip of steaming kiafa.

  On the wall behind him, Adolphus displayed a graphic of the five military haulers that had launched on a beeline to subdue Hellhole. “Let me explain what should have happened to the enemy fleet.” The planetary leaders responded with anxiety, but the General raised his voice to get their attention. “We severed the stringline in two places, which should have cut them off with no way forward or back. We verified that they were indeed stranded—but when we went to take them captive, they were gone.”

  “Where does one hide five huge haulers?” Eldora Fen asked.

  “Interstellar space has plenty of places to hide,” Ian Walfor said.

  Prior to this official meeting, General Adolphus had received another summary of the search patterns run in the vicinity of the severed stringline, and nothing had turned up. No sign whatsoever. The linchpin of his straightforward victory was the neutralization and capture of a significant portion of the Diadem’s fleet.

  “Those ships are gone, taken out of the equation, one way or another,” Adolphus said. “A disappointment for me, a crippling blow for the Diadem. She might not have the support of the nobles to launch another significant offensive against the Deep Zone.” He recalled the secret overture Enva Tazaar had made, asking for his support in overthrowing Diadem Michella. “There are already signs of strain within the Crown Jewels, and Michella Duchenet may face even bigger threats from within.”

  Sophie refilled her kiafa cup and passed around one of the insulated ceramic pots. Some delegates nibbled from the refreshments on a long buffet table against the wall. “We need more information,” she said. “If any of you have contacts slipping in and out of Sonjeera, we need reports from them. We need to sense the mood of the Crown Jewels.”

  “We need to know where that damned fleet is!” said Ian Walfor. “If this is some sort of a trick, and they suddenly show up, we have a real problem.”

  “If they found the stringline to Hellhole, we’d have known about it,” the General said. “Obviously.”

  “We’re still vulnerable, General,” Walfor insisted. “Even if that fleet is really lost, and even if the Diadem has political problems, she can still mount another attack, using one of the other stringlines into the Deep Zone.”

  “Even the DZ worlds with the best defenses have only a few token guardian ships in orbit,” said Owen Lassen from Teron.

  Dom Cellan Tier grumbled. “I still say we should just cut all the stringlines to Sonjeera and be done with it.”

  “But that would isolate the whole Deep Zone from the Crown Jewels for years, no matter what happens,” said Maria Delayne from Nephilim. “No turning back. I can’t support that.” She was a long-haired beauty who looked twenty-five but was actually three decades older than that. Since many people from Nephilim had a youthful vigor beyond their years, rumors had spread that Nephilim possessed a secret fountain of youth, an exotic trace chemical in the water or the air that kept people young. Delayne never denied such rumors, and her planet welcomed the many colonists who went in search of the secret.

  “If we sever those lines, I doubt we’d ever reconnect with the Crown Jewels,” Walfor said. “They couldn’t rebuild the connections, even if they could afford the expense. Their Vielinger mines are almost played out, and soon the Constellation won’t have any more iperion.”

  “My mines have plenty of iperion,” Tanja said. “Once they make peace with us, we can sell the Crown Jewels as much of the stuff as they want.”

  General Adolphus went to a window near his chair, stood looking out on the grounds of his estate. “If we cut all those lines and isolate ourselves out here, think about the time required to restore the system, ten years at a minimum. And the stupendous cost could bankrupt the Deep Zone.” He turned back to the projection on the wall, showing the missing Constellation fleet. “No, I prefer to keep the stringline cuts as a last resort, a Rubicon we’re not yet ready to cross. We need to show strength and solidarity here.”

  Tanja said, “The Buktu shipyards are refitting as many military vessels as possible, adding them to the DZ Defense
Forces. We get more impregnable each day. In fact, I just placed six battleships over Candela to protect my new stringline hub. Ian Walfor is ready to deliver more ships to Theser so that stardrives can be installed.” She glanced up, looking around the room. “Where’s Sia Frankov?”

  “No word,” Sophie said. She had coordinated all the arrivals, made sure the representatives had transportation and places to stay in Michella Town.

  Goler spoke up, “Threatening to cut the lines should be sufficient to get the Diadem’s attention. Let me go to Sonjeera immediately as your representative. I’ll tell her we want peace, but on our terms.”

  The General shook his head, returned to his chair. “That was my initial plan, after we captured the enemy fleet. Circumstances have changed, now that all those ships have vanished.”

  Goler’s eyes brightened and he leaned forward, spoke in a conspiratorial voice. “But, General, Diadem Michella might not know that the situation has changed. The stringline was cut—and if her warships disappeared en route, how does she know we don’t have them?” He looked at Adolphus and grinned. “I can try to bluff her.”

  “You’re taking quite a gamble if you expect the old bitch to behave rationally,” Sophie said. “With her tribute payments gone and growing unrest in the Crown Jewels, she’s hanging on by the tips of her claws.”

  Goler said, “If I issue the threat in a public forum on Sonjeera—say in a broadcast instead of privately in her offices—the publicity should force cooler heads to prevail. I can then demand a meeting in the Council Hall to discuss our peace terms.”

  Tanja Hu gave a crafty smile. “And we have her loyal Territorial Governor Marla Undine as a hostage. She might be a useful bargaining chip.”

  The General nodded slowly, pondering if Goler would be able to convince Michella. He did, however, welcome the opportunity to pass a covert message to Enva Tazaar that he would consider her offer of an alliance.

  “All right, Governor. Go to Sonjeera with my blessing. I won’t have it said that I didn’t try every possible avenue for a peaceful resolution.”

  * * *

  By the end of the daylong meeting, Adolphus was concerned that no one had heard from Sia Frankov. Before accompanying Tanja Hu to Candela, Walfor said, “I’m due to retrieve another load of spacedrive engines, General—twelve more for the warships we’re refurbishing at the Buktu shipyards. I’m going to Theser on the direct stringline from Candela, so I’ll find out why she isn’t here.”

  Adolphus thanked him. “Good. Report to me as soon as you talk with her. It’s difficult to win a strategy game when I don’t know the positions of all the pieces on the board.”

  43

  During his normal trips to Sonjeera for the Bureau of Deep Zone Affairs, Governor Carlson Goler had always traveled in a passenger pod carried aboard a large stringline hauler. Now, on his mission as the new DZ ambassador, he rode aboard a much smaller ship that had been outfitted from one of the old colony vessels. As he spent the passage in the rear while two pilots guided the vessel along the embargoed line from Ridgetop to the Crown Jewels, Goler felt like a celebrity being chauffeured.

  He knew his diplomatic immunity could be tenuous. By tricking Michella into delivering twenty-one serviceable military ships to Ridgetop—ships that were now part of the DZ Defense Force—he had deceived her. By siding with General Adolphus he had betrayed the Constellation, and by exposing her massacre of the original Ridgetop colonists, Goler had turned many restless populations against her. His stomach knotted as he thought of how vindictive Michella Duchenet could be.

  The journey took the better part of four days, and he had time to plan in detail how he would face Michella and present his case. Few others in the breakaway Deep Zone worlds knew the old woman better than Goler did. Even when he was her territorial governor, she had never respected him much, but Goler still hoped he could make her listen … or if not Michella, then maybe someone on the Council.

  Enva Tazaar had already begun circling the old leader like a vulture, the boldest noble to do so, but Goler knew there must be others in the Crown Jewels who would be happy to see a new Diadem on the Star Throne. Goler decided he would make surreptitious overtures to Tazaar on the General’s behalf. Someone had to see reason.

  In her first clandestine communication, Enva Tazaar had provided a means for Adolphus to respond to her. Goler carried a coded message for her, recorded, condensed, and disguised as an innocuous-looking advertisement. Although he knew he would be closely watched as soon as he made his presence known, one of the two pilots should be able to find a way to slip the advertisement into a mail packet for dispatch to the Tazaar holdings on Orsini.

  In the meantime, Goler would bluff the Diadem and the Council that Adolphus had captured their fleet and was prepared to cut every one of the Sonjeera stringlines out to the DZ. He would demand that they accept peace terms. Any rational person would see that there was no logical alternative.

  The pilots called over the intercom, “We’ve begun our deceleration, Governor Goler. We should arrive at the Sonjeera hub within one hour.”

  When Goler thanked them, his voice sounded strong, although his heart leaped into his throat. “As soon as we’re in communications range, send out our identifier beacon and announce that I am an official representative from the Deep Zone and that I request an audience with the Council. As soon as you have everyone’s attention, transmit our message on the open bands so the Constellation government and the general population can hear what we have to say.”

  In the broadcast, he provided information on the secondary DZ stringline network, including enough hard data to convince the Diadem that the frontier worlds no longer needed the Crown Jewels. The Deezees could be quite self-sufficient without any connection to the stagnant old planets, he said, and they were quite willing to cut the stringlines if provoked into doing so. Goler then went on to provide a summary of the vital materials and supplies that came from the Deep Zone—all of which would vanish permanently if the rebels cut themselves off. The Diadem and her advisers already knew these details, but Goler’s broadcast would remind the general populace of how much they had to lose. He finished his message by demanding to meet with the Diadem and the Council of Nobles.

  Goler knew all too well what had happened when Fernando-Zairic and the alien Cippiq had gone to speak with the Diadem. Now, even if Michella killed him, too, at least his message would be delivered.

  “Judging from the amount of codecall traffic, we’ve already caused a stir, Governor,” the copilot said. “It’ll be a hornet’s nest by the time we pull into the hub.”

  “I expected nothing less. And you both have your own mission. Any questions?”

  “Leave that to us, Governor. Meanwhile, you tackle the old lady and the Council.”

  Goler leaned back in the seat and concentrated on breathing in and out, in and out, but a state of calm eluded him.

  * * *

  A swarm of the Diadem’s guards intercepted the ship as soon as it docked at the Sonjeera hub. Goler instructed his pilot and copilot to remain inside the craft as he emerged from the hatch, both hands raised. Upon seeing thirty armed soldiers, tense and ready to open fire at the smallest provocation, he gave them a smile of wry amusement.

  “An impressive show of force,” he said, “but I assure you General Adolphus has not managed to hide an entire invasion army inside this small diplomatic vessel. I already broadcasted my credentials and stated my purpose.”

  “We have orders to take you into custody,” said the guard captain.

  Goler did not find that surprising—Michella had a penchant for dramatic overreaction. Imagers were capturing every moment of this event, but whether the Diadem allowed it to be broadcast was another question entirely.

  “I see, Captain. Well, I wouldn’t ask you to disobey orders. Meanwhile, kindly inform Diadem Michella of my arrival and ask her to schedule my address before the Council as soon as possible.” He paused, then added mysteriously, “The Gener
al’s offer has a time limit.”

  The guard captain seemed uncomfortable, but he commandeered the next shuttle to the capital city. Under heavy security they escorted Governor Goler to the Constellation’s main spaceport, then took him in an unmarked vehicle, still heavily guarded, to a large and imposing structure—which was not the Diadem’s palace or the Council Hall.

  It was the Sonjeera prison.

  * * *

  Goler didn’t have long to wait. Since his own diplomatic ship had already broadcast a widespread message, his presence on Sonjeera was not a secret. It was well-known in the Deep Zone that many people here remained sympathetic to the General and his failed rebellion.

  Some of the most influential Sonjeerans openly admired how Adolphus had kept his network of colonies alive under trying circumstances, and how he had remained honorable and heroic throughout. Despite more than a decade of the Diadem’s devastating propaganda, an increasing number of people did not believe the “official” story. Lately, with unrest brewing, Michella Duchenet seemed a far less favorable alternative than others who might lead the Constellation. Without question, Enva Tazaar had seen that as well.

  Goler remained in prison quarantine, watching as doctors in decontamination suits came into his cell, which baffled him. Despite his indignation, they took hair clippings, skin scrapings, and blood samples by force.

  “We must prevent any alien infection,” a physician said. “It’s possible you were exposed, and we need to make sure you haven’t been contaminated.” From the terseness of the doctor’s voice, Goler saw that his protestations would do no good, so he held his tongue. The fears these people exhibited were very instructive, though, and wheels began turning in his mind.

  The pilot and copilot of his craft had been questioned and were held at the Sonjeera hub, but Goler was hopeful they would still find a way to dispatch a message to Enva Tazaar.