by M. D. Cooper
Nerischka nodded slowly. “That sure brings back memories. Not good ones, mind you. The man you’re going to want to seek out is General Mill. He has his finger on the pulse of what’s left of Genevia, and is in possession of a number of bases spread around Septhia and into the gulf between Praesepe and Nietzschea. I don’t need to go, though. I can just give you everything I have. I’ve worked too long here—I mean, look at what I’ve done to get in this deep with Nightshade.”
“Nishka,” Nadine said in a soft voice. “It’s the unveiling. We’re coming out of the shadows.”
“What? How?”
“It’s a ridiculously long story. Why couldn’t I get you on the Link when we approached?”
Nerischka gestured at her body as though that answered all questions, which Tanis supposed it did. “I had to strip down my tech for this job. With how much Nightshade messes with our bodies, I couldn’t have anything that gave me away. He removes our wireless transmitters, and our nano—what he lets us have—is shit.”
“Damn, Nishka, you shouldn’t let yourself become so vulnerable.”
The coral-covered woman shook her head slowly. “Look what he’s doing here, Nadine. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Nightshade has facilitated the transfer of enough bio-mods to turn millions, maybe even billions, of people into…into whatevers.”
“There are certainly military uses for tech like this,” Tanis said. “That’s the only reason I can see Orion shipping this stuff into the Inner Stars—well, I suppose they could use it as a mandate to cleanse systems, as well.”
“See? Either way, it has to be stopped. I recently got intel that Nightshade has been in contact with someone called ‘Angel’ about where to deliver the next shipment. Angel seems to be higher on the food chain, and I need to find out where it goes.”
“Angel? Do you only have a name?” Tanis asked, her pulse quickening.
Angela cautioned.
Nerischka shook her head. “I have heard two names, but the other one was only used once. It was ‘Caretaker’.”
“Caretaker,” Tanis breathed. “And your assessment is that Angel and the Caretaker are different people?”
Nerischka turned her head toward the sound of Tanis’s voice. “You sound like you’ve heard of the Caretaker before.”
“It’s one of the reasons we’re going to Genevia. We have reason to believe the Caretaker was involved in their recent war.”
Nerischka nodded slowly. “It makes sense. I think this biotech might be moving through Nietzschean space—much of which was formerly Genevia.”
Tanis replied.
“OK, Nerischka. Nadine can fill you in later, but we do need to find this Angel. That target is more important than the source or destination of the bio-tech—though I imagine the objectives are aligned.
“Nadine. I’m going to need to continue on to the Praesepe Cluster, but Nerischka’s in too deep on her own. If Angel is an ascended AI, or even just a human with a remnant—”
“A what?” Nerischka asked.
Tanis nodded, though she realized no one could see her movement. “We’re up against ascended AIs and things called remnants, which they can leave inside of other people. They can completely take someone over, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“It’s true,” Nadine added. “Things are getting crazy.”
“OK, then I need to get you what I know about Mill and the Marauders, plus the situation on the ground in Praesepe,” Nerischka replied. “I dumped all the intel that I couldn’t fit up here—” she paused to tap her head, “in the records of a defunct financial auditing firm. If you search for Lucas Knight Industries, you’ll find it in their 8937 financials.”
“OK, we have it,” Tanis replied. “Nadine. Angela has already signaled for the Aegeus to send in another pinnace. It’ll have supplies for whatever you need, and a med suite that can put Nerischka here back together when the time comes. I’ll ensure that there’s a Shadowtron aboard. I think you’re going to need it.”
Nadine nodded, and Nerischka shook her head. “I feel a headache coming on. Nadine, I need to get back out there, but come back during third shift; I can get away for thirty minutes, and we can figure out what’s next from there.”
“OK, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you, Nishka. I’d hug you, but I’m afraid something would break off.”
Nerischka laughed. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
The stone-skinned, coral covered woman left, and the pair of stealthed women slipped out a few minutes later. Back behind the crates where their clothing was stashed, Nadine let out a long sigh.
“OK…that was sad and weird.”
“I can imagine,” Tanis replied. “Do you think she’s OK…mentally? Working into a place like that has to mess with your head.”
Nadine glanced toward Nightshade. “Stars…she’s tough, and she seems together. I worry how she was going to get out of that place on her own, though.”
Tanis nodded and clasped Nadine’s shoulder. “Sera told me how you feel about operating in the field. I understand how taxing that can be. If you’re not ready for this, say the word.”
Nadine was holding her dress, and she looked down at her hands for a moment, twisting the fabric between them. “I don’t want to lie and betray anymore…I can’t wear that kind of mask again.” She looked up at Tanis. “But this is different. Nishka’s family, and from the looks of it, she really needs me.”
Tanis glanced back at Nightshade. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Remember, if you are going up against a remnant, they’re sneaky. The Shadowtron isn’t a sure bet. If things go sideways, get out and call for help.”
“Understood, Tanis. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
SEPTHIA
STELLAR DATE: 06.25.8949 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: ISS I2
REGION: Edge of the Lisbon System, Septhian Alliance
The non-space of the jump transition lasted for only a second before stars snapped into place again around the I2.
“Scan, confirm location,” Rachel called out.
“Stellar cartography confirms that we are on the edge of the Lisbon System, seventy AU from the local star.”
Rachel nodded. “Very good. Nice jump, Helm.”
The pair of ensigns on Helm both responded, acknowledging the compliment as they adjusted the ship’s vector to match local space.
The main holotank displayed the forward elements of the ISF escort fleet arraying themselves around the I2. Every ship was on its assigned trajectory, taking up the flying cross formation.
Correction, the Derringer was off a hair. She’d have to keep an eye on Captain Mel; the woman was becoming rather cavalier.
“Captain,” Tanis gave Rachel a crisp nod followed by a quick smile as she approached the holotank. “Another day, another star system.”
“Well, hopefully we’ll stay put for a bit, now.”
Rachel watched the Admiral’s brow furrow before Tanis replied. “I certainly hope so, Captain. It’s been months of chasing leads around the edges of the Nietzschean Empire, while Septhia hemmed and hawed about letting us enter their space.”
“Plus the detour in the Azela System,” Rachel added.
Tanis caught her eye and sighed. “And what a detour that has turned out to be for those two. With luck, we’ll hear something from them soon.”
Scan showed the Septhian ships still to be several hours from the rendezvous, and Rachel busied herself with a variety of tasks, while the admiral continued to scowl at the holodisplay.
She was speaking with the head of the Comm team when a voice called out f
rom the bridge’s entrance.
“So! The Septhian prime minister has finally pulled his head out of his ass and agreed to see us, has he?” Brandt asked as she approached the holotank.
“Brandt!” Tanis exclaimed and clasped the Marine Commandant’s hand. “I was starting to wonder if you’d ever catch up to us.”
Brandt nodded. “Caught the QuanComm update a minute before we were about to jump to Killgrave. Managed to get our vector altered in time to make it here—thank stars. Been waiting here for two days, hoping your invite was good enough for the whole family.”
“I take it they didn’t get grouchy at you for lurking out here?” Tanis asked.
Brandt gestured to the holodisplay, and Rachel noted thirty Septhian cruisers on an intercept course for the ISF’s formation.
“I can’t tell if that’s grouchy, or just a cautious hello. Things are pretty tense in Septhia, from what I’ve heard.”
“Less than in Scipio?” Rachel asked. “How were things there, by the way?”
Brandt let out a sound of dismay. “Is that a trick question? Out here, Septhia is worried about being steamrolled by the Nietzscheans, and Scipio is preparing to steamroll the Hegemony—provided Diana can put an end to the assassination attempts. It’s starting to take a toll on her.”
Rachel could only imagine what dealing with two coups and half a dozen—at least—assassination attempts would do to a person’s morale.
“She’ll be OK.” Tanis turned back to the holotank and stared at the approaching Septhian Armed Forces cruisers. “I’m not worried about Diana. She’s got a rock to lean on.”
Rachel wondered what Tanis meant, but Brandt groaned and rolled her eyes. “Petra. Rock. Nice one, Field Marshal.”
“On this bridge, I’m an Admiral,” Tanis corrected the commandant.
“Not when you make lame jokes, you’re not.”
Sometimes the way Brandt spoke to Tanis amazed Rachel. Tanis was more familiar and approachable than many officers, but she was still the Admiral. Granted, Brandt had been working on building the ISF with Tanis since before the Intrepid had passed through Sol’s heliopause.
That was a long time to build up comradery.
It also helped that Brandt was a small, thoroughly ferocious force of nature that everyone—including Tanis—was a bit leery of.
Tanis only frowned and darted her eyes toward Brandt.
“Captain, Admiral, we have a message from the SAF fleet. Text only,” the Comm officer announced.
“Let’s have it, Lieutenant,” Tanis replied.
The comm officer put the message up on the bridge net, and Tanis sighed. “Looks like they don’t want to come here—that’s a first. Care to join me for a little jaunt, Commandant?”
“Of course I’m joining you,” Brandt replied.
Tanis turned to Rachel and nodded. “Stay sharp, Captain. You have FleetConn in my absence.”
“Aye, Admiral. I have FleetConn.”
Tanis smiled and followed Brandt off the bridge as Rachel returned to her command chair.
Rachel eyed the approaching Septhian vessels, considering their strengths and weaknesses. Against the ISF fleet, they were barely worth mentioning. But with Tanis aboard their ships? That was a horse of a different color.
Time passed slowly as Tanis’s pinnace left the I2 with the two stealthed cruisers shadowing it. The admiral hadn’t commented on the extra precautions, so Rachel assumed she didn’t object.
Tanis often left people room to execute the way they thought best. If there was a fundamental problem with a plan, she’d speak up, but otherwise she often left well enough alone.
The Admiral’s pinnace slowed and held position beyond the formation of ISF ships surrounding the I2—though not beyond weapons range.
The SAF ships continued to slow, until they were moving at only a thousand kilometers per hour relative to the ISF ships, one fleet slowly drifting past the other with a hundred thousand kilometers between them.
At that point, the Admiral’s pinnace began to move away from the ISF fleet, closing the gap between it and the SAF ships.
Rachel couldn’t help but worry that something terrible was going to happen to Tanis. It was irrational, the Septhians had no reason to act aggressively. They knew the ISF was coming and had granted the fleet permission to come to the Lisbon System.
Stars, their Prime Minister was on one of those ships.
Still, she felt better as the two stealthed cruisers eased out to follow the admiral’s pinnace.
Priscilla said, speaking to Rachel from her plinth in the foyer beyond the bridge.
Priscilla laughed in Rachel’s mind.
It was Rachel’s turn to laugh.
Rachel had to stop herself from laughing aloud at the thought.
“The admiral’s ship is matching v with one of the SAF ships,” Scan announced. “It’s the Everlasting.”
“Thank you,” Rachel replied as she watched the pinnace approach the SAF vessel.
Good luck, Admiral.
A BIZARRE MEETING
STELLAR DATE: 06.25.8949 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: SAS Everlasting
REGION: Edge of the Lisbon System, Septhian Alliance
Tanis stepped off the pinnace with Brandt at her side and a fireteam of ISF Marines at her back. The bay they found themselves in was small, with perhaps only space for another ship the size of the ISF pinnace.
The instant the Marines set foot on the deck, they spread out around the bay, covering corners, ready for anything. They moved with smooth precision, and Tanis wondered how aggressive their deployment and posture appeared to the Septhians.
Another four Marines formed up behind Tanis and Brandt, ready to operate as an escort once they left the bay.
Of course, with their hosts absent, they weren’t leaving yet.
Brandt sighed and drummed her fingers on her thigh before whistling a little tune. Tanis connected to the vessel’s public shipnet, about to reach out to whoever was listening, when the interior bay doors finally opened.
The exit stood empty for a moment, before a tall woman with long black hair entered, flanked by a pair of guards.
She walked toward the ISF delegation with a smile on her face that appeared genuine, but it didn’t seem to match her strident steps.
“Admiral Richards,” the woman said, extending her hand as she neared. “It is a pleasure to meet you. And Commandant Brandt, I was not expecting you to be present, how exciting!”
Tanis shook the woman’s slender hand, hiding a smile at the woman’s exuberance as Brandt replied.
“Uh, sure. I thought it would be nice to get out, stretch my legs, and see the locals.”
“Yes, of course,” the woman replied, nodding her head emphatically, while looking a touch confused.
“It’s very nice to meet you, as well…” Tanis began.
“Sorry,” the w
oman replied with a nervous smile. “My name is Oris, sorry, I don’t know how I got all this out of order.”
“Oris, very nice to meet you, are you alright? You seem out of sorts,” the commandant’s brows pinched as she spoke.
“Well, the PM just showed me the little holo you sent. The one explaining where you and your ship—which looks a lot different now—have been for the last two decades. I must say that it’s…hard to believe.”
Tanis nodded and gave Oris a reassuring smile. “I’ve been in your shoes, but trust me, it’s real. We’ve spent most of the past two decades in the Transcend.”
“How is it—sorry. My questions are not important. Follow me, and I’ll escort you to the PM.”
Oris turned, and Tanis followed with Brandt at her side. The Marines walked down the ramp after her, and the two SAF soldiers followed behind.
“So, was there any part of our explanation that was particularly distressing to you or the Prime Minister?” Tanis asked, interested in any information that would aid in the upcoming meeting.
“Well, the fact that the volume of explored space is vastly larger than we had ever thought was something rather surprising. And not just a little bit…but a lot!”
“Yes, I’d forgotten that. Your ship predates FTL…when you left Sol, you had to fly for decades to the next star.”
“Or centuries,” Brandt added.
“I can’t imagine,” Oris said breathily as she gestured for them to enter a lift.
Only two of the Marines along with one of the SAF soldiers could fit in the lift with them. When they reached the next level, Tanis waited for the other Marines to arrive.