There were still a million things that could go wrong. For right now, they had to make it on the shuttle. Cali followed Vareen across the docking area. Her eyes swept every corner of the bay. Could there be someone watching them, ready to stop her from escaping? Her nerves were on fire and her instinct was to run past Vareen and dive under a seat.
Instead, she walked as calmly as possible and boarded the shuttle like a normal crew member. She took a seat at the front, nearest the pilot and Vareen sat across from her. Her hands were shaking so badly she almost couldn’t get her five-point harness attached correctly.
“Are we ready to depart?” Vareen asked the shuttle pilot.
He turned from his position in the cockpit. “We have everyone on board that was scheduled.”
“Is the captain on board The Reliant yet?” Vareen asked.
“The captain isn’t scheduled to arrive for another hour.” The pilot informed her.
That was a good thing. The newly assigned captain wasn’t someone she was familiar with.
“What is the status of crew onboard The Reliant?” Vareen asked. Since she was the science officer and second in command, the pilot answered her without question.
“Out of the fifty crew, forty have arrived for duty, with the final ten to arrive within the hour. Counting yourself, all Officers and main duty stations are manned, except for the captain.” The pilot turned back to his console and pushed some buttons.
Catching Vareen’s eye she nodded her head slightly. They knew The Reliant was manned and they could take her out without the other ten crew. It was time to get this shuttle moving.
“Take us to the ship,” Vareen demanded.
“Protocol states we are to wait for further passengers,” the pilot argued.
“I know the protocol. I’m ordering you to take us out now,” her friend’s voice rang with authority.
“Yes, Ma’am.” The pilot began unlocking them from the docking system. Cali held her breath as he got permission to leave the bay from flight control. She didn’t breathe again until they were flying toward low orbit. They’d made it one step further to freedom.
Chapter Five
Cali needed to hurry. Once the docking clamps had the shuttle steady she waited for the doors to open and rushed out. Vareen followed right behind her in their mad rush to the bridge.
“You block all communications. I’ll get control of the crew.” Cali ordered as they entered the lift. Since it would wait for the desired level she called out, “Command deck.”
“I will send a request for Diandra to report to the transporter room,” Vareen whispered. “Once I block communications, and she ends up on The Apoxis, everything will happen quickly.”
“Okay,” Cali stepped out when the doors opened and they hurried along the hallway to the bridge. “As soon as Diandra is off The Reliant, I will notify you.”
They’d reached the bridge. There was no going back now.
“You’re not allowed on this level, ensign.” An officer, by the uniform she wore, warned Cali when she tried to walk onto the bridge.
Cali knew it was now or never. She saw Vareen hasten to the Science Station. When her fingers started furiously pushing buttons Cali knew one of those commands would be for Diandra to get to the transport room. She needed to hurry as well.
“I am Calinae Edal.” She pulled off her cap and her hair spilled down her back. There were gasps of excitement at hearing her name and a few of fear. “As some of you may be aware, a change in captain was announced. That was misdirection by the Council. I am still your captain. Prepare to depart on our assigned mission.”
Everyone was listening intently, so she continued, “Our orders from the Council are to be on absolute radio silence, no communication whatsoever with Cestori. My science officer is even now making the necessary adjustments to the comm panel. I know most, if not all of you, from the Academy and feel this is the best crew Cestori has to offer. With a ship like The Reliant, I’m sure our mission will prove enlightening. The science officer has the bridge. Resume your duties.”
Before anyone could stop her Cali returned to the lift. “Level four.” That is where Diandra should be meeting her. The slight pull of gravity was the only indication she was moving. When the doors opened again, she took the hallway to a nearby door and burst in.
“Diandra.”
Diandra’s face went pale and then flushed red. “Cali?! Why did Vareen call me to the transporter and what are you doing here? In an ensign’s uniform to boot?”
“There isn’t time to explain fully,” Cali dragged her friend to the transport platform. “I am sending you to The Apoxis.”
“What? Why?” Diandra stood where Cali had placed her, the confusion in her voice had Cali hastening to explain.
“You need to find Vathral right away and he can tell you everything.” Cali input The Apoxis teleport information and went to push the button.
“I don’t understand?” Diandra appeared about to faint.
Having mercy on her friend she said, “I’m taking The Reliant to the Buffer Zone. To get away from my mother so you and Vathral can find a way to be together. He’ll find you on The Apoxis.”
“Taking The Reliant? Cali wait…”
Cali just smiled reassuringly and activated the transport. With that taken care of, she turned to leave. Tapping the communication, or com, badge built into every uniform she ordered, “Bridge. Lay in a course for the Buffer Zone. Engage the caterpillar drive, at maximum speed.”
She heard Vareen answer, “Engaging captain” over her comm badge.
Behind her, she heard, “I thought you said I was going to The Apoxis?”
Cali turned to gape at her friend, “What happened? I just sent you over.” Cali hurried to tap her comm badge, “Bridge, are we at maximum speed?” Cali called frantically. They couldn’t transport at maximum speed, and if they had warped away, Diandra would have to stay with them on The Reliant. They couldn’t possibly return to Cestori now. The planetary defenses would be on guard and The Reliant would be disabled from escaping. Their brilliant plan was deteriorating into ashes.
“Yes, captain. We engaged CD-ten the moment you requested maximum speed.”
CD stood for their caterpillar drive unit. It pulled energy from around them in space and used it to catapult the ship forward. The dilation of the drive openings, running along both sides of the ship, ranged from one to ten. One being the slowest, and ten the fastest. In the case of The Reliant, CD-ten was very fast
Tapping her comm badge, she said, “Science officer to my quarters,” When the comm was clear she yelled. “Dammit!”
Chapter Six
Diandra, not the only reason for leaving Cestori but a major one, was on The Reliant with her.
There was nothing Cali could do except stay the course and take The Reliant on the planned mission. With twelve months of supplies, they had been monitoring and exploring the area between the three nearest planets. Cestori, Titus, and Atheon. In this expanse of space, no single planet could claim authority, which worked in Cali’s favor. She was out of reach of her mother and the council, and the only pitfalls were the pirates, which they had no trouble outrunning, and the worry they would come across a ship from Atheon.
Atheon was the closest inhabited planet to Cestori. They didn’t have any contact with the humanoids from that planet. Cali had always wondered why, until her History of Advanced Culture 300 class. There she learned about the animosity between the two worlds. Though the acrimony had been dormant for a long time. It was written in history books that the humanoids of Atheon were easily offended and would declare war over the smallest slight. It was a shame really, if not for their hostile natures, she might have sought refuge on Atheon. The last reports on them showed they equaled Cestori in technological, cultural, scientific and medical advancement. By all accounts, they had all the comforts of home. The only downside being that Atheonians were crazy.
Cali shrugged off her melancholy and took another l
ook at the display. It was time for another probe to be launched. Drumming her fingers on the arms of her lounge chair she looked up to face the large holographic viewport. Since they were stationary at the moment, the sight before her was calm space. When in motion the computer would show a representation of the stars flashing past the ship. If she turned the holograph off, the wall would appear as it actually was, the stark silver of the metal used to build the ship. For the sanity of the bridge crew, the holograph always showed their current view of the space around them.
“Launch the communication probe,” Cali ordered.
Vareen pushed the button to send the probe to the designated location. “Launch in progress,” Vareen’s voice announced. “Probe will reach the designated distance from The Reliant in twenty seconds.”
“Take us out of here, CD-4,” Cali ordered.
“I’ll be away from my station. Science Officer Nas, you have the bridge,” not that she expected Vareen to stay at her station. It was protocol for her to give the command to her second, if Vareen followed her, which she always did, then she would pass the command to the navigation officer.
She walked away from the captain’s chair, through the main doors and straight across the hall to her quarters. Around the corner from her room were the other officers, among them, were Vareen, Nellia, and Diandra. The four of them had schooled together at the Academy. Diandra was the daughter of a council member, Nellia was the daughter of prominent scientists, and Vareen…well, she was a ward of the state having been orphaned at a young age. Vareen had a “tainted” pedigree, according to some of the close-minded of Cestori, but in Cali’s humble opinion, she was the best of their group of friends.
Upon entering her room, Cali went straight to the canister set on a small table in the corner. After pouring herself a large drink of the ice blue liquid, she walked over to sit on one of the three small couches set in a U shape. The only other furniture consisted of four end tables. Those placed among the sofas were for holding books and various knick-knacks, but her tables remained empty because the few items she’d managed to salvage during her escape were in her bedroom.
Settling down on the sofa, Cali let out a long low sigh. She only indulged in this drink once every thirty days, and she had just taken a sip when the door chimed.
“Come in,” she leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. She didn’t need to see who it was, she knew.
“Cali.” Vareen entered and walked straight for the same canister behind her. Her friends’ long legs ate up the short distance. Cali had always envied Vareen. It was a joke among them that she had the longest legs on Cestori.
“The probe is cloaked and we are doing maneuvers away from it. I wanted to talk to you about how close we’re sandwiched between the edge of the Buffer Zone and Titus.”
Cali heard the clink of the glass as Vareen poured herself a drink. Then the shifting of the cushions told her she had settled into a spot on the couch.
“I—” her friend was interrupted by the chime of the door.
“Come in,” Cali called and opened her eyes, this time, to see Nellia enter the room. Now they just needed Diandra to show up and their group would be complete.
Just as she had the thought her door chimed another time. Nellia hadn’t even gotten her drink in her hand before Cali was calling out, “Come in” yet again.
“I heard the probe was launched.” Diandra walked to the canister and Cali waited patiently for everyone to settle into their seats. Vareen with her flashing purple eyes and beautiful, black curly hair and alabaster skin. Nellia with her brunette hair, intelligent hazel eyes and naturally tan complexion. Diandra with her strawberry blonde hair, soft brown complexion, and bright green colored eyes.
Cali wondered who would bring up their monthly discussion first. It was Diandra, as the ships counselor she excelled at getting the feelings of the crew, and her friends.
“Cali, you know we’ll stay with you as long as you feel necessary. Are your feelings still the same as when we left Cestori?”
Cali had done nothing but think about her predicament since the day they had fled. Moving her troubled eyes from face to face she sighed, “I still don’t want to be sold off like some chattel to Vathral. My mother may want the alliance with his family, but I want something more for myself. I’m not ready to give up just yet.”
“At the very least we’re getting good data from the Buffer Zone.” Vareen offered helpfully.
“We should never have read those forbidden novels on romance and love at the academy.” Nellia tapped her fingers on her glass absently, “We would’ve gotten higher scores for one thing and another is we wouldn’t have un-natural views love…” realizing how that must sound she added, “Not that I think we’re un-natural.” Her face blushed a becoming pink color in her embarrassment.
“We know what you meant,” Diandra laughed and the sound had all the friends smiling.
“The last communication from Conndra said your mother is getting desperate. Maybe she will be willing to talk since so much time has passed.” Diandra turned the topic back around.
“I don’t know.” Cali rubbed her head, loosening the tightness of the bun. She hated having her hair up, it gave her a splitting headache. If not for trying to keep a semblance of protocol on The Reliant, she would let everyone wear their hair down.
“We know Vathral is still trailing us, it’s only a matter of time before we’re caught. Sending those probes gives us away, not to mention the trail we’re leaving with the caterpillar drive.” Vareen added, “Even with the changes I’ve had made, we’re still expelling used energy, and that can be tracked.”
“We have to send the communication probe so we get information about home.” Cali ran a hand through her hair. “How else would we have learned that my mother posted my betrothal announcement. As soon as I return to Cestori, Vathral and I will have to go through with the commitment ceremony.”
Cali was adamant they would stay in contact with Conndra, another friend from the Academy. Out of all of their group, Conndra was the only one who had taken a life-partner. She and Markus had performed the commitment ceremony before placement, and upon graduation, had submitted their DNA for offspring consideration. This meant they weren’t allowed placement on spacecraft and would be bound to Cestori. It was a sacrifice the couple had been willing to make.
The last Cali heard, their DNA hadn’t been selected. Genetic compatibility was strictly enforced by the Science Sectorate. Every couple submitted their DNA when a life-partnership agreement was entered into. If selected, you were allotted one offspring. No exceptions were allowed, and gender selection of that offspring was strictly prohibited. Cali knew that generations ago, gender selection was permitted but the male population became so sparse because of this practice, it was quickly banned.
Cali sighed, Conndra would make a wonderful mother. It was too bad genetic compatibility was more important than feelings or true desire for a child.
“We need to come up with a plan.” Vareen broke in again. “As I was telling Cali, we are getting dangerously close to the edge of the Buffer Zone.”
Cali took another sip of her drink. “Since Titus isn’t spacefaring it should be the perfect hiding grounds.”
“I still think it wise to alter course.” Vareen advised, “Perhaps pirates and ships from Atheon have the same theory.”
“We could alter course to head toward Cestori.” Diandra suggested, “That way we will be in familiar territory should we cross a ship from Atheon.”
“Conndra would warn us if she’d heard they were in the Buffer Zone.” Cali shrugged, “But I agree. Let’s skirt the Buffer Zone for a few more days along Titus’ border, then veer toward Cestori. We can adjust for that heading once we are through our maneuvers to lose Vathral,” Cali ordered her friend.
“Captain, we’re picking up a distress beacon.” The young navigation officer’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
Cali hit her comm badge
, “Do you have a lock on the signal?” she asked when a connection was open.
“Yes, captain. We have the location as 145.27 mark 8. The transmission is on all known frequencies.”
Cali met her friend’s troubled eyes. “Computer privacy.” She called and knew the computer would mute their conversation to the command deck. “That location is in the Buffer Zone straight ahead. Do you think it’s a trap?” she asked her friends once she knew the wouldn’t be overheard.
Nobody wanted to say what they were all thinking.
“Vathral could be getting creative and is trying to draw us in with a fake distress call.” Cali had to say it, though she knew in her heart Vathral was her friend. He would only get serious about catching them if under intense pressure. Which she realized could very well be the case. Conndra had informed them Vathral was still captain of The Apoxis, which is the warship her mother had sent looking for them. Although slower than The Reliant, it carried much heavier armament. It would never keep up with them under normal circumstances. If Vathral was trying to catch them in earnest, then this could be a trap.
Sighing wearily Cali said, “I don’t know how Vathral could’ve gotten ahead of us, but we need to set course for the location of the distress signal. If it’s not Vathral we might do some good for whoever is transmitting the signal. If it’s a trap—” she let her voice trail off.
“I agree with setting course for the signal.” Vareen’s brow furrowed. “It’s not logical that The Apoxis could get ahead of us. I don’t think it’s Vathral.”
“Open command channel,” Cali ordered the computer. “Navigation set course for the distress signal CD-six, and inform me if any other ships appear on our radar,” she called to the bridge.
“Course set.” The navigation officer spoke over the intercom, “We’ll arrive in sixty-five minutes.”
“Understood and clear,” Cali called and tapped hercommbadge. They were once again speaking privately. “Well, it seems we have sixty-five minutes until we know if Vathral has caught us.”
Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) Page 3