by Ryk Brown
“Of all the people to question…”
“What happened to all that Ghatazhak training you’ve been taking?” Nathan wondered. “Isn’t it supposed to give you more self-control?”
“Fuck you.”
“I guess not.”
Jessica stewed for a moment. “If you were anyone else, I’d have knocked your ass out by now. You know that, right?” she added.
“I do,” Nathan replied. “And if it makes you feel any better, I reviewed the battle recordings from the Ghatazhak, and I believe I owe the general an apology. When he authorized the use of deadly force, I assumed he meant shoot-to-kill.”
“To the Ghatazhak, authorization to use deadly force isn’t an order to kill, Nathan. It’s permission to kill if necessary, and only if necessary,” Jessica explained. “If Telles had wanted them to kill those marines, he would have given the order ‘terminate all targets’. And if he had done that, not a single marine would have survived.”
“I can see that, now,” he told her. “Honestly, though, Jess, I was only trying to understand why he made that decision, and to be sure of what my role is in all of this. I’m actually surprised the general took offense.”
“The Ghatazhak are people just like us,” Jessica said, taking a seat at the desk. “Sure, they come off a bit scary…”
“Like they’re figuring out how to kill everyone around them?”
“Yeah, something like that. Actually, exactly like that. It’s ingrained in us as part of our training.”
“In you, as well?”
“Yes.” Jessica grinned. “I identified six ways to kill you as soon as I entered…not including just using my bare hands, of course.”
“Not sure I needed to know that.”
Jessica thought for a moment. “You know, you should take some of their basic combat training.”
“A nice idea,” Nathan agreed, “but I don’t know that I’ll have the time.”
“Why?”
“Apparently, I’m taking command of the Aurora.”
A surprised look came across Jessica’s face. “What?”
“Cam’s idea, actually.”
“Cameron gave you her ship?”
“Yeah, I was surprised, as well,” Nathan admitted. “But she made a convincing argument.”
“What is she going to do?”
“She’s going to be my executive officer again.”
“What about Kaplan?”
“She’s going to serve as the XO on the Mystic,” Nathan replied. “I was hoping you would be my tactical officer again.”
“I’m a Ghatazhak, now,” Jessica replied.
“Exactly,” Nathan said. “One who just identified six ways to kill a friendly the moment she entered the compartment. If that’s not a good trait for a tactical officer, I don’t know what is.”
“What about what’s his name?” Jessica asked.
“Vidmar? He’s a pilot, as well, so he’s going to take command of one of the gunships, at least until we can get some crews trained. After that, he’ll be your second.”
Jessica sat back, dumbfounded. “I’ve got to ask Telles,” she warned.
“Of course.”
“Damn.” After a moment, she asked, “What about your ship? What about the Seiiki?”
“She’s getting a few improvements,” Nathan said, smiling. “More weapons, better shields—eventually she might even get a stealth jump drive, assuming Abby can make a scaled-up version.”
“Who’s going to command her?”
“Josh and Loki will continue flying her,” Nathan explained. “And as needed, I’ll take her on missions myself.”
“And Vlad?”
“Vlad will be wherever we need him most, as usual,” Nathan told her.
Jessica smiled. “It’s going to be just like old times, then.”
“God, I hope not,” Nathan exclaimed with a wry smile.
* * *
Lord Mahtize looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “I thought the Avendahl was destroyed.”
“She was,” Suvan confirmed. “I was not aboard her when she was attacked.”
“My, God, Suvan… What of your family?”
“My wife is well. We were together, on vacation in the Isa system, when the cluster was invaded. As for my children, I do not know. They are both grown with families on Corinair. I can only hope they are not in Dusahn custody. I have heard troubling rumors…”
“They were only rounding up the families of jump-capable ships who had failed to surrender to the Dusahn,” Lord Mahtize explained.
“I also heard they were arresting all active and retired military personnel.”
“Active, yes, at least on Takara. They are all being held in the Belanca prison for the time being. The Dusahn have promised their eventual release. As to arresting former military, to my knowledge they have only questioned them and released them. Again, I speak of Takara. My knowledge of Corinair, or any world outside of this system, for that matter, is extremely limited. The Dusahn control all communications and transportation.”
Suvan looked down, worry obvious on his face. “I can only hope they went into hiding, somehow.”
“Did anyone other than your crew know that you were not aboard when your ship fell?” Lord Mahtize wondered.
“Only my senior staff,” Suvan replied.
“Then surely the Dusahn believe you to be dead.”
“That is my hope,” Suvan agreed. He looked at his old friend. “Can you help me, Yassey?”
Lord Mahtize suddenly became even more uncomfortable. “Steal the Teyentah? Are you insane?”
“She is nearly complete, is she not? At the very least, she is space-worthy.”
“Yes, but the Dusahn control her now. They control the entire shipyard. Hell, they control everything, Suvan. You know that. Such a thing is impossible. You would be killed before you got anywhere near that ship.”
“I must do this, Yassey,” Suvan insisted. “It is the only way. With the Teyentah, I have a chance…we all do.”
“You have always been an idealist, Suvan,” Lord Mahtize said, shaking his head. “It was nearly your undoing seven years ago, and it will be your undoing now, if you attempt this foolishness.”
“Then you will help me,” Suvan stated confidently.
“Have you not been listening?” Lord Mahtize said, throwing his hands up.
“All I need are some credits,” Suvan continued, ignoring his friend’s protestations. “A few thousand should suffice.”
“To do what?” Lord Mahtize exclaimed.
“To put a roof over my head and food in my belly, for starters,” Suvan replied. “It took every credit I had on me to buy a new identity, and make my way to Takara.”
“They will find you, Suvan. They have ident scanners everywhere…and facial recognition. Sooner or later, you will be arrested.”
“My entire house was wiped from the records by the Council of Nobles when I stood in support of Casimir. In the records of Takara, house Navarro never existed.”
“There is no such thing as complete deletion, Suvan, you know that.”
“Perhaps, but the Dusahn have more pressing matters to deal with. They must tame an entire sector of space if they are to keep that which they have stolen. That is why I must strike now, before the Teyentah is completed. Once she becomes operational, my opportunity will be lost forever. Yassey, I beg of you. If you have any love for our world, you will help me do this.”
“I protect what I love by tolerating the current regime,” Lord Mahtize argued. “Just as I tolerated those who preceded them. Just as you did, Suvan. I make that sacrifice for all the people who depend on my house for their survival. Do you think I like the Dusahn? They have killed hundreds of thousands…they destroyed Ybara. They destroyed Lawrence…”
“In the Sherma system?” Suvan said, realizing the implications.
“Of course, in the Sherma system…”
“Did anyone survive?”
“A few, per
haps, but it is only a rumor. That is not the point…”
“Yassey, the Ghatazhak were living on Lawrence,” Suvan told him.
“What?”
“That must be why the Dusahn went so far out of their way to destroy it. They knew the Ghatazhak were the only ones who could stop them.” Suvan shook his head in despair, plopping down in a chair. “This makes it even more imperative that I take control of the Teyentah.”
“Suvan, even if you could steal her, how are you going to operate her all by yourself? You would need at least a hundred men to run that ship.”
“Twelve would be enough to get her away,” Suvan corrected. “I was part of the design team, remember? She may need a crew of hundreds, but twelve is enough to fly her.”
Lord Mahtize sat down across from his friend. “Even if you could get aboard, the controls will be locked out.”
“To all problems there are solutions,” Suvan insisted.
“You will not live long enough to find them,” Lord Mahtize insisted.
Suvan Navarro, captain of the ill-fated Avendahl, once proud leader of House Navarro, looked at his sole remaining friend on Takara. “If I die trying to save our world, I will die a happy man. I do not judge you for your desire to protect what you have, Yassey. On the contrary, I understand it. But I have nothing left, but my pride.”
“You have your wife, and your children,” Yassey reminded him.
“None of whom I could look in the eyes again, if I did not at least try to stop the Dusahn.”
Lord Mahtize sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “Credits are not a problem, but you will need more than just credits, Suvan.”
“Then you will help me?”
“This one time, but that is all. And after this, you must never return.”
“You have my word, Yassey.”
“I always hated that nickname,” Lord Mahtize muttered as he pulled out a card from his suit pocket. “Show this card at the Hotel Entorio. The one in Siskeena, not the one in Willette. They will give you a room. You may stay there as long as you wish.”
“I cannot afford a hotel, Yassey,” Suvan reminded him.
“I have an account there,” Lord Mahtize explained. “It is linked to one of my shell corporations, a thousand times removed from House Mahtize. I use it for my…diversions. You may pull credits from the account without raising suspicion.”
“Thank you, Yassey.”
“Once you are settled, go to the trades house in Siskeena and ask for Aronis Burklund. Tell him Mikal Yaramin sent you, and that you are looking for work.”
“But I am not,” Suvan objected.
“Not even as an assembly technician,” Lord Mahtize said with a smile. “At the shipyard where the Teyentah is being built?”
Suvan Navarro smiled. He had taken a huge gamble coming to Takara, and an even bigger one coming to House Mahtize. But it had been worth it. “Thank you, Yassey.”
“One more thing,” Lord Mahtize insisted. “Stop calling me Yassey.”
“What shall I call you, then?” Suvan wondered. “Mikal, perhaps?” he added with a grin.
* * *
“Got a minute?” Nathan asked from the doorway of General Telles’s temporary office in the Aurora’s lower decks.
“Of course,” the general replied, setting his data pad down on the desk in front of him.
Nathan entered the compartment, taking a seat across from the general. “I watched some of those battle-cam recordings as you suggested.”
“And what did you discover?” the general asked.
“That I should trust you, and your men, without reservation,” Nathan admitted. “And that I owe you an apology.”
“That will not be necessary,” General Telles assured him. “You were right to question my decision, even if only to learn from it. Trust without occasional confirmation is blind, and of little value. Truths must be continually tested to ensure we have not lost touch with reality, since reality itself changes without warning, and sometimes quite dramatically.”
“Nevertheless, I do apologize,” Nathan said.
“Apology accepted,” the general replied. “But again, no insult was perceived.”
“Let’s just say, you were not the one feeling insulted,” Nathan explained.
General Telles nodded his understanding. “Ah, yes. She still has a long way to go, I’m afraid.”
“Part of her charm,” Nathan added with a smile. “Actually, she suggested I take some of your Ghatazhak training. At the very least, to help me understand your operating methods and procedures.”
“If you are to utilize the Ghatazhak in the most efficient manner, it would seem a wise investment. However, I do not expect you to have the time.”
“Cam told you?”
“Yes. Captain Taylor came by less than an hour ago,” the general confirmed.
“Then it wasn’t your idea?”
“No, but I was going to suggest it, as it does make sense.”
Nathan sighed. “I suppose you’re right. I’m not sure how I feel about it, though.”
“How you feel about it is irrelevant,” the general said. “You either take command, or you do not.”
“Most humans are not wired that way.”
General Telles considered the strange euphemism for a moment. “Perhaps, but I believe that you are.”
Nathan looked at the general. “Do you ever think about chucking everything and leaving?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean just quitting all this, packing your bags, and leaving it all behind. Find a wife, a decent job, have some kids, and live out your life on some unknown world out in the middle of nowhere, and just let the rest of the galaxy go to shit as it sees fit.”
“No, I do not.” The general thought for a moment. “I suppose I am not wired that way.” After a moment, he spoke again. “Have you?”
“What do you think I spent the last five years trying to do?” Nathan wondered.
“You were not aware of your true identity, at the time,” the general pointed out.
“No, but I knew I was supposed to be more than what I was,” Nathan admitted.
“Interesting.”
“I mean, I didn’t know Connor Tuplo wasn’t my true identity, but I always felt like I was destined for something greater. I felt like things had happened in the past that had already set me on that path, but I just couldn’t remember them. I knew that when I did, my direction would change accordingly.”
“And yet, you did not seek out that direction.”
“I tried, but my memories were too fragmented. I still have pieces missing. It’s like I remember how something began, and how it ended, but not necessarily what came in between.”
“That seems like it would present some difficulties,” the general said, concerned.
“Most of the broken memories are inconsequential. Personal stuff, mostly. I seem to remember most of the events during my previous command with complete clarity, unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately?” the general queried.
“Some of them I’d just as soon forget.”
“Then your hesitations about taking command have nothing to do with your belief in your abilities, or your mental condition?”
“No, they have to do with the fact that Cameron is giving up her ship,” Nathan explained. “One she has now been in command of far longer than I ever was.”
“It is a considerable sacrifice,” the general agreed, “yet, it is one she chose to make of her own accord.”
“Which makes it even more difficult for me,” Nathan said.
“Perhaps you should honor her sacrifice by showing her she made the right choice.”
Nathan looked at the general and smiled. “Is that your way of telling me to get off my ass and take the bull by the horns?”
General Telles’s eyes widened. “I really do need to study up on Terran euphemisms a bit more.”
“Just ask Jessica,” Nathan suggested as he rose to his feet. �
�I’m sure she knows a million of them.”
“Indeed,” the general agreed.
* * *
“Are you sure you want to do this, Nathan?” Jessica asked as they walked up the ramp to the Aurora’s command deck.
“Actually, this is the only thing I am sure about right now,” Nathan said.
“What if they don’t take the news well?”
“I’m willing to take that chance, Jess. These people have risked their lives for me, and if they stay, they’re going to be doing so again, and again. They have a right to know.” Nathan stopped short of the entrance to the command briefing room, turning to look at Jessica. “In fact, everyone has a right to know; the people in that room, the crew of the Aurora, and everyone else aboard all these ships flying alongside us. If they are going to pledge their loyalty to me, they deserve to know who and what I really am.”
“You risk losing a lot of followers by doing so, Nathan. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I know that,” Nathan agreed. “But I’d rather go into battle with a handful of loyal comrades, than an army of people following a myth.” Nathan turned and headed into the command briefing room.
“Jesus,” Jessica muttered, rolling her eyes as she turned to follow him.
Nathan headed directly to the head of the table.
Aiden Walsh was the first to spot him, and instantly rose to his feet. “Captain on deck!” he barked, causing the rest of his group to stand at attention, as well.
“Please, as you were,” Nathan insisted, holding up his hands. “After all, I’m not technically a captain. At least, not in your military,” he added as he took his seat. “I’ve asked you all here because I assumed you had some questions, and I think you deserve answers to those questions.”
“No one will tell us what’s going on,” Aiden said. “They won’t even tell us where we are.”
“I don’t even know where we are,” Nathan replied, smiling.
“Lieutenant Commander Shinoda and his people have been grilling us for hours,” Kenji complained.
“They’re just doing their jobs,” Nathan insisted.
“I’ve got a question, sir,” Charnelle said, raising her hand.
Nathan looked at her. “I’m sorry…”
“Ensign Tegg, sir. Charnelle Tegg.”