Lord Banshee Lunatic (Nightmare Wars Book 3)

by Russell Redman

  My mouth was sagging open again, so I closed it. “Take this as a warning. I’m not omniscient and misjudged that completely. But don’t worry too much about the Cannibal Terror. Your enthusiastic public has decided for the moment to break it into two separate voices, one for ‘The King in Defeat’ and another for ‘The Cannibal’s Terror’. At least, that is the way it was sung to seven packed squares during the Fire and Ice Festival. I expect huge controversies about the unauthorized change, but for myself, I approve.”

  I had allowed the Cripple back into control as the part of me most capable of discussing music and hope. I reset to the Ghost.

  I could see a shiny, blobby tear rolling down Doctor Toyami’s face, which she flicked away in embarrassment.

  She said quietly, “We were going to sing it for you as a welcome-home song when you arrived on the Moon, but you didn’t let us.”

  Just as well, I thought to myself. It would have destroyed me. “Dear Doctor, the Moon sang it to me and I feel at home here in a way that I must not. But they love it and it is a therapy that they truly needed.”

  [Raj] Excuse me, I feel we are intruding, but... If you are the wonderful poet... We need a name for our ship and I don’t believe Lunar Recovery will want us to keep using ‘Quetzalcoatl’. We did not dare to attend the Fire and Ice Festival, but we watched it on the cultural feeds. When we heard that song, it broke all our hearts. We expected to be hunted down and killed within days, so the hope in the song cut like a flaming whip. And now, unbelievably, we have real hope again. May we name the ship the Luciana in your honour?

  I replied immediately, “No, certainly not. Or at least, not directly. Why not just reference the song? We would understand who you meant and we don’t want the public to know who we are right now any more than you do.”

  [Fatima] Just call it the Angel? As in the Angel of Hope University? We chose the name for Hope University years ago, before we even realized we would have to leave the Earth, but now it seems even more appropriate. Would it be presumptuous to call our ship the Angel?

  Yes, I liked the idea. I had been thinking that ‘Angel of Hope’ made a fine name, but this might be even better. It made it sound like the ship was the inspiration for the song. A little confusion might throw people off our trail.

  Doctor Toyami now had tears in both eyes and was even more embarrassed, but in a voice barely louder than a whisper replied, “That would be very sweet. Thank you.”

  Leilani warned, “You should check whether it would cause offence amongst some of the religious traditions, but no one here would object and I doubt there would be any real problem. The people of the Deng foisted the title ‘angel’ on us and they have an extremely mixed religious background. The biggest issue is often that simple names have already been taken.”

  Evgenia broke in, “I’ve just checked the database of ships registered in the Belt. The English word ‘Angel’ is free but you would have to be careful about translations because the equivalent words in Arabic, Hindi and Mandarin are already in use. I cannot comment on the other languages that have sprung up on Mars and across the Belt. Give it some thought before you paint it on the side of the ship.

  “May I suggest as a compromise that you call it the ‘Hope University ANGEL’, where the word ANGEL is emphasized in the logo? That would encourage people to refer to it colloquially as the ‘Angel’ while keeping the actual name unambiguous. Also, the Latin characters for the acronym, HUA, in Mandarin can mean ‘flower’, which has good connotations and resonates powerfully with the song.”

  I was keeping one eye on Begum, who was the key to the whole plan. She and Raul were locked in a hug again, staring into each other’s eyes without speaking. They were both crying silently with expressions suggesting a mixture of fear and hope. I was sure the comm was busy and the very slow way they approached each other for a kiss suggested that they were in a mutual video session, feeling each other’s emotions as they sought a route into the future. Their two counsellors hovered behind them looking more and more concerned.

  Finally, they broke the kiss. Begum buried her face against Raul’s shoulders while he looked around as though surprised we were still here. He said, “Until today, I never understood why that fool Romeo hated banishment from Juliet so much. We can do this, but it hurts terribly.”

  Muffled from his shoulder, Begum replied, “They will follow me wherever I go. How can I hide as captain of the most dangerous ship in the Belt?”

  I broadcast privately to all of the Banshees, the official ones and the ones I had added on the fly, “Please, everyone, I sent a message with the very dull subject ‘Welcome’ about an hour ago. Check it carefully. It has an attached token. When you are convinced of its authenticity, install the token.

  “You will discover that we have all disappeared from the normal Genetic Database but each of us now can choose our ID from a personal pool of one hundred. Your initial ID matches the last one you were using, except it is no longer in the regular database. Doors will open, but anyone who tries to query that ID will learn that you died on your last official expiration.

  “The token I sent provides the interface required to use the new ID’s, as well as instructions on its use. You can choose a new name for yourself, choose a persona to match, and change as often as you like. Depending on the persona you choose, you can have frighteningly high levels of authorization. Don’t abuse it because high authorizations are easy to track. You will need to practice to make on-the-fly changes in your ID convincing.

  “Begum, I took the liberty to declare that you died of your injuries on the lighter as we returned to the Moon. Admiral Wang will be outraged, but after the initial explosion will understand why. I’m sure he wants to give you a medal for courage and brilliant performance, but I’m equally sure you are not ready to accept it. He will have to give it posthumously, while you are free to do whatever you like.

  “You are one of us now, a Banshee. You have a hundred faces and a thousand names. You can walk through walls and be in five different places at once. Anyone who tries to follow you will be chasing a mirage. You are dead and alive, a creature of shadows and myth.

  “Every agent lives a version of this existence for part of their lives. Use this power sparingly. Most of the time, the people you command will need to know who you are so they can trust your judgement. But when you need it, you have it.

  “I gave a slimmed-down version to the ministers and conference attendees – it was pretty easy to find everyone from that conference who applied to emigrate to the Belt and is here on the Moon. You all paid bribes to change your ID’s, something the GD watches carefully. You have two ID’s in your pool and can change them at will. You retain the authorizations you had before but nothing new. Be warned, it takes a while to build a credible persona.”

  Morris/converse, “I appreciate becoming a sprite in your forest, but we expected Dapeng to be here for the awards ceremony. What is happening?”

  Singh to Morris, Me/private, “Hush. I expect Dapeng will postpone it. There are terrifying developments overhead. They sent a counter-ultimatum to Wolong’s fleet. I don’t know what it said but half the ships in his fleet promptly declared they were defecting to Fenghuang and both sides started firing missiles. The TDF destroyed all the missiles but there are now dozens of warheads flying loose around the Moon on broken missiles. If they get near anything sensitive, they are liable to detonate. All the ships that remained loyal to Wolong are behaving bizarrely. There is a lot of unintelligible chatter that sounds very angry, so I’m wondering whether they are under an emoji attack, or got a weaponized version of the LE token, or both.”

  Me/converse, “Minister Singh, while waiting for Admiral Wang, we have been discussing how to evacuate the ministers from the Moon to a place where you might be safer. I’m afraid I intend to hijack the Admiral’s award ceremony. Is it just you two in this conversation, or are there enough ministers to form a quorum for everyone who must leave? Perhaps Minister Morris could watch
developments in space while we continue to discuss your emigration?”

  Singh/private, “There are six of us. As Kat requested, we can speak on behalf of everyone else. Who are these people from Hope University? What is this song that you are all concerned about? I don’t understand much of anything I have heard so far. If we were speaking to anyone but you, it would sound like insanity. Have you actually pulled a rabbit out of an invisible hat for us?”

  To Singh/private, “Maybe, but we need to persuade Admiral Wang to donate the former Mao to Hope University after a major refit that needs to be done in two weeks. Let us all rejoin the conversation.”

  To the general room, I announced out loud, “We have a quorum to discuss the issue I most wanted to raise, which is how to get everyone to the relative safety we will enjoy anywhere but the Moon. As the ministers may have guessed, our text participants have incorporated a new university out in the Belt. All previous attempts to do so have failed, but this one won’t because we will defend it. They have been granted the ship formerly known as the Quetzalcoatl which will soon be renamed as the Hope University ANGEL. They are free to occupy and modify it, starting immediately.

  “The staff of Hope University may not be aware, but there was a workshop of ministers from the Terrestrial Council discussing developments on Mars that had just gathered when the Fairy Dust disrupted everything. Many of them and their staff are now trapped here on the Moon under threat of arbitrary execution. They have a voice connection to this discussion. I intend them to join your university as faculty and staff, at least until they can find more appropriate employment. They will initially be in disguise to avoid diplomatic complications.

  “I intend to force Admiral Wang to give us the hulk of the Mao, which we will rebuild as the defensive wing of Hope University. It will need enough armament to intimidate any factional warships that approach but also needs to function as part of the university. I have asked Chief Eng Haliru to head up a Faculty of Engineering. The ministers and their staff will travel on the former Mao.

  “We surely don’t have time for a complete refit of either ship here and may not have time for even a minimal refit before everyone must leave. Eng Haliru will be hiring numerous engs and techs to complete the refit in flight to the Belt. He and Admiral Wang have given me reasons to believe that should not be difficult.

  “I would ask everyone to break into smaller groups to discuss by comm the issues of greatest interest. Be ready when Admiral Wang returns to justify why he must donate the Mao to Hope University.”

  The whole place went silent as a dozen conversations chattered over the comm. I looked around at Sa’id, MacFinn and Kaahurangi. They stared back, flabbergasted at what was happening.

  Finally, MacFinn managed, “I’m na e’en scared b’that. I should be, but I’m more scared by the fact that I also received y’message. Am I a Banshee, or a... what did Minister Morris call himself? A Sprite? I’m truly scared t’look.”

  Sa’id said very quietly, “I am now a Banshee.”

  Kaahurangi replied, equally quietly, “Leyland, I believe we are both Sprites. Agent Douglas, you never mentioned us. I assume in your grand plan you intend us to stay here but be prepared to hide? I notice that you never bothered to ask us what we wanted to do.”

  “Yes,” I whispered back, “I apologize for that. It has been a busy afternoon. Unlike the others, you are still in the Genetic Database and will only drop out while you use an alternative ID. It is clear you need to stay here to get your new service up and running. The Banshee doctors know what you are trying to do and will probably try to reproduce it in the Belt, but their problems will be quite different from yours. Your hospitals should grow in parallel but independently to suit the local conditions. You will probably want to correspond when things are more settled.

  “Commander Sa’id, I apologize to you as well. You can no longer remain in the TDF, any more than Cap Thieu. I really don’t know what role you will play in the Banshees after I am gone. I only know that you are one of us as well. Everything I said to Cap Thieu applies to you too and I fear you will have more use for the gift I have given you than she will. Forgive me, please. Not now. Later, when you understand how much of a curse that gift really is.”

  Across the monitor, Begum stepped away from Raul and let out a howl, “Ohhhhh, I have to do this! We will be the lost patrol, the lonely watch waiting for rescue far behind enemy lines. But I have to do it!”

  Raul wrapped his arms around her and she beat against his chest, hard enough that I was sure it would hurt tomorrow. Both counsellors grabbed them and pulled them apart.

  Begum looked at me with an expression I could not read and asked, “Brian, when you said I had to move off this chessboard, was this what you meant?”

  It took a moment to remember the context, but, “No, not then. I was thinking of a position in the ACC or as an organizer with the Lunar Government deep underground, but after the fleets merge those positions would not provide you with sufficient protection. We must go to the Earth, but you cannot come with us. The hospitals must be protected, as does LUVN and its products. The whole TDF must adapt immediately to provide that protection because nobody else can do it. I agree completely with Eng Haliru; you are the only captain with the skill and personal presence to command the Mao on such a mission. I’m sorry it had to be you, but at least on the occasions when you have to fight you will be wrapped inside a steel ship.”

  Raul and Haliru were both snarling “shut up” at me as Begum burst into hysterical laughter. In a few moments, all the Banshees in the room were clustered around her. Gradually, the laughter subsided into sobbing, which itself faded into silence.

  Finally, as grim as I had ever seen her, she faced me. “One hundred thousand tons of steel, four FAS missile racks with one hundred missiles, and two tiers of heavy lasers. We will need higher capacity plasma conduits, probably two in parallel to supply the lasers with enough power. Enough spare parts to replace the entire engine in flight, ten times over for the external fittings. Enough Engs and Techs to complete the changes. Enough food and fuel to take us to the Belt and fight for four years without resupply. A machine shop capable of building a complete copy of itself, with plans for refineries, factories, farms, and schools. It will be as crowded as when you first arrived and we will have to avoid killing each other from the stress until we can unload some of the excess people into the new university. I have just been assured that there will be space available there.”

  The counsellor holding Begum stepped forward, releasing her to snuggle against Raul’s shoulder again. “Sir, you might recall my name is Yanadar Phan, Cap Thieu’s counsellor. This is an important base, but not a large one, and we Psychological Counsellors are a small community within it. I spoke with Amalthea Baintree this afternoon. Her career has been stalled for years, mostly because she liked what she was doing and lacked any other motivation to seek promotion. After one session with you, she volunteered for forward duty, convinced that this invasion could escalate into something far worse than the Final War. She suddenly feels a need to take an active role in our defence.

  “The Banshees won’t let me look at the Nightmares that haunt you, not even as text, but speaking with Cap Thieu and Agent San Diego over the last few days has convinced me that Amalthea is right. This university and its hospital must be of immense importance or you wouldn’t do it against such terrifying odds. The mere fact that you need a TDF warship to defend it means you cannot depend upon the local civil government.

  “Sir, I need to go with Cap Thieu. She has been under crushing stress and must not face this without proper support. I mean no disrespect to the very capable doctors who will be on board, only that I fear we will all be overwhelmed in such a hostile environment. Like Amalthea, I cannot hide here when my calling is with her. Someone else can pick up my other cases. May I join your crew?”

  To Begum, Haliru/private, “Your ship, your crew, so your call.”

  To Leilani, Sergei/private, “I hav
e given both of you the authority to add new Banshees. Check the instructions and add her if you feel it appropriate.”

  Doctor Marin slipped through the crowd and said, “Yanadar, we would welcome your help. Brian has been trying to reassure us that the Belt won’t be nearly as hostile as we fear, but the need for TDF support is obvious overhead right now. Amalthea’s report dwells in detail on what happened in Prosperity Square. The people from the Belter ships sound like people everywhere; just as frightened, confused and suspicious as we are. It would be hugely helpful to have a proper Lunatic perspective as we come to know our new neighbours.”

  Counsellor Phan’s eyes got very big and she mewed a faint, “Thank you.”

  Haliru said, a bit smugly, “I told you recruiting would be easy. Begum, what do you want to name your ship? Dapeng is going to give it to us whether he wants to or not. We need a name.”

  Begum looked up from Raul’s shoulder again. “Eng Haliru, I am glad you are coming with us and happy that you anticipate having fun. I hear the hope that the university brings to the medical community and the emigrant ministers.

  “For myself, all I can bring is a determination to succeed. Any spacer embarking on such a voyage would understand. I expect that many people emigrating to the Belt without knowing what they will find must feel the same way.

  “I doubt I will ever be able to return to the Earth. This will be my lonely watch, waiting for Raul to rejoin me as we have promised each other. So that is the name I choose: Lonely Watch.”

  Haliru grunted, “Good. Any name is better than none and I’m no judge. Does that ‘resonate with the song’?”

  Doctor Toyami hesitated, then said, “Yes, surprisingly well. You have to think a bit, but it fits. Especially the part where you are defending the gates of Hope University. Begum, you are trading places with the King. You will stand alone while defending what we hope will become a ‘temple of peace’. Well, sort of alone, in command of a battleship...”