by Drew Avera
"And how did he get there?" Kevin asked. "Perhaps he was planted there for the sole purpose of destroying the Consulate from within."
"That's a conspiracy theory," Kretzschmar replied.
"All conspiracy theories have an element of truth to them," Kevin replied. "The only difference is proof."
Kretzschmar grunted and muttered something unintelligibly before clasping the cuff back onto Kevin's wrist. The Heshian stopped near the door before looking back at the human, but this time his eyes did not contain the anger and rage they had before. He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, he stepped out and left Kevin alone.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"I don't know where to begin, Captain," Harrison said meekly as he held his hands in his lap fiddling his thumbs together presumably to distract him from the gun pointed in his direction.
"Start at the beginning and how you got involved in helping Nesbitt insight a mutiny," Dickson ordered. Despite his fatigue, he resisted the urge to sit in front of the young lieutenant. Instead, he maintained a tactical advantage in standing in case the coward seated before him decided he wanted to get squirrely.
"Nesbitt force my hand, sir. When you gave the stand-down order and disobeyed Admiral Hardak, Nesbitt said that you violated your position as a commanding officer and that you were helping the enemy. He gave me many examples of how your actions violated Consulate law and that he was in the right to question your authority. He also said that by aiding and abetting you and not standing up to you that I was just as guilty."
Dickson listened intently and saw that Nesbitt used psychology to threaten the lieutenant instead of relying on the physical threats he had used previously. Only a sociopath would go to such lengths instead of merely bringing up his concerns to the person he held the grievance against.
"At what point did you communicate these concerns with Admiral Hardak?" Dickson asked.
Harrison shrugged. "Most of the correspondence with the admiral was conducted by the chief. He required an open line of communication and asked that I provide it without any oversight from you. It was a secret channel and Nesbitt relayed everything that you told him." Harrison looked down at his feet refusing to make eye contact with the captain.
"It sounds to me like everyone on your ship was against you," Chuck said as he leaned against the bulkhead casually holding his weapon.
"Does look that way, doesn't it?" Dickson replied. He wondered how he could have missed the warning signs that he was losing his command, but he knew he had spent more time focused on trying to save Kevin than in doing his job. "Harrison, I never worked with Nesbitt until now. At what point during the mission did he begin to turn?"
Harrison glanced up at him warily. "It was the third time you refused to open fire on the ship when we had them in our sights. Nesbitt said it was a show of weakness and that you were letting them get away. Each time after that only solidified his opinion that you are an inept leader who was helping a traitor."
Dickson had to give it to him, Harrison had more of a handle on the situation than he had given him credit for. Of course, now it was too late. Nesbitt already tried to kill him which prompted another question. "Did Nesbitt take it upon himself to fire on me, or did you give the order?"
Harrison's eyes widened as he stared at his commanding officer fearfully. "Do you not remember, sir?"
Dickson resisted the indignancy in his voice when he responded, "No."
"Admiral Hardak gave the order when he confronted you escorting Commander Hoyt and his wife off the ship," Harrison answered.
"Son of a—" Dickson began pacing the room, his mind on fire. "So Admiral Hardak is on this planet?"
"Yes sir," Harrison replied. "He accused you of being a traitor as well for openly defying his standing order. He told Nesbitt to open fire and after he shot you the squad led Commander Hoyt and his wife to the admiral’s ship."
"Why shoot me and let Hoyt live?" Dickson asked as he tried to put the puzzle pieces together in his mind. Nothing made sense.
"I have concluded that Admiral Hardak is trying to frame Commander Hoyt for treason. He hasn't said as much, but he insists that I need to gain access to the ship’s database to verify that the origin of the classified materials sent to the enemy was from this ship." Harrison used air quotes when he said the word verify.
"That's what I was afraid of," Dickson said as he turned his attention to Chuck. “The sole reason I wanted to confront Kevin myself was to determine whether he was the traitor he was accused of being."
"I guess you came to a conclusion that your admiral didn't agree with," Chuck said.
"I did. But I also knew better than to let the commander go. I convinced him to surrender to me as a show of faith. Obviously, that had little persuasion on Admiral Hardak." Dickson continued to pace until an alarm sounded on the ship. "What's that?"
Harrison's face went white as his usual stammering proceeded his response, "I set the sensor array to pick up any Consulate weapon’s signature approaching the ship. Someone's coming," he said with his voice cracking.
Dickson stomped onto the bridge and used the monitor to see four men in tactical gear marching towards the ship. There were weapons slung around their necks.
Dickson walked off the bridge and back into the lounge. "We have a four-man squad approaching. Are these Hardak’s men?"
Harrison shrugged. "It could be, or it could be Nesbitt and his men. He's working directly for the admiral now."
Chuck straightened up and picked up his weapon. "What shall we do?"
"You need to hide," Dickson replied. "I’ll take a position on the bridge and Harrison will sit here and pretend to busy himself with what Hardak charged him to do."
"What about the humans and Nata?" Chuck asked with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"We have to hope for the best. If we march off the ship and confront the squad, then we’re outnumbered two to one. Most likely all of us will die."
"It sounds like you're scared," Chuck replied looking down his nose at the captain.
Dickson didn't take the bait. Instead, he replied, "It's not fear. I just want to maintain a tactical advantage. If they don't know we’re on the ship, then we can use that to our advantage."
"I wasn't able to get into the database, sir. I don't have anything to give to Admiral Hardak. What should I do?"
Dickson pondered the myriad of answers to the question, but he could only come up with spiteful answers. This wasn't the time or place. Innocent lives were at stake and he could handle Harrison's betrayal later. "Tell them you weren't able to get in and say that you need more time."
"And if that doesn't work?"
Dickson shrugged as he walked back towards the bridge. "I suggest that you pray he doesn't kill you."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Auden wrapped her arms around herself as she tried to stay warm. "Is it just me, or has the temperature dropped?"
Tara fidgeted, bouncing up and down in her own attempt to keep warm. "The wind isn’t helping," she said, as she covered her face with her hood.
"Perhaps if we stood closer together we could maintain body heat," Nata suggested.
In the short time that she had known Nata, Auden grew to like her. There was something motherly about her, though it was unnerving to look directly at her. It was like looking through a foggy window, you knew it was there, but you could also see past it. It was a bit haunting at first, but despite that, Auden had grown comfortable with her and drew close to the woman while Tara followed suit.
"Do you think Captain Dickson found anyone on the ship?" Tara asked.
Auden shrugged her shoulders. "They've been up there for a long time. I haven't heard any shouting or shots fired, but they haven't come to get us either. I don't know what to make of that," Auden replied.
"I think someone was on the ship," Nata said under her breath, her tritone voice slightly hushed by the whipping wind. "But I don't think the captain or Chuck found them threatening."
>
Auden looked up at the woman questioningly. "What makes you think that?"
"I sense it more than I know it. There's a lot of emotion on that ship, but none of it is hostile."
Auden pondered that for a moment. Her parents could be up there discussing terms to surrender to Captain Dickson. But if so, why not allow her and her sister on the ship to see their parents?
The sound of approaching footsteps caught Auden's attention and she tensed. "I think someone's coming," she whispered. The trio knelt in their huddled position and listened. There was a cadence to the steps as multiple feet touched down simultaneously in a rhythmic cadence. Auden recognized it as marching. "It's military," she muttered.
"It can’t be your parents, we should go," Nata suggested.
"But where would we go?" Tara asked her eyes searching the terrain. "The only thing we can hide behind is the ship, but the closer we get to it the easier it will be for them to see us in the light."
The four-man squad came into view as silhouettes against the low hanging moon. They stopped in unison several meters away and then their leader spoke. “Halt,” a man's voice ordered. "Do not move or my men will open fire."
Auden and Tara raised their hands in surrender, as they slowly rose to a standing position. Nata followed suit but let her hands rest on the children's shoulders as the armed men drew closer.
"Identify yourselves," the leader demanded.
"My name is Auden and this my sister, Tara," she said as she gestured towards the younger girl. "This is our ship."
"Correction, the ship belongs to the Consulate Navy. It’s a stolen war vessel used by a traitor within our organization." His voice was amplified through his helmet and carried a sinister tone. "Who is that behind you?"
"I'm a friend," Nata replied without identifying herself.
"Put your hands up. Do it, do it now," the man snapped as he stalked closer. As the light from the cargo bay fell upon him, Auden could see his rank insignia sewn onto the shoulder of his jacket. His name was embroidered on a tape just below the patch and it read “Nesbitt”.
"We didn't do anything wrong, Chief Nesbitt," Auden said.
The man stopped walking and turned his head to his men before returning his attention to them. "You think you know who I am? You know nothing," he spat indignantly. "Get on your knees."
They did as they were ordered as the situation escalated disproportionately as the other three men marched towards them, their weapons drawn. Two men approached from behind them and took formation as if they were about to execute their prisoners.
"I don't know what's going on, Chief, but we’re not a threat to you," Auden said trying to maintain her composure. Her body trembled, and it affected her voice. "We’re just trying to find our parents."
The chief turned and faced the ship. He took a few steps towards it before stopping and turning back. "Keep an eye on them. I'm going to see what’s taking Harrison so long," he said.
"Aye, Chief," a man behind them responded. Their voices lacked any sense of emotion as they held innocent civilians at gunpoint. It struck Auden that this might be a regular occurrence to these people which did nothing to help settle her nerves.
She watched the chief march towards the ship as he held his rifle at the ready and Auden couldn't help but wonder what would happen when he was confronted by Captain Dickson and Chuck. Would they even stand a chance?
"You don't have to keep your weapons trained on these young girls," Nata said as she canted her head towards one of the men. She kept her face hidden behind her hood, but Auden had no doubt the Nepham woman could see him.
He faced her and replied, "We don't take orders from the friends of traitors," he spat. "You’re best to keep your mouth shut or else we will make it so that you never speak again. You got that?"
Auden glanced towards Nata and watched her nod her head courteously. They were powerless to do anything against these armed soldiers.
Powerless to do anything at all.
Auden’s heart pounded as she gazed out in the open, night sky. The clouds grew dark, painting the sky a milky black.
A sound startled her from her thoughts and her eyes fell upon Tara and she saw the young girl reach under her cloak for the karambit Chuck had given her. She knew that the man did not know that they were armed, and perhaps they could surprise them with an unexpected attack, but the blades were useless against bullets. There was no way they would give them the advantage that they needed.
Auden locked eyes with Tara and shook her head, not wanting her sister to act out and become a victim of these mad men.
Tara nodded once, a quiet affirmation as she let her hands fall to her sides outside of her cloak.
"Is it all right if we stand up?" Auden asked. "The glassy sand is hurting my knees."
"I don't care if it catches fire and burns you alive. You'll stay where we told you," the man behind her barked.
Those words confirmed her suspicion that these men meant them ill will. There was little hope that the three of them could do anything to free themselves. Their only hope was that Captain Dickson made it out alive and could save them.
“What harm is it for the girl to stand for a moment?” Nata asked before the barrel of one of the men’s rifles was pressed against her head, shoving her forward.
“I said for you to keep your mouth shut. One more word from you and I’ll paint the sand red with your blood.”
Auden eyed Tara and watched her sister tremble. The worst night of their lives had taken a turn and she wasn’t sure it was going to get any better.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and distracted herself with watching the ship. One way or another, someone was going to step off the Interceptor at some point.
Auden was determined to be the first to know which way this night was going to end. Even if it meant being disappointed.
Chapter Thirty
Dickson braced himself against the bulkhead of the bridge as he waited for the men to enter. He heard the sound of a lone set of boots stomping as they approached from the aft section of the ship followed by a familiar voice, "Harrison, what's the status?" Nesbitt barked.
Dickson watched Harrison through a small slit between the door frame and the bulkhead. The lieutenant stammered as he rose from his seat, his hands raised in surrender. "I. I. I. I couldn't get it," he said. "I can’t get into the ship’s data system."
Dickson heard Nesbitt breathe heavily, but he couldn't see the chief from his vantage point. He heard what sounded like velcro pockets opening and then a rustling sound followed by the flick of a lighter. The smell of cigarette smoke filled the small space as Dickson tried to position himself to get an angle on Nesbitt.
"What did Admiral Hardak say to you, Harrison? Didn’t he tell you not to fail him?"
"Yes, he did, but whatever method of security Commander Hoyt used to secure the ship's computer I'm unable to get into. I have tried everything I know how to do, but none of it is working," Harrison whined.
Nesbitt inched closer and the lieutenant flinched before cowering before the homicidal maniac standing in front of him. "Why are you looking at me so judgmentally?" Nesbitt asked after taking a long pull from the cigarette.
Harrison laughed nervously before pointing at the cigarette. "It’s against the rules to smoke in living spaces on a Consulate ship," he choked out.
Nesbitt scoffed. "Do you know what’s wrong with people who always want to follow stupid, little rules? You’re too busy trying to color in the lines that you fail to create your own art. I don't think you need to hack into the ship’s database anymore."
Harrison inched himself away from the chief and then asked, "Why is that?"
Nesbitt took another pull and exhaled a ring of smoke into Harrison's face. "We have something better than evidence," he said with a smirk. "We have leverage."
Harrison peered at him dumbfounded. "What kind of leverage?" Skepticism dripped off his tongue and even Dickson’s curiosity was piqued.
&nbs
p; "We found Hoyt’s kids standing outside the ship with a local. We can use his kids to motivate a confession out of him. That should serve our purpose."
Dickson ground his teeth at Nesbitt's words. The psychopath wanted to use children to get what Hardak wanted and it disgusted him.
"It's wrong to manipulate children in such a way," Harrison said before retracting from Nesbitt's advance.
The chief stepped closer to the lieutenant and pinned him against the bulkhead. He leaned in so he was nose to nose with the cowardly excuse for a naval officer. "I don't recall asking you opinion, Lieutenant. Perhaps the next time you speak out I'll add to my rising body count."
That was all Dickson could take. He quietly stepped around the corner, hugging the wall to stay out of sight for as long as possible before he tip-toed into the lounge and charged towards the chief.
Nesbitt heard his advance and spun around violently, but it was too late. Dickson barreled into the chief shoulder-first and drove the man into the bulkhead, smashing his head against the steel surface. He knocked the wind out of the other man’s lungs, but it wasn't enough to neutralize Nesbitt.
The chief took hold of Dickson's cloak and shoved his knee into the captain's chest. He forced the cloak up over the captain’s head, effectively binding his arms as Nesbitt used his momentum to drive the captain towards the deck. Both men snarled as they waged war with one another, but Nesbitt took the advantage and began kicking and stomping as the captain floundered.
Dickson pulled away, getting one arm free before wrapping it around Nesbitt's leg and tripping the chief.
Nesbitt fell to the deck with a dull thud and Dickson ripped the cloak off before pouncing on the man splayed out before him. Dickson threw a wild punch towards the chief's chin but barely grazed him.
To retaliate, Nesbitt drove his fist upward, connecting with Dickson's throat, knocking the air out of him and sending him to the deck gasping.