by J. N. Chaney
Once Alphonse and Shaw were safely back on the bridge and just out of camera view, I had requested a departure. As Nick predicted, it had been immediately denied, dashing my hope that his death would negate whatever deal they’d worked out. Nothing was ever easy.
“Oh, but we are.” I curled my lip and leaned back in the chair as though I didn’t have a worry in the galaxy. “You’re going to want to release my ship. Now.”
He tossed his head back and guffawed, drawing it out a few seconds too long. “You’re a funny man. Still have to die. Nothing to be done about it. Ya killed someone very important.” So, it was a loyalty issue rather than a monetary one.
“Junior, prepare the anti-docking mechanism.” I lazily sighed and ignored the greasy man on my display. If he wanted to play games, I’d give him one to remember. In his defense, the man couldn’t know what kind of weapons the upgraded Star possessed, but he’d learn soon enough.
The scowl dropped away at the mention of an anti-docking mechanism, a term I had only just now made up. The tech was real enough, a direct response to the time when we had been forced to break away while still attached to Taurus Station. The result hadn’t been pretty. We’d been hauling ass through the void with a hunk of Taurus attached to my hull like a godsdamn parasite. To keep that from happening again, Sigmond had created a program that could override lockdown protocols. The dockmaster now had a look of apprehension, but it was more out of confusion just as much as fear or concern.
Failing that, a set of charges would go off and free us by force. Sigmond had designed them to do as little damage to both parties as possible, but the dockmaster didn’t know that. And I wasn’t about to clue him in to that information.
“Anti-docking procedure ready,” Junior announced, thankfully understanding my meaning.
I flicked an imaginary piece of lint from my clothes and smiled at the dockmaster, showing my teeth. “Listen to me with care,” I said, steadying myself as I spoke. “Based on what you just saw take place in that little dock of yours, I want you to take a second and ask yourself--really ask yourself--if threatening a man like that is the best option you have in this moment. What would he do if he felt his back was against the wall? How far would he go?” I leaned forward, not blinking. “Because if I were in your position, and I had a guy like that in front of me, I sure as shit wouldn’t play dice with the man. Not with a bastard like me.”
The dockmaster swallowed.
I cut the feed without another word to him. “Did you take care of the visual and audio feeds, Junior?”
“Affirmative, sir. All media of Mr. Malloy and Admiral Shaw has been erased from Leah’s records,” answered the AI.
The ship shuddered as the clamps disengaged, prompting me to take the controls. I jockeyed us into the queue, breathing an inward sigh of relief. The obstacles were falling away.
But the relief was short-lived.
“I detect a breach in the flight pattern of three ships,” informed Junior.
Three red markers appeared on the holo, moving away from Leah at a crawl to converge on our position. “There isn’t supposed to be security on this station,” I said, annoyed at yet another intrusion that prevented our progress.
“There isn’t,” Shaw said from the crew chair he occupied. “The dockmaster said one of you killed someone important and he wasn’t lying. Captain Nick is a pirate, ruthless as they make them.”
“So what? Isn’t that kind of the point of this place?” I maneuvered us through the flow of traffic, headed for open space.
Alphonse prepped the weapons system, his movements sure and steady.
“Nick had been taking control of Leah, leaving more of his men here when he left and extending his own stays. This must be part of his crew.” Shaw spoke calmly, seemingly unbothered by the events unfolding.
“Great,” I muttered. “Screw this, I’m not waiting for them to ambush us. Shields up, Junior.”
“Right away, sir.”
Gritting my teeth, I jerked the controls, pulling the Star out of the queue in a sharp arc. It didn’t go unnoticed. The red markers stopped their sluggish pace and gave up all pretenses to follow. They were half our size and able to thread in and out of the crowded docking area with ease.
The holo display was busy with incoming and outgoing ships. I went into a vertical rise, then cursed internally when a passing ship cut me off, forcing me to dive instead. One of Nick’s fleet mimicked the move, intending to catch me before I could burn fuel and escape.
“Al!” I shouted at the Constable.
“On it, Captain.” A low hum sounded as the beam cannons prepared to fire.
“Low setting,” I warned. “I don’t want them to know how much firepower we have.”
The oncoming ship let out a stream of munitions that impacted with such force that I knew they had to be military grade. Alarms sounded on the bridge and the Star’s hull rattled. Alphonse returned fire with a beam that tore through the little fighter as though it were made of aluminum. The rest of the ships in the vicinity scattered, probably spooked by the sight.
“The other two backed off,” Shaw commented.
I checked the holo and found he was right. “I don’t think we’re in the clear yet.”
“They’re moving toward the slip tunnel,” said Alphonse.
He was right. Multiple ships were holding at the entrance to the tunnel, blocking our way.
The ship I’d seen upon our initial arrival was among them, its size at least double the others, which brought double the guns as well. But size could play against them. It meant a larger target, and I saw that as a good thing. The largest of the ships was something beyond a transport but just shy of being a frigate, its vectored thrusters capable of keeping it stable. It fired accelerated masses with its railguns on us as we approached, spitting firepower that would have ripped a lesser vessel to shreds. The shields held easily, causing the fired object to shatter like a bullet against a thick cement block.
“Missile fire detected,” declared Junior.
Their trajectories were clear on the display. Or so I thought. The missiles twisted with me, locked on to my tail.
“Hard left!” Alphonse called out. He had the weapon controls in hand. As I moved the ship around, Alphonse fired with precision, blasting both missiles with the beam before they could come close to reaching us.
“That ship has long range artillery,” Alphonse said. “It’s not as fast, so we should be able to outmaneuver them.” He seemed confident of that statement, and I saw no cause for disagreement.
Our defense system was one of the best in the business, but we had no backup out here. I could put up the cloak and haul ass for the S.G. Point, but they had us blocked and a fight was likely inevitable. This had to end before more ships arrived. We could take on a few, but I didn’t know about a dozen or more. I also didn’t want anyone trailing us. That would invite all kinds of new problems that we certainly didn’t need.
“I’m not running,” I told him, turning us in a wide arc to meet them head on. “They’ll know which tunnel we took and I’m not taking any chances they could make it to Earth. Put the cannons on full power.”
He shot me a look. “Are you sure? It’s unlikely that anyone onboard will survive.”
“They’re pirates,” Shaw cut in. “Might as well be Ravagers. They just tried to kill us without any remorse on their part. Never pity the killer, because they will never pity you.”
Alphonse nodded grimly. “Ready to fire.”
“Take the shot,” I told him once we were in position.
The powerful beams lanced out, punching through the darkness of the void toward our quarry. Another volley of fire erupted from their guns at the same time. Our shields took the hit, their strength dropping a few percentage points. I watched as our attack punched through their shields entirely and fractured the hull. The extent of the damage was soon visible as the fissure continued to widen, explosions tearing it apart from within. I could see a handf
ul of life pods make it out, but they were in the single digits.
“Threat neutralized, sir,” Siggy Junior confirmed.
“That was easier than I expected,” I muttered.
With the largest one taken care of, the other ships near the slip tunnel scattered. We’d taken out the best of them in a single shot while hardly receiving any damage ourselves. Had I witnessed this encounter from the outside as they did, I would’ve been terrified, too.
As the other vessels dispersed, I pulled the Renegade Star toward the slip tunnel and leaned back. “Let’s get the tunnel open, Junior,” I ordered.
“Activating now,” he responded.
The rift formed in seconds, green lightning snapping and exploding from within.
The bridge went quiet as we proceeded to enter. It wasn’t until the rift closed behind us that my two companions chose to finally relax and speak.
“Impressive, Hughes,” remarked Shaw, his expression hidden behind his heavy facial hair.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m sure Al can bring you up to speed on everything that’s transpired since you’ve been away, including the upgrades to our technology, like what you’ve just seen.”
“Are you referring to the Eternal beam cannons, the Celestial hull, or the Union cloaking tech?” he asked.
I turned to him. “You know about that?”
He nodded. “And the war you’re fighting on the other side of that slip tunnel, the artificial planet you’ve seized, and the newfound alliance you’ve struck with your former enemies. It’s all very impressive.”
Alphonse smirked.
“How the hell did you find any of that out from way out here?” I asked.
“I might be an admiral now, but I’ll always be a Constable,” the old man commented. “If there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s how to stay informed.”
“What else are you informed about?” I asked.
“I’d imagine almost everything, but you can fill in whatever gaps I miss,” he told me. “Before we get into all of that, however, I’d like to ask you a question.”
“What is it?” I asked.
He slipped a hand over his belt. “Do you trust the Vice-Admiral?”
“No,” I replied honestly, not entirely surprised by the question, considering Vick was the one responsible for Shaw’s forced retirement. “Right now, our alliance is mutually beneficial. All three sides understand that if the human species wants to avoid extinction, it needs to unite, but once the threat is dealt with, I can’t imagine Vick will let me go on about my business.”
He looked at Alphonse next. “Malloy? What’s your take?”
“I agree with the captain,” he replied readily. “He’ll continue to do the right thing, so long as he believes it’s the right thing. After the war, however, his previous intentions may resurface.”
“Perhaps so,” Shaw agreed. “For now, working with you is a requirement. Once the Celestial threat is taken care of, his focus will revert to more immediate concerns, such as border security between the Sarkonians, the Union, and the newfound empire you’re creating. Are you prepared for the possibility that he and the Sarkonians may revisit their former treatise and assault your home?”
“Sure, we’re prepared for whatever the two of them want to send our way,” I said. “But,” I continued, raising a finger. “I’ve met the Sarkonian Emperor, even had conversations with both him and Vick together.”
“And what have you surmised?” asked Shaw.
“I think I can turn the kid,” I said, simply.
“The Emperor?” he asked, surprised.
I nodded. “He likes me, and we’re working directly with his people, including his lead scientists. There’s a chance our two groups could end up allies in the long run, especially given the animosity they have for the Union. The Emperor hates Vick, a feeling the two of us seem to share.”
“Still, all of it could be for show,” added Shaw. “A design by both of them to keep you in the dark as to their true purposes.”
“Do you know something I don’t?” I asked, raising my brow.
“Of course,” said Shaw, a slight smile forming on his face. “But not about this. I simply wish to know your mind, Captain, and what you’ve managed to anticipate.”
“I’m not so much the planner as Alphonse,” I admitted. “But what I’ve seen of them tells me we’re building toward something. There’s potential there, fragile as it might be, and I’d rather hope for the sake of our futures that each man has enough sense to believe in the other, once the dust has settled and the war with the Celestials is finally at an end.”
“Well said,” replied Shaw. “I would hope for the same.”
“Would,” I repeated.
He smiled again. “Were the galaxy as simple as that, or humanity as kind, perhaps.”
“We don’t have Titan anymore,” Alphonse added. “If they combined forces to take us out, we’d be hard pressed to win that battle.”
“Vice Admiral Vick serves his government for the betterment of the people, so long as those people are Union,” said Shaw. “Still, he is a practical man, despite whatever flaws he might possess, as you’ve seen by his acceptance of your alliance, so there is room for hope in all of this, certainly.”
“But you’d rather not rely on that,” I said. “Come out with it, then. What are you building up to with all of this?”
Shaw smirked. “Have you heard of the Solaris Initiative?”
I racked my memory but came up blank. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Not too surprising, considering it falls a little outside your purview,” Shaw said. “It’s a rebellion against the Sarkonian government.”
“Those are common enough,” I said, waving a hand. “Some conscripted world’s citizens get brave and try to take back their freedom, then the government squashes it before anything substantial actually happens.”
“Not this time. The rebels have staged several coups and relieved their government of vital—let’s call them ‘assets’,” he went on. “The Sarkonians are scrambling to either move or protect the rest. Between that, the war, ravagers, and their dealings with you, they’re stretched pretty thin. They don’t have the resources you think they do.”
“And the Union?” I asked, starting to see where the conversation was headed.
“They have a distraction of their own to deal with.” Shaw flat out grinned, which I found simultaneously intriguing and disturbing.
“You think that’s amusing? Why?” Not that I was judging the man — I didn’t mind knowing the Union was having its fair share of problems. All the better for me, once this war was over with, but not right now when I needed every bit of help I could get to help me fight this war.
“A little amusing,” he admitted. “There’s talk of a growing rebellion on the other side of Union space. The one in charge was once a Reaper.”
“What the hell is that?” I asked.
Shaw flicked his wrist and I heard the joint pop. “Doesn’t really matter, but let’s just say it was a government sponsored program that focused on cybernetic enhancements. It happened years ago before the science division switched its focus to genetic research. The man in charge of this rebellion is one of them.”
“He’s a Reaper?” I asked.
Shaw nodded. “Former, but the details don’t matter. The only thing you need to know about any of it is that each of these rebellions has placed a massive thorn in each of your former enemy’s sides. They aren’t simply fighting a war with the Celestials. They’re waging it on multiple fronts, and it’s affecting their armed forces, their politics, and their morale.”
I noticed Alphonse hadn’t spoken in some time. He looked like his mind was elsewhere, or maybe it was simply fixated on the situation. It was always so hard to tell what that man was thinking.
“What is it that you think we should do?” I asked, my attention back on the old man. “I assume you have a plan.”
Shaw was quiet for a moment, no si
gn of emotion on him as he stood there, his body both rigid and relaxed. This was a man who knew how to guard himself without appearing to do so. He probably knew more secrets than anyone I’d ever met, even Alphonse, and that made him dangerous, but it also made him vital.
Vital to me, I hoped, and to the cause I had taken.
“For now, I want to go to Earth and learn,” said Shaw.
“Learn what?” I asked.
“Everything. You realize that most people still believe the Earth is a myth, don’t you? If I hope to assist you, we’ll need allies in the coming fights, and that means more than Vick and the Sarkonian Emperor. It means an alliance with fringe planets, rebel factions, and every man, woman, and soldier that humanity has ever had the pleasure of creating.”
“And where do you fit into that?” I asked.
“Every legend needs a storyteller,” said the former admiral. “And the flow of information has always been one of my specialties.”
* * *
By the time we entered slipspace, I was tired enough to pass the reins to Junior so I could grab some shut eye. The AI sounded delighted for the task and promised not to let me down. It was all fake enthusiasm, of course, because Junior wasn’t capable of authentic joy or feelings like his father. Still, part of me felt nostalgic at the way he replied and reminded me of my time as an independent Renegade.
I sat alone in my quarters, taking some time to collect my thoughts, though I found my mind drifting as the hour passed.
I imagined Lex back home, and I couldn’t help but smile a little at the thought of the kid bouncing around with her silly pet goat in the fields outside of Verdun. Truth be told, as much as that stupid animal might have irritated me at times with its goofy expression and the sounds it made, I appreciated the way it made her laugh and smile. They were two of a kind, always running around with boundless energy
My mouth went dry as I further recalled her near abduction and the fight that followed to get her back. The way her little legs stuck off the edge of the chair in the Sarkonian interrogation room, shackled and prepped for the abuse she was about to endure. I shuddered at what might have been, had I not gotten there in time.