Shadowed Passage, page 22
"Our armament provides all the authority we require. Further questions can wait until we are aboard your vessel."
Chels closed the link, letting the ship drift on course. "He must believe we found what we sought at the last outpost." She'd endured jumpspace to end the search too soon? "We need to buy time, Altman. Any suggestions?"
"I could claim you kidnapped me and demand a hearing. Or we could bluff a race to lodge a claim."
Or I could launch Swords into their flank and destroy all evidence of what we're doing. Chels wasn't ready for self-immolation. Not yet.
She had to control her nerves. Pious' teachings? No time to meditate out of this. "They'll be searching for any sign of the artifact if that's why they tracked us." She opened the astrogation log. "First thing I delete is where we're headed."
"I spent a lot of time calculating that course." Altman blocked her fingers.
"We have backup. Penance may already be there if they concluded we were first target for Rowland."
"Okay. Wipe it. Better it gets lost for good rather than the Confluence acquiring it. I need a drink."
"Help yourself. What are we prospecting for?"
"Same as everyone. Schoenfeldium."
"Too late to falsify logs," said Chels. "We tell them it's in our brains so no one can claim jump us."
Clunk. The Crossed Swords shook once. They heard the telltale noises of cables being anchored to the hull.
Chels had one desperate card to play before they were restrained. "Mayday, mayday. This is Crossed Swords out of Eddy Shipyard. We are being boarded by personnel claiming to represent Confluence Navy." She put it on repeat and waited for punishment.
"That was unnecessary," said the first of the two men through the 'lock.
A Lieutenant by insignia. Followed by a higher rank. Admiral Rowland.
"Unnecessary?" said Chels. "Then why are you armed?" she shrunk back from the marine.
The Lieutenant patted down both Chels and Altman, then holstered his sidearm. "Precaution."
Rowland examined the cabin. "Where is it?"
"What?" asked Altman.
"Don't be stupid. I don't have the time nor the patience." Rowland answered. "The artifact you came looking for."
The officer was combing their navlog. "It's been erased, sir. I think I can retrieve what's missing." He inserted a black strip of plastic in a port and waited.
"It's legally mine," said Altman.
"You will sign it over to the Confluence Navy," said Rowland. "I saw what it could do. Such a weapon is not to be left in the hands of someone like you. It isn't salvage. It's a guarantee of lasting peace between the Confluence and Argosy Realm."
"In your hands, it's safer? Peace only with the Realm subservient as we've always been." Chels regretted leading them close. Maybe they wouldn't find it. Altman's treasure would remain a myth to future searchers.
"Got it, Admiral. This was a decoy path."
"You will remain on board, Lieutenant. Pilot ahead. These two will accompany me back to the Rickover."
"You're hijacking my ship?"
"Not yours, Ms. Harte."
"I have charter from Brother Remorse at the Eddy shipyard."
"The brother isn't here and my mission takes precedence. We leave now." Rowland picked up his helmet. "If you don't want to vacuum freeze, I suggest you suit up."
Chels was out of options. She took as long as she dared to don her suit, pretending to have trouble with the seals. Every minute gained could bring help or put the artifact further from Rowland's grip. A grip now holding both her and the only man who could operate it.
Aboard Bakken's pursuit ship, Zofie listened to the mayday call and the subsequent denial by the Rickover. "Crossed Swords is under Rowland's control."
"We're overtaking them," said Marshall.
"Catching up is one thing," said Zofie. "How do you plan to stop him? Rowland's doing what he thinks is right. If he's a fanatic then it's worse."
Kondradt stood in the doorway. "There's enough authority with Bakken and Mekli to justify any argument or force required."
Zofie had her doubts. The temptation of the alien weapon could be too great for either side to destroy it or clues leading to its recovery. Crossed Swords crew, her fellow Realm citizens, would be small collateral damage. What action could she take?
Chapter 38
"Mayday, mayday. This is Crossed Swords out of Eddy Shipyard. We are being boarded by personnel claiming to represent Confluence Navy."
Carver lowered the volume. "Do we try to help?"
DualE shook her head. "I vote no. Reaching the artifact becomes even more important now. We're in a race and our only advantage is we're closer."
"What if we do get it first but the navy wants to trade? Pious? Thoughts?"
"Will they harm Chels or Altman?"
"I don't think so," said DualE. "Rowland will extract their course and place them under protection. He may need Altman's expertise with the artifact."
"How can you be sure he won't eliminate them?" asked Carver. "He's shown little restraint to date about inciting reaction."
"We couldn't do anything if we did go to their aid. We'd be in the same situation as the Crossed Swords." DualE's expression pleaded to all of them. "If we find the artifact, if gives us bargaining power."
Carver wanted to be convinced. "To give it up regardless. Or he decides to destroy us and it. If Rowland can't have it, I'm sure his second strategy will be to ensure no one else will."
"He won't want us to destroy it."
"If we find it and he's on our trail, I say we dismantle it and scatter the pieces."
"If we have time," said DualE. "Cardinal, how close?"
"Two hours to Altman's last known location when he and Perry fired it. An hour to align with the jumphole the Orson opened. After that, a guess as to how long to catch it, if all our assumptions hold."
Carver tapped the screen. "The big unknown being the weapon's recoil velocity."
"Can we catch up?" asked Pious.
"Our refit included revised power," Cardinal answered. "If it's out there and on line, we'll catch it."
"Needle in the void," Carver muttered. "I hate abandoning Chels and Altman but I agree we continue on."
"Thanks, Carver."
DualE's gratitude didn't reinforce his decision.
"I'm sorry, Chels," said Altman. "I shouldn't have involved you. I should have had the guts to come out here quietly and alone."
"We're not done," she said. "I've overcome my fear of jump thanks to your confession. They haven't found the artifact yet and maybe they won't. Or if they do, maybe they won't have your insight to make it work."
"I don't know if I could keep my knowledge from them, if Rowland was determined to extract it."
"Consider a stronger faith. The brotherhood will sustain you."
Their door opened and two guards signalled. "Come on. You're wanted on the bridge."
The Rickover was cramped inside and Chels had to duck under a few tight ceilings and conduits before they entered the command center.
Rowland beckoned them to his side. "We're near your target, Altman. Recognize anything?"
A holographic display churned with detritus. Rock, ice and manmade refuse spun slowly around a center point.
"I can't be sure. Orbits change."
"But this is where you found the artifact," insisted Rowland.
"My partner was the astrogator. I just input what I could recall from our trip back to the shipyard."
Chels had to give credit to Altman's courage. How long would it last?
"Recall? You stashed a copy of the log before you left the 'yard for Slate's Progress to hunt and kill your former partner."
Chels moved in front of Altman. "He didn't kill Perry. Perry killed himself. If anyone's to blame for his death, it's me. I was the one who counselled him and likely the last person in Slate's to talk to him."
"Enough blame to share," said Rowland. "Fact is, both of you can make up for your mistakes by helping me now."
"Helping you? I thought we were being recruited by the Confluence." She tensed inside. Rowland was the immediate threat. Not just to her, but to Pious. Her fears had been confirmed.
"Do not test me, Harte. I am the Confluence as far as you are concerned. As far as the Eddy is concerned." He turned to Altman. "Show me where you found the artifact."
Chels watched Altman tremble. His determination wavered. He immersed into the holo, reaching out with a hand to pass through the flotsam, turning his head to view from differing angles.
A bridge officer called to Rowland. "Admiral, we're being followed."
"Idiot," said Rowland. "You do not relay such information in front of outsiders."
Chels pushed him with both hands. "You're stretching your mandate, admiral. Intimidation's no good on me. I'm no threat other than to myself."
Rowland gripped her wrists in one hand. "You're correct. You are no threat."
She struggled uselessly, even tried to kick him. He swept her feet from the deck and dropped her.
"Take them back to quarters," Rowland ordered. "The rummy's useless. We'll complete the search of the quadrant ourselves."
Inside their holding cell, Chels rested her back against the wall. Her sudden attack against Rowland had been lunacy. Maybe her jump demons still rode inside her. She tried to calm and thought about what Rowland had been told. Who pursued the pursuer? Foe or ally? Was a foe to Rowland necessarily a friend to the Realm? Would it affect their fate?
Carver spelled off Cardinal on the pilot console. DualE seated beside him, the two protectors scanned ahead of the Penance for any unnatural object. Behind them, Pious rasped in meditation. How relaxing could labored breath be?
"Got something," said DualE. "We're barely catching up but it's the right trajectory." She fine-tuned the echo. "Linear. Tumbling. Make it twenty meters long, give or take another ten."
Carver confirmed her readings. It was their artifact. "Bigger than I expected somehow."
"Give us a burn," said DualE.
His finger hovered. "We catch up, then what? We don't have a way to grab on."
"I'll EVA."
"It's too big for the airlock. I don't see how we can do anything with it out here."
"A pessimistic view, Carver. What's really on your mind?"
"A thousand negative outcomes," he said.
"You pushed to chase it. Second thoughts destroy missions."
"I've had time to think. Reconsider. Whatever we do with it, whoever we give it too, it changes an already fragile balance. We've got enough power in the small laser cannon to wreck it. Make it useless. Render it unsalvageable and so screwed up it can't be reverse engineered. We melt it and send it further on its way from the Eddy, the Realm and the Confluence."
"I don't know what to say," said DualE. "You've turned pacifist?"
"I've turned realist. Do you honestly want it in Rowland's hands?"
"No. That's why you need to accelerate now."
"Grab it for the Realm? How do we know Chancellor Mekli et al would be any different in exploiting it for advantage?"
DualE looked over her shoulder. Pious had coughed wetly. "Catch up, Carver" she said. "We'll take a vote once we know it's the artifact. I'll bow to the majority."
Unless she was still loyal to Rowland. Then her bow would be followed by action. Carver held no illusions she couldn't take out the three of them in two blinks.
He initiated burn.
Chapter 39
"We're being hailed, Admiral," said Captain Siebe. "On navy frequency."
"Ignore it," said Rowland.
"There's more, sir. We're ordered to decelerate and stand by. From Admiral Bakken aboard the Marlborough."
"I don't care if it's Julius Caesar. We are on a critical mission. Expedience and removing a threat to the Confluence supersede Bakken's orders."
"A new burn, sir. Small ship signature on this heading." The astrogator highlighted a new holo.
Rowland peered into the display. "It's the Penance. The ship Altman and Harte rendezvoused with, I'm certain. Maximum acceleration. And scan ahead of them for any object."
"We're being ordered again to slow, Admiral."
For an answer, Rowland opened comm to his two escort ships. "Disengage from us and distract the Marlborough. Give me time to get clear." He didn't wait for confirmation. "Crossed Swords, give me flanking coverage but stay out of our way." He took control of the navcomm. "All hands prepare for maximum acceleration starting in fifteen seconds. Get secure." He buckled in and locked onto the Penance's course.
"Its surface appears seamless," Carver observed. "I thought Altman said it looked like a communication beacon."
Penance closed on the object. DualE's first description was accurate. A bar, rotating end over end. He spun his chair to face Pious. Cardinal huddled over his leader. "We could use your guidance, brothers," said Carver.
"I'm afraid Brother Pious has taken a bad turn," said Cardinal.
"He's terminal, isn't he?" Carver turned to DualE. "I suspected there was more to his weakness than jump-reaction. The three of us will have to decide."
"At least it won't end in a tie," she answered. "You know how I feel. Cardinal, do we destroy a unique alien artifact or attempt to use it for good?"
"Weapons and human good intentions rarely go hand in hand," said Cardinal.
"I agree," said Carver. "My experience with finding the lode reinforced my feeling about altering the status quo."
"The status quo is a myth, Carver," said DualE. "I've been through enough battles which prove the status quo is anything but. You need to progress to reach stability. Stability through forward momentum."
"Is that you talking or Rowland?"
Before she could answer, a new presence made itself known. "Ahoy Penance. We have your identity signature. This is Admiral Rowland. Shut down your propulsion systems or face fire. Prepare to be boarded."
"That was quick," said Carver. He fumed at DualE. "One last time, did you lead them here?"
"No, believe me. They must have been looking for us and saw our burn. They don't want us; they want that object. I'm sorry Carver. This isn't my doing, I swear."
"Is it too late to fire on it, destroy it before they get it?"
"If you want to die quickly, no it isn't," said DualE.
Cardinal spoke. "Brother Pious needs their medical services."
DualE repeated, "Destroy it and we all die. Are you making that decision for all of us?"
Carver lowered his hand. "No. They're here. Is there anything you can do?"
"Attention Admiral Rowland. This is DualE. We're on a salvage hunt requiring our engines to engage and match velocities. I was not aware the Confluence Navy had authority to board freelance Realm ships."
"I claim such authority. You will brief me on your activities after our first order of business is complete. In the meantime, obey my command."
"They're taking it," said Carver. "Look." An EVA team on an open skiff blasted free from the naval ship. Light from their bow revealed the artifact spinning its way through the void. Grapnels shot forward and the skiff rocked with the artifact's motion. "It's more massive than they assumed. It'll tear the skiff into pieces." Carver repressed a grin. If their situation had been less dire, he'd have laughed aloud.
"No, there's a second team," said DualE. "That's our ship, Carver. The Crossed Swords."
"The mayday was no bluff. They've captured Chels and Altman. The gang's re-united."
Within minutes, the object was wrangled back to Rowland's frigate. Then they heard the thunk of the boarding team outside Penance's hull.
DualE knelt next to Pious. "I won't betray the brotherhood. I will do what I must. Have faith in me regardless of how my actions appear."
Pious gripped her hand. "I will."
Carver spoke, "We have an emergency medical evac required for one of our crew."
"Understood. Stand away from the inner airlock."
The 'lock opened and an armed marine lifted his face shield. A second marine stood behind him, weapon resting on the first's shoulder.
"Suit up," ordered the closest man. "The patient and DualE will go first." He pointed to Carver and Cardinal. "You two will wait with me for the 'all clear'."
DualE said, "Help me with this, Carver." She'd caught Pious' arm in a sleeve. When Carver got close, she whispered, "I know where my loyalties lie. Be ready to follow my lead if we get a chance."
They finished suiting Pious and DualE and him cycled out. Carver and Cardinal were left alone with the marine.
"What's the deal with Rowland?" Carver asked. "Seems a bit stretched beyond his mandate."
"The standoff with the Realm was too unstable from a military view."
It hadn't been a standoff; it was sane minds backing down from mutual conflagration. "Is that your opinion or his?"
"The Admiral's opinion is my opinion, sir."
Carver couldn't blame him. It was less stressful to follow commands than make your own decisions. And the next step was allowing Command's ideas to become your own. Saves wear and tear on the brain. Would DualE succumb once Rowland got close to her?
Carver heard the outer 'lock cycle. The inner door re-opened for their escort. "Your turn," said the marine. "I'll take charge of your ship now."
"Come, Cardinal. The conversation's getting as stale as the air in here."
Chapter 40
DualE waited in the wardroom. The door opened and Chels was ushered in, followed seconds later by Carver.
"Where's Cardinal?" she asked.
"Escorted to Pious," said her partner. "They wouldn't let me see him." Carver turned to Chels. "Where's your salvager?"
"Helping them with the artifact." Her voice was bitter.
"That's why I'm waiting for Rowland's summons," said DualE. "He's prioritized the weapon before my debriefing."
"You planning on giving him anything useful?" Carver's tone was a challenge.
