Broken Glass (Glass Complex Book 1) (21 page)

“Major Denke—”

“While the major is a renowned Special Forces officer, he is not Fleet. Further, he is not present to assist this court. We do not accept your statement in mitigation. My fellow officers on this board agree unanimously—your interference with
Ziangka
’s system occurred during a period while the ship and crew were in conflict with an enemy combatant. Further, your actions were in direct contravention of a direct order issued by Captain Gallos. Therefore your actions constitute a deplorable breach of discipline and at least represented conduct prejudicial to the well-being and survival of the ship and crew. Our unanimous verdict is guilty, Mr. Ross.” He paused for effect. “The decision of the Board is that you be discharged from the service of the Imperial Fleet, without honor. Your discharge will be of immediate effect. Then, as a civilian whose presence on board ss
Ziangka
is unauthorized, you will be confined to quarters under guard. When we next touch down at any Imperial location, you will be expelled from the ship. Of course Fleet will arrange a standard travel warrant, for your return trip to Althere. Do you have any questions?”

“Do I have a right of appeal?” Steg was struggling to remain calm.

“Of course. You may appeal firstly to the captain of ss
Ziangka
. And then you may appeal to the Fleet Admiralty. Such appeals would result in a full review of this court-martial. However, the maximum penalty for your offense is up to ten years servitude on a Fleet planet or in a Fleet prison. You should be aware Captain Gallos requested the maximum penalty. You have fourteen days to consider whether you intend to appeal.”

“I understand.” Steg’s tone was bitter. The presiding officer had made his point. The House of Aluta had reached deep into the Fleet to find and trap him. And somehow Denke had disappeared. He could not determine whether the two events were linked. He did know the House of Aluta had not finished with him, and he would need to be continually alert to avoid the next step in their plan. He probably was safe while he was on
Ziangka
but once he disembarked the star ship, his very life would be at risk.

The presiding officer nodded. “You will be escorted to your new quarters. You may take your personal belongings, except for weapons. Private weapons will be returned when you disembark. Your servant may attend you, although you will remain under guard. Any questions?”

Steg realized further protests would be futile. It would be difficult for any agents of House of Aluta to reach him while he was under guard, so perhaps the loss of his weapons pack and Ebony would be only a temporary inconvenience.

The presiding officer signaled the sergeant at arms. “Take this civilian to his new quarters and keep him under guard until he disembarks this ship.”

“Oh master,” the little alien was disconsolate. “Tziksis sad is. Misfortune heavily on young princeling falls.”

“I agree misfortune indeed has fallen. Now tell me, what is the latest news?”

Tziksis still maintained his communication network. “Star ship
Ziangka
is heading towards pirate planet. Trip three days more will take.”

“Have you managed to find Denke?”

“No, young master. Tziksis sorry is, but of the major, no sign is. Most strange, much effort Tziksis has applied.”

The major had disappeared; either he had somehow disembarked in mid-space, had fallen victim to an attack in some dark corridor, or else was
very thoroughly
hiding his on board location. Steg discounted the last two alternatives. It would be easy for someone to hide, although motivation to do so was a mystery.
Ziangka
was a large ship with vast and unused facilities, with empty deck after empty deck, built to carry a substantially larger crew. Tziksis had organized numerous small search parties and despite their efforts, the major was nowhere to be found. Steg was extremely disappointed at the major’s failure to support him.

“Keep searching, Tziksis. Leave messages that I would like to speak with him as soon as possible.”

“Yes, oh master. Tziksis now will go, search continues.” Tziksis bobbed his eyestalks as he turned away.

When the little alien departed, disturbing the taciturn guard on duty outside his quarters, Steg attempted to settle back onto his narrow bunk, the only item of furniture provided for his comfort. His quarters were almost cell-like and obviously intended to be basic accommodation for himself and Tziksis. A work crew had replaced the standard door with a heavier one, as though Captain Gallos was expecting him to escape. Or at least, to make an attempt. The armed guard outside added to the impression that Steg was a prisoner. He was being treated with extreme caution. While Tziksis was allowed to leave the cabin unescorted, Steg was very constrained. He was permitted to exercise although the nominated gym was always vacant when he attended. Generally, he was isolated from the star ship’s routine and from members of the officers and crew with whom he was acquainted. He minimized his contact with the star ship’s system; he did not wish to reveal to the captain the extent of his ability not only to communicate to the system but also to take control of it.

While visitors were discouraged, neither Cat nor Long John Silver, the Green’s captain, took notice and his daily tedium was relieved by their visits. They were unaffected by the presence of the guard or by the disapproval of senior officers. They had recognized Steg’s support against the Xesset and realized his contribution to the success of that engagement. They too had attempted to contact the missing Specials major, with an equal lack of success.

“I doubt he’s on board, now,” commented Cat. He responded to Steg’s expression of disbelief. “Oh, it’s happened often enough. One moment he’s here, the next he’s gone. Then he turns up somewhere else in the Fleet. I know, I’ve compared notes with other pilots. Either he belongs to a set of identical clones, or he has his own star ship and it uses a well-hidden docking bay somewhere on this ship.”

“How serious are you?” inquired Long John, intrigued by the possibility of numerous Denke clones.

“As to the clones—not at all,” corrected Cat. “There has to be a straightforward explanation and a small star ship is the only one I can think of. It leaves more questions unanswered, I admit—that’s the best I can do, though.”

“What if the other pilots are mistaken? Cutter pilots are not renowned for their sobriety,” Steg challenged, hiding his smile.

“Vile rumors. You shouldn’t listen to corrupting stories of that nature. Which reminds me—here.” He passed a bottle to Steg. “I liberated this from the Xesset ship, part of a cargo they had looted. Vintage.” He stayed to drink most of the contents.

Steg later pondered the half-serious contention of the cutter pilot that the Specials had some secret docking bay and small star ship. Perhaps the contention was just ship’s gossip, he mused. It would be interesting to explore the truth with Denke whenever he caught up with him. At last, reluctantly, he decided to use the system in a final attempt to solve the problem.

*Steg de Coeur to Module
Ziangka
.*

*Module
Ziangka
.*

*Shipsearch program. Subject is Major Denke. Implement now.*

*Shipsearch running.*

Steg waited patiently as the system used its files of tapes from video monitors and lock access records to search for the missing major. Eventually the system reported.

*Module
Ziangka
to Steg de Coeur.*

*Steg de Coeur.*

*Shipsearch Major Denke. Results follow. Last recorded presence was minus five days three hours. Currently Major Denke is not on board ss
Ziangka
.”

Steg calculated; the major had disappeared a day before the court-martial. He shook his head in silent disbelief. It seemed as though Denke had achieved the impossible. Somehow he had departed—disembarked—while the star ship was in full flight towards the pirate base. Steg checked the timing—it had been between needle jumps. He decided to probe further.

*Module
Ziangka
, confirm no trace of Shipsearch subject after minus five days, three hours.*

*Shipsearch result confirmed.*

*Were any star ships located within one light year of
Ziangka
at time of last trace?*

*Negative.*

*Report significant events ten minutes before and ten minutes after minus five days, three hours.*

*Logs contain no significant events. Only routine events recorded.*

*Could events be off-log—not recorded?*

*Negative.*

*Is data on file or data missing from file that does not match log records?*

The wait was long.

*Data analysis indicates a substantial use of power at minus five days two hours fifty-three minutes. Power records are inconsistent with logs. No log record exists for this event.*

*Report power used.*

The result was staggering. Almost all power units on the star ship had been diverted to whatever purpose Denke had needed.
Ziangka
had used standby facilities for its routine activities, which is why the power diversion had been unobserved.

Steg withdrew from the system. The mystery had deepened. Major Denke was able to control
Ziangka
, using it as a source of power that somehow enabled him to leave the star ship. If Steg had time, perhaps weeks, perhaps months, and the freedom to do so, he might solve the problem. Unfortunately he didn’t have the freedom or time. For the moment he couldn’t mount more than a token search. He shrugged to himself, unwilling to admit defeat but unable to determine how he could overcome the present barriers.

The sudden arrival of his excited servant shattered his reverie. Steg waited patiently for the alien to regain his coherence.

“Oh youthful master, sir. Wondrous news is, wonderful news.”

“Well, Tziksis, out with it.”

“Ship vid-system showed details of planet where pirate based are. Tziksis is. Planet is. Home is.”

“What, it’s your home planet?”

“Yes, oh master youngling. Tziksis home is. Invaded by pirates who base use. Tziksis planet from vid details recognized. Home. After many years Tziksis going home is. Oh master, please confirm, please give your permission for Tziksis to be free.”

“Why, Tziksis, of course you can go home, you are always free. My permission is not necessary. I’m certain Fleet will land either
Ziangka
or some cutters, and it should be a simple matter for you to get passage to the planet. Why, you’d be able to act as an interpreter—the xenos will enlist your assistance very quickly once you let them know. Now, are you certain this is your home planet?”

“Certainty absolute is. Tziksis planet no other is.”

“OK. The first step may be to contact one of the xenos. They’ill closely examine your claim.” Steg wondered why the little alien was suddenly subdued.

“Tziksis for xeno ready is. For three years Tziksis try to gain attention of xeno authorities, without success. Now instant fame will be.”

“I can guess how you feel. Perhaps I can arrange one of the xenos to visit us, here. Although they may be reluctant since I caused them to be thrown off the Xesset ship. However, professional curiosity should overcome injured pride. We need to plan this carefully so you don’t end up in a xeno lab.” He was only partially joking.

Tziksis bristled. “Tziksis for lab not volunteer. Silent will be.”

“So tell me all—why were you on Althere?”

“Xesset pirates planet Djii attacked, home of Tziksis. Djiis no star ships has. Small army, small weapons, Djiis has. Pirate foothold and possession established without difficulty, for my people peaceful are. Pirates easy victory had.”

Tziksis continued his history as Steg struggled to re-arrange his tangled syntax.

Xesset forces had quickly overwhelmed primitive Djiis defenses and then used the planet’s inhabitants as slave labor, not only to build the Xesset base but also to produce and supply food and other items required to support the pirate fleet. While Djiis had reached a sophisticated technology level, they had neither means nor experience to combat the invaders. Xesset depredations had cruel and lasting impacts on Djiis. Their most able workers were recruited into labor gangs and gradually food harvests declined in both quality and quantity as they struggled to meet Xesset demands. The pirates ignored the pending deprivation and starvation of their captives and continued to demand their supplies. The food surplus available on the planet declined each year while failure to provide food to the Xesset was met with a ruthless reaction, the pirates killing more and more Djiis in retaliation. The people starved where once they had plenty; oppression burdened them when once they had been free. In reaction, a small rebellious underground flourished, but the rebellious Djiis were impotent in the face of the military and technical strengths of the Xesset invaders.

Eventually Djiis authorities decided to contact the Empire, the unknown strangers who generated an intense and frightening hatred in their Xesset occupiers. But with no star ships and no facilities capable of s-t communication, they devised an extreme and highly dangerous plan. They smuggled small teams each of two or three Djiis, onto Xesset star ships, the pirates’ raiding craft. The stowaways would remain undetected while the Xesset ships were in flight, and then when opportunity was presented, they would escape using Xesset lifeboats. Their plan was borne in desperation.