Broken Glass (Glass Complex Book 1) (33 page)

“Shhh,” cautioned Denke. “Yes, a portal. Don’t ask for an explanation of the science or how they work because we simply don’t know. So far we’ve identified over a hundred installations. About half—sixty or so—are built into the older, larger star ships of the Fleet. Most of the others are on planets although one or two are on made satellites and one just sits in space. We’ve lost twenty good men over the last three years in accidents from just mapping the damn things.”

“You are serious, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m serious, dammit. Listen. I’ll tell you what I can. The existence of the portals was discovered about five years ago, by accident. We—the Specials—took over and placed a tight security block on the discovery. We managed to achieve a total exclusion of publicity, mainly by conscripting everyone who had some knowledge of the discovery. Since then we’ve been exploring and mapping the network which is vast. It spreads throughout explored space and well into the Rim and other regions we’ve never penetrated. Our main problem is that we need to experiment with new destination codes and the risks are extremely high for our exploration teams. Imagine keying in an untried destination and stepping through the portal into space. Or into a location where the planet has long been destroyed and all that remains is a collection of rocks in space and a portal.

“The network is an invaluable resource, especially to the Specials. The Emperor’s advisers, the good ones, are predicting decay and decline of the Empire. Some of the things we see make us think the Empire is already decaying. The Specials are doing all they can just to cover the major attacks against the Empire, or rather, attacks on the freedom the Empire is supposed to protect. We have too many needs and not enough resources. So the more we can discover about these portals, the better our chances are for success.”

Steg said, “I understand the value, at least in part. The concept is phenomenal. But I am at a complete loss to see where I come into this?”

Millie spoke. “Major, who made these portals?”

“We don’t know. They are old, very old. Older than the Empire. We don’t know who made them and I am reluctant to add to popular mythology about an ancient race. We just don’t know. We are still trying to determine how they work, and we need all the help we can get.” Denke turned to Steg. “de Coeur, I think—no, I know—you have an ability to communicate with these damn things.” He indicated the monitors. “I know you were in direct contact with the
Ziangka
system, and I think also with
D’Art
and others. I heard about the auto-miners on Hellfire. I’m either grasping at straws or making an intuitive jump, however you wish to describe it. I think you can help us, and I’d like to have your willing assistance.”

“I see an implication that if you do not have my willing assistance, you will make do with my unwilling assistance?” Denke shook his head and Steg continued. “I still don’t know how I can help. However, I recall an offer of assistance in exchange. My willing assistance for your support against our Homeworld enemy.”

Denke did not hide his satisfaction. “Done. We can work out the details on the way to our base. Can you leave tomorrow—no, dammit—can you leave now?”

“I thought press ganging had been outlawed. Millie, are you willing to join in this mad venture?”

“For a Fain, Master, I have only one answer. If you’re going with Major Denke, I too, will go.”

Steg turned back to Denke and said, “I’m waiting for a transfer of funds, which will take another three or four days. Otherwise I’ve no objections to an early departure from Tacia.”

“I can arrange for your transfer to be taken care of. The longer we stay here, the more exposed you are. You’ve little to pack, and I can settle for your rooms.” He indicated the monitors. “The League authorities will be relieved to see the last of you. What do you say—I borrowed a star courier to get here and it can be ready to go in thirty minutes.”

Steg nodded in agreement, as did Millie. Steg was prepared to take advantage of even the remote possibility of assistance from Denke and the Empire’s Special Forces against Homeworld’s enemies and had no reason to stay any longer on Tacia.

******

Chapter 26

“Don’t worry,” counseled Denke as the star courier
left Tacia orbit and exited the system’s space control region. “
Anon
can run the legs off the firefighter. She’s almost as fast as a Xesset star ship.”

“Oh, I am not worried,” countered Steg as he watched the viewscreen. “In fact I was going to ask you to let them catch up with us. Can we review the navigation charts and find somewhere where they could attack us?”

“Dammit, I don’t want to sacrifice my ship,” protested Denke. “That firefighter’s well armed and
Anon’
s built for speed, not military maneuvers.”

“Relax, Denke, relax,” soothed Steg with barely concealed amusement. “Do you really think I want to let them capture us? All I need is for you to ask your captain to keep us idling along. In the meantime, let’s see where we can tempt the firefighter to launch its attack. They won’t succeed, but they don’t know that.”

Steg and Denke sat with
Anon
’s captain and navigator around the navigation station, examining star charts. Denke was begrudgingly following Steg’s directions while the star courier’s officers were totally perplexed. They were tasked with identifying locations where their potential enemy could launch an attack, while every component of common sense suggested they should be running at full speed.

“We need a location where we are between shipping lanes. The firefighter won’t want to attack us while we’re in the middle of a shipping lane,” advised Steg.

The pilot traced their course, identifying jump points and shipping lanes. “We move off standard shipping lanes when we pass the Kohn Cluster. See? That should be a suitable location—if I was their captain that is where I would attack.”

They all examined the indicated chart. The location was an ideal, two days out of Tacia, and would be overwhelmingly tempting for the firefighter.

“I agree,” commented Steg. “I would attack there, too. Denke? Captain?”

“I think you’re both crazy,” commented the captain. “But I have to agree. If I were going to attack, that would be ideal.”

“Good,” confirmed Denke. “Captain, I know it troubles you—it troubles me as well. However, I’ve experienced enough of de Coeur’s abilities to know he’s not putting
Anon
at risk. We’ll do it. Objections?”

“Hundreds. But you’re the senior officer here. We’ll cut our course accordingly.
Anon
can coast along for a day or so.”

The meeting concluded and Denke accompanied the captain and navigator as they discussed the necessary course settings. Steg located a spare viewscreen, sat down and accessed its displays. For the moment he stayed out of direct contact with the courier’s system since he had no need to subvert or control its activities. He sought out the firefighter system and re-established his previous contact. He spent hours in careful programming of the firefighter. His tasks completed, he sat back and relaxed, retaining a slight thread of contact as the two star ships headed to the first jump point. Intent on his task, he had not noticed the repeated visits of his Fain companion as she checked on his comfort.

“That’s the second jump point,” commented Denke. “The helmsman’s now laying in the course past the Kohn Cluster. As far as we can tell, it’ll be only us and them, there’s no one else around.”

“Can you ask the captain to give us have control of the main viewscreen?” requested Steg. “I’ll connect to the firefighter control bridge and display their activities for you. It should be interesting.”

It did not take long to set up the connection once the captain gave his permission. The bridge and
Anon
duty crew could hear and see everything taking place on the firefighter bridge.

“Astounding,” murmured the captain. “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

Denke was still dubious. “Does this mean we’re going to watch them attack us?”

“Relax, Denke. Just sit and watch and listen.”

A silent group of officers and crew gathered around the main viewscreen, totally focused on the display. A secondary screen displayed the two ships as they traveled towards the Kohn Cluster. The conversations relayed from the firefighter indicated they were intent on destruction of
Anon
and the death of its crew. The firefighter strategy did not include their capture.

They watched and listened as the firefighter captain gave instructions for the attack on
Anon
. The firefighter’s missiles were armed and prepared for launching. The
Anon
audience listened to the countdown, their amazement and concern growing while Denke held off giving instructions to speed them to safety.

“Prepare to launch rack one. Prepare to launch rack two.”

“The target is steady. She is still unaware of our presence.”

This latter comment generated a wave of nervous laughter from the watchers.

“
Launch rack one
.” Ten missiles were fired. The bridge held its collective breath.

“
Launch rack two
.” Another ten missiles were on their way towards
Anon
.

Denke turned to the secondary viewscreen. “What? Our sensors aren’t detecting any missiles. de Coeur, what’s going on?”

“Wait.”

Suddenly, the firefighter bridge was awash with the glow of a series of explosions. Pandemonium ensued on board the firefighter as a massive shockwave rocked and buffeted it. Alarms sounded, shrill and deafening. Smoke bled from the ventilation systems.

“What the hell’s happening?” queried Denke.

“Watch.” Steg counseled. “They think they’ve been caught in a missile blowback.”

“Sir, rack two exploded in situ.”

“Sir, we are leaking air. The hull has been penetrated by missile debris.”

“Engine room—we have lost power, complete drive failure.”

“Sir, radiation readings are off the scale.”

“Sir, we are starting to lose system control.”

“Captain. Damage report as follows. Hull pierced at rack two shaft. We are losing air. The main drive is out. Auxiliaries are not responding. Radiation leakage is increasing rapidly. The explosion threw the stabilizers out and we cannot regain stability. The ship’s now out of control and is heading directly into the Kohn Cluster.”

“Options?”

“Only one, sir. We must abandon ship. We’re still close enough to shipping lanes for rescue. We can save the crew, captain. However, the ship is lost.”

“I agree. Give the order to abandon ship.”

The clamor of sirens increased while the sounds were relayed to
Anon
’s bridge. Steg damped the noise to a less intrusive level as his audience watched, entranced. The secondary screen showed the lifeboats dispersing from the firefighter, which, as far as the watchers could determine, was undamaged and on its original course. The firefighter bridge was in an almost utter panic state as the last of the officers prepared to abandon ship. One by one and in small groups, they exited the bridge. The clamor continued to echo in the abandoned star ship, as it continued on its course, empty of life.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” breathed Denke.

“Major, that’s an abandoned star ship. Accordingly, as no one else is in control, I wish to lay claim to it, under interstellar custom.”

“Y-e-s,” agreed Denke, somewhat dubiously. “I can see it’s been abandoned. But salvage rules require the claimant to be in control. How can you establish that?”

“I am in control,” Steg affirmed. “The firefighter will now take up a new heading, one that I’ve prepared and instructed it to follow. Captain, would you please log the relevant details and confirm I’ve established control over an abandoned and derelict star ship.”

“de Coeur, I can’t work out whether you’ve made the Imperial Fleet obsolete or not. Sometimes you frighten me. Captain, log the claim as legitimate.” Denke stood and addressed the bridge. “Folks, the show’s over. I remind each and every one of you that you’re bound by your oaths of secrecy. You cannot mention or discuss these events with anyone. Breach will give rise to charges of high treason for which the minimum penalty will be a very long period in a Fleet prison. Return to stations.”

Denke watched the group disperse and then turned to Steg. “There, that’ll keep them relatively quiet. All right, de Coeur. The firefighter’s yours. I assume the ship is heading for Homeworld?”

“Yes. It will orbit there until I enter new instructions. I plotted a high orbit, out of everyone’s way.” Steg was elated, he had extracted a small measure of revenge on House of Aluta.

Denke caught the gleam in his eye and immediately experienced major doubts. “Tell me,” he almost shouted. “What have you done to my ship—to
Anon
?”

“Denke, you threw me to the wolves when you left me on board
Ziangka
, so why should I trust you now? You have no reason to worry, as long as I’m alive, as long as I remain conscious, while I’m on board
Anon
. The ship’s under your control. As you observed earlier, you have a responsibility to keep me alive.”