Solbidyum Wars Saga 7: Hunt for the Reduviids (27 page)

We spent the next hour going over the event and reviewing the vid recordings trying to see if we could spot or detect when Sisopan left the building, but we found nothing.  There was no evidence of any consequence left that told us anything.  The clothing discarded by Sisopan was clean of every trace of DNA, it was a regular outfit that could be produced by any clothing replicator; and the valise she left behind was a generic one, also capable of being produced by any replicator.  Not one clue could be found that told us anything we didn’t already know and we knew very little.

I was ready to give up and call it a night when Wabussie said, “Tibby, I was going to contact you in the morning to tell you that our agents on Epsirt have reported that they have detected three separate high-altitude drones spying on Norcar’s estate.  Do you think they are Brotherhood?"

“At least one of them is, but I’m not sure about the others.  Are they sure they are over his estate and focused on it?”

“Yes, sir,” Wabussie said.

“Good, tell them to shoot them down, but make sure they are not using any weapons made by the Federation.  If there ever is any trouble, I don’t want the authorities there to realize the people on the estate are FSO, or that they have any ties to the Federation.”

“You think there will be trouble?”  Regeny asked.

“I’m counting on it,” I said.  “I’m sure there will be some kind of altercation so the authorities and the Brotherhood can check things out at the estate.  No doubt one of those drones is from the local authorities, who probably answer to the Brotherhood.  Shooting it down will bring them out to threaten and complain and so they can snoop.”

“What do you want us to do if the authorities do show up?” Wabussie said.

“Oh, I don’t want you to wait until then.  I want a complaint filed on behalf of Chief Banker Norcar of an invasion of privacy and a potential threat to his wellbeing.  Tell them the estate is being monitored by drones of unknown origin and you fear that it may be criminals, either planning a break-in, or an attempt to kidnap the Chief Banker.”

“Do you think they will buy that?”  Wabussie asked.

“I don’t know, but if no complaint is made on behalf of Norcar, it's going to look suspicious.”  I answered.

“I see your point.”

“One more thing, use something small and simple to bring the drones down; hopefully there will be enough pieces so you can collect them and have them on hand when the authorities do arrive.  If one of them does belong to the local authorities, make a stink about it, demanding to know why it was there and spying on Norcar’s estate.”

“Right,” Wabussie replied, “What do think they will say?”

“They’ll give you some excuse that it was there watching the estate for intruders before Norcar took possession of the property and that they had forgotten to end the surveillance after Norcar did take possession, or some other such nonsense.  Regardless, it will be good to let them know that the estate’s people are on the alert and aren’t going to stand for outside surveillance.  Norcar is a very prominent man through the galaxy and his wealth and position demand a certain level of security; it’s best not to disappoint people who expect it to be there.”

By the time we finished up with our meeting, it was past midnight.  When I returned to the
NEW ORLEANS,
I was exhausted and had it not been for my bodyguard, I would have accidentally gone through the wrong gate and traveled to the
DUSTEN
instead of my yacht.  It startled me, as for a moment I had forgotten about the
NEW ORLEANS
and was thinking that I still resided on the
DUSTEN
.  When I finally did enter my own suite and crawl into bed, I found Kala asleep and breathing deeply.  Moments later, I too was fast asleep.

I probably would have overslept the next morning if it hadn’t been for a lot of shouting in the dining area.

“Reidecor, how many times must I tell you NOT to mess with the appliances and equipment on the ship?”  Kala’s voice said angrily.

“But Mom, I didn’t…” Reide’s voice began.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t!” Kala exclaimed, “The food synthesizer isn’t producing this orange goop that tastes like hydraulic fluid instead of foccee by accident.”

“I was only trying to make it produce lemonade like the trees Cantolla cloned on the estate do,” Reide exclaimed.

“Reide, you have got to stop this.  What’s your father going to say when he wants a cup of foccee and he gets this orange gunk instead?”

From across the room, I heard Lunnie chime in, “He’s probably going to say
yuck
and throw up.”

“I’ll need to get someone from Engineering up here to fix this,” Kala said in frustration, “In the meantime, Reide, you’re grounded for the day.  No going to the estate and Rory isn’t allowed to come see you, either.  You’ll spend the day in your room.”

“But Mom,” Reide began.

“No buts about it; now go to your room.”

By now, I was out of bed and headed toward the dining area; I passed Reide in the hall as he stomped to his room.  He didn’t look at me as we passed, but he did mutter, “Sorry Dad.”

“Did I hear correctly?” I began as I entered the kitchen to see Kala with her hands still on her hips staring angrily at the food synthesizer, “there isn’t any foccee available?”

“I’m afraid not,” Kala fussed, “our genius son decided to make some drink concoction Cantolla gave them on the estate and now our food synthesizer produces this orange grease instead.  You’re welcome to a cup of this if you want to try it.”

I took one look at the goo in the cup and held my hand up,” Take it away before I throw up,” I said in disgust, “I think I’ll dress and eat on the
MAXETTE
,” I said.

“What time was it when you got back last night?  Kala asked, “I tried waiting up for you in case…” she glances at Lunnie, who was feeding something that looked like grapes to Mimic, “well, you know,” she finished with a slight blush.  “So what happened that took you away so quick last night?”

“Reduviid attack,” I said.  “Sisopan was sighted at the scene, but she got away again.”

“Oh no, how many people were injured?”

“Twenty-three troopers on the patrol ship transporting the body bombers away from the intended target when they blew up.”

Kala gasped.  “What happened at their target?”

“Nothing, they never got to it.  We intercepted them before they did.”

“Where did this happen?”

“On Plosaxen, their target was one of the Cantolla Gate stations that connects to the Transfer hub.  If they had gotten inside they could have killed hundreds of people.”

“Do you think they may have been trying to get to the Capitol?”  Kala asked.

“I doubt it; I think they wanted to create a situation of terror and panic; their chances of getting to the Capitol with body bombs by using the Cantolla Gates are about nil.”

“Then why do it at all?”  Kala asked.

“Because if they can terrorize the Federation citizens, enough planets will want to break away from the Federation thinking that they will be safer and left alone by the Brotherhood,” I answered.

“Do you think people are that ignorant that they would believe that would work?”

“Kala, Syndrop and Porporat are already petitioning the Federation to secede for that very reason,” I answered.

“Are you serious?  Syndrop and Porporat!  Say you’re making this up, Tib.  I can’t believe they could possibly believe that,” Kala said in a shocked tone.

“I wish I was making it up.  I only got word yesterday about it.”

“But surely they can see what has happened to other planets that surrendered or left the Federation.  Do they truly believe the Brotherhood will pass them by?”

“I can only tell you what I know at the moment and that is that Syndrop and Porporat have both asked to secede from the Federation.”

“What is the Federation going to do?”

“I don’t know.  I've not heard anything official,” I replied.

“Well what do you think should be done?”

“About the only thing we can do to keep them from seceding is to provide them with more defenses.  We’ve got a new fighter design, thanks to A’Lappe, Reide and Rory; we now can match the Brotherhood in speed once again.  With more ships and firepower coupled with more speed, we should be able to hold the Brotherhood off and maybe even push them back and regain some of the planets we’ve already lost.”

Twenty minutes later, I arrived on the
MAXETTE
and went straight to the War Room and then my office.  As usual, Marranalis was there waiting for me.

“Good Morning, Captain,” I said as I entered.

“Good morning, sir,” Marranalis replied.  “I trust you are feeling well this morning…?” he added with a questioning look.

“I seem to be doing all right this morning,” I replied.  “Say, Marranalis, could you have someone bring me a plate of Kogo eggs with Awa bread?”

“Certainly, sir, did you skip your meal this morning?”

“Sort of.   Reide was tinkering with the food synthesizer and now – well – let’s say you would not want to ingest anything that is coming out of it.”

Marranalis chuckled.  “It’s times like this when I am glad I don’t have a bond mate and offspring.”

“Well,” I said smiling, “it may sound strange, but I’m damn proud of my kids.”

“What’s new that I need to be aware of today?”

“Leader Tonclin wishes for you and Admirals Regeny and Wabussie to meet with him this afternoon to discuss Syndrop’s and Porporat’s requests to secede from the Federation.  Admiral Wabussie reports that our agents on Epsirt have shot down the three drones spying on Norcar’s estate.  So far, there has been no reaction from anyone about it.”

“Give them time, I suspect before the day is over, they will be hearing from someone,” I said as I took a sip of the cup of foccee I had retrieved from the dispenser in the room.

“Say, Marranalis could you have someone bring me a plate of Kogo eggs with Awa bread?”

“Admiral, you asked me that a few seconds ago,” Marranalis said with a concerned look.

“I did?” I responded.  “Odd, I don’t recall it.  Well, as long as I haven’t already eaten them, I guess no harm is done,” I said with a grin, trying to make light of the situation.

“Ah, yes, sir,” I’ll see to it immediately.

I went to my office and went over the morning reports from the Fleet Admirals.  Captain Wanoll was temporarily standing in for Admiral Stonbersa as head of the Second Fleet and I hoped to have him advanced and make his position official.  Since the battle in Sector 2, no enemy ships were reported in the area.  The same was true for Sector 3; after the departure of the Brotherhood ships, there had been no more detected on the long-range sensors.  Sector 5, however, was reporting some activity on remote sensors, indicating something going on out beyond Federation borders.  Reports in Sector 4 were showing an increase of freighters transporting goods in their sector with destinations unknown and outside the Federation borders.  I wondered what the reaction would be to inspection of ships leaving the Federation for materials that could be used to help the Brotherhood; probably not well and most likely against Federation laws.

I finished reading the morning reports from the fleet admirals and was looking at the reports from Nybidong and Ruwallie Rasson Fighters when Marranalis entered with one of the ship's staff and a tray of food.

“Here you are, Admiral.  Kogo eggs with Awa bread and another cup of foccee.”

“Ah, thank you, Captain.  Tell me, what do you think would happen if we had Federation ships stopping all freighters heading out beyond our borders and search them for weapons and goods that might be aiding the Brotherhood?”

“Sir, I don’t think that would be a good idea.  It would certainly raise a stink in the Senate and we would probably see more worlds in the Federation wishing to leave it.  You’re not planning to do that, are you?”

“No, it was simply a thought.  What do you make of all the freighters that are being reported in Sector 4?”

“I honestly hadn’t given it a thought, sir.”

“According to Admiral Diphik, they are seeing nearly three times as many freighters passing through their space and outbound from the Federation as normal.  Don’t you find that strange?”

“Now that you mention it, I do.  Where do you think they are going?”  Marranalis asked.

“That’s what I want to know.  Something is going on; something that requires a lot of materials being transported.  I want this information sent to Admiral Wabussie immediately.  Tell him I think we need to learn two things; what these ships are carrying and where the majority of them are going.”

“Do you think it’s the Brotherhood, sir?”

“I think the odds of it are pretty strong, but we need to find out for sure.”

I don’t remember Marranalis leaving my office and I don’t recall what happened in the next few hours; what I do remember next was Marranalis coming into my office and asking me if I had forgotten my meeting with Leader Tonclin.

“What?  I thought you said it was this afternoon?” I exclaimed.