Vigilante (32 page)
She didn’t answer.
“That slip is leased to Aether Exploration,” Emery said. “We haven’t
broken the security yet. It’s more sophisticated than the Terran ships or freighters.”
broken the security yet. It’s more sophisticated than the Terran ships or freighters.”
“We’ve got the pilot right here.” Tahir pointed at her with his
pistol.
pistol.
She flinched and wished he wouldn’t do that, considering his weapon
skills, but this was a delaying tactic if ever she heard one. She tried not to look
hopeful.
skills, but this was a delaying tactic if ever she heard one. She tried not to look
hopeful.
“We don’t have time.” Once again, Julian reminded the others of their
mission. “We have to get the full benefit from Laomedon’s eclipse.”
mission. “We have to get the full benefit from Laomedon’s eclipse.”
His comment prodded the others into moving. Once on Parmet’s ship, they
climbed up to the control deck. Someone on-station had prepared the ship for undocking and when
she saw the status boards, she knew they also controlled the Command Post. CP had already
transferred control of the docking clamps to the ship.
climbed up to the control deck. Someone on-station had prepared the ship for undocking and when
she saw the status boards, she knew they also controlled the Command Post. CP had already
transferred control of the docking clamps to the ship.
The TM-8440 had two pilot seats because it separated N-space from
real-space functionality, making it easier to crew the ship. Because this was a much larger
ship than
Aether’s Touch
, and originally military, there were more
stations on the control deck. Comm, weapons, and command all had separate stations and
seats.
real-space functionality, making it easier to crew the ship. Because this was a much larger
ship than
Aether’s Touch
, and originally military, there were more
stations on the control deck. Comm, weapons, and command all had separate stations and
seats.
Emery went immediately to the weapons station. She noted, with a sinking
feeling in her stomach, that the console was active. These isolationists had been busy; they
had already used the controller to cobble together an interface to the raw warhead.
feeling in her stomach, that the console was active. These isolationists had been busy; they
had already used the controller to cobble together an interface to the raw warhead.
As she expected, Tahir pushed her into the N-space piloting seat. It put
her too far from the real-space controls; she’d be unconscious or dead before she could grab
control of the ship.
So much for flying us into a rock
.
her too far from the real-space controls; she’d be unconscious or dead before she could grab
control of the ship.
So much for flying us into a rock
.
As Julian went through a stripped-down coordination with CP to undock,
she examined the N-space console in front of her. Parmet’s Penrose Fold referential engine had
gone through a diagnostic test two days ago, probably right after they docked. She realized
that she’d docked at Beta Priamos Station thirty hours ago. The bright loaded in her implant
was gone; she now ran on adrenaline alone, her enhanced metabolism kicking in.
she examined the N-space console in front of her. Parmet’s Penrose Fold referential engine had
gone through a diagnostic test two days ago, probably right after they docked. She realized
that she’d docked at Beta Priamos Station thirty hours ago. The bright loaded in her implant
was gone; she now ran on adrenaline alone, her enhanced metabolism kicking in.
“We’re unlocked and pushing away,” Julian said. “We’ve got the gravity
generator online, so we can do full boost.”
generator online, so we can do full boost.”
She looked at the blank diagnostic display at her station. Slowly she
moved her bloody and bound wrists to rest on the console, and surreptitiously pressed the
status query command. The view port displayed the result, “PFR engine uninitialized. No license
crystal installed.”
moved her bloody and bound wrists to rest on the console, and surreptitiously pressed the
status query command. The view port displayed the result, “PFR engine uninitialized. No license
crystal installed.”
Emery laughed harshly and she turned to see him watching her. “You
didn’t think we’d leave that engine up and running, did you?”
didn’t think we’d leave that engine up and running, did you?”
Yes, she had. She’d underestimated them. She’d been lulled by Tahir’s
talk of N-space drops, forgetting that a Penrose Fold referential engine couldn’t operate
without its license crystal.
Stupid, stupid, stupid of me
. She
stared at Emery, remembering him taking out his wand to use on Colonel Dokos. Hatred flooded
her face with warmth.
talk of N-space drops, forgetting that a Penrose Fold referential engine couldn’t operate
without its license crystal.
Stupid, stupid, stupid of me
. She
stared at Emery, remembering him taking out his wand to use on Colonel Dokos. Hatred flooded
her face with warmth.
“The crystal’s safe with Abram, down on the moon.” Emery turned back to
his weapons display.
his weapons display.
“Go to hell.” Her voice trembled with rage.
Julian signed off with Command Post. Emery and Tahir ignored her. She
watched the display of Beta Priamos Station dwindling slowly behind them. Ahead was G-145’s
sun; Julian was punching in the burn parameters.
watched the display of Beta Priamos Station dwindling slowly behind them. Ahead was G-145’s
sun; Julian was punching in the burn parameters.
She was out of options.
CHAPTER 18
We’ve analyzed comm fragments and estimated the ca sualties in
Ura-Guinn. The population of the innermost
habitat was lost with the initial coronal mass ejection.
The populations on the primary planet and correspond ing habitat had protective
magnetospheres, plus warn ing, so there were initial survivors. This work has been
hardest on the Terran researchers. . . .
Journal of Marcus Alexander
, Sophist
at Konstantinople
Prime University, 2105.331.12.05 UT, indexed by
Democritus 17
under Cause and Effect Imperative
“I
f you don’t have weapons, maybe you can use
a squad or two of these guys to take back the
Pilgrimage
.” Matt
jerked his thumb at the guardians. “The generational ship doesn’t have stand-off
weapons.”
f you don’t have weapons, maybe you can use
a squad or two of these guys to take back the
Pilgrimage
.” Matt
jerked his thumb at the guardians. “The generational ship doesn’t have stand-off
weapons.”
David Ray winced visibly and shot him a warning glance. Confused, Matt
snapped his mouth shut. He thought it was a good idea.
Apparently
not
.
snapped his mouth shut. He thought it was a good idea.
Apparently
not
.
“As Contractor Adviser, I’m not equipped to handle confrontation with
weapons, beyond taking protective measures.” The emissary made a gesture of apology. “I have
requested a warrior interface. We must wait.”
weapons, beyond taking protective measures.” The emissary made a gesture of apology. “I have
requested a warrior interface. We must wait.”
“You have a comm channel through the buoy?” Matt leaned forward.
“No. The buoy is not available for communication.”
His hopes fell. However, the Minoan’s answer begged the question as to
how they’d entered the system in the first place. Did the Pilgrimage ship line negotiate secret
codes with the Minoans too?
how they’d entered the system in the first place. Did the Pilgrimage ship line negotiate secret
codes with the Minoans too?
“Contractor Adviser, we hoped—,” began David Ray.
“All tactics must be coordinated with the warrior interface. Please
wait.” The emissary cut him off with uncharacteristic speed. Its fingers twirled a bead and the
hologram changed to a distant view of a star field. When its head bent, it became motionless,
but for the robes that gently billowed.
wait.” The emissary cut him off with uncharacteristic speed. Its fingers twirled a bead and the
hologram changed to a distant view of a star field. When its head bent, it became motionless,
but for the robes that gently billowed.
David Ray motioned to Matt to step farther away from any of the Minoans.
“I think that’s the signal for ‘go speak among yourselves, mundanes, and leave me alone.’
”
“I think that’s the signal for ‘go speak among yourselves, mundanes, and leave me alone.’
”
“No kidding. Do we have privacy?”
“I don’t know. I doubt it matters.” David Ray looked at the two
motionless guardians. “We won’t be allowed to leave until the warrior shows up.”
motionless guardians. “We won’t be allowed to leave until the warrior shows up.”
“Yeah, but where’s he—it—been all this time? It’s obviously on this
ship.”
ship.”
David Ray lowered his voice until he was barely breathing his words.
“I’m beginning to think these guys are manufactured as needed, and I’d be curious if I wasn’t
scared
shitless
.”
“I’m beginning to think these guys are manufactured as needed, and I’d be curious if I wasn’t
scared
shitless
.”
Matt’s eyebrows rose and his voice lowered in kind. “Why?”
“We’ve historically interacted with these two types.” David Ray jerked
his chin toward the emissary and the guardians. “But there’re also the warriors. They’re
ruthless, by our standards. They commanded and executed the attacks on Enclave El
Tozeur.”
his chin toward the emissary and the guardians. “But there’re also the warriors. They’re
ruthless, by our standards. They commanded and executed the attacks on Enclave El
Tozeur.”
“Maybe that’s what we need,” Matt shot back. “Maybe they can kick these
assholes all the way back to New Sousse.”
assholes all the way back to New Sousse.”
“Be careful what you wish for.” David Ray frowned. “We don’t understand
their moral structure and we’ve only seen Minoans function within our legal system. Given past
experience, if they bring in their warriors, human life won’t weigh much in their battle
tactics.”
their moral structure and we’ve only seen Minoans function within our legal system. Given past
experience, if they bring in their warriors, human life won’t weigh much in their battle
tactics.”
“How’ll we know—”
A sighing sound made Matt jerk around and he watched a slit appear in an
area of a wall. He gasped at the height of the figure that stepped through; the ceiling above
had to dimple, like someone sucking in their stomach, to let the horns pass. This Minoan, from
boot soles to horn tips, stood almost a meter taller than the guardians.
area of a wall. He gasped at the height of the figure that stepped through; the ceiling above
had to dimple, like someone sucking in their stomach, to let the horns pass. This Minoan, from
boot soles to horn tips, stood almost a meter taller than the guardians.
There was no question as to its occupation. Its weapon was similar to
the guardian batons but longer and with raised decorations in gold at one end. While the
emissary’s outer robes were red, the warrior wore the shorter black robes of the guardians, but
with gold trim. Its horns seemed carved of pure ebony. They were sharp and uncapped, lacking
the emissary’s strings of jewels that went to the back of the headdress. Instead, the warrior
wore a high-collared torque of golden metal that had short strings of jewels hanging from it.
There were plenty of control surfaces on that torque, which plugged into the back of its
headdress.
the guardian batons but longer and with raised decorations in gold at one end. While the
emissary’s outer robes were red, the warrior wore the shorter black robes of the guardians, but
with gold trim. Its horns seemed carved of pure ebony. They were sharp and uncapped, lacking
the emissary’s strings of jewels that went to the back of the headdress. Instead, the warrior
wore a high-collared torque of golden metal that had short strings of jewels hanging from it.
There were plenty of control surfaces on that torque, which plugged into the back of its
headdress.
The two guardians went down on one knee, while the emissary nodded
slowly—once.
slowly—once.
“I pass over control of Knossos-ship,” Contractor Adviser said to the
tall figure.
tall figure.
David Ray drew in a sharp breath. He leaned close and muttered into
Matt’s ear, “People are going to
die
. Possibly in vast
numbers.”
Matt’s ear, “People are going to
die
. Possibly in vast
numbers.”
The warrior strode past Matt and David Ray as if it didn’t see them.
Above its horns, the ceiling kept contorting in waves to avoid getting gored. Matt watched
these movements with a combination of nausea and awe—
sort of like our
body-forming chairs, but better.
David Ray poked him to direct his attention toward the
Minoans.
Above its horns, the ceiling kept contorting in waves to avoid getting gored. Matt watched
these movements with a combination of nausea and awe—
sort of like our
body-forming chairs, but better.
David Ray poked him to direct his attention toward the
Minoans.
The guardians backed against the walls. Over the holographic display,
emissary faced warrior and Matt couldn’t tell who was in charge of whom. The warrior loomed
taller, yet the red-robed emissary didn’t appear intimidated. Matt frowned; what would a
frightened Minoan look like?
emissary faced warrior and Matt couldn’t tell who was in charge of whom. The warrior loomed
taller, yet the red-robed emissary didn’t appear intimidated. Matt frowned; what would a
frightened Minoan look like?
“Knossos-ship was not to be witnessed.”
Ah, so it does notice us.
The warrior,
however, didn’t gesture or look at Matt and David Ray. Its voice wasn’t as smooth as the
emissary voices that Matt had heard, both personally and recorded.
The warrior,
however, didn’t gesture or look at Matt and David Ray. Its voice wasn’t as smooth as the
emissary voices that Matt had heard, both personally and recorded.
“Damage of Knossos-ship was unavoidable, as was rescue under Humanity
Phaistos Protocol,” Contractor Adviser replied.
Phaistos Protocol,” Contractor Adviser replied.
“Explain.”
At this point, Matt expected Contractor Adviser to launch into an
explanation, where he and David Ray could interject their comments. Instead, both Minoans
reached for a bead. Contractor Adviser twiddled what looked like a priceless ruby while the
warrior touched a purple crystal, perhaps an amethyst. Over the display, they touched
fingertips and Contractor Adviser’s jewel glittered.
explanation, where he and David Ray could interject their comments. Instead, both Minoans
reached for a bead. Contractor Adviser twiddled what looked like a priceless ruby while the
warrior touched a purple crystal, perhaps an amethyst. Over the display, they touched
fingertips and Contractor Adviser’s jewel glittered.
They were probably doing nothing more than near-field data exchange.
ComNet users did this all the time by touching node-enabled surfaces to transfer data with
their implants. But when the Minoans did data exchange, it looked more impressive. There was
nothing like sparkling jewels to make the process seem magical. The Minoans’ fingers dropped
from their respective jewelry and the warrior turned slowly to look at Matt and David
Ray.
ComNet users did this all the time by touching node-enabled surfaces to transfer data with
their implants. But when the Minoans did data exchange, it looked more impressive. There was
nothing like sparkling jewels to make the process seem magical. The Minoans’ fingers dropped
from their respective jewelry and the warrior turned slowly to look at Matt and David
Ray.
“Contractor Adviser, please introduce Pilgrimage General Counsel and
Owner of Aether Exploration to the warrior—er—interface?” David Ray spoke quickly, with an
atypical stutter.
Owner of Aether Exploration to the warrior—er—interface?” David Ray spoke quickly, with an
atypical stutter.
Matt figured he should put a lid on the smart-ass remarks that often
spouted from his lips. He tried to look quiet and unassuming, which wasn’t difficult in this
roomful of seven-foot-plus aliens.
spouted from his lips. He tried to look quiet and unassuming, which wasn’t difficult in this
roomful of seven-foot-plus aliens.
“I have done so, Pilgrimage General Counsel.” The red-robed emissary
gestured toward the warrior and stepped back from the holographic display. “This warrior has
level-three authority, and command of all units within this solar system. You may address this
warrior as Warrior Commander.”
gestured toward the warrior and stepped back from the holographic display. “This warrior has
level-three authority, and command of all units within this solar system. You may address this
warrior as Warrior Commander.”
“I’m honored to meet you, Warrior Commander,” David Ray said.
The warrior, who faced the holographic display and fingered a string of
beads on its torque, ignored David Ray’s words. The display zoomed to show the square wart of
the Pilgrimage module on the side of the ship. The wart started to flash, giving Matt the
distinct feeling that the warrior was going to jettison it into the minefield.
beads on its torque, ignored David Ray’s words. The display zoomed to show the square wart of
the Pilgrimage module on the side of the ship. The wart started to flash, giving Matt the
distinct feeling that the warrior was going to jettison it into the minefield.
“No! Please!” David Ray came to the same conclusion and moved toward the
display.
display.
The Minoans in the room didn’t acknowledge David Ray’s words or
movement. The guardians remained motionless. The emissary and warrior might have been statues,
except for the whispering movement of their robes in the fictional breeze.
movement. The guardians remained motionless. The emissary and warrior might have been statues,
except for the whispering movement of their robes in the fictional breeze.
“
I
am the only Pilgrimage authority here.”
David Ray’s voice cracked with desperation. “Your actions must have
my
approval!”
I
am the only Pilgrimage authority here.”
David Ray’s voice cracked with desperation. “Your actions must have
my
approval!”
Laws
.
We say that
Minoans always follow the rules, but perhaps we should say they follow laws
. Matt
remembered Nestor talking about Minoans and the differences between rules and laws.
A law is a codified rule, which has more than convention behind it
,
Nestor said.
We know Minoans obey our
laws,
but we don’t know if they follow our societal rules and conventions.
.
We say that
Minoans always follow the rules, but perhaps we should say they follow laws
. Matt
remembered Nestor talking about Minoans and the differences between rules and laws.
A law is a codified rule, which has more than convention behind it
,
Nestor said.
We know Minoans obey our
laws,
but we don’t know if they follow our societal rules and conventions.
“Pilgrimage General Counsel is correct. This system is sovereign to the
Pilgrimage ship line.” He tried to use a calm, authoritative tone.
Pilgrimage ship line.” He tried to use a calm, authoritative tone.
David Ray gave Matt a glance of gratitude, mixed with apology, that said
he should have thought to say that himself. Then David Ray jumped backward as the warrior
rotated to loom over him.
he should have thought to say that himself. Then David Ray jumped backward as the warrior
rotated to loom over him.
“Does Pilgrimage approve the use of the module to detonate mines that
threaten Knossos-ship?” The warrior’s voice had a deep grating sound that set Matt’s teeth on
edge.
threaten Knossos-ship?” The warrior’s voice had a deep grating sound that set Matt’s teeth on
edge.
“No. That module contains vital Pilgrimage assets.”
The room was silent as the warrior appeared to ponder David Ray’s
response. Its gloved fingers stopped moving. “What action would Pilgrimage suggest is most
effective, given the tactical situation?”
response. Its gloved fingers stopped moving. “What action would Pilgrimage suggest is most
effective, given the tactical situation?”
Personally, Matt didn’t have a clue. He looked helplessly at David Ray,
surprised to see the mild-mannered attorney square his shoulders. David Ray poked his finger
into the holographic display at the green triangular symbol, which represented the buoy. “I
agree we must clear the buoy arrival channel. If your ship took damage, our ships will fare
worse. But my module is
not
a mine-clearing tool. There has to be
another way.” David Ray looked up at the tall, motionless warrior, his jaw set
stubbornly.
surprised to see the mild-mannered attorney square his shoulders. David Ray poked his finger
into the holographic display at the green triangular symbol, which represented the buoy. “I
agree we must clear the buoy arrival channel. If your ship took damage, our ships will fare
worse. But my module is
not
a mine-clearing tool. There has to be
another way.” David Ray looked up at the tall, motionless warrior, his jaw set
stubbornly.
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