Atlantia Series 3: Aggressor (29 page)

‘I don’t doubt it,’ came the response. ‘I suspect, given your current predicament, that you are far less keen to meet face to face than I am.’

‘I have a job to do,’ Idris replied, ‘and that’s to get my people back unharmed.’

‘A job which you are failing spectacularly,’ Salim observed. ‘One of your soldiers is already dead, another half-way there with crippling Devlamine withdrawal, and from all I hear your ship’s compliment is on the verge of mutiny. All in all, I’d say that my presence here is just what you need.’

‘What the hell does that mean?’

Salim got up from his throne, the camera following him automatically. ‘That you’ve reached your limits as a commander, Idris. You’ve overreached yourself and cannot realistically keep your force together. Coming here was the best thing that you could have done, because now you’re in a position to ally yourself to us and have the structure and discipline that your people so badly need.’

Idris could not help the bitter little smile that curled from his lips.

‘Seriously, Salim? You think that you could command a ship like Atlantia, or Arcadia for that matter, handle the needs of a thousand people and fight a war all at once?’

‘But Idris, I already do,’ Salim purred as he slipped the glowing plasma-whip from his belt and it hummed into life once more. ‘When I speak, people act. If they do not act, then they are punished!’

Salim whirled and the whip hissed as it lashed out and struck a hybrid woman across her thighs. The woman screamed and dropped to her knees, her face twisted in pain as she huddled over her legs. Salim turned and placed one foot on her shoulder, pinning her in place as he looked at Idris.

‘I have over a thousand people down here, Idris,’ he boasted. ‘Each of them obeys my every command.’

‘They’re not obeying a damned thing you say,’ Idris insisted. ‘They’re cowering because they’re afraid, because you’re nothing but a brutal dictator and a coward, and if anybody’s facing an imminent insurrection it’s you.’

Salim’s expression of delight soured as he glared at the captain.

‘Then perhaps now is a perfect moment for us to iron-out our differences and bring an end to this pointless posturing. I propose a simple trade, captain. You, for these hostages.’

Idris shook his head.

‘You and I both know that if I come down there, you won’t release a single person.’

‘You question my word, captain?’

‘All the time, Salim,’ Idris assured him.

‘Then you will abandon your people to die, in order to save your own skin?’ Salim suggested as he gestured to the kneeling Marines and pilots arrayed before him. ‘And you call me a coward,’ he uttered.

‘A coward hides behind his hostages,’ Idris said. ‘A true fighter would not need to, but then we both know what you really are Salim, don’t we?’

The pirate king chuckled.

‘You can invent whatever stories you wish, captain, but nobody’s believing them.’

Idris raised an eyebrow.

‘But Salim, didn’t anybody tell you? Atlantia was a prison ship, and we have detailed video recordings of all prisoners who moved through the system for decades past, especially the high profile ones. Would you like me to share them with your hostages?’

A flare of panic bolted across Salim’s features and he whirled to somebody off screen and dragged his hand across his throat. The communications link abruptly vanished.

Atlantia’s bridge fell silent for a moment.

‘What videos?’ Andaim asked.

‘There aren’t any,’ Idris admitted. ‘The prison system kept recordings of interviews with major criminals, including Salim, but they were on Ethera. It’s my guess that Salim will now try to find those same recordings on Arcadia and destroy them. It’ll buy us some time.’

‘What was in the recordings?’ Mikhain asked.

‘Salim, blubbering like a little baby as he was interrogated,’ Idris said. ‘He sold out on dozens of pirate clans and families, was directly responsible for our subsequent cruises being so successful in stamping out piracy in the Tiberium Fields. It got him a placement into a lower-security holding facility, from which he was unfortunately sprung a few months later.’

‘We could really use those videos,’ Andaim pressed. ‘Maybe in the archives?’

‘No,’ Idris replied, ‘they were on Atlantia Five and were lost with her. But it doesn’t matter, just the mention of it and Salim’s reaction is enough to start fostering doubt within his inner circle and maybe give a little bit of hope to those captive in his court. I saw Evelyn is still there. I doubt that she will remain under Salim’s yoke for long.’

‘We don’t know what he’s got on her,’ Andaim said. ‘She would have made her move by now. There must be something stopping her and the others from fighting back. There’s a whole platoon of Marines down there too,’ he added. ‘They would not be sitting around as hostages otherwise.’

‘Where is General Bra’hiv?’ Mikhain asked. ‘He could maybe figure out something from here and use the time that we’ve got.’

‘No,’ Idris replied. ‘We have to move while Salim’s hands are tied, prevent him from getting the upper hand. Our best bet is to hit him with another surprise.’

‘Which is what?’ Andaim asked.

Idris took a breath. ‘Organise an escort,’ he said. ‘I’m going down there.’

‘You’re going to do
what
?’ Andaim gasped.

‘It’s the last thing he’ll expect,’ Idris replied. ‘Believe me, I know that man and beneath the act he’s nothing, a coward.’

‘A coward with a few hundred pirates behind him,’ Andaim pointed out. ‘This is a bad idea. He’s not going to free any of those prisoners no matter what you do or say down there!’

‘I don’t expect him to,’ the captain replied. He took Andaim’s arm and led him off the command platform as he spoke softly. ‘It’s no secret that the Atlantia’s crew and passengers believe me unable to command this vessel and are questioning every move I make.’

‘That’s not true sir, and…’

Idris cut him off with a wave of his hand. ‘It’s a fact. Meyanna has told me as much and I can’t ignore the fact that we’re not just a military vessel any more. We’re a floating city, with people aboard that have needs other than defence. I need you to command Atlantia while I’m away, understood?’

‘Me?’ Andaim whispered harshly. ‘What about Mikhain?’

‘I have other plans for the XO,’ Idris replied. ‘Right now you’re the only person I completely trust to command this ship with the best interests of its crew at heart.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Evelyn’s down there,’ Idris said. ‘She’s counting on all of us to do our jobs well, and that’s more than enough to assure your loyalty.’

Andaim blinked. ‘My loyalty would be assured anyway, captain, with or without…’ He broke off for a moment. ‘It’s my duty, sir.’

‘I know,’ Idris agreed, and rested one hand on Andaim’s shoulder. ‘Then you’ll understand that if my plans on the surface do not work and all is lost, you will command the Atlantia to bombard the surface, understood? Do not risk losing Atlantia.’

Andaim made to resist but he could see the look in the captain’s eye: stern, forceful, decades worth of experience brooking no argument.

‘Aye, captain.’

‘Good,’ Idris said. ‘But bombardment is the last resort. We must instead make every effort to bring those hostages back alive and Salim’s slaves with them. As soon as you see the shields on Salim’s compound go down, hack Arcadia’s systems from here and give us control via either the bridge or the War Room, whichever we connect to you from, okay?’

Andaim simply nodded.

‘This will work, Andaim,’ Idris promised. ‘Just as long as we can get aboard Arcadia.’

The captain turned and moved across the bridge to Mikhain’s side. The XO lifted his chin expectantly to receive his orders.

‘I’m placing Commander Ry’ere in command of the Atlantia until I return,’ Idris announced.

Mikhain’s studied, loyal expression slipped slightly but he nodded. ‘Understood.’

Idris regarded his Executive Officer for a long moment before he spoke.

‘I want Salim to be under the impression that I don’t have an experienced second-in-command to support me. As long as he doesn’t know you’re here, he’ll continue to believe that the Atlantia is now under the command of a man who can be compromised using the threat of Evelyn’s death.’

‘I understand sir,’ Mikhain replied, his expression strangely neutral. ‘Where is Genereal Bra’hiv? If this engagement moves to a ground offensive, we’ll need him here on the bridge or be able to liase with him.’

‘Bra’hiv is fully occupied with planning any ground offensive we might launch,’ Idris informed the XO. ‘Many of Alpha Company are engaged with guarding the civilian contingent, so we’ll be deploying Bravo Company to the surface. Order a shuttle to prepare for launch, and two Marines as my escort.’

‘Only two?’ Mikhain uttered. ‘You’ll be hopelessly outgunned and outnumbered.’

‘Just the way I want it,’ Idris insisted.

‘But you’re playing directly into Salim’s hands with no support in place. He’ll hold all the cards.’

‘Not all,’ Idris assured him, and turned to Lael. ‘All stations broadcast, please.’

‘Aye, captain,’ Lael replied.

A claxon sounded throughout the Atlantia, echoing through her endless corridors and even across the sanctuary deep inside the ship. Idris took a breath and spoke loudly and clearly upon the otherwise silent bridge.

‘Attention all personnel, this is Captain Idris Sansin speaking. As you may have heard, we are having some issues with brigands down on Chiron IV’s surface. We came here for supplies and got more than we bargained for, and coupled with our problems aboard Atlantia we have found ourselves in a position where hostages have been taken and there are no easy solutions.’ Idris paused for a moment before continuing. ‘I take full responsibility for these issues, for the command of this ship and for the outcomes of all decisions that rest upon my shoulders. At this time, I have no option to ensure the safety of those hostages but to surrender myself in their ‘stead. Commander Ry’ere is now in command of Atlantia, and will be until my return. Ensure that you follow his orders to the letter, for all of our lives may now depend upon it. Should I fail to return from this mission, I nominate the commander to the role of captain, to select his command crew as he feels fit.’ The captain looked at each of his command crew in turn, and nodded. ‘It has been my pleasure to serve alongside all of you. Captain Sansin out.’

Lael cut the feed and silence reigned in the wake of his broadcast. Idris turned to Mikhain.

‘XO, the shuttle if you please. Have the Marines meet me on the launch bay.’

‘Aye, captain.’

Idris answered with a curt nod, and then marched off the bridge.

***

‘Find them!’

Salim’s podgy face flushed an unhealthy shade of red as he pointed one flabby arm at the Arcadia, several of his closest piratical allies marching off toward the frigate.

‘That could take days,’ Taron Forge murmured as he looked at Salim with interest, ‘by which time this could all be resolved if you start thinking straight.’

Salim Phaeon glared at Taron as he paced up and down in front of his throne.

‘What you think doesn’t interest me, Taron,’ he growled. ‘You’ve always been a Colonial stooge no matter you make others think. Still trying to get out from under your daddy’s shadow?’

Taron appeared unperturbed as Evelyn watched him smile casually.

‘Daddy’s dead,’ he replied without concern. ‘But it looks to me like you’ve got something you don’t want others to see.’ Taron glanced at the injured hybrid nearby, where she had crawled with one hand massaging the wound on her legs from Salim’s plasma whip. ‘Had a hard time in the cells, did you? Got daddy issues of your own? Maybe you wanted him to come rescue you?’

Salim took two giant strides off the throne platform and swung a bunched fist at Taron’s head. Taron did not attempt to avoid the blow and it connected with a sharp crack that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Salim drew his blade from his belt and pointed it down at the smuggler. ‘I think that your time has come to an end,’ he sneered. ‘You no longer have any value to me alive but you could become a useful talisman dead.’

Salim lifted the blade, just in time for Yo’Ki to take one pace forward and turn on her heel as her left boot shot out and ploughed into the fat man’s belly with a deep thud. Salim’s face turned purple and his eyes bulged as he was propelled backwards into his own throne with a loud crash, the blade flashing through the air and clattering to the ground as he slumped.

Salim pointed at her as he fought to draw a breath.

‘Kill them!’ he rasped. ‘Kill them both!’

Two Ogrin stepped forward, each of them carrying a hefty baton as thick as Evelyn’s thigh. The two Ogrin raised their weapons but the sound of approaching ion engines stopped them in their tracks.

The watching pirates leaped from where they were lounging with weapons drawn as they dashed to the windows and peered out at an approaching craft.

‘It’s a Colonial shuttle!’ one of them shouted to Salim. ‘What the hell are they doing?’

The pirate king struggled to his feet, off-balance and flushed with pain and rage as he got his voice back and bellowed across the room.

‘Get out there! Surround it!’

The pirates stumbled over each other in their hurry to get outside and confront the approaching shuttle. Evelyn watched them go and then leaned over close to where Taron was still sprawled on the ground.

‘You up to something here, Taron?’

The smuggler shook his head. ‘Your captain freed me, like I said. Just trying to make a living, honey.’

Taron’s cocky smile, even in the face of death, only irritated her even further as she turned away and looked at Teera and Ishira.

‘Get ready, this could be our chance.’

Both of them nodded and Evelyn watched as the shuttle settled down near the compound as pirates dashed out across the open ground, their rifles cradled in their grip as they took up positions around the shuttle.

‘Keep them under guard,’ Salim snapped as he pointed at Evelyn, Taron and the others. ‘If anything goes wrong, start killing them at random.’