Fracture Lines (The Glass Complex Book 2) (31 page)

He turned his attention to Beagle and Howe. “Beagle, go ahead.”

“Yes, sir. Both Captain Dean and the commander were adamant, sir. They said we had to remain on the shuttle and wait for you. We have to compensate for our carelessness. One of the engineers, Jeremiah Azr, and Aadan,
Wasp’s
Helm, volunteered to stay on board, to assist us to get under way. Aadan said she’d enjoy helping you fly the shuttle.”

Steg suspected the presence of key personnel from
Wasp
was Gillespie’s way of informing him she was not planning to desert the small group of mercenaries. He linked to the shuttle’s bridge. “Aadan, we’re all on board. Prepare for departure. I’ll join you in two minutes.” He turned to Riddell and said, “We need to get out of here as quickly as possible. Send two of your marines to release docking links. Aadan is prepping for departure.”

“Yes, sir.” Riddell signaled to two of the team. “You heard the captain. Get us detached as quickly as you can.” Two marines headed for the door at a run.

Steg turned back to the two computer hackers and asked, “What’s the status of the virus?” He ignored the bewildered expression on the prisoner’s face while he questioned the two men.

“It’s devastating,” Howe said. “Everything on Eos has ground to a halt. Most of the data centers have shut down; they’ve been completely overwhelmed by the virus process.”

“There’s a high probability the banks might lose all their records if they were computerized. The Joy producers could be out of action, at least for months,” Beagle conjectured.

“The virus has started to hit starships on station, too, sir,” added Howe. “We’re blocking messages and comlinks from everyone except
Wasp
and the Alliance destroyer. We disconnected all electronic links from the station while we waited for you.”

“Can you receive news broadcasts without risking the systems on the shuttle?” Steg asked.

“If we use a standalone receiver, yes, sir.” Howe replied.

“Do it. Set it up on the bridge and relay it here and to engineering. I want to know what’s happening on the planet, progress of the virus on the station, and any news of the Xesset. Both of you, go.”

“Yes, sir,” the two replied in unison. They headed off to carry out Steg’s instructions.

The frigate captain struggled against his restraints, apparently trying to catch Steg’s attention.

Mohave said, “Do you want me to smack him one, sir?”

“No, Mohave. Remove his gag. Let’s hear what he has to say.”

The captain spat the gag out as Mohave loosened the ties. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re kidnapping me; that’s illegal, yeah. And what’s this Xesset stuff? What virus?”

Steg was unimpressed. “Once we undock from the station, you’re welcome to walk back. Vacuum is difficult to breath, though. The Xesset are aliens; they want to take over your planet. They sent a scout ship a while ago, and we expect a larger force will turn up shortly. The virus—I understand the planet’s computer systems have been overwhelmed by a virus and it’s starting to have an impact on the station. Some of the docked ships may also be at risk.”

“My frigate—I need to get back—”

“You’re going nowhere. You’re under arrest for kidnap and assault. Sit over there, out of the way. Mohave, you have my permission to gag him again if he tries to interfere.” Steg watched as Mohave pushed the prisoner to a chair along the far wall of the mess.

“Riddell, everyone should remain armored until we know we’re safe. Have Tessa and Sara get into their armor, too. Who do we have with bridge experience? Anyone who can back up Aadan on the helm? Someone to help with engineering? I want everyone with experience—any level—to assist with bridge or engineering duties. Howe and Beagle can cover coms and sensor stations. I’ll set up a course to jump us to the system’s limits. We have to get away from the station so we can shield. If we’re caught here, we’re dead.”

He looked around at the small group. “There’ll be tasks for all of you. Riddell, sort them out. Two with engineering experience to help Azr. Two or three to help on the bridge. Set up an emergency response team, just in case. Arrange for catering, here in the mess; we’ll need to eat. Fresh coffee would be good. Join me on the bridge when you’re organized. We’ll get under way as soon as we’re disconnected from the station.”

Steg did not ask way station control for permission to undock. Once he received confirmation that the shuttle was untethered, he signaled Aadan. She nudged the power up a fraction and gently reversed away from the docking arm.

Wasp
had messaged the Xesset scout’s entry-exit locations, and he assumed any Xesset force would arrive in approximately the same region. Of course, he could be wrong. Xesset, he had found, were not predictable; they had a far different set of decision values. He checked the shuttle’s distance from the station, and when he thought they were at a safe distance—he didn’t want any ships reversing into the stealthed shuttle—he diverted a large fraction of their power to the shields. The shuttle now would be invisible to most sensor systems.

Aadan swapped the shuttle’s nose to tail position and dropped the shuttle towards the planet, heading away from the way station. Their plan was to shelter temporarily below the station and gradually increase the separation distance between it and the shuttle. The maneuver was gradual. The shuttle looked small, and although it had few weapons, Monty had re-designed both its structure and its propulsion units. The result was a tough and fast starship. The only reason Attwood hadn’t taken this shuttle when he fled
Wasp
was simply because it had been too well guarded. It was responsive to Aadan’s gentle touches as Helm, although Steg was finding it difficult to hide his impatience; he wanted to open up the engines and accelerate away from the planet. He planned to make an s-t jump out to the far edge of the Eos system as soon as possible. He could then monitor from a distance and return to the way station when and if it seemed safe.

“Howe, Beagle. Your assessments?”

The two Intel team members were monitoring the news feeds from the station.

“Sir, there is little sensible data coming from the planet. I’ve some short flics to show you from the station, if you like,” Beagle said.

“Play away.”

“This first one is from the way station’s official news channel.” The bridge team watched the video viewscreen as Beagle played the flic file.

A newsreader looked down at his prepared notes.
“Station management advise there is no need to be concerned about reports of what some are describing as a major computer systems disaster on Eos. Steps have been taken to protect station systems while we check with Eos authorities to determine the truth of reports. In the meantime, station crews are directed to continue their normal duties.”

“This next one is a snippet captured from an unofficial broadcast.” Beagle played the second file. The person speaking was shown in an unidentifiable silhouette.
“Mercenary starship
Wasp
recently departed for points unknown. Could those mercs be responsible for the system crashes on-planet? Have they destroyed the Joy infrastructure or the entire Eos infrastructure? If the latter, Vox thinks that’s a bit extreme. Officials planet-side are in total disarray, if not in sheer panic. The station has been impacted, resulting in our earlier unexpected lights out. What’s the fix? Vox of Eos wants to know. If your comlinks are working, send me your comments—you know the address.”

“Sir, we tapped into an official station comlink for this one,” Howe said. “It seems to be an exchange between a senior station person, possibly the top manager, and the station’s computer manager.” He played the file.

“I don’t want to hear you say you can’t disconnect from Eos.”

“Sir, it’s not only that I don’t have authority. I don’t have access to the commands. That’s all done from the planet.”

“Then tell them to do it; it’s imperative.”

“We’ve lost communication with our central control. I can’t raise anyone there.”

“Well, get in a bloody spacesuit and get out there and disconnect the antennae—do something, damn it. We’ll lose control of the station if that virus, or whatever it is, infects our systems.”

“Sir, I think it’s already too late.”

“We’ve got more,” Howe said. “However, the pattern is the same. The station has been infected. We don’t know if the virus has reached a starship.”

Steg was intrigued. “If a starship infected with the virus departs this system, can it pass on the virus to another station or starship? Have you started a plague?”

His questions were met with complete silence.

“What do you think, Tac?” Richard Montrose frowned into the inner darkness of his thoughts.

His Tac commander said, “Sir,
Wasp
is likely to be still in-system, watching. She dropped off some passive sensors as well as leaving the shuttle at the way station. Their shields are extremely effective, as you know.”

“You mean you can’t find them?”

“Hmm. I have to admit, you’re correct, sir.
Wasp’s
maintaining silence. I’m surprised—she’s giving off no electronic leaks, at all.”

“Keep searching. What about de Coeur?”

“Our drone reported a small team of mercenaries boarded the shuttle that
Wasp
left behind. Based on the last comlink exchanges between de Coeur and Dean, de Coeur has now taken control of the shuttle. They’ve unassed and are using the shadow of the station to shelter their position. The shuttle dropped towards the planet. They’ve since disappeared—the shuttle has the same shielding as
Wasp
. We’re searching for it.”

“Do you have an update on the systems failures on-planet?”

“Yes, sir. Approximately 90 percent of Eos’s systems infrastructure is down. We can’t tell yet whether the damage is permanent or whether techs on the planet have skills necessary to bring their systems back online. The way station’s systems are failing, and we’re trying to determine whether any starships are infected. A number have already disconnected from the station’s electronic links.”

“Was it definitely set loose by the mercs? The beginning of a plague, do you think?”

Jessie dropped the chewed pieces of her stylus onto her desk. “I’m wondering about both those questions, sir. There’s a high probability someone on board
Wasp
did something stupid. I can’t imagine they intended to spread a computer virus across the planet. The point you raise is far more worrying. It’s an aggressive virus, one of the worst I’ve seen. If it’s infected a starship, it could be the beginning of an inter-system plague.”

“I’m tempted to quarantine the way station until we can confirm the virus has been defeated. Have your team consider whether we should, will you? And stop biting your stylus, We don’t have the budget to keep you supplied at your rate of consumption. Find some worry beads, instead.”

“Yes, sir.” Jessie carefully placed the new stylus on her desk and pushed it almost out of reach. She knew she’d have a struggle to keep her hands away.

The shuttle dropped out of s-t on the edge of the Eos system. The jump had been short; far enough to move them away from the way station to where they could observe starship movements into and out of the Eos system—at least when near to the planet. Steg’s sensor team was trying to find either
Wasp
or the Alliance destroyer. They also were monitoring for possible Xesset intrusions, using links to the passive sensors
Wasp
had dropped as she headed toward her s-t jump.

‘Howe, take a break. Beagle, let me know what starships have undocked. Keep searching for any Xesset intrusion. Aadan, let’s stay in position here, for the moment. We need to be prepared to move on the instant. Imagine if the Xesset arrived next to us—I’d want to be away in seconds. Everyone, organize breaks with your watch relief team.” There was a temporary session of musical chairs as crew members moved around. Howe headed off, leaving Beagle on sensor duty.

Aadan looked at Steg. He replied to her unspoken question. “Yes, you should also take a break. I’ll stand in as Helm for a couple of hours or so. We’ll need you if the Xesset come sniffing around, and we have to shift.” Steg hoped the Xesset, when they arrived, would be far closer to the planet.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be back once I eat.”

Steg wanted to put his feet up on the command console and lean back, with his eyes closed. He stopped his movement. He needed coffee. Finch interrupted his thoughts as she placed a mug in front of him.

“Steg, your coffee. It’s hot, strong, and will keep you awake.”

He was tempted to add, “Just like a Fain.” The smile on Finch’s face indicated she had read his mind, and he chuckled.

“Thank you—a lifesaver. How’s your patient?”

“She has mild concussion. She’s conscious. We’ve had to stop her from heading off to thump the guy who hit her. He apparently thinks Fain are mechanical constructs, and she wanted to beat that nonsense out of him. I think she’s cooled down, now.”

“Good. I suspect we’ll have to return him to the way station, eventually. While I’m tempted to hand him over to the War Merchants for judgment, it’s a long way to take him.”

“Stacia will have some input to that decision, I’m sure.”

“So am I.” They both fell silent. Finch sat on the nearest seat, adding herself to the relief bridge crew. Steg took a mouthful of coffee, confirming Finch’s description of the drink.

“What do you think is going to happen?”

Steg sat up straighter in the shuttle’s command chair. “If the Xesset arrive in force?”

Finch nodded her head.

“
Wasp
is sheltering somewhere and is probably safe. The Alliance destroyer is near the planet, shielded. We’re shielded, and I think we’re okay here. The real problems are the way station and the planet. They’re exposed—Eos is exactly what the Xesset are looking for. It doesn’t have a real defense force, and the aliens could take over the planet without too much effort. If there was something I could do—” He frowned. Steg had strong feelings of guilt. The two members of their Intel team had let loose a virus, and the planet now was totally exposed to the aliens. Not his fault—but he knew he couldn’t convince himself that he was free of blame.