Heirs of the New Earth (29 page)

"A little better reception than we had on Titan,” muttered Manuel.

"So it seems,” said Fire.

Laura shushed them into silence.

They were led to a hover bus that took them through the city. The buildings were like fragile crystal palaces. Between them were vast, open areas that had fountains or sculptures. Fluffy white clouds stood out in stark contrast to a deep azure sky. “It's no wonder they call this place Shangri La,” mused Laura.

"Give me the Andes any day,” said Fire, looking skeptical. “Or, the Nuevo Rio Grande valley back on Sufiro.” When she saw Laura's incredulous look, she smiled lopsidedly. “Oh, this is a beautiful city, but I prefer natural beauty to something that's been sculpted."

"It'd be a shame to see either destroyed by the Cluster,” growled Manuel, bringing them back to the danger at hand.

At last the hover bus arrived in front of the government complex. The soldiers escorted them out and led the way to Herbert Firebrandt's office. The leader opened the door, stepped through, and then stepped sideways, executing a salute as Arepno, Fire, Manuel and Laura entered the office.

Simon Yermakov stood next to Herbert Firebrandt's desk; his head was bent down. He, the senator, and two ship captains were deep in conversation. Even so, Firebrandt looked up and acknowledged the new arrivals. As he did, Simon looked up and smiled openly. He ran around the desk and wrapped Laura in a hug. “I thought you were lost!” he said.

"There was no reason to think that,” said Arepno. “I said we'd meet you here."

At a loss, Laura's arms hung limply to her side until Simon released her and stepped back, a too-big smile on his face. “It's good to see you, sir,” she said, offering her hand.

Senator Firebrandt stood up and escorted Fire, and Manuel to the center of the room and introduced them to several captains and two admirals. “What's going on?” asked Fire.

"We're assembling a strike force,” explained the Senator. “From what Mr. Yermakov tells us, the galaxy is in jeopardy. We have to stop the Cluster now. What distresses me even more is that the
Sanson
was fired upon bringing us this information—so we can't even count on the Titans to help us."

"I don't think you can count on Earth ships either,” said Fire. “We were taken prisoner by the Admiralty on Titan. I think they're all under the influence of the Cluster.” The Senator looked at his feet in a way that reminded Fire very much of her father.

"How the hell are you going to attack the Cluster?” asked Manuel. “Every ship that's attacked one has been vaporized."

Senator Firebrandt nodded somberly. “We know. The problem before is that we never knew where to find the Cluster so we could never attack in force. So far the Cluster has never faced more than one or two ships. We have over thirty ships ready to assault the Cluster and we know right where to find it."

"You know it's at Earth,” corrected Fire. “The problem is that the jump points are changing."

"True,” said the Senator. “That's where the
Sanson
comes in. Yermakov's crew has been working with staff here to realign the jump engines on the ship. By this evening, they should be calibrated well enough to lead the fleet back to Earth.” He put his arms around Manuel and Fire. “Your service has been invaluable, but if you want to stay here on Alpha Coma, I'm sure we can find quarters."

"You can't keep me out of this fight,” said Manuel. “If the
Sanson's
going back, then so am I."

Fire nodded and brushed a strand of her long salt-and-pepper hair over her shoulder. “I'm with Manuel,” she said. “After all, my son's there. If I can help, I will."

The Senator smiled. “There're a few hours before the ships will be ready. Let's get out of here and find some dinner.” He looked into Fire's eyes. “I'd like some time to get to know my niece better before she gets herself shot at or thrown in jail again."

When the privateer
Legacy
came out of jump, Ellison Firebrandt fell to his knees and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He held up his hand when he saw Roberts’ look of concern. The captain looked back at Mary Seaton. “Get me a vessel status. Are we still in one piece?"

Mary, though she looked as though she was trying to keep her breakfast down, nodded and turned toward her station and started bringing up displays and making calls on the intercom.

Firebrandt pulled himself to his feet and looked over at Juan Raton, sitting at the gunner's station. He'd let go of his arm and blood was seeping through his shirt. “Juan, get down to the medic and get your arm tended to. We're going to need you ready to work in short order, I think."

"Yes, sir,” breathed Juan through clenched teeth. His eyes looked forward, a bit unfocused from the pain. He struggled to his feet and left to see the medic.

"Captain,” called Roberts. “We're right on target, near Earth orbit.” The first officer activated the holo tank and the blue-green globe of Earth materialized. Behind and below the planet was the bright gray form of the Moon. Though a number of human colonies were on planets that outwardly looked like Earth, the combination of Earth and Moon was unmistakable.

Firebrandt's breath caught and he stepped forward, toward the image. He put his hand on Roberts’ shoulder and squeezed. “I never thought to see Earth again.” He looked down at the deck grating below his feet and the walls on either side. “I certainly never thought to see Earth from this ship again.” He stepped closer to the display and peered at it closely. “Can you show me the position of the Clusters?"

"I'm only showing one Cluster currently in orbit around the Earth,” said Anne. She typed a command into the computer console and a red orb appeared over Australia. “The other three must be at the center of the galaxy."

"Does that help or hinder us?” asked Roberts as he unclamped the hover chair from the deck and drifted next to Firebrandt, raising himself to the captain's eye-level.

"Captain,” called Mary Seaton from the battle deck's stern. “I've just received reports from all crew chiefs. We suffered a minor hull breach amidships on deck three. The section is sealed off. Junior doesn't think we should attempt another jump until it's repaired. He also doesn't think we can repair the damage ourselves. We'll need time at a dock facility."

"But, it can be repaired,” reflected Firebrandt. “That's good. How about injuries?"

"Juan Raton and two others suffered minor injuries. Doc Krishnamurty says she'll have them patched up in no time."

"How are we for combat readiness?"

Mary took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “As good as we were when we left Sufiro. We have weapons that'll fire and once Juan is back at his station, people that can fire them. The engine crew is ready to go.” She pursed her lips as though wanting to say more, but the captain interrupted.

"That's about as good as can be expected,” said the captain, knowing that she was worried about the small crew. Though he was also worried, he retrieved the pipe from his pocket and lit it, projecting an outward sense of calm. After staring at the image of Earth for a few moments, a self-satisfied grin appeared and he looked at Roberts drifting next to him. “I think it's time to contact Edmund Swan and see if we can form a strategy."

Roberts nodded and pressed several buttons on the hover chair; he had slaved certain ship functions, including communications to one of the control panels on the chair. A moment later, the hologram of Earth was replaced by an image of Edmund Swan standing in a dimly lit room. Four people were grouped behind him.

"You're here? At Earth?” asked Swan, staring wide-eyed at the battle deck of the
Legacy.
“When I sent the message with the
Sanson
I expected you to get Arepno or someone to come and help us out."

"You said it yourself, the Cluster is endangering all human life in the galaxy—that means Sufiro,” said the captain around the pipe stem. “I've never run from a fight,” he added, almost as an afterthought.

"No, you haven't,” said Swan with a genuine smile. “Especially one where the safety of your people is concerned.” The deputy sheriff turned and spoke to one of the women behind him, then turned back. “Can you meet us at the Southern Arizona space port? We have a plan of action, but I'd rather not discuss it over the link."

"Understood,” said Firebrandt. “We'll see you shortly.” Roberts shut off the com channel. Together, they left the battle deck and made their way to the launch bay. Firebrandt disconnected the safety and fuel lines while Roberts drifted into the launch and prepared it for the excursion to the surface. After a moment, Firebrandt stepped into the launch, closing the door behind him. Once the captain was strapped in, Roberts opened the bay door. Firebrandt took the controls and eased the launch forward, out of the bay.

If anything, Ellison Firebrandt was more affected by the sight of Earth through the launch's windows. Fifty years before, he had told Roberts and Suki that the last thing he wanted to do was face the humiliation of returning to Earth defeated and in a broken-down star cruiser. He turned the launch slightly and looked back at the
Legacy
, once again in space and he felt a lump in his throat. He had not realized before how much it was that he actually wanted to return to Earth. Acutely aware that he and his ship might be the only thing that stood a chance of saving the planet, Ellison Firebrandt felt a certain triumph in the return—at long last he had defeated the plans of his mother, who had planned to strand him on Sufiro for life. As the launch descended through the atmosphere, the captain realized that his mother still had achieved her own victory. He had not returned to Earth as a pirate, but on a mission to save all of Earth's colonies—including his mother's world of Alpha Coma. He laughed lightly as he homed in on the Southern Arizona spaceport.

"Are you feeling okay, sir,” asked Roberts, looking at the captain in concern.

"Never felt better,” said Firebrandt as he activated the thrusters and settled the launch into a docking bay.

Firebrandt unstrapped from the seat and opened the door. As he stepped down the ramp, Edmund Swan and two other people stepped through an archway that led into the bay. “Tell us about your plan,” said Firebrandt as he shook the deputy sheriff's hand.

Swan gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. After he moment, he opened them and looked at the captain. “I really wish I was asking this of someone else,” he said. “There's no way to predict how the Cluster is going to respond. The
Legacy
may well be destroyed."

"If the
Legacy
was sitting on Sufiro, and the Cluster succeeded, she would be destroyed just the same. What do we need to do?"

Swan began pacing back and forth as he outlined the plan he and the resistance had formed.

On the way back to Nantucket, G'Liat resumed his place in the bow of the boat while Ellis steered. Above them, dark clouds began to form and the water began to churn. Mark applied a little more throttle hoping to get back to port before the storm broke out in force. His own mind felt like the brewing storm. He was distressed, though perhaps not surprised, to hear Richard's statement that he was dying. Mark wasn't sure he knew how long sperm whales usually lived, but based on what his father and Coffin had told him, he knew Richard was well over seventy years old.

He looked up at the Rd'dyggian warrior in the bow and frowned. On one hand, he couldn't help but be grateful that he had given the whale a reason to hold onto life a little longer. On the other hand, G'Liat suggested that whales should willingly subjugate themselves to the Cluster. Ellis tried to argue the point to Richard—tried to suggest that the whale not be so willing to give up the freedom of the oceans. However, he was rebuffed when the whale said, “How dare you speak of the freedom of the oceans—you who have the ability to travel to other worlds and the stars beyond."

Mark didn't know how to answer the whale. The only option he had left was to find an alternative way to stop the Cluster, before G'Liat found a way to present his proposal that the Cluster take whales in place of humans. Of course, thought Mark consolingly, it's possible that G'Liat could present his proposal to the Cluster and they would reject it as unfeasible. After all, they didn't really know enough about the Cluster to know for certain that the whales offered enough to attract the Cluster. After all, why did the Cluster choose humans over say, the Rd'dyggians, the Alpha Centaurans, or the Zahari?

Mark heard a building rumble and, at first, he thought it was thunder from the brewing storm. However, the more he listened, the more he realized it was not thunder, but some kind of craft approaching. Just then, a silver egg-shaped craft dropped through the low, dark clouds and descended toward the water. Mark pulled back on the throttle and turned, sending up a shower of spray to keep from running into it. He looked up into the boat's bow, certain he must have dumped G'Liat into the water. Instead the warrior had hooked his foot into the low railing that ran around the edge of the boat and followed the roll of the boat with the grace of a surfer riding a wave. When the boat finally stopped, Ellis looked over his shoulder. The egg-shaped craft settled with its bottom in the water; the narrow part of the egg pointed skyward.

Gracefully, in spite of the rolling waves and the slick deck, G'Liat made his way to the boat's stern. He looked briefly at Mark. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to Richard once again. After so much time among humans, it was truly refreshing."

"Where are you going?” asked Mark.

Without answering, G'Liat dove over the boat's rail into the churning waves. A light drizzle started coming down from the sky. Mark ran to the stern and looked. He saw G'Liat swimming for the egg-shaped craft. “Where are you going?” called Mark again, even though he knew it was in vain. A door appeared in the craft's side and another Rd'dyggian appeared—Rizonex. G'Liat reached the craft and Rizonex pulled him inside. The door closed and soon after, the ship lifted back into the sky with hardly a spray of water.

The rain was coming down harder. Though he was starting to get soaked through, Mark Ellis didn't bother to go inside to get rain gear. Instead, he returned to the wheel, set course for Nantucket and pushed the throttle to full.