Prison Ship (24 page)

Tramer’s gaze shifted toward the back wall, breaking eye contact with Steiner. An emotionless mask replaced the hint of compassion in the pale face. It was as if he had reverted back to acting like a lifeless machine.

“During the celebration last night, I accessed the visual records of Barker’s death,” Steiner said. “He has the exact same wound as the one you inflicted on the enemy personnel of Hurot IV. It is also the same as was found on the body in the gunnery port four weeks ago.”

Still, Tramer didn’t respond. The silence was so deep that Steiner could hear air being sucked in by the respirator on the back of the weapons officer’s neck.

Steiner swallowed hard. “I wanted to believe you were the same Maxwell Tramer I once knew, but that’s impossible now. You’ve murdered people at your own discretion. Maxwell would have never done that.”

“Barker was a spy,” Tramer answered abruptly.

The sheer absurdity of the statement stunned Steiner. “That’s exactly what you claimed about Mason, and you were wrong.”

“No. I only suspected Mason.”

“Yesterday, you were ready to eliminate Mason because of his military training. Did you ever consider he might have received his military training from the Centri System to protect against an invasion?”

“I would not have harmed him unless he tried to betray us.”

“How do I know that?”

“He makes me laugh, just like Pattie made me laugh.”

A lump climbed up Steiner’s throat. He stared deep into the human eye and saw sincerity. “What proof did you have that Barker was a spy?”

“He was attempting to smuggle U.S.S. tactical reports to the Separatist Empire. I saw the data myself.”

“Why didn’t you inform Military Intelligence instead of acting as judge and executioner over the man?”

Tramer’s human eye found Steiner. “Would they have listened to me?”

“You could have shown them the data.”

“The military information came from one of Barker’s superiors. If I’d tried to expose their operation, I would have been silenced and the data, destroyed. My only choice was to eliminate Barker and prevent his superior from making further attempts at smuggling the information.”

“Further attempts?” Steiner repeated. “So you thought I was part of this operation?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you watched me all the time?”

“Yes.”

“What changed your mind about me?”

“The raid of Hurot IV.”

Steiner kept the launcher pointed at Tramer as he considered what he had just heard. If it was true, it explained Tramer’s behavior toward him throughout the voyage. A spy ring would also account for the U.S.S. doing so poorly in the war. But it still wasn’t enough to convince him.

“Do you have any evidence left?” he asked.

“No,” Tramer replied. “I was forced to destroy it for fear that Barker’s superior would have found another way to send it out.”

“Do you have any idea who this superior is?”

“I have a theory.”

“Go ahead.”

“I believe the P.A.V. program was created for the sole purpose of conducting espionage. The admiral on the Council in charge of—”

“Jamison?” Steiner asked.

“Yes. Admiral Ralph Jamison.”

Chills resonated through Steiner’s bones at the mention of the name. He lowered the missile launcher. “I believe you.”

“Thank you.” Tramer turned and walked to the door. His torso pivoted around to face Steiner. “Captain, I’m also glad that you are still the same man I knew long ago.”

Steiner nodded.

After Tramer left the landing bay, Steiner put the missile launcher on the ground. His hands were shaking with the possibility of what he might have done.

He crawled up into the seat of the TRAC, laid his head on the console, and tried to calm himself. What he had expected to be a final bloody stand had turned out to be a startling revelation that he could use to finally avenge McKillip’s death. He couldn’t wait to bring all of this out at Jamison’s tribunal. It wouldn’t take much effort for the authorities to dig around in the admiral’s past and uncover evidence that linked him to the Separatist Empire.

When he met with Cole, he would tell him of the espionage plot without mentioning Tramer’s involvement. The weapons officer would surely be executed for the murder of Barker regardless of his reasons. He didn’t deserve such a fate, especially after what Steiner had learned.

An hour and a half later, Tramer announced over Steiner’s comlink that the
Marauder
was approaching the rendezvous point.

Three U.S.S. destroyers had gathered around the flagship, the
Magellan
. After receiving transmission of the password, Cole instructed them to dock with the
Magellan
.

When Steiner arrived at the port-side air lock, he found J.R. and Spider lowering Pattie’s gurney down the ramp onto the landing of the air lock. Mason and Sam leaned against the storage locker of space suits.

“Did both of you come to say good-bye to Pattie?” Steiner asked.

“Not really,” Mason replied. “I’ve got a bit of morbid curiosity about something else.”

“He
thinks
it’s the same ship that captured him,” Sam explained.

“Slugger,” Pattie’s voice called softly.

Steiner smiled at both engineers, then moved closer to the patient lying between them on the gurney. “How are you feeling today?”

“I can’t wait to get my fists into you.”

Steiner laughed. “And I can’t wait to see you
try
.”

Pattie chuckled.

A hiss of pressure indicated that the
Magellan
had opened its air lock.

Steiner entered into the control panel the sequence to open their end.

Before the door had finished moving aside, a company of heavily armed soldiers burst through the entry. They formed a perimeter around the hatch, training their weapons on Steiner and his shipmates. The hateful looks of the gunmen testified that they wouldn’t hesitate to kill everyone at a single command.

“It’s them all right,” Mason whispered to Sam.

A figure strode through the assembled soldiers. Judging from the medals that decorated the man’s uniform, he must have been the
Magellan
’s Executive Officer. He stopped directly in front of Steiner and eyed him with distaste.

“What is the meaning of this?” Steiner shouted.

“Are you the convict in charge of the P.A.V.?” the XO asked.

Steiner clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. “I am the captain of the U.S.S.
Marauder
.”

The man grinned. “Murderers, rapists, and thieves don’t deserve any title.”

“You’re lucky I am lyin’ down, you bastard,” Pattie mumbled.

Steiner bit his lip to keep himself from reacting.

“Captain, surrender your weapon to me,” the Executive Officer shouted.

“Call off your troops first,” Steiner replied. “We’re on the same side.”

“I won’t tolerate any more insubordination.”

“What about common courtesy?”

The man’s head turned back to his men. “At the next word from his mouth, open fire.”

Steiner’s breath caught in his lungs. He glanced at Mason and Sam then at J.R. and Spider, carrying Pattie’s gurney. Slowly, he lifted his pistol from its holster. The soldiers surrounding the hatch tensed as he handed it to their leader.

“We are already late,” the XO said as he wheeled about to leave. “Follow me.”

“What about the injured man you are to take on board?”

“I am to bring you to the commodore, before anything else.”

With forced steps, Steiner followed the man through the fan of soldiers into the plush-carpeted corridors of the
Magellan
. One of the gunmen broke ranks and trailed behind him with a pointed rifle muzzle.

The fresh scent of the air gave evidence that this was the flagship, elite and elegant in every detail. Under normal conditions, Steiner would have been impressed by the
Magellan
’s interior, but now, it only reminded him of the respect that had been stolen from him and his crew.

The Executive Officer directed Steiner through a doorway into a massive chamber with a high ceiling. Three other captains, two men and a woman, sat around an oval table that occupied the center of the room. David Cole stood at the head of the table.

“Welcome, Captain Steiner,” Cole said. “It’s good to see you again. The last time—I believe—was at McKillip’s funeral.”

“Yes, sir. What about the injured man I told you about?”

Cole shifted his gaze to the man who had escorted Steiner. “Commander Cromwell, please make sure the fallen hero is taken to our infirmary immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” Cromwell answered, saluting in respect. He departed, closing the door behind him.

“Please have a seat, Captain.” Cole beckoned to an empty chair at the far side of the oval table. “Then we will begin.”

“I wish to first address how I was greeted.”

“I’m sorry, Captain, but our time together is short. I would be happy to confer with you after the meeting.”

Steiner nodded and took the remaining seat at the table. As he did so, he scanned the faces of the three other captains in the room. He recognized two of them from his days aboard the
Valiant
. They glared openly at him with the same contempt Cromwell had exhibited. He expected their attitudes would change once they learned of his extraordinary accomplishments.

Cole pressed a keypad on the table. The lights dimmed. A holographic chart of the colonized galactic region appeared on a far wall. A red, illuminated line ran down the middle, designating the border between the U.S.S. and Separatist territories. Blue dots dotted the map on the U.S.S. side, representing the positions of all their warships.

“As you can see, our forces are dwindling along the border in the northern area,” Cole told everyone. “From my estimates, we can’t hold it much longer. If we lose it, we will eventually lose the war. Therefore, it’s essential for our defense to protect it at all costs. Too many planets and resources that are vital for our survival are located there.”

Cole sat back down in his chair. “I informed Admiral Barton on the War Council of the severity of the situation, and he has authorized me to proceed as I see fit.” With the press of another keypad in front of him, the holographic image zoomed in on the top section of the map. “After studying the information that Captain Steiner and his crew obtained from Hurot IV, I have discovered that the Separatists are planning to sweep through the northern area.” The holograph closed in on a single planet just inside the Separatist border. “An enemy base has been constructed on the planet Macrales, capable of outfitting battlecruisers for their invasion.”

Whispers of horror rose from around the table.

“If such a plan were initiated, the area would certainly fall,” Cole said. “Something must be done about it soon, before the Separatists have the time to reinforce their troops.”

The other captains vocalized their agreement.

Steiner’s blood ran cold. He hadn’t been asked here to be honored.

“This is my plan,” Cole said. “The
Manhattan
, the
Excalibur
, and the
Magellan
will be stationed at sector 798. Meanwhile, the
Freedom
and the P.A.V. will be positioned farther down the border.”

“Excuse me, sir,” Steiner said.

“Do you have something to add, Captain Steiner?” Cole asked.

“My vessel is a thirty-year-old Peacemaker. It would be useless in an engagement.”

“We won’t need you for the offensive. The P.A.V. and the
Freedom
will be the decoys.”

“Decoys,” Steiner exclaimed before he could stop himself. “Surely there’s another destroyer or assault cruiser that can take our place?”

Cole shook his head. “I’m sure you remember from your days aboard the
Valiant
that immediacy is the key to victory. We can’t afford to wait for one to arrive. I haven’t even had the time to inform the Council of my plan.”

“I see no hope of my ship surviving a run through enemy territory,” Steiner said.

“Then you have to ask yourself what is more important, one ship or the entire civilization it protects?”

Steiner couldn’t answer. The United Star Systems represented the only form of democracy in the galaxy. It couldn’t be allowed to fall, even if it cost his life and those of his crew.

Cole finished the briefing, then brought up the lights in the conference room. Steiner remained in his seat while the other captains left. After saying good-bye to everyone else, Cole sat next to him.

Steiner met the commodore’s gaze. “The information my crew fought to obtain signed their own death warrants.”

Cole shrugged. “If there were any other way, I would do it.”

Steiner turned away. “My men will not be so easily convinced to join in this mission. They may try to mutiny just to save their skins.”

“You will find a way to keep them from doing so—of that I am sure. For many years now, I have admired your abilities as a leader.”

“If that’s true, why wasn’t I given any respect when I arrived?”

“I can’t be held responsible for what everyone else thinks of you. To most people, you are an ordinary convict in charge of a prison ship.” Cole leaned closer. “I know differently. When you served under McKillip, you might have been one of the best Executive Officers in the fleet, but you lost that respect when you attacked Admiral Jamison.”

“He murdered McKillip,” Steiner exclaimed.

“Why do you believe that?”

Steiner gave a detailed account of his last meeting with McKillip before the
Valiant
’s fatal mission. He also told Cole that the secret McKillip had been murdered to protect was that Jamison was a spy for the Separatist Empire.

Cole considered all that he had heard for a moment. “Do you have any proof that Jamison is a spy?”

“My weapons officer, Maxwell Tramer, observed his involvement in a plot to smuggle U.S.S. military information to the enemy.”

Cole’s brow creased. “I cannot help you.”

“Why?”

“I’m not about to create an uproar among the Council members—not on the word of Maxwell Tramer.”