Vigilante (43 page)
“They made another course change,” Stavros said. “Whoops—another one.
Sir, they’re going wonky, to quote the chief.”
Sir, they’re going wonky, to quote the chief.”
Oleander turned to watch Colonel Edones, who was frowning at the trace
display.
display.
Edones’s cool blue glance moved to meet Oleander’s. “Lieutenant, what’s
the status of our missiles? And what have we got on the light-speed data for the
Candor Chasma
, Captain Stavros?”
the status of our missiles? And what have we got on the light-speed data for the
Candor Chasma
, Captain Stavros?”
“Eleven of the missiles reported in, sir,” Oleander said. “Eight of
those suicided, with no target found. The others are in countdown, and I’ve lost comm with the
twelfth.”
those suicided, with no target found. The others are in countdown, and I’ve lost comm with the
twelfth.”
“Sir, light-speed data indicates the
Candor
Chasma
dropped to N-space. That report’s delayed by—” An alarm on the sensor console
distracted Stavros and she tapped acknowledgment, silencing it. “We’re recording solar flares
and rising radiation levels. Sorry, sir, I lost the Minoan ship. They apparently got their
invisibility cloak back online.”
Candor
Chasma
dropped to N-space. That report’s delayed by—” An alarm on the sensor console
distracted Stavros and she tapped acknowledgment, silencing it. “We’re recording solar flares
and rising radiation levels. Sorry, sir, I lost the Minoan ship. They apparently got their
invisibility cloak back online.”
“We’ll assume they’re back on course for boarding the
Pilgrimage
,” Edones said smoothly and quickly. “Lieutenant Kozel, if we’ve
still got comm with the
Rhapsody
, tell them to prepare for strong
solar flare activity. Hope they can protect those poor sods in EVA suits and reduce their
radiation doses, but make the point they’re on their own. We’re too far away to help.”
Pilgrimage
,” Edones said smoothly and quickly. “Lieutenant Kozel, if we’ve
still got comm with the
Rhapsody
, tell them to prepare for strong
solar flare activity. Hope they can protect those poor sods in EVA suits and reduce their
radiation doses, but make the point they’re on their own. We’re too far away to help.”
“Pilot and navigator, fastest speed toward the
Pilgrimage
. Get us behind Sophia One and in the shelter of that
magnetosphere.” Aquino’s commands were sharp. The
Bright Crescent
carried more effective shielding than a pinnace like the
Rhapsody
,
but he apparently thought they’d be in danger also.
Pilgrimage
. Get us behind Sophia One and in the shelter of that
magnetosphere.” Aquino’s commands were sharp. The
Bright Crescent
carried more effective shielding than a pinnace like the
Rhapsody
,
but he apparently thought they’d be in danger also.
“Yes, sir.” Captain Hoak now sat in the pilot seat, replacing the
exhausted Captain Janda.
exhausted Captain Janda.
Oleander turned to see Aquino lean toward Edones. “What just happened?”
Aquino asked in a low voice.
Aquino asked in a low voice.
“I think someone tried to use N-space to swallow a TD explosion. Some of
the TD wave will leak and cause problems for the sun, even if we can’t detect it.”
the TD wave will leak and cause problems for the sun, even if we can’t detect it.”
“Did the Minoans?” Aquino jerked his head toward the trace
display.
display.
“Perhaps.” Edones looked thoughtful. “One practice they adamantly wanted
stopped was the Terran ‘secret’ test procedure of shunting the TD wave into N-space. They were
very insistent about enforcing the test treaty first.”
stopped was the Terran ‘secret’ test procedure of shunting the TD wave into N-space. They were
very insistent about enforcing the test treaty first.”
“So we’re safe now.” Aquino’s tone was half question, half statement.
“There’ll be no TD detonation.”
“There’ll be no TD detonation.”
“Well, we won’t see a quantum glitch in the sun’s fusion engine or any
nova. However, we may still see strong coronal mass ejections.”
nova. However, we may still see strong coronal mass ejections.”
Edones and Aquino lowered their voices and Oleander turned back to her
console, but she could still hear scraps of their conversation. They discussed whether anything
could be done to help those aboard the
Rhapsody
pinnace, the
Aether’s Touch
, and the TLS
Perciva
l.
All those occupants would experience a more severe dose of solar-generated radiation than the
Bright Crescent
.
console, but she could still hear scraps of their conversation. They discussed whether anything
could be done to help those aboard the
Rhapsody
pinnace, the
Aether’s Touch
, and the TLS
Perciva
l.
All those occupants would experience a more severe dose of solar-generated radiation than the
Bright Crescent
.
“If they get a buoy lock, can they drop—”
“Not when the buoy’s controlled by the isolationists. But
perhaps—”
perhaps—”
Oleander tried to ignore the quiet conversation behind her. She looked
up at the trace diagram that Stavros displayed, which now included a snapshot of their half of
the solar system out to Laomedon. The closest magnetosphere, for any of them, wrapped about and
stretched behind Sophia I. However, the sensors and comm were degrading, due to interference
from solar activity, and the ship traces were mostly intelligent guesswork.
Aether’s Touch
and
Percival
were probably heading
toward Sophia I with all the boost they had—
Percival
easily
outrunning
Aether’s Touch
, but not the EM radiation.
up at the trace diagram that Stavros displayed, which now included a snapshot of their half of
the solar system out to Laomedon. The closest magnetosphere, for any of them, wrapped about and
stretched behind Sophia I. However, the sensors and comm were degrading, due to interference
from solar activity, and the ship traces were mostly intelligent guesswork.
Aether’s Touch
and
Percival
were probably heading
toward Sophia I with all the boost they had—
Percival
easily
outrunning
Aether’s Touch
, but not the EM radiation.
She finished her report on the release of the missiles, signing with her
thumbprint. Without sensor support, her best guess was that only one of the missiles came close
to the
Candor Chasma
. She figured the ship sucked it into N-space
during the transition. It was gone; any vehicles that entered N-space and weren’t attached to a
buoy-locked referential engine, disappeared forever.
thumbprint. Without sensor support, her best guess was that only one of the missiles came close
to the
Candor Chasma
. She figured the ship sucked it into N-space
during the transition. It was gone; any vehicles that entered N-space and weren’t attached to a
buoy-locked referential engine, disappeared forever.
“Lieutenant Oleander, find your second-shift weapons officer and report
to the boarding teams forming on deck three,” Aquino said.
to the boarding teams forming on deck three,” Aquino said.
“Yes, sir.” She stood up and stretched surreptitiously. This wasn’t
over, not by a long shot. She had to stop worrying about radiation exposure and move on to the
business of taking back the
Pilgrimage III
.
over, not by a long shot. She had to stop worrying about radiation exposure and move on to the
business of taking back the
Pilgrimage III
.
CHAPTER 24
Disheartened Autonomists might think the Consortium has run off its
idealistic rails and consider Qesan’s isolationism attractive. First, however, you should
realize his manifesto only applies to the elite males in a stratified society. I also suggest
you read reports from the Enclave El Tozeur relief teams. Tribal leaders asked these teams
about creating cheap, reliable methods for detecting and aborting female fetuses, which they
called “abominations” if they took the rightful male position of first child. . . .
Misogynist Freaks
, Lauren Swan
Kincaid, 2103.043.11.25 UT, indexed by
Heraclitus 29
under Conflict
Imperative
A
riane’s jaw clenched at the scraping sounds;
then she winced as she felt the module jerked about roughly by the manipulator booms.
riane’s jaw clenched at the scraping sounds;
then she winced as she felt the module jerked about roughly by the manipulator booms.
“
Aether’s Touch
,” she said, in response to
Tahir’s questioning look.
Aether’s Touch
,” she said, in response to
Tahir’s questioning look.
Tahir looked shocked. Apparently, the idea of a ship following them
never entered his head.
never entered his head.
It took two minutes to get them into the large sample bay and secure
their capsule. To her, it felt like hours and she cringed with every metallic screech,
wondering if fragile joints on the manipulators were being damaged. At long last, the comm
indicator lit.
their capsule. To her, it felt like hours and she cringed with every metallic screech,
wondering if fragile joints on the manipulators were being damaged. At long last, the comm
indicator lit.
“Whoever’s at control better haul ass toward Sophia One!” she said
quickly. Since Matt would have brought them in without a scratch and was probably still on the
Pilgrimage
, she had to be talking to Joyce. She didn’t think
anybody else could have gotten past
Aether’s Touch
security,
bolstered by Muse 3.
quickly. Since Matt would have brought them in without a scratch and was probably still on the
Pilgrimage
, she had to be talking to Joyce. She didn’t think
anybody else could have gotten past
Aether’s Touch
security,
bolstered by Muse 3.
“Ari, are you in need of medical care?”
She froze. The voice was Muse 3. While the AI could certainly run the
autopiloting software, she didn’t believe Beta Priamos would have released the ship under AI
direction—unless it blew the ship away from the station, meaning there was damage.
We won’t be able to dock until we fix the clamps
.
autopiloting software, she didn’t believe Beta Priamos would have released the ship under AI
direction—unless it blew the ship away from the station, meaning there was damage.
We won’t be able to dock until we fix the clamps
.
“No, Muse, we’re not hurt. We have a—” She decided she better be
specific. “We have a prisoner. And, ah, Muse? Is Joyce on the control deck?”
specific. “We have a prisoner. And, ah, Muse? Is Joyce on the control deck?”
“No, Ari. The sample bay has been pressurized so you may leave the
evacuation module.”
evacuation module.”
This explained the clumsy use of the manipulator boom; Muse 3 was only
able to use one manipulator to retrieve the module. The second manipulator was inside the
forward sample bay and had to be operated by human hands.
able to use one manipulator to retrieve the module. The second manipulator was inside the
forward sample bay and had to be operated by human hands.
“Open it.” She gestured and pointed the stunner at Tahir, who moved to
the hatch. While he opened the module, she ran through some instructions for Muse 3, realizing
that the AI would be saving her a hefty and possibly debilitating radiation dose. “Muse, set
the autopilot for maximum burn toward Sophia One, with final destination behind the planet.
Have the autopilot plot a high-gee braking maneuver as close to the planet as possible. Don’t
set any economy parameters—we need to get into the protection of that magnetosphere as soon as
possible.”
the hatch. While he opened the module, she ran through some instructions for Muse 3, realizing
that the AI would be saving her a hefty and possibly debilitating radiation dose. “Muse, set
the autopilot for maximum burn toward Sophia One, with final destination behind the planet.
Have the autopilot plot a high-gee braking maneuver as close to the planet as possible. Don’t
set any economy parameters—we need to get into the protection of that magnetosphere as soon as
possible.”
“I understand, Ari.”
She motioned, indicating Tahir should precede her through the small
sample bay. She felt the ship begin its boost toward Sophia I, using the gravity generator to
bleed off gee to N-space so they didn’t get smeared across the bulkheads. What a miracle
N-space was, that it could swallow TD waves and move gravitational force both ways.
Sort of like an interstellar energy dumping ground
.
sample bay. She felt the ship begin its boost toward Sophia I, using the gravity generator to
bleed off gee to N-space so they didn’t get smeared across the bulkheads. What a miracle
N-space was, that it could swallow TD waves and move gravitational force both ways.
Sort of like an interstellar energy dumping ground
.
“Where are we going? There’s nowhere we’ll be safe.” Tahir protested as
she pushed him up a level and along a corridor.
she pushed him up a level and along a corridor.
“We’ve got a protected data array compartment. This is a second-wave
prospector and its most precious cargo is its data.” She wasn’t going to bother answering any
more of his muttered questions. He was partially right; the
normal
layers of directional polymer, containing specially oriented superconducting strands combined
with the
normal
layers of composite and aerogel, wouldn’t protect
against the bursts of radiation they’d receive from heavy coronal flaring.
prospector and its most precious cargo is its data.” She wasn’t going to bother answering any
more of his muttered questions. He was partially right; the
normal
layers of directional polymer, containing specially oriented superconducting strands combined
with the
normal
layers of composite and aerogel, wouldn’t protect
against the bursts of radiation they’d receive from heavy coronal flaring.
She used her thumbprint to unlock the array compartment. Tahir stepped
through the hatch and turned around in the small space, looking dismayed.
through the hatch and turned around in the small space, looking dismayed.
“This is going to be a tight space for three of us, isn’t it?” he
asked.
asked.
“Three? Oh—we’ll fit okay. Muse will be down in a moment. He’s small.”
She was tired and making mistakes. Tahir couldn’t be witness to the illegal use of an
AI.
She was tired and making mistakes. Tahir couldn’t be witness to the illegal use of an
AI.
She closed the hatch behind her and looked about. She hadn’t been in
this compartment since Athens Point. Matt had puttered about in here, but it was pristine as
always. To her left, the console ran along the entire side of the compartment, which was barely
two meters long. When inactive, the console was a bare counter with two undermounted stools and
plenty of empty wall space—all covered with flexible displayable surface so that she or Matt
could have hundreds of view ports open at one time.
this compartment since Athens Point. Matt had puttered about in here, but it was pristine as
always. To her left, the console ran along the entire side of the compartment, which was barely
two meters long. When inactive, the console was a bare counter with two undermounted stools and
plenty of empty wall space—all covered with flexible displayable surface so that she or Matt
could have hundreds of view ports open at one time.
“I don’t think I’ve seen this much crystal before, other than in a tour
of a vault.” The right wall had distracted Tahir, where sapphire-shielded edges of the crystal
arrays peeked out of their sockets and glowed in patterns.
of a vault.” The right wall had distracted Tahir, where sapphire-shielded edges of the crystal
arrays peeked out of their sockets and glowed in patterns.
“That’s what
Aether’s Touch
is. It can be
fitted with nearly half a vault of crystal.” She glanced down as her fingers changed the
setting on her stunner. “Think of this ship as one big spacefaring data array, operated by two
humans and carrying around bunches of sensor equipment and bots to gather data.”
Aether’s Touch
is. It can be
fitted with nearly half a vault of crystal.” She glanced down as her fingers changed the
setting on her stunner. “Think of this ship as one big spacefaring data array, operated by two
humans and carrying around bunches of sensor equipment and bots to gather data.”
“Are you going to cut power to these?” His face was turned away, so he
didn’t see her raise the stunner and press the trigger.
didn’t see her raise the stunner and press the trigger.
“Sorry,” she said as he fell against the back wall and quivered down to
slump on the floor. “You ask too many questions.”
slump on the floor. “You ask too many questions.”
She regretted having to stun him, again, and at such a high setting, but
she couldn’t have him learning about Muse 3.
she couldn’t have him learning about Muse 3.
“Muse Three?” She told the AI which systems to shut down and which angle
to orient the ship to have the most protection from solar radiation, using the Penrose Fold
referential engine to their advantage. She had the AI echo its autopilot settings to the array
room so she could double-check them; they were on the right course, using the ship’s top boost
that could bleed real-space gee to N-space through their gravity generator.
to orient the ship to have the most protection from solar radiation, using the Penrose Fold
referential engine to their advantage. She had the AI echo its autopilot settings to the array
room so she could double-check them; they were on the right course, using the ship’s top boost
that could bleed real-space gee to N-space through their gravity generator.
She also had to protect Muse 3. “Unload all the noncritical routines
that you can from temporary memory.”
that you can from temporary memory.”
“Yes, Ari.”
She safed the stunner and strapped it to her leg, still easily
accessible. Sitting with her back against the closed hatch, she relaxed.
accessible. Sitting with her back against the closed hatch, she relaxed.
“What the hell?” Matt gasped.
He was still gripped by the ship, but at least his face was uncovered.
The room appeared empty and smaller than before. He moved his eyes back and forth, but his
angle of view was too tight to see the whole room.
The room appeared empty and smaller than before. He moved his eyes back and forth, but his
angle of view was too tight to see the whole room.
“Matt? You okay?” David Ray’s voice came from his left. “I can’t see
anything. There’s goo over my eyes.”
anything. There’s goo over my eyes.”
“Yeah, I’m fine . . .” Matt’s voice trailed off as he saw Warrior
Commander extrude from the wall across from him. The Minoan appeared more as a growth from the
wall, than from within the wall. Its horns still caused the ceiling to pucker up to avoid it,
but Matt thought Warrior Commander looked different. He couldn’t identify the difference
exactly; was it taller, was its torque different, or did the set of its shoulders look
unusual?
Commander extrude from the wall across from him. The Minoan appeared more as a growth from the
wall, than from within the wall. Its horns still caused the ceiling to pucker up to avoid it,
but Matt thought Warrior Commander looked different. He couldn’t identify the difference
exactly; was it taller, was its torque different, or did the set of its shoulders look
unusual?
Warrior Commander strode to the center of the room, still within Matt’s
view. The center platform suddenly rose from the floor; only then did Matt realize he’d missed
its presence. While the body language of the Minoans, according to Terran
somaural
experts, wasn’t open to interpretation, Matt thought the jerky, strong
movements and the set of the shoulders indicated anger.
view. The center platform suddenly rose from the floor; only then did Matt realize he’d missed
its presence. While the body language of the Minoans, according to Terran
somaural
experts, wasn’t open to interpretation, Matt thought the jerky, strong
movements and the set of the shoulders indicated anger.
“Warrior Commander?” he ventured.
The tall dark figure wheeled around to look at him. Was it surprised?
Why? Warrior Commander held a gloved hand out parallel to the floor, above the platform. A
console rose and the Minoan’s hand rested on it. After a moment, Warrior Commander nodded
slowly.
Why? Warrior Commander held a gloved hand out parallel to the floor, above the platform. A
console rose and the Minoan’s hand rested on it. After a moment, Warrior Commander nodded
slowly.
“Can you release us?” Matt asked.
Warrior Commander turned back to the console, above which a
three-dimensional hologram showed part of the
Pilgrimage
with the
wartlike extension of the Minoan ship. They had apparently docked. The warrior reached to the
beads dripping from its torque. With a quiet slurp, the walls released Matt by pushing him
outward and into a standing position. The same happened to David Ray, to his left.
three-dimensional hologram showed part of the
Pilgrimage
with the
wartlike extension of the Minoan ship. They had apparently docked. The warrior reached to the
beads dripping from its torque. With a quiet slurp, the walls released Matt by pushing him
outward and into a standing position. The same happened to David Ray, to his left.
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