Confluence, p.38
Confluence, page 38
Ryan smiled. “The vessel may have started life as a small cargo ferry, but now it’s a speed bird.”
Everyone glanced at Ryan, and Nguen huffed.
Ryan motioned toward the open panels. “These are reinforcements to account for the hopped-up engines. You’re standing aboard a bootleg cargo hauler. It may look old and run down, but the powerplant and engines are newer and far larger.” He chuckled. “They don’t even belong on a ship this small. This one’s not a fighter; she’s a runner. Best buckle up and hold on.”
Ryan moved into the forward cockpit, mumbling in English, “Be with me now, Tiger Tail.” Thoughts of his former mentor Jeeval Anshra were interrupted as Eschala took the other seat beside him. There was no door to the flight deck, and in the compartment directly behind it were four seats where the others strapped in.
Eschala watched as Ryan flipped many switches and several displays activated. She was feeling optimistic until a motor noise growled to life and air whooshed through the cockpit. Ryan’s hand quickly pressed a few buttons.
His gaze rose to meet hers, and he mumbled, “Sorry, that diagram was climate control not energy flow.”
Her mouth opened, and Ryan patted the air. “No worries. I’ve almost got it.” He looked down at his wrist device and began to enter coordinates into the ship’s navigation system.
“How do you know where this goes?”
Ryan glanced at the navigation system. “Well, it doesn’t look like it takes us into a star.”
Eschala quipped, “Thank gods for that.”
Ryan smiled and zoomed in on the location. “It’s basically the middle of nothing. Perfect place to hide something.”
“That or the perfect place to lie in wait for an ambush.”
Ryan glanced to Eschala. “We gotta go.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
Ryan spoke over his shoulder. “We’re casting off for a jaunt to the last coordinates this ship visited. Hold on…there’s sure to be acceleration.”
As they released from the station, Ryan used maneuvering thrusters to back them away. As their energy cores were building power for departure, the Daerk frigate moored on the other side of the station came into view.
Eschala motioned toward it. “That’s the Daerk frigate! We’re not gonna get very far before that thing comes out after us.”
Ryan glanced at a countdown on his wrist device and shook his head. “It’s not likely to pursue us.” A blinding flash illuminated the cockpit, and Eschala raised her hand to block her eyes. Ryan squinted but didn’t look up as he continued to press buttons on the console. As the light subsided, she could see the aft section of the Daerk frigate had exploded, and the majority of it had severed off.
She motioned toward it. “You do that?”
Ryan continued to work for a few seconds before he responded. “Yeah.”
Nguen yelled forward. “I’m sorry, who the hell are you again?”
Ryan hollered back over his shoulder. “A friendly force, you eavesdropping butt face.”
“And how would I know you’re friendly?”
“Simple. They exploded. You’re still breathin’. Anyone ever teach you not to interrupt somebody while they’re savin’ your life? We gotta move. I can tell you with certainty that more Daerk will be coming in seconds.”
Ryan donned clear glasses that provided augmented information and a link to control the ship with eye movements. A chirp indicated forward thrust was available. Ryan engaged the main engines, and the acceleration pushed everyone deep into their seats. The ship was pointed toward the local system star for a gravity assist to jump toward the organizer’s last coordinates. A grin crept up on the Paavi’s face as he struggled to reach through the G forces to console switches. A screeching chime caught Eschala’s attention.
Ryan mumbled, “Yeah, saw it.”
Eschala turned to him. “Saw what?”
“Daerk warships inbound, two on an intercept.” Ryan clicked a button that increased speed once again. With more strain in his voice, he said, “They’re frigates.”
Eschala glanced down at a screen in the cockpit. Red triangles represented the enemy ships, and she could see they were following. “They’ve seen us.”
Ryan grimaced. “Yep.”
She gasped for air under the acceleration and panted, “What’s your plan?”
Ryan grinned. “I’m gonna talk to ‘em.”
He opened a channel, and Eschala heard Ryan speak several clicks and hums. She saw him smile after the transmission completed.
“What’d you say?”
“I said, ‘come and get me, shitheads,’ ‘Separates are coming for you,’ and ‘fear the contents of every shadow.’”
Eschala shook her head. “How’d that help?”
Ryan chuckled and glanced down at his wrist device. “Yeah, I just got the same question from another source. Wow, they’re really accelerating toward us now.”
Before she could respond, a flicker of light ahead of them through the cockpit window distracted her attention. As she watched, it grew larger as it closed. Her mouth opened to speak as several streaks of light passed around them.
Halrk hollered from his seat. “Torpedoes! Multiple just went past us!”
Eschala’s gaze lowered to monitors showing the view behind them. Several brilliant flashes lit the space, and after their eclipse, she could no longer see the pursuing Daerk frigates. The red triangles on the system screen were no longer there.
She shook her head. “The Daerk…they’re gone.”
Ryan grimaced and motioned with his head to starboard. “Some of ‘em. There’s always more. Two bogeys inbound, probably more frigates.” Ryan paused before she heard him mumble, “Negative, we’re gonna tuck under and jump.”
She looked to Ryan. “What?”
Ryan rolled the ship over and arced down toward the surface of the star. He accelerated again, and the vessel began to shake. She looked at their trajectory and saw they were headed well below safe limits. It appeared their path would swipe through the upper layers of the stellar object. Ryan’s eyes moved quickly to activate the communication system, and although Eschala was pinned in her seat, she could see he was directing a narrow beam at the surface of the star.
As the frequency and strength of the shaking increased, the heads of the others behind them rolled around before tipping forward into unconsciousness. Eschala struggled to breathe and turned her head. “Ryan?”
Under the force of acceleration, his wide eyes were moving quickly to direct the ship. She could see a strange fire in them, which she recognized as focused conviction rather than panic. Laboring to breathe, she saw him smiling as the acceleration forces increased.
Another alarm displayed a solar eruption in progress, nearly on top of them. She saw a countdown representing the jump to superlight and felt a stronger compression as Ryan pitched the vessel’s arc further down into the star.
Her eyes danced around the cockpit, and she saw stars as the ship jumped.
◊ ◊ ◊
Eschala gasped and lurched up into her restraints. Ryan was up and beside her in the cockpit.
“Breathe. You’re OK. Just breathe…nice even breaths.”
Eschala shuddered, and it felt as though she was in midst of a kertinene hangover.
Ryan smiled. “You with me?”
She nodded. “What the fuck was that? What just happened?”
Ryan smiled and cocked his head. “Ancient Paavi secret. Cargo tradecraft.”
She huffed and laughed, in large part with relief. “Oh my gods, that was surreal.”
Nguen’s voice echoed from behind them. “Where the hell are we?”
Ryan looked back. “Everyone alright back there?”
Rohlm barked, “Sound off.”
As the crew verbally affirmed their presence, Eschala surveyed the electronics in the cockpit. Much of the equipment was fried.
Nguen’s voice rattled off again, “Where the hell are we?”
Eschala glanced forward in the window and squinted at the sight. “I think we made it to the right coordinates.”
Just ahead of them was a darkened vessel that looked like a small passenger or troop ferry. Drifting to the left of it was a navigation beacon.
Eschala looked to Ryan. “They’re both dark.”
He nodded. “I can’t imagine you’d want an active beacon or a ship’s energy signature for something holding a secret message.” Ryan glanced around through the front window. “I guess this wasn’t an ambush.”
Nguen groused from the back. “Now what?”
Eschala smiled. “We take a walk.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Ryan and Eschala drifted around the beacon and noted the blast points.
“Ryan, somebody ruined this thing and anything it carried.”
He nodded. “Yeah, this is common. Pirates blast nav beacons and mimic the original signal with their own to lure in lazy haulers. This damage may not have anything to do with our search.”
Both turned and gazed at the small transport vessel. It had four dark engine nacelles on the aft section. The remainder of the rectangular vessel was dark gray and smooth, save small slats for windows in the forward cockpit. As they neared it, both could see it had also received significant damage. Several half-foot holes traversed through the engine section, presumably from heavy particle weapons fire. Their eyes noted multiple scorch marks, pock marks, and smaller holes in the hull. Ryan shook his head looking at it.
Eschala spoke first. “This poor thing is blown to hell. Pirates do this too?”
Ryan grimaced. “No. Pirates live in scarcity, and as such they leave nothing behind. They take everything, but we’re led to believe the damage here was also from pirates. This is something else. Careful, Eschala; I’m certain this has been staged.”
A side portal entry had been completely melted away, and Eschala shone a light into the interior. “It looks empty. I’m goin’ in.”
Ryan was right behind her. “Don’t touch anything!”
Eschala looked around at an empty cabin. “No bodies or remains. Lends credence to this being staged.”
“It was abandoned when it took fire. This is wrong…This isn’t normal. I don’t like this risk for you, Eschala. Maybe you should move outside.”
She grasped Ryan’s arm, and he could see her smiling. “I honestly don’t know what to make of you. On one hand, you regularly lie by omission or push dismal fabrications. And let me tell you, as lies go, they’re really shitty. On the other hand, you say sweet and sincere things just like that. I mean, I’m a warrior, so to some extent the offer of protection is a little insulting, but I’ll take it as concern in lieu of a lack of confidence.”
Ryan nodded. “So now…right now, we’re gonna pick this moment to have a sentimental symposium...right in the middle of a booby-trapped shuttle?”
Eschala shook her head. “You really have a way about you.”
“I’m confused. Are we runnin’ for our lives, talkin’ more, fighting? I mean, I’ll do any of them so long as it’s with you, I just don’t know which one it is right now.”
Something behind Ryan caught Eschala’s eye. Four rifles were propped up and stowed in holders. She could see that one of them was off; the stock was not correct for the action or the barrel. Eschala ignored Ryan’s last comments and brushed past him. She shone her light on the rifle and cocked her head. “This one’s not like the others.” She reached down to release it.
Ryan turned around to follow her, and as her hand reached for the release, he cried, “Stop!”
The rifle released into her hands, and she turned around holding it. “Adark’s name, you’re jumpy. Can you hold it together, please?”
Ryan shook his head. “Eschala, please be more careful. This ship was staged by someone or some beings that may not be favorable to our continued existence. Hey, are you listening to me?”
A clacking noise precipitated the stock coming loose from the rifle. Eschala peered down into the pieces.
“Oh my gods! What did I just say? You’re taking apart something that could be a bomb.”
She pulled a data ribbon from inside the hollow stock. “Or it could be a message.” She smiled and winked at Ryan.
He wheezed. “This is the future death of me. This moment of dumb luck reinforces a behavior…that you should run into an environment that is clearly staged! You don’t even get that this was a potential ambush.”
“I do get it. Remember, flyboy, I’m the soldier, and the potential for ambush is a constant reality in surface warfare.”
Ryan waved his hand. “And yet, here we are…not on the surface!”
She grinned. “I’m confused; are we egressing with the intel I secured, chit-chatting more, or fighting? I mean, I’m up for all of it, so long as it’s with you. I’m just not sure which one we’re doing now.”
Ryan’s face went flat. “I really don’t like you right now.”
She chuckled and gently shook his shoulder. “Oh, come on.”
“No. And you said I have really shitty lies. It’s one thing to call someone a liar, but then to say their lies are terrible. That implies they’re a liar and that they’re stupid.”
“Come on now. I didn’t call you stupid. You think maybe acknowledging your sensitivity to the quality of the lies might beg the question of coming clean?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
Eschala nodded and pinched her lips together. “Right. We should probably go.”
◊ ◊ ◊
After returning to their speed bird, Eschala plugged the end connector of the data ribbon into a terminal. Ryan donned his glasses and interfaced with the ship systems so Lysander could download the information. The team huddled around the screen as Nguen ran through the raw data. Moving back and forth over it, he determined it was either garbage or corrupted. Lysander saw different. Ryan glanced down at his wrist device to see a message.
Ryan, there are several million lines of patterned code. One variable every few hundred thousand is a number in a string. Combined, they appear to be coordinates.
He smiled, and Eschala caught a glance as he removed his glasses. The Centauri warrior squinted as Ryan turned and headed toward the cockpit.
She moved forward a few minutes later as Rohlm conferred with Ryan.
“I have a data connection with the Ang Feraspah. She’s headed to Ephrist station, ETA six hours. Can we make that?”
Ryan nodded. “I think we can get there in time. Can you have them plan to hold for an hour, just in case?”
Rohlm nodded. “I’ll try to send a message through.”
Ryan looked past him to Eschala. “You comin’ up with me on the flight deck?”
She nodded. “Give me a few seconds to stow my gear. I’ll be right back.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Eschala saw Ryan’s backpack secured in a webbed pouch on the wall behind the pilot station. She withdrew the compact submachine gun from her pack that he’d given her on the station and opened his pack. As she was returning the rifle to the empty container, she noticed a piece of something black lying at the bottom. She withdrew what looked like the fragment of an electronic component and held it closer for inspection. The familiarity caused her eyes to widen. Because her Uncle Bayhden was the fleet’s subject matter expert on all things Daerk, she’d seen this kind of electronic device before. She glanced forward toward the cockpit and moved forward, holding the fragment in her hand.
She entered the cockpit and sat on the edge of the second seat. “Hey, I put your little machine gun back in your pack.”
“Oh, thank you, but the rifle’s not mine. I borrowed it from that nice armory down the hall from our morning briefing. They sure had a lot of guns in there. Did you see how many?”
She ignored the question. “So how were you able to get all those guns past station security?”
“Can’t tell you that.”
She pursed her lips and held up the component fragment. “So what’s this?”
Ryan glanced at it, swallowed, mumbled, “My gods, you’re busy.”
“What the fuck is this? It came off that Daerk frigate, didn’t it?”
He took a deep breath and sighed.
“Ryan, did you take this from the Daerk frigate at that station?” She stared at his head while he fidgeted on the controls. “Answer the question.”
Ryan grimaced and shook his head. “Yeah. Off their bridge.”
She squinted and slowly shook her head. “What?! You breached their command deck…How many’d you kill on that ship?”
Ryan drew a deep breath. “A lot…but I’m not gonna tell you anything else.”
“What’d this come from?”
“Eschala—”
“Ryan, what’s this from?!”
His head shook. “It’s an interface connector for a storage unit. That frigate was brand new; it wasn’t rogue. I wanted to scavenge intel and understand why Daerk Central Command sent them to that station. Were they there for the same reasons we were?”
“So where’s the rest of that storage unit now?”
“Away.”
She shook her head again. “Away?”
“Away safe.”
“Away where?”
“In a lab where it’ll be deciphered.”
“Bring it back now! I want it. You agreed to share information.”
“And I did share, and I will share. Centauri don’t have the means to decrypt a Daerk storage array. You know that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ryan shrugged. “Be…because the situation evolved quickly. They came in after us. I had to move.”
“You are a behlkshit liar! I don’t believe a word of anything you’re sayin’. What have I ever done to cause you to lie to me? Ryan, there are so many lies. Why?” Eschala shook her head before she spun up from her seat and left.
◊ ◊ ◊
The vessel docked at Ephrist station, and the crew had already sanitized the interior. There was no genetic or microscopic trace of any prior occupants.
