The artemis trilogy, p.43
The Artemis Trilogy, page 43
Alira took a cable and plugged it into the computer on the far bulkhead. She unwound it and traipsed over to Keller. He exposed the port in the back of his neck, and she made the connection. Keller immediately winced. Logan contemplated if the discomfort was caused by linking with the ship’s data core, or the pain he’d surely been living with since becoming the ungodly creation sitting before him. He often thought how hard done by he was, considering what he’d gone through at Artemis, but at least he hadn’t been transformed into a human-cybernetic freakshow.
“Are you ready?” Alira asked him.
He nodded, and she went back to the computer, tapping her fingers on the keypad. Keller grimaced again, and the screen lit up with a series of code, much too complicated for Logan to understand. A holographic projection appeared above the table, and files materialized.
“Can you access them?” Logan asked.
“Why don’t you do the honors?” Keller invited him.
Logan glanced at Alira, who nodded at him, and then across at Vernon, who’d barely moved since entering the room. Logan placed his hands in the hologram, shifting around the projections and opening random files. A series of star charts appeared, and he stepped back to take in their enormity.
“Fleet movements.” Alira joined them at the table. “From all across the Empire.”
“At least to the point this was downloaded,” Keller chimed in.
Logan moved on to the next file, revealing communications logs. “Reports sent via the facility to be filed by admin on Arcadia.”
“All worth examining to see if we can find patterns to their tactics.”
Logan exited the file and found another. Inside it was nothing but a blank projection with R and D in bold text at the top. One of the soldiers, Briggs, rounded the table.
“Research and Development?” he said. “Can they be accessed?”
“They’re heavily encrypted,” Keller replied. “Even I’m struggling to crack them.”
“Don’t strain yourself.” Alira squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll try again later.”
As if taking that as a cue, Logan continued working through the rest of the data.
Alira put up a hand. “Go back. What’s that? Fleetwide communication codes?”
“Which would now be obsolete, since the Arcadians are aware I downloaded all of this,” Keller said wearily. “Keep going.”
After a while, sifting through it became quite laborious, but regardless of what the Bolaran leader might have claimed, they were sitting on a treasure trove of information. The ORC leadership would be well impressed. That’s if Keller let them take the find back with them to the Rim.
“None of what we’ve seen here will win a war against the Empire.” Keller grimaced and grabbed at his neck. “There’s only one thing that might give us that chance.”
The projection went a little haywire, and Keller’s thoughts took control of proceedings, flicking through the files with his mind as if they were old-fashioned pieces of paper. “We’ve known for a long time the emperor hasn’t been on Arcadia and that his whereabouts have been a closely guarded secret. We’ve had no idea where to look. However, now, we should be able to take an educated guess.”
Dozens of lines of text appeared, and Logan squinted at the data hovering above the table. “Holo comms logs?”
Keller nodded. “All have been transmitted within the last year at regular intervals. And all directed to the emperor’s council building on Arcadia.”
The realization of what Logan was looking at hit him all at once. “The emperor’s conversing with his council via this holo channel.”
“Where does it emanate from?” Alira asked.
The holographic files disappeared, and a star chart replaced it. Keller zoomed in with his mind to a system containing five planets, pushing further onward to the third, and then to its solitary moon. “All roads lead to the moon of Magnus III.”
Logan tried to remember if Sutter had ever visited but came up short. He likely hadn’t, considering there was nothing within fifteen light-years of the Magnus Star System. “It’s located on the other side of the Empire. You’d have to go through the core worlds to get there. You can count on there been plenty of roadblocks along the way.”
“This was never going to be easy.”
Logan stared across at Vernon, who remained his typical statuesque self. “You haven’t uttered a word. What do you think?”
The man didn’t so much as flinch at being called out. “Keller’s right. We can’t beat the Arcadians. And no matter what we do, the Rim may already be lost. Perhaps we can at least fracture the Empire.”
Everyone in the room turned to him, and he continued.
“It’s always been said the Empire, while large, isn’t necessarily harmonious. The members of the council share one thing—their differences. If the emperor’s out of the equation—”
“There might be civil war.” Logan rubbed his chin and paced toward Alira. He spun back around. “Occupations of Bolar, Thandeena, and the Outer Rim would be quite difficult if that were the case.”
“It won’t be easy achieving a feat of such magnitude.” Vernon eyed the Bolaran leader. “To get close to the emperor, you’ll need all the help you can get.”
“Is that an offer?” Keller asked.
Vernon put out his hand. “There’s no reason we can’t continue to help each other.”
Keller tapped his fingers on the table and pulled the cable from his neck. The hologram disappeared, and he shook Vernon’s hand. “To the emperor’s glorious death.”
EIGHTEEN
Plot the course there. Lock in the speed here. And control the thrusters over there.
Novikova stared at the helm while the Defender raced away from the Metra Star System at hyperwarp. She hadn’t stopped studying since arriving on the ship and was enjoying the practical lessons, even if they were a little daunting. While Lieutenant Reimer seemed to have the utmost confidence in her, she wondered if perhaps she was in over her head. Ever since the rebellion against the Empire broke out, she’d struggled to forgive herself for not answering the call. She closed her eyes and tried to push away the image of her parents’ corpses from her mind.
It was all for nothing.
Novikova reopened her eyes and lost herself in the swirl of the stars through the viewport. The Defender hadn’t remained at Metra for long. Captain Pollock didn’t want to risk being caught in another ambush, so he got them back on the move as quickly as possible. She scrunched up her face and rubbed her temples, attempting to concentrate. She pondered visiting Commander Emovic’s office again and requesting reassignment to the engine room. At least down there she could disappear in her work.
Stop trying to hide.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she jolted to life.
Lieutenant Reimer quickly pulled his hand from her, noticing the discomfort. “Sorry, Novikova. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I, uh.” She frowned. “It’s okay. I was just…”
He smiled at her. There was an understanding in the kid’s features. He reminded her of Jeddy Grayson from the Ringwood. Only more confident. And more intelligent. “Don’t worry, I was just going to ask you for a report.”
It was one of the first procedures she’d been taught. For a moment she had to think about it, before finally checking the central monitor on her console. “Uh, we’re continuing on course for the Brilkian Star System at eight-point-three times the speed of light.”
“Have you had to make any adjustments?”
Novikova nodded. “I had to alter for a disturbance from the Kerton Cluster pulsar. There were also reports of meteors on the edge of the Trevani Star System forcing me to plot us around the sector adjacent. We’ll only lose two-point-one hours from our initial projection.”
“Good. It doesn’t seem like you’ve got any problems with hyperwarp maneuvers.”
She was about to say something when Captain Pollock walked onto the bridge and made a beeline for the pair. “Recruit Novikova, come with me, please.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately stood. Reimer took her seat at the helm, and she hurried after Pollock, who quickly departed the bridge. He led her to an elevator and directed the car to deck three.
Would he think I’m speaking out of turn if I broke the ice?
She’d never been so meek aboard the Ringwood. Never once had she ever wavered from telling Captain Estrada what she thought. Luckily for her, Pollock took the initiative first.
“How’s your training proceeding?” he asked.
“Good, sir,” she said. “Lieutenant Reimer’s an excellent instructor.”
He nodded, and more silence ensued. At that moment, she considered asking him for the transfer. The doors swooshing open stopped her, and Pollock motioned her down the corridor where they turned into a tiny room. The tight confines were dark, but the large screen on the bulkhead, looking out into another brightly lit space, produced enough light to give her a fair idea where she was. On the other side of the screen, a woman in a medical gown sat at a table.
“Don’t worry, she can’t see us inside the brig,” Pollock assured her, closing the door behind them.
“Is that the Arcadian pilot?” she asked.
He nodded. “Her injuries were minor. When we brought her in for questioning, let’s just say she wasn’t overly cooperative. No amount of time on the Kowalksi Machine helped, so we injected her with trimurilene.”
Novikova’s stomach clenched. She remembered her experience with Kel Speer aboard Telstar Station all too well when he’d beaten her to a pulp, wanting answers to the ORC leadership’s location. His final act was to threaten her with the truth-telling serum, which would have left her in a vegetative state. The hollow eyes of the pilot revealed she was near to that exact point. “What am I doing here, Captain?”
“I want you to listen to something.” Pollock pressed a button on the panel in front of him and leaned in. “Please tell us your name.”
The Arcadian jerked, but her eyes remained deathly still. They bored through the screen as if she could see them.
Her mouth finally moved.
“My name is… James Sutter.”
Vernon stepped over the threshold into the Corina II’s cockpit to find Logan sitting on the arm of the pilot’s seat. The younger man peered out at the stars as if he were lost somewhere amongst them.
“What’s going on inside that melon of yours?” he said to him.
A slight chortle escaped Logan’s mouth, likely because it hadn’t been the first time he’d been asked the question.
Vernon took a seat next to him at the copilot’s position to soothe his weary bones. “You haven’t said anything since we left Keller’s little presentation.”
Logan checked their auto-nav course. “What would you like me to say? You and I both know trying to assassinate the emperor is crazy.”
“No one knows that more than me.”
“But?”
“But it could be the only course of action we have left.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“In what sense?”
“The fact that you’re entertaining this.” Logan shook his head. “When we first met, you were all about playing it safe. Or at least thinking out a scenario before making a rash decision. I was the risk-taker, remember?”
Vernon steepled his fingers together and became adrift in the past. So much from his days as a pilot for the Empire came flooding back to him. None more so than the memory of watching Corina die. “Desperate times…”
Silence lingered between the pair.
“Do you trust them?” Logan asked.
“Hmm?”
“The Bolarans?”
“Not at all.” Vernon snapped out of the past. “They likely don’t trust us either. But at least we share a common foe.”
“You really believe if we can somehow take out the emperor, we could topple the Empire?”
“Topple it? No. Split it? Maybe.” Vernon coughed. “Keller was right. From the outside, the Empire appears impenetrable, but it’s built on a house of cards. All it’d take would be someone to cause a disruption. I don’t know whether his death could bring about a civil war, but it may give us the chance we need to regroup. Time for the Outer Rim, the Bolarans, and the Thandeeans to band together to give the Arcadians something to contend with.”
“You still speak of an alliance,” Logan said, not too convinced. “Even after rescuing Keller, he’s yet to authorize any of his forces to help us.”
“If the emperor’s taken out of the equation, and the fallout’s significant, it may be all it takes to prove to the Bolarans what an alliance can achieve.”
Logan went quiet and turned away from him.
“Your mind’s on Novikova.”
“Is it that obvious?” Logan retorted.
“I don’t know whether it’s Sutter or Logan I’m interpreting, but yes, it’s like reading a book.” Vernon coughed, doing his best to keep the tickle at the bottom of his throat. “You’re not coming with us, are you?”
Logan remained silent for several moments. “I have to go back to the Rim.”
Vernon nodded as more memories of the past flowed through him. “I suppose if I were you, I’d make that choice, too.”
NINETEEN
Novikova sat on the opposite side of Captain Pollock’s desk, remaining deathly silent. It was as if she’d been sent to the principal’s office. If she was back on the Ringwood, she’d have already made half a dozen wisecracks at Estrada’s expense. But the Defender was a very different place. In such a short space of time, Novikova had gone from a green recruit to being in the company of the most important person on the ship.
How could she be James Sutter?
Trimurilene was foolproof. Lying was impossible. Even if the pilot somehow figured out a way to counteract it, why would she claim to be the Red Hawk when everyone knew Nathan Logan was the true Sutter? Or at least was.
“Bridge to the captain.”
Pollock activated the intercom at his fingertips. “Go ahead.”
“Sir, we’re receiving a transmission from the leadership,” an officer from the bridge informed him.
“I’ll take it in here.”
The lighting inside the office dimmed, and a holographic representation came to life next to Novikova. “Captain Pollock,” the man greeted him.
The Defender’s CO nodded at the projection. “Sir.”
The hologram looked at Novikova. Even with heavier eyelids and a slightly more pronounced slouch, the figure was unmistakable. “Jana Novikova, I see you’ve joined our ranks.”
She smiled weakly at Fox, recalling the experiences she’d shared with the head of the ORC leadership. The wise beacon of hope still exuded a charisma that was hard to fake, but even he seemed fatigued at what was transpiring.
“My deepest condolences to you,” he continued. “Gelbrana’s an integral part of the Outer Rim, and its people some of the staunchest warriors in our rebellion.” He paused, almost lost for words. “They will forever be in my heart.”
She bowed her head, thanking him for his kind thoughts.
He returned his attention to Pollock. “We’ve read your reports on the attack in the Metra Star System, and we’ve also analyzed the flight recorder salvaged from the patrol ship’s debris. It would seem they were attacked by a single Arcadian light carrier, with a complement of five fighters.”
Fox dematerialized, and a holographic representation of the ambush appeared. The cylindrical scope outpost was in a geostationary orbit of the purple gas giant, while the corvette kept its distance at its perimeter.
Then the fireworks began.
The Arcadian light carrier came out of hyperwarp beyond the planet and scrambled its five fighters toward the corvette. Weapon fire was exchanged by all parties, including the outpost, which launched and exhausted its defensive arsenal. The rebels put up an admirable fight, but eventually the highly maneuverable Arcadian fighters won the day, destroying the outpost and then taking down the corvette. The hologram of the skirmish dematerialized, and the older man’s image reappeared before them. Fox placed his hands behind his back and regarded them both.
“After being informed of your initial interrogation, we analyzed the movements of your prisoner’s fighter before its destruction. From what we can determine, the pilot in your brig is, in fact, James Sutter.”
“That makes no sense,” Novikova blurted out.
“We completely agree, but there’s no doubt from our observations that she flew the same maneuvers we’d expect the Red Hawk to fly in a similar scenario, and with the same skillset.”
“Couldn’t that be trained? Surely Sutter’s campaigns are taught at the academy.”
“Every individual pilot has certain ticks. Sutter’s aren’t overly obvious because of the smoothness in which he flies, but they’re there. And she had them. They were identical.” Fox paused. “What’s worrying is she wasn’t the only pilot to exhibit these ticks.”
“You’re saying the other four had them, too?” Pollock asked.
Fox nodded. “Our analysts have concluded they all displayed signs of Sutter’s flying style.”
“For the love of the gods,” Novikova muttered. “Artemis Unit’s still operating.”
Fox held his gaze on Novikova. “This does appear to have Artemis’ fingerprints all over it.”
Novikova remembered the day Logan had come back from his mission to destroy the outpost in the Dylaria Star System. The mission had been a success. At least that’s what everyone thought. “They survived then…”
“That’s the conclusion we’ve come to,” Fox said. “One must assume Artemis has devised a way to replicate Sutter’s experiences so they can place them into the mind of other individuals.”
Captain Pollock strummed his fingers on the desk. “If what you say is true, then the Arcadians potentially have squadrons of James Sutters out there.”
