“Yes. I’m sure we’ll be ready. I’ll just reiterate what I’m sure the Captain has already said. You can trust us. We’re not going back on our word so long as you don’t.”

  “I do not like your implication. I have never made a promise I did not keep.”

  There’s always a first time.

  She kept the thought to herself.

  “When do you expect the next data package to arrive?”

  He straightened his jacket and sniffed.

  “By tomorrow. My contacts on Brahma and Bolivar are solid.”

  “Then tomorrow it is. I’ll be excited to see what they’ve found.”

  Francois divided his glare between Kara and Ham.

  “Hamilton, you are a difficult man. But you, Kara Syung, you have developed quite a mouth. I liked you better when we first met.”

  “You were holding us hostage, as I recall.”

  “Yes.” He chuckled. “A misunderstanding. One which I am tired of apologizing for. I will retire to my quarters. I have much work ahead. I expect to be called when Joseph arrives.”

  Ham sighed. “The issue of the Carbedyne reserve is settled?”

  “For today. I cannot promise tomorrow.”

  As Francois left the office, Kara couldn’t help herself. She glimpsed his socks. They glittered.

  She decided not to judge his fashion sense. After all, Hokkis wore their hair red and purple for weeks in advance of Ascension.

  “I should call you in every time I meet with him,” Ham said. “I was starting to think I’d lost my touch.”

  “He’s not used to a woman talking him down.”

  “Your argument about the wash quotient was interesting. I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Oh, it’s a real thing but not important.”

  “Bullshit?”

  “The more credible the case sounds, the greater chance it succeeds. And don’t flatter yourself, Ham. I learned that lesson on my own.”

  “Whatever the origin, you performed well. You are light-years from the woman I met in Mal’s Drop.”

  “Life will do that.”

  “Indeed. Speaking of which, and this is off-book. Yusef and I will jump Horn to Huryo seventeen hours from now. It’s my next scheduled check-in with Lan Chua. Anything you’d like me to pass along?”

  “Is it time for another one? It’s been so long since the last. Are you sure it’s safe now? We have many extra eyes and ears on Scylla.”

  “Not a problem. They’ll be asleep. The Worm jump is twenty-one minutes each way. I should be back within two hours.”

  “A hop, skip, and a jump. I’ve been through it so many times now, yet it still seems impossible. But no, I have nothing. I can’t think about Hokkaido until I see an end to this mission.”

  Ham offered to pour another cup of café, but she refused.

  “We’ll get there, Kara. I’m reasonably optimistic about our strategy.”

  “Just reasonably? That’s not your usual standard.”

  “I’m improvising. I used to understand how things worked, Kara. The Chancellory stood for conformity, if nothing else. It simplified life. Now I’m dealing with forces whose motives I cannot read. I don’t think conventional strategy will land us the Inventor or his right-hand man.”

  Ham settled into his usual mask of infinite self-confidence, but Kara realized how fragile it was. She never thought of Ham as infallible – his strategy on Artemis Station almost killed them all. But to hear the vulnerability cross his lips left her with a morning chill.

  She met Cando for breakfast and apologized for the tardiness. Toward the end of their meal, the Zwahili trainees who fought in the landing bay pushed a small meal through the processors and settled in at different tables. They didn’t say a word. Kara made a mental note to talk with Francois and Joseph about ways to better integrate the crew.

  “I’m worried about Euphrates,” she said. “Can we count on the Zwahilis if things become sticky?”

  “Everyone is asking the same question. We’ll make sure they need us to fulfill their goals. I’ve been working with Ham and Yusef on some ideas.”

  “Care to share?”

  “We won’t jump to Euphrates for a month. We have time.”

  “Francois was complaining about being locked out of the flight sequence. How many people know it?”

  “In all the universe, only five humans can tell Scylla what to do. While this is our ship, engineering and flight control are off-limits.”

  Two hours later, Kara said goodbye to Cando and Chi-Qua as they boarded Horn with Hiro and Lin to be dropped off for an overnight visit to Kassaire. After the Scramjet passed through the cascade barrier and entered Worm, Kara realized what this meant: She’d be sleeping alone for the first time in two weeks.

  An anxious tug rose deep in her gut, a new sensation. Kara suspected what it meant, but she wasn’t ready to say the words.

  Joseph’s arrival proved a perfect distraction. A greeting party of Ham, Leto, and Kara included the young Zwahilis and Francois. The rancher stepped off Horn with Hemric at his side.

  “Welcome, welcome, welcome,” Ham said, repeating Joseph’s greeting of seventeen days ago.

  “I thank you on behalf of the entire Mogandi household.”

  Joseph acknowledged everyone with gusto – except for Francois, who received a cold nod but seemed to take it in stride. Joseph refused to forgive his rival for the criminal violation of his home. He resisted the Triad’s appointment of Francois as their envoy to Scylla but made peace with it after consulting with Ham and Hemric, who should have held the greatest anger. They convinced him of the practical need to send Francois to a closed environment where he’d be under constant watch.

  “I tried to convince my dear Bea to make the trip,” Joseph said. “She is up on her feet now. However, she has never left Zwahili soil and insists she will die there. Space travel is not for everyone.”

  Ham nodded. “And the rest of your family?”

  “They have too many duties. Perhaps another time.”

  “We hope you’ll find this visit to be an experience unlike any other. Scylla can’t compare to an Ark Carrier, but I think you’ll find her unique in all your travels.”

  “The last time I crossed the stars, the trip took eleven days through the Fulcrum. All I could think about was how much time I was wasting away from my family. I’m eager to travel through a wormhole. Perhaps a demonstration while I am here?”

  “It can be arranged. Name the system, and we’ll hop on over.”

  “What incredible times we live in!”

  Joseph started toward Kara with a now-familiar twinkle in his eyes, but Francois came between them.

  “Speaking of incredible, Joseph. There are many young men who have come to meet you. A few of them you know, but all have worked very hard the past eight days and made incredible progress. Would you not agree, Hamilton?”

  “They have worked hard. Yes.”

  “I will introduce each one. They would be honored to receive your acknowledgement. They hold you in the highest regard.”

  Joseph bared teeth as he smiled at the group. He leaned in to Francois and whispered, loud enough for Kara to hear.

  “Did any of them hold my family hostage?”

  “Two. They are prepared to apologize for the misunderstanding, as I have on many occasions.”

  “Someday, we must consult a dictionary to review the definition of misunderstanding. Since they represent the Kingdom’s vital interests, I will follow your lead, Francois.”

  He did, shaking every hand and engaging in a few words with each young man. Francois straightened his jacket often and held his shoulders high, as if he were a general reviewing his troops. Kara wondered how far back the rivalry between these men went, and where it might take them after Euphrates.

  When Francois dismissed the recruits, Joseph took a moment to study the enormous landing bay.

  “I would love a tour.”

  “Of course,” Ham said. “I’ll be happy to walk the ship with …”

  “Actually, Hamilton, I was hoping Kara might do the honors.”

  “Certainly, if that’s good with you, Kara?”

  “Love to.”

  “Kara knows Scylla as well as anyone here, Joseph. Good choice. I’ll make sure your bag is taken to your quarters. Kara, meet us at C&C when you two are done.”

  Hemric, having visited before, left with Ham, Francois, and the Talons. Joseph waited until they were out of earshot before he embraced Kara in a bear hug.

  “I must confess, Kara. You have been on my mind every day.”

  “Why, Joseph?”

  “It is a hard thing to say. I have met women like you before. Knowledgeable, curious, firm of conviction. But they were Zwahili, so they knew their limitations. I see in you no such barriers. You have been a rebel all your life. You did not accept the limitations of your society. I believe your fight has caused you much pain, but you are not deterred. These qualities I admire. I hope I have not offended you.”

  “Not at all. You’re very kind. I wonder, though. Wouldn’t it be nice to see some of those knowledgeable, curious Zwahili women on Scylla’s crew? I have nothing against the first batch of recruits, but the absence of women is a bit glaring.”

  “Ah, yes. Politically difficult. There are few women in our Alliance, and the Triad is comprised of traditional thinkers.”

  “Maybe the Kingdom needs new traditions if it’s going to be a major player in what’s to come.”

  “This I cannot dispute. Perhaps after the Alliance is formally announced, and the government sanctions membership, women will be allowed a more active role. Now, perhaps we may begin the tour?”

  “Of course.”

  She didn’t want to overstep her bounds with Joseph, but his tone suggested precisely where the foul line existed. Kara struggled with the hypocrisy as she led him through Scylla.

  Joseph asked questions at every turn. As they passed through the Connector Bridge, he wanted to know how the particle weapons worked. She recounted what happened at Y-14.

  “It must have been terrifying, Kara. What sort of man would try to bury people alive?”

  “A lunatic. Fortunately, he hadn’t been in control of Scylla long enough to understand just how powerful this ship can be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After we took control, we studied the array. The missiles were catalyzed to a tenth of their maximum strength. Before we left Y-14’s star system, we tested the weapons against asteroids twice as large as Artemis Station. A single missile at full strength vaporized its target.”

  “Vaporized?”

  “As in, there was nothing left behind but dust. Joseph, a single missile would turn Mumbassa City into a crater.”

  It was more than she was supposed to tell any Zwahili, but in the moment Kara thought Joseph ought to know. They all did.

  “So, these are doomsday weapons. How many missiles can this ship fire at once?”

  “Thirty-two per wave.”

  “He never told us this.”

  “Who?”

  “Amayas Knight. He promised ships that would be respected and go unchallenged by anyone creating mischief for the Alliance.”

  “He wasn’t wrong.”

  “But greatly misleading.”

  “And he’s built three of them for you.”

  “This is very troubling, Kara. I must notify the Triad.”

  “No, Joseph. Please. I spoke out of turn. We debated this for weeks. We even considered destroying the shipyards on Euphrates then scuttling Scylla. We held off because we needed the leverage to help us find Amayas. Until we do, it’s best we keep this quiet.”

  “Perhaps you are right. I know many men who would relish the opportunity to use such power for horrible purposes.”

  “That’s exactly why we’ve said nothing.”

  “Now we know why the Chancellors wanted it so badly. If they truly wish to invade the planet Aeterna, as Hamilton said, ships like this would make them unstoppable.”

  “And that’s assuming they stop with Aeterna.”

  “Thank you, Kara, for your honesty. I knew I would be best served if you gave me a private tour. Although I must admit, I have learned more than was set to the bargain.”

  “I shouldn’t have been so bold.”

  “No. I am the bold one. Also, selfish. I asked for you because I have a private matter I wish to discuss. I believe you have a sensibility to help me in a way the others cannot.”

  She showed him to the galley, where they found two bottles of sween and a quiet table.

  “I wish to speak to you about Maxwell.”

  “Your grandson. How has he been doing?”

  “I fear he has taken a disturbing turn since your visit. His mother and father tried to reason with him, but Maxwell seems more obsessed with his spiritual connection to the Splinter and his counterparts. Three days ago, he left the ranch with his belongings. He has moved into the city. No Mogandi has abandoned his family in twenty years.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it, Joseph. But has he really abandoned you? The city is close by, and he’s young. Sometimes, the desire to be independent is strong.”

  “Yes, yes. I know of these things. But the Mogandi family shares the ranch as one. Plus, he is not independent. Maxwell resides with the others in his religious group. They live in an undesirable neighborhood with many unpleasant influences. I do not know the group’s intentions, but I worry for Maxwell.”

  Kara felt as if she knew where this was headed. Shit.

  “Joseph, this is a family matter. What advice can I offer?”

  “To me, none. We have tried every manner of persuasion. But Maxwell is stubborn. We are losing him. However, during your visit, he took interest in you.” Joseph produced a sheet of paper which he unfolded. “He sketched you in great detail.”

  The charcoal drawing could have been lifted from a photo. The likeness stunned Kara. The detail, especially around her eyes, captured a woman struggling with the weight of many emotions. They only spoke twice, yet Maxwell saw through her mask in a way no one had, not even Cando.

  Shit.

  “One morning a few months ago, Maxwell announced he saw the world through new eyes. He began drawing. His talent emerged with a sudden fury.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It is. He needs a new voice in his ear,” Joseph said. “An outsider who he can trust. Will you help us convince Maxwell to come home?”

  16

  K ARA COMMITTED TO NOTHING but took quiet offense at being asked. The burden did not belong to her. She knew the Mogandis for a few days, and now she was being asked to counsel a troubled grandson? Joseph said he would give her time to consider. She thought of ways to put him off for three days, hoping he might realize his request to be unfair and leave Scylla without another mention.

  On Mission Standard Day 59, Ham brought together Kara, Joseph, Francois, and the highest-ranking Talons to discuss a litany of critical items. They included Zwahili training schedules, a report from the overnight visit to Kassaire, crew socialization strategies, Carbedyne requests for system transports, progress on tracking down Amayas Knight and/or Shin Wain, and VIP visits for leadership of the Alliance Triad. Spirited debate arose at times, but mostly, it felt like an endless business meeting with bullet points, acronyms, and brief unrelated tangents.

  The gathering dragged on for three laborious hours, but Kara saw a strategic advantage. These items might shift Joseph’s focus.

  “Any other items for the greater good?” Ham said as the meeting wound down.

  “A point of order,” Francois said. He used the phrase frequently though he apparently did not understand its actual purpose.

  “Yes, Francois.”

  “We have not yet discussed a tactical strategy for taking the shipyards and ensuring control of the warships.”

  Ham deferred to Cando, chief planner for the Talons.

  “At this point, we have goals with loose objectives but no specific plan. We continue to review the surveillance data from the shipyards. My team collected valuable insight from our visit to Kassaire. We will merge these elements and begin developing a strategy soon.”

  “I do not understand. Scylla can jump at any time. We know the ships will be approved for flight in weeks. The saboteurs might already have landed on Euphrates. We must act with urgency.”

  “We are, but we also have time. We will not jump the ship to Euphrates for thirty-three standard days. We are monitoring their comms. Nothing goes in or comes out without our knowledge. We receive a data package every two days. As for sabotage, that is pure speculation, but I’d rather they beat us there. We’ll know exactly what we’re walking into.”

  “You will allow the Chancellors to gain an edge on us?”

  “I never said that. Charter rules allow all members of the Alliance to send representatives to the project sites. The Chancellors already have an envoy and staff present. Just as you do. They won’t move prematurely, and neither will we.”

  Francois straightened his velvet jacket and grunted.

  “I insist we are included in your strategy sessions.”

  “That was always the plan, Francois.”

  He wasn’t satisfied, but Francois heard enough to back down.

  “Excellent,” Ham said. “So, Joseph. I understand you and a few of the recruits are going to prepare a luncheon?”

  “We are. It is my small way of thanking you for everything. Young Mr. Shoan Gui taught me how to use the processors, so I can proceed.” He turned to Kara. “And no, I will not be making boulimapp.”

  Amid a few chuckles, Kara grinned.

  Ham called for dismissal, with a caveat.

  “Kara, if you would linger for a moment. Also, Cando, please tell the Hokkis to come in.”

  This combination unsettled Kara. The four former Green Suns – Po, Jai, Myra, and Shoan – were valuable members of the team, but for all to be brought here at once? Plus Chi-Qua? Something was up. News from home. Had to be. Ham leaned back in his swivel and massaged the beard he’d been growing since they left Y-14 behind.

  “Thank you for setting your duties aside.” He swallowed hard and caught his breath. “I want you to know,” he told them, “how much I admire your courage in seeing this mission through. You were presented with a harrowing choice after Kara’s wedding. We’ve lost friends along the way. Jai, I know your brother is always close to your thoughts. Chi, I know you’ve missed your parents. I don’t want you to be deterred by what I’m about to share. I could have kept this quiet, but I believe you are entitled.”