“True. But if I was, I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate.”

  “Why’s that?”

  He smiled. “Who would have handled nav? You, sir?”

  “Fair point.”

  Ham turned to the Hokkis in wait.

  “You’ll have jobs to do when we land. There’s hard work ahead.”

  Cando reported in from C&C:

  “Command deck is secured. We found something of interest.”

  Cando turned to a large, elevated chair in the center dais. He flipped it around.

  Dayton Romilius stared into oblivion, a black hole seared into his forehead. His long mane, which he seemed to relish during his visit on Y-14, swept across his face as it must have in the seconds before he realized he was being relieved of command.

  You were supposed to be mine.

  35

  W AS THIS WHAT KARA SIGNED UP FOR? To walk among the bodies of the slaughtered? Was this the journey her brother Lang intended three years ago when he ignited her curiosity? Or was it the only way she’d truly understand what was at stake?

  Forty minutes after the battle ended, she held a cloth over her mouth and nose until she passed the entry docks and no longer saw pools of blood amid a garden of random limbs. She walked with Yusef and Ham. Ahead, Chi-Qua and Shoan Gui played their role in Phase Three: Secure the ship. They would soon join other Hokkis assigned to guard the captured Chancellors. The plan called for armed presence of Talons and Hokkis from bow to stern. Later, Kara would be leading a small team to inspect the engine array and determine if repairs were practical. For now, Ham said, other matters took precedent.

  “There are more moving parts to this puzzle than I foresaw,” the Admiral said. “For one, I thought I understood the enemy.”

  “No one should have died today – on either side.”

  “I can’t argue.”

  “But it seems to be a pattern with you and Ryllen. Wherever you go, people die by the dozens. And I know what you’re going to say, but don’t, Ham. You tried a peaceful takeover. It didn’t work. Maybe you tried to keep down the deaths at my wedding, but it didn’t work. I knew how dangerous the two of you were last week, but I needed an edge, and you gave me one.” She pointed to Chi-Qua. “If anything had happened to her, that would have been it for me.”

  “You do not share the blame in any of this, Kara. You killed no one. To the opposite, your work saved lives today.”

  The compliment rang hollow.

  “How many soldiers did we kill?”

  Yusef said, “Sixty-three confirmed. Seven surrendered. And for what it’s worth, I happen to think Chi-Qua will be fine. She’s taking a fancy to her new life.”

  “I’ve seen. I’ll hold you personally responsible, Yusef.”

  “Noted.”

  As they walked, Kara thought nothing of the surroundings. The vessel seemed unimaginative, even bland, for a ship with such remarkable abilities. Only when they entered the weapons ring and the corridor both widened and brightened, did she pay attention.

  “They’re above us,” she said, referencing the particle weapons. “I don’t understand his rationale. How did the Inventor think this sort of ship would result in anything other than war?”

  Ham sighed. “We’ll ask him one day. I hope.”

  “Do you admire it, Ham?”

  “Not the verb I would use. But I understand the appeal to the Chancellors. You see, if the Guard had a fleet of these ships, the Collectorate never would have fallen. We never built for interstellar combat because we were never challenged. We thought basing our entire off-world infrastructure inside Ark Carriers was a good idea. I suppose it was until it wasn’t.”

  “Yusef? Do you admire it?”

  “If I’m not on the receiving end? Yes. Without question. We’d have a better shot against the Chancellor Swarm with a few hundred of these. One day, they’ll come after Yaniff. If my home world could position a fleet like this in orbit ….”

  “I was looking for a ‘no,’ but I understand your perspective.”

  “Do be happy these are the Chancellors we fight, Kara. The Swarm are relentless. They’d never go down this easy.”

  Great. So that’s my consolation. The bodies could be piled higher.

  When they entered the bow section, Talons Leto Ahmed and Paul Ochoba greeted them with updates. Sixty-four dead, including the former captain; twenty-three disarmed and detained in their quarters; three officers – all of whom were responsible for mutiny – held in C&C; backup energy, water, and life support systems were stable.

  “What of Exeter Woolsey?”

  “Still nothing,” Leto said.

  “I don’t understand. Did they execute him or not?”

  “The mutineers are waiting to speak with you. I think they know. As you might imagine, the Colonel is ready to kill them if they don’t talk.”

  “I’ll handle the Colonel. Paul, I’d like you to scout engineering. Determine the safest strategy for later when Cando and Kara join you to assess the array. Coordinate with Leto to retrieve whatever supplies we might need to borrow from Horn.”

  Leto hesitated. “And the bodies, Admiral? We have to do something about them.”

  “I will not submit the prisoners to cleanup. I’ve seen that strategy before. It’s too degrading, even for this lot. I have a shortcut, but I’ll need to talk to this Morrow woman first. You’ll hear from me soon.”

  Cando welcomed them upon reaching C&C.

  “Sit-rep, Major,” Ham said upon hearing severe language nearby.

  Cando spoke low. “The mutineers have been accommodating, for the most part. They’ve opened all the system logs. I believe we’ve found the mother lode regarding the Splinter Alliance. It might take hours to review, but Hiro is eager to begin.”

  Ryllen sat in the central chair where they last saw Dayton Romilius with a hole in his head. He leaned forward, a menacing creature who held his turbo too casually for Ham’s comfort.

  “I’ve settled him somewhat,” Cando said. “He and Mosh took considerable comfort in disposing of the former captain out the nearest airlock. He has refused my order to holster his weapon.”

  “We’ve seen where insubordination has gotten us today. Thank you, Major.”

  As Ham entered C&C, Cando suggested Kara linger.

  “I think this is business for the Admiral,” he said before leaning in. “How are you handling it all, Kara?”

  “I don’t know. I think you might want to ask again in a few days.”

  “War exposes humanity’s soul.”

  The succinct philosophy surprised her, coming from Cando. He smiled like the student who cheated on the test.

  “Not mine,” he confessed. “I read it when I was a Year Ten. Believed it, too. So, I went off to war anyway.”

  “Your point?”

  “It’s horrible in the beginning and never gets better. But you learn to adapt. And when you can’t, find someone who has. He’ll be there to comfort you.”

  Subtle, he was not. Still, Kara needed to hear those words.

  Ham leaned over Ryllen as he spoke in muted tones. At one point, he wrapped a father’s gentle arm around the immortal. On the far side of C&C, three young Chancellors – two women and a man – stared at this exchange with intense interest.

  Ryllen nodded. He holstered his weapon and left C&C, walking past Cando and Kara without a glance. Ham waved them in.

  “Hello,” he told the mutineers. “My name is Hamilton Cortez. Which one of you is Siobhan Morrow?”

  A blonde woman with a stylish pixie cut rose.

  “I am Siobhan Morrow. My father was Lt. Adlee Morrow. Your soldiers killed him in the landing bay.”

  Kara didn’t think she seemed particularly distressed.

  “My condolences. I never intended to take Scylla with violence.”

  “I know. We all do.” She turned to her fellow mutineers. “I wish to speak with you and your leadership team.”

  “I’m quite eager. I understand you executed Captain Romilius.”

  “I did. He was going to kill us all.”

  Ham turned to the others. “I understand the two of you assisted in the mutiny. Of course, all this will be taken into consideration. For now, I’m going to speak with Miss Morrow. The two of you will be escorted to your quarters. We’ll interrogate you later.”

  Before they left, Ham tapped his right temple.

  “One question. Are you active on the stream?”

  “We are,” Siobhan said.

  “Do you know the local nullification sequence?”

  One of Siobhan’s companions raised his hand.

  “Good,” Ham said. “We’ll need all your amps nullified for now. When we send you home, you’ll be free to reactivate.”

  That process completed, C&C emptied but for Ham, Cando, Yusef, Kara, and the lead mutineer.

  “We can talk here, Miss Morrow, or …”

  “Siobhan, if you please. There’s a more private room adjacent to the command deck. We called it the captain’s solarium. You’ll understand when you see it.”

  “Lead the way, Siobhan. Major, who do we have stationed to C&C?”

  “Hiro will be here any moment. Po and Hoshi will assist.”

  “Fine. I want him to give a strong first read on the system logs.”

  Kara grabbed Ham’s attention.

  “Won’t I be more help out here?”

  He whispered. “This young woman is civilian, likely from an elite heritage. You might detect a familiar nuance.”

  “I see. It takes a princess to know a princess.”

  He made no attempt to deny it. Given that reality, Ham would have been better served bringing Chi-Qua into the meeting. She was adept at deconstructing young, elite coits.

  The so-called captain’s solarium met the name full-on. Though it had the limited trappings of an office with a long conference table, the walls were lined with plants in clear shelves and were back-lit. It was green and lush.

  The first reminder of what she missed about Pinchon.

  “I recognize this room,” Ham said as they gathered at the conference table. “Dayton transmitted from here. I thought it was an aerofarm.”

  “He all but lived here,” Siobhan said. “We never saw him in C&C until you invaded Scylla. We coaxed him out. It was the only way we could get to him.”

  “And you took the kill shot?”

  “It wasn’t quite that simple.”

  “I’m sure it’s a fascinating story, and I want to hear all of it. First, we sit. Second, we start at the beginning. Yes?”

  Kara recognized the signs of privilege and sheltered upbringing in Siobhan. She walked with the poise of a woman trained to dominate a room. Her two-piece bodysuit accentuated every curve and revealed just enough skin to engender the imagination. And those aqua eyes – brighter than any Kara ever saw. Prosthetic lenses, perhaps? Nothing about Siobhan suggested mutineer.

  When they were comfortable, Ham began.

  “You mentioned your father. Do you have other family on Scylla?”

  Siobhan extended her hands to form a steeple.

  “No.”

  “Do you have family elsewhere?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you wish to return to them?”

  “If given the opportunity.”

  “You will be. First, I wish to take up a matter of great importance to my family. Exeter Woolsey. Is he on Scylla?”

  “No.”

  “Was he executed and spaced?”

  “No.”

  “Then I am confused. Where is he?”

  She kept those aqua eyes locked squarely on Ham. Kara saw no evidence of a woman with something to hide.

  “He was taken to be executed,” Siobhan said. “I was there. It was arranged to maximum theatrical effect. The captain wanted to show off a prize. He loved to demonstrate his manhood.”

  “But the execution did not happen. Why?”

  “Exeter begged for his life. He confessed.”

  “To what?”

  “Herodotus. Everything. He told us where to find a Splinter. Said he knew the location and would lead us there. He said he would help us kill Amayas Knight. None of those mattered after his final confession.”

  “Which was?”

  “He said he was an immortal. That got our attention.”

  “Hmm. Why would his immortality have greater value? After all, you’re part of the Splinter Alliance.”

  She cracked a smile. “That’s where you’re wrong. Yes, we funded the Inventor’s work and some of our people were excited about what they saw through the Splinter. Some even dreamed of crossing into another universe where they met their counterparts in command of an incredible war machine. The Swarm, I think it’s called.”

  Kara gasped. She glimpsed Cando and Yusef, who shifted in their chairs with unease. Did Siobhan know about them?

  “But most of us are tired of war,” Siobhan continued. “We haven’t been very good at it for some time, and we just want to be left alone.”

  “That’s an interesting goal for a group of marauders who attacked my team without warning and would have destroyed us for no apparent reason other than … sport?”

  “Captain Romilius was old guard. And yes, he went after you for sport. Like I said, he enjoyed demonstrating his manhood.”

  “Why the focus on Exeter’s immortality?”

  Siobhan seemed wistful when she looked at Kara.

  “I’m guessing you’re from … Hokkaido?”

  “I am.”

  She turned to Cando and Yusef, studying both.

  “You? I’ll guess … Yaniff?”

  They seemed taken aback before nodding.

  “I don’t mean to be forward,” she said. “I studied the colonies and ethnic peoples. I was always fascinated by what it must be like.”

  “To do what?” Kara said.

  “To live on a planet. See the sky above. Smell real air. Feel the sun against my skin. You see, I was born on a Carrier. Most of us were. I’ve never stepped foot on soil. I’m tired of living like this. We all are. The only goal that really mattered was having a planet of our own. Amayas Knight invented the technology to give us a chance. And then, we discovered he tricked us. That’s what drove Captain Romilius mad. It’s why many Chancellors went along with the captain. Exeter Woolsey’s confession changed everything.”

  Ham leaned in. “How so?”

  “He opened a new door to our claim.”

  Ham settled his hands to his face. Kara saw the mechanisms working. He was considering every permutation.

  “Now Dayton’s bluster comes into focus. The Chancellors stole this warship because of its wormhole capability. They wanted it to jump them to their new home world – the claim, as you put it. Once there, having bypassed or destroyed the planet’s existing defenses, they planned to use the particle weapons to destroy the local population. Does this sound plausible, Siobhan?”

  “I wasn’t privy to the planning. My father made me come along. But yes, word spread. That was the goal.”

  “Except there was a problem. Another design trick the Inventor left behind.” He winked at Kara. “Amayas blocked the wormhole tech from being able to jump to one particular star system. Correct?”

  “Correct.”

  “And now, you believe Exeter is an alternative way in.”

  “Many think so. I’m not sure myself, but others are hopeful.”

  “When was he taken away?”

  Her faint smile disappeared.

  “When the engines failed, we couldn’t jump. There was a fear of what might happen if your Scramjet returned. Exeter and thirty others were evacuated on our only transport. He’s being taken to Chancellors who are trying to secure our claim.”

  “Did the shuttle have wormhole tech?”

  “No. Standard system engines. It reached the Fulcrum about twenty minutes before you attacked.”

  Yusef pounded the table.

  “This is not possible. We would have seen it.”

  “Not necessarily,” Cando said. “We weren’t looking beyond our immediate concerns. What’s the destination?”

  “I don’t know, and you won’t find it in our system logs.”

  Ham wrapped his knuckles.

  “I appreciate your desire for a home world, but what the Chancellors claim is more likely to kill every last one of you than provide the peace and security you claim to want. Aeterna will be your end.”

  “We’ve heard the reports,” Siobhan said. “We know the dangers. But that world is a paradise with more unique ecosystems than every planet of the Collectorate combined.”

  Ham interrupted her with a demonstrative wave.

  “My contacts have heard those reports as well. Still, the system is mined with singularity weapons, and the planet terraformed in a way that defies natural law. The last Chancellors to visit never returned.”

  “We know. We don’t care. The immortals don’t deserve it. They destroyed everything we had. First, as those terrorists called Salvation. And then, the ten thousand they slaughtered in The Last Day’s War. The weapons they sold to our enemies cost us the Earth civil war. Admiral, I tell you this: I disagreed with Captain Romilius often, but on this one point, every Chancellor is fixed: We deserve Aeterna. We have paid long enough. One way or the other, it will be ours.”

  Siobhan did not seem angry or vengeful. In fact, Kara thought she was polished, far from a woman who watched many of her friends die horribly, her father among them. It was impressive but unsettling. Kara couldn’t put her finger to it.

  Ham surveyed the table in silence. He must have realized the new risk. If anyone on the team brought up Aeterna as the next intended stop on their mission, the dynamic onboard Scylla might change in a beat.

  “Hmm.” The Admiral stretched a sideways smile. “Chancellors fixated on a goal? Nothing new about that. But two things remain unclear, Siobhan. How long ago did your faction steal Scylla?”

  “Three months on the standard calendar.”

  “Interesting. Right about the time we believe the Inventor began evacuating Artemis. Does your faction have any insight into the man’s true identity?”

  “It’s possible the leadership might. He only met personally with the top rung.”