Activity stopped as all eyes turned to Ham. The unexpected twist of fortune had briefly allowed them to forget about the threat within.

  “You might be right, Captain. After Francois stops shitting his pants, he’ll demand an update. What’s your plan?”

  Ham turned to Paul.

  “Maintain speed. Correct to match their course for an intercept. Open a universal comm and raise our curtain.”

  After the third missile hit just beyond the bow, Exeter lost his footing and rolled. He broke his right wrist in the fall. He’d broken bones before. This would heal in three or four minutes.

  The Battlecruiser Milos buckled from side to side before regaining stability. Michael demanded pursuit after Milos took three missiles to the starboard hull and its own spread missed the target badly or disintegrated amid the enemy’s countermeasures.

  “This is all we can muster,” Admiral Kane said. “We have two significant breaches. If we accelerate to match, we’ll make it worse on ourselves.”

  “Fuck. Dispatch the bots to install cascade seals.”

  Kane passed along that order to an officer.

  “We can’t enter Worm with a breached hull, Michael. Proper seals will take at least an hour. Even then, there’s a risk.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “Pushing their nacelles to the limit. Four hundred kay. Four fifty. They’re running.”

  “We can’t catch them, but I don’t want them thinking we’re in trouble. They might get some smart ass ideas. Maintain our speed.”

  Michael didn’t have to ask about casualties. He was tapped into every crew member’s Occip.

  A navigator tossed his holo to the command chair. It confirmed the worst: This was the warship that went missing months ago. Scylla. Moreover, she was carrying a full arsenal of particle weapons.

  Scylla, Exeter thought. Could it be them? Angela told him what happened after Dayton Romilius lost the warship at Y-14. She offered few details, but Ryllen was onboard at the time. How could he have ended up with Amayas Knight? The Talons. My brothers and sisters. Are they still onboard?

  “They had us,” Kane said, “but they went conventional. Otherwise?”

  Michael sighed. “My kids would lose a father. We didn’t have time to load the zingers. We were fucking complacent. Fill the tube.”

  “The entire complement, Michael?”

  “If we have to penetrate that spread again, we might need to shoot the wad.”

  Exeter learned the lingo for all the Aeternan weapons systems after he was made. Zingers were missiles loaded with quantum singularity bombs, a close cousin to the weapons that brought down dozens of Ark Carriers nine years ago when Bouchet immortals were considered Salvation terrorists. The singularities now provided an impenetrable defensive network between Aeterna and its Nexus point. These weapons had no effect if they exploded on impact. Rather, they grappled onto a ship’s hull like magnetic mines and spun up the energy matrix inside their core. The singularity engulfed the ship in a single, brilliant flash a minute later, leaving no debris behind.

  Efficient but slower.

  “She’s coming about,” the navigator said. “Correcting to intercept.”

  A new holo spelled out the threat.

  “They’ve slowed by half,” Kane said.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Their Captain wants to see how we respond.”

  “How close before we can eject the zingers?”

  “With any hope of success? Ten kay. And by success, I mean they don’t tear us to shreds before the zingers spin up. Our cannons give us the best chance, Michael. They’ll be within maximum range in seconds.”

  Any decision stalled when pings erupted from the holo.

  “What now?”

  Kane took his cue from nav.

  “Michael, it’s Scylla. They’re transmitting a distress signal.”

  “The hell? They’re bearing down on us, locked and loaded.”

  “I recognize the pattern. It’s a Collectorate UC Distress Ping. It’s standard on every ship, commercial or military. When I was with Salvation, we often used it to lure in prey. Admiral Valentin developed the tactic.”

  “These assholes think we’ll fall for it?”

  “There are two patterns. The first one asks for assistance. The second warns approaching help of dangerous conditions onboard. Salvation never used the second, but Scylla’s pinging both.”

  “Which means?”

  “I believe they want to talk.”

  “Talk, as in demand our surrender.”

  “We won’t know unless we open a universal comm.”

  Michael scanned the bridge, where five officers and Exeter waited for his decision. Kane pressed him.

  “They’re within a hundred kay. We need to talk or fight.”

  “No reason we can’t do both, Admiral. Open a comm, target the cannons, and load the zingers.”

  Exeter no longer felt the pain of a broken wrist. He focused on the possibility of finding a real home then losing it in a matter of weeks. Immortals could regen after many forms of death – even a fall from the clouds – but incineration was not one. He never heard Platoon 7 whisper the painful truth: Immortals were at their most vulnerable on spaceships.

  Seconds after the comm opened, a new voice flooded the bridge.

  “Greetings to the unidentified ship with whom we engaged moments ago. I am Captain Hamilton Cortez of Scylla. I propose we stand down from hostilities and discuss what I believe to be a misunderstanding.”

  Cortez? He’s Captain now?

  Ham surrendered Exeter to Dayton Romilius.

  He sacrificed me.

  Exeter choked off the rage.

  “Captain Cortez, this is Admiral Rafael Kane of Battlecruiser Milos. If you wish to avoid conflict, break from your intercept course now or we will engage.”

  “We’ll bear twenty degrees north, Milos. Divert your course south by twenty.”

  Michael stepped in close to Kane. Michael was shorter by a couple of inches yet his bulk seemed to overwhelm Kane.

  “Don’t do it, Rafael. They’re opening their flank. We can take them.”

  “Please, Michael. He’s proving intent. We have to correct.”

  They did not stare into each other’s eyes like the old friends they claimed to be. Exeter wondered if Michael would take command.

  He walked into the fray.

  “Minister, he’s right,” Exeter said. “Do what Capt. Cortez said. I know him. He won’t attack if we back down.”

  That got everyone’s attention. Michael stepped back.

  “Nav,” Kane said. “Two-zero degrees bearing south.”

  “You know him?” Michael asked. “How?”

  “He was on the mission to find Amayas. He took charge at Artemis. He gave me up to the Chancellors to save everyone else after they attacked us.”

  “Now I remember. You mentioned a Chancellor in your merry band. Was it him?”

  “I know what you think, Michael, but he’s not like Angela Poussard. I only knew him for a few days, and not well. I should hate him, but I think we have to trust him.”

  “You think?”

  “He’s a smart man, and he was living as a Hokki when we crossed the divide. Ryllen admired him. It’ll help if he knows I’m here.”

  Michael threw up his hands.

  “Admiral, request a visual comm.”

  “On it.”

  Michael hovered over Exeter.

  “You have people on that ship you care about?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Good. Just hear me: One way or the other, Scylla does not leave this system in one piece.”

  “Yes, Minister.”

  “C’mon then. It’s fucking showtime.”

  A new holo opened. The captains faced each other.

  Exeter thought Ham looked a touch tired but otherwise the same. He last saw the man while Dayton’s guards hauled Exeter onto a shuttle bound for Scylla.

  “Admiral Kane, thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk,” the ex-Chancellor said. “No one else needs to die today. We both have many questions that need answering, but if I may start. I don’t recognize your ship’s configuration or your body armor. Aeternan?”

  “Admiral of the Aeternan Navy. Who do you represent?”

  Ham chuckled. “No one in particular, but some more than others. It’s not the answer you want, Admiral, but it will have to do. Did you by chance destroy the Arakaat Shipyards?”

  Kane massaged his chin.

  “We had our reasons, Captain. I’m sure you want to know more, but it will have to do for now. I’d like to introduce you to someone.” He waved in Aeterna’s leader. “Minister Michael Cooper. Sir?”

  Michael took front and center.

  “I’ve heard stories about you, Capt. Cortez.”

  “Can’t imagine how. I am, as they say, small potatoes compared to you, Minister. You’re known on every planet in the Collectorate.”

  “Some actually like me. I was nearabout ready to blow you out of the fucking sky, but somebody on my bridge said I should trust you.” He motioned Exeter into the window.

  Ham’s rigid features sagged with that seeing-a-ghost trademark.

  “For all the rings. Exeter Woolsey?”

  “It’s me, Captain. It’s been a long time.”

  Ham seemed at a loss for words, but not the second face that jumped into the screen. His joy was undeniable.

  “X?”

  “Hello, Cando. It’s so good to see you.”

  “The Chancellors never told us what happened to you. X, I’m sorry we couldn’t do more to help you. How did …?”

  “I know you have many questions. The Minister and the Admiral do too. Cando, are the other Talons …?”

  “Yes, we’re fine. I’m looking at Paul and Hiro now. You should see their smiles. Everyone will be thrilled to know their Talon brother is alive. X, we don’t blame you for what happened. The situation was …”

  They’re smiling.

  “It’s OK, Cando. We’ll talk later. Capt. Cortez, you can trust Minister Cooper and Admiral Kane. They’re good men. They gave me a home.”

  Exeter wiped his eyes; only then did he realize he was crying.

  Michael nudged him offscreen.

  “Thank you, Exeter.”

  The Minister stood alongside Kane and did not smile.

  “So. Captain. Now what?”

  38

  T HEY HELD OFF FRANCOIS ADOBO as long as they could. Thirty minutes after a wide-ranging discussion between ship commanders, where revelations piled one on top of the other, Scylla leadership joined Francois in Ham’s office. He was not allowed to carry his rifle into C&C. He sat at the head of the table, opposite the Captain.

  “Why have you kept us in the dark, Hamilton? My men are angry. I am outraged by your behavior.”

  “I apologize, Francois. We engaged in delicate negotiations to salvage the mission. I did not want complications or distractions. I also did not want to supply you with an incomplete picture of what has happened at Arakaat.”

  Francois scanned Kara, Cando, and Yusef with indignation.

  “In other words, none of you trusted me. You never have.”

  “Francois, that’s not why …”

  Kara jumped in.

  “You’re right. We don’t trust you.” She glanced at Ham. “We need to stop dancing around this. Francois, you held us hostage at Joseph’s ranch. Now your guns outnumber us five to one. Wouldn’t you be cautious in our position?”

  “I would trust in people to make up for their mistakes.”

  He said it like he meant it. Kara hoped he didn’t plan on digging his hole too deep.

  “We’ll have time to discuss trust and reconciliation later,” Ham said. “Francois, I’m going to explain where we are now. Then I’ll ask a favor which will require a measure of said trust.”

  “I am listening, Hamilton.”

  Ham threw out a series of holos, the first of which showed Charybdis and Hermes break from their moorings and launch.

  “Hours ago, the warships you sought to protect from piracy were themselves taken from the facility.”

  “No! Not the Chancellors again!”

  “Amayas Knight stole them this time.”

  “The Inventor? That is preposterous. Who is telling you these …”

  “Watch and listen, Francois.”

  Ham opened the first of several vids shared by Battlecruiser Milos.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Amayas said. “I am casting throughout Arakaat so all will see and all will understand. To my local partners: Persians, Damascenes, and Iraqans. Your work has been exemplary….

  “However, the same cannot be said for everyone here tonight. I am sad to report the presence of traitors who have defied the Alliance charter and threaten its very existence. …”

  Francois sat spellbound. When the message concluded, Ham added:

  “Notice the time stamp. We acquired Arakaat’s administrative data spools, and our drone net confirms these events. Amayas Knight did arrive, as you promised. He immediately commandeered those ships at the behest of the facility’s chairman.”

  “Why do such a thing? Who were these traitors he spoke of?”

  “Chancellors primarily. We have reason to believe there are others. We’re processing the data spools now.”

  “Where did he take the ships?”

  “Protective custody is all we know. Location? Both ships entered Worm and have not returned.”

  “Have you contacted my man, David Bendi? He is lead observer.”

  “We don’t know where Mr. Bendi is, but he’s not at Arakaat. No one is now.”

  His eyes swelled.

  “What are you not telling me, Hamilton?”

  “The facility has been destroyed. Don’t worry. There’s every reason to believe your people evacuated. Many shuttles left before sunrise, including those belonging to diplomats. The workers were also spared.”

  He opened the aerial shots of the raging fires and black plumes.

  “Who did this? The Inventor? The Chancellors?”

  “No. It was the people who attacked us. Francois, the Chancellors tried to steal these ships in order to invade Aeterna, wipe out its people, and claim the world for themselves. It would give them a staging area to rebuild and expand their influence. Again. The Aeternans learned of this plot. They arrived, too late, but chose to bomb the facility. They fired on us before realizing who we are. I understand this is a great deal to take in.”

  “The immortals have told you this story?”

  “They have overwhelming evidence. They’re holding the woman who led the plot. Amayas certainly believed it, too. He left behind a small army who fought the Aeternans and then disappeared from the facility, as if into thin air. The Inventor saw an attack coming. This raises interesting questions about how he knew. Was he defending against the Chancellors, the Aeternans, or us?”

  Ham held out his open hands like wings.

  “How about all three? There’s no way to know for certain until we find Amayas or the facility administrator, Aziz Hussein.”

  “This cannot be a coincidence, Hamilton. All of us converging on this place within hours? The odds are too long.”

  “Yes, they are. I don’t believe in coincidence.”

  “The immortals on the other ship. Is he there? Michael Cooper?”

  Kara wondered where Ham’s revelations would end. He asked leadership to remain silent on names. Too many questions. But Francois brought this one up first.

  “He is.”

  “Minister Cooper is highly revered in the Kingdom.”

  “He played an outsized role in bringing down the Chancellory.”

  “And often visited our world. However, I do not believe he can be trusted. Many other Zwahilis believe as I do.”

  Kara heard similar sentiments from Joseph Mogandi.

  “Why is that?” Ham asked.

  “He is a man who seeks glory for himself.”

  “He’s very powerful. No doubt. Aeterna has trade relations with many colonies. He might enjoy his fame, but I also see a man trying to protect his people. That’s why he’s here.”

  “I wish to meet with him.”

  “We’ll pass along your request. Francois, we need to discuss the favor I mentioned earlier. You see, we are entering a delicate phase. Important decisions have to be made.”

  Kara saw the light of recognition flash in his eyes.

  “You want me to tell my people to stand down. Then you will keep Scylla for yourself. Is this your favor, Hamilton?”

  “The first part. Yes. Both ships are en route to a safe location for further talks. We damaged their battlecruiser. They need to make repairs before returning to Aeterna. But they are not our enemy, we don’t have the Inventor, and your other warships have disappeared. We need time to evaluate our next step. I ask you to give us that time, with all weapons stowed.”

  “I kept to my part, Hamilton. The Inventor did arrive. It is not my fault he had other plans.”

  “We haven’t made a decision, Francois. I need to know there will be peace on my ship. And yes! For now, it is my ship. Whatever I decide will be best for this crew, including Zwahilis and the Kingdom. That’s my promise. Will you support a full standdown?”

  “Give the order. I will back you. Do not exclude me from discussion about Scylla’s future. It would be a troublesome mistake, Hamilton.”

  Those last words rang clear to everyone in the room.

  Nonetheless, Francois followed through. Within the hour, all long guns were returned to cases under Talon supervision. Francois spoke to his men, handing them a truncated version of the truth that suggested the warships were within reach and conditions might change any day. He begged for their patience and ordered them to the galley for the celebratory meal they should have had anyway.

  A sense of relief filled C&C when Yusef reported the job done. He and Lin Sangoon locked away the cases after the final Zwahili cleared the bay.

  “Many still have pistols,” Cando reminded Ham.

  “And you have Force Drums. I think their need for insurrection will wither on the vine. Still, I’d rather they leave Scylla as our allies. I’m just not sure how we pull it off.”