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Brock’s face was still slightly puffy as Exton piloted his shuttle through the clouds over the Old Columbian atmosphere. Despite feeling as though he’d been fully justified in hitting him, Exton was glad the mark under his eye seemed like it was slowly settling in.
Just like the guilt, Exton thought bitterly. He had been sitting next to Brock for hours, wondering about Emery and watching for reports from Henry, and he was starting to feel guilty about punching Brock—well, at least punching him as hard as he had.
It was hard for him to believe that he felt sorry for Brock. Exton had a feeling it was Aerie’s influence, because compassion was not one of his stronger reflexes. He knew compassion was good, and even necessary, and he knew he needed it as much as other people did. But Brock had deliberately placed Petra—along with Aerie—in danger by hiding the truth from them. He had been able to reach out and contact the URS ever since he came, and he came on specific orders from Osgood himself.
Exton felt his compassion wane as he thought of how Brock had tried to kidnap Aerie several weeks ago, while the Craftcarrier was on its way to attack Petra. Brock had been overcome, and he relented to Exton’s decision. He even seemed to falter in his loyalty to the URS as he talked with Aerie in the command room, watching as Patty and the others coordinated their counterattack.
Time continued to pass slowly as Exton forced himself to consider the whole situation as logically as possible. Since the Rothsburton had fallen, Brock said he hadn’t contacted the URS. He had worked on Petra’s grounds and he had even signed up for the fighter squad with Cal and Dorian. Was it possible he had changed his mind, at least somewhat, since he arrived? It seemed so, Exton thought, considering he admitted everything in the med ward that morning.
It’s certainly been a day for confessions.
Exton was briefly distracted from Brock’s bruise and his own inner reflection as he recalled his earlier conversation with the Thorne brothers.
Dennis had been unrepentant, while Don was at least somewhat apologetic.
“We’re sorry we didn’t tell you sooner,” Reverend Thorne had said. “But you have to understand, Exton, we are bound by our order to keep silent on the secrets others share with us in prayer.”
“Speak for yourself,” Don scoffed. “We are under no jurisdiction to keep secrets for Victor, no matter what Merra or our orders say.”
“We didn’t tell him about Aerie before,” Reverend Thorne pointed out to his brother. “I didn’t think there was any real reason for alerting him about their behavior this time, either.”
“How in the world did you come to that asinine conclusion?” Exton retorted angrily. “You know St. Cloud was under our watch, and you know I didn’t want Aerie to be put in danger. That seems pretty simple, and you still messed it up.”
“You do not have the support of the Ecclesia for this war, even if we agreed you could do as you wanted.”
“That’s even more convoluted.” Exton frowned. “I gave you the specific responsibility of watching over him. Why would you allow him to leave, and with Aerie at his side, no less?”
Reverend Thorne crossed his arms over his chest. “People will do what they want to, Exton, even if you leave them under guard and under orders.”
“Good to know you’re on St. Cloud’s side, then,” Exton said. “I’m ordering you down to Petra for further questioning.”
“Both of us?” Don asked.
“Yes,” Exton snapped. “See if Sister Katalina or someone else can come and relieve you. I need someone up there who knows the difference between my orders and following your calling.”
“I don’t think you know the difference,” Reverend Thorne shot back with a scowl.
His anger was somewhat uncharacteristic, Exton noticed. In all the years that he’d known the Reverend, and worked with him on the ship, Dennis had never been the one to lose his temper before Exton had. Don rambled on, talking about the price one took for following the Lord, and how a war among nations could not usurp the right of the individual, and how they had warned Exton before they weren’t going to be compelled to follow him if they didn’t want to ...
Exton largely ignored it, choosing instead to reiterate his orders, telling them he would be ordering Henry to get them onto a shuttle to Petra just in case they decided not to listen to his orders now, and then signed off.
Sitting in the cockpit of his shuttle, with Brock brooding at his side, Exton suddenly wondered if the Reverend Thorne knew his father’s secrets as well.
It was possible. Papa did know both of them well before. They were close with him.
Maybe they knew the truth of Silas’s plans for the Paradise.
He decided that would be the first thing he would ask them when he got back.
There was another small beep. At the sight of the Craftcarrier on the radar, Exton finally addressed Brock directly. “How is the pain?”
“Shut up, before I hit you just as hard, so you know what it feels like.”
Exton grimaced. “I’m sorry I hit you so hard.” The words tasted like bile on his tongue, but he spat them out in as much as a poised manner as possible.
Brock rolled his eyes. “Just shut up. I don’t like you, and I don’t want to talk to you. The only reason I’m agreeing to this is because Aerie’s in trouble, and I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“At least we have that in common.” Exton glanced down at the controls. “We’ll be coming up on the Canal soon. Are you going to hail the URS?”
“Why don’t you try to call Aerie again?” Brock snapped back. “I’d prefer to hear from her first, before we decide to go all suicidal with this mission.”
“We’ve had her movements confirmed,” Exton reminded him. “Henry, the Perdition’s pilot, managed to find her on the ship’s cams as she and General St. Cloud stole a shuttle. There’s no doubt where she’s headed, either, since my analysts were able to track the shuttle’s movements until they passed the Tropic of Capricorn.”
He felt his fist clench tightly as he added, “Besides, there’s no reception for our comms out here. The cloud cover prevents us from signaling her.”
Brock kept his mouth in a tight frown as he fiddled with the miniature comm. He’d had Serena pull it out from under his skin completely before they left.
He punched in a code before a responding siren emitted softly from the device. “Beacon One, hailing Beacon One. This is Comrade Rearden of New Hope. Do you copy?”
“Copy”
“This is Comrade Rearden,” Brock said. He glanced over at Exton. “I’m approaching the Panama area. I am experiencing engine troubles with my craft.”
“We do not have you on scope, Comrade.”
“I’m approaching from the southeast quadrant.”
A moment of silence passed. Exton saw the Morgan Soromsky as they approached. He nudged Brock’s arm, pointing to the approaching Craftcarrier.
“I’m in the vicinity of a Craftcarrier,” Brock added, giving Exton another dirty look. “That could be preventing you from catching my ship on radar.”
“Roger that. We have confirmed with Dictator Osgood that you have the required security clearance to land at Panama. He has directed you to land at the Ustupo landing site. He will personally come out to meet you once you land.”
Exton and Brock exchanged quick glances. “His Excellency is at the Panama base?” Brock asked. “Repeat for clarification.”
“Yes. His Excellency arrived this morning,” the voice on the other end confirmed.
As the air traffic controller read off the landing site’s coordinates, Exton leaned back against his seat.
It had been many, many years since he’d seen the dictator in person. Over the years as Captain Chainsword, he’d made some calls with the man, taunting him when possible. Osgood made his threats and ranted appropriately for a man who hated having anything outside of his control. Exton knew he was in his late fifties, or even possibly older, and he had never been one who did his own dirty work.
As the communication link between Brock and the base was once more severed, Exton sighed. “I wonder why Osgood is here.”
“It’s pretty unusual for him to leave New Hope,” Brock agreed. “I’ve only ever seen him leave a few times. Most of the time it was for on-site verification, from what I know.”
“On-site verification?”
“Not all bases and communities are connected by the same systems,” Brock said. “If there was a record he wanted to check or a follow-up inspection he wanted to make in person, that’s when he would leave.”
“I see.” Exton had to wonder if he had gone to Nova Scotia after St. Cloud betrayed him there. That would be one way to catch St. Cloud in a lie, he thought. He knew St. Cloud had altered medical records for Aerie’s sake.
“Well, this throws a wrench in our plan to land quietly,” Brock said. “I don’t think we’ll be able to hope no one cares if I’m there or not.”
“I won’t be able to hide,” Exton said. “Osgood will recognize this shuttle. He’ll likely have it stripped for parts by the time he’s done pulling it apart.”
“Well, we better think of a new plan. We’re closing in on the base; only about another twenty minutes.”
Exton reached up and grabbed the comm. “That gives me only a few moments to get this sorted out. Here.” He tossed Brock Emery’s weapon, the one he’d used on Brock earlier.
“What’s this for?” Brock asked.
“You’re going to need it,” Exton said.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to hold off an entire base of soldiers. Especially Panama. I’ve never been there myself, but it’s supposed to be pretty big,” Brock said.
“That’s not how you’re going to use it,” Exton replied. He gave him a humorless smile. “But you are going to get what you wanted.”
“What do you mean?” Brock’s expression was curiously interested.
“You’re going to get a chance to hit me after all.” Exton turned his attention back to the comm, as Kamalo’s voice came over the line. “Kamalo, can you read me?”
“Loud and clear.” Despite the time difference, Kamalo was alert and engaged. “What can I do for you?”
“You might be sorry you asked that question,” Exton replied. “We have a new mission, and I need you to put it together, stat. I’m going to try to patch in my aunt and Henry too. We’re going to need everyone on board for this one.”
“Sounds exciting,” Kamalo cheered. “I’m ready.”
“I’ll need more than that,” Exton said. He glanced over at Brock, who was still slightly confused. “Osgood is in Panama, and if we can capture him, we’ll be able to finish the war. Brock and I are here right now, and if you and the others can give me a sizable distraction, that will give Brock and me the cover we’ll need to get in and get out.”
“And save Aerie,” Brock added.
Exton nodded, jolted he’d almost forgotten. “Yes, that too.”
He could almost see Kamalo’s smile at the thought. “Well, boet,” he said, “then let’s finish this war.”