Chapter 23

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Carryn stood behind her customary seat on the bridge of the XR-9, fingers occasionally tapping the back. Boral sat on her right, equally impatient.

Allie stood just behind them, looking down at a panel of controls. “Troop Carriers report ready to go to impulse engines,” he said, looking at the view screen ahead, still filled with streaking light.

“Still no sign of scout ships?” Carryn asked.

“None,” Sheed answered, checking his instrument panel. He glanced at Boral, who checked as well.

“Confirmed,” Boral said, “There’s no one out here but us.”

Carryn grunted. “Somehow that isn’t very comforting.” She mulled it over a moment. “All right. Let’s do it then. All hands, stand by. Priority one alert. Fighter crews to your stations.” She looked over as the bridge door opened behind her and Dynan entered. Carryn was surprised to see Marc with him and hoped that was a sign of a truce between them. Ralion followed behind.

Dynan waved everyone back to their seats, nodding to Carryn to continue. He moved to one side of the screen, watching. Marc didn’t follow, hanging back by Sheed and the tactical station he worked at. When Carryn glanced at him, indicating the commander’s chair to see if he wanted to take it, Marc just shook his head. That meant to her that whatever truce existed didn’t extend quite that far.

“Sheed?”

“All clear.”

Carryn grimaced slightly at that. Too easy. Still, there wasn’t much they could do except go on. “Lycon, engage impulse engines. Let’s see what’s out there.”

Streaks of light shot ahead, compacting in a blink to steady pinpoints of brightness as the ship slowed. A blanket of those pinpoints provided a backdrop for the planet that rested before them. A great, shining blue ball, white swirling clouds banding it neatly.

For a moment, every eye on the bridge remained locked on the view screen. For most, it was a sight they hadn’t seen in six years. “Let’s keep a sharp eye out,” Carryn said softly. With that quiet warning, everyone breathed again and concentrated on their stations.

Carryn glanced at Dynan and saw that he didn’t move. His face didn’t change from one moment to the next. He just watched, staring ahead, and Carryn wondered if it was his home he even saw.

“Report please,” Carryn said, glancing back at Sheed.

“Nothing,” he said. “Sensors indicate we’re the only ships out here.”

“Troop carriers report the same,” Allie said.

Boral shook his head, checking his scanner readings to confirm Sheed’s report. “Sensors show a decided lack of other ships in the System.”

Dynan turned at that. “Not very welcoming,” he said as he moved to the commander’s seat and took it himself.

“No,” Carryn said. “What about the Inner Planetary Transport System.”

“Nothing,” Sheed said.

“You know how hard they are to spot.”

“I’m not picking anything up at all, Carryn,” Sheed said, keeping his eyes on the instrument panel. “Hold it, hold it. Here’s something.”

At that, everyone turned. The tension level rose a few notches as they waited for Sheed to identify what he was seeing.

“A small, class-2 craft is departing Altair. Its course heading is for Cobalt.” He pressed a series of controls. “Records indicate the craft is on an established heading. It’s fairly close to a normal departure time according to old IPTS files.”

“Monitor its course.” Carryn turned to Dynan. “It might be wise to intercept this transport. It may be the only chance we have to get information about schedules.”

“There’s a comterm at the Beren Mansion.”

“Yes, but we may not be able to gain access.”

“Won’t intercepting the transport preclude its landing – anywhere – and won’t that be noticed? What about passengers? Do we keep them here, or let them go?”

“As for a transport not arriving on schedule,” Carryn said, “I doubt that would be noticed as being unusual. If it doesn’t arrive at all, no one will know what happened to it, and won’t likely find out for long enough to suit our purposes. If there are passengers they’ll be detained here until we’ve either completed our task or failed in the trying.”

Dynan frowned a moment, but nodded. “All right, but let’s do this quickly.”

“Lycon, set an intercept course. Allie when we’re in range, block its transmissions. Trevan, stand by on retrieval. Ralion, go to landing bay two with a security team.”

Everyone acknowledged the string of orders and Ralion left the bridge. The transport didn’t have a moment’s chance of escaping. Apparently, the pilot realized it and didn’t bother to try. Without incident, the craft was brought on board the XR-9.

Ralion waited while the ship settled, directing the three men who accompanied him to station themselves around it. They all had their weapons drawn and aimed.

The pilot clambered out through the top hatch, sliding down the front nose to the floor, drawing a confused frown from Ralion. He wondered why the pilot didn’t use the side hatch as usual. The man waved his ident card at him.

“What’s the idea here?” he asked, genuinely bewildered and obviously frightened by the guards. “My papers are all in order. Here, take a look for yourself.”

“We’re not interested in your papers,” Ralion said evenly, looking over the ship. “Check him for weapons. Any passengers?”

“No. This ship isn’t equipped to carry passengers,” the pilot said while he allowed himself to be searched.

Ralion frowned. “What does it carry then?”

“Wheat, flour, corn, sugar.” The pilot’s confusion grew with all the questions.

“What do you mean it isn’t equipped to carry passengers? That’s all it ever did. Why isn’t this stuff on a cargo transfer ship?”

“All those ships are being fitted for weapons,” he said as if the information was common knowledge. “If you were really fleet military you’d know that.”

“Are there any passenger transports still used?” Ralion asked, ignoring the pilot’s statement.

“A few.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“I don’t know for certain.” The pilot’s suspicion increased and he nervously looked over Ralion’s uniform. When he saw the Telaerin crest pin his reaction was puzzling. There was real fear plainly visible in the pilot’s features. The man suddenly became unreasonably frightened and backed away. “Hey, look, like I said, all my papers are in order. I haven’t done anything wrong. I need to be getting back on schedule.”

Ralion shook his head. “Relax man, we’re not here to harm you or your ship. All we need is some information.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“You did a minute ago. Come with me and we’ll—”

“I’d rather be blown to bits than spend one minute in those dungeons,” the pilot said and tried to make a grab for Ralion’s weapon. He was stopped easily enough and Ralion suddenly understood the pilot’s fear. He tried to explain, but wasn’t listened to as the pilot struggled desperately against him.

He stopped suddenly and Ralion heard him draw a sharp breath. Without releasing him, he turned and saw Carryn and Dynan entering the Bay. They walked over and Dynan glanced at the ship briefly before turning to the now motionless pilot.

“What’s your name?” Dynan asked, nodding to Ralion to let him go.

The pilot blinked, mouth dropped open in dumbstruck awe. “I ... You ... You’re here!” he said. “You’re alive!”

“I need your help. You have information we need about IPTS schedules and at the moment we’re very short on time.”

“Yes, okay.” The pilot nodded, forgetting civilian, military, and even guild etiquette. “What do you want to know? I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to you.”

“The first thing I want to know is your name,” Dynan said easily, almost smiling.

“Meyer Orrell, Altair Guildsman,” he said and remembered his manners. He drew himself to attention, crossed his arms at the wrist, hands balled, then bowed his head in the standard Guild salute.

“Nice to meet you, Meyer. Do you have the codes to access flight schedules?”

Meyer beamed, nodding. “Yes.”

“Comterms?”

“No. I’m not quite that trusted. Not many are these days.”

“Well, hopefully we’ll have a chance to change some of that. Let’s have those codes.” Meyer nodded again and then rattled off a lot of numbers. When Dynan activated his receiver and talked to Allie, Ralion saw Meyer staring in confusion. He didn’t get the explanation for the different communication method.

“Is there anything else you can tell us about IPTS?” Ralion asked.

“Only that they aren’t flying very often. The schedule doesn’t mean anything really. There are a few transports going to Rianamar but that’s all.”

Dynan nodded. “All right. You’ll have to stay here, I’m afraid, but you’ll be released when certain things are settled.”

“I understand, but if there’s something more I can do, I’d like to do it. We’ve been waiting all this time for you to come back. My entire Guild, which is five hundred strong, is against Kamien. If there’s anything we can do to help, we will.”

“That’s good to know, Meyer,” Dynan said. “Right now though, I don’t want to get anymore people involved in this than I already have. The more centrally located I can keep the fighting the fewer people will get killed.”

Ralion saw Meyer’s disappointment, but he didn’t argue. Dynan’s tone precluded further suggestions.

“Can you give us any information about what’s happening in Rianamar?” Carryn asked.

“Not much. Any time I’ve had to land there recently, I stayed on board ship. The guards don’t tolerate much.”

“What about Governor Taldic?” Dynan asked.

“He’s still there, though others may tell you he’s left the city. I know his family has because I’m the one who flew them out.”

“I bet Elise didn’t like that one bit,” Dynan said.

“No, but the grandchildren were with her so she didn’t make a fuss.” Meyer smiled. “I fly the Governor often. Lord Ildin remained with his father as far as I know.”

Dynan nodded, looking at Carryn. He thanked Meyer, then asked the security detail to show him to suitable quarters.