The flight to Serenity stayed surprisingly quiet. Alex brought me a delicious dinner that I ate at my console. Thirty minutes out, I’d risked contacting Marta Stevens, the deputy directory of House security.
It had taken an embarrassingly long time to assure her that, yes, I was the only von Hasenberg available, which meant I was in charge, and yes, I knew exactly what that meant, and yes, I had a plan to ensure someone more capable would be in charge very soon.
We’d worked together during Ferdinand’s disappearance, and I’d thought she respected me, so her lack of faith stung. Once again, my reputation preceded me.
After I’d finally convinced her that I would be returning to Serenity, like it or not, she had promised to have guards and a transport waiting for us at one of House von Hasenberg’s emergency landing zones.
We were closer to the city than I would like, but the transport’s range was limited. Chaos was tracking a lot of air traffic, and none of it, according to Marta, was friendly. I had the stealth level set to maximum and we were barely skimming over the treetops. Everyone was packed and ready. They were all piled into the flight deck, tense and quiet. Now I just had to put us on the ground in one piece.
Warnings blared as several different systems scanned us. Chaos remained silent, giving them nothing. We were thirty seconds out from the landing zone and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do except watch the console and pray Chaos was up to the challenge.
A small ship, likely a fighter, broke from its standard sweep and headed our way. The ship would cross our landing zone in a minute. It was going to be close.
I broke stealth long enough to send a single encrypted message to the landing zone. The authorization was required to open the roof of the underground hangar and to disable the interior lights. If we were lucky, the hangar door would close before the fighter flew overhead, hiding us from view.
If not, at least we wouldn’t be lit up like a star.
Chaos settled into the hangar while the approaching ship came ever closer. The view from the outside camera showed a sliver of night sky still visible when the unknown ship passed directly overhead. I held my breath to see if it would deviate from its course.
It continued on, flying low and fast.
The hangar slid closed, and a few seconds later, the lights came on. The vid screens showed Marta and a handful of security personnel standing next to the stairs and elevators that led outside. I was delighted to find my personal bodyguard Susan and her husband, Matthew, in the group.
We made our way to the cargo bay and loaded up with our packed supplies, including the combat armor we’d pulled from the supply bunker. Before I opened the door, Alex pulled me aside. “Are you sure Marta is on your side? After she didn’t want to give up control?”
“Yes.” If Marta Stevens was a traitor, I’d eat my blaster. “Her reluctance is my own damn fault,” I added bitterly. “I’ve built my public persona so well that when people look at me, they see the mask. I wouldn’t want to give my public self full control of a High House, either.” I continued, more quietly, “I’m not even sure the real me should be in control.”
“You’ll do fine,” Alex assured me. “What about the people with Marta?”
I hesitated. “I don’t know. Marta is smart and savvy, so I feel like she would’ve outed any traitors by now. I think Susan and her husband can be trusted, too, but I’ve only met the others a couple of times.”
“Be careful and stay close.”
“I will.”
By the time the cargo ramp lowered and the door opened, Marta was waiting for me at the bottom of the ramp. She’d left the rest of the group near the exit.
Marta was a tall, stunning woman with jet black hair and deep brown skin. Her eyebrows rose when she caught sight of Ying. I might have left out a few minor details in my initial message.
“Lady Catarina, I’m glad you’re in one piece.”
“Me, too.” I quickly introduced everyone, then we headed for the elevators with the cargo sled following us. “What’s the situation? Have you heard from my siblings? Have you found my parents?”
Marta stopped and turned to me, her expression stark. “I have not heard from your siblings. I don’t know their statuses. Lord von Hasenberg is in a coma. He’s in critical condition, but we have the House’s best doctors working on him. They remain hopeful.”
“And Mother?”
Her mouth compressed into a bleak line, and I knew, even before she said, “Lady von Hasenberg did not survive the attack. I’m so sorry, my lady.”
My breath rushed out and I fought to draw another one. I tried to remember what my last words to Mother were, and I had the sinking feeling that they had been said in anger.
Sorrow and regret mixed with relief and horrible, crushing guilt. I froze, stuck in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
Distantly, I saw Alex move toward me, but Ying got there first. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close. The others moved away, giving us some space. Ying didn’t say anything, didn’t offer any platitudes, just gave me silent support, even though I know she had to be hurting with her own loss. My eyes were hot and dry and I wondered what kind of awful person couldn’t cry for her mother’s death.
My kind, apparently.
Maybe I really was broken.
Ying rubbed my back, and I hugged her in gratitude, then pulled away. She met my eyes. “We will win this,” she promised. “Then we’ll implement the changes we’ve talked about.”
“Hitoshi might have something to say about that,” I said bitterly. In the unlikely event that he wasn’t a traitor, he was still the head of House Yamado. And he wouldn’t give up an iota of power without a fight.
“Hitoshi can fuck off. Tae doesn’t want to lead. I’m going to be Lady Yamado. I’ll set a new precedent.”
Ying had always chafed at the fact that her asshole older brother was heir, especially when it became clear that they had vastly different ideas about how House Yamado should be run. If anyone could set a new precedent, she could. “We’ll back you, if it’ll help.”
She nodded in understanding. If Hitoshi was a traitor, it would be easy for us to throw our support behind Ying. If not, House von Hasenberg butting into another House’s business would only hurt Ying’s chances.
We joined the others and Alex slipped his hand into mine and gently pressed my fingers. I clung to the quiet support he offered and tried to dig up my public persona. I couldn’t quite manage bubbly, but I at least smoothed my face into a neutral expression.
When we arrived at the others, Susan squeezed my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re safe, Lady Catarina.”
“You, too, and Matthew as well. Thanks for coming.”
The transport had to stay low to the ground, which meant the trip back to Serenity took twice as long as it would have in Chaos. Marta used the time to bring us all up to speed. There had been no warning about the attacks and current estimated casualties were over four hundred, with a quarter of those civilians. The RCDF command center was completely lost and no one knew what had happened to the soldiers protecting it or exactly how many soldiers the Syndicate had used to secure it.
Marta had let anyone go home who wanted to and she’d also opened the stronghold’s doors to the families of House employees. Most of the employees had brought their families back with them, which meant she had about seventy-five security personnel protecting three times as many House employees and civilians. The Syndicate hadn’t tried to breach the stronghold yet, but we all agreed that it was only a matter of time.
The transport dropped us in Sector Four of our quarter. The streets were deserted and the city looked abandoned without the constant flow of transport traffic. Clayton turned to me. “If you don’t mind, Cat, I’m going to go check on Pippa.”
“Of course. Do you need a lift?”
He glanced around. “If it isn’t too much trouble.”
“Can we spare this transport?” I asked Marta. When she nodded, I pulled Clayton into a quick hug. “Thank you so much for your help. The transport is all yours. Try to keep it—and yourself—in one piece, okay? And if you need help once you get there, let me know.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be fine—it’s these other bastards who should worry.” He grinned at me and raised an arm in farewell. “I’ll be in touch.” He climbed into the transport and it lifted off. I hoped he would make it to House August without any trouble.
The rest of us quickly made our way into an alley and through a series of interconnected buildings separated by locked doors. In the basement of the final building was a nondescript door with a chip reader. Marta swiped her arm over the reader and the door opened, only to reveal a small, bare room.
Once we were all inside, the door closed and locked behind us. Marta swiped her arm over three unmarked points in order: right, left, middle. A section of wall opened and revealed a staircase going down. This was one of the many hidden entrances to the stronghold under the von Hasenberg main building and only someone with high-level clearance could open it.
We passed through a few more locked checkpoint gates. The one closest to the stronghold was guarded by two people I vaguely recognized from the security team. Marta dismissed the team that had accompanied us, then led us to the office off the main control hub. It would be Father’s office, if he were here.
Marta paused in front of the desk and I awkwardly stood next to her for a beat before I realized she was waiting for me to move behind the desk. Alarm prickled down my spine, but I forced myself to slip around the desk. I’d had a lot of practice pretending to be something I wasn’t, so I just kept pretending.
I sank into the plush chair and the resulting riot of emotions soured my stomach. I pasted on my social smile and decided to dive right in. “I intend to take back the command center and bring up the gates.”
To her credit, Marta didn’t immediately start yelling. She took a deep breath first, so she had plenty of air to tell me exactly what she thought of my plan.
She was not a fan, to put it mildly.
“And how do you plan to get inside the base?” she asked in exasperation. “I’ve tried contacting every RCDF soldier I know, from the general in charge down to those in the enlisted ranks. None of them answer, so I assume they’re dead or as good as. You might be the daughter of a High House, but even you don’t have access to the RCDF military command center and those doors can’t be cracked with a codebreaker.”
“I know someone who can get us in. I just have to persuade her to help us.”
“Who is it?”
I shook my head. “I trust you, but I’m keeping it to myself until she agrees. I won’t put her life in danger because we have a leak somewhere.”
Marta didn’t like it, but she reluctantly agreed.
I changed the subject. “Do we know anything about who is on-planet from House Rockhurst? Did Lady Rockhurst survive?”
“I’ve heard rumors that Lady Rockhurst was badly injured, but we don’t have any concrete data. I believe Evelyn is running the House for now.”
“Perfect. I need a line to her as soon as possible.”
“Communication is proving tricky.”
“I have faith in you.” As soon as I said it, I grimaced because I’d heard that exact tone from Father more times than I could count. I needed Ferdinand to take over stat, before I slid down the slippery slope into assholedom. And for Ferdinand to be able to get here, I needed Evelyn Rockhurst’s help.
I rubbed my eyes. “Sorry, it’s been a long day. Please try to get in touch with Evelyn however you can, it’s very important. I’m planning to persuade her to accept a truce and throw troops behind a raid on the command center.”
Marta blinked at me. “You think she’ll end the war, just like that?”
“Just like that,” I agreed with a nod. In point of fact, I wasn’t sure about any such thing, but I had to try, and if my confidence persuaded Marta, I’d be on my way.
Marta sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, but she didn’t disagree. It was something.
“I’ll contact my people,” Ying said. “I believe some of them will agree to help, but I may need you to find positions for them if Hitoshi catches wind of it.”
“If I agree to take them in, will you give me your word that they won’t be spying for House Yamado?”
Ying’s grin was quick and sly. “If I must. I’m hoping it will only be temporary until I can take them back, but I will ask them to keep your secrets as if they were my own.”
She really was planning to try to take the House from Hitoshi. There hadn’t been an internal coup attempt in a High House in at least four generations, and the last one had not ended well for the attempted usurper.
“How many soldiers do you think you can field?”
She tapped her chin and stared into the distance. “Maybe two dozen, depending on what Hitoshi has promised them.”
“If you give them the option, the security teams, at least, will choose you over Lord Hitoshi,” Cira said. “It’s likely true for the rest of the House, too.”
Ying’s expression slipped into worry. “Until we prove that he is a traitor, Hitoshi is still the head of the House. I’d be asking people to betray their vows.”
Cira nodded decisively. “I know. Many will.”
I looked at Marta. “How many security troops can we spare for an attack on the command center?”
“Twenty-five, maybe thirty if we push it. But I won’t order my people into suicide.”
I nodded. “Volunteers only. I don’t need people who won’t fight. We just have to hold the command center long enough for me to get the gates up. I’ll send Benedict a message to be ready to jump as soon as they are up.”
Marta shook her head. “All FTL communications are down, even to our properties and ships that don’t rely on the gates. Something is jamming the signals.”
I pressed my fingers to my forehead. Today was not my day. “I will send a message when the gates come up, as well as a backup jump point, in case we lose them before Benedict arrives. Get me a meeting with Evelyn and start asking for volunteers. Please.”
Marta bowed and exited the room. I slumped in my chair and stared at the ceiling. If House Rockhurst came through, I was going to have close to a hundred people counting on me to lead them into a situation where they wouldn’t all return.
If not, we’d probably all die here anyway.
Ying came into view, leaning over me. She patted me on the shoulder. “You’re doing well. I’m going to go round us up some help. Do you mind if I leave Cira here?”
“I mind,” Cira said. “You can’t go alone, and my leg is nearly healed.”
I sat up and looked between them. They both wore mutinous expressions. “Cira is welcome to stay, but I agree that it’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Check with Marta to see if she can spare a few guards.” I sliced my hand through the air when it looked like Cira was going to protest. “If you want to heal, you have to stop moving. Regen gel can only do so much. Heal now, and you can come with us when we take the command center.”
Aoife stepped away from the wall where she’d been leaning. “I will accompany Ying. The two of us will make better time than a larger group, and I can protect us both.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes. Alex can watch your back while I’m gone. Just don’t try to raid the command center until I get back.”
“Thank you.” I turned to Ying. “Does that work for you?”
“I’ve seen her shoot; it works for me. I’ll bring back anyone who is willing to help you storm the compound. I have my com. If we run into trouble, I’ll try to let you know, but if we’re not back in five hours, assume something happened.”
I stood, happy to be out from behind the desk, and pulled Ying into a hug. “Be careful.”
She squeezed me, then stepped back and met my eyes. “You, too.”
Cira accompanied Aoife and Ying out. She planned to head to the medbay after they left to see if a doctor could patch her up better than the triage we’d given her on the ship.
Only Alex and I remained. I paced while I thought, unable to stand still. I needed to go see my people, to check on everyone and let them know that House von Hasenberg would take care of them whether or not they volunteered to help. I needed to plan my strategy for speaking to Evelyn. I needed to have a strategy for attacking the command center.
Instead, all I had was decision paralysis. I was not built for command.
I blew out a breath and leaned a hip against the desk. “If you have any advice, I could use some.”
Alex moved closer, until he was all I could see. “You’re doing fine.”
“Doesn’t feel like it. I feel like I’m a second away from becoming my father, and another second away from failing completely.”
“Leading isn’t easy. If it was, everyone would do it.”
That pulled a reluctant grin from me. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” I confessed to his chest, too scared to meet his gaze and see the judgment in his eyes.
He tipped my chin up with gentle hands. “You don’t have to do it alone. What can I do to help? I have experience running military ops. Use me.”
“You’ve already done so much. You shouldn’t have to risk yourself again.”
“If you think I’m going to let you run off into danger alone, I’ve got bad news for you. I’ll risk myself ten times over if it keeps you safe.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can and I don’t doubt it, but I like taking care of you. Besides that, you’re the nicest sparring partner I’ve ever had. I’m not going to give that up.”
I laughed. “That’s because I refuse to hit you.”
He winked. “Exactly.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For everything.”
He nodded.
Marta peeked in the open doorway. “We lucked out. The hardline communications between here and House Rockhurst are still working. Evelyn is on the line and willing to listen to your proposal. Do you want to take it in here?”
“Yes, please.”
She nodded and disappeared, closing the door behind her. I rounded the desk and sank into the high-backed chair with a deep sigh.
Alex flashed me another grin. “You’ve got this, princess.” He settled into the chair in front of the desk so he’d be out of sight of the camera, but he could still hear.
I smiled in gratitude and pulled up the display. Marta transferred the call and I accepted. A second later, Evelyn Rockhurst appeared on the screen. She had the trademark Rockhurst blond hair and blue eyes, and she usually looked like she could take on the world, but today she looked worn.
I imagined I looked the same.
“Hello, Evelyn. Thank you for agreeing to talk.”
“I thought you were off-planet.” Her tone was cool and suspicious, and her expression gave nothing away.
“I was. I had an emergency jump point in the solar system. Once I heard about the attacks and that the gates were down, I came back.”
“Why?”
“I thought I could help. I’m going to get the gates back up. I’d like your help.”
She laughed, but it was not a happy sound. Bitterness twisted her mouth. “You think I didn’t try that already?”
“What happened?”
“In the first hour after the attack, once I learned the gates were down, I convinced Hitoshi Yamado that an allied assault was our only option. Our troops were slaughtered.”
“Both of your troops? You have confirmation from someone you trust?”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “What game are you playing now?”
“No game.” I pressed my lips together as I debated how much I could safely tell her. “I tried to take back the backup command center. I failed, obviously, but the person in charge of the attacking troops, Daniel de Silva, indicated that they were working with House Yamado, and I thought I saw Hitoshi’s battle cruiser in orbit with a Silva ship on my way in.”
“You’re accusing the leader of one of the High Houses of treason?”
“Officially? No. I’m just passing along information you might find valuable.”
“My troops went down so fast, there was no time for communication. I only have Hitoshi’s word that his faced a similar fate. Just as I only have your word that he’s a traitor. And I’m surprised you managed to pull yourself away from a party long enough to even notice.”
“I know I’ve given you no reason to believe I’m capable. Mother is dead. Father is in a coma. Our House is in a shambles and somehow, I’m the one in charge, which is laughable. If it were anyone besides the Syndicate, I’d say fuck it and let them have it. But it is the Syndicate. I’m not giving up the ’verse to something worse than the Consortium ever was. I’m not letting Hitoshi Yamado become some sort of cruel puppet dictator. You can believe me or not, and you can help or you can hide, but I will make a stand.”
A faint smile curved Evelyn’s lips. “Well, aren’t you full of surprises. I see now why Ferdinand is so fond of you. I always wondered what he saw that I didn’t.” I couldn’t keep the shock off my face and she laughed. “I can’t believe Bianca didn’t tell you that Ferdinand and I are dating.”
“No one tells me anything,” I grumbled.
“To be fair, we were keeping it secret, but somehow Bianca found out and questioned me about it when he went missing. Maybe she was waiting for him to tell everyone.” She paused and glanced away. “Have you heard anything from him?”
“No. I’m not even sure where he is. But I’m trying to get the gates up so he can come take over because I wasn’t meant to lead a House.”
“I think perhaps you’ve fooled yourself, as well as others,” she said cryptically. She paused, weighing her words. “I can give you a squad of eight, but that’s all I can spare. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll take what we can get. Once the gates come up, I’m going to ask Benedict to come mop up the Syndicate, but I can’t do that if we’re at war. I propose a seven-day cease-fire between our Houses.”
She stared hard at me, her expression unreadable. Finally, she asked, “Do you have the power to sign such an agreement? What happens if Lord von Hasenberg wakes up in five minutes and decides it’s not in his best interest?”
“I do. And if Father wakes up, he’ll hate it, but if it’s binding, he won’t break it. What about you? Where is Lady Rockhurst?”
Pain peeked through Evelyn’s mask. “Mother did not survive the initial attack. I am Lady Rockhurst now.”
“I’m sorry.”
She swallowed and nodded before her mask slipped back into place. “I will agree to the cease-fire. Once the gates are up, I will recall Richard and his battle fleet to help retake Earth. All other assets will remain in place in Antlia and any attacks or attempts to claim territory will be met with force, cease-fire or no. And if you breach the agreement, you will cede the entire Antlia sector to House Rockhurst in forfeit.”
“I may be the youngest von Hasenberg, but I wasn’t born yesterday. We will not cede our planets in Antlia because you baited one of our soldiers into breaking the cease-fire and attacking.”
“If I were just dealing with you, I would agree, but Lord von Hasenberg will twist any agreement to his advantage unless there are severe penalties. I refuse to have my goodwill abused.”
I wondered if this was how the rifts between the High Houses had gone on for so long. Each new generation wanted to make it work, but each was suspicious of the others’ motivations. How could I break the cycle?
“What if we signed a peace treaty rather than a temporary cease-fire?” I asked.
“You don’t have the authorization to sign it and make it stick. And treaties take weeks to negotiate.”
“Treaties take weeks to negotiate when both sides are trying to screw the other. I’m proposing that we try something new. Nothing is going to change if we don’t start somewhere. Acting heads of Houses can sign binding agreements in emergencies. I’d say this counts.”
Evelyn sighed. “Lord von Hasenberg will just declare war again while our backs are turned. I can’t risk it.”
“House Rockhurst declared war in the first place,” I reminded her.
“And we’re winning. Why would I give that up?”
“Are you, though?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve seen the reports. It’s a stalemate at best. We’re both burning through troops and supplies, but our reserves are deeper than yours. In fact, we have far more to lose by agreeing to peace than you do because we have only one planet to your two.”
Respect gleamed in her eyes. “You are not what I expected. You have everyone deceived. How clever.” She paused for long enough that I thought our connection had frozen. Finally, she said, “You are correct that change must start somewhere. I agree to your peace, but if your father fucks me over, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
“If Father wakes, I’ll redirect his wrath to the Syndicate rather than you.”
“I hope you can. I’ll send you a draft agreement in a few minutes. We will both retain the properties we owned before the war and neither side will pay restitution. Agreed?”
I probably could have pushed for more, but I’d meant it when I said we had to start somewhere. “I agree.”
“When are you planning to attack the command center?”
“Soon. Ying Yamado is trying to round up a few people as well.”
“Does Lord Yamado know?”
“No, and I’d prefer it if you kept it that way,” I said.
Evelyn nodded. “I hope she knows what she’s doing.”
“I wouldn’t bet against her.”
“I wouldn’t, either. I’ll be in touch. You can reach me at this address if something comes up.”
I hoped nothing would.