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SAREE CLOSED HER EYES and clenched the armrests of the co-pilot’s seat. Blast Familia into a big black hole. If Borgia was here right now, she’d hold her breath and strangle him. Anger simmered and threatened to boil over, but she held back. Save it for the enemy.
“I know this cannot happen.” Al-Kindi bowed his head for a moment. “I must resign myself to a life without Nari.”
“Hey, don’t give up hope yet,” Tyron said. “Gov Human may be more useful in this situation than with Phalanx Eagle. They’ve got a lot more pull with Familia. And while Familia may suspect certain things, they don’t know. Gov Human does.”
“Grant is right. We may be able to broker half that deal with Gov Human’s help,” Captain Ruhger said. “Depending on what Familia claims as a debt.”
Al-Kindi shook his head sharply. “Familia is just as evil, but far smarter. Too clever by half. And they don’t negotiate. They claim to negotiate, but in the end, they get their way.”
Saree said, “Not this time.” Anger burned, wildfire spreading from her heart to the rest of her body. “This time, they will lose far more than they ever dreamed.” She pulled up the clutch messaging system on her e-torc. She was done. Done waiting for Gov Human, done hiding, done with covert actions, done. It was time for her to step up, to act decisively, to take on her full duties and responsibilities, and claim the privileges that came with those responsibilities.
“Scholar, what are you doing?” the Captain asked.
“I’m using my resources. Familia will find it hard to operate in the universe when the Time Guild makes it known Familia systems will no longer have their clocks maintained.” Saree turned away from the message, to Grant. “Can you get a me a full list of Familia-controlled systems?”
Grant raised his brows at her. “I can, but let’s wait until we talk to Gov Human. There might be a less drastic option. Remember, that punishes a lot of non-Familia beings, and it further exposes the fact of a human clock maintainer.”
Saree’s resolve hardened. “Gov Human’s had their chance. They could have acted decisively and didn’t. They sent us a team of failures, a team too small and unsupported to do anything.” Saree barked a laugh. “In other words, they blew us off like waste out an effluent port.”
“I’d suggest, Scholar,” the Captain rumbled behind her, “that you tell Gov Human that very thing.”
She turned to fire back.
Captain Ruhger held up one hand. “Hear me out. Why pull out the big guns against a small target? In the scheme of the universe and Galactica, Familia is a pimple. Phalanx Eagle is even smaller. Save the torpedo rounds for a target that deserves them.”
“Speaking of, we will not meet with this particular set of Gov Human lackeys,” Grant said with a smirk. “I’m telling them when they have someone of sufficient rank, then we’ll make the effort.”
Saree spun back to Grant. “You can’t say that over open comms.”
“I’ll just turn down the meeting. Say it’s not worth the fuel we’d burn.” He grinned. “They’ll get the message.”
A message from the fold orbit controllers popped in. The Captain pulled it up, glowered a little harder, then pushed it to navigation. “Closer fold hold orbit. Get us there, Scholar.” A tiny smile flickered. “If you’re still willing to be a mere pilot along with all your other titles. But no rush. Make it clear we’re not at their beck and call.”
Saree nodded. “Wilco, Captain.” She sat back down and looked up at him. “But if we don’t get someplace with Gov Human quickly, I reserve the right to act as I see fit. I’m Lightwave Clutch Leader and a Time Guild Member. I’ve got power. It’s time to use it.”
The Captain nodded once, slowly. “You are.”
“For what it’s worth—” Al-Kindi’s voice drew her gaze back her holo “—I agree with the Captain and Grant. In the scheme of things, Nari, my family, her family and all of Circinus are small. We are not worth of the consequences of such an action. You must be careful and guard yourself against all who would use you.”
Saree shook her head. “It’s time to make a stand. I’ve been running, hiding, scared for too long. My secret isn’t very secret anymore. At this point, staying in the shadows makes me an easier target.” She sighed. No matter how much she believed in her own statements, the thought of coming out in public scared her to death. But better to be scared to death than hounded into it. Or worse. “I will wait for Gov Human’s next move, but I won’t wait long. And they’d better make it a move worth waiting for.”
The Captain smiled his tiny smile and bowed. “Your command. I’ll bring you breakfast.”
Grant laughed. They both walked for the hatch. Grant said to the Captain, “Kind of nice, isn’t it?”
Captain Ruhger’s reply was cut off by the hatch closing.
She had power. It was time to act like it.
#
SAREE SHIFTED SLIGHTLY, watching the light shine on her armor. The silvery-blue cerimetal flexed easily with every move and the protection was top of the line. She smiled. She could shift the appearance into something more subtle, but she wouldn’t. Wearing armor to this meeting sent a message. A very clear message. And the crew members arrayed behind her, facing the only hatch, also in armor and fully armed, made that message louder. She glanced back at them, happy she’d insisted on taking the time, spending the credits on full refurbishment and upgrades for the entire crew. Once the initial, automatic protests were over, the entire crew was extremely happy with the results. The armor still fit perfectly, molded to them by years of customization, but met the latest standards and had the best weapons.
After making them wait for five minutes, a group of humans entered the conference room. Saree simply watched them, not responding in any way to the conversation between them. Or the sharp glances from the Gov Human military. They hadn’t even bothered to send senior officers. Eventually, they seated themselves around the table. Saree continued standing.
“Please, be seated,” a hanger-on said.
“No. This won’t take long.”
“Gentle Saree—”
“Time Guild Member and Lightwave Clutch Leader Saree,” Captain Ruhger said, menace icing his voice.
The lackey stepped back, shocked.
Saree focused on the functionary at the head of the table, another mid-level underling. “Gov Human has failed to act appropriately in this matter. Either Gov Human puts real resources and effort into solving this problem or I will. With my resources. Good day.” She marched for the hatchway, the crew following her.
“Time Guild Member Saree,” the Gov Human leader said, stumbling over the words.
Grant, trailing the crew, said with rare gravity, “Gov Human can request a new meeting when you have someone worth the Guild Member and Clutch Leader’s time. Someone—” he paused, probably scanning the lackey “—with real decision-making capabilities.”
Tyron and Katryn moved in front of her, opening the hatch, the Captain and Grant behind her. As they strode through the Gov Human complex and the station beyond, beings moved to the sides of the passageway, unwilling to impede their progress.
Grant said, over their comms, “Well, that was the most fun I’ve ever had with Gov Human. You should have seen that idiot sputtering.”
“I wonder how they will respond,” Katryn said. “It could go a couple of ways.”
“No,” Tyron stated. “Once that lackey reports in, someone with some brains will respond by sending an appropriately worded invitation from the Gov Human Station Commissioner or the Antlia Gov Human Forces Commander, General Kerr. Or both. They’re not stupid. She’s just made it clear she’s a power and she knows it.”
“That’s exactly what I did. And thank you for your advice and backing my play.”
“Your success is our success,” the Captain said, more than a bit of anger still rumbling. “And that’s not a platitude.”
Ever since she decided to take a stand, the Captain’s response to her changed. The entire crew’s response changed. Evidently, demanding respect worked—when you did it the right way. Too bad she hadn’t realized that earlier. Not only did the crew respect her more, but she respected herself more. And she believed in herself more, although she knew there would be hard times and difficult decisions ahead. She’d fail, more than once. But at least she’d really be trying, striving, living, not just existing.
Saree could only hope her failures didn’t bring down anyone else. As a leader, that wasn’t likely. If she fell, everyone fell with her. It was still better than hiding, skulking, hoping to escape notice. While a plan rarely survived first contact with the enemy, failing to plan guaranteed disaster. She’d learned that. Saree and everyone associated with her was better off if she took the command she’d inherited with the job seriously. They’d planned this phase of the confrontation on Gov Human carefully and it succeeded. Would the next? No way to know.
But she had little to lose at this point.
#
“FIRST, MY APOLOGIES for wasting your time, Guild Member and Clutch Leader Saree,” the Gov Human Laniakea Forces Commander, General Kerr, said. She was a human female of average height, coffee with cream skin, dark brown curly hair shorn close to her skull and no adornments. With her armor, it was hard to tell, but she seemed in outstanding physical condition. From the lines on her apparently unaltered face, she was probably in her fifth standard decade. No emotion showed.
Saree nodded. “It’s not surprising. I’ve kept a low profile for good reason. But now that my true profession is known by a number of low-level Gov Human functionaries, there’s no longer a reason to go to extremes to conceal my identity.” General Kerr would understand the blame she was placing. Gov Human deserved that blame.
“As you say.” The General held up a hand when the Antlia Gov Human Commissioner, Charles Pello, started to protest.
Where General Kerr projected an air of command and discipline, Commissioner Pello projected insecure, ineffectual autocrat. A thin, short human male, pale tan skin, soft round features, with big milk chocolate eyes, long lashes, and a pink bow of a mouth, he’d clearly had body mods. His dark blue suit looked custom made. He probably wasn’t as stupid as he looked, but he was a political appointee and probably on a corporation payroll. Or several corp payrolls. Since his office was responsible for the leak, Pello might be in Familia’s pocket too. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing in this case. A quick, easy way for Familia to receive her uncompromising message.
General Kerr continued. “What exactly are you asking for, Clutch Leader?”
“I want Nari Al-Kindi retrieved immediately. She is an innocent caught up in a universe-wide game and she doesn’t deserve this treatment.”
“Why is this in Gov Human’s best interest?” Pello asked. “She is, as you say, an innocent, someone without any power or position. Why should we care?”
Saree kept her gaze on General Kerr. If they were going to play good cop, bad cop, she would ignore the bad cop. But the question did deserve an answer. “You should care because I care. Gov Human has already blown one chance to support me. I’m not inclined to give you another chance. I’m much more inclined to call in Sa’sa Warrior Class for Nari’s rescue and cut off every Familia system from Time Guild Maintenance. My clutch convinced me to talk to you first. So, convince me.”
General Kerr’s eyes narrowed slightly as Saree spoke.
“Cut off all Familia systems!” Pello exclaimed. “Are you crazy? That’s billions of humans, and millions of additional species.”
“Calling Clutch Leader and Guild Member Saree crazy is not wise,” Grant said from his seat beside Saree. They’d decided Grant was the “Lightwave Clutch Speaker” along with his other roles. He took his role seriously, even studying the Sa’sa language and customs. He seemed happy with a real challenge.
“An attack on my clutch is an attack on all clutches,” Saree said.
“And the Sa’sa would certainly welcome a lessening of their burden, wouldn’t they?” General Kerr asked. The corners of her mouth lifted, but she wasn’t really smiling. “Well played.” She nodded sharply. “Pello, get word to Familia. Return Nari Al-Kindi, safely, intact, or face grave consequences, including military action.”
“You’re giving in? To this—this—girl?” Pello turned red. “I’m going to Gov Human on Sa’sa. They’ll shut down this ridiculous notion you have, girl.”
Saree stared at him, shaking her head slowly.
“Commissioner Pello, you seriously underestimate Clutch Leader and Time Guild Member Saree’s power in the Time Guild,” Grant said, cold as interstellar space. “She is the only human member. Gov Human has no power with the Time Guild, other than through her. Gov Human and humans in general are tolerated on Sa’sa because they have certain skills with mechanical automation and production. They can’t influence the Time Guild. Not at all. And they know it.”
“Pello, he’s right,” General Kerr said. “Guild Member Saree is the only human in the Time Guild. We have no power in Sa’sa space. Could we bring a fleet in and decimate them? Of course. Will we? No. That would be incredibly stupid. Any number of species could destroy the Sa’sa, but they all know it’s a shortsighted move.” She turned back to Saree. “But I’m not sure you’ve considered all the ramifications of this action. Familia is not stupid enough to attack the Sa’sa as a whole. But just a whisper that you’re considering cutting their worlds off will sign your death sentence. And I suspect that whisper will reach them immediately.” General Kerr didn’t break her gaze, but there were a large number of humans in this room, undoubtedly more than a few with ties to Familia.
Keeping her face and voice expressionless, Saree said, “Yes, I have considered that, General. I’ve set several failsafes. In the event of my death, the Time Guild will know who is responsible. I’ve named both Familia and Phalanx Eagle, and told them to investigate Gov Human’s possible participation in the action.”
“Checkmate,” a military member sitting behind the General breathed.
Annoyance crossed the General’s face for a split second. Somebody just got a new assignment protecting the desolate desert mines in the far fringes of Eggan Octans. Saree didn’t laugh, but it was a struggle.
General Kerr barked, “Everybody out. Pello, Exec, Porter, you stay.”
Pello glared at Kerr. “That’s Commissioner Pello, Kerr,” he snarled.
General Kerr ignored him and waited while all the hangers-on filed out the hatch, grumbling. “What do you want?”
“As I said, General, I want Nari Al-Kindi back, safe and sound. Now.”
“That’s it?” She shook her head. “You’re being shortsighted. If you’re outing yourself, you need a fleet backing you. Otherwise, you’ll be captured, quickly.”
“Ah, but I have one other piece of news.” Saree turned her lips up a little, but she was sure the General knew it wasn’t a friendly smile. “I’ve found a group of humans who are trainable as frequency maintainers. And if this group is trainable, there are undoubtedly many others in the universe. We haven’t looked in the right places. Or done anywhere close to the right training. So, there will shortly be more human clock maintainers. There is no reason to capture me. I’m not unique. Although, this isn’t an easy-to-learn skill. There will never be large numbers of human frequency maintainers.”
“What’s to stop Galactica from capturing some of your new Clockers?” Pello asked.
“That term is rude and will not be used,” Grant said, ice cracking in his tone.
General Kerr sighed. “No matter how rude the term may be, the question is a good one. What’s to keep Galactica or other organizations from capturing humans and training their own frequency maintainers? From detuning clocks and holding systems hostage?”
“The Time Guild now understands that humans don’t commit suicide when they’re under duress,” Saree said. “Gov Human on Sa’sa is developing new monitoring systems and they’ll be deployed quickly. Using a clock to hold a system hostage won’t be possible much longer, which should cut down on the number of criminal organizations seeking clock maintainers. On the other claw, capturing humans and using them to tune frequency standards in remote, unknown systems is a strong possibility. During our recent travels, we came across a system far beyond the current occupied fringes of space. This system had an industrial, pre-space flight species in the human-inhabitable zone, but also had automated mining farther out in the system, a network of non-Time Guild frequency standards, and it was guarded by an Artificial Intelligence, one we’re fairly certain was Galactica’s.” Saree held up a hand, anticipating the General’s request. “We will send you the coordinates.”
“How did you escape?”
Saree turned to Captain Ruhger.
“We shut down all external communications and folded out,” the Captain said.
“Why were you beyond the far fringes?” the General asked.
“That isn’t important or any of your business,” Saree told her. “What is important is you have a short window of opportunity. You, or probably someone higher in your chain of command, can go to the Time Guild and negotiate protection of human frequency maintainers. There are obviously several factors here.” Saree held up a hand again. “I am content with the percentages paid to me by the Time Guild, if Gov Human continues to pay for Lightwave Fold Transport’s services. If you aren’t, then I will renegotiate for higher fees as a clutch leader. However, I believe the Time Guild could be convinced that part of the overall clock maintenance fees should go to other fleets and folders willing to protect frequency maintainers, much as they fund the Sa’sa Warriors. We, as in Gov Human and me, can work out a structure now to protect human clock maintainers, if you’re reasonable. I also believe this is your best chance to work with the Sa’sa and other species on a coordinated plan of attack on Galactica itself.”
Pello opened his mouth and General Kerr held up a single finger. “You’ve given us much to think about, Time Guild Member and Clutch Leader Saree. It’s time for me to consult with my leadership, probably someone far above me, and for us to pull in much higher levels of Gov Human leadership. This will take time.” She half-turned to the woman sitting behind her. “Ruthie, get the meeting request out. Highest priority, highest security.”
When General Kerr spoke to her Exec officer, Grant jumped slightly in his seat, and his attention focused completely on the woman, Ruthie. Then he just as suddenly relaxed.
Why did that request seem odd to Grant?
General Kerr tapped her finger on the table, and Saree brought her attention back to the matter at hand. “In the meantime, please accept Chief Master Sergeant Porter’s team as temporary additional protection. There will be more forces assigned. Even if there are additional humans capable of tuning clocks, you’re the only one out here now, flying alone and unafraid, as the fighter pilots say. You need additional forces against idiots like Phalanx Eagle if nothing else. And I have a fleet at my disposal. I will consult with my command and an appropriate task force commander.”
“Perhaps,” Captain Ruhger said. “We may still fly under the surveillance if we can rely on Gov Human’s discretion. But with the number of people you two pulled into this meeting, I sincerely doubt that.”
Saree watched Pello look away and down to his side for a moment. Guilty.
General Kerr tilted her head with a slight ironic smile. “I think that ship has folded, Captain. As you said, there were far too many people at this meeting, particularly civilians.” She turned to Pello. “Have a meeting with your staff. Tell them that Gov Human will protect Clutch Leader Saree’s forces. And tell them that she has the ability to cut off human systems entirely. Hopefully Familia and all the other human criminal organizations with moles in your organization will understand going after her would be stupid.” She snorted. “But probably not.” General Kerr looked back to Saree. “I thank you for your patience and ask for a little more. I will get back to you shortly. Since you have removed the Gov Human communications systems in Lightwave, for now I will communicate through Chief Porter. I’d like to install a new system, one of our high-clearance Gov Human military systems. That means everyone on your crew will be subject to a security examination. Are you prepared for that, Guild Member Saree, Captain Ruhger?”
“I have nothing to hide, General, but members of Lightwave’s crew may not appreciate such scrutiny,” Saree said.
The Captain snorted. “You’ve already started the investigation. Why are you bothering to ask?”
General Kerr shrugged. “An attempt to be polite. Very well, we will be in touch. Do take care; I believe you will be a target in the short-term if you leave Antlia.”
They all stood, the shurrsing sound of cerimetal armor loud in the silence of the plush conference room.
“Thank you, General. I look forward to hearing from you,” Saree said.
“Thank you, Time Guild Member and Clutch Leader Saree. This will be a challenge.” Kerr smiled, razor-edged. “I love a good challenge.” She turned and left, Pello in her wake. He was yelling at the General before they cleared the conference room hatch.
“Shall we?” Grant motioned to the hatch. “Chief Porter, please let me know your estimated time of arrival.”
Captain Ruhger exited first, Katryn behind him. Saree stepped into line, Grant and Tyron at her back, Porter behind them. They marched through the passageways, alert for trouble. Saree was already troubled. Which way would Gov Human play this? There were any number of possibilities and only a few good for her and Lightwave. But she had to take a stand, now. There was no other choice.