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RUHGER ENTERED LIGHTWAVE’S command center. A shower helped, but he was still under the influence of excitement, exhaustion, and tension from the events in the Clobbered Turkey. An adrenaline hangover, essentially. Made so much worse by being locked down, helpless during the event itself. He’d forced himself to sleep during the flight back to Lightwave, but he didn’t sleep well.
“Ruhger, nothing’s changed,” Chief said. “I’m hitting the rack.”
“I got it, Chief. Take a full twelve. I’ll let you know if I need you.”
Chief grunted and left the center. Ruhger paced while he worked navigation solutions, trying to work off the lingering tension. It was a lost cause, most likely. There was still too much potential for danger. PE couldn’t do a lot of damage with a single strike, but what if Gov Human couldn’t retaliate immediately? Their station might not be in view when PE attacked, and the majority of their shuttles were off with the Laniakea Fleet protecting the Sa’sa.
He should be used to this kind of slow-motion disaster, but it never got easier. In many ways, a surprise attack was simpler to deal with. Boom, you were in the fight, with no time for worry or consideration, just reaction. Ship to ship action in crowded systems like Sirius were a completely different problem. When none of them were willing to create collateral damage, it all became a game of orbital dynamics, small shifts in the orbital path to move them just enough to block the attacker’s fire, or in an orbit where the debris from a torpedo strike would get the attacker destroyed by every station in the system. Finding those shifts got harder and easier the farther out-system you flew. And while they could just fold out, folding so close to so many ships and stations was unpredictable. Maybe nothing would happen, but they also might suck a whole lot of ships in with them. The physics of fold were still not completely understood.
Harder, because there were fewer ships, planets and stations to hide behind. Easier, because as the orbital spiral grew and expanded, the distances between the ships also increased, lessening the effectiveness of lasers as they lost coherence due to distance. Harder, because an attack from a torpedo was more likely and easier to pull off.
So, they’d keep their shielding at max all around Lightwave, rather than adapting it to maximize coverage facing PE. It was all risky. No matter what they did, it could end with a lucky shot. Ruhger was good, but he wasn’t perfect. No one was. Not even Galactica could predict everything.
Hours later, Saree entered the command center, expression troubled. Ruhger nodded. “Clutch Leader.”
She grimaced. “Saree, please. No need for formality here.”
Ruhger’s brows rose despite his attempt to control his expression. “Since when?”
“Since I pulled my head out the black hole I dove into.” Her expression was rueful, with a tinge of amusement.
Ruhger didn’t answer. Anything he said at this point would be wrong. Grant said he was clueless about women, but he knew silence was rarely the wrong answer. Saree’s chuckle and the amused look told him she was aware of his tactic, but silence was still the right answer.
Her face sobered. “So, where do we stand?”
“Stand-off remains in force.” He brought the navigation and surveillance up on the big vid screen. “Targeting solutions aren’t great until just before fold. If we can get Sirius Fold Control to let us use the nearest fold point.”
Saree’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a problem?” she asked incredulously. “After what I did for them?”
“Yes. They don’t know we’re responsible, even though we’re the ones you made the deal for. They think they can get away with it, since you communicated through the Time Guild system.”
Saree grimaced. “Somehow, all my good deeds disappear into black holes. Oh well. Maybe the IG can help? He owes us.”
Ruhger considered the notion. “Maybe if we offer it up as a way to remove potential hostilities from Sirius orbits?”
“Why haven’t the fold controllers already jumped on that?”
“Probably in the pay of Familia. Or... someone else.” Ruhger grimaced, thinking about how many enemies they had in Sirius.
“Ah, yes. Those connections reach deep, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.”
Saree’s expression hardened into determination. “This is something that IG character can and will take care of for us. It’s not going to bring that much attention to us, not with all the scuttlebutt already zooming around the orbits. I’ll contact Porter’s crew. She can relay our demand.”
“Good idea. She’ll know how to word it.”
Saree turned away, poking at her holo. When she turned back, she looked at him inquiringly.
Ruhger aimed that look back at her. “Where are we going? We’ve been working so hard to reach the fold point in one piece, we don’t have a destination.”
Saree laughed, her amusement tinged with despair. “Good question.”
“Antlia, please,” Doc said, strolling in. “I’d like to drop Borgia off with the military medicos there. They’ve got a big research center and the proper bio containment. I’ll be transferring my entire containment suite to them and getting a new one. Suns only know what’s imbedded in the plas, despite my efforts. At this point, I’m not setting foot in there, even with a high-hazard suit on. Now that he’s conscious and thinking again, he’s too twisty and clever to trust within arm’s reach.”
“Well, if things get too bad, threaten to space the module,” Ruhger said. “We can attach it to the outside of Lightwave, let him float out there.”
Doc leveled an ironically amused look at him. “Would that I could. But that’s definitely not in the scope of practice or my medico oath.”
“Safety of the ship is at the Captain’s discretion. If he’s a danger, he’s outside. If he gets loose inside your medico station and then into the Turkey, Lightwave is next. I won’t risk it.”
Satisfaction coated Doc’s smile. “I’ll take great pleasure telling him that.” He laughed as he left.
“I’m assuming you meant that?” Saree asked.
“Absolutely. That man is dangerous.”
“Agreed. And...” She trailed off.
“And?” Ruhger prompted. “I realize the lines of command are blurry and a bit difficult to navigate, especially for someone new to a command position. But this decision is definitely in my hands as Captain and an owner of Lightwave.”
“I don’t disagree, Captain. The ship is yours. I’m a passenger in this instance. But I wonder if there’s more we can do with him. Leverage we can exert on Familia? Get them to leave us alone?”
“I doubt it’s worth the risk.”
She huffed a little. “Probably not. Oh well, worth asking.” She turned away to her chair. “Shall I plan the fold?”
“Certainly. I’ll check the orbital window between us and PE again. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Luck isn’t a strategy.”
The military truism coming from her surprised a snort-chuckle out of him. “Or a tactic. But sometimes, it’s all we’ve got.”
“Too true,” she muttered and went back to the fold math.
Ruhger lowered himself into a chair and immersed himself in orbit planning. But the tantalizing possibilities of luck hovered in the back of his mind.
#
“ATTENTION, ALL STATIONS. We’ve arrived in Antlia. Perform checks and report issues. Ruhger out.” He swept off the comms. “Surveillance, anything obvious?” He acknowledged the feeling of relief, happy to make it out of Sirius alive. That “IG character,” as Saree called him, had indeed come through. PE folded out before they did.
Tyron said, “Just the huge number of military folders and shuttles after the success at Dschubba. It’s a mess. We’ve been ‘asked’ to immediately thrust for Fold Hold point Juliet Two.”
“Adjusting now,” Saree said. “But we can start on the pre-planned orbit now, Captain. The first thirty minutes of orbit are clear, possibly beyond that.”
“Stowing fold generators,” Chief said. “Give me two minutes.”
“Copy.” It was a pleasant change to do things properly, take the time, not run immediately.
“Rumors say Laniakea Fleet was extremely successful,” Grant said. “Several Mermillod folders were destroyed and all the Sa’sa survived. The Clock Maintenance clutch didn’t stay for the battle; they folded out with some of the Warriors, and came back after Laniakea and the remaining Warriors sent the Mermillods packing.”
Saree let out a breathy “good,” but kept planning orbital adjustments.
Tyron muttered something to Saree about conflicts along the orbit and she made a few more adjustments.
Ruhger waited for Chief, and wondered what they’d do next. Go back to the clock tuning schedule? If so, which one? And how did they finally get PE off their six?
Chief said, “Thrusters ready.”
“Good.” He brought up ship-wide comms again. “Initiating thrust in three, two, engage.” He swiped the control on the last word.
“Thrusters operating nominally, Captain,” Chief said.
“On course,” Saree said. “There will be some adjustments as we fly; there’s a lot of traffic out here.”
“Lightwave, Al-Kindi.”
Ruhger accepted the comms. “Go ahead, Al-Kindi.”
“We will leave you here, at least for now. I’d like to get Nari better medical care, and Antlia Five Station has a highly rated medico group. You are welcome to return to Circinus at any time, and I know the Maulana would like to have Saree back, at least for a short time. If you go to Circinus, please let me know. I am sure Nari would prefer to fold with you. If Clutch Leader Saree has the time, Nari would like to say goodbye.”
Saree turned to look at him.
“Of course she does.” Saree ran from the Control Center before he finished the sentence. “We will let you know if we return to Circinus. I think it we should stay away for a while, until we can neutralize Phalanx Eagle. There’s no sense in leading enemies back to your people. You’ve had more than enough problems with our mutual enemies.”
“I agree, Captain, but the invitation from Maulana is open.”
“Thank you. Let me know when you’re ready and we’ll push you away.”
“Thank you, Captain Ruhger. Safe folds.”
“Thank you, Al-Kindi. Peace be upon you and yours.”
“Peace to you and yours also. Al-Kindi out.”
Poor Saree, alone again.
“Lightwave, Clobbered Turkey.” Porter’s face appeared.
“Go ahead, Turkey.”
“We’re going to Antlia Five Station. Got that package to drop. We’re ready for disconnect. Give us a push out, will you?”
“Certainly.” Ruhger brought up the undocking protocol and let it run, checking each step. He ran some orbital paths and turned Lightwave in the best orientation for the pararescue team’s shuttle. Lightwave’s clamps released and Ruhger engaged the undocking procedure, adding a little higher velocity than normal.
“Excellent. Thanks for the extra impulse.” Porter smiled. “We may or may not see you again. Either way, safe folds.”
“Thank you. Same to you. Ruhger out.”
“Porter out.”
Ruhger noticed Saree was running the undocking procedure for the Al-Kindis’ shuttle from her location at the shuttle’s airlock. She was probably crying and didn’t want any of them to know. He busied himself checking Lightwave’s status. Everything was well within normal tolerances and running smoothly. The lack of passenger shuttles seemed strange. While there’d been a few periods when they had no one to transport, they were far and few between. This new life, transporting a frequency maintainer around the universe, was both easier and harder. Easier, because they didn’t have to look for work. Harder, because staying covert was difficult. And they kept piling up more enemies. Phalanx Eagle, Borgia’s family, Familia in general, and of course, the biggest bad of them all, Galactica. Ruhger couldn’t afford to dwell too hard on all of them, because it was overwhelming. But he had to, so they could figure out how to avoid, evade and escape when necessary. And someday, eliminate the threats entirely.
Saree entered the control center, posture upright and face blank of emotion. Did she feel abandoned? How did she see Lightwave’s crew? Were they merely means to an end or friends? Or something in between? Ruhger grimaced. Whatever the answer was, they needed to know where they were going next. He sighed internally. “Clutch Leader, where are we going?”
Saree jolted. “Oh.” She smiled, a little tentatively. “Maulana would like me to return, to guide the students to ^timespace^, but I feel we could bring trouble with us.”
“I agree. We still have Phalanx Eagle on our six. They’re not likely to just go away, and Gov Human isn’t living up to their promises to take care of them. We don’t want to lead PE to more hostages.”
Saree shook her head sharply with a tiny shudder. “No, especially not pacifist hostages. We just got Nari back—” she blinked rapidly for a moment “—and I’d hate for anyone else to go through what she’s endured.”
“Did she tell you what happened?”
Saree shuddered again. “Nari said she was drugged much of the time, terrified when she was awake, but she also said onboard Spear One there was a woman there who kept the more brutal beings away from her. This woman even threatened Wreck, threatened to castrate him with a laser.”
Interesting. “Did she have a name? I wonder if it’s someone we knew.” Dread warred with reluctant admiration and speculation. What if there was an insider they could turn? What if it was someone they’d known?
“Nari couldn’t remember the woman’s name, just the snarling fights.”
The dread dissipated. “Probably just as well.”
Saree nodded and shrugged. “Maybe Nari will remember more later, but it’s probably better if she doesn’t.”
“Maybe. Memories have a way of surfacing at the most inconvenient times. It’s better to bring them out, drain the wound right away.”
She tilted her head, a tiny smile lightening her expression. “Speaking from experience?”
“Yes.” Ruhger snorted. Less said about any of his experiences, the better. “So, where are we going?”
“Can we return to the old clock maintenance schedule?” Longing crossed her face for a split second, then cleared into grim determination. “I have Time Guild commitments.”
“I understand, but who else has this schedule?”
“Just the Time Guild.”
“We had it, Hal had it. That means Porter’s team might have it, and therefore, Gov Human. Can we at least randomize the travel?”
Saree frowned. “You remember what long folds do to me, right?”
Ruhger frowned in reply; he had forgotten. “Well, pull up the list, let’s see what we can do.”
Tyron and Katryn walked in, smiling.
“Yes?” Ruhger asked warily.
“Got a good location for Phalanx Eagle,” Tyron said, his grin sharp as a knife.
“Really?” Saree asked, happily. Her face fell. “But we don’t have the forces to take them on, especially at their home, their stronghold.”
Tyron held up a hand and tilted it back and forth. “‘Stronghold’ is too strong a term. It’s just a dark station where they spend their downtime. They rent shuttle docks there like everyone else. Bonfanti Station doesn’t get involved in fights between shuttles or folders or anyone. The only side is theirs.” He grimaced. “Any ship using a weapon in space inside their designated ‘safe zone’ is considered a threat and terminated immediately, without warning. They’ve done it. Doesn’t matter who they are or what they’re doing, a ship firing any weapon in Bonfanti’s orbit is a dead ship. Unless it’s one of theirs, of course.”
Saree said, “So, if we’re going to neutralize PE, we either get Gov Human in there to destroy everything—”
“We don’t have the clout for that.” Grant sauntered in, Chief right behind him.
Saree shrugged one shoulder. “Or we make this personal.”
Ruhger peered at her. “It’s already personal, but what do you mean?”
“I mean, we go to the source of the problem. We take the fight to Wreck.”
“Without getting zapped ourselves?” Katryn asked skeptically.
“That’s what I mean by personal.” Saree smiled, a distinctly grim smile, her body stiff with determination.
Ruhger’s stomach sank. Last time they got “personal” they lost as much as they won. Against an enemy like Wreck? It was hard to say what the outcome would be.
Chief slapped his wrench into his palm. “My axe has waited a very long time to finish the job.”
Great. Their voice of reason was already way off orbit. “Okay, everyone, perhaps we see what’s involved in this mission before we get excited about it? This may not be doable at all, especially with one folder, two shuttles, and all of our faces well known by PE and their buddies.”
“Who says that’s all we have?” Saree asked. “PE has to have more enemies. Wreck is too impulsive and unstable to not have more. I think we’ve all brought this up before—the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Temporarily at least.”
Grant said, “She’s got a good point. PE was on the brink of dissolution before Galactica started funding them. They must have angered a lot of their own people and probably other merc companies. Double-crossed them or stiffed them or whatever, I’m sure it happened.”
“Well, of course they did, dahrling,” Loreli caroled, sashaying into the control center, a hover cart behind her. “Do you remember Cookie?”
“Cookie?” Ruhger remembered the older, grizzled veteran who ran the chow hall with an iron fist. “Cookie is still alive?”
“Yes, dahrling. He owns a small establishment on Zarmina’s World in Libra.” Loreli shrugged, an exaggerated movement making her entire body bounce. Would she spring right out of that ridiculous corset? “It’s not fancy, but it keeps him in credits. Anyhoo, I contacted him and he sent me a list of other people who hate Wreck.” She simpered. “Cookie put himself at the top of the list. Wreck forced him out because he insisted on buying decent food, rather than cheap junk. Cookie is still steamed!”
Ruhger huffed. “Not surprising. When you have no taste yourself...”
Everyone laughed.
“But seriously, I’ve put the list in the shared folder.” Loreli batted her ridiculously long lashes. “You can look at it after you eat. Unless you don’t want all this fabulous food I’ve brought you.” She raised her brows in a skeptical question.
“Of course we want your creations, love,” Grant said.
Loreli tilted her head and flapped her lashes again. “Oh, this is just simple food, not a real creation.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, Loreli,” Saree said. “Everything you make is a wonder.”
“Thank you, dahrling. You’re good for my ego.”
“It’s true, Loreli. You spoil us,” Ruhger said. “Thank you.”
“Oh, you’re welcome.” She beamed around the room. “You’re all welcome. Now dig in before it goes cold!”
Ruhger waved the crew ahead of him, and had a stare-down with Saree, until Loreli waltzed over and took Saree’s arm, pulling her along and serving her. Ruhger followed her, spooning up double portions of everything. The food, a saucy, spicy-smelling, dark red stew with a steamed grain and little cheesy buns, looked delicious. He sat in his usual chair and took a bite. Earthy heat hit and lingered, the grain, vegetables and protein all blending into a delicious whole, the cheese in the little rolls soothing the last of the spice. “Delicious, Loreli.”
“Thank you, dahrling. I’m glad you like it!”
He nodded to her and returned to eating, going back for another serving after he finished. Most of the crew did the same. When everyone was finished, the dishes back on the hover tray, and casual conversations popped up, Ruhger stood.
“All right, let’s take a serious look at this idea. Loreli, Grant, you take Cookie’s list and start digging. Use your connections on merc net. Tyron, Katryn, please continue to lock down Lightwave’s net. See if you can figure out what Los did. Chief, if we’re going to fight, let’s make sure all our weapons are perfect. Ship and hand weapons. I’ll help. Saree, please plan folds for this dark station. See if we can hit some of the clocks on your list on the way. Grant, where is the station?”
Grant grimaced. “Auriga.”
Ruhger frowned. “Not the Teddy Bears’ system, right?”
Grant shook his head. “No, although it’s not too far away. No, Bonfanti Station is named after the system. None of the planets are habitable by oxy-breathers or known non-oxys. There’s a big debris field. Speculation is a planet got hit by a wanderer and both were destroyed. The station orbits at the planet’s original location, and heavy debris has collected into belts above and below. Burns a lot of fuel to reach the station because you’re either avoiding the debris or going around the belts.”
Grant smirked. “That’s one of the ways they earn credits. They’ve got a fuel manufacturing facility right there and a source of material. Not enough that the big corps bother them, but big enough to attract lots of ships that don’t want attention. It’s a dangerous place. The station dwellers are protected, but there’s no law enforcement for visitors, just protection you can buy that might not stay bought. Most visitors are trouble too. If we go on station, we go as a group, fully armed and armored. And like the Teddy Bears, the more dangerous inhabitants of Bonfanti are the ones who look harmless. They’re also popular because of Bonfanti Arena.” Grant’s lip curled. “Blood sports. Fights to the death. And a prison that feeds the Arena.”
“Fun,” Chief said flatly, the thwack of wrench on flesh loud in the quiet room.
That pretty much summed it up. Ruhger sighed internally. But better they take the fight to Phalanx Eagle and get rid of them now, rather than constantly worry about the target on their backs. Wreck didn’t care about credits, he was obsessed with destroying them. It was surprising Wreck’s own people hadn’t taken him out. Lightwave must be hated by more than just Wreck or he’d be out an airlock by now. Another good reason to reach out to some of the other merc companies out there, see if there was some interest in teaming up.
Ruhger huffed a frustrated sigh. The other companies weren’t going to help them. They’d be thrilled to have less competition, but they weren’t going to take Lightwave’s side without a whole lot of credits. Maybe more credits than the Clutch Leader could afford. And even if they did, the potential for a double-cross was very high. Or they’d take the upfront percentage and pull a no-show, relying on PE to destroy them, avoiding any blowback. Most merc companies had little to lose by failing to perform with a no-name small transport company. And the more reputable mercs cost too much or they wouldn’t go up against another company directly. It was one thing to be on opposite sides of a fight for customers; an entirely different fold to go directly against another merc. No matter how horrible they were.
But maybe Cookie’s list would prove helpful in another way. There was nothing to hold them back from using individuals. There were plenty of men, women and non-humans who’d run afoul of Wreck and his cruel ways. Individuals could be controlled, managed. Especially if they put a housing unit into one of the cargo bays. They might even find a few with their own shuttles.
And their own axes to grind.