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Zofie dosed on and off for hours before finally settling into proper sleep. The disruption was sudden and disorienting. It took her a minute to climb from the dream realms into shipyard reality. The Whisper had a visitor. Zofie recognized her right in the external light.
Zofie cracked the airlock and pulled on a shirt over her head then looked for pants.
"Keep dressing," said Marshall. "We've been invited to join Admiral Bakken and company aboard the Marlborough."
"Now?"
"Twenty minutes before 'now'. My scooter's outside. We need to move."
Zofie sat on the deck, pulling on shoes, then stopped. "What if I decline the invitation?"
"If you ever want to broker again in the Confluence or the Realm, don't consider it."
"Okay, that's my motivation. What's theirs?"
"I can only speculate. Keep you out of circulation? Exploit your acquaintance with Carver Denz and his people?"
Marshall was on edge. Zofie's resistance wouldn't help her or her new possible ally. "Why you?"
"I'm included at Kondradt's request. Another witness to whatever occurs when we catch up to Rowland. I'm afraid our choices are currently down to one, Zofie."
Zofie sealed her flimsuit. "I'm glad they sent you instead of a couple of muscle-bound marines. I could've got myself injured by gut reaction."
She secured her ship and climbed on the scooter.
*
Zofie looked through the viewport of the Marlborough. During Zofie's admission interview onto the warship, Bakken herself had reinforced Zofie's potential value as an intermediary with Penance and Crossed Swords' crews. The role wouldn't generate immediate credit but if she looked at the long game, perhaps new commercial opportunities could be negotiated with the Confluence and the Realm.
"Kondradt tells me they've located the Rickover." Marshall came up behind her.
Zofie's former cargo claimed to be here at Kondradt's request but Zofie had seen her speaking alone with Chancellor Mekli when she emerged from her interview with Bakken. Dynamics between Mekli and Kondradt were hard to follow.
"Is Rowland still tracking Chels and Altman?" Zofie settled onto a hard bench.
"If he is, we're too removed to pick up their signal so we follow him."
"When do we pursue?"
"Momentarily. Kondradt suggested we buckle in. Navy ships don't follow passenger liner protocol when it comes to acceleration limits. Come on, I've found a more comfortable set of recliners."
Zofie and Marshall hurried down a catwalk and entered a door marked 'Wardroom'. "They won't be using it while we're in pursuit."
Zofie strapped into a cushioned chaise. Marshall fiddled with the comm until they could hear the bridge chatter. "We'll travel in comfort and not be blind to what's happening outside."
"Does Kondradt anticipate armed resistance?"
Marshall shook her head. "I don't know what Kondradt expects. From what I hear, Rowland's unlikely to stand down without a scrap. He's already crossed numerous lines in the sand. Admiral Bakken sounded pretty pissed. She might be the one to start shooting."
Zofie wasn't sure she agreed. Bakken showed no emotion during their chat. This commander wouldn't show that much of a crack in the Confluence's solidarity in front of Chancellor Mekli. On the other hand, such a move might convince Mekli the Confluence wouldn't hesitate to fire on any perceived enemy if they'd act against one of the their own.
The chair pushed into her as the cruiser began its chase. She hoped her value as go-between with Penance and Crossed Swords would be needed. She didn't want either to be caught in Rowland and Bakken's crossfire.
*
"They're closing," Chels said.
Altman scanned the screen. "Do we run?"
"Not much chance we can lose them and I don't want to make us a target. We continue our current heading until we're hailed." She clenched her hands on her chair to stop the tremors coursing through her muscles.
They didn't have long to wait.
"Attention Crossed Swords. This is the Rickover, Confluence Naval Frigate under the command of Admiral Rowland. Stand by to be boarded."
"Haven't got your identification handshake confirmed," Chels replied. "State your reason for request, if indeed you are who you claim."
"You will allow us to match vector and prepare to be boarded."
"I..." She coughed to clear the lump rising in her throat. "I repeat. No identity confirmation. There's plenty of false ID's out here, looking for naïve prospectors to rob."
"Take a good look out your portside, Crossed Swords. Do we look like a vandal?"
Chels and Altman both stared at the now illuminated frigate. It wasn't large compared to a naval dreadnaught but it dwarfed their ship. "No. Why do you need to board us? The Confluence has no authority in Schoenfeld Eddy. Has Argosy Realm transferred policing to the Confluence while I wasn't listening?"
"Our armament provides all the authority we require. Further questions can wait until we are aboard your vessel."
Chels closed the link, letting the ship drift on course. "He must believe we found what we sought at the last outpost." She'd endured jumpspace to end the search too soon? "We need to buy time, Altman. Any suggestions?"
"I could claim you kidnapped me and demand a hearing. Or we could bluff a race to lodge a claim."
Or I could launch Swords into their flank and destroy all evidence of what we're doing. Chels wasn't ready for self-immolation. Not yet.
She had to control her nerves. Pious' teachings? No time to meditate out of this. "They'll be searching for any sign of the artifact if that's why they tracked us." She opened the astrogation log. "First thing I delete is where we're headed."
"I spent a lot of time calculating that course." Altman blocked her fingers.
"We have backup. Penance may already be there if they concluded we were first target for Rowland."
"Okay. Wipe it. Better it gets lost for good rather than the Confluence acquiring it. I need a drink."
"Help yourself. What are we prospecting for?"
"Same as everyone. Schoenfeldium."
"Too late to falsify logs," said Chels. "We tell them it's in our brains so no one can claim jump us."
Clunk. The Crossed Swords shook once. They heard the telltale noises of cables being anchored to the hull.
Chels had one desperate card to play before they were restrained. "Mayday, mayday. This is Crossed Swords out of Eddy Shipyard. We are being boarded by personnel claiming to represent Confluence Navy." She put it on repeat and waited for punishment.
"That was unnecessary," said the first of the two men through the 'lock.
A Lieutenant by insignia. Followed by a higher rank. Admiral Rowland.
"Unnecessary?" said Chels. "Then why are you armed?" she shrunk back from the marine.
The Lieutenant patted down both Chels and Altman, then holstered his sidearm. "Precaution."
Rowland examined the cabin. "Where is it?"
"What?" asked Altman.
"Don't be stupid. I don't have the time nor the patience." Rowland answered. "The artifact you came looking for."
The officer was combing their navlog. "It's been erased, sir. I think I can retrieve what's missing." He inserted a black strip of plastic in a port and waited.
"It's legally mine," said Altman.
"You will sign it over to the Confluence Navy," said Rowland. "I saw what it could do. Such a weapon is not to be left in the hands of someone like you. It isn't salvage. It's a guarantee of lasting peace between the Confluence and Argosy Realm."
"In your hands, it's safer? Peace only with the Realm subservient as we've always been." Chels regretted leading them close. Maybe they wouldn't find it. Altman's treasure would remain a myth to future searchers.
"Got it, Admiral. This was a decoy path."
"You will remain on board, Lieutenant. Pilot ahead. These two will accompany me back to the Rickover."
"You're hijacking my ship?"
"Not yours, Ms. Harte."
"I have charter from Brother Remorse at the Eddy shipyard."
"The brother isn't here and my mission takes precedence. We leave now." Rowland picked up his helmet. "If you don't want to vacuum freeze, I suggest you suit up."
Chels was out of options. She took as long as she dared to don her suit, pretending to have trouble with the seals. Every minute gained could bring help or put the artifact further from Rowland's grip. A grip now holding both her and the only man who could operate it.
*
Aboard Bakken's pursuit ship, Zofie listened to the mayday call and the subsequent denial by the Rickover. "Crossed Swords is under Rowland's control."
"We're overtaking them," said Marshall.
"Catching up is one thing," said Zofie. "How do you plan to stop him? Rowland's doing what he thinks is right. If he's a fanatic then it's worse."
Kondradt stood in the doorway. "There's enough authority with Bakken and Mekli to justify any argument or force required."
Zofie had her doubts. The temptation of the alien weapon could be too great for either side to destroy it or clues leading to its recovery. Crossed Swords crew, her fellow Realm citizens, would be small collateral damage. What action could she take?
*