Carda’an spaceship, Standard Year 403 after founding

  “It’s a Tundran warship!” Pharel hissed in excitement, his yellowish brown eyes wide with excitement.

  Starel walked up to the viewscreen, his eyes equally wide with excitement. “Do you think they know about the Sarayan station?” He asked.

  “I think they might be here to attack the Sarayan station.” Pharel said with a grin. He put one hand on Amiya’s soft fawn gray fur. Sensing the excitement, Amiya ran up to the viewscreen, standing up on four of her eight legs to get a better view.

  “More like you hope they are.” Starel said. “Ship?” He asked uncertainly.

  The Tundran battleship will attack the Sarayan station. The ship’s neutral, mechanical voice announced.

  “That just means Robert sent an update.” Starel said, unimpressed.

  “Will you let us go?” Pharel breathed, trying to contain his excitement.

  There was a noticeable pause as the ship calculated odds. Recommendation: remain on board.

  Amiya turned towards the two boys, her large, expressive eyes reflecting back the light in the room. Amiya looked worried.

  “That means the ship will let us go!” Pharel nearly shouted. A recommendation meant they had the option of choosing something else. “I’m sorry, Amiya.” He reached out, stroking her fur. “You can’t come for this one. But we’ll bring you next time. We promise.”

  “Let’s suit up.” Starel said, his feet already carrying him down to the docking bay as his heart beat with excitement. There was going to be a battle, and they were going to be there. To see it. To live it.

  Carda’an spacesuits used technology that mirrored, somewhat imperfectly, what their chameleon skins could naturally accomplish. Shielded and reflective, the suits would be effectively invisible in open space. Starel and Pharel suited up, becoming nearly invisible even to each other, although their eyes were especially well suited to detecting the telltale signs of delayed reflection as their mechanical skins took time to catch up with their surroundings.

  “What will we do?” Starel asked suddenly, staring at Pharel’s disappearing form as his brother suited up.

  Pharel paused. “We’re going to see the battle.” He said.

  “But what will we do?”

  “Do we have to do anything?” Pharel asked.

  “No. But we could.” Starel said quietly.

  The two brothers stared at each other, their faces the only thing visible over the chameleon skin of their suits, as they held their helmets in their hands.

  “We don’t have a side.” Pharel pointed out. “Dad is on Saraya. But I’m not siding with the Sarayns. And I don’t think dad would want us to. Their captain tortures people.”

  “Sometimes we torture people.” Starel pointed out.

  “That’s human thinking.” Pharel shook his head. “Other Carda’ans torture people. You and I don’t.”

  “But we probably will. Someday.” Starel said, holding his helmet somewhat uncertainly. “Dad probably has.”

  “Then we have no side.” Pharel said decisively. “Now let’s go see the battle.”

  ---

  The Grey Seprent, Standard Year 404 after founding

  “Danil confirmed the bomb is planted.” Tony said, looking up. They were on the bridge now, and Titan’s swirling atmosphere blocked their view of the Sarayan station. It was equally effective at blocking the Sarayans from seeing them coming. “He says the next meal time is in three and a half hours.”

  “We’ll be ready.” Captain Arden acknowledged. “Sean, I want to time our approach to coincide with the bomb going off.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “And then we’ll find out if all the guns are working.” Gregory said from his chair on the Captain’s right hand side, his eyes on Alanna.

  Alanna nodded in acknowledgment. This was the Captain’s first test. If Danil gave them the wrong information, or if one of the guns happened to break down at the wrong time, she was dead. There was nothing to be done about it, and no point in worrying. She turned her gaze back onto the viewscreen, looking at the orange and yellow swirls of Titan’s methane heavy atmosphere. God but she hated this place. “Tony and I should go in ahead.” She said. “We’ll need time to get in and connect with Danil.”

  Captain Tanya Arden paused. Not bothering with subtlety, she turned towards Sicaro. “Do you?” She asked.

  “We do.” Tony said.

  Alanna looked over, surprised to suddenly find him standing by her side. He nodded to her quietly, standing shoulder to shoulder. Tony Sicaro, was in. Releasing a breath she didn’t know she was holding, Alanna turned back towards the captain.

  “Very well.” The captain acknowledged. She turned to Gregory with a slight nod. “Get our people ready.” She said. “Shuttle launch at 14:00.”

  “How are we getting our people onto the Sarayan station?” Alanna asked.

  Captain Arden hesitated.

  Alanna’s eyes narrowed slightly, as she realized the implications of that hesitation. The captain didn’t trust her enough to explain. “I better go get ready.” She said into the brief silence. “I’ll be…”

  “We’ve made modifications to the shuttle’s shields.” The captain interrupted. “We’re going to take out as many turret guns as we can before you go in, but even if you get hit, the shuttle should survive.”

  “Should?” Alanna repeated under her breath. “Captain, if Tony and I go in ahead, we could take out some of the turret guns.” She offered. “Leave the shuttle an opening to get in without getting hit. And we’ll only do it after you’ve seen all the guns are working, just like Danil said.” She added, knowing the captain wouldn’t trust her or Danil without verification.

  “We’d need drone support to get it done.” Tony added.

  The captain nodded approvingly. In theory, she rather liked the idea of having the drones there. She would retain control of the drones, and it would give her visibility into everything that went on. And if lieutenant commander Summers chose to make an unexpected move, the drones would be there, ready to take her out. “And how will the two of you get onto the station?” She asked.

  “Sarayans turn off short range sensors when making repairs.” Alanna spoke up. “Otherwise everything we… everything they do would set off the sensors. If you know you’re making scheduled repairs, it’s easier to just turn them off. And Danil is making repairs.”

  “And the long range sensors?”

  Alanna hesitated, unsure if she should repeat what James had told her about using a shuttle disguised as an asteroid. “Is there something we can use to mask our approach?” She asked instead.

  “Hmm.” The captain said, sounding less than pleased. “Just the two of you?”

  “Plus the six drones.” Tony reminded her. “Captain, you’re asking us to go in without backup and disable at least six of those guns. We could use some support.”

  “Was I?” The captain asked with a slight smile.

  “Fair enough, you didn’t ask. It’s not your plan. But if this is the plan, our request is reasonable. You gotta make this look good.” Tony said pointedly.

  “The two of you and six drones.” The captain repeated thoughtfully. “Very well, we may have a way of getting you in. We’ll need to move now to get there in time. If your speed and trajectory look planned, it will capture the Sarayan’s attention, even if you look like a rock.”

  ---

  They walked towards the docking bay in silence, Tony leading the way. Mission objective: take down Bernard Bernhard and take control of the bridge, before the Sarayans realize they’re losing. Alanna looked over in his direction, and Tony nodded briefly in return. The slight nod would have to do, there was no way to ask what she needed to ask. They suited up and Alanna picked up her new Tundran gun. She smiled slightly. “It’s a good gun.” She said out loud.

  “It’s a goddamn great gun.” Gregory said. “Latest model, lighter and better balanced than the older ones, carries more ammo.”

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Alanna started at the unexpected voice so close behind her.

  “Problem?” Gregory asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked past.

  “No problem.” Alanna said, following him into the docking bay. Eight crew members were diligently spraying the smallest shuttle with some sort of textured paint that left it looking like a chunk of stone. Sort of.

  “You bring that pike, lieutenant commander?” One of the men asked with a grin.

  “The captain assured me it’s waiting for us when we return.” Alanna responded, not missing a beat.

  “Glad to hear it. Now get in. We don’t have much time. We’ll seal you in and hope the doors open back up. Space vacuum should dry the paint fine.”

  “And the drones.” Tony reminded them, gesturing for Alanna to precede him into the shuttle.

  “Wait.” Alanna activated the comms as they settled into the shuttle and opened a channel to the bridge. “Captain, the disguise is sloppy.” She said bluntly. There wasn’t time for anything else. “I’d say we forget going in slow and time this to coincide with the bomb going off in the break room and your attack. Do you know where the Sarayan station’s long range sensors are likely to be located?”

  “I do not.” The captain’s voice came through clearly.

  Alanna sighed in relief. At least the captain was still talking to them. “Tony, can you pull up your best visual of a Sarayan… thank you.” She said gratefully, looking at a fairly realistic image of what she expected the station to look like. “Captain, I’m going to show you the likeliest locations for the sensors. If you target these during your attack, you can temporarily blind the sensors. We should be able to go in unnoticed. We’ll take out the guns around the repairs airlock before we go in.” Alanna pointed out the turret guns on the station schematic. “Once they’re disabled, we’ll get out of your way and you should have a clear shot from the Gray Serpent. You can take them out yourself and make doubly sure the guns are disabled before sending in the shuttle.”

  “Agreed.” The captain said, a note of surprised approval in her voice. “Well planned, lieutenant commander. Well planned and good luck to you both.”

  “Thank you, captain.”

  ---

  “Well done.” Tony said, nodding in her direction.

  Alanna breathed a sigh of relief, putting down her helmet and leaning her head against the back of her chair. “The captain wants her people to go home alive. As long as I’m useful, she just might let me live.”

  Tony shook his head. “Remember what we agreed on?”

  “You watch the Tundrans, I watch the Sarayans.” Alanna repeated diligently.

  “That’s the plan. Once we liberate the Sarayans from this captain whatever his name is, getting you back home alive is my job.”

  Alanna burst out laughing, relieving some the coiled tension she had been feeling all day and most of the night. “Operation liberate the Sarayans is on its way.” She agreed.

  “Damn right.”

  “And the Tundran shuttle?” Alanna asked, sobering up slightly.

  “You mean will it xplode? Yeah, it’ll xplode the next time they open the shuttle bay doors.”

  “How long until they can get out?”

  “Explosion will likely melt some of the door. Shouldn’t take them more than fifteen minutes to cut their way out, assuming they’ll bother.”

  Alanna frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “They could just leave us there. If I were Gregory, I’d be tempted.” Tony admitted.

  “Tell James.” Alanna said, sitting up in her chair. “Once that explosion goes off and Captain Arden loses control of the drones, she won’t listen to either of us. We need James.”

  The captain might not listen to James either, Tony thought to himself. “I’ll tell him.” He said out loud.

  Alanna sighed. “When James makes a plan, it goes better, doesn’t it?”

  “James has more to work with.”

  “What will the captain do?” She asked quietly. “When you return?”

  “And when you return?” Tony echoed. “Depends on how it all turns out.”

  “I don’t return without you.” Alanna said. “You need to let me go in first.”

  Tony let out a bark of laughter. “This isn’t a ladies first kind of endeavor, Alanna. Of course you’re not going in first.” He shook his head, clearly dismissing the idea.

  Alanna took a breath. She suspected that would be his first reaction. “Think it through. Please. I don’t return without you. If you’re dead, there’s only me, some stunned Sarayans, and six Tundran drones. No way to know who shot who unless Tony Sicaro is there to tell the story. If you don’t return, I’m just as dead after a court martial as I am if the Sarayans shoot me on that station. And James” Alanna paused to make sure Tony was paying attention “and James goes down with me, as the fool who gave away his access codes to a traitor. Yes, I know he gave you the access codes to take control of the drones. It’s obvious. There will be a record of whose access codes were used. If we do this and you’re not there to explain what we did, James may be compromised. I can’t clear his name, only you can. Let me go in first. This is how we protect James.”

  Tony shrugged, unimpressed. “Those weren’t my orders.”

  Alanna hissed in exasperation. “What were your orders?”

  “Protect Alanna.” Tony said. “James knows how to stay on message.”

  “That’s not what he meant!”

  “That’s exactly what he meant. You’re slower and you’re smaller. You go in first and you’re just slowing me down. And a stray shot will get past you and hit me anyway. That’s just damn stupid. Court martials and politics, that’s James’s problem. I have my orders.”

  “He’s not even your commanding officer!”

  Tony shrugged, clearly uninterested in her counter counterarguments.

  “If you go in and die and I come out alive, the Tundrans will take me apart piece by piece.” Alanna snapped. “And James is very far away. I won’t…” She paused. Her arguments clearly weren’t working. But she just thought of something that might work better. “You have the grenades?” She asked.

  “Yeah, I have the grenades.”

  “How many?”

  “Six.”

  “You’re faster, you’re bigger. And I bet you throw further than I do.”

  “Of course I throw further than you do.”

  “That’ll slow you down.”

  “I can throw and still be faster than…”

  “You can’t throw and fire your gun at the same time.” Alanna interrupted.

  Tony paused.

  “Someone has to throw the grenades. Someone else has to go in first and fire their gun.” Alanna continued relentlessly.

  “You can throw too.” Tony said, obviously backtracking.

  “Not as far.” Alanna said happily. “I am very small and weak. But I’ve got great aim. And I’m fast, Tony. Fast enough to hit anything that moves at the other end of a thirty foot hallway. Are you better at that than I am?”

  “Maybe.” Tony said stubbornly.

  “Maybe.” Alanna agreed. “But you can definitely throw further.”

  A lengthy silence ensued. “Tell me about Bernard.” Tonys said.

  “What about…”

  “I’m still thinking about it.” Tony interrupted her. “Now tell me about Bernard.”

  “What about him?” Alanna asked impatiently.

  “How did you first meet this fine specimen of the Sarayan military command, and why did you try to kill him, law abiding Sarayan citizen that I’m sure you were?”

  “None of your business.”

  “You want to try that with someone who hasn’t been sticking his neck out for you constantly over the past few days?”

  “You stuck your neck out for James.”

  Tony laughed. “This isn’t his plan. It’s ours. I hate to break it to you, but I don’t buy into the James mystique. I’ve seen James do some really stupid shit.” Tony grinned. “Some really stupid shit. The man’s delirious and barely conscious. I’m not taking his word as gold, I’m backing your plan. You owe me answers.”

  “You’ll think about letting me go first?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” Tony repeated.

  “I’d really rather…”

  “Don’t care.”

  “Fine, I owe you.” Alanna said reluctantly. “He came to the orphanage.”

  “You were an orphan?” Tony asked. It hadn’t been in her file.

  “Yeah, I was.”

  “Makes it easier to walk away.”

  “Does it?”

  “Doesn’t it? You have no family to protect.”

  “Being an orphan doesn’t mean I don’t have family. I have family.”

  “I didn’t mean… never mind. What happened next?” Tony asked.

  “I had a problem with it.” Alanna said.

  “Damn, it’s like pulling teeth. And?”

  “Problems need to get fixed.” Alanna said succinctly.

  “And how’d you fix that one?”

  “They drank the water. Bernard and the… the others. They drank the water while they were there. They had better filters than we did, the fancy bottles with better filters to improve the taste.” She hadn’t thought about it in a long time, and she preferred it that way. Alanna did not welcome the memories returning, but Tony was right. She owed him. If this was how he wanted to be repaid, then so be it. “So one night we, my family and I,” she added pointedly “took some regular old sewing needles and made a whole lot of holes in those filters, and replaced the fresh water with something quite different.”

  “That’s cute but it’s not really attempted murder, is it?” Tony asked, sounding bemused.

  “You’re being very Tundran about this.” Alanna said.

  “Did anyone actually die?”

  “Eight people died. Bernard nearly died. He was the only survivor. On Saraya, Angerona poisoning is serious business.”

  Tony whistled softly. He had not seen that coming. “How old were you?” He asked.

  “Fourteen.”

  “Problems need to get fixed.” Tony repeated.

  “They sure do.”

  “And this Sarayan friend we’re talking to now, the one with all this info, he one of the orphans?”

  Alanna shook her head. “I can’t tell you.” She said.

  “Why the hell not?”

  “We’re going alone, onto a Sarayan station. You might get caught. You might be questioned.”

  Tony nodded, accepting her explanation. Either one of them might get caught. Captain Arden’s people might be delayed. Or they may not come at all. Just then, in that tiny little shuttle, it was only the two of them and the drones. “Did Bernard know it was you?” He asked.

  “Not then, although of course he suspected the kids. It’s not like they could call in the police to investigate. There was no good reason for any of those people to have been there.”

  “But he recognized you when you joined the Sarayan navy.”

  “He did. And I made him nervous. At first, he thought bullying me would fix the problem. But that’s a problem in and of itself.”

  “You don’t bully easily.” Tony guessed.

  “No, I do not.” Alanna agreed.

  “And then he started to suspect.”

  Alanna nodded.

  “Every good commander has their own style.” Tony said. “You start to recognize it, over time.”

  “I guess so.”

  “He try to take you out?”

  “Not… not directly.” Alanna admitted. “I kept expecting an attack, but it never came. Maybe he knew you were coming, the Tundrans. Maybe he knew you were coming to Titan. I should have died in that attack. Just about everyone else did.”

  “Was Bernard stationed with you, on Titan?”

  “Yes. But he left. He left just before the Tundrans attacked. And that’s the story.” Alanna said, with some relief. At least it was done, and she wouldn’t need to talk about it again. “So you see” she added “I’m not exactly James Hawk material. Even before the whole Sarayan traitor mess. Let me go in first, let me take out Bernard, and let me fix this mess.” Alanna sighed. “It’s all gotten bigger than I am. This isn’t me. The politics, the games. It’s not me. I just want this mess fixed and over with.”

  Tony looked over at her, his eyes narrowed slightly. “Only way it’s really over is if you’re dead.” He pointed out. “And my job is to get you home alive.”

  “And if I go home alive, with the Tundrans believing I got you killed, what will James say when they bring back whatever’s left? It’s not good when your own people are the problem.” Alanna said, turning away.

  Tony opened his mouth to say more, only to be interrupted by the insistent buzz of his wrist comm. “James says he’ll make sure the captain comes for us.” He said.

  Alanna sat up in her chair. “Still alive?” She said.

  Tony nodded. “Oh and look, he is feeling better.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Tony ignored her question. “I’ve thought about it and I agree. You go in first. On one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “You will do whatever it takes to stay alive. Anything and everything.”

  “Danil…” Alanna began.

  “Is disposable.” Tony interrupted bluntly. “They all are. One Tundran life, your life, is worth more than everyone on that station. Those are the rules.”

  “Those are the rules.” Alanna echoed.

  “Good. And just to be clear, I’m not agreeing because of your convoluted bullshit.” Tony waved his hand dismissively. “I’m agreeing because I can’t fire a gun and throw grenades at the same damn time. Oh, and one more thing.”

  Alanna frowned, not liking the smug look on Tony’s face. “What’s that?” She asked.

  “Your sweetheart says if you don’t take care of yourself and come home alive, he will personally make sure every single Sarayan on that ship ends up dead. So suit up and don't die. It’s liberation time.”