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Authors: Richard L. Sanders
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himself.
The simplest explanation was that the
Harbinger’s crew was sympathetic to Raidan and they’d planned to
rescue him all along. However the odds were not good that so many
people in one place just happened to take Raidan’s side by
coincidence. More likely people joined the ship, officially or
discreetly, after it became clear the trial was taking place on
Praxis One.
According to reports, a third of the
Harbinger’s crew changed at Praxis One, which was neither uncommon
nor enough people to guarantee a swift capture of the ship.
Especially since, ostensibly, the newcomers were mostly technicians
and engineers rather than marines and Special Forces. That and he
could find no significant connections between any of them. Some
were related to each other, others came from the same schools, that
sort of thing, but ultimately there wasn't much to implicate they
were working together on some kind of grand scale.
And once again, who could have
anticipated—far enough in advance—the need to take control of the
Harbinger in order to rescue, or capture, Raidan?
So far the files Intel Wing had sent
him hadn't proven very useful. Mostly just boring. But if there
were a shred of a clue buried somewhere inside them, Calvin was
determined to find it. Because he just had to know how Raidan and
whoever he worked with managed to steal a ship like the Harbinger
and make it and all hands vanish with hardly a trace.
One other thing stood out to Calvin.
The Fifth Fleet seemed unnaturally interested in the Harbinger
case. Yes, it had been one of their ships that went missing so of
course they'd be all over it. But why were they this bent on being
the ones to capture him rather than begging for Intel Wing's
assistance? Intel Wing had resources and training designed to deal
with this kind of thing. Why did the Fifth Fleet want to keep them
out of it as much as possible? Maybe to recover some of the dignity
lost by having a condemned prisoner steal a dreadnought. Or maybe
it was deeper than that. Or, Calvin sighed, maybe it was nothing at
all.
He found it difficult to concentrate
with Summers Presley aboard. Yes, she was attractive and
stimulating, but more importantly she was someone hovering over his
shoulder. Second-guessing his every move. He'd never had to play
defense on his own ship before. And since her eyes were the Fleet's
eyes, he would have to tread extra lightly. If only he still had
Anand...
He paced his room feeling restless as
his mind spun circles, trying to make all the pieces fit together.
Guessing at possible explanations for Raidan’s actions, his escape,
and what his next move might be.
Why was he going to Aleator? It was a
system on the edge of the Empire, outside the jurisdiction of any
major power or government. A haven for thieves, cutthroats,
pirates, criminals, mercenaries, and swarms of people trying to
make a quick fortune. Aleator was under no one's control, except
the Roscos, a family of criminals Calvin knew all too well. Too
much of his own family history was involved with them. And because
of that he didn't want to go to Aleator. He’d go because he had to,
but he didn't have to like it.
Eventually he found himself unlocking
his safe and withdrawing the bottle of equarius. As he did, he told
himself he wasn't going to take any, he was just going to hold it,
and look at it, and think about it. Deeper inside he knew better,
but chose to ignore the voice of warning… which was more of a
whisper anyway.
He sat back down after grabbing a
bottle of water, then snapped a pill in half and downed it. Knowing
the effects wouldn't be felt for several minutes. Until then, he
tried to empty his mind by imagining the void of open space all
around.
***
His breathing was slow and deep. Each
exhale carried the urge to smile at everything, and nothing.
Thoughts were scattered like shifting sands adrift on a playful
pond. And he cared about nothing. The swirling joyful apathy filled
every breath and
The simplest explanation was that the
Harbinger’s crew was sympathetic to Raidan and they’d planned to
rescue him all along. However the odds were not good that so many
people in one place just happened to take Raidan’s side by
coincidence. More likely people joined the ship, officially or
discreetly, after it became clear the trial was taking place on
Praxis One.
According to reports, a third of the
Harbinger’s crew changed at Praxis One, which was neither uncommon
nor enough people to guarantee a swift capture of the ship.
Especially since, ostensibly, the newcomers were mostly technicians
and engineers rather than marines and Special Forces. That and he
could find no significant connections between any of them. Some
were related to each other, others came from the same schools, that
sort of thing, but ultimately there wasn't much to implicate they
were working together on some kind of grand scale.
And once again, who could have
anticipated—far enough in advance—the need to take control of the
Harbinger in order to rescue, or capture, Raidan?
So far the files Intel Wing had sent
him hadn't proven very useful. Mostly just boring. But if there
were a shred of a clue buried somewhere inside them, Calvin was
determined to find it. Because he just had to know how Raidan and
whoever he worked with managed to steal a ship like the Harbinger
and make it and all hands vanish with hardly a trace.
One other thing stood out to Calvin.
The Fifth Fleet seemed unnaturally interested in the Harbinger
case. Yes, it had been one of their ships that went missing so of
course they'd be all over it. But why were they this bent on being
the ones to capture him rather than begging for Intel Wing's
assistance? Intel Wing had resources and training designed to deal
with this kind of thing. Why did the Fifth Fleet want to keep them
out of it as much as possible? Maybe to recover some of the dignity
lost by having a condemned prisoner steal a dreadnought. Or maybe
it was deeper than that. Or, Calvin sighed, maybe it was nothing at
all.
He found it difficult to concentrate
with Summers Presley aboard. Yes, she was attractive and
stimulating, but more importantly she was someone hovering over his
shoulder. Second-guessing his every move. He'd never had to play
defense on his own ship before. And since her eyes were the Fleet's
eyes, he would have to tread extra lightly. If only he still had
Anand...
He paced his room feeling restless as
his mind spun circles, trying to make all the pieces fit together.
Guessing at possible explanations for Raidan’s actions, his escape,
and what his next move might be.
Why was he going to Aleator? It was a
system on the edge of the Empire, outside the jurisdiction of any
major power or government. A haven for thieves, cutthroats,
pirates, criminals, mercenaries, and swarms of people trying to
make a quick fortune. Aleator was under no one's control, except
the Roscos, a family of criminals Calvin knew all too well. Too
much of his own family history was involved with them. And because
of that he didn't want to go to Aleator. He’d go because he had to,
but he didn't have to like it.
Eventually he found himself unlocking
his safe and withdrawing the bottle of equarius. As he did, he told
himself he wasn't going to take any, he was just going to hold it,
and look at it, and think about it. Deeper inside he knew better,
but chose to ignore the voice of warning… which was more of a
whisper anyway.
He sat back down after grabbing a
bottle of water, then snapped a pill in half and downed it. Knowing
the effects wouldn't be felt for several minutes. Until then, he
tried to empty his mind by imagining the void of open space all
around.
***
His breathing was slow and deep. Each
exhale carried the urge to smile at everything, and nothing.
Thoughts were scattered like shifting sands adrift on a playful
pond. And he cared about nothing. The swirling joyful apathy filled
every breath and
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