The Girls From Alcyone (30 page)

Christian sealed the hatch then thumbed the comlink on his uniform collar. "They're in!"

The ship shook beneath her as the massive thrusters fired, blasting forward. Somewhere, not too far distant, Sigrid heard the crash and explosion of the
Lift
smashing into the Earth. All of them collapsed into a sweaty, breathless heap.

"We're not out of this yet, people," Selene said over the com.

After making sure Hitomi was uninjured, Sigrid, followed by Christian, made her way to the bridge. The door was open and she could see that they were already clearing the upper atmosphere.

The tall woman rose from her seat at the helm and leaned surprisingly casually against the bulkhead. "Well, to think I worried this job might be dull."

Sigrid smiled. "Sorry."

"Look, we've got three
Independent
ships on our tail and the entire CTF Earth Defense force moving to blockade the Relay. I just thought you should know."

Sigrid ran quick calculations on the scenario—she wasn't trained in fleet tactics. "Can we run the blockade?" She was worried that Selene might protest, but the woman smiled.

"I'll do my best, ma'am."

The ship lurched in time with a deafening explosion. Selene turned to Christian. "Report."

"Torpedo—that one got a little close."

Selene cursed and slapped the com button on the arm of her chair, shouting at the men in the weapons pods. "I told you—nothing gets through. We're lucky those weren't nukes. I want a phalanx pattern on those guns."

"What is it?" Sigrid asked.

"Rookies. They couldn't hit a cow's ass with a banjo; so I've got them strictly firing a defensive pattern."

Sigrid smiled. "Maybe I can help."

* * *

Sigrid relieved the frazzled crewman manning the ship's dorsal weapons pod. Exhausted and drenched in sweat, he was more than happy to give up his post.

As she slipped into the pod, she noticed the number of physical hookups for the operator as well as the VI helmet that provided a full 360 degree view of the combat area. Sigrid pushed all these aside, preferring to interface directly with her PCM; all the operational information she needed was displayed in her HUD. Three ships, only slightly larger than her own, were bearing down on the nimble
Morrigan.
As fast as her ship was, even faster than the
Agatsuma,
the three
Independent
ships were gaining on them. Quickly.

The pursuing ships were still launching missiles. Sigrid watched them all streaking closer as the
Morrigan
continued to belch out a barrage of countermeasures. The pod's gun was set to a phalanx-mode, firing concentrated blasts of ordnance into the paths of the oncoming missiles, shredding any that got close.

Selene was putting her ship through a series of desperate evasive maneuvers, but Sigrid knew that, as their pursuers closed the distance, it would become virtually impossible to dodge the hail of ballistic rounds that they were firing from their own rail-systems. They were already within 15,000 kilometers; when they got within five, they'd be virtually defenseless.

Aiming her quad-mounted rail-gun wasn't easy with the ship moving so erratically, and her targets weren't exactly holding still. Sigrid tried for a computer lock, but of course the attacking ships were using their own countermeasures and the automated aiming-systems were completely useless.

Sigrid switched her ordnance from the defensive phalanx-rounds to fragmentation rounds and took aim at the lead ship in pursuit. The quad-mounted guns belched out a quick burst, missing her target completely as the
Morrigan
jigged to avoid yet another incoming barrage; she'd have to compensate for that, she chided herself. Tying directly into the ships navigational computer allowed her to track the ship's movements and anticipate the violent maneuvers. Her next shot tracked perfectly, ripping apart the bow of the lead ship, severing vital systems. The ship's drive shut down, and the vessel dropped quickly away as the
Morrigan
continued to accelerate at maximum thrust.

Sigrid tracked the next ship; it was veering off, possibly trying for a flanking position, but the ploy left the length of the ship exposed and Sigrid's next shot tore through it from stem to stern. Several of the fragmentation rounds connected with the ship's main engines, erupting in a tremendous explosion. The captain of the last ship must have had enough; Sigrid saw it flip over on its axis, showing the
Morrigan
its massive stern tubes. They flared brilliantly as it decelerated away, eager to put some distance between themselves and the waiting death in Sigrid's gun.

This fight was over. Sigrid was about to shut down the Pod, but then something occurred to her and she felt a coldness spreading inside herself. These men had attacked her and her friends, killed all those people on board the
Lift.
And what of the Panama Complex? The loss of life would be staggering. Sara's words rang in her head—they would continue to pursue her and all the girls. They were still a threat.

Sigrid targeted the fleeing ship. It was already at a tremendous distance and retreating fast. She took a quick moment to calculate its evasive patterns and set her ordnance for proximity detonations before firing. The ballistic rounds covered the distance between the ships quickly and Sigrid watched the flares from the series of explosions. The ship was gone. Whoever they were, whoever they had been, they would bring no harm to her or her friends again.

Safe for the moment, she pulled herself out of the pod and headed back to the bridge.

Selene turned as she came in. "Nice shooting."

"Nice flying," Sigrid said, returning the compliment.

Selene turned back to the small monitor mounted on her chair and brought the tactical display back up on the main viewer. "The next part might be a little trickier," she said.

Sigrid could see the
Morrigan's
position as it moved quickly away from the Earth toward the Warp Relay. Still millions of kilometers away, but moving to block their path, were fourteen CTF naval ships ranging in size from light Corvettes to heavy Cruisers. The wall of ordnance they could put up was far more than even a nimble ship like hers could dodge.

"Shit," Sigrid said.

Helped by Karen, Lady Hitomi emerged in the doorway of the bridge. "I might be able to help with that," she said as Karen eased her into one of the little jump seats in the back.

Selene nodded. "This might call for more of a
diplomatic
solution."

Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I had something a little more radical in mind." She gestured to the console at her side. "With your permission…?"

"Of course," Selene said.

Hitomi's fingers danced over the console while Sigrid and Selene watched over her shoulder.

"What the hell is that?" Selene asked.

Almost embarrassed, Hitomi looked at Sigrid. "I hope you don't mind, but I had my people make a few modifications while we were on Aquarii. I meant to tell you…"

Sigrid studied the new schematics and smiled.

"This is my own design," Hitomi said. "I'm sure you'll all understand why I need you to sign a nondisclosure agreement once we're out of this pickle."

"You're joking," Selene said, laughing, but when she saw that Hitomi was serious she closed her mouth.

"Not even my Board knows about this. If this works—"

"
If?
" Selene asked.

"Well, it's never been tested."

Sigrid looked at the monitor; they'd be in weapons range in moments. "Whatever you're going to do, do it fast—Mistress…"

Hitomi chuckled and activated the new system she'd installed. It was a variation of the same stealth systems that she'd given to Sigrid, but on a much larger scale. The
Morrigan
became virtually invisible, both to the eye and to any tracking devices the opposing ships might employ against them.

"Nice trick," Selene said, suitably impressed. "So, now we just drift through their ranks?"

"Yes—but you'd best shut down the drives. I'm not sure how the shielding will affect that."

Selene nodded and disengaged the main thrusters. The ship grew eerily silent.

Sigrid watched the CTF ships trawling this way and that, searching for her ship. "They're firing," she said.

"Do they see us?" Karen asked, worried.

Sigrid studied the pattern and shook her head. "No—they're guessing. They're just trying to cover our path, hoping to get lucky."

The stealth systems that Lady Hitomi had employed worked perfectly and within minutes the
Morrigan
had drifted safely between the blockading ships, slipping harmlessly past the plethora of mines they had laid.

"I am
so
glad I took this job," Selene declared with a jubilant smile.

When they deactivated their cloak, Sigrid saw all the CTF ships moving quickly to pursue, but it was too late; the
Morrigan
and her crew were safely away with nothing between them and the Warp Relay.

"Course?" Selene asked.

"Aquarii," Hitomi told her. "We must warn the Board of these developments. It's a shame we lost the evidence you stole from the CTF offices. I just hope they'll listen to reason."

"I still have the one partial message," Sigrid said, tapping her head. "I never deleted it."

"That's something, at least. With the facilities on Aquarii, I should be able to finish reconstructing it. With luck, we'll uncover the truth to all of this."

As they blasted toward the relay, Sigrid couldn't ignore the feeling of worry and dread she felt growing within her. They were definitely caught in the middle of a whole new war. And what of her friends on Alcyone? What of Suko? Would they be able to protect them—warn them in time—or were they already too late?

Hitomi saw the look on her face. "Don't worry, Sigrid. We'll go to Alcyone. But we'll go in strength. I will convince the Board of the need to send a sufficient force this time. I won't let anything happen to any of them."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Independents

May 2, 2348

Naked, bruised and bloodied, with wrists and ankles bound, Karl Tarsus was dragged down the narrow steps into the damp corridor below. There were several puddles on the moist floor and the place stank of mildew and sweat. They hauled him into an open room at the end. Rough hands deposited him on a small wooden chair that creaked and threatened to collapse under his weight.

It took great effort, but Tarsus lifted his head, looking up at them from beneath the swollen lids of his eyes.

So, this is it
, he thought. They finally got him. And then he laughed.
They.
'They' could have been one of a hundred people or organizations. How many contracts had he taken over the years? How many people had he angered? How many people had he killed…

Of all the people who could have walked through the door, the last person he thought it would be was
Smith
, but that's exactly who it was. Tarsus would recognize that thin face, those narrow eyes anywhere.

Smith
. His most generous benefactor—the man responsible for his demise. This time he had a woman with him; someone he didn't recognize. She appeared to be in her fifties, but she seemed odd, out of place; she had the look of an academic, hardly a military type. What she was doing with him, he could only guess.

"You…" Tarsus said. His voice was dry and rasped, like metal grating.

Smith
nodded to the guards, who untied him and tossed him a grubby blanket. Someone handed him a cup of water which he drank from thirstily.

"Glad you could make it, Mr. Tarsus. It's been a long time."

Tarsus drained the cup and glared at him. "What's the meaning of this? Why have you brought me here?"

"I couldn't take the chance that someone could trace you here to me. Not now."

Tarsus stared at him in disbelief. "Then this…this is just…"

"I have a job for you, Karl. Whatever else would we be here to discuss."

Karl gaped at him a long moment and then laughed, a huge belly laugh. Then, the menace returned to his eyes. "Work for you? I'll
kill
you."

"That would serve neither of us. Besides, who pays you better than I do? Let's save time and dispense with the games."
Smith
threw a pad onto Tarsus' lap; displayed there were the details of a new contract, and for a staggering sum of money.

"This…this is enough to buy a ship—four ships. And not just
haulers
—the real frontline jobs."

"More than that, I’d wager."

Tarsus was tempted by the money. He was completely broke. But, he also remembered how the last job for the man had gone.
Smith
had completely failed to give him proper intel on his targets. That group of
girls
had turned out to be a highly trained group of…he wasn't even sure what to call them. They'd acted like Spec-Ops, but they were wild, fearless. They had taken apart his best men like they were a bunch of recruits. Worse, his men had let themselves be captured, killed. Evidence had been left, and his organization had been fingered in the operation. His mercenary group had been devastated by fines and sanctions from the CTF. Tarsus had been completely ostracized from the guild.

Smith
had ruined him, and now the man wanted him to work for him again.

"If I remember correctly," Tarsus said. "The last job we did together didn't exactly go swimmingly."

"Granted. Things could have gone better."

"Better? We failed—we didn't retrieve any of the girls."

"Fortunately, where your organization failed…"
Smith
gestured to the woman next to him, "…Ms. Kirk here has succeeded."

Tarsus eyed the woman. He'd never heard of her. "Then you don't need me."

"You sell yourself short, Karl. I've always found your service satisfactory. I see no reason to terminate our relationship."