The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) (22 page)

“Captain!” Thomas Kaid called, his voice friendly, “Come, walk with me!”

Mason stepped forward and fell in beside the other man.  Lauren walked a few paces behind and several of Kaid's guards unobtrusively took up positions around them as they walked.  As Mason had remembered, Kaid was a master of body language.  He managed to guide them down another path without any outward gestures or words.

              They walked in silence for a long while, their soft footsteps on the flagstones accompanied only by the patter of water in the fountains and the gentle rustle of the plants in an unseen breeze.  The setting should have put him at ease, yet Mason felt ever more uncomfortable the further they walked.  Thomas Kaid was a busy man, one who almost never wasted time.  Also, Thomas Kaid was known to be scrupulously honest and the fact that he had not extended them an offer of safety or friendship suddenly held ominous tones.  When he finally chose to speak, Mason had to restrain a sigh of relief.

“I was very interested to hear that Captain Stavros Heraklion and his ship the
Kraken
had returned to my world,” Thomas Kaid said.

“Yes, well,” Mason said, with a broad gesture, “Your own hospitality is renowned and the ability to sell a valuable cargo cannot be overstated, especially not in these times.”

“Oh, very understandable,” Thomas Kaid said.  “What intrigued me, however, was not your cargo or even that I've traced it to a lot pirated over a decade ago... no what intrigued me was that I have it on very good word that Captain Tommy King killed Stavros and took his ship, almost fifteen years back.  As you might imagine, I wanted to meet this dead man walking... and to figure out why Tommy King has returned to my world, why he chose an alias, and just what his current companion has to do with all this.”

Mason bit his tongue on a denial.  Kaid wouldn't have said that if he didn't have some kind of proof and a lie to his face would not only be seen through at this point, it would be insulting.  The last thing that Mason wanted to do right now was to insult the most powerful man on the planet.  
Especially when he, no doubt, has several men positioned in the brush ready to take me down if he thinks I'm here for him,
Mason thought.  He let out a slight sigh, “Honestly?  I'm here to infiltrate Admiral Lucretta Mannetti's forces and see what she's up to.  I was tipped off, by her associate, Admiral Collae, that she's got something big planned.”

“Interesting,” Thomas Kaid said.  He cocked his head and stared at Mason for a long while.  “I'd heard all kinds of rumors about your demise... and seen all sorts of young upstarts claiming your mantle, claiming even, to be you.  You disappear for almost a decade, then come back trying to take down a pirate?”  He looked over at Lauren.  “And you, Miss Kelly?  What brings you here, in such illustrious company?  I would assume, given what I've been able to find on your background, that it was paranoia rather than the intent to murder me in my own home that caused you to bring the AeroTech polymer frame pistol you have in the back holster under your gown.”

Mason felt his heart stop.  He had specifically told her not to bring weapons.  He glanced at Lauren and saw her tense.  Part of her, he knew, wanted to go for that pistol, but it would be suicide.

At last, however, she relaxed a bit, “Sir, despite your invitation, I don't go anywhere unarmed, not since I fought for my freedom from the Chxor.”  Her chocolate brown eyes met those of Thomas Kaid levelly and without flinching.

“Interesting,” Thomas Kaid said.  “And understandable.  You will, however, forgive me for having several sharpshooters trained on you for the duration of your stay.  A man in my circumstances cannot be too careful.  I would avoid any sudden moves... probably best to avoid scratching anywhere near your spine as well.”

“Of course,” Lauren said.  Mason had to bite down on a chuckle at the graciousness she put into her words.  As if he had apologized for a lack of her favorite dish.

“In the future, however,” Thomas Kaid said.  “I would suggest you abide by the rules of my invitation.... or decline to attend.  It sets a bad precedent to allow you leave here alive after defying me.  Gives the wrong sort of people ideas.  So if I hear you or Captain King have told anyone, I'll ensure you both die for it, understood?”  Lauren gave him a nod and Thomas Kaid turned back to Mason.  “Now then, let's continue our walk, shall we?”

He led the way along the path and his eyes studied the fountains as he spoke, “I understand Admiral Collae's unease with his associate.  Lady Kail, gracious a guest as she is, has the heart of a snake, I'm afraid.”  He looked over at Mason again, “I told her that once and she found it highly amusing.”

“Oh?” Mason asked.

“Yes,” Thomas Kaid said.  “She enjoys the intrigue and manipulation... and she likes to receive praise for her skill.  Something to keep in mind as you go against her.”

“You don't mind me taking her down?” Mason asked.  Thomas Kaid was a businessman and a ruler.  He controlled Port Klast and the system relied upon pirates like Lucretta Mannetti.

“She's too dangerous in the long term,” Thomas Kaid said.  “Don't forget, I've actually fought her back when she was still outwardly loyal to the Nova Roma Empire.  She even managed to scrape a tactical victory, though I achieved my strategic goals.  I've  taken her measure: she's ambitious, self-centered, and without the slightest touch of morality.  Sooner or later she would attempt to seize Port Klast.  A pirate like Tommy King, driven by anger and bitterness, that is a quantity that I can manage in the long term.  Even a self-centered, pompous ass like Stavros was better than Mannetti... much less Mannetti working with Collae.”  Thomas Kaid shook his head.  “Though, with you as you are now, being trailed around by this one...”  His eyes narrowed, “It makes for a more interesting paradigm, though you're no real threat to me.”

Mason raised an eyebrow, “I'm no threat?”

“Please,” Thomas Kaid gave him a level look.  “You've run around as a broke smuggler for a half-dozen years on a battered old freighter.  You became involved in whatever that business was with the Dreyfus Fleet and this new United Colonies.  You've one of their agents with you now, for that matter.  I don't know if you sickened of it or if you're just playing for different goals... but it doesn't matter.  You're a predator, but you've no designs upon my territory.  At worst, your companion will no doubt tell me of the joys of signing on with her Baron Giovanni.”

“You should,” Lauren said, her voice soft.  “There are many threats that you can't face alone.”  Mason thought of the Balor and the Chxor and the Shadow Lords.  Then again, Thomas Kaid had faced down Amalgamated Worlds... so perhaps there was some balance.

“When you get a bit of time, look up some history books on how well I get along with Amalgamated Worlds Fleet elements.” Thomas Kaid said with a dry tone.  “If even a few of the rumors are true, there's a few hundred thousand people that will want my head on a stick.  No, I'm quite comfortable out here in my exile.”  He smirked and extended his arms, as if to encompass the planet, “And with all this, how could I not be?”

“So, you don't mind me going after Mannetti, would you care to give me any help?” Mason asked hopefully.  He felt confident he could accomplish it on his own, but help from Kaid would go a long way, he knew.  Also, the man was scrupulously honest and as long as Mason held up his side of any bargain, he wouldn't betray him.  Though, of course, the other man was known to have certain grudges....

Thomas Kaid gave him a level look, “I would offer you something of a trade.”

Mason felt his stomach roil, “You don't mean goods, do you?”

“I've yet to complete my own revenge,” Thomas Kaid said.  “You know who I want.  I could give you what you need on a platter.”

“No,” Mason said and looked away.

Thomas Kaid spat, “Loyalty... to someone who deserves none.”

“We are at something of cross purposes, in that regard,” Mason said.  “And you wouldn't trust me if I were to betray him, would you?”

“Betray who?” Lauren asked.

“Captain King, here, had a unique makeup of his alliance of pirates.  Many were former Amalgamated Worlds officers,” Thomas Kaid said.  “When you do your research on me, be sure to look up what Amalgamated Worlds did to me to make me the monster I am.”  There was a hard edge to Thomas Kaid's voice.  Mason recognized the anger and rage there, but worse, in a way, was the echo of hurt.  Mason knew full well that Thomas Kaid deserved his revenge, but that didn't change things.

“Since we can't come to an agreement on this, I suppose I'm on my own,” Mason said.  “I assume you'll keep your knowledge private?”

“Of course,” Thomas Kaid said.  “The irony is too delicious, especially what with you prancing about in those god-awful pants.  I'd hate to out you, no one would ever respect you again and respect is the one commodity I'll not take from anyone.”  He quirked an eyebrow, “Are you certain you're not overdoing it?”

Mason looked down at his shiny gold vest and tight, red leather pants and shrugged, “Stavros was Greek.”

“Ah, yes, the Greeks,” Thomas Kaid nodded sagely, “Famously ostentatious.”

***

Faraday System

United Colonies

August 25, 2403

“Baron,” Admiral Dreyfus said, “Are you certain about this?”

“Certain about bumping up our timeline and attacking Melcer while still undergoing repairs and refits from our battle with the Balor?” Lucius asked in return.  “Or am I certain about what we spoke about again last night?”

Admiral Dreyfus looked around the flag bridge.  The two of them were in a pocket of isolation as the various crew moved about their duties and preparations.  That didn't mean that the others didn't notice their discussion or, for that matter, were unable to read their body language.  Lucius stood calmly, but Admiral Dreyfus's shoulders were set and tension was clear in how he stood.

For that matter, so was his uncertainty.  Admiral Dreyfus finally let out a sigh, “Both, I suppose.”  He pitched his voice low enough that it didn't carry.  Lucius took his seat and gestured for the older Admiral to do the same.

“Pushing up the attack on Melcer is the best method I can think of to catch our opponents, whoever they are, off balance,” Lucius said calmly. “If they knew our departure time, if this informant exists, then they would expect us to use that time or delay.  Either way, they could plan to hit Faraday with a raid based upon our expected departure.”

Admiral Dreyfus grimaced, “That's assuming they don't already have craft in the system. Despite our patrols, there are plenty of places in this system for a sizable force to hide.”

“Hide, yes, but to what purpose?  I could imagine a scout, probably multiple scouts from various nations to take our measure.  But keeping warships here for any sizable time would be a serious investment, especially with any uncertainty over our eventual departure,” Lucius said calmly.  He had thought it through, himself.  “Besides, we have the Nova Roma Fleet assets here.  Their ships are almost repaired, they can certainly secure the system during our absence.”

“Assuming they don't claim it for themselves,” Admiral Dreyfus growled.

“Which brings us to what I discussed before,” Lucius said.  He met the Admiral's gaze until the other man looked away.  “There is a sharp divide between our personnel of Amalgamated Worlds background and those recruited from Faraday and Nova Roma.”

“There is nothing wrong with my people,” Admiral Dreyfus responded sharply.

Lucius waited a moment, “Except they're 'your' people... even you don't really think of them as United Colonies personnel.  They've served under you for almost a century... and most of them view their recently recruited comrades as hard-working but ineffective at best.”  The Admiral opened his mouth to speak, but Lucius continued, “How could they not?  They left Amalgamated Worlds when it was intact, to appearances at the height of its power.  They return to find degenerate empires, warlords, and technology that is either crude in comparison or kludged together from scavenged technology and barely understood physics.  They wouldn't be human if they didn't blame those they left behind, somehow, or those who they found trying to clean up the mess when they returned to the rest of us.”

Admiral Dreyfus looked away.  “I can't deny there is some... thoughts, perhaps even discussion about that, but there is no organized attempt to block your personnel out.”

“Again,” Lucius said, his voice level, “The identification of distinct personnel is part of the issue.  There is not 'my' personnel and 'your' personnel.  There can only be United Colonies personnel.  It is a mentality... and if you and I can't adopt that mentality, then how can we expect our subordinates to do so?”

“So, what?” Admiral Dreyfus asked.  “What you're asking is difficult, there are massive differences in training and experience between... between individual officers and  enlisted.  Hell, the technical experience and backgrounds are wildly different.  Those differences can be the matter of life and death!”

“In more ways than one,” Lucius answered.  “You are thinking of the differences between using your technology and mine... I'm thinking of applications, of
joint
applications of that technology.  You're thinking differences in operational procedures while I'm thinking differences in tactics.  And, Admiral, for all your people's training and experience, they haven't nearly the combat experience of some of the people they discount out of hand.”