Renegade Empire: An Intergalactic Space Opera Adventure (Renegade Star Book 10) Page 2

  1

  “This is a joke, right?” asked Octavia. She stood half out of her strike ship’s hatch, one arm looped inside. She and a few others had landed aboard Titan while the rest remained in orbit.

  “I’m afraid not,” I said, glancing around at the rest of my crew as they assembled. I’d called them on my way in to tell them the results of my meeting with Vice Admiral Vick. After showing him the Celestial threat in an up-close-and-personal way by slamming a lifeless head on his conference table, he’d agreed, albeit cautiously, to work with us.

  There was just one stipulation. We would have to allow a group of Union officers access to our facilities on Earth. There would also be a joint operation into Celestial space to investigate the area surrounding the other side of the slip tunnel, all under the supervision of one of Vick’s most trusted officers.

  “It was either this or war,” I explained, looking at Freddie and Abigail before returning my eyes to Octavia. “And I wagered none of you wanted the latter.”

  “That’s the truth,” said Angus, crossing his hefty arms and thumbing the scruff of his chin.

  “All that matters is that the plan worked,” said Abigail. “We’ve averted confrontation.”

  “For now,” inserted Freddie.

  “I’ll take it,” I said, stepping down from my ship.

  Octavia did the same, climbing out and touching the hangar bay floor. “I’m still surprised that worked,” she said. “That man’s distaste for us runs thick enough to cut. I thought he might be too far gone to reason with.”

  “Hate is a powerful motivator, but self-preservation even more so,” said Abigail.

  “Don’t worry,” I said, shaking my head. “I fully expect Vick to screw us as soon as he thinks the threat is gone.”

  “Or if he believes there is no threat,” said Octavia. “Your stunt with the head will only carry this ceasefire for so long. Eventually, he’ll move on us.”

  “We won’t let him forget,” said Abigail.

  “No, we won’t,” I agreed.

  The truth was, even though we’d bartered time with Vick, it was fresh and new, which meant it could easily break. That was the problem with truces. The newer they were, the faster they could fall apart. We’d have to show our enemy that we were better as allies, and that was going to be challenging.

  “They’ve agreed to withdraw half their fleet,” I said. “But I don’t expect them to go far.”

  Sigmond appeared beside Freddie, causing him to flinch. “Which is why I have taken the liberty of scattering the drones.”

  “Scattering?” asked Abigail.

  “I had Siggy keep a reserve behind the nearest planet,” I explained, referring to the world the Titan database called Mars. “Had we fought them here, the drones would have attacked from behind while we engaged the front.”

  “Those drones are now being dispersed to the slip tunnels throughout the system,” explained Sigmond. “I’m also producing more as we speak. I estimate I’ll have another two hundred within the next forty-eight hours.”

  Freddie gawked at the figure. “So many?”

  “Half were already in production,” said Sigmond.

  “In the meantime,” I said, calling their attention back, “we need to figure out how we’re going to handle these visitors. I don’t want them anywhere near the Eternals or the birthing pods. Siggy, tell Dressler to lock up anything related to her research, the animals, whatever.” I paused. “And keep them away from Gaia.”

  “Why Gaia?” asked Freddie.

  “Because she’s too involved with Earth. Gods only know what she’s got inside that broken head of hers, and I don’t want the Union sorting through her code. Siggy and Athena are locked into Titan, but the same ain’t true of her. If they send someone to the Earth’s core, they might be able to extract something,” I said, pausing again. “In fact, best send a few guns down there to watch her Capsule.”

  “I’ll contact Lucia. She’s already down there, along with everyone else,” said Octavia.

  “Perfect,” I said, letting out a sigh. “We’re still on the ledge here, but if we mind our feet, we can keep from falling. Just don’t let your guard down. I want eyes on every Union boot as it hits the ground. Think you can do that, Siggy?”

  “Of course, sir,” said the Cognitive.

  “Who’s the Union officer?” asked Freddie. “The one you said was in charge on their end.”

  I pulled out my pad and brought up the conditions Vick and I had agreed to. “Lieutenant Oberon Rackham,” I said, reading off the screen. “Along with six of his dearest and closest friends.”

  The Union ship touched down within an hour of receiving clearance. Abigail and I stood in the field with Bolin’s squad beside us, each of them armed but no weapons drawn. I thought it best to show our strength without exhibiting hostility. The last thing I wanted was for Rackham and his team to feel on edge, but I couldn’t let them think we were soft, either.

  When the door slid open and two Union soldiers stepped down, I felt my hand twitch toward my holstered pistol.

  Easy, I thought, stifling my fingers and taking a breath.

  What can I say? Old habits are hard to break.

  I knew Rackham when I saw him. Blond curly hair, blue-gray eyes, and a splash of freckles on his forehead. He looked young from a distance, though the portrait on the pad showed wrinkles around his eyes. He was late-thirties, by my guess, and according to Sigmond, a military man for half his life. I could only guess why anyone would choose a career like his, but I was sure he had his reasons.

  We all made the best of the cards we were dealt. I know I had.

  “Captain,” said Rackham, approaching me with his team of armed soldiers.

  I kept my focus on him, trying to appear relaxed. “Pleasure,” I said, giving him a nod.

  “I’d like to have a look around your camp before we get started on the rest, if you don’t mind,” he said, eying the area behind me.

  “What for?” I asked.

  “If you’re worried about me spying on you, don’t be,” he said, a casual smile on him. “I’m not interested in that. I simply prefer to have a look at the people I’m working with. In this case, that includes your entire group. Not just you. I want to meet the head of the Eternals you referenced in your report. Leif, wasn’t it? And the woman you called Karin, the leader of another group you assimilated, not to mention your advisory board.”

  “You’ll have the full tour right away,” I assured, motioning for him to follow. “We can go now if you like.”

  “That would be great,” said Rackham.

  He walked beside me as I made my way through the field and toward the nearby homes. Several Eternals worked a small garden beside the dome at the center of the newly-constructed village.

  “How long did it take you to settle here?” he asked, looking around.

  “A month, more or less,” I explained. “We just moved to this spot. Had some trouble with the Celestial I told Vick about. I’m sure you saw the report.”

  “I did.”

  A few children ran by, nearly knocking into Rackham. One of the soldiers behind him stiffened, but then relaxed. Rackham might be calm, but his escort seemed to be ready to attack at a moment’s notice.

  “Is this your entire enterprise?” asked Rackham. “There must be more people.”

  “They’ve been moved to different locations,” I replied.

  “Titan?” he asked.

  “Among others,” I said. “You’ll pardon me if I don’t tell you where.”

  He smiled. “Of course.”

  I was more than open to working with the Union and sharing information, but that courtesy didn’t extend to the whereabouts of my people, most of whom were still inside the center of the planet. They were safer there than on the surface, at least with the Union orbiting the planet, and I had no interest in sharing any of that with Rackham.

  “That dome,” he began. “Is that where the animals are birthed? Yo
ur report mentioned the Celestial attacking a similar facility, correct?”

  “It did, but those domes are all over the planet, and each one handles a different set of animals,” I said.

  “Fascinating,” he commented, and the look on his face mirrored the sentiment. “Once we brief your people, I’d love to see the inside.”

  “I’ll check with Dressler and see what we can do,” I assured him.

  “Everyone, listen up,” I announced, standing at the head of a table with fifteen seats. “As I’m sure you’ve all noticed, we’ve got ourselves some company. Rackham and his team will be on the ground for the next few days while we put together a plan to explore the other side of the Celestial slip tunnel.”

  I was of course referring to the same tunnel that the Eternals had used to travel to Earth, currently resting inside the planet’s core.

  I looked at Alphonse, giving him a quick nod as I took my seat.

  He rose and cleared his throat. “The away team will consist of key personnel from Earth as well as the Union. Each half will be hand selected by myself and Lieutenant Rackham. Upon arrival through the tunnel, we shall assess the situation and determine our next course of action.”

  “Can you elaborate on that?” asked Octavia. “Do we have a plan A and a plan B, depending on the situation?”

  Alphonse smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Ms. Brie. Should the Celestials be nearby, we’ll evacuate immediately without engagement.”

  “What if they see us when we come out of the tunnel?” asked Abigail.

  A light appeared on the center of the table as Sigmond manifested himself. “I believe I have a solution to that,” he remarked.

  “We have been working on a way to maintain a ship’s cloak ever since our acquisition of the Sarkonian vessels,” explained Alphonse.

  “You’ve cracked it, then?” asked Hitchens. “Very good, sir!”

  “Nearly,” said Alphonse. “The first ship with such technology is currently in development.”

  “If the ship isn’t ready, does that mean we’ll have to wait?” asked Leif.

  “We’ll be using the Sarkonian ship we brought back,” I interrupted. “Well, one of the two. The other had to be disassembled.”

  “Precisely,” said Alphonse. “Using the Sarkonian vessel as a scout, the away team will arrive through the tunnel alone. Should the area be devoid of Celestials, we’ll bring in additional ships.”

  “Specifically, Titan,” I clarified. “Athena and the rest our pilots will wait onboard in case of attack. I’ll need everyone in their strike ships and ready to go as soon as they get there.”

  “Who are we sending on this mission?” asked Octavia.

  “I’ll be going,” I said, leaning forward. “We’ll also need someone familiar with the enemy, which means—”

  “Me,” finished Dressler, who had been largely silent for most of the meeting, probably deep in thought. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else with the task.”

  I nodded. “I wasn’t planning on asking anyone but you, Doc.” I looked around the room. “Besides us, there’s Abigail, Freddie, Karin, and Leif. Once we’ve verified the path is clear, I’ll send for the rest. Lucia and a small team of her best soldiers will be with us as well. We will have additional soldiers on standby, waiting on Titan.”

  Lucia smiled in the back of the room, leaning against one of the walls.

  “I’ll also be going,” said Rackham.

  Everyone looked at him, more in surprise than anything else.

  “I was sent here to observe, which means I’m to go wherever you go,” he said.

  “It might be hairy out there, you know,” I told him. “You sure you can handle it if things go sideways?”

  “I assure you, I’ll manage,” said Rackham.

  “If you say so,” I said.

  “How long?” asked Octavia, her voice pulling my eyes back to the table.

  “What?” I asked.

  “How long are you staying there?” she asked.

  I hadn’t thought much about that part. We’d only recently made this plan, since the agreement we had with Vick was still so fresh and new. I’d been focused more on this ceasefire than the finer details of the job. “A few hours, I’d imagine,” I said, trying to stay a little vague. I looked at Alphonse for confirmation. “Think that’ll do it?”

  “We have no idea what we’ll find,” he replied, a brief look of contemplation on his face. He straightened. “However, I believe a check-in should occur no later than two hours, exactly. At this time, Earth can open the tunnel and receive our update.”

  “We’ve got until tomorrow,” I said, getting back to my feet. “I want that tunnel open by noon.”

  2

  “How exactly do you plan on getting Titan into the core?” asked Abigail. She and I sat together on the ground behind our new home. Lex was in the field, playing with a small animal the records called a goat. It was a silly-looking creature with a beard, two small horns, and beady, mischievous eyes. Lex had taken quite well to him, going so far as to name him Pumi, after Foxy Stardust’s sidekick, a little boy with red hair and a big nose.

  I picked up a small rock and tossed it. “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “The ship’s too big to fit inside that opening,” explained Abigail. “You must have another idea.”

  “We’ll slip inside,” I said, simply.

  “Can we have two different tunnel entrances on top of each other like that?” she asked.

  “Athena says it’ll work,” I said.

  “I suppose she would know,” said Abigail.

  Lex laughed as she ran after Pumi, chasing him with a small twig. Pumi made a sound like he was getting punched in the stomach—a common noise, as I’d learned.

  “Are you sure you want to come along for this?” I asked, looking at Abigail. “Maybe you should stay behind until we get the all-clear.”

  “Don’t start with that again,” said Abigail.

  “What? I’m just saying if anything happens back here with the Union, we’ll need someone to take charge,” I explained. “I know you can handle yourself. Trust me, I’m not worried about that. I just don’t know about both of us going. If something happens, we’re both wiped in a single shot.”

  “It will be fine, Jace,” she assured me. “Whatever we find on the other side of that tunnel, we’ll see it together, and then we’ll come home together, same as always.”

  “Abby!” called Lex. “Mr. Hughes! Look at Pumi!” She giggled again as the goat turned in a circle and fell on its side. “He’s so silly!”

  Abigail and I both laughed. “Go easy on him, Lex. He’s still just a baby,” said Abigail.

  I glanced to the eastern sky to see a Union cruiser in orbit. Those ships weren’t as large as Titan, but they were still pretty damn big.

  “Don’t worry,” said Abigail, placing a hand on my leg. “Earth will be fine while we’re gone. I’m certain of it. Alphonse will be here to look after everyone.”

  She was right, of course. Alphonse and Hitchens would remain here to keep the line of communication open between our people and Vice Admiral Vick. Alphonse’s experience with the Union made him the perfect representative, even if Vick didn’t like him very much. Hitchens, as it turned out, also made for an excellent diplomat. He’d shown a talent for talking with new arrivals and finding ways to accommodate their needs.

  “Captain,” said Sigmond, his voice coming in through the group line via the comm in my ear. “Pardon my interruption, but there’s a matter of some importance.”

  Abigail leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek, followed by a wink. “Duty calls, Renegade.”

  I entered my office, which was only a short walk from my living quarters. It was more or less identical to most of the other structures we’d set up for housing—small, ten by eight meters of space, with only a single desk, holo-display, and a few extra chairs. The walls were soundproof, a feature I was especially happy to have when I considered our cu
rrent guests. Rackham had seemed nice enough, but he was probably taking notes of everything he saw and heard.

  Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if we found listening devices all over the camp once all of this was over.

  An orange light appeared in the holo display, solidifying into a man’s shape on the desk. Sigmond stretched his arms and smiled up at me, standing no taller than twenty centimeters. “Good evening, sir,” said the Cognitive.

  “Where’s Al?” I asked. “He was supposed to meet us—”

  At that moment, the door opened and Alphonse entered. He wore a thin undershirt, the same one he normally wore under his jacket, and his hair was unusually messy. I stared at him for a moment, slightly taken by the change. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, taking a seat on the other side of the desk. “I was in the middle of something.”

  “Something?” I echoed, raising my brow at the Constable’s appearance. “Did you get in a fight? What happened?”

  “I’d rather not say, if it’s all the same,” he said.

  I said nothing for a few seconds, narrowing my eyes at him suspiciously. “Uh huh,” I muttered, then turned back to Sigmond. “Well, Siggy, let’s hear the news.”

  “As you requested, sir, Mr. Malloy and I have been working on the development of a new transport vehicle,” explained Sigmond. “I am happy to tell you that its construction is well under way. I expect completion within the next week.”

  Sigmond stepped to the side and another orange light formed next to him. This time, a ship formed, although it seemed to be missing a hull. “Is this it?” I asked.

  Alphonse nodded. “We’ve been trying to develop a ship capable of cloaked slipspace travel, and we’re very nearly there, but then I thought, why stop there?”

  “The design allows for multiple additions, such as Eternal energy cannons, like those found on Titan and its strike ships,” informed Sigmond.

  “We’re working on a few more adjustments, but we think we can have a prototype ready for you soon,” finished Alphonse.

  “That’s great,” I said, examining the design. I’d spent enough time on ships to know a thing or two about their guts, but the new weapons and the extra tech from the Sarkonian vessel gave me pause. It felt both familiar and foreign, all at the same time.