Tennokiken Voyagers: Fifteen
The communications array floated in orbit around a earth-type star, a massive construct designed for several relatively simple purposes. It received transmissions from vessels in space, boosted them in power, then relayed them to their destination. As well it could hold sent data, releasing it in a cascade of information on request.
The data sent out from Misato Katsuragi's starship Relentless rested in the drives safely encoded for a day or so then was accessed, pouring out across the void to a terminal aboard the starship Venture. A code was typed in and it automatically deciphered itself, forming into a simple set of commands. They were read silently, memorized quickly, then with a keystroke erased.
The figure remained there a few moments, face lit by the viewscreen then softly asked, "So, what do I do now?"
0o0o0o0o0o0
The bridge of the Venture was quiet as the night watch worked, the band of men and women doing their jobs with simple efficiency as the ship floated out away from the massive station behind them. Lieutenant Dan Wisner was in command, a decidedly nervous place for the younger officer, but he seemed to be managing well enough.
"Does the captain have any new drills for us tonight?" Ensign Ai asked softly from her position at tactical, using the main sensors to scan space as they moved in a simple patrol pattern. The young lady's voice was gently teasing as she turned to look at Dan, and her smile had just a bit more warmth than average.
"I think Cap'n Miles is giving us a bit of a break tonight," Dan answered, a bit of a blush coloring his cheeks.
"Oh good," Eiko murmured from her seat at navigation.
"Lieutenant," Ai sounded a bit hesitant, "if you don't mind my asking, what has been going on over on Ward's station there? The Captain and most of the senior staff have been over there for days now."
Dan hesitated, thinking about some of the things that had been said. Deciding to be as general as possible he said, "We were provided with a Raider captive, the Captain and the others have been trying to find out everything they can from her."
"I heard she was from Fleet," Lucille Bevía said dryly from her seat at communications. Technically she outranked Dan, but because she wasn't command trained she was not allowed to take control of the bridge except in a emergency.
"Maybe she was once," Dan answered with a bit of fire in his voice, "but not any more."
"Fair enough," Eiko acknowledged.
The lift swished open and Jessie Kain emerged, the dark blonde carrying a data pad with her. "Lieutenant," she nodded to Dan as she walked up to him.
"I thought you were off duty?" Dan blinked in surprise.
"I was burning the midnight oil on some engine upgrades," Jessie admitted, "I was looking for the Captain. Is she aboard?"
"Still aboard the station," Dan nodded to the massive shape that filled a corner of the main screen, "plotting with Ward and Donovan, I assume."
"Then I'd better head over," Jessie frowned, "I don't want to activate any mods to the engine without Kelly's approval."
"Fair enough," Dan pressed a few keys on his chair's arm then said, "you're cleared to take out a personal shuttle."
"Thanks," Jessie waved as she left the bridge.
Aboard the space station Kelly Miles followed a humanoid servo mech down the fall, then into a small room. "Good evening," she said softly, the blonde captain looking at the young woman who glared at her from the small mattress.
Maya Ibuki sat up as the black haired woman asked, "What do you want?" Bitterly she continued, "You've already drugged me to get all the information you needed."
"I'm sorry about that," Kelly said as the servomech set down a plate of food for Maya then left silently, "but we didn't think we had much choice."
Maya got up and walked over to the small table. Kelly didn't seem armed so probably there was someone outside monitoring them, in case she tried something. Sitting down to eat she said, "I had heard you were a good Fleet officer, but if you're allied with Donovan...."
"This situation seems to make for strange bedfellows," Kelly said mildly as she sat not far away from her, adding with a grim smile, "much like your Fleet faction and the Raiders."
"True," Maya conceded as she ate hungrily. "So why are you here?" she demanded.
"I believe you in what you said were the reasons you joined this insurgency," Kelly said softly, "I don't agree, but I understand it."
Maya paused in her eating, "I looked into your background when we heard you were being sent out here. You're from a colony world too, in fact your planet is one of the worst hit by corporate abuses. How can you blindly continue to serve?"
"Well, not blindly," Kelly said with a shrug, "trust me, I'm well aware of the flaws in the system. I just believe that change has to happen within the system, not turning it over by force."
"Then you're a fool," Maya pointed at her with a fork, "the corporate masters will never surrender power easily. The only way we're ever going to change things is by force of arms."
"We'll just have to agree to disagree on that," Kelly answered. She studied the technician thoughtfully, "Is Colonel O'Rourke working with sector governor Yui Ikari?"
"I don't know," Maya answered bitterly, "as your damned chemicals could have told you."
"If you cooperate with us," Kelly softened her voice, "you may not be tried as a rebel, you know. It could save your life."
"Not interested," Maya shook her head.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kelly answered quietly, "I reviewed your record after Donovan brought you here, you have the potential to be a good officer." Suddenly the lights in the chamber flickered, then went out as she looked around in confusion. "What's going on?" she asked.
The door swished open and a figure raced inside, striking Kelly from behind and sending her sprawling to the floor. Smoothly she took up a stance and fired, her pistol blasting energy into the already stunned woman.
"Who?" Maya blurted.
"Come on," Jessie offered her hand to the young woman impatiently. When she just sat there Jessie gave the code phrase everyone in the movement should have known, "Redemption, damn it, now let's go!"
With that Maya raced to her side, looking up at Jessie in confusion as they ran out into the hallway. "You're one of us? she blinked. "But why didn't you act sooner?"
"I was trying to maintain my cover," Jessie said as she scanned the hall. She grabbed Maya's hand and led her roughly down the hall, "I've got allies covering the accesses and security post, but we don't have long."
"There's a cell aboard the Venture?" Maya blurted as they ran.
"I've been bringing in people slowly, but I'm making real progress," Jessie said as they reached a locked door, then typing in a access code. It swished open to reveal the dock, a shuttle connected to the station by a docking chute. "I've got a shuttle waiting, it's programmed with a course that will get you by our ships," she informed her.
"Right," Maya ran to the hatch then paused. "Did you kill Miles?"
"Dead women tell no tales," Jessie said harshly, "now go!"
Maya slid through the low gravity of the chute into the shuttle, then belted herself into the control seat. She activated the engines, tearing the little ship away from the dock and zipped into space. A preprogrammed course activated, sending her in a wild course across the system and safely through the patrol paths of the Venture and Revenge. Reaching the edge of the system the little craft paused, then silently entered into hyperspace.
"Do you think she bought it?" a quiet voice asked from behind Jessie as she monitored the shuttle's departure.
Jessie turned to nod to Kelly Miles. "Yes ma'am," she confirmed, "just like you planned."
"You didn't have to hit me quite that hard," Kelly rubbed at the back of her head, wincing slightly, "though firing those blanks into me was a nice touch."
"Sorry Captain, but I wanted it to look good," Jessie looked sheepish. They walked out of the room together, "I didn't expect you to do this, when I revealed to you that I was a sympathizer and told you my orders to free Maya."
"The fact that you confessed indicates to me where your loyalties lie," Kelly shrugged. "Holding Maya doesn't help us at this point, and I suspect that you messed with the shuttles navigation computer so they can't trace it back to our location."
"Of course," Jessie smiled.
"The only thing I'm still curious about," Kelly looked at Jessie curiously, "was why you joined them in the first place."
"They contacted me shortly after it looked like Siobhan had been killed by Donovan," Jessie explained quietly as they walked, "I was so angry at Fleet and the system that let people like Donovan thrive I was a pretty easy mark for them at that point."
"I understand," Miles nodded slightly.
To be continued....
Tennokiken Voyagers: Sixteen
"So," Siobhan Ward looked around the room, the tall pirate's face touched by a slight smile, "we've made up our minds?" Her cybernetic eye glowed in the meeting room, her black hair gleaming with coppery highlights as she leaned forward eagerly.
"I think so," Kelly Miles said with a short nod, her blonde hair shining. She looked around the room and addressed everyone, "Normally I'd just command my crew, but this is a unusual situation. I want everyone to know this is a volunteer caper, and anyone who does not choose to go tomorrow won't be reprimanded."
"Ma'am," Rio protested, her black hair slightly messy from her day's exertions. An unlit cigarette dangled from the corner of her mouth, that the only sign of the stress the officer was under.
"This is an unusual situation," Miles reminded her, "and you know it."
"I suppose anyone who doesn't want to fight could stay here on the station," Shane conceded, his brown hair tied back into a rough pony-tail. He hesitated, then stood up as he offered his hand to the lovely young lady beside him.
"Yes?" Sylvie asked, taking it as the silvery haired woman rose to stand beside him.
"If we're going off to be shot at tomorrow, you and I are going to have one hell of a time tonight," Shane grinned as both strode from the room.
Dan shook his head, the tall, brown haired young man smiling wryly. "I guess I can understand that," he murmured then stiffened as a gentle hand rested on his back.
Ai smiled at him slightly, standing beside him in the compartment. "You doing anything tonight?" Ai asked him softly.
"Ah, no not really..." Dan stammered.
Ai gave him a exasperated look, "Sorry for being so bold, but we really don't have the time." With that she took Dan's arm and tugged him away with her.
Victoria Donovan frowned as she saw Alielle and Fatora slip away together, holding hands in an obviously intimate matter. It appeared that everyone had much the same idea tonight, taking this opportunity to be with the one they loved before the mission went tomorrow. Part of her wanted to curse her subordinate's actions, but she held her tongue knowing that someone like Kelly Miles would object to her words.
"Ma'am" Ifurita looked at her questioningly, the tall, silver haired bodyguard standing by her side, "is there something wrong?"
"No, just thinking," Victoria answered, curly black hair resting against her dusky skin.
"Don't worry," Ifurita said to her firmly, "whatever happens tomorrow, whatever comes... I will protect you."
Victoria blinked in surprise at the white haired woman in surprise, stunned at hearing such... caring in her tone of voice. Ifurita was a synthezoid, a creation of technology based off the Isis designs, she wasn't supposed to feel anything at all. Over the past five years Ifurita had guarded her, always by her side, and she had grown comfortable in her presence.
"Thank you," Victoria answered, feeling faintly surprised that she meant every word.
In singles or pairs everyone gradually left the overlarge compartment, moving out into the massive space station or back to the Venture or Revenge. Hidden caches of booze or treats were hauled out, friends and lovers were called, and as the night wore on a party atmosphere formed amid the two allied crews.
Rio looked out the portal at the unfamiliar stars, the cold light making the hulls of the ships floating out in the void gleam. She drew on her cigarette, blowing out the smoke then sighing as she felt a presence, "Who is it?"
Siobhan Ward walked up, her black bodysuit hugging her body and a bottle of amber fluid in her hand. "Sorry," she didn't sound terribly apologetic, "I hadn't realized someone had found my favorite private spot."
"Guess our tastes are more similar that I thought," Rio conceded after a moment.
"Guess so," Siobhan took a drink from her bottle. They stood side by side looking out at the ships and stars then quietly Siobhan said, "I don't understand it."
"What?" Rio raised an eyebrow.
"You're the kind of officer I hate," Siobhan said flatly, "you're spit and polish, a rules lawyer, hell you probably sleep at attention." A long pause, "So why the hell do I find myself looking at you, wondering what's going on behind those impassive eyes?"
"Probably for the same reason you're detracting me at meetings, Ward," Rio answered frankly, "which is pretty annoying, considering I should be on the job."
"I'll be damned," Siobhan muttered. They stood there a few seconds, watching the ships drift by, "So what do we do about it?"
"Who says we should do anything?" Rio sighed. She took another puff on her cigarette as she mused, "The smart part of me says that it'd be pretty stupid starting something the day before we go into battle."
"Makes no sense whatever," Siobhan agreed, "now shut up and kiss me."
"Giving me orders now?" Rio raised an eyebrow as she tossed her cigarette aside, leaned forward and kissed her.
Jessie Kain turned from where she lingered in a doorway, a blush coloring her cheeks. "Those two?" she blinked, the dark blonde shaking her head in mild disbelief.
Seeing Siobhan walking with her bottle of booze Jessie had planned to follow her, then when she was all alone talk to her about their past.. and how Jessie felt about her. But just as Jessie had been getting up her nerve she saw Siobhan enter this compartment, see Rio.. and things had hurried on beyond her control.
"Hey," Lucille Bevía gave Jessie a grin as she headed in the direction Jessie just left, "want to join me in some star watching?"
Jessie reached out a hand to stop her, "I think that room's occupied."
"Ah," Lucille grinned knowingly, her brown hair tucked away beneath her cap. She gave Jessie a perceptive look, "You all right?"
"No," Jessie admitted wryly.
They fell into step quietly as Lucille said, "Well, I have the bad luck being dateless tonight, too. You want to go share an okay bottle of wine and talk?"
"What the hell," Jessie sighed as they walked off together.
The morning came announced by a chime, not the sunrise, and Kelly Miles found she wished it had come later. Slipping out of bed she walked to she shower then dressed, making sure her uniform was crisp and neat.
The halls were quiet, only the occasional crew member nodding greetings as Kelly walked to the lifts, then up to the bridge. As she traveled her mind raced, considering possibilities. Kelly had meant it when she offered to let crew stay behind, but the idea of losing part or all of her crew before a battle was worrying to say the least.
"Here we go," Kelly murmured outside the bridge door, then opened it.
Rio got up from the captain's chair, throwing her a salute. Lucille's voice rang out, "Captain on the bridge!"
"Morning," Kelly said, eyes sweeping the bridge and glad to see the familiar faces. Dan on navigation, Ai covering tactical, Jessie at engineering, the whole gang was there.
"Nothing unusual to report, ma'am," Rio smiled.
"Thank you," Kelly said as she took her seat. Bracing herself she asked, "How many crew are staying behind?"
"None," Rio said with some satisfaction.
As Kelly blinked in surprise Dan spoke up, "You think any of us want to miss this?"
"Besides," Jessie added, "none of us are the types to run away from a fight."
"You got that right," Rio agreed, relieving Ai and taking position at tactical.
Kelly took a deep breath, fighting back her delighted grin. "All right, get Donovan and Siobhan on screen," she said, "it's time to move out."
To be continued....