Vigilante (6 page)
N
-space piloting was like steering a sensory
deprivation tank through a canyon of indescribable terrors. The navigational “path,” different
for every pilot, wound between shadowy maelstroms. Baleful furnaces whipped up flashes and
discharges of energy. If a pilot turned away from the path or peered too earnestly into the
storms, faces appeared and hungry flickers of energy reached out—but Ariane
never
looked into the maelstrom.
-space piloting was like steering a sensory
deprivation tank through a canyon of indescribable terrors. The navigational “path,” different
for every pilot, wound between shadowy maelstroms. Baleful furnaces whipped up flashes and
discharges of energy. If a pilot turned away from the path or peered too earnestly into the
storms, faces appeared and hungry flickers of energy reached out—but Ariane
never
looked into the maelstrom.
As she’d tried to explain to Muse 3, human consciousness and
concentration were required to steer a ship through N-space. Even though the maneuvers could be
exhilarating, she felt the clash numb and separate her from what felt like submerged and
instinctual terrors. Physically, she could expect weight loss, fatigue, and, after extremely
bad drops, loss of hair. The clash helped her concentrate and got her through to the worst
point: the transition back to real-space. Even under the best conditions, this was
unpleasant.
concentration were required to steer a ship through N-space. Even though the maneuvers could be
exhilarating, she felt the clash numb and separate her from what felt like submerged and
instinctual terrors. Physically, she could expect weight loss, fatigue, and, after extremely
bad drops, loss of hair. The clash helped her concentrate and got her through to the worst
point: the transition back to real-space. Even under the best conditions, this was
unpleasant.
Ariane sent the transition command to the referential engine via
protected connections that didn’t use processors. Each time she started the procedure to get
back to real-space, she thanked Gaia that shielded analog circuits worked in N-space.
protected connections that didn’t use processors. Each time she started the procedure to get
back to real-space, she thanked Gaia that shielded analog circuits worked in N-space.
Next came the nausea. Knowing that this intense feeling would pass
helped her move to the next step, flip a switch, mark it off, and move on to the step after
that. . . .
helped her move to the next step, flip a switch, mark it off, and move on to the step after
that. . . .
The nausea abated and the sensations started. This was when the pilot
realized how unpleasant light, sound, touch, smell, and taste could be. As usual, she smelled
caustic cleaning lye, tasted something metallic, and felt deafened by the humming equipment.
The console burned like ice.
realized how unpleasant light, sound, touch, smell, and taste could be. As usual, she smelled
caustic cleaning lye, tasted something metallic, and felt deafened by the humming equipment.
The console burned like ice.
During the transition, she always tried to picture her mother’s
laboratory and how it smelled. Her mother had been a designer botanist on Nuovo Adriatico,
developing substitutes for popular spices, namely cinnamon and cardamom. There were always
samples made into candies and sweetbreads; she remembered the sound of her mother’s voice:
Try some, Ari, and tell me what you think.
Her mother was the first
to use her middle name, Ahrilan, as her nickname, which had made her transformation to “Ariane
Kedros” easier.
laboratory and how it smelled. Her mother had been a designer botanist on Nuovo Adriatico,
developing substitutes for popular spices, namely cinnamon and cardamom. There were always
samples made into candies and sweetbreads; she remembered the sound of her mother’s voice:
Try some, Ari, and tell me what you think.
Her mother was the first
to use her middle name, Ahrilan, as her nickname, which had made her transformation to “Ariane
Kedros” easier.
Luckily, these were memories that Ariane Kedros could allow herself,
since Owen had been careful to create her false records with a similar name and background.
Ariane Kedros had also been raised by botanists on Nuovo Adriatico. Those particular botanists,
now dead, might have been surprised to find they had a child and they weren’t buried anywhere
near her real parents. This hadn’t caused her any difficulties, since she’d purposely avoided
going back to Nuovo Adriatico.
since Owen had been careful to create her false records with a similar name and background.
Ariane Kedros had also been raised by botanists on Nuovo Adriatico. Those particular botanists,
now dead, might have been surprised to find they had a child and they weren’t buried anywhere
near her real parents. This hadn’t caused her any difficulties, since she’d purposely avoided
going back to Nuovo Adriatico.
Her senses eventually calmed down. The air that circulated in the ship
had the slight smell of ceramic dust. She started up navigational and real-space systems,
seeing the destination channel blink on the console. The ship was right where it was supposed
to be, in the system whose formal designation was a long and forgettable alphanumeric string.
Everyone called the system G-145; the number was the generational mission and the Gamma
indicated the Pilgrimage ship line, which had expended the years to drag a precious time buoy
out here.
had the slight smell of ceramic dust. She started up navigational and real-space systems,
seeing the destination channel blink on the console. The ship was right where it was supposed
to be, in the system whose formal designation was a long and forgettable alphanumeric string.
Everyone called the system G-145; the number was the generational mission and the Gamma
indicated the Pilgrimage ship line, which had expended the years to drag a precious time buoy
out here.
She started the gravity generator and the incoming message signal
beeped, making her jump. Someone sent a package to Matt before the ship entered N-space, and
the Pilgrimage crew had allowed delivery through the G-145 buoy. After she acknowledged
receipt, the envelope flared into the center of her display. She saw the seal of Athens Point
Law Enforcement revolving above angry red text that said, “Positive identification of receiver
required for service.”
beeped, making her jump. Someone sent a package to Matt before the ship entered N-space, and
the Pilgrimage crew had allowed delivery through the G-145 buoy. After she acknowledged
receipt, the envelope flared into the center of her display. She saw the seal of Athens Point
Law Enforcement revolving above angry red text that said, “Positive identification of receiver
required for service.”
Uh-oh
. That might indicate a remote
subpoena. This package wouldn’t open for anyone but Matt, so it ended up on his queue. She
shrugged and pushed the wake-up alarms for Matt and Joyce, even though they might have wakened
naturally since the ship systems would have signaled their implants to stop the
D-tranny.
. That might indicate a remote
subpoena. This package wouldn’t open for anyone but Matt, so it ended up on his queue. She
shrugged and pushed the wake-up alarms for Matt and Joyce, even though they might have wakened
naturally since the ship systems would have signaled their implants to stop the
D-tranny.
“Hey, Ari, you don’t look too bad. Must have been an easy drop,” Matt
said when he eventually climbed up on the control deck.
said when he eventually climbed up on the control deck.
Meaning I still have my hair and I only lost a
little weight
. Ariane’s mouth twitched as she turned in her chair. In that motion, she
realized how tired she felt.
little weight
. Ariane’s mouth twitched as she turned in her chair. In that motion, she
realized how tired she felt.
Matt’s shirt trailed on the deck from one hand while he stared at the
in-the-round display above and in front of her console. His bare chest was exposed and she made
herself look away from this close sample of a lean, muscled male abdomen. After all, Matt was
crew
.
in-the-round display above and in front of her console. His bare chest was exposed and she made
herself look away from this close sample of a lean, muscled male abdomen. After all, Matt was
crew
.
“An awesome sight, right in the middle of our front window,” Matt said.
Of course,
Aether’s Touch
didn’t have real windows because of
radiation.
Of course,
Aether’s Touch
didn’t have real windows because of
radiation.
“What is
that
?” Joyce was dressed in crisp
civilian clothes, though they somewhat resembled a uniform. “Hey, don’t you guys require shirt
and shoes to work here?”
that
?” Joyce was dressed in crisp
civilian clothes, though they somewhat resembled a uniform. “Hey, don’t you guys require shirt
and shoes to work here?”
“That is the
Pilgrimage Three
, one of the
largest generational ships ever built. What a beauty!” Matt pulled on his shirt and padded over
to the front console, ignoring Joyce’s barb about not wearing his sticky-soled shoes.
Pilgrimage Three
, one of the
largest generational ships ever built. What a beauty!” Matt pulled on his shirt and padded over
to the front console, ignoring Joyce’s barb about not wearing his sticky-soled shoes.
“We’re on approved docking vector and our gravity generator is aligned.”
Ariane looked up at the display. True, the
Pilgrimage III
was
impressive. Currently configured in habitat mode, the generational ship looked like a fairy
castle with spires bursting upward from her bulky engines and gravity generator.
Ariane looked up at the display. True, the
Pilgrimage III
was
impressive. Currently configured in habitat mode, the generational ship looked like a fairy
castle with spires bursting upward from her bulky engines and gravity generator.
“Have you done voice check-in?” Matt looked at the console, examining
the status.
the status.
“No. I only sent our ship key and got our docking vector. If you want to
formally check in, be my guest,” Ariane said.
formally check in, be my guest,” Ariane said.
Matt tapped the console. “
Pilgrimage Three
,
this is the
Aether’s Touch
on approach as directed. We’re carrying
three crew members, with the following authorization keys.”
Pilgrimage Three
,
this is the
Aether’s Touch
on approach as directed. We’re carrying
three crew members, with the following authorization keys.”
The response was immediate and cheery. “Welcome back to Gamma-145,
Aether’s Touch
. Looking forward to greeting everyone.
Pilgrimage Three
out.”
Aether’s Touch
. Looking forward to greeting everyone.
Pilgrimage Three
out.”
“What do they mean by ‘greeting’?” Joyce said suspiciously.
“It’s tradition for everyone to disembark upon entry to the solar
system, tour the controlling generational ship, and meet with the command staff. It allows them
to catch up on Autonomist, or Terran, idioms and customs. A dinner is usually involved.” Ariane
swiveled her chair around to look at Joyce. His dismayed expression didn’t raise any sympathy
in her.
system, tour the controlling generational ship, and meet with the command staff. It allows them
to catch up on Autonomist, or Terran, idioms and customs. A dinner is usually involved.” Ariane
swiveled her chair around to look at Joyce. His dismayed expression didn’t raise any sympathy
in her.
“Is there a problem,
Mr.
Joyce?” Matt’s tone
was acidic. “Please, enlighten us.”
Mr.
Joyce?” Matt’s tone
was acidic. “Please, enlighten us.”
“I need to get to Beta Priamos Station. Quickly.”
“Well, well.” Ariane saw Matt’s brown eyes flicker, then harden.
Priamos was the moon with ruins of an ancient, but non-Minoan, culture;
Ariane and Matt had first prospected it months before. Orbiting Priamos, Beta Priamos Station
had an elevator down to that moon, as well as the best access to “the artifact,” as everybody
called the possibly defunct buoy. Not only was the artifact firmly anchored in Aether
Exploration’s claim, but Matt and Ariane had left their most expensive bot on it during their
last prospecting season. They hadn’t deserted this bot voluntarily, which was another story
entirely. Regardless, any research regarding the artifact or the ruins should generate wealth
for Aether Exploration, so Matt was a bit protective about the commercial processes inside
G-145.
Ariane and Matt had first prospected it months before. Orbiting Priamos, Beta Priamos Station
had an elevator down to that moon, as well as the best access to “the artifact,” as everybody
called the possibly defunct buoy. Not only was the artifact firmly anchored in Aether
Exploration’s claim, but Matt and Ariane had left their most expensive bot on it during their
last prospecting season. They hadn’t deserted this bot voluntarily, which was another story
entirely. Regardless, any research regarding the artifact or the ruins should generate wealth
for Aether Exploration, so Matt was a bit protective about the commercial processes inside
G-145.
“Our business, as prospectors, is entwined with the generational ship
lines and we
will
observe their customs. I’m including you in that
statement, Joyce.” Matt abruptly left the control deck.
lines and we
will
observe their customs. I’m including you in that
statement, Joyce.” Matt abruptly left the control deck.
“Is it me, or did he wake up on the wrong side of his bunk?”
“Don’t worry, it’s definitely
you
.” She
couldn’t miss a chance to needle Joyce, although she wondered if Matt had opened the message
from Athens Point LEF. She swiveled back to face the console and display walls. “We’ve got
light-speed data now, so let me introduce you to G-145.”
you
.” She
couldn’t miss a chance to needle Joyce, although she wondered if Matt had opened the message
from Athens Point LEF. She swiveled back to face the console and display walls. “We’ve got
light-speed data now, so let me introduce you to G-145.”
Joyce sat down beside her as she adjusted the displays to first show the
entire solar system.
entire solar system.
“We have your predictable system here,” she said. “The sun is slightly
larger than Sol, but its radiation specs are right on. All the planetary orbits are in the same
plane. For major planets, we’ve got three rocks toward the sun and three gas giants, one barely
within the inner system and two far out. The divide between the inner and outer system is a
huge meteor belt of junk.”
larger than Sol, but its radiation specs are right on. All the planetary orbits are in the same
plane. For major planets, we’ve got three rocks toward the sun and three gas giants, one barely
within the inner system and two far out. The divide between the inner and outer system is a
huge meteor belt of junk.”
“Nothing with Gaian-based life, or at most, nothing usable.” Joyce kept
up with net-think.
up with net-think.
“Except for the ice ball named Sophia Two, but you’re right, G-145
appeared to be a bust.” She nodded. “It didn’t have exotic resources or seem worthy of
colonization.When we checked in with the
Pilgrimage
for our first
prospecting season, the buzz was that everyone would lose money; no one could recoup costs for
this mission. Here’s our original claim.”
appeared to be a bust.” She nodded. “It didn’t have exotic resources or seem worthy of
colonization.When we checked in with the
Pilgrimage
for our first
prospecting season, the buzz was that everyone would lose money; no one could recoup costs for
this mission. Here’s our original claim.”
On the wall in front of them, the image adjusted backward in time, the
planets moving retrograde. Tapping, she laid a continuous three-dimensional swathe over the
solar system image. This space-time slice went through the meteor belt twice and it swung by
the inner gas giant close enough to extend their placer claim over one moon.
planets moving retrograde. Tapping, she laid a continuous three-dimensional swathe over the
solar system image. This space-time slice went through the meteor belt twice and it swung by
the inner gas giant close enough to extend their placer claim over one moon.
“Laomedon and Priamos, its moon,” Joyce said. “I’ve done my homework.
Laomedon is the innermost gas giant and Priamos is its second-largest moon.”
Laomedon is the innermost gas giant and Priamos is its second-largest moon.”
“More importantly, our placer claim covers this point.” Ariane zoomed in
on what looked like an empty spot of space near Laomedon, which only resolved to a dot with a
designation string of garbled letters and numbers.
on what looked like an empty spot of space near Laomedon, which only resolved to a dot with a
designation string of garbled letters and numbers.
“I take it that’s where the artifact sits. Is that a stable Lagrange
point?”
point?”
“
No
. It’s
anchored
, with no station-keeping propulsion to be found. The only example
we’ve got of something that never moves with respect to planetary bodies is the Minoan time
buoys.”
No
. It’s
anchored
, with no station-keeping propulsion to be found. The only example
we’ve got of something that never moves with respect to planetary bodies is the Minoan time
buoys.”
“So that’s why we have a gaggle of scientists hired by contractors on
all sides: Terran, Autonomist, and let’s not forget the Minoans. What a mess.” Joyce shook his
head.
all sides: Terran, Autonomist, and let’s not forget the Minoans. What a mess.” Joyce shook his
head.
She winced. Part of this problem had resulted when she signed over
leases to Terran interests. Those leases had saved her life; they were her payment for Parmet’s
protection of her and Brandon’s identities. If she and Matt didn’t protest the legality of her
signatures, Parmet wouldn’t release information that Ariane was pilot, and the mysterious, rich
Mr. Leukos commander, of the crew that destroyed—that
might
have
destroyed—the Terran Ura-Guinn Colony.
leases to Terran interests. Those leases had saved her life; they were her payment for Parmet’s
protection of her and Brandon’s identities. If she and Matt didn’t protest the legality of her
signatures, Parmet wouldn’t release information that Ariane was pilot, and the mysterious, rich
Mr. Leukos commander, of the crew that destroyed—that
might
have
destroyed—the Terran Ura-Guinn Colony.
On the other hand, Matt was the one who had balanced the Terran against
the Autonomist against the Minoan contractors. He’d also tried to balance military contractors
with purely commercial ones. It’d been tedious for him to get the right counteractions. When he
showed her the lease and contracting structure, he’d emphasized that this was unavoidable and
perhaps the best step forward for humankind.
the Autonomist against the Minoan contractors. He’d also tried to balance military contractors
with purely commercial ones. It’d been tedious for him to get the right counteractions. When he
showed her the lease and contracting structure, he’d emphasized that this was unavoidable and
perhaps the best step forward for humankind.
“Matt’s streamlining the reporting. He created a new matrix that’s been
approved by the CAW Space Exploration, Exploitation, and Economics Control Board.” She couldn’t
avoid using a defensive tone, still feeling guilty for all the work that Matt had to do for the
SEEECB flunkies.
approved by the CAW Space Exploration, Exploitation, and Economics Control Board.” She couldn’t
avoid using a defensive tone, still feeling guilty for all the work that Matt had to do for the
SEEECB flunkies.
“Don’t worry. Although he’ll never admit it to Mr. Journey, the colonel
thinks he did the right thing. The colonel even admires the Byzantine snarl that’s resulted.”
Joyce grinned.
thinks he did the right thing. The colonel even admires the Byzantine snarl that’s resulted.”
Joyce grinned.
As if I care about what Owen Edones thinks
.
She wondered why Owen had sent Joyce here and immediately squelched her curiosity. She didn’t
have a need to know, but she’d bet a hundred HKD that this had something to do with the
Terrans. They were still the
enemy,
or at the least, they were
the other side
, no matter what lip service AFCAW intelligence gave
to Pax Minoica.
.
She wondered why Owen had sent Joyce here and immediately squelched her curiosity. She didn’t
have a need to know, but she’d bet a hundred HKD that this had something to do with the
Terrans. They were still the
enemy,
or at the least, they were
the other side
, no matter what lip service AFCAW intelligence gave
to Pax Minoica.
“There’s more to interest the Terrans than just the artifact.” She
changed the display to zoom in on the third planet from the sun, labeled Sophia II. “They think
the Builders—that’s what they’re calling this alien civilization—were terraforming this planet.
They found what they think are inactive sensors on the surface.”
changed the display to zoom in on the third planet from the sun, labeled Sophia II. “They think
the Builders—that’s what they’re calling this alien civilization—were terraforming this planet.
They found what they think are inactive sensors on the surface.”
“I thought they found nothing artificial on any of the inner planets
during the second-wave prospecting.” Joyce picked up his slate and began making notes. “Sophia
Two was staked by Taethis Exploration; why didn’t they catch this earlier?”
during the second-wave prospecting.” Joyce picked up his slate and began making notes. “Sophia
Two was staked by Taethis Exploration; why didn’t they catch this earlier?”
“There’s a limit to what second-wave prospectors can find using
telebots. The lessee now has contractors capable of surface exploration.”
telebots. The lessee now has contractors capable of surface exploration.”
“Are the contractors Terran?” Joyce asked.
“I don’t think that matters as much in new space as you think it
does.”
does.”
“The Terrans will be all over this, given their problems with Mars and
Earth.”
Earth.”
“Not Earth—Terra. Once you leave this ship, you should avoid offensive
words.” She clipped her words, irritated. He apparently thought his mission, whatever it was,
would be business as usual. It wouldn’t, not in new space. “You’re going to have to get used to
new space, Joyce. There’s a mishmash of backgrounds and loyalties here; our governing bodies
are far away and we’re isolated. You practically breathe ComNet on any Autonomist world, but it
won’t even exist here. That means no timely news or feeds, no safety monitoring, no automatic
nine-one-one access, and you have to get into the queue to make calls home. There’s no such
thing as free bandwidth out of this system. Not while that generational ship has to get more
than twenty-five years of data downloaded and processed.”
words.” She clipped her words, irritated. He apparently thought his mission, whatever it was,
would be business as usual. It wouldn’t, not in new space. “You’re going to have to get used to
new space, Joyce. There’s a mishmash of backgrounds and loyalties here; our governing bodies
are far away and we’re isolated. You practically breathe ComNet on any Autonomist world, but it
won’t even exist here. That means no timely news or feeds, no safety monitoring, no automatic
nine-one-one access, and you have to get into the queue to make calls home. There’s no such
thing as free bandwidth out of this system. Not while that generational ship has to get more
than twenty-five years of data downloaded and processed.”
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