The Orphaned Worlds (30 page)

‘That’s a Hegemony warship,’ Kao Chih said.

Silveira nodded. ‘The
Ajavrin-Vulq
, a
Mortifier
-class battle-cruiser, seconded to the Hegemony’s diplomatic service …’

‘Hah!’ said Yash. ‘As in “we come in peace, shoot to kill”, eh?’

‘How did you find that out?’ said Kao Chih.

‘Open ship-tagger forums on the Agmedra’a dataplex,’ Silveira said. ‘No information on the reason for the visit, just that it berthed less than nine hours ago and several officials disem-barked. It could be a coincidence, but I think an alternative destination is called for, like your people’s asteroid vessel. I had intended to pay it a visit anyway.’

‘The
Retributor
?’ Kao Chih said. ‘Will we be able to avoid detection?’

‘We’re safe, Kao Chih. My ship’s stealth systems will get us to your rock-habitat without incident.’

He was true to his word. Just over an hour later the retrofitted, repaired, refurbished and unsightly exterior of the
Retributor
loomed large in the cockpit viewport. The hollowed-out asteroid was encrusted with apparatus, as if it were some deep-sea denizen whose epidermis had attracted all manner of grotesque growths. He felt a sense of homecoming relief as he surveyed that familiar jumbled profile, but it was overlaid with apprehension. He had been dispatched on a mission of supreme importance, to discover if there might be room on Darien for the survivors of the ruined Pyre colony. Now he would have to explain to the Duizhang and the elders how the Hegemony and its Brolturan allies had seized Darien and why Earthsphere seemed powerless to stop them. After that there was much else to make an account of, not least being the reason for Silveira’s presence. During the journey he had planned what he was going to say and how, but the Hegemony warship had disrupted that with the eloquence of a boot stamping on a Go board.

For a less advertised arrival Kao Chih ignored the New Dock and the Old Dock and instead pointed Silveira towards one of the maintenance pits. After a brief exchange with the pit manager, during which he announced his name, the
Oculus Noctis
was allowed to descend and moor in one of the larger mech troughs.

‘There may be a few people here to greet us,’ Kao Chih said as the personnel lock cycled through. ‘My mission was very important – there might even be a reporter from our weekly sheet,
Great Unity Report
…’

‘You have an actual hardcopy newspaper?’ Silveira said.

‘Printed on recycled biomass,’ Kao Chih said. ‘It’s a tradition …’

The inner door hatch swung open to reveal four members of
Retributor
security with stunguns aimed and ready.

Taken aback, Kao Chih held out his hands. ‘What is the meaning of this?’

‘No front-page picture, I would guess,’ said Yash with unconcealed glee.

Then an official in a plum and black suit stepped in from the side, one arm draped with long, rich orange garments.

‘Pilot Kao Chih, and honoured guests, I am Assistant Commissioner Liangyu. Please accept my apologies for this treatment. I’m afraid that your arrival could not have been more badly timed. We cannot afford to have your presence any more widely known, which is why you must don these robes before we take you up to the command level.’

He held out the orange clothing, which Kao Chih and Silveira hesitantly took. Yash folded his arms and glared up at the official.

‘Jelk that! Why should I?’

‘Such a refusal is your privilege, sir,’ Liangyu said. ‘But in the interests of security we would have to render you unconscious then dress you anyway and carry you out.’

A stungun’s muzzle was wide and rounded, bearing dozens of mini-emitters around the resonator, a slender spike. All four of these were now pointing at the Voth. Who sneered, shrugged, then went along with it.

After a ten-minute journey through maintenance passages and staff-only companionways, they stepped out into one of the carpeted, faintly fragrant corridors of the command level. A door opened a few yards along and the armed escort hurried them into a small room sparsely decorated with a few screens. Three chairs were arranged behind a low black table on which two tea glasses sat, half-f and giving off faint vapours. The Duizhang Kang Lo, commander of the
Retributor
, sat there, attired in official blue and black, his expression sombre, his dark eyes considering the newcomers. Next to him was one of the grey-haired elders, Tan Hua, wearing a flowing gown of white and pale russet, his lined features betraying nothing but a lofty disdain.

Kao Chih frowned. Tan Hua’s presence indicated that he had risen in rank, possibly displacing the Duizhang’s first officer, Li Guo, although it was also possible that he was here for another reason.

Then a corner door half-hidden by a screen opened and a tall, spindly Roug entered to sit in the third seat, its movements deliberate and unhurried. Kao Chih was suddenly certain that this was about Tumakri’s death and his role in it. He swallowed hard, ordering his thoughts, his defence, rehearsing his argument that they had been insufficiently prepared for such a task, that it had been unwise to rely so heavily on local contacts for course data …

The Duizhang exchanged murmurs with Tan Hua and the Roug for a moment, then beckoned Kao Chih forward. A chair was brought out for him and positioned before the low table. His legs felt weak as he sat.

‘Pilot Kao,’ said the Duizhang, Kang Lo. ‘While we are relieved, almost astounded to see you safe and well, your sudden appearance has put Human Sept in a difficult position. In essence, we have spent the last eight or nine hours assuring Hegemony officials that we had no clue as to your whereabouts.’ He folded his arms and sat back. ‘But now here you are.’

Tan Hua gave Kao Chih a cold look. ‘Pilot, you were given an assignment demanding the highest commitment to duty, an undertaking of the gravest import. But what do we hear? – that you diverted away from these crucial responsibilities in order to cavort with terrorists!’

Kao Chih could not stay silent. ‘Honourable Tan Hua! – I was taken prisoner by the Chaurixa …’

‘Must we add perjury to the list of charges set against you?’ Tan Hua thundered on. ‘As a result of your collaborations, extremists are plotting to strike at the very world we most fervently hoped would offer us a new home.’

‘Sir, this is not true.’ Kao Chih turned to Kang Lo. ‘Honourable Duizhang, I did not collaborate …’

But Tan Hua came back with another vituperative accusation, ignoring the Duizhang’s hand plucking at his sleeve. Then the Roug spoke in its distinctive papery whisper and everyone fell silent.

‘Pilot Kao Chih,’ it began. ‘I am Qabakri, Mandator of the High Index – Tumakri was my second-path son. Please tell me how he died.’

For a moment Kao Chih was tongue-tied – the Mandators were the third-highest ranking in Roug society and had considerable powers. Then he made himself speak, a rush of words explaining how he and Tumakri arrived at Blacknest, how their contact Avriqui was slain by the same bandits who waylaid Kao Chih and how Tumakri was shot while trying to escape.

‘So ignoble an end,’ said Qabakri. ‘Repeat once more the name of the master of these butchers.’

‘Munaak is his name.’

‘It is remembered.’ The Roug turned to the Duizhang. ‘You may continue.’

Kang Lo gave a courteous bow of the head then looked at Kao Chih.

‘Pilot Kao, the Potentiary, the senior official from the Hegemony vessel, has made his demands very clear, that we either render you into his custody or provide him with information leading to your detention. To that we now must add the option of trying to conceal you from detection. Any of these will have serious consequences in the event of failure …’

‘With respect, Duizhang,’ Tan Hua cut in, ‘in the interests of our exalted patrons, and for the safety and security of the Human Sept, we should pursue only one course of action, namely to deliver Kao Chih over to the Hegemony Potentiary.’

‘You will forgive me if I do not acquiesce to your reasoning, most honourable Tan Hua,’ Kao Chih said with undisguised dislike.

Fury flashed in Tan Hua’s eyes. ‘Keep your silence, pilot! It is not your place to judge your betters, rather you should be close-mouthed and thinking upon the rash errors that will lead to your rendition.’

Kao Chih’s own anger surged but before he could hurl a more barbed rejoinder, Silveira spoke from off to the side.

‘Respected sirs, might I interject at this point?’

Wide-eyed, Kao Chih glanced over his shoulder – the Earthsphere agent’s Mandarin was flawless.

‘Please accept my apologies for not having ascertained your identity, sir,’ said the Duizhang. ‘I for one am keen to know your name and to learn how and why Pilot Kao came to be your companion. The highly interesting vessel berthed in our maintenance pit is yours, I believe.’

Silveira stepped forward and bowed. ‘Yes, Duizhang, it is. My name is Baltazar Silveira; my official rank is that of captain in the Earthsphere Alliance Navy but in terms of my assignment I am an Extraordinary Field Operative for Earthsphere Intelligence.’

Stunned silence greeted this information, and Silveira went on to reiterate some of the things he had explained during the meeting between Greg and Vashutkin several long days ago. He included concise summaries of the political and military situation, and passed on Greg’s half-truth about the ancient device inside Giant’s Shoulder, the matter-transport explanation rather than the hyperspace-gateway one. He ended by explaining how his encounter with Kao Chih profoundly altered his assignment, and how he now saw it as his mission to convince his superiors to directly intervene and rescue the colonists trapped on Pyre.

‘… Which is why, with your approval, I should like to travel to Pyre in order to examine the situation on the ground.’

While Silveira spoke, Kao Chih watched all three arbiters. Where Mandator Qabakri was unreadable, the Duizhang Kang Lo’s face was almost an open book: surprise, puzzlement, fascination and other emotions were revealed clearly. Tan Hua was an enigma; the disdain and hostile arrogance that had so animated his features seemed to have drained away, leaving behind a composed, unrevealing visage from which slightly narrowed eyes peered unwaveringly at Silveira. Kao Chih wondered what had happened during his absence that had enabled the man to ascend to such a position of power.

‘Your tale is astonishing, Captain Silveira,’ said the Duizhang. ‘And your claims and motivations are closely in tune with the needs and hopes of the Human Sept. Can you provide any proof as to your status and identity?’

‘I do have a personal rubric, honoured Duizhang, but I doubt that you have the equipment to decode it.’ He indicated Kao Chih. ‘Pilot Kao can vouch for some of the time I spent on Darien.’

‘I must state that I am not persuaded by our guest’s elaborate and tortuous account,’ said Tan Hua. ‘The various imputations and assertions so frequently strain the limits of credibility that the purpose of their messenger is brought into question. Perhaps both of these collaborators should be handed over to the Hegemony Potentiary.’

Kao Chih was aghast, not just at Tan Hua’s arrogant dismissal but also Kang Lo’s apparent lack of opposition.

‘Such a decision would not be advisable,’ said Silveira, his smile cold and dangerous.

‘It is not your place to determine our security arrangements,’ Tan Hua said, voice rising.

‘Neither is it yours!’ said Kao Chih. ‘Duizhang, I beg you …’

‘Silence!’ cried Tan Hua, pointing at him with a spidery finger. ‘You will be silent!’

Then the Roug Qabakri stood and the uproar died.

‘Questions remain,’ it said. ‘I was with the Duizhang when the Silveira ship approached. I saw the form of it and the contours of its hyperdrive field. Human Silveira, is your vessel a product of the Eddison-Carlyle yards on Mars in your species’ home system?’

‘Yes, it is.’

Qabakri turned to Tan Hua and the Duizhang. ‘Such sophisticated vessels are constructed exclusively for the intelligence services of Earthsphere. I am satisfied as to the veracity of Human Silveira’s statements.’

‘I am relieved to find myself vindicated,’ said Silveira. ‘If I may impose still further on this council’s patience and wisdom, I would request that Kao Chih accompany me to Pyre. He is capable and resourceful and would be able to allay the fear and distrust of any colonists that we encounter.’

Kao Chih smiled at this but Tan Hua’s eyes flared with anger and he was about to speak when the Roug got in first.

‘Your reasoning is sound and your alacrity of purpose is apt. I propose a third member of your expedition – I propose myself.’

Silveira’s surprise was mirrored by the Duizhang Kang Lo.

‘Honourable Patron, there may be considerable danger in this,’ he said. ‘You would be risking capture or death at the hands of the Suneye monoclan.’

‘Respected Duizhang, just as Human Silveira aims to convince his superiors of the need for intervention, so must I persuade my own. The Upper Index knows of my intent and they likewise caution restraint, but I am resolved. Your answer, Human Silveira – will you accept me aboard your craft?’

‘I would be honoured and gratified to do so.’

The tall Roug stood, gave a stately bow to Silveira, then looked to the Duizhang and Tan Hua. ‘I would seek your approval, respected ones.’

‘I approve,’ said Kang Lo. ‘May your journey be fortunate and your return safe and swift.’ He looked to Kao Chih and the others. ‘These concealing robes are no longer necessary.’

Tan Hua said nothing, merely bowed his head in assent. Then the Roug Qabakri murmured something to the Duizhang, who nodded and clapped his hands once. The Roug then left the chamber via the same screen-hidden door he entered by.

‘The risk of discovery dictates that this expedition commences without delay. Captain Silveira, if you accompany Assistant Commissioner Liangyu he will convey you back to your vessel. Pilot Kao, please go through the door behind that screen. Mandator Qabakri wishes to speak privately with you.’

‘And what about me?’ came a sharp voice from the back of the room. ‘Jelking humans, no manners!’