“
Spinn was following orders, sir.”
Hugo felt heat flare.
“He betrayed us. It's mutiny.”
“
If you say so, sir.”
“
More, I don't understand you. Webb is dead because of this. None of this would have happened if he'd spoken out as soon as LIL reared their head. It's wilful treachery, mission or not. You do not treat your crew this way.”
“
Not even if you were ordered to?” More gave him a glance that Hugo couldn't read.
“
I'm not letting this go,” Hugo said after a difficult pause. “I can't believe you even want me to.”
“
I don't sir,” More said mildly. “I'm just thinking dropping Spinn with a Haven mining crew might not be the best course.”
“
What would you do then?”
“
Take him back to Command. We're going to need some evidence on our side if we're going to report on Pharos.”
Hugo chewed his lip. The anger was still burning hot. He could see the flashes and dust in the distance that indicated the presence of the mining crew on one of the asteroids. A hail started bleeping on the control panel. More glanced at it then at Hugo.
“You're not just wanting me to spare him because you like him?”
“
I've known him a long time,” More hedged. “And thought him a good man. But either way... I think my point still stands.”
Hugo glared at the blinking hail light.
“Turn her round,” he said. “Plot a course that will get us to Command. But avoid the Lunar Strip, for fuck's sake.”
“
Yes, sir. I can do that. Just one thing, though...”
“
Another?” Hugo said, kneading his temples to try and ease the pounding there.
“
The minute Luscombe knows we're coming with the clone they'll have us surrounded and a boarding party dispatched. I don't know if we'll get word through in time if we're boarded.”
“
We'll have to get docked without him knowing.”
“
So we're not turning the clone in?”
“
No.”
More nodded, seeming slightly easier than before.
“Quinn in supplies can get us in, I'm sure.”
They increased their thrusters to full capacity as soon as they were clear of the Belt, but cast their sensors wide to manoeuvre around any approaching ships and the Lunar Strip sensor nets. Hugo had to stop himself from pacing as they skirted around the edge of the Strip.
It seemed an intolerably long journey back to Command. He double and triple-checked their engine capacity to see if any more power could be re-routed from anywhere but More had seemingly already thought to that. He itched to try and hail Luscombe but knew More was right. The minute he knew they were on the approach he would want the clone secured and ready to face trial before he would listen to anything else.
Slowly, however, Earth gained size and definition. Hugo filled the hours trying to find anything in the newsfeeds or Lunar status reports to suggest Pharos was making her move but all seemed normal. Painfully normal. It made him feel cold inside when he visualised the
Resolution
in orbit around the colonies.
“
In hailing distance now, sir,” More said.
Hugo almost jumped to the comm and started keying in the commands to get a connection.
“I don't know, Hugo,” Quinn sounded distracted over the comm. “I don't like how many people seem to know the name
Zero
all of a sudden.”
“
Look, Quinn,” Hugo kept his voice as neutral as he could. “Just get us your usual clearance through the patrols. Please.”
“
After all that happened at Tranquillity Hall? I'll get discharged.”
Hugo ground his teeth.
“Quinn, you have to trust me. We have information. Important information. Something big is coming.”
“
Is
he
with you?” she said after a pause.
“
Who?”
“
You know bloody well who. That maniac commander of yours that tried to ventilate the colonel.”
“
Yes, he's with us.”
“
Then forget it, Hugo. There's a contracted warrant out on his head. No way can I let you sneak him aboard.”
“
Quinn, I can't explain right now but you have to believe me that Webb's little stunt is the very least of our worries. I have a contact on Command who needs this information we have.”
“
So get
them
to give you clearance.”
“
We're approaching the edges of Command's sensor net now, sir,” More said.
“
Quinn, you do this and I won't forget it. Believe me, you'll regret it far more if you don't.”
There was a pause and then a noisy sigh.
“I don't know why I listen to you, Kaleb Hugo. My mother warned me against types like you. She always said sincerity is the worst deception of all.”
“
I swear, Quinn, on my life, that our contact is going to need and be grateful for what we have.”
“
Fine, fine. Transmitting clearance code now. But I don't want to see or hear from you ever, ever again, understand?”
“
Thank you,” Hugo unclenched his hands and started feeding the clearance code into their ID transmitters. “Berth U-276, More.”
“
Yes, sir.”
“
Sir?”
Hugo turned in his chair. Rami was stood at the entrywa
y.
“
How is he?”
Rami nodded.
“He's doing better, sir. They were all superficial wounds. The neuro-enhancer was the cruel part and it's out of his system now. But, sir...?”
“
Yes, Lieutenant?”
“
Are we turning him in?” She was gazing out the viewscreen to Service Command looming against the star-specked back drop.
“
No, we're not,” Hugo said, standing. “The Service has no more right to him the LIL do. We are keeping him safe until all this is over. What he does then is up to him.”
“
Very well, sir,” Rami said, dropping her gaze to the floor.
“
We can't make him stay, Lieutenant,” Hugo said in a low voice as he came closer to her. “And we can't use him to ease our own -”
“
I know, sir,” she said, quickly. “I know that.”
Hugo nodded.
“Good. Now help More ward off any invasive scans you can, and keep an eye on our clearances and docking registration. Webb and I are going in.”
ɵ
Webb was in the crew quarters, pulling on a t-shirt, cap and his old cargo jacket. “I can't believe you kept this,” he was saying. It hung a little loose on him now.
“
More wouldn't let it go.”
Webb smiled, but then his hand went to his throat and his face fell.
“I don't suppose...?”
Hugo shook his head.
“The pendant went with him. Sorry.”
Webb nodded, tugging on the brim of his cap in a gesture so familiar it stirred up the pain all over again.
“Are we ready?”
“
As we'll ever be. We'll have to move quick. It's only a matter of time before one or both of us gets recognised.”
“
I don't think Luscombe will exactly be pleased to see me, you know.”
“
You need to tell him everything you heard and saw. LIL could declare revolution any hour now.”
Webb was staring at his boots.
“Webb...” Hugo said then paused, swallowing through a tight throat. “Zeek... you do this and I'll make sure the Service doesn't get you. LIL either. I'll make sure you get to go your own way.”
“
That all rather depends on us surviving.”
ɵ
Hugo kept his head down as he paced through Command's corridors. They were already drawing looks though he couldn't determine whether it was people that recognised them or if they were just confused by their lack of uniform or their fevered pace.
“
Do you even know where he is?” Webb said, jogging to keep up.
“
I've got a good idea.”
Hugo took them to a bank of express lifts and got them to the conference level. The armed guards gave him confused glances as he keyed in the codes for the doors without hesitation, recognition mixed with uncertainty in their faces, but Hugo kept them moving quickly enough so that none of them had time to make up their minds. Finally, they were moving down a corridor of black metal, display screens reeling status reports and statistical data. He turned a corner and passed a startled
Commander Hudson who stood from her desk and scrambled after them, protesting as Hugo walked right up to some double doors and started keying in codes.
The doors hissed open and Hugo stepped in, Webb at his shoulder. A dozen people in grey uniforms and a myriad of pips, insignia and medals between them looked up and fell silent when they burst in. Every face froze.
“Hugo?” Luscombe stood from the head of the conference table, face pale with anger. His eyes slid from him to Webb and his cheeks flushed red. “What the hell?”
“
Colonel, we have to talk to you.”
“
Luscombe,” one of the other officers frowned heavily. “What's going on here? Is that Kaleb Hugo?”
“
Hugo, get out of here. Now.”
“
Colonel, you have to listen. LIL -”
“
Hudson!” Luscombe shouted. The other officers were exchanging confused or dangerous glances.
The commander appeared at their side. “Sir?”
“Get security immediately.”
“
Got some unexplained troop movements there, by any chance, Colonel?” Webb stood with his arms folded, nodding towards the Orbit maps on the wall displays.
“
Colonel Luscombe,” the man who had already spoken stood. “What is going on here? I’ve had troops out with the contact to arrest one of these men for your attempted murder.”
“
It's under control, General,” Luscombe growled.
“
Colonel,” Hugo said. “Please listen. The Lunar Strip is going to declare another Lunar State. ”
“
What's he talking about?” another officer demanded.
“
Hugo, you can go with Hudson to the brig quietly or you can be dragged out of here by security. It makes no difference to me but you may want to think hard -”
“
Christ Almighty, Marcus,” Webb snapped. “You wanna live out the week? Pull your head out of your ass for five fucking seconds, will you?”
“
Zeek,” Hugo growled as eyes widened and jaws set around the room. “Colonel, he's been aboard the
Tide
...” Hugo started, but then tailed off and stared at the wall displays which had begun to flicker. The Orbit maps and stats vanished and were replaced by an oriental man's face. He looked down from every screen, expression grave.
“
What's going on?” someone muttered.
“
It's Cho-Jin. What the hell...?”
“
Quiet,” Luscombe held a hand up as the governor started talking.
“
The time has come to embark on a new future. Too long have Lunar Colonists lived under tyranny and military control. The Lunar Strip will no longer bow to the Service yoke.” The image cut to scenes of smoke and fires, buildings under siege, people running and taking shelter, skies and colony backdrops a blaze of laser and gunfire. Someone in the room muttered an oath.
“
What you're seeing is a fight for freedom. We are declaring an independent Lunar State. We are purging the poison from our colonies. The Service have 12 hours to surrender and abandon all outposts in the Lunar Strip before we declare full war.”
The screens went black. There was a moment of strained silence then every officer around the table stood and started barking orders into wrist panels and comm units. Commander Hudson stood at Hugo's side staring at the black screens, mouth open. Luscombe's face had gone very still.
“Get the Sunside flotilla mobilised immediately,” someone was muttering. “And someone get Pharos on the comm.”
“
They knew,” the officer that had recognised them pointed. “These men knew, Colonel. Get them into custody immediately.”
“
Wait, Colonel, there's more,” Hugo started but then he was grabbed from behind by armed guards. “Colonel, you must listen. Admiral Pharos -” he tried to protest desperately, but then a stunner was pressed to his neck and everything went black.
ɵ
“Well. That went well.”
Hugo sat up, groaning, glaring at Webb
who was staring at the ceiling of their small cell. “Did you manage to tell him?”