Webb took a deep breath.
“Jaeger, Meet the
Zero
's new captain.”
“
Looks like Service scum to me.”
Hugo riled and stood.
“Hugo, sit
down
,” Webb barked.
Hugo held the big man's calm, dark gaze for a moment longer then sat himself down. Webb looked a bit pale.
“Look Jaeger. We didn't...”
Jaeger snorted again then held a glass out to both Webb and Hugo.
“Relax, boy,” he said. “I got a pounding headache. Don't feel like picking a fight with ex-Service types today. Now drink.” He held up his glass. “
Prost
.”
Hugo watched as Webb and Jaeger downed the clear liquid in one swallow. Hugo sniffed his and blinked as his eyes started to water. He felt Jaeger's gaze on him and followed suit. He coughed, fire burning down his throat.
“Atta boy,” Jaeger said, refilling the glasses. “Oh, I forgot. Webb, someone came by looking for you a while back.”
Webb paused with his glass part way to his mouth.
“Oh?”
“
Ja
,” Jaeger said. He drained his glass, wiped his mouth on his sleeve and peered at Webb. “Short fucker. No hair. Odd-looking.”
“
Ain't ringing any bells,” Webb said, just as the girl reappeared and put two bowls of a rich-smelling stew down in front of them.
“
He didn't find you?”
Webb shrugged and turned his attention to his food. The thick scent was enough to make Hugo's stomach clench and he picked up his fork and began to eat. Hugo had to admit it was good, heavily seasoned, and had sizeable chunks of meat.
“Real beef?” Hugo asked, looking at Jaeger again who was pouring himself another glass from the bottle.
Jaeger
smiled. “You wanting to see my license, Service-boy?”
“
Listen, Jaeger,” Webb cut in. “Have you seen Harvey lately?”
Jaeger held the glass against his forehead, frowning.
“Harvey?”
“
Yeah,” Webb said, chewing. “Marilyn Harvey. Haven spacer. Pilots the
Phoenix
?”
Jaeger put the glass down, still frowning.
“I remember. No, not for some time. I think I remember hearing she got herself in some shit.”
Webb paused, fork halfway to his mouth.
“Yeah?”
Jaeger shrugged, cleared away the glasses.
“That's what I heard.”
“
Deep shit?”
“
Is there any other kind?”
Webb blinked slowly.
“What exactly did you hear?”
“
It was a while ago. Something to do with the Splinters. I don't know what. If she's got any sense she's gone to ground.”
Webb took another mouthful and frowned into his bowl.
“How'd you like it, Captain?” Jaeger said.
Hugo swallowed his mouthful.
“It's good,” he said.
Jaeger grinned.
“That's what real meat does for you. Now, is that it? I know I owe you, Webb, but I've got rather a lot to get done.”
“
Nothing else, Jaeger,” Webb said, scraping the last of his food from his bowl. “Just thought the new captain might want to see a true Tranquillity hotspot.”
“
You're a cheeky bastard,” Jaeger said. Hugo didn't think it sounded like he was entirely joking. “You wanna be careful. One of these days your mouth's gonna get you a bullet in the back.”
Webb held the large man's gaze whilst he swallowed the last of the stew.
“You're one to talk,” he said, face splitting into a nasty grin.
Jaeger tensed. Hugo stopped himself reaching for his gun with an effort. Webb just sat there, grinning, not breaking eye contact.
Finally Jaeger laughed, clapped Webb on the shoulder. “You little shit. Get the hell out of here. I've got a bar to rebuild.”
“
See you around, Jaeger,” Webb said, standing.
“
Not too bloody soon, I hope,” Jaeger replied, turning and heading back toward the kitchens. “Oh,” he said, turning. “What you want me to say to your bald friend if he comes back?”
Webb shrugged.
“Some variation of fuck off?”
Jaeger smirked.
“I'll think of something.”
“
Come on, Captain,” Webb mumbled, suddenly not smiling. “Let's get out of here.”
ɵ
“What happened to his bar?” Hugo asked as they drove back through the groundways towards the harbour.
“
Jaeger's got a long list of enemies,” Webb said, frowning out of the windscreen.
“
Why?”
“
He fought on the other side.”
“
In what?”
Webb looked at him.
“Governor McCullough’s Revolution.”
Hugo blinked.
“He fought
against
an independent Lunar State?” Webb nodded. “Why?”
Webb shrugged.
“He liked the moon the way it was. Lost him a lot of friends though.”
“
Why does he stay?”
“
It's his home.”
“
And the bald man that was looking for you? What was that all about?”
“
You know as much as me on that one, Captain.”
There was silence as Webb steered them in and out of the traffic. It was coming up to the night cycle but the traffic on the groundways, walkways and flyways seemed as busy as ever.
“Which side did you fight on?”
“
In the revolution?” Webb laughed. “Jesus, Hugo. I was still dodging youth unit officials and stealing food from dumpsters on Lunar 1 during that whole mess. Only difference to me was that there were slightly more bullets to dodge. What about you?”
“
I was still an under-cadet in the Academy. My parents and one of my sisters fought against the rebels though.”
“
Did they make it?”
“
My parents did. My sister didn't.”
Webb didn't say anything. Hugo continued to watch the traffic.
“Who's Harvey?” He eventually asked.
“
Just another point,” Webb said, frowning out of the windscreen. He didn't offer anything else and Hugo didn't push. With the good food and strong drink swirling inside him and everything he had already seen and heard that day throbbing through his head, he was more than happy to leave it.
ɵ
Webb hung back and let Hugo precede him onto the
Zero
's bridge. The new captain had done tolerably well, considering. At least he hadn't screwed up any connections or got them shot.
“
Rami,” Webb bent over her at her workstation, keeping his voice low. “I think Marilyn might be in some trouble.”
“
What else is new?” Rami said, not breaking in her typing.
“
Think this might be real trouble. Splinter-type trouble,” Webb murmured, glancing over to watch Hugo as he walked up to More and started issuing launch orders. “Can you dig around and see what you can find?”
Rami nodded, looking grave.
“Although if she's gone to ground, I won't be able to find anything.”
“
I'll be more worried if you do find something. Just take a look, okay?”
“
Okay, Zeek,” Rami said, then she smiled at him. “I'm sure she's fine.”
Webb nodded and straightened.
“Find anything new on the moonframe?”
Rami shook her head.
“There's been a couple of upgrades since we were last here, but both routine.”
“
Good. Buckle up. I think the Captain's taking us back to Command.”
“
Command? Again?” Rami blinked.
“
He has orders to report to Luscombe.”
“
It's not gonna look good, docking at Service Command twice in two days.”
Webb shrugged.
“We'll manage. Everything okay on the checks?”
“
All clear,” she said, closing down the reports on her workstation display.
“
Commander?”
Webb turned. Kinjo was stood there, panel clutched in hand and eyes flicking between Webb and Hugo. Hugo was bent over More's control panel watching the sub-lieutenant run the rest of the pre-launch checks.
“All secure below?” Webb said, taking the panel from Kinjo.
“
Yes, Commander,” she said. “How'd it go with Dolgorukov?”
“
Well,” Webb said, checking a couple of reports and handing the panel back to the midshipman. “You stocked that cargo just right. He was pleased with the burn connectors.”
He could see her fighting a smile. Then she sobered, glanced at Hugo and stepped closer.
“How'd the captain do?”
Webb sighed.
“Still early days, Kinjo. Get yourself strapped in below. Sub and Bolt ready to go?”
“
Yes, sir,” she said, saluting.
Webb laughed.
“Good. Off you go.”
“
Commander?”
Webb turned towards Hugo.
“Yes, sir?”
“
We are ready to launch. Set in a course for Command.”
“
Yes, sir.” Webb dropped himself back into the control chair next to More and strapped himself in. He tried to exchange glances with More to see if he could pick up what his sub-lieutenant was thinking. But More's face was its usual impassive mask.
Webb sighed again and let his hands run the start-up commands without really concentrating. More must have detected his distraction because he contacted harbour control and confirmed the launch. Webb just waited for the command and then engaged the engines. The
Zero
hummed and he felt her rock underneath him as she lifted off the ground. He glanced at the displays with half an eye to ensure they kept a plenty of distance between the ships berthed on either side and soon felt the ship pull itself free of the gravity. The sky outside the viewscreen melted from orange to black and then there was nothing but the candle-flames of stars amongst the vastness of space.
Webb programmed in the course and then took the ship round
in an arc. Earth came into view, swirled blue and white like a marble. The
Zero
settled into her course and Hugo ordered full thrusters from his seat at the back of the bridge.
Webb smiled and looked over his shoulder.
“You want to take her up to full, Captain?” Webb swore he almost saw a flicker of excitement in Hugo's dark eyes. The older man hesitated a fraction of a second then unbuckled his harness and came across the deck. Webb unstrapped himself and vacated the chair. Hugo sat down and for a moment just stared at the panel. Webb hovered, one hand on the back of the chair. He noticed both More and Rami sneaking glances.
Hugo reached out for the controls, glanced at the meter readings on the display and then took her in hand. Hugo took control with the fluidity of instinct, easing the
Zero
along her course without any wavering from the planned path mapped out on the display.
“
She might look like she's held together with wire and gum, but her engine's top grade,” Webb said. “More has her autopilot programmed like a dream, but manual is when she really shows her colours. Don't be afraid to push her.”
Hugo appeared to be only half-listening. His hands were finding the commands easily enough and now he barely looked at the meter readings. Webb wondered whether Hugo even remembered the
rest of them were there. He folded his arms and watched, keeping one eye on More but the sub-lieutenant wasn't having to correct anything Hugo was doing. He couldn't help but smile, and something eased inside him.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting, Captain.”
“
Not at all, Colonel,” Hugo said, standing as the colonel moved across his office to the sideboard and poured a couple of glasses of blask.
“
Here,” Luscombe said holding one out. Hugo took it. “To future prospects.”
Hugo lifted his glass.
“To future prospects.” The two men drank.
“
Sit,” the colonel said.
Hugo sat back down as Luscombe took his seat behind the desk. The colonel took another swallow of his drink and then gave Hugo an appraising glance.
“So, you've completed a hand-off and are still in one piece. That can only be promising.”
Hugo didn't reply, just took another sip of his drink. It was good and earthy, sliding a slow warmth through him. He remembered the clear stuff that Jaeger had given him and took another appreciative sip.
“Well, Captain? Report.”
“
We made contact with the point, Anton Dolgorukov. He appeared satisfied with the cargo supplied and Webb seems confident we can count on his co-operation in the future.”
The colonel nodded, half an eye on the display on the wall that was displaying news and Service reports on a rolling feed.
“Good. Not that I would expect any less. This was small potatoes. We would have given you something more worthy of your abilities but with the
Zero
timing is something that rules you, not the other way around.”
“
Did you authorise the giving away of those machine parts to this point then, sir?”
Luscombe shook his head.
“Authorise? Hugo, you don't understand. I don't know all the ins and outs of the
Zero
's dealings. The crew maintain most of their relationships and business contacts independently. Webb knows his business better than I want to know. I only need a report after every mission directly assigned to you by me. And if anything significant is ever unearthed during the course of the
Zero
's regular business.”
“
Such as?”
“
You'll know it when you come across it.”
Hugo nodded, gritting his teeth.
“The Orbit has many levels of society, Hugo,” Luscombe said with a sigh. “The Service has better control over most of them than any other force in history. But it seems the more united the upper echelons, the more fractured and disjointed the lower. We can't afford to be too careful. We can't fix all the problems, but we can monitor them. The
Zero
project ensures that nothing takes us by surprise.”
Hugo swirled his drink around in his glass.
“Sir...” he said slowly.
“
Hugo,” Luscombe said, draining his glass. “You are not being punished. I appreciate this has been hard..”
“
I've been publicly denounced and dishonourably discharged.”
The colonel leant back in his chair, regarding him levelly.
“What you did was inspired by bravery and good motives. But it was also against orders.”
“
Orders from an Analyst. Not from my CO.”
Luscombe shook his head.
“I'm not about to have a debate about protocol. The Analysts advised full retreat. You ignored them. After that there was no way you would be given command of a Space Corps fighter unit again, no matter how successful the outcome. The Service cannot have heroes. We need to be united. We serve. We follow. We obey.”
Hugo took another drink, looking at the wall.
“Even if we know better?”
“
Captain, I hope to have a long and profitable relationship with you but you are not going to win my admiration by arguing with me.”
“
My apologies, Colonel.”
Luscombe looked at him a moment longer. For one minute Hugo wondered what would happen if he told the
colonel to shove it. Shove it all. Shove the
Zero
and shove the Service. But the moment and the feeling passed, leaving in its wake a flush of shame.
“
Against orders or not, however,” Luscombe continued. “Your actions caught the eye of Admiral Pharos. She is deeply committed to the
Zero
project. She leaves the running of it to me, but this is her ethos. Her plan. You may not to be able to show it but you should be proud.”
Hugo nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“
Good lad.” Luscombe rose and went back to the sideboard, replacing the glasses. “We won't be able to meet in person often. Hudson will be able to come up with some sort of explanation for your presence here today but by and large, unless it's an emergency, it's best if you report via secure channel from the
Zero
. Lieutenant Rami knows how to program it.”
“
Yes, sir.”
“
Don't underestimate this task, Hugo,” Luscombe said. “Others before you have. It did not end well for them.”
Hugo rose, stiffly.
“Just one question, sir...”
“
Just one?” Luscombe's mouth twitched up at one corner.
“
One main question, sir,” Hugo said, forcing his hands not to clench. “Why not make Webb captain?”
Luscombe's smile widened.
“You don't like him, do you?” Hugo didn't comment but felt his cheeks flush. Luscombe waved a hand. “It's okay, Hugo. Webb has a way of rubbing Service officers up the wrong way. But trust me on this. I have never known a better soldier or a more loyal commander. If you win him over, you will go far. But he'd be the first person to tell you he is not captain material.”
“
How so?”
Luscombe shrugged.
“He can't handle being the middle man. He can't make the hard decisions. He will do anything and everything for his mission and his crew. But those are his first priorities. The
Zero
needs a captain that can implement the Service's agenda. It's not an easy task. You have to be of both worlds, Hugo. Under and overground. Official and unofficial. Service and...”
“
Scum?”
Luscombe's gaze hardened.
“Some might see it that way. You are more likely to succeed if you learn to broaden your thinking, however.”
Hugo ducked his head. His face still felt hot. He ground his teeth to stop himself blurting the hundred angry things that rose to his lips and only raised his head again when he trusted his face to be blank and his tongue to be still.
“Are you ready for your first Red-Level assignment then, Captain?” Luscombe asked.
Hugo straightened his back and squared his shoulders.
“Yes, sir.”
“
Good. Here.” Luscombe handed over a disk. “Rami will be able to decode it. I'm curious about Albion Integrated's revenue stream of late. There appears to be...discrepancies. It's probably nothing, but I need to be sure.”
“
AI?” Hugo asked, taking the disk. “They're a very powerful organisation, sir.”
“
Indeed they are, Captain,” Luscombe said. “All the more reason to make sure we know where their money's going. Now go. All the details are on the disk. I expect a report when you have the data. You have a week.”
ɵ
“The sort of data he's after will not be on any system I can get into remotely, Captain,” Rami said.
“
Then what are we supposed to do?”
“
We have to get it from their grounded system,” Webb said as he sat with his feet up on the galley table, cleaning his fingernails with his knife.
“
In their command centre?” Hugo said.
Webb nodded.
“Fun, huh?”
Hugo flicked again through the mission data on the galley wall display. There were official listings of AI's office, warehouse and factory locations, lists of its stock holdings and official credit standing, reports on inter-Orbit relations and the names of the CEOs. Hugo felt himself pale.
“They make weapons and equipment for the Service,” he muttered. “How can Luscombe want us to spy on them?”
“
Keep your enemies close and your friends closer, Captain,” Webb said, dropping his feet down and leaning on the table. “Spinn?”
“
Commander?”
“
Rami’s digging up official and unofficial schematics of AI's Earth-based command centre. Will you go through them with her and come back to us with some ideas?”
“
Yes sir.”
“
Kinjo?”
The young girl perked up.
“Yes, Commander?”
“
You, Sub and Bolt put together what we need for a two-man infiltration mission. We'll need guns, high-memory wrist panels, bolt cutters, mobile spyware... Sub and Bolt will know what else.”
“
Yes, Commander,” Kinjo said and then was up and scurrying out the galley towards the hold.
“
This is impossible,” Hugo murmured, still leafing through the data on the display.
“
More and I will handle it, Captain,” Webb said, standing. “You put your feet up. We'll be done before you know it.”
“
Commander,” Hugo grated, turning to him as he moved to leave. “I have already explained that I do not intend to sit out missions.”
“
Sir,” Webb said, visibly gathering his patience. “This isn't just finalising a deal with a low-security point. This is front-line, Red-Level infiltration and extraction. I'd strongly recommend you take a back seat for this one.”
“
Doctor. Lieutenant.”
“
Sir?” the two remaining crew responded.
“
Could you give us a moment?”
Rami and Spinn looked at each other, then at Webb, before rising and leaving the galley. Webb stood with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed.
“Captain, you're going to have to learn to trust my judgement.”
“
And you, Commander, are going to have to learn some respect. I am not a greengun. Neither am I stupid. I was made captain for a reason. You will listen to my input and you will formulate your plan involving me.”
“
You have no idea how to play this game yet, Captain,” Webb said, infuriatingly cool. “You nearly made Jaeger into an enemy yesterday. By the time you learn how quickly short fuses burn out around here, you'll be too dead to appreciate it.”
Hugo clenched his fists.
“You have your orders, Commander Webb,” he ground out. “Consult with Rami and Spinn. Gather more data. We meet back here in two hours when we will formulate the plan. Under my supervision.”
“
Very well,” Webb said eventually.
“
'Very well,
sir'
.”
Hugo saw Webb grind his own teeth. There was a dangerous flicker in the commander's eyes.
“Very well, sir.”
Hugo took himself off to the bridge and spent time going through the Albion Integrated data provided by Luscombe, memorising what there was. It wasn't nearly enough to plan anything. The Service would never launch an official campaign on so little. He gripped his hair in frustration and got up and paced over to the viewscreen.
The
Zero
was on a nowhere-course, drifting in a remote spaceway. More was at the controls but he just kept a cursory eye on their course, working mainly on a technical manifest for the mission. Hugo couldn't make much out of what he could read on the sub-lieutenant’s display so he paced back along the bridge and dropped himself again into the new command chair. He fiddled with the controls on the arm display, then used it to go through the
Zero
's vitals and camera feeds.
Hugo couldn't quite ignore the slight chill that began to rise under his belly. Every member of the crew was bent to some task that was being executed with the ease of something done a thousand times. When he switched to the feed from the hold he saw that Sub and Bolt were actually laughing as they checked over the contents of the weapons locker. A bitterness underpinned by uncertainty bubbled up inside him and he had to grip the chair arms to restrain himself from once again running his hands nervously through his hair.
“It's alright sir,” More's voice was quiet, but it still startled Hugo. The older man was looking at him. Hugo eased his scowl and More smiled. “You're not the first, is all sir. We've been told that the
Zero
's learning curve is like jumping off a cliff.”
“
Is that how you found it?”
More frowned slightly.
“It wasn't for me sir, but that's because I was trained especially for this.”
“
How long ago was that?”
More looked up at the ceiling, thinking.
“Coming up on twenty years now, captain. Just after the revolution.”
Hugo raised an eyebrow.
“How old were you when you were recruited?”