of greasy, warm rain.
Hadeishi slid into the passenger's side of the captain's launch and let the shockchair fold around him, mating on-board environmental to his z-suit and hooking his comm into the launch relay. The forward window showed twin boat bay doors recessing, revealing a widening slice of abyssal darkness. A ring of landing guide lights flared to brilliance and the chatter of the bay traffic officer and Sho-i Asale negotiating undock and departure filled his earbug.
'Captain's launch is away,' Asale said briskly, and the ship's boat puffed free of its cradle and swept through the bay doors with steady grace. 'Outbound to make intercept with traffic control orbit ninety-six, freighter Tepoztecatl.' The pilot turned slightly, inclining her head towards the Chu- sa. 'Time to match velo and orbit is four hours, kyo.'
Hadeishi's eyes narrowed, displeased. 'I'm in a hurry, Sho-i. Don't hold back on my account.'
The pilot's dark brown eyes widened in delight. 'Orbital traffic control regulations say I should -'
'The faster you get us there, Sho-i, the happier I will be.' Hadeishi tapped his shockwebbing. 'Everyone's in-harness.'
'Yes, sir!' Asale toggled off the thrust regulators and checked her distance from the nearly invisible shape of the Cornuelle. 'Fitz, Deckard, you strapped in back there?'
'Hai…' Marine gunso Fitzsimmons answered with a grumble. 'I just had lunch…'
The cocoa-skinned pilot shook her head in amusement, then twisted her control yoke all the way forward. The pair of Ventris Aerosystems thrusters at the heart of the launch flared sun-bright and Hadeishi felt a kyojin's heavy, heavy hand crush his chest. The launch leapt forward, spaceframe groaning, and there was a muttered curse from the passenger compartment.
'Forty-five minutes to intercept,' the pilot reported cheerfully, letting her boat cut loose. Hadeishi could see the planet begin to swell ahead. The Tepoztecatl was in a lower orbit than the Fleet warship on overwatch. Scattered satellites and a lone merchantman sparked on the navigational plot. Most of the face of Jagan was wreathed in cloud. A huge storm system was gathering in the southern ocean.
The Chu-sa listened to Hayes with one ear, keeping track of the Cornuelle's maneuvering burn. After he was satisfied nothing had gone wrong aboard and the cruiser was on the proper heading, he cleared his display of the Navplot and tapped up a communications relay interface.
Now, he thought, steeling himself, we will see if a little truth can be sifted from all this deception.
His earbug went silent and Hadeishi keyed the traffic control channel to the merchantman alive. 'Cornuelle to the registered Imperial freighter Tepoztecatl, come in please. This is a priority call to…' He glanced at the registry information. '…Captain Chimalpahin.'
The channel popped alive with gratifying speed and the face of an irritated-looking, elderly NГЎhuatl with very long black-and-gray hair appeared in a fresh v-pane.
This is Chimalpahin.
'Hadeishi of the Cornuelle here, I am inbound to match your orbit. We have some matters to discuss face-to-face.'
The man's expression twisted into intense annoyance. Captain…this is not a good time for a social visit. In a day or two, I would be happy to meet you on the Cornuelle and we can discuss whatever you wish.
'I am on my way now,' Hadeishi said. 'You will allow me aboard your ship and you will explain to me exactly what you and your fellow priests are doing here.'
We are about the Emperor's business, Chimalpahin said in a patient tone, as I'm sure you guess. So – shouldn't you be with your command? There will be work for you soon.
'Yes, I expect there will be 'work' for us within the day, or at most the week.' The Chu- sa's tone cooled. 'And Imperial starmen and soldiers will die because you've arranged a 'live training exercise' for them – without informing Yacatolli, the Resident or myself of your presence or your purpose.'
The corners of Chimalpahin's small mouth twitched in amusement. Go back to your ship, Hadeishi. Yours is an honorable role, do not dishonor the Fleet by taking our business personally. Just do your duty.
'My duty,' the Chu-sa bit out, 'is to secure the common peace, police mercantile traffic and enforce the will of the Emperor. At present, I have every reason to believe you and your companions are actively seeking to destabilize the situation on Jagan and place every single Imperial citizen on the planet in danger – citizens I am oath-bound to protect.'
Asale reached over and tapped Hadeishi's display. A time-to-intercept counter was ticking relentlessly, showing ten minutes to deceleration. At the same time, the freighter captain's nose crinkled up in a mocking sneer.
Are you intending to arrest us? Impound our ship? Clap us in chains?
'In approximately fifty minutes,' Hadeishi said, fighting to remain calm, 'you will be showing me your identification, Imperial writ and other authorities proving you are, in fact, executing the Emperor's Will in this matter. If I am satisfied -'
Satisfied? Chimalpahin interrupted, face blushing coppery red. We are not beholden to Fleet! Our authority far exceeds yours, particularly in these matters! The Admiralty will severely reprimand you for interfering, Hadeishi, and your career -
'If I am not satisfied, Captain,' the Chu-sa snapped, 'then my Marines will storm and seize your vessel and you will be put in shock restraints until this matter is sorted out! As for your authority, I have yet to see any proof you are more than saboteurs, agitators and insurrectionists.' He paused, trying to remain impassive. 'Fleet reaction protocol to revolt is quite clear. How am I to know – despite your noble face – you are not a pack of HKV operatives, or a Danish volkscommando conspiring with native elements?'
The comm channel suddenly cut out, much to Hadeishi's surprise, and then popped back in. Chimalpahin seemed taken aback, staring off the edge of his v-pickup. The Chu-sa – feeling unaccountably wary – glanced at the comm channel status information and was perplexed to see no warnings indicating a lost relay or network problem.
'What was that?' Hadeishi growled. 'Are you showing a secure comm connection on your end?'
Yes… The freighter captain stared at his panel in alarm. Then he looked up, his expression ashen. Return to your ship immediately, Captain. We can meet socially on another day.
The channel went dead.
'Five minutes to deceleration. Forty minutes to intercept,' Asale said quietly, watching her commander's stonelike face with concern. 'Should I turn around?'
'No…' Hadeishi switched comm to the bridge channel on the Cornuelle. 'Hayes- tzin, are we suffering some kind of comm interference? I just lost channel with the Tepoztecatl in mid-sentence.'
No, sir. Everything here shows green. Should we run a system check?
The Chu-sa tapped one knuckle thoughtfully against the faceplate of his helmet. 'Something odd is happening with comm. If Isoroku has a moment, have him check the relays and master nodes for interference, degraded comp function, anything at all.'
Hayes signed off and Hadeishi nodded to the pilot. 'Proceed.'
I'm going to need something solid out of this priest, he thought, fighting imminent melancholy. The faces of Kosho and Hayes and Isoroku and even midshipman Smith were clear in his mind's eye. To save their careers. Otherwise, every indication will point to incompetence on my part and complicity on theirs. And they will be dragged down with me.
Hadeishi felt certain Fleet Command had been apprised of his slow return to Imperial space. A black mark has been set beside my name, against the Cornuelle 's record, an admonitory note for every officer serving with me. And with no patrons to offset my…refusal…to obey orders, my old ship
