“You’re part…of the…UCP. I…request…asy…lum.”
“Ask your god. You’ll get none from a Zayar. What did he confess?”
“It seems he’s traveled extensively since his death. Albrash flu remains in his blood.”
“A germ only active in its native atmosphere. The only germ discovered that’s strictly limited to a single planet,” Maxtin muses.
“A dozen other IMC regulated planets, all after he died, and not one time as a legitimate IMC employee did he leave his colony.”
“The ghost fleet.” Maxtin notes the flutter in the Hammeriod’s eye.
“Always rumors of a secret IMC smuggling fleet, but never has there been proof,” Vlad says.
“They are powerful as any empire. Why do they need such a deceit?”
“The largest interstellar corporation with a squeaky-clean performance record must have methods to preserve their credentials.”
“Like a Confederation leader who hires mercs,” Eli says.
“He knows more,” Maxtin assures them. “Their operation shadows more. Corporations cover up performance records all the time without a ghost fleet at their disposal.” Maxtin tugs at the white hairs of his mane. “Where does he get the weapons they transport?”
“He was dedicated to holding out on such knowledge, but his operation works as middlemen.”
Maxtin contemplates facts he didn’t have a minute ago. “Two layers of smuggling. No wonder I was unable to locate the source of the fake weapons.”
“We’ll have to start from scratch. He claims with his disappearance they will reorganize all scheduled drops to prevent any information he gave us from being utilized against their operation,” Vlad adds.
“At what point in the interrogation did he reveal his lack of value?”
“Well into my questioning.”
“Giving it credibility. I have whiffs of rumors about this IMC ghost fleet. I implored an agent to learn something. Not even the most indentured of IMC employees knew of rumors. Vlad, you have confirmed such a shadow organization exists. Bring me more at double your fee.”
“He provided one final piece of information if I promised to use the bore worms to kill him.”
“What did he use to pay for a swift death?”
“Right after they removed his identity he visited a factory on Nano VI in the Ivaldi Systems.”
Maxtin opens a small metal case. Removing a gun, he flips the power charger on.
“I’ve never seen such a weapon.”
“It’s from Zayous. A molecular disruptor.” Maxtin squeezes the trigger.
The green energy ball eats away the Hammeriod until nothing but a husk of steam remains.
“Do you want us to investigate Nano VI?”
“No, stay away from there. Find another agent. Get us closer to the ghost fleet. I have the perfect agents to investigate Nano VI.”
“WHAT DO YOU mean, gone?” Scott demands.
“The Sandman was in Michelle’s mind, then yours, before it attacked Reynard. He must have found a way to push it from our reality,” JC says.
“His sword kills them. He doesn’t need to push them out.” Scott bites his bottom lip. “Why don’t they just kill us? All myths say they drink the brain and go.”
“They are more than just the distorted legends. Their behavior counters their just being feeding beasts,” JC says.
“We’ll psychologize them later.” Scott snaps his finger. “We need to rediscover how Ki-Ton’s people captured one. Capture implies they had a way to detect them.”
“Won’t you need a Sandman to study in order to learn how to capture one?”
“There are concerns to my plan. Short of returning to Ki-Ton’s home world and retrieving information.”
“The repairs first. In this condition I doubt the Silver Dragon will hold together to return us to dry dock.”
“You have no expertise to make such a diagnosis.” Scott knows they have one hyperspace jump left. “Athena, how close are we to Guil III?”
“Seventeen minutes, Lieutenant Beers.”
“Samantha is there. Reynard could be as well. We know there is a focal point the Sandmen use.”
“They used a sword able to destroy them as key to our realty.”
“They just use the radiant energy of the blade,” JC says.
“As a sister of Eir Basilica you know something more about Sandmen than is in any legend. Sandmen like brains and thoughts. I would think a community of telepaths would provide them with a smorgasbord.”
“You don’t think enough with the brain on your shoulders. Just be glad they don’t consume where all your thoughts lie,” she warns.
“You’re always hung on my prowess. If I could read your thoughts I wonder how many of them are of me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. Concentrate on finding our captain.” JC presses the door chime to Michelle’s quarters.
No answer.
“Athena, override,” Scott barks.
The door slides open.
“She’s gone.”
“Did they take Michelle too?”
“Her mind was too innocent to be corrupted. She served them no purpose.”
Scott marches to the bridge.
Amye works the controls from the captain’s station. “Athena’s sluggish, and I’ve yet to discover a way to scan for those monsters,” Amye reports. “Take your stations. We’re about to drop from hyperspace.”
“We have at least a dozen minutes,” Scott protests.
“The long-range scanners are functioning just fine. I’m bringing us out of hyperspace early,” Amye says.
“You’re overstepping your authority, Amye.” Scott slips into the weapons station. He activates the scanner readouts.
Amye waits long enough for him to decipher the information. “My mind’s been clear for a while now, and even when it’s not none of you listen to me. I’m proven correct once again.”
JC swings into communications. “What is it?”
“The same Throgen battle cruiser from Merden V.”
“Don’t drop us from hyperspace, Amye. Take us to the limit. Exit in the planet’s gravity well. It will give us minutes to scan for Reynard and Sam then be able to enter hyperspace before the Throgen ship reaches Guil III,” Scott orders.
Amye considers his command. The crew never considers my plans. Scott’s recommendation is a superior course of action. “Two opposing gravimetrical tidal forces would tear any other ship apart.”
“Structurally, the Dragon will handle it.”
The Dragon might, but none of us have the piloting skill to. I doubt even Kymberlynn, with her highest pilot rating, does. “If you’re wrong, we’ll only have about two seconds to chastise you for it.”
“If you’re unable to handle—”
“My
