After a moment, he wiped his forehead.
Once more, it had seemed so real. Then, the nightmares about the Regneri and the Fergus always seemed real. After three years, he still harbored guilt—the repetition of the same nightmare indicated as much. But why?
He blotted his forehead again and checked the time. Then he took a long deep breath and swung his feet over the side of the wide bunk—too wide for just one person, but no one except him had ever slept there. Slowly, he rose and walked toward the fresher and the shower he always needed after the nightmares.
When he returned to the cockpit, the Joyau was still more than an hour out from Sandurst. Once settled back into the command couch, he checked the EDI and the system plot, but there were no new ships around Islyn—not unless they had totally shut down all energy sources. Then he went over the summary reports about the IIS office once more. There wasn’t anything to indicate why a successful PD would want a successor. Van hoped it was for personal reasons, but he had his doubts. Those would have to wait until after he contacted Rezi.
He squared himself in the command couch, not that he had to, but old habits died hard. Sandurst Orbit Control, Coalition Ship Joyau, requesting approach clearance.
Ship Joyau, please beam ID. Interrogative purpose.
Van didn’t like that at all. The orbit controller sounded exceedingly military. He glanced across the cockpit. “Eri…full harness.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t know, but…” Van pulsed the standard Coalition ID, waited a moment, and replied, Orbit control, Coalition ship Joyau, purpose of visit is foundation business. Joyau is registered IIS ship. Visiting IIS office.
Ship Joyau, wait one, under advisement. Continue approach this time.
Van studied the EDI detectors, but could see no energy buildups, and no ships besides those already plotted, and only one patroller standing off orbit control.
Cleared to lock charlie two. Request Galstan payment authorization.
Understand cleared to charlie two. Authorization follows. Van had to wonder if ships had refused to pay or if Islyn was desperate for Arm credits.
The Joyau was almost opposite lock charlie two when control replied, Authorization accepted. Welcome to orbit control, ship Joyau.
Thank you, control. Commencing docking this time.
Once the Joyau was linked in to orbit control, using station power, Van put the fusactors on standby—but not complete stand-down.
After checking the orbit station, and the unnatural levels of energy concentrations opposite the three commercial locks, Van also left the ship’s secondary shields in place.
Eri looked from the second couch. “You look concerned, Commander.”
“They’re a bit touchy. I think we’ll stay aboard until I make contact with Rezi.”
Van used the shipnet to access the planetary commnet—and the local office.
The image he got was that of a simmie receptionist. “This is IIS, Kahla. We’re not immediately available. Please leave a message.”
Van checked the codes, then bypassed the regular messages to link directly to the PD’s net. Director Rezi, this is IIS Senior Director Van Albert. I’d appreciate your getting back to me as soon as possible… Van left the routing codes.
Then he turned to Eri. “We’ll fix something to eat, and then I’m going to take a nap until he returns the call. You probably should, too.”
Van didn’t get the sleep.
As he was finishing what was dinner, a formulated stir-fry that Eri had programmed into the galley equipment, the net alerted him.
Incoming from Camryn Rezi.
Accept, project.
The image that appeared in the space over the mess table was that of a man with skin midway between Van’s and that of a typical Revenant, with hair so black it held a shade of blue, and deep brown eyes. He was neither young nor old and wore a light gray singlesuit.
“Director Albert. I’m so glad you’re here. I had hoped, but not expected, such a prompt response.”
“We’re on orbit station, Director Rezi. We just arrived a short time ago.” Van didn’t offer to meet Rezi. He wanted to see the man’s response.
“I know you’re on a tight schedule. It might be best if I took a shuttle up there. I should be able to make the next one, and that would put me up there in a little over four hours. Would that be satisfactory?”
“That would be satisfactory,” Van replied. “I look forward to seeing you, and I trust you will have a listing of the possible candidates and their backgrounds.”
“I certainly will. I’d best hurry.”
The screen blanked.
Van leaned back slightly on the mess table bench.
“He does not want you to go planetside,” Eri observed. “Do you think that he fears what you will find at the office?”
“He’s bright, according to Trystin’s notes. If there were something wrong with the office, he wouldn’t have asked for us to come.” Van shook his head. “I should have thought of this earlier. Can you arrange for us to get topped off before he gets here?”
“If the connections are standard, I can have it done in fifteen minutes.”
“They should be Hyndji.” He paused. “You’d better wear a full-nanite shield. They’ve got something focused on the outer lock. If you keep the station lock closed, you ought to be fine.”
“I had already thought the personal shield might be wise,” replied the older tech. “You think the whole system is leaning Revenant?”
“It’s leaning somewhere, if it hasn’t already gone.” Van frowned. “I can’t say I understand. The cultural background doesn’t look like it’s slanted right for the Revenants, but I can’t believe that it’s Hyndji. They don’t operate that way. I’ll link into the station’s newsdata while I’m waiting.”
“I will make certain that our mass tanks are full.” Eri stood and left the mess.
Van retreated to his stateroom and began with the current Islyn political news, scanning through the more recent headlines.
Earthquake Rocks Ghaiphar…
Court Bans MaidenAct Concert…
Van swept into the details, more curious than anything.
…West Continent Appeal Judiciary rejected the appeal of MaidenAct, dismissing the claim of the singing group that the Public Decency Act applies only to apparel in
