Just Roman. The rest of them are all over on the wreck. Why?
Shit.
Why, what's the matter?
Have you accessed the flight computer?
I'm on watch, of course I'm accessing.
No, not the ship's functions. The satellite analysis network Victoria set up.
Her flat features twisted into a surprised grin. You mean they've found some gold?
No, no fucking way. The network was reporting that satellite three had located a target deposit three hours ago. When I accessed the network direct to follow it up I found out what the search parameters really are. They're not looking for gold, those bastards are here to get pitchblende.
Pitchblende? Katherine had to run a search program through her neural nanonics encyclopedia to find out what it was. Oh Christ, uranium. They want uranium.
Exactly. You could never mine it from a planet without the local government knowing; that kind of operation would be easily spotted by the observation satellites. Asteroids don't have deposits of pitchblende. But planetoids do, and out here nobody is going to know that they're scooping it up.
I knew it! I bloody knew that fable about gold mountains was a load of balls.
They must be terrorists, or Sonoran independence freaks, or black syndicate members. We have to warn the others, we can't let them back on board Lady Mac .
Wait a minute, Karl. Yes, they're shits, but if we leave them over on the wreck they'll die. Even if you're prepared to do that, it's the Captain's decision.
No it isn't, not any more. If they come back then neither you, me, nor the Captain is going to be in any position to make decisions about anything. They knew we'd find out about the pitchblende eventually when Lady Mac rendezvoused with the ore particle. They knew we wouldn't take it on board voluntarily. That means they came fully prepared to force us. They've got guns, or weapons implants. Jorge is exactly what I said he was, a mercenary killer. We can't let them back on the ship, Katherine. We can't.
Oh, Christ. She was gripping the side of her acceleration couch in reflex. Command decision. And it was all hers.
Can we datavise the Captain? he asked.
I don't know. We've got relay blocks in the stairwells now the cybermice have been deactivated, but they're not very reliable; the structure plays hell with our signals.
Who's he with?
He was partnering Victoria. Wai and Schutz are together; Antonio and Jorge made up the last team.
Datavise Wai and Schutz, get them out first. Then try for the Captain.
OK. Get Roman, and go down to the airlock chamber; I'll authorize the weapons cabinet to release some maser carbines ... Shit!
What?
I can't. Marcus has the flight computer command codes. We can't even fire the thrusters without him.
•••
Deck fourteen appeared no different from any other as Marcus and Victoria wandered through it. The corridors were broad, and there were few doorways. None they did find were closed.
About sixty per cent is sealed off, Marcus datavised. This must be a major engineering level.
Yeah. There's so many cables around here I'm having trouble cataloguing the grid. She was wiping a magnetic sensor block slowly from side to side as they walked.
His communication block reported it was receiving an encrypted signal from the Lady Mac . Sheer surprise made him halt. He retrieved the appropriate code file from a neural nanonics memory cell.
Captain?
What's the problem, Katherine?
You've got to get back to the ship. Now, Captain, and make sure Victoria doesn't come with you.
Why?
Captain, this is Karl. I accessed the analysis network; the satellites are looking for pitchblende, not gold or platinum. Antonio's people are terrorists, they want to build fission bombs.
Marcus focused his collar sensors on Victoria, who was waiting a couple of metres down the corridor. Where's Schutz and Wai?
On their way back, Katherine datavised. They should be here in another five minutes.
OK, it's going to take me at least half an hour to get back. He didn't like to think about climbing fourteen flights of stairs fast, not in this gravity. Start prepping the ship.
Captain, Karl thinks they're probably armed.
Marcus's communication block reported another signal coming on-line.
Karl is quite right, Jorge datavised. We are indeed armed; and we also have excellent processor blocks and decryption programs. Really, Captain, this code of yours is at least three years out of date.
Marcus saw Victoria turn to face him. Care to comment on the pitchblende? he asked.
I admit, the material would have been of some considerable use to us, Jorge replied. But of course, this wreck has changed the Confederation beyond recognition, has it not, Captain?
Possibly.
Definitely. And so we no longer require the pitchblende.
That's a very drastic switch of allegiance.
Please, Captain, do not be facetious. The satellites were left on purely for your benefit; we didn't wish to alarm you.
Thank you for your consideration.
Captain, Katherine datavised. Schutz and Wai are in the airlock.
I do hope you're not proposing to leave without us, Jorge datavised. That would be most unwise.
You were going to kill us, Karl datavised.
That is a hysterical claim. You would not have been hurt.
As long as we obeyed, and helped you slaughter thousands of people.
Marcus wished Karl would stop being quite so blunt. He had few enough options as it was.
Come now, Captain, Jorge said. The Lady Macbeth is combat-capable; are you telling me you have never killed people in political disputes?
We've fought. But only against other ships.
Don't try and claim the moral high ground, Captain. War is war, no matter how it is fought.
Only when it's between soldiers; anything else is terrorism.
I assure you, we have put our old allegiance behind us. I ask you to do the same. This quarrel is foolish in the extreme. We both have so much to gain.
And you're armed, Marcus filled in silently. Jorge and Antonio were supposed to be inspecting decks twelve and thirteen. It would be tough if not impossible getting back to the airlock before them. But I can't trust them on Lady Mac .
Captain, they're moving, Katherine datavised. The communication block in stairwell three has acquired them, strength one. They must be coming up.
Victoria, Jorge datavised. Restrain the Captain and bring him to the airlock. I advise all of you on the ship to remain calm, we can still find a peaceful solution to this situation.
Unarmed combat programs went primary in Marcus's neural nanonics. The black, featureless figure opposite him didn't move.
Your call, he datavised. According to his tactical analysis program she had few choices. Jorge's order implied she was armed, though a scan of her utility belt didn't reveal anything obvious other than a standard fission blade. If she went for a gun he would have an attack window. If she didn't, then he could probably stay ahead of her. She was a lot younger, but his geneered physique should be able to match her in this gravity field.
Victoria dropped the sensor block she was carrying, and moved her hand to her belt. She grabbed the multipurpose power tool and started to bring it up.
Marcus slammed into her, using his greater mass to throw her off balance. She was hampered by trying to keep her grip on the tool. His impact made her sway sideways, then the fierce xenoc gravity took over. She toppled helplessly, falling fast. The power tool was swinging round to point at him. Marcus kicked her hand, and the unit skittered away. It didn't slide far, the gravity saw to that.