“What sort of cache?” I ask.
“An abandoned domicile, associated with a mining operation similar to the Drifter,” Kumar says.
“How many of these moon things are there?” Jennings asks.
“Fourteen fragments large enough to detect and map from orbit,” Borden says. “Two have been investigated. The first was mined extensively by Algerian settlers, taken over by the Voors—then abandoned when it was flooded by an underground river, a hobo. That first mine was called the Drifter. The second… The Algerians dug some ways in, how far is unknown, before they abandoned it. The Voors were never able to get back inside.”
“No coin,” I say.
“Correct,” Borden says.
“Master Sergeant Venn came into possession of that coin,” Kumar says. “He found it in a pair of overalls in the Drifter. And he carried it back with him from Mars.”
“Man of mystery!” Jacobi says.
I flip her off. She smiles sweetly.
“I came upon a copy of Venn’s… ah, report, but not the coin,” Kumar says. “Apparently, the coin itself was necessary to gain entry. And that was somewhere on Earth—so we thought. So we informed the Gurus, before Division Four made its move toward independence.”
“Was on Earth?” I ask.
“The coin is now on Mars,” Kumar says.
That adds further confirmation to Joe’s picture in Litvinov’s pocket. The somebody I trusted at Madigan managed to get it to Borden, who passed it on to Joe. Joe carried it back to Mars. That’s what we all wanted, isn’t it? Does any of it make sense?
“Why not just blow their way in?” Ishida asks.
“Huff and puff,” says Corporal Paul Saugus.
Borden looks down the aisle. “Force has proven counterproductive in these locations,” she says.
“Silicon plague!” Mori says. Jacobi steps on his boot, not hard enough to break anything. The others yammer until Jacobi pointedly shuts them up. Then she stands and braces against a roof beam. “Commander, who are we really here to serve or save? Nobody gave a fuck about the settlers in the beginning. Why all the fuss now?”
Kumar’s eyes are hooded. “Because of Earth’s embargo on communications from Mars, we knew nothing about these endeavors. When we revealed the existence of the first fragment and mining operation to the Gurus, they expressed interest. It seemed to me they were not surprised, though it is always hard to read their emotions—if they have any. Then—within weeks—the Gurus ordered us to locate and do all we could to block access to the mine, and to destroy it, if at all feasible. As well, we were ordered to locate and isolate settlers who had worked in or visited the mines. When we asked for explanation, none was given.
“At this stage, a number of Wait Staff in Division Four expressed long-simmering doubts. We wished to learn more about the mine before it could be destroyed—but made sure to keep our interest secret from the Gurus. Within a few weeks, two members of the Wait Staff in India and Pakistan, team leaders in Division Four, convinced senior officers in the Pentagon, U.S. Joint Sky Defense command. Those officers secretly ordered a number of Skyrines and other personnel already on Mars to investigate the mine, and protect the settlers if possible.”
“Joe,” I say.
“Lieutenant Colonel Sanchez. Your team was to supplement their operation,” Kumar says. “Though you never received your final orders. Other divisions learned of those efforts, our officers were arrested, and their replacements ordered the training and fast dispatch of a Special Ops team. That team was commanded by Captain Coyle. They were to locate and destroy the Drifter, from within if possible. No one was to prevent them from carrying out that mission, including settlers and their fellow Skyrines.”
“Shit,” Jennings says, shaking her head.
“The competing forces arrived within weeks of each other, during a busy season of combat on Mars. They were scattered and disorganized both by internal sabotage and opposition from the Antagonists.”
“The Antags also tried to destroy the mine—didn’t they?” Jacobi says.
“That soon became obvious, and the size and strength of Antagonist efforts added to our suspicions. Why would two enemy forces in effect coordinate to destroy a potential source of fascinating data? With our efforts scrambled and conflict mounting within the Wait Staff divisions, we were forced to delay. Wait Staff gathered as much information as they could from the survivors of the Battle of Mars and devised a comprehensive threat analysis,” he says. “I personally presented those scenarios to the Gurus.”
“What did the Gurus say?” I ask.
“They expressed regret that the destruction had been delayed, then informed us that the so-called silicon plague might not be the greater worry. There was potential for the green powder inside the Drifter to become even more dangerous. Once we delivered our reports, orders were issued within days to renew our efforts to destroy the Drifter and its contents.
“By this time, a number of us within Division Four were firmly convinced that the Gurus were not being truthful. Then, somebody at or near the Guru level ordered the quarantine of all personnel returning from Mars—followed by select executions. They called them necessary sterilizations.”
“Fuuuuck!” says Jennings, drawing the word out with mounting rage. Jacobi puts a hand on her shoulder.
“Master Sergeant Venn was the only one we could rescue. As we worked to establish a political counterforce, and absorbed the results of our few studies on the old ice moon, some of us drew further-reaching conclusions. We became concerned about the entire rationale behind our other ongoing conflicts, those in the outer solar system.”
“Titan,” Jacobi says.
“Yes, as well as several expensive exploratory expeditions to Europa, which seemed to come into focus as more than just idly scientific,” Kumar says. “These orders were followed by promises of more advanced technology, even more powerful weapons and faster ships.”
“We’ve seen some of those,” Jennings says.
“Not all,” Kumar says, then winces, as if he might be speaking ahead of his point. “Our forces were unable to complete their missions, but Antagonists were in a more advantageous position, and continued pouring down as much destruction as they could, plowing up the surface of Mars, then sending in additional battalions… no doubt depleting long-term reserves and putting them at a strategic disadvantage throughout the solar system. Why put themselves at such risk? Perhaps because they, too, had been ordered to do so.
“When the activity subsided on Mars and Titan, Division Four split from other Wait Staff and started reaching out to those we suspected or hoped were in agreement. They turned out to be more plentiful than we expected.”
“Split command. That’s fucked-up,” Jennings says.
Durov and Federov divide their piloting attention to look back down the aisle, as if checking mood and temperature—or just observing a greater awakening to some new truth.
“Who’s giving the orders now?” Jacobi asks.
“Division Four no longer takes orders from the Gurus,” Kumar says. “We are an independent authority.”
“What about the Russians?” Jacobi looks forward. Russians and Skyrines exchange glances. Federov keeps his gaze on the Tonka’s cabin.
“On the fence,” Kumar says. “But so far cooperating, perhaps to gain traction for some of their own initiatives.”
“What about Jacobi’s squad?” I ask.
Borden answers that. “Captain Jacobi and her team have agreed to the new command.”