The Wallfish jolted as it disconnected from the docking ring, and then the maneuver alert sounded seconds before the RCS thrusters kicked in and shoved them away from the station.
“We’re going to give Orsted an extra dose of radiation today,” said Falconi, “but I think they earned it.”
“With interest,” said Sparrow as she sailed past Itari by the doorway. She snared a seat of her own. The Jelly braced itself against the floor, preparing for the upcoming burn.
Vishal’s face appeared in the holo-display. “We’re good to go in sickbay, Captain. Hwa-jung is here as well.”
“Roger that. Gregorovich, get us the hell out of here!”
“Yes, Captain. Proceeding to ‘get us the hell out of here.’”
With a rising roar, the Wallfish’s main rocket slammed Kira back into her seat as they hurtled away from Orsted Station. The thrust forced a laugh from her, though the laugh was lost in the sea of sound. They’d actually made it. The realization seemed almost absurd. Now maybe they could keep the Seventh Fleet from destroying any chance of peace.
A bell-like tone sounded, and her elation curdled.
With an effort, she craned her neck to see the display, wishing that she still had her contacts. The holo switched to a view of Saturn as a large cloud of red dots appeared close to the gas giant.
Fourteen more nightmares had just dropped out of FTL.
CHAPTER IV. NECESSITY II
1.
Itari moved closer to the display, tentacles braced against the deck. “Kira,” said Falconi in a warning tone.
“It’s okay,” she said, hoping she was right.
Nielsen zoomed out in the holo, and for the first time, Kira could see what was happening throughout Sol. In addition to the nightmares by Orsted, and the fourteen by Saturn, dozens of other nightmares had entered the system. Some were on a hard burn toward Mars. Others were out by Neptune, harassing the planet’s defense network. Still more were heading toward Earth and Venus.
A bright line flashed across the holo, from a satellite near Jupiter over to one of the nightmares’ vessels. The ship vanished in a flare of light. The bright line stabbed outward again and again, and each time, another of the intruders exploded.
“What’s that?” Kira asked.
“I’m … not sure,” said Sparrow, frowning as she studied her own overlays.
Gregorovich chuckled. “I can explain. Yes, I can. The League has built a solar laser. Energy farms by Mercury collect sunlight and then beam it to receivers throughout the system. Most of the time the energy is just used for power production. But in the event of an exogenic intrusion, well, you can see for yourself. Pump the energy through a giant-ass laser, and you have yourself a proper death ray. Yes you do.”
“Clever,” said Falconi.
Sparrow grinned. “Yeah. Having the local receivers cuts down on the light lag. Not bad.”
“Is anyone following us?” Kira asked.
“Not yet, my pretties,” said Gregorovich. “Our ersatz credentials continue to hold firm.”
“So what the hell is a Finger Pig?” said Kira.
“Thank you!” said Nielsen, with an exasperated tone. She gestured at Falconi. “See?”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “It’s a finger that’s a pig.”
“Or a pig that’s a finger,” said Sparrow.
In the holo, Vishal raised his eyebrows. “My understanding is that it’s slang for a pork hot dog.” Then his face vanished as he signed off.
“You’re saying we’re in a flying hot dog then?” said Kira.
Falconi chuckled with false humor. “Maybe.”
A snort came from Sparrow. “That’s not how we used the phrase in the Marines.”
“What did you use it for?” Kira asked.
“I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
“Enough chitchat,” said Falconi. He twisted in his chair to look at Kira. “There’s more going on than we know, isn’t there? That’s why you were so insistent we rescue the Jelly.”
Kira tensed. Escaping had been easy compared with what she had to do now. “Did the UMC tell you what they decided to do?”
“Nope.”
“Nothing.”
“Not a damn clue.”
“… Okay.” Kira took a moment to prepare, but before she could open her mouth, an incongruously cheery chirp sounded from the display.
Gregorovich said, “Orsted Station is broadcasting a message on all channels. It’s Colonel Stahl. I think it’s meant for you, O Spiky One.”
“Play it for us,” said Falconi. “Can’t hurt to hear what he has to say.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as that,” Sparrow mumbled.
An image of Stahl replaced the holo of the system. The colonel appeared harried, out of breath, and there was a bloody scrape on his left cheekbone.
“Ms. Navárez,” he said. “If you can hear this, I’m imploring you to turn back. The xeno is too important to the League. You are too important. I don’t know what you think you’re going to do, but I promise it won’t help. If anything, you’re going to make the situation worse. If you get yourself killed, if our enemies get ahold of the xeno, it could be the death of all of us. You don’t want that on your conscience, Navárez. You really don’t. I know the situation isn’t what you wanted, but please—for the survival of our species—turn back. I promise you and the crew of the Wallfish won’t face any additional charges. You have my word.”
Then the transmission ended, and the holo returned to a view of the system.
Kira could feel the weight of everyone’s gazes upon her, even Itari with its many small, button-like eyes strung round its carapace.
“Well?” said Falconi. “It’s your call. We’re not going back, but if you want, I’ll cut the engine long enough for you to jump out the airlock without getting fried. I’m sure the UMC would be happy to pick you up.”
“No,” said Kira. “We keep going.” Then she told them, including Itari, about the Premier’s decision to betray the Knot of Minds and attack the gathering Jelly fleet.
Sparrow made a sound of disgust. “That’s what I hated the most about the service. Damn politics.”
The Jelly’s skin roiled with greens and purples. Its tentacles twisted with seeming distress. [[Itari here: If a Knot cannot be formed between your kind and ours, the Corrupted will overswim us all.]]
After Kira translated, Falconi said, “What do you have in mind?”
She looked at Itari. “I was hoping Itari might be able to send a warning to the Knot of Minds before the UMC’s hunter-seekers get there.”
She repeated the thought for the Jelly and then said, [[Kira here: Can you use our transmitter to warn the Knot of Minds?]]
[[Itari here: No. Your farscent is not fast enough. It would not reach the meeting point in time to save the Knot of Minds.… The Seventh Shoal your conclave has sent cannot kill the great Ctein of their own. They need our help, and they need us to take the leadership and to guide the Arms in the proper direction. Without the Knot of Minds, your shoal will be doomed, as will we all.]]
A sense of despair threatened to unbalance Kira as she felt her plans unraveling. Surely there had to be a way! [[Kira here: If we swam after the Seventh Shoal, could we get close enough to the meeting place that we could warn the Knot of Minds in time?]]
A flush of crimson ran the length of the Jelly’s limbs, and nearscent of confirmation suffused the air. [[Itari here: Yes.]]
That wouldn’t solve the larger problems between the Jellies and the League. But those problems were far too large for anyone on the Wallfish to fix.