Collision Course (Class 5, #6)

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

“Here comes the Havelan ,” Jia Appal said, although, being beside the Barrist , Sazo could see it too.

He could hear the relief in Jia’s voice, and he recognized the same feeling in himself.

Although Dav had not cared whether Captain Priyan followed the Barrist here or not, it was definitely better to have someone to bargain with who they had developed some kind of rapport with.

“I wonder what stops she’s made along the way,” he said.

“Yes!” Jia’s voice was exasperated. “I was wondering the same. She didn’t come straight here, that’s for sure.”

“She probably slowed or stopped when she went past her home planet,” Sazo said. “The question is, why?”

“Maybe she’ll tell us.” Through the lens feed he had access to on the bridge, Sazo saw Jia take a stand, legs apart, hands on hips, as she faced the screen.

The United Council representative, Nivan Cossi, took up a similar stance behind her.

“Captain Priyan.” Jia’s voice was cool as Borji set up the link. “I am Acting Captain Appal. We would like to understand the dynamics taking place on the moon below. Rose was kidnapped by your group, the Kimol, then, when she was taken to Dimal, she was kidnapped by another group, the Bandri, who I understand is at war with you? And now she has been taken back by the Kimol. Or that was the last message we got. Can you clarify?”

“Clarify?” Priyan tried to stall. She didn’t know what they were talking about, clearly.

“Yes. Which Fisone group has Rose now? And when can we expect her safe return?”

“If the Bandri have her, I have no control over what they do to her.” Priyan looked to her right, made a few signals with her hand.

“You took her, she’s your responsibility,” Sazo said. “Whatever happens to her is on your head.”

There was a moment of shocked silence.

“Who’s speaking now?”

“Captain Sazo, he’s in charge of our other ship,” Jia Appal said, without waiting so much as a beat. “He was last in contact with Rose while she was being shot at by the Bandri while your colleagues transported her to your military headquarters.”

Priyan was silent, and Sazo guessed she was most likely reconsidering her life choices. If he had lips, he would have smiled, because he’d learned that expression from Rose, and it was another one of his favorites.

“My colleagues below are engaged in a skirmish with the Bandri right now. We haven’t had open hostilities like this before, but my understanding is you made some threats to both of our infrastructure on Dimal, and the Bandri want to give Rose back to you to prevent their outposts being destroyed.”

“You’re saying it’s our fault that Rose is in danger?” Jia asked, her voice going a little quiet.

“I’m saying your threats have had consequences, and I can’t even say where Rose is right now, because my colleagues are busy defending themselves from attack, and don’t have time to chat.” Priyan drew herself up, but the outrage hit a false note.

“You’ve lost her, haven’t you?” Sazo asked.

Jia glanced up at the lens, shooting Sazo a surprised look, but he knew he was right.

He hoped they’d lost her because Dav had found her and escaped with her.

He scanned the moon for any hint of communication, but until they got back to the drones, he would only be able to establish a connection when the new satellite he’d dropped into orbit came online.

He studied the signals coming to and from the Havelan as it connected with the bunker down below, and transmitted a copy of that signature to the satellite, to keep it even safer from destruction.

It would take less than half an hour to get into orbit. When it did, hopefully he would be back in touch with Dav and his team.

“Why do you think we’ve lost her?” Priyan asked.

“Because you can’t tell us where she is, and given the importance you’ve told us you place on using her as a way to get the information you want, I’m assuming that’s not of your own choice.” Sazo kept his voice matter-of-fact.

“Your colleagues below seem to have a different agenda to you, as well,” Jia said, eyebrows raised. “They want Irini’s code. You wanted footage of the death of her crew.” She cocked her head. “Whose demands do we cater to?”

“I . . .” Priyan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Let me get back to you.”

The screen winked to black, and Borji shut the link down.

“She didn’t know the request had changed,” Nivan Cossi said.

“No, she didn’t.” Jia turned her head to look at the United Council representative. “That’s interesting.”

“She didn’t like being out of the loop, and being left to look a fool, either,” Sazo said. He hadn’t been able to read people’s reactions well in the early years of his life, but he was learning the skill.

“Agreed.” When Jia nodded, he felt a glow of accomplishment. “She was taken completely by surprise.”

“So what now?” Borji asked.

“I’ve sent another satellite to the moon. Hopefully we can get in touch with Dav when it goes online.” Sazo also wanted to try and contact Pyre again.

She was a worry.

Another hail came through from the Havelan , and Jia gave Borji the signal to put it through.

“I’ve spoken to my colleagues. They had to move Rose to keep her safe during the Bandri attack, but they have her back now. And we want both things, the footage of the crew’s death, and the code. When can you get them to us?” Priyan narrowed her eyes.

“We’re waiting for a response. The signal has to go through our repeaters. It could be a few days yet,” Jia said.

“Then you’ll see Rose in a few days.” Priyan cut the feed with a chop of her hand.

“They don’t have her,” Sazo said.

“No, they don’t.” Jia gave a nod. “She was in a panic.”

“What do we do?” Sazo was afraid to act without her advice. He had a deeply uneasy feeling that his destruction of the landing pad and the bunker had made Rose even less safe than she had been.

“We certainly don’t have to worry about appeasing the Kimol.” Jia rocked back on her heels. “So let’s think about the best way forward.”