Arkship Alliance (The Arkship Saga Book 3) Read online

  ‘How have you been?’ she asked him, smiling in an effort to lift her mood.

  ‘I am well,’ Gofal replied. ‘My duties as Lord Chamberlain keep me very busy, but I have managed to keep some time to myself to pursue my passions.’

  Bara grinned, warmed by Gofal’s presence. She reminded herself that he was no mere automaton. ‘What are you working on?’

  ‘I have been trying my hand at pottery. I find the process to be very calming. Oh, and I’ve been giving some thought to the problem you’ve had with the Lexica personality. I have some ideas for how we might restore some of his earlier prowess. We can discuss it in detail later, if you wish.’

  They entered the pod, moving alongside the others. Bara found herself sat next to the Reader, and her tension returned.

  ‘Infinite blessings, child,’ Reader Aditsan said, his voice deep and gravelly.

  ‘Yeah, okay,’ Bara replied dismissively. Immediately, she regretted it. ‘Hell, I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.’

  ‘No apology is necessary, Duchess.’

  Bara’s hands coiled into fists.

  The Reader continued, oblivious to his mistake. ‘I’m sure you would rather be out there, just the two of you. It must have been bliss.’

  A wave of emotion took her by surprise, and Bara had to hide a tear. ‘Yes, it was.’

  ‘And now you are here,’ Reader Aditsan said in a whisper. ‘It cannot be easy. Duty is a hard mistress to live with.’

  Bara turned to look at him. There was a warmth to his old eyes that she had never noticed before. ‘You’re right,’ she confessed.

  He smiled kindly. ‘If you ever need to talk . . .’

  ‘Thank you,’ Bara replied. She glanced over to Wynn. He was still deep in discussion with three advisors. Did he even know she was there?

  The pod slowed, coming to a gentle stop. The doors slid open and Bara and the others stepped into the vaulted corridor that lead to the grand hall. Bara had been here many times in the last six months, attending meetings with Wynn. Most of the time she had nothing to contribute, there only as part of the ceremony of being the prince’s betrothed. Now that they were married, it would only get worse.

  Wynn sat at the top of the long table, and Bara took her place at his right side. Gofal sat at his left. It was still strange to think of him as the Lord Chamberlain, the second-in-command to Wynn. No automaton had ever held such a high office before, but Gofal had settled into the role well, able to rise over the petty jealousies and prejudices of those around him.

  As the other aides sat, Reader Aditsan took the chair next to Bara.

  ‘Thank you all for coming,’ Gofal began, his voice conveying formality and status. ‘We are glad to have our Prince and . . .’ He hesitated, just for an instant. ‘. . . and his wife, Sēbarā with us.’

  Did he know of her hatred of her new title? she wondered. She flashed a brief smile at him.

  Gofal continued. ‘We all know that the House of Jackson has withdrawn from our trade agreements and now considers itself part of the Draig Empire.’

  ‘Empire!’ Wynn scoffed. ‘I thought Orcades Draig was ambitious . . .’

  ‘They are a small family,’ Reader Aditsan noted. ‘Their change of heart is disappointing, but we will endure.’

  ‘We have few enough friends,’ Wynn replied. ‘We cannot afford to lose any of them, no matter how strategically small they may be. It has only been six months since we defeated Orcades. But the Draig fleet still outnumbers us. We have only two arkships, Reader.’

  ‘Three,’ an aide corrected.

  ‘The Tanis is still under construction and will not be part of our fleet for at least another eight months,’ Gofal corrected.

  ‘Any update from the shipyard?’ Wynn asked.

  ‘I’m afraid we have more pressing matters to discuss first, my prince. We have received a message from the Kanzan-Maru.’

  ‘The Li Zhang family?’

  Gofal nodded. ‘From Genshu Hoshino himself. The message is brief; he has chosen to dissolve our alliance, effective immediately.’

  Wynn leaned back into his chair, a stunned expression on face. ‘They are our biggest ally.’

  ‘They would never join the Draig Empire,’ an advisor said.

  ‘They make no mention of that,’ Gofal replied. ‘They simply state that our alliance is at an end. Anything else is mere speculation.’

  ‘Oh, come on! This has Draig written all over it. Two allies withdrawing . . . There has to be a connection,’ Bara said.

  ‘I agree, it is highly irregular. But until we know more, we can only guess as to the reason behind our allies’ decisions.’

  Wynn looked to the Reader, seeking his opinion.

  ‘Diplomatically, we have done nothing wrong,’ the Reader responded. ‘I can see no reason why we might have offended them. I have reached out to my colleagues in the Li Zhang and Jackson fleets, but I have yet to receive a satisfactory response. I do not believe they know why this has happened. But there is the matter of the ore . . .’

  ‘Ore?’ Wynn asked.

  ‘Enixium ore,’ an aide explained. ‘Several refineries have been destroyed in territories close to the Li Zhang and Jackson fleets.’

  ‘Could there be a connection?’ Wynn asked. ‘What’s it used for?’

  Bara made to respond. She knew everything about enixium, about its use in the Cube drive system, about how it was produced and refined. Until her marriage, she had been the Chief of the Engine Deck on the arkship Evanine. Just a few weeks ago, Wynn would have turned to her for an explanation, but now she found herself ignored as he listened to one of his aides crudely explain its importance.

  ‘. . . the supply shortage might explain a shift in power in the region. If our former allies are now reliant on someone else for this ore, then that could leave them vulnerable to manipulation.’

  Wynn considered this, never once looking to Bara. ‘How much ore do we have?’

  Bara sighed. It wasn’t even worth bothering to interject.

  ‘We have good supplies,’ an aide responded. ‘And we’ve placed extra security around our refinery on the edge of The Belt. Frankly, we don’t have enough arkships anymore to make a dent in our inventory.’

  Gofal spoke up. ‘Perhaps Bara might know–’

  ‘We must find out more.’ Wynn said firmly, talking over Gofal. ‘I must speak to the Genshu.’

  ‘I have already tried to contact him, several times. They will not respond.’ Gofal said.

  ‘Then we will go to speak to him, face to face.’

  THE NEW WAR

  Valtais Jacque Valine walked purposefully into the Tactical Room of the arkship Gargan and took her seat at the head of the operations map. She allowed herself a moment to settle into the chair, making a point of locking eyes with each of her commodores in turn, then she activated the holograph. The blue glow of a three-dimensional image flickered above them, illumining their faces. It showed a vast arkship, with a much smaller craft approaching its main hanger bay.

  ‘The arkship Orenburg, flagship of the House of Fedorov.’ Valine explained to her audience. ‘The approaching shuttle contains the General’s daughter.’

  ‘I thought she was dead,’ Commodore Larsson said. He was the youngest of Valine’s commodores, keen but lacking in initiative.

  ‘So did the General. She has been missing for two years, hiding with her lover, out of reach of her father.’

  ‘But you found her?’ asked Commodore Nilsdatter, an overweight traditionalist who made her dislike of Valine obvious.

  ‘I knew of her location.’ Valine replied, not wanting to elaborate further. ‘I brought her back to General Leonov. The daughter is now home, her lover is dead, and the General is in our debt. The House of Fedorov will side with us, as will the Li Zhangs, the Sinclairs, the Jacksons and the Vermeulens.’

  ‘Impressive,’ Nilsdatter said, her tone indicating the opposite. ‘But to what end? You speak of conquest without bloodshed, expansion without the loss of Draig lives, but all I see is the maneuverings of a politician. We are your military, Valtais, not your parliament.’

  Valine smiled. She always knew it was Nilsdatter she would have to convince. If she could keep her in line, the others would be child’s play. Her hold on power was still nebulous, Valine could see that. It was only a matter of months since Orcades Draig had been declared dead, and Valine’s rise to power had been meteoric. She had many enemies within the House of Draig, many who would prefer to be the new Valtais instead of her. If she wanted to hold onto power, she would need her commodores behind her.

  ‘This is a new war, Commodore,’ Valine said coolly. ‘Your weapon is the hammer, mine the sharp edge of a blade. If my maneuverings mean that your soldiers do not die, then you should be glad. But do not be fooled, this is still a war, and your hammer may yet be needed. We are close to the next phase. This will make us the dominant force in the Cluster, stronger than the Merred family . . . even the Venusian Accord would not dare to move against us.’

  ‘If we succeed,’ Nilsdatter replied.

  ‘And if we do, we will have a new set of enemies. Stronger enemies.’ It was Commodore Orava speaking, a constant worried expression on his pastel face. ‘The Church will not sit by and allow such a shift in power.’

  ‘Do not worry about the Church,’ Valine said, glancing at Reader Mallory standing in the shadows.

  ‘But the Ciation, or the Clean Air and Water Company . . . even if the Ven Cord do nothing, who’s to say one of the others doesn’t move against us.’

  ‘We are Draig!’ Valine shouted, standing quickly so that her chair fell backwards. ‘My Gods! Have you forgotten that? Just because Orcades is gone, would you deny our destiny? It is our right to rule! We will succeed, and if other
s come for us we will be ready. There will be no place for cowards amongst my commodores.’

  Valine understood the value of theatre from time to time. Orcades overused it, but it could be highly effective when it was unexpected. Orava broke eye contact, fumbling with his fingers. The other commodores remained silent. The questions had ended. Not even Nilsdatter would dare to look cowardly now.

  ‘Return to your arkships,’ Valine said. ‘You have your orders. We will move against Carter & Grey tomorrow.’

  The commodores stood, bowing respectfully before they left the Tactical Room.

  ‘Nilsdatter,’ Valine called, deliberately waiting until the old woman was almost out of the door.

  Commodore Nilsdatter returned, standing nearby while Valine gave instructions to her advisors. Valine took her time, enjoying the moment. When the room was almost empty, Valine turned to speak with her waiting commodore. ‘I am changing your orders. I want your expertise close at hand.’

  ‘Valtais, I am flattered, but–’

  Valine raised her hand, silencing the commodore. ‘The Melrakki will follow the Gargan, but you will wait outside of sensor range of the target, until I give you my signal. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes,’ Commodore Nilsdatter replied.

  Valine smiled. ‘I need good people close by. Loyal people.’

  ‘As you wish.’ Nilsdatter bowed again, her lips tensed, trying to hide her confusion as she left. It was good to keep her guessing, Valine thought, but her motives were simple enough: keep your enemies close at hand. Nilsdatter could not so easily scheme with the other commodores if she was by Valine’s side.

  ‘It went well?’

  Valine glanced up. There was Reader Mallory, still half hidden in the gloom of the far wall.

  ‘Yes, as well as I’d hoped,’ Valine replied. ‘Li Zhang was the one I was uncertain of, but Hoshino proved to be the architect of his own downfall.’

  Mallory crossed the floor to join Valine at the table. ‘I meant your meeting with the commodores.’

  ‘Well enough.’ Valine checked the room: two aides remained. She nodded for them to leave and, once the room was empty, she continued. ‘I knew Nilsdatter would be the troublemaker, but Orava surprised me.’

  ‘He is scared,’ Mallory replied.

  ‘He is a fool and a coward.’

  ‘No. He has a family, he worries for their future, but he is no coward. You embarrassed him in front of his peers. You would be wise not to make him an enemy. He is a thinker. Keep him informed, keep him busy and he will worry less.’

  Valine resisted the impulse to anger. Mallory had grown into an astute confidant. She could read others well, she saw their weaknesses, and that information had been invaluable to Valine. ‘Thank you, I will speak to him later.’

  They walked together, out of the Tactical Room and along the gently curved corridor which led to the arkship’s main transit conduit.

  ‘What do you think, Mallory? Do you still feel the Church will not act?’ Valine asked quietly.

  Mallory thought for a moment. ‘If we are successful, and if it is bloodless, then they will do nothing. Besides, you will have the agreement of the founding families. There is nothing to concern the Church.’

  ‘Have you spoken to the Scribe yet?’

  ‘Not directly, only through her librarians. She still wants me to visit her.’

  ‘To talk about Derward?’ Valine guessed.

  Mallory nodded sadly. ‘He was coming to see me . . .’

  ‘I know, but that was six months ago. I think you must prepare for the worst, Keres.’

  Reader Mallory didn’t reply. Valine saw the raw emotions on her face. She was conflicted and confused, a child in the robes of an adult, and she turned to Valine for support.

  ‘Pray to the Gods for guidance,’ Valine said with an encouraging smile. ‘Miracles still happen.’ She stopped at the door to the elevator. Mallory hesitated for a moment, as if there was more on her mind, then she walked away.

  Valine took the elevator down to the detention level, to the high security cells. The guards nodded, used to her visits, and opened the door to cell number three. She pulled up a chair in front of the man asleep on the floor. He was naked, his skin covered in half-healed burns and cuts. She waited, knowing he would stir soon enough. He seemed to sense when Valine was here.

  The man coughed, spitting on the floor as he pulled himself up on onto an elbow. He glared at her with his one remaining eye, so much rage and hatred that she could almost taste it.

  ‘Still alive?’ he said, his voice faltering.

  Valine leaned towards him. ‘Good morning, Derward. How are you today?’

  BELIEF

  Wynn stared at the holograph in front of him, its brittle light projecting a representation of the Kenric fleet: the arkships Caerleon and Evanine cruised in formation with a handful of smaller vessels dotted between them. He leaned back in his chair on the flight deck of the Caerleon, uncertain what the next hour might hold. He wished Bara was here with him, but she had retreated to Lexica soon after the briefing. He wished he knew what to do. He had hoped marriage would have made things easier between them, but he had been fooling himself.

  ‘Still nothing?’ Wynn checked, already knowing the answer.

  ‘No, sir,’ the coms officer replied.

  Gofal stood next to him, his metallic body softened by the cape and broach of the office of Lord Chamberlain that rested on his wide shoulders. ‘We are in range of the arkship Kanzan-Maru. They are receiving our signal.’

  ‘And yet they still refuse to respond.’

  ‘Recommend we prepare for battle,’ Commander Watson said in a hushed voice. She stood at the holograph, her back straight, taking in the movements of her officers.

  Wynn shook his head. ‘They are our allies. We will not fire on them.’

  ‘But they may fire on us. It would be prudent to start charging the Gilgore grid.’

  Reluctantly, Wynn agreed, and Commander Watson passed on the order.

  Out of the windows, the distant shape of the Kanzan-Maru was just a rectangle of light against the dark fog of gas and rock.

  ‘Give me the com,’ Wynn asked.

  Watson responded, clearing the channel for him.

  ‘This is Prince Halstead of the House of Kenric on the Ark Royal Caerleon. We come with greetings for our friend and ally, Genshu Hayao Hoshino.’

  Wynn waited, hearing only the quiet hiss of empty static. He stood to look out of the window. The outline of the Kanzan-Maru had grown and, as he watched, two new shapes appeared alongside it.

  ‘New contacts,’ an officer shouted.

  Wynn checked the holograph: there were three arkships represented there now.

  ‘The arkships Dākufurawā-Maru and Oyashio-Maru,’ Gofal noted. ‘We are within weapons range now.’

  ‘They’re slowing,’ Wynn said, checking the readings on the holograph.

  ‘They are also turning to minimize their profile. I believe they are preparing to attack.’

  ‘Okay, let’s get out of here,’ Wynn said.

  Watson activated the com. ‘Evanine, this is Caerleon, we are leaving. Prepare for hostiles.’

  A distant voice responded over the speakers. ‘Confirmed, Caerleon, we have inbound signals. Are you tracking them as well?’

  ‘Confirming inbounds,’ one of the flight deck officers said. ‘Sixteen hostiles launched from the Li Zhang fleet. Impact in four minutes.’

  ‘Full evasive!’ Commander Watson shouted. ‘Power up the Cube drive. Begin retreat.’

  ‘What the hell have we done?’ Wynn asked as the tiny dots of light approached.

  ‘Launching countermeasures. Do you want to retaliate?’

  ‘No,’ Wynn said emphatically. ‘Get us out of here.’

  ‘The Cube drive will take another four minutes to power up. We may have to defend ourselves.’

  ‘Six missiles still on track,’ an officer shouted. ‘All decks, brace for impact.’

  The floor throbbed with the vibrations of distant explosions. Wynn checked the holograph; they had hit on the fore shield at the tip of the arkship.

  ‘Damage is minimal,’ Gofal noted.

  Another officer called out, ‘Tracking more inbound hostiles. Second wave of forty-three contacts, locked on to us and the Evanine.’