“Awfully quiet for someone who’s supposed to be our security representative. Should I interpret that to mean you’ve given the plan your blessing? A plan you refrained from contributing to whatsoever.”
Unlike the others on the bridge who seemed wary to call attention to it Esma had no such qualms. In fact calling out the elephant in any given room was probably up there in terms of her most charming qualities of which she was certain there were plenty. Though it would be safe to assume Rohner was numb to such charms based on the drab expression being sent in her general direction.
“You hold very little deference for your superiors I see.”
“Genuine deference is a rare commodity I’m sure you’ll agree. Supply it so readily and your intentions become suspect.”
“Who said anything about it needing to be genuine?”
Esma plastered on a fake smile and an excessively chipper tone to match.
“Will this suffice, I’m not much of an actress.”
“Not much of a security officer either, but we take what we can get.”
“You hold very little esteem for you subordinates I see.”
That earned an audible snicker from Kircher.
“Enlighten me then, do you believe the plan deserved scrutinizing?”
Esma readjusted her rifle’s strap as it had been sliding off her shoulder and mulled the thought over. True the plan left a lot to be desired, but with the convoy so strapped for time it couldn’t be helped.
“Not especially, my hang ups have more to do with the well-being of C362’s crew given the gravity and danger of their assigned task. While at the same time understanding they’re the most suited for this role when accounting for the personnel they have on hand.”
“Self-awareness is an admirable trait in someone so young.”
The brunette couldn’t help but suck her teeth at that comment.
“Actually I was more referring to the fact that Faust—err, Officer Warren, would be returning to the lineup. There’s also little doubt in my mind that Officer Ayfer will be leading the charge as she is an exceeding excellent markswoman and soldier. Account for ‘Legs’ and it was a forgone conclusion they’d get the nod.”
“Who?”
“Our captive turned defector.”
“You don’t actually think they’d be so remiss as to enter with her as a guide?”
“Having shared a bridge with both of you I’d attest the chances of me lifting and throwing either party would yield similar results in terms of distance. Though tying my physical ineptitude and capacity for trust together may be a fool’s errand.”
Esma quickly realized that admission may have been a tad too far based on the way the older man bristled at the implication he was as trustworthy as someone who as of this morning was a literally raiding party member. She cleared her throat nervously and shifted gears into damage control.
“Then again coming to such a conclusion based on a scant afternoon’s worth of interactions would be in very poor taste. A mistake that practically screams second month on the job, which it is by the way.”
Whether Esma’s roundabout version of an apology was the catalyst or not, Rohner did appear to redirect his brief bout of anger at something more constructive. At least that was what his body language told her. Though the tells being as straightforward as they were could have easily been feigned or exaggerated as a means of dealing with her. And that thought made her inexplicably proud for some reason. Almost as if she was formidable in some way. Even if it was only as a verbal nuisance he’d grown tired of humoring.
Amid this troubling realization the de facto leader of C274 had reached behind his person and begun fishing around his drop pouch for something. He then proceeded to slam that something down on the center console hard enough to get her attention. A glass bottle of some clear liquid. Next he produced a lighter that he tossed over without warning. Esma caught it awkwardly with her chest and wondered if a bruise would form as a result.
“I’m giving you these. Use one, the other or both at your discretion.”
The rookie absentmindedly ran her fingers over the weathered top of the lighter as she approached the console with the glass bottle.
“What is it?”
“Acetone, very flammable.”
Esma plucked the bottle off the surface and tested it weight, while also bringing it closer to her face to examine.
“You carry this around with you?”
The man shrugged.
“The smell reminds me of home.”
“Uh, thanks. I’ll take your word on it regarding the smell...”
She made a face as she placed it in her own drop pouch with care. The lighter she tucked in one of her jacket pockets. Rohner eyed the pouch in question and spoke up once more.
“Got a tether?”
“I do, I’m borrowing it from—”
“Leave it here, I’m putting you on standby in the corridor between platforms. Any further orders will be relayed from me in person or via the speaking tubes.”
Incredulous of what was being asked of her Esma’s face contorted to reflect her dismay.
“If I’m expected to go out onto the platforms in defense of the Crusader, won’t I need it?”
Rohner’s response to her very real concern was flippant at best as he resumed his surveillance of what lay ahead through the front window.
“I’m in control of this convoy’s pacing, and we’ll be slowing down considerably as we approach and enter the upcoming castle. It’ll serve you better to use this opportunity to practice your subpar balance and stability skills.”
How does he know about my subpar balance and discomfort on the platforms??
“What’s the hold up? Get going. And make sure the engineer below is fulfilling his monitoring obligations of the cargo.”
“I’ll get right on that sir.”
Esma jaunted over to the ladderway as if she were glad to do so. Her own version of a parting jab at the man who's ambiguous intentions were throwing the whole convoy for a loop. But instead of stressing out over it further her thoughts turned elsewhere.
I wonder if that engineer will loan me a tether?
*
“You listen to me young man! Your mother is a fighter through and through! And the reason she’s still got a shot at receiving the help she needs is because your no different! So you just let those LCF folks worry about getting that medicine here and focus on what YOU can control! Like encouraging her! Are you listening to me Wash! Wash!”
“Wash!”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The pilot snapped out of the reverie in response to his blonde colleague’s hails. A quick refocus of his surroundings reminding him that C362 was reaching its window to separate from the rest of the convoy.
“It’s almost time for us to head out so I came to grab the secondary headset, only to find you half asleep at the controls.”
Wash’s red-tinted sunglasses slid past his brows as he sought the bridge of nose with his thumb and pointer finger.
“Sorry, sort of went into auto-pilot there. All good now.”
Lux wasn’t convinced, and her skepticism led her to seek out Jericka on the other end of the bridge.
“Keep him honest for us.”
The point woman for the upcoming operation settled the headset atop her head before blowing into the mic. The CO grimaced in response and shot the security officer a dirty look. Lux carried on as if she hadn’t noticed.
“I doubt he’d ever fuck up piloting, but in the off chance something does happen you have my permission as security rep to smack some sense into him.”
“Do that again during your field trip and I’m cutting the line.”
Lux’s immediate response to the not-so-veiled threat was a blank stare, followed by an addendum she directed over her shoulder.
“Wash, I don’t think she’d fuck up comms a seventh time in one day, but in the off chance something does happen you have my permission as security rep to tickle her until she pees. Keep in mind you will have to clean up afterwards.”
For her part Jericka swung the headset mic down and acted as if she was connecting with someone on the other end.
“Hello human resources, I’d like to report a name that you’re probably sick of hearing. It’s ok, I’ll hold while you recruit help to collect her slew of reprimands and other files out of the repository.”
“Is that like storage? Because if my shit is in storage that would mean they never have to refer or look at it, idiot.”
Wash failed to stymie his laughter as the increasingly childish argument raged on behind him, stirring up positive memories of his years in Crusader bridges. More than enough to erase the small cloud of miasma born of a time before the LCF.
“Eyes on the prize ladies, you both have crucial roles in what comes next. And to make your jobs easier I’ll see to piloting the hell out of this old girl.”
As it turns out, having to rely on Wash to be the voice of reason in the room proved plenty potent enough to put a hard stop on the otherwise pointless squabble. But that didn’t stop both crew members from challenging each other to a high stake round of cards at the next gambling club before Lux descended the ladderway.
“C362, C274 has eyes on the ‘Gatehouse.’ Is your infiltration team in position to disembark?”
“All set here. Gave Officer Ayfer some extra incentive on the way out for good measure.”
“For future reference perhaps we avoid riling up our colleagues ahead of stealth operations.”
“With all due respect Officer Endellion, riled up is that girl’s default setting when she’s got a rifle in her hands. It’s one of the reasons I reserve our confrontations for convoys. Makes butting heads with her more fun.”
Wash let out a snort as the Crusader’s median speed dropped considerably, separating it from the rest of the convoy.
“Only when she’s got a rifle in her hands? Sure we’re thinking of the same person?”
“Just a reminder that we’ll be staggering our entry points to give you guys a chance to catch back up. Don’t want our plans to be too obvious.”
“You say that, but I doubt it would take them long to notice she’s not out on deck.”
“Maybe put someone in the turret bay so as not to raise any alarms right away. I know things will be difficult with only two security officers but staff shortages are no stranger to us at this point.”
“Asking an awful lot of a station worker, but we’ll manage somehow. I assume this channel will be left open to optimize response time related to developments in the plan.”
“It will, but I’m going to need you to remain in C362’s local channel for the most part. No need to jump over unless the infiltration team has something especially prudent to share.”
Jericka hummed in affirmation, something her division instructors would have lambasted her for. Their head CO on the other hand didn’t comment. She’d probably gained a fairly good idea of how each of them operated by this point and saw criticizing habits as counterproductive for the time being.
“Switching over now.”
The Skarpurian CO proceeded to blow into the mic to make her presence known.
“Aren’t you adorable. Could it be your that desperate for my attention?”
“Don’t trip disembarking the Crusader.”
“You Skarpurians and your hoopla.”
“Hello HR, it’s me again...”
Over at the controls Wash was beginning to think this was a bad idea.
*
One thing became clear as the convoy enroute to Riga came within view of Morg’s most prized practice run, that being it was far more intimidating a spectacle than the previous two. Granted one had been in ruin and the other far too high up to appreciate properly. But neither could contest with the maw of the stone giant threatening to swallow the convoy. The very same that had swallowed Morg himself and held the leviathan Lamella in its stone prison long before that. And like Lamella, the convoy sought to escape the confines of the castle and find refuge in Mennarouple. While still counted amongst the living that is.
As the Crusader leading the charge, C274’s deck officers took great care in scouring the entrance of the castle and the tops of its curtain walls. Confirming suspicions raised in the previous group call. It was unmanned, with nary a Cloud Nine member in sight. But the convoy slowed as it encroached all the same. Both to be certain and to confirm the width of the entrance so that they might form a clearer picture of the exit’s dimensions.
Following close behind C274 was the Command Crusader and a little ways behind them C362. The decks of each were clear for the most part, the officers having retreated into the bridge and turret bays. Where they’d wait until it became more obvious how Cloud Nine intended to take advantage of its encirclement. One thing that did become clear however was the extent of the limestone pillars obstructing the procession.
As expected of a naturally formed interior, the pillars varied greatly in positioning and girth. The one’s visible from the entrance being thinner but more numerous. And this maze of columns presented the convoy with a small conundrum. The choice of whether it would be better to stay together in a loose stack or snake formation, or take different paths through so as to split the attention of the castle garrison. But such a decision would need to come quickly if they wanted to make whichever move they settled on appear intentional. Because while they were aware of the obstructions, none had expected them to be so numerous. Both Convoy Commander Dandridge and his head CO could only curse their lack of initiative in gleaning more information from the captive. A captive they no longer had ease of access to.
A verdict came down all the same, to stay together. The path they’d navigate through the pillars would be left to C274 and Rohner’s discretion. At least until the bailey opened up enough to allow adjustments to the formation. Further complicating the convoy’s passage through the castle were the inconsistent sections of roof that alternated between swatches of open air and stone walkways, allowing beams of light to fall through at slight angles. Creating pillars of light that intermingled with but also contrasted against the pillars of limestone. And while the issue of visibility could certainly be raised as a result, those in charge were far more focused on the walkways. More specifically the smattering of silhouettes treading them as they looked down on the convoy from above.
Rohner’s kneejerk response was to flood the decks and take them out, but he hesitated knowing they needed a more accurate assessment of the curtain wall sandwiching them on either side. As it could be Cloud Nine’s intent to draw their attention above so that they become vulnerable from the sides. The older man immediately set out to investigate this theory from the entryway of the bridge and advised Kircher to tell the other Crusaders to do the same. And it didn’t take long for him and others to spot more party members skittering about the walls. But not aimlessly, this looked more like they were getting into position for something.
And yet, for all the movements going on both above and around them, the LCF’s feronetic rifles remained silent. Not a single officer had been provoked into firing on the source of the castle’s infestation. Because if Cloud Nine was going to let them cover more ground uncontested, who were they to protest. But as the loud silence and inaction continued to drag on unexpectantly, the tension among the crews creeped towards a tipping point that threatened the very restraint precipitating their passage through the castle thus far.
Fortunately those burgeoning anxieties fell short of coming to a head as the drum majors brought themselves back into the fold. The voices of their talking drums collapsing the silence as they ricocheted off the stone walls and pillars surrounding the convoy. Not unlike a game of pinball, the drumbeats shook the bodies of the Crusaders and subjected their crews to similar vibrations in their bones.
But even through all the noise Head Communications Officer Sumiye Endellion managed to finally distinguish the patterns present in those voices and after a full day of analysis successfully applied the correct translation key. She’d learned the language that the talking drums were using to communicate. Only to receive the harsh reminder that understanding a language was very different from understanding the more subtle meanings behind it. Lautnor looked on concerned from the mouth of the bridge as his number two’s face contorted in confusion at what she was hearing.
“Where we at Sumi?! Talk to me!”
“I don’t understand, they just gave the order to commence the boarding!”
It was Lautnor’s turn to look baffled. He immediately rushed to one of the side windows and searched the ground for signs of an approach.
“From where??”
Sumiye scanned the sides of C274 in front of them as she addressed the comms channel.
“This is command, does anyone have eyes on an immediate boarding threat?!”
As a slew of deck officers spilled forth from their cover in search of the supposed boarding party, but it was the station worker from Varza who spotted a shadow dance across the deck at his feet. Realizing it couldn’t have been his own he looked up sharply in time to see a combination of smoke plumes and bodies descending at separate speeds from the stone walkways above them. And far too many for him to count. Brewer filled his lungs with air and took a firing stance. His voice cracking as he relayed his discovery.
“Boarding threat detected above!”