Chapter 26

The blinking comm line.

Crush was just sitting down at the desk that had been hurriedly set up at the base of the new tower when Nellie wandered over to eavesdrop shamelessly. True, she could have done it from where she had been standing, so this was almost the polite version.

Sort of.

Cara leaned down and whispered something to him, and Crush flicked his eyes her way and nodded off to the side of the screen. Nellie got the hint and moved to where he wanted her to stand. It was quite a good spot, letting her see what was happening on the screen while still leaving her well out of range of the pick-ups on the device.

Crush then waved the others back and visibly relaxed his body, putting on a lazy smile before reaching out and punching the blinking green light on the controls.

Their transmission unit was one of the basic ones, just a control board and a screen that slid out of the bottom, but it would do the job.

“This is Crush, we are reading you loud and clear.” He leaned back a little in his chair as the screen flickered and cleared to show the Council room. Everyone had gathered for this call besides Brenda, which was interesting. Nellie quickly sent a message to the Cents to scan the area of the colony for any other signals.

Call her paranoid, but it seemed highly suspicious how quickly this call came in.

“Finally deigned to answer our calls?” Nancy asked snarkily.

“Just got the comm tower up,” Crush shrugged. “Other priorities, you know how it is.”

The Cents reported no signals from the area other than the comm line, which helped Nellie relax a bit.

“We are calling to discuss the theft of property,” Hadrian said smoothly. “An unfortunate matter that we feel is better resolved before it escalates.”

“Oh, really?” Crush wore a look of complete surprise. “What was stolen?”

“You know very well what was stolen,” Warrick sniffed. “Sneaking off like you did.”

“Digging out tunnels like rats,” Nancy added.

“Enough,” Duke growled, and the room settled. “This situation is unfortunate, but you did bring it on yourself, Crush. I was very clear that your people could leave with only what they personally owned.”

“Which is what we did,” Crush said with a shrug. “The Council moved us to that area and told us it was ‘ours.’ So we took our things and left. Just as we were told to do.”

“That is an intentional misunderstanding of the facts,” Hadrian countered smoothly. “The use of a colloquial term does not imply ownership.”

“Then what does?” Crush asked with clear irritation. “Last I checked, the colonists were supposed to get a share of everything. That included materials, didn’t it Duke?”

“Well, yes. That was the idea,” Duke started to say.

“No, that was the agreement,” Crush said, sitting forward. “The agreement you made when we signed on. You can’t change your mind later and call that theft.”

“It is not a matter of a change of agreement,” Hadrian said smoothly. “But one of interpretation.”

“That is bullshit, and you know it,” Crush said hotly. “We are either part of the Colony. In which case we deserve a portion of the materials, or we aren’t. In which case, we are owed materials in payment for our service and being abandoned to our own fates.”

“Give us a moment to discuss,” Hadrian said, and the screen froze.

Nellie stood back, letting Crush and his people deal with the situation. She could not get involved in the decision-making as much as she might like to. If she did, it was as good as a declaration of war with Duke’s Colony.

Plus, no one asked her opinion.

“Lucy, thoughts?” Nellie sub-vocalised.

“The situation is simple enough. Crush is technically correct that they are owed some form of compensation, but only if they are thrown out of the Colony. If not, the council could simply say they are not dividing the materials yet.” Lucy said thoughtfully, “But in that case, they pretty much have to support this new settlement. It would still be a part of their colony, after all.”

“They could just promise support and never deliver it,” Nellie countered, “They aren’t likely to be held accountable by anyone.”

“Possible, but risky,” Lucy countered. “It would mean that no one from Crush’s group could be allowed to return and tell everyone the truth. I doubt they want to risk losing this many people and skills permanently.”

“So why make this call in the first place?” Nellie wondered.

“No doubt to figure out where the new colony is. I am sure they have triangulation running with the Last Chances’ receiver as the third point.” Lucy sighed. “Which means they know where Crush’s colony is and can figure out why.”

Before Nellie could ask for advice on that, the comm line began to blink again, and Crush headed back to the desk.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“So?” Crush asked when the image cleared again.

“It has become clear that the situation is much more grave than expected,” Hadrian said seriously. “We have just received word that your new Colony is situated close to the border with an antagonistic power.”

Nellie felt her eyebrows shoot up. She was an antagonistic power all of a sudden?

“The Captain’s people are considered antagonistic?” Crush asked with a sneer. “Since when?”

“Not your concern,” Nancy sniffed. “Not anymore.”

“The point,” Hadrian said before the argumentative woman could escalate things any further, “Is that it makes our decision much clearer. We have to assume that you and your people are attempting to leave the Colonial Republic and defect to a foreign power.”

“Are you actually insane?” Crush asked seriously. “Foreign powers? Colonial Republic? We are a bunch of people on a moon. Get real.”

“We are being very real,” Duke rumbled angrily. “You impune my honor, claiming I tried to back out of our deal, sneak out with materials MY people collected, and then set up next to Bea’s place in a clear attempt to make this place look bad. Enough is enough.”

“You threw us out, intended to abandon us without supplies, and repeatedly broke your promises to us, Duke. The only one making you look bad is you,” Crush said angrily.

“The decision has been made,” Hadrian cut in, “to sever ties with your people. As Duke is NOT the honorless man you claim, he will allow you to keep those materials as your payment.”

“How generous,” Crush said sarcastically.

“More than that,” Hadrian ignored the interruption. “In the spirit of peace, we are granting your new colony the twenty square miles around your settlement as well.”

“Sixty miles,” Crush retorted. “That is only fair.”

“Forty,” Hadrian countered. “No more.”

“Forty miles in radius, with the origin of my signal as the central point, plus an additional quarter-mile to account for the area taken up by the Embassy,” Crush demanded.

“Fine, just get it over with,” Duke waved a hand at Hadrian.

“Then it is agreed,” Hadrian looked at the others, who all nodded. “However, there is one final point.

“Which is?” Crush asked.

“We will establish a non-aggression pact with your colony on the condition that you do not discuss matters relating to this call—other than the outcome—with any external parties not already privy to it,” Hadrian said, getting looks from the other Council members.

“So, in other words, don’t tell a certain Captain that you consider her an antagonistic force?” Crush smiled.

“Relations are strained, and I do not wish to strain them further,” Hadrian said diplomatically.

“I can agree to that,” Crush said with a slight smile. “For an additional two miles in radius.”

“Done,” Hadrian nodded. “The non-aggression pact is now in effect. Your people may enter our lands if they wish to trade or return. For all other reasons, diplomatic contact must be established first.”

“Done,” Crush said. “Our rules are simple. No one from your side enters without contact. Anyone that does will be considered an enemy and killed.”

Crush reached out and flipped the comm line closed.

“Well, shit,” Crush said, turning to the assembled colonists. “It looks like we are really doing this.”

A single cheer started somewhere at the back, and it rippled until the entire crowd was cheering and clapping.

===<<<>>>===

“That was not quite what was intended, but I think we can all agree it is for the best?” Hadrian smiled at the rest of the Council once the link went dead.

“I agree,” Warrick nodded. “Best leave them to it. Let them play in the mud while we get on with things here.”

“You were pretty cavalier about giving away territory, Hadrian,” Nancy looked sulky as she crossed her arms and sniffed. “That belonged to us all.”

“And it will again, I am sure,” Hadrian smiled.

“You are that sure?” Duke asked. “Why?”

“I took the liberty of pursuing the records and backgrounding that you put together,” Hadrian said, pursing his lips, “It seems that Crush and this rabble were responsible for an attack on people who are now a part of the Captain’s crew. In addition, he was responsible for at least one attack on her himself. I highly doubt they will find much aid there.”

“She will not attack them for revenge if that is what you mean,” Duke insisted. “No matter how ‘antagonistic’ you all seem to find her.”

“I don’t expect she will,” Hadrian admitted. “I merely expect him to find little in the way of support from her or her people. In short, we can expect some of the more skilled people to become irritated and, therefore, to return.”

“Be careful not to underestimate Crush,” Duke warned. “We have all made that mistake and are the poorer for it.”

“I expect he will find a way to hang on,” Hadrian admitted. “He has certainly proved himself a capable leader. That, too, is an opportunity.”

“How?” Nancy asked, suddenly in a better mood now that someone had mentioned a possible profit for her.

“We are bound to encounter other individuals who are less than advantageous for the colony,” Hadrian noted. “Now, we have somewhere to send them, should the need arise.”

“Crush claimed he would shoot them on sight,” Duke reminded them.

“Hardly our fault,” Warrick smiled. “After all, we have chosen a path of nonviolence, have we not?”

===<<<>>>===

“Confirmed,” Remy said after a moment. “It is the same kind of design as those you sent me.”

“Nellie will not be happy about this,” Lucy sighed. “Can nothing ever be simple?”

“Give me the word, and it will be.” Remy nodded to the weapon controls. “A single blast from the central cannon and that place will be vapor.”

Lucy seriously considered the option. While the core this version of her was occupying while out of contact with Nellie was slower than her real one, it was capable of operating at incredible speeds. The consideration lasted less than a tenth of a second, and none of the results were good.

Even if Nellie would not have been pissed to hear they had just destroyed it—which she would absolutely be—there was the technological aspect to consider. Every scrap of tech from the I.E.S. was an upgrade, even if it came with risks. Still, it was simply too tempting to ignore.

What if there was another nanite AI down there?

“No,” Lucy shook her head. “Mark the coordinates, and keep scanning. We still need to find more mining options.”

“As you command,” Remy nodded.

“Enough of that,” Lucy said, sitting back into the captain’s chair. “I am choosing to ignore the ‘Queens’ aspect of things for now. Do not make me change my mind.”

“Sir!” Remy hurriedly got back to work.

Queens. It was flattering if you looked at it the right way. Additionally, it was a logical outshoot of their actions so far. Lucy honestly didn’t see a problem with the idea, although they would need to control a lot more than a single station and a few ships to deserve the titles.

The problem was that Nellie would be immediately and completely horrified at the thought.

If only Nell could see herself through other’s eyes, just once.

She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair, her mind expanding as it became one with the ship. In moments, she was the Bly and flying high over a world of metal and fire.