Chapter Fourteen
Outsiders
“I.P.A.S. Fair Weather, you are clear to proceed.”
“Fuck me, that’s creepy,” Colby muttered as he signaled Loras to send an acknowledgment of the signal.
“Good, it seems our request to visit has been accepted,” Ambassador Lewisham smiled from his seat beside the Captain. “I was worried a smaller delegation might be ignored.”
“A smaller delegation than three people?” Loras asked.
“We brought what we could, Secretary Loras,” Lewisham replied calmly. The two had repeated this argument often during the journey.
“I know, I know,” Loras tucked a lock of dark hair back behind her ear as she bent over the scanners again.
Colby shook his head and focused on determining whether there were any signs of restricted areas he needed to avoid.
“Signal received from station Bly’s Rest, Captain,” Loras said.
“We can’t have,” Colby said immediately. “That is literally halfway across the system from here.”
“It is a live signal, Captain,” Loras’s perfectly shaped eyebrows were almost touching her hairline. “A live feed.”
“On screen,” Colby felt a spot of sweat bead on the back of his neck. Who in the nebula’s asshole could broadcast a live feed at this distance?
“Greetings, Ambassador,” An officious-looking woman appeared on the screen. “I am Salem, Herald to the Queens. We are pleased you arrived safely.”
“Thank you, Herald Salem,” Lewisham stood quickly, absent-mindedly smoothing his rumpled ship suit. “It is our honor to be allowed to come in person. I hope all is still well?”
“Of course,” the woman replied. “My Adjutant is sending a route and clearance to land to your Captain now.”
Colby looked down as the computer let out a drawn-out beep. That message had come in FAST. It had almost been too quick for his aging on-board computer to catch it all. Almost.
While the two continued talking, Colby got them underway, glancing up at the screen occasionally. They really did have synthetics here. It was quite the famed aspect of the Imperium already. They had as many mechanical and digital citizens as they did humanoids, apparently.
He tried not to stare but found himself wondering if this Salem was one of the synthetics, or the cyborgs, or whatever they were.
“Excellent,” Lewisham bowed to the screen. “Thank you for your time, Herald.”
“And yours, Ambassador.”
The comm line cut out, and Lewisham turned to Colby and Loras, clapping his hands excitedly and rubbing them together.
“A little coup, that,” Loras looked surprised.
“Pardon?” Colby had clearly missed something.
“We are to meet with the Nightmare Queen herself,” Lewisham said with a wide smile. “Today.”
Colby swallowed hard.
The Imperial Line had not skimped on the propaganda when it came to their doomed blockade. Everyone had heard the recordings and seen the images of ships torn apart while the Nightmare Queen’s ice-cold voice rang with absolute certainty in the superiority of her vessels.
To be fair, she hadn’t been wrong.
Speaking of their ships, Colby tried very hard to ignore the near sensors as a trio of cruisers went past off. They were all armed to the teeth, shields up, and not a single life form reading reading on board. His mind filled with images of cold, steel faces with glowing eyes fixed on the tiny dot that was his ship.
A single twitch of their mechanical fingers and the Fair Weather would be dust.
“We haven’t heard of her eating anyone yet,” Loras countered as if reading Colby’s mind. “I heard she even visited the Sagacity recently.”
“Very true,” Lewisham slid back into his chair. “But the rumor is that she exacted a tithe of seven hundred of their citizens.”
“Tell me why we are even here again?” Colby replied, trying to cover his mounting anxiety with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
“Because,” Lewisham said, “if there is a new power rising, we need to make nice now before their borders are up against our own.”
“Thank you, Commander Dar,” Colby did his best to keep his voice steady as he replied. “Landing bay confirmed, proceeding to dock.”
“Welcome to Bly’s Rest, Fair Weather,” Dar’s voice rumbled over the comm.
“Did you see the size of him?” Loras whispered. “He barely fit on the screen!”
“Brackta are often larger than standard humanoids,” Lewisham replied. “Calm down, everyone.”
“Sure, sure,” Colby muttered. “I’m calm. I’m calm.”
He wasn’t intimidated at all by the massive, hulking shapes of the ships around the station or the flying death that was the Harbinger that sat off to the side of it.
Not at all.
Just like he wasn’t intimidated by the fact that the Fair Weather was assigned a personal vehicle hanger because it was so much smaller than anything else around here.
The landing gear touched the deck plates, and the usual loud clank sounded through the ship.
“Down and locked,” Colby relaxed just a little. He had got them here; that was something.
“You know what just occurred to me?” Loras asked as she stood, stretching after so long at the console.
“What?” Colby asked.
“We didn’t hear about any Ambassadors being gobbled up by the Imperium. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. It just means no one managed to tell anyone else about it.” She grinned at Colby.
“Not helping, Loras,” Lewisham frowned. “Let’s get changed and go see this station for ourselves, shall we?”
Clean and brushed to within an inch of his life, Colby followed a step behind and to the left of the Ambassador while Loras did the same to his right. They were all not in the official regalia of the I.P.A., and for the first time in his life, Colby wished his rank did not require him to wear armor.
It was only ceremonial, but he did not want to startle anyone.
The airlock cycled, and the doors parted to reveal a pair of giant, black robots. Each one was taller than even that Brackta they had seen, with gleaming metal and glowing eyes—almost the exact thing he had imagined watching in those cruisers.
“Welcome to the Bly’s Rest,” one of the robots said. “Someone will find you when the time for your meeting has come. Please remain on the main concourse until then.”
“Certainly,” Lewisham nodded respectfully. “Any suggestions on a good place to wait?”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The two robots exchanged looks for a moment before the second spoke.
“The HyperDrive cafe is a popular spot.”
“Excellent. We will wait there,” Lewisham gestured for Colby and Loras to follow him, and they set off.
They crossed the main docking area, seeing people hurrying to and fro. Colby stopped in horror as some kind of humanoid insect passed, pushing a grav cart loaded with boxes and crates. He looked again, seeing many more of the figures moving about the docks. Colby had missed them at first as they mixed in with the smaller robotic forms and the humans.
“Stop staring, Colby,” Lewisham snapped. “We are here as guests.”
“Yes, Ambassador,” Colby swallowed. “Did you see the—”
“This is a cosmopolitan society, Captain.” Lewisham moved on, apparently having nothing else to say.
Colby was relieved to see the back of the docks if he was honest with himself.
“You get used to them.” A woman had simply appeared next to Colby, and he only just managed to not jump out of his skin. At least, he was sure she hadn’t been there a moment ago. “They are little darlings, really. A little too sweet, really.” She turned a smile his way.
“I see,” Colby swallowed.
The woman was young, maybe even a teenager. Was it safe for her to be wandering around this close to the docks on her own?
“Excuse me, miss,” Lewisham asked. “Could you show us where the HypderDrive cafe is located?”
“Sure,” she said with a slight shrug. “I have a few minutes before we head down to the planet anyway.”
“Thank you kindly,” Loras gave a little bow, making Colby frown. That was her ‘I’m important, and you aren’t’ tone, and he didn’t like it. Never had, but here, in the Imperium? It was just not a smart move. “We are Ambassadors, here to see the Queen.”
“Which one?” The girl looked them over, “You don’t look like Silicates.”
“I have no idea what those are,” Loras smiled imperiously. “But we are to have an audience with Queen Bonne Chance shortly.”
“Oh, well, if you are so important,” the teen laughed and clicked her fingers.
Grey figures seemed to step out of nowhere, draped in robes as they formed a guard around the trio. “A small honor guard must be in order?”
Loras eyed the long knives prominent on the belts beneath the grey robes and swallowed.
“We don’t exactly warrant that,” Lewisham said with a polite smile. “An honor indeed, thank you.”
“No problem.”
Colby did his best not to reach for the holster that was NOT on the ceremonial armor and decided not to ask a single question. A short, quiet walk was all that they needed. He did take a moment to shoot a glare at Loras, who flushed.
They stopped as a massive centipede trundled past, loaded up with goods.
“Uh,” Colby opened his mouth before he could stop himself.
“We call them smilers,” the woman offered. “Useful little things.”
“Not quite so little,” Colby noted.
She just smiled, and somehow, Colby didn’t want to know more.
Sitting in the window of the HyperDrive shop, they could see everyone wandering around the station. Colby kept thinking something was missing, and eventually, he realized what it was.
“No one is just hanging around,” Colby said, not meaning to speak out loud.
“Hmm?” Lewisham was going over his pitch on a small datapad.
“No one is just hanging around. I mean, they stop to chat, but no one is just sitting about killing time.”
“There never seems to be much time for that,” a voice said, and Colby saw the others scrambling to their feet.
“Madam Herald, there was no need to come and collect us yourself,” Lewisham gave a low bow, and Colby hurried to do the same.
“Nonsense,” Salem smiled warmly. “You have come a long way, I understand.”
“It was a bit of a trip in our ship,” Lewisham allowed. “But well worth the opportunity, I am sure.”
“Let us hope so,” Salem gestured. “Shall we?”
/===<<<>>>===\
“Ambassador, thank you for coming.” Queen Bonne Chance did not stand, but she did nod as they entered the small conference room.
Colby trailed behind Lewisham, keeping his spot even when the man sat down.
While the two exchanged pleasantries, Colby got his first real look at the Nightmare Queen.
She was… a lot more normal than he had expected. Given the stories, he had expected there to be wires crawling over her skin, a throne of skulls with glowing eyes, or… something. He did his best not to stare, looking out of the side of his eye some of the time, but curiosity got the better of him.
She was good-looking in that girl next door kind of way, but there was something about her that just felt off somehow. She smiled, but it never reached her eyes. There wasn’t anything royal about her, at least not that he could see. Or metal at first, at least until she stood to speak to the Herald about something.
A metal leg showed beneath the armor.
As she sat again, he noticed the metallic sheen to one hand as well. The other he wasn’t so sure of.
He tried to look closer and suddenly remembered he wasn’t supposed to be staring.
Colby flicked his eyes up, seeing the Queen shift her gaze.
Yup, he was caught.
To his surprise, she smiled, and it actually looked genuine. It lit up her face for a moment, and Colby had to admit, it was quite a transformation. There was kindness and mirth in that smile.
Was this really the so-called Nightmare Queen?
Lewisham stood and bowed again, and the Queen stood as well.
“It was lovely to meet you all. I’m just sorry we don’t have more time at the moment.” Queen Bonne Chance said. “There is so much to do, I’m afraid.”
“We quite understand,” Lewisham nodded. “In truth, we are honored to be given even this much time.”
“Don’t worry about it,” the Queen said, “I’m always happy to make new friends.”
She waved to Colby as they left, using the obviously metal hand. He flushed as she laughed.
“Could have been worse,” Loras whispered. “She could have caught you checking out her ass.”
“I did not!” Colby protested, only to realize too late that she was teasing him.
Many hours later, he was working in their bay to replace a burnt-out motor in the landing bay when he heard someone cough politely to get his attention.
“Hello?”
“Hi!” A bright voice called. “Tell me, do you like this ship?”
“It’s not much I know,” Colby said. He pulled himself out from under the ship and saw a woman standing there with a broad smile on her face. She had short, reddish-blond hair and a suspiciously friendly smile. “But I like it well enough.” He patted the side of the Fair Weather fondly. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
“That’s great,” She held out a hand. “I’m Berenice. It's lovely to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Colby said suspiciously. “It’s quite late, isn’t it?”
“Is it?” Berenice wrinkled her nose as she thought. “Wow, it really is. Doesn’t time fly?”
“Sure, sure,” Colby hesitated a moment. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Funny you should say that,” Berenice grinned like a tiger. “How would you like to do the Imperium a favor?”
“....and she wants us to yield the Fair Weather to the Marshalls to allow them to enter Confed space a little less obviously than they would in their own ship,” Colby told the others a few hours later.
“Get involved in the nutball Confed civil war?” Loras snorted. “Not likely.”
“Don’t be so fast to dismiss this,” Lewisham leaned back, interlacing his fingers on the table in front of him. “This could get us a lot of capital with the Nanite Imperium.”
“And piss off the Confeds,” Loras snapped. “Did you forget we have a couple of borders with them as well?”
“The Confederated Planets have been a threat to us for years,” Lewisham waved her comment aside. “If they are taking on a more expansionist outlook, it is best we not only know but do our best to interfere.”
“And if the ship is discovered? It carries our Identity beacon.” Loras slapped the table as if the conversation was over at that point.
“They thought of that,” Colby jumped back in before the argument could escalate again. “Our ship will be listed as scrapped here due to unrecoverable faults.”
“And we get to hitchhike back to I.P.A. space?” Loras frowned.
“We would actually be guests on the station during that time,” Colby swallowed, knowing this could be a sticking point.
“Which will help to sell the story of us being stranded after our ship became damaged,” Lewisham nodded thoughtfully. “It could work, but we can’t do it. Not this way.”
“Thank you,” Loras went to stand, only for the Ambassador to gesture for her to sit down.
“What I mean is, we can’t all stay here,” Lewisham went on. “I think we should send someone with the Marshalls as a liaison. Officially, we will show support for the Marshalls and the Imperium, while in reality, the Liason Officer could gather the information we need on both the Imperium and the Confeds.”
“And when they are caught?” Loras asked.
“If escape is impossible,” Lewisham gestured to his ear.
Colby felt himself pale sightly. Everyone on this mission had a suicide switch installed behind their ears. Pressing on it in the correct sequence would immediately discharge a massive electrical shock into the brain.
It was universally fatal.
“Assuming that no identifying items were with the body, that could work,” Loras sighed. “So, who gets the short straw?”
“It must be someone with military experience, as well as some skills on a ship. Otherwise, they will stick out.” Lewisham said happily.
The bastard had neither, and they all knew it.
“Toss you for it?” Loras grinned.
“You are well aware a Secretary of the I.P.A. is not allowed to assist foreign powers,” Lewisham sighed.
“Oh, is that right?” Loras grinned smugly.
“Right, right,” Colby sighed. “I better pack my stuff.”
“Why, they’re taking the ship, right?” Loras leaned back, smirking.
“They are making extensive changes. Apparently,” Colby frowned.
“I’m amazed you parted with the ship,” Lewisham said. “How did they manage to convince you?”
Colby ignored the comment for two reasons. First, he was trying to serve the interests of the Independent Planets Alliance. More to the point, at the moment, he didn’t say anything because he still wasn’t quite sure how it had happened.
One moment, Colby was chatting with the disturbing woman and the next, he was holding a credit chip and shaking hands.