Read Icarus (Interstellar Cargo Book 1) Online
Authors: Matt Verish
Tags: #firefly, #Adventure, #space exploration, #action, #Space Opera, #dark matter, #icarus, #artificial intelligence
“You’re referring to CAIN,” Lin said.
“No,” Cole said flatly. “Your ‘
protocol update
’.” He added air quotes with his fingers.
“A necessary company regulation implement designed to assist CAIN’s learning focus,” came her technical answer.
“Or impede it.”
“Captain Musgrave,” Lin said, her voice icy through her Rook. “Are you accusing me of sabotaging my own creation?”
“Of course not,” Cole said, eyes widening. “Did you design the update, or were you instructed to install it post ‘nascent conception’ by your superiors?”
Lin did not respond.
Thought so.
“Engineering is none of your concern, Musgrave,” Forester said, taking command of the discussion. “Neither is troubleshooting artificial intelligence.”
“Hey!” Cole said, feigning insult. “I was only trying to help. Cain’s ‘Maker’ is at a loss, so I thought I’d provide an outsider’s perspective.”
“Regardless,” Lin said, “CAIN processed the protocol update with no visible corruption. The problem must stem from a design flaw in the AI software.”
Cole shrugged. This conversation was above him, but something about CAIN’s response to the update troubled him. “Is it possible he’s purposely disobeying?”
“Nonsense,” Forester said, clearly annoyed with the continuation of the conversation.
“Why?” Cole asked. “Doc said it herself; Cain’s self-aware.”
CAIN concurred.
Cole gestured toward the console as though the AI’s comment validated his claim.
“There’s a wide gap between stating and showcasing,” Forester said, unimpressed.
All eyes faced the main viewport and gazed upon the approaching station. The Interstellar Gateway was a massive ring-like hub, capable of encircling all manner and sizes of vessels. It was the final border checkpoint before ships could jump legally. An inspection was imminent for the ICV-71 and her precious cargo.
They docked with the hub, and Cole returned automation back to CAIN. He knew any company inspectors sweeping the ship would check to make sure that all was structurally sound, cargo was appropriately listed, and navigation controls were free of corruption. He gambled that Lin’s scan of CAIN’s software would list as clear. He also hoped that the corporate bigwigs notified the gateway to go easy on this particular run.
“Dammit,” Cole said, slouching in his chair.
So much for smooth sailing.
“Did you actually believe SolEx would overlook us because of the nature of our trip?” Forester asked, reading Cole’s mind exactly. He continued without waiting for an answer. “We will abide by all codes of conduct.”
“You must’ve had a really dull childhood, Arthur,” Cole said, staring up at the ceiling. When he did not receive a response, he looked back to see the director smiling, a hint of a mischief in his cold gray eyes. He raised his brow and turned to Lin, but she was staring at her hands folded in her lap.
“What?” Cole said, sitting up straight. “That doesn’t make any sense. Since when do gateway inspectors allow additional cargo?” He frowned when no one answered. “You know anything about this?” He asked Forester.
“I am aware, yes.”
Cole’s frown deepened as he turned back toward the director. “You could’ve informed me. I know I’m just a lowly backup pilot to you, but I take this job seriously.” He sighed, frustrated.
And why is there additional cargo being added at our jump point?
He wondered.
“Cain,” Cole said, a thought occurring to him. “Give me a detailed account of our new cargo.”
“Must you?” Forester asked, perturbed. “Our inspector will be with us presently.
“Yeah, and I’d like to know what was stowed away before I question him about it.” Cole’s eyes focused on the image projected on the viewport. “ ‘Classified’ ?” He shook his head, confused. “That will never fly with Customs. Give me a detailed visual of the Cargo Bay, Cain.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Forester said, his tone even.
All attention turned to the lone figure stepping out of the lift. He was not a “he” at all. A tall, lean middle-aged woman made her way toward the trio with an imposing militaristic cadence. Much like Forester, the inspector was clean-cut and all business. There was no warmth in those cold, penetrating eyes that settled upon Cole.
“Captain Musgrave, I presume,” she said, her voice softer than Cole had expected. That made him nervous.
“Yes,” he said, standing.
“I am Inspector Emmerich,” she said, not slowing her advance. When she was a few paces from him, she drew her sidearm and pointed it directly at his face. “I am taking command of this ship.”
“I
believe you heard me, Captain,” Inspector Emmerich said in a grave tone.
In one fluid motion, Cole’s reflexes had him lunging toward Inspector Emmerich, swatting away her weapon with his hand, latching onto her arm with the other, and dislocating her shoulder. Her sharp cry was silenced as she was flipped face-first onto the bridge floor. He kept her pinned there, ignoring her grunts.
“
Cain!
” Cole shouted. “Activate Lockdown! We have an attempted hijacking in progress! Alert security on the Gateway!” He shoved his knee into the inspector’s back to keep her from struggling free.
Cole’s stomach flipped, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He gawked at the console, unable to speak. That was when he felt something cold and unyielding press into the back of his skull. He went as still as a cadaver, his eyes the only part of him able to function. He saw a forlorn Lin, and Forester’s empty chair.
“No one can hear you, Musgrave,” the director said, pressing the muzzle of the weapon painfully tight against his head. “I suggest you remove yourself from Inspector Emmerich before I do something I’ll regret.”
“What are you doing?” Cole asked, his voice strangely calm.
“I’m telling you to step away from my associate,” Forester said, his tone hard. “I won’t ask you again.”
I can take him out,
Cole thought, weighing his options. He relaxed his vice grip on the inspector, but before he could enact a second heroic feat, Emmerich—dislocated shoulder and all—jumped far too quickly to her feet for someone in her fifties, and brought her elbow down upon the back of Cole’s neck. He dropped, his world blurry.
The inspector wiped her hand across her face, her palm coming away with blood. She set her broken nose with a wince and walked over to the wall into which she promptly slammed her shoulder, popping it back into place. She swore loudly and clenched her fists.
“You won’t be swimming for a few months,” Cole said, stumbling to his feet. His vision swam, and his body moved as though in quicksand.
Not optimal for dodging plastol bursts.
Emmerich advanced on Cole to even the score, but a quick, high-pitched sound akin to stone striking steel stopped her cold. A bright smoldering burn mark separated them, and the inspector rounded on Forester with murder in her eyes.
“Thanks, Cain,” Cole mocked, dropping to one knee and rubbing his neck. “That report ought to come in handy. Never mind we’re being internally hijacked.”
“We need him unmolested,” Forester said to Emmerich. “The AI is not functioning properly,” he added in a quieter voice, and the inspector glowered at Lin.
“I could really use a stiff massage....”
“Shut
.
Your
. Mouth!
” Emmerich’s voice was a thunderclap. In the ensuing silence, she composed herself as best she could. Dried blood remained in her nostril, a dark bruise already settling in the tissue. She ran a tense hand through her short-cropped silver hair and straightened her back and shoulders with another cringe. A deep breath relaxed her taut face, and a shred of calm dignity seemed to return to her battered exterior.
She turned toward Forester and reclaimed the sidearm. When she faced Cole, she kept a couple extra steps distance from him, her weapon lowered. “I misjudged you, Captain,” She said, her voice stuffy thanks to Cole’s takedown. “It was a mistake to point my sidearm at you.” She shook her head. “Never underestimate a soldier, no matter how many years removed they are from service.” The last statement was directed more toward herself.
Cole opened his mouth to speak, but Emmerich shook her head in warning. He closed his mouth, though he wondered if he was in any real danger after what Forester had said. Instead he sat back and continued to rub the base of his neck, hoping for some sort of elaboration. He was not left disappointed.
“This situation isn’t ideal, but we had no other choice,” Emmerich said. “You were chosen for a reason.”
Cole frowned.
Chosen? Chosen to aid a couple of terrorists? I really need to update my resume.
He looked past both Forester and Emmerich to where Lin still sat in the co-pilot chair, facing away, her head down. He wondered whether or not she a willing part of the coup.
“Why?”
Emmerich stared hard at him before speaking. “Your brother is a notorious criminal, your parents are both deceased, and you have a checkered past with the United System Starforce.”
Cole shrugged. “Yeah, that’s pretty accurate.”
“I also served under your mother,” she said wryly.
“That’s unfortunate,” Cole said, shaking his head and immediately regretting doing so. “That explains your attitude, and this,” he gestured around him, “cockamamie coup.”
“You’re hardly one to talk, Musgrave,” Emmerich replied. Before Cole could reply, she added, “A coup this may be, but it is in your best interest to hear me out before you attempt another unnecessary rescue.”
“ ‘My best interest’ ?” Cole repeated, the words foul tasting in his mouth. “How does a gun in my face, the hijacking of a company prototype vessel, and your pending blackmail speech benefit me?”
“Who said anything about our mission benefitting you?” Emmerich asked, walking in a circle around Cole. “Make no mistake, Musgrave, you have no room for negotiation in this venture.” She stopped. “But I can promise you that we will all come away from this unscathed—perhaps even as heroes—when you lend us your specialized services.”
We?
Cole’s head was throbbing now. “Look. What makes any of you people think you’ll be able to complete your mission—whatever that is—let alone undock from the Gateway without alerting all of SolEx security?”
Emmerich gave a steely smile. “You forget my position.” She indicated her uniform. “The ICV-71 passed inspection, and I’ve cleared us for launch. No one will question me since this particular vessel is a prototype on its maiden voyage.”
Oh.
“Our Director of Operations is reputed amongst his colleagues and is expected to present at Terracom 3. My Senior Engineer for the CAIN project is the pride of the company.” She indicated Lin and Forester while keeping her attention on Cole. “We are respectable, upstanding members of Solar System Express.”
Cole nodded, resting his arms on his knees. “And I’m a smart-mouthed, brown-nosing, dishonorably discharged Starforce pilot with a gangster brother.” His mouth twisted. “My word against yours...and whatever else you have hanging over my head I don’t know about.”
Emmerich nodded.
Cole took a deep breath, tapping his kneecaps like drums. Then a realization struck him. “What exactly are
we
delivering?”
“A bomb,” Forester said.
Cole’s gaze shifted between the two of them. “So, you’re terrorists.”
Emmerich scowled at the term. “And Terracom is a philanthropic corporation ‘Harvesting New Worlds’ for the greater good.” She spat on the floor. “We are rebels, if you must put a label to us and our cause.”
Radicals, more like it,
Cole thought, starting to understand. Terracom was an abhorrent entity, but he never would have thought anyone—especially people in the corporate sector—with so much to lose—would throw away their lives for such a futile cause.
“What are you looking to take out with your bomb?”
“Their Terraport.”
That’s suicide,
Cole thought, flabbergasted.
We have a better chance of colonizing the Sun.
“If I refuse, you kill me. If I help you succeed, I’ll be blamed. If I fail, I’ll be blamed.” He laughed in spite himself. “There’s no upside for me.” He sat up straighter. “What’s to stop me from risking dropping you a second time?”
“That won’t happen again.” Emmerich waved her sidearm for him to see. “I will shoot you if I must, but I’d rather not.” She cleared her throat. “When you help us succeed, our cargo will detonate remotely after we leave. There will be no evidence, as Dr. Dartmouth has seen to such issues already. Years will pass before Terracom is able to sort through the wreckage. All of us will return to our current positions...including you.” She paused, seeming to consider her next words. “If you serve our cause well, I may even consider suggesting a reinstatement of your application for Uncharted with NASA.”
Who
is
this woman?
Cole wondered, amazed his insignificance had been unearthed after his time in Starforce nearly fifteen years ago.
Guess you can’t erase
all
your past mistakes.
“How do you know so much about me?”
Emmerich smirked.
Black Dwarf,
Cole considered with a shudder. Not even he could sever ties with them.