Shadow of the Empire: Day 26

[aesmael]

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Long, long delay since last posting here and of this story. I had an idea to put within the story a smaller adventure that could work as its own story and I wanted to finish that bit of digression before putting up any more excerpts. It went longer and slower to write than I was hoping but now the third chapter of the story is drafted enough to post.

Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. From right after I started it has seemed like this work would come out more like a 20K novella than a 50K novel and it still looks to be that. I have a working week to finish on time, five thousand words to write if I want to meet my personal goal for the month, and probably a fair few more than that of story to go. So after this is posted, back to work and hopefully a thousand words for each of those days.

I don't like how this story has come out so far. That's normal for something I'm actively writing. It has felt more like a skeleton of a story, more hastily dashed outline than fleshed tale. I worry it has become more abbreviated as I continue. I worry I am losing or have lost what little character definition I had to start with. I hope that, in editing, this story can become something I am not ashamed to say I wrote. At worst presumably it becomes a learning experience.

The more dangerous and fraught part of their journey was over for now. Not only a matter of reaching the termination shock, but also of navigating to the stream which would lead to their destination. Reaching one's destination was still possible by entering at any point, but unwise, so they had taken a circuitous route to hopefully avoid Algonthen attention.

It seemed to have worked. From here onward the chance of Algonthen interference appeared approximately zero, until the time they would have to negotiate their return. Shula and the Esteemed Traveller drew closer so Altair could more easily streamline their passage.

The Traveller signalled their readiness, Altair activated her field, and the two vessels departed from Zara.

* * *

The transition was immediate and gentle. If one were watching through a window from a well-lit room, one might not have noticed the stars were gone from the sky. Without starlight or any feature from the familiar universe it was not uncommon for fluid space to provoke feelings of claustrophobia in those who traveled it; often an ironic restriction of access to external imagery was applied as a remedy.

Despite this, fluid space was thought to be an expansive, open realm, although only a number of unfortunate incidents had established to the satisfaction of most that concepts like distance had much meaning there at all. Very little exploration beyond charting safe and swift routes between worlds had been accomplished; the navigation of those was another realm in which the work of geometers was in demand. Ideally their passage would be swift and uneventful.

Fortunately Sheltac was only a short voyage, less than a week away in good conditions, although not short enough for some.

* * *

"I still find it suspicious Mahtab would find work for us now. The Traveller was in port for weeks before-"

"I know," said Algol. "We've gone over this already. It is suspicious, but it doesn't matter. We would be here even with certainty."

"I don't believe that," said Ferideh. "If we had certainty we would have followed it up, even breaking our deal."

"What do you want me to do? We are committed to this mission now, and I already agreed to follow it up as soon as we can."

"Nothing. I'm just frustrated."

"Go spy on our charge some more, then. That always seems to cheer you up."

"Heh. Good thing we are nearly there. I think they are running low on secrets."

* * *

Sheltac was quiet where they emerged on a looping cometary path. The Traveller's Captain Harrison had two stops to make here, the first of which was at another icy fringe colony of similar distance yet many tens of AUs distant and the second on one of the inner worlds. He insisted on the order, though Algol did not care to especially challenge him over it. Their tiny convoy drifted its slow way across the outer system, a circumstantially excruciating few weeks of legal travel velocity, but they arrived without incident, nestling in adjacent docking bays.

Algol and Ferideh met Harrison outside, in a corridor quieter than they were used to. He had requested their escort in his dealings and so escort they were. Through a few corridors, into the local tube network, then out again into the spaces those who lived here called home.

It seemed a very unwelcoming neighbourhood, the sort occupied by wealthy persons who liked space and a lack of visitors, and had taken steps to see their preferences made actual. Algol was not comfortable in locations such as this, which she supposed was the intent, and she resented giving them that.

They stopped at a door much like any other and Harrison pressed a button. Shortly the door was opened by someone who apparently was not the person they were after, as he exhibited a rather doormanlike manner and, on being told their business, insisted that Master Anderson was not available to handle it at this time.

He probably was right, having paused to consult with someone remotely before delivering this verdict and giving them a deadline of another week before concluding the transaction would be possible. They returned to their respective vessels, Harrison being especially stompy.

* * *

They waited aimlessly for the next several days. Ferideh left occasionally to poke about but for the most part they kept themselves confined to Shula waiting for when this mysteriously delay that kept them there expired. When Harrison called them, it was not to say they could finally be done with this place.

"I've been contacted by another buyer," he said. "Already committed to the current deal, so no chance of that, but she was very insistent. Thought you better know in case there's trouble."

"Thanks. Want us to send someone over, check things out?"

"No thanks. I think we're okay aboard the Traveller. But I'd appreciate a bit of an extra escort when we make the delivery, just in case."

"Understood."

And it was back to waiting.

* * *

When the day came that they could be done with this place it was met with apathy. A desultory task they performed only because it was necessary to get back to what they considered important. And perhaps a little because it was something they had agreed to and keeping deals still mattered.

Algol, Altair, Ferideh, Hanifah, and Nawar left Shula behind and came round to the door to the bay in which the Traveller was berthed. All fine inside. They stood watch outside awhile.

The cargo was small enough one person could carry, the Traveller was sufficiently crewed to spare a half-dozen extra to guard along with the captain and the designated carrier of the manuscript. They made quite a crowd filing out to meet their own guardians, the bored and restless crew of Shula.

Perfunctory greetings were made and then a procession. Down those same corridors, the hollowed-out maze of life that was the plain, practical face of human commerical life in this little icy world so far from light. That these corridors were filled with others going about their own business made keeping eyes out for trouble more difficult. Several false alarms, none progressing into regrettable action, and one vindication of their precautions taken.

As they approached the tube which interrupted their journey someone attempted to snatch the padded case in which their printed cargo was carried. She ran into an arm and fell flat, but she wasn't alone. Their mysterious counter-bidder had it seemed hired a nearly equal number to foil their delivery; if not for the crew's participation the Traveller's folks might have been overwhelmed, but after a half-second panic it was at least clear no one had interest in the attempt turning from violent to deliberately bloody.

Bruises and aching bones, one or two broken maybe and that non-event of a fight scattered. They were relieved by this. Less damage, better outcomes, and fortunately the mysterious counter-bidder had not been willing to pay enough for anyone to so hard local police involvement would be guaranteed. They watched the last of the attempted snatch flee and resumed their mission, grateful to have that interruption out of the way so quickly.

* * *

For someone who had paid so much money for his delivery, Anderson seemed remarkably indifferent toward it. They had to insist before he would come to collect it himself, and that involved a long wait At least, then, Harrison seemed also a man to keep his word, something which reassured Algol about working with him. Anderson on the other hand she hoped never to see again after the trouble and the boredom he had caused them.

The transfer was made. Finally unburdened they departed with relief lightening their steps; there remained only a final delivery, more above-board than this had been, then they could return to the situation at home.

In this area the presentation was blended between forbidding and inviting, structured so those who belonged would feel safe and those who did not belong would be aware of their unbelonging. Stark facings to the homes on one side, high solid walls with the occasional narrow gap or grillwork showing green luxury beyond. On the other side, a parkscape lit by false sun, marked off by a low wall which again in its styling suggested privacy and welcome only to those who knew who they were. A low wall, forbidding only in what it signified, easy enough for anyone present to have vaulted over without trouble, leaving them in essence walking a path between a garden and a sheer wall.

A very inconvenient detail considering they were not alone in their walking and, indeed, that some of those other walkers were drawing weapons and opening fire on them. If Algol and Ferideh had not noticed those suspicious motions before they turned deadly and had not taken the pre-emptive action of encouraging their companions to dive onto the road, what followed would have been vastly less pleasant. Perhaps even it would have been the end of them.

But they hit the ground and for the first moments their worst worries were grazed arms and knees. Algol and Ferideh were returning fire already, and one assailant fell burned. The other vaulted over the wall into the park and turned the situation into a stand-off. It did not remain one long; Algol and Ferideh kept her down with sharp shots every time she showed herself, while Hanifah leapt herself over and scorched the other woman's head.

They ran over to check. Both women were dead.

"You know," said Hanifah, "this sort of mess is precisely what I became a doctor to get away from."

"You could have left her alive to question."

"You could have left the other one alive, but we didn't precisely have an abundance of options,"

"Point taken. We're going to have to wait around for the authorities to check this out so everyone, make yourselves comfortable."

* * *

They were made to wait until the edge of restlessness until investigators arrived. It did not take as long as it felt, and there was no hint at the end that they might be charged or considered responsible for a conflict in which security footage showed the other party clearly to be aggressors. It was, indeed, as ideal as such a delay could have been. Plain, quick questions and sorting out, understanding of situation expressed and blessing given finally to go out upon their way.

This changed when they reached their ships. Attempts to clear departure were refused on the grounds of unresolved incident, and when complaints were pushed the furthest reply they got back was that due to the incident at the garden they were being held pending resolution of the situation. Not even slightly what they had been promised; but if they had attempted to depart forcefully, at this range local defenses would likely shred them, and besides they would rather not risk such a conflict yet whatever the outcome.

So they agreed to stay for the time being and, mostly, settled down to grumble. Ferideh did not get to do that. She had work to do.

* * *

This was not how she would have preferred handling the situation, although what she would have preferred was several weeks advance warning and to have taken care of all this previously. However, Algol insisted, so she spent a few minutes shifting her appearance and slipped out to investigate.

Not at all how she preferred to go about this, not at all the preparation she preferred. Her first destination was the site of local law enforcement, where she slipped inside under the guise of ordinariness. She did not approach anyone working there for assistance, not yet. Instead she started by making use of the public computing facilities, primarily as eavesdropping cover. That didn't get her much relevant so she found herself a different guise, one that would get her into non-public areas for ostensibly legitimate reasons.

Hours of work at that, both cover and investigative, eventually got her to a place where she could extract the information she had been sent for. What she learned told her mainly that she was not done yet - correspondence with the officer in charge indicated the directive to hold them had come from elsewhere in the settlement's government. Made sense; they had expected to be able to depart without difficulty, had been reassured of this until suddenly they couldn't. She would need to investigate further.

Ferideh slipped back out into the streets, winding a path until she was well away, then radioing a terse version of her findings back to Shula. She waited for confirmation, then announced her intention to follow this up

* * *

The administrative district was quiet and clean. It made Ferideh nervous; too tidy for going unnoticed to be easy. She had looked up the likely locations of her target and started with his workplace. First, a new disguise, blonding of her hair and lightening of her skin, before stepping out where she might be seen.

She made her way through the walkways of the district with a professional nonchalence, taking a look around the outside of the building with an eye to entry. There didn't seem one that suited her so she took the public entrance instead. A riskier path, coming in first to scout and likely being seen. After what seemed a suitable length to wait, she departed, resumed her appearance out of sight, and returned to Shula.

* * *

"Unfortunately I couldn't get much further, Commander. If you want me to go back in we'll need to do some preparation first."

"Thank you Ferideh. I think we'll try negotiation first, tomorrow. See how that goes."

"Aye Commander. I don't like this situation. Hopefully negotiation will work. Trying anything else will be too obvious right now."

* * *

Mostly the next day was frustrating. It was dominated by an extended argument between Algol and Harrison on one side and local traffic control and law enforcement on the other.

Eventually Algol managed to force out an acknowledgement that this was not so much a matter of policy as something sent down from above. Still later she managed to get put through to the person who had made the order. He suggested they meet to discuss the matter, with the possibility of a satisfactory resolution being offered.

It was not, of course, a prospect regarded with complacency, but it was considered one they could not afford to miss taking a chance on. As little a chance as they could make it.

Six of the Traveller's crew again, and all of Shula's who could leave, stepped out into the city again. They were expecting to be attacked again and kept alert, kept to lit and open places. That part was easy, as they traveled a busy standard path, and consequently did not lend them any feeling of security, especially as they had been attacked already in just such a location yesterday.

Not being attacked on their way was a pleasant surprise, one Algol narrowed her eyes at. Was that because they were doing what was wanted of them? She couldn't believe there was anything coincidental about the situation.

They did arrive without incident, filed into the atrium and reported for an appointment. The man behind the counter looked bemused, not surprised. After confirming they had come to the right place he informed them weapons were not permitted and only Algol and Harrison could go on up. They took their seats and hoped their captains would be returning.

* * *

It was a comfortable office. Less extravagant than Algol had expected. Ordinary, even. So was the man behind the desk. Light-skinned, dark-haired, short beard, he smiled when they entered, said it was good to meet them.

"That why you had us held?"

"Is this how it's going to be? Confrontational and unfriendly?"

"Yeah. As long as you're keeping us here without cause and acting as if that's fine."

"But I have plenty of cause. I was paid quite well to keep you here for the time being."

"And have us attacked?"

"That is none of my concern. I just make sure you don't leave for a few days, unless they pay more for longer. It's one of the costs of doing business with such settlements as ours, placing yourselves under our power."

"I see. Then, since we are in no position to threaten you currently, I think we are done here."

"I think we are. See you in a couple of days, or never again."

* * *

They were back downstairs before their crew had done much more than get cards out. They gathered round and asked how it went.

"It's a trap," said Algol. "I don't think he cares that he's part of setting it, so long as he's paid well. We'll be hit on our way back, probably much harder than that pitiful ambush yesterday. What we need to do is get some kind of hook on these people, track them back to whoever's behind this and get them to knock it off."

Ferideh nodded. "I'll shadow. The rest of you all good?"

"We'll manage."

* * *

It was with a certain nervousness they proceeded through the city. Ferideh had disappeared into the first crowd; they tried not to look for her, or to show their nerves. A difficult task when they were expecting to be attacked at any moment.

When it did come they weren't expecting it more than at any other moment. A shot from high on a roof clipped the shoulder of one of Harrison's escort. That assassin ducked behind cover to avoid a whole swarm of return fire, while Algol stepped and scanned for others up high. She found three, dropped one, warned the rest of the crew to find cover.

There wasn't much. Of course there wasn't much. A single slightly recessed doorway to bunch into and a hostile approach from either side. She didn't need to say anything for her crew to take aim at those, she bounced from wall to wall, snapped one shot and another, didn't know if she'd hit, then back almost out of sight a moment.

One returned, taking aim from rooftop. Someone took care of him. Algol aimed back at those blocking from behind, made them scatter, then turned a glance up ahead in time to see smooth swift motions knock them down, one and two and three and four. That was Ferideh, who didn't pause after before using her pistol to transform one of their rearguard assailants from problem to corpse.

And that was done. If there were any conscious survivors they'd already fled. Ferideh jogged up to the rest, asking if everyone were okay, colour returning to her skin and the red fading from her hair, which was decurling.

Hanifah was bandaging the shoulder of the fellow who'd initially been wounded, but otherwise they'd come out of it absurdly well, a fact she quick to remind them of.

"You were being shielded," said Altair. "I put it up as soon as the shooting started. That was as long as I could have held it."

Ferideh stood over those she'd knocked out. "Hold onto these for me. I left someone behind a bit who needs fetching."

She was gone for some minutes, returning carrying an unconscious bound someone. "Alright. Let's get these back to the ship."

* * *

It was some struggle getting their prizes back to the docks, involving many glowers at passersby who looked askance at them.

They took their prisoners to the Traveller, which was larger, despite Algol's misgivings. Shula's participation was provided for remotely by camera, microphone and speaker. They dumped their prisoners into a couple of empty holds, the smaller ones, for smaller goods, and waited for them to come around.

Meanwhile Ferideh made a thorough search of their captives, divesting them of any dangerous or interesting items that had been missed the first time around. It was not a large collection.

"No distinguishing marks or tattoos?"

"'Fraid not, Commander."

"It was too much to hope for."

The prisoners had been separated into two groups, those Ferideh had knocked down in the alley in one, the one she had grabbed skulking just before the attack in another. That was who they thought their best chance for anything useful, but not who they intended to start with.

The blonde one of the group woke first, like they preferred. But the blue-haired loner woke third, so when they were ready to get started there were plenty of voices to complain of being held unfairly. They had some point in their complaint: such matters officially were to be handled by local authorities, but just as a bit of persuasion could see a crew or two chained to the dock so could a dispute like this get ignored as a private matter. Complaints recognised as as true and legitimate but lacking backing teeth, and therefore ignored.

* * *

They learned nothing unexpected from their grouped prisoners. Hired to do a job, nothing personal. Weren't told who for, didn't particularly care. That disappointed Ferideh, who always liked to know why and who she was killing if possible.

A formality done away with they left those to sit in their cell for now and moved on to their blue-haired prisoner, who was maintaining a sullen silence. Ey refused to raise eir head when they entered. Ferideh sat opposite em, waited about a minute, then asked a plain question.

"Who is trying to kill us, and why?"

Silence.

"Are you going to tell us?"

More silence.

"I suppose we will have to find out from them directly."

"Commander, Mulazim, I have some information I think you will be interested in." Shula's interruption was unexpected.They left the cell to hear what ve had to say.

"Go ahead."

"I was talking with Nawar about the problems we've been having and we were wondering if our troubles were local or foreign, so I have been checking out who's parked here looking for anyone who might have an interest in interfering with the Traveller's cargo. It took a bit of negotiating with port authorities - we owe some bootlegs from home now- "

"So they haven't heard about the war yet?"

"Surprisingly, no. Or not how badly it went. Anyway, our best candidate is the Algal Bloom, registered to an affiliate of a group called Fleur. They're believed to hold a letter of marque from a neighbouring system hostile to the local hot worlds. I think they're after the seedlings in the Traveller's hold."

"Thank you, Shula. Do you have anything solid enough for us to act on unreproached?"

"Well," ve said, drawing it out long enough Algol thought 'self-satisfaction', "their 2nd Lieutenant is a strong match for your silent prisoner."

"Thank you indeed. Shula. Ferideh, what do you think; ransom?"

"Maybe. Let's see what we can get out of em now, first."

"Agreed."

They stepped back inside and Ferideh continued.

"We would really appreciate if you were more forthcoming about your part in this. It seems unfair that you won't say anything about who is after us or what they want - how could we possibly negotiate or return you to your ship if you haven't given us anything to know who or what to be bargaining?"

That, at least, seemed to produce a stir of interest.

"Otherwise we would not be able to rid ourselves of you in good conscience until we make landfall inwards."

Stronger reaction. "Are you sure you have the time for such plans?"

"Are you sure we don't?"

Lips tightened, ey said nothing more.

* * *

Algol and her crew were dining with Harrison and his senior officers, discreetly decining to mention how well-suited his minor cargo holds were to keeping prisoners, when the alarm went. They were all to their feet immediately and out the door so swiftly they were fortunate not to have jammed each other.

Everyone knew, of course, were to head to find the cause of the alarm though by the time they arrived their prisoner was gone, leaving only a pair of bloody guards in eir wake. Ferideh and Algol following did not slow in swinging for the other exit.

"Exit and cargo," Algol yelled behind her. "Lock down harder!"

The rest of the crew followed their Commander, though only Nawar could keep pace with them and she, being disinclined to violence, did not especially want to. With the alarm still sounding through the ship they had to weave around urgently milling crew through open and closed doors. At least after a few seconds the captain's orders seemed to have propagated and the crew's actions became more purposeful.

Studying the Traveller's plans paid off; they reached the main entrance to the cargo hold ahead of their quarry, pausing to gather themselves at the corridor intersection outside. The blue-haired lieutenant put a bloody hand through a guard, who crumpled, as ey ran in from a side door. Ey saw Ferideh accelerating toward em, skidded, and ran the other way.

Algol braced herself on the upper walls of the corridor when they were still halfway along to out of sight, lined up a shot with her free hand, and fired. The lieutenant tumbled to the deck, victim of a currently useless calf. Ferideh dragged em back to the cell after rendering em unconscious a second time.

* * *

"We aren't going to kill em. Not yet. Ey's still useful for ransom, if they'll have em."

"And," said Ferideh, "Odds are we'll get to kill em either way. At distance or up close. Unless we get very, very lucky and everyone comes away unharmed who's still unharmed."

Harrison seemed agreeable to this, though not placated. He made a quiet, growling sound before speaking. "For now. So long as I and mine get to do the deed when the time comes."

"Of course," said Algol. "Shall we?"

He nodded and put a call out to the Algal Bloom. Their captain appeared on-screen after a long delay, wearing a suspicious glower.

"Oh come now, no need for that," said Harrison. "We just thought we should offer you in on a great deal that's just come up. See, we would like it if you'd knock off the absurd attempts you've been making on my cargo, my crew, and our escorts, and you get to have your lieutenant back. That's em on the screen now, you can see ey's fine so far. What do you say?"

"I say it is absurd to suggest we had anything to do with whatever problems you've been having and you'd do well to return our lieutenant immediately, unless you would like a kidnapping charge added to what else you've been up to."

"You know they won't care. Just give us a time when you think we might be cleared t depart. If you're right, ey'll be released. If not, feel free to try again another time. Let us know."

He cut the connection and nodded to Algol, who nodded back.

"When you get your response we'll escort em out. I think they don't have any other practical choices. Of course then they'll probably try blasting us to pieces, but that would be a mistake."

Harrison grinned. "I hope they do. Whatever they try, let it get them killed. And I'll be sure to keep you informed."

* * *

The Algal Bloom waited two days before conceding their demands. Algol and Ferideh took their prisoner out on a walk, deeper into the city and away from the docks, though not so far they couldn't quickly run back to Shula.

Unfortunately due to the need for confirmations buzzing back and forth they couldn't keep em unconscious for this, which made the experience distinctly less pleasant. They waited at a cafe for a good quarter hour, frustrating the staff with their lack of order, until word came through they'd been cleared for departure. Their prisoner was released to zoom back to eir crew and they too returned to Shula with the best balance between haste and attention they could find. When they entered the dock, they ran.

* * *

"We still good to go?"

"We still are. Out in a couple of minutes."

"Defences?"

"Ready as they're getting. Algal Bloom also prepping for departure, Commander."

"Then we'll have to keep them down. Any hostile sign, knock them out."

"Aye Commander."

Those of the crew who had not done so already secured themselves. Shula lifted off slowly, drawing out into the void with watchful gaze.

Almost immediately they were hit from further out.

Risky, risky, that was what Algol thought while the acceleration built and weighed her down. Monitoring systems while Shula acted. They'd come in from outside and that was not a good idea, inviting the locals to respond with their own wrath, firing so close to the city where a stray shot could do a lot of collateral.

She could see the city prepare itself to fight, to respond with deadly force if they or their enemies made any error. Maybe if they didn't, just in case. Shula had to balance evading harm with not burning the world below them, dashing angled far and fast to start... except their charge had no pilot as skilled as one who was the ship, sluggish and clumsy in comparison.

~ Shula, the Traveller! ~

~ I see it! Oh, dammit, I see it! ~

And they swung back round to that precarious place they'd just left, a tearing strain Algol felt. Algal Bloom had allies placed in the cloud of vessels that swarmed around such places, prepared to strike if their earlier approach failed, as it had.

The associate vessels were not as significant as the Algal Bloom, but they were several and battering at Shula's and the Traveller's defences... the Traveller hit them back, heavily armed for a trader but spreading fire around, doing no better in return... they drew near enough the Altair could extend a protective field around both vessels, blunting the assault... better coordinated with Harrison now, some seconds later, they drifted and pulled the line of fire away from neutral targets... Algal Bloom well-placed to be cut apart as they slipped free of the docks to join the fray. Shula retargeted.

~ Algal Bloom, this is Commander Algol of Zara. Stand down or be destroyed. ~

The response was snarled. ~ You wouldn't dare so close! ~

A twitch of permissive thought and careful fire from Shula stripped the Algal Bloom's defences down to nearly nothing.

~ I think you have lost what favour you may once have held here. Back down while you still have something. ~

Long moments of unresponse until finally the Algal Bloom and allies ceased fire, dropped aggressive posture. The Traveller and Shula immediately realigned and accelerated for their destination, far in-system.

* * *

The remainder of their mission was as peaceful as it should have been. Shula and the Traveller coasted deep inward to the realm where worlds could bear water upon their surfaces. A long time it had been since any of Algol's crew had came so close to a star.

They set down upon the second major planet at the capital spaceport, where they were greeted by a horticultural minister. The seedlings which were their cargo had survived even the minor battle at the edge of the system and seemed likely to take well to their new environment. The minister expressed hope the descendents of those seedlings would brighten the lives of those who saw them, and that seemed quite possible. Mostly they feigned interest in this because it was part of their job, habits long accustomed which die hard even when there is a crisis at home that needs attending to.

But it was not a long stopover especially compared to the time they had taken to arrive, only a few hours for the plants to be inspected and carefully removed and then for those who had brought them to be thanked for their work. That was its own shame, days of travel in and out and only briefly was their job brightened by uncombative incident.

They lifted off as evening fell, dragging themselves up from deep gravity wells and out again to the shores of fluid space, where they would return to Zara and see what had become of it meanwhile.

* * *

Coming back in to Ice Raven the situation seemed unchanged. Algonth still held Zara and all its worlds, ignored the independents at its fringe, and there was before landing no whisper of any thing that might change this, or have attempted doing so.

They were grim when they arrived at Ice Raven. Shula's landing was sharp, precise, unornamented. The crew, when the stepped out from the docks, were quiet and took up residence in a nearby cafe as if it were their mission to dampen all sound and joy from the place.

Only Ferideh and Altair seemed at all immune to this malaise. Ferideh, who chattered brightly at how well their mission had gone in the end, who exhorted them to enjoy yet another triumph to their names or at least to be cheerier about the prospect of the future, when things might be better. After some hours of this the only one who did not appear morose was Altair, who had been too absorbed in spinning cups to be paying attention to Ferideh anyway, so at last their information officer threw her hands up in the air, frustrated, and stalked out saying she would find cheer elsewhere.

Such was the pattern for the next several days, with Ferideh spending less and less time trying to brighten the moods of her crewmates until finally she ceased to bother at all and they saw each other only in the local evening when the retired to their bunks aboard Shula.

* * *

Nawar took to long walks through the corridors of Ice Raven, often chatting animatedly with Shula at a distance. Algol had expressed a desire to take the minimum of jobs they could get away with, and as a charity berth they had no pull for her to acquire materials for her projects, so she occupied herself seeking out engineering jobs she could donate her time to. When those became less interesting she attended instead lectures which took her fancy and performances of local bands.

Ice Raven, as such settlements go, was fairly cosmopolitan, but she still felt being cut off from the bright nexus that was Zara. More so as the Algonthen hold on the system tightened, and even the flow of traffic around the fringes dried up.

On one of her walks Nawar encountered Ferideh. She was standing at the intersection of four corridors, talking with a couple of men Nawar did not recognise, but who seemed local. They quieted as she approached and she was long past before she heard the volume of their conversation increase again.

Nawar was just settling into her seat at the Grass Club when she felt a tap at her shoulder. That was Ferideh, who took a seat beside her just as if they had not been out of contact from each other the past week.

"I think you're going to have to skip this performance."

"I thought you wanted us to have some fun."

"I'd love it if we all had a bit more joy in our lives." Ferideh took a sip of a drink Nawar hadn't seen her acquire. "However, I suspect Algol is going to want us all together in a bit, and I think she'd rather we gathered quietly."

"I see. You had best get going then, and I will linger through most of the first act."

Ferideh nodded, stood, and twisted her face as if they had been arguing instead of having a cordial exchange of information.

"Alright then," she said, louder than she had been before. "At least you're having some sort of fun, even if you won't come out for the real thing."

Nawar watched her depart, then turned her attention back to the group setting up on stage. She was streaming everything through to Shula.

* * *

They were gathered together again in the central social area of the ship, the one they used also when matters of official solemnity were to be discussed. Nawar had been the last to show. When she was seated the meeting began.

"It seems the rumours we had caught whisper of before our rapid departure are true," said Algol. "There is indeed an organised resistance to the Algonthen occupation, albeit still a fledgling one. Ferideh has just uncovered for us the location of their hidden base, so we are now faced with the question of what to do next."

There was a stir of excitement at these words.

"I am almost certain Mahtab is aware of this information, and that the reason we were so hastily assigned our last mission was to keep us from learning it ourselves. So I don't think she will be an ally to us in this, but at least we have paid up our keep here for a while yet. Or so we are assured.

"If we leave to join with them we run the risk of being discovered by the Algonthens, as we do with every move, and leading them to a secret they may not have discovered yet. On the other hand we finally have an opportunity to do something worth doing about this invasion, something more than we could accomplish by ourselves. Before I give any orders first I want to know where your opinions stand: stay or go?"