Shadow of the Empire: Day 28

[aesmael]

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

I don't like these words at all. They're awful, and insufficient in number, but we're still trying to get to the end of the story so that's what we have. Bit too foggy to say much here right now. Don't like that; there are things I have to say in these posts which vanish whenever it comes time to write them down.

Here's what we have this time:

The decision to attempt joining a resistance once one presented itself was an expectedly unanimous one. Their primary concern was how to go about going so, given they suspected their current host wanted them doing no such thing.

"Technically we have authority to depart anytime we wish," said Algol.

"But how long do you think that will last once we try to use it?" said Ferideh.

"Precisely. And if Mahtab decides we are more trouble to keep than we are worth, she might as well turn us over to Algonth and gain favour. I suppose we are to some degree in her favour, if we consider our recent mission a warning not to push too hard, but it would be a mistake for us to rely on this."

"Mahtab won't fire on us once we're out of dock," said Ferideh. "I'm confident of that much - if we can get out the door we'll be free to go without interference."

"Alright. Anyone got an idea of how we might accomplish that?"

"We wouldn't be cleared for departure if we tried, but if they thought we were a different vessel there'd be no problem. Maybe Nawar and Shula could grant us a few minutes as someone else until we are out and safe."

"It might be possible. We will look into it."

"Excellent. Any other ideas?"

There was a general shaking of heads.

* * *

After several days work Nawar and Shula presented to the crew a version of the plan they thought had the best chance of working. They were clear in their lack of certainty that it would work, saying only that if they could get Ferideh's idea to work, this would be how it was managed.

What they hoped to accomplish was duplicating the information of another vessel due to depart soon. Their plan, in its essence, was to trick Ice Raven's port control into thinking a different vessel was located both in its own berth and in Shula's, so that when they departed the doors keeping Shula in place would also open, while those monitoring the situation would see everything as expected.

Ferideh's involvement was required. She needed to gain physical access to the port control facilities and make some necessary alterations. Neither Nawar nor Shula could obtain the access to perform such an action remotely, and though Nawar would otherwise have been a better choice she lacked the skills to pull off such an infiltration or covert action in person. So it had to be Ferideh, who would be given first very careful instruction in what she was to do.

They reviewed the vessels due for departure soon and decided to perform their trick with the Chalk Horse. A low profile ship, it was not the next scheduled to leave, nor the next after that. That time they felt was necessary to ensure they would be prepared, especially to give Ferideh enough time to work.

* * *

It was close, even with the time they allowed themselves. Most of the crew continued with their previous behaviour, while Ferideh attempted to socialise her way into port control. She had the advantage of having, in her spare moments, laying groundwork for infiltration into many areas of Ice Raven, but even so she managed the trust to get her unsupervised (and unknowing on the part of those who gave it to her) time in their systems only a few hours before the deadline they had decided on.

It was even closer when, to remain unsuspected, she went with her new friends on the port staff to lunch. Ferideh was on the verge of making some excuse for herself when they finally, finally said their see-you-laters and parted ways. By then she had scarcely minutes to spare, particularly in maintaining a nonchalent walk on her way. She had just enough time to get safely in position after boarding.

* * *

Shula counted down until the Chalk Horse's scheduled departure, showing an exterior view of their bay roof as ve did. When the count reached zero there was a thin crack of darkness in the roof. As it widened they received a transmission from Mahtab:

"Algol, what do you think you are doing?"

"We're getting out of here, Mahtab. I'm sorry but this is no longer the place for us."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I did try to keep things quiet, you know."

"We know."

"I could try keeping you here. That wouldn't end well for anyone."

Algol nodded. Then, remembering they weren't on visual, added a verbal agreement.

"Do me a favour and don't come back while Algonth is still here. I probably won't have any option but to turn you over."

"Understood, Mahtab. We'll be seeing you someday."

They lifted up into the void in synch with the Chalk Horse some few kilometres distant. In silence they took up an arc in the void they hoped would lead them home.

* * *

They had a long journey to their destination. Slow, trying to avoid notice. Near twice as far from the sun as Ice Raven, already some 40 AUs distant, and a far arc around the fringe of the system. These voyages were longer and more tedious than almost any they were accustomed to, far more than slipping through fluid space or the usual high speed inner system jaunts.

What they found at their destination was the usual small icy body, roughly 40 kilometres across. It had a large crater and a small moon, possibly related, and an unusually dark profile. Probably what had caught the resistance's attention when they needed somewhere to hide and chosen this previously unvisited worldlet.

Algol grumbled to herself as they approached. No longer quite so dark now humans had come and made their homes. This was unavoidable, yet still it concerned her.

They had made friendly contact on tight radio some hundreds of millions of kilometres out and got enthusastic response. Though they were not the only escort vessel to have escaped quarantine, very few had. Even fewer had made their way to this 'government in exile', as it styled itself, so Shula and crew were greeted as a major asset.

* * *

It was the roughest landing they had made in a long time. The part-constructed nature of the port contributed a lot to that, but this time at least they were given enthusiastic greeting once they'd touched down and the atmospheric field was up.

Most of those gathered to meet them were doing so in some official capacity: appearances for show, briefing them, debriefing them, actually greeting them. As they were escorted down to the complex itself they were assured the guards were strictly present because of protocol. That seemed plausible, as the guards spent more time joking among themselves than presenting a serious face.

They were not taken far, only a couple of levels down from Landing Pad B to a few smaller rooms where they were questioned about what had happened to them in the months since the Algonthen conquest. This took several hours, by which time most of their escort had disappeared and they were taken together deeper into the Zaran complex and shown to their berths.