The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

– Malwood was a rogue peacekeeper. He was the first non-hybrid or mortal allowed to attend an executive strategy session. Ulrich anticipated Valentin’s objection.

“I know Mr. Malwood’s presence is new,” James said, “but we are entering the final phase, which means we are facing battles on many fronts. We need to make decisions with his input. His report will speak for itself, brother.”

Valentin rapped his fingers on the table.

“His report could have been logged the same as previously, brother. There is a reason we have excluded those not like us from these meetings. You are compromising our security.”

James sighed. “By inviting our Chief of Intelligence?”

“Oh, please. You mean your Chief of Intelligence.”

“Everything is mine, brother. This fleet is mine. This revolution is mine. What’s your point?”

“Your messianic ego aside, my point is simple. I have not said two words to this man since Vasily Station. He doesn’t report to me like he did as originally assigned, and you send him on all manner of missions without divulging purpose. He is often gone for days or weeks at a time. When he’s here, he spies on my people more than he does the Chancellors or the other rogues. Undoubtedly at your orders. These are facts, brother. Are you going to challenge facts?”

James, who was standing since the meeting began, brushed long blond hair out of his face and took a seat. Ulrich recognized that smile. James was soaking up the moment with great relish. If Ulrich didn’t know better, he’d have thought James was using his sons and Harrison Malwood as bait to trigger his brother.

“Nope.” James relaxed and swiveled away from Valentin. “I’ve got nothing but facts. Mr. Malwood, please enlighten my brother.”

The intel chief straightened his bodysuit and tightened his jaw.

“Of course, Brother James. First, Admiral Valentin, I do apologize if our lines of communication have been limited. My duties keep me occupied. What I bring today is of vital import to Salvation’s future. In short, Admiral, I have overwhelming evidence that we are being betrayed by our allies in the colonies, on Earth, and inside this fleet. Do you wish to know more?”

Ulrich felt James enter the shared mind. Ulrich did not hear any words, but the emotion transmitted clearly. James was elated.

47

O PHELIA TOMELIN KNEW HOW TO BETRAY friends as well as any Chancellor, but this was the first time she faced an outcome so stark. Win or die.

As she stumbled her way through treason, Ophelia wondered what the least painful death might be. Vented into space? Incinerated by James? Shredded by flash pegs? Publicly executed after a months-long Chancellor inquest?

“Tell me there’s another way, Magnus,” she begged her new conspirator in his quarters on Level 6 of Lioness. “I’ll take any option, so long as you don’t describe it as hopeless or desperate.”

Magnus Levinson held her tight, the way he used to do on Catalan seventeen years ago. She knew he wanted more, but Ophelia had no intention of being with anyone until she was far from Salvation and tasted the scant hope of freedom. She allowed him thisclose in each private rendezvous because he needed coaxing – and because Chancellor men couldn’t help themselves.

“We’re drenched in desperate, no matter what we do,” he said. “As long as we don’t fear the Triumvirate the way they think we should, no scenario will be hopeless.”

“What are you hearing? Your contacts are better than mine.”

“We have a reasonable chance if we act soon. Whatever is happening on Earth has opened a potential window for us. Brief, but probably the best opportunity we’ll have.”

These were the best words she heard in days. Tension elevated throughout the ship after the Guard redeployment, with whispers that Brother James was beside himself planning a major operation. Not that Ophelia dared show her face near the command bridge or the Triumvirate’s living quarters. Those places where she once held free reign became verboten. Her counseling duties for immortals occupied but a couple of hours each day; she expected James and his fiery breath to grace her anytime now.

Yet Ophelia’s diminished status came with one fringe benefit: As long as she stayed in the shadows, far from command or operations, no one noticed her. No one in Salvation remembered or cared that without Ophelia, their beloved leaders would have died in SkyTower.

“Nathaniel Cay is now working with us,” Magnus said. “You remember him from the Commons last week?”

“Yes. Are you sure he can be trusted?”

“He’s wanted a way out longer than I, but Nathaniel lacks initiative. He needs someone to show him the way.”

“How can he help us?”

“He works shipboard maintenance from Haven. He’s part of a rotating crew. He has access to every support vessel in the fleet. We’ll need something small and flexible. A Scram, perhaps. Maybe Spearhead. If the timing is right, he can get us onboard.”

She released his hug and sat on the edge of his bed.

“That assumes two things. One, we find our way off Lioness. Two, we have a pilot who can fly us to the Nexus before they catch us.”

He crouched before her and winked. “No ship with system engines can outrun this fleet. They’d navigate a wormhole jump in minutes and intercept us at the Nexus. But … what if our pilot knew how to navigate the Slope? We wouldn’t need the Nexus.”

“I thought only hybrid and immortal pilots had that ability.”

“Yes. Three of each.”

“But we’d never be able to turn them against  …”

“Correct. However, with proper incentive, they’ll do as we say.”

“Incentive?”

“What do they fear most, Ophelia?”

“Easy. Same fear they’ve had from day one. Lack of numbers. It’s why the hybrids are in such a rush to reproduce.”

“And it appears ten babies are due in the next two to three weeks. How big a blow