beyond us, Rev. Nothing. So, why should we, the governance, continue to fund you?”
“I have a problem,” Revel remarked.
“Yes, I know you want to keep—”
Revel held up his hand, quieting his superior—the only one in Star Guild and all of the governance that was higher than Revel. “I have a problem with you.”
Zim stiffened. “You have a problem with me?”
“Where are the Starhawks transporting the mined ebb?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ebb is extracted by our Mechs that mine the ebb ore on planet Lumus, correct?” asked Revel.
Zim nodded.
“Then loaded onto Starhawk Transports that deliver the ebb from Lumus warehouses to our starbase—our home—which orbits Lumus, correct?”
“Are you playing a game with me? Yes, I know all of this.”
“Of course I'm not playing a game, Zim. I'm playing you for informed. I'm playing you for being aware of all that goes on between Lumus and the starbase.”
Zim put his hands out. “Get to your point.”
“What I haven't told you is that we followed several Starhawk Transports out of our sector boundaries. All—and I mean all—eventually disappeared from radar. We see them appear on radar every so often, the last one a couple of days ago. None of them went back to Star Guild sector, and instead jumped to another sector. And then we find this anomaly—this starfighter—which we have never before seen, not in our past schematics or any current builds or designs. What in the Guild is going on?”
Zim creased his brow. “I still don't understand what you're trying to spell out here, Rev. No crafts to my knowledge have left Star Guild boundaries. However, if I find out who's breaking that law, they will be locked up and the key thrown away.”
Revel leaned forward, very diplomatic-like, and intertwined his fingers. “Nothing passes your eyes without your knowledge, Zim. Nothing. So, where were those Starhawks going and what the hell is this new starfighter we saw yesterday and today?”
Zim was going to lie again, then inhaled deeply, changing his mind. “Yes, the starfighter you saw is a design you haven't seen, nor has anyone in Star Guild had any access to its schematics. And, regarding the Starhawks, the Starhawk pilots transporting the ebb are under strict orders. So yes, they leave Star Guild boundaries for reasons you're not given access to. It's highly classified.”
“Even above me?”
Zim slammed his fist on his desk, spit coming out of his mouth as he roared, “Of course above you, Rev! Now leave it at that!”
Revel shook his head. “I can't, Zim. If anything occurs on my watch that goes against Star Guild law, I'm under oath to expose it and clean it up. You took that oath as well.”
“This is above any oath, Rev.” Zim pointed his index finger, seething. “You have know idea how much of a shit storm you'll be in if you mess with these classified operations.”
“We have their jump coordinates. 166.”
Zim threw his hands in the air. “If you jump to those coordinates, then I will notify them that you're on your way. I have no other choice.”
“And will our reception be positive or negative?”
“Negative on many fronts. You jump to their coordinates, then my ass will get chewed out.” Zim hesitated, as if he had just said too much.
“Who would chew you out, Zim? No one is above your rank.”
Zim crossed his massive arms across his belly. “Don't jump. I'm warning you. In fact, your green light in this operation is gone. You're to report back to me, in person, by week’s end. I'll brief you on the entire situation then.”
“Week’s end is in two days.”
“So, I suggest you hightail it back here as fast as you can. Out.”
Zim’s image disappeared from the holographic screen but Revel continued staring at the blank screen in deep thought, as a hundred more questions filled his mind. What had become an exciting expedition at the beginning had turned into a chaotic web of deceit in a matter of minutes. Starhawks that had left the boundaries were no longer rogue pilots going out for a joy ride, like he had assumed. The situation was much deeper and more complicated than that. Even worse, he saw the indignation in Zim's eyes.
What's Zim hiding?
He had to find out, if not for the good of his people, then to honor his oath.
An exploration that is not controversial is unworthy of being called an exploration at all, he reminded himself.
He tapped on his com link, patching through to his captain. “Sandra, bring up the jump coordinates of the last Starhawk. Coordinates 166.”
“You mean the anomaly, sir? The anomaly didn't hyperjump to Coordinates 166.”
“No, the coordinates to the Starhawk's jump that we saw a few days ago.”
“I don't recall, sir.”
“We were witnesses together. You, me, and the crew. I'm speaking of the Starhawk Transport.”
“I'm sorry, sir. I don't have any knowledge of Starhawk transports. Also, we're being called back to the starbase. I'm setting coordinates for our return home.”
His home—Starbase Matrona, high above the mining planet Lumus—was the last place he wanted to be. “Are you and Zim pulling my chain?”
“I suggest you head back to the bridge, sir.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them. This wasn't making sense. Had he suddenly been teleported to a dream? He shook his head. “I'll be there in a moment. Do not set in any coordinates until I get there. Out.”
The Admiral paced his quarters for a moment, then leaned against his desk, pressing the com link again.
“This is Tech Quarters, Starship Hathor. How can I help you, Admiral?”
Tentatively, Revel asked, “Did we locate any Starhawks two days ago?”
For a moment it was silent on other end, then the Tech responded candidly, “Yes, we all saw it. And several weeks before that, as well.”
“Okay, so I'm not nuts.”
“No, sir.”
“Can you get me the jump coordinates of the last Starhawk we observed?”
“Yes, but they are only triangulated coordinates. We haven’t yet developed the technology to trace a craft from one jump to the next.”
“I know. However, I feel confident of our observations and your calculations.” He stood. “I'm bypassing jump orders to you. I may be contacting you when I get on the bridge, do you copy?”
“Yes sir. Are we bypassing the captain?”
“Yes.”
“I need the admiral codes then.”
“Admiral codes for Starship Hathor are as follows, nine-alpha-alpha-gamma-four.”
“Sir, can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why are you bypassing the captain?”
“We're bypassing everyone on the bridge. You jump to those coordinates on my mark—coordinates 166, correct?”
“Correct, Sir.”
∞
The door to the bridge slid open and in walked Revel, hands clenched. “OS Colleen Byrd, patch the triangulated coordinates to yesterday's Starhawk jump. And, Captain, ready my mark.”
Brigger stood from the Admiral's seat, effortlessly moving to the side, allowing Revel to assume command again. Their eyes met and Brigger cautiously smiled.
Sandra didn't. “I'm sorry Admiral, but we aren't being given permission to jump, not by Zim and not by me.” Sandra craned her head, eying OS Byrd. “Do not punch in the coordinates.” She turned to her admiral. “By executive orders, I cannot permit you to initiate hyperjump to any sector not on the list given by Prime Director Zim Nocki.”
“Admiral, permission to speak frankly with you,” said Brigger.
Revel frowned. “Be quick.”
“Please change your orders and let's head back to the starbase. We can always travel to these coordinates at another time.”
“What is your reasoning, Brigger?”
Brigger thought for a moment, then smiled as if he was sure that what he
was about to say would change any and all of the admiral's decisions regarding this hyperjump. “My feelings, sir.”
Revel pushed his lips out, and looked around the room. “Your feelings?”
“I feel that what is on the other side of this jump is not good.”
Sandra chimed in, “It's not good for your position in Star Guild, Revel. You'll be stripped of ranking once the Prime Director gets wind of this, and by Guild, he'll get wind.”
“I feel a mutiny on the bridge,” said Revel. “Is that the case?”
“No, sir,” responded Sandra. “You're going against Star Guild law.”
“I'm not going against Star Guild law, Captain. I'm locating Starhawks with pilots inside, that are walking all over Star Guild law. They might as well be using Star Guild law for their toilet paper. This isn't a choice, Sandra. This is a duty that you and I signed up for. If we find something of suspicion, then we report it and investigate. Zim may not like the idea now, but he will in the long run.”
“Zim is not on your side, Admiral,” said Brigger.
Revel locked eyes with him again, cocking his head. “Third Mate, you are dismissed.”
Brigger glanced at the floor, slowly nodding. “Understood, sir.” He exited the bridge.
“I'll ask one more time, Colleen. Patch in the coordinates,” repeated Revel.
Colleen looked at the captain, readying her fingers to type in the coordinates on her HDC. Sandra shook her head no.
Revel stomped to a nearby HDC and pushed on the com link. “Tech Quarters, this is Fleet Admiral Revel Sune. Use the admiral's codes to override the captain's helm controls. Then, bring up coordinates 166 and patch them in. Go on my mark...now!”
“Admiral,” said Sandra. “Do not override my controls. You don't know what you're getting into!