Operation Orion - Kevin Dockery [38]
“This planet you correctly identified as Arcton II—or Arc 2, for short—is the largest planet in the sysem, with no fewer than four habitable moons. One of the moons is a large Eluoi trading and manufacturing center serving much the same role as the planet Batuu where the SEALS were in action previously.”
“Do you mean they move slaves through there like they were doing on Batuu?” Jackson asked, bristling at the memory.
She nodded without apparent emotion. “The Eluoi operate slaving businesses everywhere they control. They dismiss any moral concerns by claiming that it is a standard tenet of their religion. Those who do not follow the savants are deemed unworthy of independence. Of course, they make exceptions for those strong enough to resist through military might.”
“What about the other moons around Arc 2?” Carstairs asked.
“One hosts a small military command center of my own culture,” Char-Kane explained. “Not nearly so numerous in population as the Eluoi center but very well defended. It is also a spaceport capable of servicing our largest star cruisers, and we make sure that there is always a substantial fleet on hand.”
“That must drive the Eluoi crazy,” Carstairs noted approvingly. “Having a potential enemy force right in the same neighborhood.”
Char-Kane allowed herself the slightest hint of a smile. “It helps to maintain the peace,” she allowed.
“And the other two moons?” Jackson pressed.
“Well, one of them—categorized as Arc 2C—is barely habitable,” the Shamani woman said, amending her earlier statement. “That is, the air contains some oxygen, but it is only about what you would encounter in your own planet’s atmosphere above the elevation of some six or eight thousand meters. Furthermore, the mean temperature is far below zero on your Celsius scale.”
“So it’s about as balmy as the top of Mount Everest,” Jackson summarized.
“Perhaps. I recall learning about that very tall mountain,” she replied. “And as for the fourth moon, Arc 2D, it is not the property of any of the three empires. It is extremely rich in minerals, especially heavy metals, and there are a number of independent mining operations centered there. Its orbit keeps it on the star side of the planet—unlike Arc 2C—so that the temperature is very hot. Liquid water is common, and there is a great deal of conflict on the surface. For the most part, this conflict has avoided extension into space, since all sides seem to agree that it could spiral too easily out of control.”
“And the conference is to be held on one of the moons orbiting Arcton V. Is that correct?” Carstairs asked.
“Yes. That planet is farther from the star, and the moon orbits it relatively smoothly. It has fluctuations of temperature—it grows quite cold for the three-month time period when the moon is in the planet’s shadow—but even so the climate remains survivable. And the free city, of course, is mostly enclosed so that the population—at least that part of the population with money and power—is little exposed to the elements.”
“Not too different from Earth in that respect,” Captain Carstairs said thoughtfully.
Any further comment was precluded by one of the sailors at the com center, a young African American woman with a calm but clipped voice. “Captain! We’re picking up a transmission—garbled, but it’s bracketed in the Troy’s call sign!”
“Originating where?” the CO demanded, crossing the CIC in two long strides. Jackson followed.
“From the vicinity of that large planet, the one we’re marking a course toward.” The sailor checked her plot. “That would be Arcton II, sir.”
“Good work. See if you can slow it down and pull some of the meaning out of it. Put it over the speakers.”
“Yes, sir.” The sailor rotated a dial and typed quickly on her keyboard. In moments the sounds of static crackled into the room.
Jackson strained to hear. The origin—“USSS Troy”—came through several times. There were other sounds, half words, but nothing that made much sense.
“Just a second,