The Ascendant Stars - Michael Cobley [88]
‘Nothing, sir,’ said the taller of the two. ‘They’ve been dead since this began.’
Greg nodded sombrely. ‘If some booby-trap virus is taking over the ship, we have to figure out where the safest place is – up here, or down near the—’
‘Nowhere on this ship,’ said an authoritative voice, ‘is safe for you.’
A chill went down Greg’s spine but he couldn’t help laughing.
‘Ah, you’ll be the new Hegemony captain, then. I’m glad you’re here because I think we got off on the wrong foot … ’
‘I am not the captain of the Ivwa-Kagoy but its avenger. You Humans have violated its honour and its illustrious duty. Punishment will be severe.’
‘Now, ye see, you’re jumping tae conclusions. Without the full facts, you could be in danger of committing crucial errors.’
‘The facts are not in question. In opposing our appointed task in this system you Tygrans have assumed the role of enemy combatants. By attacking and boarding this ship you have earned for yourselves an implacable retribution. There are no errors.’
‘Except that I’m not a Tygran,’ Greg said. ‘I’m a Darien non-combatant and I shouldn’t even be here. If you execute me I imagine you’ll be breaking who knows how many interstellar treaties, conventions and protocols, which might not go down well with the leadership back home.’
Leisurely pacing to and fro between the big holoscreens, Greg glanced over at the guards and gave a damned-if-I-know shrug. The guards grinned.
‘Such pleas for exemption do not concern me,’ said the Hegemony intelligence, just as one of the guards knelt down beside some of the gear left next to the big central console by Ash’s techs. ‘Your presence aboard this vessel implies a hostile role. Retaliation against all Humans is therefore justified.’
The guard was peering at what looked like a diagnosis pad sitting on a transport cabinet with its screen open.
‘As I said, we got off on the wrong foot,’ Greg said, frowning now as the guard started to beckon him over. ‘We should all get round a table and talk this through. Once ye get tae know us ye might change yer mind … ’
‘My function and purpose is clear – all Humans aboard this ship should be considered an infestation and dealt with accordingly.’
‘Ye might want to reconsider that. My own government will not look kindly on the negligent slaughter of one of its citizens.’
Silence.
Aye, Greg thought as he joined the guard. We’re all just the ones who don’t matter, me, them and everyone on Darien.
‘What is it?’ he said, even as the guard was turning the pad screen for him to see Ash staring up at him.
Greg laughed. ‘Is this live or a recording?’
Ash pointed to his right ear then tapped his right shoulder. For a moment Greg was puzzled, then remembered the earpiece built into the Tygran armoured jerkin he wore. He fingered it from a tiny collar pocket, placed it in his ear, then found the jack wire in the hem and snapped it into the pad.
‘Let’s keep this short and to the point,’ Ash said. ‘Yes or no answers. Has some kind of backup Hegemony AI taken control?’
‘Oh aye.’
‘We thought that might have been a consequence of getting Panabec’s help. Have any sectors been depressurised?’
‘No … eh, I think.’
‘Take that as a no … what’s the matter?’
Greg was straightening from his crouch, turning his head this way and that, listening. ‘It’s gone quiet – the ventilation’s off.’
‘Not much time left – open the flap on the underside of this datapad, press and hold the red button for five seconds, then press the blue button.’
Quickly he upended the pad, flipped open the recess and just as he pressed the red button the lights flickered into a dull pulsing pattern and an ululating alarm began to sound. Suddenly the Hegemony AI spoke.
‘A cunning ploy, to install an intelligence unit independent of all ship-nets. Yet your punishment is assured, one way or another.’
Counting five, he released the red and punched the blue.
Then he felt the faint breeze.
‘My God,’ said one of the guards. ‘It’s opened the locks!’
Edgy with panic, Greg turned the pad over but the screen was blank and