Chapter 6

Cade stood with Captain Shard outside the doors to the guest quarters where Xander Pacius was being held. He could tell by the look on Shard’s face that he was working himself up to saying something. What that something was, Cade had a reasonable guess. But he was content to allow Shard to speak it in his own time, if at all. He watched as Shard attempted to meet his eye several times; anger, fear, impatience, and most of all uncertainty warring on his face. In general, Cade approved of this attitude in his Captain. It meant that Shard might finally be learning that there are times to think through what you’re about to do. It was a lesson Shard had, to this point, managed to avoid learning in his service in the U.P.E. Navy. Trusting to a general ruthlessness and natural ability to climb the promotion ladder.

“When we get in there you’re going to let me speak,” Shard eventually said, making each word sound like he was chewing glass. It wasn’t what he wanted to say. That was clear.

“Of course, Captain. It would be beyond the scope of my duties to interfere. I am an Observer, my duty is to observe.” Cade said, managing to convey in his normal flat tone the idea that what Shard said was beyond obvious.

“Good, because despite everything that has happened over the last few hours, this is still my ship and this mission is mine.” That was closer, Shard was trying to figure out where he stood with Cade at the moment as well as trying to reassert some authority.

“I understand your concerns. I have only ever attempted to advise to make sure that your actions are completely in the best service of that mission. After all, neither of us want me to resort to the other aspect of my duties as an Observer. In a time like this. Stability is generally favorable over that kind of shakeup.” Cade said, watching as Shard’s face went just a little paler.

“Of course,” Shard said, shrinking a little bit.

“So we’re going to go in there and I am going to observe while you attempt to reason with the man.” Cade added into the silence that followed Shard’s brief answer.

Shard nodded grudgingly. Cade’s threat was clear and he knew, for the moment anyway, that that threat would keep Shard in line. The truth was that however much Cade disapproved of Shard, the U.P.E. Navy had very different feelings. As such, Cade was reluctant to take any permanent measures against him unless he was sure those actions would have Lambda’s full support. So for the moment Cade would push Shard, either into being a better Captain, or into doing something Cade would be able to act on with security…

“Good evening, Captain,” Shard began as they entered the room. The chamber they entered was sparsely furnished, but spacious, with a large viewport that took up most of one wall. This was the Navy’s idea of comfortable. Shard extended his hand to Xander Pacius, who was sitting stiffly in a high backed chair near the viewport. Pacius ignored the extended hand, opting to continue looking out into the depths of space.

Cade angled himself so that he might have a similar view to Pacius’ and saw that from here he had a clear view of the field of debris that used to be his ship... along with several others.

It was difficult to see even with Cade’s eyes, but he thought he could make out several very large sections of hull that would have belonged to a ship matching the design of the Deviant Rising.

Shard glanced at Cade for a moment before he withdrew his hand.

“Captain, have you had time to consider your situation?”

Pacius turned away from the viewport to finally look Shard in the eye. “You destroyed my ship, along with several others, without provocation. There isn’t really much to consider.”

Shard didn’t respond at first, instead he made his way over to a small cabinet near the chair Pacius was sitting in. He opened the cabinet, revealing several bottles of various size shape and color. “Captain, we both know it’s more complicated than that. Even if it weren’t, you still have your crew to consider.” Shard said, making the statement a threat.

Shard selected a short bottle containing a thick red liquor and made his way to a seat near Pacius.

“Captain, we don’t need to be adversaries. If you work with me in this incredibly difficult situation, things can go much easier for you.” Shard said, pouring a measure from the bottle into three glasses and setting them on a small table. Both Cade and Pacius ignored their glasses, but Shard sipped at his contentedly.

“I would rather work on a drive core naked.” Pacius said, the hate he felt for Shard pouring out of every syllable.

“You and your crew are in serious trouble, Captain. You fired at a U.P.E. vessel and lead a protest that destroyed U.P.E. property. I urge you to reconsider. If you cooperate with me and give me all the information I need, then for the rest of this trip you will be treated as a guest. When we return to Earth, I will inform my superiors of how helpful you’ve been and I will advocate for leniency for you and your crew.”

Pacius stood up. “Your ship’s log will prove you fired first. We did not retaliate. We’ve damaged no property of yours. But today you’ve killed hundreds if not thousands of innocent people.”

Shard stood up to join him, but the difference in the two men’s heights meant Shard was meeting Pacius’s chest rather than his eyes. “I am sorry you feel that way,” Shard said with a tone in his voice that revealed that he wasn’t sorry at all. He walked over and looked out the viewport at the debris field.

“Our ship’s logs will show that we had little choice. We had to stop a mounting threat.

“What is it you want?”

“I want to know how many Service Corp vessels were involved. Who sanctioned this protest, and how many other terrorist acts are being planned?”

“Terrorist? How can you call our protest a terrorist action?”

“Your protest destroyed millions of credits worth of property and cost the lives of, at last count, one thousand three hundred and fifteen people. It is clear that your real intentions were to shake the people confidence in the U.P.E. and its ability to govern and protect its citizens. I am honestly hard pressed how I could categorize it any other way.” Shard said, turning away from the viewport to look at pacius once more.

“You did that!” Pacius said. Cade privately agreed.

“I guess it comes down to perspective. Either way, Captain, I need to know who else organized this. We can track down the other ships and their Captains, but I doubt they’ll know much, I would much rather have you just tell me who’s giving you your orders and have done with it.”

“No one gave me any orders. I organized this. It was me. I contacted the other Captains and they all followed me. There was no plot, no conspiracy, just me.” Pacius insisted, though Cade was reasonably sure he was not telling the entire truth. It seemed Shard agreed.

“You’re lying! You really expect me to believe one man; one Captain, was able to muster a fleet of that size without someone’s assistance behind him? You may have fooled your crew but I am not so naive! I urge you one last time, Captain. Tell me who your other comrades are. Tell me what your future plans are and this can be much easier for you.”

Pacius looked directly at Shard, “No.”

“Very well. To be honest, I didn’t expect this to work. But I was asked to try before I move to more direct forms of extraction.” At this Shard looked over at Cade, who was standing unconcernedly in the corner.

Shard walked back over to the door and knocked on it sharply. It opened, revealing a pair of guards, who had been waiting outside.

“Bring Mr. Pacius to Interrogation Room four. I think he’ll find it a bit more conducive to conversation.”

This time Cade didn’t interfere.

Next Chapter: Chapter 7: There Were Four Lights