“Our business here comes under purview of the Imperial Secrets Act,” he said with a scowl. “The Mirror is leading an investigation of some local phenomena and Fleet is providing security for their operations. Beyond this, I am informed we do not need to know anything .”
He stopped, glanced around the room at all of the officers, snorted, and continued in the near-perfect silence.
“Survey informs us this area of the kuub is tremendously dangerous. It is also uncharted and there are no navigational beacons within range. I expect, therefore, that all watches will be fully staffed and weapons will be maintained in ready status at all times.”
Xocoyotl flashed a tight, frosty smile at Kosho. “At least one of our ships-the Naniwa -has a fresh crew, a fresh captain and has not yet completed trials. I expect the other combatants to make allowance for this when plotting combat vectors.”
To her credit, Susan remained entirely still while the Chu-sho went on about the combat patrol pattern he expected of the other ships, and she did not let her outrage show in any obvious way. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she could see some of the cruiser captains glancing sidelong at her in puzzlement. How could I be more circumspect, she wondered, in suggesting that deployment change during transit? Losing one of the support ships would have crippled the entire mission.
“Scientist Cuaxicali? Your turn.” Xocoyotl gestured abruptly at a fat little Mexica civilian in a Survey Service mantle who had been standing by one of the doors. One of the admiral’s aides keyed up a projector panel and the lights dimmed. Cuaxicali cleared his throat, looked at the Chu-sho questioningly-received a snarl in response-and then began tapping on a slim silver comp with his stylus.
Behind him the projector shifted aspect and a holo of the surrounding region sprang into view. The collection of ships arrayed “south” of the Can appeared with Imperial standard glyphs. “North” of them, a broad area of crimson points appeared.
“Avoid this range of spatial coordinates,” Cuaxicali said, indicating the beelike swarm of scarlet, “if you wish to keep your ship intact. This is the area of our-ah- the phenomenon. And it is exceptionally dangerous.”
The assembled captains looked at one another, then a forest of arms went up to ask for details.
“No, no. No questions.” Cuaxicali shook his head nervously. “This is a matter of the utmost security. There is no other information available at this time save what I’ve shown you-a copy of these astronomical charts has already been commed to your navigators.”
“Surely you can tell us what sort of peril to expect?” a loud voice boomed across the conference room.
“I could,” Cuaxicali agreed, attempting a consoling smile. “But for safety’s sake I will not.”
A red-haired Chu-sa whom Susan remembered vaguely from Chapultepec stood up and asked, “Begging your pardon, Scientist Cuaxicali, but please explain how can it be safe to not know the nature of our opponent? Or even what it looks like?”
An ill-disguised snort of laughter erupted at the back of the conference room.
Cuaxicali’s face changed abruptly into a sort of maroon-olive. Susan was not sure she’d seen the exact shade before, on anyone, anywhere.
Chu-sho Xocoyotl stood up and surveyed the assembled officers with one raised eyebrow. The room settled down.
“That is all. Return to your ships. Patrol patterns will be distributed by third watch.”
Five hours later, as second watch was winding down, Kosho was back on the Command deck in a fresh uniform, her hair slick from a fast shower. For the moment, the bridge was double-staffed as the crew prepared for turnover. Amid all of the commotion, she had taken a moment to comm up the two officers she remembered from the Academy. Both of them-Muldoon on the Falchion and Tloc on the Axe -had been surprised to hear from her.
“Not often you high-flying battle-cruiser commanders take the time to say hello to the plow horses,” said Muldoon after they’d confirmed a private channel and triggered their own encryption. “But it’s good to see you again, Kosho- tzin.”
“Likewise,” grumbled Tloc. The Ciguayan captain had acquired a bad set of burn scars on the side of his face since graduation day. “How did you get on Xocoyotl’s bad side? I’ve never heard him rip a junior officer like that before.”
“I gave him some advice,” Susan said, shaking her head slightly. “I should have known better.”
Muldoon laughed. “Admirals know all and see all, remember? Just like the upper form prefects on Grasshopper Hill. The Runner said you’d been the wise woman behind that formation change during transit-but I didn’t think he’d take it so hard.”
Tloc grimaced. “I’m on my second posting with him-he knows best and likes it that way.”
Kosho frowned, feeling worse for having the extent of her misstep made so clear. “My last commander would’ve expected me to suggest a better course, if I saw one.”
“Then you were lucky.” Muldoon’s normally lively tone flattened. “I heard Hadeishi was beached. That’s too bad, everyone said he was a fine ship-handler.”
Susan nodded, once. “Too good, sometimes. I have been reminded-repeatedly-that being very good can lead to believing you can do the impossible one more time than you can.”
Both men nodded, sobered. “That’s the truth,” Tloc said, touching the side of his face.
“So what about this mess?” Kosho felt the memory of Hadeishi weighing on her. “What does Painal the Runner say about this most secret of secrets?”
Muldoon perked up, laying one finger alongside his nose. “My money is on a quantum-level distortion. We could see it from here, except it’s invisible to our sensor suite.”
“How could-” Susan started to ask, but Tloc interjected:
“My information says a gravitational distortion’s been detected around a huge volume, all of it clogged with nova debris. Almost impenetrable to scanning… just to twist the screw another thread.”
“And I’ve heard if you run into this phenomena you get cut to bits.” Muldoon made a throat-cutting gesture. “Word is a pair of Survey ships tried to break through and ended up literally dissected.”
Susan frowned. “Do these lost ships have names? Any detail at all?”
“Not yet, but give me some time,” Tloc replied. “I’ve got about a ton of chocolatl and kaffe in personal stowage.”
Ten minutes later, after arranging a trade to keep the kitchen happy, Kosho signed off. The second watch was in the process of leaving Command, most yawning, some already busy in conversation with their fellows. The comm duty officer and the assistant navigator were a step slow and Susan beckoned them over.
“Rumor says a pair of Survey scouts caught hold of the Chu-sho ’s phenomena by the sharp end. See if you can pick out any wrecked ships in the immediate vicinity. They ought to be the other side of the Can. Keep your eyes open for anything out of place. Something very odd killed those scouts-and I’d like to avoid the same fate.”
The quiet of the off-watch officer’s mess was broken by a soft voice: “ Chu-sa Kosho?”
Susan looked up from her cup of tea. It was Navigator’s Assistant Llang, trying to suppress a huge grin. Susan beckoned her over. “We’ve got ’em, kyo.” Llang blurted, comp clutched to her chest. “All three. It’s-”
“Not to be discussed here.” Kosho silenced the girl with a sharp look. The Chu-sa picked up her tea and guided the young Thai-i back out the door at a brisk walk. “Let’s use my station on the bridge instead.”
In the lift, as the decklights blurred past, Susan considered the young Tagalog lieutenant. This was the girl’s second duty posting-she’d come recommended from the Mac Allan, a frigate working shipping lane patrols around Alpha Centauri-and Kosho was sure she had very little political experience. After a moment she said quietly, “There may be those aboard Naniwa who will have lost friends or family in those ships. We do not want to break such sad news in a casual way.”