Hellfire - Autonomy

Chapter 2-1

2

Drake looked up at the signal indicating someone was outside his door. He’d only been in his cabin a few minutes. Could it be Jacobs with some food already?

He set the door to open and found it was Jacobs, and that the cook had a covered tray with him.

“Thank you,” said Drake. “Please bring it in.”

“Of course, Captain,” replied Jacobs.

Neither of them spoke until Jacobs was in the room and the door had closed again. There wasn’t anyone in the corridor as far as Drake could see but he wasn’t going to take chances on even the start of their discussion being overheard.

“That was fast,” he said.

“Well, I picked up a trace through our link that this was about more than just food so I’m afraid you only got some sandwiches.”

“I didn’t end up giving you an order through the link did I?”

“No! Don’t worry, Captain. I know you are extremely careful about that. Like I’ve told you, sometimes a little something leaks through the link without you giving direct orders. It’s not something I’m forced to respond to, it just gives me an idea of what you may need. Only when you’re thinking about me for some reason though, so generally when it involves food.”

“I hadn’t realised. I’m going to have to be more careful. Actually, that’s why I wanted to speak to you. Something terrible has happened.”

“I know. The rest of the crew are now joined to the ship. I felt when it happened. Don’t worry, none of them will have sensed anything. They aren’t that tightly joined yet. I’ve been linked to you and the ship for a long time, I’ve learnt to sense when something major happens.”

Drake stared at Jacobs, surprised both by how much he already knew and how calmly he was taking it all. Drake rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the muscles.

“Please take a seat. I think this is going to be a long chat. I need to decide whether to tell everyone what has happened now or wait until another time.”

“I’m not sure there’s ever a good time for people to hear they’ve been linked with a hellship for the rest of their lives but it might be worth waiting a little longer while the connections settle down. I’m not really sure I can help you to make a decision on that one though.”

“I know. It’s my responsibility but you’re the only person I can bounce ideas off. I think I’m going to leave it a while yet, certainly until all the children are off the ship. And then… I don’t know. I’ll have to tell them sometime. I guess I’ll just play it by ear.”

“If you aren’t going to tell them yet,” said Jacobs. “Then you need a good explanation for what happened when we rescued the Acolytes and you need to steer them away from any thoughts it involved unusual powers. Telling them the crystal stopped us being attacked was a great move but that’s another magical item and you really don’t want them thinking along those lines. The only alternative I can see would be something technological.”

“That’s true but the technology to do that to thousands of people across hundreds of ships is way beyond anything I’ve ever heard of. It’s the sort of thing only the Phoenix Conglomerate would be likely to have…”

He paused as his brain caught up with his words, then he grinned.

“Wait!” he said. “Of course! That’s it! I can tell them it was something left behind by the Commander. Something that destroyed itself when it was used.”

“That would do the trick, Captain. You won’t even need to nudge people through the link to help them believe it. We all saw the strange tech the Commander was using.”

“It’s perfect. It will explain what happened without having to go into too many details and should completely put people off any thoughts that could lead into what really happened.”

“It’s only a temporary reprieve, Captain. At some point you’re going to have to tell everyone the truth or they’re going to start realising it themselves.”

“I know! Damn it, I know. But I need some time to prepare for that, to work out how best to let them know.”

“I know you’ll do what you think is best for them, Captain. You always have done, for me and all the crew. Now, unless there’s anything else, I’ll leave you to eat your sandwiches.”

“No. That’s all. Thank you. Without your help I’d still have been stuck worrying with no idea what to say.”

“Always happy to help, Captain. Enjoy the food!”

* * * *

It was only while eating that something struck Drake. Jacobs hadn’t said Drake always did what was best for his crew, he’d said Drake always did what he thought was best. There could be a world of difference between those two and just recently there had been.

If he could go back and change his decision, choose not to use the Azimuth to knock out all the Acolytes and most of his crew, then he would…

He would what? He would refuse to do it and risk the almost certain destruction of the Dagger and its crew? He would refuse to do it and turn the Dagger away, leaving all the children to be sacrificed horrifically by the Dark Acolytes?

Or would he still do exactly the same as he had, even knowing the impact it would have on his crew? He didn’t know the answer. He did know the question was likely to haunt his dreams for the rest of his life. That and so many other decisions he regretted.