The Mechaneer

Chapter 30: Algreil Prime

Silver, blue and red. Jack didn't have to look far to see where Algreil Aerospace's colors came from. Algreil Prime, the world they'd colonized as equal parts corporate headquarters and manufactory, glowed like an immense logo. Outside the massive arcology complexes, it was an uninhabitable desert. The Algreils didn't terraform it, Otto had once said, because they didn't want to risk damaging the rare minerals in the soil.

Jack wondered if they hadn't left it unterraformed to avoid damaging their company colors.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, old buddy?" Otto said. No doubt he was grinning his usual shit-eating grin.

Not long enough, Jack thought, but he knew he didn't mean it. Deep down, he was glad to be back. If it weren't for his separation from Ellie and Chloe, he would have almost looked forward to what being back meant.

He said, "Huh."

Otto chuckled. "Brace up, man. I've got business to attend to, and I don't want you hangdogging it through meetings. It's defeatist."

"The hell do you want me at meetings for?" Jack asked. "I'm no bureaucrat."

"You're the Emperor's daughter's adoptive father," Otto said, "and a decorated war hero. And, you're in serious contention for the silver medal for second best bullshitter in the galaxy. I want to show my colleagues that we have a serious chance of winning this thing – and fast, this time."

"You think that's true?"

"I think it's closer to true now than it will be in ten years. The Feds will take us apart if we don't do the same to them."

Jack grunted. Hard to believe he'd have welcomed that news a few months ago. Principle, had it only been that long?

"Besides, if that bastard Avalon hadn't pulled a second destroyer out of the deep blue sea at exactly the wrong moment, we'd be halfway to winning already. The Feds' best fleet decapitated with no confirmation of who did it, and us with plenty of time to get into position to put the Senate down. To say nothing of your daughter."

"Instead,” Jack said, “Chloe's Principle knows where, we slunk off the planet on a smuggler's bulk transport, and we probably got here about a week before a Navy task force from Etemenos. Almost doesn't cut it."

"Relax," Otto said. "I've got everything under control."

Says the self-proclaimed gold medalist bullshitter of the galaxy, Jack thought. Hell of it was, Otto could almost convince him they had a chance – and that it mattered they had a chance.

Almost didn't cut it.

The transport that had brought them, their battered mecha and a handful of Algreil Aerospace escapees from Wellach to Algreil Prime swooped toward the station orbiting the planet atop a massive space elevator. Jack felt the familiar jolt of merging gravitic fields as ship and station joined, and idly wondered just how much Otto had paid the transport's captain to get them out from under Federal interdict.

"Gentlemen, you are cleared to disembark," the transport's computer announced. "Have a safe and profitable trip."

Not likely, as far as Jack could see.

For all his carping, though, he found himself following Otto as the Oligarch stalked toward the big airlock of his home station.

The airlock doors hissed open. Only on the transport side, Jack knew, because even during the Civil War Algreil Aerospace's headquarters had used smooth, silent nanomachines rather than hydraulics.

Two lines of suited men bearing the Algreil crest flanked a broad passageway in alternating electric blues and reds. Otto stepped onto the silver carpet down the center, motioning for Jack to follow.

A quartet of further Algreil men, these in Devil Ray armored flight suits, stepped forward and snapped off a crisp salute. "Mr. Chairman, Colonel Hughes," the leader said. Jack didn't recognize him from the Civil War. The blazon on his chest indicated he had served with the Marchess Wardens rather than the Devil Rays. "If I may say so, sirs, it is good to see you back in one piece."

"Good to be back, Colonel." Otto returned the salute. Jack, automatically, did likewise. "What's our situation?"

"Under advisement from the board of directors, Boardmember Marchess-Algreil has assumed temporary control. She has forestalled Federal action by condemning the attack on a Federal Navy vessel and disavowing knowledge of your location. Officially, sir, we do not know you're still alive."

"Good girl," Otto said. "Nice to hear she didn't panic or get sentimental."

The Warden frowned slightly. Jack assumed 'Boardmember Marchess-Algreil' was Otto's wife, heir to the United Shipping Magnate, and that the man before them had changed corporate families when his heiress did.

"Is Alarie on the station?"

The Warden nodded. "She is presently engaged in negotiations with Senator Howell, sir."

"Negotiations! There's a laugh. Since that senile old fool only speaks marks, I assume you mean bribes? Again, good. He'll think we want to play along, and he's small-time enough not to damage the war chest.” Abruptly, Otto switched topics. “Senatorial mood?"

"Guarded, sir," the Warden said. "They do not appear to want open conflict, but we have no indication they are willing to permit the incident to drop as a mere accident."

"Typical." Otto started walking again. His men fell into line automatically. If Jack hadn't remembered the habit from his Civil War days, and had a week in transit to practice, he'd have been left behind. "Don't inform Alarie I'm back until she's done talking to Howell. I'm going to stay 'dead' to the Senate for as long as it takes them to figure it out, and we can't trust her not to let it slip. In the meantime, we need as many of the 'Koi' contacted as possible. Secure communications, obviously."

"Obviously, sir," the Warden said.

Jack had followed the rapid-fire Oligarchical delivery up to that point, but now Otto had completely lost him. "The 'Koi?'"

"C.O.I.," Otto said. "Captains of Industry. The Oligarchy within the Oligarchy, if you will. Those who weren't happy about Kalder-Black and getting screwed out of the spoils of war."

"Just how long have you been setting this up, Otto?”

"Long enough."

Which, Jack knew, was all he would get from his once-and-current boss. Just like old times, he was on a need-to-know basis, and how much he needed changed with Otto's whims. Of course, Otto usually planned those seeming whims a few months in advance, with a dozen backup options per hour.

The Warden said, "When Boardmember Marchess-Algreil concludes her conference with Senator Howell, shall I instruct her to join you, sir?"

Otto shook his head. "I'll tell you when to contact Alarie, Colonel, and it won't be until after the C.O.I. meeting. She may need to run some more unwitting interference while we decide on a course of action."

"If I may, sir, the Boardmember has been very concerned –"

"You may not," Otto snapped.

"Very good, sir," the Warden said flatly.

Jack kept his mouth shut. He had to. He'd never met Alarie Wein Marchess-Algreil, and even if he had, her and Otto's marriage was none of his business.

Chloe hanging out with Otto's brother, on the other hand... Jack had to suppress a shudder. Principle, let her be too smart to see the charming side of an Algreil and ignore the rest!

Otto led his small party to one of the tram cars that spun around the station's outer ring. He must have given it an order through his flight suit's computer, because the numbers indicating its destination changed as it rolled over to admit him. "All aboard," he said, motioning for Jack and the Warden colonel to take a seat. The rest remained behind without so much as a word.

Jack climbed in. For someone who liked such spartan conditions in his office, Otto sure as hell knew how to arrange transportation in style. The tram felt roomier than the entire Mother Goose, though Jack would have traded them in a heartbeat.

"I can't believe you're taking me to a damn meeting," he said. "What do you expect me to do?"

"I already told you," Otto said, "you'll put the C.O.I.'s minds at ease."

"You're gonna tell them you've got Chloe," Jack said. "Right?"

Otto grinned. "The thought had crossed my mind."

"And when they find out you don't?"

"By the time they find out," Otto said, "it won't be a lie. Or don't you think we'll get her back?"

"I'm only here because I think you've got a shot at it – which is more than I've got. But the Feds are on site, not us, and Avalon already beat you once. What makes you think Chloe and your little brother can lay low on Wellach?"

"Don't underestimate Rudy. He's not half as stupid as he looks, which, I'll admit, isn't saying much. He'd also sooner die than give in to the Federal Navy, and he's not an easy guy to kill."

"You sound like you speak from experience." Jack laughed.

Otto didn’t. "He'll buy us enough time."

He sounded as far from cocky as Jack had ever heard him.

Suddenly, Jack found he didn't much care for the conversation. He said, "At least it keeps the Reformer pinned down."

"Actually, Colonel Hughes," the Warden said, "the Reformer left Wellach orbit two days after you did."

Jack and Otto both stared at him.

After a too-long pause, Otto said, "Explain."

"I was under the impression you were apprised of this, sirs. Admiral Avalon's flagship departed the planet at maximum sublight and entered a compression tunnel eleven hours prior to your transport."

"That doesn't make a damn bit of sense," Jack said. "There's no way Avalon would leave Wellach, not unless –"

"Unless he had your daughter," Otto finished, "or knew where to get her."