Sliding Reality: Chapter 7 Part 3 of 4 (Patreon)

Brad’s vision cleared as his net suit opened.

“Brad, two warships are on approach to Sphere World, they will reach the station in ten minutes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“You told me to not disturb you while you were in talks.”

“Who’s ships?”

“The Federations. Two destroyers.”

“Have they stated the reason for their arrival?”

“No, I have not contacted them.”

Brad remembered the look on Admiral Walker face. “He was trying to hold us back so that his people could get aboard the station. Ask them what reason they’re here for.” Brad held his chin. “Alter the map to hide the command post. Don’t just delete it. Don’t allow them access to our defenses or our ammunition.”

“What are you doing?” Stuart asked.

“Insurance. The Admiral wanted to get his people onto the station before we were out of the meeting. He was the one pushing for them the most. And Two destroyers, that seems a little large for a group of inspectors.”

“Wormhole creation.” Sally said, the seconds ticking over. “Detecting a Corvette from Sol system.” Brad saw the aide leaning forward and talking into Aramand Bashir’s ear.

“I wonder-did he end it early because he knew the Federation ships were on their way and wanted us back here?”

“What you mean? Why would he warn us?”

“Take out any advantage that the Federation might get from arrive at the station first.” Brad chewed his lip.

“What if we were to only allow them all in at the same time?” Stuart said.

Brad gave him a ‘go on’ look.

“Well we agreed to let them inspect the station, said that they would all be allowed to do it equally. So if we say that they can all dock at the same time, put them in different docks around the station, then they have to figure out stuff by themselves.”

“Means they get less time to check out Sphere World.” Brad pondered.

“Shows that we’re being fair and neutral.”

“And breaking them up so tensions don’t flare up,” Brad said.

“You think?”

“Federation and the Coalition are under a ceasefire agreement, the war technically hasn’t stopped with them, just been placed on pause.”

“When did it all become this complicated?”

“It’s always been this complicated, but before we didn’t have to deal with anything, we just left it to the politicians and those who’s job it was to deal with it on our behalf.”

“I liked our old jobs more.”

“Me too,” Brad.

***

Aramand sat down in his office chair, looking at the screen that ran the length of his office, simulating a space-scape in Sol.

A bell chimed bringing back his thoughts.

“Come in.” He turned, resting his elbows on his desk as the door opened.

“Sir,” A woman walked in with a real paper folder and placed it on his desk, standing back as he opened the folder.

“What is happening with the inspectors?”

“They are not being allowed entrance to Sphere World until all of the factions have their inspectors ready to board. The Coalition are dragging their feet. The Federation sent two Destroyers during the meeting.”

“Trying to get a head start?” Aramand’s question hung in the air as he floated through the papers.

“There is something frantic in their actions. They’ve not only activated their military on the surface they have activated their reserves. They are preparing for something, and their agents are interested in our docks and secret projects. They’re looking for something.”

“Our docks, some kind of ship, maybe weapon?” Aramand’s eyebrows pinched together. “But we don’t have anything new in either area, and neither does the Coalition. The Corporations have more freighter designs, but they have little in advanced military hardware, above the norm that is.”

Aramand lowered the paper. "They were too fast. We know that they always have fleets near their Lagrange points. I'm more worried about how fast they moved to conscript people. They have begun conscripting all known Federation Sphere World players, but they are also, quietly but steadily, conscripting others."

He looked at the bulkhead opposite. What am I missing? "It's as if they were on edge before this. That they were expecting something to happen. This must be a recent development and held close to their chest if we didn't know anything about it. With time all secrets are revealed. Look into any anomalies before Sphere World that might have put them on alert."

"You think they were looking to move against one of the other factions?"

"The Coalition have not made any moves that could be considered hostile. Still if it is recent it might be working through their networks to our people. I feel its important."

“I will look further into the Federation’s activities.”

“What about our assets within Sphere World?” Aramand asked.

“There are several guilds under our control, agents are infiltrating a number of Clans, we have been unable to gain access to the Legion, their testing is rather effective and has become stronger with Sphere World being real.”

"What about the Iron Admiral and this Miner King, they are from Sol?" Aramand tapped the folder.

"They are, but they were using partial avatars, the Iron Admiral moved recently and went dark. Miner King, we have no idea who he is."

"They have both proven they are highly capable and they are well placed within Legion, one of the largest non-guild groups. With the cease fire in effect I want everyone building up resources, if we need them for the next fight I want us to be ready.”

Aramand intertwined his fingers and leaned forward on the desk. "And what of our secondary plan?"

"We have tracked them down, agents are in place to move in a moment's notice."

"Good. I hope that we won't have to use such tactics, but those two hold all of the cards even if they don't realize it." Aramand closed the folder and put it into a bucket beside his desk and hit a button. Electrical currents ran through the paper, incinerating the documents. "Any changes to my orders?"

"No, command still hopes you can maintain the status quo. Leave things open for the future and gain cooperation between the factions on the Sphere World project. They state that things rest on too fine of an edge."

Aramand watched the documents reduced to dust. "Tricky, but possible. We will have to be subtle in our moves. The corporations will be the most difficult, they always look for the loopholes and the blades. We can work with the Federation and pull in the Coalition through public sentiment and private threats that we will back the Federation. It won’t be easy but it is possible.” Aramand’s eyes flickered to the woman.

“I will inform them.” She tilted her head and departed.

Aramand turned back to his screen, his mind filled with images of Sphere World.

***

Luke pulled the harness of pilot seat of the Dahlia tight with a groan, catching the time on the screen. It had been a late night and he’d slept well into the afternoon.

His family were preparing dinner. It was their last day in Gongdian system.

It had taken hours to clear the damage to Sanctorium, with shuttles wrangling the broken alliance warships.

Luke drank from his water bottle as he tapped through screens.

Systems are all good. He flipped up the news feeds.

Sphere World Ceasefire!

Federation build up continues.

Federation and Sol Ships descend on Sphere World Station.

Luke scanned through them, reading between the lines and toning down the excitable pieces. The Federation wouldn’t really go to war would they?

Luke bit his lip opening the Legion forums, people were selling off their accounts to one another. Others were issuing warnings to each other. There were guides on how to leave different systems. Someone had set up a timer till the first station module was completed and Mitch had a post selling and renting units. From apartments to restaurant and stores.

There was a mix of sentiments, the most vocal saying something would happen and others saying nothing would.

After a couple of weeks it’ll all just settle down.

“By then we’ll be kicking ourselves wishing that we only have one shipyard building freighters.” Luke snorted, clearing the growing anxiety, shaking his head and clearing the screens to find a calendar notification.

“Oh right, Ramirez’s file,” Luke looked around to make sure no one was watching and turned down the noise. “I hope it’s not a damn prank.”

He opened up Ramirez’s message and the attached information packet. “A lot of compressed information, sensor logs? This is a full sensor log copy.” Luke’s brows pinched together as he unpacked the information, showing him a camera of the inside of Ramirez’s ship, another showing the sensor readouts in several different bands of sensing.

Luke tapped play and drank from his bottle.

It showed Ramirez gaming on the net, a wormhole tore open at the lagrange point nearest to the Rukian co-op, a Federation Cruiser passed through, seconds later the net connection cut off.

The playback had been sped up, showing Ramirez’s ship going into a spin and changing course. Then going silent. Ramirez got out of his suit, checking gear, running tests on his main screen, opening a message.

The sensors showed the Cruiser close with the co-op.