05. Haunted by the past p.2
16 Jun 2020Archived
Eurybia SystemAsteroid ring of Eurybia 2a
The huge corvette was just sitting there, flanked by slowly spinning, gargantuan pieces of rock and ice. Vadim pulled the throttles back, trying to calm down his pulse. He noticed Rex’s Adder, seemingly unharmed, pulling up behind him. The comms channel crackled and Rear Admiral’s Hajdu’s voice came through:
„Kerensky, behave sensibly. Your friend Tom is now in my hands, held in Federal detention centre. If you want to see him again, stand down and give up. You will not be able to get away. You are trapped.”
Vadim scratched his jaw, watching the menacing shape merely 200 meters ahead.
„Vadim, I don’t know what the hell you have just put us into, but I’d suggest you do what he says!” - Rex certainly was not happy.
„You should listen to your friend, Kerensky. Give up and you will live through this”.
„What do you want from me?”.
„To talk. You may have an answer to some questions about my past.”
„I have no idea what you are talking about”.
„I am sure you do. And my patience is running thin.”
„Vadim…!” - Rex was even less amused now.
„I don’t think so, Hajdu. Rex, buster!!”
With that he pushed the throttles to the stops, enabling the afterburner. He turned his wounded ship towards the most dense part of the asteroid field. He saw Rex following him after a second of hesitation.
„Vadiiiim!!!” - Rex roared.
„That was a mistake, Kerensky” - Blasius Hajdu was calm. His corvette didn’t even start moving, just turned around following his frantic flying.
„Under attack” - flight assistant rarely had good news to pass. Vadim noticed two nimble fighters following them and gaining up quickly. Without second thought he deployed his rail gun and turned towards the aggressors. He noticed pulse laser grazing shields of Rex’s Adder.
They circled around the asteroids, shooting and dodging. Hauler’s shields held and he managed to land several accurate rounds on the fighter, which finally gave up and exploded. As Vadim turned towards the second one he noticed that Adder was trailing long tail of sparks. A few seconds later it disappeared in a fireball.
„They got me, ejecting!!!” - Rex managed to transmit before his ship exploded. Kerensky cursed. In normal situation he would just move on, but Rex did save his life. Vadim had a debt and he always paid those. He throttled back and opened the comms system.
„Alright Hajdu. You won. I give up”.
Eurybia System
Asteroid ring of Eurybia 2a
Onboard Federal Corvette „An-ette”
Rex was in shock, but generally good condition. They were both handcuffed and brought to the bridge by armed guards. Rear Admiral was surprisingly young for the position he held, waiting for them with his hands behind his back. He watched them in silence for a few minutes before finally talking.
„Mr Kerensky, it wasn’t easy to track you down, but finally I did. Spent quite some time trying to hunt you down. I think you may have some answers as to attempt on my life little over two years ago.. am I correct?”
Vadim was silent. He was staring at his own boots.
„A plot high within President Hudson's office… black ops. Unmarked advanced fighters. Does that ring a bell? Well does it, Mr Kerensky!?” - he raised his voice.
„Perhaps” - Vadim answered, not looking up. „Perhaps I might have some answers, but I won’t give them away freely”.
„Of course you won’t. I am a man of reason. Although I could just squeeze them out of you, piece by piece,I am not that kind of man. Instead, I am willing to bargain. What is it that you want?”
„A clean ship - Cobra Mk3. Tom’s release. And your word that - once I give you what you want - you will leave me alone”.
„Why of course. First two can be easily arranged. Third - that depends on the quality and quantity of data you will have for me…”
Rex was looking from one to another with eyes wide open. Maybe 30 minutes ago it seemed that everything was lost, now there were some negotiations going on? Spies? Black ops? What the hell was all that?
„If you keep your end of the bargain, Rear Admiral” - Vadim said warily - „I will keep mine. I will tell you what I can. But not now and not here. It is too…” - he looked around - „delicate”.
„Fine. How and when?”
„Soon, Admiral. I will give you all I know. Some of the data is kept hidden. Some is secure. Some is lost. I shall tell you where and what to look for. But I know only small part of the plot.”
„If that sets me on the right path to find out who tried to kill me, it will be a good start. I will drop
you off Michell Depot, your new Cobra will be ready soon. I’ve also arranged for a full med checkup for your friend after ejection. And I will be in touch, Kerenski. You owe me.”
Vadim nodded. He always paid his debts.
