Day 45 (Comms Series #4)
10 Mar 2018Viridian
The lights were dim in Violetta Pace's office at Illy Port. She stared at her communications panel, which, unlike ships, sat flatly on a black,glass surface that had the faint stains of rocks glasses and bourbon. Her eyes scanned the message she prepared, cautiously noting her own choice of words. She reached her hands up and rubbed them over her face, the day plumping her eyelids with weary.
"Delete," she said.
A female voice echoed from the desk. "Deleting message. Would you like to send a new message?"
"Yes," she said.
"To whom do you wish to send a message?"
"Commander Viridian, 8723-06."
"Contact found," the computer echoed. "What message would you like to send?"
"Manual keyboard, Iris," Pace said.
The soft hue of blue lights appeared in front of her on the flat panel, displaying a flat set of squares with symbols of galactic syntax. She tapped her fingers slowly and she exhaled a sigh when she finished.
Date: 31 JAN 3304
To: CMDR VIRIDIAN
From: PACE, VIOLETTA
SUBJECT: Location
Viridian,
I found her and she's alive. That's the only good news I have.
She's located in the Lahun system. You should be familiar with the base. Her privilege has been lost to Isaac Bryant. I imagine you're familiar with him, too.
Please remember what I said and understand I don't agree with anything you're planning to do.
- Pace
"Do you wish to send this message?" the computer echoed.
She lifted her arms and cradled the back of her head between laced fingers. "Send the message," she said quietly.
The drafting screen disappeared, as well as the holographic keyboard. She closed her eyes for a moment and pressed her lips together. Leaning her head back, she let a soft groan and she rubbed her hands on her face.
"Iris, open a comm channel. Shenich system, Wafer Station."
"To whom do you wish to contact?"
"Commander Acroci."
She paused as the computer made the connection to the next system over. Link after link was made and a series of pops and hums came from the computer. She sighed again. "Answer the damn comm."
The moment that past felt like hours. When she heard his calm voice, she nearly jumped out of her chair.
"There is no reason for you to contact me, Pace," Acroci said flatly.
"Yes, there is," Pace said. "You and I need to put our differences aside for a minute."
"Really? After the latest that i40--"
"It's about one of your pilots," Pace said sharply.
"Which one of my pilots?" Acroci asked, his tone cautious.
"Commander Viridian of tac wing," she said. "We have something in common in regards to her."
"What could that be?"
Pace paused, looking down at her panel. "We both care about her."
Silence filled the room and Pace nodded, exhaling a soft breath. There was no time for political debate or senseless bickering, as much as she may have enjoyed it any other time. "I'm listening," Acroci finally said.
"I'm going to send you some data with a list of coordinates. I'm sure you know her history and where she comes from."
"Empire space," Acroci said, "lost in the slave trade."
"Slaves get bought back," Pace said. "And she's not too happy about someone who did."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that she's going to die and I'd rather she not. Talk to your pilot. Or else I'm afraid someone will be sending you her remains in a crate."
She tapped the desk and closed the link. The desk in front of faded until it was nothing but blackness. Sliding in her chair, she pulled out the bottle of whiskey she had shared with Viridian out of a drawer. She grabbed a small glass and filled it with a few gulps of the clear alcohol. She drank it all in a shot and then brought the glass to her mouth before she stood up from her chair and walked out of the office.
It would have to be enough.