Razors Edge: Sci Fi Progression

Mac

From his quarters, Mac read over several reports. Making sure everything would be ready for tomorrows departure. He didn't have plans for tonight, only work. Though Peyton meeting Andri was something that had got all of their attention. Curious.

His parents had insisted on this call being in total privacy, that meant using ONI security.

"It is good to see you," his mother said. "You look better."

Mac raised an eyebrow, "Better than?"

"You looked so exhausted so tired last time we talked."

"It has been hard, you…"

"We're right there with you," Thomas said.

"I wish you were," he said.

"That's it," Catherine said, "I'm not letting you leave tomorrow without seeing you."

"We can't…" Thomas said. "You know we can't."

"You're not stopping me. I'm booking a transport now."

"Overnight?"

"You… don't…"

It was something else to see and hear his parents arguing, but he smiled. "I'll make time for you. We can meet somewhere..."

"You can't leave the ship. You have too much to do."

"We'll come to you," Thomas agreed.

"But this is a one-time chat, tomorrow will not be about this."

"That sounds ominous," Mac said. "What's going on?"

"Brakers," his father admired.

"We've been tracking their response," Catherine said.

"You mean to everything we've done?"

"They're still looking for the real you." Thomas added.

"Frosts put themselves higher up their watch list, but not as much as the real you already was."

Thomas activated his display and Mac watched his screen as his father expertly controlled it.

"You hack every system so easily?"

"There was a reason we gave you that tech," his mother winked. "But no, not usually. Lia isn't herself that much is clear."

"Brakers aren't reacting directly to Sigma-Seven. No immediate military backup has been sent out to their fallen 'Ranger Division.' But… they are aware it was Ashley's research, and that Nexus is now with the Admiral."

"Is he in danger?"

"The Admiral?" Thomas was however shaking his head. "Not directly. He's too far out for Brakers at the moment. It seems their targets are closer to home."

"Sol?"

"They're in negotiations with Kale."

"Kale?" Mac said. "We knew they were heading that way."

"It seems Kale have given them a full-time home,"

Those implications were real. "So they're solidifying everything in that sector they're not returning to Sol?"

"It seems so," Catherine added. "And from the looks of it, they're acquiring everything in that sector as well."

"That's a problem." Thomas said and leaned forward. "The Brakers won't forget and they sure as hell won't forgive. What you did, has made them look weak."

"Have they outwardly declared anything to the Coalition?"

"Not as yet, but we don't think it will be long."

"How long?"

"What do you think?" Thomas turned it on him, a tactic his father had done for many years with his training.

"If it were me, building assets as they are. I'd be going directly for the Coalition within five years."

"Exactly," Catherine agreed. "We expect their acquisitions will continue to build around Kale."

"A typical expansion to dominate tactic."

The display shifted, showing communication intercepts and movement patterns. Mac knew where this was coming from—these were deep intelligence assets, the kind his parents had been cultivating for years.

"Despite all the recent arrests and the exposure their infrastructure remains intact," Thomas said. "We've shut down several facilities, arrested even more operatives, but while you've been busy, they're still moved everything important toward Kale."

Nothing but silence stretched between them.

"There's more," Catherine said quietly. "This is why we needed to talk to you first."

"Dominique Braker senior," his father said. "He was at Kepler."

"You didn't know?"

"These details only just surfaced with Govenor Ranger's files."

"Hinada's?"

"Looks like they're fully onboard with them," His mother sighed.

"This will not end well."

"How do you feel she will react?"

"Her mother doesn't know?"

"There's no outward signs anywhere that Elaine knows her daughter is inside Frosts."

"Can we keep it that way?"

"I don't know," Catherine said. "Kerry… sorry Sorrel will have her personal signitures all over Ashley's work, over the protocols that Sigma-Seven are using, that the Krays are manufacturing right this minute."

"They can track her?" Mac asked and his thoughts turned to his friends out on a casual dinner date in the system.

"We have operatives watching them," his father said.

Mac laughed then, but it really wasn't funny. "I should have known. Peyton too?"

"Andri is our asset," his father said. "He's also fully aware of all of this, of all sides. He will be bringing Peyton up to speed."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Mac stood, "Fuck."

"Please sit, son." His father encouraged.

He sat with a plop, rubbing his chin. "How can we even defend against this?"

"You don't," Thomas admitted. "Not in the traditional sense."

"Frosts is still very very small in the scheme of this universe. But it's also why it matters so much," Catherine added.

"Not just because I'm your son?"

Catherine looked to her husband. "We love you dearly, but no, this is larger than all of us. "These legitimate jobs give you cover that even ONI couldn't replicate.

Mac studied the holographic display, watching as the tracking worked in real time. Braker connections pulsed with data flow. A lot of it. "They're really doing this? They're not going away at all are they."

"No," Thomas agreed. "This is the reality you're operating in now. What you did—what you continue to do—made you significant players in a war most people don't even know exists."

"Bigger than the war at Sigma?"

"This is internal, those outside threats are big, but they're not anything that could fold the coalition. That could break apart millenia of work."

"What's the plan?"

"Continue as you are."

The screen changed again. "Lia helped with this."

"Really?"

"She's been digging for us since the moment you got here."

"This is you," she said. "Frosts, and how far you're reching already."

Tiny dots appeared the universe over. "We're reaching that many systems?"

"Word of mouth," Catherine smiled.

"Alex?"

"Lev and his family legacy is a very unique calling."

"It speaks to the working class," Thomas said.

Mac recalled the man Peyton had spoken to at the bar a few days previous, and the story he told them afterwards. "The movers. The doers," he said.

"The backbone of any society are those who are on the ground."

Thomas closed the display, the holographic web collapsing back into darkness. "If we intent to meet that transport, we need to go."

"Remember, watch for long-term plays," Catherine added. "Be suspicious of anything that seems too good to be true. We trained you in everything we know. Trust yourself.

Mac nodded slowly. "I'll brief the others and I will see you tomorrow, right?"

"Yes." Thomas's face fell, "Stay smart. Stay careful. Stay alive."

"I will," Mac promised, though they all knew the uncertainties that promise carried.

After the signal faced, Mac sat quiet for several minutes.

"Lia?" he asked eventually.

"I'm here."

"Keep doing what you're doing," he said. "Let's build Frosts into something the Brakers can't break."

"Absolutely," she replied. "I have ideas already. Care to listen?"

Mac sat up straighter. "Oh, I'm all ears. Hit me."

***

Peyton

I'd picked the Broken Seal despite knowing there were a lof of people usually inside it. I also knew they were most likely already on our new network. Lev had worked faster than ever as soon as he'd gotten Jester's details.

I walked in the bar, and spotted Andri sat at our usual corner booth. His back was to the wall, watching the enterence. A habit none of us would ever get out of for security.

Even though I'd seen him recently, he looked much different in person.

<<He's alone,>> Lia said. <<His neural signature shows elevated stress though even at rest.>>

<<The stress I can only imagine, but ONI are never alone.>>

<<I mean it, he's turned off everything they have inside. He's alone.>>

"Peyton." He extended his hand. I noted it shaking. "You look... well, much better than I expected."

"Rest will do that." I shook his hand. "You look like shit."

"You're not wrong." He gestured to the booth. "Sit. I ordered for both of us—the Krays fusion special. Trust me on this."

"I was working up to it," I smiled. "Is one of the stations greatest treasures."

"One of Sol's greatest treasures."

"You wanted to talk."

"I've been told I needed to talk to someone who understood."

"Razors?" I asked quietly. "How bad was it?"

His jaw tightened. "Two thousand casualties over seventeen training facilities."

We knew the numbers, Chezek had confirmed it for us all those months ago, but it still hurt to hear it. "Jesus," I breathed.

"We were detailed to stack the bodies," Andri continued, his voice taking on that flat quality that came from too much grief held too tightly. "We lined them up in the main quad for identification. Some of them were our friends. People I'd studied with for years. Their faces were..."

<<His heart rate is elevated,>> Lia noted. <<Trauma response patterns. He's reliving it.>>

I wanted to offer comfort, but what words could possibly address that kind of horror?

Our food arrived. Two large bowls of noodles. It looked like it smelled, really damned spicy.

Neither of us touched it, yet.

<<He's angry,>> Lia observed. <<Not just traumatized. Furious.>>

"What are we really here for, John?" I used his new name.

"I want to join you. Properly." He looked up at me. "As part of the Faulkner crew."

The words hung in the air between us.

"I've been asked to come in with some ONI operatives, some of the best," he continued quickly. "Lev's interviewed them already."

I sat back, studying him. "You're wanting to what?"

"Take them and a ship and work under Frost Enterprises."

"You realize what you're asking?" I said carefully. "What we do out here—"

"Is exactly what needs to be done. You're fighting back." His eyes were fierce. "That's what I want. What I need. To fight back instead of hiding."

<<He's sincere,>> Lia said through our bond. <<His neural patterns show no deception markers.>>

"Lev has standards," I warned. "Combat assessment. Full security clearance. Psychological evaluation. He'll put you through absolute hell to prove you're not a liability."

"I know, and I won't ever be one."

"Why us specifically?" I asked.

"Because you understand me." He answered, leaning forward intently. "ONI's fighting a war, but it's political. Strategic. Calculated. You… You make it personal."

He finally picked up his chopsticks, though he just moved noodles around rather than eating. "I know I was an ass to you at the Academy.".

"It's fine," I said, though we both knew that wasn't entirely true.

"No. Let me finish." He set the chopsticks down. "I was protecting my family's interests." He met my eyes directly. "But that night, when everything went to hell... It showed me who they are, and I don't like it."

"Me neither." I said slowly. "Alright. Here's how it I'll accept this. You report to Lev for full assessment. He decides if you're Faulkner material, not me. I don't care who your family is."

"Understood."

"And if you pass—when you pass," I corrected, seeing his expression shift, "you'll get your own ship. Not a minute sooner."

"That would be great. Relief flooded his face. "Thank you, Peyton. I swear you won't regret this."

"We'll see." I finally tried the noodles. They were excellent—only what could be known as Alisee's.

We ate in more comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"One more thing," Andri said eventually, setting down his chopsticks. "The Brakers know you're here."

"Inevitable," I replied. "They don't know it's us though."

"Right, but..." He hesitated.

"We'll be careful," I assured him. "We're not the same desperate crew anymore. We've got resources now. Allies. Experience."

"I know." Andri nodded. "I want to be a part of this. All of it."

"You're sure?"

"Yes." His smile was grim and satisfied. "A hundred percent, yes."

I held my hand out for him, and we shook. "Then welcome aboard then John West."

"When do I report to Lev?" John asked.

"Tomorrow. 0600 standard." I grinned.

"Perfect." He raised his water glass. "To new beginnings?"

I clinked mine against his. "To fighting back."

There was a cough to our side. "Is everything all right for you?"

We both glanced at the intrusion. "It was wonderful," I replied. "Thank you. Complements to the chef."

He bowed, "Complement accepted."

"You're the chef?" I asked, surprised.

"Drev Alisee, at your service."

Andri smiled. "I had no idea that the owners were here."

"Neither did I."

"Would you mind if I sit for a moment."

I glanced to Andri, who raised his eyebrows at me. "Sure," I said. "Pull up a seat."

He did so, "I have a job for you, Captain Tachim."

This was even more curious. "What kind of job?"

"I need reliable import and export to The Krays, to Sol, Cali and a new station my son has set out to start his own franchise."

"Another Alisees to feed the world," Andri laughed, which made us all chuckle.

"Transport of what?"

"Herbs and spices mostly," he said. "Family secret recipes."

"That at least answers the question to why you want to hire a company like Frost's," Andri took over, and I let him.

"Jester Brook said you are the best," Drev said. "He is the one who handles most of my shipments."

"Then," Andri held his hand out. "We'd be happy to talk through your logistics."

"You are?" Drev asked.

"He's on trial," I said. Pulling the conversation back to me. "We would however be very happy to talk more. Perhaps when we return to the Krays."

"You're leaving?"

"Tomorrow," I added.

"Shit, is that too soon to get this moving, to take a shipment out to him?"

"We've heading home first, Cali," Andri said.

Drev's mind worked fast. "That works, we have trade to move there if you have space."

"I'm not sure, I'd have to check."

<<We should have space,>> Lia said. <<Spices don't take up that much space.>>

"How much are we talking?"

"A few thousand tons, but it's a lot larger than you think "

Lia was quiet, <<A lot more space, we don't have that… I can however move things around on the ships, make it.>>

"Then I guess we'd better get moving. As we'll be working through the night. You can send it down, we'll organize it."

"You don't want to check it out properly?"

"You've franchises around the universe, and I love your food. I'm not turning you down. We will work this out."

We all stood, and I held my hand out for him. "Here's to a new venture," I said.

"Let me get us a toast from the bar, then I'll let you leave."

When he moved away, Andri smiled at me. "Good job we came in here tonight."

"Agreed," I replied. "But we really will be working through the night."

"We?"

"That includes you, if we need too, I'll rent a ship and you'll be flying it."

"No drug runner, we're spice runners."

Drev brought over three shots.

"To spice runners," he said handing us one each.

We clinked glasses, "Again, to new beginnings."

I rolled my eyes at him, but whispered. "To fighting back."