Sweep The Forge: Worlds Together, #3

By Edwin Downward

The last thing Nivpul wanted to see upon his return to the Consortium fleet was an undeserved honour guard.

 

When elements threatened by his influence join forces with people who want his wife, June, dead, the two of them decide its time to take back control.

 

To do this they must first take down the rogue agency June left to be with him. A path that risks letting her get so close to the horrors of her past his love won't be enough to guide her back to the life they were making together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edwin Downward
• Release date: Feb 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9780994816955

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

NIVPUL EXAVENT WINCED as his kick bruised belly spasmed when his wife eased her embrace and their lips parted. June’s her high cheek bones had flushed in a way only a person with such pale skin could. Narrow greener-than-green eyes he could lose himself in met his with a fire their forced time apart had only fuelled to more breath-taking levels.

The lights above the commander’s desk of their tight cabin flickered from power loss caused by substandard replacement relays June had been forced to use to make his rescue possible. They had about a minute before the cascade failure reached life-support and produced a nose tingling sour smell the multiple fall back redundancies couldn’t quite erase. A situation June and the squad of Consortium marines who had volunteered to come with her had endured far longer than the three days he’d been back aboard their ship, Konhor.

She touched his cheek. It’s time.

He took her hand, skin so light against his olive fingers, and kissed her knuckles. I just wish we knew what kind of reception we’ll receive once we’re actually back.

Soft brunette tresses that had recently been trimmed brushed her shoulders as a new fire entered her eyes. "Your marines violated protocol without hesitation the moment I put out word I planned a rescue mission. Others scrambled to help us get Konhor mission ready in record time. Commodore Hiller will soon learn just how much the rules have changed."

Niv couldn’t swallow against the sudden dryness in his throat. The Commodore may have to step lightly if he’s to avoid a breach with the Consortium at this point in the operation, but he’s not likely to let you go that easily.

I know, and neither is my sister, Sue. Once again, I’ve left her in a position she must see as untenable.

With one big difference from any of your teenage antics. You did what you did to help others in need. Not just me, but Corporal Libcroser and Private Karenth. Themselves volunteers in my ill-conceived scheme.

June gave him another kiss. I’m sure the rest of our complement is looking forward to a chance to stretch their legs.

Niv glanced around their little haven, from the bed widened by a clever frame his grandfather had supplied taking it to the edge of the door frame, to the command desk with its single chair. Built for a crew of five, their ship, his Grandfather Roggi’s ship, Konhor, was a little tight for them and nine passengers who didn’t have the option to escape into these quarters as duty permitted.

He took the hand he had, so few days ago, feared would never hold again. They have earned it. Every one of them.

June smiled. That, and more.

The central corridor granted straight access from the ship’s common, forward, and the engineering section, aft. Along the wall aft of their door, two more gave access to crew quarters. Across the way, the door mid length led to hygienics, while the one closer to engineering granted access to the little used lab.

Listen up. The deep voice of Sargent Centroen cut across the chatter of multiple conversations coming from the common. We all understand the repercussions of being here. I, for one, am proud of what we’ve accomplished, and will accept any censure I have coming as a badge of honour.

A chorus of huzzas greeted the Sargent’s words as Niv and June headed forward.

Ten-hut! Corporal Jasef, Karenth’s replacement as squad medic, snapped to attention beside the nearest of three dinette seats to starboard, his nondescript grey uniform wrinkle free, his short cropped hair in perfect order. The brace holding Private Wallby’s blaster-scarred left arm in place didn’t affect his wiry ability to jump up from the centre of the three forward-facing comfort seats near the hatch onto the bridge and turn. Sargent Centroen, a head taller than anyone else in the room, stood between the dinette and the bridge hatch forward. Corporal Libcroser, his all too recently battered left eye looking clearer than ever, stood to port near the gangway controls.

Niv had been through this often enough now for his response to be near immediate. At ease.

Everything about the common returned to the relaxed state Niv had grown accustomed to since his extraction from the Vescan sympathetic vessel where he and his team had been held captive.

It’s about time you showed yourself. Jonine Sanroche had risen from the pilot’s seat and limped to the bridge hatch,  her shrapnel pierced left shin less than two weeks healed, the much older jagged scar above her right eye once again covered by a stray tress of brunette hair with auburn highlights she never tired of using to her advantage. We’ve got a fleet full of people watching our arrival.

Niv took a deep breath while trusting June to let this latest outburst wash over her. He understood why Jonine had been pressed into this mission as the only other engineer with enough knowledge of Konhor to make the rescue possible. That didn’t mean he had to like it, not when she was both a duplicitous schemer, and had now seen the core of Konhor’s true ability in action.

Never before in the history of his Siclian Empire, June’s Commonwealth of Planets, or any of the minimally aligned systems between the two had anyone ever seen a star drive capable of dynamically altering its Maast field in flight. Konhor had done just that to make an intercept possible, and undoubtedly witnessed by that subset of observers with sensors capable of tracking Konhor for the entire chase.

Niv straightened his shoulders. June had factored all this into her decision to act when the opening had presented itself, and would handle it in the same way they would manage all the other claims against them. You’d better step aside then so we can take our stations.

THE MAIN SCREEN OF the two station bridge contained a medium range tactical display of the Consortium fleet, now at half the strength it had been the last time Niv had viewed it. He dropped into the pilot’s seat to the left. Too many ships had taken too much damage in the battle and been forced to seek repairs from a friendly system as they were able. A glance at June as she slipped into the co-pilots seat created enough of a distraction for him to check the six sub-monitors, situated between the main screen and the command surface before them, each filled with evidence of how much work needed to be done to their own ship.

A light touch of June’s hand on the controls highlighted a series of ships holding position in three lines creating a tunnel between them and the massive blip that represented the Commonwealth of Planets Guard Fleet Cruiser Phaeton flanked by the Guard Fleet destroyers Cambro and Manitese. The three largest ships present, and a clear signal the Commonwealth have moved to boost its presence in this non-aligned region of space. Looks like we have an honour guard waiting for us.

Niv slumped back in his seat. While too much had happened to expect a return to obscurity, he’d never imagined it adding up to the scope this display suggested.

You stole my limelight. What else were you expecting?

The snap of Jonine’s voice caused Niv to flinch before clamping down on the impulse to curse himself for not expecting her to follow them in.

Her breath warmed his ear. You didn’t expect me to kiss you again now that your dear wife is back, did you?

An entirely one sided kiss he couldn’t escape without letting her fall to the deck after having thrown her crutches aside to trap him in the moment. The singular fact he’d thrown back at Sue when she’d brought it up in an attempt to get proof he was part of an act June was putting on and not really her husband. All of which June understood when he finally had the chance to explain himself after his rescue.

Neither did June hesitate to look at Jonine. Could it be your thunder just isn’t that loud?

Says the spook who proved to be Commonwealth after all. Jonine straightened above Niv’s shoulder.

I don’t remember ever denying my Commonwealth roots. Is it my fault the question never came up in all the times my little business brought me back to Uitnep?

Jonine sputtered as she pushed off from the back of Niv’s seat. We’ll see about that when the dust of this operation has settled.

Their position relative to the fleet opened the best possible way to bring this exchange to a halt. Niv reached across the controls. Decelerating to MePS. We’ve arrived.

The Maast field enveloping Konhor dissipated as they slowed to the world of mega-metres-per-second. The honour guard performed a well-orchestrated adjustment to their relative positions to match their incoming vector, and, seeing no alternative, Niv took them in.

The comm flashed a familiar call-sign from the nearest ship and the image of Captain Verletti, now sporting a shabby beard, appeared when Niv opened the channel. I’ve been appointed to wish you a welcome back from the collective fleet. Here’s hoping our little firebrand hasn’t caused too much friction along the way.

Jonine pushed back in. You’d better hope I don’t strangle you the first chance I get.

Promises, promises. Master Exavent, once again, welcome home. Rest assured, we won’t allow another defector to get the drop on you while you’re under our watch. Verletti out.

Jonine huffed as she pulled back once again. I’d better finish my report to the Consortium. Don’t bump us on the way in.

Niv bit back a retort on how Jonine always had to get the last word in and set his sights on the task ahead. "It’s time to open a channel to Phaeton."

It is. June tapped the comm. "Konhor to Phaeton. Request permission to dock."

"Phaeton to Konhor, permission granted. Follow your assigned beacon."

June passed the signal lock to Niv’s navigation display. You know the drill.

It only took Niv a few seconds to realise they were being directed back to the same cargo bay he’d left Konhor in when he’d embarked on the ill-fated mission that had forced June into action. They kept it free for us?

It does make sense, June said. Keeping this spot open would have been a relatively simple gesture of good faith in response to the post-battle tensions we knew were happening.

I’m still not comfortable with the amount of attention my actions have attracted. Niv slowed their approach to the looming Phaeton as a way to keep his hands busy.

Which is how it should be. Now take us in.

Konhor had a delta wing configuration that made for a tight fit within the assigned bay. Battle damaged thrusters hadn’t made it this easy the last time Niv had taken them in. This time he succeeded in dropping them to the deck without a lurch and powered down.

I’ll deploy the gangway. June headed aft.

NIV COULD HEAR THE subtle difference in tone between the medical scanner Doctor Arlwyn examined him with and the models he’d used in his capacity as a second-tier League emergency med tech. The examination table sat in a position where he could tilt his head to see June sitting by the door, having deflected every effort to separate them since they’d come aboard Phaeton with a relaxed air he’d come to recognise as her ready to act posture.

Doctor Arlwyn tapped a control on the wall panel and the scanner tone changed. You’re not looking too bad, given the lack of early medical care. You suffered internal bleeding after each assault, but appear to be healing nicely.

She stopped when her scans reached his left shoulder, and the old injury. This should have been looked at a long time ago.

The kindly traveller, Doctor Caswell, had once told Niv that a failure to follow up on the damage he’d received could result in permanent impairment. That has not been an option, and likely won’t be in the immediate future.

I see. She passed the scanner down his arm. Did you injure the elbow in the same incident?

He did, saving my life, June said. A stranger then, June had helped Niv put the injured arm in a brace that had kept the limb immobile for over a month before treatment by another doctor had enabled him to take the brace off.

Is that so? Doctor Arlwyn clicked the scanner off. That’s it then. Master Exavent, I’d advise light duties for the next couple of weeks, and take anti-inflammatories only as needed. You are free to go.

Thank you, doctor. Niv swung his legs over the side to sit up with a groan and the help of June’s strong arm.

Just trying to make all those years in medical school pay for themselves.

Niv rose to his feet. Glad to have been of service then.

I’ve been briefed on how hard you worked triage after the battle. You’ve proved your value to this department.

June directed Niv toward the exit. It’s time to let the rest of them know we won’t be hobbled any longer.

Niv wanted to think his hesitation came from the ache of getting up, but knew it came in part from the knowledge that Commodore Hiller would be reasserting his claim on June any time now. He prayed at least one member of the Consortium would be present. That would give them leverage they could use.

The door seal hissed open, and they stepped through to find the familiar round face of Crewman Marcis, Niv’s escort during most of his time aboard Phaeton before his ill-fated adventure.

The young man snapped to attention at their appearance, the padded light green of his Guard Fleet uniform flowing with an ease the rougher Consortium outfits couldn’t quite match. Sir. Ma’am. Your presence is requested before the council. If you’ll follow me.

Niv took a halting breath. He could only guess at what arguments the Consortium representatives had raised to be the first to see them, or how that would impact them when it came time to face June’s Guard Fleet handlers. Maybe the best outcome they had prayed over, but still fraught with obstacles to be overcome.

June stayed close. At ease, crewman. Lead the way.

Marcis led them through familiar corridors to a room containing a large table set before a wall screen displaying the local star chart. Each system shown had an annotation attached that appeared to be their reaction to recent developments. The hard-edged Chair sat with the bearded member to her left and the other two Consortium leaders, Mister Fidgety and Trader Face to her right. They’d withheld their names at their first meeting and Niv had seen no reason to search them out since that time. An empty seat separated these men from Lieutenant Commander Jergon, XO of Phaeton, and liaison between the Consortium and Guard Fleet.

The Chair waved at the spots across from her. Please, be seated. The two of you have created quite a stir with the success of your missions, and presented us with some unanticipated questions.

The council member closest to Jergon looked at his hands as June helped Niv sit before settling beside him.

The Chair faced Niv without any acknowledgement of her companion’s unease. Our shuttle pilot made the mistake of broadcasting your capture over an open channel. That little show on your return is only part of a much bigger, and messier, response. She nodded at June. There’s a good chance our alliance would have cracked if you hadn’t made your very public announcement of a rescue mission.

Niv caught the scowl that crossed Jergon’s face.

The Chair glanced toward the Guard Fleet officer, then at the council members beside them, before returning her attention to Niv and June. Now that you’re back safe, there are a significant number of alliance members who have declared you too valuable to our effort to permit any future risk to your personal safety. A similar number of members have argued that your value will be lost if you are not permitted to act freely. We in this room have our own concerns over what has happened, and our part in it.

Niv wished for a glass of water to wet his parched throat. It had been his demand that had set it all in motion. It wouldn’t be fair to let June answer for him. "I don’t remember giving you much of a choice. As for how it worked out, in spite of the bad faith delivery, the intel I acted upon proved to be accurate. I did get the answer I needed from Krensgok."

NIV SAT BACK BEFORE the pain of having addressed the Chair with so much energy could get the better of him. Short breaths helped.

A touch of June’s hand on his arm told him she’d take it from here. We’re here of our own free will, and while our common enemies have suffered setbacks, they are far from contained. This is a bad time to be suggesting restraints on our ability to contribute to ongoing efforts.

A too quick glance to see how Jergon reacted could give too much away. Instead, Niv held his attention on the Chair before casting his gaze at each person sitting across from them. Furrows marked the brow of Mister Fidgety, while Trader Face lived up to the tag Niv had given him. Jergon gazed at them with an unnerving contemplative turn of his neck.

I, for one, would prefer you keep doing what you’re doing. Beard tapped his control panel. News of your rescue has already opened doors that remained shut after our victory.

At what cost? Fidgety leaned in. How much of that support could be lost if we allow another incident to occur?

Niv gritted his teeth against another spasm before daring to sit a little straighter. I didn’t cede our autonomy last time, and I’m not about to do so now. A renewed throb caused his breath to catch, then he gave first the Chair, then Jergon, the firmest look he could muster as a new thought drove him on. Especially now that we’ve seen how valuable our part is when June and I work together.

The Chair let her eyebrows rise as she cast a glance at the XO.

Niv looked down at his hands. Had he just confirmed every suspicion the Chair must have held regarding June’s absence since Phaeton first joined the fleet?

Niv has the right idea. June filled the gap he’d created. "As the speed at which I was able to get Konhor mission ready attests, and the way we’ve entered a stage in ongoing operations where we need every edge we can get dictates."

Niv wanted to kiss her for not letting his slip derail the moment. As if such a thing were even possible.

You must also remember that June Exavent is a Commonwealth citizen, and that this is a Commonwealth ship, Jergon said.

And the wife of a diplomatic envoy whose credentials we choose to acknowledge without reservation. The Chair had turned to face Jergon.

That’s a step outside the conditions of our alliance.

But it is in full keeping with the spirit in which this alliance was first proposed.

Niv glanced at June for any sign this was going in a direction she could use.

She met his gaze with a look he couldn’t decipher before turning to the Chair. An alliance we have no part in. Then Jergon. I do not deny or renounce my Commonwealth citizenship, but, given the choice, I choose life with the man of my heart over the safety you represent. A choice I can make without turning my back on anything you think I owe the society that raised me.

She took Niv’s hand. To make a life at your side.

It didn’t matter they had so many people watching them. It didn’t matter that he understood the larger context in which June had made this move. Those green eyes held him like no one else had ever come even close. He raised her hand to his lips. To make a life at your side.

They turned back to the council as one, and June said, You want us to continue what we’ve been doing. That’s exactly what you’ll get. Now, if you’ll excuse us, our ship requires considerable repairs if we are to fulfil that promise.

The Chair glanced at Beard, to the other councillors, then a stern-faced Jergon.

The final councillor cleared his throat. That may prove trickier done than said. There isn’t a port in this sector where your arrival won’t be noticed, attracting both those who wish to help, and those who want you out of the picture.

Niv knew his lips had twitched before he could clamp down. The only safe port June could point to lay on the distant world of Samafm. The newly appointed Ambassadors at Large had sheltered her from worse before the fateful day they’d met, her shuttle dead on the edge of a stellar storm, and Konhor crippled when he went in search of possible survivors. The answer they were about to propose represented a compromise no one, least of all them, would be happy with.

CHAPTER 2

TRADER FACE FOCUSED on Niv with an intensity that caused him to brace against whatever was about to be said. "And that’s before we factor in how fast word spreads on what Konhor did to catch Krensgok when the opportunity to do so arrived."

Niv saw no reason to hide the weak smile he gave June. Of all the groups who had the potential of tracking Konhor as June raced to his rescue, the two represented in this room always rose to the top of the list. The bigger question might be why one of them chose to reveal that intel so easily.

All too aware of clammy palms he couldn’t wipe off just yet, Niv scanned the assembled faces before addressing the Chair. "We concede the last two points, and ask to remain on board Phaeton until repairs can be completed with the help of volunteers representing a cross-section of the worlds backing the fleet."

The Chair gave Niv a non-committal nod before glancing at her co-counsellors. Jergon’s response remained unreadable. The counsellor who had raised the question frowned. Beard and Fidgety met the Chairs’ gaze with questioning looks.

June leaned forward. Can any of you suggest a better way for us to keep our word without attracting more of the kind of attention you’ve just alluded to?

Fidgety joined their questioner in frowning, even as Niv could see his fight to not continue wringing his hands. Your request would only put more strain on already stretched resources.

Beard nodded. I agree, and, as I’m sure Lieutenant Commander Jergon will confirm, such a move would create too many new opportunities to take another strike at your husband.

Niv suppressed a sigh in the full knowledge he had to speak out on this issue. "I walked into a trap by leaving the safety of Phaeton on incomplete intel. With this plan, not only can you check the history of everyone signing on to join the repair team, but you guarantee every team member will be on the lookout for suspicious activity from their fellow volunteers."

June touched Niv’s shaky arm. "With the added benefit that all incoming supplies must pass inspection by Phaeton’s quartermaster before being allowed through. That’s one more objection you can take off your list right now."

The Chair returned her attention to Niv and June. You have presented a request that requires some deliberation. There’s a waiting area across the passage. We will call you back when a consensus has been reached.

Niv let out an unsteady breath. Their next step remained in the hands of these people, but of the possible outcomes of this meeting, this ranked among the most promising, and a chance to stretch the tension out of his legs couldn’t have come at a better time.

June stood with him. We await your answer. Don’t keep us there too long.

Once upon a time, Niv would have left such an encounter afraid of appearing unsteady as he exited the room. That the hatch had closed behind them before this entered his mind said so much about how he had changed since June had come into his life.

Marcis’ touch opened the hatch across from them. Let me know if you need anything. Until then, you have this room to yourselves.

Thank you, crewman. Niv has told me how much support you lent him during our period of separation. We’ll be sure to ask if anything comes up.

Just doing my duty, Ma’am.

A twinge in the young man’s voice told Niv he couldn’t leave it at that, not when the most traumatic detour of their time together had been his doing. You did more than that when you agreed to let me join the rescue station’s triage call. With so many smaller ships ill-equipped to handle the most serious injured after the battle, it would have been wrong to stay on the sidelines.

Marcis looked down. I’m still having flashbacks of so many people in so much pain.

Other trauma, before, then after, aboard Krensgok, had melded the weight of those hours into the greater whole Niv had to live with. The sum of which couldn’t come close to the pain June still couldn’t talk about. I don’t know if we ever get over such experiences. The answer is in finding ways to move on.

Marcis jerked a glance at the hatch to the council chamber. You’d better take this chance to relax before they call you back.

We’ll do that. June took Niv’s arm and directed him inside.

The waiting room turned out to be a lounge area containing three rings of padded seats with a table at the centre of each ring. The last time he’d been in a similar room, blood had flowed into his right eye from a wound on his forehead after diving into a storage crate to escape being shot by a raider. He, June, and a half dozen or so marines had just evacuated from a bay before those raiders severed the docking seal and escaped.

June directed him toward the nearest seats. We’ll know our next step when we get their answer.

THE BAY LIGHTS SHONE bright above Konhor, highlighting every battle scar Niv knew June had deemed insubstantial in her rush to make the ship space-worthy enough to effect his rescue. Crates of varying sizes sat near workbenches spaced along the inner walls, where they wouldn’t interfere with the ability to launch when the time came. The almost physical pain of taking it all in as they made their slow circle of the ship