Page 45 of Desperate Measures

“Someone was bribed to let it go,” Hadlez guessed.

Perhaps, but how the Gyma’s vessel had eluded the phased marauders was a mystery. “It knew our security force’s routes and managed to avoid them.”

Kuran glared at the footage. “The admiral had changed them before he left. Even I’m unaware of the routes.”

“Maybe the Gyma simply got lucky,” Rihep said.

Selt didn’t believe it for a second. Something alarming was going on.

He switched his focus to his greatest concern. “What I want to know is why the Dark was interested in Matara Charity. It can’t be a coincidence it was watching the daughter of Borey Nath.”

“And also the sister of Admiral Piras’ Matara,” Kuran added. “Matara Charity was forcibly married to Browning Copeland, wasn’t she?”

“Whom the Darks weren’t able to prove beyond a doubt was still alive. Kalquor maintains the Holy Leader perished when his battlecruiser exploded.” Selt’s stomach curdled. “Charity Nath was supposed to have died on his ship as well.”

Deram snarled in abrupt fury. “The Darks are still trying to convince our allies and enemies we have Copeland. Footage of Charity alive and well and on this station could stir the waters again.”

Selt’s fist hit the top of the desk. His job keeping the young woman safe had just gotten a lot harder.

* * * *

Earth II

“Ken Bryant told me it looks as if the virus came in via the refugees arriving from Galactic Council space,” Toni reported to her sister from her balcony.

Earth’s governor sighed. She was stuck on Alpha Space Station as the virus recently nicknamed Dark Death raged on the planet. Earthers had already blamed it on the shadowy enemy, thus they’d dubbed it appropriately.

On the vid, Stacy appeared to be standing only feet from Toni’s chair. Toni was grateful her sister wasn’t there in danger of catching the illness, which had a staggering twenty-five percent fatality rate…but she also wished she was. Toni could have used a hug.

“It’s as bad on New Bethlehem. Worse on Mercy since they’re still dealing with riots in the wake of the government’s shenanigans. Lack of infrastructure, food, and shelter…because no one is fully in charge there, the mortality numbers are downright devastating.” Stacy swallowed and turned away for a moment to collect herself.

“No one is allowing in the few refugees who managed to leave Mercy. They’re flying through space on the vessels that would take them, but there’s nowhere to dock. Even Haven turned them down.” Toni told her what Stacy already knew to give her a few seconds to cope with the emotional tide. Her big sister was a tough cookie when it came to facing off against opponents, but the suffering of others undid her in private.

Stacy was composed when she faced Toni once more. “Haven is right to do so. They have medical protocols allowing ships to land should everyone on board prove uninfected. Unfortunately for the innocent, concern those who took part in Mercy’s conspiracy might be hiding among the refugees is slowing the process. No one knows all the players in what reduced Mercy to the mess it is yet, so getting the refugees to a port has become nearly impossible.”

“I heard you were working on the Mercy refugees’ behalf, nonetheless.” Pride warmed Toni.

“How can I not? There are children and elderly on those ships. Joshada is considering letting them land on an isolated island until their situation is better resolved. Kuran and Ken have also spoken to Kalquorian officials about the possibility of using outposts confiscated from the Bi’isils after the war. Those places are just sitting there unused.”

“It’s a start but outfitting them for a long stay for thousands would be costly.”

“I’m meeting the legislature by remote vid this afternoon to discuss if we can allocate funding. However, because our citizens are fighting the virus and having to divert a large amount of funds to research to get a handle on it…” Stacy shook her head. “We’ve lost the financial support we had from the Galactic Council, thanks to this Dark invasion. Kalquor is helping, but they have their share of problems.”

“And a suspicious illness of their own to fight.” Toni told Stacy of her conversation with Clan Imon and the concern both viruses had originated in Bi’isil secret labs. “When the Darks destroyed the Bi’isils, they could have easily gained the knowledge and means to set biological warfare loose on us.”

Stacy’s expression lit in sudden excitement. “I’ve heard the same from Kuran…he told me something else. We don’t know what exactly the Bi’isils had concocted in those hidden labs. The Darks wiped all records clean when they left. But much of what Bi’is had in its arsenal was based on earlier pathogens they’d developed, such as the virus that nearly brought the Kalquorian Empire to extinction.”

“Okay.” Toni thought she had a glimmer of what made Stacy look so hopeful, but she couldn’t quite catch hold of it.

“The Bi’isils used human slaves to test other means of biological warfare.”

“As they did to every species they could lay their nasty hands on. Those little gray bastards never missed a chance to develop bioweapons against anyone and everyone who could possibly challenge their supremacy.” Toni had acknowledged the horror of the Darks eliminating the entire Bi’isil population, but she hadn’t shed a tear for them. They’d been utter assholes.

“My understanding is, Kalquor recovered and handed the Galactic Council the research done on Earthers prior to the secret labs. The GC locked up those notes and findings to keep them from being unleashed against us by other species. Since Bi’is never found it necessary to attack Earth or its colonies, the research never came out publicly. Including to us.”

“Right.” Toni began to grasp where Stacy was going. “If Dark Death is a virus Bi’is never unleashed—”

“Or even if it’s based on those previous findings, our scientists could use the information to find a vaccine. Maybe even a cure.” Stacy grinned. “That’s how the Kalquorians are fighting RCN-16…by working from the previous viruses Bi’is used against them.”

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