Page 54 of Infiltration

“Bring it up on the main screen, Weapons Commander.”

Terig did so. Nako gazed at terrain along a seaside. It showed a great circular swath of brown-colored land, shading to rust, tan, and yellow at its borders.

“I guess a bunch of plants have died in the area we’re viewing? Should I should be interested in this report?”

“Considering the ‘neighborhood’ is the size of the five largest territories on Kalquor combined, it’s pretty significant.”

The hum of conversation on the bridge halted at Ulof’s statement. Heads turned. Personnel, including Nako, gaped.

“Ulof, you’re talkingmillionsof miles.”

“Exactly. It looks like it might be spreading…notice how it’s darkest in the middle? It would take analysis of soil from the epicenter to the edge to be sure, or at least a few days’ observation.”

“What would have caused something on this scale?” Nako asked.

“A major environmental upheaval coming from an artificial source. It reminds me of my studies on the effects of Earth’s nuclear explosions on the surrounding terrain. I see what might be a second, less large occurrence from this satellite.” Ulof stabbed his finger at a smaller holographic screen in front of him. “Zoom in, Terig? Uh-huh. Looks similar.”

“Are either of those locations where the supposed secret labs were, Weapons Commander?”

“No. We’re in orbit over the suspected area, Captain.” Terig’s fingers flew over his podium. “It does look like two major explosions happened. I’m detecting blast sites. Atmospheric readings confirm fallout.”

“How far apart are they?” Nako’s mind reeled at the implications. He thought of what had happened to the original Earth. Rescuers had been forced to move desperately fast to get containments into place to save as many humans as possible before the entire planet succumbed to the poisoned air, land, and water.

“They’re too far apart for one to have triggered the other.”

“Two separate blasts. There could be survivors still.” Unlike Earth, the Bi’is in distant lands might have up to a year without containment areas to stave off the coming devastation. “Alert Captain Kila to what we’ve found. Put your away teams on standby.”

* * * *

Earth II

Kuran’s gaze narrowed at the information his office computer brought up. He’d gotten hits on the men with whom Bryant had made his odd exchange. Nobek Selt, who stood next to him, leaned in for a closer look, though the man could no doubt read the data from his previous position.

“The lieutenant governor is mixing with some nasty people,” he muttered.

“This Mark King and his friend Neil Fitch aren’t men you’d take home to meet your parent clan,” Kuran agreed. “Ties to a quasi-military group on Mercy Colony suspected of attacking minorities and those who support the mixing of Earthers and Kalquorians.”

“They’re small-time,” Selt noted, reading the reports fellow spies had gathered. “Kind of half-assed too. No doubt an Earthtique fringe group.”

“Which fits the types of explosives we’ve seen planted.”

“Exactly the same sort. Look at this report. Authorities on Mercy raided a home of a group member. All the same components, same construction.” Selt’s grin was unpleasant. “I think you found our perpetrators, sir.”

“We don’t have what exactly was exchanged between them and Bryant.”

“Enough to go on an expedition, right?”

Kuran nodded. “Get Nasu to hack into Bryant’s financial accounts. Find out if he released money at the time I observed the encounter, track down exactly where it went.”

“Do we wait for the report before bringing King and Fitch in?”

“Hell no. Meet me on the shuttle pad in twenty minutes.”

* * * *

Kalquor

“Sweetheart! I’m so glad you could make it.” Tara beamed at Lindsey as her eldest daughter came into the ashram’s small cafeteria, where disciples served simple but nutritious fare.

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