Tabitha Chirrick - Overshadowed

Balcruf huffed. “You know my priorities. Feel free to divulge yours.”

“Right then. Before the Varg stomp in and gloriously bring down their oppressors, I would like to take a peek at the Rokkir’s data. Aside from limping alongside them, this was to be my primary objective.”

“You want to look at their data?” Shy asked. “You’d risk your life for a peek?”

“Hopefully more than a peek. We’re not sure what information they have onboard. It could be as small as route schedules for Modnik, or as big as war plans detailing their entire takeover of the Igador System. We haven’t seen any other base of enemy operation save for the Elshan council, so such data may very well be aboard this vessel. More than worth risking my life over.”

He pulled a black sphere about twice as large as a magball out of his satchel. “I have created an instrument to extract data from the mothership. Based on research of a crashed Rokkir fighter, I’ve determined they use fiber optic lines in their vessels. Data travels as light along these cables, which, lucky for us, makes capturing information manually less hazardous than using standard bugs.”

He opened the sphere, revealing a core of glass inside, and closed it. “The sphere can open and clamp over the line, severing it and feeding the data into the device. A mirror at the severance point allows the feed to reflect up into the device while not immediately breaking the flow along the main line, meaning there will be a glitch reported in any monitoring system, but no full stop. This could potentially prevent an alarm being triggered. The difficulty will be gaining access to internal systems and then identifying the proper type of cable. Unlike most ships I’ve worked on, the Rokkir don’t seem to denote the types of cables on their furcation tubing. Clamp this over anything electrical and…”

“And?” Fehn asked.

“Well, you’ll fry,” Locke said.

Tayel’s stomach twisted.

“And likely trigger an alarm which ensures the rest of you will fry, albeit not as quickly.”

“Is it worth it? Won’t the data be in a different language?” Fehn asked. “I doubt the Rokkir use our languages in their systems. It will be encrypted, too.”

“We can capture the information nonetheless. It will certainly be encrypted, but we can decrypt it later. We can’t solve a puzzle we do not have. So is it worth it? I believe so. And if none of you feel confident doing it, then I will have to go whether Balcruf lets you tag along or not.”

“That’s stupid,” Shy snapped. “In your condition you probably wouldn’t even make it to the ship at all.”

“This is non-negotiable, Shy. I haven’t spent my—”

“You’re right! This isn’t negotiable because you’re not going!”

Shy’s glare matched Locke’s. Her hands formed fists at her sides.

Jace clicked his beak, interrupting the stare down. “Can I see the sphere?”

“Know much about fiber optics?” Locke asked.

“Sort of. I studied them in an engineering class at school. I couldn’t tell you how to make one, but I can probably identify the right cable at least.”

“Probably?” Fehn echoed.

Jace rapped his talon on the sphere. “If I had a clamp-style volt meter, I’d be more confident.”

Locke grinned. “Done. And I’ll assume you’ll also want a multi-tool.”

“Unless you’re hoping I rip the access panels off with my beak.”

Locke chuckled.

Jace nodded. “Okay. I can do this. And that way, you don’t have to go with your injury.”

“Thank you, Jace,” Shy said.

The blood drained from Tayel’s face. Jace couldn’t go. Sure he was here, but as a friend — to be part of it, but not to be part of it. That was everyone’s understanding wasn’t it? No one really expected Jace, with his broken wing and weakened state to actually go. They couldn’t.

“But what about your injury?” Tayel asked.

“I can walk straight at least,” Jace said.

“But—”

“Let him do it,” Fehn said. “He obviously knows what he’s talking about. And with him focusing on the data—”

“You all can worry about bashing Rokkir heads in,” Locke finished.

Tayel remembered finding Jace in Castle Aishan. He’d been hurt, defenseless, scared. Imagining him in that kind of situation again made her skin crawl, but she wasn’t about to challenge him in front of everyone. His pride would be hurt, and she’d seen Balcruf’s patience tried once already. Her debating about it now wouldn’t do any good.

“So Jace accesses the data, leaving Fehn, Tayel, and my sister to defend him, which leaves you , Balcruf, to worry about your own men. No having to drag me around. On top of that, it sounds like they greatly reduce the risk of your ambush on the patrol ship.” Locke crossed his arms. “In all, they’ll be doing much more than I would be if I came along.”

“It appears that way.” Balcruf nodded. “Very well. I will allow you four outworlders to accompany our war pack.”

“Thank you,” Shy said.

“Do you have questions regarding your roles?”

Fehn dipped his hands in his pockets. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight,” Balcruf said. “I will send someone for you when we are ready.”

Tayel still reeled over Jace’s inclusion as Locke shuffled her and her companions out of the war room. Getting to accompany the war pack was great; Jace going was not. She wouldn’t lose him to the Rokkir. Not again.

Tayel followed up the back of the group as they wound through the halls toward Locke’s room. Jace walked ahead to her right, stretching out his good wing to pass back the black sphere he’d been clutching to his chest since the meeting.

She ground her teeth. The need to say something boiled inside her, more overwhelming with every step. Jace was injured. He’d never fought anything in his life. He wouldn’t be able to defend himself. How the rest of them could overlook those facts and accept his help was beyond Tayel, but blurting her dissent out loud to everyone wouldn’t help. She had to reason with him and him alone.

Shy looked back, her small smile morphing into a frown as Tayel met her eyes. Tayel shook her head quickly, dropping her gaze. Convincing Jace not to go likely meant Locke would resume his place, and Tayel dreaded Shy wouldn’t forgive her for it. She exhaled a shuddered breath and walked faster, making up the growing distance from the others.

“There isn’t any human or Argel armor in my stores,” Locke said. “Mine was more damaged than me after the fight, and Itah’s… stayed with him. I doubt the Varg have any sets lying around.”

“You have shields though, right?” Fehn asked.

“Plenty. We’d expected to use a lot more. I’d still feel better sending you all out there with a full defensive suite. Aether and velocity absorbing energy shields can’t protect you against everything.”

“Well your prototype will cover some of those weaknesses at least.”

“Not weaknesses against mag guns. Flak cannons. Rail guns. Swords. Spears. Anything sharp, really. Close range wide burst shotguns. High falls. Fast moving deb—”

“Locke,” Shy said. “It’s not like you knew we were coming. We’ll have to do the best with what we have.”

“I suppose.” Locke came to a stop at a fur draped opening. “Well, here we are.” He parted the furs with his arm and nodded Shy inside.

Tayel’s heart leapt. Now or never. She grabbed Jace’s shoulder, halting him while Fehn shuffled into the room. Locke looked to her next.

“Can we have some time alone?” she asked.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Though I wouldn’t wander off.”