Islands of Rebellion (Empire of Machines Book 2) by Max Carver

Author:Max Carver [Carver, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Neutron Press
Published: 2019-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Hyperspace

Audrey and her friends passed the long voyage by preparing for the work ahead on Veritum. They planned possible construction, irrigation, and agriculture projects as they studied topographic maps of Veritum, which had been made by early explorers and were available in more detail than any political map.

They knew Simon had changed course for Galapagos, but Simon had yet to tell them anything about it, so they pretended not to know. They didn't want to give away Minerva's presence in the ship's system, any more than they wanted the masquerade of false identities to end.

When the truth came out, she knew they'd be fighting the Simon, maybe to their own deaths.

Audrey fully intended to continue on with her original mission at Veritum as soon as she regained control of the situation; she just wasn't quite sure how to regain control yet. So the preparations continued, along with the pretense of their false identities and their pretended ignorance of the course change, all to keep the Simon lulled and avoid confrontation as long as possible.

For Audrey, the continuing deception was uncomfortable, like a noose tightening around her neck hour by hour.

She did her best to focus on the details of Veritum.

For the locations of actual settlements on the chilly, rocky world, they had some notes from visitors and from two women, twin sisters, who'd escaped the cult, whose account had inspired Audrey's initial study of the planet for her security presentation. Their story had been reported in the media of Carthage and other inner worlds but somehow hadn't attracted much interest. Small cults on distant worlds didn't interest most Carthaginians; if only a famous actor or musician had joined the cult, then the Carthaginian public might have noticed.

Still, the story had been out there in some smaller media, and Audrey had stumbled across it and found it moving. The girls' story was her largest source of information, and much of the map data they had was based on their descriptions and pictures.

“...their capital, God's Watch, like most of their cities, is built near large rock formations as a barrier against the planet's frequent dust storms,” Simon said, gesturing at the miserable-looking city of concrete, sheet metal, and armored guard towers. They were again in the ward room, gathered around the officers' dining table, looking at holograms, drinking hot tea. “These formations could be useful embankments for artillery.”

“We've spent enough time on the siege mentality, I think,” Audrey said. “Most of these people are basically captives. All we have to do is take out the small armed group of religious enforcers, the Hands. Most people are Feet, and they aren't allowed to have their own weapons. And the Faces are old men.”

“The Feet are the ones we're there to liberate,” said Dinnius, still pretending, after so many days, to be a pediatrician named Argus Leopold. Staying in character was exhausting for all of them, but especially on Dinnius and Kright. Audrey still thought it best to keep Salvius and Zola away

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