2.7.2

Misplaced Presumptions

Romo unfolded his arms. “Astrid’s being ostracized by her own people?!”

“It makes a certain kind of sense,” Dell begrudgingly admitted. “They’re scared. Word is getting out about what we’re doing out here, and some might blame us.”

“It might even be part of the objective,” Anders added. “If these attacks keep others from trying to follow her.”

“Aren’t the governments doing anything?” Astrid cut in, frustrated. “We can’t be the only ones that have a problem with this! We need more protections, more support! We need more guards watching the Sanctuaries. Earthen Military, or private bodyguards, something! These are our kids!”

London raised a hand to steady her rising voice.

“I know, Hale. The brass and governorships are considering options, but it’s complicated. The isolation of the Sanctuaries makes them difficult to safeguard. There’s a lot of distance between the ones being hit, and the nearest settlements. That’s why they’re being targeted.

“As we mentioned, they’ve been largely, and specifically, left to govern themselves, so jurisdiction gets hazy. And transporting troops in any number is an expansive operation that commits us to a path. Even if we could, keeping them there indefinitely is not a solution.”

“We can’t just let them keep taking children!”

“We’re not going to,” Anders insisted from his place opposite her. “We’re going to stop it. We treat the cause, not the symptom.”

“The kidnapping of my people is not an itchy throat you just power through!”

“I have some ideas,” the captain ignored her outcry until she could compose herself. “Some connections that might get boots on the ground faster than the Service. But it might make things worse.”

“How?” Astrid angled to get her people relief.

“Getting Service troops involved starts drawing the lines. We already know the Service is split when it comes to the prospect of a Channeler Division. With the EMS, we might end up sending someone who isn’t sympathetic. More than that, assuming it is the S.O., official action gives them credence, more attention, and a platform to push their agenda to the public. And trust me, for everyone who supports the military, there’s always someone who thinks the EMS as little more than a bully. And the people love a good ‘underdog’. This blows up quickly, and not necessarily in our favor.

“If we jump the gun on official force, it looks like martial law at best, and preparing for war at worst. We can’t act without the full sanction and vote of the Board, and the governments involved. That will take months to acquire. We don’t have time to commission a committee and enter talks to decide if it’s worth doing something about, and what. We need to just go and find out.

“Private companies, they give us a loophole. They can take guard of the Sanctuaries, and when it comes to a fight, the military gets its degree of separation.”

“You’ve got be kidding,” Tenya huffed. “This did not work out well last time.”

“I’m not talking small town gangs here, Thompson,” the captain contended. “We need someone with status and power. A group that’s widely recognized and might give the Opposition pause to see them aligned with their victims.”

“You’re talking about the Fifth Fleet Fiends,” Romo named. “Caius isn’t going to do us any favors.”

“Caius turned a ragtag group of outcasts into the most powerful outlaw settlement in civilized space,” Captain London accounted. “They’re self-sufficient. And his army is, at our best guess, in the tens of thousands, if not more. Legitimizing them as a force worthy of respect may mean more to him to than the price tag. Don’t underestimate him. He’s a man of vision, and he’ll be able to see where this is going.”

“The Fiends have stayed out of the political business for almost two decades. That’s how they’ve maintained their independence,” Romo argued.

“At worst, he declines,” London insisted. “If any of you have another idea, I’m all ears. But Hale is right. If our success in the mission is going to come at the price of more Sanctuaries, we won’t leave them without defenders.”

“What do you mean our success is going to cost us more Sanctuaries?” Astrid butt in.

London leveled his tone in such a way as to inform Astrid his plan would not be subject to debate.

“We don’t know where they are, or where they’re taking the children. And we’ll never catch them in the act if we keep chasing them from two steps behind. That’s why it’s so important to compile a list of the most likely candidates to be hit. We need to position ourselves at a hub location and prepare to jet off at the first sign of trouble. With any luck, we’ll get there in time.”

“It could take hours to get there, even under the best possible conditions,” Dell debated.

“Then we’d better narrow it down to a pretty damned good guess,” Captain London maintained. “Romo, get me what information we can trade to Caius. I suggest something subtle. He’s a resourceful man.”

Yes, sir,” the agent went to work immediately.

“Davis, I need a breakdown of what we need for a proper protection squad. Plan for at least three. Let’s aim high.”

“Aye, Aye.”

“Anderson, you need to smokescreen this while I try to make a deal. Go through official channels for aid. It probably won’t get us any damned where in time for it to make a difference, but it will at least look like we’re trying to do this through proper channels.”

Anders nodded. The men parted, and London turned his attention to the remaining women.

“Thompson, we need to narrow the scope of focus on these Sanctuaries. Why Lorelei? See if they’re being prioritized by population of children, or by location.”

“Can do.” Tenya passed words of encouragement to Astrid before she, too, moved to action. “I’ll find you later.”

“And you,” the captain finally eyed the specialist, his voice heavy. He waited until they were alone before he shoved an open and blank tablet in front of her. “I want the list of all your Channeler contacts.”

Astrid scowled.

“Sir, you have all that information. In fact, more than I do, when it comes to the locations and populations of existing Sanctuaries.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Astrid felt her eyes narrow. He clearly wanted something from her, but she quite literally had no earthly idea what. “Then what is it that you mean, sir?”

“Don’t make me say it out loud. I’ve tried to overlook your little pet project because I understand it. Don’t hinder us now, at the risk of your own people. I’m not going to use it against you.”

Astrid blinked at his lowered voice, his certainty.

“Captain, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The captain seemed irritated, even angry. But with her own confused expression staring back, he finally wavered.

“The Underground Railroad might be the only way we can get these Sanctuaries emptied before the invaders arrive. Before anyone notices.”

The look of surprise that crossed Astrid’s face made a dark hand pass down the captain’s face in equal parts incredulity and exasperation.

“It’s not you…” London’s eyes darted from side to side while some unknown presumption fell apart. “I thought for sure… it just made sense. The timing was just too perfect.”

“Captain, what’s going on? What Underground Railroad?”

London scowled and looked away. As if he now regretted bringing it up at all.

“Romo found a pattern in our traffic data that Intel itself hasn’t picked up on. There appears to be a network of Statics and Channelers relocating families when a Channeler infant appears, so they don’t get taken into the Sanctuaries.”

“What?” Astrid breathed. “How? How can Channelers be in on this? They’re all locked up.”

“The Guardians and government agencies are thorough, but our population is just too large and too widespread to catch everyone. It was inevitable that some would slip through the cracks. The truth is, there could be some Channelers out there now, masking their talents, living among Statics. We don’t know how many. A small percentage to be sure, but growing since the Railroad was established.”

“When? By whom?”

“Honestly, I thought you. You’ve been in the best position to do so. And the timeline matched up. It seems to have started just a month or two after you went to Earth. And whoever it is has been incredibly smart. As far as I can tell, only Romo has noticed. And even he can’t say where it starts and stops.”

“I appreciate your vote of confidence, but this is just beyond me. I don’t have that kind of reach, or those connections. They’d have to be getting help from more people than I’ve probably even met, let alone know.”

“You don’t think there’s any chance that Polaris might…?”

“Rahna? No way. She’s been under constant guard. She wanted to clean us all out, not make us blend in and hide.”

“And Walker? What does he want?”

Astrid hesitated. It would go against his partner’s goals. But more than to follow her, he wanted to save her. Astrid knew that much. Separated from her, and given enough time for reflection, Walker might do whatever he could to explore another way. One where his love wouldn’t have to die.

“You’re not saying ‘no’, Hale,” London noted.

“It seems unlikely. But I don’t think he’s completely sold on Rahna’s fatalism. At the very least, maybe this is something the S.O. would have planned for? He might know where to start looking. He’d probably be less surprised by this than I am.”

The captain nodded. He seemed to think long and hard for a moment before he made a decision. He looked at his watch. “I’m going to pull a few favors. Come to my quarters in two hours, and I’ll get you a private line to Walker. Without supervision. If he knows nothing, it should be a short conversation.”

“Yes, sir.” Astrid nodded sharply.

The captain departed to make use of his own connections, and Astrid gathered up the abandoned tools and tablet, then hauled them down to the hold for a brainstorm.