Mara sent Celene a glance and mouthed, What the hells was that all about?
All she could do was shrug. I have no damned idea. She focused her attention on the holo display.
Calder tapped a few keys on the display, then studied his digitablet. An image came up of the Black Wraiths distinctive sleek lines, and the hologram rotated to display every angle of the unique ship. She flew her Black Wraith every day, but even looking at a holo of the ship filled her with pride. A perfect union of pilot and machine. Beautiful and elegant as a moonrise, but deadly in the right hands.
Or disastrous in the wrong hands. Which was why PRAXIS couldnt obtain a Black Wraith.
Calder cleared his throat. Ive gone over Lieutenant Jurs logs and the debriefing vids, analyzing her description of the effects of the device used on her ship. A total system shutdown that renders the Black Wraith completely inoperative, with only enough emergency capacity to power life support, and even that for only a brief period.
Memories flooded Celene. Acidic currents of remembered anger as shed floated in space with no means of protecting herself and no way of calling for help. She grasped at her rage, a useful emotion.
I was there. The words felt taut in her throat. So tell us something helpful.
Calders jaw tightened. I also went through the data and sensor logs in your ship after it was returned to base. Ran diagnostic protocols and did some calculations. I was able to extrapolate the basic construction of the disruptor device.
The holo changed from an image of the Black Wraith to an innocuous collection of circuits and cables. With her not being a tech, it could have been a schematic of a Voaxian self-pleasuring device, but she studied it, trying to make sense of its configuration.
This is just a theory as to its appearance, Calder went on, but the operation of it remains the same. In order to create the disruption pulse thats keyed to the Black Wraiths energy profile, the device requires a particular power source. The power source has a distinctive wavelength signature.
Can we track the wavelength signature? Kell asked.
I can tune a ship to trace it.
Leading us right to the bastard who disabled my ship. Celene could already taste blood, and she welcomed it. Nicely done, Lieutenant.
Calder accepted her praise with a terse nod, though his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. It was clear he took pride in his work, a sentiment she understood well.
Ive also determined the identity of the bastard in question.
She started, hearing the edge in his voice and the change in his language. Who knew tech-heads could sound so angry?
He entered some information into the holo display and the image of a man appeared.
Everyone cursed,
including Admiral Gamlyn. The man wore an 8 thWing uniform.
Hes one of us? Mara spat.
Was. Calders voice glinted with anger. Lieutenant Commander Torrin Marek. He resigned six solar months ago. Said hed had enough of working for no profit.
Thats what he put in his withdrawal log? Celene couldnt believe Mareks arrogance. She scrutinized his image. A perfectly average face looked back with unseeing eyes. Marek had ridges down his cheeks, common for people from the Alua System. Everything about him seemed ordinary. But treachery appeared harmlessshe knew that now.
Calder shook his head. Its what he told me. His lips tightened. Marek was in Engineering. I used to work with him.
Different as she and Lieutenant Calder were, they shared anger and feelings of betrayal. She saw it in his face, in his eyes.
She wanted to hit something. Wanted to shout herself hoarse. Bad enough knowing there was a device out there that completely hamstrung the 8 thWings most crucial weapon. But the fact that it had been created by one of their own
Ill kill the fucker, Kell said.
No, you wont, Commander. The admiral stepped between Kell and the holo of Marek. The traitor will be court-martialed. When we find him.
This is to be a stealth mission, then, Celene said. So he cant see us coming and run.
Correct, Lieutenant. I debated whether or not sending you would be a good idea
I need to do this, she pressed. Vengeance belonged to her.
The admiral raised a brow, and Celene collected herself. She couldnt prove her fitness for the mission by unleashing her anger in front of Admiral Gamlyn.
Ultimately, Command and I determined that you would be the best pilot for the operation. Youll have a partner, but the mission shall be yours.
Thank you, maam. Celene turned to Calder. So, a ship can be tuned to track the disruptors power signature. How long will it take for you to make the necessary adjustments?
Itll be ready to fly today.
Lieutenant Calder is one of Engineerings best, the admiral said.
As someone who never apologized for her skill as a pilot, Celene appreciated that Calder didnt mumble something self-deprecating. He looked well aware of his abilities and confident in them. Another surprise.
The admiral continued, Which is why he is going to be your partner.