The Endeavor?
That’s the one. I would have expected her to be here trying to break the siege. But she’s not around. I think maybe the Council aren’t as stupid as they seem.
Callum thought for a moment. Hmm—get the Church to destroy Trakis Seven so they get the blame for eliminating the only source of Meridian. Then they destroy the Church, and it looks like self-defense.
How could he use this? So what’s their next move? Where is The Endeavor?
I don’t know, and I doubt they’ll tell me. But if it were me planning this, then I’d be on my way to Trakis Four. Destroy the Church’s base. Then return and break the siege when they’re leaderless and in chaos.
It did make sense, but Callum needed confirmation, before he passed the information on to Tannis. He didn’t see yet how they could use this. But if The Endeavor planned on destroying the Church’s base on Trakis Four, maybe that could provide the distraction they needed to allow them to slip in, get Alex, and kill that bastard Hatcher.
On the other hand, The Endeavor could succeed before they got there and Alex would be blown to bits with the rest of the Church. He needed some idea of the time frame.
Thanks, Colonel. Let me know if you find out anything else.
Callum?
Yes?
I know you went to Trakis Seven. Did you find anything?
Yeah, I found something. And if I get out of this, I’ll tell you.
He closed off the link.
Tyler? He met with some resistance and pushed harder. TYLER!
Callum.
I want to come back in. Can you send a ship to pick me up?
You’ve given up on the crazy hunt?
Well, there’s not much point in going on now the Church have destroyed the planet.
No, that was a tragedy. Look, Callum, I know you wanted to discover the truth, but maybe some things are best not known.
Callum gritted his teeth, then forced his face to relax, so his emotions wouldn’t come through the link. You’re right. I know that now. Besides, if there had been anything to find on Trakis Seven no doubt we would have found it already.
I’m glad you’re being sensible.
Yeah, he was being sensible, and if he ever got out of this, he was going after Tyler and the rest of his weasely Council. So when and where?
Where are you now?
Callum gave his coordinates and waited while Tyler looked them up.
You can get a ride on The Endeavor. She has a small job to do over in that area, but she can pick you up before heading home.
A little job?
Just a cleanup. We’re going after the Church’s Headquarters on Trakis Four. We have to be seen to retaliate. But I’ll inform Captain Harris that he’s to rendezvous with you afterward.
That was no good. Afterward would be too late. He needed to find a way to stop the ship or somehow use the attack to their benefit. Okay. But make it before they reach Trakis Four. I want to see The Endeavor in action, and I want to see that piece of shit Hatcher blown to bits.
No problem. If you set your course to intercept, I’ll tell him to expect you.
Good. You seem to have everything in hand. I’ll see you soon.
He closed off the link and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking for a minute. Then he closed his eyes. If he went to a certain place in his mind, he could sense the other members of the Collective. All of them were there. He just had to sift through the individual minds and find the one he wanted. He found Captain Harris easily, but didn’t make contact. He needed to talk to Tannis first.
…
He found her in the galley with the rest of the crew. They all looked marginally better—he guessed that came from at least having a purpose. He grabbed a coffee and sat down next to Tannis, then leaned in and kissed her lips.
“I just found out that the Collective have sent The Endeavor to destroy the Church’s headquarters on Trakis Four.
“The Endeavor? Wasn’t that the prototype stealth ship we ran into after we picked you up?”
“That’s the one. So we need to either find a way to stop it before it blows Alex to pieces. Or we need to find a way we can use it as a distraction to slip in and get her out. Though there is the danger with that option that we’ll all get blown to pieces in the crossfire.”
“No,” Tannis said. “We don’t need to do either of those things.”
“We don’t?” Callum looked into her face. She was fizzing with the old energy and purpose.
“No. What we need to do, is steal her.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Tannis decided to wait until Devlin arrived before they discussed the plan in any more detail. He expected to intersect within a couple of hours.