The Snipe’s Flight

– Here, – Alice has pointed a finger at the scheme on the tablet, – we can monitor energy consumption of all systems in real time. If gravikomp starts over again being capricious, you will see jump on this line. I see?

We were in close compartment which Alice called technical labyrinth, both stood in the narrow aisle between two rows of the hooting server racks. Light was muffled, and air hooted from coolers. The perfect place for private conversation, if the nobility how to be risen.

– It is clear, – I have nodded, trying to look concentrated. Then has purposely rubbed whisky. – Everything is logical. Simply … the head still hoots after this falling. Sometimes it seems that I remember each bolt by the ship, and I am sometimes confused in elementary. It is a shame, of course.

Alice has looked on me, and in her eyes, usually at such strict, something has flown like understanding. She has leaned back on one of racks, having crossed hands.

– Happens to everyone, Mironov. Especially after the skirmish with hard-alloy floor. What do you confuse?

The small fish has pecked. Now the main thing is not to hurry and not to change.

– Context, – I have honestly told what was the truth. – It seems I remember why we fly to Aurum-4, I remember about «Herpix». And here what we carry, but not their corporate fleet. I do not remember. And why such rigid terms? In the head scraps, and there is no overall picture. As though I read the instruction, having pulled out from it half of pages.

Alice has sniffed, but without rage. More likely, from shares of cynical approval.

– Means, it was knocked not for nothing. If has begun to ask the correct questions. All right, listen. – It has lowered voice though around, except servers, was nobody. – We carry not just containers with nuts. We carry biostabilizers for geothermal wells. Special order, piece goods very expensive. Herpix on Aurum-4 drills so deeply that without this thingummy even their heavy-duty equipment melts. And terms … – she has made pause, choosing words. – Terms because at them there, on the planet, the small revolt is planned. Miners were tired of severe conditions, the corporation winds norms, reduces payment. One of their main pits – Vulcan Soar already stands idle the third day. If we do not deliver stabilizers in time and will break the well, there will be not revolt, but accident on half-planets. And Herpix very much does not want competitors or, God forbid, galactic Trade Inspection to have learned about it. Therefore have employed us, imperceptible free dealers. Do you understand our haste now?

I have nodded. Of course, I understood. It was classical operation under cover. To deliver crucial freight in zone of the potential conflict, keeping visibility of neutrality. My old blood has played.

– Means, we can be met not with flowers, – I noted.

– In flowers? – Alice has grinned, and in this smile there was something bitter. – We will be met, most likely, by scanners of drones, checks at customs before loss of pulse, and then also will try to beat down the price, having referred to force majeur circumstances. The captain knows it. Therefore has taken in Kim’s raid. If negotiations go to case … not according to the plan.

– And we, – I have carefully asked, – we on whose party? Formally.

– On the party of the contract, the fool, – Alice, but already without irritation has answered. – The guild of free dealers sells services, but not conscience. We deliver freight. What there Herpix does with miners – it is their internal affair. Though … – she for moment has thought. – The captain speaks, from this invention smells of setup. So if strongly press, he can break. And then … well, you saw Kim in business?

– It did not happen, – I honestly admitted.

– Also it is not necessary. A picture is worth a thousand words, than hundred times … well, you have understood. The main thing is not to occur to it in the path. It is forgiving. It it is simple … will kill, will step through corpse and will go further.

I have nodded, digesting information. The picture cleared up. «Scythian» was not just truck. He was player on thin ice of corporate games. The ideal environment for the person with my experience.

– And sintetik? Ki? – I have asked, passing to the following object interesting me. – It always such … detached?

– Ki is Ki, – Alice has shrugged shoulders. – It follows logic and clauses. For it we, crew, – variables in the equation of successful delivery. But be not deceived. It for the ship. If it is necessary to choose between the order of the captain and rescue of «Scythian», he will choose the ship. It has the logic.

– It is clear, – I have murmured. The rational and incorruptible computer mind potentially dangerous in critical situation.

– Computer?! – she has attentively looked at me.

– I mean artificial intelligence, but the term «computer» it is pleasant to me more. It means cold and heartless. – I have tried to take away conversation aside and to cover the oversight.

– All right, there will be enough chatter, – Alice has become straight. – The head has cleared up?

– As though fog has dissipated, – I have smiled the new, charming smile. – Thanks to you, Alice. Has helped out me.

– There is nothing, – she has looked at me with interest again. – You as though have indeed changed. All right, – she has waved hand. – Just do not play the fool next time. And that Gena will set you straight not by voice, but wrench. We go, I will show how to clean sensors of external scanning. It is boring, but is vital if you do not want to fly in cloud of meteoric dust.

I have followed it, feeling as in the head my plan gradually is built, it was necessary to understand their technologies now. And for this purpose I had two and a half days. The following stop, I have solved, there will be galley in the evening. Place of informal communication. It is ideal to observe crew members in non-working situation. And after to try to start conversation with Ki. With sintetiky it is necessary to speak language of logic and the facts. What, with the facts was at me all right. I was the walking, breathing anomaly fact. «Keep, Vasily Ivanovich, – I have mentally told myself. – You in business. And it is similar, this business is worth it».

We cling to our memoirs as if they define us. We are defined what we do. My soul has survived to remind us that humanity – here our virtue. I know who I am such. And for what I have appeared in this world.

Chapter 2

Alice’s words about force majeure, about Kim, about cold the logician Ki. I absorbed everything as dry sponge, sorting information in memory compartments: operational data, psychological portraits, potential threats. Work saved me from metaphysical horror. While I acted, analyzed, built hypotheses, I had no time to go crazy from understanding of own jump through time. Postponement of my mind or soul for thousands of the years ahead. In five hours of the wearisome works which are carried out in labyrinth of cables and holograms, my legs hooted, and in eyes there were ripples from the blinking indicators. Sergey Mironov’s body was hardy, but not boundless. Alice, having noticed my pallor or what mute began to shake me, has sharply interrupted our excursion on shuttle life support systems.

– Everything, will be enough. Go to sleep, Mironov. You are more green, than cooling contour after jump. Now again you will fall and you will hit. And I do not want to explain you everything again. Tomorrow we will continue.

– Yes I as it should be, – I have tried to object on habit, but the voice gave my fatigue.

– It is the order, but not the sentence, – she parried without smile. – We have two more days of flight, and then landing and, perhaps, bustle. Forces will be necessary for you. Do not bring crew.

This last argument has worked on me as stimulator. «Not to bring team» – it there was language which I understood without translation. I have nodded and have gone to inhabited compartment.

The capsule has met me by the same ascetic twilight, silence and tranquility. I have thrown off overalls, having remained only in underwear from the same elastic material, and have flopped on narrow mattress. Muscles pleasantly ached – not from the exhausting cancer pain, and for healthy, healthy fatigue. I have closed eyes, trying to get rid of whirl of images: stars behind window, the tough person of Lavrov, smooth movements of Kim. I have failed in dream. I was woken by poorly vibrating bracelet on my wrist – the mute witness of my new existence.

I have opened eyes. On forearm inside where usually there would be my mechanical clock, the text rectangle shone. Message. Not ship, not from Alice or Gena. It has been encrypted to other, alien ship systems by the code. Also it was addressed not to Sergey Mironov. I have pressed icon and began to read.

«Snipe. You have missed another communication session. Urgently report the reason. Trianon. Code 7 alpha».

These words have burned my consciousness as electric shock. The safe which is deeply hided, sealed by layers of others memory suddenly has clicked and has opened, and its contents have rushed outside. I have screamed from sudden pain – not physical, but mental, shattering. Has squeezed the head hands, but it could not stop avalanche of memoirs and information. The snipe is my call sign. More true than Sergey Mironov, equipment navigator. Snipe, the agent of foreign intelligence of the Russian Empire working under cover. Pictures have started gleaming, accurate as newsreel shots: the cold hall with holographic maps of the galaxy. The man in strict, dark uniform with shoulder straps whose person I could not make out. «Remember the Snipe. Your legend, you Sergey Mironov. Guild of free dealers. Your purpose – Aurum-4». The training ground under the blue dome imitating the alien atmosphere. I in space suit, dexterously sort and I collect weapon unfamiliar to me, and is not present – it is blaster. The picture changes, I shoot from it at moving targets. The instructor gloomy nods like, acceptable. Then the starprobe vehicle simulator cabin shivering with vibration. I, all in sweat, maneuvre between asteroids. This is «Scythian»? No, some other ship, but same principle. Voice in earphones: «Piloting at the level above the average. For the technician – it is excellent. For the agent – minimum». And the main thing is my task. Accurate, clear: to establish the nature of the cargo transported by the Scythian ship under the contract with Herpix Industries corporation. To contact the agent «Smith» on Aurum-4. To find out true plans of corporation in system Helios-beta. Herpix is the instrument of influence of the Western European consortium. Their activity can threaten the interests of my empire in this system.

By three thousand hundred fifty eighth the global mankind was settled on galaxies and set of planets, having either terrestrial nationality of any given country or local «planetary». The countries which are on the earth owned or operated planets. Seldom planets were given in management to corporations as, for example, with Herpix Industries. Behind order in galactic systems the «Galactic inspection» created in two thousand nine-hundredth by the largest countries of the earth answered. On the earth there were four large countries. On the first place there was the Russian Empire, well here everything is clear, after it there was Asian People’s republic which has united in itself all continent and headed by China which structure, had included Pakistan and India a bit later. On the third place there was the Western European block (it still called the Western European consortium) as a part of which, there were all European countries, it bordered on the Russian Empire, and headed the block and Americans who, in turn, have taken control of all American continent operated the sovereigns. On the last place there was the Arab Empire the African continent was part it and the sheikh ruled the empire. There were still countries which so far any union have not joined or were not part, but them there were no more than ten.

Mankind, carrying out the expansion, for these years could not meet or find other reasonable beings. But what in general happened on the earth for me there was same old song familiar to me from my last life. Geopolitical games have developed into galactic, only now it was not Cold War, but the war transferred to space to stars and other planets with resources, important for each party. And I became her soldier again. Or rather, her spy. The stream of memoirs has subsided also suddenly, as well as has gushed, having left behind unpleasant feeling. I sat, having leaned back against cold wall of the capsule, and shivered small shiver. Not for fear. From the enormous pressure of two lives, two persons pressed in one body.

I have looked at the message again. Trianon. Most likely, it was my curator. For certain sits in cozy office somewhere at the space station of Earth or the Moon and nervously taps with fingers on table. His agent is silent. Having collected the thoughts, I have begun to deliberate. What could I answer it? «Sorry, companion curator, I have just arisen from the dead in body of your agent. I have semicentennial career in your department, but in other millennium. I feel perfectly, I continue to perform task».

Bitter, almost hysterical smile has escaped at me outside. The passion which I felt from the moment of awakening has got new feeling. It was not just the adventure. It was the mission, work. Real, deadly mission of the intelligence agent. I have returned to the favourite work. Here only in books the agents did not fall into state of the immigrant, popadanets or appeared? I have raised hand, my fingers have stood over the holographic key projected by bracelet. What to answer? The truth it is excluded. Means, it is necessary to continue game. As always. I have typed the short, abrupt answer, trying to imitate avaricious style which as my memory prompted, the Snipe had:

«Trianon. Failure of the equipment after emergency situation at start. The personal communicator has been damaged. Restoration in process. I continue performance of task. Cargo, gyrostabilizers for geothermal wells. After contact with the agent I will contact. Snipe».

I have sent the message and have switched off projection. In silence of the capsule only my breath and the remote rumble of engines somewhere in the depth of the ship was heard. So. Means, all this not to dream me now. Then what is it? Favor of the Universe to the lonely and sick old man? Of course, at present it is not the most important question. But nevertheless I need the answer. Now I had purposes and tasks. And still there was accurate order. To play Sergey Mironov’s role for crew of the shuttle of «Scythian». To perform task for the empire. And, the main thing to find out in what my main objective as my contact had instructions on the planet consists. It will report the meeting place when we land.

The first two points have met in one point: Aurum-4 and cargo. Gyrostabilizers. Too just in order that because of them to start such fuss. Means, in them something else. Or they – only cover. And still this strange crew. Not all tell the truth about themselves here. I have slowly exhaled, feeling as the shiver leaves, being replaced by cold, habitual concentration. The fear has receded. There was work. The most complex, multilevel work for which I had not only fifty years of experience of service in KGB now, but also trainings of the agent of star era, and young, strong body.

Tomorrow it will be necessary to check imperceptibly data on communicator. Perhaps, in it there is still something, except communication with Trianon. And in the evening, in galley, it is worth trying to throw inadvertently Genya conversation about unusual modules in cargo containers. The engineer likes to mutter about technical absurdities. I have extinguished light in the capsule and have settled, looking in ceiling behind which steel flesh of the ship which is carrying away me to others planet hooted. Game has become complicated. Became three times more dangerous. But also it is three times more interesting. For the first time for many years I felt not just passion, and purpose. I was spy. Snova. And this time rates were higher, than ever. On game there was not career and non-state secrets. On game there was understanding of the one who I am is. «Well, – I have thought, closing eyes. – Welcome to the future, the colonel Kamentsev». And with this strange thought, in pacifying in the terrible complexity, I have failed in dream.

The dream was uneasy and faltering. In it I was in sterile chamber where instead of Lenochka Ki with capsules in hand entered and passionlessly said: «Your time has expired. Leave from system». That limped along corridors of KGB, but the door in office of the chief conducted in the dusty, filled-in with orange light galley of the shuttle of «Scythian». Everything merged in one disturbing, nervous porridge. I have woken up from bracelet signal. The dry, mechanical voice has reported that there has come morning on ship time and it is time to go on watch. Time for thoughts was not. Having got into the role, I, having washed ice water and having washed away finally the dream remains. Has pulled overalls and has gone to the bridge. «Scythian» floated to the next point of turn, and on the main screen only the abstract hologram of route blinked. The captain Lavrov dozed in the chair, the beard was disheveled, the jacket is undone. Gena dug at the open panel, something grumbling on conducting. Vlad – Kim, he sat in the place, motionless as the idol, but his eyes cold and estimating, traced everything on the bridge. He has nodded to me when I have entered. Minimum, professional gesture. Neither it is more, nor it is less. Alice was already on the place. She has darted glance at me.

– Has got enough sleep? The complexion is better.

– As newcomer, – I have vigorously lain, taking the place at the console. – What according to the schedule?

– Routine diagnostics. And … – it has lowered voice, – the captain wants you and Gena to have visually checked fastenings of cargo. After jump sometimes there are surprises.

– Has understood, – I have told, and inside something has missed a bit. Good opportunity! Gene, having heard the name, has got out from under the panel, again wiping hands fat rags.

– Again? Boss! Yes there everything keeps, I hundred times looked. – Lavrov has opened the right eye and has gloomy looked at it. – Well, – having waved hand and, having put accurately rag, has hung up it on handrail, has looked at me and has continued. – Let’s go, the beginner. Only do not disturb and do not climb under power beams.

We have together left the bridge. In five minutes we entered cargo compartment. In the flight mode it looked even more ominous. The huge, empty space lit only with emergency lamps at the edges the system of maintenance of pressure hooted. Twelve massive containers, everyone of the size of the small house, have been fixed in the center on magnetic platforms. From them plaits of cables and fat hoses – those life support systems lasted.

– Here they, handsome, – has grumbled Gena, bypassing the first container. – The price of everyone – is more, than all our rusty shuttle. Yes if to be honest, all our crew in addition.

– Look … solidly, – I have noticed, trying not to show interest in the voice. – And what inside, except stabilizers? Some additional stuffing? Systems of tracking, protection?

Gena has sniffed.

– Protection? Yes from whom? From us? Here besides standard transponders there are sensors of fluctuations, temperatures and pressure. And solenoidal locks which are picked only by the code from Herpix. Try poke also you either current will hit, or dye will pour which then month you will not wash. Or both at once.

– Cleverly, – I have told, pretending that I check fastening of the magnetic platform. – And on weight everything meets? There is no feeling that they … well, are rather heavy for the volume?

The engineer has stopped and has looked at me with the blinked eyes.

– You about what, Mironov? Again you look for anomalies? Weight is entered in the declaration with their error. Yes, weight decent. But if they carried tungsten pigs inside, it would be even heavier. – It has knocked with bones of fingers on armored board of container. The sound was deaf, equal. – No, guy. Here what is stated. Very expensive fragile biotechnics. All counter is in how to deliver it intact and in time. But not that there.

His confidence has at first sight seemed to me sincere. Gena did not see dirty trick in cargo. He saw engineering task: to bring the fragile device to point. These a lot of things spoke. Or cargo and the truth is clean, or Herpix has tried wonderfully well that even such meticulous technician has suspected nothing. We have bypassed all containers. I remembered each detail: marking, arrangement of sensors, the type of locks from memory of the Snipe defined as they can be cracked what is necessary the special tool which, of course, I do not have now. At first sight I have not seen anything obviously criminal. But the pressing feeling of lie did not release me. It is too much noise because of, apparently, ordinary industrial delivery. Returning to the bridge, I have suggested to come in galley to pour to myself on glass coffee. And to sit. Gena has not refused to keep me the company. The synthesizer has given two mugs of the muddy, giving plastic liquid. It was not real coffee, synthetic and very far reminding cup of hot strong black coffee. I have taken small sip, enjoying simple feeling.

– Lavrov spoke, you were knocked by the head, – has unexpectedly told Gena, taking seat on the creaking chair. – Memory has not floated?

The question has been asked quietly, but eyes of the engineer looked directly and is tenacious.

– Has floated, to be honest. I was even frightened, but on not mnoga everything rises on the place, – I parried, shrugging shoulders. – You know how happens: for second everything takes off, then returns. It is a shame, of course.

– Happens to all, – Gena has nodded, but his look did not weaken. – Only look … You at us the navigator. If in the head porridge, better at once tell. And that we will fly in some gravitational anomaly or we will come across pirates. The captain though the grumbler, but will not give the command in offense. And here if because of someone’s forgetfulness or mistake the ship under blow gets … – He has kept back, but the sense also was so clear to me.

– Head as it should be, – I have firmly said, meeting his look. – For the ship and crew it can be charged. For especially.

Gena has a little kept silent, then has hemmed and has delivered to coffee, never without having taken a sip.

– All right. I trust. You are always such meek creature? Or it is possible to rely on you? – I have lifted up on it the surprised eyes. He has looked me fool in the face and has continued. – The main thing that it was also farther so. Everything worked, and you conducted us right way. You do not take offense at me, I am quick-tempered and sometimes I do not control that I tell. But you will not bring us, I am confident in it.

It was the important point. I have undergone the first, secret testing. Not from the captain, and from old guard of the ship. Gena has accepted my explanation. Now the main thing is not to give reasons for new doubts.

The whole next day has passed in routine. I helped Alice to calibrate sensors of distant detection, verified data with Ki’s testimonies. Sintetik was ruthlessly exact and immediately pointed to the slightest discrepancies, ran on orders of the captain. And I observed. Lavrov resembled bear in den: the most part of time slept or grumbled on official reports, but in its rare, curt commands the grip of steel was felt. Alice has been concentrated at work, but I tried to catch on myself its glances darted furtively – studying, analytical. Kim … Kim just was. Was present. As the rock, it is and will not get to anywhere.

By the evening as I also planned, I have appeared in galley along with Ki. Sintetik did not need food, but sometimes came to check the equipment and consumables or as suspected some of crew, it is simple to listen to their talk, obviously this sintt was engaged in data collection.

I synthesized to myself plate something, reminding braised beef with potato, the taste, of course, was far from the original, but is edible. Having received the portion, I have sat down to table.