Archives of the Frontier Universe: An Assassin's Assignment Read Free Page B

some kind?”
    Captain Meyer stepped closer too, the rods rotating in front of them. “Yes, they’re high capacity memory spikes. Very, very valuable and high-tech. And when I say, high capacity . . . ha!” he laughed. “According to Command, a single spike could hold ALL the communication data that occurred on Atlantis—Court and Union—during the recent invasion. The entire week! Or more!”
    “And they’re the size of small daggers,” Rose imputed. “Incredible!” She approached one of the floating spikes and examined it. “They appear to be of Eiltheen design, though.”
    “Yes, they are. They’re used in the Eiltheen’s archives. Each of these contains thousands of years of history.”
    “Yes, I’ve heard of these massive data devices. But I would’ve thought Atlantis itself would possess such technology.”
    “They do, I’m sure,” replied the captain. “But the Union’s contact is not from Atlantis.”
    “Speaking of which, my master mentioned the contact was a Court official.”
    “Yes, uh, a representative actually,” the man specified. “He is a native of Forcurrier, but not an official or a justice. But that is actually irrelevant. What matters is that he’s just returned from a political assignment on Florenial. Apparently, he was negotiating something with the High Council there. Probably related to the Union attacks.”
    Rose peered to the spikes of fire again. “So, what does he have to do with these memory spikes? Did he steal one?”
    The captain shrugged. “Apparently so. But I believe he was helped. A few of our Court contacts are actually Eiltheen themselves. It is my speculation that they helped him ‘acquire’ the spike, though currently it doesn’t matter how he did it. More to the point, Command claims the one he’s in possession of contains important information of the Union’s next target.”
    Rose furrowed her eyebrows. “Dailunavein,” she denoted. “An interesting world for the Eiltheen to have archives on.”
    “I agree. But . . .” He paused and stepped closer to Rose. Speaking very lowly, he continued. “It is believed that a specific detail of their ancient history could be contained within this spike. Fontaine is apparently searching Dailunavein for some treasure.”
    Rose intensified her concentration on the room, using her super-hearing to sense for eavesdroppers. At least locally, she could feel none. She crept a little closer as well. “Treasure?” she whispered. “I was under the impression he desired control of the world.”
    “He does, I’m sure,” said the captain. “And that’s still a standing intention of ours. But your master believes further intel on the world will only expedite the Norvanull invasion there. And he doesn’t want that. Or the Norvanulls to have operational command there.”
    “I already know that,” replied Rose. “He’s been most vocal of his distaste for their authority. But it seems this feeling is shared in all our ranks there. All the way up to General Morgan, in fact.”
    “Yes, which is why the spike must be recovered . . .” He looked cautiously around the room. “And kept from Command.”
    Rose paused for a moment, seeing a serious problem with the plan. “Command is not stupid, Captain. They will demand an explanation as to how the spike managed to escape my hands. Perhaps we should rethink this.”
    The captain shrugged. “What’ve you got in mind?”
    “I could transfer the contents to another device. After that, I’ll destroy the spike. Or damage it.”
    The man shook his head hopelessly. “Impossible. Nothing we posses could accommodate such a large amount of data . . . not that could be carried. And you would not have the time in the first place. Command is requiring us to hand it off to them immediately for analyzing.”
    Rose thought for a moment and looked at the floating spikes again. “I’ll improvise,” she proclaimed. “Now, my master has requested that I find a way to