Omega Force: Rebellion (OF11), стр. 19
Similan led them out of the lab and waved them into one of the open-air ground vehicles that were always scurrying about the compound. They rode a short distance to an unassuming building that looked like it could have been a maintenance shed if not for the pair of armed guards flanking the door. One of the pair opened the door for them without a word and stood aside while Similan led his charges inside.
"Not bad new digs," Jason said as they entered a lift and were whisked down from the surface level. "Decent house, engineering spaces, and even a high-tech dungeon." Similan just looked at him but said nothing. When they reached their target level, Lucky led the way out and seemed to know exactly where he was going. Jason stole a look at their guide and recognized genuine surprise on his face as the battlesynth negotiated the halls to bring them to another of the ubiquitous alloy security doors.
"Been here before?"
"Of course not," Lucky answered, not offering anything further. Similan walked up and let the biometric scanner take a DNA sample from his skin and waited for half a second as certain markers were matched to the database and the door swung open with a clank.
"Captain, thank you for joining us," Mok said. Jason wasn't sure what he expected, perhaps a single metal table with a prisoner chained to it with a single bulb dangling overhead, but the scene before him was a bit of a shock. The room was outfitted as a comfortable lounge, complete with a holographic display, a stocked bar, and even a screen in the wall that gave the illusion of a window with an outdoor view.
"Thanks for asking," Jason said, nodding to Crusher and taking a seat. He saw that Qazvi Ba was already sitting in an overstuffed chair with a drink in her hand, appearing relaxed, and decided to just wait and see how everything played out.
"This is Qazvi Ba, but her real name is Fendra Eos," Mok began. "Fendra, this is—"
"Jason Burke, of Earth," she finished. "I already know of the good captain and his band of degenerate misfits, thank you. I suppose I should thank you for saving my life, Captain, even if I suspect it was your bumbling that blew my cover and brought the ConFed down on me in the first place."
"Can't rule it out." Jason shrugged. "So…is she a prisoner, a guest, or what? This is a pretty fancy cell, but it's still a cell."
"A precaution due to the unique tracking module Fendra has implanted in her," Mok said. "Doc was able to pull out the passive trackers, but she has a miniaturized slip-com beacon grafted to her spinal column we're nullifying in this specialized room. It's tricky to remove due to the explosive charge that allows Imperial Intelligence to…silence…an operative in the event they're compromised."
"Diabolical," Jason said, accepting a drink from Similan. "I assume you'll be able to remove it eventually?"
"Mok is running down the deactivation codes through his network," Fendra said. "Once the device is switched off, it's easy to remove." Jason caught the inflection when she said Mok's name and knew there had to be some personal history between the pair.
“So, what're we doing here?" Crusher asked, slurring his words slightly and shaking his glass at Similan.
"You tracked her down with the idea she might be able to lead you to the missing Eshquarian fleet units that fled the ConFed's surprise attack," Mok said. "I figured it'd be best if you heard it directly from her why that's no longer a viable option."
"The missing ships, at least Zeta Fleet's mainline hulls, are already in the ConFed's possession," Fendra began. "You had the right idea, trying to track them through the more mundane logistical trail they left, but by the time you found the gray market fuel load buy, the ships had already been located."
"And the Eshquarian Fleet Masters?"
"Who do you think told the ConFed where to find the ships?" Fendra smiled humorlessly. "Zeta ships were stashed in the Cluster with minimum maintenance crews and no security to speak of, certainly nothing to repel ConFed boarders. I was still in the process of hiding the crew among various lower-tier worlds when I got word that the ships had been captured."
“So, the ConFed fleet didn't simply destroy the ships from a distance?" Lucky asked.
"No." Fendra frowned. "And to be honest, that has me confused. Those ships are a threat to the new ConFed regime simply by existing. It makes no sense to leave them intact, but all the intel I've been able to get from the Cluster's underworld is they're still sitting in the same spot, just with new ownership."
"Are there any ConFed ships still in the area?" Jason asked.
"Unknown," Fendra said. "There aren't any capital ships, but I find it unlikely they didn't leave at least a few tender ships in the area to chase off pirates and scavengers."
"What's on your mind?" Mok asked.
"Since we have something completely unexpected here, I think we need to put eyes on these ships ourselves and find out what the hell is going on," Jason said. "I don't trust the— How much does she know?"
"She's been read-in on the entire situation with the Machine and where it came from," Mok said.
"Really?" Jason asked.
"I have a prior working relationship with Fendra," Mok said. "I trust her at least as much as I trust you."
"Still not saying much," Jason muttered. "Okay, as I was saying…the Machine is up to something with these ships, but we really have no way of knowing what. I think it'd be prudent to head out to the Cluster and take a peek."
"Just fly your gunship up to a massive enemy formation, and then what?" Fendra asked. "Ask them what their secret nefarious plan is?"
"We're a little more subtle than that," Jason said, glaring at Crusher as the