Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

I have a hundred and one things to do before this ship will be ready to make its departure date. But if the legendary Jack Random and the infamous Ruby Journey feel it’s important that we meet, then it probably is. Ask your questions.” “I wasn’t sure I’d still find you here,” said Jack. “I did hear that you might be quitting the Fleet. Resigning your commission to become the Campbell, head of your Clan.”
    Robert scowled. “There’s been a lot of pressure for me to do that, but… the Fleet is my life, sir Random. It’s all I ever wanted. And to be made a Captain so soon… but I do have responsibilities on Golgotha. So I’m torn—torn between my duty as an officer of the Fleet to help rebuild the Empire, and my blood responsibility to help the surviving members of my Family to rebuild Clan Campbell. I’m not the only claimant to the title, but the thought of having an official war hero as head of the Clan appeals to
    many. For the moment, I’m trying to juggle both sets of responsibilities at once, till I can decide where my real duty lies.”
    “Once an aristo, always an aristo,” said Ruby.
    Robert smiled at her coldly. “Once a bounty hunter, always a bounty hunter.” “We might have been on different sides during the rebellion,” Jack interrupted quickly. “But I trust that these days we’re both concerned with what’s best for the Empire. There are things we need to know, Captain. Things only you can tell us. About Clan Campbell and its past dealings with the rogue AIs of Shub.” Robert nodded slowly. “I always knew that would have to come out eventually. But something like this… If I tell you what I know, which isn’t much, I must have your assurance that you’ll keep this to yourselves for as long as you can.” “We could make you talk,” said Ruby.
    “Probably,” said Robert. “But not easily, and not soon. And if word got out that Jack Random had been involved in the torturing of a genuine war hero…” “I’ve always done what I considered necessary,” said Jack. “And hang the consequences. But I don’t see any need for violence, just yet. Why should I keep your secret, Campbell? Convince me.”
    “Because my Family is currently in a very delicate state. The Wolfes nearly wiped us out. They hunted us down in the streets, dragged us from safe houses, showed us no mercy. Very few dared to help us.
    Some of us survived through our positions in the armed forces. Others by means we’re not exactly proud of. But now things have changed.
    “Blue Block has declared all vendettas a thing of the past, all feuds rendered null and void. They’re trying to strengthen as many Families as possible to consolidate their power base. So Clan Campbell no longer has anything to fear from the Wolfes, and the surviving remnants can emerge from the shadows at last. But with no one to head the Family, warring factions will inevitably tear the Clan apart from within.
    And a secret like this, the seeming betrayal of Humanity itself, coming out now, would destroy us forever.
    I need your word, Jack Random, before I can share with you what I know. I trust your word.” “But not mine?” said Ruby Journey.
    “Of course not. You’re a bounty hunter.”
    “Very wise. Tell him to go to hell, Jack. Who cares if one more Family disappears? Let them all die.”
    “It’s not that simple, Ruby. A moderate, responsible Clan could do much to defuse Blue Block’s more extreme intentions. And if there has to be a Clan Campbell, I’d rather it was run by a genuine war hero than some unknown. You have my word, Captain.”
    “You’re getting soft. Random.”
    “Not now, Ruby. Captain, I’ll keep your secret as long as I can justify it to myself. And Ruby will follow my lead. But I can’t speak for anyone else. So build your Clan while you can, Captain, and build it on strong foundations. Because the tide’s coming in.”
    “Understood,” said Robert. He mopped his face with the towel and then threw it aside. He looked older suddenly. “You have to understand, I was never a part of the main conspiracy. I don’t think they trusted me that much. But the basic deal was that we provided Shub with the secret of the new stardrive in return for advanced tech from them to keep our factories at the cutting edge of Empire industry. We never dealt with them directly; there was always a series of cutouts and the left hand not knowing what the right foot was doing, so we could plausibly deny