by Petra Landon
Sila smiled, a slow smile that lit up her face. The veteran of an Alliance station, she now understood the nuances of Aralokan politics and the war, where she had comprehended little as a gatherer on a provincial planet.
“Your mission, dangerous as it was, has paid off in spades, Saakshi. Everyone is hopeful that the Budheya rebels will help bring down the Empire.”
Saakshi sobered. “I’m hoping the collaboration will also help free Budheyasta” she said slowly.
Sila reached for the Budheya girl’s hand, to squeeze it. “It will, Saakshi.”
That night, Sila stayed over with the Star Captain in the guest chamber reserved for him on the Hadari’Kor ship.
Over the next few days, Sila was kept busy with her work as trade representative and her sculpting class. Her evenings were spent with the Star Captain.
A few days later, everything went to hell.
ELEVEN
The Ur’quay arm-band altered to fit her bicep trilled as Sila prepared for bed. She had a morning conference with Representative Malontan and she was making it an early night. Her evenings were usually spent with the Star Captain on the Juntafeyore. But tonight, she’d retired to her chamber on the station to prepare for her meeting while the Star Captain was busy with Ur’quay matters. TF124 had not failed to note the inordinate amount of time the Terran trade representative spent on a particular Hadari’Kor ship. On the gossipy station, rumors abounded like wildfire, linking her romantically with various mercenaries from the Juntafeyore, much to their amusement. Sila, not as amused by the rampant whispers, hoped that the Ur’quay Captain, generally less informed about TF124, continued to remain oblivious to the salacious gossip about her.
“Sseela” there was an unfamiliar note in his usually even voice. “Are you in your chamber?”
“Yes” she replied, caught by the urgency in his tone.
“Get to the Juntafeyore now. The station is under attack.”
“What?” she blurted out incredulously, the exclamation torn from her. She’d walked through the station a mere half hour ago on her way here from the Juntafeyore and all had been calm as TF124 prepared to settle down for the night.
“The Juntafeyore is waiting for you to board before they can undock. Commander Jolar has promised me to not leave without you. Get out now, Sseela” he bade her. “Hurry!
A stupefied Sila roused herself, his urgent words spurring her. She understood the subtext of his words well enough — the Hadari’Kor ship had other priorities and were doing the Star Captain a favor by waiting for her. Hampered by his inability to dock at the station, Zh’hir had turned to the Hadari’Kor to protect Sila rather than leave it up to TF124 personnel.
“I’m leaving now. Do not worry about me, Star Captain” she assured him, signing off in a hurry.
The shoulder pack she used to transport her supplies and tools to the sculpting class lay discarded on the table. Sila upended it hastily to dump its contents onto the floor. Grabbing the small packet of childhood keepsakes and gifts from her parents she had rescued from Terra Agri and a few changes of clothing, she thrust them haphazardly into the pack. Instinctively, she checked for the communication abettor the Star Captain had placed around her neck. The data pod with the record of all transactions as trade representative and her tablet went into the pack next. Finally, her Mind Examiner device and the set of sculpting tools were added to the pile. Making sure she had both communicators on her, Alliance and Ur’quay, she slung the pack over her shoulder. With a last glance around the chamber, she set off at a run.
On the station, confusion and chaos reigned. People milled around on the main thoroughfare — some hurried towards the docking elevators like her while others made their way to their chambers. Station personnel with somber faces hurried to dismantle and pack away Alliance tech and other sensitive information to prevent their falling into enemy hands. Emergency bells clanked intermittently though the station while an electronic voice requested all Budheya and non-essential station personnel to line up at the docking elevators for evacuation. Reminded thus, Sila realized that the evacuation of the Budheya on this station was a priority to keep secret their new collaboration with the Alliance.
Every now and then, the station shook with tiny jolts. Sila realized with a quickening of her heart that it was enemy fire penetrating the station’s defenses. It added to the general pandemonium and sense of urgency all around her. The lines at the large docking elevator snaked around the block while station personnel with tablets hurried down it to mark names and assign ships to those waiting to be evacuated. Sila looked around uncertainly, wondering what she was supposed to do — the Star Captain’s urgent words about the Juntafeyore waiting to undock from the station ringing in her ears.
“Sila, this way. Sila!” Belur’s voice hailed her urgently.
Immeasurably relieved, Sila turned to see Belur hurry towards her. Taking her pack from her shoulder, he urged her to run, leading her away from the crowded docking elevator to a second one around the corner. Two guards by the elevator gave way as Belur ran to it with Sila in tow. A third male in the uniform of TF124 personnel stood by the elevator, typing furiously into his tablet.
“Sila Gatherer, Terran trade representative, evacuated on the Hadari’Kor ship Juntafeyore” Belur shot hurriedly at the male who merely grunted to acknowledge the mercenary without looking up from his tablet.
Belur hurried Sila into the elevator.
As the door slid shut after them, the personnel with the tablet murmured to the guards. “All Hadari’Kor ships cleared to undock. Use both docking elevators for evacuation.”
Belur did not wait for the elevator to ascend. “I have her” he announced into his COM. “We’re in the elevator to docking port.”
“Yes, a few minutes, Jolar. I’ll lock up” he said briefly before signing off.
He turned to Sila. “Hadari’Kor are to engage the attackers to give the Alliance ships a chance to evacuate the station” he said, as the elevator came to a stop before the narrow corridor that led to the docking ports.
“How long to evacuate everyone?” Sila asked quietly.
“An hour and a half. There aren’t enough ships to take everyone, but more are on their way from Sethia Two — estimated to be here in thirty minutes. They have to load up and get away, without being pursued. Our job is to hold the attacking ships at bay while they flee into Alliance space.”
“How many attacking ships?” Sila asked breathlessly, as they ran down the corridor to the Juntafeyore.
“Six” Belur responded briskly. “Imperial Forces.”
Sila closed her eyes briefly, hoping everyone would get out. Especially the Budheya on the station. This was not good.
“Saakshi?” she inquired urgently, confident the Hadari’Kor would take good care of the Budheya ex-prisoner their Captain could not take his eyes from.
“She’s with Zoran” Belur assured her. “Off the station.”
They stepped onto the Juntafeyore and an out-of-breath Sila watched him close and seal the heavy doors that connected the ship to the docking port.
“Alliance personnel are mining the station. We are to blow it once everyone is safely away” he said briefly, punching in the code to electronically seal the ship’s port.
Sila’s eyes widened. They meant to destroy the facility rather than let it fall to the Ketaari, she realized.
“It’s done, Jolar” Belur announced into his COM. “We’re good to go.”
No sooner had he spoken than the ship lurched slightly to roll carefully away from the docking port. Belur reached out to steady her as she stumbled.
“To stations, Hadari’Kor. Engaging the Imperial Forces” announced Commander Jolar’s familiar voice through the ship’s speakers. He spoke in Hakor, the language of Hadari and Kor. The Alliance COM translated his words into Sila’s earpiece in real time.
Sila’s conversations with the Hadari’Kor and others on the station were always in Alliance Standard. She had only eve
r required the translator for the Star Captain. Thus, Commander Jolar’s translated words served to make the attack on the station and the urgent evacuation in progress more real to her.
Belur must have glimpsed something on her face for he flashed her a cheeky grin.
“Don’t worry, Sila. Two Hadari’Kor ships have already engaged the Ketaari. With the Juntafeyore in the fray, we’ll give them the fight of their lives.”
“And the Henia is watching” he added, hurrying her into the ship.
Before Sila could question him further, he said urgently. “There’s a chamber with a big display in the same corridor as the recreation halls. Do you know where it is?”
An image of her on a tilted console with the Star Captain bent over flashed through Sila. She wasn’t likely to forget the chamber. The Juntafeyore, she mused, echoed with memories associated with him.
“Yes.”
“The Control Center transmits live images to the chamber if we engage another ship” he explained briefly.
“I must run, Sila. Keep your ears peeled for announcements. If Jolar announces a lockdown, get to the Star Captain’s guest chamber and lock yourself in. You’ll be safe there” he directed hastily before breaking into a sprint away from her.
Sila watched him go while his cryptic words played in her mind. Perhaps the Henia had engaged the enemy to give the Hadari’Kor ships time to recall their crews from the station, she mused. As her employer, the Alliance was responsible for Sila’s evacuation. Yet, reading between the lines, the Star Captain was covering for the Juntafeyore so it could evacuate her. Sila hurried towards the chamber with the display.
The vast chamber was full to the brim. Hadari’Kor in armor thronged it, their visors held in their hands — ready for a battle should their Captain call for it. The sight had Sila sent up a silent prayer to her Goddess.
Keep everyone safe, O Goddess. And watch over him.
“Hadari’Kor, we bring glory to Hadari and Kor” Commander Jolar’s disembodied voice over the ship’s speakers directed in the traditional Hadari’Kor call to arms.
As the mercenaries caught sight of her, Sila was propelled to the front of the chamber until she had a bird’s eye view of the enormous display that covered an entire wall. She supposed the much taller Hadari’Kor could easily see over her head. Hakan, a merc she was friendly with, made his way to join her in watching the unfolding battle. Training Facility 124 was a de-commissioned ship placed within an asteroid belt to camouflage it from passing convoys. Though the belt lay in neutral territory, it had been chosen to not be too far from the Alliance border. TF124’s position in the asteroid belt had also been strategic, taking advantage of the hurtling pieces that made navigation a challenge in the belt. The swirling asteroids allowed only two clear paths to access the station. The Hadari’Kor’s job was to keep the Ketaari away from the docking ports the Alliance ships must access to evacuate the station. All this Sila learnt much later from the Star Captain and the Hadari’Kor. Right then, all she could do was watch the Juntafeyore, along with two other ships, engage six Imperial Forces battleships. The Empire had discovered the station where the Alliance trained Budheya rebels. Sila prayed that it was coincidence.
She watched with bated breath as a Hadari’Kor ship exchanged fire with an Imperial Forces Brutaniyr. She had never seen a Ketaari battleship, but its distinctly navy blue color with the insignia of the Emperor emblazoned across it in white was hard to miss. Against the backdrop of inky black space, flashes of weapons fire lit up the ships. On the display, it looked like a mere game though the mercenaries around her watched the action intently with narrowed eyes.
Suddenly, a second Ketaari Brutaniyr made for the Hadari’Kor ship, speeding towards it with weapons blazing. The Juntafeyore seemed to roll faster, speeding to the aid of the outgunned Hadari’Kor ship though they were still too far away for their weapons to be effective. Sila watched with her heart in her mouth as the Hadari’Kor ship attempted to evade the two Brutaniyrs with some superb flying while dodging fire from either side. But it was clear that they were outgunned. The faces of the Hadari’Kor in the chamber sobered as they watched the ill-matched fight.
Abruptly, a massive silver-colored vessel shaped like a four-clawed reptilian talon winked into existence between the Hadari’Kor ship in trouble and the second Imperial Forces battleship firing at it. Sila gasped as the talon-shaped vessel engaged the Brutaniyr to draw its fire, allowing the Hadari’Kor to escape and focus on the original Ketaari battleship it had engaged. The Brutaniyr shook as the silver vessel pounded it. There was a blinding burst of silver fire and the mysterious vessel rolled nimbly in space to gracefully slide below the Ketaari craft, leaving behind a severely damaged battleship spewing smoke. The damaged Brutaniyr attempted to maneuver around to fire at the silver-colored vessel even as the other Ketaari battleship abandoned the Hadari’Kor to rush to its assistance. A little further, another Brutaniyr abandoned its position to race to the aid of its comrades in distress. The talon-shaped vessel seemed to lie in wait before flying in a dizzying half arc around the damaged battleship to fire heavy rounds at it before abruptly winking out of existence. With the assault timed to perfection, the damaged Brutaniyr seemed to break apart just as the first Ketaari battleship reached it. Debris from the damaged battleship flew in an arc from its hull while the intact section hurtled uncontrollably, beyond repair. The aiding Ketaari rushed to get away from the flying debris even as plumes of spewing smoke made the endeavor tough. When the smoke cleared a little, Sila noted that the first Brutaniyr had almost disintegrated but the second Ketaari battleship also showed signs of significant damage. The third Ketaari craft rushing to their aid had managed to avoid the debris. Of the strange talon-shaped vessel, there was no further trace. Sila squinted into the display, her eyes searching for the silver vessel. But it had vanished as quickly as it had come to the aid of the Hadari’Kor.
The mercenaries around her whooped as the Juntafeyore and the Hadari’Kor ship previously under attack converged on the two Brutaniyrs near their disintegrating comrade to surround it. The Ketaari proved no match against the concerted pounding of two Hadari’Kor ships. The disintegrating Brutaniyr drifted away from the battle while another Ketaari battleship raced towards it to evacuate the soldiers.
“Ur’quay” Hakan breathed to Sila in the general hullabaloo.
Sila turned to him, astonishment and awe writ upon her face. “That was the Henia?”
“Yes” Hakan confirmed. “Imagine a fleet of those ships, Sila. Commander Kerovac is salivating at the prospect. The Ketaari just got a little taste of what awaits the Empire when the Ur’quay Fleet join the fray.”
Sila watched as the Juntafeyore and two other Hadari’Kor ships engaged the remaining four Imperial Forces battleships. It was clear that the Hadari’Kor had fought together before for they made the slight imbalance in numbers seem immaterial. The enemy craft, the Henia had damaged in that spectacular bit of fighting, continued to disintegrate while the Brutaniyr damaged by its debris lay like a giant beached whale. Sila’s eyes searched silently, hoping to catch another glimpse of the Henia. The silver-colored vessel did not show up on the display screen again though in the distance, she did catch a brief glimpse of a small flotilla of ships leaving the station while the Hadari’Kor successfully held the Ketaari at bay.
“Where is the Henia?” she whispered to Hakan. “Is it gone?”
“Their job is to ensure the convoy of evacuating ships make it safely into Alliance territory. They’re cloaked to hide their presence and only hung around to even the odds until the Juntafeyore could join the fight.”
“I guess their secret is out after that display?”
“Not really.” Hakan shrugged. “The Hadari’Kor have been told that a new and secretive partner of the Alliance would come to their aid should they find themselves in trouble. They will keep the secret, Sila. Hadari’Kor training the Budheya have turned against the Empire, where many were neutral before.”
Even as the battle raged on around them, the Hadari’Kor in the chamber seemed to lose their earlier intensity. Sila gathered that the numbers were even now and the evacuation from the station was proceeding well. Eventually, after a battle that had Sila biting her lips, the Hadari’Kor ships beat a strategic retreat away from the station while the Brutaniyrs with the damaged one in tow, limped away towards Empire space.
“TF124 successfully evacuated” Commander Jolar broadcast over the speakers. “Disengaging to leave the asteroid belt.”
As they fled the station, a feed from behind the Juntafeyore showed a brilliant flash as the station blew up into a million pieces. Flying bits ricocheted off the surrounding asteroids to create a dangerous patch of flying debris and shattered parts. The Hadari’Kor in the chamber began to make their way out. Sila realized that the skirmish was over.
As she walked out with Hakan, the Ur’quay COM in her arm-band beeped.
“Sseela?” inquired a growly voice.
“I’m fine” she assured him. “And you?”
“The Alliance ships with the evacuees are almost to the border” he said. “The Hadari’Kor have done their job — there are no Ketaari battleships in pursuit.”
“And you, Star Captain?” Sila repeated softly.
“I am fine, little Terran. We are to meet the Juntafeyore at a nearby planetoid. I will autoport to you at the rendezvous.”
d
“I’ve received an overture from the Ketaari Emperor” Commander Kerovac announced.
With little knowledge of internal Ketaari politicking, Zh’hir glanced at his friend for cues. Astonishment flashed across Zoran’s face as he stared at the Alliance Commander’s visage on the console. The Star Captain concluded that such outreach was unprecedented. Kerovac must want their assistance, he mused. There was no other reason for the Commander to share this information. Though partners and well-wishers, neither Zoran or he was technically Alliance.