“That, doctor, is the Krulig operations compound,” Valawn said. “It houses the Zuul barracks, along with their training areas, armory, and a landing field on the facility’s backside. The compound also houses the gaudy monstrosity that is the lord prefect’s primary residence.”
“Lord prefect?” Taylor didn’t recognize the term.
“Each colony is presided over by a Krulig prefect,” Valawn said. “These beings serve as both the head of the local government and the ultimate authority over the Zuul garrison stationed on their soil. The lord prefect is the supreme head.”
“And he presides over Nyo Colony,” Taylor surmised.
“Correct,” Valawn said. “His name is Yolik Sadeed, and by all rights, his is the face of the entire Krulig occupation. All the prefects from the other colonies answer directly to him. They always have.”
A shuttle passed by overhead. It circled wide and put down near the far-side guard tower.
“This lord prefect sounds like a real peach,” Taylor said.
“You have no idea,” Valawn muttered.
The shack’s front door swung open as Billy and Douron reemerged into the street.
“Looks like we’re clear,” Billy said. “There’s nobody inside.”
Taylor started for the shack with the others while Douron stood watch outside. The place was completely empty, save for a smattering of broken pottery on the floor and some old equipment that looked like it hadn’t been used in years. There was also, Taylor noticed, very little natural light coming in. That made much of his surroundings hard to see.
Wonderful. Taylor followed Valawn through the front common area, nostrils filling with the scents of dust, ancient wood, and animal droppings, then into a small room near the back. Again, there was nothing. Just more empty space, with a skylight overhead and a second door on the far wall.
And there’ll be nobody home. Taylor was about to say something when unseen footfalls preceded the second door’s opening.
“Centress Padona.” Valawn gave a bow. “Welcome.”
Two figures emerged from the shadows. The first was a tall Rukori male, wearing the same tattered work clothes as Valawn. The other was a small Rukori female whose lined face and shriveled hands told the story of her age.
“Greetings, Valawn,” the centress said in a warm tone. “As always, it does me good to see you.”
“And I you, Centress.” Valawn straightened and clasped his hands. “To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”
“The information I possess was too important for a comm transmission. Before we start down that path, however…” The centress turned a curious eye to the Humans. “Perhaps we might discuss the presence of your companions.”
Valawn gestured with a hand. “Centress Padona, please allow me to introduce Chief Van Zant, Captain Dawson, and Dr. Wright of the Earth Mercenary Ship Ryley Osyrys.”
“Van Zant.” The woman’s golden gaze widened. “You’re with Swamp Eagle Security.”
“Yes ma’am,” Taylor said. “It was our ship that happened upon your planet earlier today.”
The centress brightened. “Well, this is outstanding news. If you are here, that means Colonel Van Zant fulfilled his promise to bring help. Tell me, how many ships are with your convoy? How many fighters?”
Taylor pursed his lips. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s just us. The crew of the Osyrys.”
The centress’ snowy eyebrows knit. “I don’t understand. According to our plan, the colonel was supposed to—”
“Terry Van Zant passed way, Centress,” Valawn said cutting to the chase. “This is his younger brother, Taylor.”
The Rukori woman held her tongue, and Taylor wondered if he looked as awkward as he felt.
“Please forgive me, Chief Taylor,” the centress said. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”
“It’s okay.” Taylor tried to sound reassuring. “There was no way for you to know.”
The centress shifted, as if pondering her next words. “If I may…how is it that you’ve returned to Rukoria if Terry’s mission was a failure?”
“My brother didn’t fail,” Taylor said. “He got your nav data back to Earth as planned, and even got it uploaded into a ship. He just didn’t get the chance to finish the job.”
“And is that why you are here?” the centress asked. “To finish the job?”
Billy shifted beside the doctor and cleared his throat.
“With respect, ma’am,” Taylor said. “I didn’t even know you folks existed six hours ago. Right now, my primary focus is on findin’ a way home for my ship and her crew.”
The centress nodded, seeming to understand.
“So,” Valawn said, “this information you spoke of. What’s so important that you’d risk exposing yourself to present it to us?”
The centress reached into her robe and came back with a small device the size of a matchbox. She then placed the device onto the floor and pressed a button, sending a cascade of light spiraling from its top into the open. There, the light hovered at the center of the room before it converged into a holographic map of the open desert.
“What are we looking at?” Paul asked.
The centress waved her fingers, causing the image to tighten on a specific plot of sand which was lined with plants.
“This is a bulsina field roughly thirty miles south of Nyo Colony,” the centress said. “At almost eighty acres in size, it’s by far the largest in this region and a major food source for our people. Tomorrow, our workers will exit the gate at sunup to go harvest the field’s crop.”
Valawn crossed his arms. “I don’t see the problem. We always harvest the bulsina field during this time of the season.”
“Indeed, we do.” The centress faced the RFC commander. “I was just informed by Lord Prefect Sadeed that the Krulig intend to seize a sizable portion of the crop as this month’s tribute.”
“How sizable?” Valawn asked.
The centress exhaled. “Three-fourths of the haul.”
“That godsdamn alien swine!” Valawn flared his nostrils. “That’s more than twice their normal demand!”
“Yes, it is,” the centress said. “The lord prefect says the extra take is to benefit a Krulig mercy mission off-world.”
Valawn snorted in disgust. “Please. Sadeed intends to sell the bulsina crop to a buyer, just like he does with everything else he seizes. That’s the way this works.”
Taylor put up a hand. “At the risk of askin’ a stupid question, what’s so special about this desert plant that the Krulig would jeopardize your food supply? Ain’t there somethin’ else you can offer as a compromise?”
“Finding a compromise would require these monsters to have a modicum of conscience.” Valawn grunted. “Believe me; they do not.”
The centress shifted the holo image with another wave of her fingers. This time when the light reconfigured, it did so on the form of a fruit with the shape and coloring of a pear.
“The bulsina fruit is one of the few sources of produce we’ve been able to cultivate in these conditions,” the centress said. “It grows wild in the desert and, when peeled, yields a pink flesh-like substance which is extremely sweet and rich in nutrients.”
Paul snapped his fingers. “Do bulsina plants showcase yellow flowers when they’re in bloom?”
“They do, actually,” the centress said.
Paul turned to his peers. “I’ve seen this fruit before in Jax Startown. One of Pete Harvick’s guys had scored some from a XenSha on Karma Station and was passing it around. The aliens call it kenso fruit. It’s considered a real delicacy.”
“I take it then that the XenSha pay for that delicacy,” Billy noted.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Paul said. “Pete’s guy won his in a bet. Ordinarily, though, he says kenso fruit goes for roughly ten credits a bushel.”
Taylor ran the math in his head. Ten Galactic Union credits equated to roughly a thousand dollars in US currency. He returned his focus
to the hologram. Damn, there’s gotta be an eight-figure payday there, minimum.
“We cannot allow the Krulig to take that crop,” Valawn said. “We simply can’t. We’ll offer tribute another way.”
“I’m open to suggestions,” the centress said.
Valawn stared at the floor, clearly deep in thought. When nothing came, he exhaled and turned to Taylor. “Chief Van Zant, I understand that the Rukori people are strangers to you. You have no history with us, and thus no stake in our plight. Even still, the Rukori aren’t strangers to Swamp Eagle Security. It is with that thread in mind that I would humbly request your company’s assistance, if you’ll allow it.”
Taylor turned aside and rubbed his temples. Really, T, how did you think this was gonna end when you came down here? Billy and Paul were anxiously waiting for Taylor’s reply when he opened his eyes.
“The frigate in orbit I know about.” Taylor caught a sideways look from the XO. “Talk to me about ground numbers.”
“On average, each colony is occupied by four to five hundred Zuul, plus twenty to thirty Krulig,” Valawn said. “Most of them stay confined to their barracks; however, there are anywhere from two to three dozen Zuul patrolling the streets at any given time.”
“How about ships and battle mecha?” Billy asked. “Is there anything beyond what’s in orbit?”
Valawn shook his head. “The cruiser and the frigate were all that I knew of, and the Osyrys destroyed the former. There are, however, two to three shuttles posted at every colony for cross-desert transit and use during personnel changes on the ships.”
“Has that Behemoth ever posed a problem?” Paul asked. “I mean, I know they’re typically only used for cargo, but still.”
“The Behemoth won’t be an issue,” the centress said. “The Krulig dispatched it back through the stargate after your ship vanished from their scopes.”
“Shit,” Billy snapped.
“Does this mean what I think it does?” Paul’s eyes darted from man to man through his glasses.
“The Krulig are makin’ a dash for reinforcements.” Taylor excused himself from the group and fixed his stare on the hologram. He hated a bully—always had—and that’s exactly what they Krulig were. At the same time, he couldn’t afford not to think of his own people. The Osyrys had taken a beating versus the Maki warships, and that’d been with her weapons and shields at full capacity.
Then there was the ground situation. Even if Nyo Colony were at the low end of Valawn’s projections with three hundred Zuul, they’d still outnumber the Eagles’ personnel by almost four to one.
There’s gotta be somethin’ we can do. Taylor allowed himself another second to think, then rejoined the others. “Let me get back to my senior staff and see what we can work up.”
“Bless you, Chief Van Zant,” the centress said with relief. “Truly, you are a gift from the gods.”
“Yeah, well, don’t go grantin’ me sainthood yet.” Taylor shot her a sobering look. “I said I’d meet with my staff to evaluate the situation. For now, that’s it. If my advisors tell me this is a fool’s errand, I can assure you that all bets will be off. I will not—repeat, not—commit my people to a fight we can’t win. I just won’t. Are we clear on that?”
Valawn exchanged looks with the centress. “That’s perfectly fair. How might we be of assistance?”
The clatter of footsteps outside interrupted the discussion.
“Excuse me, Commander,” Douron said as he burst into the room. “We have a problem.”
“What is it?” Valawn asked.
“There’s a squad of Zuul headed this way.”
Valawn spun to the centress. “You must go, now.”
The little Rukori turned for the door with her aide, though not before imparting a final word to Taylor. “Regardless of your decision, I thank you for coming here today to hear us out. Safe travels to you and your crew, and I hope to speak with you again in the days ahead.”
Taylor would’ve tipped his cap were he wearing one. “Ma’am.”
The centress offered a parting smile, golden eyes gleaming above deep gray cheeks, then vanished from sight.
“Come,” Valawn said. “We, too, must be going.”
Exiting through their original door, Taylor ran down the hall behind Billy and Paul while Valawn and Douron brought up the rear. Once to the common area, the group bolted through the exit into the open, where six Zuul locked eyes on them from fifty yards up the street.
“You!” The lead Zuul snatched a weapon off its back.
The air between the two groups ignited in a staccato of laser fire as Billy and Douron staked out each side of the street.
“Go!” the XO shouted past the butt of his rifle.
Valawn grabbed Taylor’s arm and led him with Paul to safety behind the shack.
“What’s the status on our ride?” Taylor asked.
“I was just wondering the same thing.” Valawn drew his comm device and put it to his mouth. “Retay, where are you?”
A crackle of static preceded the corporal’s reply. “I’m loading the final supplies now. Why, what’s happening?”
“We’re pinned down outside the meeting point and taking fire from six Zuul,” Valawn said.
“Acknowledged,” Retay said. “I’m on my way.”
“Negative.” Valawn shook his head. “There’s no way you’ll reach us without being caught yourself, or worse. Stand by while I find an alternate rally point.”
“We’re about to be overrun here!” Billy yelled from his crouch on the corner.
Taylor rounded the shack with his rifle and tapped off two quick shots. Both struck a Zuul square in the chest, collapsing it to the dirt. “Valawn, we got an exit strategy or what?”
The RFC commander reached under his tunic and fished out a small cylinder with an access panel atop its casing.
“What is that?” Paul asked.
“It’s an old Rukori reconnaissance drone,” Valawn said. “We found three of them on the bandilaros when we discovered the Sanctuary.”
Taylor jerked back when a laser bolt exploded the wall near his face. “Yeah, well. Whatever it is, I suggest you get it airborne before we all become dog food out here.”
Valawn laid the device on the ground, then stepped back and pulled a palm-sized controller from his pocket. The drone was in the air shortly thereafter.
“Retay,” Valawn said, searching the data. “Proceed to the harvest barns four blocks east of our original pickup point. The Eagles and I will meet you there.”
“Understood,” the corporal said.
Taylor whistled, then flashed a fall back hand signal to the others.
Billy acknowledged, then motioned Douron to go first.
The Rukori sergeant nodded and took off running, only to faceplant in the dirt mid-stride when a laser bolt slammed his back.
“Douron!” Valawn yelped.
“Got it!” Paul answered.
Before Taylor could think, the Eagles’ doctor had sprinted into the open, weapons fire spiking the sand at his feet, and scampered to the big Rukori’s side.
“Billy!” Taylor shouted.
The XO was already on it. He threw up his rifle, and together with the others, held the Zuul at bay while Paul got Douron to safety.
“Let’s roll!” Billy said.
The group took off through the district, cutting back and forth through a maze of alleyways, with Valawn leading the way. Not long after, they emerged from between two harvest barns onto a side street like the one they’d left.
“Where’s Retay?” Billy searched for the hauler as sounds of an angry horde trailed them from behind.
A loud vroom answered, followed by a billowing cloud of dust on fast approach from the north.
“Coming in!” Paul pointed up the street.
Retay slammed the hauler to a stop, sending several crates toppling over in the bed. “Get on!”
Taylor bounded over the sidewall and took a defensive post near the b
ack. Billy did the same on the bed’s other side, while Valawn took the seat beside Retay.
“Paul, you got Douron?” Taylor asked.
“As best I can, yeah.” The doctor pulled a dressing from his bag and put it to the Rukori’s wound. “I have no idea how his body will react to nanites, so I’ve gotta do this old school until we get him back to Sanctuary.”
“Go!” Valawn ordered.
Retay gunned the engine, sending a spray of debris flying into the faces of a group of Zuul that rounded the corner in pursuit, and were immediately driven back by Human laser fire. From there, the hauler tore off down the road, then hooked left toward the southern checkpoint.
“How far to the gate?” Taylor called.
“Two minutes,” Retay said. “Just stay down, try not to get shot, and we’ll handle the rest.”
“Check that.” Valawn inspected the drone feed on his slate. “The Krulig are redeploying their forces to block our egress.”
“We got other options?” Billy asked.
Valawn swiped at his screen to shift the drone’s trajectory. “As it stands, most of the redirected Zuul are coming from the Krulig compound, which is all the way to the east. The remainder are coming from the town square at the colony’s heart.”
“What’s your point?” Taylor asked.
“Our current heading takes us straight through the Zuul reinforcements to get to the south gate,” Valawn said. “By contrast, it will take them a while to get to the west gate.”
“Can we make it?” Paul asked.
“If we hurry, yes,” Valawn said.
Taylor was about to give a thumbs-up when the blaring cacophony of engines, live firearms, and screaming aliens roared onto the scene.
“Heads up!” Billy yelled.
Retay pulled the yoke hard right as an armored Zuul transport sliced in behind them.
“Retay, if you’ve got a gas pedal on this tub, I highly suggest you step on it.” Taylor pushed over a stack of crates for cover as the exchange of fire resumed.
“I can assure you, sir, that is my intention,” the corporal answered.
The hauler bucked hard as an enemy laser bolt tagged its right-rear quarter panel.
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