Tarizon, The Liberator, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 1

by William Manchee

34

  Evacuation

  Lorin watched Peter’s boat disappear in the bank of fog lurking just offshore. She turned and walked back to the PV that had brought her out to the docks. She had to get back to headquarters immediately as she had been given a message that General Zitor wanted to see her. She wondered if it had something to do with the shift in the weather stream. It had been the main topic of conversation all day. There was fear that LB 1's position had been compromised anyway; but even if it hadn’t, if the weather stream shifted the sky might clear giving the TGA a birds eye view of the air traffic going in and out of the base. The TGA had a large network of satellites that would be trained on the Beet Islands, but normally the dense pollutants in the air would hide them. As she rode back to headquarters she gazed at all the magnificent buildings the Nanomites had built for them. What a waste it would be to blow them up, she thought, but they couldn’t leave them for the TGA to use against them.

  Back at headquarters she joined General Zitor in the strategy room. He was deep in conversation with several other officers. She stood by the door until he was finished.

  “Are they gone?” he asked her when the last officer had left.

  “Yes, they’re on their way to Lortec.”

  “Good. I hope Leek’s plan works.”

  “If they get into position without detection, I think it will.”

  “I pray you are right. It’s important we win these first few battles. Our people need a taste of victory if they are going to make it through the long struggle ahead.”

  “We’ll give it to them, Sir. I’m sure of it.”

  General Zitor smiled. “I’m going to be busy with the attack on Lortec tomorrow, so I’m going to need you to handle the command evacuation.”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll get right on it.”

  “I know it will be difficult to leave in the midst of battle, but it’s important that we’re not captured. You should bring Lucinda with us. We must be sure no harm comes to her for Leek’s sake.”

  Lorin was a little angry over the prospect of having to babysit Lucinda. She had so much to do and she knew Lucinda would be an irritating distraction. Why was Peter so obsessed with her? She wasn’t extraordinary in any way. She was just a guide, for sake of Sandee. What did he see in her?

  Lorin nodded without revealing her distaste for the assignment. “I’ll tell her to prepare for immediate departure. Where will we be going?”

  “The mutants have secured a good portion of southern Tributon and there’s a base there where our forces can stay until we find a new LB 1. I need to meet with Threebeard and the mutant generals. We’ll stay there until it’s time to go to your father’s investiture.”

  Now that the civil war was underway it had been decided that a new government should be formed under the Supreme Mandate. Councillor Garcia had been the obvious choice for Chancellor since he had spearheaded the Loyalist movement from its inception. In order for the new government to have any credibility there had to be a memorable ceremony to commemorate the historic occasion.

  Lorin didn’t like the idea of gathering the most important leaders of the Loyalists movement together in one place. Such a meeting was an invitation to Videl to attack them. If he was successful he could end the civil war before it really got started. She had voiced her concern to her father, but he had assured her that the gathering could be protected. He told her that if there was to be any chance of victory he had to show the people that he wasn’t afraid of Videl Lai and could protect those who followed him.

  “All right,” Lorin replied. “There’s a Lukon PT22 available, I believe. It should be big enough to take most of the command staff.”

  “Go then and make it ready.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Lorin said turning to leave. “What about Leek? Will he be coming with the command staff?”

  “Not immediately. We definitely need him at the investiture, but it will be too dangerous for him to come back to LB1 after the battle is over. In fact, by the time the battle is finished, LB1 will no longer exist.”

  “Where will you send him, then?” Lorin asked.

  “If he survives the battle tomorrow, we’ll send him somewhere far away where he’ll be safe until the investiture. It’s important that he be there when your father is sworn in.”

  Lorin left the general’s office and set out for the hanger to inspect the Lukon PT22 that would take them to their hideaway in Tributon. Lorin was excited that she’d soon have the opportunity to meet with Threebeard. Next to her father, she considered him the most important asset of the Loyalists movement. His intelligence and wisdom were legendary and she was anxious to find out what his battle strategies would be to drive out the TGA from Lamaine Shane. She also had a few ideas herself she wanted to share with him.

  The main hanger was crowded with mechanics, pilots, and crew readying their planes for battle. Lorin hurried past them to where she’d seen the Lukon PT22. Two men were walking around the plane with clipboards. She approached them directly.

  “Who’s the pilot of this craft?” she asked.

  The taller of the two men straightened up. “That’s me. Evohn Cystrom.”

  “I’m Lorin Boskie, military liaison to Councillor Garcia. You came in from Pogo with Leek Lanzia, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the pilot said. “How can I assist you?”

  “General Zitor is going to need this plane for the evacuation tomorrow. I’ll need you to get it ready and pilot it for us.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Where will we be going?”

  “It isn’t necessary that you know that information now. I’ll advise you of our destination an hour before we take off, so you’ll have time to input our course into the computers.”

  “But I’ll need to know how much fuel to take on and how many passengers to take provisions for.”

  “You can assume you’ll have a full plane and it will be traveling a very long distance. You’ll have to refuel along the way. We’ll give you instructions once we get airborne.”

  “Yes, ma’am. What time will we be leaving?”

  “Midday tomorrow,” Lorin replied. “You’re the one whose father was killed by Videl, isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Lorin nodded. “You sure you can fly this thing? You’ve only had basic flight training. Have you even flown it yet?”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. I picked up recruits from Lower Azallo just yesterday. It was no problem. I was the top in my simulator class, even better than Leek.”

  “Very well. You’ll have very important passengers, so nothing must go wrong.”

  “It won’t. I’ll deliver all of you safely to wherever you want to go.”

  “Until tomorrow, then,” Lorin said and walked off a little uneasy. She had no doubt that Evohn was smart and capable, but he had no experience. What if the computers failed? Would he be able to take over manual flight and get them to their destination? She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but it didn’t matter. She knew there were no other pilots available. Every pilot would be committed to the battle at Lortec tomorrow and Evohn would have to do.

  With transportation arranged Lorin’s next task was to advise Lucinda that she’d be leaving. She didn’t relish this task as she’d just dragged her half way across the world to be with Leek, and now Leek was gone and she’d have to journey across the world again with no idea when she’d see him again. She knocked on her compartment door. The door flew open.

  “Lorin. Hi. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Can I come in?”

  “Sure,” Luci said and motioned her to a table with two chairs. Lorin walked in and took a seat.

  “Leek got off okay. I watched him leave. They’ll be in Lortec before daylight.”

  “Oh, I hope everything goes well. I’m so worried about him. Do you think he’ll be back by evening?”

  “No. That’s why I’m here. There’s been an unusual shift in the weather streams. It seems that tomorrow will actually be a c
lear day—something extremely rare.”

  “So, that’s good. It will be nice to see the sun.”

  “Yes, except that with a major military campaign underway, it will make it easy for the TGA to discover where all our planes are coming from. From their satellites and high altitude recognizance drones they will no doubt discover LB1.”

  Lucinda swallowed hard. “So, what does that mean?”

  “It means Leek will not be able to return to base and we must all leave here before the missiles hit and destroy the island.”

  “Where will you send Leek?”

  “I can’t say, but he’ll be safe. On the other hand, our situation is more desperate. We must leave here by midday tomorrow or face annihilation.”

  “Oh, Sandee save us! Where will we go?”

  “I can’t say, but you’ll be traveling with me and General Zitor, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  Except your pilot has less than nine kyloons flight time. Not to mention that the TGA will be desperately searching for our plane since it will be carrying half of the Loyalists high command on board.

  Lucinda frowned. “This isn’t what I expected. I thought I’d have more time with Leek.”

  “You will. This weather stream shift is very unfortunate.”

  “Maybe it’s a sign from God that He is not with us?” Luci said.

  “No,” Lorin replied hastily. “God would not be with a man like Videl. Videl is evil. Our God is good.”

  “But, such an unusual weather pattern. Why has it happened?”

  “There is some reason for it, I’m sure. In time, perhaps, we’ll understand it.”

  Luci nodded and looked at a stack of boxes and suitcases against the wall. “As you can see, I’ve barely begun to unpack, so it will be little trouble to be ready tomorrow to leave.”

  “Good,” Lorin said. “I’ll send some soldiers by first thing tomorrow to take your things to the plane.”

  “Thank you,” Luci said. “You are very kind. I know you have more important things to do than keep track of me.”

  Lorin looked at Luci and sighed. “If I’ve let any resentment show, I am sorry. This isn’t easy for either of us, I know. Hopefully, you’ll be with Leek soon and he can look after you. Then, I hope, we can be friends.”

  Luci smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Lorin’s thoughts turned to Jake as she walked back to her quarters. She had her own mate to worry about. He’d be flying into battle before dawn’s first light and only God and Sandee knew if she’d ever see him again. This was the first big battle of the war. Up until now all their preparations had been theoretical—almost game-like. Now, however, she knew Jake would really be up there in the sky with hundreds of TGA soldiers and pilots trying to shoot him down. She shuddered at the thought of it. He was waiting there for her when she stepped into the barracks. They embraced.

  “Oh, Jake. I prayed this day would never come.”

  “Why? I’m excited. I think we’re going to catch them by surprise. It was so lucky that Leek and his friends stumbled across the base at Lortec.”

  “I hope you’re right, but they must be on high alert after the attack on Muhl.”

  “Maybe. But they knew those few planes were stolen planes from Pogo. I doubt they realize we have hundreds of fighters just like them ready to strike.”

  Lorin sighed. “Don’t try to be a hero up there. I don’t want to have to register for a new mate.”

  Jake pulled her to him and they kissed long and passionately. When he let her go he said, “Don’t worry. This is God’s war. He’ll watch over us.”

  Lorin looked away. She wasn’t as religious as Jake, she was a politician who believed in science more than religion. She believed God existed and Sandee saved Tarizon from self destruction, but she knew a lot of good people would perish in the coming civil war despite the fact that they were God fearing people. Not because God was evil, but because their sacrifice was for the greater good. She prayed Jake wouldn’t be one of those sacrifices. She needed him. She couldn’t imagine life without him. Was this what the Earthchildren called love? She didn’t know, but whatever it was it was powerful and felt wonderful. She thought back to the day of her mating selection.