by Jan Domagala
“I’m afraid I can’t do that General, perhaps in the morning when my office is open we can schedule a meeting.”
“That’s unacceptable Sukor, we’ll talk now. Tomorrow we could be at war and you’ll be under arrest for inciting an interstellar incident,” snapped Sinclair angrily.
“What are you talking about man?” Sukor replied indignantly.
“Have you any idea where the Colonial Queen is at this very moment?” asked Sinclair.
Expecting the worst Sukor remained silent as he marshalled his thoughts ready for his response. He said simply, “Tell me.”
“The Tartaran Battlefield.”
“You’re not joking, are you?”
“No.”
“Damn, the fool did it,” Sukor said.
“Excuse me?” Sinclair asked.
“The Prince has a fascination with the place, he made enquiries about if any of our cruises went anywhere near it. I told him what he already knew, that it was a no-fly zone, so he chartered the Queen. I guess he must have bribed someone on the crew to take them there.”
“You do realise that by your gross negligence you have brought us to the brink of war.”
“I’m not sure I like what you’re implying General,” Sukor said furiously.
“I’m not implying anything, I’m informing you of something, a man of your obvious intelligence should know. You allowed a man with Aswan’s reputation to charter your flagship after he’d displayed an interest in a Forbidden Zone. Now I can only assume that he paid more than the usual charter fee for you to agree to this, but still you never thought to put any security measures in place, such as navigational inhibitors to prevent the ship straying beyond the pre-arranged flight plan. Take all that into account, and it makes you an accessory to Interstellar Treason. If war does break out, that charge will be upgraded to Instigation of an Interstellar War, which holds the death penalty.”
Sukor was dumb struck; war, death penalty? He never expected this. He thought the prince would persuade the captain to make a quick detour; they’d make a quick fly past and then return to the rest of the cruise. How in damnation had it come to this?
There was something he was certain of though, and that was that Sinclair wanted something from him. He had not called merely to accuse him. If that had been the case, he would be under arrest now. He definitely wanted something and that may yet be his salvation.
“Is there any way I can help, General?” he asked as his confidence returned.
“As a matter of fact there is. If I intend to mount a rescue operation then it must be done in total secrecy, which means no media reports. I don’t want my men endangered because someone at your company decided to give the media a sound bite on the subject, is that clear? I need a complete and utter clamp down. If the Alliance learn that your flagship has crossed over into the Forbidden Zone they’ll send troops and it won’t end there.”
“I’ll handle it, sir, you have my word,” Sukor said seeing a way out of his predicament.
“Good, if you do this right it’ll go a long way to gaining some leniency against any charges they may bring against you,” Sinclair said then ended the call. He’d deliberately led Sukor to believe that by helping any charges might be lessened, which, of course, was blatantly untrue but he allowed him to believe that. A willing participant who thinks they will gain something from it will always increase their endeavours, as opposed to someone who is forced to do something. They would rather look for a way out of their predicament, than focus on the task at hand and Sinclair wanted Sukor focused.
With that done, he could focus on what action to take.
It seemed obvious that he had to send in a select few, maybe just one team who could get in, get the job done and get out without being noticed, and that meant it had to be the Wildfire Team.
Oh were they going to be pissed when they got this call!
16
The bar was packed when they arrived and just getting to where they could get served was a chore. Whether it was because of the eye-catching outfit Torres had on or simply because of the sheer numbers of people inside, it was hard to say. It would certainly be true to say she did have an enormous impact on the male population present, and even some females too. All this garnered some unwanted attention, but was that the only reason; did the three serious looking men escorting her have any bearing on it? Whatever the reason, they were certainly noticed whether they wanted to be or not.
Finally making it to the long bar they ordered a round of drinks. As they talked among themselves, enjoying the freedom of being off camp, a tall, well-groomed and handsome man separated himself from his friends and walked up to Torres. Ignoring her three male friends he said, “Are your legs tired honey, because you’ve been running through my mind all night.”
Torres looked at Riley, who she was standing next to, the pair leaning their backs against the bar with Vance and Cooper facing them. She glanced at her two other friends who, in turn with Riley, all stared at the intruder.
Torres said, “Does that work, I mean, ever?”
The man’s smile remained in place and then slipped just a fraction as he asked, “Excuse me?” Clearly he was not used to rejection.
“That line, does it work? Oh I can see how you might have some success, the expensive suit and the charming smile. I even bet if you flash enough money around you could get laid once in a while, but seriously, did you think that line would work on me? How drunk do you think I am?” Torres said.
The man’s smile dropped away then as he looked at the three men in the group. Slowly and with disdain in his eyes as if he had dismissed them as a threat, he then returned his gaze to Torres and said, “Oh I get it, you think because you have these three chumps with you, you can talk to people however you want.”
“What makes you think I need them to speak to you? Do I need your permission guys?”
Riley raised his eyes to the ceiling because he knew where this was going.
Vance suggested, “Turn around man and walk away while you still can.”
The intruder rounded on him, anger flaring, “Are you threatening me?” he shouted.
Holding up his hands to placate the man Vance said, “Just trying to give you some good advice my friend.”
“Keep your advice and shove it up your ass,” the man said.
“Is that any way to talk in front of a lady?” Vance asked and the man squared up to him and threw a vicious right cross which Vance saw coming and evaded by twisting his shoulders. The punch sailed past his face missing by a fraction.
Torres grabbed the attacker by his balls and squeezed hard. Immediately the man’s face contorted from one of anger to one in agony. Screaming as his legs buckled beneath him Torres held him up as the tighter her grip got, the higher he screamed.
Finally, she released him, he collapsed at her feet in agony, tears of pain, and humiliation ran freely down his face.
“I did warn you,” Vance said.
The crowd around them having listened to the bi-play then seen the outcome suddenly parted to allow the man’s group of friends to come forward. All four of them dressed similarly to their friend on the floor, staring at them.
Slowly, and with some discomfort, the crumpled man got to his feet. Taking deep breaths he straightened up to his full height of close to six feet six inches.
“Oh I bet that must’ve been embarrassing, being put down by a mere girl,” taunted Torres when she saw his friends gather around him.
Beginning to gather his courage once more, he thought now that his friends were with him he had control of the situation, which he never had to start with.
As his anger flared once more he made to move, but before he could really do or say anything Riley stepped in front of him. With a calm, self-assured tone of voice he asked, “Haven’t you had enough humiliation for one night?”
The man couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“There are five of us and only three of you,” he said leani
ng in trying to intimidate the slightly shorter man.
Torres heard what was said and made to step around Riley but a quick glance over his shoulder made her rethink that action.
“You’re forgetting it was the lady who put you down, if she can do that, what do you think the rest of us are capable of?” Riley said, his voice still calm and in control.
Seeing as how Torres had backed off with just one look from this man gave him pause to think.
He glanced over his shoulder at his friends who had arrived to back him up and he was not sure how to play it anymore. Clearly he’d bitten off more than he could chew but to back down now meant he would lose face in front of his friends adding insult to injury.
In his testosterone driven mind he really had no choice.
Torres, Vance and Cooper knew what would happen so took a step back towards the bar to give their friend room to move.
When the blow came at him, Riley simply caught the fist in the palm of his hand and twisted the wrist. Instantly the suited man cried out in pain and was forced to his knees as his arm was suddenly pushed against the joint.
Two of the others stepped forward to assist, hands already balled into fists ready to be thrown.
Riley lashed out with his right leg in a bone-jarring sidekick that stopped the first one dead in his tracks as the blow almost caved in his chest. The second received a swinging back fist strike that caught him on the side of his face, which snapped his head around so he spat out a stream of blood.
Still holding onto the man’s hand as he forced him to his knees, Riley stared at the other two who were contemplating joining in. Seeing this man in action they thought better of it. Holding their hands up in surrender they shook their heads in answer to Riley’s unasked question.
“Okay man, let him go and we’ll leave, okay?” one of them offered.
Riley released his grip and helped the man up. Putting his hand on his shoulder he leaned in and said, “I suggest you rethink your opening gambit with the ladies my friend; just some friendly advice, okay?”
Sheepishly he nodded his head then joined his friends and they quietly left the bar area.
The crowd around them was quiet for a second or two while the scene settled as the onlookers discussed what they’d just been witness too.
“Man, I love to watch you work,” Torres said with a big grin as Riley rejoined them.
“The moment I saw what you were wearing I knew this would happen,” he said with no trace of malice, rather like a big brother admonishing his kid sister for having to bail her out of trouble, again.
“Oh, so now it’s my fault?” she snapped back jokingly. “So it’s my fault bozos like that can’t respect the opposite sex?”
“No, of course not,” Riley said retreating slightly knowing he was on shaky ground here.
“So what should I do, wear something that covers all my flesh just to stave off events like what happened here tonight or, should I wear what I like, what I think I look good in?”
“No, I see your point and I agree with you, but if you continue to dress like you do, looking like you do, will always attract a certain amount of unwanted attention. I’m afraid it’s inevitable, I don’t have an answer other than that for you, I’m sorry. Look let’s enjoy the rest of our evening shall we?” Riley said.
Vance said, “Sounds like a plan.”
“Yeh, it’s doubtful we’ll have any more trouble here tonight not after Captain Fantastic here’s display,” Cooper said.
Riley was about to say something when a familiar tingle alerted him to an incoming call. He held up a hand to his friends as he listened intently to General Sinclair’s voice.
“I’m afraid something’s come up and I need you all back here ASAP. Your three day leave will have to wait for a while,” he said.
“Copy that, sir, on our way,” Riley replied and he looked at his team. He said, “Sorry guys, leave’s cancelled, we have a mission. General Sinclair wants us back on base, now.”
“Well we had fun didn’t we?” Vance said as the rest of the team just stared at Riley with disappointment.
“I had fun, did you have fun Torres? What about you Coop, did you have fun?”
“Yeh, we had fun Vance,” Torres replied.
“Amazing how fast times goes by when you’re having so much fun, isn’t it guys?”
“You know as well as I do that after a day of nothing to do you’d be bored shitless,” Riley said.
“I’d like the chance to find out, wouldn’t you guys?” Vance said looking to the others for support.
“Okay, I get it, you’re all pissed. I’ll see what can be done once this is done with, will that suffice?” Riley offered by way of placating his team.
“What about bonuses, that would be good too?” pushed Vance.
“Here’s a bonus for you, my foot up your ass, how’s that sound?” Riley countered.
“Oh Jake, I love it when you talk dirty,” joked Vance.
“Yeh right, come on people, let’s move it, we’re back on the clock.”
17
Argus Marko was the leader of the Outlaws. A veteran of the Elysium Alliance Black Knights, Marko was tall and athletic standing at well over six feet tall with arms and legs that bulged with muscle. His dark hair was cut short, cropped close to his scalp. He had deep brown eyes that scanned the men working at stations around him. He was a martinet and ran the operation with military precision.
Their base of operations, which he was currently standing in, was put together from various sections of starships that had been destroyed in the battlefield and abandoned as scrap.
“Check the ship’s manifest, then the passenger list. I want to know who was on board and why they came so close,” he said.
“Yes, sir, several lifeboats evacuated the ship. I’m waiting for reports from the attack ships,” replied Barak Tarkovic, his first lieutenant who was on the Queen.
“You know what to do.”
RILEY AND THE TEAM arrived back at Area 15 as fast as they could then went straight down to Col Sec HQ deep underground. All pretence at being angry at their leave having been cancelled was forgotten. The four of them changed back into the pale blue jumpsuits all team members wore, then made their way to the briefing room.
“Welcome back, sorry to recall you so soon but this is a bad one. Designated a Wildfire Event simply because if not checked it would run through the Confederation like a wildfire. This team was put together to tackle such events, hence the name,” Sinclair said sombrely.
“What exactly has happened, sir?” Riley asked, his expression grave.
“The Colonial Queen, the flagship of the Colonial Line was chartered a few weeks ago by Prince Aswan and I’ve just received word that they are stranded at the Tartaran Battlefield,” Sinclair informed them gravely.
“But that’s a Forbidden Zone,” Torres said stating the obvious.
“Correct Lieutenant, the question of how they got there is of no concern now, we’ll deal with that at a later date the why is simple. The Prince is fascinated by the area and chartered the cruise, I can only assume on the hope of visiting it. Well that seems to have happened but in doing so he’s not only put himself, the ship and its entire crew and other passengers at risk but the entire galaxy as well.”
“Sir, if we and the Alliance have been monitoring the area how is it that a cruise liner was allowed to just wander in there?” Cooper asked.
“Since the Outlaws moved in there we cut back on the observation posts as did the Alliance. With the area protected under interstellar law and presided over by the worst scum in the galaxy, who in their right mind would want to visit the place, right? The planet’s eco system has been destroyed by the war anyway, the entire area is bathed in dangerous levels of radiation and it’s a mystery to me why even the Outlaws want to live there.”
“So where has all this information about the incident come from, sir?” Riley asked wondering how the general knew about it all so quickly.
<
br /> “One of the passengers contacted me personally via a sub space burst transmission, giving me a sit-rep including the passenger list.”
Riley looked at his team and their expressions were as confused as his. When he returned his gaze to Sinclair the general was smiling.
“I know, I don’t know how he did it either, to compress all that data into a burst transmission via his NI, to me personally, over such a vast distance is unheard of, but then we are talking about Kurt Stryder here,” Sinclair said before Riley could ask.
“Kurt Stryder is on board, how?” Riley asked.
“That much I don’t know but the fact he is just made your job that much easier and conversely, doubly important. The Alliance tried to grab him once before to gain access to the serum he was administered. Thanks to the bravery of some very dedicated soldiers, that attempt failed. I do not want another attempt on top of everything else. We have to act before they find out about the breach of the treaty.
“I’ve initiated a complete media blackout of the incident from the Colonial Line so that threat is negated for the time being, so now we have to move fast on this one people.”
“Can we rely on Stryder for assistance in any of this, sir?” Torres asked.
“Kurt is one of the best soldiers I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and work with, so yes.”
“But didn’t he resign his commission saying he wanted nothing to do with Col Sec anymore, sir?” Cooper asked.
“He’s Recon Delta Coop,” Riley said answering the question.
“What about the Prince, won’t he have his own security detail, perhaps they may be able to help?” asked Vance.
“Actually he had a unit from the Diplomatic Corp Security,” Sinclair said looking at Riley whose expression blanched, all colour draining from his face.
Torres saw this and said, “What?”
“Jake, it’s Natasha,” Sinclair said.
Riley glanced away as he already knew the answer from the general’s expression and tone of voice.