Hr’ent rose to his feet, the auto-injector held in his paw. He silently drew out the Silver Blade and held it out to Rsach.
“I believe this is yours,” he said flatly.
Rsach looked up at him, and his single antenna trembled with indecision. The wounded Jeha let out a long breath and held up several pincers in a gesture of respect.
“No, Hr’ent. It’s yours. Maybe it always was.”
Hr’ent nodded once, very slowly, then slipped the blade back into his belt. He eyed Rsach for several moments, his emotions pulling him in several directions. There was a time when he would have gladly plunged the blade straight into the bug’s face. He realized that was the past, not the present.
“I’m sorry about Vresh,” Hr’ent said. “I know you two were close.” The statement caught him by surprise. Was it compassion for the dead Jeha? Was it a feeling of remorse that he hadn’t gotten to them in time?
“Maybe I’ll tell you that story some day.” Rsach coughed weakly. “Over a drink.”
Hr’ent grunted.
“Maybe.” Another burst of gunfire from down the hill drew his gaze for a moment, and then he stared down at the wounded Peacemaker and found his distaste for the Jeha fading…at least a little. “Respect, Rsach. I’ll agree to that much, at least.” Hr’ent grinned, a fearsome thing on the face of any Oogar. He leaned over and hit Rsach with the auto-injector. “But you still owe me one, and you better not die on me, or I’ll rip your limbs off.”
It was Rsach’s turn to smile, and he did just that. As the stasis drugs took hold, he managed a single, final word.
“Agreed.”
The gunfire coming up the hill drew nearer. Hr’ent looked through the arched window and eyed what was coming up at him. Downslope, he saw the rocky position where Ven was still laying down fire into the advancing GenSha. To the left and right, Hr’ent could see dozens and dozens of GenSha advancing from cover to cover as they moved up the hill. Some shifted between the trees while others ducked behind boulders to keep their hides intact.
He watched the line of GenSha troops heading straight for Ven, Rsach, and him. The scene pissed him off—really pissed him off.
He growled. Bastards, he thought. They’re all cowards. He grabbed the K-7 as his hackles rose, and a snarl crossed his face. His body quaked with growing fury, and he coaxed it along, fanning the flames as the Feral took hold.
A frag grenade went off down the hill, well off to the left, where a tight group of GenSha were moving into a flanking position.
It’s time, the Feral growled.
Hr’ent pulled the pin of the smoker and threw it into a cluster of trees 80 meters below his position and just shy of their left flank, and then he let the Feral off the chain. With a primal roar fueled by rage and the bloodlust of his ancestors, Hr’ent leapt atop the wall and glared down at his enemy, the K-7 held high.
The shooting stopped, and all eyes turned up toward whatever had made such a terrifying sound.
“I AM DEATH!” Hr’ent roared.
The smoke grenade went off with an explosive rain of sparks. Thick billows of black smoke poured out and spread quickly in the still air.
Every GenSha stared up, some with wide eyes, while others exchanged nervous glances with their comrades. Several even backed up a few steps, their gazes fixed on the Oogar that now threatened them.
A large GenSha stepped forward from the middle of their line. He was two meters of thick muscle, with yellow fur showing the orange hues of age and experience, his coat highlighted with forest green stripes.
Bith Sundo, Hr’ent thought.
“Advance!” the GenSha leader shouted to those around him, and he began moving up the hill. He raised an auto-rifle and aimed it at Hr’ent. “There’s only three or four of them!”
Hr’ent roared his defiance again, then leapt from the wall, sailing out 10 meters as the lead GenSha opened fire. Hr’ent hit the ground and put on a burst of speed like never before, heading straight for the thickest smoke.
Bullets slammed into the earth behind him as the GenSha struggled to target the racing blur as he made his way down the hill.
Hr’ent lowered the K-7 and pulled the trigger.
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty-Three
Godannii 2
Ruins
Hr’ent was a blur as he tore down the hill. The GenSha fired, trying to draw a bead on him. One blast after another spat from the K-7 and inflicted fatality after fatality on the far-right flank of the GenSha line. As he fired, he drove that side back under cover. He wanted them down for what he was about to do next.
The world went quiet for Hr’ent. His rage burned, and the bloodlust fueled his actions, but in those moments, he was little more than a force of will, a singular intent focused squarely on the GenSha who stood against him. He would kill them all if he had to, but there was one he desperately wanted to keep alive. Everything else depended on it.
Tyrn’s betrayal and Rsach’s awareness of it made all the difference.
Hr’ent visualized the battlefield as he entered the thick pall of black smoke that had spread out across the hillside. From memory, he adjusted fire and sent a short burst from the K-7 straight into the GenSha left flank ahead of him and then leapt a half-dozen meters to his left. A hail of fire tore up the hillside where he’d been standing a moment before. In a flash, he drew the Silver Blade, slashed the cable and let the power cells tumble to his feet. He leapt again, further to the left, and let off a long burst from the K-7, spraying arc-blue blasts of coherent light along the entire left side of the GenSha line. He heard screams and thudding boots.
A big GenSha materialized from the black smoke to Hr’ent’s right. In one smooth motion, he stepped in and slammed the pommel into the GenSha’s weapon before the barrel swung around to him. Hr’ent reversed his motion and slashed up and across the GenSha’s throat. A gush of blood sprayed out, covering Hr’ent. He struck out with a mighty kick and sent the dying GenSha’s body down the hill, then he leapt again, this time to his right. Another burst of gunfire tore up the hillside where he’d been standing.
Hr’ent knew he was running out of time. Sliding the blade back into his belt, he hit the release of the power cell and dove to the left, rolling across the ground to where the extra power cells had fallen. He came up with a fresh power cell, slammed it home, then rose to his feet.
“Spray the whole hill!” Bith’s voice boomed across the battlefield. “Kill him!”
Dozens of weapons opened up and started to rip the hillside to pieces. A round grazed his calf. Another streaked across the back of his neck. The pain barely registered through his fury as he took five steps toward the end of the left flank, then leapt for all he was worth. He rose straight up and over the smoke that had protected him, rising eight meters above the ground and 20 down the hill. As he flew, he opened up with the K-7, chewing into the line just short of where Bith Sundo stood with an auto-rifle, firing into the smoke.
Only a few of the GenSha saw Hr’ent sailing through the air, and he adjusted fire as they raised their weapons, raining blue death on them. More of the GenSha turned to see where the fire was coming from.
Hr’ent hit the ground 10 meters past the end of the GenSha line, rolled once, and came up firing. None of the GenSha were fast enough to draw a bead on him before he put a blast through their head or chest. He roared as he advanced, and their bodies burned before him. With the rest of the GenSha line effectively blocked by their comrades, he’d succeeded in taking away the advantage of numbers.
And then he spotted Bith taking cover behind a nearby tree.
Hr’ent blasted four more GenSha, then leapt forward in a flash as a burst of gunfire riddled the air behind him.
He landed beside Bith and put the barrel of his weapon to the older GenSha’s head.
Bith turned stunned eyes to Hr’ent, and there was a good deal of fear there…fear that turned quickly to anger.
“Honored Bith!” Hr’ent roared. �
�It doesn’t have to end like this.” He glared at Bith, his heart pounding in his chest, blood boiling in his veins. His breath came in short gasps, and he knew he had to be a sight to see. “Tell them to stand down!” he growled. “We know Dolamiir and ISMC were responsible for all of this. They manipulated the Peacemaker team into going to ISMC first with a manufactured video and a mountain of lies. For the record, I would have done exactly what you did under the same circumstances. I have executed Dolamiir Ka Shien and Satuur Nu Kovat for their crimes. And I suspect the Veetanho’s contract may have been nullified. It’s the only reason they would have pulled back, and you know it. Lay down your arms now, and we can bring this bloody nightmare to a close.” He narrowed his eyes. “Or, I can kill you and the rest of your troops right here and now.” He leaned in and a snarl curled his muzzle up viciously. “I haven’t even gotten started yet,” he warned.
Hr’ent took in a deep breath and tried to relax a bit, hoping Bith would listen to reason.
“I know it was the Jivool Peacemaker who made all this happen,” Hr’ent continued. “We had a traitor in our ranks, and he’s paid the price at the hands of the other Peacemakers. You should know, I also think someone higher up was directing the traitor’s actions. I don’t know who it was yet, or why, but I give you my word as an Enforcer that I will find out and end the threat.” Hr’ent’s features softened. He pushed the Feral back and called on the civilized part of his psyche. “Please. Don’t make me kill more of your people.” His tone was almost desperate.
Bith eyed Hr’ent, and then slowly, over the course of many seconds, the GenSha’s posture changed. It was as if the anger and frustration of 1,000 years flowed out of him and into the still mountain air. He lowered his weapon and looked around at his troops.
“Drop your weapons,” he called out in a firm, booming voice. “We surrender.” He threw his weapon on the ground in a motion that seemed to show its very existence disgusted him. He eyed Hr’ent thoughtfully. “The answers you seek are on Sabin 5. Start there.”
“Sabin 5?” Hr’ent asked. “I’ve never heard of that world. What happened?”
“I will not tell you,” Bith said firmly. “You must find the answers without my help so that it can never be said I tainted your investigation.”
“I understand,” Hr’ent said. “I’ll dig into it. And I’ll get to the truth. I give you my oath.”
Bith smiled weakly, but there was only sadness in his features, not happiness.
“I can only hope you succeed, Honored Enforcer.” He looked around the hillside. There were bodies everywhere. “Perhaps you will find a way to make sure this never happens again.”
Hr’ent thought about the GenSha’s words, and he realized something about himself that he never would have believed before. He stared into Bith’s eyes and let out a long breath.
“I think it’s why I exist,” he said. He looked up at the sky. There was only one thing left to do, and a very gratifying idea popped into his head. He lowered the K-7, flipped the safety, and powered the weapon down. “Want to go for a ride?” he asked. “I’ll even let you keep your weapons. It’s time for one last negotiation with ISMC…This time, at the end of my gun. I think you deserve a front row seat.”
Bith nodded slowly, and a satisfying grin split his face.
Hr’ent put a paw to his ear, hoping he’d be able to reach at least one of the members of the Blue Flight.
“Graa’vaa, Emonk, does anyone read me?”
“Affirmative, Enforcer Hr’ent,” Emonk said over the comm. “Five-by-five.”
Graa’vaa added, “We got comms back a short while ago and were waiting for a sit-rep from you. We could see your movements on the field, and since Emonk’s empty, there wasn’t much else we could do.”
“Copy that,” Hr’ent said. “Emonk, what’s your position?”
“About six kilometers out…in a holding pattern, ready for new orders.”
“Good,” Hr’ent said. “Get down here for an immediate evac. I have two dead Peacemakers and, hopefully, one live one that will require immediate medical attention. Be prepared to push hard for orbit. We’ll also have—” he looked at Bith. “How many do you want to bring along?”
“Just me,” Bith said easily. “I trust you, Enforcer. I’ve been waiting for you since this all began.”
Hr’ent gave him a curious look, then they heard the shriek of dropship afterburners in the distance, heading in their direction at full throttle.
“We’ll also have one GenSha passenger along for the ride,” Hr’ent added. “The Honored Bith Sundo.”
“Copy that,” Emonk replied. “ETA…six seconds…”
“Understood. Drop in at the top of the hill. You’ll find Rsach up there in stasis. We’ll be up momentarily so we can get the hell out of here.”
“Copy that.”
“Graa’vaa,” Hr’ent said, “I need you do to something.”
“Name it.”
“Tell those ISMC fuckers aboard the corporate ship that we’ll be arriving in three hours to wrap up negotiations. If they try to wave you off, tell them to meet me at the table in three hours, or I will hunt them down and execute them in three and a half. The charges will be obstruction of justice and genocide. That should get their attention.”
The weary smile on Bith Sundo’s face was all the reward Hr’ent needed.
“Roger that,” Graa’vaa said a bit uneasily.
Hr’ent spotted the growing shape of the dropship as it rocketed toward them.
“Hr’ent out,” he said. He cut the comm and locked eyes with Bith. “Could you or some of your people help me carry two Peacemakers to the top of the hill?” he asked, and there was a good deal of pain in his voice. “Their bodies are up in that notch.”
“I will do it, Enforcer,” Bith said. “It would be an honor to help you tend to your dead.” He let out a long sigh. “It seems we are all victims here, and in the solidarity of blood, pain, and lost friends, perhaps we can build bridges.”
Hr’ent nodded once, gravely.
“Agreed,” he said quietly.
The two started up the hill.
* * *
3,000 km above Godannii 2
ISMC Corporate Ship Rumiar
As Godannii 2 rotated slowly beneath them, visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Hr’ent let a steely gaze pass around the conference room where the Godannii Incident had started.
Deputy Selector Hak-Chet stood off to one side, with Graa’vaa beside him. At one end of the table sat Bith, alone and proud. Hr’ent had killed Gorn, and the other GenSha rep had been killed by Rsach, Ven, or Vresh during the first minutes of the battle on the hill. Bith was the only GenSha who needed to be there. He had taken responsibility immediately and without apology.
At the other end of the table sat a half-dozen ISMC suits. The Jivool clustered together had anxious expressions on their faces, and as Hr’ent met their gazes, they turned their eyes away from him…all of them except the new interim director, a slim, slick, tan Jivool by the name of Zuryyl Va Sutai who seemed—for the moment—not to have a care in the world.
Hr’ent had not changed his clothes or washed a square centimeter of his blood-covered fur. When he saw himself in the mirror aboard the Blue Flight, he’d been horrified by his state. His body was a patchwork maze of wounds, bare skin, and bloody fur. And that’s when he realized he wanted to present himself to the ISMC suits in exactly that fashion. It would serve his purposes.
He eyed Zuryyl as if the arrogant executive was a slab of meat.
“Some of you know me,” Hr’ent said in a low, threatening tone. “Some of you do not.” He placed his Enforcer badge on the conference table with one paw and the massive bulk of his PK-40 on it with the other. He made sure the barrel was pointed straight at Zuryyl. He narrowed his eyes as his muzzle pricked up in a faint snarl. “I am not a Peacemaker. I am an Enforcer. I am judge, jury, and executioner in these matters. It is the duplicitous and murderous actions of the Iron S
ky Mining Corporation that brought me here, and the bill has come due. As of right now, my word is law, and this is no longer a negotiation.” He let a growl thunder in his chest for several seconds. “You’ve seen the evidence in our possession, and ISMC does not have a leg to stand on. Effective immediately, ISMC will turn over to the GenSha on this world all rights, assets, possessions, and contracts applicable to Godannii 2. The honored Bith Sundo here”—he motioned toward the GenSha—“will be the executor of this transition. In reparations, ISMC will pay three billion credits to the new mining consortium of this world, and all ISMC personnel are to be evacuated from Godannii 2 within 12 standard days, regardless of expense or inconvenience. Those of your people remaining will be shot on sight.”
Zuryyl’s eyes got wider and wider with each pronouncement of the verdict.
“You can’t expect us—” Zuryyl barked.
Hr’ent’s paw moved like lightning. He grabbed the PK-40 and leveled the barrel straight at Zuryyl’s head.
“Be silent or die,” Hr’ent growled. “I carry the authority of an Enforcer and therefore the whole of the Peacemaker Guild. As far as I’m concerned, all of you are guilty of attempted genocide. I could kill you where you sit, if I thought it was appropriate. Isn’t that right Deputy Selector?” he asked, without turning to Hak.
“Yes,” Hak-Chet said immediately, with a calm that was downright terrifying. “It is.”
“As I said,” Hr’ent continued, his eyes boring into Zuryyl’s, “this is not a negotiation, and if ISMC chooses to fight this in the GU Courts, I’ll see to it that the Peacemaker Guild spends the next 30 years shoving flashlights up ISMC’s proverbial ass to uncover every dirty trick they have ever pulled, starting with Sabin 5. Make sure you tell them that before you open your mouth again.” He glanced at Bith and gave a curt nod. “After what has happened here, there isn’t an ISMC employee I couldn’t sentence to death for the deliberate genocide that has been taking place on Godannii 2.” His eyes flitted across the stunned faces of the Jivool on the other side of the table. He growled and let it grow into a roar. “YOU ARE ALL GUILTY!” He felt the Feral poke it’s head up, hungry for their blood, but that wouldn’t serve the needs of the GenSha…or the mission. The killing had ended. Now ISMC would pay up or suffer even worse consequences. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “ISMC has one of two choices. Either they do what I have ordered here today, or I take all of the evidence I have in my possession, as well as everything I can dig up, and go straight to the GU. As it stands, I could probably have ISMC shut down permanently and all of its assets seized. If you want to roll those bones, you go right ahead. Try me. Oh, and one more thing. I’ll also hunt each one of you down and make good on the death sentence for genocide. ISMC might survive. I can guarantee none of you will.”
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