“Corey Anne, how long have we known each other?”
“I told you, don’t call me that name.” She stood up, glaring at him. “Just answer my question.”
“We’ve known each other for over ten years. I was the one who recognized your potential and pointed you to Corona so you could take advantage of it. This planet was ripe for someone with your political savvy. Together we got you into parliament and into a ministerial position in record time. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, I’ve been guiding you, but I’ve been trying to take you where you want to go. These people need your leadership, and my job is to make sure they get it.”
“You almost make that sound reasonable. You expect me to believe that you’re working on your own and you’re doing it for me?”
“Take a look at what’s happened since I’ve been working for you. Have I steered you wrong?”
“Up until lately your advice has been good, but recently things have been going wrong more than right. Are you really working for me? A straight answer this time.” She locked her eyes on his, daring him to tell a lie.
Without breaking his gaze he started, “Of course I am. … ” The urgent news alarm from the webcast cut him off.
The AI turned on the audio, and an announcer said, “The mayor and former commandant of Sykesville, Susan Winsock, and several other concerned citizens have just called the local militia into a meeting. Mayor Winsock told our reporter that they were going to order the militia out of town and asked us to carry the feed live. Mayor Winsock stated, ‘It’s time the citizens took back their city and their lives.’”
Both Quan and McKillip watched in stunned silence as Commander Colt stepped onto the briefing stage in the dining hall and took control of the gathering. McKillip found herself snickering despite her dismay when Colt silenced Commandant Gradishar. When the broadcast ended, both she and Quan stood shocked for several seconds.
When McKillip found her voice, she said, “That man just defeated a whole battalion of militia without firing a single shot. What are we up against?”
Quan was equally bewildered. “I’m not sure. That was the Commander Colt we tried to trap in Dixon. I’m beginning to realize how dangerous he really is. We have to get him out of the picture.”
McKillip had rapidly composed herself. She asked, “What do you have in mind?” with a commanding voice.
“I’ll think of something. Let me talk to some people. I’ll be back soon.” He headed toward the door.
He halted briefly when McKillip said, “I still want a straight answer to my question, and I will get it.”
Out in the hall he flipped his communicator open. “We’ve got real problems, and I’m not sure which is worse,” he said.
Chapter 35
“Well, Mayor. You have your city back, and I don’t think anyone will try to take it from you again. Thanks for your help.” Colt was standing by Lindsay’s van in the rapidly emptying visitor parking area.
“Thank you, Commander. Are you sure I can’t help on this next job?”
“You have work to do here getting Sykesville back to normal. However, I do need as many experienced troops as I can get for this next operation and I could use more of them. If any of your marshals are willing to help, I can use them.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Don’t sugar coat it,” Colt advised. “This operation will probably be dangerous.”
“I’ll let them know. Watch out for yourself.”
“I’ll call you when it’s over.” Colt said with a half-smile. “If you don’t hear from me, you’ll know it went south.”
###
Lindsay wasn’t as understanding. “You’re going to what?” Her face was pale.
“I’m going to lead a raid on militia headquarters in Dixon to capture the provincial commander. I’m confident he knows who’s really running the militia.”
“You’ll get yourself killed.”
Colt knew better than to lie to her. “That’s possible, but I’ve got a lot more help this time. I believe it’s worth the risk.”
“I don’t,” Lindsay countered. “I’ve already lost one man. Can’t you let someone else lead the raid?”
“No, it’s my job. I can’t send people in where I won’t go myself.”
She dropped her head. “I know, but, dammit, I don’t want to lose you.”
“Believe me, I want to be certain I come back to you, but it has to be this way.”
“I’m not sure I’m going to want you back. I don’t know whether I can take it anymore.”
“You don’t mean that — do you?”
For a second she stood silent. Then she took his hands. “Please come back in one piece,” she whispered.
###
With the six deputy marshals Mayor Winsock had recruited and the thirty-one members of the Invincible crew that Fitzhugh had released, Colt had fifty-three members in his team including Toby and Howard Walker. It was after sunset when they landed their eight vehicles on the outskirts of Dixon and drove into the city in ground mode. The streets were completely deserted, making Colt feel uncomfortably exposed as he dropped off Harry Chapman and the Walkers at the city power plant. Leading the team toward the downtown complex that the militia was using as headquarters, he kept a constant lookout.
Several blocks from the city center they stopped and assembled for a final briefing. Colt unrolled his portable display and stuck it to the van’s side window. “Let’s keep this simple. We’re going up against trained military, so this could turn ugly in a hurry. I’ve set up a distraction that should get us in, but we still have to watch our step.”
He pointed at the center of the display. “The mercenaries control the center of the city, and there are about as many of them as there are of us. These buildings are their compound.” He indicated four buildings facing the town square. “Quarters here and here. Armory here. Headquarters and combat operations center here, and that’s where we’ll find Dixon the Third. I know I’m repeating myself, but we want him alive and able to talk.”
He changed the display. “Here are the known threats. Fitzhugh’s intelligence says these four gun mounts are manned. They’re primarily for airborne targets, but they cover most of the surface approaches. These additional mounts are remotely operated. Altogether they don’t leave many areas on the ground that aren’t covered. We’ll be approaching in the power tunnels, but if we have to surface for any reason and we start taking fire while we’re in the open, these areas in green are about as safe as we can get. And keep in mind that the only way out of them is through the building walls.”
He looked at them. “Hopefully we won’t come to that. As far as Fitz could determine, there are no surveillance sensors in the outer buildings, but we’re assuming that the tunnels near the headquarters are rigged with video and perhaps acoustic and IR sensors. The team at the generator station will cut power on my signal, but don’t count on the sensors being out for long. As soon as the power goes off, disable as many of the sensors as you can. The power outage may bring the guards, but our distraction should have tied up most of them above ground. The ones in the tunnels will approach slowly because they won’t know how many of us there are. We can take them out with stunners and stun grenades. Blasters are a last resort.” He paused.
“Once we’re in, your job will be to neutralize any guards you run into and set up force fields to block all the approach tunnels. When they’re secured, Tony, your squad will join Sergeant Hess and me inside the command center, and as soon as we have Dixon the Third in custody we’ll announce to the mercenaries that it’s over and they are dismissed.”
Green belts that ran down either side of Central Avenue forced the squads to walk in the open for the remaining distance. They broke into small groups and did their best to look as if they were out for a stroll. Colt kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to be spotted by a militia patrol. He was right.
Before they reached the city center, a troop carrier heading from downtown rolled to a stop beside Colt’s group. The militiaman in the shotgun seat opened the door and glared at them. “What the Hemlock are you violating curfew for?” he growled.
Colt glared back, “Since when can’t citizens walk their own streets without some jerk in uniform hassling them?”
“You know bloody well that the brigadier ordered a walking curfew tonight. Are you looking for trouble?” The militiamen signaled to the troops in back and got out of the carrier. “Perhaps you’d rather spend the night under lock and key.”
The other militiamen vaulted to the ground with their weapons ready. They quickly surrounded Colt and the others. Colt backed down, “Look, I apologize if I offended you, but aside from your guns, what authority does the brigadier have to declare a curfew?”
“Aren’t our guns enough?”
“No, damn it. We’re free citizens and Dixon isn’t at war with anyone that I’m aware of.”
“Like I said, aren’t our guns enough?” The edge of the militiaman’s mouth quirked upward.
“Nancy?” One of the other militiamen lowered his weapon.
“Bryce? I heard you’d been killed.”
“You two know each other?” The first militiaman asked.
Hess replied, “I used to work for New Castle, but I got fired. Bryce was in my platoon. He never could beat me at hand to hand.”
“I can now!”
“Let’s see you prove it.” She glanced at Colt.
“I’ll hold your coat,” he said. As she shucked her jacket and handed it to him, he carefully made sure her weapons weren’t exposed.
Bryce looked at the first militiaman, who nodded. He took off his jacket and handed it and his weapon to another militiaman. The two combatants stepped into the center of the circle that had formed, assuming a ready position. Bryce said, “Corporal Steig, would you do the honor?”
The first militiaman nodded. “This will be a fight to the first take down,” he said. “Fighters ready? … Begin!”
Bryce immediately went on the offensive, delivering a side kick that almost connected. Hess grabbed for his leg but missed. She jumped back to avoid a left hook that came with surprising speed. This time she hacked at his arm and met muscle. He jerked his arm back, swearing. Before he moved far Hess delivered a kick that hit his knee, but he was moving away from the blow, and it glanced off.
For the next five minutes the battle went back and forth, neither combatant doing serious harm to the other. As the fight continued, the rest of Colt’s team drifted up and joined the circle of watchers. Several of them positioned themselves behind the militiamen as if there wasn’t enough room in the circle.
Orsini commented to the man next to him, “I’m betting on the blonde.”
“No way. Five quid says Bryce takes her.” The other responded.
Orsini took out his wallet and fished out a five credit note. “You’re on.”
As soon as Colt saw his team was ready, he caught Hess’s eye. She slipped under Bryce’s roundhouse as if to attack his mid-section. Instead he swept the arm down and inward striking her neck with his forearm. At the same time, he thrust out his leg. Hess fell forward onto her hands and knees. Bryce was immediately on her back with an arm around her throat. She reached up with one hand to pull his arm away. He took advantage of her unstable position and rolled her over onto the ground. He threw up his hands and yelled, “Down!”
Seven stunners fired simultaneously, and the standing militiamen all slumped to the ground. Hess swung her right hand up and caught Bryce’s. “Nice job, Bryce,” she said as he helped her to her feet. “You’ve definitely improved.” She stepped aside as Colt fired his stunner.
Moments later they were on their way again. Orsini and his team had taken the carrier with the unconscious militiamen to get to his entry point. The rest of the team meandered toward downtown.
Colt signaled a stop two blocks from their objective to survey the situation. The militia complex occupied squat, municipal government buildings facing the town square. All four buildings stood clad in stark pseudo-marble with columned porticos in front. Heavy barricades had been dropped in the streets so surface traffic had to slow down and snake around them to reach the square.
“Looks like they’re expecting trouble,” Ensign Leslie whispered. “Do you think they know we’re coming?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Colt responded.
He quickly reminded the team of their assignments and was finishing up when from the back of the group Buchanan, one of the lookouts, shouted to the group. “Everybody down! We’ve got company!”
###
Colt hit the pavement, drawing his stunner as he dropped. Raising his head he saw movement down the road. A crowd had spread completely across Central Avenue, emerging from the shadows as they moved toward Colt’s team. When they passed beneath a street lamp, Colt recognized them. He quickly rose to his feet. “Our distraction is here. Everyone get to your positions and signal me when you’re in place.”
In a few minutes over one hundred Lodaanii, male and female, wearing gaudy ceremonial garb had reached Colt. They stood silently as he climbed onto a parked flyer to address them in Lodaanii. Colt finished off, “I am indebted to you for being here. You know what you are to do. Again, thank you.”
Colt jumped down from the flyer, landing next to Jontaro. “You know we do this for leto-gellen,” the Lodaanii reminded him.
“I do,” Colt responded. “Let us go.”
The Lodaanii immediately moved out into the street and started toward the city center. They picked up a brisk pace. Staying close together in the middle of the street, they began a song which reminded Colt of Mardi Gras music. Sure enough, within seconds they had started dancing, a powerful, hypnotic dance that swirled and surged down the street.
For a moment Colt followed them with his eyes as they reached the barricades and flowed around them, continuing the song and dance. Glancing toward the roofs of the buildings on either side of the street, he watched uneasily as the live gunners there pointed their guns at the crowd, but they all seemed more amused than concerned. They tracked the Lodaanii erratically, pausing on one group or another from time to time but stayed away from their triggers.
Colt had already located the nearest manhole. He slid the cover off, and in a few seconds his communicator began beeping as signals came in that the other units had reached their positions. After the last one, he keyed his communicator briefly to alert the team at the power station. The whole city went dark. He and Hess slid on their night-vision goggles, and Colt led the way into the power tunnel below.
With the power off, the night-vision goggles had to rely on infrared to pick up images outside the circle of starlight that came through the manhole. Climbing down the ladder, Colt was instantly aware that he and Hess would be spotlighted targets. As soon as he cleared the roof of the tunnel, he began watching down the tunnel toward the headquarters building. At the bottom of the ladder he detected movement. As his feet touched the fused earth floor of the tunnel, he realized that one of the moving objects was bringing a weapon into firing position. He jumped up and grabbed Hess around the waist, yanking her off the ladder. They both fell backwards into the opening of a cross tunnel as a blaster bolt struck the ladder, sending a spray of molten metal in all directions.
Chapter 36
The bright flash from the bolt overpowered their night-vision goggles momentarily. It also blinded the militiamen who were moving up the tunnel. As Colt and Hess struggled to crawl into the side tunnel out of the line of fire, the militiamen fired a volley. Bolts struck all around them, creating clouds of dust and spraying them with pieces of fused earth. Before they were completely clear, the roof of the tunnel collapsed dropping large, broken chunks on them.
Gasping in the dust Colt pulled his shirt over his face and drew in a breath. When his goggles clicked back on, he saw from the infrared image that Hess wasn’t moving. He reached
toward her, “Nancy, are you all right?”
She coughed. “I’ll survive, but my legs are trapped under the rubble.”
“Let me see what the situation is.” Colt stood up and flicked on his wrist light briefly. The flash showed him that the entire entrance to the side tunnel they were in was blocked. He turned the light back on to get a better look. Hess was lying on her back in the shallow drainage ditch that ran through the tunnel. A slab of ceiling lay across the ditch, pinning her legs but not crushing them. “Give me your hands. Let’s see if we can get you out from under there.” He reached down and grasped her hands, noting how powerful they were. “Yell if this hurts.”
He began pulling, gently at first and then harder as she failed to move. He was sweating profusely when she lurched forward a half meter. “Damn,” he swore.
“Don’t quit,” she grunted. Struggling as he pulled, she managed to drag her right knee up and get her foot against the slab. With her pushing and him pulling, her other leg came free. Her trouser leg was shredded and her leg was red with blood.
“You’re bleeding.” He knelt to examine the leg. “You’ve lost a lot of skin. How’s it feel?”
“It hurts like hell,” she answered. “Let’s see if I can stand on it.”
He helped her to her feet and held her up as she tested the leg. Carefully she let go of him and took a tentative step, then another. “My ankle hurts, but nothing is broken.”
“Are you able to carry on?” Colt asked.
“Yes sir.”
“You’re sure?”
“Commander, we have work to do. We can’t stand around arguing over a minor injury. We can clean my leg up when we have Brigadier Dixon in custody. We need to move.”
“We certainly can’t go back into the main tunnel,” Colt commented, examining the wall of debris that filled the side tunnel entrance.
“And there’s no way to get to the other side of the main tunnel from here,” Hess pointed out. “How do we get to the command center?”
Peacemaker: The Corona Rebellion 2564 AD Page 30