by Brian Dorsey
She couldn’t challenge a direct order from the ProConsul; that would draw too much attention—and possibly confirm Astra’s fears of a plot, if she had any. “Fine, Praetorian. You’re on my fucking team,” she conceded with scowl. “But the only thing the ProConsul has ordered me to do is to take you with me. Beyond that, you fucking Praetorian robot, you will follow every fucking order I give or I’ll knock that privileged smirk off your face.”
“Of course, Paladin Martin,” replied Oxia. “I,” he added as he looked directly into Martin’s eyes, “don’t need to be told to follow orders.”
“Just get on the fucking transport, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” replied Oxia with a salute.
Martin looked down at the orders in her hand, crumbling the paper into a tight ball. “Everybody load up!” she shouted so that the others could hear.
Shara and Graves were the first to reach the transport.
“So what’s up, Major?” asked Shara.
“Looks like we’re taking the Praetorian instead of Plaxis.”
“No difference to me, one First Family officer for another,” said Graves. “Just point me toward the enemy, Major. That’s all I give a shit about.”
“He’s going with us?” asked Shara, his concern showing.
“Is that a problem for you, First Sergeant?” replied Martin.
“Not a problem, Major,” answered Shara, shrugging his shoulders. “Should’ve known better than to try to understand why you officers do anything the way you do.”
“That’s what happens when you think too hard, First Sergeant,” said Martin. “Now load up.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied, giving Martin a quick glance of confusion as he walked up the ramp to the transport.
Martin gave him a nod to acknowledge she knew things just got bad.
“So what happened, Emily?” asked Desro, now standing next to her.
“Son of bitch got Astra Varus to order that he follow me…or Astra Varus ordered him on her own.”
“Do you think she knows about the plot?”
“I don’t think so…if she did, we would already be dead or on our way to Capro.” She stopped, her brow furrowed. “Or she is using us as bait to draw out other supporters or to find Stone.”
“You said this plan would work, Emily,” said Desro, glancing toward the transport. “If that son of a bitch is a spy?”
“Oh, he’s a fucking spy, Venny. I just don’t know if he knows anything or not.”
“Well if he doesn’t know, he’s gonna know soon enough when we show up for a meeting with the Terillians and General Stone.”
“You don’t think I know that?…Just…I’ll deal with it. I just need some time to figure it out.”
“Well, you’ve got about a week and a half, Emily.”
“Thanks. Maybe I’ll just shoot him in the back of the head and dump him out of the garbage shoot,” replied Martin as she started up the ramp.
“Funny.”
“I’m not kidding,” she said, turning back toward Desro. “But for now, I just want to get this can out of orbit.”
Martin walked into the troop compartment where Shara and Graves were sitting, through the small passageway with the access to the engine room on each side, and into the flight control compartment leading to the cockpit. Once there, she checked the engineering status panel to verify controls were set to automatic and ran the hull containment check protocols. Satisfied, she moved forward toward the cockpit. Opening the door, she saw Lieutenant Oxia standing between the pilot and navigator seats.
“Where are the pilot and navigator?” he asked.
“You’re looking at them,” replied Martin.
“You?”
“You signed yourself up for this mission, Praetorian. If you don’t like it…I’ll open the fucking door for you right now.”
“This is highly irregular, not having a pilot or navigator.”
“This entire mission is irregular…and in case you have forgotten, highly classified. If I fly and handle the navigational plots, that’s two less people that have to be debriefed.”
“And what if you become incapacitated?”
“Then I guess you better figure out how to fly a transport, Praetorian,” she replied, brushing past Oxia and sitting in the pilot seat.
“And where are we going?”
“You’ll find out when the rest of the team does.”
“And why do we have to wait? Bravo Team has known they are going to Port Royal for a week.”
“Everyone knows we will be looking at Port Royal, so it made no difference. Our destination is need to know,” said Martin as she ran the Master Systems Alarm and Warning check sequence.
“I have the highest level of classification, Paladin. I am a Praetorian Officer and—”
Martin turned and rose from the pilot seat as the alarms began blaring and the systems test ran their course. “And I determine what you need to know and when you need to know it, Lieutenant. I have actually spilled, and shed, blood with other members of this team, and they don’t know, either. Do you see them asking me where we are going?”
“They are not my concern. I—”
“Everyone on this fucking ship is your concern, you son of a bitch,” she exploded, shoving Oxia backwards.
Oxia stumbled but regained his footing. Anger washed over his face as he gripped his sword. “You can’t—”
Before his could start to unsheathe his sword, Martin’s was at her side.
“You’re not guarding the damn ProConsul anymore, Praetorian. Out there in the nothing, you will be expected to watch our backs, and we will watch yours…that’s what soldiers do.”
“Are you challenging me?” asked Oxia, slowly pulling his sword from its sheath.
“If it’s a fight you want, Praetorian, I’ll give you one. But I think the ProConsul would rather we find the Traitor than have your body delivered to her after I open up your chest.”
Oxia paused. “You are right, Paladin. The mission must come first; but be assured, the ProConsul will hear of all of this when we return.”
“I’m sure she will, Praetorian,” she replied sheathing her sword. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get this ship in the air.”
Martin returned to the pilot seat and acknowledged the alarm and warning checks were complete.
“Fine,” said Oxia. “But I still want—”
“I’m doing mission stuff, Praetorian. Go away. You’re bothering me.”
Martin watched Oxia fume in the reflection of the airflow status screen on her control panel. After a few seconds, the Praetorian officer turned and stormed out of the cockpit.
“Damn it,” she said aloud, smacking her fist against the control panel. Maybe she should’ve just killed him then. There was no way the situation wouldn’t come to a head in the next few days, and he would have to be handled. But she also needed a story that Astra would believe, and she was pretty sure Astra Varus was close to reaching her fill of tall tales from her.
“I’ll think about that tomorrow,” she said as she began the reactor startup sequence.
***
Astra slowly rose from her knees. Her skin was warm and clammy, dotted with beads of sweat from the heat and humidity of the room. She hated reporting to the reptilian Xen ambassadors, and the fact that the environments of their estates were unfit for any respecting Humani made it that much worse. Mimicking the Xen home planet environment, their homes and offices remained at a steady 95F and near 100% humidity.
“We are pleased to see you,” hissed the Xennite advisor, Dlackar.
“I, ProConsul Varus, leader of the Humani people, am honored to have the privilege to serve the Empire and the Emperor,” she responded, wiping sweat from her brow.
“As am I, Lord General Zorlar, Head of the Yellow River Clan, Cousin to King Vali of the Doran Southern Multi-polis, and combined leader of the Doran Humani Expeditionary Group.”
“What information do you have for
us?” added Vartor, the other advisor.
Astra glanced toward Zorlar from the corner of her eye, sweat rolling down her face.
“Wise and clever advisors,” added Astra, “the flow of slaves from Bravo system has not only reached the requested numbers, but has increased to make up for previous shortcomings.” She turned slightly, smiling toward Zorlar and then toward the advisors. “None of which would have been available without the support and guidance of Lord General Zorlar. His leadership and support of the Empire has resulted in the Senate awarding him our highest honor, and because of his efforts, I humbly request his name and that of his cousin, King Vali, be mentioned at the Weekly Reading to the Emperor.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zorlar turn toward her. Astra knew the mentioning of his, and more importantly his family’s, name at the weekly update of Empire operations to the Emperor would be a political laurel that could be used against King Vali’s political opponents. And now, since it came from a non-Doran, it wouldn’t seem like a political move.
“This is good news, ProConsul,” replied Vartor.
“And we are pleased to see our allies are cooperating as well as you are,” added Dlackar. “It appears you are working well together to meet the desires of the Emperor.”
“Our duty is to serve the Empire,” said Zorlar, with a thankful nod toward Astra.
“And your service will be read to the Emperor,” said Dlackar.
Zorlar bowed slightly. “I am honored.”
“If there is no more to report,” replied Vartor, “you may be excused.”
Astra and Zorlar bowed in unison and turned to exit the sweltering room.
Once outside, Zorlar turned toward Astra.
“I am in your debt, ProConsul,” said Zorlar.
“I spoke the truth, Lord General,” replied Astra with a smile. “Your assistance has been vital to our success.” Now time to reel him in. “And from what I have heard from the Advisors, your Northern King has taken too much of the spotlight from the hard work the Southern warriors have done both here and against the Terillians in your sector.”
Astra saw what she could only interpret as surprise on Zorlar’s face.
“We have been…” Zorlar paused. “King Vali will be informed of your support, ProConsul.”
Astra smiled and nodded. Artemis had earned his pay. Zorlar had let his harsh, superior demeanor drop, if only for a moment. Favorable words on his behalf would also gain favor with his cousin, with the King, and with the Emperor. And as far as Zorlar knew, Astra had gotten the information from the Xen. “Thank you, Lord Zorlar. We are allies and therefore must look out for one another. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course, ProConsul.”
Chapter 14
The “thump-thump” of the music blasting inside the bar pulsed against Martin’s body and reverberated in her ears as she stared at the entrance. Her heart pounded even faster than the music booming from the club. She knew she would have deal with Oxia soon, but that wasn’t the cause of her apprehension. It had been a long time since the plot had been hatched…since she had seen Stone. She feared he would lose himself to the Akota ways—to that Akota woman. Which Tyler Stone would be inside the bar? The leader who had mentored her, or someone else?
“Is this shit-hole the place?” huffed Oxia.
“That’s why we’re fucking here,” replied Martin without looking toward the Praetorian.
“Is the little bar too scary for you?” prodded Sergeant Graves. “You afraid you’ll get your nails mussed up?”
Oxia turned toward Graves. “No, but I don’t make a habit of wallowing in filth.”
“Afraid you’ll catch some disease in there?” she replied.
“I will need a shower after just stepping into this dump,” replied Oxia, his nose wrinkled and mouth curled in disgust.
“You’ll probably have to ‘get in’ a little more than the door to catch a disease, but I’m sure you can find one or two recreation girls that are all loaded up with a virus or two,” said Graves with a smile.
“You can wait outside if you like,” said Martin, seeing an opportunity. “In fact, you just volunteered to be the lookout.”
“Do you want me to stay outside?”
“I need someone to, Lieutenant. And that someone is you.”
“I don’t know—”
Martin stepped in close to Oxia, looking up toward the tall, proud puppet of Astra Varus. “Are you going to follow my order or not?”
“Fine, Paladin,” he conceded. “I’d rather stand in this dirty street than go into that cesspool.”
“Great, can we go now?” grumbled Desro.
“Enough,” interrupted Martin. She didn’t want Oxia growing suspicious, and she was tired of the banter. “Fuck it,” she declared as she stepped forward and pushed the door open to the ringing of bell attached to the door.
The acrid smell of incense, the flashing of strobe lights, and the roar of the music filled her senses as she stepped through the entrance. She scanned the room for Stone as the others entered behind her. “Shara, you cover the left. Graves…to the right,” she ordered.
“What the hell are we looking for?” asked Graves.
“I’ll tell you when I see it,” replied Martin.
Martin paused as she saw Mori emerge from the mass of people in the bar. She was alone and in full uniform.
So much for subtle.
The bell at the entrance rang, and Martin turned to see Oxia enter. Her heart stopped. This was going to be bad. She quickly turned toward Oxia, her hand sliding to her pistol. “I thought I fucking told you to stay outside.”
“I saw a Ter patrol and wanted to—”
“So you made it,” shouted Mori over the roar of the club.
Martin saw Oxia’s eyes open wide as he saw Mori. “Scout Ranger!” he shouted, reaching for his weapon.
Mori’s expression tightened as she reached for her pistol.
Martin didn’t have time to think; she reacted. Yanking her pistol from its holster, she placed it to Oxia’s temple and fired.
The crack of Martin’s pistol drowned out the music as Oxia’s head jerked to the right. The crowded bar erupting into chaos as the Praetorian’s body crumpled toward the floor.
“Stop!” shouted Martin as she saw Graves bring her rifle to her shoulder. “Don’t shoot!”
Shara stepped in front of Graves’s line of fire. Graves shifted to her right, but Shara moved to block her line of fire again.
“Get out of the fucking way!” she shouted.
“Just wait,” pleaded Shara.
“What the fuck just happened?” demanded Graves as she stepped backwards, her weapon shifting back and forth from Mori to Martin. “You fucking shot him!”
“What the hell is going on?” asked Mori, her weapon pointed toward Graves.
“Everybody lower your fucking weapons!” shouted Martin over the still-pounding music.
Martin looked toward Graves. Her eyes screamed, her face contorted, and her mouth was moving, but no words came out. Martin let out a grunt, raised her pistol, and fired two rounds into the sound system behind the bar of the club. “Now can we all stop fucking yelling,” she said, turning back toward Graves.
“What the fuck is going on…you know this fucking Ter?”
“Lower your weapon,” said Martin calmly.
Graves refused, her weapon still directed at Mori.
“Sergeant Graves, lower your weapon,” repeated Martin. “That’s an order.”
Graves looked toward Martin, her body tense. “But—”
“Sarah,” added Shara. “It’s okay…just lower it.”
“Somebody needs to tell me what just happened,” demanded Mori, her pistol still held on Graves.
“Just a minute, damn it,” replied Martin, sliding her pistol into its holster and holding her hands out to her sides in a calming gesture. “I’ll explain everything—to everyone—as soon as everyone calms down!”
Mori slowly
lowered her pistol and Graves followed suit as the last of the patrons scurried out of the bar.
“Paladin Martin,” said Graves, “what is this about? How do you know this Ter?”
“That’s Terillian, Hanmani,” replied Mori. “Who are these people?” she continued, turning her gaze toward Martin.
“My team,” replied Martin. “And why the fuck are you in uniform? You might as well have rung a fucking bell.”
“You’re within Akota lines, sweetheart,” replied Mori. “Why wouldn’t I wear my uniform? And it looks like being on your team is a bit dangerous,” said Mori, glancing at Oxia’s body.
“He….isn’t on the team anymore.”
“Someone tell me what the fuck is going on!” interrupted Graves.
Martin walked over to Graves and placed her hand on the barrel of her rifle. “Remember when I told you that you would learn things that would shake your beliefs? Remember when I asked if you trusted me?”
“Yes…but—”
“Do you still trust me?”
“Yes. I just don’t…why did you kill the Praetorian?”
Martin placed her other hand on Graves’s shoulder. “Everything you have heard about Stone is a lie.”
“What are you talking about?”
“In fact, everything you’ve been told about our people…our history—all of it—has been a lie.”
“What?”
“The Xen are not our allies. They’ve been our masters since they invaded our planet generations ago. The First Families have ensured their wishes have been carried out ever since. Including starting the wars against the Terillians.”
Graves stumbled away from Martin’s grip. “No,” she gasped. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s true, Sarah,” added Shara.
Desro nodded, confirming Martin’s words.
“No. It can’t be,” replied Graves, gripping her rifle tightly.
“You better get your dogs under control,” said Mori, holding her pistol at her side.
“Damn it!” shouted Martin. “Everyone stand-the-fuck-down!” She turned toward Shara and Graves. “Shara, explain everything to Graves.” Martin stepped toward Graves. “Sergeant, what Shara is going to say is going to be hard to believe, but it is the truth. Don’t think about what you have been told your whole life…think about what you know about Shara and me.” She paused. “And Stone.”