by Renee Duke
“Rupin had Blag Dalgo’s pocket computer thoroughly checked and it appears the wretched fellow was telling the truth about the cloaked ship’s co-ordinates not being on it,” Verim told him. “But a short time ago, he told a guard he ‘might’ be able to recall them from memory if he had sufficient incentive. Such as royal assurance he will not wind up on Prexath.”
“A concession Your Majesty will not have to make,” said Mr. Skoko. “I have here a device from Ralgon that will make Dalgo’s assistance unnecessary. Cholar and Ralgon have the most highly developed technologies in the Zaidus system and beyond, but in some areas, Ralgon’s is superior. As you must know from the cloaked ship and the fact I was able to monitor the ransom transfer more imperceptibly than you could.”
Even when Ralgon had been an AUP-member planet, it had only ever been a conditional member, and one of the conditions was that it didn’t have to share its technology with other AUP-members. And it never had, or with its independent planet neighbours either, so I guess it did have a lot of stuff people didn’t know about.
“What does this device do?” Taz inquired.
“Uncloaks cloaked ships. I did not say anything about it before because, until recently, my government was only experimenting with it and I was not sure I could procure one.”
“But you did, so what are we waiting for?” said Taz. “Let’s find that ship.”
“Where do you think they’ll try from?” I asked, wondering, not for the first time, if Mr. Skoko was just an intergalactic guardian. To get hold of a new Ralgonian invention, he would have had to have had an awful lot of pull on Ralgon.
“The starport, probably,” said Simon. “Control room.”
“We’ll never get in there,” I groaned. “Security will be too tight.”
“We could just ask them to take us,” said Jip.
“Yes. We don’t always have to do things furtively,” said Arlyne.
Kirsty shrugged. “Worth a try, I suppose.”
By the time we raced around to the palace entrance, Taz, Ezrias, Verim, and Mr. Skoko were coming out of it, accompanied by Vostia, Lyetta, and Chief Rupin. All of them looking a little less despairing than they had since all this started.
Skidding to a halt I said, “Let us come, Taz. Please? If you find the ship, you’ll find Challa and Kadi. And we want to be there when you do.”
Taz sighed. “You do manage to keep your little ears to the ground, don’t you? Very well. Come along.”
At the starport, it took Mr. Skoko quite a while to scan Cholarian space. When he finally looked up from the screen on his uncloaking device, the news was only partially good.
“I am afraid the cloaked ship is no longer orbiting Cholar, Your Majesty. But I did manage to pinpoint where it had been. It left earlier today and went out of range at these co-ordinates.”
Taz glanced down at the screen. “So, it is lost to us,” he said bleakly.
“Not at all. I can track it. It will just take some time. And access to a spaceship so we can follow and get it onscreen again.”
Hearing that, the starport manager hurried off to have a royal cruiser prepared.
“Why would they have left orbit?” Vostia asked Mr. Skoko. “Could it…could it be because they have already handed Challa and Kadi over to Drazok?”
“No,” he replied quickly. “They left hours ago, and if Drazok had them I am quite sure he would have contacted you by now.”
Agitated, Taz ran his fingers through his hair. “But, still, why would the kidnappers leave orbit? Though no specific ransom was asked for, they were clear enough about wanting one, so why leave before making a set demand and collecting the agreed upon sum?”
“According to the friend I consulted to gain insight into the Quorlian mind, there could be a variety of reasons,” Ezrias told him. “They could have lost interest in the venture. They could have taken fright over something. They could have had too many people interested in making a deal and become overwhelmed. They could even have taken a fancy to the children and decided to keep them.”
“If it was because something frightened them, the Quorlians might be making for their home world,” Verim mused.
“I doubt it,” said Mr. Skoko. “Quorl is a nine-day journey from here and the message said they would be near. I would take that to mean they are heading for a much closer planet. I suspect they left orbit because, in another day or two, the cloaking device will have to be recharged. That is partially what this device does — drains the other one’s power. And once its power runs low, the ship it is cloaking becomes visible. Better then to head for a planet they can orbit freely and transport down to a hide-out on its surface.”
“I will check their records to see if there is any particular planet they are known to favour,” said Chief Rupin. “Using closeness as our criteria, I would say our choices are Orec, Shavo, and Lurgos, all less than two days away. Borel is even closer, but I doubt they’d go there. It has warrants out for their arrest.”
“Do we have more than one royal cruiser at our disposal?”
“Yes. Four in all. Anytime the Supreme Ruler is aboard one, a special distinguishing panel is lit in the rear of that particular cruiser.”
“Then it might be a good idea to have all of them go out. One setting course for Orec, another for Shavo, another for Lurgos, and the fourth criss-crossing the entire area. I would want to be aboard the one making its way to Lurgos. Before the tracker lost them, there were indications the Quorlians’ destination might be Lurgos.”
“Then why have the other ships set course for Orec and Shavo? Without you and your tracker aboard, their crews will not be able to pick up the kidnappers’ trail.”
“To confuse the enemy. If Drazok were to get a lead on the kidnappers’ ship, he wouldn’t be able to uncloak it like we can, but he could go where he suspects it’s going, get there ahead of it, and lie in wait. That way, he could dispense with ransom negotiations — in which he runs the risk of being outbid by the Supreme Ruler — and simply seize the children.”
Chief Rupin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Yes. Drazok knows we are looking too and will be watching all we do. It makes sense to give him so much to watch he cannot be certain which of our leads, if any, are paying off. I will have all the cruisers prepared and make sure no distinguishing panel is lit on the one carrying us.”
Though I really wanted that us to mean us, as well, I was sure Taz would never allow it, just in case things got dangerous out there.
But, to my surprise, he turned to us and said, “I could order all the ships to make sure they were carrying no unauthorized passengers, but that would take time we cannot afford. Remembering how easily you managed to stow away on the Derridus, I think it is probably better if I know where you are.”
“So, we can come?” I asked in delight.
“You may come.”
It didn’t take long for the royal cruisers to make ready, but none of them got more than halfway to where they were going. Orec, Shavo, and Lurgos were all still AUP-member planets, and armed patrol ships from each intercepted Taz’s ships, hailed them, asked their destinations, and refused to allow them to go any further.
For security reasons Verim thought he, Taz, and Vostia should step off-screen before we made visual contact with the Lurgosian captain who stopped our cruiser, and he advised Taz to let Chief Rupin do all the talking.
“What is the meaning of this?” the chief demanded when this captain’s face appeared. “I am Rupin Mev-Borik, Chief Royal Guardsman of Supreme Ruler Taziol IV of Cholar. We are travelling to Lurgos to —”
“Your reasons are of no interest. I am Captain Zyoth, of the Lurgosian Defence Force, charged with keeping at bay all vessels from suspect planets. Cholar has been declared a suspect planet.”
“Suspect planet?”
“One of the planets suspected of being the source of an unfamiliar and potentially deadly virus circulating about the Zaidus system.”
“We have heard of no such virus.�
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“Cholar is not an AUP-member and does not enjoy the many benefits accorded to those who are. The AUP Directorate has warned all its member-planets of the danger and insists we take this and other precautions until it has passed. Even if it is mere rumour, we were told what we must do, and will act accordingly. Ships from suspect planets will not be allowed to enter Lurgosian space. Ships from non-suspect planets will be allowed through, but subject to inspection upon arrival at Lurgos to ensure they are not carrying passengers native to suspect planets. Any that are will be told they cannot take suspect planet passengers down to our planet’s surface. And any denizen of a suspect planet attempting to land on Lurgos surreptitiously in a connector ship or some other type of SASC (surface and space capable) craft will immediately be arrested and quarantined.”
The chief’s jaw tightened. “By now those on Lurgos must have heard the children of Cholar’s Supreme Ruler have been abducted and are being held for ransom. We have reason to believe they have been taken off-world. That is why we are attempting to search for them on the planets nearest us.”
“Yes, we have heard of the abduction. I understand and sympathize, but I have my orders. Ships from suspect planets are to be kept away from Lurgos. Its leaders will not, cannot, imperil the Lurgosian people.”
Only Verim’s restraining hand on his arm kept Taz from springing onscreen to say something along the lines of him personally imperilling the Lurgosian people if he was not allowed to go to their damnable world to search for his children.
“Be still,” Verim said softly. “This sham blockade could mean Drazok and the Association are again in collusion. The sight of you would confirm this ship as the one in closest pursuit of the prince and princess, and its destination reported to Drazok. The one Cholarian to whom the Lurgosians would grant entry.”
Taz clenched his fists but stayed where he was.
Chief Rupin argued for a while, but he argued in vain. Our cruiser, and the others, were forced to turn around and go back to Cholar.
“This ship’s armed,” Simon said angrily after we’d complied. “Armed as good as that one was. Maybe even better. Why couldn’t we have just blasted our way through?”
“That would have been most unwise,” said Verim. “We do not yet know Challa and Kadi are being taken to Lurgos. We cannot start an interplanetary war on the off-chance.”
Mr. Skoko looked up from the tracker, which he’d been fiddling with throughout the argument with Captain Zyoth.
“No off-chance,” he said triumphantly. “We managed to get far enough for my tracker to pick up vestiges of the cloaked ship’s trail. And it is headed for Lurgos.”
Chapter Eleven
Much to Simon’s disappointment, Taz did not order the cruiser to do an about face and go in pursuit of the Quorlians’ ship, blasting Captain Zyoth’s from our path if he again tried to interfere. Under intergalactic law, contagion was a legitimate reason for a planet to refuse entry to suspected carriers, and Taz could prove neither the existence of the still-cloaked ship nor Challa and Kadi’s presence on it. Leastways, not yet. Not until it became visible. And if the Lurgosians were asked to arrest the adult occupants and take custody of the juvenile ones, it was highly unlikely Taz would be the person to whom they would surrender them. Far better for the children’s location to remain unknown until he could find a way to debunk the contagion story and be in a position to demand reasonable access to Lurgos to rescue endangered Cholarians (legal) or carry out a clandestine rescue of same (not so legal).
All this was hashed over at the Supreme Council meeting Taz called as soon as we got back to Cholar. It was the middle of the night by then and we were told to go to bed.
We didn’t, of course. Counting on Taz being too focussed on these new developments to make sure we weren’t around, we were again able to conceal ourselves behind the balustrade and take in the proceedings via the wildlife observer.
The entire Council was incensed by Lurgos’s refusal to allow anyone from Cholar entrance to look for Challa and Kadi.
“Not Lurgos itself,” Sub-Ruler Halid avowed. “I know it’s full of AUP zealots, but I doubt its leaders would have been so set on barring us entry if the damned AUP Directorate hadn’t put them up to it. Or, more likely, Drazok. I told you we should have thrown him off Zerrix’s Ledge.”
“If it was the Directorate, they are risking much,” said Crown Councilman Tebris. “The Supreme Ruler agreed to a mutual defence treaty with AUP’s member-planets and even allows limited trading with them. Those concessions are in the Association’s interests. Why would the Directorate jeopardize them by having Lurgos and other worlds obstruct our search for the royal children? The Association is already none too popular in this region. It did hold on to a surprising number of its planets here and has been trying to convince others it has changed its ways, but its position is still quite tenuous. If people were to think it was endangering small children for its own gain, even the worlds that stayed in after the last outrage would start to question its morality. It would not be worth it.”
“Would it not?” Verim inquired. “It is even more in the Association’s interests to have Cholar as an AUP-member planet subject to AUP laws and terms. For if its harshest critic were to accede to membership, the Directorate would be justified in thinking many worlds whose respect and admiration we enjoy would do the same.”
“Impossible,” Crown Councilman Tebris rejoined. “Supreme Ruler Taziol issued a decree forbidding Cholar’s entry into the Association. And not just while he is Supreme Ruler. Even his successors are obliged to honour it. The decree stands in perpetuity.”
“But might only apply if the successors are of the House of Beom or some other royal House,” Ezrias told him. “When the succession was in dispute, some — most — people were for High Prince Taziol and some for Prince Mardis, with some even against having a Supreme Ruler at all. In the past few days, both the latter groups have become quite vocal. If former Crown Councilman Drazok has managed to amalgamate them — and I would say the probability of that is high — both now consider him their leader, and the person they think should be the leader of all. A non-royal leader would not have to abide by a royal decree.”
“Just how might he expect to achieve that?” Crown Councilman Tebris inquired. “The majority of Cholar’s people are passionate monarchists. They would not accept a non-royal leader. And they would most definitely not accept Drazok.”
“I doubt the inhabitants of many worlds the Association encompasses are particularly enamoured of their leaders, Councilman. But those leaders have AUP’s backing, and with it the means to overcome opposition. Usually through harsh economic constraints that keep people’s thoughts more on day-to-day existence than on rebellion. But it is now known that less subtle forms of intimidation have sometimes been used as well.”
“AUP is already offering Drazok support,” said Verim. “Not overtly. Leastways, not yet. But it wants the royal family’s right to rule to be set aside, and is doing what it can to help Drazok bring that about, such as starting up the contagion yarn that is hindering our attempts to retrieve the prince and princess.”
Crown Councilman Tebris said he still couldn’t understand how, even with AUP’s help, Drazok could possibly put an end to monarchial rule. I must confess, I couldn’t either, but Ezrias went on to explain.
“Of all worlds, Cholar is the most devoted to its children. With few exceptions — Drazok being a prime example — the care and nurture of them is built into a Cholarian’s very being. Drazok knows this and will use it to his advantage if he ever gets possession of the little prince and princess. As soon as he does, the demand for the Supreme Ruler’s abdication will be repeated, this time accompanied by the intimation that failure to comply with it could place the children in grave danger.”
Ezrias looked around the room. “If, in response to this, the Supreme Ruler chose to give up his throne rather than risk his children’s lives, his abdication would not, of itself, do much t
o help Drazok’s cause. The crown would then just pass to someone else. But all the potential heirs are already on record as saying they won’t accept the rulership in Taziol IV’s stead, and Drazok will try to hold them to that. Making it clear the children’s lives will depend on them all declining the rulership, and possibly adding a threat of future danger to their own children if they do not.
“With no royal personage willing to take the throne, the monarchy would cease to be, leaving the door open for Drazok to take over, justifying it to the populace by saying Cholar’s royals had put their own children ahead of those of all other Cholarians and were therefore unfit to rule. Whether the people accepted this or not, he would by then have the Association’s help in dealing with dissension.
“That is one scenario. Here is another. The Supreme Ruler’s dedication to duty is strong and Drazok cannot count on being able to force him to abdicate. Nor can he be sure the other members of the royal family really would waive their rights. But even that is something he could make use of. If the unthinkable were to occur, and the royal children disposed of in some way in which no blame for it could be attributed to him, Drazok could stir up the people by saying, conversely, the Supreme Ruler was an unnatural parent for putting his throne ahead of his children, and the other rulership contenders equally worthy of blame for allowing it. If enough people could be stirred in this manner, the overthrow of the monarchy could come about through insurrection, and Drazok would, within this scenario, too, be able to take charge.”
I studied Taz. His grim look showed Ezrias had already run both these scenarios past him. And probably Verim as well, for he also remained stone-faced, knowing what a terrible position Taz could be placed in if Drazok managed to get hold of Challa and Kadi. If he refused to abdicate they might well be killed. And if he did abdicate the people he was sworn to serve and protect would be at the mercy of outside forces with no interest in the well-being of anyone but themselves.