Ranh

by Ian J Miller

  "The problem is," Thappyt said, "technically, we are."

  "You want out?" Kazyn roared.

  "No. I want to get moving," Thappyt said calmly. "Time is not on our side."

  "That is true," Methrell said, "but equally, when we strike, we have to hit. We cannot assume that the Cardinal is just sitting on his hands."

  "True," Kazyn said, "but if we strike at the Cardinal's residence, even if nobody is at home, there should be evidence there that will buy us more time."

  "I agree," Hadell said. "With all of you. We have to do something, and at the very least, Cardinal Sender's residence will almost certainly provide evidence that we can use to get more allies. If we sit around much longer, we will lose."

  "There is also one further point you should all know," Methrell said. "Scaevola's battleship is departing to the outer regions. You will recall that we demanded that the Ranhynn be permitted to sort this out ourselves. Well, it seems that is happening. The news program showed him leaving voluntarily, but we don't know how voluntary it really was. Irrespective of the reason, we asked that we sort this out, so we must."

  "So we are on our own," Thappyt mused.

  "Which is what we wanted," Kazyn reminded him.

  "I never said that he shouldn't have gone," Thappyt explained, "but I repeat that I think we should get started as time is not on our side."

  "With that I agree," Methrell said. "Accordingly, I shall call up the troops, and we shall move on Sender's complex. Thappyt, I would like you to come, because you know your way around the site better than anyone else here. Kazyn, you can choose whether to come. Hadell, I would prefer you to try to keep an eye on the other Tenzatynn and Baht, take a communicator and we shall get in touch when the fighting is over, but in the meantime, you have no real skills and I would prefer it if you sat this out."

  Baht looked a little downcast, but then Hadell said, "Methrell is right. Your being there will add nothing, but there's something else I would like you to do."

  "There is?" Baht asked, with a glance of hope.

  "Yes. There are other important things to do besides being involved in a raid. Leave that to those whose training is such they won't shoot each other."

  "What do you want me to do?"

  "See if you can find that Zander Thuygyn."

  "What for?" a rather downcast Baht asked. This had all the makings of a nothing task. "He's not going to help us."

  "No, but it is also possible that the Cardinal may send for him because Thuygyn knows something about us."

  "Hah. You want me to stop Thuygyn from –"

  "No!" Hadell said. "I want you to see where they take Thuygyn. Follow them if you can without being seen. Unless the Cardinal has another base, the soldiers will get him and it will be all over, but if the Cardinal has thought this out he won't be at his residence, and we have to find him before he gets fully organized."

  "Ah, yes," Baht said, then added, "But maybe they won't go after Thuygyn."

  "No, they may not," Hadell said, "but have you any other ideas on how to find such a possible base?"

  Baht had to agree that she did not know.

  "And Baht, be careful," Methrell added. "If in doubt, run. If in trouble, use your communicator to let us know where, and then try to stay alive long enough to be rescued. And finally, take this handgun. The sergeant here will show you how to use it, but don't get carried away. It's to give you a chance if you are chased, not to start a war. Remember, they will be better armed and more used to using weapons."

  Baht took the weapon and the sergeant took her outside. He showed her the various features, how to turn it on, how to fire, how to reload, then he got her to aim at a large target. Baht hit it each time, and while she did not hit it dead centre, as the sergeant said, she would have the ability to deal with a Guard, as long as the Guard did not get her first. "Concealment is your best strategy," he said. "The gun is a last resort." With that he patted her on the shoulder and wished her luck.

  "Oh, one last thing. Can you drive a vehicle?" the sergeant asked.

  "Yes, why?" She might be unacknowledged, but she had taken advantage of Kazyn's position while working for him.

  "Then why not take a military one. They are more powerful than the civilian ones, and you might need speed to escape or to follow. If you are following someone, don't use lights other than in the middle of the city, otherwise they will notice you."

  Baht felt more important already. The sergeant, on the other hand, had little doubt that she was on a nothing mission, something to make her feel more important, and he was doing his bit to add that important feeling.

  Chapter 45

  An hour before dawn, five black silent hover-vessels appeared over the horizon behind Cardinal Sender's mansion, approached the building, then dropped lines and lowered twenty-five special forces soldiers into the jungle at the rear of the mansion. As dawn broke, two troop carriers arrived at the front gate, and a copy of the search warrant was presented to the gatekeeper. A soldier demanded that the gate be opened and a message be sent to the mansion to inform the Guards inside that they were required to line up outside the front of the mansion. If they did this, the search could be completed and nobody would get hurt. Resistance would not be tolerated.

  The gatekeeper had no idea what to do next, but since he was so outnumbered, he switched on the communicator and sent the message to the mess hall and to the front control area. He was then told to sit down and be quiet. Two soldiers were designated to stay with him to prevent anybody other than the soldiers to pass through the gates, either way.

  The troop carriers then advanced up the drive, engines full on. They reached the end of the forested part and were just about to enter open space when a blast of small arms beam weaponry hit the leading vehicle. The armour showed some glowing spots, but otherwise there was little damage, and both carriers continued full on towards the main entrance. Each carrier sent high-energy beam pulses into wherever the gunner thought was the source of the Guards' shots. Showers of rubble flew from around the windows used by the gunmen and the windows were shattered. The first carrier drove right into the front door, then its troops poured out, split, and ran along the hall to the left and right, opening doors while sheltering behind the wall then throwing stun grenades into the room. Some Guards fired at the door as it was being opened, and two soldiers were slightly injured, and when that happened, the soldiers stormed into the room and simply killed the stunned occupants. A number of the Guard sensed that they were outgunned and they decided to flee. They sent a withering fire down the hallway to the right as they retreated to the far exit. Once there, there was a small wider area where the Guards could hide behind a corner for protection and keep the soldiers at bay while the others fled outside. They then attempted to escape by running into the forest behind the mansion, only to meet the soldiers already there. These guards elected to surrender, as did a few within the main building.

  Kazyn followed Methrell and two others up to the next floor. His position in this raid was a little unclear as he had had no particular military training on Ranh, but during his time on Earth he had had to learn. Accordingly, he had been issued with a beam weapon, but he had the feeling the soldiers did not trust him with it. They reached the top of the stairs, then suddenly found they were attacked from both directions. The soldiers took cover behind the wall and then sent beams down each direction of the hallway. To the right, two Guards dropped to the floor and sent fire back as the others retreated to a room at the end of the hallway. The two soldiers then peered around the base of the wall and sent beams into the two Guards, who jerked and were clearly killed. The hallway was clear, but that meant that other Guards had set themselves up in rooms somewhere off the hallway.

  Methrell called for reinforcements and two further soldiers appeared, and now the soldiers worked their way along the hallway, two to each direction. Eventually these rooms were also cleared. That left the top level, and it was soon cleared also. Resistance was generally ove
r. Then the reports began to come in. The good news was that their casualties were light. Three soldiers had moderate wounds, two had wounds that were more serious but they were to be evacuated immediately to a hospital. A small number of Guards had surrendered, and were sent to a holding zone where Sender had kept prisoners prior to interrogation. The bad news was that Cardinal Sender and his top aides were not present.

  It was now time to execute the search that was permitted by their warrant. Methrell brought Thappyt into Sender's main office, and the two of them began examining the desk and shelves. Kazyn was looking around for somewhere that might be used as a hiding place when he heard something. He thought for a moment, and there it was again, above him. Then suddenly a hole appeared in the ceiling.

  "Take cover!" he yelled, and fired into the ceiling to hit any Ranhyn kneeling behind the hole and aiming a weapon at Methrell. There was a cloud of dust and fibres from the ceiling panel, then a beam weapon dropped out of the hole and cluttered onto the floor.

  Methrell crawled out from underneath the desk, nodded at Kazyn, and hurled a grenade through the hole, then with a "Take cover yourself!" she dived back under the desk. Kazyn dived under a table just as there was a massive thump above, and bits of ceiling showered down, followed by two Guards, one who was clearly dead, and the other who was writhing in agony.

  Methrell ordered two soldiers to clear the attic, then she turned to Kazyn and said, "Thank you."

  "No need," Kazyn said, as he brushed bits of ceiling off his clothes and plumage. "We're on the same side."

  "Yes, we are," Methrell replied. "Back to work, and let's see if we can get this crappy dust out of the electronics."

  The electronics started to provide information, but it was not particularly informative. It was then that a further vehicle pulled up, and Cardinal Zerrantyl entered and demanded to know why a Cardinal's residence was being subjected to this. Methrell and Kazyn had to suspend their search and return to the main entrance.

  "We have an authorized search warrant," Methrell said, although she was beginning to have concern that the warrant might have been cancelled shortly after she got it.

  "Show me!"

  There was no way of avoiding this, as a Cardinal from the Great Conclave had rights to protect the property of the Conclave. Methrell produced the document, and the Cardinal glanced at it, then handed it back.

  "I am sorry, but you cannot simply go fishing through Conclave documentation," he said.

  "I am sorry," Methrell said, "but Ranh is in imminent danger of –"

  "It is not in imminent danger of anything," Cardinal Zerrantyl asserted. "The Ulsian battleship has pulled away, at my request."

  "But it does not solve the problem," Methrell continued. "There were annihilation bombs built, and warships to carry them to annihilate –"

  "You have evidence?"

  "That is what we came here to get. I understand Scaevola's other ship has gained evidence and –"

  "Exactly! You have nothing of substance yet, other than assertions –"

  "But we have to get evidence if –" Kazyn started.

  "Exactly!" the Cardinal interrupted. "The use of we is correct. I shall take over the leadership role. That way, all this is the Great Conclave checking on the possibility of an errant Cardinal. Your warrant is nothing because it does not specify what you seek. I do not need a warrant, because I represent the owners of this building."

  "You wish to join the search?" Methrell asked.

  "I thought that was reasonably clear," the Cardinal said, "and I also want to interview the Conclave Guards you have here. They answer to me, not to you."

  Cardinal Zerrantyl ensured that certain files were not to be examined by anyone other than him, and Methrell decided that in the first instance she would go along with this request. She was still unsure where he stood, but eventually the financial documents relating to the materials used for constructing the warships were found. It all looked very official and correct; the money was cycled from the military and the ships belonged to the military.

  Methrell was stunned. The family of Seppet was involved, and apparently these ships were properly authorized.

  It was then that Cardinal Zerrantyl brought up further documents from the Conclave itself.

  "There is your evidence," he said at last. "Fraud!"

  "What?" Kazyn asked in surprise. Whatever he had been expecting the Cardinal to say, fraud was not one of them.

  "The money has been laundered through Cardinal Sender's accounts, but that makes it Conclave money. He has not entered that properly in the accounts of the Great Conclave."

  "That doesn't link the Cardinal to the bombs, though," Methrell warned.

  "No, it doesn't, young Seppet," the Cardinal said with a grin, "but it is a clear crime against the Conclave. I now have sufficient evidence to issue a warrant for the arrest of Cardinal Sender and for him to be disrobed, and brought before the great Conclave to face the charge of sin. I shall also issue a statement that no member of the Conclave Guard may follow any order from Cardinal Sender. You may not have the evidence you wanted yet, but we shall stop the rot."

  "So all we have to do now is to find Cardinal Sender," Kazyn mused.

  "Ex-Cardinal Sender," Cardinal Zerrantyl said. "My next move should be to interview those Guards that are here. If they know, they should tell me."

  But in that he was wrong. The surviving Guards all maintained they had no idea where Cardinal Sender was. A further search through the accounts showed some unauthorized land purchases, but rather frustratingly, they did not say where, and the purchases were carried out over twenty-five years previously by a previous Cardinal.

  "My guess, young Seppet," Zerrantyl said as a challenge, "is that you should also examine military land holdings. There is a vey clear indication that some Seppets have been involved with this."

  "I know nothing of this," a somewhat downcast Methrell protested.

  "I never accused you," the Cardinal reminded her, "nevertheless, some of the family Seppet has clearly been involved. That too will be sorted out."

  Chapter 46

  "You realize, I hope, that with Gaius and Marcellus gone, our position is somewhat difficult," Katya said to the group of humans who were sitting around a great table. "Without the power from the Actium, there is a strict limit to what I can do to help, and Natasha, your Krezell wand is to all intents and purposes, useless."

  "I can use one of the weapons we captured," Natasha pointed out.

  "But you have very limited recharge capacity," Katya pointed out, "and without the computational power of the Actium, I may have difficulty in rigging up alternative recharges."

  "We are where we are," Natasha said calmly. "We must make do with what we have."

  "That depends," Katya said in a softer tone. "It is not beyond the realms of possibility that we could get further weapons, if the need arises. And, possibly, allies, and those allies may need us more than we need them."

  "I don't understand," Livilla said.

  "Seppet Methrell has troops loyal to her, and they will fight with us, at least to a point, but what happens if the rest of the army sides with Sender, and Methrell and her troops need refuge? Our first decision must be, do we offer it?"

  "Why do we have to decide that?" Aella asked. "I thought we had more immediate difficulties."

  "We do, but if we offer refuge should the need arise, Methrell may be more inclined to help us," Marcus offered.

  "It's even more involved than that," Katya started to explain. "We have some injured Ranhynn prisoners. If we look after them, and behave responsibly towards Ranhynn in particular, we may be left alone."

  "Which means, no attacks on the egg nurseries," Marcus said.

  "Exactly," Katya said.

  "The attacks on the eggs were the one thing that kept us alive once upon a time," Alexius said wistfully.

  "Yes, but that was then," Natasha said. "It is very seldom that what works in a previous battle works again. The other s
ide know what happened then, and they have plans to avoid it."

  "That doesn't mean we can't get around their plans," Alexius pointed out.

  "No," Natasha said, "but it would be a lot better if we didn't have to. So far we are fighting Cardinal Sender. There may well be Ranhynn that would be prepared to tolerate humans, and you don't want to find a way of converting them into ferocious enemies."

  "So, how do we fight this war we seem to have?"

  "First, back to Katya's question," Natasha said. "Do you give refuge?"

  "I vote yes," Livilla said. When some of the others looked at her, she shrugged and added, "I don't think we have any choice. They have the same enemy now, and if our enemies grow, we need more friends."

  "Do you all agree?" Katya asked.

  After a little discussion, agreement was reached. They would offer it, although if it were needed, the situation was probably out of control.

  "Then if that is the case, I shall get that forwarded to Seppet Methrell, together with a request for more arms and in particular, more ammunition, and an offer to help them in any way we can."

  "How are you going to get such a message through?" Aella asked.

  "I don't know," Katya admitted, "but if an opportunity arises, we need to take it. Now, the next question. Does anyone know where the Ulsian Embassy is, and if so, does anyone know how to get into it other than knocking on the front door?"

  "That's been empty for some time," Lucius said. "There won't be any help there."

  "That depends on whether it has been pillaged," Katya said. "There should be a power source that would let me do a lot more, and there may be weapons and surveillance equipment."

  "I never thought of that," Lucius admitted. "As it happens, there is an entrance from underground. Historically, the Ulsians had left some food for us. They acquired a lot of food from Ranh, and nobody seemed to appreciate that Ulsians could not eat it."