The young boy, who couldn't be older than eight stans lifted his head from the center of the pile and looked at me. The keening wail he made next was a sound of despair I would remember for a very long time. I held my hands out in an attempt to quiet him, but he was having nothing to do with it.
A number of things happened next, most significantly, however was that the man quickly moved the Norigan's head to the side and with remarkable grace, jumped to his feet, pulling a crude bone knife from a belt as he did.
"Whoa," I said, holding out my arms defensively. Apparently, this was not the right answer as he pounced immediately. I was in no-man's land. We were here to rescue them and were instead being attacked. In hindsight, perhaps approaching the tiny village while they were lying down was a bad idea.
Before I could react, I was on my back in the dirt, unwilling to pull my pistol and fire; unwilling to fight. I needed a better plan. Fortunately, Tabby didn't have any issues with a plan. A quick side-kick tossed the man to the side, which was apparently a breach of some sort of protocol. We were jumped by two women, who immediately came to the man's aid. It was a proverbial dust-up. However, with Tabby under attack, I was no longer willing to sit back, although I still wasn't interested in lethal force. I felt horrible, pushing back the women and children. They weren't overly strong and were clearly fighting for their lives. After a few minutes of scuffling, Tabby got her arm wrapped around the man's neck and held his bone-knife to his throat.
"Your helmet, Liam," Tabby said.
I held my hand out to the man who'd initiated the attack while I pulled my helmet off. "Do you speak English?" I asked. He narrowed his eyes, but didn't respond. It was a longshot that we still spoke the same language.
Translate to Norigan, I directed and looked at the Norigan who'd stepped forward to hold the man's hand. "We're here to help, Norigan. Tell them to back down."
"Why would you attack if you are here to help?" The Norigan asked.
"You have incoming," Marny said over the comm. "A group of eight approaching the dwelling you're in."
I looked at the tactical display. Marny had identified them as yellow targets which indicated they weren't Kroerak at least.
"Copy that, Marny," I said quietly.
"I am Captain Liam Hoffen. We come from Sol and have a faster-than-light capable ship," I said. "We desire to provide transport away from this planet to a place of safety."
The Norigan looked up to the brown-skinned man and exchanged a series of hand-gestures.
"Clear the doorway, Liam," Tabby said, pulling the man back into the room, though still holding him.
"Sendrei believes this is a test from the bug-gods," the Norigan answered. "He says we will resist you."
A woman, no older than Marny stepped into the dwelling and looked first at me and then to Sendrei. An animated exchange of non-verbal communication ensued, at the end of which, she ducked out quickly.
"Liam. We have a runner," Marny warned. "What do you want me to do?"
"Not sure. It could be a problem," I said.
"Frak!" Marny said. "We're going to have trouble. She lit some sort of pyre. Nick, we're going to need you. Tabby, Liam, I've got fifteen Kroerak inbound, twenty seconds."
"No test, Norigan. Make a choice, come with us and live or stay here and starve. Convince them," I said and scooped up my helmet, sprinting as Tabby pushed the man away from her and followed.
The sound of gunfire spurred us forward and I found Marny standing her ground, her 816 on full automatic fire. If I'd hoped that the guns would simply mow them down, I was sorely disappointed. The armor piercing rounds bit deeply into their thick shells, causing chunks to fly off, but the amount of time it took to tear through a single bug was too much.
Surprise was on our side as the Kroerak were certainly not expecting a full out blast in the face. I switched over to grenade loads and blooped out three at the front of the chaotic line that approached. I knew from our previous encounter that I wouldn't kill them, but knocking them back might buy us much needed time.
Switching back to automatic fire, I joined Tabby and Marny. For a while, we reached a sort-of equilibrium. We were losing ground, but we'd also cut down half of their number. The problem was they'd surrounded us and I for one was running out of ammo at an alarming rate.
"Ten seconds," Nick said.
Two Kroerak turned from the remaining seven. It didn't take a genius to realize they were headed for the soft targets.
"Hold this ground," Marny demanded and bolted skyward. I smiled and took the easy shot, as the Kroerak I'd targeted was distracted by her skyward launch.
"Frags, Tabby!"
She was more than happy to oblige and plastered the remaining bugs with grenades. I toggled the focus-fire target to the first Kroerak to stumble and we chewed him up.
"Bug out!" Nick yelled. It was hardly a standard command but with the remaining Kroerak at danger-close we gladly rocketed up to safety. A second later, Hotspur's bottom turret illuminated the night with a blast that incinerated the last Kroerak.
Tabby and I jetted back toward the dwellings where Marny had lodged her katana into a bug. She was, so far, successfully dodging the attacks from a second.
"No auto-fire," Marny commanded. “The civilians have no idea about lines of fire. You'll kill 'em with friendly fire."
Still in the air, I pulled the pistol she'd provided and aimed it between my feet as the bug charged. First, I'd like to say that I was quite surprised at the kick of the weapon. I was barely able to hang on for the ten shots I fired and struggled to maintain my position. Second, while I didn't kill the beast, I did cause it to stumble.
"Aaiieeee." A blur from the side was the only warning any of us had as the brown-skinned man, Sendrei, landed atop the bug, burying Marny's katana behind its head. The Kroerak stopped moving and fell to the ground, dead.
"We got a shite-storm coming in three minutes," Nick said. "That was just the warm-up band."
"I've marked a landing-zone, Nick," Marny said. "Tabby, when that bird hits the ground, I want you in that ship on those turrets."
I half-sprinted, half glided back to the first hut where the Norigan stood watching.
"The time for decision is now. A Kroerak army is coming," I said to the alien. "We will take you to safety or you will stay here. Bring nothing, we will provide whatever you need. But you must hurry, your lives depend on it."
"Nick's on the ground," Marny said. "We need to go!"
I lifted off. It wasn't difficult to tell from what direction the army was approaching. A cloud of dust rolled behind a column of heavy, ground-based vehicles. I was mystified as to how we were unable to detect the technology of the Kroerak from our ships, but I could certainly detect it now as they lit up my grav-suit with a targeting laser. Heavy projectiles were next. To my relief, the frightened humans and Norigans were shuffling onto Hotspur.
"Marny, help me," I said, grabbing the husk of the fallen Kroerak that still had Marny's katana embedded in it.
"I like where your heart's at, but I'm not sure we have time," she said, but joined me anyway.
Hotspur's hold was plenty big for fourteen people, especially when empty. Put a dead Kroerak at one end and you gain a lot of open space in between.
"We're in, Nick. Go," I said as I palmed the security panel to close the loading ramp. It was none too soon, as the dust of our enemy closed in on our position. As it was, Nick would have to fly close to the surface to avoid whatever they might have that could hit us at range.
"We're missing one," the Norigan approached me and reported. "It was the human boy."
"Frak. Where?" I asked.
"He is still in the hut," the Norigan answered as I threw myself out of the closing door.
"Keep going. I'll figure it out."
"We're done playing," Tabby said. "Stay low, Liam."
Hotspur spun and rocketed away from my position. Projectiles streaked into the air and the whooshing sound of ground-to-air weapons drowne
d out everything else as launchers released their payloads. Hotspur rolled out of the way and I could only wonder how the people in the hold were faring. Moments later, two missiles streaked forward from Hotspur and the thunderous sounds of impacts were followed by twin fireballs rising a hundred meters from my position.
I ran into the hut, found the child cowering in the corner and scooped him up. I knew my actions weren't going to reduce his fears, but this wasn't going to be a great place to hang out for quite a while to come.
LIVESTOCK
"Liam, they've set up heavy projectile launchers," Tabby snapped as I approached Hotspur.
I glided through the exterior airlock door that stood open for me and responded. "Let's get out of here."
"Hold on to something. They're coming in fast and I'm going to hit it hard," she said.
It was all the warning we would receive. A moment later, the boy and I stumbled into the aft bulkhead, thrown by the excess of inertia. The roar of the atmosphere rushing by and the rapid thwupping of our turrets firing were a stark warning of just how close the enemy was.
The boy's bright blue eyes shined through his muddy, tear-stained face as he looked at me questioningly. His fear had given way to resignation more quickly than I'd have expected. He moved his hands sharply, rested for a moment and then repeated the same movements again.
Interpret hand signals.
"Not enough information," my AI replied.
The atmosphere rushing by the skin of the ship slowed well after the thwupping of the turrets ceased.
"Are we clear?"
"Aye, Cap," Marny replied. "We're clear of the ground forces and fifteen thousand kilometers from their orbiting ship. We shouldn't stick around, however. It doesn't appear our technology is well suited to detecting Kroerak. There might be more surprises."
"Negative. I want to try one more village, Marny. I'm going to see to our passengers," I said.
I pulled off my helmet and gloves and lay them on the passage floor. The boy had scurried back against the airlock door, cowering as far away as he could get. I approached and then crouched next to him. His bright blue eyes stared at my hands.
"Just like yours," I said in a gentle voice as I fidgeted my fingers. "Would you like to join your family?" I placed my hand over his and while he flinched, he didn't panic further. I tried to pull him to me, but he was having none of it. I’d need help.
I opened the aft hatch in the passageway that led into the hold and was met by Sendrei who held Marny's katana. His posture wasn't overtly threatening, but he was no doubt looking to gain some control of the situation.
"Sendrei does not trust you," the Norigan said from behind him.
"Why does he not speak?" I asked.
"The Kroerak removed his tongue," the Norigan replied. "He wants to know why you came to the village and caused such great problems. I will translate."
"My crew has come a long distance to undo a great wrong done to Sendrei and his people."
"You are not of Bell-eye-rand?" It only took a split second for me to interpret the Norigan's pronunciation.
"No," I said. "There will be time for questions, but I have a small boy in the passageway. Will you ask Sendrei if he will help me bring him inside?"
"You wish to sell us?"
"No. I told you, we're here to help. Now, the boy!" I wasn’t willing to be drawn back in.
The Norigan turned to Sendrei, who'd been watching us intently, its three-fingered hands almost a blur as it seemed to communicate much more than my simple request.
"Sendrei will go," the Norigan finally replied through the translation of my AI. Sendrei lowered Marny's katana just enough to reduce the implied threat.
It seemed a simple matter, only requiring us to step through the hatch into the short passageway and retrieve the boy. Without the ability to communicate, however, I was reduced to hand-waving and pointing. I regretted not bringing Jonathan along to help with translating, although I knew that even now the sentients would be analyzing the hand movements and we'd soon have some basis for language.
When Sendrei finally looked through the forward hatch that led to the airlock where the frightened boy sat curled in the corner, he grunted and looked back into the hold. A poorly covered woman timidly rushed forward, keeping her head bowed as she passed, rushing to the cowering child. I blew out a hot breath of tension. The condition of the pair was pitiful, their hair tangled and muddy, their emaciated forms showing near starvation. Scrapes, bruises and welts on their skin testified to violent living conditions.
"Have them come back into the hold," I said to the Norigan.
Sendrei turned to me as he gestured to the Norigan.
"Sendrei would like to know if we are to be sold back to the Kroerak," he asked plainly.
I considered the man in front of me. His dark brown skin was scarred just as the woman's, but he carried himself with pride.
"You understand me," I said. I watched his eyes as he listened, looking for a hint of recognition. "How is that possible after so many generations." A slightly lifted eyebrow communicating his comprehension. It was all he was willing to give. "To answer your question, no. We do not trade in people's lives. You already believe that or you wouldn't have gotten on our ship."
"The Kroerak would have destroyed the village," the Norigan said. "Your arrival provided but a single choice."
I nodded at the Norigan's information, but stayed focused on Sendrei. "I'd like you to consider putting that sword down. Right now, my security officer, the woman who first used it, is watching and you're making her nervous. I'm her friend. The sword is false comfort if she believes you mean me harm."
Sendrei nodded his head affirmatively.
"The man you're talking to is Lieutenant Sendrei Buhari," Nick informed me over the comm. "He's from Earth. Obituary says he died in a training accident twelve years ago."
"Belirand employee?" I asked, which got Sendrei's attention.
"North American Navy," Nick replied. "Graduated Annapolis Naval Academy. Served aboard the Destroyer - McCain."
"What the frak, Nick?"
"I don't know. I've got Jonathan looking too, but we're sure you're looking at Buhari," Nick said. "I've manufactured a reading pad with a virtual keyboard. Get him on the network."
I pulled my earwig away from my head and offered it to Sendrei. "My suit provides sufficient comms, Lieutenant. You are welcome to the ship's guest facilities. Our first priority is the immediate needs of your people."
The man looked back at me and the internal struggle was evident as he finally decided to accept my offering. He slid the earwig into position.
"Cap, I'm coming in," Marny said.
"You hear that?" I asked Sendrei. He nodded affirmatively.
The forward hatch in the passageway slid open and Sendrei tensed. In response, the small boy started whimpering again.
"Lieutenant. You'll place the sword into this cloth," Marny said, holding out an oilcloth I'd seen her use to clean the blade in the past. "I will not have armed guests aboard my ship. You have my word as a Marine that no harm will come to you."
Sendrei made no attempt to hide that he was reading information being displayed on his HUD. I imagined after twelve years of being away from the technology, he'd lost some of the subtlety associated with reading from the HUD. Once he finished, Sendrei drew himself up taller, standing stiffly and placed the sword into the oilcloth Marny held. Once he released the sword, he pulled his hand into a sharp salute, which Marny answered.
"Amazonian War was a long time ago," she said. "But you know that." As she spoke I realized that the two of them must have been in the service at the same time. With sword stowed, she handed him the reading pad Nick had no doubt just manufactured.
"Our galley and mess are open as are the two heads on this level. It might be worth some instruction on the use of a ship's head," I said, nodding to a gaunt woman who was squatting in a corner of the hold.
"Liam, we're receiving a hail from the
planet," Tabby said over my suit's comm. In that I was no longer wearing my earwig, Sendrei heard what she said and looked at me with concern. He started scrawling on the reading pad in front of him.
"They will demand our return." Sendrei's typed message showed on my HUD.
"It’s not something we're willing to negotiate," I replied.
"They will use the other villages as leverage."
"Good information," I said. "You're welcome to listen in."
Sendrei gave quick hand signals to the Norigan and then nodded. "Blue Child will work with Sergeant Bertrand to help settle the people."
"The Norigan's name is Blue Child?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Understood. And be careful with rank designations. Master Chief Bertrand runs quite a lot of this show," I said.
"No offense intended."
"I've got this, Cap," Marny said.
"Never had a doubt." I led Sendrei forward to the lift that would take us to the bridge.
"Accept hail," I said as I passed Nick and gestured for Sendrei to sit on the bridge couch. "Hotspur, go ahead." I slid into the open pilot's chair next to Tabby. Not wanting Sendrei’s presence on the bridge to be known, I refused video transmission. We did, however, accept the incoming video stream from the planet. My vid-screen showed a middle-aged man wearing a Belirand uniform. He was clean shaven, hair neatly trimmed.
"Greetings, crew of Hotspur. I am Ambassador Bassef Turenik. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" The man's demeanor was gracious, if not friendly.
"Captain Liam Hoffen."
"Oh. It is my pleasure indeed, then. I was told there was some possibility we would see you here on Cradle," he said. "My counterparts in the Kroerak Empire would like to inquire as to your intent in their system. It appears you have entered uninvited and there are suggestions of impropriety."
"I'm not following," I said. "Are you saying Belirand is working with the Kroerak?"
"A delicate matter to be sure, but my communication is more in reference to the illegal removal of breeding stock from nursery forty-nine," he said. "I'm formally requesting that you return to Cradle so that the property which you have stolen might be replaced. I'm also requesting that you turn yourselves over to the Kroerak authorities to answer for your crimes against this great and powerful nation."
Give No Quarter (Privateer Tales Book 10) Page 21