"You might want to delay or even avoid using that location again. We still don't know how the Qummuc learned of it. The location might be compromised."
"But you said they never found the hidden cavern."
"True, but they might have set up spotters watching for foot traffic to that location expecting the Aleoxlene Reqoppl to either set up operations there again in that cavern where they found Cornwallis, or even using other nearby hidden locations."
"I see. What about the numerous other Sanctuary locations around the planet? Can you help them?"
"Do you have their location information?"
"No. For security reasons, only the coordinators and a few escorts in each district have that information."
"Then there's nothing we can do. We can't search your planet for hidden locations that even the Yolongus secret police organizations don't know about."
"On the way back to my house, Golwoggin said he hoped the GA would step in and help restore a formal democracy on Yolongus. He said your technology is far superior to anything the Clidepp Empire possesses, and you could annex our space very easily."
"I can't speak for the GA Senate, but I know that the GA normally doesn't interfere in the internal affairs of member planets. The GA only serves to protect the nation from outside attack or protect the planets from criminal activity that occurs outside each planet's atmosphere. They would almost never send in troops to alter a planet's government because we don't believe we have a right to subvert the will of the people. The rights of the individuals to be free from government control and oversight are paramount, so the GA refuses to climb onto the slippery slope of interfering in internal planetary matters."
"Even if the people have no free will and are being subjugated by an oppressive government?"
"Even then. The only possibility is where the government is violating GA law. Slavery is outlawed in the GA, so the Senate would take action to free all slaves, but they would not replace the government unless the government first attacked GA forces or threatened planetary neighbors."
"So there's no hope?"
"Well, there is one bright spot."
"Which is?"
"The fact that Cornwallis, as you know him, was here undercover to investigate the slavery issue is a positive action. It hasn't been that many years since slavery in the Clidepp Empire was mere conjecture in diplomatic circles. Without proof positive, nothing could be done. Terrans and other GA citizens have never been welcome here. The government tolerated diplomatic members because they had to, but they always followed them when they left the embassy and prevented them from wandering too far from the embassy compound. When the Clidepp Ambassador's ship was attacked by your Rebel factions while in GA space, an opportunity arose for Space Command personnel to enter the ship. Space Command was restricted from involving ourselves in the slavery issue there because the interior of the ship was considered Clidepp territory, but it proved the slavery issue was more than just speculation. And when the slaves from that ship were later recovered following a space battle between the diplomatic ship and Rebel forces in GA space, their presence at a news conferences on Earth was broadcast to the entire GA. We learned of their ordeals and misery at the hands of their Clidepp owners, and that information could finally be adopted as fact by the GA governments."
"How does that help us?"
"It's a beginning. With proof that the enslavement of GA citizens is a reality, people have started addressing the issue. And when we return with hundreds of more slaves, it will be the main topic in the news for weeks, at the very least. That should ensure that the subject will finally become a major political issue in the GA Senate. If the GA decides to order an end to slavery in the Clidepp Empire, it would first have to order a takeover of this part of space."
"But you say that the GA won't replace the government. So how does that help us?"
"The end of slavery would no doubt send the Yolongus economy into free-fall because the rich would no longer have free labor for their companies, factories, and mining operations."
"But how does that help us here on Yolongus?"
"History shows us that when economies fail, the suffering imposed on the populations give them a rallying issue that unites them and spurs them to take action against a government who has ceased to be responsive to their needs. That would offer a prime opportunity here for the people to unite and rise up as one to overthrow the triumvirate. People will only accept being trod on for so long. I'm not saying it will happen soon, so all I can say is— be patient. Things are bound to heat up."
*
As soon as Anese and the Marines were safely aboard Shuttle One, the small ship lifted off and rendezvoused with Shuttle Two at the remote location where the second ship had waited. Blade, Lt. MacDonald, and the four pilots held a conference in the rear cabin of Shuttle Two, while Anese remained in Shuttle One with the Special Ops team. Lt. MacDonald's fire teams were outside, watching for uninvited guests.
"Here're the three locations we're concerned with," Blade said, pointing to the image being projected on the large monitor mounted on the bulkhead between the rear cabin and the flight deck. "We want to perform a flyover and record as much detail as possible. It will allow us to properly plan the operation. If the first pass doesn't provide adequate image quality, we'll have to perform another, but I'm hoping that won't be necessary. We can tempt fate just so many times before it bites us on the ass. We have very detailed images of the entire planet back at the Justice, but they're several years old. We just have to know what changes have been made since then so we take them into account."
"Are you recommending a full assault on these prisons, Major?" Lt. MacDonald asked.
"No, Space Command has ruled that out by ordering the captain not to reveal our presence here, so I know she'll never approve such an attack. But I'm hoping she'll allow a stealth operation where we sneak into the three locations to free Winston and the others."
"How soon do we go in, sir?" Lt.(jg) Weems asked.
"That'll be up to the captain, and first we'll need to complete our surveillance so we're able to plan our operation. We have to move quickly. Every minute we delay means that some of the people taken from the cavern might be hurt, killed, or— in the case of slaves— returned to the owners who claim them. So let's get those images and hustle back to the ship. Anything else?"
When no one spoke or seemed to be considering a response, Blade said," Okay, let's get everyone aboard and get this first step done."
The two ships lifted off in complete silence within five minutes. There was no moonlight to speak of, and the black, Dakinium-sheathed ships would only use their oh-gee engines until leaving the planet's lower atmosphere. Invisible to Clidepp radar, the ships should be able complete their tasks without being noticed. The only time they might be seen was as a visual identification of a black shadow as they climbed through the upper atmosphere and passed through the fleet of ships circling the planet.
* *
As soon as the two shuttles were away from the planet, Blade transmitted an encrypted message to the Justice. It contained all of the imagery they had just shot and a brief outline of a plan for a rescue attempt. It was unlikely any other ship would intercept the narrow directed-beam laser transmission.
Sydnee was immediately notified of the message's arrival and began reviewing the data as soon as it was forwarded to her office computer.
* *
"I believe we have an opportunity to get Winston and most, if not all, of the people taken by the Qummuc," Blade said at the start of the conference in the mess hall, "but only if we act quickly. By quickly I mean tonight. There are still seven hours before dawn in the capital."
The mess hall actually seemed crowded for this conference. In addition to the senior ship's officers, which included the eight pilots who would fly the four shuttles, the Special Ops team, the Denver's Marines, and all flight officers from the Marine Wing were present.
Sydnee sighed before saying, "I ha
te the idea of going in without being sure the people are still there. We don't even know for sure if they ever were."
"Golwoggin seemed pretty confident about his information. And while I can't know if we should trust him implicitly, I think this is the best we'll get in the time required." Pointing to the image on the large monitor, which showed the basic attack plan, he added, "If we don't try something like this now— tonight, we might as well pack up and leave the area."
"The facility and the immediate surrounding areas are very brightly lit," Sydnee said. "It's going to be impossible to get inside without setting off every alarm there. The second you begin your operation, every military unit and police unit on the planet is going to know. Remember the situation at the minister's home when the alarms were activated? Within minutes there were police vehicles headed towards his house."
"Yes, I remember. And I remember you derailed all of them with a shuttle they never saw, giving us ample time to get away. We can do the same here."
"This is different. The three facilities are right in the heart of the capital. You'll have support vehicles flooding in from every direction."
"It appears the only solution to that is a major diversion," Dennier said. "A power blackout that knocks out every last bit of energy in the city might do the trick."
"I'm sure the prison facilities and major government buildings will have emergency generators," Sydnee said.
"Yes, but it will cause chaos elsewhere and slow down the arrival of reinforcements overall."
"For all we know," Sydnee said, "the entire Qummuc force lives at the three facilities. We just don't have enough intel."
"And we never will since we're on a world hostile to Terrans," Blade said.
"True," Sydnee said. "So it appears that a city-wide assault is the only possible solution. We must black out the city as Colonel Dennier recommends, then hit them with everything we've got."
"I wasn't actually suggesting we do it, just that it's the only way to accomplish the goal. Haven't you said that such action was contrary to your original orders, Captain?" Dennier asked.
"Yes, but I'm not simply going to sail away and surrender those people to the Qummuc. The order to get Winston arrived after I was given our original orders, so one might say it supersedes our previous orders. The new orders say nothing about not revealing our presence to the Yolongi. And— I believe this is the only way to quickly and safely accomplish that mission. My revised orders stated that I was to take whatever steps are necessary to recover that agent from Yolongus as soon as possible. I was still hoping to mask our presence here and satisfy the original orders while also getting Winston, but it appears that is no longer possible, so we'll do whatever is necessary to recover Winston."
"If the Clidepp Empire's Triumvirate learns it was us, they might declare a state of war exists between the Clidepp Empire and the GA."
"Yes, so we should try to make it seem like a Rebel attack," Sydnee said. "If they don't actually see us arriving and leaving the planet, they'll have to assume the attack was from forces already on the planet and possibly even in the city. They'll probably tear the place apart looking for clues after we're gone, so we must leave absolutely no trace of our involvement. Our original orders didn't place any limits on what we could do here. They only said we must not reveal our presence to the Yolongis. So let's make sure no one can prove it was us."
"That means we'll have to permanently dispatch all Qummuc guards."
"We're not dealing with innocents here. These are the nut-case fanatics who each earned their membership in the Qummuc Secret Police by cutting off the heads of living people. Correct, Major?"
"Yes, that's what Golwoggin said."
"Admiral Carver once said that when you meet an enemy who is totally ruthless, you must be just as ruthless if you ever hope to defeat them. We may not like what they force us to do, but we cannot shirk from unpleasant actions when it's the only way. I have no problem with letting these Qummuc butchers meet their maker and explain to him or her why they did what they did."
"Aye, Captain. Neither do I."
"Colonel Dennier, are your people ready for a little action?"
"Aye, Captain. We're all tired of sitting around on our sixes with little to do. We'd love an opportunity to get some payback on behalf of the Terran slaves who have suffered in this nation for so many decades."
"Then your Wing will take the lead and knock out every power generation and distribution station in the city. Major, as soon as the air attack starts, your Special Ops team and the Marines from the Denver will simultaneously hit the three facilities. No pussyfooting around. Hit them and hit them hard. The Special Ops team should hit the facility where Winston is reputed to be a prisoner. Free everyone you find imprisoned there and give them whatever weapons you find so they can defend themselves. I'll leave the other details up to you. Lt. MacDonald will take one of the secondary targets and can name a senior noncom to lead the third attack."
"What if we find other Terrans besides Winston and the slaves?"
"Bring as many Terrans back as you can fit in the four shuttles— if they want to come."
"Wouldn't you want to come?"
"Yes, I would. But there may be extenuating circumstances, such as spouses and loved ones on the planet. Don't force them to come if they don't want to. That doesn't include Winston, naturally. I want him back here even if he doesn't want to come. Tie him up if necessary. He gets no voice in this."
"You think he may not want to come?"
"I'm still unsure why we lost contact with him so quickly that first night he went to retrieve the slaves. That earpiece you gave him couldn't have failed on its own so quickly. He has to be responsible. He seems to have his own agenda, and I don't know if it extends beyond the slaves we found in Sanctuary. But I want to know what it is."
"Aye, Captain."
"I suggest you rappel from the hovering shuttles onto either the roofs or into their prison yards, as was done at the minister's home. I'll leave that decision to you. The shuttles will then wait while you begin your assault of the facilities. I'm sure you won't waste time trying to bypass security systems rather than just blasting your way through. The shuttle pilots will use the ship's limited weapons to prevent any interference from outside forces and then pick up everyone when it's safe to do so. After destroying the power stations, the FA-SF4s will patrol around the city and delay any assistance that might be headed in your direction. Isn't that right, Colonel?"
"Aye, Captain," Dennier said. "It will be our pleasure."
"As has been our custom lately, we'll make a stealthy approach to the planet through its umbra. We don't want to alert the Clidepp forces before the fireworks start on the planet. The rest is your baby, Major. So take over."
Blade stood and began assigning tasks to Lt. MacDonald and the Marine noncoms. Like Sydnee, Blade would have liked to have much better intel, but that wasn't possible, so they were going to have to wing it. His Special Ops people were all well trained and experienced, but he was fearful that Lt. MacDonald's people were going to be in over their head. There was no choice though. They would have to go with what they had and hope their Marine training got them through. The near indestructibility of their personal armor gave them at least a ten-to-one edge over any Qummuc special police they would encounter. Blade decided that Lt. MacDonald should lead the assault against the facility where the Yolongi prisoners were reported to be, and her senior noncom would lead the attack on the facility where the slaves were being held.
* *
Less than an hour after the conference ended, the four shuttles were detaching from the Justice. At the same time, the Marine SF4s were being deployed from their customized habitat containers. Since leaving the Denver, the Wing's mechanics had spent their workdays checking and rechecking every engine component and every electronic system on every ship.
Neither the shuttles nor the FA-SF4 fighters had FTL, but the proximity of the Justice to the planet made it unnecessary. The
sub-light speed capability of the ships would allow each of them to be in attack position on Yolongus within the hour. The shuttles would approach the Yolongi capital first and take position near the targets. Once everyone was in place, the fighters would begin their attack runs.
The ships were slightly spread out and followed slightly different flight paths to the capital to minimize the chances of someone visually spotting a large attack force descending on the planet. But all ships were cloaked in the planet's umbra for their approach, and black ships flying in an almost moonless sky or against a planet wrapped in nighttime darkness always gave the crews confidence that their approach would be unobserved.
*
Sydnee sat on the bridge looking at the chronometer. She sighed deeply, wishing she were with the forces currently approaching Yolongus. She always felt guilty sending others into harm's way when she wasn't there herself to support their efforts. As captain, her place was on the Justice, but that didn't lessen her guilt about being safe while others were in extreme danger as they carried out her directives. She wished she could at least receive regular reports and offer advice for unanticipated problems. There were always unanticipated problems, but she would just have to sit quietly until the teams returned. Since there was nothing she could do to help once the operation started, she turned her thoughts to what she was going to tell Captain Lidden when he learned she had seemingly ignored the original orders and possibly dragged the GA into a war with a neighboring nation. She also wondered about the lecture she would receive when she returned to GA space without planting a single spy satellite around any planet other than Yolongus. The number of civilians on board, and the limited food supplies, meant that they would have to return to GA space as soon as they recovered Winston and the other people taken from the cavern by the Qummuc. Needing to do something other than think about things over which she had no control, she got up to get a cup of coffee.
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