by C. R. Daems
"Excellent, Sergeant Kame. If you detect an explosive tomorrow, tell whoever is standing next to you immediately. Now, let's make sure this Sanctuary is clean," I said, satisfied I had some way of eliminating weapons and bombs from entering the area. Of course, they could use a missile launcher ... but that would be a declaration of war and I hoped less likely.
To my relief, Kame found nothing.
* * *
The next day, I had everyone on duty. I kept Elijah and five Guards inside: two to guard the front and two the back entrance, and one in the Holy One's area. Another four were stationed at the side door to the Sanctuary to support the inside Guards or the Sanctuary if necessary. The main entrances provided access to the Holy One's area, indirect access to the Sanctuary through a side door, and of course the offices and an excellent opportunity for mischief and to overcome a lightly guarded interior with everyone in the Sanctuary.
Inside the Sanctuary, I set up three entrance lanes equipped with hidden metal detectors that the spectators would have to pass to enter after being inspected by General Heydar's troops for weapons. One Guard was stationed a few meters past each lane to examine anyone who set off a detector. I stood several meters back with Sergeant Kame and his bomb detection equipment. Three Guards stood on a workman's platform two stories overhead to watch the spectators during the ceremony. Four Guards, two standing off to each side and out of sight of spectators, were on the platform with the Omom Nastya and her daughter.
All I could do now was hope I hadn't left any weakness the Gurk or a discontented citizen could exploit. Although I had listened to my team's suggestions, the specific deployment was my decision and I would be responsible for the outcome.
At ten the next morning, the general opened the doors and the first spectators began coming in by ones and twos. By eleven it was a steady stream and all three lanes were crowded. I began to worry when the metal detectors remained silent and was tempted to stop everyone and have the detectors checked. Fortunately, I realized the tension was getting to me, and I sought to quiet my mind—a serenity where only the present existed—and the irrational thought vanished.
Only minutes later, my Mfi buzzed with a message from Elijah. The outside army guards at both entrances had been attacked by sniper fire. Neither was hit, but it had caused the army troopers checking for weapons to respond. Some of the spectators remained in the lobby while others continued into the Sanctuary. Within minutes the detectors in lanes one and two went off, which registered on the Mfis of Corporal Alpert on lane one and Corporal Volpe on lane two. With their Mfws raised, they stopped the lines so Sergeant Haber could scan each person. People continued to flow through lane three.
"Captain!" Kame half shouted, although it wasn't necessary. I had noticed the change in the hologram and the arrow pointed at the man in lane three. I had my laser in my hand before Kame had finished shouting and shot the man in the head. He collapsed, dead instantly.
"Stop!" I shouted as my Mfw rose in my other hand. "Corporal Krebs, inspect that man. He appears to be carrying a bomb." I could only hope I hadn't shot some innocent man carrying something the detection equipment erroneously identified as a bomb. But I couldn't take the chance that asking him to stop and be searched wouldn't cause him to set it off. I held my breath as Krebs unbuttoned the man's tunic.
"Looks like some sort of plastic explosives around his waist and a hand-held switch in his pocket," Krebs shouted to make sure everyone heard the reason he had been shot. I took a deep breath and my heart slowed.
"Well done, Sergeant Kame," I whispered. "Corporal Krebs, move the body out of the way and let the others pass. We'll let the army take care of the body when they get back." When I looked over to Alpert and Volpe, they shook their heads in the negative.
"A metal arm brace," Alpert said with the man's sleeve pulled up to reveal it.
"A metal leg brace," Volpe said, pointing to the man's partially exposed brace.
"Take their names," I said. This had all been an elaborate setup to pull the army troops away and to distract the Guard while they slipped in a suicide bomber. I doubted they really cared if it succeeded or not. It tested our security and sent a clear message—neither you nor Nastya will ever be safe on Blackwood.
The ceremony started at noon with the entrance of the Holy One, Nastya, and Sanaz and lasted two hours. There were no further incidents.
* * *
Nastya had withdrawn with Sanaz to her reading room when I joined them. They had been served a light snack of assorted fried potatoes and vegetables and a spiced drink. Sergeants Haber and Ganz were on duty, standing against opposite walls. "I can't believe they would set off a bomb in the Sanctuary with so many innocent people there, a place of peace and tranquility," Nastya said.
"That may have only been a test to see how alert we were. They may not have intended to set it off. Not that fanatics won't kill innocent men, women, and children," I said, thinking back on the incident. "It was a message whether we caught the individual or not—you will never be safe."
"Did you have to kill the man?" Sanaz asked, her voice just above a whisper.
"He gave me no choice. He was carrying a deadly weapon that was capable of killing everyone around him. Because it was on him, I had to assume he meant to use it and would set it off the second someone tried to stop him."
"But what if it was only a test?" she asked, a little louder this time.
"Would you want me to risk the lives of all the innocent people around him that he was just playing a game?" The weight of the decision pressed down on me like it had just occurred. I didn't regret the decision. I regretted having no better option.
"My daughter is rightfully concerned. The Book is against killing," Nastya said, hugging her daughter to her.
"Although I'm in a killing profession, I too am against killing. I have consoled myself with the interpretation my adopted sister's father makes of his Buddhist Precept against killing any living thing. He believes a Guard is in compliance with the Precept so long as he or she does not kill out of hate or glory or pleasure."
"Yes, the military must suffer so we civilians can stay pure. If they can adhere to that code, they can lessen the suffering." She sat staring at Sanaz; her eyes sad looking. "Something to ponder, my dear. The Book envisions an ideal state, but we don't live in an ideal world. The Holy One's responsibility, which will be yours one day, is to balance the two."
CHAPTER FOUR
Blackwood: Best laid plans
"What will be the configuration of the Holy One's expedition to the clans?" I asked Heydar the next day as we sat in Nastya's study.
"Subject to the Holy One's approval, I'm suggesting I go along with twenty troops. They will include some of the current army troops I'm considering for the Holy One's new security guard. And I would imagine four or five household staff in addition to your troops. If that's correct, two troop carriers and two civilian skimmers," he said, looking at Nastya.
"I'd prefer less military and no Black Guards, but the Gurk ... I would be willing to abdicate my position if they would relinquish their position as the Holy One's security guards. But Colonel Prakash has made it clear he feels the Gurk have earned the right to be the Holy One's guards. Actually, I agree with him as did my predecessors; however, he also feels that entitles the Gurk to special privileges and authority. So what was once an honor for a clan is now an honor for the Holy One." Her voice was but a whisper and her eyes looked sad.
I could appreciate her dilemma. She was a non-violent person who would prefer to die rather than defend herself, but as the Holy One, her country's needs came before her personal wants and desires.
"Dragon Sapir?" she asked, using my non-military title and in so doing letting me know she understood what the title meant.
I relaxed into a meditating posture and closed my eyes, knowing she would understand. I don't know how long I sat, seeking a quiet mind free from the past and the future—what could have been and what could be. "Be the Holy One and let General Praha
sh and me be ourselves," I said.
She laughed with genuine enjoyment.
Heydar, who was now seated, looked from her to me in confusion.
"We must let Colonel Prakash and the Gurk commit evil acts if they will—not us," she said. "General, Dragon Sapir is suggesting we stay consistent with our beliefs. For the Holy One, that would mean staying non-violent and trusting my loyal friend, General Heydar, and the Black Guard. For you and her, that would mean not killing for hate or glory or pleasure. Or you could say, staying consistent with the Book.
* * *
"I'm not sure I understand the Holy One," Heydar said as he watched the shuttles being prepared for the trip.
"It's simple. The Holy One will authorize no violence against the Gurk or Colonel Prahash, for that would just incite more violence. And she trusts us to do the same while containing any violence that others may attempt."
"I doubt Colonel Prakash will take the same attitude toward the Holy One or the Black Guard," Heydar said, shaking his head at the contradiction.
I understood his frustration. Like the Good Guys in old Earth western movies who never drew their guns until the Bad Guys did, we were expected to let the Gurk shoot first. "General, would you have someone take an inventory of your ground to air weapons?"
"That's a nasty thought, Sapir, but we would all breathe a bit easier if we knew they were all accounted for."
When he nodded and strode off in the direction of several buildings, I called Captain Blatt.
"Sapir, what can I do for you?"
"Nastya is getting prepared for the new Holy One's required tour of the clans. Skimmers will transport us. I was wondering if you could spare a Jax combat shuttle to accompany her caravan. Any Black Guard could shoot a bird in flight, but I doubt we could hit a ground-to-air missile every time."
Blatt laughed. "I'll wager that's a well-kept secret. What about the local army?"
"Don't want to trust the Holy One's safety—and our credibility—to the locals."
"Need any marines?"
"No combat troops. Just the personnel to manage the shuttle and its offensive and defensive systems."
"I think you're right. I'll authorize Colonel Berger to send a combat shuttle to support your trip."
* * *
"That's one nasty looking shuttle," Heydar said as the Jax combat shuttle settled on the ground.
A marine lieutenant exited the shuttle a minute later and saluted. "Captain Sapir, I'm Lieutenant Douglas. Colonel Berger sends his compliments." He was a thin lanky man with curly brown hair and a cocky bounce to his step. "Orders, ma'am?"
"Just to provide security for the Holy One's caravan while traveling. An inventory of the army's weapons has revealed several discrepancies. They are missing two shoulder missile launchers as well as some heavy machine guns. You will be authorized to use lethal force if we are fired on."
"Understood, ma'am," he said, excitement obvious from his smile and the sparkle in his eyes.
"General, I understand the first clan will be the Sakva. Is there a specific route we will follow?" I asked.
"Yes. As you saw on the map, Blackwood has only one continent. It stretches north and south and resembles a bone with knobs at each end. The capital, Ormaz, is at the southern knob. The northern knob is frozen all year long and no one inhabits it for several thousand kilometers south. The clan lands from the capital north are the Sakva, Jafra, Manni, Trashi, and Gurk. By law, there is a one-kilometer-wide strip of neutral land that runs along the east and west coasts that permits free access to the clans. We will use the eastern coastline, and our first stop will be Poji, the capital of Sakva."
"A half hour before we are scheduled to leave, would you run a test flight thirty-five kilometers along our scheduled course? At three hundred kilometers-per-hour, the round trip should take less than fifteen minutes."
"Why?"
"For the safety of your Holy One and her escort," I said, trying my best to anticipate the Gurk's possible methods of revenge. Sabotaging the skimmers was certainly a possibility. It was becoming clear that the evolution of the Guard would require a change in our training and knowledge. Today, we trained to fight in buildings; future Guards would have to understand the potential risk associated with traveling. It was beginning to seem like the risks were increasing exponentially.
Heydar nodded reluctantly and strode off in the direction of the skimmers.
Sometime later, three skimmers and an army combat shuttle took off in an easterly direction.
"Those shuttles have been guarded all night. I'm not a fool," Heydar said when he had joined Douglas and me.
"No you're not, General, but then neither is Colonel Prakash. He proved that the other day with his multiple diversions. And since we cannot attack him directly, he has the advantage." I had no sooner said that than Heydar's Comm devise buzzed.
Heydar shouted, "Two of the skimmers are down and under attack—"
I cut him off, shouting orders. "Douglas, get that shuttle in the air. Elijah, you are in charge. Guard! All off duty personnel to me."
As I entered the shuttle, five Guards piled in behind me. Sergeant Haber had barely cleared the ramp when it began to close and the shuttle lifted off the ground.
"Lieutenant, head east toward the coast. The skimmers shouldn't be hard to find," I said, standing behind him. "Who do you have with you?"
"My co-pilot and navigator, an electronics counter measures operator, and two weapons operators. The Colonel sent you the latest Jax combat shuttle. She's a mini Deathstalker," he said, producing an evil grin.
Five minutes later, we saw a black cloud of smoke. "Franks, what do you see?"
"No heat signatures that would indicate people, not even dead ones. Of course, it's too hot inside those skimmers to distinguish. It looks safe to land," Franks said, staring intently at one of his monitors as he adjusted views and magnification.
"Alright. Douglas, put it down and let's have a look," I said, walking back toward the rear ramp.
Douglas's landing was feather light, and a moment later the ramp dropped open.
"Sergeant Haber, organize a search of the area for fifty meters around the skimmers."
Even a cursory look indicated the skimmer had been attacked with HEIAP, High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition. Ironically, there was no evidence of a missile from a portable launcher.
General Heydar arrived ten minutes later in an army shuttle. "Shot down?" he asked, his face pale even in the glow of the still raging fire.
"No. I think the skimmer had to land either due to a malfunction or subterfuge of some kind."
"Those two skimmers were the ones that were designated for your troops. If you hadn't insisted on a test ..." Heydar stood looking at the burning mangled hulls, shaking his head.
Unless I was mistaken, Colonel Prakash was trying to pressure Nastya to renegotiate with the Gurk, and at the same time, he was backing someone else for the position of Holy One, someone who had a connection with Outpost. The attack was meant to provoke violence against the Gurk clan, which would tarnish both the Guard and Nastya.
"We can't ignore this ... the Holy One must let us kill Prakash and his guards," Heydar said.
"What proof do you have that he or his guards did this?" I asked. Thanks to Hada introducing me to meditation long ago, my mind was at peace, bent not on revenge but on a solution to stop the madness. I saw clearly that the same way the real target wasn't me at Outpost, here at Blackwood the real target wasn't the Black Guard. It was Nastya.
"It's obvious ... we can't just let them get away with this. Eventually, they will succeed in killing you and the Holy One." Heydar's face flushed as he talked. Although he mentioned the Guard, his real concern—rightly so—was the Holy One.
"We won't, but it has to be clear that Colonel Prakash is involved. I want you to tell your troops that although this was a safety test, I had sent five Guards on each skimmer in case there was trouble. Tell them the Black Guard plans to re
cover the bodies of their comrades and then cancel the contract and leave. Consequently, you need to appoint army guards to the palace."
"But when the Gurk come ..."
"Tell the guards not to resist. Let the Gurk enter." I gave a small smile.
After a minute, Heydar nodded understanding and the tension in his face relaxed.
* * *
I called Elijah on my Mfi. "Elijah, get all the Guard inside the palace and out of sight in the Holy One's quarters. I'll explain when I get back. As far as everyone is concerned, we are canceling the contract and the army will be guarding the palace."
"Party time?" she asked, and I could hear the amusement in her voice. Elijah had been with me on several assignments and knew me well.
"I'm hoping so." I cut the connection and called the crouching tiger. "Captain Blatt, I need another combat shuttle. Normally, I'd ask Nastya to pay for both, but I believe it's a Helix issue and in the Jax's best interest. Unless I'm wrong, Outpost is involved in a plot to replace Nastya with someone friendly to them and put the blame on the Jax."
"That's why Admiral Geller has me hanging around. She has a feeling Outpost may want to interfere. So the candy store is wide open." He laughed.
"Lieutenant Douglas will give you the location of two downed skimmers. I believe the Gurk are going to send one or more shuttles or armored cars to attack the Black Guards who are supposedly clearing the wreckage of their dead comrades. Seems unfair, bringing combat shuttles to fight Guards armed only with Mfws."
"I'll dispatch a referee or two. They should be over your site within two hours. Need anything else, Sapir?"
"No, The Gurk only have fifty troops," I said before I cut the connection. But they weren't rabble, not that it mattered. The Holy One couldn't afford to use foreign army or marine troops without drawing criticism from the clans. The Black Guard would have to be enough. The trick now was to minimize the damage to my family.
"Sergeant Haber, I'll leave the four Guards with you to help recover the dead bodies of the Guard in the skimmers." I smiled, nodding toward the still burning skimmers. "Take five marine riot shields from the shuttle and stay where you can find cover. If I'm right, the Gurk will be back in combat shuttles or armored trucks to kill you. You're the bait. A Jax combat shuttle or two will take care of the negotiations."