Despite the deepening darkness outside, Crowbar could see the edge of Mercy's lip curl up in a slight grimace.
"The skipper brought all her people home, Crowbar, that's all that matters. A vehicle you can replace. A person you can't."
"Yeah, that's the truth."
Two hours later, Mercy saw the outline of Free Xantreeb on long-range passive EMS and hailed Hornet. Gyro answered.
"Welcome back, Mercy. We ocean refueled while you were away, so we'll be ready to launch in the morning,"
"Roger, Hornet. Still on the beach?"
"Affirmative."
"Very good. Then open the hatch, we're on our way in."
Whiz Bang roused from his slumber a few minutes later, just in time to see Mercy steering the air raft into its berth at the forward end of Hornet's passenger loft. After the air raft was secured and the exterior hatch closed over its berth, Crowbar unlocked the inner hatch, letting Whiz Sang and Mercy into the loft ahead of him.
There they found Snapshot and Physic attending a badly bruised Drop Kick, With his shirt off, it was clear that he'd been struck several times in the head and the torso, and he had a nasty cut across his forehead, to which the doctor was applying antiseptic with a gauze pad.
"Sergeant!" Mercy said. "What happened?"
"He was being diplomatic," Physic said.
"Yeah, well you shoulda seen the other guy," Deep Six said, "Ouch!"
'That's other guys," Snapshot corrected her friend. "You pretty much pissed off an entire mob, remember?"
"Yeah, well—ow—they had it coming."
"I gotta hear this one," Mercy said, mirroring the sentiments of her companions, who joined her in pulling up three chairs.
"It wasn't that big a deal," Physic said, switching from dabbing the head wound to wiping gravel out of scars on Drop Kick's arms. "After we bought the surplus guns and clothes and loaded them on the launch, Drop Kick had this idea that we should go downtown and look for rumors. Somewhere along the line, Snapshot ran into someone on the sidewalk—the guy said something nasty to her—Drop Kick asked him to apologize and got punched, so he decked the guy—then five or 10 of his friends came after Drop Kick and beat the crap out of him,"
"Well," Crowbar said, "that sounds constructive."
"So why aren't you dead?" Whiz Bang asked.
'That was thanks to Snapper," Drop Kick said.
"Well," Snapshot said, "I just noticed that everyone there seems to carry a gun, so I grabbed a submachine- gun from some kid and fired it over everyone's head. That gave us some time to..."
"Run like hell," Mercy interjected.
"Right. Which we did. Eventually, we got back to the launch and bugged out."
Right then, the lift from the lower deck opened, and Coeur appeared with a covered plate in hand.
"Oh, thank God. Everyone's back."
"Yeah," Crowbar said. "I think we're glad we drew our assignment."
"Learn anything?"
"Maybe," Crowbar told Coeur. "We found an old Dawn League engineer who sold slaves to the Guild. He pretty much told us we should keep going the way we're going."
Coeur nodded, impressed, "That's good. I didn't think we'd learn anything."
"So what's on the plate, skipper?" Mercy asked.
"Ah," Coeur said, lowering the plate and lifting the lid to expose three remarkable portions of red and white meat. "Lobster a la Deep Six. He actually swam out and caught this after we were done refueling,"
"Damn, that's good!" Crowbar said, taking a piece and biting in. "Is it safe?"
"Certified so by Scissor," Coeur answered. 'This was our dinner, pretty much. Here, have these two,"
The Marines didn't have to be asked twice.
"Say," Whiz Bang said, "now that we're mock pirates, I say we give Deep Six double shares of any prize we take."
"Hear! Hear!" the others seconded, all save Drop Kick, who winced at the terrible headache he was now developing.
At Meadsk, the next world on her route, Hornet found more evidence of Guild slaving, and evidence she was on the right path.
Alone among the worlds of known space, Meadsk had not been affected by the Collapse, in fact, it wasn't even aware there was a Collapse. As an anthropological experiment, theTL-2 world had been completely interdicted by the Third Imperium, and thereby was spared all contact with the interstellar commerce that spread Virus.
"These people are friends of ours, right?" Snapshot asked, as Meadsk loomed ahead.
"We've contacted them," Gyro replied from the other side of the ship. "But I wouldn't say they're allies."
"Just stand by your weapons, "Coeur advised. "There's no traffic net, and we can't be sure who's here."
But there were no privateers, smugglers, or vampire raiders in orbit this day. Alone in the space over Meadsk, Hornet deployed another of Snapshot and Scissor's improvised sensor drones to cover its rear and roared down through the dense atmosphere over Apranapan continent. Guided by the crisp precision of Deep Six's navigation, the ship came in low across the equatorial mountains and alighted on a bluff overlooking Paguzim.
"Nice work, Sixer," Coeur said, studying the great walled city dominating the river valley below. "That should be the capital of the Eitanii Republic."
"I understand that the Eitanii have been previously contacted by our government," Deep Six said.
"More or less. We know that Dawn League missions visited and negotiated treaties of assistance, but there isn't a whole lot of background data in the library."
"The culture must be reasonably stable," the Schalli said, noting the cultivated fields all around them. "Observe the people engaged in agricultural pursuits."
"Yes, but also observe the city walls," Coeur said. "Those don't look like they're just for looks,"
"True."
Coeur activated the channel to Gyro.
"Gyro, here's the plan. Physic and I'll go scout the city, while you and Sixer watch over the ship."
"Understood, sir. Will you be taking the air raft?"
"No, we'll keep it low profile,"
"May I suggest, sir, you keep your communicator channel open until you reach a government representative?"
"Good idea. Just don't send in the cavalry unless we're in real trouble, understood?"
"Understood, sir."
Contact with the government of the republic came faster than Coeur and Physic expected it would. Almost as soon as they climbed out of the port air lock—wearing civvies picked up on Xezor—two local soldiers rode up on giirgin (horselike creatures native to Viand), wearing expressions almost as severe as their black and gray mail.
Probably not aware of Gyro's 150-megajoule laser trained upon them, they crossed their spears across the women's path as they started on their way toward Paguzim.
"Em a sadpoiu panshar das gegangen sein?" one said, "Recognize that?" Physic asked Coeur, "The first part sounds Vilani," Coeur said softly. "I think he asked where we were going. Ah...Bitte, ung taken de ieoderski?"
The soldiers gave each other quizzical looks.
"What did you say?" Physic asked, out of the side of her mouth.
"The first damn thing that popped into my head. When in doubt, tell a joke At least you can have some fun."
"Coalition?" the soldier asked.
Coeur and Physic nodded.
The other soldier, who hadn't been talking, then descended from his mount and thoroughly patted down the Arses. Finding no weapons or suspicious effects (their radios were overlooked wrist models), the soldier then returned to his horse and made his report to his companion, "Zinkir keine nikii."
The other soldier nodded and then pointed toward the city two kilometers away.
'Translator. Come."
"Well," Physic said, "that wasn't so hard."
"Yeah, right."
With one soldier riding before them and the other behind, Physic and Coeur then walked off the bluff and strolled through surrounding fields of cabbage and beans to a wide stone highway. Minu
tes later, this road led up to the main gate of Paguzim, open in the middle of the day but fairly well guarded.
Unlike most worlds in the Wilds, Meadsk had no relic technology whatsoever, and so the city appeared completely rustic: Thousands of men, women, and children carried on the hard work of life at a low tech level— driving wagons and hauling cargo by hand—but even so, many spared a moment to stare at the visiting strangers with looks of curiosity and concern.
Wondering what might cause such a reaction, the women were led to a huge rectangular stone building. Knowing the state to be a republic, Coeur did not assume it was a palace, but their dismounted escort did lead them into a central courtyard that might very well have been an emperor's court at some time in the past.
In that busy space, gaily dressed merchants and politicians bantered in a spectrum of indecipherable tongues— evidence this was a public square for discussion of commerce. Reassured that they were not being taken to a jail, the Arses then relaxed as they were led into a side office and gestured to wait.
"What do you know about this republic?" Physic said.
"Opportunistic, receptive to new ideas," Coeur answered.
"So what's with all the nasty looks?"
"The nasty looks," a new voice answered, "are from people afraid that you're slavers."
Turning, the Arses noted that a man had come in from the courtyard, dressed in green silk and wearing a floppy plumed hat.
"Hans Gakashir," he said, extending a hand that both Coeur and Physic shook. "Government translator and representative,"
"Coeur D'Esprit," Coeur returned, "captain of RCS
Hornet, and Orit Takegawa."
"Then you are from the Coalition."
"Yes, though we're not on a mission to this planet specifically. We're only passing through."
"Passing through to where?"
"To be perfectly frank, we're looking for a Guild base. We think it was responsible for an attack on one of our worlds."
"So you're not slavers, then?"
"We're definitely not that, sir," Physic said"That's good," Gakashirsaid, "because, as I said, that's why our people look at you suspiciously. Our neighbors are beset with offworld slavers, and there is fear it will afflict us as well if we aren't careful."
"Slavers, you say?" Coeur asked.
"Yes. That's why you were brought to me. The ruling council wants all visiting starships inspected, but that isn't practical unless they have a translator with them."
"Oh, well, that's fine. When would be convenient?"
"The sooner the better, I'll just go and notify the soldiers."
"Wait a minute," Coeur said. "We understand that our government has entered into a technical assistance pact with your republic. While we're here, is there any particular need you have?"
Gakashir thought about that a moment, stroking his short beard.
"There is something you can do."
"Yes?"
"Find that Guild base, and stop the slavers."
When Hans Gakashir and his two soldiers completed their inspection of Hornet two hours later, Crowbar was thoroughly smug. The Eitanii hadn't even come close to noticing where he had hidden the Marine battle dress and heavy weapons.
"We just can't be too sure," the translator told Coeur and Physic afterward, in Hornets lounge. "It's only this kind of rigorous Inspection that's kept the slavers away from Paguzim."
"Well," the doctor said, "if we were slavers, wouldn't we just kill you when you came aboard?"
"Maybe. But then you'd have to shoot your way into the city."
"You're a brave man, sir," Coeur said.
Cakashir shrugged. "Maybe not as brave as you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we may not be wise to the ways of space, but we but have noticed that the slavers have an attraction toward exotic creatures. We understand that our giirgin, for instance, our extremely rare on other worlds, and are therefore prized by slavers,"
"Probably take them to that Solee zoo," Physic speculated, "but what's that have to do with us?"
"It occurs to me," Cakashir said, "that slavers might take an interest in those creatures you're carrying."
It took the Arses a moment before they realized what the translator meant.
Scissor and Deep Six.
"Sir," Coeur said, "those creatures are members of our crew. Sentient beings."
Cakashir looked profoundly embarrassed. "Oh, of course, Hivers! The Dawn Leaguers told us about them,"
"They're not both Hivers," Physic said, nodding toward the bridge. "Deep Six there is a Schalli, from my planet, Aubaine."
"My most abject apologies."
'That's all right' Coeur said, raising a hand. "Mr. Gakashir makes a good point. There may be people where we're going who've never seen a Hiver or a Schalli."
"It is not our intention to remain a backward people," the translator said.
"All people are pretty much the same under the skin," Coeur said. "It's just our circumstances that make us different."
"A noble thought."
"Yeah, well, noble thoughts don't pay the bills. Mr. Gakashir, you've been very generous with us, given the fact that you're beset by thugs and bandits. Would it be too much of an imposition to ask if we can refuel from your coastal ocean?"
"The sea is free to all, captain,"
"Thank you, sir."
Six hours later, her tanks replenished with Meadskan seawater, Hornet blasted off the world and out toward jump point, five hours distant at 100 diameters. Afterward, when Hornet was in jump space, and Gyro came forward to stand the jump watch, Coeur invited Deep Six to join her in Scissor's stateroom/workshop to discuss a matter weighing heavily on her mind.
"People," she said, "I have a proposal. You're both aware, I assume, that this subsector has a thriving trade in slaves."
"For sale to vampire fleets and oppressive planetary regimes," Scissor answered. "Yes."
"Not just that. There's also a market for unusual organisms."
"A puerile fascination with that which is alien," Deep Six commented.
That was approximately the comment Coeur expected from her navigator. Schalli had no comprehension of the human attraction toward collections of caged creatures.
"Guys, here's the deal. When we cross the AO in a couple of weeks, I want this ship to look like a plausible free trader, and it might help that illusion if we could present you as creatures we're taking for sale elsewhere."
"A logical plan," Scissor said. "And potentially a workable manipulation of local perceptions,"
"I agree," Deep Six said, checking the calculations for the yet distant jump point, "But I would ask you if you would accept the same situation, were our circumstances reversed."
Having considered that question, Coeur had an answer.
"I would, Sixer, if you were making the suggestion."
Deep Six made a triple-click—the Schalli equivalent of a nod.
"It has been said," Coeur observed, " that the least courtesy civilized beings owe each other is respect. What I'm mostly worried about, though, is Scissor's health. Scissor, do you think you could stand hours, or days, floating in Deep Six's tank?"
"I assure you that I am well," Scissor said. "And I have assured the doctor that I will inform her at the first sign of an outbreak of Hiver Folgorex Syndrome. However, I am curious why you would want me in such unusual aquatic surroundings?"
"I'm hoping that most people out here won't know what a Hiver looks like. There's no point in giving away clues that we're from the Coalition, so I'm hoping that if we just call you a squid and keep you in the water, no one wilt be the wiser."
"Eminently reasonable," Scissor agreed.
"All right, then," Coeur said, smiling inwardly at Scissors compliment, and joined Deep Six in withdrawing toward the door. "I'll arrange to have the tub relocated."
"Very good," Scissor said, walking back to the door beside the others. "I am sure the deception will be effective."
"All right, then," Coeur said. "See you later."
"indeed," Scissor said, as the door closed behind its leaving guests.
Only then did Scissor give in to the fatigue in its body and let its body slump to the floor. The sickness was coming faster than the doctor had expected, but as yet there were no signs she could read on a medical scanner.
For Scissor that was good, as the doctor would only restrict its activities if she knew how sick it was, and Scissor did not believe it would be prudent in the coming days to burden the ship unnecessarily. On a reserve of inner strength, therefore, Scissor lifted itself back to its feet and returned to the mundane work at its table.
While Hornet was taking on fuel at Meadsk, a discussion arose among the crew about the wisdom of their future course. Drop Kick and Snapshot, in particular, pointed out that a Guild base could just as easily be in the direction of Marax—three parsecs distant—as coreward Thoezennt. Coeur, however, decided to save a visit there for the tail end of their trip.
"Anything's possible," she said, "but it's not a place I'd put a base. It's not centrally located, for one thing, and for another the local warlord's a loon blasting out earthworks with nuclear weapons,"
"Pius," Crowbar observed, "he's got a law level that makes Emperor Gherard look like a school crossing guard,"
So Hornet remained on her original course.
After Meadsk, Hornet jumped into open space and then on to Sh'Lur, a boneyard on the edge of the AO. As such, it was the last world Coeur had any modern information about, and the last she would jump to directly if she had a choice. Beyond the AO, she would instruct Deep Six to plot jumps that precipitated near gas giants in the outskirts of the systems they were visiting. Assuming SDBs there could be dodged or placated, they would then refuel and maneuver inward to the systems' mainworlds.
Homet first used this protocol at Bwan Hurr, a system without SDBs to guard its gas giants, but adamantly opposed to contact all the same. Bwan Hurr's mystic dictatorship (a form of government discernible through its television broadcasts) lobbed a planetary defense missile at Hornet once she entered low orbit. Gyro intercepted it before its nuclear warhead had a chance to detonate, but that unfriendly embassy persuaded Coeur to swing out to a higher orbit and probe the world from a distance.
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